Title was inspired by the Kerry Perry song, BUT Dark Horse also has a duel meaning so I'm curious to see if anyone can figure it out ;)

I actually started this chapter a month ago, but got caught up in other projects for a prompt challenge series I'm doing next month (of which I'm halfway through) but I'm VERY proud of this chapter. Enjoy!

Song: Dark Horse by Kerry Perry, I really recommend it


Dark Horse

It was the worst duel Seto had ever seen.

Marik had loaded Jonouchi's deck with so many illegal cards: cards that attacked the player, attacked the monsters and all of it with only one goal in mind: destruction. Pure and absolute destruction. Seto couldn't even call the man brainwashed. Not when the utter hatred with which he attacked as if he actually relished in it. The closest thing Seto to compare it to was a demonic possession and looking at the twisted smile pulling Jonouchi's lips into a snarl and the vacant delight glowing in those eyes it was clear whoever, whatever this creature was it was not Jonouchi.

It wore Jonouchi's face and skin like a mask or a costume but this was not the goofy, loud mouthed punk Seto had known from high school. Not the unquestionably loyal if not obnoxious idiot whom both Yugi and his "Other" self called their best friend to Seto's chagrin. This was a puppet, a tool, a weapon of vengeance, a possessed doll whose only purpose was to not to kill Yugi but to hurt him, which made it so much worse.

This Marik was a special kind of monster.

No one knew monsters better than Seto. He's been raised by one. He'd become one. At least Jonouchi had the excuse of being possessed, and the fact that this Marik was cold and cruel enough—and powerful enough—to completely subdue Jonouchi's personality, a man who was all personality and never apologized for it...it was a special kind of awful.

Seto felt sick.

Even worse, he could do nothing about it.

Not when they held a knife to Mokuba's throat.

"Grr! Let me go, you creeps!" His brave little brother fought like a wildcat. As bravely and fiercely as he had when Pegasus tried to take their company from them while Seto was recovering from a coma. As he did when Seto had forced him to endure Death T after his loss to Yugi and he instead set Honda and all of them free. As he did whenever Gozoboro tried to use him against Seto. Mokuba who had always been so much stronger and fiercer than Seto could ever be.

"Hehehe settle down, Kaiba, you just sit still and watch Yugi be wiped out by his friend!" The Ghoul laughed, doubtless finding this all amusing.

"You filthy slime," Kaiba spat, furious for allowing them to get caught.

His eyes caught Yugi just as another fireball burned away his life points. The artificial simulation would not burn or scar but the influx of energy was crippling—the very reason such cards were banned. And watching as the Other Yugi emerged from the smoke looking weary and drained and broken, it was all Seto could do not to run towards him.

"Jonouchi.." the other's name was a whisper on his lips and Seto couldn't even fault him for it. "I won't give up. I'll reach your Duelist's heart. I'll get it back!"

So much determination, but there was no mistaking the question that came with that uncertain hope. How long would that hope last before it was snuffed out like a candle in the dark? Before that beautiful fire of the other Yugi's own duelist spirit went out and all that was left was a broken husk.

Seto couldn't even root for his victory: not when it meant Jonouchi's death. No matter who won, one of them would die: it was disgusting and dishonorable and sadistic and just plain old terrible and Seto hated it!

Yugi…don't die... he thought, hoping beyond all hope the other could hear him. Don't throw your life away on this dishonorable duel!

X X X

It was the worst duel Bakura had ever seen, and he'd fought and created some pretty despicable shadow duels. This couldn't even be considered a duel.

It was torture. Pure relentless, physical, emotional and mental torture.

It boiled all the blood in Bakura's body.

This was exactly his style: but more than that, this was an attack against the Pharaoh. A targeted assault designed not to defeat him, or even to kill him, but to destroy him. To break his mind, body and soul by turning everything he loved and treasured into either a weakness or a shield and pouring salt in the wound was the added fact that Yami could do nothing to stop it.

The message was all too clear in its possessiveness: be mine or I will destroy everything you love .

Bakura wanted to scream : he wanted to rant , rave , scream , and tear out all his hair from the furry and frustration and Ra and all the Gods help him, there was moisture in his eyes. Tears of absolute helplessness threaten to spill out of him, but Bakura forced them back and focused on his rage.

Rage was good. It was a distraction. If he was angry then he could fight, but if he allowed himself to fear, to give into shock then he would break under the painful reality that he could do absolutely nothing , right now.

Bakura refused to look away, even as his fingers trembled and his eyes burned with the unshed tears. The creature attacked with another illegal fireball using Jonouchi as a puppet and the mocking laughter and maniacal glee at the Pharaoh's suffering was so ungodly disturbing that Bakura felt sick. Gone was the happy-go-lucky, loyal blond who laughed and hugged Yugi and the brave, fearless young man who carried him out of the Black Clown Game Shop fire.

This was a monster who had stolen his skin.

But what struck Bakura to his core was the look of utter weariness on the Pharaoh's face as he emerged from the flames: the hollowed lines of his jaw, the anguished tilt of his mouth, the utter vacantness of his eyes, dark and dull and desperate with the tiniest flicker of dying hope.

