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Fanfic Chapter 146: Final Prelude Pt 1: The Island
Episode Basis: Back to Battle City Pt 1
Abstract: Kaiba, Yugi, Marik, and Joey have all arrived at Kaiba Corp. Island for the Battle City Finals. Tempers will flare, sparks will fly, and stuff will hit the fan… and that's just from Kaiba.
The jet carrying the Battle City finalists and their friends and family approached the island with the tower at the center. On the bridge, Seto and Mokuba Kaiba watched as the island grew larger in the window. Kaiba stared at it with a mixed look. On one hand, this was where his Step-Father once had his base of operations. But now, it was the centerpiece of his empire. "This is it, with only four finalists left it won't be long now before I'm crowned the world's greatest Duelist on my Duel Tower."
But Mokuba wasn't listening to his brother's declaration. Not only has he heard it many times before (ever since Kaiba returned from the museum with that God Card), but he couldn't get his last conversation with Noah out of his mind. Noah had given his… what, his existence, his soul, well, whatever it was, he gave it to give them a chance to escape. Thanks to them, Noah repented. But when Seto told them to disregard it, Mokuba found that he couldn't, he couldn't disregard someone who saved his life.
"Mokuba, is something wrong?"
Mokuba realized that Kaiba was looking at him. Mokuba quickly dried the tears that threatened to overtake him. "No, it's nothing, Seto."
"As I was saying not only will I be the number One Duelist again, but I'll have the strongest deck in Duel Monsters once I obtain the Egyptian God Cards. First I'll win Slifer the Sky Dragon (1) from Yugi, and then I'll use it and Obelisk the Tormentor (2) to take down Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra. And once I get all three Egyptian God Cards my deck will be unstoppable. I will be respected and feared by every Duelist in the world, including Yugi!"
"Seto," Mokuba said quietly. "Is that a good thing?" Kaiba gave his younger brother another odd look. "Why do you have to be feared to be respected? That sounds like something our step-father would say." Kaiba looked at his brother shocked.
Joey came into Mai's room where Serenity and Kevin Hunter were keeping vigil. Any change, guys?"
"Not one," Kevin said shaking his head.
Joey cursed under his breath. "Mai, please wake up." Of course he knew he wouldn't get an answer but he had to try.
"Joey, where is this Shadow Realm place?" Kevin asked. "I can go there and bring her back!"
"Even if I thought that was a good idea, the Shadow Realm is not a place you can get to easily. Only four have that ability: Yugi, Pegasus, Bakura, and Marik, and F.Y.I., three of those four want to make sure the fourth is there permanently." Joey gasped. "Wait a second, if being beaten by Marik put her there, maybe defeating Marik would bring her back!"
"Then I'll ask Kaiba if I could take part," Kevin said. "Harold's been eliminated so his spot's open."
"No way!" Joey snapped. "I don't want anyone else to fall before Marik. Besides, you're already in hot water with Kaiba by sneaking on board this ship, remember? What makes you think he'll let you participate?"
"My Big Brother's right, Kevin," Serenity said seriously. "Only the finalists should duel Marik." She turned to Joey. "Joey, please be careful."
"Hey, careful is my middle name!"
Ishizu sat in her room staring out a window. It's almost time for the final battle to begin, she thought. My brother must be saved from the evil controlling him.
"Well isn't this a cozy picture." Ishizu gasped as Yami-Marik appeared at the doorway. "What's wrong, sister, you're not in the finals so you should have no reason to be nervous." He chuckled. She gasped as the dark version of her brother slowly walked towards her, his eyes like the eyes of a feral predator. "A funny thing happened on my way to Odion's room. I enter it to find it empty. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"
"How would I know?" Ishizu asked, her heart starting to accelerate.
"Since most of the others were outside the blimp during that little interlude that leaves only you."
"Wh… why would you care?" Ishizu asked nervously. "Odion is no threat to you!"
"Oh but he is. As long as he continues to live, he can prove to be more of a bothersome than the Pharaoh. So tell me where you hid him!"
"I do not know where he is," Ishizu insisted. "Now leave!" It was true. While Yami-Mairk was reeking havoc inside Noah's floating fortress, she had allowed Kevin to take Odion and hide him and not tell her. That way if Yami-Marik used his Millennium Rod to take control of her, he would find out nothing.
"For some reason, I don't believe you." He raised his Millennium Rod and laid it against her neck. Ishizu was literally backed into a corner. "Do not trifle with me, sister, you don't want to end up like the others who have challenged me. And your Millennium Necklace can't protect you because you don't have it." Ishizu gasped, she forgot that she handed it to Yugi after her duel with Seto Kaiba. Yami-Marik chuckled and leaned in close until his head was besides her own, "The fear in your eyes is very enticing, sister, maybe I should see what I can do to make you talk."
