A Dragon's Destiny

by Magi Mana

Talesverse. Kisara is a new student at Domino, returning after years of being away. She sees her childhood friend Seto has become cold and distant while she quickly makes friends with his soon-to-be rivals Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler. While facing the return of the Shadow Games, Kisara will have to face both her past with Seto and the truth about the Millennium Items.

12. Toons, Shadows, and Faith

Sadly, the truth is still that I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, we'd have more fun with Pegasus. He's probably my favorite of the Yu-Gi-Oh! villains, followed by Bakura.

Chapter Twelve: Toons, Shadows, and Faith—Yugi vs. Pegasus

Kisara waited with the others for Yugi to enter the arena. They wouldn't be able to stay on this level when the match started, but they had to wish Yugi luck. This was his only chance to stop Pegasus once and for all.

The door opened, and Yugi stepped out, amethyst eyes wide at the sight of the five of them standing there. "Surprise!" Tea yelled to him.

"Guys!" Yugi smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Kisara asked.

"We all wanted to wish you well," Tristan answered.

"You finally made it, Yuge," Joey grinned. "You're going all the way, buddy."

"And once it's over, we'll get your grandpa home," Tea added.

"Thanks," Yugi looked to each of them. "All of you."

"The time has come," Croquet announced. "Would Yugi Muto, the challenger, please enter the duel ring? Mr. Pegasus awaits you."

"Go get him, Yuge," Joey encouraged him.

"We're behind you all the away," Kisara added.

The Millennium Puzzle flashed, and Yugi changed into his other self. I don't know who you are, but please, don't let this be a repeat of what happened to Seto. I know you and Yugi can find a way to stop that Eye. Kisara silently encouraged the other Yugi as well.

"He looks so determined," Tea commented as Yugi strode in and took his place in the arena.

"Yugi, take him down!" Tristan yelled to his friend.

"We know you can!" Tea added.

"Put that slime bucket in his place once and for all!" Joey demanded.

"For your grandpa!" Kisara told him. "And for Seto and Mokuba!"

Yugi gave them a thumbs-up and stared down the opposing door, waiting for his adversary to appear.

"The challenger has entered the arena," Croquet announced. "And now for your dueling pleasure, Castle Pegasus is proud to present the creator of Duel Monsters and all its wondrous cards… the undefeated, undisputed ruler of the Duelist Kingdom, Maximillion Pegasus!"

Pegasus strolled in, flanked by a guard on either side of him, each holding a velvet pillow with a deck on it. He gestured to the guard on his right; the guard stepped forward and offered the deck. Pegasus accepted the deck and took his place in the arena. "So, Yugi-boy, you've turned out to be quite the young duelist, battling your way past all the other challengers, winning your way into the castle, just to face me." He grinned.

"Pegasus!" Yugi silenced him, pointing an accusing finger at the creator. "Before we begin this duel, I want you to agree to keep your promise that if I defeat you, you'll release my grandfather's soul to me."

"But of course," Pegasus showed no concern for Yugi's request. "I'm a man of my word."

"And that's not all," Yugi continued. "You must also free the souls of Seto and Mokuba Kaiba."

"What a strange demand," Pegasus shrugged. "I thought you hated Kaiba as much as you hate me, Yugi."

"Maybe I have a promise of my own to keep," Yugi answered.

The one that I started. Kisara clenched her fist. I'm the one that promised to help Mokuba, and now Yugi's picking up my slack.

"Ah, I see," Pegasus grinned. "A promise to Mokuba by you and your friends, started by Kisara." The Millennium Eye caught the light. "Okay, Yugi-boy, if it will put your mind at ease, I agree to your terms." He held up three cards—one with Mokuba, one with Grandpa, and one with Seto. "If you win your battle with me, I shall free these free from their lonesome prison of souls."

"Pegasus is up to something," Tristan eyed the Duel Monsters creator.

"I know," Joey agreed. "I think he planned to take on Yugi in the final match all along."

"He's after something, that's for sure," Tea said.

"I bet he wants the Puzzle," Kisara said. They all looked at her. "What? I tried to research the Millennium Items before we got here, with very little luck. All I could tell for sure is that there are seven of them. That Eye is one of them, and Yugi's Puzzle is another. These Items are supposed to be powerful. What do you think would happen if someone collected the full set?"

"That is frightening to think about," Bakura glanced down at his shirt. Kisara suspected his Ring was tucked underneath it. "I sure hope Yugi can handle him. Throughout the entire tournament, Pegasus has stacked the deck in his own favor every step of the way."

"He will," Kisara insisted. "He has to." Because we can't lose anyone else.

"Yugi's going to kick his keister!" Joey promised. "When this is all over, Yugi's going to be the undisputed champion! Pegasus won't even have a clue what hit him!"

"But Pegasus has never played fair," Tristan pointed out. "He started by kidnapping Yugi's grandpa. And going into this final match, we don't know what kind of tricks he'll pull."

"Whatever tricks he tries, whatever card he plays, Yugi will overcome them," Tea insisted. "Yugi hasn't come all this way to lose in the final match!"

"Tea's right," Kisara said. "We just need to have faith he'll win."

"No way that overdressed prima donna stands a chance against our buddy," Joey said.

"Maybe," Tristan still held on to the reality of the situation.

"Trust me," Joey assured him. "Yugi's no Kaiba. He's going to be this clown." He caught Kisara's eye. "Hey, Kaiba's going to be fine," Joey told her. "Yuge'll get him back, no problem.

"I know he will," Kisara said. And I'm sure Seto would've won if Pegasus had played fair.

"Look! They're about to draw their first cards!" Tea pointed to the duelists. "Let's head up to the balcony for a better view." Joey and Kisara nodded, and they followed her up the stairs.

They just made it up as Croquet began to explain the rules. "Yugi Muto, as per the rules of the Duelist Kingdom tournament, present the card that entitles you to participate."

"As per your rules," Yugi held up Glory of the King's Opposite Hand.

"And so the stage is set for the final and deciding duel of the Duelist Kingdom Competition. Just as the card you hold is a blank slate, there are no limits to the prize you may request of your opponent if you are the victor. You can decide if you wish to take over his company as your reward for winning." Yugi's eyes widened. "You can ask for this entire island," Croquet continued. "Or demand Mr. Pegasus's Millennium Eye as your prize."

"Wow, when they said anything, they sure meant it," Kisara said. "I wonder what Pegasus would have done if some really greedy won."

"You say this like he had any anticipation of losing," Joey said. "But Yuge'll put him in his place."

"Yes he will," Kisara agreed.

"Any request will be honored?" Pegasus repeated, feigning ignorance of his own rules. "Wow, that's what I call a prize. Do I know how to throw a tournament, or do I know how to throw a Duelist Kingdom tournament?"

"Promise me that you will free the souls of my grandfather and the others," Yugi stared down his opponent.

"Yes," Pegasus spread his arms wide and drew out the word. "But if I am the one who defeats you instead, you have to fulfill your end of the bargain as well. Take a closer look at the card you hold in your hand, Yugi-boy." Yugi looked to his card. Kisara pulled out her copy of the blank card, holding it so the others could see too. "There's a reason it's blank, you know. For if I win, I claim your soul… forever! So you see, you have must to gain, but much to risk as well."

That won't happen. Kisara refused to believe Pegasus would take someone else she cared about.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Yugi didn't back down. "But I don't plan to lose."

"We shall see," Pegasus grinned.

Bakura finally joined them on the stairs. "Where's Tristan?" Tea asked.

"Oh," Bakura didn't seem ready for the question. "Tristan wandered off somewhere by himself. I'm not sure where."

"That doesn't sound like Tristan," Kisara said. "He wouldn't go without saying anything. Joey, maybe, but not Tristan."

"Hey!" Joey glared at her. "He probably just went to the john. Forget him. This is getting interesting."

I wish I had your confidence, Joey. Kisara glanced at Bakura out of the corner of her eye. Bakura seems like he's not telling us everything. I hope the Millennium Ring isn't affecting him again. And I hope Tristan's not getting into trouble, wherever he is.

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What have I gotten myself into? Tristan wandered the halls of the castle dungeons. He'd intended to find Kaiba or Mokuba's bodies to keep Pegasus from holding all the cards. He still believed it was worth the effort to find them. But he'd underestimated the size of the castle or its maze-like layout. Add avoiding guards to the mix, and he had his work cut out for him. Luckily, he hadn't actually seen anyone.

A humming around the corner sent him into a panic. I spoke too soon. He whirled around to go back the way he came, but there wouldn't be anywhere to hide, and the guard would hear him. He looked back and forth, spotting the decorative armor next to him. Without thinking it through anymore, he quickly dressed himself in the armor and stood perfectly still. Don't move. Don't breath. Don't move. Don't breath.

The guard passed him without a second glance. Through the visor, Tristan could see the guard go down a corridor he hadn't yet. "Time to change shifts," the guy said. "How is the little twerp?"

Little twerp? "The same as ever: glassy-eyed and glum," someone else answered. Tristan lowered the sword of the knight, taking the opportunity to flex his muscles. This getup was heavy, even for him. "You don't have to worry about him running off."

"Of course not," the first guy scoffed. "But you know we still have to be careful. He's Pegasus's pet prisoner."

"Pet, schmet," the second guy brushed off the concerns. "I'm out of here. See you later." Tristan quickly resumed the knight's stance, holding his breath as the second guard passed.

I'm on the right track. He dropped his arms again. He wouldn't be able to get too much farther in the armor. He crept over to the where the guards had been talking, but no one was there. "Where'd the other guard go?" he wondered aloud. Tristan walked forward to examine the area and tripped, grabbing on to creepy gargoyle statue at the dead end to keep from falling over. If he fell in this armor, the noise would bring the guards running for sure.

