Shayla's Story 3: Into The Virtual World

by Gema J. Gall

Continuing Shayla's Story into the virtual world. Has everything y'all love duels, Millennial Items, action, drama, suspense, POF...

16. Hearts in Darkness

AN/ Authoress license used with the Kaiba/Joe duel. TBR

The group headed back to the hospital wing, but Shayla hung back. When she was sure they weren't noticing her, she turned down a different hall and set out to find Ishizu again. She had too many questions she needed answered, and Ishizu was the only one she knew who might be able to provide those answers.

She had just disappeared from that hallway to the left when Ishizu entered it through the other end. About three seconds later, Téa emerged from the hospital wing, looking down both sides of the hall. She had just realized Shayla had not entered with them, and was looking for the blind girl.

"Téa?" asked Ishizu, a bit surprised.

"Oh, hello," greeted Téa, equally surprised. "Have you seen Shayla?"

"Not recently," answered Ishizu. "But I wish to speak to you for a moment."

"What is it, Ishizu?" asked Téa.

"It's Shayla," answered Ishizu. "Something has changed about her since this morning. I have seen her once, and she seemed very distant. What happened this morning?"

"That's a long explanation," said Téa with a shudder, remembering the prior experience in the virtual world. She noticed Ishizu's expression, so continued. "But we all went through it together, so I don't see why Shayla would act differently about it…at least any different from us…oooh…" Her eyes went wide.

"What is it?"

"Well…Shayla wasn't with us…She was Gozaburo's prisoner…."

"I see…Is there more?"

"Well…we sorta…forgot she was trapped in the virtual world with us," said Téa, a bit ashamed.

"Does she know this?"

"I don't see how she could…"

"…She seems…lonely. Are you sure she doesn't know?"

Téa paused for a moment, trying to figure it out. When she finally answered, she answered slowly. "If…she did…aww man, she probably feels totally abandoned."

Ishizu nodded slowly.

"I'll go talk with her," said Téa.

"Thank you."

Before Téa could follow that course of action her eyes went blank and distant, completely glazed over. The pupil was gone. The muscles in her upper back and shoulders went limp.

"Téa?" asked Ishizu.

"Sister, it's me," came Marik's voice out of her mouth. He had managed to maintain control of her since he first took control of her. Téa never broke free like Joe did, and now Téa was the only way Marik could get free enough from his dark side to speak.

"Marik!" gasped Ishizu, softly. "It's been so long…"

"I don't have much time left."

"I knew you we're getting weaker as your dark side grows stronger. It's been so long since we were able to talk…"

"I know sister. Every time he harms someone, his powers grow as I fade. If he wins the next duel, I will cease to exist entirely."

"Marik! No!"

"I must do something while I still have the strength. I must confront my dark side and try to regain control of my body."

"Marik! Please!" pleaded Ishizu.

"It's too late," replied Marik, turning around in Téa's body and running down the halls to the right, to the exit of the airship. He glanced back. "Please take care of Odion!"

"Marik!" protested Ishizu, but he was gone. Deep creases of worry spread across her forehead.

The noise outside caused someone else to be curious. Kevin Hunter popped his head out of the hospital wing. "Did I hear yelling?"

"Kevin?" asked Ishizu, a bit surprised.

"Where did Téa go?"

Ishizu looked away, uncertain of how to answer.

"I'll go find her," answered Kevin, not noticing Ishizu's demeanor. He smiled dreamily and walked down the hall and turned left.

"Marik…I will not lose you," thought Ishizu, walking down the corridor and turning right.

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Shayla knocked on Ishizu's door, and was surprised when she got no answer.

"Where could she be? Ishizu has so seldom left her room… I guess I had come to depend on her being here…but I shouldn't be expecting it. Ishizu does have a life besides helping me…"

Still, Shayla stood there for a moment. She was really searching for an answer to all the visions she had been having. Without Ishizu, Shayla did not know who to go to for answers. She really did feel lost in the world of magic she had been submerged into.

"Shayla?" called a voice, breaking her thoughts.

"Oh, hello Kevin," replied Shayla, turning her head so she could best hear him approach.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Kevin replied. "Have you seen Téa?"

"No. I haven't," answered Shayla, very dryly, causing Kevin to instantly realize his mistake.

"Sorry about that," said Kevin, rubbing the back of his head bashfully. "I sometimes forget you're…you know…blind…because you're so graceful."

"Oh?" murmured Shayla, sensing the flirting but not taking it seriously.

"Yes, of course!" Kevin instantly responded. He stepped closer to her. "I mean, you're really nice, when you're not being shy, and you're prett—."

"What is going on here?" demanded Kaiba, walking down the hall.

"Eep!" exclaimed Kevin.

"Oh, hello Kaiba," greeted Shayla.

"None of that answers my question," replied Kaiba, staring pointedly at Kevin.

Kevin coughed a few times and managed to squeak out, "I'm looking for Téa! Bye!" He scampered down the hall as fast as he could without running.

Shayla merely stood there. She was about at her limit for surprises for the time being. Like anyone else who reached this limit, a sort of apathy was beginning to set in. Her friends acting stranger than normal was not one of her biggest concerns at the moment.

"Was he bothering you?" asked Kaiba, semi-coldly.

"No, not really. I was just searching for Ishizu," replied Shayla.

Kaiba was still glaring daggers down the corridor where Kevin fled. "That mouse has some nerve!"

"Kaiba?" asked Shayla, puzzled by his silence. She could still feel tension coming from him and guessed he was still sore about losing.

"Tell her!" a voice practically shouted in Kaiba's ear. He shook his head. "Absolutely not! This is not the time. I was hoping to tell her once I regained my crown, but now…"

"Never mind…" Kaiba muttered. "What was that mouse doing here anyways?"

"Kevin? Looking for Téa," answered Shayla.

"Nothing else?"

"No. What brings you here?"

"I was looking for you. I need more information about the stowaway."

"Rudy?"

"Whatever," replied Kaiba. "I haven't found him anywhere. Regardless, his presence here is inexcusable."

"What does it have to do with me?"

"You're the only one who knows about him. How did he get here? Why is he here? What does he look like?"

Shayla merely hung her head and let out an exasperated sigh at the last question.

"Er…sorry…"

"I don't know anything about him, actually," answered Shayla. "He showed up during Battle City when someone was trying to cheat me…And then he just kept appearing at the weirdest times."

"He's been…following you?"

"Well, yeah. He promised me he'd always be around to protect me."

"He what!" exclaimed Kaiba, jealousy shooting through the roof.

"He promised…" replied Shayla, a bit taken back by Kaiba's outburst.

Kaiba's hand were both clenched into tight fists. His left eye twitched once. Kaiba was momentarily grateful that Shayla couldn't see that. "He sounds like a stalker, you need to stay away from him!"

"I don't sense anything dark like that in him," replied Shayla.

"Don't you start on that stuff!" exclaimed Kaiba. "But she can't lie…"

"I trust Rudy," continued Shayla, calmer than she thought she could be. "Luther always said that I was a good judge of character, if I could trust myself more."

"Luther!" Kaiba couldn't help but exclaim. "Hunter is flirting with her, Rudy is stalking her, and she's still hung up on her old boyfriend! What am I thinking, she's not interested in me."

"Luther taught me a lot about people, and about myself," Shayla answered, a bit distantly.

Kaiba looked at her and lost the words he was going to say. At that moment he could pick up on the same emotion Ishizu had sensed in Shayla, loneliness. At that moment, he wanted to help her. Shayla had her head tilted slightly down, her hair falling into her face, and Seto suddenly felt the urge to embrace her.

"What is going on with me!" he wondered. "I see…I have things to do…" He started walking down the halls.

"Kaiba, wait," called Shayla.

He stopped, but said nothing.

"I…want to apologize about earlier."

"Apologize about what?"

"When I went off on you after the missile hit. I was stressed…I never should have taken it out on you. I know what I said was true, but that doesn't mean I should have said it when and how I did. I'm sorry."

"Forget about it," he said, walking away again. He was almost eager to leave. "Oh my gosh…I'm jealous!" He grit his teeth and shook his head, vanishing around the corner.

"That seemed almost…normal compared to everything else," muttered Shayla. Follow him. That idea hit her so fast she was surprised by it.

"Why would I want to follow him?" she asked herself. She pursued this thought a bit further. "His attitude has been driving me nuts since Battle City began. It seems so contradictory. I want to know why… Geh! Why do I always seem to be thinking about him?" She turned and walked down the other corridor.

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Yami Marik was sulking around on the tournament level of the duel tower. Despite the upcoming duel against his target, he was clearly not happy. His face was twitching with pent up frustration.

"Show me what you showed Kaiba and the pharaoh!" he shouted at the Millennial Rod.

Nothing happened. The Millennial Rod merely glistened in the sunlight, but that was not a magic glimmer. The rod was not going to recreate the flashback it created for Kaiba and Yami, not for this evil spirit. It was the same surge of power from the rod and god cards that caused Shayla's major flashback as well. But Yami Marik was not to be part of that.

"Grrr!" Yami Marik threw the Millennial Rod down out of frustration. It skittered several feet across the surface of the duel arena.

It came to a stop at the feet of a person who had entered silently, while Yami Marik was ranting to himself. She bent down and picked up the discarded rod. She held it with crossed arms, with the rod, head up, beside her own face. The eye of Horus on the rod was watching Yami Marik.

"Hey! That's mine!" protested Yami Marik, turning around and facing the newcomer. "Give it back, Téa! You can't use it!"

Téa said nothing. The eye of Horus flared. A burst of raw magic power knocked Yami Marik off of his feet, back into the railing. He winced slightly, standing back up to his full height.

He glowered across the duel arena at Téa, looking passed her vacant eyes.

"I see, this is where you've been hiding," he growled to his light soul. "You've taken refuge in the mind of this girl."

"That's right," came Marik's voice from Téa's body. "And now it's my job to stop you from doing any more harm!"

"You? Stop me?" laughed Yami Marik. "Fool! I am you! You no longer exist! You're nothing but a shadow now, one of my memories! And soon, the power of the pharaoh will be mine!"

"I'm not going to let them happen," said Marik, in a low tone. He held out the Millennial Rod at arm's length, head point at Yami Marik. He then walked toward Yami Marik, forcing his dark soul to walk backward to avoid a potential point blank blast from the rod.

He had only taken a few steps backward when his back hit the railing. Yami Marik's violet-grey eyes quickly darted behind him. The railing was the only thing that prevented him from a multiple story plunge into the scrap metal below. Marik stood directly in front of him (in Téa's body) with the Millennial Rod in his dark side's face.

"I'm going to force you over the side," Marik said. "Then you'll be gone and never hurt anyone again!"

"You fool! You'll destroy your own body! You'll die too!" snapped Yami Marik, stalling for time.

"It's a price I am more than willing to pay."

"You always were a weak fool," glowered Yami Marik. "Look at yourself! You're hiding inside this pathetic human girl! You're nothing without Odion!"

"Odion…" murmured Marik, emotionally.

