Eliminator

Magicman: Here I come, back from the dead to terror-

Joey: Oh shut up and get on with it. Do you have any idea how much of my fingernails I've bitten off?! See? [Shows fingers with a decided lack of nails]

Magicman: Has it really been that long? Wow, I'm sorry. I got sidetracked I guess. Ah well, on to business. Last time Joey and Yami/Yugi were about to cut each other to bits. It was getting pretty ugly for Serenity too; Shannon is driving her over to the duel. DRIVING! Poor girl... Anyway-

Joey: Cut with the chattering already!

Magicman: Oh shut up. On with the chapter! By the way, because I think it should have happened a long time ago, here's a few seconds of electrified Kaiba.

Kaiba: What the-

[Magicman picks up two electric probe things and sticks one to each of Kaiba's temples. Let's just say that Kaiba is 'shocked' at the results.]

Eliminator and world class duellist drew their starting hands and eyed each other intently. The only sound was the whisper of the wind, but their heads were both awhirl with thoughts. Joey was furious, feeling betrayed. Yugi was his friend! He was supposed to support him, not goad him into trying to take him out of the tournament! He gritted his teeth, Pegasus' rule about not backing out of a challenge in the forefront of his mind. Damn it all to Hell!

Yugi and Yami were thinking other things entirely. While the little one understood that Pegasus wasn't really a bad guy, he still couldn't bring himself to trust him. He was afraid that Joey would end up like Panik or that twisted version of Kaiba, fighting only for hate and sadism. Yami was remembering a time five thousand years before, when he'd fought the evil sorcerer in ancient Egypt. The man had had a squadron of henchmen who'd preceded him, spreading chaos and destruction in their wake. To him, eliminators were just a modern day version of those heartless killers.

Tea, Mai and Tristan weren't thinking of anything really. They were just waiting in anticipation for the duel to start.

"So Yuge" Joey said after the silence had reigned for almost a minute, "What are you betting? Remember that if you lose, you have to fork over you rarest card too."

Yami nodded. "Very well. I put in five star chips, for a total of ten."

Something in Joey's eyes flickered. "Yuge...I don't want to eliminate you."

"I'll take my chances. Besides, what makes you think you can?" Yami's smile turned teasing and Joey's face hardened.

"All right then. It's your funeral. Now if you don't mind, I'll go first." Joey drew and chewed his lip slightly. 'He'll expect me to come at him hard and fast', he thought, 'So that's not what I'm going to do. Let's see what he can make of this.'

"I summon Mataza the Zapper (1300/800) in defence mode. Just try and tear him down", Joey challenged. "Oh, and I'll also play this card facedown. Your move."

Yugi and Yami were slightly taken aback. The move was atypical of Joey. Then it occurred to Yugi. "He's trying to throw us off. He must have learned a few things recently."

Yami agreed, but advised caution. "He is a very good duellist. Pegasus wouldn't have hired him otherwise. Also, he has access to many rare and powerful cards."

"Defence then?"

"That's what I would do."

Their internal debate was interrupted by Joey's yelling. "What are ya waiting for?! We've got a duel in progress here!"

"Patience Joey", Yami admonished. "Good moves take time. And speaking of moves, I will place two cards facedown and summon Gamma the Magnet Warrior (1500/1800) in defence mode. It's your move."

Joey frowned. Yugi didn't take his bait. Ah well, there would be other chances. He drew and grinned. 'Chances like now' he thought gleefully. "Sorry to do this to you Yuge" he said aloud, "But since you didn't take the bait, I have to go on the offensive. I'll play a card that I won from Mai a little while ago."

Yami blinked in surprise. "Mai?" He looked down at the girl, who was whistling nonchalantly. "You mean Joey is the duellist who took most of your star chips?"

Mai just shrugged. "Oh relax. He was just doing his job." Yami just stared incredulously.

Joey coughed slightly. "As I was saying, I play Harpie's Feather duster and rid the field of your two facedown cards."

The feather duster blew away both of Yami's facedown cards, and by the look on his face, they were good. Joey grinned. "Next I'll strengthen my samurai with the magic card Fusion sword Murasame, increasing his attack points by 800! Now I'll attack your pesky magnet warrior and clear the field."

