Sdrive: In case no one bothered to read my message in my bio. I did not realize that Kazuki Takahashi had already created an item called the Sands of Time. The Hourglass that Sayora uses is in all truth the Sands of Time, I took the idea from old myths about the SOT. So I want you all to know that is complete coincidence. So I don't want a bunch of reviews telling me I stole the idea. It is pure coincidence. Well, now that that is out of the way, here is the newest chapter. Sorry for the long wait.
Disclaimer: HA! Still have to get through this! HA! Anyway, Peace Writer wrote this duel. I thank him very much for his assistance in this. So thank him for the duel. I could not for the life of me come up with a deck design for the duel so he got so annoyed at waiting he asked to write the duel, and I happily obliged. Also, If Silver Dragon Iron Claws still reads this, I'm sorry but I gave Peace permission to change Donovan's deck around. There was just no way that this duel could work with it the way it was. Hey, if you do still read this, WRITE THE SEQUAL TO DESERT SHADOW ALREADY!
All the remaining duelists stood in anticipation waiting to see what the computer would show up for the next match up. Sdrive who had just recently revealed his true identity to be Kokuro stood there hoping that he was in the next duel. He wanted to know that he would be one step closer to facing off against Sayora. Disappointment soon filled him as he saw the next two boxes now showed images of Ryou and Donovan.
"Well, it appears that young Ryou will be facing off against this young man with the interesting fashion theme," Sayora said cheerfully.
Yamato walked over to Kokuro and looked at the two boys who were selected for the next duel. "I don't know whom to root for," he said.
"Let's hope we get to root for Ryou for once," Kokuro replied.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot," Sayora began. "I never mentioned that during the finals duelists may change their decks to their choosing, I suppose I should have mentioned that but I guess it just slipped my mind," she gave a cheerful little chuckle and stood to face the two duelists. "I sure hope you all enjoy your match."
Ryou merely smirked as Donovan turned towards his side of the coliseum. All other duelists except for Kokuro, Yamato, Yami, and surprisingly Sayora went through the other doors and took places in the stands.
"Well, I guess it is time that we faced each other," Donovan said to Ryou who was standing on the other side of the arena.
"Oh please," Bakura said as his Sennen Ring melded out of his shirt, "Let us skip this. Everyone knows who I am and everyone knows about the Shadow Realm already, so why not just get right to it?" he asked as his Ring began to glow even brighter and the dark mist of the Shadow Realm began to engulf the entire Coliseum.
"Oh please," Kaiba said from the audience. "Enough with the mind tricks already."
"You're 'I don't believe in magic' speech is really old," Joey informed Kaiba. "You don't have to believe in the magic if you do not want to, even though it's clearly very real, but if you are going to continue to deny it the least you could do is spare us from having to listen to you."
"You talk quiet a lot about subjects you don't even understand Wheeler," Kaiba said.
"Oh, and you do Kaiba!" Joey retorted.
"It's all a bunch of smoke and mirrors, nothing more, nothing less," Kaiba stated.
"I'm pretty stubborn," Joey said. "So I can see when someone else is being really stubborn themselves, but you take it over the line Kaiba. Do you honestly think that anyone could just carry around all those 'smoke and mirror' thingies all the time to do this every time someone with bad intentions and a golden item comes along?"
"Wheeler is actually speaking intelligently," Marik said snickering, "I must say for once you've truly impressed me."
"You keep quiet psycho-boy," Joey said.
"Would you all please just stop?" Tea shouted out worried about Donovan and the Shadow Realm. "We don't even know if Donovan is going to be able withstand this Shadow Game."
"What Shadow Game?" Kaiba asked. "How can you withstand something that doesn't exist?"
"We put up with you…" Joey began before getting thwaped in the head by Tea.
Meanwhile in the arena Bakura was laughing sinisterly, "defeating you shall be a simple task," he stated. "And once I am done with you I will face you," he turned his head to Sayora, "Whether you wish for me to or not."
"What is he talking about?" Yami asked her sternly.
"I'm afraid I don't know," she said smiling slightly sinisterly. Yamato and Kokuro merely narrowed their eyes at her.
"Don't underestimate me," Donovan said.
"Oh don't worry about that," Bakura said in a mockingly sinister voice. "I wouldn't dream of underestimating you. I mean, it is not as if you have a Sennen Item or anything like that. No, you are just a wandering spirit, a dragon slayer who is possessed by a Dragon Wyrm.
For once Donovan showed some signs of emotion, "How did you know that!"
Bakura just chuckled, "Oh please, my Sennen Ring can detect ancient spirits along with the Sennen Items. You do have a strong resistance to him so he never gets to come out, but he's there. And due to you being a wandering spirit, my Ring acts stronger around you than it would if the Pharaoh was out."
"Wait…so he's just a spirit?" Kokuro asked.
"You've got me," Yamato said just as confused.
"Listen, I don't care just how long you have been around," Bakura said. "Your talent is in fighting evil dragons, not in dueling."
"And your talent is in robbing tombs," Donovan said simply.
"You fool, I played the ancient Shadow Games, I know more about dueling than you ever will."
"Then prove it."