Ishizu started to shake.
"You two behaving or do I have to bring out the hose?" A voice came from the doorway. The Ishtars turned and saw Harold standing in the doorway looking like he was ready for a fight.
Yami-Marik backed up. "We'll finish our conversation later, Ishizu." As he passed by Harold, he said, "Don't think you won't be around to protect her forever, Avatar."
"Not forever, just until someone puts you out of your misery," Harold retorted.
Yami-Marik chuckled and left.
"Thank you, Harold," Ishizu said.
"With all due respect, Ishizu, your brother certainly has a sadistic dark side."
"The Millennium Items are the only force powerful enough to stand against each other," she commented. "Without my necklace, I am at the mercy of whichever item is used against me."
"So does that mean that my Armlet is also a Millennium Item?" Harold asked.
"In a way it is, and in a way it isn't." Harold looked at her confused.
Yugi and Amara went into what was once Bakura's room. Now the room was empty. "This tournament has gotten out of hand," Yugi said. "Now, Bakura is in the Shadow Realm just like Mai."
"So can't you just go there and get them out?" Amara asked.
"It's not that easy, Amara, only the Millennium Item that banished them in the first place can return them. And the only way to gain a Millennium Item is through a Shadow Game."
"So in other words, only Marik can return Mai and Bakura to normal?" Yugi nodded. "Boy, when I first signed up for this tournament, I didn't realize how dangerous it was going to turn out." Amara turned and walked out.
"Amara has a point,"Yugi said to Yami. "This tournament is dangerous. First Marik's servant Odion was struck down by that fake Egyptian God, and then Mai was banished to the Shadow Realm, now Bakura is gone too."
"Yes, whoever loses a Shadow Game pays a hefty price," Yami commented.
Yugi pounded on the bed, "Why, why do our friends have to suffer? It's us that Marik's after, why does he target our friends?"
"Yugi, calm down," Yami said. "That's precisely how Marik wants you to act. If we are to beat him, we must keep our wits about us. Don't worry, we'll win and then everyone will be returned to normal."
"I hope you're right, Yami."
So do I, Yami thought.
"Will all Duelists and passengers please exit now and gather in front of the Duel Tower," Roland called over the PA.
"Here we go," Yugi said warily.
Unknown to Yugi, Tea was outside and she heard Yugi's entire rant.
The ship landed and everyone started to disembark.
"So Harold, you're okay with being eliminated?" Duke Devlin asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine with it now," Harold replied. "I wasn't registered to begin with so I was lucky to get as far as I did. Besides…" He took out his Serapheem (4) card. "I got some pretty great cards out of the deal…"
"Katy, thank you," Harold said. "You've helped me today in ways you wouldn't believe. I am now ready to face almost any challenge, and the fiercest foes. And even though you're part of the group that wants me dead for some strange reason, I still consider you my friend."
Katy looked at him wide-eyed. "You mean… you're not angry at me for lying to you?"
"True friends forgive each other for doing stupid things," Harold commented.
"Harold, I… I don't deserve a friend like you."
"Maybe you don't, but you have one like me anyway. But this is a duel, and as Joey once told me, a true Duelist finishes a duel to the end. I summon Venus the Agent of Creation in attack mode! Venus, attack her life points directly!" Venus fired three orbs of light at Katy, all of which hit their mark.
"Congratulations, Harold, you won, you beat the Four Horsemen," Katy said with a sad smile. "Unfortunately, I don't have a locator card to give you, but I do have a rare card to give you." She threw a card to Harold. "This card was given to me by my mother; she said that it often reminds her of me. I don't think the picture looks a thing like me but I'm thinking it would really help out your Wingweaver."
I think I finally understand what Katy's mother was trying to say, Harold thought. Though it may not seem weak, Serapheem was able to shine through my darkest of duels, like Katy was able to shine my way to the finals. I hope I can meet her again so I can properly thank her.
"Listen up, dorks!" Kaiba snapped drawing Harold out of his pondering. He pointed to the large tower behind him. "This was the sight of the original Kaiba Corporation, the weapons dealer once run by my step-father. But since then I have torn it down and built this in its place: my Duel Tower."
"Looks like the architect read the blueprints upside down," Amara said angling her head.
"It's like that for a reason, Amara," Mokuba said.
"I'll take your word for it, Mokuba."
"A nice day for the Finals, is it not?" Yami-Marik asked conversely as he appeared on top some rubble. He gave Yugi a smirk, "Too bad some of your friends couldn't make it."
Yami emerged, "Marik, I won't let you endanger anyone else. I'll take you down now!"
"No, you won't, Yugi," Kaiba rebuked. "You won't get a chance to duel Marik because you won't get past me. I'll win your God Card."