The head of the gargoyle slid down under his weight, activating a mechanism. A panel opened in the wall on his right. "With a secret tunnel, they've gotta be hiding something down here," Tristan said. He crept down the stairs, cautious of wherever the guard was. He passed another suit of armor and grabbed the helmet.

"Man, this is the most boring detail ever," the guard complained. "I mean, what's the point of guarding this kid? Without a soul, he's a total zombie." He sighed. "It's a waste of time."

"Want to bet?" Tristan slammed the helmet onto the guard's head. While the guard was disoriented, Tristan hit the back of his head, knocking him out. "And the victory goes to Sir Tristan!" He looked over to what the guard was protecting. Locked in a cell and curled into a ball on the bed was Mokuba. Tristan picked up the guard's keys and unlocked the cell. Shedding the suit of armor, Tristan swung Mokuba onto his back and went back the way he came, intent on making it back to the others and the duel

He ran down the halls, hearing more guards as he navigated the corridors. They were definitely on to him. He rounded a corner into another dead end. He turned around to backtrack, but the guards were already coming from that way. I'm trapped! There's nowhere else to run!

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Kisara watched as Yugi and Pegasus shuffled each other's decks. Let's hope that Toon World actually has a weakness Yugi can exploit. She feared the card that had overwhelmed Seto and severed her connection to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon during the game. It proved Pegasus had the unfair advantage of owning cards never released. Yugi, wherever you get your creative ideas in a duel, I hope you get all of them. And that Pegasus won't be able to tell what they are.

Yugi set a card face-down and played a monster in defense mode. "Ooh, is that a Beaver Warrior?" Pegasus cooed, setting a card and summoning Red Archery Girl in defense mode. A large shell with a mermaid lounging in it materialized on his field. "Back to you, Yugi-boy."

What is Pegasus planning? Kisara worried as she watched the silver-haired man's confident smile. This was just like his duel with Seto the previous day. Does he really know what Yugi's cards are? All evidence points to yes, but I really hope he can't.

Yugi flipped his Beaver Warrior and revealed his face-down: Horn of the Unicorn. The Horn boosted Beaver Warrior attack points by 700, and the monster launched an attack at the mermaid.

"You've made a grave mistake, Yugi-boy," Pegasus grinned. "You've activated my trap card! Tears of a Mermaid!" The mermaid laughed, and bubbles sprang from her eyes and floated towards the Beaver Warrior. A barrier materialized around it, negating its attack and the effect of Horn of the Unicorn. Pegasus switched Red Archery Girl into attack mode. She fired an arrow at Beaver Warrior, destroying it and knocking Yugi's LifePoints down to 1800.

"You see that?" Tea stared wide-eyed at the field. "Yugi had the upper hand, and Pegasus knew exactly how to counter."

"But how could he?" Joey asked.

"The Millennium Eye," Kisara answered. "Whatever powers it has, mind-reading must be one of them. There's no other explanation."

Joey grimaced and looked around. "And why hasn't Tristan come back?" he asked. "We should all be here supporting Yugi."

"Beats me," Bakura said. "Maybe he got lost?"

"Good grief," Joey sighed. "Doesn't he know he's missing the match of the century?"

Kisara glanced at Bakura out of the corner of her eye. I can't shake the feeling Bakura knows more about where Tristan went. But why would he lie to us? She looked back to the duel. Unless he's worried about Pegasus knowing where Tristan is. The less people that know, the less likelihood Pegasus would find out. I guess I can only hope that's the case instead of something more sinister. She braced herself for whatever would happen next. I'll just have to trust Tristan can take care of himself and focus on what Yugi can do and what we can possibly do to help from here.

Yugi set a monster, passing the duel back to Pegasus. He summoned Ryu-Ran in defense mode. A cracked egg with legs and wings sticking out of it faced Yugi. Red Archery switched into defense mode, setting aside her bow and smiling innocently at her master's opponent.

Yugi drew his card. "Could the card you just drew be Summoned Skull?" Pegasus grinned.

"Curse you, Pegasus," Yugi scowled at the silver-haired man.

"I think the Summoned Skull will go nicely with your Celtic Guardian, Spellbinding Circle, Magical Hats, and Horn Imp," Pegasus's grin widened.

"He's reading all of Yugi's cards!" Tea gasped.

"I thought we established that he could do that already," Kisara grimaced.

"Don't let him psyche you out, buddy," Joey encouraged his friend.

"That's right, you can still beat him!" Tea added.

"I know you'll find a way, Yugi!" Kisara yelled "You always do!"

Bakura chose that moment to head towards the stairs. "You got somewhere to be?" Joey asked.

"I thought I'd go and check on Tristan," he answered.

"He has been gone a long time," Tea said.

"Too long, if you ask me," Joey stated. "I mean, what could be more important than this match?"

"I'll be sure to ask him," Bakura said, not turning back to look at them.

"Just tell him we're worried about him," Kisara told him. Bakura nodded and kept going. I really hope I'm just being paranoid. If the presence from the Ring is back, we'll have to be on our guard even more. Should I go with him? Kisara debated going after Tristan. She knew where Bakura was; it'd be easy to catch up to him. But if the presence was really back, what could she do about it? Yeah, she had some power, but she didn't know how to use it. What if he just sent her to the Shadow Realm, never to see Seto and the others again?

Seto. Kisara clenched her fist. Seto's soul hung on the outcome of this duel. And if Pegasus guessed something was wrong, he could send more guards after Tristan and Bakura, assuming she was wrong and Bakura was his normal self. Pegasus knew how much they needed Yugi to win; they didn't need him to take anymore hostages. She glanced to Croquet. He would definitely notice if anything was up while his boss was dueling. She turned her attention back to the duel.

Yugi set a card and brought out the Summoned Skull Pegasus already knew he had. The creator chuckled and switched Ryu-Ran into attack mode. A large red dragon burst from the egg, setting its sights on Summoned Skull. I've seen prettier dragons than that. Ryu-Ran attacked the demon, activating Yugi's Spellbinding Circle. The ring of magic ensnared the dragon, lowering its strength by 700. Yugi switched the Skull into attack mode, firing its lightning at the trapped monster.

Pegasus was ready for it; he activated his Trap Displacement, moving the Spellbinding Circle to the Summoned Skull. Ryu-Ran blasted the demon with its fire breath, incinerating it. Yugi's LifePoints fell to 1400.

"That mind-reading cheat!" Joey clenched his fist in frustration. "What the heck's the use in going on?"

"Don't say that!" Tea chastised him. "No matter how bad it looks, we can't give up, Joey!"

"Tea's right," Kisara said. "I know Yugi will find a way past the Millennium Eye. The question is how."

"Yeah, it ain't over 'til it's over," Joey agreed.

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Tristan ran through the halls. The guards had already spotted him, but at least he'd been able to maneuver out of their way and keep going, for now. His only hope was to find his way back to the main floor of the castle and back to the duel.

A guard blocked his way in front of him, and the guards behind him finally caught up. "Hand over the kid, tough guy," one of them demanded.

"No," Tristan refused. "Come and get him." He didn't know what kind of training these goons had, but he had a feeling all the fighting he and Joey did was about to come in handy.

"Lay one hand on the boy and you will rue the day you imbeciles were ever born," a new voice echoed in the hall. Bakura? It sounded like his friend, but there was a harsher edge to the voice. Tristan's friend stepped out from the nearest corner.

"You just walked into a world of trouble, kid," a guard stepped forward to deal with the white-haired boy.

"Bakura, get out of here!" Tristan told his friend. He may be caught, but Bakura didn't have to be. Bakura could still escape, and Tristan would find a way out of his current jam. With Mokuba. "Go on! Save yourself!" The guards moved closer to the newcomer.

"Step out of those shadows or else!" the first guard demanded.

"Or else you'll do what, you pathetic little drones?" Bakura challenged them.

"We warned you," the guards reached inside their jackets. Tristan suspected they had weapons to use if they really needed to. He had to convince his friend to leave before the guards hurt him.

"Yes, and now I am warning you," Bakura held up a Duel Monsters card. All Tristan could make out was that it was a magic card. "Don't trifle with me." He was scarily calm. Even Tristan, who normally had nerves of steel, was freaked out by Bakura's attitude. "Chain Energy!" Bakura extended his arm, holding the card as high as he could.

Strange rings of light wrapped around each of the guards, binding them in place. "Bakura, what did you do?" Tristan turned to face his friend.

"Come. Now is our chance to escape," Bakura ignored his question. Okay, good point. They had to get away while the guards were tied up. Tristan ran to catch up with his friend, following him around the nearest corner.

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"My turn, Yugi-boy," Pegasus smiled as he drew. Kisara clenched her fist. She was getting really tired of Pegasus's condescending attitude. His cheating with the Eye wasn't gaining him any points either.

How can he stop the power? Kisara looked between the two duelists as the creator gloated about Yugi being at the mercy of the Millennium Eye. That's it! "Yugi!" she called to him. "Match him power for power!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Joey asked.

"Yugi has his own Millennium Item," she answered, lowering her voice. "I can't tell him more without tipping Pegasus off."

"I think I get it," Tea said. "Yugi has the power of the Puzzle. But what can that do?"

"I don't know," Kisara admitted. "I wasn't able to find out much about the Items, but if Yugi can figure out how to use the Puzzle's power, he just might be able to block the Eye. He's the only of us who can figure out how it works."

Pegasus finally made his move, the one they'd been dreading: Toon World. The pop-up book from the previous day twirled around on the field and opened its pages. Pink mist filled Pegasus's side of the field, pulling Red Archery Girl and Ryu-Ran into its pages.

"Man, that's not good," Joey grimaced.