"I shall," Bakura said pulling his 5 cards. "I'll begin," he said as his duel disk turned on and he drew his 6th card. "A promising opening hand," he mused as he took two cards from his hand. "I set one card under the table and I will place one field card face down as well." He put one card down and the other he flipped open the middle Spell/Trap and set the card down. "Next I will set one monster on guard and that is my turn."
Donovan drew his 6th card and looked over his hand. Thinking carefully he set two cards and then summoned Gearfried the Iron Knight. The two cards appeared in front of him and then the warrior clad in iron armor appeared on the field ready for battle. (1800/1600) "Gearfried, attack the opponents monster." The warrior jumped forward and brought his sword that was attached to his armor down on the face down card. A knight in armor with no head appeared on the field before being destroyed. (1400/1750) "It looks like your Headless Knight couldn't cut it," Donovan said.
"Perhaps not, but it is only a small set back," Bakura growled.
'My true worry is why he didn't activate his face down card,' Donovan thought. "This ends my turn."
Bakura drew his card and then took another from his hand, "you do realize that we are playing a Shadow Game don't you?" he asked.
"Of course," Donovan said.
"Well, every Shadow Game has a twist, let me explain this one. We are both wandering spirits, waiting for our rightful time to go back to the underworld are we not? So what better place to wander than in the Shadow Realm? Of course the loser of this duel will be trapped her for all eternity, but it wouldn't be enough to just be trapped here. So I declare that the loser of this duel has their entire soul spread out through the darkness."
"Very well," Donovan said.
Bakura smirked and placed a monster on the field, "I summon Archfiend Soldier!" he called out as a purple fiend wielding a long sword appeared on the field. (1900/1500) "Archfiend Soldier, attack Gearfried!" Bakura called out as his demon rushed forward and slashed his sword across the knight, penetrating its armor and destroying it.
"My knight may have failed me but you only have did a little to my Life Points," Donovan said calmly (L.P. 7900)
"I did more than damage your Life Points," Bakura smirked.
Donovan yelled out in pain suddenly as part of his leg dissolved into the mist. "What…have you done?"
"I told you, the loser would have their entire soul spread out through the darkness. And as our Life Points go down our souls shall begin to spread throughout the darkness. Now that you have had a taste of my darkness, I shall end my turn."
"You won't get away with this," Donovan said drawing a card. "I summon The Hunter with 7 weapons." He called out as a man appeared on the field. He wielded seven different weapons that were placed in their own separate sections on his cloak. (1000/600) "My hunter has so many weapons that whenever he is fighting he always has the best weapon to give himself the adventure. And I can see that you like the Fiend aspect of Duel Monsters so he will take out his Fiend killing weapon. Now whenever he faces off against a fiend monster he will gain an extra 1000 attack points."
"Donovan seems to be very skilled for being a spirit," Kokuro pointed out.
"It would seem that way," Yami said. "Then again, I am too," he smiled.
"Now I activate The A. Forces," Donovan said as his Continuous Spell came onto the field. "For every Warrior and Spellcaster on my side of the field all Warriors on my side of the field gain an extra 200 attack points." Donovan explained as his Hunter gained attack points. (1200/600) "Now I equip my Hunter with Lightning Blade!" he announced as his hunter obtained an electrical sword. "This card gives my warrior an extra 800 attack points," he said as his hunters attack power increased again. (2000/600) "Now, attack his Archfiend!" Donovan said as his hunter rushed forward and gained an extra 1000 for doing battle with a fiend. (3000/600) The two clashed swords but ultimately the Archfiend was destroyed.
Bakura growled as his Life Points fell and with them parts of his arm started to evaporate into the air. (L.P. 6900) Suddenly his eyes became nicer and his hair stopped being so spikey. "Where….where am I?" Ryou asked cautiously.
"Ryou!" Yami said amazed.
Suddenly Ryou's hair became spiky once more and his eyes became sharp once more, "Get back in the Ring!" Bakura snapped at the Ring. "This is my duel and I will not allow you to interfere!"
"What just happened?" Kokuro asked.
"Of course!" Yamato said. "Bakura said himself that as their Life Points lower their very souls get pulled from their bodies. So as Bakura loses parts of his soul to the Shadow Realm Ryou is able to slowly free himself from Bakura's grip."
"That must be it!" Yami said astounded. "Donovan, you must try to take away as many of Bakura's Life Points as possible, it is the only way to make sure no one is hurt!"
"I understand Pharaoh," Donovan said as he looked at Bakura. "What is the matter spirit? Losing your control?"
"You shut up!" Bakura spat. "I am in perfect control."
"I doubt that," Donovan said. "In any case my turn is done."
Bakura drew his card and looked over his hand. He smiled when he saw his Ouija Board Trap Card. "I set one card under the table and one monster on guard and that does it for my turn."
"It's my draw then," Donovan said pulling a card from his Duel Disk. "I summon Marauding Captain and by it's effect I special Summon Dark Blade," instantly a warrior clad in shiny armor wielding a long sword appeared on the field. (1200/400) Then a knight in all black armor appeared on the field wielding a large sharp sword. (1800/1500) Just then The A. Forces began glowing and all the monsters on the field were strengthened. Marauding Captain: (1800/400) Dark Blade: (2400/1500) Hunter with 7 Weapons: (2400/600)
"No!" Bakura growled. 'This is bad, if I can't stop this, I'll be in danger,' he thought glancing down at the Ring around his neck.