"Kaiba, right now you're the least of my worries."
"I should be your only concern, me and my God Card!"
Yami-Marik laughed, "You fools obviously don't know how to truly use a God Card, but I'll gladly teach you the hard way."
"As soon as I take down Yugi, you're next, Marik," Kaiba said.
"No way, Rich Boy, Marik's mine, I'll never forgive him for what he did to Mai; I'll be the one to take him down."
"You don't even belong in a Duel Monsters tournament," Kaiba snapped.
"Look me in the eye and say that again," Joey dared.
"With pleasure."
Mokuba let out an ear-piercing whistle, "All of you save it for the duel. Follow me." Mokuba took the lead and everyone entered the tower.
"Good," Amara muttered. "I was beginning to feel like I was watching a documentary on Mountain Gorillas."
The inside wasn't much, just an empty pentagonal room with five doorways. Everyone came through one of them.
"This doesn't look like much of a dueling ring," Tea commented.
"Just wait," Mokuba said.
Roland took his spot towards the center and gestured to the other four doorways. "The second half of the Battle City Finals will take place here," he explained. "Each of the four finalists must choose a doorway to enter."
"Oh man, how can we tell which door is the right one?" Joey asked.
"I don't think there is a wrong choice, Joey," Yami-Yugi said.
"That is correct," Roland confirmed. "There is no right or wrong doorway."
"Well that's a relief," Joey said. "Now let's see, which door to choose…" Joey started to move towards one door but Yami-Marik already walked through it. "Okay, that one's called for, fine by me."
"Come on, I'll show you to the Spectator's Area," Mokuba said and led Tristan, Tea, Duke, Harold, and Amara up a slanted moving walkway. Joey turned to move towards another door but Kaiba shoved past him (throwing Joey to the ground in the process). Joey got up and was ready to charge Kaiba but Yami-Yugi held him back. "Yugi…"
"Joey, don't let either of them rile you up. This is the Battle City Finals and just like Duelist Kingdom you'll be facing stronger and sneakier opponents."
Joey calmed down, "You know, technically we're also opponents."
"I know, but remember what I said at the beginning of this tournament, I'll need your help to defeat Marik."
"Yeah, I remember. Okay, let's do it." The two nodded and each took one of the remaining doors. Inside was nothing but a dueling station. The four finalists stood on it.
Meanwhile, Mokuba led the others up to a large cylindrical room. Life points in 1000 intervals were painted along a track with 4000 at the bottom and 0 all the way at the top. All the way on the ceiling were four square-shape holes that matched the tracks.
"Cool place but where're Yugi and the others?" Amara asked. No sooner had she said that than the four podiums popped up and slid into place at the 4000 mark.
"Hey Kaiba, what's going on?" Joey asked.
"Roland will explain the rules, and don't worry, I asked him to speak slowly so even you can follow along."
"Oh thanks, I really appre… hey, wait a minute!"
Amara let out a snicker.
"This preliminary match will decide what the match-ups for the Semi-Finals. You will all duel against each other in a Battle Royal. As your life points decrease, your dueling station will rise. The first two Duelists who lose all their life points will face-off first and the remaining two will follow. Any player may attack or support the others. Your decks must contain at least 20 cards and the God Cards must not be included among them." Everyone adjusted their decks accordingly. An adaptor cable popped out from the bottom of the Duel Disk and Kaiba demonstrated how to insert it into the plug on the dueling station. "One final reminder: this will not decide your overall rankings, but only who you will face."
"I get it," Tristan said. "It's a duel to see who duels."
"You just figured that out now?" Amara asked sarcastically.
"That's a relief," Tea said. "It won't affect the outcome."
"True, but it's a double-edge sword," Duke pointed out. "Just as one Duelist can support another so can the same Duelist attack the Duelist he's trying to protect. The life points of the other three are in each Duelist's hand. Also, multiple Duelists can gang up on one Duelist, most logically the weakest one."
"You mean Joey," Harold said.
"Yeah, I have a feeling both Marik and Kaiba will show Joey no mercy," Duke said solemnly."
"Hey, are you guys talking about me?" Joey asked harshly.
"Uh… just thinking of a cheer for you," Tristan said smiling goofily.
"What an idiot," Amara muttered.
"Do you mean Joey or Tristan?" Tea asked.
"You decide."
"Duelists, prepare your selves!" Roland announced. The four activated their Duel Disks. "It's time to decide who shall go first."
"How are they going to do that?" Harold wondered out loud.
"Coin toss," Tristan offered.
"But there're four of them," Harold pointed out.
"Fine, then two coin tosses."
"Is this guy for real?" Amara asked Mokuba who just shrugged in reply.
"The order will be determined by each player displaying one card from his deck. And the player with the strongest card goes first. However, whatever card is displayed can not be used in the duel."
