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Fanfic Chapter 113: Dueling Darkness Pt 1: Self-Destruction
Episode Basis: Showdown in the Shadows Pt 1

Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Ishizu revealed the secret history of Marik's dark side, how it was planted when Marik received the Tomb-Keeper's Initiation. And how it was this Dark Marik who, generated by his desire to escape his subterranean lair and see the outside world, killed Marik's father. Dark Marik was ready to do the same to Ishizu and Odion but Odion was able to suppress the dark side until it re-emerged during Odion's duel with Joey. Joey and Kevin weren't able to let Marik off that easily. Joey even got so upset that he gave Harold a verbal groin kick. Meanwhile, Yami-Marik was ready to do away with Odion when Yami-Bakura intervened. But this time, Yami-Marik would have more to deal with than just the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. Marik's original persona was also along for the ride. The spirits agreed to duel for the Millennium Rod. Now the question isn't 'who wins' but 'who do you WANT to win?'


It was night time on Kaiba's blimp. Yugi was asleep with his Millennium Puzzle resting on the pillow besides him. Joey's room was crowded because it contained not only Joey but Tristan and Duke as well. Joey and Tristan were sharing the bed (even though it was a single) and Duke was set up on a set of end tables that were put together.

In Mai's room, Kevin had fallen asleep on the side of Mai's bed. Odion was still unconscious, and Ishizu and Amara slept calmly in their rooms.

Harold, on the other hand, was still up. Ever since he left Mai's room after Joey's gut-punching insult, he couldn't be able to sleep.

I know I don't have any family, Harold thought. But what I don't know is why? Who would be so heartless enough to leave a child with no memory as to his past?


On the top of the blimp, Yami-Marik and Yami-Bakura prepared to face off in a Shadow Duel. "The loser of this duel will pay the ultimate price," Yami-Marik said. Yami-Bakura just laughed. "You won't be laughing when you're banished to the Shadow Realm!"

"I say you will be the one who's going to the Shadow Realm!"

"You forget, I saw your deck and dueling strategies when you dueled Yugi, but you were unconscious so you didn't see Ra in action when I played it in. You have no idea how to play it… or do you? I forget, you have the experience of my weaker self to call upon."

"That's right, and he knows your dueling strategies inside and out. He is, after all, your other half."

Those fools have no idea, Yami-Marik thought. Since my duel with Mai, I changed most of the cards in my deck. "I am complete even without him."

"I do know that you have Ra in your deck."

"That doesn't mean you know how to stop it."

That fool obviously doesn't know who he's dealing with or what I'm really capable of. "Before we start, there's someone who would like to have a few words with you."

Normal Marik emerged. "I will win my body back," he told his dark side. "And do you know why? Because destiny is on my side."

"I control your fate now," Yami-Marik declared. "And soon I'll obtain the power of the Pharaoh for myself!"

Power of the Pharaoh, what does he mean? Yami-Bakura wondered.

"While I was occupying Tea's mind, I heard Ishizu's story about how you were born. How you killed our father and started me on a path towards destruction. I promise I will make you pay for what you've done!"

"I was born from your rage, your jealousy, and your hatred! That makes you just as guilty."

"You are perhaps right, but I vow from now on to make up for all my transgressions!"

This is very heartwarming, Yami-Bakura thought but was itching to get dueling.

Odion shielded me from the truth and for years I thought it was that stranger who approached Ishizu and I in the plaza who destroyed father. But now I know better.

"It's too late to do anything about it now," Yami-Marik said.

"No it is not, once I win, I'll have my revenge!"

"Wrong, without me you wouldn't even exist!"

He's been keeping something from me, Yami-Bakura realized. "I hate to interrupt this entertaining conversation, but if you want my help, it'll cost you."

"I know, I know, once we win, I'll give you the Millennium Rod."

"That was our old deal. What's this about the power of the Pharaoh? Is there a magic stronger than the seven Millennium Items? What secrets are you keeping from me?"

"I'll tell you everything when we win."

I don't trust him, Yami-Bakura thought. But he needs me to complete his revenge so he wouldn't deceive me just yet. "Fine. It's time to duel!"

Yami-Marik laughed and raised his Millennium Rod, bridging their dueling field with the Shadow Realm. "Let the Shadow Game begin! In this duel, the Shadow Realm will devour the player as they lose life points." The two activated their Duel Disks and cried out, "Let's duel!"

(B: 4000)
(M: 4000)

"I'll go first," Yami-Bakura said drawing a card. He smiled a cold, malicious smile, "already my cards are showing you no mercy. I place one card face-down and summon Goblin Zombie (1) in attack mode!"

"I'll also play a card face-down," Yami-Marik said. "I summon Drillago (2) in attack mode! Attack his Goblin Zombie now!"

"You activated my trap card, Fearful Earthbound!" A mound of sharp teeth rose up around Yami-Marik.

"This card will make you lose 500 life points whenever you attack," Marik explained. Despite this, Goblin Zombie was still destroyed.

(B: 3500)
(M: 4000)

Yami-Bakura watched in horror as a piece of his arm disappeared.

"I play Remove Trap to destroy your Fearful Earthbound," Yami-Marik said. "Soon the darkness will feed on your soul for all eternity!"

If Yami-Bakura was impressed, he didn't show it. "I know quite well how the Shadow Realm works," he said ignoring the mass less serpents that encircled him. "Besides, you're the one who will be sent to the Shadow Realm."