"Hunter, attack his face down monster!" Donovan announced as the hunter gained an extra 1000 attack points. It sliced a Chaos Necromancer and destroyed it."
"Marauding Captain, Blade Knight, attack the player!" The two monsters charged Bakura and slashed their swords across his chest.
Bakura was sent flying backwards as his spirit started to be dispersed throughout the Shadow Realm. (L.P. 2700) Suddenly his eyes lost their evil lust and the hair became less spiky. His body reformed and as it did so Ryou looked up with nervous eyes. "I'm…I'm free," he said joyfully. "I can't believe it, I'm finally free."
"It's true…" Yami said as his Sennen Puzzle glowed. "He truly is free. I can sense that Bakura is too weak to be able to control him any longer."
"Does that mean this Shadow Game is over?" Kokuro asked.
"It should be," Yamato said. "But the Shadow Realm has dissipated yet."
"Hey Ryou!" Joey called from the stands. "If Bakura's gone, why is the Shadow Realm still here?"
"Well," Ryou began. "I never really used the Ring before. The only thing I know about it is that it can detect other Sennen Items. Bakura was always the one who used the Shadow Magic in it, I don't known how to end the Shadow Game."
Yami, and Kokuro gasped, "Then that means…" Kokuro began.
"This Shadow Game is still on," Yami finished.
"The only way to end this Shadow Game is to finish the duel," Yamato said.
"Ryou, are you up for it?" Kokuro asked.
"If it's the only way to end this duel, I suppose we have no choice. Are you ok with this…umm…"
"The name is Donovan," Donovan replied. "And yes."
"But…" Joey said. "Why can't one of you guys just end it?" he asked Yami, Kokuro, and Yamato.
"Because if they did that, they could be putting their very souls in danger," Marik answered laughing maniacally. "It is very deadly to try to interrupt a Shadow Game. The Sennen Ring might send them to the Shadow Realm for interfering with its dark powers. Now the only one who can stop this Shadow Game is Ryou, and he doesn't even know how." He began to laugh maniacally once more.
Within Kokuro, Shi was watching the duel with interest. "The Ring Spirit lost control so easily, this is truly information that I should keep in mind for later plans."
"Well, I suppose I should probably activate this," Ryou said after he looked over the cards that were in his disk and hand. "Go Ouija Board," he announced as his Ouija Board came out onto the field and began its message with the letter D.
"There is nothing more I can do this turn so I shall end," Donovan said. With that a new spirit came to the Ouija Board which now read D. E.
Ryou drew his card and looked at it, "I must apologize," Ryou said to Donovan. "I learned all about you while I was inside my Soul Room. I feel bad for you and do not wish you to be banished to the Shadow Realm. However, my selfishness is taking over and just as much as I don't want to see you banished, I don't wish to be banished any more than you do. I've been sent to the Shadow Realm quite a few times, and Bakura is constantly controlling my body. Now that he is finally weak enough I have control over my body only to be pitted in a Shadow Game. As much as I know it will hurt you, I yearn to be in the outside world. I yearn to be a part of the world that I have been kept from for far so long."
"And so you are going to fight to win, so that you can walk out into the world once more," Donovan said.
"Yes, it may sound selfish, but I don't want to lose just to be thrown back into the Shadow Realm. So I am going to fight for my freedom."
"I understand," Donovan said. "But understand this, since you are going to go all out to win, so will I."
"I do, and now that we are clear, I am going to continue this duel. I remove Chaos Necromancer, Headless Knight, and Archfiend Soldier from play so that I am allowed to Special Summon Dark Necrofear!" Suddenly the shadows began to shift around and a dark aura appeared in front of Ryou. The blue skinned, female demon appeared on the field in its silver armor and broken doll. (2200/2800)
"Your monster is impressive but the only thing you can attack is my Marauding Captain and once that is gone your Dark Necrofear will be easily destroyed."
"If that is the only move I can make then I shall make it. Dark Necrofear attack Marauding Captain!" The blue demon shot red energy out of its eyes, which struck the warrior destroying it. All of the monsters on the field lost 200 attack points and Donovan lost some Life Points. (L.P. 7500) He cried out in pain as more of his soul was taken from his body. "I set one monster on guard and that ends my turn," Ryou said as his monster card appeared horizontally on the field.
Donovan drew his card and placed it on the disk face down, "I set one monster on guard," he said. "Hunter with 7 Weapons! Attack Dark Necrofear!" he called out. The hunter ran forward and gained an attack increase destroying Dark Necrofear.
Ryou screamed out in pain as his Life Points fell. (L.P. 1700) His body began to slowly evaporate and he began to cry out, "no! Stay away from me!"
"What's going on?" Donovan asked.
Yami looked at Kokuro and Yamato, "I think the rules of this Shadow Game are still in effect. Because Ryou just lost Life Points a portion of his soul has been taken. However, because Ryou is in control it is Ryou himself who loses a portion. Making him weaker and allowing Bakura to try to retake control."