Mataza, his glowing new sword in hand, raised his blade and slashed viciously. But a group of sages appeared, surrounding Gamma and protecting him from Mataza's wrath. Yami nodded. "Sorry Joey, but when you activated Harpie's Feather Duster I countered by playing a card Tea uses. Wobaku protects my monsters from your attack for one turn. And even though my Curse of Anubis trap card was destroyed by your magic, at least now I know what your game is."

"Knowing the game and winning are two different things, and I still have the strongest monster on the field! So I end my turn." Joey gestured and crossed his arms, waiting.

"Of course." Yami drew. "I summon one monster in defence mode and end my turn."

"That's not going to save you! You haven't seen Mataza's special ability."

"And what would that be?"

Joey grinned. "Watch this. Mataza attack Gamma the Magnet Warrior with Katana Blade!"

The samurai leapt into the air, flipping forward as he went, and drew his sword in one smooth motion. With one smooth strike he cut the Magnet Warrior in half. Yami wasn't impressed. "I'm still waiting for Mataza's special ability."

"Check it out. My monster can attack twice!" Joey pointed across the field and yelled to his monster, "Now attack his facedown card with Wakizashi Strike!"

Mataza turned to Yami's facedown monster, drawing a shorter blade and struck the monster. It materialised on the field and blocked the attack with a sword of its own.

Joey was surprised. "Huh?"

"My monster had a special ability of its own", Yami explained with just a touch of condescension. "Obnoxious Celtic Guardian (1400/1200) cannot be destroyed by any monster with over 1900 attack points. And Mataza the Zapper has 2100."

Joey frowned. "Obnoxious is right. Well you may as well go now."

"Good. I have just the card I need to take back control of this duel." Yami drew and selected a card from his hand. "First I play one card facedown. Next I sacrifice Obnoxious Celtic Guardian for my Beast of Gilfer (2200/2500). And unless my math is off, he's stronger than Mataza the Zapper."

Yami smiled and Joey winced. "This is gonna hurt."

"Beast of Gilfer attack now!" The fiend released a bolt of fire which consumed the warrior and burned away 100 of Joey's lifepoints. The blonde scowled. "Laugh now smart guy" he snapped, because it ain't over yet!"

Tristan whistled slightly on the sideline. "So Yugi's drawn first blood. That'll tick Joey off."

Mai grinned. "You'd be surprised Tristan. He's a lot more in control than you remember. Did you see how many star chips he's taken so far?"

"Being an eliminator must agree with him" Tea said as she watched Yami set one card facedown and end his turn. "I wonder if he'll be able to handle Yami and Yugi."

"Done? Great. Now check this out!" Joey drew and slapped down a magic card. "Change of Heart!"

A shadow befell the Beast of Gilfer, and it calmly walked over to Joey's side of the field. Yami wasn't worried though. 'He'll have to break through our facedown trap first' he thought to Yugi.

But Joey wasn't done yet. "Now I sacrifice him for Total Defence Shogun (1550/2500)." The mighty shogun arrived on the field in attack mode, wielding a monstrous sword. Joey pointed. "Now go chop him to pieces!"

"Not so fast! You've activated my Magic Cylinder trap card!"

"Say what?!"

A pair of glowing magical tubes appeared. The Shogun's attack was absorbed by one of the tubes and the other fired it right back, right at Joey's lifepoints. The blonde winced as the shot hit him hard where it hurt, dropping him down to 2350. Yami smiled. "Rethinking your career in thuggery?"

Joey blinked. "Huh?"

"Never mind. Is your turn done?"

"Yeah, that's about it."

"Good. Lets get things fired up." Yami drew. "I summon Big Shield Gardna (100/2600) in defence mode and end my turn."

"Okay then, I'll draw." Joey drew and looked things over. "I'll play summon Exiled Force (1000/1000) in attack mode. I know they don't look like much, but these little guys are just what I needed to clear out your field." Joey grinned fondly at the pack of scruffy looking soldiers with dynamite strapped to their backs entrenching themselves on the field. "I can sacrifice them to destroy a monster."

Yami scowled. "I know how the card works."

"Then you won't be surprised when I blow up your monster."

The little soldiers rushed out of their trenches and clung to Yugi's monster. Big Shield Guardna struggled to free itself, but the little soldiers all yanked on the ignition cords in their dynamite packs in unison.

