Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
My notes: This chapter took me forever to write. I'm still not sure whether I like it. (Probably because most of it is a duel) I've recently watched some of the non-dubbed episodes, and I couldn't believe the difference between what was aired in Japan and what we lowly Americans get. I'm sure that it somehow involves the FCC and what constitutes children's programming. But I can understand why many of you want to maintain what was established in the non-dubbed versions.
And no, I'm not deliberately trying to make this go on forever. But it does feel like I'm trying to write an entire season of Yugioh.
Into the Realm of Shadows
What could he possibly want to test, Mokuba thought as he loaded up the Duel computer program. It's still based partially off Seto's old deck, Mokuba thought as he typed in a series of commands, so it can't pose a threat to him now. Seto always makes sure he has the advantage. "We're ready to begin," he voiced to his older brother. The younger Kaiba brother was safe within the command center, a place that was adjacent but not in direct area of the dueling arena.
"Begin the program," his brother replied. Seto's duel disk automatically displayed four thousand life points. Before him, a series of hisses of steam preceded the sliding opening of two massive doors moving away from each other. In its breach, a polished metallic surface emerged which had in its center a large round red eye. Five card slots were etched around the eye above it, plus an additional five more below. A computerized display of 4000 appeared at eye level.
Let's just hope he knows what's he's getting into to, Mokuba thought as the Duel computer took the first round. Three face-down cards were displayed upon the upper hemisphere of card slots. Another card was displayed upon the bottom row. Holographic representations of cards emerged in front of Seto. "End turn," the Duel computer announced in its perfect monotone voice. Superimposed over the large red eye was two cards, the apparent number of cards in the computer's hand.
Kaiba wasted no time. He immediately summoned his Vorse Raider (1900/12000) in attack mode along with two hidden cards. An overly massively strong warrior wielding a heavy-headed spear appeared. This new monster was draped in studded armor and showed no signs of fear as it immediately attacked the face-down defense monster. The spear sliced through and a whimpering cry was silenced. A green wrinkled turtle who was suffering under a strange metal shell was revealed before it shattered. "UFO Turtle," the Duel computer announced. "Special ability: Able to summon any fire-monster with 1500 attack points or less from deck to field when sent to graveyard from battle." The holographic dust cleared, the Duel computer had an identical monster protecting its life points. Kaiba did not look amused as he ended his turn.
Without hesitation, the duel computer announced the summoning of Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer (1800/700) to the field and placed another card face down. A shaved-bald man appeared, half his face missing from his head. In his hands was a string of beads, a large rosary of extraordinary length, which the man brandished as if it were a whip. "Activating magic card: Axe of Despair. Increase attack points of monster by one thousand points." Now equipped with an excessively large axe, the ghost-hunter posed a greater threat than before. "Attacking," the machine calmly announced as the Kycoo rushed head long into battle, waving his axe dangerously.
"How naïve. I activate my trap, Ring of Destruction." A metal belt emerged from one of Seto's face-down cards and wrapped itself around the neck of the axe-wielding monster. The man's eyes bulged as the band began to choke, but before being allowed to pass out from lack of oxygen, the ring detonated causing chunks of flesh to be blown apart. Both duelists were struck by the forceful blast and the remains causing their life points to decrease by twenty-eight hundred. Mokuba was shocked to see the signs of a smile appear on his brother's face as he wiped away the holographic flesh from off his face.
The duel computer, impassive as ever, calmly activated one of its face-down cards. "Magic Card: Temporal Manipulation." The image of several pocket watch appeared; all of them were wavering back and forth. "Reverts condition of duelist to as they were before the turn took place. Duelist must discard entire hand. Opponent gains an additional turn." The pendulum-swinging watches increased their motion which clouded the Duel computer's side of the field. When they stopped, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer reappeared as did the duel computer's life points. "End turn."
Man, the Duel Computer isn't pulling any punches, Mokuba thought as he looked at both life-point counters. He then looked towards his brother. Seto may be down for the moment, but I'm sure he already has a plan. He then recalled the look his brother had as he causally wiped off the blood from him. I just hope that whatever Seto's thinking isn't going to make him anymore colder than he already is.
Seto Kaiba stared at the ruby red center of his electronic opponent before turning towards Mokuba. "See now what I've been denying myself," he yelled as he pulled out the Millennium Rod from the insides of his overcoat. Without any warning, Kaiba enshrouded the entire building into darkness and chaos.
Mokuba was stunned, without words. This place. We shouldn't be here. "Big brother, what are you doing?" he barely managed to ask.
"What I should have done a long time ago," was the reply. Seto Kaiba set a monster in defense mode along with two face-down cards before ending his turn. He did nothing for his second free turn except draw one more card.
That's strange, Mokuba thought. Seto would have usually attacked the weaker monster by now or increased his life points. What's he planning? He wondered this as the Duel computer began its turn. It used one of its face-down cards. "Magic card: Pot of Greed. Draw two cards." The holographic image of the gluttonous container appeared, its representation unmistakable. Two cards imposed themselves over the crimson eye. "Magic card: Graceful Charity. Draw three cards, discard two." A winged angel, garbed in simple clothes, descended from the heavens with a card in her hand. There was some shuffling, "Magic Card: Monster Reborn. Return monster from graveyard to field." With this, an all too-familiar roar was heard. A blast of light emerged from the ground, as a famous Blue-Eyes White Dragon clawed its way from the bowels of the earth. Its holler seemed pale and lessened over the field.