"But, Ryou hasn't been in the duel that long, he should still have most of his soul intact," Kokuro said.
"Ryou is weak from constantly fighting off Bakura in his Soul Room," Yamato explained. "Ryou is more likely than not constantly trying to keep his body his own. Because of this, he is in a position where Bakura can probably take control again if he loses too many Life Points."
"But that's not fair to Ryou!" Kokuro exclaimed.
"I know it isn't," Yamato said, "but if he loses any more Life Points it is quite possible that Bakura will take control again. Plus you also have to add in the factor that Ryou has never actually fought in a Shadow Game, so the Shadow Realm is probably slowly weakening him. Bakura might come back at any time now."
"Come on Ryou!" Kokuro called out. "Hang in there."
"I…won't let you…control me…ANY MORE!" Ryou cried out as his Sennen Ring began to glow. Once the glow died down Ryou stood there breathing hardly. "I'm in control, and it's going to stay that way."
Inside of the Sennen Ring Bakura cursed, "Damn him," he said to himself. "He pushed me back. However, with the Shadow Realm constantly weakening the boy, all I have to do is hope that he makes the play I need him to. Then with one good push I should be back in control of not only him, but the duel as well. I just have to wait long enough and save my energy for the right time."
Out on the arena Ryou had just made a statement; "Due to my Field Card I can by pass Dark Necrofear's special ability in order to activate something far better." A dark castle began to rise behind him and another dark fog began to cover the Shadow Realm. Multiple mouths and eyeballs began to appear from within the fog as the castle finished rising. "I've activated Dark Sanctuary," he announced weakly.
"I don't know what this does but I won't let it stop me, Dark Blade, attack his monster!" His black knight slashed its sword down onto the card when suddenly a Man Eater Bug jumped away from the sword. It began to eat the knight as the knight slashed at it. The knight finally hit the bug causing it to fall over dead. The knight was too weak that it too fell over dead shortly after the bug died. There was another change in attack scores now that the Hunter was the only Warrior on Donovan's side of the field. Hunter: (2000/600)
"I have to end my turn now," Donovan said as another spirit came onto the Ouija Board. D. E. A.
Ryou drew his card and looked at Donovan, "my Ouija Board is almost done," he said. "Hopefully this duel will be over soon."
"You won't be able to finish your message because almost all of your Spell and Trap Zones are filled up," Donovan pointed out.
"While that is true Dark Sanctuary will allow me to play Spells and Traps on my Monster Zones," Ryou explained. "Now I will activate Pot of Greed!" Ryou drew his two cards and looked at them revealing that he had pulled Sangan and The Dark Door. "Now I summon Sangan," Ryou said as his the small orange critter with three eyes appeared on the field. "Now I sacrifice it in order to keep Dark Sanctuary on the field," he said as the fog from the castle encircled it and swallowed it. "I now get Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams to my hand from my deck thanks to Sangan," Ryou explaned. "Now I activate Dark Door. We each may only attack once during our turns," he said. "That ends my turn." Ryou's breath was still rigid but he seemed to be able to hold on.
Donvan drew his card and then summoned it immediately, "I summon Kojikocy," he said as muscled monster appeared on the field holding a large sword. (1500/1200) "Now, Hunter with 7 Weapons, attack the player winning me this duel!"
"Poor Ryou!" Kokuro called out.
"He's not out of it yet!" Yami called out.
"What do you mean?" Kokuro asked. As the Hunter jumped towards Ryou a dark spirit came out of the hunter and rammed into Donovan.
"This is it!" Bakura said inside of the Ring. The Ring began to glow and he forced Ryou back into the ring. Everyone in the audience gasped at the sudden burst of light from the Ring. Bakura appeared on the field just as Donovan's Life Points fell and his own Life Points increased. (D.L.P. 6400) (B.L.P. 2800) Donovan screamed out in pain as his body started to fade into the darkness and Bakura let out a sigh of relief as parts of his body that had evaporated away returned to him.
"What just happened?" Kokuro asked.
Bakura began cackling loudly, "I'm back. I hope you all didn't think that I was gone for good."
"Bakura, what have you done with Ryou?" Yami demanded.
"You didn't think I would let him keep his freedom did you? You fool!"
"What's going on?" Kokuro demanded. "What happened to Donovan's attack?"
"Dark Sanctuary has this special power. I am allowed to posses one of my opponent's monsters, and if they attack with the possessed monster, the attack backfires on them. They lose half of their monsters attack points in Life Points where as I gain half of the monsters attack points in Life Points."
"So because you were in control when you gained Life Points it was your soul that was returned to you instead of Ryou!" Yami exclaimed.
"Correct Pharaoh. The idea of this Shadow Game was brilliant but I will admit that I did not realize that if enough of my soul were spread throughout the darkness I would begin to lose control of my host. But now that I have control back of Ryou, and now that Dark Sanctuary is on the field, I have no doubt that this duel will be mine."
"You still have my hunter to deal with," Donovan pointed out between breaths.
