Yu-Gi-Oh! Avatar
Fanfic Chapter 55: Prelude to Battle Pt 4: Return of the Forbidden One
Episode Basis: Stalked by the Rare Hunters
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! While Kaiba tested out his new Duel Disk (and his new God Card), Yami and Tea went to the Ancient Egyptian exhibit at the museum where they met Ishizu who possessed the Millennium Necklace. Ishizu revealed that Yami was actually an Egyptian Pharaoh who saved the world from a terrible evil. She also revealed that the only way for him to retrieve his long-forgotten memories was to enter an upcoming Duel Monsters tournament. But things weren't what they seem for Ishizu told them that an evil force with a Millennium Item will challenge him and that his Millennium Puzzle is the only force that could stand against it. As it turned out, the Duel Monsters tournament was one Kaiba Corp. was spearheading, the Battle City. Hmmm, an evil force will challenge Yami, Kaiba Corp. is sponsoring a Duel Monsters tournament, and Kaiba all but declared war on Yami when the two met at the convention center. Could the evil force be… Kaiba? Or is it someone else?
Yugi and his friends were talking about the Battle City tournament on the roof of their school.
"What!" Joey cried outraged. "You're telling me that Kaiba is sponsoring a tournament and he didn't even invite me? I was the runner-up at Duelist Kingdom yet this guy acts like I don't even exist!"
"You know that Kaiba cares about you about as much as he cares about an old pair of sneakers," Tristan pointed out.
"I'll give him something to care about," Joey said.
"And playing right into his hands."
"Hey Yugi, I don't get it," Harold said as Joey and Tristan engaged in a harsh staring contest. "Why is Kaiba sponsoring this tournament? Why doesn't he just challenge you personally like he did the last couple of times?"
"I honestly don't know, Harold. "But I can understand where you're coming from. Kaiba wouldn't go to all of this just to challenge me to a rematch. There's something else that he's after."
"So let's enter and find out what rich boy is after," Joey declared.
"Don't forget, Joey, there are new rules in effect. You have to sacrifice weaker monsters to summon more powerful ones. Plus, the loser loses his rarest card," Yugi reminded him.
"Do you even have a rare card?" Harold asked.
"What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course I do!" Joey held out his Red-Eyes Black Dragon (1) card. "Ta-dah! My ticket to fame and fortune, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" He cuddled the dragon close to him making the others nauseous.
"Don't get cocky," Tea warned.
"You better get used to the new rules," Yugi advised. "It's a bit stricter than Duelist Kingdom."
"Well what are we waiting for, let's go after school and register!"
"I'll join you guys later on," Harold said. "There's some stuff I need to take care of first."
After school, Yugi, Joey, Tea, and Tristan walked towards the registration building.
"Hey, Tea, thanks for going around with Yami last night."
"Yami, so that's his name?"
"Well it's what he wants to be called. But I guess perhaps we should start calling him Pharaoh. I can't believe he was actually an Egyptian king!"
"You're not worried?" Tea asked. "I mean remember when that creep controlling Bandit Keith made off with your Puzzle? You could be in great danger!"
"I'm more worried about the rule that says you have to give up your rarest card if you lose," Yugi said. "I mean in one way, it's exciting, because the winner of the tournament ends up with a deck of the rarest cards to be produced. But on the other hand…" he held out his Dark Magician. "I'd hate to risk my Dark Magician on such a gamble, especially considering all the new rules Kaiba made up. Then again, if I'm to have any hope of recovering Yami's memories and defeating this dark force, I'll have to abide by all of Kaiba's Battle City rules."
This tournament's going to be real risky, Tea thought. But I know we'll make it through together, like we always have.
The group went inside. "I'm here to register for the Battle City Tournament," Yugi told the shopkeeper.
"Ah, yes, you must be Yugi Moto. Just a minute…" the shopkeeper checked something on his computer. "Yes, yes, you have five stars, that's enough to qualify."
"Five stars?" Yugi said shocked.
"Yes, Kaiba Corporation has done extensive background research on all Duelists and have given you a ranking based on past tournament experience. We also have a record of your rarest card. You do realize that you'll be risking your Dark Magician, right?"
