"You helped him before why can't you do it again?" Sammantha's eyes were puffy from the tears she'd she when Yugi broke the news to her.
"His soul was still bound to his body then. As near as I can tell it's been locked out for lack of a better term." Yugi's eyes were regretful and his words heavy.
"I swear to you. I will defeat Willem and return Roberts soul to his body." he added, placing a compassionate hand upon Sammantha's slender shoulder.
Bakura stood at the back of the room, away from the eyes of those present. It wasn't hard their attention was focused on Robert and his weeping fiancé.
'Fool. His soul is still tethered to his body. But it's seeking its lost past. Until it finds it not even defeating Willem will cement the bond again.' He thought to himself, idly toying with the Millennium ring.
The golden ring was still warm and glowing very faintly from the activity it displayed earlier in the day as Robert faced off against the new head of the Ghouls organization, Willem Spring.
The green clad Duelist had been totally overwhelmed at the sheer power of his opponents monster. Not een the mighty Obelisk, a God card renowned for its brute force, could stand up to Willems great Sphinx.
Sammantha stood unsteadily and wiped her eyes.
"Thanks everyone. You too Yugi. But it's late and I'd really like to just be alone with Robert." She sniffled slightly and continued.
"Besides, you'll need to rest up if you're going to be sharp enough to make that sadistic bastard pay for what he did." She finished, looking directly at Yugi.
"You have my Word. We will get him back." Yugi replied, hugging the raven haired woman.
"Sammantha, if you need anything, Anything at all please don't hesitate to call us." Joey spoke. Having both seen and experienced similar events in the past he knew how she was feeling.
"We appreciate it guys. You should all go now. It's late." Kelly spoke up from the opposite side of the bed, still holding Roberts hand.
"Kelly's agreed to stay here tonight to help me with Robert if he needs anything." Sammantha explained.
Their five Guests shuffled out of the room quietly. Each one issuing their sympathies to Sammantha and Kelly.
Location unknown
"What... Where am I?" Robert looked around in confusion. He stood in the middle of a dilapidated ruin. Golden sands covered the ground and half buried ancient statues and monuments.
"It has been a long time." A familiar voice called out from across the ruins. The figure it belonged to was shrouded in shadows.
As the figure approached Robert could make out white robes and gold ornamentation. Slowly the shadows pulled back to reveal the figures face.
"What the hell?" Was all Roberts stunned mind could produce.
10:00am Duelist HavenColosseum
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the final round of the Battle Island Tournament. Today we have the reigning world Champion Yugi Muto versus the unknown, Willem Spring!" Antony announced.
The Audience cheered on Yugi's name while nothing but boo's and hiss's issued fourth from them upon the utterance of Willems name.
"Willem won the coin toss back stage but has decided instead to let Yugi go first." Antony finished as the two Duelist locked their Duel Disks into ready position and connected them to the stadiums computer system.
"Let's Duel." Yugi called out as he drew his six cards.
Location Unknown
"You, Look like me?" Robert was dumbfounded. Standing before him was another him, only with a dark tan to his skin, the kind found on those who spend most of their time outdoors.
"Was that a question or a statement?" Roberts Doppelganger replied, a curious smile playing on his lips.
"I... it was more an exclamation of shock. It's not often you wake up to find yourself in the middle of an ancient set of Ruins faced with your twin." Robert stammered.
"With luck you won't be here long. Hopefully my call to the ring will have the needed effect on its possessor." Roberts twin spoke and stepped closer.
"For now, call me Alexander." He added.
"But that's my middle name. That's a bit too coincidental."
"You must find my true name yourself. I use your middle name now because I am part of you." Alexander replied.
"So what's happening here? Last I remember I was losing a duel to a psycho with red eyes." Robert asked, looking around at the desolate ruins. It looked as if no one had been in this place for millennia.
"Nearly four thousand years now." Alexander spoke. Answering Roberts unspoken question.
Roberts double's head snapped up, as if hearing something far off.
"It's time. The thief is performing the actions he must to bring you out of this." Alexanders voice sounded far off.
"What do you mean?" Robert was even more confused than before, somehow a thief was going to be the one to pull him out of this place?
