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Fanfic Chapter 102: Secret of the Gods.
Episode Basis: Rage of the Egyptian God Cards
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Yugi summoned Slifer the Sky Dragon for the first time since winning it from Strings. The Dragon was enormous it couldn't even fit on the blimp! But Marik was ready with a plan. He had Odion pretended to free Bakura from the Millennium Ring. In Bakura's weakened state, an attack from Slifer would seriously hurt Bakura, maybe even kill him. But at the last minute, the Spirit returned to Bakura's body and basically dared Yugi to attack. Yugi did and won the duel but Bakura was knocked out by the assault. Ouch! More questions rose after the match: why did the spirit allow Yugi to attack? And what happened to the Millennium Ring.
"There will be a twenty minute break before the next set of duels," Roland announced over the PA system.
In her room, Mai went over her deck. Yugi, Joey, and Harold have all gotten a glimpse at my new deck, but I doubt any of the others have. So I should use the cards in my side deck too.
Marik stirred the ice cubes in his drink. So the Spirit of the Millennium Ring failed me. No matter, I still have Odion to use as well as Tea. One way or another, I WILL get what I seek.
Odion was meditating in his room. Something in the back of his mind told him he would be on next.
Yugi and his friends heard the announcement in the hallway.
"Great, we have twenty minutes to find that Millennium Ring," Tristan said.
"But more importantly, we have to get Bakura medical attention," Duke countered.
"Why do you always have to counter my ideas?" Tristan asked, his vane throbbing.
"Not to worry, guys, it's all taken care of," Joey said walking up to them. "They're asking Kaiba right now."
"Who's asking Kaiba?" Yugi asked. "Harold?"
"Actually…" Joey scratched his head embarrassingly. "It's Serenity."
"SERENITY!" Everyone said shocked, but especially Tristan and Duke.
"Not to worry, Harold's with her just in case Rich Boy tries to throw her off the blimp or something."
"What kind of a man would I be if I allowed a girl to walk in the face of danger without adequate protection?" Duke asked striking a dramatic pose.
"Uh… it's only Kaiba," Yugi pointed out.
"I must be at her side!" And Duke took off.
"Oh no, you don't, I promised to be at her side," Tristan argued as they took off in a race.
"Joey, are you sure it was a good idea to let Serenity go off on her own like that?" Yugi asked.
"Actually it was her idea."
"Wow, your sister is certainly brave," Yugi said.
"Hey, she is MY sister. Now come on, let's make sure Beavis and Butthead don't start a civil war with my sister as the battlefield." The two took off following their hot-headed comrades.
Serenity and Harold were talking to Mokuba. "Please, Mokuba, we need to speak to your brother, do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, I know where he is," Mokuba said motioning to the door marked #1 behind him. "But I'd think twice before knocking on it."
"Is he sleeping or something?" Harold asked.
"He's preparing for his duels and he doesn't like being disturbed. Our butler once interrupted Seto while he was working, haven't seen him in over three months."
"But it's a matter of life and death!" Serenity pleaded. "Can't you at least ask him if we could talk to him?"
"What's going on out here?" Kaiba stood towering over Mokuba, having exited from his room.
"Sorry to disturb you, Seto, but they were insistent about speaking with you."
"Go on," Harold whispered giving Serenity a nudge forward.
Serenity gulped and looked directly at Kaiba, a bold move in itself. "Kaiba, Bakura is hurt, your doctors said so. Could you please land the blimp so he could get some medical attention?"
"Bakura shouldn't have been out of the hospital in the first place," Kaiba scolded. "He brought it on himself."
"Please, Kaiba, just show a little bit of compassion. I know you don't like us, but you don't want anyone to die, do you?" Kaiba was silent but the shadow of an emotion appeared in his eyes. "Do you?" Serenity asked again.
Kaiba turned and went into his room. He went up to the porthole. "Look outside," he commanded. Serenity and Harold did so and saw the ocean.
"Gyah, we're over the ocean!"
"Nothing gets by you, Kumara," Kaiba said sarcastically. "Even if I were to order an unscheduled landing, we're in the middle of the ocean and this blimp, despite being more advanced than some battleships, can not float. And we don't have the fuel reserves to double back to Domino."