Yami Marik took this hesitation and used it to his full advantage. He grabbed the Millennial Rod and jerked it forward. Marik was still holding tightly to it and stumbled. Yami Marik then grabbed Téa's wrist. He pushed Téa's body so she (and Marik) were thrown into the railing which jammed into their gut. Yami Marik twirled the rod and caught it easily, now pointing it at Téa/Marik's head.

"Now it's your turn!" exclaimed Yami Marik.

Yami Marik swung the Millennial Item, intent on pushing Téa and Marik both off of the roof. Marik did some very quick thinking. He grabbed onto the upper railed and forced Téa's body into a handstand, balanced on the pole. One hand then shot around the other and grabbed the bar, turning his handstand into a one-eighty. As the rod swept down towards him, he pushed against the bar, launching himself into the air. He landed expertly behind Yami Marik.

However, that didn't mean that Yami Marik didn't have any moves of his own. He whirled around, already preparing the Millennial Rod. The moment he knew the rod was pointing at his weaker side, he let lose with it's power. The blast caught Marik off guard. He in Téa's body flew across the dueling field, coming to a stop at about the center of the tower.

Yami Marik stood over them, his rod point down. Marik came to his senses fairly quickly. He looked up at his dark side with an absolutely horrified expression on his face.

"Now to banish you to the darkness forever!" laughed Yami Marik, charging up the rod again.

"Stop right there!" demanded a female voice as the far elevator opened. Ishizu stepped out, her blue-grey eyes burning. Her voice was so authoritative that Yami Marik did stop, locking his eyes on her.

"I will not let you hurt my brother!" she said, standing beside Téa/Marik.

Yami Marik chuckled. "Your brother no longer exists! I am your brother now!" His smirked broadened. "Now, I think it's time I sent you to join your father!" He lifted the Millennial Rod away from Téa's face and instead pointed it at Ishizu. Worry flickered across her face, but she stood firm.

"Sister…you must stop him," said Marik, weakly. "But forget about me…" His strength gave out and he lost control of Téa. Téa's body slumped backward on the ground.

"Marik!" protested Ishizu.

"Now it's your turn!" laughed Yami Marik.

"ENOUGH!" a loud voice shouted across the top of the tower.

Unnoticed, the elevator had opened once again. Yami Yu-Gi stepped out, his Millennial Puzzle glowing slightly as well as the Eye of Horus on his forehead. He leveled his violet eyes on Yami Marik.

"Well, if it isn't the pharaoh," smirked Yami Marik, looking like Christmas had come.

"Marik! I will not let you hurt anyone else!" snapped Yami.

"Bring it on then," gloated Yami Marik, pulling the rod away from Ishizu and charging it up to use against Yami. Yami responded in the same way, summoning the power of the Millennial Puzzle. The air cracked with magic and tension.

But, before the fight could begin, Yami Marik withdrew. A sinister smirk lit up his face, and his eyes danced around haughtily. He had figured something out.

"No, not now," he said, flouncing passed Ishizu. "It is not yet time for our confrontation pharaoh." He brushed passed Yami. "But you can be sure when we duel, I will send you straight into the shadows!" He laughed, stepped into the elevator, and the door closed behind him.

"Ishizu! What is Téa doing up here?" asked Yami, running over to his friend.

"I am sorry my pharaoh…" said Ishizu. "My brother's good side had been taking refuge inside of Téa. He wanted to confront his dark side so he came here…. Please, my pharaoh. Save my brother."

"I promise I will," said Yami. "And I promise I'll save Mai and Bakura, who also lost Shadow Games."

"Ugh…." Téa groaned slightly, waking up. "What am I doing up here?"

"Téa! Are you okay?" asked Yami.

"Yeah…have I been sleep walking?"

/Should we tell her that Marik's good side has been controlling her/ asked Yu-Gi. /Maybe not…/

Ishizu was staring out at the sky, clearly worried. Her thoughts raced around, hope battling against logic for the life of her brother.

"Come on Téa," said Yami. "Let's go find the others."

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Once they made it off of the tower, the group went its own way. Yami and Téa quickly hurried back to the hospital wing to join their friends. Ishizu lingered outside a moment longer. When she reentered the ship, Shayla happened to turn onto the same hallway.

"Shayla!" called Ishizu.

"Lady Ishizu!" exclaimed Shayla, breathing a sigh of relief. "I've been searching for you."

"As I you," replied Ishizu.

Before they could continue, two more people turned down the same hallway.

"Hello Ishizu, Hi Shayla!" greeted Mokuba, so brightly it almost seemed fake.

"Oh great…" groaned Seto Kaiba, still brooding over his defeat.

"Hi Mokuba," replied Shayla.

"I must speak with you too, Kaiba," said Ishizu when he tried to hurry passed them. "You must be present for the final duel of this tournament."

"Don't start with me," grumbled Kaiba. He had some nastier things to say, but he was unwilling to say them with Shayla present.

"You seem to think the pharaoh cannot beat Ra with his two Egyptian god cards," remarked Ishizu.

"The odds are slim to none," he replied, coldly. "Ra has so many special abilities it is almost invincible. But none of that concerns me any more. As far as I'm concerned, Battle City is over."

"Walking away now will be a huge mistake."

"Don't tell me you're still believing in those stupid fairy tales."

"The pharaoh will need your help to win," continued Ishizu, staring straight into his eyes. Kaiba glared briefly, then turned and started to walk away again. Ishizu said two words in ancient Egyptian. Seto Kaiba stopped, his eyes wide when he realized he knew exactly what she said.

Mokuba was watching, quizzically and hopefully. Shayla was curious too. But when Ishizu spoke those two words, Shayla couldn't help but gasp as well. Something was going on here, she and Seto both knew it. But they had no idea what. The unanswered questions were adding up.

"I know you know how to read the ancient text," said Ishizu in the silence. "You know what it says on Ra, as well as what the ancient tablet says. The sorcerer on that tablet might have been the pharaoh's rival, but he was also the pharaoh's friend. The past is repeating itself. You must help your friend like you did 5,000 years ago."

Kaiba turned around and looked like he had something to say to her, but Ishizu continued before he could get a word in.

"As you know the words on the ancient tablet are a memorial to the dead pharaoh, written by his friend—the same sorcerer pictured in that tablet! If you continue to deny your heritage, the entire world will suffer. As the sorcerer, you constantly pushed the pharaoh to reach his potential, to become stronger. And now, the time has come to help him again. Yu-Gi needs your help."

"I've heard enough!" snapped Kaiba. "I held this tournament to reclaim my title, not because of some stupid words on a dumb old piece of stone."

"You're wrong," replied Ishizu, simply.

"Listen, I built the duel tower to represent my triumph over my step-father. Now I can't stand to look at the thing! That's all that's going on here, so you can drop the line about the ancient past. The future is all that matters. It's time to erase the past!"

"You're being ridiculous. Open your mind and accept it. The Duel Tower you built is the crossing of souls, a sanctuary you built with your own soul."

"You accuse me of being ridiculous? I still know how I can bury the past!" Kaiba glared malevolently outside at the tower, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"Don't start that again," groaned Shayla. Kaiba paused, almost having forgotten she was there. "Right now, the past is feeding into the present. You can't deny it. Everything from the tournament boils down to this one duel."

"The tournament is over for me," he growled.

"You're so bitter…" Shayla said, shaking her head. Ishizu took an unnoticed step backward, to best let these two talk. Kaiba was eyeing Shayla up, trying to place his finger on something that was beginning to nag at him again. But that thing would not be labeled.

"Bitterness, distrust, anger….they're all such awful feelings," Shayla said, slightly distantly.

"Shayla?" asked Mokuba.

"I've been there, and it's such an awful place to be," she explained. She straightened up and turned, and confronted Kaiba as best as she could tell. "You don't need to bury the past, you need to bury your hatred. It's not the events of the past that are holding you down, but your feelings towards those events. So bury those emotions."

Kaiba could only stare at her. It boggled his mind how she always could find the center of his problem so easily, tell him so directly, and how he couldn't hate her for it. It was her direct honesty he couldn't help but admire. Sometimes Seto wondered why that didn't bother him about Shayla. He knew that if anyone else had called him on the things she did, he would resent that person. But not with Shayla. He concluded it was her motives. He knew she was always concerned about someone else. Unlike everyone else, she had no desire for her self. Kaiba knew that was true, he had seen it in the Duelist Kingdom when she had tried to help him while everyone else merely tried to beat Pegasus.

"Tell her now," that tiny voice once more nagged. "Tell her you're not full of hate. Tell her you care about her." He once more brushed that voice aside.

"Attention duelists," announced the PA. "Will Marik Ishtar and Yu-Gi Motou report to the duel tower for the final duel."

"You are all hoping for the impossible," said Seto, at length. "Yu-Gi only has a three percent chance of winning this duel."

"You know how to increase those odds," stated Ishizu.

"There is a way," admitted Kaiba. "There is one card, only one, that will increase Yu-Gi's chances of winning by fourteen percent. If used properly, this card will help him against Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra."

"Awesome! You figured it all out!" exclaimed Mokuba.

"The card not only has to be used, but it has to be used in the right way, Mokuba," explained Kaiba. With that he turned and walked towards the exit of the blimp.

"Where are you going?" asked Mokuba.

"To the top of my duel tower!"

"All right!" cheered Mokuba, hurrying to catch up with his brother.

"I suspected as much," thought Ishizu, looking at Seto, then at Shayla. "Thank you, Shayla."

"Hmm?" asked Shayla, snapping back to reality. Her thoughts had wondered to Kaiba again. His actions constantly puzzled her. She knew he put on a front, to hide his real thoughts and feelings. But she wanted to know what the real thoughts and feelings were. He confused her, and then she would confuse herself even more by wondering why he was always on her mind.

"Come on, let's see this thing through," said Ishizu, also heading to the duel tower. Shayla nodded and followed, trusting her.

They were the last ones to the elevator. The four stood at the bottom of the tower, waiting for it to return. As deep as the prior conversation had been, a silence settled over the group. Each of their own thoughts had started to roam. The elevator came and they all got on without a word and began to ascend to the top of the tower.

"Does this mean Seto is going to help Yu-Gi?" wondered Mokuba. "I hope it does! I want to see Seto relax and his smile come back!"

"As much as I want to see Yu-Gi suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of Ra, it would also be an interesting test to see if he can use this card right," thought Kaiba. "I'll give him the card, that way no one can say a thing against me if he fails. But, against Ra, it would take a miracle for Yu-Gi to win."

"Brother…I'm coming. I will not leave you in your hour of need," thought Ishizu. She reached for her collarbone. "There must be hope…"

"I must have failed," thought Shayla. "I'm not strong enough, I couldn't help my best friend. And now it comes down to this." She listened to the silence. "This is the most awkward elevator ride ever." She suddenly stiffened. "What am I thinking coming up here again!"

The elevator stopped, the door opened, and everyone stepped off, returning to the positions they had taken during the last duel they had all attended.

