Once again, I will like to thank the one person that review...I know people read this. I know you are out there! REVIEW! Is that so much to ask for? I blame the section. Too many stories going at once. Tell me if you agree with that.
Anyway, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. If I did, Bakura would have show up alot more in Waking the Dragons.
Bladen's Residence
"What are we going to do!" shouted Joey.
Here they were in the middle of the Bladen's apartment where they have discover Detective Bladen's unconscious body. Tea had all ready take Nikki out of the room. The poor girl was in a mess at the finding of her grandfather. Yugi could relate after his own grandpa's soul was capture by Pegasus. The problem was that they didn't know who this new enemy was or why they were capturing souls. The only clue was it had to with a beast that they were trying to awaken.
"Will you calm down," hissed Duke, "You are going to make things worst."
Yugi looked down at the piece of paper Nikki had given him. She said she found it on top of Bladen's body. It was all crumple up, but he could still make out the message on it.
Dear Pharaoh and Friends:
If you are reading this that you have won your duel. Congrats on such a sucker win. It shall be the last one you ever have. I'm writing to you now to tell you that the Great Beast is going to raise and clean the filth from mankind and there is nothing you can do to stop us. By now, you have seen what we are capable of doing. You must figure that you can win and good always win. News Flash! Not going to happen this for you are the evil one, you are the one that must be destroy. I will not allow you, Pharaoh to put more evil and hate into this world any more. So, until we met again on the field of battle.
"This guy is a whacko," said Joey as he looked at the letter.
"For once I will have to agree with you," said Duke, "These bikers guys really don't seem to have all their screws tightly on."
"What I don't understand it why go for Mr. Bladen and not your grandpa, Yug," said Joey, "I mean, I don't want his soul taken again, it just makes sense to go for you."
Yugi nodded his head, "I know, if they were after the Pharaoh, they would have gone for someone close to him. While, Mr. Bladen is a friend, going for Grandpa would have a likely choice."
"Well, they must have had a good reason," mumble Duke, "But we better get him it the hospital. It not good to leave him here."
"Yeah," agreed Joey, "Let's get him on the bed."
Joey and Duke place Bladen on their shoulders. Slowly, they carried the older man to his room with Yugi behind him. That is when something fell to the ground from the detective's hand. Yugi looked down to see it a piece of paper and the Duel Monster card Cyber Commander. The young boy wonder why Detective would have a Duel Monster card in his hand. He guessed that he was force into a duel, but why hold on to this card. He looked at the piece of paper and saw that there was a message on it. On the paper was written DOOM Tri and some weird letter that looked like a Z or S
Yugi do you know what that means?
/I don't know, Yami. I think Mr. Bladen was trying to leave us message before he lost his soul. /
What was he trying to tell us? Maybe the identity of whoever took his soul.
/That could be it, but why/
I take it maybe he knew him and that he was trying to warn us.
/Why would he tried to warn us? I really don't see the point. /
Maybe because we would know who this guy is as well
/I guess, then if we do we better be on our guard and watch for anything out of place. /
"Hey, Yug the ambulance is going to be here in a moment," called out Joey.
Yugi quickly pocket the card and paper. He could tell the others later. They would help him figure it out. He walked over to join his friends and wait for the ambulance to come.
San DiegoThe lights were all on as Tristan travel down the streets. It was only three hours since he left Domino City. While he was dead tried the power of the Orichalcos kept him going. He had to continue on with his duties, this was not the time to go soft. Still, the thought of seeing Yugi and the gang again was still in his head. Part of him was feeling somewhat guilty of doing what he did. Yugi had shown him where the Gods Cards were as a vouch of trust. He trusted Joey, Tea and himself to keep their location a secret, and Tristan broke it. Let most of him told him that is was the right thing to do. This own thing was still new to him
Tristan just couldn't believe he was doing this. He had joined a group that was trying to save the world…from his old friends. He couldn't believe that the spirit in the puzzle was responsible for all the darkness and evil in the world. In some way it made sense. Everything strange that had happened to him was because of that damn puzzle. Once they awaken that Great Beast, he was going too glad enough to melt that stupid thing. Still, there was just a part of him that was feeling sorry for having to attack his friends. Dartz said that because he knew them for a long time, that why it as going to be hard even though they have been using him.