"So there's no hope for Bakura?" Serenity asked, her head lowering remorsefully.
"Kaiba Corp. medical facilities are some of the best in the world," Mokuba pointed out. "Bakura's in good hands."
"I don't think they're that good," Kaiba amended. He turned to stare out the window. "When we reach our destination, I'll send word for a helicopter to come pick him up. There are casualties in battle, but even the dead have to be carried off the battlefield."
"Thank you, Kaiba, thank you so much," Serenity said bowing deeply.
"Serenity, are you all right?" Duke asked as the others joined the two outside Kaiba's room with Mokuba. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"
"Are you kidding? Joey, your sister here stood up to Kaiba, a heroic feat in itself. And Kaiba told us that he would send a medical copter for Bakura once we land."
"That's good news," Yugi said. "Good job, Serenity."
"I'm proud of you, Serenity," Joey said patting her shoulders. Serenity blushed.
Duke took Serenity's hands in his own. "Serenity, your bravery and fearlessness in the face of overwhelming odds have spurred my heart!"
"Give me a break," Mokuba groaned.
"You can choose the ones you love, but you can't choose the ones who love you," Harold quoted. From the shake of his head, he felt the same as Mokuba.
"Hey guys, we still have to find that Millennium Ring," Tristan reminded them. "Leave it to me and Duke, you three have to concentrate on the next round." Tristan dragged Duke off by the ear.
"Come on, Serenity," Joey said.
"Okay," Serenity agreed.
"See you later, Yugi," Harold said.
"Later, Harold," Yugi returned.
Harold turned to Mokuba, "Hey Mokuba, thanks. And thank your brother again for us too."
"No problem, believe me, I don't want to see Bakura get in worse shape any more than you guys do."
"Yeah, I know. Say Mokuba, is there any place where I can get a drink?"
"Sure, there's a vending machine around the corner, just use your card to get it."
"Okay, thanks." Harold followed Mokuba's instructions. As he slid the card into the slot, he was unaware of a shadow creeping across the hallway and around the corner.
"Harold?"
Harold turned and saw Amara standing there. She removed her Duel Disk. "Amara, I was wondering where you disappeared to, you missed a whale of a duel."
"Not all of it, I saw the giant red serpent thingie."
"Oh, you mean Slifer the Sky Dragon, that's Yugi's Egyptian God Card."
Amara's eyes bugged out. "You mean THAT'S an Egyptian God Card?"
"Yeah, you've heard of it?"
"Only that they're the rarest cards in the world and people would resort to great measures to get them. I've even heard one guy was killed because he had an Egyptian God Card."
Harold began to worry for Yugi's safety. "Really, who was it that was killed?"
"I forget, some sort of Egyptian Scholar. Anyway, I'm getting off track. I just wanted to say… well… I'm sorry for what I said during our duel, I wasn't aware of how much Serapheem meant to you."
"Oh, it's all right, I guess I overreacted too. Serapheem was given to me by a very good friend of mine. I hate it when people put down other's objects. Anyway, it's all good."
"That's good. You know, you did some pretty sweet moves back there, especially with that little Hoshiningen, I was wondering if… well… would you give me some pointers so I could be ready for the next Duel Monsters tournament."
"Sure, I'll teach you everything I learned from Yugi."
"Perfect."
Joey and Duke were on top of the blimp looking over every inch of it for the Millennium Ring.
"There's nothing up here but hot air," Duke complained. "And most of it is coming from you."
"Listen you, you're getting too close to Serenity and I don't like it!"
"Hey, I can't help it if women are always falling for me."
"Seems like the other way around. Back off from her!"
"You're not even a Duelist," Duke pointed out. "You probably hadn't dueled in your life, but girls like men of action, like mois."
"I'll show you action!" Tristan turned and let loose a wild left hook which Duke dodged.
"Oh so you want to mix it up? Fine, I'm ready," Duke said. Tristan charged Duke and gave him a couple of wild punches all of which Duke dodged. "You know, Tristan, I sort of expected this kind of behavior from Joey, but you're the last person who should be "protecting" Serenity."
"Well I'm one of them!" Duke allowed Tristan to come in close then elbow him in the stomach sending him to the other side of the dueling platform.
