"The final playoff match between Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler will not only determine who wins the tournament, but also who wins a match with Mr Maximillion Pegasus."
"Who would have guessed out of all the duellists who started in this tournament; two best friends would wind up in the final match." Bakura said.
"Yeah, this is defiantly harsh; at least one of them is going to be able to get a chance to take on Pegasus." said Tristan.
"I guess you're right, but couldn't they just flip a coin or something." said Téa. "We could get our match with Pegasus now."
"I don't think that it works that way Téa," said Tristan.
"Well why doesn't it," said Téa. "Joey and Yugi are like brothers they shouldn't be forced to fight like this."
"Téa, it's a competition they would have to even if it wasn't Pegasus." I said. I could see Joey and Yugi were talking but I couldn't hear what they were saying. I saw Yugi's head snap up and he looked more determined.
"Your gracious host will now make a few winning remarks."
"Oh boy," said Joey. I'm with you Joey. He cleared his throat.
"Congratulations duellists you're the finest in the world and for that reason I look forward to a match that is sure to consist of your duelling best. After all if you give me any less I will know."
"Yugi, before we start I just want to say thanks man. Just look at me I'm in the final match of the biggest tournament that's ever been thrown, and it's all because of you Bud. You and the other Muto's." he said giving me a thumbs up.
"Your wrong Joey, you earned your place here." Yugi said.
"Thanks pal, I just know that no matter what happens here you're my friend and you always will be Yug. But er, don't think that means I'm going to be easy on you in this match. Or that I expect you to go easy on me. I'm ready for your best. Let's do this!"
I was so proud of both of them. They gave their best and helped each other. Joey even played Yugi once or twice. When Joey had the black skull dragon it looked promising for him. The way he used grave robber and copycat was genius. However his enviable defeat came with the Dark Magician in the form of a very old man.
We were finally at the end of the tournament! Yugi won! Grandpa we are coming!
"Well Yugi, we knew one of us was going to lose, but the good news is one of us got to win too. Congratulations man. Mana here I don't need this anymore. He handed me the card of glory.
"Joey, the prize money is Serenity's. Can't you remember two days ago. I mean so little has happened." I teased nudging him.
"Group hug," said Téa.
"Good luck Yugi," said Tristan.
"Now go take down Pegasus," Joey said when we broke apart.
"Remember if there is a way to beat his eye it's to do with the puzzle." I said. Yugi nodded, turning into the Sprit and walking down the stairs towards the arena.
We saw him walk toward his box.
"He looks so determined," said Téa.
"Yugi, take him down!" Tristan yelled.
"Put that slime bucket in his place." Joey called.
"The challenger has entered the stadium, and now for your duelling pleasure –"
"And living nightmare," I muttered.
"Castle Pegasus is proud to present the creator of Duel Monsters and all its wondrous cards the undefeated and undisputed ruler of the Duellist Kingdom Maximillion Pegasus."
Pegasus walked out with two goons at either side. It looked like one was carrying his deck on a pillow.
"And now let the duel begin," said Crocket. Aargh the way he beckoned the goon with his finger. I hated him. He walked forward.
"So Yugi boy, you've turned out to be quite the young duellist. Finding your way past all the other challengers, winning your way into the castle just to face me."
"Pegasus," the Spirit bellowed pointing at Pegasus. "Before we begin this duel, I want you to agree to keep your promise that if I defeat you." he clenched his stretched hand. "You'll release my grandfather's soul to me."
"But of course, I'm a man of my word."
"And that's not all. You must also free the souls of Seto and Mokuba Kaiba."
"What a strange demand." He said. "I thought you hated Kaiba as much as you hated me, Yugi."
"Maybe I need to keep a vow of my own, Pegasus."
"Oh I see, I vow to Mokuba." He said, I clenched my fist mind reading bastard. "Ok, Yugi boy, if it will put your mind at ease I will agree to your terms. You win your battle with me I shall free these three from there lonesome imprisoned souls."
"Pegasus is up to something," Tristan muttered.
"I know," said Joey. "I think he planned on playing Yugi in the final match all along."
"He's after something that's for sure." Said Téa
I hope that Yugi can handle him," said Bakura. "Throughout the entire tournament Pegasus as stacked the deck in his favour every step of the way."
"You're kidding me, Yugi's gunna kick his keister. When this is all over Yugi's going to be the undisputed champion. Pegasus won't have a clue what hit him."
"Joey's right, I know it," said Téa.
"Hmm I don't know," Tristan hummed.
"You can't have such a negative attitude, guys Yugi's counting on us too." said Joey.
"But Pegasus never plays fair. He started by kidnapping Yugi and Mana's Grandpa, and going into this final match we have no idea what tricks he's going to pull."
"Whatever tricks he tries, whatever card he plays. Yugi will overcome them. Yugi hasn't come all this way to lose the final match." Said Téa.
