Zypher: And here we are with the second half to the Yami vs. Pegasus duel! Glad you all enjoyed the last chapter so here's another explosive chapter for ya! Enjoy!

0

Yami no Game: Dark Saga

Chapter 19

0

With the loss of his toons, Pegasus was at a disadvantage but he wasn't worried. Instead, he was seething beyond all reason that not only his Eye will fail him as long as Yugi is within Yami's soul but that they were able to come up with a strategy to get rid of his main card strategy. "This is great! A smashin' combo move made by Yugi and Yami!" Jou cheered and Ryou smiled, all doubts of Yami possibly losing the duel under Pegasus' expert skill dashed away. Diamond smiled down to her sibling. "See? I told you to have a little more faith in him and look what happened. They got rid of Toon World and have a way to trump Pegasus' Mind Scan." she spoke and Ryou nodded. "Yeah. Sorry for being so doubtful about it..."

"It's alright." Pegasus looked to Yugi, anger shining in the depths of his single amber eye. "No wonder Yami and Aqua chose you as their eternal life mate and possessor of the Sennen Puzzle. But it looks like I played around too much with you. Guess it's time for the challenge your demon is waiting for and bring you along for the ride." Yugi was a little skeptical about what Pegasus was speaking of when he saw black smog start emerging from behind the creator. "Little Yugi...from here on, it isn't just a battle to win a tournament, but a battle between the chosen one of the Sennen Items. From here on, it's a Yami no Game!" Yugi gasped as the playing field was engulfed in the black and purple smog of shadow energy that was invisible to those that didn't have any magical abilities. That doesn't mean they couldn't see the effects that were starting to take toll on Yugi. "Yugi!" Aqua cried as he watched the Shadow Realm position over the field. "He won't survive in there! He doesn't have the spirit to take on such an onslaught of raw shadow energy!"

"What?!" Jou cried before looking down to the field. "Yugi! Yugi, please, hang in there and don't die on us!"

0

Yugi looked around fearfully in the dark realm they were placed into by Pegasus. His gaze then landed on said duelist as he started speaking again. "Now, did you ever know why I got the idea to create Duel Monsters? It all started back on a trip that I've taken to Egypt. There was a legend that three-thousand years ago, Egyptians had to seal monsters into stone tablets and summon them for battle in the pharaoh's court. But soon, the magicians faded away along with this ability and the tablets were put away to rest deep below the sands of time. But...this legend was recorded in the Book of Thoth and passed down from generation to generation, soon being the key inspirer for tarot cards! And now, it has been said that all card games in this time has been create from this one Egyptian legend!"

'The game was originally from Egypt! Then maybe there is some connection there that would lead us to Yami and Aqua's past!' Yugi thought. "After hearing of this legend, I decided to create a modern version of the game to bring back what people have forgotten about Ancient Egypt. I can finally recreate one of these ancient battles with a duelist worthy of the challenge! Now, the shadow game begins." Pegasus whispered as he drew his card. Yugi watched his movement as the dark fog floated around them but he began feeling odd. It felt as if the cold was gripping him, suffocating him. Pegasus saw these effects and smirked. 'Now you're in a wizards' duel, Yugi...let's see how much you can handle the pressure. No mere mortal can get through this alive!' Yami growled from within Yugi's soul, feeling the effect taking its toll on the smaller teen. 'He can't handle this but I know he wants to be there for me to keep Pegasus' Mind Scan at bay. But alas, the Shadow Realm will consume him completely.' he thought before he took over for Yugi. /I'll draw the cards from now on, Yugi. We can still try to keep a hold of this plan but you can't stay out for long or else you'll take too much strain from the powers of this realm./