"Oh? Well you have to worry about Dark Sanctuary, as well as my Dark Door. You may now only attack once, and if you attack with a possessed monster, half of that monsters attack points will be taken from your Life Points and will be added to mine. Also, there is just two more turns on my Ouija Board, and once you end your turn, another letter will be added to my Board and then at the end of your next turn, the Board will be completed and you will lose. When you look at it in that perspective, you will realize that I have more for you to worry about."
"Although that is true I will still find a way to beat you," Donovan said, "Also now that you are in control again, I will no longer have to worry about hurting Ryou. So for now I will end my turn."
"And by doing so you have allowed me to add another letter to the Ouija Board!" Bakura announced as he took on of the letters from his disk and put it on his monster spot. D. E. A. T. Bakura drew his card and looked at his hand, "I summon Goblin Zombie," he called out. "Now I will offer it to maintain Dark Sanctuary." The fog covered his monster and sent it to the graveyard. "Goblin Zombie allows me to take a Zombie monster from my deck with 1200 defense or less and put it into my hand, so I choose Clown Zombie to add to my hand and end my turn."
"It's my turn," Donovan said drawing.
"Let me remind you that this is your last turn. If you can't summon a monster with 2800 attack points to attack me directly then I will win."
"I'm aware of this," Donovan said. "I activate Card of Sanctity!" Donovan called out as they were each forced to draw 6 cards.
"Desperately hoping to draw another Lightning Blade are we?" Bakura mocked.
"I don't need to draw one for him. I know you have possessed my hunter, so if I was to attack with him Dark Sanctuary will save you and allow you to play the final letter of the Ouija Board."
"So you saw past that hmm? No matter, I doubt you found a way to get all of my Life Points."
"Then lets just find out, I summon Makyura the Destructor!" Suddenly a monster appeared on the field, it had long sharp nails, dark red and black armor, and one eye that looked like the Sennen Eye. (1600/1200) "Now I will flip up Big Shield Garda," he said as a muscular man holding a large shield appeared on the field. (100/2600) Thanks to The A. Forces my monsters are all strengthened. Hunter: (2600/600) Big Shield Gardna: (900/2600), Makyura: (2400/1200) Kojikocy: (2300/1200) "Now I equip Sword of Dragon Soul which will give my Makyura an extra 700 attack points! (3100/1200) Now it is over, I know for a fact that Makyura can't be possessed because I just summoned it, now Makyura, finish this duel!"
"Way to go!" Kokuro said.
"It's over," Yami said.
"I'm not so sure," Sayora said chuckling.
"What are you talking about?" Kokuro exclaimed. "Bakura has nothing left to save himself with."
"Oh? What about that face down card?" she asked.
"He set that card at the beginning of the duel," Yamato said. "He hasn't activated it once, what makes you think it will save him now?"
"Just a hunch," she said. Unknown to them she had been using the Sennen Eye she had stolen from Bakura to see his cards the entire duel, and she knew that he was about to use his face down card.
Makyura ran up to Bakura when suddenly he called out, "Reverse Trap, Dark Spirit of the Silent!" Suddenly a ghost appeared on the field knocking back Makyura and then took control of the hunter forcing him to attack. The ghost of Dark Sanctuary then came out of the hunter and blasted Donovan in his chest as he screamed out as his Life Points lowered and he lost even more of his body to the Shadow Realm. (L.P. 5100)
Bakura started cackling loudly once more, "Thank you for the extra Life Points and for making my victory assured," he said as his Life Points increased and his body returned some more. (L.P. 4100)
Donovan growled, "It's not over yet, I activate my trap card, Needle Ceiling! This can only activate when there are 4 monsters on the field, all face up monsters on the field are then destroyed!"
"But that means you will only be wiping out your own monsters!" Bakura said shocked.
"Unfortunately it will, but I am aiming for Makyura's effect!"
"What effect is that?" Bakura asked worriedly.
"The ability to activate a trap card from my hand! And the Trap I choose is Imperial Order!"
"I know what Imperial Order does, it stops Spell Cards from working as long as you give up 700 Life Points during each of your standby phases. Unfortunately for you it will not effect my Ouija Board. Once the last letter is on the field it is the Ouija Board trap that will activate."
"True, but you forget that your Dark Sanctuary is allowing you to keep one of the letters on your Monster Zone, and since Dark Sanctuary is a Spell it gets negated by Imperial Order." Suddenly the fog surrounding the arena from Dark Sanctuary retreated back into the castle behind Bakura.
"NO!" Bakura growled realizing what was happening.
"Now that your Dark Sanctuary is negated you may no longer use Spells and Traps on your Monster Zone so your Spirit Message T gets destroyed and with it the entire Ouija Board!"
Bakura watched as his board and all of the letters above it vanished, "This can't be happening."
"Plus your Dark Door is negated allowing me more than one attack in a turn," he said. "However I no longer have monsters to attack with so I will set one card under the table and end my turn." Donovan's card appeared in front of him and Bakura drew his card.
"I may have lost my advantage, but I have not lost control of the duel. I set three cards under the table," he said as his cards appeared in front of him, "and I summon Clown Zombie." Suddenly a decaying clown that did not look friendly at all appeared on the field. Then again, clowns can never look friendly due to them being evil so the card's name fitted perfectly. (1350/0) "Clown Zombie, attack the player!" Bakura called out.