"Look at him. No way that overdressed pre-Madonna's got a chance against our buddy," said Joey.
"Maybe," Tristan murmured.
"Trust me, Yugi's no Kaiba. He's gunna beat this clown."
"There just about to draw their first cards,"
"Quick bathroom trip," I said, Joey and Téa nodded.
When we came back I noticed Tristan had gone.
"Where's Tristan?"
"He probably got lost on the way to the John." Joey waved my concern off and leaned over to see what was happening. I could hear Crocket's voice. Were they still talking!
"Yes but if I am the one who defeats you instead; you have to fore fill your end of the bargain as well. Take a close look at the cars you hold Yugi boy, there is a reason that it's blank you know. For if I win, I claim your soul forever."
I gasped, that disgusting red pompom!
"So you see you have much to gain, but much to risk as well."
"It's a risk I am willing to take to free my Grandpa and the others, but I don't plan to lose."
"We shall see,"
"We will indeed Pegasus."
"So courageous, so defiant –"
"Did you hear that?" Téa cried blocking out Pegasus. "If Yugi loses, Pegasus will steal his soul too."
"What a creep, but even knowing what's on the line, Yugi's still isn't going to back down." Said Tristan.
"True," Bakura joined in. "His betting his own soul on the outcome."
"That's our Yugi, he'll do anything for anybody." Said Joey.
"Yes but this is the biggest gamble I have ever seen anybody take in duel monsters," Bakura said as he did so a large tablet of the dark magician jumped to the front of my mind.
"You ok Mana?" said Tristan putting a hand on my shoulder. My lungs were working in overdrive, the panting was obvious. I took a deep breath trying to tame my reaction.
"I'm fine," I gasped.
"I hate to disappoint you Pegasus, but I have no intention of becoming a part of your collection."
"The final duel will now begin, the winner will be declared the king of games." The two men were lowered into the ring. "Now both of you cut and shuffle your opponent's cards."
They shuffled, well Yugi did Pegasus just tapped it. "Now the cards will be returned. The scores reset and –"
"Duel!" they both cried.
From the word go Pegasus was telling us what cards and strategies that the Spirit was using. He toyed with him, the same way he did Kaiba. After a few turns it showed it's ugly head as he drew the Dark Magician. Then I thought of something.
"Yugi! I know how to stop him reading your mind, you need to – "
"I don't know how you have come across a way it is impossible, second even if you have outside help will cause an automatic disqualification, then Yugi boys soul will belong to me." I growled in a similar way to the Spirit. This was so irritating.
"Have you really figured out a way?" Joey asked me.
"Yes, but I wish I had earlier. And I wish beyond anything that Yugi or the Spirit would."
To try and distract Pegasus I tried projecting my feelings for Pegasus to him, a few minutes later he looked in our direction.
"Oh Mana girl, that is so crude!" he said looking at me in amusement. "Oh and before you think to overpower me you all yelling at me mentally the millennium eye can block it if I so desire, but your thoughts amuse me, Mana girl,"
I growled at him furiously. The spirit desperately tried magical hats, but it wouldn't work unless he realised what I had.
"I know Pegasus has magic! But so do you the magic of you millennium puzzle!"
I saw his eyes widen. Pegasus attacked the virtual smoke blocked the Spirit from view when it cleared I saw.
"Yes you did it you worked it out! Nice one guys!" I cheered. "Ha Pegasus they didn't even need my help!"
Yugi smiled up at me giving me the thumbs up.
"Maybe you probed the wrong mind, one which doesn't know where the Dark Magician hides. Or maybe your mind probing powers aren't as all seeing as you think."
"Go Yug!" I called laughing.
"You dare mock the awesome power of my millennium eye," Pegasus said furious. "You go too far, Yugi boy."
"Hey you have any idea what's going on?" Joey asked.
"He worked out a way to stop Pegasus. There are two souls in Yugi's body, Yugi's and the Spirit of the puzzle. Normally when duelling they work together as one. But to fight Pegasus they have to trust each other and be flexible. The Spirit knows where the Dark Magician is, Yugi doesn't."
"So by keeping their minds separate, they can beat him," said Téa.
I looked down to see Yugi play a card, once he did the Spirit returned. The game was much more fun to watch now, Pegasus began to flounder. After Pegasus's missed again when the Spirit returned he chuckled. When they were I trouble Yugi came and used one of his cards, taking out a toon monster. Pegasus was having kittens, it was pretty funny to watch.
We shouldn't have mocked him so much. Pegasus decided it was time to take the game to the shadow realm. The purple smoke covered them.
"No!" I yelled.
"Where'd they go?" gasped Téa.
"They went to another dimension, the shadow realm," I said.
"Hey, how about a hand?" I heard Tristan's voice. We all turned to see him carrying Bakura and Mokuba.
"Tristan, where have you been?" Téa demanded.
"You wouldn't believe it, I've had an adventure and a half today." He said as he put them both down.