He was fighting, determined not to surrender, to give up on his friend...but the fight had been all but drained out of him.

Bakura's trembling legs gave out beneath him and he sank to his knees, but he did not look away.

Not even to wipe away the lone tear that had split down his cheek.

X X X

Something was wrong. And Marik knew it.

"Come on!" He commanded, impatiently. "I know you're trying to buy time! Hurry up and put out a monster!"

He plays a card face down and Kuriboh in attack mode.

Why wasn't the parasite attacking? Why was he hesitating? He certainly didn't in his duel with Kaiba, so why now? It didn't make sense? Was it because he considered Jonouchi a friend while Kaiba was an enemy?

No, that couldn't be it, Jonouchi, Anzu: all of them were his beloved Yugi's friends, not the false king's. So why?

Unless…was he...was that coward throwing the duel? Sacrificing Yugi, instead? No ! Marik raged. Marik would not let him!

"I get it! You've decided to die to save my life huh? Ha!" He spat with a roar of disgust and derrison. Worthless coward!

"Jonouchi," he was so calm as this one's spoke the name. So certain. "Don't get me wrong, I won't die, but neither will I let you die!" His eyes blazed with that declaration.

It was wrong. It was all wrong. This wasn't the selfish, audacious man who was willing to kill a man to win. The arrogant fool who had no respect for his opponents? He had seen his actions through Ryou's own eyes and knew them to be true, knew that this false king was in every inch the unworthy spoiled brat Marik had always believed and known him to be.

And yet when Alligator Sword struck, he triggers the Spellbinding circle trap, but does not summon a monster to destroy it. Instead, he calls out to Jonouchi as if he can hear him, assuring him once again, his refusal to let him die.

It made no sense! The purpose of this duel was to prove the Pharaoh's irredeemability, not some weird irrational sense of martyrdom!? He didn't flinch when Marik again warned him the duel would only end when one of them died...an empty threat, but again he needed to drive the point home, to show Yugi exactly what the monster he was helping was capable of.

And yet when Marik again attacked with another Fireball, the false king took the attack and bore it with all the strength and will of a King.

It made Marik all the more furious...and yet it wasn't his strength, or his indominance or his will or the kingly way he carried himself that infuriated Marik and clenched his heart with something cold and damning as guilt.

It was the heartbroken way he looked at him. No, not at him , at Jonouchi, when he asked him if he felt pain in his duelist heart…

This is not the way , came a voice so deep and distant in his heart that for a moment Marik could've believed he imagined it.

Duelist's heart scoffed his Shadow. What does he know of such things? When he hides behind his shield like the pampered, privileged coward that he is knowing full well he's putting your beloved in danger…

Marik's heart leapt into his throat, fear and rage swirled with him even as another part of him wailed in protest.

Don't you see , his Shadow hissed in his ears, long, low and elegant as a serpent's. That is his true plan. Remember, he still needs your beloved, he cannot risk angering him by attacking his friend. He must convince him that he is doing all that he can to save him. What better way than to speak of honor and loyalty as if he knows an inkling of what those qualities are? All he has to do now, is wait, draw out the duel, convince Yugi, Jonouchi is beyond saving and that there is no other choice but to end him? Just like he did during his duel against Kaiba...he acted without your beloved's consent... but if he can convince him this is the only way? Who do you think your beloved will blame for Jonouchi's death? The Pharaoh? You? or himself? He could not have forged a better plan to break his will.

Rage twisted into hate and Marik;s blood boiled with it. Yes, of course. Of course, that was the monster's plan all along...he must've known Marik would rather die than hurt Jonouchi, knowing how much he meant to Yugi. He'd always planned to release Jonouchi's mind before the time went out and stop the anchor dropping: this was only a test after all, proof! But if the Pharaoh took it too far, called Marik on his bluff...what better way to turn the tide in his own favor than create a plan where he, himself is the hero and Marik the villain? The story practically wove itself in Marik's head despite the part of himself screaming This is not the way! You know this is not the way!

Marik steeled himself on the Shadow's encouragement and ended his turn.

X X X

"He fights you," Kalim said matter of factly knowing the level response would enrage the demon worse than any fit of temper.

"Ha!" the creature cackled, maliciously. "He is consumed by hatred just as Jonouchi is!" The demon sneered. Kalim's heart twisted when he saw a matching sneer slit Marik's kind face, twisting it into something vicious and awful.

Seeing the reaction, the creature's smile curled like a shark's. Maliciously, he met Kalim's eyes and mocked "He's absolutely loyal, and he lives to kill, you know...and he will ."

Kalim did not flinch, but neither did he protest.

X X X

The pain was worse than anything Yami could recall. It wasn't the holographic flames electrifying his entire body until his skin burned, his muscles spasmed and even the slightest movement took a herculean effort of will to compose. He could survive the physical pain, no matter how torturous.