"And now the final duel will comm—," Rollin was saying.

"One moment!" interrupted Kaiba. "Yu-Gi, you need this!" With perfect accuracy he threw a card to Yami, who caught it easily.

"Huh?" wonder Yami.

"If you want to beat the Winged Dragon of Ra, you need that card," repeated Kaiba, crossing his arms. "This will be the ultimate test of his skill. If he can use that card right, there is a twenty percent chance he'll win. But odds are he'll lose, and that will end this nonsense about ancient myths and the strength of friendship."

"Fiend's Sanctuary?" wondered Yami, staring at the card.

"If you want to win you'll use that card instead of relying on your little fan club," stated Kaiba.

Yami looked at the card, puzzled. "Why did Kaiba give me this card? Does he know something about The Winged Dragon of Ra?"

"Use it wisely," Kaiba merely said icily, crossing his arms.

"Why did Kaiba give Yu-Gi a card?" asked Téa, out-loud.

"Maybe it's a weapon against Ra," suggested Duke.

"Yeah right!" retorted Joe. "I don't trust that thing! It's probably some kind of trap! If I were you, Yug, I'd throw that thing right off of the Duel Tower!"

"I second that," added Kevin.

"It's your choice," replied Kaiba, still artic cold.

"Thank you…" said Shayla, softly, off to his side.

Yu-Gi said nothing, he just pulled his deck out of his duel disk and shuffled the Fiend's Sanctuary into it. Joe and Kevin's complaining could be heard from the sidelines.

"It is a good card," commented Drake. "Though hardly anyone uses it."

"But what is Kaiba planning on having Yu-Gi do with it?" asked Lara.

"We might not always see eye to eye, Kaiba, but I still trust you," said Yami, loudly, as he slid his deck back into his duel disk.

"Pharaoh!" shouted Yami Marik, across the field. "I've been waiting for this moment my entire life! Soon your power will be mine! It doesn't matter what card you just received! It is useless in front of Ra!"

"Marik! I will defeat you and save you from the darkness!" declared Yami.

Veins pulsed across Yami Marik's face. "Come and get me!" he shouted.

"This isn't going to be easy, even though Yu-Gi has two god cards and Marik has only one," commented Joe.

"What are you talking about?" asked Tristan.

"Yu-Gi needs to sacrifice three monsters to summon either Slifer or Obelisk. But Marik only needs one card; Monster Reborn. Ra has so many special abilities its nearly impossible to beat. Wait!" He glanced across the duel arena at Kaiba. "Rich-boy did say his computers had figured Ra out. Maybe that card he gave Yug will help him defeat Ra."

"I hope so," said Téa. "There's so much at stake here."

"Now, each duelist will shuffle the other's deck," announced Rollin.

Yami Marik and Yami stepped forward and exchanged decks. Yami said nothing, but Yami Marik couldn't help but use this time to gloat.

"Shuffle well pharaoh!" he laughed. "And pray with all your might that Ra is on the bottom!"

"Thank you, Kaiba," said Ishizu.

"So what?" replied Seto Kaiba. "Yu-Gi still has to figure out how to use it. And even then he'll probably still lose. Then you can stop believing in fairy tales and stop living in the past. Yu-Gi is not pharaoh. He is not destined to save the world. That stone tablet is meaningless to me. The only way to succeed is to look ahead. The past is dead."

"That's not true. The soul and the spirit last forever," stated Ishizu. "And before this duel is over, you will know the truth. I trust Yu-Gi, and I trust the power of friendship to beat a god."

"Why can't it be both?" asked Shayla. "The past is important. That is where we gather our experience and learn who were are and who we don't want to be. But the present and future don't stop when we look to the past. They're all part of the same. It's like a tree. The past is the roots, the present is the trunk, and the future is the branches. A tree without roots cannot survive any more than a tree without branches or without a trunk."

Neither Ishizu or Seto replied.

"Great…now I've offended everyone…" thought Shayla.

"How does she manage to say just the right thing every time?" wonder Kaiba, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes. But he turned his gaze back to the duel arena. "Yu-Gi thinks I gave him that card as an act of friendship. That's ridiculous! We could never be friends!"

Yami and Yami Marik walked back to their original positions on the platform.

"Come on Yu-Gi! I know you can win this! We all believe in you!" shouted Téa.

"You have to win…for Mai," said Joe, softer.

"Be careful, Yu-Gi!" added Tristan. "There's no telling what crap this psycho will pull!"

"Whatever Marik is planning, it will be bad," commented Drake. "Each shadow duel has had progressively worse consequences."

"But Yu-Gi's the champ," said Lara. "He beat Max, who made the game, he can beat Marik."

"Good point Lara," agreed Drake. "Dad…there's still time during this tournament. I will find a way to wake you up."

"Let the duel commence!" shouted Rollin.

"Let the fun begin," smirked Yami Marik, licking the Millennial Rod. He then raised the rod high. A violet-black cloud engulfed the entire top of the duel tower. The shadows merged with it, surrounding everyone present in darkness.

"Not another shadow game…" moaned Téa.

"We all saw this one coming," said Duke.

"Pharaoh! I've prepared the ultimate shadow game for you!" laughed Yami Marik, insanely.

"Why…Why…Why did I ever come here in the first place?" asked Shayla.

"Shayla, have faith. Trust yourself, and trust your friends," said Ishizu.

"Friends…." muttered Shayla. Then her head bobbed up an inch, an idea hitting her. "We all knew a shadow game was coming. But Yu-Gi has a Millennial Item also. Couldn't he have made a shadow game first, a nicer one, so no one would get hurt… What am I thinking!"

"It's okay, child," said Ishizu. "She is still very strategic, though she hides her strengths. Not much has changed at all."

"Now, for the first of the surprises the darkness holds!" continued Yami Marik, raising the rod up.

The hourglass containing Mai lowered. She was up to her neck in sand. Time was clearly running out. She shouted for help, but clearly could not see the crowd right below her.

"Mai!" exclaimed Joe, lunging forward. Tristan and Kevin reacted just as quickly, holding him back. "You freak! Let her go! You monster!"

"Mai…" Shayla said, softly.

Yami Marik laughed. "Once this duel is over, she'll be lost to the shadows forever!"

"I won't let this madness continue!" shouted Yami.

"She's not the only one in danger!" continued Yami Marik. "Meet my neck victim!"

Yami looked up, over his right shoulder. Yu-Gi blinked a few times, opening his eyes.

"No! Yu-Gi!" cried Yami.

His light soul had been chained to the darkness by his wrists and ankles. He was hung about ten feet above the ground. Yu-Gi gasped in surprise and struggled, but he was bound too tightly.

"Yu-Gi!" cried his friends.

"Leave Yu-Gi out of this!" demanded Yami. "This duel is between you and me!"

"You're forgetting about my weaker half!" chortled Yami Marik, gesturing behind his left shoulder.

Good Marik was there, bound similarly to Yu-Gi. His head was hung low, and he seemed to be completely unconscious. Yami Marik had no been kind to him because of their last confrontation, when Marik controlled Téa to try to stop his dark side. And now, the ultimate price had been set up.

"Brother!" gasped Ishizu, eyes wide.

"If I lose, my former self will be sent into the shadows," gloated Yami Marik. "However, when I win, I'll send him to the shadow realm anyways! Now, to start this duel! I summon Vampiric Leech in attack mode!" His monster appeared on the field. It looked like a bloated, ugly green worm. It had a row of razor sharp teeth. Its stats were 500 and 1200. "Vampiric Leech has a special ability, Instant Attack!" The worm charged forward, attacking Yami directly. Yami gasped in surprise. But Yu-Gi screamed in pain.

"Yu-Gi!" cried Yami, looking up. Part of Yu-Gi's legs were vanishing, slowly dissolving into shadows.

Yami Marik laughed and explained. "Any time you lose life points pharaoh, little Yu-Gi loses a piece of himself to the darkness. And the same applies to my weaker half."

"I won't duel!" Yami instantly snapped.

"You have to," said Yu-Gi, wincing.

"Yu-Gi's right! You're playing by my rules now!" gloated Yami Marik. "I can banish little Yu-Gi to the shadows any time I like!"

"But if I win, I'll end up sending Marik to the shadow realm," thought Yami. "I made a promise to Ishizu to save him!"

Yami Marik could see his hesitation, and enjoyed it. "We're both the bearers of Millennial Items. It's all fair!"

"Grr…"

"The fool," thought Yami Marik. "I control this shadow game! When I win, I'll send him straight into the darkness with Yu-Gi. But if he somehow manages to win, my weaker side will pay the price, but the shadows will never harm me!"

"Ever since we first met, we've fought ever duel together," called Yu-Gi to Yami. "This duel will be no different. I'm right next to you. We'll defeat Marik together. That's why the Millennial Puzzle brought us both together."

"Thank you Yu-Gi," replied Yami. "I will continue this fight and defeat Marik's dark heart. Somehow, I will save both Marik and Yu-Gi, as well as Mai and Bakura. I will not let four innocent souls suffer."

"It's still my turn, so I'll activate Vampiric Leech's second special ability," said Yami Marik. "By discarding one card from my hand, I can switch it to defense mode. Then I set one card face down to end my turn."

"His move is so obvious," thought Kaiba. "He just sent the Winged Dragon of Ra to the graveyard so he can revive it with Monster Reborn, using its greatest special ability."

"Then I summon Queen's Knight in attack mode!" announced Yami. His first monster appeared. She land long golden hair and wore a red and pink outfit, covered with a diamond pattern, clearly based off of a deck of cards. She had 1500 attack points.

"So, he's trying to get three monsters on the field in order to summon one of his god cards," thought Yami Marik.

"Now, Queen's Knight, attack his Vampiric Leech!" ordered Yami. The Queen's Knight drew her sword and leapt forward, slicing the worm to bits. "Then, I set two cards and end my turn." Two face down cards flashed in front of him.

Yami Marik drew his next card and laughed.

"I've got a bad feeling about this guys," said Joe. "I think he's going to try summoning Ra like he did when he dueled me."

"I've got just the card I've needed!" gloated Yami Marik. "But first, I summon Jurigato in attack mode!" This monster had 1700 attack points. "Now, Jurigato, attack his Queen's Knight!" With a scream and a flash of light, Queen's Knight was gone. Yu-Gi again cried out in pain as part of his arm vanished. Yami's life point counter stopped at 3300.

"If he had the card he needed, why did he not play it?" Shayla wondered, out-loud.

"My brother's dark side likes toying with people," answered Ishizu, emotionlessly. "He wishes to draw out the pharaoh's suffering."

"None of this is right…."

"I'll put these two cards face down and end my turn," finished Yami Marik. "Make your next pathetic move pharaoh."

Yami went to draw his next card.

"Now, I activate Left Arm Offering!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "This card allows me to select one magic card from my deck, as long as I discard all the other cards in my hand!"

"Oh no!" gasped Téa.

"He's going for Monster Reborn!" exclaimed Joe.

"No good…" murmured Kevin.