"Before the Millennium ring left me for the thief I imbued it with one last burst of my own Ka. Infusing my memories and a portion of my own life essence into it's golden form. It will only work once. And only if the great Pharaoh can complete the summoning of the one above all then you can be returned to your body." Alexander stumbled slightly as he approached Robert.
Robert shot forward as quickly as possible and caught his twin. Instantly memories flooded his mind.
A knife plunging towards his chest.
A tight pain in his neck and a snapping sound as a golden object was ripped away from him by a person who bore a striking resemblance to the white haired Duelist he'd faced the night before hsi match with Willem.
A woman with crystal blue eyes, her face cast in the shadows of her dark hair hanging around her face looking down on him sadly. Tears staining her fair cheeks.
"Cry not for me beloved. We will be together again in the next life. I will wait for you beyond the gate of stars." Robert felt his lips mouth the words. His hand reached up to wipe away a tear from the womans face. Osiris will reunite us.
Alexander pulled back abruptly causing Robert to drop to his knees. Eyes wide and gasping for breath, his left hand clutching his head as if to keep his brain from flying out screaming like a banshee.
Duelist Haven Colosseum
"I'll set two cards and summon my Retrained Celtic Guardian!" Yugi's hand flew over his Duel Disk, His drastic movements resembling those of a classical pianist practicing his craft, honed by years of practice and dedication.
"Well then I guess I'll just set two cards and summon my Vorse Raider, attacking your Guardian." Willem chuckled slightly.
The Axe wielding beast bounded across the field and brought its razor edged weapon down on the weaker Celtic Guardian.
What happened next had Willem staring in shock. Yugi's Guardian brought its blade up and blocked the Vorse Raider, locking its sword into the axe head the Guardian spun in place and launched the Raider back at Willem. The huge berserker rolled and bounced to a stop before Willem kicking up a cloud of dirt. Loosing an enraged bellow as it leapt back to its feet, swinging its axe menacingly.
"What? My Raider should have turned your pathetic little swordsman into a pile of sludge." Willem spat.
"Your Vorse Raider is too strong to defeat my Retrained Celtic Guardian Willem. Only monsters lower than nineteen hundred but higher than fourteen hundred can destroy my monster. And I doubt you have any monsters in your deck to meet those prerequisites." Yugi explained.
Yugi: 7500
Willem: 8000
"You still lost Life points child." Willem declared as Yugis life points dropped.
"Only as long as my monster is in attack mode. Since we can't summon in defense mode I had little choice." Yugi replied. His voice even and calm.
"Now if you don't mind. I'll take my turn." Yugi added placing his middle and index fingers upon the top card of his deck, Yugi's eyes widened slightly and his jaw slackened, a jolt of electricity shot up his spine as his fingers made contact with a card he knew all too well.
'Already?' He thought as he recalled the feeling and looked at the long, red serpentine form on the card.
Location Unknown
"I apologize Robert, you weren't supposed to see that yet. But as the summoning draws near I find it harder to maintain this place." Alexander spoke.
"You're keeping me here? Why?" Robert was angry and had been thrown off balance after the mental slide show he'd undergone.
"If I don't maintain this place your soul will never be able to return to your body." Alexander replied, clutching his chest.
Robert could see the faint beginnings of a blood stain where Alexander was clutching his chest.
Duelist Haven Colosseum
I activate the magic card, Pot of Greed!" Yugi declared sliding the card into a magic slot on his Duel Disk. Drawing his two cards he smiled.
"Thanks to its effect I can special Summon the monster card Watapon!" Yugi announced slapping the card onto his Duel Disk next to his Retrained Celtic Guardian.
In a swirl of light the small pink fluffy creature came into existence with a little bounce and a pleasant warbling sound.
"Cute." Willem tossed off.
"It serves a purpose Willem. You see thanks to Watapon I can summon my Dark Magician Girl!" Yugi's response was punctuated by his tiny pink creature fading away in the same brilliant flash of light it had been created in only to be replaced by the Maiden Magician.