"There's no way you can win as long as I control the Winged Dragon of Ra."

"Then I guess I'll just have to remedy that."


As Yugi slept, he was unaware that the Millennium Puzzle besides him was activating.


Yugi found himself inside a play room filled with toys and games. "Huh, where am I?" He wondered. "This place looks familiar." Yugi opened a door and saw a larger, darker, more mysterious-looking door across the "hall." "Now I remember, this is the bridge of my mind and over there is the door to Yami's side! I've been there before." He opened the door.

The inside was like an M.C. Escher painting.. Stairways led everywhere and nowhere. There were doors at abnormal angles. It was like one big maze.

"Is something wrong?" Yugi jumped, Yami was behind him.

"Oh, you scared me, Yami."

"Sorry. You seem troubled."

"It feels like things have been getting out of hand lately," Yugi said. "And it seems like the danger is growing."

Yami agreed, "As we get closer to our destiny, the more the danger grows."

"I think I'm beginning to understand why this place is so complex. All the confusing paths represent the mysteries of your past and the questions surrounding our future. I'm sure that one day, we'll figure them all out."


"None of your moves surprise me," Yami-Marik said "Don't forget, I saw your entire deck during your duel."

If that's true, then he'll probably expect me to play my Destiny Board or Dark Sanctuary. Boy will he be in for a surprise. "You have only one monster on the field," he pointed out. "Even if you have Ra in your hand, you won't be able to summon it just yet. You need three monsters to sacrifice first so I have some time."

"Ra is no threat," Marik commented.

"Keep quiet, I have a plan."

"But I know the secret to Ra."

"Quit stalling!" Yami-Marik shouted.

"Thanks," Yami-Bakura told Marik. But if my scheme works, you could lose part of your body."

"I'll risk it."

"I place two cards face-down and summon Gernia (3) in defense mode."

"My move now," Yami-Marik said as he drew a card. He scowled. I still don't have Ra yet, but this magic card might help. "I play Card of Sanctity. Card of Sanctity requires us to draw until we're each holding six cards." He drew two cards. "No, nothing!"

"Still didn't get what you want?" Yami-Bakura asked, amused at Yami-Marik's angered expression. "Well I'll do you a favor and activate my trap card Multiple Destruction. This trap card forces us to discard our entire hand and draw five cards. But for me, it costs 100 points for each card I discard."

(B: 2900)
(M: 4000)

A part of Yami-Bakura's other arm disappeared.

Why is this fool destroying himself? Yami-Marik wondered.


Yugi and Yami sat on one of the many stairways inside the room. "Remember what happened the last time you were here?" Yami asked.

"I sure do," Yugi confirmed. "Shadi appeared and tried to read your mind with his Millennium Key. But even he couldn't find anything."

Yami nodded, "I've been up and down these stair cases many times and I'm still no closer to finding out the truth than I started with."

"Shadi hasn't given up yet," Yugi said. "That's why he appeared to us here on the blimp. And remember what Marik said?"

Yami nodded now, "He said that the key to the Pharaoh's power is imprinted on his back. Perhaps we can use the power to discover the truth."

Yugi nodded, "I promise to help you in any way I can, Yami."

"I do as well." The two shook on it.


"Now I sacrifice Gernia to summon my Puppet Master (4). Puppet Master has a special ability it can summon three monsters from my graveyard for a small price of 1000 life points."

(B: 1900)
(M: 4000)

Earthbound Spirit, Goblin Zombie, and Headless Knight appeared and parts of Yami-Bakura's torso started to fade.

"Too bad you can't attack with them this turn," Yami-Marik said.

"Who said I was planning on attacking with them? I activate the magic card Dark Designator."

"So you can move a card from my deck to my hand… wait, are you?"

"You guessed it, the card I'm choosing to move into your hand is your Egyptian God Card: the Winged Dragon of Ra!" The card appeared in Yami-Marik's hand. "Soon it will be mine."

Yami-Marik laughed, "I'm onto your plan and I'm sure it will fail!"

"Well if you're onto my plan, then you must know what my face-down card is." Yami-Marik was quiet. "Don't want to tell, huh? All right then, I'll show you. Reveal face-down card: the magic card Exchange! Now we can each take a card from each other's hand."

"You want my Egyptian God Card," Yami-Marik grumbled as he walked across the field to Yami-Bakura. He handed the Spirit of the Millennium Ring the card.

"Just so there's no hard feelings, you can take a card from my hand."

Yami-Marik took the magic card Monster Reborn. Monster Reborn should do nicely.

"Don't be so upset," Yami-Bakura said. "You'll see your precious Winged Dragon soon enough."

"You may have the Winged Dragon of Ra, but you can't control it, for you don't know the ancient text."

"But I do," Marik said appearing again. "I can speak the ancient text and control the Winged Dragon of Ra."

Yami-Marik laughed and looked at Yami-Bakura, "What's wrong, can't you duel without running to your little friend?"

"I got the card, he can read it," Yami-Bakura simply said.

"One more turn before the Winged Dragon of Ra casts my dark self into the Shadow Realm!"

To Be Continued


Duel Monster Database

(1)
Name: Goblin Zombie
Level: 3
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1100
DEF: 800

(2)
Name: Drillago
Level: 4
Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1100

(3)
Name: Gernia
Level: 4
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1200

(4)
Name: Puppet Master
Level: 6
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 0
DEF: 0