"You know, Harold's been hitting on Serenity too," Duke pointed out.
"He'll get his just as soon as I…" Tristan charged forward but tripped over his own feet and crashed into Duke sending both of them over the edge. Only by Tristan grabbing onto the edge with one hand and Duke with the other was he able to prevent their watery demise. "Hang on, Duke!"
"No, I was thinking of letting go and falling to my doom," Duke said sarcastically.
"Don't worry, I have a plan. Hey, somebody help!"
"That's your plan?"
"If you have any better ideas now's the time to share them."
"Uh… good point, hey, help!" Tristan and Duke started calling for help. Just as Tristan's fingers gave away, a hand reached out and grabbed his wrist. Tristan looked up to see a dark-skinned guy in cloak and turban pulling them to safety.
Once back on the dueling platform, Duke and Tristan collapsed from relief. "Phew, thanks, man, I don't know what we would've…" When Tristan looked up, the guy was gone. "Where'd he go?"
"Where'd who go?"
"The guy who helped us up."
"I didn't see anyone, I had my eyes shut."
Tristan groaned and collapsed onto the deck.
In his cabin, Yugi had dismantled his deck and laid the cards out on the table with Slifer in the middle. He picked up the God Card. Well, I won my first duel, he thought. And it was all thanks to this, but I'm still a little hesitant about using it. After all, there are two more God Cards out there and who knows, Slifer might be the weakest of them all. Yugi glanced out the window and saw the reflection of a dark-skinned guy in cloak and turban sitting in a nearby chair. When he turned around, the guy was still there.
The recognition was instantaneous. "I know you!" Yugi said.
"Powerful, evil forces have threatened to emerge, threatening to send everything into chaos as it had done in ancient times. And only the Chosen One, he who solved the Millennium Puzzle, can save it."
"Wait, can you tell me anything else about this?"
"Take care and be on your guard, for whoever has taken Pegasus's Millennium Eye will also be after yours."
"That's almost too scary to think about." The Egyptian turned and walked down the stairs. "Hey wait; I still have lots of questions! Like… who are you?"
"I have never revealed my name to anyone. I am Shadi, Guardian of the Millennium Items. I am certain we will meet again."
"You're Shadi!"
"You have learned much since Duelist Kingdom, Yugi," Shadi commented. "I must say I am impressed."
Yugi nodded, "I've learned a few things, like how the Spirit of the Millennium Puzzle was actually once an Egyptian Pharaoh and how he stopped the Shadow Games from threatening to destroy humanity! But… there's still so much I do not know. Like… I'm pretty sure the Pharaoh lost someone, someone really important, long ago, but it's all in bits and pieces." He looked down at his puzzle with a small smile. "Almost like a puzzle. Marik says that he wants the Egyptian God Cards and the Millennium Puzzle so he could obtain the powers of the Pharaoh, can he do that?"
"He can, he already possesses a Millennium Item. However, as per the ancient rules, the Millennium Item can only be won in the Shadow Game, the same goes for the Egyptian God Cards."
"How do they fit in all this?" Yugi asked.
I will tell you, when Pegasus first came to Egypt, he was seeking a way to bring back his lost love. It was soon after that he met me and I gave him the Millennium Eye. I did not know it at the time, but he was destined to receive it. Soon after that, he discovered the Shadow Games and sought to resurrect them for modern times.
However, Pegasus did not know his own limits and unleashed a power beyond his control.
"The Egyptian God Cards," Yugi realized. Shadi nodded.
Pegasus learned about the Egyptian God Cards from a fellow Egyptologist and set out to discover the stone depicting them. His search was fruitless until he called upon me to show him. With a recording crew, we descended deep into the lair where he and I first met, the Pharaoh's tomb that has been guarded by a family for centuries. Pegasus was suspicious at the ease of the trip and rightfully so, for the tomb had been guarded for centuries and it seemed strange that it would be so easy to get into. But I used my Millennium Key to shield us from the sight of all the guards and took him to the chamber that contained the stone depicting the three Egyptian God Cards.
"This is it; this is the key to unlocking the powers of the three Egyptian God monsters!"
Triumphant, Pegasus returned to America and started to transform the Egyptian God images into cards. I knew he would be the one to awaken the Egyptian Gods, the Millennium Key had showed me. But I did not know if he could control it.