Cartoon counterparts of the monsters emerged from the books. The remade Manga Ryu-Ran attacked Yugi's face-down monster, obliterating the Giant Soldier of Stone. Manga Ryu-Ran laughed in Yugi's face before retreating into the pages of Toon World. The book snapped shut.

"Aren't my Toons simply marvelous?" Pegasus couldn't hide the glee on his face. "I can't help but feel the same proud satisfaction that a parent would." He tossed his hair as he spoke. "I guess that's my reward for having created the card." He switched the Toon Mermaid into attack mode.

And for not putting it into circulation. Kisara remembered what Yugi and Rex had said about the Toon World card. It was too powerful for everyone to use, so Pegasus kept the only copy for himself. It was an abuse of his power, and it gave him another unfair advantage against his opponents.

Yugi countered with Celtic Guardian. It matched the Mermaid's strength point for point, so battle should end in a stalemate. The elf warrior charged, swinging his sword at the cartoon maiden. Arms from her clam reached up and caught the blade, stopping the attack. A foot reached out from underneath the shell, kicking the Celtic Guardian away. While he flew through the air, the mermaid took out her bow and shot him, shattering his hologram.

"That was no draw," Tea said.

"You said it, Tea," Joey kept his eyes on Pegasus's Toon.

"No card in your deck is strong enough," Pegasus mocked his opponent, obviously reading Yugi's thoughts again. "My Toon monsters can't be beaten by sheer brute force." The mermaid laughed at Yugi before she too retreated into the Toon World book. Pegasus set two cards face-down.

"I've got a bad feeling about those face-downs," Kisara said.

"Me too," Joey agreed.

Yugi threw out a defensive monster. Right into Pegasus's plans. The creator activated his Gorgon's Eye trap, and an eye with snakes surrounding it emerged from the field. The eyelid opened, and Yugi's Horn Imp revealed itself before becoming petrified in stone. The Gorgon's Eye closed and returned to the slot on Pegasus's field, signifying its status as a permanent trap. Any monster Yugi played in defense mode would suffer the same fate, and when they were destroyed, Yugi would take damage equal to half their defense points.

As everyone watched, unamused, Pegasus continued his move with his Doppelganger magic card to mimic Yugi's Summoned Skull. That's the card he used to mimic Seto's Crush Card! "Correct!" he grinned, picking up on everyone's thoughts. He went for the Summoned Skull, since the graveyard counted as part of the field, and the cartoon cat of the spell shifted its appearance to the demon as it hopped into Toon World. "And with that, a dark new chapter of Toon World has been written!" Pegasus spread his arms, ever the entertainer. "The chapter of fiends! And here's our story's protagonist! Or antagonist depending on your view." A cartoon fiend stretched itself from the book and wagged its tongue at Yugi. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Toon Summoned Skull!"

"What have you done to him?" Yugi stared at the cartoon creature mocking him. "You're sick to take delight in creating such a monstrosity."

"Don't say that!" Pegasus pouted. "You'll hurt his feelings. You may not know it, but beneath that gruff exterior lies a very sensitive toon." The toon folded its hands and batted its eyes at Yugi.

"Just move, Pegasus," Yugi demanded.

"Whatever you say, Yugi-boy," Pegasus ordered the Skull to attack. Its Lightning Strike vaporized the petrified Imp, knocking Yugi down to 900 LifePoints because of the Gorgon's Eye. The demonic toon flexed its muscles before retreating back into Toon World. The book snapped shut. "What splendid showmanship. Wouldn't you agree, Yugi-boy?" Pegasus applauded his monster. "Perhaps I'll coerce him to do an encore a little bit later."

"That creep sure loves to hear himself talk," Tea scowled.

"And he knows how to push people's buttons even more than Seto," Kisara added.

"Come on, Yuge!" Joey cheered. "Pop that muscle-headed toon like a balloon!"

Yugi nodded and drew his card. "I see you've drawn the fabled Dark Magician," Pegasus sneered. Yugi flinched, confirming Pegasus's prediction. "Your favorite card, if I'm not mistaken. His trouncing should be especially painful for you. I so look forward to when you put him into play, Yugi-boy."

"Don't let that creep get to you, Yugi," Joey told him. "Remember what's riding on this duel: your grandpa, Mokuba, Kaiba!"

"They're all counting on you, Yugi!" Tea added. "And we know you're going to come through for them!

"We're here for you!" Kisara yelled. "Remember you're not alone!"

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Tristan followed Bakura, running up flight after flight of stairs. Were there this many when I snuck down there? Or did I just take a different way? The castle was huge, and he could only hope they were getting closer to the rest of the gang. And that they avoided getting caught. By the way… "Hey, Bakura," Tristan panted, his stamina starting to give a little bit. I gotta do more running and less fighting when we get home. "What was it you did back there? Using that magic card, but for real?"

"Not now," Bakura answered. "Those guards are still behind us."

"Fine," Tristan relented as they stopped at a door. "But something's up with you, and you're going to tell me what." He tried opening the door, careful to keep Mokuba balanced on his back. "It's a no go; this door's locked." He turned to continue up the stairs. "Come on!"

They passed no other doors as they continued their trek up the stairs. Finally reaching the end, Tristan rejoiced at the daylight coming through the exit. He ran out the door, expecting to find the forest outside the castle. He did, but it was several hundred feet below him. Tristan just managed to stop, but his balance was off, and he and Mokuba pitched forward.

A force at the end of his tan trench coat stopped his fall and pulled him back to the solid ground of the ledge. He looked up to see Bakura standing over him, an annoyed expression on his face. "I owe you one, Bakura," he thanked his savior. He looked down at the drop. "But seeing as how jumping's out of the question, I'd say we're as good as caught."

"There they are!" a guard yelled. Tristan sighed; he thought they at least had a bigger lead on the goons. Now both he and Bakura were caught. They didn't have anywhere else to run.

"Well, we tried," Tristan pulled himself to his feet, situation Mokuba more comfortably on his back.

"What do you mean we tried?" Bakura asked. "We are not captured just yet."

"What are you talking about?" Tristan stared at his friend in disbelief. "We're totally out-manned." Had Bakura lost it? They were two high-schoolers against a squad of trained guards. They might be able to take out one or two, but not all of them. Especially since Tristan was weighed down by Mokuba.

"We won't be after I enlist some help from the Shadow Realm," Bakura's voice was ice-cold, and Tristan definitely heard the icy tone in it that time. It was like he was a completely different person.

The Shadow Realm? This can't be good. He just stared as Bakura took out his deck. "It's all over!" the guards yelled. "Give us back our prisoner now, and we might still let you leave in one piece! Face it, you've got nowhere else to run!"

"Bakura, they're right," Tristan glanced back to the drop behind them. No way they'd survive taking that way. And the guards sure weren't going to give them an easy way out.

"You ignorant mortals," Bakura chuckled. "It's far from all over. We have barely even begun to play. And I'll show you the cards fate has dealt you."

"Stop talking nonsense and give up!" a guard from the back yelled.

What's with Bakura? Wait a minute! It started to come back to him. The duel in the Shadow Realm against the evil spirit of the ring, and they were trapped in their favorite cards. I thought it was just a bad dream, but it looks like it really did happen. And it looks like that evil Bakura is back again.

"Now I'll teach you the true meaning of fear," Bakura answered the guards' challenge, "as I summon the Man-Eater Bug, with the power of my Millennium Ring!" He held up a card, and his necklace flashed with light. A translucent version of a green monster appeared next to him, and it charged at the guards. I remember that monster. That's the one Joey sacrificed himself to stop. Tristan gritted his teeth, his wariness of Bakura growing with each second.

"He's brought the monster on the card to life!" one of the guards in the front realized what was happening. "And he's going to sic it on us!"

"Now, you mortal fools!" Bakura obviously took delight in the guards' fear and agony. "Prepare to meet your doom!" The Man-Eater Bug charged, sending the guards into a frenzy. They tried to run, but the bug was too fast. Bakura laughed at them. "Present-day humans are so fun to terrorize, don't you think?"

"No, I don't," Tristan answered. "But then again, I am a present-day human. What the heck are you?"

"Me?" Bakura grinned, looking through his deck. "Someone with great power, soon to be greater." He selected a card. "But I can't spend the day having fun. I have things to do." He tossed the card towards the guards and monster. "So I'll summon the Morphing Jar to this plane and put an end to their pathetic whining." A long, black creature joined the Man-Eater Bug, laughing as it attacked the guards. "The Jar's magic will send these ridiculous thugs to the graveyard."

Whoa! Tristan stepped back from his companion. He remembered going to the graveyard the last time they fought this spirit. It wasn't a fun place. He wished he could save the guards Bakura just banished; yeah, they were trying to recapture Mokuba, but they didn't deserve this. But Tristan had no clue how to bring them back, and there was a good chance Bakura could do the same to him. Which begged the question: why was this evil spirit helping him?

"As you can see, there's not a single particle of those pathetic fools left in this dimension," Bakura gloated as Tristan inspected the area the guards had previously been. He stepped aside to avoid crushing a guard's discarded sunglasses. "I have no patience for obstacles that get in my way. Remember that." Bakura joined him on the landing.

"Just tell me who you are and what you want," Tristan shifted his stance to better balance himself. Depending on what this guy did, there was a good chance Tristan would have a fight on his hands. "I know you're not really our friend Bakura. You're the one Yugi beat. He banished you to the graveyard, and in the process he freed Bakura from your mind control."

"Yes," Bakura admitted. "But that wouldn't have happened if Bakura hadn't betrayed me. I've decided I need a new host."

"You won't take me without a fight!" Tristan may not have magic, but in a physical confrontation, he'd have the edge. He kept his eyes on the being controlling his friend, waiting for him to strike.

