I watched everyone begin to move again, and smiling under the tape I saw Mokuba and Seto hug fiercely. After they all hugged and checked on each other they all looked up.
"Mana!" they all yelled.
"Release her now!" Seto ordered at Noah. But Noah collapsed, and my sphere disappeared. I screamed as I began to fall.
"Mana!"
"I don't think so!" Seto's yelled. I could see his white coat billowing behind him as he ran to where I was falling. He caught me, falling to the floor, and me landing on top of him. Ow that hurt, and it must have really hurt him too. He hugged me to him, and I hugged him back just as fiercely. I looked up to see Yami walking towards Noah. Then Noah got up, running to Yami. He put his hands on his chest and tried to go inside of his body.
"And I'll start by escaping to the real world in your body from now on. I'm you."
The puzzle began to glow.
"What! What's this? Who are you? Answer me! Your mind is full of secrets."
"What have you done!" Yami cried. The light getting brighter around them.
"Yami! Yugi!" I cried, I tried to run to them, but Seto kept me ensnared in his grip. "No, let me go!" I felt tears spill over.
"Let me in!" Noah cried then they both cried out the light got brighter before Noah was pushed away.
"What are you?" Noah asked him. "You're not like the others,"
"Yugi! Are you ok!" Teaa cried as the others ran to him. I tried to go too, but Seto kept me close.
"The geeks can handle this. You are staying right here." He muttered into my ear.
"Try touching me!" Joey said his fist raised.
"Stop it Joey," Serenity said. "Violence isn't going to get us out of here,"
"You failed Noah, so it's time to set us all free." Yami told him. Seto finally let me stand as the two of us walked to the rest of the group.
"And give me my real body back! Pronto" Tristan said, jumping up and down, then making some monkey noises.
"So, you want your bodies back." He laughed. "Your real bodies are exactly where they have been since you arrived."
"What does that even mean?" Duke said.
"Everything is virtual," I gasped, "Even the virtual world. We are in pods. Our bodies are not trapped here and if we get exit the world neither is our minds we just have to get to the exit. I can use magic here because I'm not actually using real magic. It is just my abilities – if you get what I mean – I can get the exit out of Noah's mind." I went to walk to him, but Yami and Seto's arms grabbed me keeping me between them.
"It's why everything feels so real here, cause our minds are being tricked." Teaa said.
"Yeah, and that's why I can get us all out of here." I said, looking between the two fellow ancient souls. Neither released their grip on me.
"Of course," Seto said. "When the floor opened up we didn't fall into a virtual vortex. We were knocked unconscious and locked in your cyber simulation pods."
Purple clouds similar to the Shadow Realm but brighter began to block the sun above us.
"Now what?" Joey demanded.
"You have failed me for the last time, Noah,"
"That voice it can't be," Seto said. Well this wasn't going to be good.
"Father no," Noah said. "Give me another chance!"
Another chance… while the boys were distracted, I pulled myself from their grip and touched Noah, thinking of a reading spell. I saw the way that Gozoborro had been manipulating Noah. The suffering he had endured. I felt sorry for him.
"Too late for that!" the voice barked and a familiar face appeared in the cloud.
"Nope, not today!" I said. "How dare you! You have manipulated your son to try and overthrow the boy you tried to replace him with! You abandoned him then made him believe that it was Seto's doing! You are a disgusting man and a disgrace as a parent. All of your sons, blood or otherwise are better off without you. Goodbye!"
I focused my energy on my mental magic. It wasn't real, I could manipulate the world without damaging it, I told myself. I thought about making the purple clouds smaller and locking this bastard away into a small part of this virtual world, but he was strong. He had been here a long time and I didn't know how long I could actually keep him locked away.
"Noah!" I turned to him. "I can help you. I can give you a body when we get out of here but I need you to help us. He is fighting my barrier." I said, clenching my teeth. As a part of me could feel the man's attack.
"Mana," Yami touched my arm.
"I'm fine, but we need to get out of here." I said, clutching his forearm, he put his arm around me in support.
"How?"
"I can create your new body by using Shadow magic. I can take your mental form and draw it to something physical. As long as it's alive. I can find a flower, or any life and I can transform it into your old body. A piece of someone's hair even. I promise."
He looked at me, deciding if he could trust me or not.
"It's in the arcade, the dance revolution game." He said.
"Everyone let's go, he's fighting me."
"Let me carry you," Seto said, moving Yami's arm and lifting me up.
"No –"
"You are fighting the creator of this world. Save your strength and give us more time to escape." He said.
Actually, he had a point.
"Fine, but hurry." I said. Noah began to run, leading us to the exit.
"Argh, he is fighting me!" I clutched my head, as he cracked a part of my shield. Monsters appeared in front of us.
Skull Knight.
"He's not out, but some of his power is." I explained trying to reseal the damage, but he had a spot to target now.
"There's a bunch of them!" Teaa cried.
"Joey, behind you!" Duke called, as another monster appeared.
"Hey duellist why don't you try defending yourselves with monsters," I said, trying to get out of Seto's arms so he could play his cards.
"What –"
"Blue eyes genius, we need them more than I need to rest."
He let me down, as Joey placed 5 monsters on his disk, Yugi and Seto soon did the same.
"Ok everyone run!" I called, as the monsters began to fight. "Noah, lead the way to the arcade!"
We all kept running, as the monsters we summon destroyed the ones that Gozorborro sent.
"Argh!" I grunted, falling to the ground.
"Mana!"
"I got her," Joey said, strong arms helped me to my feet. He began to lean down getting ready to lift me, but I had a better idea.