"Ra will return to me in its full glory next turn!" exclaimed Yami Marik, holding Monster Reborn so Yami could see it.

"I don't think so," replied Yami, smirking. "I activate Exchange! Now, we each get to select one card from our opponent's hand and add it to our own! And I choose your Monster Reborn!"

"Awesome! Yu-Gi had Marik figured out from the beginning!" exclaimed Duke.

"This duel is only just beginning," reminded Drake.

Yami Marik made a guttural noise in the back of his throat and plucked De-Fusion out of Yami's hand.

"Even though he lost Monster Reborn, Marik still seems calm," noted Kaiba.

"Now, I activate Monster Reborn, bringing back Queen's Knight!" declared Yami. "I also summon King's Knight! And when both are on the field together, I can special summon Jack's Knight!" All three appear in a flash of light.

"So, he's planning on summoning Slifer on the next turn," thought Yami Marik. "It doesn't matter, I'm ready for him."

"Awesome Yu-Gi!" called Tristan. "Now attack him! He's only got one monster!"

"Yeah, but he also has face down cards," reminded Duke.

"But he needs to beat Marik quick before Marik can summon Ra," Kevin pointed out.

"Marik's planning something," Lara said. "Yu-Gi can't charge in without a plan.

"You're right, Yu-Gi needs to be careful," agreed Téa.

"Come on, pharaoh! What are you waiting for!" taunted Yami Marik. "Come on and attack me!"

"He has to have a terrible trap set," thought Yami. "I end my turn."

"Why didn't Yu-Gi attack!" exclaimed Tristan.

"Yu-Gi has good instincts," said Joe. "He knew this wasn't the time."

"Unlike you," said Téa.

"Hey!"

"I'll set this card and move Jurigato to defense mode," said Yami Marik. "I could end this duel shortly, but it would be more fun to prolong your suffering pharaoh. I know you don't have a god card in your hand, so I think I'll help you, since this duel will be over with the moment I summon my god card, regardless of what monster you have on the field. Besides, Slifer is useless if you don't have a lot of cards in your hand, so I activate Card of Sanctity! Now we both draw until we have six cards in our hands! Did you draw Slifer yet?" He laughed.

"Why is Marik helping Yu-Gi get Slifer?" asked Mokuba.

"Because he wants to beat it," answered Shayla. "That means Marik already has cards to use against it."

"I tribute King's Knight, Queen's Knight, and Jack's Knight in order to summon Slifer to Sky Dragon!" shouted Yami. With a peal of thunder, Slifer formed on his side of the field with a loud bellow. Its red, serpentine body snaked all around Yami. Because of his full hand, Slifer had 6000 attack and defense points. "Now, Slifer, attack with Thunder Force!"

"Awesome!" cheered Joe.

"Go Yu-Gi!" exclaimed Téa.

"Marik won't stand a chance!" added Kevin.

"Guys, remember, Marik did let Yu-Gi summon it," said Lara. "You know what that means, right Drake?"

No response.

"Drake?" She looked over at her boyfriend.

"It's…amazing…" murmured Drake, his eyes locked on Slifer. Lara could have drown in her sweatdrop.

Yami Marik laughed. "Your monster is nothing. I activate Dark Spell Regeneration!"

"What does that do, Seto?" asked Mokuba.

"It let's Marik move any magic card from the graveyard to the field," answered Kaiba. "And we both know what card he wants."

"I now use Dark Spell Regeneration to activate Monster Reborn, bringing back the Winged Dragon of Ra in its invincible phoenix mode!" cackled Yami Marik.

Ra wrapped its ignited winged around Yami Marik's side of the field, shielding him from Slifer's attack.

"Thanks to the wrath of Ra, both Slifer and Yu-Gi will be burned to ash!" gloated Yami Marik. "Then, absolute power will be mine!"

"Yu-Gi!" exclaimed Téa.

"Drake!" snapped Lara, still trying to snap him out of it.

"Ra…and Slifer…" he managed to say, being completely lost in a dragonic fantasyland.

"Now, I'll activate another one of Ra's special abilities, Instant Attack!" continued Yami Marik.

"But they both have god cards on the field, doesn't that mean they're even?" asked Tristan.

"Not even close," said Joe. "Instant Attack will let Ra destroy all the monsters on the field, even Slifer. Trust me, I know. And I'm worried about Yu-Gi. That attack hurts!"

"Yeah, knocked you out cold for a couple of hours," reminded Duke.

"Lay off…" muttered Joe.

"My monster has a special ability also!" reminded Yami. "You summoned a monster, so Slifer can activate its second mouth, blowing Ra away!"

Yami Marik laughed as Ra again repelled Slifer's attack.

"Now, for my monster's special ability!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "Instant Attack costs me 1000 life points, which will come from the body of my weaker half!" Yami Marik's life points dropped to 3000 as Marik's arm began to vanish. Marik didn't even wake up. "Behold the wrath of Ra! Ra! Attack!"

Yami's entire side of the field was engulfed in flames so bright no one could look at them. Yami and Yu-Gi's screams could be heard from the middle of them. Every tensed, fearing the worst. Those seconds seemed to stretch on forever.

When the smoke and fire finally faded, Yami was standing, though smoldering slightly. Yu-Gi was breathing hard. Slifer was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you okay, aibou?" asked Yami.

"I'm fine," coughed Yu-Gi. "But you have to beat him or else everyone will suffer!"

Ra flickered on the other side of the field, then went out like a candle. God monsters are only affected by magic cards for one turn, and that turn was now over.

"Now, I activate the trap card Zombie's Jewel," stated Yami Marik. "This card lets me select any magic card from your graveyard and add it to my hand! Do you know what card I'll choose?"

"Come on!" protested Kevin. "He just got rid of Ra! He can't be using Monster Reborn again!"

"Marik is merciless," commented Duke.

"I want those dragons," said Drake.

"We never should have come," groaned Lara, sweat-dropping.

"Next turn, I'll finish you with Ra's greatest special ability," gloated Yami Marik, stroking Monster Reborn. "Luckily for you, Zombie's Jewel lets you draw one card. You'd better pray for a miracle pharaoh, because next turn I will send you into the shadows!"

Yami said nothing, placing his hand on his deck. "My fate is in these cards. I have faith."

"I wonder if he'll draw the card Kaiba gave him," thought Yami Marik. "It would certainly be interesting. But nothing can save him in the end!"

"Maybe Yu-Gi can win it, if he draws that card you gave him Seto," said Mokuba. His older brother didn't reply.

"Yu-Gi doesn't have a single monster on the field to protect his life points," commented Téa, her voice cracking with concern.

"Yeah, and if Marik can bring back Ra, Yu-Gi's going to be crushed!" added Tristan.

"But, if Marik does revive Ra with Monster Reborn, it won't have any attack points," said Duke. "So it wouldn't be able to hurt Yu-Gi's life points."

"I think Ra has a whole bag of tricks we have yet to see," replied Joe.

"But Marik told Yu-Gi what he was planning," said Lara. "So Yu-Gi has time to prepare."

"Make your next move wisely, pharaoh," said Yami Marik. "You know what happens to those I defeat. Their souls are banished for all eternity, and their treasures become mine." He pulled the Millennial Ring out from under his cloak.

"Hey! That's Bakura's!" gasped Tristan.

"What did you do to Bakura, you spiky-haired freak!" demanded Joe.

"Once I win this duel, I'll add your Millennial Puzzle to my collection," continued Yami Marik. "Let me show you how!" He raised the Millennial Rod, allowing Yami to see through his eyes the night he dueled and beat Yami Bakura. "You will be sent screaming into the shadows, just like he was!"

Yami gaped in horror.

"You monster!" exclaimed Kevin.

"So that's why we haven't seen Bakura anywhere…" said Drake, somberly.

"At least it got your mind off of the dragons," muttered Lara.

"I won't allow you to hurt my friends any more!" shouted Yami. "This stops now! I will free Mai and Bakura from your traps! And I will save you from yourself!"

"We can do this," said Yu-Gi as Yami's hand hovered over his deck. "We just need to rely on our ties of friendship. We need to draw the card that Kaiba gave us. He put his faith in us, and now we have to put our faith in him."

Yami nodded, closed his eyes, and drew the card.

"There is no doubt he drew the card he needed," said Ishizu, softly.

Without looking, Yami slid the card face down into one of his magic slots.

"Huh? What's going on?" asked Tristan.

Yami Marik merely looked at Yami, astonished.

"He didn't even look at the card!" exclaimed Duke.

"I've never seen Yu-Gi do anything like this before," added Joe.

"So, will Yu-Gi have his miracle now?" wondered Kaiba, semi-sarcastically.

"Wait a moment!" protested Rollin. "You can't set a card without knowing what it is! You might have put it in the wrong spot."

"What does it matter if he doesn't see his cards?" asked Shayla. This caused Rollin to stammer badly for several seconds, not knowing what to say without offending her.

"That's enough, Rollin," said Kaiba. "I find this to be interesting. I'm going to let it continue."

"Has the pressure gotten to you?" taunted Yami Marik. "This is the last draw of your life! You should at least look at the card as a souvenir before you die!"

"It's your turn," said Yami, simply.

"It's time for Ra to wipe you out forever!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "I activate Monster Reborn, bringing Ra back to the field again!" Once more, flames danced around Yami Marik as Ra formed, burning brightly, which was a total contrast to the shadow realm. "I'll now activate Ra's most devastating special ability! Open your eyes and let this scene be burned in your mind, pharaoh! Your fate is sealed!"

Yami could only gape as Yami Marik's body began to vanish, along with Marik's soul.

"I'm transferring my life points to Ra's attack points!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "I'm fusing myself with Ra! I'm invincible! All I need to do is keep one single life point." All that remind of his physical body was his right eye, glaring haughtily at Yami across the field. Ra now had 2999 attack points. "I also tribute Jurigato, adding its attack points to Ra's!" Jurigato vanished from the field, and Ra's attack points rose to 4699.

"It's so strong now!" exclaimed Joe. "If Ra attacks Yu-Gi, it's over!"

"It can't be!" gasped Téa.

"I knew I shouldn't have come…" moaned Shayla, inching back slightly.

"Brother…" was all Ishizu said.

"RA! ATTACK!" ordered Yami Marik.

"And I activate Fiend Sanctuary!" exclaimed Yami.

Kaiba's eyes went wide as Yami played the very card he just gave him. "How did he know!"

Yami answered his thoughts. "I knew what this card was the moment I touched it. I could feel Kaiba's soul in it. You see, I am linked with all the souls of my friends. You'll never win Marik!"

"Can this be his miracle?" wondered Kaiba.

A star was draw on the field, and a circle around the star. In the very center of the pattern a metallic creature rose. There wasn't much to it. It looked like a short, silver punching dummy.

"What is that?" asked Mokuba.

"That's a Metal Fiend Token," explained Kaiba. "Thanks to my card, Ra will attack the token instead of Yu-Gi's life points."

"What is the meaning of this!" demanded Yami Marik.