"Not yours," the guy scoffed. "I want a vessel without a mind or soul of its own." He grinned.

"You want Mokuba," Tristan realized. That's why he helped me. I've got what he wants.

"Now turn him over," his possessed friend demanded. "Or face the same fate as those guards. So what's it going to be, mortal?"

"Forget it," Tristan answered. "No way." Yugi's going to beat Pegasus, and Mokuba's soul will be freed then. I can't let this guy take him.

"You do know that I have the power to back up my threats?" Power radiated from him. "Hand him over this instant, or I'll dispatch you to the graveyard too."

"Yeah, I remember," Tristan eyed Bakura's necklace. He already went to the graveyard once; he really didn't want to go back. "Your evil power comes from that: the Millennium Ring."

"That's right," the spirit smirked. "The Millennium Ring not only allows me to control your friend Bakura; it gives me many other magical abilities as well." He held his hand out, waiting for Tristan to hand Mokuba over. "So unless you want a more personal demonstration of my powers, you'll stop resisting me. Since you know any attempt will be pointless, why sacrifice yourself when you know I'll still wind up with possession of him in the end?"

Want to bet? Tristan swung Mokuba from his back and into his arms, his face a mask of compliance. "All right, I give up," he said. "Mokuba's yours." He held the soulless body out to his possessed friend. The spirit moved closer to take him; Tristan threw Mokuba at him. "Here, think fast!" The guy barely caught Mokuba before Tristan charged in and struck Bakura's stomach, knocking him out. Tristan grabbed Mokuba as Bakura fell to the floor.

He eyed the Millennium Ring. "Since the evil spirit inside that necklace is what's controlling Bakura, I've got to get rid of the necklace." Tristan carefully set Mokuba down and pulled the Ring off Bakura. Running back to the ledge, he drew his arm back and took aim. "So long, Evil Spirit." He threw the Ring as far as he could into the forest. "And this time, don't come back!" He watched the ring spin around as it soared through the air, descending somewhere among the trees of the forest. Seeing the Ring catch the light one last time before it disappeared, Tristan turned back to his unconscious charges. "Good riddance."

Now to get back to Yugi's duel. He hoped his friend was doing all right against Pegasus. Grunting, Tristan slung Bakura over his right shoulder, keeping him steady, and then he picked up Mokuba under his left arm. Calling on more of his stamina reserves, he began the trek back to the arena.

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Kisara held her breath as Yugi summoned Dark Magician in attack mode. Point for point, it matches the Toon Summoned Skull, but Pegasus already proved that the toons aren't destroyed in draws. The image of the Egyptian Priest flashed before her eyes. I hope Dark Magician can actually help Yugi turn this around. Yugi continued his move with Magical Hats, concealing the purple-robed spellcaster from the spectators.

"Brilliant!" Tea cheered. "Even Pegasus can't tell which Hat Yugi's hidden his Dark Magician in! Now the Magician is safe from Pegasus's Toon monster attacks."

"I wouldn't be too sure," Kisara said. "If Yugi knows where Dark Magician is, then Pegasus can too. Magical Hats can't stop the Millennium Eye." She could see Yugi struggling with the same truth.

"Yugi, stay with it, man!" Joey encouraged him.

"I know Pegasus has magic," Tea added. "But so do you! The magic of the Millennium Puzzle!"

Pegasus looked up at them. "Don't focus on us, Pegasus," Kisara said. She glanced to Yugi out of the corner of her eye. By his expression, it was a whole new game. "Focus on your opponent. I think Yugi just figured out how stop you. Let's see you duel when you don't know your opponent's cards and strategies."

"Ooh, a new challenge?" Pegasus grinned. "I'll have to see this for myself." The Eye glimmered in the arena light. "Toon Summoned Skull, emerge from the safety of Toon World and attack the Hat on the far left." The demonic cartoon spun around as the book opened. It fire lightning at the designated Hat, obliterating it. "The Dark Magician is no more!"

"Maybe, Pegasus," Yugi's voice answered. "Or maybe you're losing your touch."

That's our Yugi's voice. Kisara looked to see Yugi dueling as his normal self, not the self he usually was when dueling. So where'd the other one go?

"Impossible!" Pegasus denied what happened. "I just read his mind! His Magician had to be hidden under that Hat!"

"Maybe you probed the wrong mind, Pegasus," Yugi answered. "One that doesn't know where the Dark Magician hides. Or maybe your mind-probing powers aren't as all-seeing as you think." Kisara had never seen this Yugi look so fierce. As long as she'd known him, that expression only came when the other one was present.

"You dare mock the awesome powers of my Millennium Eye?" Pegasus scoffed. "You go too far, Yugi-boy."

Joey turned to the girls. "Hey, do have any idea what's going on?" he asked.

"There's another presence in the Puzzle," Kisara answered. "Essentially, two different Yugis. They figured out how to confuse Pegasus."

"I thought you didn't know much about the Items?" Joey said.

"I don't," she told him. "Call it dragon's intuition. Ever wonder why he seems different when he duels, like with Seto or the other duels here?" As far as Kisara knew, Joey and Tea didn't remember the Shadow Game with Bakura. It was hard to say that her confirmation happened in that scenario that only she, Yugi, and Bakura remembered.

"I just thought he got in the zone," Joey answered.

"So did I at first," Kisara said. "But that other presence just might be the edge he needs to keep Pegasus out of his head."

Yugi drew a card and played it face-down. "Pegasus, do you know what the card is that I just pulled and laid on the field? Just use your Millennium Eye and to read my mind. That is if you think you can."

Pegasus growled and accepted Yugi's challenge. "No problem. You can hide nothing from me." The Eye flashed in the light.

"We'll see about that," Yugi said, and the Millennium Puzzle flashed as well.

"What?" Pegasus cried out. "I can't tell what that hidden card is that you just played!"

"Sorry, Pegasus, but I don't know what that face-down card is either," his opponent answered. "Reading my mind will tell you absolutely nothing."

It's the other Yugi! Kisara smirked. Now the Yugis could play their cards without Pegasus knowing what they were.

"You see, Pegasus," Other Yugi continued, "I don't know what that card is because I am no longer Yugi Muto, but someone else altogether. Through the magic of the Millennium Puzzle, two minds inhabit this body. Now each time you try to read one of our minds, we'll use the mind shuffle."

"I get it," Tea said. "He's battling with not one but two minds."

"So when Pegasus tries to read one of his minds, Yugi can switch back to the other one," Joey caught on.

"Exactly," Kisara chimed in. "It's a whole new game for them."

"I guess it's true: two minds are better than one!" Joey grinned.

"So, still trying to ready my mind, Pegasus?" Other Yugi asked. "Go right ahead, if you think it'll help."

"No thanks, Yugi-boy," Pegasus drew his card. "My mind-scanning abilities are only one of many skills that I possess and that you need to worry about. Or have you forgotten who invented this game? Besides, I can sense that you are prepared to switch minds." He grinned at them. "Yes, you're ready to switch again the moment I begin to probe your mind. So rather than waste both our time, let's move on, shall we? You've still no defense against my Toon monsters, and it's only a matter of time until I find which Hat hides your Dark Magician."

"Then pick a Hat," Yugi challenged him. "And we'll see just how impressive your mastery of Duel Monsters really is. But I suspect that you've relied on the magic of your Millennium Eye for so long, your dueling skills have diminished."

Pegasus laughed at his accusation. "Even if your little theory was true, I'm still far and away a superior duelist to you."

"We shall see, Pegasus. Make your next move."

Pegasus complied and had Toon Summoned Skull attack the middle Hat. Fortunately for Yugi, that one was also empty. Other Yugi laughed at Pegasus frustration before the Puzzle flashed, and Yugi appeared again. He drew, and Kisara could tell it was an especially good card from his expression. Yugi set the card face-down and switch back to his other self. Other Yugi smirked at his opponent. Whatever cards Yugi drew must be good. And those two have to trust each other completely, especially since they don't know what the other played.

"I'm becoming annoyed," Pegasus growled, but his expression turned to delight with his next draw: Magical Neutralizing Force. The magic card cancelled all magical effects on the opponent's field, in Other Yugi's case the Magical Hats. A whirlwind formed on Other Yugi's field, disintegrating the Magical Hats and revealing the Dark Magician. Pegasus grinned. "Come on out, Toon Summoned Skull! Show them the face of victory!" The cartoon demon stretched its mouth wide and wagged its tongue at Other Yugi. "Attack the Dark Magician! Lightning Strike Attack!" It fired its lightning at the spellcaster.

"I defend my Dark Magician with the card I played face-down!" Yugi took control and activated his Living Arrow magic card. Other Yugi took command again, using the Living Arrow to take control of Pegasus's Magical Neutralizing Force. The Arrow fired itself at Toon World, obliterating the storybook.

"It doesn't matter," Pegasus scoffed. "You're still too late to stop my Summoned Skull's attack. Your Dark Magician is vanquished."

Yugi resumed control again. "Sorry, Pegasus, but you've forgotten my other down card," he smirked and revealed his face-down. "It's a trap card, and it's one of my favorites: Mirror Force!" A reflective barrier materialized around Dark Magician and bounced the lightning back. "It deflects back Summoned Skull's attack, and since my other card neutralized the magic that made your Toons untouchable, your Toons return to their original forms, just in time to catch the blast!" Red Archery Girl, Ryu-Ran, and Doppelganger appeared on Pegasus field and were quickly fried with the redirected Lightning Strike.

"No!" Pegasus cried out. "I can't believe you've destroyed all my beloved Toons!" He rambled on denial about Yugi's upset while he LifePoints fell to 600.

"All right!" Joey cheered. "You're in the lead, Yuge!"