I have my doubts about this tournament, Yugi thought. Kaiba already has a huge advantage over the rest of us by knowing what our cards are.
"Here you go," the shopkeeper said handing him a box. "Make sure you keep the contents of this box together, they will be beneficial to you throughout the tournament." Yugi nodded.
"Hey, what about me?" Joey asked sticking his face between them. "I wanna sign up too."
"And you are…?"
"Joey Wheeler, runner-up at Duelist Kingdom."
"Just a minute…" The shopkeeper checked his computer. "It says here that you're only a One Star Duelist, not enough to qualify."
"WHAT?" Joey cried.
"I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so," Tristan said.
"This is an outrage. I have more dueling experience in my pinky than that fruitcake Kaiba has in his entire body!" As Joey continued with his rant, the shopkeeper noticed that his rarest card was the Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
My Master would definitely be interested in this card.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry, it must've been a computer error," the shopkeeper said. "As it turned out, you do have enough stars to qualify."
Joey whooped. "Show me those stars!" He reached for the computer screen but instead got a Duel Disk.
"You do realize you'll be risking your rarest card," the shopkeeper said, his voice betraying a sinister undertone.
"I won't be risking it because I won't lose!" Joey declared.
"Good luck," the shopkeeper said. As Yugi and the gang left, the shopkeeper hit a speed dial on the telephone. "It's me, I have another target…"
Ishizu Ishtar walked into her office, fresh from inspecting the latest batch of artifacts to arrive from Egypt. She straightened some papers on her desk and then put them into a folder.
She cast an eye to a darkened side room. "You can come out now," she said. "I knew you were there."
Avatar stepped from the darkened room. Ishizu scanned him with her eyes, the red shirt with a white diamond, blue stretch pants, white boots, and a red cloak. "How did you know I was here?"
"Let's just say it was woman's intuition," she said. She eyed the arm band on his right wrist. "So that's where it ended up."
"I assume you've heard about the Battle City Tournament," Avatar said.
"What about it?"
"Your summoned Seto Kaiba to a 'private exhibition' and then Kaiba start up this Duel Monsters tournament. And you expect me NOT to think there's a connection?"
Ishizu placed the folder in her desk. "Think whatever you want."
"Kaiba never does anything unless it's beneficial to him. I hardly think he would start this tournament up for the heck of it."
Ishizu sighed and stood up. "Kaiba wishes to regain his title as the Number One Duelist in the Land."
"Thought so," Avatar mumbled.
"But there's another reason, one that I did not tell him."
"And that is?"
"Just like the Pharaoh, the one you call Yugi Moto, Seto Kaiba will receive memories of his past. A past which is intertwined with that of…"
"Of what?"
"The Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
Avatar gasped, "What does the Blue-Eyes White Dragon have to do with all this?"
"That, I'm afraid, is information only Seto Kaiba can receive by himself. Not even my Millennium Necklace can show him the truth."
"I see." And without any more words, Avatar left.
"Hey Joey, want to break in these new Duel Disks?" Yugi offered as evening turned into night.
"Nah, I have to head to the hospital. Serenity's having her operation tomorrow and I promised that I would spend the night with her."
"Tell her we hope she makes a speedy recovery," Yugi said.
"Yeah, I will, see 'ya, guys!"
"I just hope Joey's up to it," Tristan said.
"What do you mean?" Tea asked.
"Joey's mother will also be there, and she and Joey don't get along. But never fear!" Tristan struck a dramatic pose. "As his best friend, I swear that I'll see the Wheeler family reunited!"
"You just want to impress Serenity," Tea said causing Tristan to face-fault.
"Don't worry, Serenity," her mother said. "Everything's going to be all right. I know you're a little bit scared but this Doctor's very good."
"I know, but I would feel a lot better once Joey gets here," Serenity said drawing her knees up against her chest.
"Joseph's coming?"
"He promised me he would be here before the operation."
"Why don't you get some rest, Serenity, I'll wake you up once Joey arrives."
"Okay, thanks, Mom."
As Mrs. Wheeler left Serenity's hospital room, she leaned against the closed door. She was nervous about seeing her son again because she knew that he hated her for separating them up. She only hoped that, when she does see him again, he doesn't turn out to be just like his father.