"Ra has a new target!" smirked Yami. "Keep your eye on the token!" Yami Marik did, seeing his own reflection in it. "That's Ra's newest target! And you only have one life point left! You'll be destroyed by your own monster!"

"Woah! Awesome!" exclaimed the cheerleaders.

The ball of fire from Ra struck the token, then shot back at Yami Marik. Now, his entire side of the field was engulfed in flames.

"He did it! He won!" exclaimed Téa.

"Good, now I can finally meet that pretty girl in the hospital wing," commented Kevin, which got him hit on the back of the head by Joe.

"I'm impressed," agreed Lara.

"But….Ra…." protested Drake.

"I still have a bad feeling about all of this," murmured Shayla. "Why can I still sense that we're in the shadow realm?"

The smoke cleared and a eerie evil laugh echoed across the playing field.

"What! He survived!" gasped Tristan.

"Unreal!" exclaimed Duke.

Ra was nowhere to be seen, but Yami Marik was still standing. Metal Fiend was on the field as well. But now, Yami Marik had 4700 life points. Yami still had 3300.

"I don't get it! He should have lost!" protested Joe.

"You were a fool to think you could win so easily," Yami Marik smirked at Yami.

"How did you escape!"

"With the very card I got from you! De-Fusion! I freed myself from Ra, thus the attack was negated!" He again laughed.

"Fiend's Sanctuary isn't just for stopping Ra's attack," thought Kaiba. "But I wonder if Yu-Gi yet realizes its other use."

"And now I have more life points than ever before!" finished Yami Marik. "And my weaker half also regains his body—for now."

Good Marik seemed to be waking up now. "Odion…help…" he said, very weakly.

Ishizu gasped, her eyes wavering.

"I'll set one face down card and end my turn," concluded Yami Marik.

"He just sent Ra and Monster Reborn to the graveyard again," commented Joe, bitterly. "But I know he's planning on bringing both of them back again!"

"Yu-Gi needs to figure out a way to be this guy," agreed Tristan. "So far he's only stalling."

"Stop him!" shouted Kevin.

"If you want to keep Fiend's Sanctuary on the field, it will cost you 1000 life points," gloated Yami Marik.

"Yu-Gi…" said Yami, looking up, over his own shoulder. "If I lose life points, I also lose a part of you."

"It doesn't matter what happens to me," said Yu-Gi. "You have to do whatever it takes to beat Marik!"

Yami nodded and drew his next card. "I'm sorry Yu-Gi." His life points dropped to 2300. Yu-Gi screamed as almost half of his body vanished.

Yami Marik laughed. "You consider yourself the one to save mankind? Yet you force little Yu-Gi to suffer just so you can keep a useless card on the field!"

"Perhaps he has figured out the second function of that card," thought Kaiba, close to being impressed.

"Thank you Kaiba," Yami thought. "I knew this card would save me the moment you gave it to me. Our souls are connected, we are friends."

"I activate Multiply, increasing the number of my Metal Fiend Tokens to three!" shouted Yami.

"That means he has enough to tribute for Obelisk!" thought Yami Marik as the tokens on the field multiplied.

"Now, I tribute them in order to summon Obelisk the Tormentor!" exclaimed Yami.

"So he did figure it out," thought Kaiba.

Obelisk loomed over the field. Its massive body could hardly fit on Yami's side of the arena. It had 4000 attack points, and looked ready to use every single one of them.

"I could summon this monster with the help of two very good friends," thought Yami. "Kaiba and Yu-Gi."

"He did it! He did it!" exclaimed Tristan, putting Duke in a headlock out of excitement.

"Hey! Calm down!" protested Duke.

"I knew he'd turn this duel around!" said Téa.

"A pretty girl like you is always right," said Kevin, ducking a swing from Lara.

"Hopeless…" she muttered.

"That was a brilliant move," commented Drake. "And I hate to admit it, since Kaiba did have a hand in it…."

"Ha! Look at Marik! He's so freaked out his hair is standing up!" laughed Joe. "Oh, wait, it's always like that!"

"Obelisk! Attack with Fist of Fate!" ordered Yami.

Obelisk pulled its right fist back and slugged Yami Marik directly in the face. Yami Marik was sent flying backwards, to the very edge of the duel platform. His eyes twitched, veins pulsing. His life points dropped to 700.

"Yes! Marik's one attack away from defeat!" cheered Duke.

"Ha! Serves him right!" laughed Lara.

"He doesn't know what hit him! He's in a complete daze!" laughed Joe.

"Like you every day," replied Duke.

"Hey!"

"Better than using a playing piece for an earring," shot Kevin.

"Lay off," muttered Duke.

"Nice one!" exclaimed Joe, high-fiving Kevin.

"Wow! That was totally awesome!" said Mokuba.

"Then why won't my bad feeling go away?" asked Shayla.

"Something's not right," commented Kaiba. "Marik's been controlling this duel too much. Why would he let Yu-Gi get in an attack like that so easily?"

"I agree," said Ishizu. "He likes to toy with his opponent's too much, even the pharaoh is no exception. He must be planning something with his face down cards."

"Impressive," commented Yami Marik, glaring at Yami, his face distorted. "But it will take more than that to defeat me! It's my other self who suffers when I lose life points! You might have hurt me a little, but it's my weaker half who has been hurt the worst!" He gestured to Marik, who was hanging above him. Most of Marik's soul had vanished, leaving only his head and scraps of his body. His eyes were opened slightly, staring blankly at the ground below.

"Marik…" Ishizu again called.

"How ironic!" Yami Marik continued to gloat. "The fool was raised to be your loyal servant and this is how you repay him! The pharaoh's hateful spice can roast a delicious sacrificial offering! So please, take more of my life points and send my weaker side straight into the shadow realm! Either way he's going to be banished there today, so what are you waiting for!"

"How horrible," said Shayla, with a shudder. "It's absolute cowardice, to hide behind a hostage."

She didn't think she had spoken that loudly, but she realized she had when Yami Marik addressed her. "So, the blind girl has found her voice?" he cackled. "What are you going to do about it?" His voice made her blood run cold in her veins. She said nothing. Kaiba's eyes flickered over to her, and he again fought the urge to walk over to her.

"You have to be careful, Yami," called Yu-Gi. "We have to protect Marik's good side. We promised Ishizu."

"I know, but if we lose, the whole world will pay the price," said Yami.

"There has to be a way to save Marik and the world," replied Yu-Gi. "Just like you saved the world 5,000 years ago."

"But if I continue to attack, Marik's good side will disappear. If I don't, you'll be taken by the darkness," replied Yami. "And he plans on killing Marik regardless of if he wins or loses."

"We need to defeat Marik's dark heart. He's the real enemy here," answered Yu-Gi.

"You're right, I just don't know how," said Yami.

"You should feel honored!" shot Yami Marik. "Of all the lives I've destroyed, yours has been the most amusing!"

"He does have a plan!" gasped Ishizu.

"I let you summon Obelisk to trigger a trap I've had in store for you!" laughed Yami Marik.

Beside him, Marik opened his eyes fully. "Odion…."

x-x-x-x-x-

Odion was laying unmoving in Ishizu's bed, just like he had been ever since he had dueled Joe. Marik had concentrated his energy, and appeared beside him in the chair Ishizu always sat in. He was transparent, and a spectator would have been able to see the end table behind him.

"Odion? Can you hear me?" Marik asked. "My dark side is growing stronger as I slip into the shadows. Soon I'll be going to the dark world forever. But before that, there's something I have to tell you. I'm sorry. I betrayed our family and done horrible things. There can be no forgiveness for me, even if I suffer punishment forever. But you've done nothing but protect me since they day I was born. And I repaid you with nothing but anger and disrespect. I wish I could undo it all, but it is too late now. The evil within me if about to prevail—the same evil I created with my own heart…it will now destroy me. You were there the day it was created, the day I received the tombkeeper's initiation and killed my father. And even though it was my dark side that killed him, I still created that darkness out of my hate for my fate and the pharaoh. On that day, you made yourself suffer like I suffered and thus were able to contain my dark side. You shared my pain. You were always loyal to me, even when I betrayed the family and pursued my own selfish goals. Now I understand why you stood by me. You were the only one who could stop my dark side." His soul was beginning to fade from the room, evaporating like it did when Yami Marik lost life points. "You were trying to save me from myself. But when you got hurt, my dark side engulfed me. You don't have to share my pain any more. I'm fading away now. I won't live until tomorrow. I don't know where your soul is wandering, but please keep chasing the light. I'm sorry. Good-bye forever Odion." The last of his presence vanished from the room.

x-x-x-x-x-

"Now, I activate my trap card, which is powerful enough to stop an Egyptian god!" laughed Yami Marik.

"Impossible!" gasped Yami.

"There's no way you have a trap card strong enough to stop Obelisk!" exclaimed Joe.

"That's right," agreed Drake. "God cards are immune to trap cards."

"Ha! But this trap was activated when I lost more than half of my life points!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "Metal Reflect Slime!"

"It's gross!" exclaimed Téa as a sliver blob of goo appeared in front of Yami Marik.

"This card makes a copy of the attacking monster!" gloating Yami Marik.

"A copy…of Obelisk?" asked Kevin.

"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Joe as the new slime began to take shape.

"Meet Egyptian God Slime!" laughed Yami Marik. The slime solidified, taking on the exact mirror image of Obelisk the Tormentor, save it was silver. Both monsters glared down at each other, ready to prove their own might.

"It's an exact copy!" exclaimed Duke.

"It's only a cheap knock off," muttered Joe. "Marik's slime only has 3000 defense points. Obelisk will blow it away!"

"Marik never would have gone through the trouble to summon it if that was the case, Joe," explained Drake.

"Yu-Gi can still destroy with his next attack, right Seto?" asked Mokuba.

"There's more to Marik's monster than meets the eye. Just watch Mokuba," answered Seto.

"Your carbon copy pales to the original, Marik," glowered Yami. "I set one card face down and end my turn."

Yami Marik drew his next card. "Ha! I've got just the card I needed to make Egyptian God Slime even more powerful than Obelisk! Then, Ra will return from the graveyard and reduce you to ashes! The theme of my deck is Immortality! It's designed to bring Ra back again and again! And Egyptian God Slime is no exception!"

"Get on with it!" growled Yami, twitching once.

"Fine then, I summon Revival Jam!" declared Yami Marik. Now, an undistinguishable blob of blue goo appeared in front of him. "You'll remember this monster from my duels with Strings and Mai!"

Yami's eyes narrowed, remembering how effective Revival Jam had been at blocking his attacks against Strings. "He's planning on using Revival Jam to protect his Egyptian God Slime."

"Now, I activate Polymerization, fusing my two slimes together!" announced Yami Marik.

"What the!"

Egyptian God Slime pulled Revival Jam into itself, but nothing appearance wise had changed about it.

"It's still the same monster," stated Tristan.

"Something must have changed," replied Duke.

"I end my turn," stated Yami Marik. "Now attack me if you dare!"