Well, he soon enough got over it. Tristan had learned so much in his time with the Orichalcos that he couldn't have learned from Yugi or Joey. He could still remember the first time he played the Seal of Orichalcos in a duel. He could feel the amazing power coming from it. It was like nothing could stop him at all, like he was immortal. The way he could control his monster and wipe that poor sap lifepoints within ten turns. Then the proud feeling he got when he returned with the soul card. It was like he was king of the world, he got such a high from it. The Orichalcos gave him such power that Tristan couldn't never dream of.
Soon, his bike came to a stop. Tristan lifted off his helmet and looked at the building. It was the latest in Dueling Clubs in the city. It was his job to take out as many duelists before things became to hot for him. This place brought a lot of people and he just couldn't get caught just yet. Flipping on his sunglasses, Tristan stepped within the club His piece of the Orichalcos, around his neck, was sparkling in the neon lights. At first entrance, he tried to hold his breath. There was so much cigarette smoke in the air. Bright lights would have blind him if he didn't have on the sunglasses. Yelling was all around and people shouting anything that was in the human language. Tristan push anyone in his way as he made his way to the private duel booths. There were arenas in the open that allow people to watch duels, the kind from Duelist Kingdom. The ones Tristan wanted were the ones out of the public's eye. That way no one would be able to catch on to him and he would be able to take at least three to five souls.
Walking a little more to he back, Tristan came to the sign-up desk. Sitting at it was a bored looking woman. She was tapping her pen on the table with her right hand as the left one played with one of her blench blond curls. Tristan stepped forward and let out a cough. Lifting her head up, she looked at him.
"How can I help ya?" she asked.
"I here to for some private duels," said Tristan as he laid down the admission fee.
She counted the bills and nodded her head in agreement than point to a couch "Sit down and we'll tell you when you can start."
Tristan walked over and sat down. Playing with his duel dick, he just waited for his opponent. There was no need to rush this. He had all the time in the world. What was unknown to him was that someone had spotted him. This was someone that knew who he was and knew that he was suppose to be missing. Pulling out a cell phone, a number was quickly dial and started to ring. It was early in the morning in Japan, but there was the chance that Joey was awake.
"Hello Joey, Its Mai. Sorry for calling you at …anyway; I'm calling about Tristan. You told me that he was missing, right? Well, I just found him. Yeah, right here in San Diego…Calm down, Joey. No, I hadn't talk to him yet…He waiting at one of these private dueling booths…No, I don't know why, he just is….I'll go over and talk to him…Call back in half a hour… That way if I am still talking to him, he won't be able to skip out in talking to you…Yeah, I know I am the best. Talk to you in a few, bye," said the blond duelist as she hanged up her phone.
It had been a while since Mai had saw Joey and them since Battle City. She kind of wanted to forget the whole thing. The whole Shadow Realm scared the living day lights out of her. Once a week, she still had nightmares of the whole thing. Being trapped with the hourglass, the sand pouring on to. Even thought she was prefect save, Mai still felt the danger. Now, just two weeks ago, Joey had contacted her out of the blue. He seems so worry by the tone of his voice over the phone. He told her about Tristan and while she really didn't know him the best out of the group, her heart went out to him. It wasn't easy to lose a parent. Joey had asked her if by any chance she had seen him, she hadn't. To make her blond friend at ease, Mai told him that she would get an eye out of him. She never would have thought to actually find him, in a duel club of all places.
Getting from her table, Mai started to walk over to him. There seem to something different about him. She saw the duel disk on his arm and could help but wonder where he had gotten that from. There was nothing like it on the store selves. He hadn't saw her yet. Tristan was too busy thinking about the quickest way to end a duel. He wanted to get out of this place fast. Not really his ideal place to be. It just got the job done.
"Tristan," came a voice from in front of him.
He quickly looked up to see Mai Valentine. His eyes widen at realizing that someone he knew at found him. In a flash, he rose to his feet. He just had to get out of here and now. If she told anybody that he was here, they would come and get him. That would blow the whole mission. Mai just looked at him. He was scared about something went she talked to him. What was it he had to worry about? It wasn't like she was going to hurt him; she only wanted to ask why he was half way around the world.
"Mai?" he stutter finally.
"Glad to see you remember my name," she smirked at him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Dueling, but the more important question is why you are here? Joey was pretty upset when he called me. Everyone is. What are you doing here?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips.
Tristan had no clue of how to do this. On one hand, he could run for it, but she would hunt him down. Mai was bought to tell the gang being here. What was worst if the others found out him running away. Varon wouldn't let him live this down. There was only one way for him to win this, and it wasn't something he would regret. Looking down at her own wrist, Tristan wasn't surprise to fid that she had her Battle City duel disk with her. A smile came across his face.