"Next I'll set my retrained Celtic Guardian into Defense mode." Yugi paused to shift his cards position then continued. "Now I've got enough power to wipe out your Vorse Raider." Yugi spoke, his Dark Magician Girl launching a wave of pink energy at the rabid axeman.
Yugi: 7500
Willem: 7900
"Ouch." Willem laughed as sparks hit him in the chest, spillover from the magical attack.
Yugi's Dark Magician Girl fired off a Raspberry at the black clad Duelist.
The audience's cheers turned to laughter at the female magicians actions.
Willem drew his card and fixed Yugi with a stare that would send chills up and down the devils spine. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to take this Duel."
"I activate my face down magic card, SCAPEGOATS!" Willem was smiling far too broadly for Yugi's comfort as the four small goats tokens appeared on the field.
"Cute." Yugi spat, flinging Willems own words back at him.
"Perhaps, but they, like your Watapon, serve a greater purpose Pharaoh. I sacrifice three Goat Tokens to special summon The immense Divine Soldier of Obelisk!" Willem was cackling again.
The three tiny goats trembled briefly and exploded into millions of digital specks of dust only to be sucked into a swirling vortex behind Willem.
The black hole in space grew to monstrous proportions threatening to engulf the stands at either side of the field only to stop just short. A deep growl was heard from everywhere in the huge Colosseum. The tremors it caused made the hair on Yugi's arms stand on end.
'This is no good. We can't properly defend against a God card this early and mine is still one monster away from summoning.' "little" Yugi intoned, floating like a spectre next to the Pharaoh now controlling his body, visible only to him.
'Don't worry Yugi. We've beaten the God cards before. Have faith in me and our deck.' The Pharaoh replied mentally.
Location Unknown
"It's almost time. The Pharaoh and his foe must complete the trinity and call the one above all." Alexander whispered weakly. His skin had gotten pale as the strain of maintaining the world he and Robert currently existed in weighed upon what was left of his spiritual reserves.
"What are you talking about?" Robert was kneeling next to the robed figure, keeping his distance so as to avoid another flood of images.
"The card you gave the Pharaoh, Yugi. It is the key to unleashing a great power and sealing away the dark force that tried to destroy you. It will lock it away once and for all. Beyond that though it can never be used again." Alexander explained.
"Why wasn't I allowed to use it? I mean I faced that freak first. I could have ended this." Robert was confused.
"Because..." Alexander paused to cough, a small line of blood forming at the corner of his mouth. "...the summoning of the one above all requires the presence of the three divine beasts. With out them he would have no host. No power on this plane of existence." He finished.
"What makes you think Willem will help Yugi to summon it? Granted I've only known him for around three hours total time but Willem doesn't strike me as the most helpful soul." Robert snapped back.
"He will because he must. There are forces at work here greater then even those of the assembled Millennium items." Alexander gasped.
Duelist Haven Colosseum
The blackness behind Willem gave way to a massive blue beast. It's glowing red eyes caused a few of the more skittish on lookers to cry out in shock as it rushed out of the darkness at a speed that seemed impossible for something so huge. It moved so quickly that it left a long blue streak in it's wake, almost as if it's form had stretched from the incredibly sudden movement forward.
Obelisk stood on the field before Willem, it's massive arms folded over one another.
Willems remaining Goat Token looked up at the huge beast and trembled in apparent fear, bleating pathetically to the huge creature. As if begging to be ignored by it.
"Now Obelisk, Get that magical tramp out of here." Willem commanded the immense soldier.
Rearing back its massive fist the Blue monster lurched forward and targeted the Dark Magician Girl for it's onslaught.
"REVEAL TRAP CARD! MAGICAL HATS!" Yugi called out activating one of his two face down cards.
Instantly his side of the field was overtaken by silk hats. Both of his monsters concealed beneath the shuffling haberdashery.
Obelisk pulled back its attack quickly turning its head back and forth surveying the new additions to Yugi's side of the field and waited for Willem to redirect its attack.
"Target the Hat to Yugi's immediate right." Willem sighed in frustration.
Obelisk again attacked. Its massive fist slamming into the hat immediately to Yugi's right. As the hat blew apart Obelisks fist stopped in mid-air, a loud ringing sound resounded through out the stadium. As the remnants of the hat vanished it was made clear what had made the sound.