/Alright, Yami. But if you get into too much trouble, I'm coming in to help regardless./ Yugi spoke and Yami frowned as he heard Yugi's mental voice starting to waver a little from the exposure earlier. "This is the final battle, Pegasus and I assure you, I won't lose to you!" Yami called. "Such words. But don't think I've forgotten about your little mind game from before. Do you really think your host can withstand the shadows long enough to help you win this duel?" Pegasus jeered as he placed down his next card. "I play Dark Eyes Illusionist." A vortex emerged from behind Pegasus before the monster appeared as real as they were and Yami growled. "As you can see, Yami, the monsters are now as real as the players that summoned them! Fueled to live by their master's willpower! But you have to be wary cause if you lose the game, you might just die!" Yami examined the monster warily, seeing that it couldn't pose much of a challenge with no attack and defense but knew that it must have some sort of ability to make up for its lack of power. He drew his next card and placed Curse of Dragon down in attack before ending his turn. /I'll take over while you come up with a plan, Yami./ Yugi whispered through the link before switching places with the demon. But as soon as Yugi took the seat he gasped, heart pounding three times as fast and felt painful with each beat. Pegasus smirked as he watched the child before him struggle with breathing. 'He doesn't have the mentality to manage his monsters and survive the realm...if he keeps this us, he as good as gone, leaving Yami alone and free to scan without that pestering child! And sadly, Aqua cannot assist him with the realm in place!'

"What's going on with Yugi?! It looks like he's in so much pain!" Myrrh cried. "It's the Shadow Realm! When you get thrown into it, everything you do with the cards become real from summoning live monsters to destructive spells and traps! But to maintain monsters, it takes the willpower of a trained magician! Yugi can't handle it because mortals are not known to survive long enough in the shadows!"

"Oh no!" she cried before looking down to the field. "They're in a world that we cannot see and Yugi's suffering in it! We can't do anything to help him!" Honda hissed in anger, feeling sour that his friend was suffering and there was little they all could do to help. "Hum de dum...well then, guess it's my turn now." Pegasus spoke as he drew his card. "I'll play one down in defense and end my turn." Yugi was starting to hyperventilate and with the iron will to protect his charge and lover, Yami wasn't planning to let the battle go on. He quickly took Yugi's place and sent in the Curse of Dragon to attack the Illusionist. 'Ah, got you!' Pegasus thought with glee before calling out for the Illusionist to activate his special ability.

"Dark Eyes Magic!" A blinding light engulfed the two monsters before a seal in the shape of the same eye that the Illusionist had was emblazoned onto the Curse of Dragon who screeched in pain, now paralyzed from the spell. "No! Curse of Dragon!" Yami cried and Pegasus smirked. "To make up for its lack of attack and defense, illusionists possesses special abilities to assist them in battles...Dark Eyes Illusionist in particular is the handy ability to drain an enemy's power with its gaze!" Yami growled in anger, seeing that his thoughts about the monster were true. "But it doesn't end there, Yami. I'm going to play another monster using the Black Illusion Ritual! I sacrifice two monsters to bring out the Lord of Sacrifices, Relinquished!" A decrepit groan was heard before the deformed monstrosity appeared upon the field, the insignia of the Sennen items also on the monster as well. "Now, let me show you the unique power Relinquished holds!" Soon, the gaping hole that was on the monster started sucking in wind. With another screech, the Curse of Dragon was dragged into the gaping maw of the monster and disappeared to the unknown. 'No, my dragon!' Yami snarled in anger before sending Black Magician to destroy Relinquished. To his surprise, the protrusions upon Relinquished's back came down, forming a shell around him but what threw him off even more is that Curse of Dragon emerged partly from the shell protecting the monster, giving it the dragon's attack and defense. 'Shit! It merged with my dragon and is using it for a shield!' Yami thought with horror as the attack hit, destroying Curse of Dragon but left Relinquished unscathed by the attack. "Hah! Your Black Magician destroys your own monster!" Pegasus gloated. 'And I take the damage for it!' Yami thought as his life fell to 400. "As you see, by absorbing an enemy's monster, Relinquished gains that monster attack and defense! But as you witnessed, attacking your own monster will cause you to take the battle damage and leave him safe to assimilate another!"

/Yami! He's using our monsters as sacrifices!/ Yugi cried from within. "And now, time to take another! Relinquished, use your Dark Eyes Magic! Capture the magician with your gaze and devour him!" The monster reared up in response and the eye glowed, trapping the Black Magician in the paralyzing spell before he suffered the same fate as the Curse of Dragon, becoming part of Relinquished and giving it attack and defense to the monster as Relinquished's Sacrifice Shield lowered once more, revealing the trapped magician. "Now my endless adaptable demon has the power of your magician. If you attack, you will only shed your own blood. What will you do now?"