"Reverse Draining Shield," Donovan called out as a barrier was put in place. Donovan felt refreshed as the attack was negated and the Life Points were added to his score. (L.P. 6450) His body began to return to him a bit and he smiled. "What were you saying?"
Bakura merely growled, "I end my turn."
Donovan draws his card and then announces that he will pay for Imperial Order. (L.P. 5750) he let out a growl as he felt his soul being dispersed once more. He shook it off and placed a monster on the field, "Warrior Dai Grepher," he said as his muscular monster wielding a wide sword appeared on the field, (1700/1600) It gained an extra 200 due to The A. Forces (1900/1600) and then he declared the attack against Clown Zombie.
"You have activated my Trap, Reverse Fearful Earthbound, now every time you attack you lose 500 Life Points and every time one of my monsters are destroyed I gain 500 Life Points."
The Clown Zombie was destroyed and Bakura lost and gained Life Points while Donovan lost Life Points causing both souls to fade a bit more. (B.L.P. 4050) (D.L.P. 5250) Donovan ended his turn and Bakura began his. "I activate my face down Dust Tornado on your set card," Bakura announced as Thunder of Ruler was blown away. "Now I activate Call of the Haunted to bring back my Dark Necrofear." Suddenly the evil monster reappeared on the field. (2200/2800) "Finally I summon Gelina," he said as the monster appeared on the field, (1300/1200)
"Donovan could be in big trouble!" Kokuro exclaimed.
"Donovan is in trouble," Yami said.
"Dark Necrofear, wipe out his warrior!" The evil demon's eyes shot out red energy blasts knocking into the monster destroying it. "Now, my other two monsters, attack the player!" Both of Bakura's monsters charged at Donovan and he was knocked backwards as his Life Points decreased and he let out a scream as his body began to fade away into the darkness. (L.P. 2300) He sat there in ragged breaths as Bakura laughed, "This duel is almost over, soon I will be victorious, and once I am, I'm coming after you," he said turning to Sayora.
"This is the second time he has mentioned wanting to duel you," Yami said to her. "What is going on?" Sayora simply shrugged and stayed silent.
"I end my turn," Bakura announced.
Donovan drew his card in between breaths and tried to think of a strategy. A plan begins to form and he realizes he still has a chance. "I do not pay for Imperial Order," he announced as his trap card disappeared from the field. "I then set two cards under the table," he said as his two cards appeared. 'One of the cards for my plan is in place.' "Now that this is the only card in my hand, I can special summon Swift Gaia The Fierce Knight." He said as suddenly a knight riding a purple horse and holding two lances appeared on the field. (2300/2100) Due to The A. Forces it's attack increased. (2500/2100)
Bakura let out a small growl but over all remained calm.
"Swift Gaia, attack Gelina!" Donovan called out. The knight charged forward and destroyed Gelina. Bakura lost Life Points but also gained some with Fearful Earthbound while Donovan lost them. (B.L.P. 3350) (D.L.P. 1800) "That ends my turn," Donovan said breathing hard now. Almost his whole body was gone now while Bakura had a little half than his body free. His soul was strong enough to constantly gaining Life Points that he was able to keep control, that and the fact that Ryou was too weak to push him out of the way.
Bakura drew his card and began laughing, "I sacrifice Dark Necrofear in order to summon Puppet Master!" he called out as his monster appeared on the field and strings shot into the ground. "Also, now that Dark Necrofear is in the Graveyard, Dark Sanctuary begins to activate once more," he said as the fog began to spread out from the castle once more. "Now, Puppet Master will allow me to bring Gelina and Goblin Zombie back from the graveyard!" he called out as his monsters reappeared on the field.
"Why even bother?" Donovan asked between breaths. "Swift Gaia can destroy them all."
"It seems my Shadow Game is doing just what I want it too, it is destroying you. I just told you that my Dark Sanctuary is now activated again, and the Dark Ghost of Dark Sanctuary is now back on the field. Now I shall sacrifice Puppet Master for the effect of Dark Sanctuary," Bakura announced as the fog of Dark Sanctuary swallowed his Puppet Master. "Now I activate Dark Room of Nightmare," Bakura said as his spell card appeared on the field. "Every time you take damage outside of battle you also take another 300 points of damage. I believe I've done enough to you, this ends my turn."
Donovan slowly drew his card and played it, "Swords of Sealing Light," he said weakly. "I end my turn."
Bakura growled and pulled the next card from his deck. "I sacrifice Goblin Zombie for Dark Sanctuary," Bakura said as the fog grabbed his monster. "I now take Dragon Zombie from my deck and summon it to the field," he said as another a decaying dragon appeared on the field letting out an awful smell. (1600/0) "I set one card under the table and end my turn," he said as the card appeared in front of him. The swords began to fade slightly as Donovan drew his card.
He looked down at the Raregold Armor he had drawn, 'This is no used to me,' he thought. "I pass," he said.
Bakura drew his card and looked down at Shadow Spell. "I summon Souls of the Forgotten," he said as a few purple demon like souls appeared on the field, (900/900). "I offer them for Dark Sanctuary and then set one card under the table and end my turn."