"Keep it up!" Kisara encouraged him. "You can do it, Yugi!" That crazy combo is something I should have expected from him.

"Yugi, I'm impressed," Pegasus pulled himself together. Kisara tensed. What did he have planned now? "When I first met you, you were just another boy who showed some faint dueling promise. But with my gentle guidance, well," he grinned. "Just look at you now! You're one step away from becoming world champion. You've been to the Shadow Realm and back. And most importantly, you've finally begun to master the power of your Millennium Puzzle. And you see, Yugi-boy, that's what this whole tournament has been about. For I plan to take possession of your Puzzle!" Shadows began to fill the room, surrounding the arena and its participants and cutting off the spectator's view. "I will defeat you, Yugi, in one Realm or another," Pegasus said, just as they were completely separated.

"Oh no!" Kisara gripped the railing.

"Where'd they go?" Tea asked.

"You got me," Joey answered. "This is really spooky."

"Pegasus took him to the Shadow Realm," Kisara told them. "It's just like before."

"Before?" they turned to look at her.

She nodded. "Last time Yugi and Pegasus dueled, we went to the Shadow Realm. You guys were frozen, but for some reason I was brought along too, or at least unaffected by the shadows. But Yugi's alone this time."

"Hey, how about a hand?" they turned to see Tristan carrying Bakura and Mokuba.

"Tristan, where have you been?" Tea demanded.

"You wouldn't believe it," he answered, grunting under the weight of his charges. "I've had an adventure and half today."

"Mokuba!" Kisara took Mokuba from him. He set down Bakura.

"What happened to those two?" Tea asked.

"That evil spirit took over Bakura again," Tristan explained. Kisara held Mokuba tighter. I was right. The Ring was affecting him. "Anyway, what's going on in here?"

"You first," Joey insisted.

"I freed Mokuba," Tristan answered, "but then Bakura tried to grab him. He wanted Mokuba for his new host body."

"I'm sorry," Kisara let her hair fall into her eyes.

"What do you got to be sorry for?" Tristan turned to look at her.

"When you left, Bakura said he didn't know where you'd gone, but I suspected he was lying. But I didn't say anything, and I didn't go after him. I told myself I was being paranoid, and I was afraid Pegasus might think we were up to something if we all kept leaving during the duel."

"Don't worry about it," Tristan assured her. "I handled it. And it's history now. What's the deal with the indoor thunderstorm?"

"Pegasus took Yugi to the Shadow Realm," Kisara answered.

Tristan sighed. "Why is everyone talking about the Shadow Realm?" he muttered.

Deciding Bakura and Mokuba would be all right at the balcony, the group headed down to the arena. On the way, they filled Tristan in on what happened with the duel so far and how Pegasus created the bubble out of nowhere. At the same time, he went into more details about his encounter with the evil spirit in Bakura's Millennium Ring.

"They're definitely inside," Kisara said. "But how do we get to them?"

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This place always gives me the creeps. Whenever Pegasus brings me here, it only means one thing.

A shadow game. The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle thought the same thing Yugi did. Yugi eyed his opponent.

"You'll find your experience in the Shadow Realm this time around will be a lot harder than your last," Pegasus grinned. "The strain of maintaining your mind shuffle will make it more difficult for you to mentally conjure up your monsters."

Yugi looked to the Dark Magician, and his head started to pound. He's right. I feel…

"I'll take over, Yugi," the spirit said, switching control with him. "I think I'm strong enough." He glared at Pegasus. "So let's finish our duel now!" He drew his card. You'll be safer if you let me handle Pegasus, Yugi. I can survive in this Realm easier than you.

But we can't abandon our strategy! Yugi insisted. If they gave up the mind shuffle because Yugi wasn't strong enough to handle the duel, then they'd lose Grandpa and everyone else. He couldn't let that happen. It was the only thing keeping Pegasus from reading our minds.

You're right. The spirit agreed. And it's the only reason we have our narrow lead.

Pegasus chuckled as he drew his card. "For my next brilliant move, I play my Dark-Eyes Illusionist in attack mode. And did I tell you it's a monster I created just for this game?" A bizarre monster with a face resembling the Millennium Eye appeared on the field. "And don't forget in this Realm it's as real as you are."

"I can see that," the spirit answered. Yugi could feel the tension in him. He kept his eyes on Pegasus, careful not to look at what his partner was playing.

"Oh, I know he looks formidable," Pegasus put on his innocent routine, to Yugi and the spirit's annoyance. "But what sort of a threat could he be to you? He has zero attack points and zero defense points." He grinned. "Of course, since it's a monster you've never seen before today, you have no way of knowing its hidden secrets, and I have been known to keep a few tricks up my sleeve from time to time, right, Yugi?"

"I don't know what secrets your Dark-Eyes Illusionist," the spirit said, "but I'm sure it's not as harmless as you would like me to believe. I'm sure it's quite dangerous."

"Yugi, you're so suspicious," Pegasus pouted, and then he resumed chuckling.

"I'll lay my Curse of Dragon card on the field," the spirit summoned the monster in defense mode.

We've got to keep Pegasus off-balance. Yugi mentally called to the spirit. We've got to keep switching our minds.

All right, Yugi. The spirit relented control to him. "I don't think you have it in you, Yugi-boy," Pegasus mocked him. "You now have two monsters to maintain: your Curse of Dragon and your Dark Magician."

His head began to pound again, twice as much as before. It felt like everything was spinning.

Yugi, if this is too much for you, you should let me take over. Yugi felt the spirit's worry through his pounding head.

Give me a minute. Yugi leaned on the arena, trying to get a grip on the strain of the duel. I just want to try to last out the turn. He had to. For Grandpa and the others.

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Kisara felt a jab of pain as the bubble sparked with purple lightning. A glance around showed her three friends had felt the same thing.

"I think our little buddy's in big trouble," Joey said.

"So we all felt it," Kisara said.

"I think it's because we've all become so tight, but it's like we've developed some kind of weird link with him," Tristan hypothesized.

"We've got to get in there," Kisara said.

"You're right," Tea ran into the barrier the barrier and popped back out.

"What happened?" Joey asked.

"I'm not sure," she answered. She turned backed to the barrier and raised her hand to it. When she placed her hand on the barrier, it popped out facing her. Tea quickly pulled her hand back.

"So what'll we do now?" Joey asked.

"Stand back," Tristan commanded. Kisara, Tea, and Joey quickly obliged. "There's gotta be some way in." He charged at the bubble, building speed as he ran into it. He disappeared with the contact.

"Tristan, where are you?" Joey called out to their friend.

"Yell if you can hear us!" Tea added.

"Somehow I just passed through it," his voice sounded from the other side of the arena.

"Don't come back just yet," Kisara told him. She walked up to the bubble. Last time, I was able to go with Yugi without trying. Can I get through again? She raised her hand to the barrier and pressed in.

Her hand didn't pop back out.

"Tristan, do you see my hand on your side?" she called to him.

"Should I?" he asked. "Because I don't."

Kisara withdrew her hand. "Come on back," she said. Tristan charged through again, this time landing on their side. "I think I can get through."

"Can you take us with?" Tea asked. Kisara could see she was desperate to find Yugi.

"Let's see," Kisara took Tea's hand. They each held her free hands up to the barrier and placed them on the barrier. Tea's hand popped back out, but Kisara's didn't. "I guess not.

"Go help Yugi," Joey encouraged her. "If you're the only one that can get through, then you gotta get in there and help him."

"Are you guys sure?" she turned to face each of them.

"Our buddy's in the worst jam ever, and there's nothing we can do to help," Joey said. "You're the only one who can do it. So get in there and help our buddy."

"Even if we can't go, we'll be right here," Tristan added.

Kisara nodded to them and faced the barrier once more. This time, she stepped through the bubble and found herself right behind Yugi. "Kisara?" he turned to face her.

"What are you doing her, girl?" Pegasus glared at her.

I can't believe I made it. "We could feel you were in trouble, but I was the only one who could get through the barrier," she told Yugi. "Don't know why though. The others are right outside cheering you on. We're all right here for you. Now take him down."

Yugi nodded, though Kisara could see lines of exhaustion all across his face. This Shadow Game must be worse than before. Yugi looks like he can barely go on. She was careful to watch only his face and not his cards. The Puzzle kept Pegasus from reading the Yugis' minds, but it would be in vain if Pegasus saw his cards through her.

"You're looking almost as pale as your friend, little Yugi," Pegasus feigned concern as he selected a card to play. "Maybe you should give-up your mind-shuffle strategy. Take a breather." He set a card face-down. "I can send you and Kisara back to your world any time you're ready to surrender."

Yugi's hands shook as he gripped his cards. "Okay, take over—for now," he whispered. The Puzzle flashed, and Other Yugi took control.

"Are you and he…?" Kisara looked to him.

"I can handle the duel," he assured her. "It's harder for Yugi to maintain our monsters, but he can rest while I'm in control. You can tell the difference between us?"

"Ever since the duel with Bakura. Please, just be safe. Both of you."

He nodded. "I'll use my turn to attack with Curse of Dragon!" he ordered an assault on Pegasus's bizarre monster.

"Your attack activates Dark-Eyes Illusionist's special ability," Pegasus grinned. The strange creature's head rotated a full 360°, sending a shudder through Kisara as it stared at them, its eye flashing with purple light. "Mesmerizing magic!" It froze the Curse of Dragon in place. "In order to make up for Dark-Eyes' nonexistent attack and defense points, I endowed him with a special ability. Dark-Eyes Illusionist can use the power of its mesmeric eye to paralyze attacking monsters in their tracks." The creatures head continued to spin. "With such a superb monster at my disposal, what could my next brilliant move be?"

"Just play it," Other Yugi snapped. Kisara felt similar sentiments for the Duel Monsters creator.