'Even though there isn't much you can do against my invincible illusion combo!'

/Yugi...there isn't anything I can do. That monster is a menace and I can barely do anything without harming myself in the process./

/Well, for one, you can't sit there or else Pegasus will read your mind in your time of hesitation! We won't give up! I'll take over while you think of something!/ Yugi replied, prepared to do so. /No! Yugi, you are already too exhausted! Any more exposure to the realm and you could die!/ Yami argued. /I want to fight with you to the end, Yami! We're together in this and I'm not going to let you fight alone!/ Yami gave a faint smile to Yugi's determination and nodded, letting the smaller take over. The boy's chest heaved from the strain but wasn't planning to let the realm win him over. He reached out to draw his next card, praying to every deity that it will be card to help Yami win the duel. When he saw what it was, he gave a light smile. "I'll play one card face down...and play Feral Imp in defense..." Yugi whispered, absolutely drained with just that little bit of movement. 'Yami, please...use this card and defeat Pegasus once and for all...'

'Now, for the killing blow.' Pegasus thought. "Relinquished, at the ready!" The monster gave a groan, facing down the small monster that was Yugi's last defense. "Illusion Black Magic!" A blast equivalent to the Black Magician's attack shot out, destroying the Imp and the onslaught of power behind the attack finally ended it, leaving Yugi fainted upon the table which brought an enraged cry from Yami. /Yugi? Yugi?! Yugi!/ Yami cried, trying to reach his other half but everything was silent on the other end of the link. "Yugi!" Everyone on the second floor cried as they saw the smaller duelist collapse on the table. Within, Yami took hold of Yugi, trying to get him to wake but no response was made from the smaller. "Well, well, looks like Yugi couldn't survive the shadow game. Now his soul is dead." Pegasus spoke. "Yugi's soul is dead?! No way!" Kaiser cried. "It can't be true!" Myrrh whimpered. "Be quiet, Pegasus! It isn't true! Please, Yugi! Please wake up!" But with everyone's cries, Yugi never got up and with another sob, Myrrh buried her face into the shoulder of the nearest person which was Honda. Honda hugged the girl as he looked to the field. "We couldn't do anything...all we could do was stand here..." Honda hissed before he looked up, turning to Aqua. "Wait! You could've done something! Why didn't you do anything! You could've saved your lover!" Aqua sent a seething glare over to Honda. "Don't you think I know that?! But I can't do anything! Once a Yami no Game has its victims, no other can enter it for it would upset the balance and worse things can happen than what just occurred right now!" he roared and Honda flinched at his enraged answer. Keara looked over to him and placed a hand onto his shoulder before bringing the other into her arms, hugging him lightly as he started to cry.

"Yugi...Yugi, I'm so sorry...I can't save you..."

"It's ok, Aqua...just let it all out..." Angered by this, Yami took Yugi's place, cerise eyes darkened to a blood red that promised death to Pegasus. "I will never forgive you for what you done, Pegasus!" Yami roared. "Oh, but why should you keep dueling? Without Yugi's soul, you can't use your Mind Shuffle and without it, your mind is free to be scanned."

"But there's no Game Over at this point! I'm in too far and I'll fight to the end to avenge the death of the one you took from me! As long as my heart beats, I will fight!"

"There has to be a way ta help Yami. Any way." Jou whispered, trying hard not to cry for the loss of their younger friend. "There is a way." Keara murmured, holding up the heart shaped charm that they were all given a long time ago. "You're right!" Honda cheered and they all started to pour their hearts to Yami to help him win and soon, the crystals started glowing brightly in their respective colors. 'Hang on, Yami, we're coming to help!' With a grin, Pegasus did a mind scan of Yami's new card as he drew it, seeing it to be Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress. Yami growled before looking to his field. 'My life is riding on this last card my love placed down. I hope your sacrifice won't be in vain.' Yami thought as he placed the dragon in defense. "Now it's my turn! Lord of Sacrifices, use your Dark Eyes Magic and absorb the Winged Dragon!" With another sound of confirmation, Winged Dragon was absorbed into Relinquished, its attack power being added to that of Black Magician's, giving the monster a total of 3900 attack. 'Shit, I wasn't expecting for it to be able to absorb more than one monster. Pegasus definitely is going all out but I will make him pay for destroying my host's soul.'

