CHAPTER 7

PHARAOH

Pang Tong was sitting cross-legged on the floor in his room, meditating. This was the best chance to get a break, especially since his next duel is only five minutes away. Boy, Pang Tong thought, I sure did a number on this universe. He had killed the main villain when he wasn't supposed to die, he's mere presence created the strange relationship of Tea, Yami and Yugi. What else could he do? And now he has to duel (for perhaps no reason) the main character. Just as he was pondering on his apparent misfortune, the door behind him opened. He turned his head to see who it was, and saw that it was Ishizu. She didn't have her turban this time, and Pang Tong thought that she looked pretty.

"Hey," Pang Tong said, "What's up?" "I know that you destroyed the Obelisk," Ishizu said. "Yeah, I'm sure," Pang Tong said, "Well, it's not like I had a choice, you see." Ishizu smiled. "No, I suppose not," she said. Pang Tong looked at her suspiciously. "What did you come here for, really," he said, "I doubt it's to wish me good luck." "I came to ask you," Ishizu said, "Why is it that you abandoned your universe? What is it that you truly seek?" Pang Tong looked away from her for a moment. "Well," he said somberly, "If you really must know, I seek change." "Change," asked Ishizu, puzzled. "You don't know what it's like, to have the phoenix curse on you," Pang Tong said, "Sure, it's a lot of fun at first. I mean, no one can kill you. But then…" "But then," Ishizu asked. Pang Tong sighed sadly. "There is no worse feeling," he said, gripping his staff tightly, "Than watching your soldiers die around you because of your screw-up, then live to regret it." Pang Tong stood up. "I have always had this curse," Pang Tong said, "And what's more, I'm simply tired of getting killed by people. Some do it for vengeance, others because their crazy. So that's why I decided to leave. To find a new home, where I don't have to die. At least, not by murder." Ishizu looked at him sadly. "You know, officially, I'm 36," Pang Tong said, "But in reality, I'm close to being 200. And I'm so tired, so damn tired. I just want to rest. To escape this damn life. " Pang Tong walked past Ishizu. He stopped behind her. "You know," he said, "You look better without the mask." Just as he went to leave, Ishizu embraced him from behind. "Ishizu," Pang Tong said, shocked. "I pity you, phoenix," Ishizu said, "You have lost your sense of belonging, so now you seek a new home." "Heh, thanks for the sympathy," Pang Tong said. "And now, there is one last thing I must do," Ishizu said. "Oh," Pang Tong asked, finding it difficult to swallow, "And that is?" Ishizu suddenly grabbed Pang Tong's head and twisted it, breaking his neck. Pang Tong fell dead, then came back in flames. "Well," Pang Tong said weakly, rubbing his neck, "That sure ruined the moment." "We are even now, phoenix," Ishizu said. "Huh," Pang Tong asked. "You killed my brother," Ishizu said, offering her hand to help him stand up, "So to avenge his death, I killed you." "Right," Pang Tong said, taking her hand. "Good luck, Pang Tong," Ishizu said. "Hey, you said my name," Pang Tong said, and left for the arena.

When Pang Tong reached the arena, he saw that Yugi was already there, along with his friends. Kaiba was also there, and he had a bandage on his arm. "So, how's the shoulder doing, Kaiba," Pang Tong asked. Kaiba scowled. "Okay," Pang Tong said, "Well, glad to see your alright anyway." "Are the duelists ready," the announcer asked. "As ready as I'll ever be," Pang Tong said. Yugi nodded. "Duelists: Begin," said the announcer. Suddenly, Yugi was surrounded by a bright light, and Pang Tong heard a voice that seemed to come from nowhere yell "YU-GI-OH!" When the light show was finished, Yami was the one standing in front of Pang Tong. "Oh, it's that transformation again," Pang Tong said, "Hey Yugi, I have a question." "What is it," Yami asked. "Does that transformation help at all," Pang Tong asked. "What do you mean," Yami asked. "I mean, does it give you any special advantages in a duel," Pang Tong asked. "Well, it does allow me to use the powers of the millennium puzzle," Yami said. "In a duel," Pang Tong asked. "Uh, no," Yami said. "Then it's not really useful, is it," Pang Tong said. "It allows me to speak with Yugi so that we can come up with plans," Yami explained, a bit desperate. "But, can't you do that without transforming," Pang Tong asked. "It helps us duel like one," Yami said a bit louder. "Now, I don't know why, but that sounds a bit stupid," Pang Tong said. "All right," Yami said, "It just makes us look cool." "That doesn't sound like a good reason to transform," Pang Tong said. "Will you just duel," Yami asked irritated. "All right, all right," Pang Tong said. "I place two cards face down and play the Ryu-Kishin Powered in attack mode. I end my turn." Yami drew a card. "I place three cards face down and I place one monster face down in defense mode." "My turn," Pang Tong said. He drew a card and looked at it. Well, this should come in handy, he thought. "I place one card face-down," Pang Tong said, "And I summon the Giant Orc, in attack mode." "Ryu-Kishin, attack!" The Ryu-Kishin attacked, destroying Yami's face-down monster. "Not very impressive," Pang Tong said, "Giant Orc, attack!" The Giant Orc attacked, but Yami activated his trap card. "Invisible Wire," he said. Suddenly, the Giant Orc was covered in wires, then vanished. "Huh," Pang Tong said, "Spoke too soon." "My move," Yami said. "I play the magic card Fissure!" Suddenly, a large hole appeared under Pang Tong's Ryu-Kishin, making it fall. "Oh," Pang Tong said. "Now I summon the Obnoxious Celtic Guardian," Yami said, "Attack." "That card is pretty popular, huh," Pang Tong said. "I play the trap card Deflect," he shouted. A shield appeared in front of him, blocking the Celtic's attack. The sword was knocked off his hand and fell on Yami, making him lose 1500 life points. "Damn," said Yami. "Hey, we're just starting," Pang Tong said, "Don't lose hope yet." "Your turn," Yami said. Pang Tong drew a card. "Right then," he said, "I summon the Shu private, in attack mode." A soldier came out dressed in green, with a single sword and 1600 in attack. "What is that card," Yami asked surprised. "One that you will probably never see again," Pang Tong said. "Attack!" The soldier charged and stabbed the Celtic Guardian, destroying it and making Yami lose 100 more life points. "This is getting serious," Yami said.

