Yu-Gi-Oh! Avatar
Fanfic Chapter 160: Conquering Hatred Pt 2: Fighting Yourself
Episode Basis: Battle of the Bronze Pt 2
Marik: I finally know the truth. It was my dark side who killed my father. It was my dark side that banished Joey's friend Mai, and the Spirit of the Millennium Ring to the Shadow Realm. Even though the dark me is like a separate entity, I still feel like it was me who did all that. And now, not just the entire world, but also my own fate is depending on the duel between the Pharaoh and my dark side. It's too much a gamble, even with the Pharaoh's excellent dueling strategies. I have to take things into my own hands. So, controlling the body of Yugi's friend Tea, I slipped out while everyone else was watching Joey duel Kaiba and am going to destroy my dark side once and for all!
Joey gave Kaiba a smug glance, "Looks like you're defenseless, Kaiba. And you said I didn't belong in this tournament," Kaiba said.
(J: 2200)
(K: 2800)
"There's only a 600 life point difference between them," Amara pointed out. "That's pretty good if you ask me."
"Joey is doing better against Kaiba than I expected," Tristan commented and Duke agreed.
"Joey has become one of the best Duelists around," Yami commented to Yugi.
"Don't forget his duel against Marik," Yugi reminded the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. "Joey probably would've been in the Finals if Marik hadn't unleashed a Shadow Game on him."
"In his heart, Joey knows he's a great Duelist, worthy of the Battle City Crown."
Even Mokuba had to admit Joey's move was good. But he'll have to do better than that if he's going to beat my Brother.
"Well, congratulations on making one good move," Kaiba said snidely. "I guess there's a first time for everything. But don't forget, my Crush Card destroyed all your monsters with over 1500 attack points!"
Kaiba may be right, the only monsters I have less than 1500 attack points. But I have to keep fighting. If I back out now, Kaiba will never let me live it down.
"Joey, I believe in you," Yami-Yugi said.
Joey turned his friend and gave him a thumb up, "You got it, bud."
Still acting snide, Kaiba let out a chuckle, "That idiot has no idea. But I'll give you a firsthand look at the difference between our skill levels. I summon Blade Knight in attack mode! Blade Knight, attack Swordsman of Landstar now!" Swordsman of Landstar, whose attack points have gone back down to 500, was destroyed.
(J: 1100)
(K: 2800)
Tristan gasped, "Joey just lost half his life points!"
"And he has no monsters," Amara added.
"Yeah, one more attack and Joey's through," Duke threw in.
"Don't worry about Joey," Yami-Yugi assured the others. "Even if it comes to that, Joey won't go down without a fight. He'll duel his very hardest and that's what makes him a true Duelist."
Kaiba set a card face-down and ended his turn.
Yami-Marik gripped the Millennium Rod like he was choking it. "What did you do, I know you showed Kaiba and the Pharaoh something, what was it?" He growled. "Why won't you respond? You're MY Millennium Item." The Rod was still dormant. Angrily, Yami-Marik threw the Rod to the other end
It landed right in front of Tea-Marik.
"I summon Little-Winguard in attack mode!"
"Is it my imagination or did Joey just play a monster with only 1400 attack points in attack mode?" Duke asked bug-eyed.
"It's not just you," Amara said crossing her arms.
"Joey just broke the most basic rule of Duel Monsters!" Tristan cried.
Yami-Yugi just watched neutrally.
"What is this?" Kaiba asked. "Is this some lame attempt at strategy?"
"Maybe," Joey said with a smile. "I play the magic card Legendary Sword increasing my monster's attack points by 300!"
"You mean my monster," Kaiba corrected. "Activate face-down card, Absorb Spell. Now your power-up is transferred to my Blade Knight."
(BK: 1600-1900)
"A third rate strategy from a third-rate Duelist. I knew you could never defeat a Duelist with real talent."
"Well next time I'm dueling someone with real talent, I'll remember that."
"That's a good one," Amara said. "I'll have to write that down."
"Kaiba's one tough customer," Duke said.
"Yeah, but so is Joey," Tristan said. "Look at his eyes he's determined to win this duel no matter what."