"Sorry Joe," I said, touching his arm and taking some of his strength.
"Jeez, a little warning."
"Let's go!" I began to run again. We made it to the arcade.
"Get to the stage at the back. It will send you guys back to your bodies." Noah said.
"Ok, Mokuba, Serenity you go first. Find something to download Noah into and let us know when it's done. After that we will follow last." I said looking at the green haired kid. "Noah and I will stay and fight off the monster's the rest of you make the way to the blimp before this place blows."
"No way are we leaving you behind!" Joey yelled. Gozoborro smashed against his prison again. The pain was like someone had whacked me over the head with a crow bar. I clutched my head and fell to the floor.
"Mana!"
Multiple hands held me.
"I'm ok, but we are running out of time stop arguing and do as I say," I said. Taking a deep breathe trying to reseal the crack.
"Right, and as soon as your out, we will blow up the system," Mokuba said grinning.
"I'll help," Noah said.
"All right," Mokuba grinned, he and Serenity climbed onto the stage then disappeared.
"Ok next two." Yami said.
"Tristan and Teaa go block him from the real world." They stood up onto the dance floor and vanished.
"Mana you go –"
"Joey I can't. I am keeping him locked and the crack is getting bigger by the second. Joey and Seto. Help them lock the exits from the outside."
"Wheeler go, protect the others."
"I'll go with Joey," Duke said the two of them went, leaving me, Yami, Seto and Noah. Monsters broke into the arcade. I grabbed Yami's arm taking some of his strength, focusing on keeping the tyrant at bay.
"Hurry Mokuba," I grunted. The a few of the original monsters were destroyed, Yami and Seto redrew cards replacing monsters as they fell. Noah also was attacking with his control of this world.
"Ok," I heard Mokuba's voice.
"Seto, go with Noah. Yami and I will be right behind you. I have to be the last." I said before he could protest. He grunted but walked to the platform, I put on a duel disk adding monsters to defend us as we lost Setos.
"He's downloaded, come on guys!" Mokuba's voice sounded. Yami and I jumped onto the stage, blue lights swirled around me once again as my mind re-joined my body.
I could feel the stiffness of my joints and the headgear hurting my warm ears.
Seto was above me looking concerned as he lifted up the pod.
"I'm fine, where is Noah?"
"Right here," I heard Mokuba's voice, he handed me the memory drive, and offered me a piece of his hair.
"What it's alive right?" he said, I grinned.
"The others are already back on the blimp, I'll shut down the system while you help Noah," Mokuba and Seto began to type frantically on the computer while I gently wrapped Mokuba's hair around the memory drive, and closed my eyes and concentrated. I began to chant in ancient Egyptian, pulling out my staff and moving it in accordance with the spell. There was a bright light, we all had to cover our eyes from its gaze. When it dimmed Noah was sitting on the floor. His eyes wide in amazement.
"I'm here? In the real world?" he said looking at his hands in shock. He touched the cold metal floor and laughed. Then he turned to my, getting up and pulling me into a hug.
"Thank you, Mana!"
"We have to go," I told him, pulling him back from me.
"Done," Mokuba said as the computer behind us began to spark.
"What –"
"Magic," I grabbed Noah, tugging him as I began to run.
"Let's get out of here!" Yami ordered, we all began to run back to the blimp.
"Five minutes till detonation." A voice said. We forced our legs to go faster, pushing our muscles as far as they would go. We could see the blimp, the lights were on and it was preparing to go.
"Kaiba craft 3 preparing for take-off." We could hear the voice.
The blimp began to lift we all ran faster. I made sure I was at the back; I could fly if I needed to. I saw our friends scattered on the stairs. Joey, Duke and Tristan closest ready to grab us. The blimp began to move upwards.
"Engaging rear thrusters," we heard.
"Pick up the pace you guys," Tristan yelled, he had his arm locked around Joey's who was further forward.
"You're almost here, I got you." Joey said.
"Let's go!" Duke said, they all held out their hands. "Grab on!"
"Hurry!"
"I'm not gunna make it," Mokuba panted.
"Guess again!" Seto grabbed him and threw him at Duke. "Catch!"
"Mana," he said, but I pushed Noah at him. He threw him at the stairs and jumped. When he realised who he caught his eyes widened, he turned back to see me and Yami still running. Yami ran into Joey's arm they grabbed onto each other, as Joey pulled him onto the stairs. The Blimp lifted and began to move forward.
"Mana!" they all cried. Still running, and my legs and lungs burning. I pulled out my staff, and though the flying incantation. I began to soar through the sky.
"Yeah!" Joey crowed.
"Whoa, that's new," I heard Duke say. I laughed at him.
"Everyone, stay behind the stairs, and keep the door open. I'm going to stop the explosion from damaging the ship." I called over the wind. Seto looked furious he remained on the stairs, one hand on the bar. I could see that Yami and Yugi had changed, both looking anxious. Joey moved next to Kaiba.
"Get in here now!" he ordered.
"No! I need to have a clear view!" I yelled over the wind. I could see Joey talking to Kaiba, but before I could see his reaction. The weapon collided with the floating fortress causing a blinding light and the wave of heat, the loud bang following behind. I took a deep breath, gathering all of my energy. Think of everything you have learnt, and think of everyone you want to protect, I thought all their faces flashing in my mind. I screamed as I pointed my staff at the blast creating a shield around the blimp. The flames engulfed around the blimp, never touching it. I felt my energy drain, and my eyes roll into my head. Blackness and my stomach dropping.
I saved everyone and that's what mattered…