Eventually, tragedy struck.
"What do you mean they're gone?"
"Mister Pegasus, sir, everyone assigned to the God Card project is dead, they met with suspicious accidents. Sir, you must stop producing the God Cards before you're next!"
"No, no, I refuse to back out now! I've come too far!"
Pegasus retreated to his study to finish the God Card prototypes. But he should've heeded his manservant's warning, for the attack of the Egyptian Gods came worse for him. He dreamt of a burning city with the Egyptian God Cards hovering over it. I appeared to him.
"I tried to warn you, you unleashed a dangerous force far beyond your comprehension, now your meddling could put the whole world in danger!"
"No, you're wrong! I was able to contain their great power!"
"You're only hope is to return the God Cards to their rightful resting place or suffer the same fate as your cohorts."
Pegasus finally understood. He took the Egyptian God Cards to Egypt where he met Ishizu Ishtar. Ishizu agreed to seal the God Cards away.
"But there's more to the story," Shadi said. "Soon after, thieves started to attempt to steal the Egyptian God Cards."
"The Rare Hunters," Yugi concluded.
"That is what I believe too. Marik sent his Rare Hunters to try to steal them."
"This part of the story I know," Yugi confirmed. "Ishizu tried to get them to a safe hiding place but was only able to retrieve one."
"Yes. She tried passing on the card to her superiors but tragedy befalls all who are not worthy." Yugi gulped at that ominous warning. "The Egyptian God Cards can grant Marik great power, but they can also return the Pharaoh's memories to him. Much can be gained, but much can be lost as well."
The Millennium Puzzle glowed and Yami emerged. "Rest assure, I will not let Marik possess the Egyptian God Cards."
Shadi immediately genuflected, "My Pharaoh, it is an honor to be in your presence once again. You are the only one who can stop Marik's dark quest."
"Will the remaining finalists please report to the main concourse for the next duels?" Yami-Yugi scowled at the PA box and turned to look at Shadi.
But he was gone just as he appeared.
Little Yugi emerged, "Let's go," he said.
Yami nodded, "We have everything to gain from these finals, but everything to lose." He left his room.
Outside, Tristan was telling Joey and Serenity about his and Duke's "encounter."
"And then we were saved by some freaky guy in a robe but he vanished. You saw him, right, Duke?"
"Well I didn't actually see the guy," Duke admitted. "But someone did have to pull us up so I guess it's possible."
"Oh come on, guys," Joey said nervously. "You're just having fun with me, right?"
"What if it was a ghost?" Serenity offered.
"Ghosts don't exist," Joey said, now more nervous.
"Looks like somebody has the creepy crawlies," Amara said leaning against the wall.
"No, not me," Joey said, then almost jumped out of his clothes as Yami-Yugi put a hand on his shoulder. "Sheesh, don't startle me like that, Yug."
"You might be dueling next," Yami-Yugi pointed out.
Joey took several deep breaths. "Right, well, let's get this over with." Everyone turned and headed off.
The Tenth Duelist sat staring out the window.
"You are deep in thought," come Shadi's voice.
"Shadi! It has been a long time."
"It indeed has, I am investigating a break in the mystical alignment."
"No doubt caused…" She lowered her head in shame. "I should've heeded your warning long ago."
"Yes, but now is not the time to lament. The three God Cards are on this ship, the outcome of this tournament will decide the fate of all."
"But… what can I do?"
"You already know the answer."
"But is it the right thing?"
"You will be a big help to the bearer of the Millennium Rod."
"The Millennium Rod…" She muttered. When she looked up, Shadi was gone.
She really wasn't surprised.
In Bakura's room, Tea, under the control of Marik, sat by Bakura's bedside holding the Millennium Ring.
I'll keep a hold on the Millennium Ring for now as well as occasional control over Tea's mind.
Unknown to Marik, Shadi was also in the room. His Millennium Key was obscuring him from Tea's view just as it shielded Pegasus and his team from the guards' view so long ago. The break in the alignment is strongest in this room, he thought. The destinies of certain Millennium Items are being manipulated. And until harmony is restored, I fear the whole world may be in danger!
The End