"As you wish," Pegasus flipped over a face-down. "Believe it or not, I'm going to use the Black Illusion ritual card to sacrifice my incredible Dark-Eyes. 'Has he gone insane?' you might ask, 'sacrificing a creature that can paralyze any monster in play?' No, I'm merely using this ceremony to create an even better monster."

"Just get on with it!" Kisara yelled at him. The sooner Pegasus made his move, the sooner Other Yugi could do something about it so they could get out of the Shadow Realm. And the better off Yugi would be.

"Oh, so impatient," Pegasus laughed. "I hereby sacrifice Dark-Eyes Illusionist to summon another spellcaster monster." A crucible with the symbol of the Millennium Items appeared on his field. Pegasus's creature disappeared in to the crucible, and it morphed into a grotesque blue and white monster. "The incredible, the extraordinary, unforgettable creature known only as Relinquished!"

"That thing is so gross," Kisara whispered to Other Yugi.

"What kind of monster can it be?" he asked. "I've never seen anything like it."

"I'll show you," Pegasus gleefully answered, "by activating its special power. It's even more irresistible than my previous creature." Relinquished's eye pulsed with purple light, and the middle section opened. A vacuum sucked the Curse of Dragon into the creature's body. It disappeared with a pop.

"Dark Magician, attack Relinquished!" Other Yugi commanded his spellcaster. "Dark Magic Attack!"

"Relinquished, activate your defense shield!" Pegasus countered. The monster closed its outer wings around itself; Curse of Dragon appeared fused to the creature's right wing. Dark Magician's attack destroyed the dragon, and since it was Other Yugi's creature, he took the damage. His LifePoints fell to 400.

"By absorbing its opponent's monsters, Relinquished can use them and their attack and defense points to protect against any attacking monster," Pegasus explained. "Relinquished remains unharmed while the opponent suffers the damage. Your own attack reduced your LifePoints!"

Relinquished used its power again, this time its vortex absorbing the Dark Magician. It closed its wings, and the purple-robed spellcaster appeared, fused into the creature's flesh. Pegasus mocked Other Yugi about his favorite monster now held prisoner. Kisara could see the struggle on Other Yugi's face as he tried to come up with a plan. From the way his eyes flicked to the right, he guessed he was debating with Yugi on mind shuffling again. He said Yugi struggled to control the monsters here. What happens if Yugi can't? Kisara bit her lip, feeling about as helpless as she and others did outside. Sure, she'd made it to them, but what good was she actually doing? Watching the duel over Yugi's shoulder and not looking at his hand wasn't doing much. What could she actually do?

Other Yugi relented, and Yugi took control of the duel again. He leaned against the arena. "I've—I've got to play fast." He reached for the deck to draw his card.

Yugi. Kisara started to speak, but stopped herself. Yugi had to focus on the duel; she couldn't distract him. You can do it, Yugi. I'm right here for you. He pulled the card; Kisara shut her eyes to avoid looking at it. "Pegasus, I play one card face-down," he said, and she heard the arena register the card, signaling it was okay for her to open her eyes. "For my last move," Yugi continued. "I throw Feral Imp in defense mode." The green monster materialized on his field and snarled at Relinquished.

Pegasus smirked. "Relinquished, prepare to attack. Use the Dark Magician's power!" Purple sparks appeared over Dark Magician as his captor drained his power. "Pilfered Power Attack! Destroy the Feral Imp!"

Purple magic destroyed Yugi's monster. Yugi gasped, and he fell forward. "Spirit, you've got to beat Pegasus," he whispered, crumbling against the arena.

"Yugi?" Kisara shook him. "Yugi, come on, wake up." Tears sprung to her eyes as he remained unresponsive. She turned to Pegasus. "What did you do?" she yelled at him.

"Me? I did nothing," he answered. "It's not my fault little Yugi was too weak to handle the Shadow Game. It takes person of true fortitude to cope with the harsh unrealities of the Shadow Realm. Face it. Yugi is gone."

"No," Kisara blinked back tears. "What is wrong with you?" she raised her voice at him. "Where do you get off hurting innocent people like this? What makes you enjoy this sick game?"

"Girl, this stopped being a game a long time ago," Pegasus sneered.

Kisara clenched her fists, feeling power rise within her. Her hair blew around her, and a dragon roared. Looking up, she saw the Blue-Eyes White Dragon hovering over her. It roared again at Pegasus. Rein it in. If it blasts Pegasus now, it won't help Yugi. We still need him to release Seto and the others. She pulled her friend close, careful of the cards he still gripped in his hand. She willed his eyes to open. Please wake up. Yugi, we need you.

"So you've summoned your dragon spirit," Pegasus scoffed. "Very impressive, but it won't help you."

Yes it will. Kisara clamped down on her temper. The others have to know what happened. Maybe this can lead them in. Or at least they can figure out something. Picking up on her thoughts, the dragon turned and left the shadow arena.

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Tea gasped at the same time as Joey and Tristan. "Feel that?" she asked. "Something happened to Yugi just now!"

"I know, but what?" Joey said.

"Whatever it was, it felt devastating," Tristan added.

"He—he's hurt. Or worse" Tea tried not to cry. Not Yugi too. Please. I can't lose him too.

"This is too freaky," Joey said. "Now I'm not feeling Yugi at all. It's like he's vanished off the face of the planet.

"What could have happened to him?" Tea asked.

A roar filled the arena, and all three of them turned to face the Blue-Eyes White Dragon emerging from the shadow bubble. "That's Kisara's dragon," Tristan said.

"But what's it doing here?" Joey asked. "It should be in there, helping Yugi."

The dragon landed in front of them, careful of the small walkway, and lowered its head. "I think it's trying to tell us something," Tristan said.

It whined and tossed its head back towards the bubble. "Do you know what happened to Yugi?" Tea asked. It lowered its head, and she could see the tears in its eyes. "No…" Tea couldn't hold back anymore and started to cry herself.

"He's not gone yet," Joey insisted. "If the duel were over, Pegasus would have come back and started gloating to us about having Yuge's soul."

"Joey's right," Tristan agreed. "Can you help us?" he asked the dragon. It roared and took off, circling the air around them. "I'll take that as a yes."

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The Millennium Puzzle flashed, and Yugi opened his eyes. "Yugi, you—" she stopped. It wasn't Yugi. She was staring into the narrow and focused gaze of the other one. "Where is he?" she begged.

Other Yugi wouldn't meet her eyes as he pulled away and stood up. But she could see the fury in his amethyst eyes as he faced his opponent. "You used your underhanded tactics to overwhelm Yugi's mind!" he accused. "You will pay for what you did!"

Pegasus chuckled. "So I take it from this emotional outburst, that you're having a difficult time acknowledging the fact that you failed in your self-appointed duty to protect your little dueling protégé. Whoever you are, perhaps Yugi would have been better off without your interference, hmm?"

"Be silent!" Other Yugi snapped. "For what you have done, I will show you know mercy!"

Kisara gripped his shoulder. "Does that mean he's… really…?"

Other Yugi closed his eyes; Kisara guessed he was reining in his own emotions. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should have tried harder to switch with him sooner."

Yugi wouldn't let him. Kisara realized Yugi deliberately didn't retreat as soon as he could. He waited to see what Pegasus would do. What was that card? What card did he play that he had to wait for Pegasus to move before switching with his other self?

"Then let the game continue," Pegasus told them, ever the entertainer. "It's your turn. You no longer have Yugi to help you. Once more, your mind is an open book to me." The Millennium Eye flashed. "The card you just drew is Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress. A weak monster." Kisara glanced to the card Other Yugi drew; the Eye wielder was correct. Without Yugi, he can't keep Pegasus out, so there's not much of a point in me continuing to look away. She glanced to Yugi's card and saw her ally do the same. That's the only card none of us know.

"I play Winged Dragon in defense mode." A vortex opened behind Other Yugi, and the blue dragon flew onto his field, its wings wrapped protectively around it. "It's your move."

"Destroying your defense monster won't affect your LifePoints," Pegasus grinned, "but I'll do it just for fun." Relinquished sparked with Dark Magician's power and blasted the dragon, destroying it. "Ah, that was fun. And now the card for your final defeat." He summoned another monster. This one looked like a cross between a beetle and an explosive, all colored bright orange and blue.

"Jigen Bakudan, the infamous time bomb," Other Yugi muttered. So I'm the only one who doesn't know what this monster does. Kisara bit her lip, bracing herself for the worst.

"Yes," Pegasus confirmed Other Yugi's assumption. "Jigen Bakudan is a self-destructing monster that's immune to attacks," he explained, probably having read Kisara's thoughts. "In just two turns," he held up two fingers to emphasize his point, "it will explode and destroy my beloved Relinquished."

"Why destroy your own monster?" Kisara asked.

"Because it'll also destroy the ones Relinquished has absorbed, namely Dark Magician," he answered. "And Relinquished? His attack power is zero."

"Meaning your LifePoints won't be affected at all, right?" Other Yugi reasoned.

"That's right," Pegasus grinned. "The explosion will wipe out the Dark Magician, and his attack points will be deducted directly from your LifePoints, ending the game. Face it. The clock is ticking down on your demise, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. I just can't remember the last occasion I had so much fun. Remember only two turns left until ka-boom. And you don't have a single card in your hand that can help you. Trust me, I know."

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The gang stared down the shadow bubble in front of them. "Are you ready?" Tea asked.

"Yeah," the guys confirmed. Kisara's dragon continued to circle the air above them. Their plan was simple; they had been able to sense Yugi, like he was reaching out to them. If they reached back, using the dragon that could travel between the two places, they possibly could help them. It was their only hope.