"Would about we talk things over a duel?" he asked.
Mai arched her eyebrows. She didn't even know that Tristan duel. There was in the Cyber World, but he had to. To duel for fun, now that was new. It was the way he looked as he asked her was what made her feel uneasy. He had this feeling of coldness around him, ice cold. There was no feeling in his tone. Still, there was nothing wrong with a straight duel between friends, right?
"Sure, why not," agreed Mai.
"Great," said Tristan as he started to walk towards one of the private booths, 'I am sure this will be one you will never forget."
That comment made Mai feel a little uneasy when he said that. She just didn't know why. The two made their way to a booth in the far back. It was pretty decent size, enough for the holograms to fit themselves in. They exchange deck and shuffle. Mai had no clue about what kind of cards Tristan would have. He had seen her deck countless of times, so he had the advance in that. She was just tempt to sneak a peek. Finally, they were really to start things off.
"Ladies first," said Tristan.
"Fine, I'll play Harpie Lady in defense mode, then laid two cards face down," said Mai, "now answer my question and tell me why you are here?"
Tristan chuckle as he pulled out his cards, "I'm just here on business,' he said, "And I'll summon Ax Raider in attack mode and I activate a card you should have, Harpy Feather Duster,"
Mai could do nothing against the force of the magic as it came out and destroy her Mirror Force and Crystal Wall trap cards. How could he have such a rare magic card? She had a hard time herself to gain her own one. Tristan just looked at her. He still had the smile on his face. It was like he knew that he was going to win this. Mai wasn't going to go down without a fight. Now there was nothing stopping him, Tristan launch his Ax Raider, destroying her Harpie Lady. Good thing for her it was in defense mode.
"Are you done?" asked Mai.
"Yeah, you can go," chuckle Tristan.
Mai frown as she draw her next card. She needed a way to gain the upper hand. He only had the one card on the field. Looking at her own cards, there was one that could do the job to get rid of it. Even, if it was only temporally.
"I'll lay one card face down and one in defense mode," she said, "That will end my turn, but not yet…you have to tell me what kind of business you are on and why you hadn't even talk to your friends of a month."
"Aren't we little miss nosey," chuckle Tristan.
"Enough of this Tristan, something is wrong with you," comment Mai.
"Now how would you know about that?" counter Tristan as his eyes narrow down on to Mai, "You don't know the first thing about me, Mai."
There was nothing she could say to that. It was true; she didn't know the first thing about him. The only thing Mai actually knew was that he was friends with Yugi and Joey. That had to mean that he was a nice guy at heart. That was it.
"Fine, I'll tell you," he said as he drew another card. A grin slowly climbed on to his face. That must have been a good card, "Just the card I need. It time to make your maker Mai Valentine. I play the all powerful Seal of Orichalcos.
He took the card from his hand and place it into the field area slot. The next thing that Mia knew that the whole area was glowing a bright eerie green. A huge star in a circle appear from Winds was coming from all around them. Mai used her arms to shield herself of the force. What was the card he played? She had never heard of this seal card. It must be a rare card. Looking from behind her arms, Mai saw that Tristan had change. The stone around his neck was glowing as brightly as the thing on the ground. The same symbol that was on the ground was right there in the middle of his forehead, glowing. His eyes were glowing a faint red. That feeling of coldness had become more greater. The same thing that happen to Tristan, happen to his Ax Raider. The seal appear and his eyes were glowing blood red. Now, the monster looked more dangerous, more powerful. This could be getting ugly
"What was with that card you play!" shouted Mai.
"I'll tell you, since it doesn't really matter now. This is the Seal of Orichalcos, a very powerful card. It allows all my monster a extra 500 hundred attack points," explain Tristan, "So, now my Ax Raider has 2200 attack points!"
"That is powerful," though Mai, knowing that she never knew a card that could do that. Still, there was something not right about that card.
"Now, to complete my turn, Ax Raider attack her face down card!" order Tristan.
His monster came roaring forward and slash his ax across Mai's monster. It reveal itself s the Wall of Illusion. Mai just grin as at least one thing work towards her favor.
"You just destroy my Wall of Illusion card. When she is attack, the monster attack it is sent back to it's owner's hand," she said.
Tristan glared as he remove his Raider from the field, "Like I care, just get on with your turn."
"I will," said Mai as she drew again, "Graceful Charity, this could work,' she thought.
"I play Graceful Charity, I'll draw three cards, but I have to discard two,"
"I know that,' growled Tristan, "just get on with your turn."