The resulting blast shook the clearing. Tea was blasted backwards into Mai, knocking them both over and Tristan went flying into a nearby bush. Joey and Yugi were just about blown out of their dueling platforms. Needless to say, Big Shield Guardna didn't stand a chance.

"The field is clear Yuge" Joey grinned, "And you know what that means! Total Defence Shogun, show Yugi whose boss!"

"Almost Joey, but not quite! I'll discard Kuriboh to protect my lifepoints!"

The little fuzz ball popped out of nowhere and blocked Joey's attack. Joey shook his head. "I never did see what you saw in that little puffball Yuge. He's practically the weakest card in the game."

"He's strong enough to stop your attack, isn't he?" Yami countered.

"Meh", Joey waved dismissively. "It's your move, and keep in mind that you've got nothing to watch your back."

"Very well."

Yami drew. Looking over his shoulder in spirit form, Yugi frowned. 'No more monsters' he said.

'True' Yami agreed. 'But we are far from finished. Let's set some traps, shall we?'

'Dark wind Tempest?'

'Of course. But let's throw in some extra insurance.'

Yugi blinked. Then he smiled slowly. 'Am I thinking what you're thinking?'

'Of course' Yami quipped. 'Where do you think I steal my good ideas?'

'Hey!'

"What's taking you so long?!" Joey yelled, frustrated and annoyed. "I'm growing grey hairs here!"

"You must have patience Joey" Yami said calmly and condescendingly. "I'll play two cards facedown for my turn."

Joey grinned. "No monsters, eh? Well then, I'll just have to attack you directly then. I draw and then bring out Goblin Attack Force (2300/0) in attack mode!" The pack of goblins leapt out of nowhere, yipping and cursing in a strange language. "Now goblins, get him!"

The pack of goblins leapt to the attack, and Yami was quick to activate the first of his facedown cards. "I defend with Dark wind Tempest, which shields me from direct attacks for one turn!"

Joey's goblins were blown back at their master and crashed into the ground. Dazed, they assumed a defensive posture. Joey grimaced. "Well you might as well go then" he said. "Just let me set this card down."

"Good." Yami drew. "I activate the magic card Graceful Charity to draw three cards and discard two."

Joey watched as Yami drew and discarded his cards. "That doesn't leave you with much" he noted. "You have no hand left."

Yami smirked. "I have all I need. Remember my facedown card? It's a card called Monster Reborn, and I'm bring back the Dark Magician I discarded to my graveyard." He thrust his hand out. "Be reborn Dark Magician, and bring me victory!"

Yugi's Dark Magician (2500/2100) appeared in a magical flash. Flipping forward, he landed in a defiant stance, daring Joey to attack him.

Joey looked panicked for a moment, but he quickly calmed down. "You forgetting something Yuge? I got two monsters on the field to your one! And trust me; your spellcaster won't live past my next turn."

"Are you forgetting something Joey?" Yami countered. "Dark Magician is one of my mightiest creatures. And if memory serves me correctly, you have nothing in your deck that can overpower him."

Joey waved his hand airily. "Keep thinking that pal. But go ahead and make your attack. That is if you're almighty Dark Magician can break through y defences", Joey added with a grin.

"I'll do that! Go Dark Magician! Attack with Dark Magic!"

Dark Magician pointed his staff and blasted Total Defence Shogun to atoms. Joey's face faulted. "What the hell?! My warrior had as many defence points as your spellcaster has attack points! How'd you break through?"

"Did you forget Beast of Gilfer?"

Yami shuffled through his graveyard and pointed out the monster, waving it toward Joey. "When he's sent to the graveyard, Beast of Gilfer takes five hundred attack and defence points off of one monster, and I picked your shogun!" Pleased with himself, Yami leaned back and crossed his arms. "Now I'm safe for now, since your goblins can't switch back for another whole turn."

"Not quite!" Joey flipped up a trap. "Remember that card I played facedown at the beginning of the duel? It was Ultimate Offering, and it's time for me to play it now!"

Yami frowned. "You're giving up five hundred lifepoints to summon a monster?" His opponent (LP: 1850) nodded victoriously.