Obelisks fist had impacted with the blade of Yugi's Retrained Celtic Guardian. Yugi's guardian was straining to hold back the huge beasts attack, sweat poured down it's face and it rested in a crater set into the Colosseum floor, A testament to the sheer force with which the attack slammed into the warrior monster.
"Damn you!" Willem shouted. His anger very apparent.
"What's the matter Willem? Are you having a bad day?" Yugi called out. He had his game face on, the face that had spelled doom for many opponents in many games.
"The moment you hurt my friends you'd sealed your fate." Yugi added, his purple eyes flashing brightly int he mid day sun.
"Take your turn and save your speeches. I will defeat you and reclaim my body and more with the power of the Millennium items." The voice coming from Willem wasn't the one he'd used throughout the Duel. This one was gravely, it sounded a bit like Cement in the back of a mixer truck. The scrapping grinding sound that made most people wince.
"You robbed me of what should have rightfully been mine! You sealed me away before I could bring my plan to completion." 'Willem' spoke.
"Who are you?" Yugi called out, a look of fear and confusion on his face.
"I am everything you will grow to fear and worship. I am Apophis." He spat.
"The Egyptian god of the night? The Serpent god?" Yugi exclaimed.
"NO! My name is Willem Nathaniel Spring... I... I was born in..." Willems voice broke through, desperate and strained. Momentarily the golden eye on his forehead dimmed and his shadow form softened.
But only for a moment. The field was quickly enveloped in darkness. It spilled over into the stands freezing the audience where they sat. Some people stuck mid-cheer, one man was even stuck in mid-snack. A piece of pop corn floating just above his open mouth, hanging impossibly in mid air. The mans head tilted back implying he'd tossed the kernel into the air to catch it in his mouth.
Sammantha sat next to Kelly wringing her own hands furiously... rather she would have been in Apophis' wave of power hadn't frozen her in time.
"What did you do?" Yugi's voice shot up in anger as he saw what was happening.
"Mortals can be such feeble creatures. A little shadow game and they're stuck." Apophis hissed. His sunglasses discarded in the sudden pulse of dark energy his eyes were no longer just red, they were penetrated by thin vertical slits. His canine teeth has grown exaggerated proportions into what resembled snake fangs.
"My power grows with every turn, oh great Pharaoh." Apophis feigned respect by bowing as he spoke.
"Soon nothing will be able to stop me again. Not even your pretty little trinket or that watcher." He added, a long forked tongue flicking out as he spoke.
"Shadow Games have rules that not even you can break! If I can defeat you everything returns to normal and you will be sealed away again. I draw!" Yugi pulled his card free of his deck and held it before his face.
"I activate the magic card, SAGES STONE!" Yugi slapped the card into his Duel Disk.
Once again the floating crystal appeared before the Dark Magician Girl who thankfully seemed to remember what she was supposed to do this time and after a happy wink to Yugi, began chanting.
The light show this time around was no less impressive and the Dark Magician Girls chant was just as melodic as before.
Yugi's Dark Magician appeared upon the field in a flash of light.
"Now, though my Spellcasters have always served me well in the past I have little choice. I have to win this Duel. I sacrifice all three of my monsters to special summon..." Yugi slid all three of his monster cards into the graveyard and set one of the last three cards in his hand onto his Duel Disk.
"...OSIRIS!" He finished.
The darkened sky flashed and swirled in a violent tempest. The great serpentine shape of the Saint Dragon - God of Osiris rocketed down onto the field setting down before Yugi.
"Very nice, but my dear brothers pet isn't strong enough to stand up to the divine soldier." Apophis snarled.
"Oh but it will be. Thanks to my magic card, Mirage of Nightmare! At the beginning of your standby phase I'll draw until I have four cards in my hand. Giving Osiris enough attack power to hold your divine soldier at bay. Thanks to this card Osiris will always be just strong enough to withstand an attack from Obelisk." Yugi explained, smiling proudly.
Location Unknown
"One more..." Alexander was fading fast. His once white robes now a deep red, stained with blood flowing from a wound that could not be seen.