Yami-Marik looked over and saw Tea holding the Millennium Rod. "Return that to me, dear," he commanded. "You are meddling with forces beyond your control!" As he reached out to take it, a flash of light threw Yami-Marik almost to the edge of the tower.
"Am I?" Tea-Marik asked.
Yami-Marik gasped, "That voice!"
The Millennium Necklace and Puzzle activated together. Yami-Yugi saw an image of Tea and Yami-Marik. Tea's in trouble, I have to help her. "Joey, keep it up, I know you can beat this," Yami-Yugi told Joey. Without turning around, Joey gave his friend a peace sign. Yami-Yugi quietly slipped away.
Kaiba started his turn, "You're probably thinking that I'm going to attack your Little-Winguard with my Blade Knight, but I have something different in mind. I play the magic card Enemy Controller." A video game controller appeared. "Now, by paying 1000 life points, I can either destroy a monster or take control of it. And I think I'll do the later. Controller, input command: up, down, right, right, A, B, Select!"
(J: 1100)
(K: 1800)
As Kaiba spoke the commands, the corresponding buttons were pressed. A wire shot out and inserted itself into Little-Winguard which floated over to Kaiba's side of the field. "Next I activate the magic card Cost Down which lets me lower the level of all monsters in my hand by two levels. So now I can summon my Blue-Eyes White Dragon with only one sacrifice instead of two. And the monster that I choose to sacrifice is your Little-Winguard." The warrior disappeared and the large dragon appeared roaring fiercely at Joey. "You're defenseless, Wheeler, one attack from my Blue-Eyes will finish you off. Blue-Eyes, attack with White Lightning!"
Wielding the Millennium Rod, Tea-Marik backed Yami-Marik to the edge of the Duel Tower.
"So you're still around, I thought I banished you to the Shadow Realm. But it appears you took refuge inside a girl. Quite pathetic if you ask me."
"Be silent," Tea-Marik commanded. "It's my responsibility to stop you once and for all!"
"You don't exist any more! This body is mine now!"
"I don't care."
"I'm the real Marik! You'll be destroying your own body!"
"I don't care," Tea-Marik said again.
"But just think how Ishizu would feel about it… and Odion."
Tea-Marik lowered the Millennium Rod. "Odion…"
That was Yami-Marik's chance. Rushing forward, he knocked Tea-Marik down sending the spirit in a girl's body sliding over towards the staircase. The Millennium Rod landed in Yami-Marik's hands. He pointed it threatening at Tea-Marik. "Now, what were you saying about stopping me?"
Joey took a step back as the white energy blast headed towards him. "Reveal face-down card, Scapegoat!" Four Sheep Tokens appeared. The energy blast struck one of them.
Kaiba growled, annoyed. "Blade Knight, attack!"
(BK: 1900-2300)
"My Blade Knight's effect increases its attack points by 400 since there's one card in my hand." Blade Knight destroyed another of the Sheep Tokens. The two remaining tokens grouped together in front of Joey. "Now I have two powerful monsters and thanks to my Crush Card, you don't have anything to stand against them."
He's right, Joey thought. How can I take on two of Kaiba's heavyweights with a deck full of wimps? He drew a card but it was only Battle Warrior with only 700 attack points. "I set one card face-down and summon Battle Warrior in defense mode."
"That pathetic monster won't stop me."
"We'll see."
Tea-Marik swept his/her legs trying to knock Yami-Marik's feet out from under him but the dark spirit jumped and tried to hit Tea-Marik with the Millennium Rod but Tea-Marik did a reverse handstand and was able to evade it.
"You're becoming a real nuisance," Yami-Marik commented.
"Too bad for you," Tea-Marik replied.
Yami-Marik smiled. That fool has no idea that I have grown stronger since my duel with the Millennium Ring Spirit. I'll destroy both him and his host! He twisted the top of the Millennium Rod unlocking the hidden dagger beneath it. He charged forward. Tea-Marik did likewise. When the two were ten meters apart, Yami-Marik unsheathed the dagger and thrust it forward.