Yami considered his options for a moment. "I set Big Shield Guardna in defense mode! Now, Obelisk, attack!" Obelisk once more raised a monstrous fist and slammed Egyptian God Slime, covering the field with broken bits of goo.

Kaiba's eyes narrowed, but Shayla spoke first, "It's going to reform, isn't it?"

"Some all-powerful monster—Huh!" exclaimed Yami. The bits of slime were sliding together, recreating Yami Marik's monster.

"Hahahaha! It gained Revival Jams ability to reform after every attack!" laughed Yami Marik.

"You mean it can't be destroyed!" exclaimed Kevin.

"Everyone monster can be destroyed, it's just a matter of finding out how," answered Lara.

"Yeah," agreed Joe. "And I know Yug will find a way to take that giant slimeball down—and beat that cheap copy of Obelisk too."

"This has been my plan from the beginning pharaoh!" taunted Yami Marik. "Now, thanks to my invincible monster, my life points cannot be harmed!"

"I end my turn," said Yami, tonelessly.

"It's all over!" continued Yami Marik. "All you can do is wait for the revival of Ra and your ultimate destruction! And even if you try to attack, it will be my other half that pays the price! No matter what you do, he'll die at the end of this duel! But you can save me the trouble and banish him to the shadow realm yourself!"

"He's hiding behind his slime until he can get Monster Reborn back into his hand," thought Yami. "Then he'll raise Ra and destroy Obelisk. But even if I could get rid of his Egyptian God Slime, I can't attack him or good Marik will be destroyed. What can I do?"

"He has to defeat my dark side at any cost," thought Marik, who was slowly regaining more of his sense, though his soul had suffered great loss. "There's no reason for him to worry. I can't be saved. All I can do is wait for the darkness to consume me. That is my fate."

"I set one card face down and summon Bogadian in defense mode," said Yami Marik. Bogadian has 1000 defense points. "Just for begin on the field, you'll lose 300 life points each turn!"

"Yu-Gi…" said Yami.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" insisted Yu-Gi.

"My turn," stated Yami with a nod. "I have to destroy Bogadian this turn or else my aibou will suffer!"

"…That card is Jam Defender, isn't it?" groaned Shayla.

"Hmm?" asked Kaiba, turning his attention slightly away from the duel.

"That card Marik played, it has to be Jam Defender," she repeated.

Kaiba didn't verbally reply. "She's very strategic. I think she figured out Marik's plan before Yu-Gi did. It would be interesting to see how she would do in the finals. I rather would have her last that long in my tournament instead of the mutt." Once more, something intruded on his thoughts. "Go talk to her now, you've got nothing to lose. There's nothing hold you back." He shook his head slightly. "Get out of my head," he growled at those thoughts.

"I tribute Big Shield Guardna for my Dark Magician Girl!" announced Yami. His warrior monster was replaced with the feminine spellcaster who had more fanboys than this authoress cares to count. Dark Magician Girl appeared with a flurry of bubbles, waving her staff playfully. She had 2000 attack points.

"Dark Magician Girl attack his Bogadian now!" ordered Yami.

Dark Magician Girl smiled and nodded, blasting Bogadian with her staff.

"Reveal face down card, Jam Defender!" declared Yami Marik.

"I am really starting to hate being right…" muttered Shayla.

Egyptian God Slime took the attack, splattered across the field again, and reformed totally unscratched a moment later.

"This comes with a price this time pharaoh!" taunted Yami Marik. "Every time Egyptian God Slime prevents one of your attacks, you lose 1000 life points!"

"Oh no!" cried Yami, glancing back at Yu-Gi, who was again crying out in pain as his soul vanished.

"Don't forget Bogadian's special effect!" added Yami Marik.

"Yu-Gi…Aibou…" said Yami, his life points stopping at 1000.

"Are you okay?" asked Yu-Gi.

"It's you I'm worried about," said Yami.

"I'm fine for now," Yu-Gi continued to insist.

"But for how long?" wondered Yami.

"The shadows are feasting on his flesh right now!" gloated Yami Marik. "Lose a few more life points and little Yu-Gi will be gone forever, then the whole world will tremble before me! The power of the gods and the power of the pharaoh do not scare me! All you can do is bow down and lick my boots!"

"Don't listen to that freak!" exclaimed Téa.

"You can beat him! We've seen you do it again and again!" added Joe.

"No monster is all-powerful, take my word on it," said Drake.

"At least you've stopped about Ra and Slifer," sighed Lara. Drake smiled sheepishly.

There was a sudden shift in the flow of power through the Millennial Items. Those connected to it could all sense it. Téa's eyes glazed over, her mind unconscious. Marik had taken control of her again.

"Pharaoh, there's not much time," he said, weakly.

"Huh? Téa?" asked Joe. He began to shake her. "Snap out of it!"

"Téa? What's wrong?" asked Kevin.

Drake and Lara shared a knowing look.

"Pharaoh, you must destroy my dark side and let the shadows take me," insisted Marik.

"How pathetic, you're using a woman's body," glowered Yami Marik.

"I always resented my life, guarding your tomb. I blamed you for everything, including my father's death. But now I know that's not true," continued Marik through Téa's lips. He pushed Joe aside. "He was created because of my anger and hatred! Now he must be destroyed, and I will be destroyed with him."

"Earth to Téa," said Joe, waving his hand in front of her face.

"Er, Joe, I don't think it's going to work," said Duke.

"Téa's…actually being controlled by Marik?" said Tristan, slowly. "Okay, we have reached the height of weirdness!"

Ishizu started running to him, her feet moving before her mind realized they were. Her heart was reaching out desperately for her brother. "Marik! Don't!"

"Sister?"

"Please, don't throw your life away to stop him," she pleaded.

"There is no other way. Pharaoh! You must take down the evil force controlling my body! If that means destroying me, so be it. This is the final test. Destroy my evil heart."

"Ha! It's useless! There's no way I can lose!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "Now watch as I prove it! I play Mining for Magical Stones! By discarding two cards in my hand, I can move one magic card from my graveyard to my hand! And I chose Monster Reborn."

"Not again!" exclaimed Kevin.

"Next turn, Ra shall return and end your miserable existence!"

"We knew it," said Yu-Gi. "But Ra is almost impossible to destroy.

"We have one chance," said Yami. "But it's not going to be easy."

"You're done for pharaoh!" shouted Yami Marik.

"I'll find a way to beat you!" insisted Yami. "But I don't know how. As long as his Egyptian God Slime is on the field, I can't attack any of his monsters. But the real problem is finding a way to win without destroying Marik's good soul."

"I set this card face down, then I summon Swallowtail Spike Lizard in defense mode," said Yami Marik. This monster only had 700 defense points. "For each turn it is on the field, I gain 1000 life points. That way, I can give my life points to Ra when it comes back!"

"Gosh! He has everything planned!" exclaimed Tristan.

"And Yu-Gi can't destroy it because of the slime," said Drake, his mind already thinking through potential strategies.

"You have to win this before he can get Ra on the field!" exclaimed Duke.

"But if he does, Marik will be sent to the shadows forever," reminded Lara.

"This is all my fault…" lamented Marik, still in Téa's body.

"No, Marik," insisted Ishizu, but her brother cut her off.

"No, they're right. After all I've done, they have a right to be angry with me."

"Will you get out of Téa's head already so Yu-Gi can kick your butt!" demanded Joe.

"I need to convince him to attack, and I could only do that through Téa's body," explained Marik. His mouth had already vanished above Yami Marik's shoulder. Nonetheless, Marik gave up his control on Téa. She blinked a few times.

"What was I saying?" she asked. No one felt the need to fill her in.

"It's your turn," said Yami Marik, impatiently.

"Why is he hesitating to attack?" wonder Marik. "How come he won't destroy me? After all I've done to them…I've controlled countless people, pitting them against the pharaoh and his friends. I've kidnapped their friends and family and forced them to duel each other. Before, I would never have hesitated to kill any of them. Why won't they treat me the same way now, especially since it's the only way? How can he forgive me?"

/Yami, I have an idea/ said Yu-Gi.

/What is it, aibou/

/Remember how Marik fused with Ra? I'm sure he's planning on doing that again. When he does, he'll have all the weakness of that monster. Since his dark heart is our real enemy, that will be our chance to save Marik's good soul./

/Thank you for reminding me, Yu-Gi/ said Yami. /Ra is strong, but not invincible. We will use that moment for our advantage./

"I set these two cards," said Yami, starting his turn. "Then I summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts in defense mode and end my turn." His monster had 1200 defense points.

"Don't forget, Bogadian will take 300 life points from you! And Swallowtail Spike Lizard gives me 1000 life points." laughed Yami Marik as his monsters' special abilities activated. Yami's life points dropped to 700, while his rose to 1700. Yu-Gi again gasped in pain as his body continued to vanish, leaving some of his face and tiny pieces of the rest of him.

"Yu-Gi! I promise I won't let you slip away!" exclaimed Yami.

"You must…defeat his dark heart," reminded Yu-Gi.

"It doesn't matter! This turn will be the last!" gloated Yami Marik.

"He's starting to sound like a broken record with that line," groaned Lara.

"But Ra will be coming back, right?" asked Drake, trying not to look eager. Everyone who heard him sweat-dropped.

"Marik's plan has been quite obvious," thought Kaiba. "Had Yu-Gi yet figured out how to seal away Ra?"

"It won't be the last turn! You can't give up!" insisted Téa.

"Yeah! We believe in you bud!" added Joe.

"It does look sort of hopeless," muttered Duke.

"Take that back, dice-boy!" shot Tristan. Duke merely shrugged.

Yami Marik laughed when he saw what card he drew. "I'll send what's left of Yu-Gi to the shadow realm with this card! He'll be my sacrifice to darkness! But now, Ra returns! I play Monster Reborn!" Once more, the Winged Dragon of Ra appeared in an inferno of glory.

"Please…no…" said Shayla. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Kaiba glanced over at her again. Once more, that little voice jumped to the front of his mind. "She's all alone, Ishizu is on the other side of the field. Go over to her and comfort her. She needs you." Kaiba gritted his teeth. This voice always seemed to nag him at the worst times. "Go away!"

"Now, I have enough life points to activate Ra's special ability. By giving up 1000 of my life points, I'll destroy all your monsters, including Obelisk!" gloated Yami Marik, his life points dropping back to 700. Marik's soul faded again, the parts he had regained only moments ago lost again.

"I counted on that!" exclaimed Yami, activating a card on his disk.

His side of the field was covered in a blinding smoke again. Yami Marik was continuing his laughing. "Now, you're wide open for an attack, pharaoh!"

"Look again, Marik!" said Yami, from the fog.

It cleared enough for Yami Marik to see what he had done. Obelisk was still standing and so was Dark Magician Girl, not even scratched. Worse for Yami Marik, Slifer was standing in front of both of them, shielding them.

"I activated my own Monster Reborn, bringing Slifer back from the graveyard!" announced Yami. "He shielded my monsters from your attack!"

"Awesome!" exclaimed Tristan.