Mai glared at him as she looked down at her cards. The plan was already in play once she discard what she need. Now it was time to take off some of his lifepoints.
"I play Monster Reborn to bring back my Harpie's Pet Dragon, which in case you miss it, I discard," said Mai with a smile.
"Somehow, I guess you would," chuckle Tristan.
"Then I play another Harpie Lady and now that she is on the field, my dragon gains 300 extra points to his attack,"
"Whoopie,"
Mai frowned at the way Tristan was acting. It was like he didn't care about this duel at all. "Now, Harpie Lady and Harpie's Pet Dragon, attack his lifepoints directly."
The two monsters roared as they sent their attacks toward Tristan. He brace himself to feel the impact of the attack. As the smoke clean, he found himself with only 300 hundred lifepoints left. Like that even matter to him. He was going to finish this in his next turn.
"Had enough or are you going to continue being a jerk?" asked Mai, "I have won, just face it. There is no way that you can you can win, even with that Seal of Orichalcos card. So, you better tell me what is going on now."
Tristan just chuckle at her, then it grew into full blown out laugher. Mai didn't know what was so funny. He was scaring her now. Something very wrong was going on with him.
"Fine, I'll tell you," he answer when he finally calm down, "I'll tell you the whole plan.
"Good,"
"But first, let's ends this," Tristan said with a smirk, "I play the card, Change of Heart and since this allows me to take control of any of your monsters, I think I'll take your Harpie's Pet Dragon.'
Mai could only stand there as her dragon switch to Tristan's side of the field. It just ripped her up inside to see her dragon gain the seal on its forehead and with her Harpie Lady powering u p it, its attacks points were at 2800. That does seem to be the end of his show.
"Next, I'll play M-Warrior 1 in attack mode and with the Seal of Orichalcos, both monster gain 500 attack points,"
She could still win. In total, they would only wipe out only 2900 lifepoints, maybe less if he uses M-Warrior 1 first. She just could understand why he would sent out such a weak monster and not his Ax Raider. He still had that in his hand. Why not use that card.
"Now, the best part of the show, I attach Mega-Morph to Harpie's Pet Dragon. Since I have less lifepoints then you, its allows me to double the attack points of any monster. This makes Harpie' Pet Dragon go from 2800 to a grand total of 5600. But so sad that it will be a little small once I destroy your Harpie with M-Warrior ! Now destroy her monster, M-Warrior-1
Again, Mai had lost another monster to him. Next attack would finish her off. This could be happening. There was no way that he should be this good. She was one of the best, and now to be beaten by a rookie. Talk about not right.
"Now, before I finish you off, Mai, I think I'll let you on to something," said Tristan.
"Like what?" asked Mai, having a bad feeling about this.
"It about the Seal of Orichalcos. You see, I am part of the Knights of the Orichalcos now and its our mission to clean the world of filth as Master Dartz has fortold," he said, 'But, to truly get the job done, we must raise the Great Beast."
"Tristan, what are you talking about? Did you join a cult or something?" asked Mai, "This Dratz guy has brainwashed you! He is ruining your life. All your friends back home are worry about you. You have to call them, to talk to them."
Tristan's face reflected the fury that he feeling, "You are wrong Mai! Master Dratz just showed me the truth. I have joined him of my own free will and never looked back. With the Orichalcos, I will win. Now, it is time for you to give up your soul of the Leviathan."
"Wh-at," choked out Mai.
"Did I forget to tell you? With the Seal of Orichalcos, there is another thing you have to remember. At the end of the duel, the loser will lost their soul, and my dear Mai that happens to be you today!" shouted Tristan as he pointed his finger towards Mai, "Harpie's Pet Dragon, attack the remainder of her lifepoints and sent her into the darkness of the Orichalcos!"
"NNNOOO!" shouted Mai as her own card sent an enormous fireball towards her.
It hit on target with a terrible force. She couldn't go back. There could be no way that she could go back into the darkness. Mai didn't survive the last time. She couldn't do it twice. The seal started to grow smaller around and circle around her. She had to warn the others. That when her phone ran. Picking it up, she turned it on.
"Joey! You got to help me! I don't want to go back! Please, you have to stop him! You have to stop Tristan! He with the AAAAAAHHHHHH!"
The light of the Orichalcos was all around her. There was nothing that could stop. Mai let out a death cry as it came and claim her soul. As the light dim away, her body slump forward to the ground. Tristan chuckle as he walked over and circle her body. She shouldn't have underestimated him nor the Orichalcos. That when he hear shouting coming from something. Looking down, he picked up her cell phone.