"Excuse me," a voice said. Mrs. Wheeler turned and saw a boy wearing a blue school uniform. He had scraggly dark hair and eyes. "Is this Serenity Wheeler's room?"
"Yes it is," Mrs. Wheeler confirmed stepping in between him and the door. "Can I ask who you are?"
"Oh, forgive me; I'm Harold Kumara, a friend of Joey's. I just… thought that he would be here."
"No, I'm sorry, he's not here yet."
"Do you mind if I wait until he does arrive?"
"Not at all."
Joey hurried along the streets. "Oh man, why did the trains have to pick tonight to shut down?" Suddenly he slammed into someone and fell to the ground. "What's the big deal?" He looked up at the person he bumped into. It was some guy in a purple cloak wearing a Duel Disk.
"Get up, you pathetic inbred," he said. "And duel me!"
"Look, pal, Battle City isn't for a few more days, now if you excuse me, there's somewhere I need to be." He moved to the side but was confronted by another purple cloaked figure. He moved to the other side but a third purple cloaked figure blocked that way.
"You will duel me for your Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
"What's your problem?" Joey asked.
"Your Red-Eyes Black Dragon is one of a kind," the cloaked figure wearing a Duel Disk said. "And once Rare Hunters zoom in on a rare card, we don't stop until we get it!"
"I don't know who you sleaze balls are, but I've got better stuff to do."
"And now we're going to duel you and take your Red-Eyes Black Dragon!"
Seems like I don't have much of a choice, Joey said opening the box and removing the Duel Disk. "Let's do this!"
"Eject holo-emitters!"
"Duel Tray transform!" Joey took out his new deck. "Scan deck!"
"Life Points set!"
"Let's duel!"
(J: 4000)
(RH: 4000)
"Better get this done quickly," Joey said as he drew a card. "I summon Panther Warrior (2) in attack mode!"
"Then I'll set one monster card in defense mode!"
"I activate the magic card Scapegoat!" Four little sheep of different colors appeared. "Panther Warrior needs a sacrifice to attack, so I choose to sacrifice one of my Scapegoats to have him attack your face-down card!" The humanoid panther in armor swung his sword and destroyed the monster.
"I play a magic card called Graceful Charity!" The Rare Hunter announced. "With this rare magic card, I can draw three cards and discard two." And that's just what he did. "Next, I set another monster in defense mode."
Despite her mother's suggestion, Serenity couldn't sleep. Joey, where are you? She thought.
Outside, Joey's mother was griping to Harold. "Don't get me wrong, I love Joey, it's just that he can be so… rambunctious sometime."
"Don't I know it," Harold said. "But then again, if he wasn't so rambunctious, then Serenity wouldn't have even gotten this chance." Mrs. Wheeler looked at him shocked. "Family means more to Joey than anything in the world. He was willing to duel against incredible odds, even his best friend, to win the prize money for Serenity. You should be lucky, Mrs. Wheeler, not just anyone can raise a son like that."
Mrs. Wheeler seemed to ponder that for a moment. "Yes, I guess I am."
"There's someone out there who needs me," Joey said firmly as he drew a card. "And I won't let some whacko in a Halloween getup keep me from seeing her! I summon Alligator Sword (3) in attack mode! Next, I'll sacrifice another of my Scapegoats so my Panther Warrior could attack. Panther Warrior absorbed another of the sheep and destroyed the face-down card. "Now, according to Battle City rules, when you have no monsters on the field, I can attack your life points directly! Alligator Sword, attack!" The monster swung his sword through the Rare Hunter's Duel Disk.
(J: 4000)
(RH: 2500)
"I just drew another Graceful Charity card. Now I can draw three new cards and discard two! I set another monster in defense mode!"
"Boring," Joey sang. Wait a second, I just remembered another Battle City rule. Since I have two monsters on the field, I can sacrifice them to summon my trump card. "I sacrifice Alligator Sword and Panther Warrior so I can summon my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" The dragon appeared in mid-air and roared.
"Beautiful," the Rare Hunter said. "Your dragon will make a perfect addition to my collection."
"We'll see. Red-Eyes, attack his face-down monster! Inferno Fire Blast!" A fireball destroyed the card. "Oh yeah, I've got this duel in the bag!"