"But my turn isn't over yet. Now, I play Jigen Bakudan!" The monster appeared upon the field and Yami gasped. 'Jigen Bakudan...the living time bomb!'

"I didn't absorb your monster just for my own gain but I'm going to destroy you with a bang! With this, I can finally complete my sacrifice combo!"

"Oh no!"

"Oh yes! Since Jigen Bakudan is a bomb monster, it can't be easily destroyed! And in two turns, it will destroy all the monsters on the field! And as you know, the combined attack my monster has is from your monsters so in all, my monster still has nothing in the case of attack and defense! But you, on the other hand, will suffer!" The Black Magician and Winged Dragon struggled once more, looking to Yami hopelessly as they were trapped in the grip of Relinquished's Sacrifice Shield and weren't able to escape. And Yami knew what they wanted. He could feel his monsters' desperation. They want him to win this and save the young master but with them unable to help and soon be part of Pegasus' sacrifice combo, there was little they could do. But he wasn't planning to give up so soon. 'But if he pulls off this combo, I'm as good as dead.' He looked down to the bomb, hearing it ticking off every second and growled, looking to his hand and trying to come up with something to save himself. 'I'll have to draw but Pegasus will be able to read my every move and card...' But as he thought, a voice spoke through the dark haze of his mind...

/Yami...don't you know the answer? You have to believe in your cards and one other thing...the only thing that this life has given you.../ His eyes snapped open and he gave a smirk, reaching out to draw his next card. 'I know what to believe in now!' But even with his smirk, Pegasus knew that what he drew will be useless to him. He activated his mind scan, getting a visual of the card but before he could see what the image was, he was blocked and he gasped. 'What the?!' The figures came into clearer view and he saw them to be the group of friends that stood beside Yami throughout his revival. "You have done enough, Pegasus! Now's the time to leave and never return to this plane of mind ever again!" Keara spoke, raising a hand and with a cry, Pegasus was ejected from his mind scan. 'No! It can't be! His friends are protecting him now!' Yami smiled, praising his friends for their help before looking to Pegasus.

"You may have gotten rid of one protector but you can't get rid of them all. I've created a strong bond with those that my host has introduced me to and they are here to protect me and my sibling just as much as we protect them!" he spoke before placing down his next card. "And now, I'll finish this! I play the Mystic Box of Death!" Two boxes appeared around the Black Magician as well as Jigen Bakudan. Pegasus was still reeling that his Sennen Eye has failed him again and was left in a panic that he couldn't counter Yami's card in time. Swords embedded through the box where the Black Magician was contained but the magician was freed while the bomb was left in his place. Yami ended his turn and Pegasus growled, drawing his next card. "You may have freed your magician but your dragon is still Relinquished's prisoner! If the bomb explodes, you will still lose! You are dead on you next turn, demon!" Pegasus hissed as he ended his turn, seeing as with the magician back on Yami's field, he couldn't attack without causing damage to himself which is something he isn't planning to make the mistake of doing. "We'll see about that!" Yami snarled, drawing his next card. "I play Brain Control! Give me command of Relinquished!" The monster gave a squelch of resistance but the magic was too strong and was soon on Yami's side of the field. Pegasus was angered at this but the time on Jigen Bakudan was soon reaching its end. "You're a little too late, Yami! You're time's almost up!"