Donovan drew his card and placed it face down, "One monster on guard and that ends my turn," he said.
Bakura drew and was happy with his draw, "I summon the Portraits secret and then offer it for Dark Sanctuary," he said as a possessed picture appeared on the field and was swallowed by the darkness. He then took the card he had gotten when he drew and placed it on the field, "I activate Mask of the Accursed and put it on your Knight," a dark mask appeared on the field making Gaia try to take it off but failed. "That ends my turn," Bakura said as the swords surrounding him were destroyed. "Now, during each one of my turns you will take 800 Life Points, 500 from my mask and 300 from Dark Room of Nightmare, soon you will not have enough Life Points to even attack with and the duel will be mine."
Donovan weakly drew and looked to see Graceful Charity. "I reverse my face down Trap Master to destroy your face down card," he said as suddenly Dark Spirit of the Silent was destroyed. (650/900) "Now I reveal my face down Reinforcement of the Army," he said as his spell flipped up.
"Your face down card was nothing more than a bluff!" Bakura said shocked.
"Yes, and now I search for Armed Samurai-Ben Kei," he said as he took the card into his hand. "Now I activate graceful charity," he said as he drew three cards. He looked over them and then chose Ben Kei and the Gilford the Legend he had just drawn to discard. "Now I reveal the Warrior Returning Alive," Donovan said as the other card flipped up.
"Inconceivable!" Bakura shouted. "Both of your cards were bluffs!"
"Yes, now I bring back Gilford the Legend from my graveyard to my hand," he said as he put it into his hand. "Now I activate Raise Dead to bring back Armed Samurai-Ben Kei," he said as his monster appeared on the field and got stronger due to The A. Forces. (700/800)
"It's a pity you are wasting such a powerful card on such a weak monster," Bakura said.
"Don't be too sure," Donovan said. "I offer up Trap Master and Swift Gaia to summon Gilford the Legend," he said as very muscular man wielding a gigantic sword appeared on the field. (2600/2000)
"I activate Shadow Spell!" Bakura called out as black chains wrapped around Gilford trapping it. "That's the end, you can no longer win now that you can not attack with your monster," Bakura chuckled. (2300/2000)
"I'm afraid not," Donovan said, "I don't plan on attacking with Gilford, I planned on using his effect. Now I can place as many equip spells onto as many warriors as I can," he said as suddenly his graveyard began to shine and Lightning Blade, Sword of Dragon Soul, and Fusion Sword Murasame Blade all equipped to Ben Kei raising it's attack power. (3200/800) "Also, the number of equip spells that are attached to Ben Kei add the number of times he can attack."
"No!" Bakura yelled as he realized he was about to lose.
"Ben Kei, attack his Dragon Zombie!" Ben Kei attacked the Zombie destroying it causing a change in scores. Bakura had gained 500 and Donovan had lost 800. (B.L.P. 2250) (D.L.P. 1000) "This is the end of the duel," Donovan said.
"Is it?" Bakura asked. "Remember, if I replace myself with my host he will be lost to the shadows instead of me."
"Bakura!" Yami called out. "You are using the same weak tactic you used against me in Battle City!"
"Wrong," he said. "It is simply Ryou's soul that will be banished, not his body, therefore once his soul is gone, I shall just take control of his body once more! I will see you shortly Pharaoh" he said as the Ring began to glow and Ryou was now freed once more. He instantly collapsed onto the ground, already weak from the earlier part of the duel.
"This is wrong," Kokuro said angrily.
"I know," Yami said, "but there is nothing we can…"
"Ryou gave me a home when I didn't have one," Kokuro said cutting off Yami. "He watched after me and was a great friend, and now because of Bakura's cowardly tactics, he has to get sent into the Shadow Realm!" A strange green symbol began to shine on Kokuro's forehead and a green aura began flaring up from him. All the prongs on the Sennen Ring began to shine and pointed straight to Kokuro.
"What is happening to him?" Yami asked amazed.
"I don't know," Yamato said stunned.
Sayora watched amazed at what she saw, 'This is exactly what I needed,' she said smiling sinisterly.
Everyone in the audience who had been in the watching the duel had now turned to Kokuro. "What's going on?" Joey asked amazed.
Marik began clutching his head, "Such a raw pure power! It's too strong…"
"BAKURA!" Kokuro called out. "YOU HAVE CAUSE MORE DAMAMGE THAN IS NEEDED, COME OUT HERE AND PAY FOR YOUR ACTIONS!"
Suddenly the Ring began to glow even brighter and Bakura was now standing where Ryou had once been, "What's going on!" he yelled as he saw Kokuro, how did he force me out of the ring?"
Donovan didn't know what was going on but he wasn't going to waste time calling out his attack while Bakura was present, "Ben Kei! Attack the player!" Ben Kei ran forward and slashed his swords down on Bakura causing him to scream out as his Life Points fell to Zero. (B.L.P. 0) (D.L.P. 200) Bakura's body disappeared as the Shadow Realm slowly faded from the arena. Where Bakura once stood Ryou now stood but soon collapsed.