"Okay, stand on either side of me," Tea took charge. She had drawn their friendship symbol that day Yugi defeated Kaiba, setting off the chain of events that led them here. To her, though intimidating now, it felt right she should take charge again. For Yugi. "Together now," she commanded the guys. "Think hard about our bond. We can do this. I know we can!"

"Come on, Yuge!" Tristan yelled, willing his friend to hear him.

"All of us are here for you!" Joey called out.

"Yugi, we're here for you!" Tea completed their trio. "And even though we might not be able to see just what's going on in there, we'll help you stop Pegasus's cheating and get you back safely here!"

Their joined hands glowed with a faint golden light as did the dragon. The dragon circled around them as the light grew brighter.

"Keep it up, guys!" Tea commanded them.

"We're not letting up, Tea," Tristan told her. "Not until he's home safe."

Come on, Yuge. Joey held on to the image of his naïve friend. The one that helped him turn his life around. The one that stood up to a bully more than twice his size, calling a guy who'd tormented him his friend. Yugi taught him there was more to life than picking a fight with someone. And that no matter how hopeless something seemed, there was always a chance to make things better. Joey wouldn't be where he was if Yugi hadn't stepped into save him when he needed it most. Yugi gave him the means to save his sister, and now it was finally Joey's turn to step in and help him. I know you can do this. We're with you, pal.

We won't give up on you, Yugi. Tristan remembered the love letter Yugi helped him write to their classmate Miho. Yugi, the kid who'd always been shy and awkward around anyone, tried to help him get a girl, even though he'd had even less experience with girls than Tristan did. Yugi was patience, a very real and necessary trait that Tristan and Joey lacked when they first started messing with him. He was their anchor. He kept them grounded when at times they wanted nothing more than to tear into the jerks messing with them. Yugi changed them for the better, and Tristan wasn't going to let Pegasus or the Shadow Realm claim him forever. We're in this together.

Yugi, we believe in you, just like we always have. Tea held onto the brightest spot in her life. Yugi encouraged her when he found out her dream of being a ballerina. When she was in trouble that day at the warehouse, it was Yugi who came to her rescue. He was kind and caring, always putting his friends' needs above his own. And he was so strong and fierce when he was fighting for those he cared about. He had a quiet strength all his own, the strength to bring vastly different people together, and to make things better for all of them. Yugi was the glue that held them together, and no way was Tea going to lose that. We believe in you with all our hearts.

The dragon, boosted by their light, roared and flew into the shadows and out of their sight. They closed their eyes, keeping their concentration on their friend, willing to see him through the shadows. The dragon they knew was connected to Kisara guided their concentration to where it was needed.

They opened their eyes to a very dimly lit hallway. A few feet ahead of them Yugi lay completely motionless. A duplicate, probably his partner against Pegasus, stared down their enemy. Pegasus seemed to grow larger, and the other Yugi struggled to fight back.

"Yugi!" Tea ran to their downed friend and gathered him into her arms, Joey and Tristan close behind. Silently agreeing, they took Yugi and stood behind the lookalike. This had to be Yugi's mind, and they needed to keep Pegasus out.

They would keep Pegasus out. Together, they shoved their power at him, forcing him as far away as they could. And he was not getting back in.

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He gritted his teeth in frustration. He had to find a way to beat Pegasus, but without Yugi, he couldn't stop Pegasus from reading his mind. It seemed hopeless. He needed Yugi.

Yugi is still with you.

He turned to face an older man with spikey gray hair similar to Yugi's and his own tied in an orange bandana, and he wore green overalls over a white shirt, next to where he left the still form of Yugi's soul. You must be…

Yugi's grandpa. The older man confirmed his thoughts. Could this be because Pegasus had trapped the man's soul in the Shadow Realm? And believe me, his heart is still in this. Yugi's grandpa placed his hand over his own heart to emphasize his point.

But—but how can that be? He pleaded the old man to give him answers, to tell him how to get out of this mess. I thought he was…

You thought only what your eyes showed you. Yugi's grandpa chastised him. The unshakeable devotion of Yugi's friends keeps his spirit alive. The older man vanished from his sight.

Of course. His friends haven't given up on him. He strengthened his resolve, feeling Kisara's presence right behind him. "Here's my move," he drew his card.

"Then let's take a look!" Pegasus couldn't keep the glee out of his voice as the Eye flashed with light. He closed his eyes, struggling to prevent his opponent from knowing his card.

At that moment, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon entered the arena, brightened with a golden aura. It circled the area above him; out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kisara beam at her dragon's appearance.

"So the dragon came back?" Pegasus scoffed. "No matter. The most it earned you was a momentary distraction. It won't save you from my Eye."

The dragon continued circling. As it did, its golden aura faded, passing onto him. He felt the presence of not only the dragon, an extension of Kisara, but Joey, Tristan, and Tea from outside the Shadow Realm. All of a sudden, Pegasus was forced out of his mind.

"Impossible! Inconceivable!" Pegasus recoiled from the power. "My Millennium Eye is being blocked!" He smirked as he watched the Eye wielder continue to panic. "This can't be. My Millennium powers are totally unstoppable. I should be able to read your every thought and strategy. I should be able to see each and every card in your deck.

"Not anymore Pegasus," Joey's voice echoed in his mind. A glance to Kisara showed she as well as Pegasus heard him. "Not so long as we're here helping our buddy out. Get out of his mind and stay out!"

He turned, and translucent forms of the other three stood behind him. Thank you. He silently called to them, knowing they could hear him. Together we can stand strong against him.

"Pegasus, you just don't get it!" Tea yelled at him, holding tightly to Yugi. He suspected she wouldn't let him go anytime soon. Maybe she had a chance to save him, to help where he had failed.

"You think your Eye makes all the difference," Joey spat.

"But your wrong," Tristan finished. "Friends do."

"So get out, and stay out!" Kisara yelled. Her dragon roared in agreement.

"They're right," he stared down his opponent. "And thanks to them, I can save my magician from the blast of your Bakudan detonator!"

"You cannot," Pegasus snarled. "My detonator will win this duel for me despite your pathetic little friends!"

"Wrong!" he pointed his finger to accentuate his point. "Because now that these friends are working with me on a whole new level, this is a whole new game!" He clenched his fist to strengthen his resolve. "And with Yugi's friends preventing you from seeing the cards I pull, you'll just have to take them as they come! And for this turn, they don't come any better than this! Go, Mystic Box!" A black magician's box materialized around Jigen Bakudan. A second one appeared around the Dark Magician, still trapped in Relinquished's shield. The first box opened, freeing Dark Magician and allowing him to return to his owner's field. His trusted spellcaster pointed his green staff threateningly at Pegasus. Thank you, my friend. He silently thanked his trusted monster.

The second box vanished, revealing Jigen Bakudan now embedded in Relinquished's flesh. "No!" Pegasus yelled at Dark Magician's escape. "Now the blast will only destroy Relinquished!" He drew his card. "I pass. There's nothing I can do."

"Very well. My move then," he drew, smiling at the card. "Go, Brain Control!" The magic pulled Relinquished to his side of the field, Jigen Bakugan still trapped within the grotesque monster. "How does it feel, Pegasus, to have the tables turned, and the magical powers of mind control used against you?"

"What crazy combo are you going with now?" Kisara asked. "Won't that monster blow up at the end of the turn?"

"She's right!" Pegasus laughed. "Go ahead and take Relinquished, you fool! That detonator you attached to him will go off at this turn! It'll blast your magician and deplete your LifePoints!"

"You're wrong, Pegasus," he calmly shot down his opponent's glee, earning a surprised look from him and Kisara. "Remember I still have one card out." He reached for the face-down card that he only had suspicions on its identity. "The card that took the last of Yugi's courage to play, and now it's time to find out what it is!" He flipped the card over, revealing Black Magic Ritual.

"What does that do?" Kisara looked to him, her grip on his shoulder tightening. He smirked. She had learned a lot in the few months she'd been playing, but she still had a ways to go to pick up on some of the more intricate details of the game. It was probably why she called so many of his moves 'crazy combos.'

"To invoke the great powers of the Black Magic Ritual," he explained, "I must make a double offering. So I offer Jigen Bakudan and the Dark Magician!" An altar appeared on his field, twin blazes on either side of it. The time bomb vanished into one flame; he bid farewell to Dark Magician as the purple-robed spellcaster disappeared into the other. A red magic circle glowed on the table of the altar, and a black vortex rose from it. "The offering has been accepted. A new power is brought forth. Now behold: the Magician of Black Chaos!" A spellcaster with long, wild black hair and clad in black and dark red descended to his field.

"That monster," Kisara stared at the magician, entranced by its power.

"You may have succeeded in putting Yugi out of commission," he continued, "but not before his final courageous act set the stage for the greatest magician in all of Duel Monsters. And with the Magician of Black Chaos, I will avenge my fallen friend. Face it, Pegasus. You're through. No card in your deck can save you now. Yugi's last act of courage will finish you!"

Kisara glanced to Relinquished. "Whoever you are, I trust you," she whispered. "But I have to ask: won't Relinquished be free to absorb your mage next turn?" She kept her gaze away from his cards, her dragon still hovering overhead.

"I know," he smirked. "Now to complete my strategy, I play this." He set a card face-down, feeling Yugi's friends protecting the knowledge of the cards. "And also one monster card in defensive mode. That ends my turn."

"It's my turn," Pegasus was continuing to lose the composure he'd so carefully maintained throughout the duel. "And the effects of your turn are over. Now your Brain Control spell has expired, and Relinquished is back where he belongs—with his daddy." Pegasus snickered. "And even with your two mystery cards out on the field, I think you'll find he's just as effective as ever."

"He's escalating," Kisara said. He nodded; Pegasus had something planned.