"What happened to those two?" Joey asked.
"Evil Spirit took over Bakura again even though I got rid of it." Tristan looked up. "What's going on here?"
"You go first," said Joey.
"I freed Mokuba, but then Bakura tried to grab him."
"Why did he want Mokuba, detail man." Said Joey, as I stared at Mokuba's poor soulless body.
"He wanted Mokuba as his new host body," said Tristan. I clutched Mokuba to me. "Don't worry I handled it, so what's the story with the indoor thunderstorm?"
"Pegasus took Yugi and the Spirit to the shadow realm, come on leys see if we can get in." I said running towards the doors to the arena platform.
"And then Pegasus was losing and he started ranting something about a shadow game, and this thing came out of nowhere. I think there still inside." Joey finished explaining to Tristan.
"They are," I said, frowning at the purple smoke.
Burning pain shot through my heart, I looked up to see everyone was clutching their heart.
"You felt it too huh?" Joey grunted.
"Yeah, a sharp jolt right in my heart, I have the strangest feeling something bad has happened to Yugi." Said Téa.
"I think our little buddies in big trouble," said Joey, staring at the smoke.
"I know," said Tristan.
"You felt it too?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, maybe because we've become so tight we've developed some kind of weird link to him." said Tristan.
"Yeah, but if were feeling what he's feeling it must be really bad in there." Téa said anxiously.
"If only there was some way that we could help him." Joey.
Téa ran at the wall.
"Téa don't!" we cried. But she was just flecked back out.
"Huh, what happened?" Joey asked.
"I'm not sure," said Téa putting her hand in and it appearing beside her.
"So what do we do now," Joey said.
"Stand back," Tristan ran at the orb he came back the same way Téa did.
I took a deep breath and placed my hand on the ball.
"Yugi! Can you hear me! Yugi!" I yelled.
"Mana," I heard Yugi gasp.
"Hang in there, both of you. Pegasus bring them back!" I yelled furiously.
"How are we able to hear her," I heard Pegasus say before I felt a sharp serge of dark energy, shooting me backwards by at least 5 metres.
"Mana," they guys gasped.
"I'm ok," I said getting back up. "For some reason I am the only one that can get through I have to support them." I put my hand back on the shadow game sphere. "Heart of the Cards, Yugi! You too Sprit! You guys can win this beat his pompous ass!" I felt another strong serge forcing me further than before I could feel my energy draining, but I continued on.
"I don't know what your dark illusion eye holds –"
"Were all with you, believe in each other remember what you are fighting for!"
"I can hear you panting, you're close to the edge, turn back girl," Pegasus snarled.
"Are you alright?" the Spirit asked anxiously.
"Yeah, but I can't do this for much longer." I felt another serge of dark energy stronger than before it stole the last of my energy as I shoot back I felt my consciousness slip…
A sharp pain jolted me into consciousness.
"Yugi!" I bellowed standing back up.
"He's hurt or worse," said Téa.
"This is too freaky I can't feel Yugi at all it's like he's banished of the face of the planet."
"Grab my hand now!" I barked.
"What?" said Joey.
"All of you quickly, Yugi's ,mind has been thrown to the shadows. The only way to get him back is for the Spirit to win. And the only way for the Spirit to win is –"
"To stop Pegasus from entering his mind," said Téa putting her hand in Joey's and Tristan's. I did the same.
"We need to form a barrier, I'll need some of your energy."
"Take what yah need, Mana." Said Joey.
"Close your eyes, imagine a solid wall, and think of Yugi."
I had to force my way through the shadows, but I found myself and the others in a room.
"Yugi!" Téa cried running to the unconscious figure on the floor.
"Ok we're in their head, Joey, Tristan help me guard. Téa do not let go of Yugi no matter what."
"Mana?" the spirits voice gasped.
"We're your blockade," I said. I heard a rumbling through another chamber.
"Ok guys brace yourselves he's coming."
Dark purple mist swarmed towards us. Put lifted up away from our barrier.
"Impossible, inconceivable my millennium eye is being blocked. This can't be. My powers are totally unstoppable. I should be able to scan your every thought and strategy. I should be able to see each and every card in your deck."
"Not anymore, Pegasus," said Joey menacingly. "Not so long as we're here helping out buddy out, get out of his mind and stay out!"
"Thank you," said the Spirit. "Together we can stand against him."
"Pegasus you just don't get it," said Téa.
"You think your eye makes all the difference," said Joey.
"So get the hell out!" I grunted pushing him from his mind. He tried again a few minutes later. I needed more energy so I took the smallest amount I could from them. I could hear them gasp, fighting to resist taking more of their strength. I felt Yugi's soul return as. And as it did blackness…
Ok guys, what did you think, I had the idea she could talk because of her magic and the connection to the Shadow Realm from her past. Please review and I will try and update once finals are finished and I am back in England!