"Marik bragged too much, Yami has his entire strategy figured out," smirked Drake. "And both Slifer and Ra are on the field again!"

"He totally faked Marik out!" laughed Joe.

"Ra will be in the graveyard soon, that means Yu-Gi still can win this!" said Duke.

"I'll have to admit, I am impressed," said Kaiba. "He used Slifer as a shield and Obelisk as a sword to beat Ra."

Slifer crumbled to ashes and was returned to the graveyard. Obelisk bellowed with fury. On the other side of the field, Ra folded its wings, the fire extinguishing. It went back into the graveyard as well.

"Slifer was hit by Ra, but Obelisk wasn't hurt at all," commented Mokuba. "I wonder what Yu-Gi will do now?"

"Just watch Mokuba," said Kaiba. "Obelisk is mad. Let's see if Yu-Gi knows the true power of Obelisk's anger."

"I activate Surprise Attack from Beyond!" exclaimed Yami Marik.

"Good Lord!" exclaimed Drake. "He's got just about every ultra rare card dad made!"

"So…what does it do?" asked Duke.

Drake tried to repress a smile. "It means we get to see Ra again!"

"This card let's me replay my last attack!" declared Yami Marik.

"Cheap move!" accused Joe.

"Ra really is a broken record in this duel…" groaned Tristan.

Ra formed on the field again. But this time, it had wrapped itself into a golden sphere, like it had done when Mai tried to summon it.

"Huh? Now what!" exclaimed Joe.

"What is Marik planning this time!" groaned Tristan.

"Ra isn't ready to fight yet," smirked Yami Marik. "Now, which form shall it take? So many to choose from, so many ways to destroy you, pharaoh. I know!" With that, he began to chant, unlocking Ra. It took its dragon-beast form. Yami Marik was already fusing himself with it.

"He's fusing again!" exclaimed Lara.

"I'm jealous," stated Drake.

"I like you better with both eyes," teased Lara. Her flirting caused Drake to pull his eyes off of Ra so that he could lower his head to hide the scarlet color that suddenly flamed up his cheeks.

Once more, Yami Marik had left one life point, leaving his one eye to watch the duel. Marik had all but vanished, save a tiny portion of the right corner of his head. Ra now had 699 attack points.

"This is our chance," reminded Yu-Gi.

"Yes, now we must save the world from evil," agreed Yami. "I activate Soul Taker!"

"But it would only last for one turn on Ra," said Shayla. She rubbed her head. "But by that time Monster Reborn's effect would be up too… So…how would that work?"

"What do you mean, Shayla?" asked Mokuba.

"Soul Taker gives Marik 1000 life points, but allows Yu-Gi to sacrifice one of his monsters," explained Kaiba. "So, since Marik is fused with Ra, if it is destroyed, so is he."

"With a few life points left, my brother's true soul will be spared!" thought Ishizu, hopefully.

"And I choose your Egyptian God Slime!" announced Yami. "By tributing two monsters, I can activate Obelisk's special ability; Soul Energy Max! And Egyptian God Slime is made up of two monsters!"

"So, he does understand Obelisk's anger," thought Kaiba. "With this special ability, Obelisk has an infinite number of attack points."

"You'll never take down Ra!" snapped Yami Marik.

"Too late!" smirked Yami. "Obelisk attack!"

"I'll tribute the 1000 life points you gave me, plus Bogadian and Swallowtail Spike Lizard to raise Ra's attack points to 4899!" declared Yami Marik.

"Why is he raising Ra's attack points when Obelisk's are infinite?" wondered Kaiba.

"What are you thinking!" taunted Joe. "Has that third eye on your forehead fried your brain? You can't beat Yu-Gi!"

"Nice one, bro!" exclaimed Kevin, offering his hand for a high-five from Joe, who accepted.

Obelisk aimed a thunderous punch at Ra at the same moment Ra began to spew fire. The entire field was covered with the energy from the two attacks. No one could see anything, though they were trying.

"Oh gosh, no. I don't like the feeling of this at all," moaned Shayla, clasping her hands tightly together, placing them just below her chin. "Please Lord, don't let anyone get hurt."

Since he couldn't watch the duel Seto felt his blue eyes drifting over to her again. "Look at her, she needs you. She's alone now. You know you like her. Why won't you tell her? There's nothing hold you back." Kaiba's eyes narrowed at his own thoughts. "Not now! Just leave me alone. If I want to talk to her, I will. But not now!"

The smoke veil lifted. Ra still stood, with Yami Marik fused to it. Obelisk's attack points had reverted to 4000.

"No way! That's absolutely impossible!" exclaimed Yu-Gi's friends.

"Ha! I activated the magic card, Class System!" gloated Yami Marik. "Now, Ra can only be destroyed by a monster with more stars than it!"

"What has more stars than a god monster!" exclaimed Duke.

"Marik's had every aspect of this duel under his thumb!" exclaimed Lara.

"I don't think I can take any more of this! Cream him already Yu-Gi!" shouted Tristan.

"It looks like Yu-Gi missed his chance," remarked Kaiba, off-handedly.

"Our turn! Attack Ra!" ordered Yami Marik.

"It's my turn as well, to activate a magic card!" said Yami. "I activate Magical Dimension! I need a spellcaster to activate it. By tributing two monsters, I can avoid your attack! So I tribute Obelisk and Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts, leaving my Dark Magician Girl!"

"He tributed Obelisk!" exclaimed Kevin in disbelief.

"You are a fool to sacrifice Obelisk!" taunted Yami Marik. "Without your god monster, you have nothing left!"

"I have plenty left!" retorted Yami. "I have the strength of my friends to rely on, and the heart of the cards to guide me!" A golden casket appeared in front of him. "Magical Dimension also allows me to summon a spellcaster from my hand, and I've chosen my Dark Magician!" His favorite monster appeared next to its female counterpart. Dark Magician had 2500 attack points.

(AN/ Welcome to page 300 of Shayla's Story 3! Thanks for making it this far!)

"Two magicians against Ra?" asked Duke.

"I'm sure Yu-Gi has a plan," said Téa.

"Now, I activate Ragnarok!" declared Yami. "This card can only be used when I have two spellcasters on the field. It will destroy all monsters on your side of the field, even the Winged Dragon of Ra! And since you are fused with it, you will be destroyed as well!"

"Then go ahead and attack, pharaoh!" taunted Yami Marik. "But with only one life point, my weaker side will be destroyed as well!"

Yami hesitated.

"MARIK!" shouted a new voice. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned and looked. Odion was stepped off of the elevator, breathing slightly hard. He had woken up and struggled to make it to his adopted brother's side.

Marik blinked a few times, focusing on the new comer. "I know that voice… Odion!"

"Odion!" gasped Ishizu, softly.

"Don't give up Master Marik! There is still time!" called Odion. "You are wrong to think you have to die. I will never forgive myself if something happens to you!"

"Ha! This is the point of no return!" retorted Yami Marik.

Odion took a shaking step forward, trying to get closer to Marik. Shayla backed out of the way, to give him room.

"We were doing just fine without you," retorted Yami Marik. "But if you want to stay a moment longer, you can watch my triumph over the pharaoh and the death of my weaker side! Hahahaha!"

Odion stumbled again, almost falling. On the other side of the field, Joe was ready to run to him and help him. But Ishizu placed her hand in his way, holding him back.

"What gives!" demanded Joe.

"It is Odion's dream. And he is the only one who can save Marik. Let him go," she answered, though it pained her not to do anything.

"Release my master now!" demanded Odion to Yami Marik.

"You're too late!" Yami Marik shouted down from on top of Ra's forehead. "I control his body now and the shadow realm devours his soul! The Marik you knew is like a candle in the wind, with no will to live! If this duel doesn't kill him, then I will!"

"That's not true! I am here to see that Marik's gentle spirit prevails!" snapped Odion.

"That's enough!" shouted Yami Marik, raising the Millennial Rod. The invisible force from the rod threw Odion into the railing around the edge of the duel tower, leaving a human-shaped dent in it.

"Master Marik! You must fight your evil side! We beat him before, and I know we can do it again!" pleaded Odion. He struggled to his feet. "You must not seal yourself in darkness!"

"GRR!" growled Yami Marik, again raised the rod to blast Odion.

"Shayla!" exclaimed Seto. His body reacted before he knew it. He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her close to himself, out of the way of Yami Marik's newest attack. Odion was once again embedded in the railing.

Both were breathing slightly hard from the sudden movement. Kaiba realized how close she was to him. Surprise at his action almost caused him to push her away, more repulsed at himself than her. And again, the same voice was nagging at him. But he ignored both of these. Instead, he helped her stand up straighter. "Be careful. This duel is getting dangerous," he said, hiding behind an ice cold tone.

Shayla took a moment to gather her thoughts, trying to figure out what had happened. She was no less than surprised by Kaiba's actions. But his two tones also puzzled her. Added to that, she was getting flustered with herself for trying to figure him out again. She could feel the blood pulsing around her cheeks.

"Oh my gosh am I blushing!" she thought in disbelief.

"Struggling against darkness is not just the fate of a tombkeeper," continued Odion, his eyes focused on Marik, ignoring Yami Marik.

"Odion…" said Ishizu, no longer able to control her own heart. She had ran to his side.

"I'm fine," Odion said to her, before addressing Marik again. "Master! You have the power to beat your dark side! You created him, you can destroy him!"

"That does it!" growled Yami Marik. "I'll seal you both in the shadows!" He raised the rod for the final blow.

"Odion is right! I must save my family!" thought Marik, vanishing from the bonds.

"GAH!" screamed Yami Marik, clutching at the hole where is right eye would have been, if he hadn't have left it down on the field. Marik could now be seen in that hole. The rod fell to the ground.

"Fight with all your heart!" called Odion. "We don't live because of hope, but we have hope because we live!"

"I've come to far to be stopped now!" exclaimed Yami Marik. "I am Marik now! I won't be overpowered by the likes of you!"

"Freak show just got freakier," commented Kevin.

"I'm seeing this, and I'm still having a hard time believing this," agreed Joe.

"I just hope it means Yu-Gi can win this!" said Téa.

"How can he have so much strength now!" thought Yami Marik, desperately.

"Pharaoh! Attack now!" Marik cried out.

"But…"

"You must! I can't hold on much longer, and I need your help to stop my dark side! I'm sorry for everything I've done to you and your friends. I am ready to take responsibility for everything I have done wrong!"

"Give it up!" growled Yami Marik, fighting for control.

"It's too risky," said Yami. "We might destroy good Marik."

"He's put everything into this attack," called Yu-Gi. "I can feel his determination. We must trust him!"

"Okay," agreed Yami. "I'll finish my turn with Ragnarok. By removing every monster in my hand, deck, and graveyard from play I can destroy all of your monsters!"

The clouds of the shadow realm turned yellow. The spirits of every single monster Yami removed from play floating up. They circled around the field and the spectators before grabbing onto the Winged Dragon of Ra. Obelisk and Slifer put Ra into a deadlock.