The aura from Kokuro flared up going through the coliseum as all the Sennen Items and any other Magical Talismans in the vicinity began to glow. "No way!" Kaiba said. "Magic…does it really exist?" The aura died down and the strange green symbol disappeared from Kokuro. Kokuro collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.
"Um…what just happened?" Tea asked.
"What are you talking about you stupid female?" Marik asked. "Didn't you just see your stupid friend release all that power?"
"Oh please, there is no such thing as magic power," Kaiba said.
"Hey! Don't call Yugi stupid!" Joey said getting in Marik's face.
"Not him! Sdrive," he said pointing down to Kokuro.
Yami looked up at Joey and Tea, "They don't remember…but how come?"
"Our Items," Yamato said holding up his silver ribbon. "Some how Kokuro erased the minds of everyone who didn't have an Item."
"But why?" Yami asked.
"I don't know," Yamato said right before Sayora walked up to the center of the arena.
"The winner of the duel is Donovan, he will proceed to the next round while Bakura is disqualified. There will be a half an hour break before the next duel. If everyone would please ready their decks and be back here in half an hour the next duel will begin from there."
She walked away and headed towards Yami and Yamato, "Your friend showed a nice display of magic just now," she said. "Even made Kaiba a believer, too bad he erased every ones memories. I hope to see more from him soon." She began to walk off again when she pulled out a cell phone, "Get a medics team in here, I need you to take young Ryou back to his room." She then hung up the phone and walked out of the arena leaving Yami and Yamato to stare down at Kokuro.
In the Shadow Realm a swirling vortex of fog began to take shape. The shape soon turned into that of Bakura, "That blasted boy! How does he have so much power? I will have to exploit his power but first I must still gain control of the Sennen Eye. Those fools, they thought trying to trap me in the Shadow Realm would work? They fail to realize that even by banishing me here, the bond I have with the Ring keeps me connected to it. However that bond will not allow me to escape. But that is where the Pharaoh comes in. He still doesn't realize that a portion of my soul is within his puzzle, and since that portion is still connected to the outside world, as long as his Puzzle is close enough to my Ring, I can use his Puzzle as a gateway to bring my soul from the Shadow Realm back into the Ring. But for now I will lie in wait. And when the time is right, I will claim what is rightfully mine! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Out in the hotel Kokuro was just waking up on his bed with Yami and Yamato looking over him. They both had signs of relief when they saw his eyes open. "Thank goodness you are awake," Yami said to him as he slowly sat up.
"Where am I?" Kokuro asked.
"You are in our hotel room," Yamato answered. "I must say I'm impressed. Who knew you had that much power in you. Look out Yami, I would hate to see the power of the Pharaoh go up against him."
Kokuro just gave them looks as if they were crazy, "What are you two talking about?" he asked.
They both looked stunned, "You mean you don't remember?" Yami asked.
"Remember what?" Kokuro asked starting to get annoyed.
"Right when Bakura switched with Ryou so that he wouldn't be hit by Donovan's attack," Yamato said. "You got some ancient symbol on your forehead and your aura grew into something I've never seen from you before. You forced Bakura out of the Ring allowing Donovan to attack him."
"I did?" Kokuro asked confused.
"Yes," Yami said. "Seemingly you also erased everyone's mind who didn't have a Sennen Item."
"I can honestly say I don't remember any of this," Kokuro said. "What about Ryou? Is he alright?"
"He was taken back to his room to rest," Yamato said. "Whether Sayora let him keep his soul or not I don't know. The ribbon stopped working after that display of power. It just now started to activate again."
Kokuro started rubbing his head, "I almost feel as though I got run over by a truck," he said.
"Such a disperse of magical energy will do that to you," Yamato said. "I still remember the time I read too many minds at once with the ribbon. I nearly collapsed. True what happened to me was different, but it's an example of what having too much power can do if you aren't ready for it."
ATTENTION DUELISTS! THE NEXT ROUND OF THE FINALS FOR THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. ALL REMAINING PARTICIPANTS PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE COLLESIUM FOR THE NEXT DUEL
"Have I really been out that long?" Kokuro asked.
"Yeah, and we were starting to get worried," Yamato admitted. "If you have to duel will you be up for it?"
"I should be fine," Kokuro said as he stood up. "Lets go." He began to walk towards the door but something stopped him. He went over to his binder and looked at the Chaos Emperor Dragon he had won from Kelly. He took it out of his binder and slipped it into his deck box.
"What did you do that for?" Yamato asked.
"I don't know," he admitted. "I just felt as though I should have it with me," with that the trio headed out of the room.
In the Arena Sayora stood waiting, "I can sense that he is awake now," she said to herself. "That's good. It's also good that the amount of magic I sensed in him is far more than I previously thought there would be. Soon my goals will be met, and the tournament will be over."
Kokuro: Man…let me tell you, NEVER let loose a butt ton of magic like I did…or what I was told I did, all of a sudden like that. You'll have one nasty headache in the morning, or whenever you wake up. Well the next duel of the finals is about to begin, and it's not who you all are probably expecting it to be. How do I know this…ummmm…I borrowed Isis' Sennen Necklace? Alright, so I read the script. Be sure to check out the next episode of "The Masters Tournament," Hopefully coming sooner than this one did!