"It is time you learned my fate. You must not repeat my mistakes... Do not let your pride keep those who would help you away." Alexander spoke weakly, his right hand shot out faster than Robert could see. His grip was like a vice.
Once again the images and feelings flooded into Roberts mind.
An
intense pain seared out from the middle of his chest. looking down
Robert could see that a large golden dagger was growing impossibly from
his chest, blood flowing freely from the hole the odd thing had
sprouted from.
Looking around in confusion Roberts mind finally
locked in on what had been happening, the ruins, Alexander the Duels
all had faded from his mind as his memory synched up with his situation.
'The thief, he...he stabbed me... he took my Millennium Ring!' Robert thought to himself as he stumbled and fell to the warm stone floor.
The Pharaoh leapt from his throne and approached, then passed the thief.
"My father..." He spoke softly, rage and sorrow evident in his voice.
"Muh...My Pharaoh... I have..." Robert began coughing. Each heave of his chest brought new sensations of pain.
He felt something warm in his mouth. 'Copper?' he thought as he tasted the liquid his lung fit had brought up. Bringing his left hand up weakly he wiped his mouth and looked at the substance, confirming his fears.
"Rest my friend. I will end this." The Pharaoh was standing over him, the Millenium puzzle hanging from his neck he motioned for one of the servant girls to come over.
"Tend to him. He is not long for this world. Make his final moments as kind and peaceful as you know how." He ordered the young woman and smiled warmly at her, knowingly.
"My love!" She knelt by Roberts side and cradled his head in her arms. Her crystal blue eyes flooded with tears.
"He knew of us?" She spoke softly.
"Ye...Yes. For some time now, his..." Robert began coughing again. "His will is not that of the previous Pharaohs, he know that even a high priest can feel love for one above others." Robert reached up to wipe away the tears streaming down the womans face.
"My beloved Sagira. I am not long for this life. I was foolish to believe that I could dominate the Millennium Ring to keep it as my own." He paused, cupping her cheek in his right palm and wiping away the fresh tears with his thumb.
Robert could hear the Pharaoh exchange words with the thief. Something about the loss of his village, the murder of his people. The Pharaoh denied it all and summoned the great Soldier to his aide.
Duelist Haven Colosseum
"You've only bought yourself a little time." Apophis hissed as he drew is card. His hand froze momentarily just above his deck and shook violently. Apophis seemed to struggle to draw his card, it was almost as if he were fighting some unseen force.
The struggle didn't escape Yugi's notice. 'We're not alone in this fight. I could be wrong but it looks like Willem is fighting from within.' Little Yugi spoke though only the Pharaoh could hear him.
'Indeed, we may have an edge in this fight after all.' The Pharaoh thought in response.
"I... DRAW!" Apophis finally managed to succeed in overpowering whatever force had been holding him back.
He bared his fangs in delight as he beheld the card he'd drawn.
"I activate the magic card, Sacrificial Lambs. Bringing two five hundred attack point Lamb tokens to my side of the field. And I sacrifice them both as well as my last Goat Token to special summon..." Apophis trailed off slightly and began to shudder again. Once more his arm refused to cooperate with him. It held the card away from the black Duel Disk as if trying to keep a toy away from a small misbehaving child.
"To. Special. Summon." Each word was a struggle for Apophis as he forced his will into the arm and brought the card down onto the Duel Disk.
" The Winged Divine Dragon of Ra!" He finally got out. His breathing was becoming labored and the eye shape on his forehead faded greatly, almost to the point where it was barely visible.
The blackness overhead parted and an intense golden light could be seen shinning down from above. The light grew in intensity until there was a perfect cylinder of light connecting the ground next to Obelisk to the open sky above. Slowly, almost painfully so, a large golden orb began to drop down onto the field.
The huge Golden sphere settled into a hovering position beside the massive Blue Soldier, it's metallic shell reflecting all of the ambient light and seemingly amplifying it. Even after the hole int he sky closed the huge ball continued to glow.
Apohis began to chant the words Robert had spoken in his Duel with Kaiba, with each word Apophis' eyes flashed brightly.
"Great beast of the sky, hear my cry,
Transform thyself from orb of light and lend your power to me in this fight.