"Woah! Amazing!" exclaimed the gang.

"I've never seen anything like it!" said Mokuba.

"It's only doing what I programmed the holograms to do," shrugged Kaiba, apathetically.

"Let me go!" shouted Yami Marik. Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl fired a Double Dark Magic Attack directly at his face, shutting him up. All of Yami's monsters began to life Yami Marik into the sky. From high above the field there was a huge explosion of light. The golden aura on the clouds of the shadow realm vanished. Yami Marik's side of the field was once more shrouded in fog.

"He got rid of Ra!" exclaimed Téa.

"Finally!" added Duke.

"That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" exclaimed Joe.

"I feel sorry for Ra," said Drake. "It's not the dragon's fault he was used for evil."

"You are completely hopeless!" snapped Lara.

"Still, Ra is gone for good!" cheered Tristan.

"Does that mean Yu-Gi won?" asked Mokuba.

"Not yet," said Kaiba. "Marik still has one life point left."

"Destroying the Winged Dragon of Ra should have destroyed Marik's dark soul as well," Yami said to Yu-Gi.

"What about his good side?" asked Yu-Gi.

"We'll have to see…" said Yami.

The smoke cleared. Marik, good Marik, staggered, trying to find his footing. One hand clutched his chest tightly. His dark side was gone.

"It's over," Yami said.

"Is that the real Marik?" asked Tristan.

"Well, his hair is normal," said Joe.

"I know my master," said Odion with a smile.

"Pharaoh, there is still one more task we must do," said good Marik, straightening up. "I still have one life point left." That one life point manifested itself as Yami Marik's eye, now being bound beside Marik, where Marik had been held prisoner by his dark side. The tables had been reversed.

"W-we can work together!" Yami Marik protested. "We can still beat him! He only has two monsters left!"

"I'll bury you with my own hands!" snapped Marik. "I am sorry pharaoh. It was my duty to help you and instead I turned my back. I can't change the past, but I can start over! I am proud to be a tombkeeper, and I am proud of my brother and sister."

"T-thank you," said Odion, trying not to get teary eyed.

"Now it is time to fulfill my destiny by helping you fulfill yours," said Marik. "The secret to unlocking your true powers is written on my back. But first, you need all three Egyptian god cards. You must win this duel to have them all." He placed his hand over his deck, the sign of surrender. "I surrender this duel to honor my family's name." His dark side's remaining eye twisted and vanished forever. The duel over, the clouds of the shadow realm evaporated as well.

"My tournament ended in a surrender!" thought Kaiba with a throb mark appearing.

The bonds holding Yu-Gi vanished and he dropped to the ground, now back in joint control of his own body.

/Aibou! You're okay/

"Thank you my pharaoh," said Ishizu.

"No, thank all of you. I never could have done it without all of your help," replied Yami.

"The winner of Battle City is Yu-Gi Motou!" announced Rollin.

"That last move was totally awesome!" said Joe, hopping onto the duel platform and joining his best friend.

"It happened because I have faithful monsters and faithful friends," said Yami, giving Joe a high-five. "And because Marik won the battle in his heart."

Marik walked halfway across the field, where he was joined by his family. "Sister…I'm sorr—."

She cut him off. "All that matters is you're free now. You've fulfilled your destiny."

"Can we start over and make a new life for ourselves?" asked Marik. "Can we cast off the chains of darkness and live in the light?"

"Yes," answered Ishizu. "It's time for us as a family to start living with the rest of mankind." This time, Odion could not hold back the tears at being called part of the family.

Kaiba stepped onto the platform. With gritted teeth he said, "Yu-Gi, you've won the title of Battle City Duel King. As the host of this tournament, I praise you for this proud honor."

Yami smiled at him. "If Kaiba hadn't given me Fiend's Sanctuary, I never would have won."

"Hey! Don't forget!" called Mokuba, joining his older brother. "The winner gets his opponent's rarest card!"

"You are going to need it very soon, pharaoh," said Ishizu.

"Here, take the Winged Dragon of Ra," said Marik, handing it to Yami.

"Thank you," replied Yami. "Now that I have all three god cards, what do I do with them?"

"I have one more task to complete as a tombkeeper," said Marik. He took of his shirt and turned around, allowing Yami to see the images engraved on his back. "This is the secret to your power."

"We had been taught when the pharaoh saved the world he gave up his own soul, his own name, and his own memories," explained Ishizu. "Our family had been entrusted with the secret on how the pharaoh can regain those memories when he returned. But it takes the words, the Millennial Puzzle, and the three god cards to unlock those memories."

"Can you read that Yug?" asked Joe, skeptically.

"I can try," said Yami. "But how does it all tie together? …Wait! That tablet at the museum!"

"My mission is complete," said Marik. "Please, take the Millennial Rod and the Millennial Ring. I have no claim on them any more."

"Thank you Marik," said Yami, accpeting them.

"Does this mean that cute girl in the hospital wing will be awake now?" asked Kevin.

"Cool it!" snapped Joe.

"Mai…" said Shayla. She was already hurrying to an elevator.

"She's leaving…" whispered that voice in Kaiba's ear, almost impatiently. Kaiba turned and watched as the elevator door closed. "What? How could she leave before I could talk to her!" He could almost hear that little voice letting out an exasperated sigh in his ear.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Mai! Mai!" exclaimed Shayla, running into the hospital wing.

"Hey kid," came Mai's voice. "I've been wondering where everyone has been."

"Mai!" exclaimed Shayla, embracing her before she was aware she was. "I've been so worried!"

"I'm so happy! She woke up!" exclaimed Serenity. "I knew Yu-Gi would win!"

"I feel like I've been asleep forever, what have I missed?" asked Mai.

"The tournament just ended, and Yu-Gi won," said Shayla. "But I was so worried about you. I felt so bad because I couldn't do anything to help, but I tried."

"My brother was really worried about you too," said Serenity. "He vowed to beat Marik and everything to save you…Of course, he lost…."

"Joe was worried about me?" asked Mai, ears perked.

"He wouldn't stop talking about saving you," answered Serenity.

"That's true," agreed Shayla. "He was totally single-minded about it."

"Oh really?" smiled Mai. Footsteps could be heard running down the hall. "Pretend I haven't woken up!" With that she laid back down and closed her eyes.

"Oh!" exclaimed Serenity, repressing a giggle.

"But I can't lie!" protested Shayla.

"Just play along," hissed Mai.

"Er…" stammered Shayla. Serenity had taken a somber pose and was looking down at her hands. Shayla's mind went almost totally blank about her options, so she turned her back to the door.

"Mai!" exclaimed Joe, the first one through the door.

"She's still not up yet…" lied Serenity, softly.

"Oh no! Mai!" called Joe, bending down beside her. The others gathered around the bed. "Please wake up!"

"Yu-Gi won the duel! She should be okay," said Tristan.

"Were we too late?" asked Lara.

"No we're not!" exclaimed Joe. "Come on Mai! Wake up! You're supposed to be okay!" He buried his face in her sheets. Serenity had hid her face in her hands, seemingly sobbing. Shayla, too, her back to the group appeared to be crying. "I'd do anything to get you back!"

Mai opened one eye, unable to control herself any more and started giggling. Serenity and Shayla also gave in, revealing that they had been laughing as well.

"Did you say you'd do anything to get me to wake up?" asked Mai, sweetly. "Cause there's some cards in your deck I've had my eye on."

Joe was so flummuxed he couldn't even raise his head.

"Hehehe, I knew they were faking it," sweat-dropped Téa.

"That's not funny!" protested Duke.

"We couldn't resist," giggled Serenity. "Besides, your expressions were priceless."

"You did a good job Serenity," said Mai with a wink.

"Hello, my name is Kevin Hunter, and it's a true pleasure to meet someone who must be related to Aphrodite," said Kevin, slipping forward.

Mai blinked blankly.

"Okay! That does it!" exclaimed Joe, jumping up and chasing Kevin around the room.

"I told you he was really worried about you," said Shayla.

"I know," replied Mai with a smile. "And I'm glad you told me."

"It's good to see you well again," said Lara.

"Thanks…Lara! Since when did you and Drake get here?" asked Mai.

"Long story," answered Drake.

Joe and Kevin both stopped in mid-lap. "I smell food!" Their rounds around the room turned into a race to the kitchen.

"Are they for real?" asked Téa, sweat-dropping.

"Sometimes, I wonder," answered Duke.

"Hey! Wait for me!" protested Tristan, running after them, causing another round of massive sweatdrops.

"I guess we need to go keep an eye on them," suggested Yugi.

"Right," agreed Drake.

They followed the sneaker streaks down the hallway into the kitchen. There, Joe, Kevin, and Tristan had stopped in the doorway. Bakura was sitting Indian style in front of the fridge, several boxes of food around him.

"Bakura!" exclaimed Tristan.

"Did you leave anything for us?" asked Joe.

"Well, if you want donuts, they're all gone," answered Bakura.

"But what are you doing in here?" asked Duke.

"I just remember waking up and being really hungry," answered Bakura, taking a bite of a banana.

"Well, it's awesome you're feeling better!" exclaimed Yugi, hurrying to him.

"Thanks Yugi," replied Bakura.

"What is going on in here?" demanded a low voice from the door.

"Oh great, moneybags," grumbled Joe.

Kaiba glowered down at them.

"Who do you think made you boss!" demanded Kevin.

"This is my airship, mouse," he shot.

"Hey! Don't call me a mouse!" protested Kevin.

"Lighten up, rich-boy," said Joe. "Everything is finally back to normal."

"He's just bitter about losing," said Lara.

"No one asked your opinion," snapped Kaiba.

"Seto…" said Mokuba, softly, a bit taken back by his older brother's outburst.

"Hey! No one talks to Lara that way!" exclaimed Drake, stepping up to Kaiba. "In fact, you still owe me a duel after keeping me out of this tournament!"

"Hey, Drake! I've had dibs on moneybags!" protested Joe. He turned and glared at Kaiba. "After all the trash you've talked about my dueling skills, I think its time I duel you and defend my rep!"

"Woah! I also have dibs to!" protested Kevin.

"I don't have time to waste on wanna-bes like you," shot Kaiba, who had only come here looking for Shayla.

"Wanna-be!" exclaimed Drake. "My dragons are tougher than anything you have!"

"I think he's just scared," said Joe.

"Men!" exclaimed Shayla, turning and leaving. She started muttering under her breath. "It's been one nightmare duel here after another, and yet they still want to duel? Men!"

The rest present merely looked on, not willing to get involved and make the fight any worse.

"Great! These idiots chased her away!" thought Kaiba.

"Kaiba, I challenge you to a duel," stated Drake. "And I know you don't back away from a challenge!"

"Nah-uh Drake!" said Joe. "I've been waiting longer, if Kaiba's going to duel anyone, it's going to be me!"

"Hey! I want to duel him too!" exclaimed Kevin.

"Feh, it would be a waste of my time to duel all of you," shot Kaiba. "You pose no threat to me. I'll duel you all at once and get it over with."

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