"You fool!" The Rare Hunter insulted. "I've been leading you on the whole time!"
"What?"
"I have just the cards I need to finish you off for good! Now it's time for you to meet the most unstoppable monster ever played! A monster whose very presence shall bring me victory."
"Wait a second, an unstoppable monster… oh no! It can't be!"
"It is! I summon Exodia, the Forbidden One (4)!" Five cards appeared in front of a pentacle star. A huge gold-armored monster with broken chains on its arms and feet appeared.
"No way, it can't be! It's Exodia!" Joey recalled the last time he saw the monster, it was during Yugi's first duel with Kaiba. It was able to beat all three of Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragons.
"Exodia, God Flame, destroy his Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" A huge bolt of energy appeared and totally engulfed the dragon.
(J: 0)
(RH: 2500)
A potted plant in Serenity's room fell over and shattered. Her mother and Harold came running in.
"Serenity, is everything all right?" Her mother asked.
"I'm fine, that plant just fell over."
This is a bad omen, Harold thought.
Serenity was thinking the same thing. "I'm worried about Joey."
"I… I'm sure he probably just forgot."
"No way," Harold said. "Nothing short of death would keep Joey from seeing the one person in the world who means everything to him. I'll go check it out." Harold turned and ran out. I better get Yugi and the others in on this.
"Exodia's the rarest monster I know," Joey commented. "How could you have gotten all five pieces?"
"Rare Hunters thrive on getting rare cards and Exodia's a perfect example." He held up more Exodia cards. "And I've assembled three complete sets."
Serves me right for being cocky, now I know how Kaiba must've felt. Joey started to reach for his dragon card but the Rare Hunters held his arms at bay. "Hey, what's the deal? I'll give you the card."
"You have gazed upon the face of a Rare Hunter. Nobody has ever gazed upon my face and lived." The three then proceeded to beat Joey within an inch of his life.
Suddenly a circle of archaic symbols slammed a Rare Hunter into the side of a building.
"Leave him alone!" Avatar commanded.
"Who are you?" The dueling Rare Hunter asked.
"Who I am is none of your business," Avatar said. "What should be your concern is what I'm going to do to you for that underhanded stunt you pulled on him." He pointed to Joey.
"You fool, you are toying with powers beyond your comprehension," the dueling Rare Hunter said as he and the remaining standing Rare Hunter drew daggers.
"That should be my line," Avatar said. "Now taste the power of my Armlet!" The ring of symbols batted the Rare Hunters around. "This is for Joey."
"Forget him," the dueling Rare Hunter said. "We have what we came for, let's get out of here!" They turned and ran off.
"You're not getting away that easily," Avatar said running after them.
The next morning, Yugi awoke to a phone call. "Hello?"
"Yugi, it's me," Harold said. "Listen, Joey never showed up to the hospital last night."
"Huh? How do you know?"
"Because, I was there too. No time to explain, we need to go search for him."
"Right, have the others been contacted?"
"I already called Tea and I was about to call Tristan."
"I'll call Tristan, you go search the places where Joey might be."
"Right."
Yugi met up with Tea and Tristan and they spread out to search the city.
Avatar leapt across the rooftops, also looking for Joey. After losing the Rare Hunters, he returned to where Joey was but now he was gone.
As he came out of a forest region towards the beach, he finally saw Joey, sitting on the sand, moping from the looks of it.
I found him, I better tell the others. Avatar sought out Tristan who just finished checking his fifteenth alleyway. As Tristan came to the end of the street, Avatar ran out into the middle of the street and halted Tristan.
"Hey, what's your problem, man?" Tristan asked. Avatar said nothing. "Look, I'm trying to find my friend here." Avatar pointed down the street. "Huh? Are you saying you know where Joey is?" Avatar nodded. "Thanks!" Tristan took off in the direction.
Tristan pulled up to the beach where Joey was. "Joey, there you are!" He leapt off. "Everyone has been looking for you. What are you doing here?"
"I… I'm sorry, Serenity," Joey mumbled.
Tristan was annoyed that Joey was ignoring him so he gripped Joey by the collar of his jacket and pulled him up.
"Tristan, what's going on?"