"But you've forgotten, I still have one last card. The last card that my host played in his dying breath. This card will be the one that will end your reign of terror upon the innocent souls you have trampled over with your misuse of ancient magics!" He flipped over the card and called out its name. "Black Magic Ritual! Winged Dragon and Jigen Bakudan! Give your lives so that a greater force may be freed!" The two monsters were sucked away into the urns that rested on each side of the pentagram marked pedestal. The magic of the ritual surrounded Black Magician before he was transformed into a greater magician of unimaginable strength. "Rise, Magician of Black Chaos!" Yami called as the blue skinned magician was unveiled from the plumes of smoke. "Pegasus, this is the trump card that will defeat you!" Pegasus was stunned that Yugi's last move proved beneficial to Yami. 'Being able to brainwash my monster and use my two sacrificial monsters to bring him out...but Brain Control will wear off soon and I'll be able to absorb his magician. He will have nothing left to defend himself against his monster's own power!' But as long as he had his friends protecting him, he can't make any more scans to counter any of his moves. 'But it doesn't matter, he can play to the limit but I'll still win this!'

"Now, I'll play another card face down and I summon Kuriboh in defense!"

'What?! Someone in the dueling world actually uses such a weak card?!' Pegasus then looked down to Yami's face down and knew he had every right to worry. The demon could be trying to bait him with a weak monster but he won't fall for it. 'And I won't be a fool. He may think Relinquished is my ultimate card but he hasn't met my true trump card yet.' Once Yami ended his turn, Relinquished returned back to Pegasus' side and he gave a short cackle. "I know you must be thinking that I will have Relinquished absorb your monster but I won't do that just yet!" he called as he drew his next card. "No, I'll use Polymerization to combine Relinquished with Thousand-Eyes Idol to create the evil god of a thousand sacrifices, Thousand-Eyes Restrict!" The already grotesque monster started to shift and reform, becoming a much more terrifying creature with as many eyes as the name given to it. "Yami, this is the end of our duel! The last move to crown the winner and I assure you, with this creature, I will claim it as well as your soul!"

"It isn't over yet!"

"Oh, but it is! Now that Relinquished has become Thousand-Eyes Restrict, its powers are more than equal to that of your chaos magician! But the Kuriboh is naught but a worm to it!" Yami growled, not planning to let Pegasus get what he wants. He had faith in his monsters just as they place their life in his hands. "I accept the challenge you placed, Pegasus! I won't let you break the promise I made to my lover!"

"We'll just see about that! Thousand-Eyes Restrict! Open your eyes! Sengan Jubaku (Thousand-Eyes Curse)!" At the call, each of the eyes opened wide, unleashing the curse upon Yami's monsters and freezing them in their places. 'No! My monsters! They can't move!'

"As long as the dark god's eyes are open, your monsters will be forever paralyzed by its curse! Now all that's left for me to do is activate its central eye and absorb your monsters! It's over!"

"Not if I can help it!" Yami roared, reaching out for his face down. "Evil Eye! Unleash your power and devour the Magician of Black Chaos! Your monster is now mine!"

"Really now? I don't see that happening." Yami whispered and Pegasus' eye widened as Yami played his face down. "Multiply! Unleash your power and multiply Kuriboh!" The tiny fur ball monster was soon multiplying over Yami's field, protecting the magician from Restrict's Evil Eye magic and being exposed to the magic itself. "And with that, all the Kuriboh have been exposed to the Evil Eye magic so that means your monster will have to absorb all of them." The great maw of Restrict widened and started sucking up each and every Kuriboh on the field, giving it 300 attack. "No...No! They're growing all over Restrict like a bad rash!"

"And that's not all. I'm sure you know of Kuriboh's special ability. When it touches the opponent, it explodes, just like a living land mine."

'A...a living land mine?!' On contact, every Kuriboh that was on Thousand-Eyes Restrict exploded, causing the monster to screech in pain, all of it eyes now tightly shut from the blasts. "I take a toll on my own life points for Kuriboh's death but that sacrifice is just what I need. Now your monster is blind, freeing my magician from its spell." Eyes filled with loathing and the promise of death looked to Pegasus. "Are you ready, Pegasus...cause your end is upon you! Magician of Black Chaos, kill Thousand Eyes Restrict with Destructive Spell Death Ultima!" The magician gave a twirl of his wand before sending the destructive blast at the monster, blowing it to pieces and with it, Pegasus' remaining life points. "No!" Pegasus cried, the realm of darkness finally fading away and, behind Yami, appeared Aqua with a barely awake Yugi in his arms.