"Hello?"
"…. Mai, what's going on? What about Tristan?"
Tristan pulled the phone like it was from the pits of hell. That was Joey's voice on the other side. He had to get out of there, now. He could let those guys find him here. Throwing the phone to the wall, it broke into little tiny pieces. Then he dash out of booth, and then out of the building. Flipping on his helmet and hopping on his bike, Tristan drove out of the city, It would be a good ten minutes before someone found Mai's body
Domino CityIt was early morning in Domino City. The gang was spending the night at Nikki's to help calm down and finger out what was going on. Nikki was sharing her room with Tea while the boys took the living room. No one felt right about spending the night in the bedroom where they found Detective Bladen's body. It was about three in the morning and Yugi found himself being awaken by Joey's yapping on his phone.
"Hello?…Mai? …No, it ok…yeah…What! You didn't! …San Diego! Have you talked to him yet!…Where is he…Why is he at a private dueling booth….Why half a hour… Have I even told you were the best, Mai…Talk to ya,"
"What was with all the yelling?" moaned Duke, as he raise his off the floor.
"That was Mai. She found Tristan!" cheered Joey.
That was enough for Yugi and Duke to widen their eyes towards him. They finally had somewhere to look for Tristan.
"Where is he?" asked Yugi.
"She found him at some dueling club in San Diego," answered Joey, "Hadn't the clue why he would be there."
"Well, are we going to talk to him?" asked Duke.
"No, not yet," said Joey, "Mai is going to talk to him first, then in 30 minutes I will call her back and then I will be able to talk to Tristan."
"How do we know he won't run away?" wonder Duke.
"He is our friend. He must know how worry we have been about him and that we only want him to come back home," said Yugi.
/YUGI/
What is it, Yami?
/I sense trouble/
…You always do
/No, this is much darker. It is faint, but…I know it from somewhere or someone/
Really? Present time or 5,000 years ago or maybe there is another spirit in here that is screwing around with me! I am not just a damn vessel for all spirits that suppose to fight the forces of evil! I am a human teenage boy with needs just like everyone else!
/Yugi…are you ok/
Yeah…sorry about that, Yami. I guess I am a little more stress lately.
/Do not fear, I am sure this will be over soon/
I hope so…I need coffee.
/Yugi, you really shouldn't drink that stuff./
Why not?
/It will stun…never mind/
As the boys sat down at the table with three cups of coffee, they waiting until the time to call Mai ticked closer. The girls woke up soon after and after Duke got them off of Joey for waking them off, they explain what had happen. That was enough for Nikki and Tea to forgive Joey for waking them up with all his screaming. Now, they just sat and wait. That when Yugi remember what he found with Detective Bladen.
"What does this mean?" asked Tea as she looked at the card and piece of paper.
"It must be a clue to who his attacker was," said Nikki, "and when I find he wish that he was in the Shadow Land!"
"That Shadow Realm," corrected Yugi.
"Whatever, you know what I mean," said Nikki.
"What could this try to tell us?" asked Duke, "The only thing I can make of it was that Doom involve."
"Well, his attacker has to be someone that is somewhat connect to both Cyber Commander and T.R.I," said Yugi as he pointed all that they knew from the clues.
"But with the two?" asked Joey as he pointed to the weird shape at the end of the TRI.
"It a Z," said Duke.
"It a 2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Z,"
"2,"
"Will you two stop that and act your age!" cried out Tea.
That was enough to shut the two of them up. Yugi moan as he looked at the clock. It was about a minute wait. Mai would care if they called a little head of the time. He elbow Joey and pointed to the clock. The blond head got the message as he pulled out his phone and dial Mai's number.
"…Hey, Mai…huh?….What going on Mai? You are going to have to calm down? Stop who? Stop Tristan?…"
The rest of them just looked at Joey in confusion. Something was wrong with Mai. From the expression on his face, Mai was yelling something over the phone. There was a pause. Nothing was coming from the other end.
"Who there, Mai? What's going on? What about Tristan?" called out Joey on his phone.
There was a pause. Joey's face went a cold pale. Yugi knew that this wasn't good. They were quiet as he place his phone down. They all want to find out what was going on. The conversation didn't go well, they could tell from their side of the phone.
"Joey, what happen?" asked Tea.
"I don't know. Mai was just freaking out. She kept on shouting at me, telling to stop someone, that she didn't want to go back and then the phone went dead. Ah damn it," growled Joey.
"Don't worry, Joey," said Yugi as he tried to calm his friend down, "I sure she just find."