"An added cost," Harold observed. "Either choose a high-level monster and get the first attack in or choose a low-level monster and be able to use the more powerful monsters for the duel."
I have to make sure I'm the first, Kaiba thought as he displayed The Masked Beast Des Guardius (5).
Yami-Yugi displayed Feral Imp (6).
Yami-Marik held up Lekunga (7).
And Joey, who wanted to save his best cards for the duel, held up Swordsman of Landstar (8).
"It has been decided," Roland declared. "First will be Mister Kaiba, followed by Marik, then Yugi, and then Joey. This order can not be changed and nobody may attack until all the players have gone through one turn."
Everything has worked out according to plan, Kaiba thought. I'll spare Yugi so I can face him in the semi-finals and concentrate all my efforts on eliminating Wheeler and Marik.
As much as I would love to crush that snobby rich boy, I have bigger fish to fry. I promised both Yugi and Mai that I would take Marik down and no matter what happen I have to be the one facing him.
Yami-Marik cast an indifferent eye at Joey and Kaiba. It matters not which of these fools I face, in the end I'll still gain the Pharaoh's power.
"The entire world is depending on our victory," Yugi said nervously to Yami. "What if we fail? The stakes are too high!"
"We originally joined this tournament to discover my past," Yami said. "But now we're the only hope in stopping Marik and saving the world!"
"Now, let the duel begin!"
"Let's duel!" The four players announced.
(K: 4000)
(M: 4000)
(Y: 4000)
(J: 4000)
"I'll start by summoning Vorse Raider (9) in attack mode!" Kaiba announced. "And then I'll place one card face-down."
"Then I'll summon Newdoria (10) in defense mode." Yami-Marik smiled inwardly. This monster's special ability should come in handy.
I don't like the way Marik's smirking, Yami-Yugi thought. I better be prepared for anything. "I summon Big-Shield Gardna (11) in defense mode followed by two face-down cards. That ends my turn." The cards actually appeared facing the Duelists instead of the ground like they normally do.
"My move," Joey announced but cringed at his hand. Oh man, this hand's the pits. "I place one card face-down and end my turn."
"A riff-raff like you deserves no place in a Duel Monsters tournament," Kaiba said to Joey. "And here's why. Vorse Raider, attack Wheeler directly now!"
"If that attack hits, Joey will lose almost half his life points!" Harold cried.
"Not so fast, Kaiba," Yami-Yugi yelled. "Reveal trap card: Regulation of Tribe! This trap allows me to stop the attack of any monster type I choose and I choose Beast-Warrior!" Vorse Raider, who was about to strike Joey, fell back to his original position.
"Thanks, Yug," Joey said.
"You'll pay dearly for not letting me finish this poor excuse for a Duelist off, Yugi," Kaiba snapped.
"Joey and I are a team, and I'll always protect him," Yami-Yugi declared.
"Yeah, but how long can he keep it up?" Harold wondered.
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Slifer the Sky Dragon
Level: 10
Type: Divine-Beast
Attribute: Divine
ATK: X000
DEF: X000
(2)
Name: Obelisk the Tormentor
Level: 10
Type: Divine-Beast
Attribute: Divine
ATK: 4000
DEF: 4000
(3)
Name: The Winged Dragon of Ra
Level: 10
Type: Divine-Beast
Attribute: Divine
ATK: XXXX
DEF: XXXX
(4)
Name: Serapheem
Level: 10
Type: Fairy/Ritual/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 3250
DEF: 2800
This monster can only be ritual summoned with the ritual magic card Heavenly Light.(4a) When this monster enters a battle, special summon up to 4 normal light monsters from the graveyard. These cards are treated as equip spell cards. Raise its ATK by 200 points for each card. This ability can only be used once. Afterwards, the monsters return to the graveyard. From the turn after this monster has attacked, you may resurrect 1 normal light monster from the graveyard (Wingweaver is excluded)
(4a)
Name: Heavenly Light
Ritual Spell Card
This card is used to Ritual Summon Serapheem. You must also offer 1 Wingweaver whose ATK has risen above 3200 as a tribute.
(5)
Name: Masked Beast Des Guardius
Level: 8
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 3300
DEF: 2500
(6)
Name: Feral Imp
Level: 4
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1300
(7)
Name: Lekunga
Level: 4
Type: Plant/Effect
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1700
DEF: 500
(8)
Name: Swordsman of Landstar
Level: 3
Type: Warrior
Attribute; Earth
ATK: 500
DEF: 1200
(9)
Name: Vorse Raider
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1900
DEF: 800
(10)
Name: Newdoria
Level: 4
Type: Fiend/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1200
DEF: 800
(11)
Name: Big-Shield Gardna
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 100
DEF: 2600