"It's my turn now and I play the magic card Card of Demise. This lets me draw five cards at the risk of discarding them in five turns. But I'll have finished you long before then. I summon Kaiser Sea Horse in attack mode. Kaiser Sea Horse, attack one of his Scapegoats!" The monster thrust its spear forward and destroyed one of the sheep. "Blade Knight, destroy the other one!" The last token was destroyed. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack his Battle Warrior with White Lightning attack!" The humanoid in blue jumpsuit was destroyed.
"Joey better do something big soon, he'll lose," Tristan said.
"Do you think he can do it?" Duke asked Amara.
"It's definitely possible. But up against someone at Kaiba's skill level, I don't know," Amara analyzed. "But I think Tristan's right, Joey better begin his comeback now if he's going to survive another thirty seconds."
"I end my turn," Kaiba said. "Try to see if you can get yourself out of this mess unless you've come to your senses and given up."
Joey laughed, "I guess you don't know me very well." He held up his Duel Disk. "Joey Wheeler never gives up, especially when he's up against snobby rich punks like you."
"Fine, this will all be over soon."
"You got that right, when I wipe you out. My move and I play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two more cards." He looked at the cards he drew. "Awesome, I now have everything I need. First I reveal my face-down card, Graverobber. And just like its name suggests, it can go into your graveyard and take a card from it. And I'll take Enemy Controller if you don't mind." The gremlin grabbed the card and handed it to Joey. "Thanks, little guy. Now I think I'll play the Enemy Controller. But rather than use it the way you used it, I have a more creative use in mind." The controller appeared. "Enter command: up, left, left, A, B, Start!"
(J: 100)
(K: 1800)
Whatever Joey has planned, it better be good, Amara thought. With 100 life points, even the weakest of Duel Monsters can finish him off.
"Now, destroy Kaiba's Blue-Eyes!" A wire shot out and attached itself to Kaiba's dragon. The dragon exploded. Kaiba was horrified to say the least. "Tell you what, Kaiba, since I'm such a nice guy, I'll let you see it again… on my side of the field that is! I play Monster Reborn to resurrect Blue-Eyes White Dragon on my side of the field!" The dragon appeared hovering above Joey.
CLANG!
Tea-Marik opened his/her eyes. Neither his/her attack nor the attack of Yami-Marik connected. Harold was in between them, blocking the Millennium Rod Dagger with his Armlet's shield while using his Duel Disk to block the kick made by Tea-Marik.
"Now, children are we going to behave or do I have to put you in separate corners?" Harold asked.
Yami-Marik pulled back and growled at Harold, "Avatar, your constant interference is beginning to get on my nerves."
"Well too bad for you, three-eyes," Harold said turning to face Yami-Marik.
"What are you doing?" Tea-Marik asked.
"You're inhabiting the body of my friend, and I'll protect my friends no matter what."
"How cute," Yami-Marik said. "But you have interfered for the last time!" He raised the Millennium Rod and aimed it at Harold.
"Go ahead," Harold dared aiming his Armlet. "Make my day!"
To Harold's surprise, Yami-Marik laughed, "I know better than to challenge the Armlet directly. I have a better idea." He raised the Millennium Rod to the sky. The sky around them began to get eerily dark.
"A shadow bubble," Tea-Marik realized.
Serenity saw something dark appearing in the sky. "A storm?" She wondered. She looked out the porthole and gasped. "Oh no, the same bubble that almost destroyed my Brother is back, I hope he's not battling Marik again." She turned and ran out of the room where she and Kevin were keeping vigil over Mai. Heading towards the ramp, she ran into Ishizu. "Ishizu, that dark bubble thing is back."
"Dark bubble?"
"Like the one where Joey dueled Marik."
"Oh no!" The two ran out and Serenity pointed towards the top of the Duel Tower. "My Brother is engaged in a Shadow Game and Harold too."
"Harold?"
"Yes, he's up there as well."
"Ishizu, Serenity!" Yami-Yugi ran up to the two girls. "Have any of you seen Tea or Harold."
"They're probably engaged in a Shadow Game along with my Brother."
"Oh no! We have to save them. Come on, Ishizu."