No, it was the knife twisting his chest every time Jonouchi looked at him with those hollow eyes and the vacant sneer that threatened to undo him and leave him bursting in a fit of helpless, anguished tears. Each vacant stare was like a slap across the face, the lack of recognition a deep cut across his flesh. The pain in his heart, it hurt worse than anything he could describe like a cold, clawed hand had reached into its chest, bearing icicles instead of nails and sank the freezing needle-like points into the flesh and no matter how had Yami fought back, the wounds only tore deeper.

It hurt. It hurt .

It hurt that Jonouchi didn't recognize him. It hurt worse that Jonouchi was doing all this unwillingly, and it hurt all the more than nothing Yami said could reach the friend he knew, knew was still in there despite all of Marik's taunts. It darkened every precious memory he and Jonouchi shared, cheapened every victory and accomplishment his friend had made both on his own and with Yugi and his own guidance, and destroyed any possible future that'd hoped to create.

The worst part was Yami could do nothing about it. And that single feeling of helplessness stung worse than any stab to the chest ever could.

Jonouchi...honestly, I don't want to fight you...this isn't the duel we wished for .

It took all of his will to keep the stinging tears that threatened to consume him locked behind his eyes.

"Jonouchi, please listen to yourself!" he shouted once again, refusing to give up!

"Shut up!" Marik snapped! "It's your turn!" How many times had Jonouchi spoken those three words to him with so much love and loyalty and kindness and exuberance, so unlike the cold, curel, impatient way Marik made it sound in his bastardization of their best friend's voice?

Jonouchi ...it was like a punch in the stomach, and Yami had forgotten how to breathe. What do I have to do...to get your heart back .

Tears welled up behind his eyes and it was all Yami could do not to lose the battle with his shaking knees and give into the tears threatening to spill.

Other me ! Yugi's sweet, determined voice broke through the shadows like a shimmering candle in the darkness of a storm. When the haze of tears passed through him he found himself engulfed in the comforting darkness that was the Millenium Puzzle where Yugi was already waiting for him.

Aibou? Relief, shame and fear fought for dominance of Yami's features, but Yugi's sad eyes shone only with understanding and love and an all too familiar ache that made it clear his own heart had not escaped the wounds of this duel.

Yami...I've never felt your hurt so much before. A fist clenched at his side.

Yami could not deny it. Yes . This pain...it was more than Yami could bear and they both knew it.

Yugi's hands slid into his and squeezed. Yami met his eyes expecting an encouraging smile and determined he did not expect was the indomitable resolve that commanded Yugi's face. Maybe I can cut that pain in half so I have a favor to ask you. There was no doubt or hesitation in his voice. Let me fight Jonouchi.

Yugi! Yami could not have hidden his shock if he tried. His instinct was to protest, but the resolution in Yugi's stance made him pause.

A long time ago, when I was afraid of everybody, Jonouchi called me a friend...he risked his own life to save me from that fire...he's always helped me. A clenched fist. Now it's my turn to help him!

Yugi... Yami protested. This duel is too difficult, it's like fighting Marik, not Jonouchi .

I know. Again no doubt or hesitation. Once you told me that when I wished for friends, it wasn't the millennium puzzle that granted my wish: I made it come true on my own.

Yami remembered that. Yes.

I want to…prove that in this battle . Yugi's hands tightened around the puzzle, the golden object that had housed Yami's soul, the very object that had brought them together, the object Yugi had kept close to him like a security blanket for the better part of eight years hoping its magic would make him stronger but never once believing that strength came from within himself.

At last Yami understood.

If I can get back Jonouchi's heart then I really will make a wish come true on my own...and I feel like I can say that proudly... He whirled to Yami, tears glittered like rhinestones on his lashes but he never looked stronger. I won't let Marik hurt you, Yami, not like this and I won't let him hurt Jonouchi either! I refuse!

Yami could've wept at that declaration and knew, for Yugi, this had nothing to do with pride or victory. He thought again to that question Kaiba insisted upon and for the first time thought here was his answer.

He smiled, but his eyes were grave, Alright. But if your life is in serious danger, I am taking over.

For the first time since this mess began, Yugi smiled. Okay!

X X X

Back in the arena, a sweeping flash of light that could've been a trick of sun or a sign of divinity passed over the young duelist. In place of the young man known as Yami, the Pharaoh or the Other Yugi, stood Yugi Mouto, looking as fierce and imperial as his counterpart had not a moment ago. Gone were all his partner's doubts and fears and in their place shone a fierce and mighty resolve: a face that led armies and a determination that saw them to victory.

"I'm your opponent now, Jonouchi! And if you want to hurt Yami so badly, then you're going to have to fight me , Marik !"

"WHAT!?"

Marik screamed!

The Shadow roared!

Seto gasped.

Mokua cheered!

Bakura was gobsmacked.

Kalim smiled.

Above it all, two gods and two goddesses monitored the sudden reversal and grinned.


I am SO proud of this chapter. I honestly wasn't sure how the multiple POVs were going to work but they did and MAN was it tough getting into everyone's anguish...

I struggled with Marik for a bit but I'm very proud of how he came out, I wanted there to be a combination of him being both resolved in his determination to kill Yami and "rescue" Yugi but also making it clear this is't going the way he planned (and of course he's got his "shadow" hissing in his ear...)

Next Chapter: Wild Card