"If you think you have Relinquished all figured out, think again," Pegasus selected his card. "Because I'm using my Polymerization card to fuse him with Thousand Eyes Idol. Now prepare yourself for the ultimate merged monster! Behold my beauty!" Relinquished mutated, turning a sickly brown as eyes appeared all over its body. "With the Thousand Eyes Idol and Relinquished fused together, I've created the one, the only: the Thousand Eyes Restrict! He quite a looker, eh?"

"That thing is even more disgusting than Weevil's Cocoon," Kisara whispered, turning away from the monster. He had to agree with her; it was revolting.

"If you think he's a real stunner now, well, just wait until all one thousand of his eyes open up," Pegasus grinned. "Then I think you'll find that he's much more than just a pretty face." He chuckled. "The end is really in sight, wouldn't you say?"

"Not with my Chaos Mage protecting me," he snapped. He was getting more fed up with Pegasus's attitude with each turn that past. He was beyond ready to end this.

"Oh, I think you'll find that once all I eyes are on your Magician of Black Chaos, he won't even be able to protect himself!" His chuckle morphed into a full laugh. "Oh trust me. You'll see what I mean very shortly."

I may not know what Pegasus is planning to do with that monstrosity of his, but whatever it may be, I can't let it happen. Not after the tremendous act of bravery Yugi made to give us a fighting chance. He held onto the hope that by winning the duel, Yugi could be spared from the Shadow Realm. Tea still held onto him, and he prayed that link would be able save his young host. "Pegasus, you can do your worst, but this duel will be won by the card Yugi picked in his last act of courage!"

"We'll see about that," Pegasus took such delight in his monster. "Thousand-Eyes Restrict, time to open your peepers!" The eyes all over the monster's body sprung open.

"Chaos Mage, prepare yourself!" he commanded his spellcaster. "Try to hold him off!"

"There is nothing you can do to hold this attack off!" Pegasus sneered. "For now I unleash the Thousand-Eyes Spell!" Each eye shot of a green light, bathing the field and the Magician of Black Chaos. The spellcaster froze as the light surrounded it like an aura.

"My Chaos Mage!" he recoiled. Kisara tensed behind him, and the dragon overhead whined.

"Is trapped by the mystic gaze of my ultimate beast," Pegasus explained. "And don't think you can rescue him. There's no escape from the mesmerizing eyes whose gaze blankets your field. Even the monsters you've hidden from have become paralyzed!

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Kisara warned his opponent.

"You haven't won yet," he snapped.

"Don't be fools," Pegasus chastised them. "In just a matter of moments, my Thousand-Eyes Restrict will assimilate your Chaos Mage, absorb his magical powers, and finish you off with one thunderous blast. There's nothing you can do. Accept it. It's all over. Yugi's last card has failed you both! His Millennium Puzzle will soon be mine!" His grin widened. "Chaos Mage, come to me! Absorption Force!"

"Just the play I was waiting for!" He flipped over his face-down cards.

Pegasus didn't notice. "In mere moments, your Magician of Black Chaos will be assimilated and all his powers will be mine!"

"Wrong," he smirked. Multiple Kuribohs drifted to Pegasus's monstrosity.

"What's happening?" Pegasus recoiled from the furballs.

"You were right about your Thousand Eyes Spell," he told his opponent. "It did affect all my hidden monsters, specifically my Kuriboh. And it paralyzed him along with my Chaos Mage. And I activated my other down card: Multiply. One Kuriboh is becoming many." The Kuribohs continued to multiply, smothering the field in furballs, all dazed by the Thousand-Eyes Restrict's magic. "And because it's too late to call back the absorption spell you just cast, your Thousand-Eyes Restrict has no choice but to assimilate them all. If it can."

The Kuribohs all flew into the Thousand-Eyes Restrict, pulled by the vortex the monstrosity created. Once they passed through, they covered each of the creature's eyes. And with the way Kuribohs attacked, they self-destructed on each of the monster's eyes, showering it with explosions. "Curse you, Yugi Muto!" Pegasus yelled at him. "You and your Kuribohs!"

"Of course, since Kuriboh was my monster so I do lose 300 LifePoints," he didn't even flinch as his LifePoints dropped to 100. "But still, that's a small price to pay for crippling that giant eyesore." The monster stood blinded in front of him. The Magician of Black Chaos twirled his staff, free from the spell.

"Take him down," Kisara told him.

He nodded to her. "Attack, Magician, with Chaos Scepter Blast!" The Magician of Black Chaos fired a blue orb sparking with magic at Thousand-Eyes Restrict. The orb struck true, obliterating the monstrosity. "Your Thousand-Eyes Restrict has been destroyed!"

As Pegasus's LifePoints fell to zero, he felt a familiar presence awaken next to him. Yugi? Next to him, awake and all right, stood his host. Nodding, he let Yugi take control. "Pegasus," Yugi stared down their adversary. "You're finished. We've won." Kisara gasped, gripping Yugi's arm as the translucent forms of Yugi's other friends appeared behind them once again, all maintaining their connection to keep the Eye wielder out. The dragon above roared at the defeated creator, circling around the arena until the shadows began to vanish.

Spirit of the Puzzle, Yugi called to him as the shadows dissipated. I don't know how to thank you.

It was your courage and the love your friends had for you that prevailed this day. He told his host.

And your determination. Yugi added. We all did it together. His host raised his hand; he recognized the motion meant to be a 'high-five' from what Yugi had done with his other friends. Grinning, he clapped his hand against Yugi's.

That's right. He said. As friends.

And in the end, that's what it came down to. Yugi turned to the connection the three still had going, their forms smiling at them. It was finally over.

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Kisara blinked as her eyes adjusted to the increasing brightness of the castle, the shadows finally releasing them. "Hey, it's clearing up!" Joey said from behind the disappearing barrier.

"Yeah," Tristan agreed. "And I think I can see something."

"Me too," Joey's blond hair and green jacket came into focus next to Tristan and Tea.

"It is!" they all said at the same time, running forward to greet them. "Yugi!"

The next thing Kisara knew, they were a tangle of limbs and bodies as everyone tried to hug the victor at once. The dragon overhead roared, its joy obvious to all of them, and they all pulled away. Thank you. She silently thanked the Blue-Eyes. It vanished, and her legs buckled, sending her forward.

Joey and Tristan caught her. "I'm okay," she said. "I just feel a little drained. Give me a minute."

"Just take it easy," Joey told her. "But, hey, Yugi did it! He really, finally, did it!

"Yugi, it's so great you and your grandpa are going to be reunited," Tea pulled him into another hug. Kisara smiled at the slight blush creeping across her shorter friend's face.

"We all won," Yugi insisted. "I couldn't have done it without your help."

"Wait!" Tea cut their celebration short. "Let's not forget, this isn't over until Pegasus releases everyone's souls like he promised."

"So let's go grab the creep," Tristan cracked his knuckles, ready to go after the Duel Monsters creator. The rest of them nodded and turned to face the opposite of the arena.

Pegasus was gone.

"Why am I not surprised by this?" Joey rolled his eyes.

"Slippery double-crossing snake," Tristan spat. "Let's go find him."

"But what about Bakura and Mokuba?" Kisara glanced up to the balcony before looking back to her friends. "We can't just leave them here."

"Hey!" Bakura called to them. It looks like he's okay.

"Feeling back to normal?" Tristan asked.

"Back to normal?" he repeated. "Have I not been normal, Tristan?"

"He must not be able to remember anything," Tristan reasoned. "Yeah," he called back to their friend. "That weird Ring you wear around your neck was making you act like a real freak again."

"Freak? Oh my," Bakura glanced down, ashamed.

"His Millennium Ring?" Yugi looked between Tristan and Bakura. "Where is it now?"

"Gone," Tristan answered. "I chucked that thing as far away as I could."

"Oh well," Bakura accepted the fate of his Ring. "If it was making me act weird, then I guess it was for the best. But it appears I'm fine now."

The five of them looked at each other, coming to a silent agreement. As much I'd want to stay with Mokuba, we need to find Pegasus. I can trust this Bakura now that his Ring is gone. "Can you stay with Mokuba for us?" Tea asked.

"Sure, I suppose," Bakura answered.

"Good, then let's go and find that creep Pegasus," Joey led the way through the hallway. "After all, he made a promise to free those souls, and he's going to keep it."

Kisara glanced up to the balcony one last time before following her friends. I'll be back soon, Mokuba. Everything will be okay. I promise.

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He slipped in control without his host even knowing. That fool Tristan may have bested him at the moment, but he could never truly keep the Millennium Ring away from his host. He made sure of that.

He turned to his host's unconscious charge. If Pegasus restores Mokuba's soul, his body will be useless to me. But it matters not. He smirked. Because now that Pegasus is weakened by his duel with Yugi, he's given me the opportunity I've been waiting for. The time has finally come for me to add Pegasus's Millennium Item to my collection. He summoned the Ring; its weight settled comfortably around his neck. Leaving Mokuba where he was, he turned and headed straight for the sanctuary. He laughed at the term. There would be no sanctuary for his prey.

I know it's been a few weeks, so I really hope this makes up for the wait, even though I know this hasn't been my longest stretch between chapters. I had the idea that Kisara could enter the Shadow Realm based on how she helped Seto back in Egypt. Also, and this is a personal theory on my part and I'd love to hear your theories, does anyone else think Tea might have some kind of power? After all these years watching the anime, that's the best theory I can come up with for how they were able to block the Eye across the Shadow Realm and how they were able to sense Yugi's pain during the duel. She drew the friendship symbol (which may have provided the link), and in later scenes, she seems able to do things the other's can't. (I'm mainly thinking Pyramid of Light movie where she floats around in the halo of light until Anubis grounds her).

Anyway, thanks for reading!