"Yugi's getting a beating out there," Joey said. "Don't say that," Tea told Joey, "Yugi has gotten out of worse problems than this." "I'm not sure about that, Tea," Duke said, "This Pang Tong guy was able to beat Kaiba even though it seemed that Kaiba would win." "Come on, guys," Tea said, "We can't give up on Yugi now!" Joey stared at Tea, then smiled. "Your right, Tea," he said, "No matter what, we'll always stick by Yugi!" Tea smiled. "You here dat, Yugi," Joey said, "We're rooting for ya!" "Yeah, go get him Yugi," Tristan cheered.

"That's rather annoying," Pang Tong said. "Your telling me," Yami said, "It's almost impossible to concentrate when their cheering like that. It puts a lot of pressure on me." He closed his eyes, and drew the card. Heart of the cards, Yami thought, help me now. He looked at the card. "I play the Dark Hole," he said. "Wow," Pang Tong said as he saw his soldier being sucked up into the hole. "Now I play the magic card Quick Summon. It allows me to summon any monster unto the field. And I play Slifer the Sky Dragon!" "Holy crap," Pang Tong said. He was looking at what seemed to be a giant red snake, with wings and two heads. "Now, Slifer, Attack," shouted Yami. Pang Tong put his arms forward to shield his eyes from the explosion. When he looked, he had 1000 life points left. "This is the end, Pang Tong." "Not quite," Pang Tong said defiantly. "Still, I wonder, how did you get that card," he asked. "By believing in the heart of the cards," Yami said. "The what," Pang Tong asked. "The heart of the cards," Yami said, "With it, I can draw just the card I need." "But isn't that cheating," Pang Tong asked. "No," Yami said. "Yeah right," Pang Tong said, "Your just cheating, using the cards trust to your advantage." "No, I'm not," Yami said angrily. "Okay, okay, calm down," Pang Tong said. "I have no choice though," he said, "I play the magic card The Sleeping Dragon!" Suddenly, a large, snake-like dragon appeared behind Pang Tong. "What is that," Yugi said. "The most unfair card in existence," Pang Tong said, "You may have you self-esteem issues by believing in the heart of the cards, but I believe in a friend who gave me this deck." He looked up at the dragon. Thank you, old friend, he thought. Then he gasped. "Good grief," Pang Tong said, "Now I'm talking like you. I really have to get out of here." "You still haven't told me what that card does," Yami said. "Oh, yeah" Pang Tong said, "Well, the bottom-line is that it does the same amount of damage to your life points as your monster's attack." "What," Yami said. The dragon attacked, breathing fire from it's mouth and hitting Yami. The monsters then disappeared. The duel was over. Pang Tong won.

"I don't believe it," Joey said, "Yugi lost." "Yugi," Tea said sadly. "No," Kaiba shouted, "This can't be!" "Seto," Mokuba said. "It's not fair," Kaiba kept saying, slamming his fist to the floor, "I was supposed to defeat Yugi!"

Pang Tong walked towards Yami. "Are you all right," he asked. "I'll be fine," Yami said. He offered Pang Tong the Slifer. "Here, you've earned this," he said. "Nah, you keep it," Pang Tong said. "Are you sure," Yami said. "Hey, I've got no use for it," Pang Tong said, "And now…" He took his duel disc, tossed it to the air, aimed with his staff, and shouted "Fire!" The deck and duel disc exploded, leaving nothing but a smoldering pile of ashes. "No one can see those cards, you see," Pang Tong said. Yami nodded, then smiled. "I'm outta here," Pang Tong said. He aimed his staff in front of him. A portal opened. Just as he was going to step in, he looked back and saw Ishizu. He decided to talk to her telepathically. "Well, see you later," he said. "Do you still plan to go through other dimensions," she asked. "You got it," Pang Tong said. "I see," Ishizu said, "Good luck then." "Thanks," Pang Tong said, and went through the portal, wondering where would he go next.