Envelope the desert with your glow and cast your rage upon my foe.
Unlock your powers deep within so that together we may win.
Appear to me as I call your name.
The Winged Divine Dragon of Ra!"
As he finished the chant the huge orb flashed brightly, washing the field in an intense light. Yugi brought his arm up to shield his eyes from the blinding radiance. Ra's transformation was punctuated by the maniacal laughter of Apophis. His hissing cackle bounced around inside the otherwise deathly silent stadium.
As Ra completed its transformation the brilliant light collapsed back into the massive golden form.
"Ra is summoned." Apophis cackled.
"And it will suffer that burden! GO! SUMMON LIGHTNING!" Yugi called out.
Osiris closed its lower jaw and opened wide it's upper mouth, charging a massive ball of energy it launched teh charged shot at Ra.
"Come now Pharaoh, even you Know Ra is above Osiris even with it's lowered attack power." Apophis laughed.
Ra closed it wings in over itself and bounced the ball of energy away, blowing a huge chunk of the upper section of the stadium away.
Location Unkown
Robert snapped awake, his head was throbbing with pain and he was covered in sand. Looking around he found himself to be alone again. Alexander was gone. All that remained was an indentation in the sand where he'd lay before.
"What am I supposed to do? How Am I supposed to get home?" Robert asked the howling winds and crumbling ruins that surrounded him.
"Your fate is undecided."
Robert spun around to see a new figure. A tall man who looked to be of Middle Eastern descent. Around his neck hung an Ankh with an odd protruding tab at the base.
"You will be returned to your body only if the Pharaoh has the favor of the one above all." The stranger spoke.
"What happened to Alexander?" Robert inquired, eyeing the newcomer cautiously.
"He has completed his task. I am Shadi and it now falls to me to either place you back in your body or send on to the realm of Osiris to await your next life." Shadi explained and pointed behind Robert.
"Behold."
Duelist haven Colosseum
"Now I'll offer four thousand and nine hundred life points to Ra's special effect." Apophis announced as his Life points dropped.
Yugi: 7500
Willem: 3000
"Now Ra has five thousand nine hundred attack points! more than enough to defeat Osiris and open you up for the final series of attacks!" Apophis was flinging spit about as he spoke. each droplet that hit the ground issued forth wisps of smoke.
"NOW! God Breath Cannon!" Apophis commanded.
"Not so fast Apophis! I activate the magic card, Power of Amun!" Yugi called out sliding the card from his hand into his Duel Disk.
"You can't activate any magic or trap card from your hand!" Apophis hissed angrily.
"I can when it comes to this card, It can only be activated from the hand when all three God Cards are in play, during the battle phase!" Yugi explained.
Ra's attack dispersed and three beams of light shone down upon the three powerful creatures. Tracing the light back up to it's focal point the two Duelists could see a strange humanoid shape looking down upon them. Power radiated from it, so much so that both duelists could feel the massive power output. it was as if they were being battered by ocean waves.
"Behold, Amun. The one above all!" Yugi declared.
"Now for the effect of this magic card. When all three God Cards are in play it summons Amun, who is so powerful he cannot reveal his true body in this plain of existence, To do so would cause those who look upon him to go mad. He will select a God Card on the field and inhabit it. Granted that beast infinite power and destroying the other two." Yugi explained.
"Looks like you're at a disadvantage Pharaoh." Apophis cackled.
"Indeed it does, but it all comes down to this. If Amun chooses Osiris this match is as good as mine. If he chooses Ra or Obelisk I have no other cards to play. Are you ready Apophis?" The Pharaoh was smiling again.
"Ready as I've ever been. Nothing can stop me now, it is my Destiny to rule over the world!" Apophis hissed, more of his acidic venom falling from his mouth.
"Very well then. Oh Great Amun, bestow your awesome power upon one of these three lower Gods. Grant the one you choose the power to smite his enemy and annihilate the one that commands him." Yugi spoke the words printed ont eh border of the card.
The three beams of light began to cycle. One at a time they shone down upon a God monster, The speed increased rapidly until the light seemed to be shining down on all three God Cards at once.
As it slowed the chosen creature became clear.