"You see, I'm going to sacrifice my goblins to play the most dangerous monster in my deck! Not because he's the strongest, but because you don't know what he'll do ahead of time." Joey searched his cards as he spoke. He stopped and a grin came across his face, accompanied by an almost unholy light. "I had to make some changes in my deck, but it was worth it. Take this! I sacrifice Goblin attack force and summon Freed the Matchless General (2300/1200)!"

The goblins vanished and in their place stood a tall warrior. A great sword was strapped to his back and his body was encased in tarnished armour. His head sported long ragged blonde hair and a great curling mustache sprouted from his face. When he materialised on the field, he crossed his arms and stood waiting for battle orders. A holographic wind seemed to stir his cloak.

Once the monster was summoned, Yami ended his turn, slightly worried. He didn't know what powers Freed possessed. 'It's certainly weaker than Dark Magician' he confessed to Yugi, 'But Joey seems to think he's already won the duel.'

'Hmm." Was all Yugi would say.

Meanwhile, back on the unregarded sidelines Tristan was hard-pressed to not laugh. "Joey wasted five hundred lifepoints to summon that weakling?" The pointy-haired teen rolled his eyes and sighed theatrically. "He's cracked."

Tea looked over at Mai. "Well?" she asked. "Is Joey really losing it or does Tristan not know what he's talking about?"

Mai raised a delicate eyebrow at Tea. "Let's just say that I've run into Freed a few times over the years. And I think I know what Joey's going to do." She pointed. "See? Here he goes."

"I activate the first of Freed's special abilities. I skip drawing a card to bring a warrior card from my deck to my hand. And I bring a second Exiled Force!" Freed waved his hand, summoning the warrior troop to his side. Joey beamed as he played the second team of kamikaze soldiers. "Now I think you can guess what happens next Yuge. Exiled Force? Go do your stuff!"

The soldiers swarmed the tall magician. They clung to his arms and legs while he tried to shake them off desperately. It was no use. One quick yank of a cord and-

BOOM!

This time the peanut gallery had seen what was happening and took off for the shelter of the surrounding woods, and the duellists clung to the railings of their booths. Joey grinned. "Now Freed! Take the opening and cut Yugi down!"

Freed drew his massive sword and leapt through the smoke swinging his blade. Yami fell to his knees, clutching his chest where he'd been hit. Helplessly, he watched his lifepoints drop down to 1700. While he recovered from the blow, Joey gloated.

"Well it looks like I've finally got the advantage over you Yuge. Go ahead and put on your game face. It won't help you this time! I've got you right where I want you."

Yami didn't respond. He just glared at Joey in a way the promised retribution. On the sidelines, it was Tea who said it, in a low whispered voice. "It's not over yet" she murmured.
Pegasus was observing some duels in his study when Ishizu burst in. The Egyptian woman was breathing heavily and she gripped the door tightly. Pegasus blinked, surprised. "Ishizu? Good Heavens dear, you look positively ruffled. Sit, please and catch your breath."

Ishizu waved away the proffered chair. "My necklace just gave me a vision" she gasped once she got her breath back. "Something is happening that could change fate. Turn on the duel with Yugi Mutoh!"

A little unnerved at the urgency in Ishizu's tone, Pegasus obliged her request. When he flicked his remote control to the appropriate channel, he whistled lightly at the sight. "My, my, my" he said to himself. "Isn't this an interesting spectacle?"

Ishizu shuddered. "The outcome of this duel could affect the world" she intoned slowly.

Pegasus shifted his gaze back to his friend. Though he didn't show it, he was worried about her. Her family was dedicated to guarding the ancient pharaoh and she seemed to believe that Yugi was him. It would explain the darker presence inside the boy's mind, the one whom Pegasus was still rather pissed off at, but he thought she was overreacting. There were many ways to de fur a feline, as a colleague of his once said. But Ishizu seemed convinced only this pharaoh could stop some coming evil.

Pegasus shook his head slightly. "Well Shizu my girl, all we can do now is wait. Things will turn out alright you know."

Ishizu watched the duel apprehensively. "I hope so".
Magicman: Dun, dun, dun!

All: [Glare]

Magicman: -Hope you liked it gang!

Tea: Uh Magicman? [points]

Kaiba: [smoke starting to come from ears and skeleton keeps flashing on and off through the light]

Magicman: What about him? Oh alright. [Unhooks Kaiba] Now get lost!

Kaiba: Ow... [falls over]