"What do you mean what's going on?" Tristan shouted. "Why are you at the beach when you should be at the hospital with Serenity?" Tristan let go of Joey.
Joey dropped to his hands and knees. He gripped sand. Tristan realized that Joey was doing his hardest not to cry. "I… I can't face her."
"What do you mean?"
"Yesterday, on the way to the hospital, I was attacked by some cloaked guys calling them selves Rare Hunters. They forced me into a duel and totally humiliated me. They beat me up and stole my Red-Eyes Black Dragon."
"And that gives you cause to mope like a little baby? You selfish jerk!" Tristan pulled Joey to his feet again. "You're needed at the hospital."
Joey said a curse word. "This isn't just about the card! Don't you get it? How could I protect my sister when I can't even protect a lousy Duel Monster card? I can't face her."
Tristan had had enough. He slugged Joey so hard that the blond ended up on his back. Fortunately, the sand was able to cushion his fall. "Look, you, I don't care about a lousy card, but there's a girl in that hospital room who's scared to death because the one person who means everything to her is not there! Now you have two choices, you can sit here and whine like the puppy dog you are, or you can go up there, battered, and bruised, and tell her that even though you couldn't make it, you still care about her!"
Joey looked at Tristan shocked, and then he nodded. "You're right, Tristan, I'm sorry."
"Apologize later; right now we need to get to the hospital."
"Any sign of Joey?" Yugi asked as he met up with Tea.
"No," Tea replied.
"I'm worried; the Doctor says he has to go overseas for another operation tonight. We have no time to spare."
A horn sounded from behind him. Tristan sped by, and Yugi and Tea noticed who was sitting behind him.
"It's Joey," Yugi cried happily. "Tristan found him!" The two let out happy cheers and even hugged in jubilation.
At the hospital, Harold and Mrs. Wheeler tried desperately to make Serenity come out but she was taking a powder.
"Let me take care of this, Ma'," Joey said stepping from the elevator.
"Joey!" Mrs. Wheeler gasped upon seeing Joey's disheveled appearance.
Joey went up to the door and gently rapped on it. "Serenity, can we talk?"
"No," was the response from the other side. "I'm too angry with you!"
"I don't blame you, I'm angry with myself," Joey said. "But I owe you an explanation at least. Last night on my way here, some punks cornered me and forced me into a duel. They totally humiliated me though I probably deserved it. They then beat me up and took my favorite card." Joey berated himself, "I must be the lousiest person in the world! But all throughout the duel, I thought about one thing and that was being there for you. But I wasn't, I failed. But I just hope you know that I would never do anything to hurt you, sis, you mean the world to me. And no matter what happens, nothing would break the love I have for you. You're more than my little sister, you're my best friend. And if there's one thing I cherish more than life itself, it's my friends. Serenity, I hope you can forgive me."
The door lock turned and the door opened. Joey and Serenity stood facing each other before Serenity threw herself into his arms. "Oh Joey, I'm so sorry."
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I promise I'll always be there for you, Sis," he said stroking her hair.
"Joseph…"
Joey looked up and spotted his Mother, for the first time in years. "Hey, Ma, it's… good to see you."
"It's good to see you too," Mrs. Wheeler said with a smile. "I'm proud of the man you turned out to be."
Harold and Tristan looked at each other and exchanged a preppy hand shake.
That afternoon, Joey talked to Yugi over the phone. "The operation was a complete success, Yugi."
"That's great, Joey. By the way, those guys who you dueled with last night, did you figure out who they were?"
"No, but once I find them, I'll pay them back for the pain and humiliation they put me through. And I'll get my Red-Eyes Black Dragon card back too."
"All right, see you." As Yugi hung up the phone, he thought, I bet anything those guys were part of the same group that tried to steal my puzzle. And if they were willing to beat someone up just to take a rare card, then what are they willing to do to obtain my Millennium Puzzle?
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Level: 7
Type: Dragon
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2400
DEF: 2000
(2)
Name: Panther Warrior
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2000
DEF: 1700
(3)
Name: Alligator Sword
Level: 4
Type: Reptile
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1200
(4)
Name: Exodia the Forbidden One
Level: 7 (total number of stars on all five cards)
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: X
DEF: X
(Unimportant since having it automatically guarantees victory.)