"Wait for me," Serenity called.
"Serenity, you should stay here," Yami-Yugi recommended.
"Yugi, don't you remember the last time Harold went off alone? He almost got killed! And he was alone too. If this time… well… I don't want him to be alone."
"All right," Yami-Yugi relented. "I don't have time to argue anyway." The three ran towards the Duel Tower.
Duke and Tristan cheered. Amara's jaw dropped open. "I didn't see that coming. Since Joey can't use his strong monsters, he'll use Kaiba's instead."
"Our boy's just full of surprises," Tristan said.
"How dare you summon my Blue-Eyes!" Kaiba cried out. "You'll pay for this, Mutt, you hear me? You'll PAY!"
"Maybe, but not right now. Blue-Eyes White Dragon, waste his Blade Knight with White Lightning!" The dragon launched an energy blast which disintegrated the knight.
(J: 100)
(K: 700)
"Whoo-ee, man, Kaiba, I'm beginning to see why you like these dragons so much. Man, what a rush! Anywho, I summon Hayabusa Knight (1) in defense mode and end my turn."
"You made the last mistake of your brief dueling career, Dog-Face, by taking my Blue-Eyes White Dragon."
Harold and Tea-Marik watched as the Shadow Bubble enclosed around the roof. "The only way to get rid of you once and for all is to duel you and seal your soul in the Shadow Realm along with the others!"
"No, duel me instead," Tea-Marik argued. "Your fight is with me, not him!"
Harold held out his arm halting Tea-Marik's argument. "You don't have a Duel Disk or a deck," he pointed out. "All right, Sunshine, I accept your challenge!" He activated his Duel Disk. "Let's duel!"
"Yes, let's," Yami-Marik agreed sliding some cards into his deck..
(H: 4000)
(M: 4000)
"You're no match for me," Yami-Marik said. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."
I'll have to be careful, Harold thought. When Joey went through this, he barely emerged alive. But I need to get an advantage and the only way I can do that is by summoning monsters. "I summon Venus the Agent of Creation (2) in attack mode and I use her special ability too. By giving up 500 life points, I can summon Mystical Shine Ball (3) from my deck."
(H: 3500)
(M: 4000)
"I equip Venus with Cestus of Dagla which increases her attack points by 500!"
(VAC: 1600-2100)
Harold was surprised to see an energy string connecting Venus and Mystical Shine Ball to his chest. "What the…"
"Why so surprised?" Yami-Marik asked. "Your friend Joey went through the same thing. But in case you fell asleep, I'll explain again. This energy string binds your monsters to yourself. Each time a monster is destroyed, the player controlling it will feel the pain and hurt of the monster. And the amount of pain you feel depends on the gap between the attack points of the monsters involved in battle. Still want to continue?"
"You bet! Venus, attack Marik directly!" Venus flew forward.
"You fool, I activate my trap card Draining Shield!" Venus flew into a shield and was forced back. "Not only does it stop your attack but it lets me increase my life points by an equal amount."
(H: 3500)
(M: 6100)
"Nuts, I walked into that one," Harold grumbled. "I end my turn."
"I thought you might; now it's my move!" Smiling demonically, he drew a card. "I summon Double Coston (4) in attack mode. Attack his Mystical Shine Ball." The double blobs swirled around and destroyed the orb.
(H: 2300)
(M: 6100)
Harold screamed out as the energy string snapped back to him.
"Now do you understand your predicament? I set one card face-down and end my turn."
"The only thing I understand is that you're a psycho," Harold said. "I switch Venus to defense mode and set another monster in defense mode!"
"I don't care if destiny has given you the Avatar Armlet, I'll still send you to the Shadow Realm once and for all!"
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Hayabusa Knight
Level: 3
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1000
DEF: 700
(2)
Name: Venus the Agent of Creation (Agent of Creation- Venus)
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1600
DEF: 0
(3)
Name: Mystical Shine Ball
Level: 2
Type: Fairy
Attribute: Light
ATK: 500
DEF: 500
(4)
Name: Double Coston
Level: 4
Type: Zombie/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1650