Seto Kaiba stood confidently before his own beast. His eyes did not seem to show any appreciation or signs of recognition. There was an apparently oddity which manifested itself as a quiet trembling closed fist however.
"Sacrifice two monsters to summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon," the duel computer announced. The images of Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer and the UFO Turtle faded as a second Blue-Eyes White Dragon appeared. Both stood on their hind legs, eager to find something to kill beneath their frontal claws. "Activate Magic Card: Cloned Reproduction. Allows cloning of monsters to fill remaining empty five monster zone limit. Clones cannot be used for sacrifice. Clones are removed in two turns." The image of a goggle-wearing scientist appeared with giant needles in both hands crisscrossed. Both needles were plunged into both Blue-Eyes before having three more appear along side them. It was clearly obvious as to which dragons were the original ones and which ones were copies.
"Holy crap! Five Blue-Eyes White Dragons?!" Mokuba exclaimed. It was a sight that was quite literally impossible. There's no way for Seto to win. The duel computer has all its life points and has five deadly monsters on the field. Mokuba watched as the five dragons began preparing their attacks.
Kaiba just stood there and was clearly grinning. "No mere machine will ever beat me. Reveal my trap card, Negate Attack." He waited until the Duel Computer ended its turn before turning to Mokuba. "Little brother, watch as I destroy this computer to pieces." He raised the Millennium Rod high, shouting, "By my divine might I will smash these false idols. I will bury the man I was and will usher in a new age for all mankind. Give me what I desire so that my will be done!" The shadows around him swirled around him, almost seemingly likesolid creatures. Kaiba snarled his lips into a smile. He raised his duel disk and drew.
"First I play Tremendous Fire. I inflict one thousand points of damage to my opponent and take five hundred myself." Three red-haired nymphs appeared on the field and began lighting everything on fire. Kaiba stood unfazed, though beads of sweat appeared, as a raging inferno was burning everything and covering everything in soot.
"Next I activate Numinous Healer, which allows me to recover one thousand life points." A winged angel, wearing a nurse's uniform, placed several band-aids over Kaiba's body. He of course showed no interest as the woman was overtly flirting with him.
"Now I flip-summon my Magician of Faith to reclaim my Tremendous Fire card back from the graveyard. I then replay my Tremendous Fire but I chain it to Magical Amplifier which allows me to double the effects of any magic card I choose." As if the inferno wasn't bad enough before, the three nymphs were walking fire-starters. Anywhere they walked pillars of fire arose spiraling out exponentially. By the time they were done, streaks of ashes covered the entire room. The Duel Computer's life-point display showed only one thousand. Seto grinned.
"And finally I play the Magic Card Side-Step. It allows any monster to gain the ability to attack life-points directly for one turn only. Go now my Vorse Raider and destroy that outdated machine!" Without so much hesitation the spear-carrying warrior leapt past the unnatural number of Blue-Eyes and smashed its spear right in the center of the Duel Computer. Without so much at a second glance, the round metallic eye shattered rendering the entire computer useless. The holograms dissolved. There was nothing but the sound of silence. "I've won. I will defeat anyone who dares oppose me. Now show me what I want!"
The shadows surrounded Seto Kaiba engulfing everything around him. It was so thick that Mokuba couldn't see anything. "Seto! Seto!" he yelled as he exited the command center and ran to his brother. But the more he ran, the harder it was to tell how far he was traveling. I should have collided with him by now! Straining himself to the limit, Mokuba could only feel a coldness that was clinging to his bones. He also couldn't shake the thought that he was being watched. "Seto!" he yelled, but puzzled as to why it did not echo. All he saw was blackness. Mokuba looked behind him and found more blackness. It's so dark. It's like I can't see my own hands. I can't even tell if my eyes are open or not. He purposely shut his eyes. Am I sleeping? Where are you big brother? I'm not afraid. Shouldn't be afraid. I've got to put on a brave face. I've got to find Seto!
What felt like days passed. Mokuba was tired and hungry. His thoughts were made no sense. It wouldn't be long before he passed out from exhausted. But he still kept going. His body ached, his mind blank, and he had no idea where he was. At the end of his rope, Mokuba fell over in the darkness, not realizing even if he had fallen.
As if waiting for that very moment to occur, a white-haired young man emerged. He stops, crouches down upon the young Kaiba sibling, slings him over his back, and walks away. A very quiet chuckle was heard.
Meanwhile, in ancient Egypt…
The young Pharaoh looked on his wisest advisor who still lay comatose in bed. It had been days and everything was just a mess. The ruler had no idea what was going on within the confines of his country. All of his advisors had tried to get him to do something other than watch the very shallow breathing of the High Priest. I can't keep going on like this, he thought to himself. If I don't do something soon, everyone will suffer. He looked over at the prone figure lying in bed, showing no outward signs of stimulus. Closing his eyes briefly to collect himself, he heard one of the servants call out to him.
"Pharaoh," the voice said weakly.
Refusing to open his tired eyes, he Pharaoh queried, "Is it important? Can it wait?"
"It's…a very important matter." The voice was labored, as if the person didn't want to impose. "It's concerning… your future."
My future? the Pharaoh pondered. The future was what you made of it. That's what the High Priest would say. Now look at him. He opened his eyes, and was pleasantly surprised, letting out a small gasp.
"My liege," the High Priest called out, straining to keep himself upright. However he fell forward. The Pharaoh intervened quickly, prevented him from crashing down. "We have very little time."