"Pegasus...it's over...we won..." Yugi whispered.

0

Zypher: And there you have it! The end of the duel with an explosive finish! Hope you all enjoyed and now comes the critical questions that will determine the future plots of this story (one being a bit of a spoiler but they have to be put out now before I forget about them).

1. In the manga, Pegasus dies by Bakura's hand. If you would like me to still keep the Doom/Doma series in the story, you must tell me through your reviews or else I will continue to follow the base plot of the manga and leave that portion out.

2. Both virtual world portions are also out of the manga. You have to tell me if you want me to keep either one or both. You have your choice of the Legendary Heroes virtual world and Noah's virtual world.

3. Also, the Grand Championship tournament has been taken out from the manga.

4. Last but not least is the Capsule Monster world story.

Well, that all I have to say. If you want any of these extra plots to be added into YnG, you have to say so in your reviews so I can plan ahead with how to fit them in, especially the Doom/Doma series since the outcome of what happens to Pegasus in the next chapter determines the add-in or not. And now for everyone favorite, the Duel Monster stories. Enjoy!

-Shadow Realm: Yami and Yugi's deck-

The monsters were cheering in celebration for their victory over Pegasus. Amidst the group was Celtic, who looked around for Mahaado. 'I wonder where he could be...' he wondered as he continued to search for the purple clad magician. With no sign of the other, he gave a sigh as he started on his way back to the warriors' dorm. "Hey, Celtic! Where are you going?" Gaia called as he ran over to the elf warrior. "I'm a little tired. I'm going to go ahead and get some rest." Celtic replied before he gave a yelp as he was dragged back to the gathering. "Oh no you don't! Besides, someone wants to meet with you!" Celtic blinked. "Who?"

"You'll see." When they reached the celebration grounds, Gaia led Celtic over to where a large crowd was situated. "In you go." Gaia said, pushing the smaller warrior through the crowd and with a yelp, Celtic stumbled until he bumped into another. "Sorry about that…" he murmured, rubbing his head before looking up to the one he hit and gaped. Magician of Black Chaos smirked down to him. "So, you're Celtic Guardian. The one my young charge was worrying about throughout the final leg of the duel."

"Young charge...are you talking about the Black Magician?"

"Well, of course. What other magician would I be speaking of? Certainly not Mystical Elf. Anyways, he was worried about you and went looking around for you but before he found you, I decided to ask Gaia there to bring you over so I could get a good look at you since I'll be making permanent residence here." he explained as he gazed down at the smaller warrior. "So, what's this I hear about you being more to Mahaado?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Really? Can't trust me with such information like your love for him." Celtic looked to him in surprise. "How did you learn that?!" Chaos chuckled and patted Celtic's shoulder. "Come on. You're talking to the magician that your lover became after a ritual. How would I not know about such?" With another chuckle, Chaos patted Celtic's shoulder before shooing him away. "You best go find your lover now, little elf. I'll talk to you again soon enough and don't worry. I won't steal you from Mahaado if that's what you're thinking. I have my own warrior love matter to attend to." Chaos called and Celtic flushed a little that his mind was read so easily by the other before scurrying off to look for Mahaado before he worried the other magician. He checked around the spellcasters' dorm for any sign of him but didn't see him there. He then looked through the other dorms with the same result. He sighed and was about to head back to his own when he heard his name being called. He turned to be met with an embrace from the relieved magician. "Finally found you! I was hoping to catch you at the celebration but you weren't there." Mahaado murmured as he kissed the elf warrior's forehead lightly. "Sorry. Just wasn't in the mood to celebrate but I'm proud Master Yami was able to win. How did it go?"

"We almost lost the young master but Master Yami made sure that fool pay for that."

"Really? You have to tell me the whole story. I was knocked out early thanks to that mermaid." Celtic gave a sigh. "Can't believe I was taken out by some toon monster. I'm glad none of the warriors are laughing at me behind my back because of it."

"Ah, do not worry. I'm here for you, Celtic. Always have and always will." Celtic smiled and hugged the other. "Thanks, Mahaado. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me."

"Same with you, my dear elf." Mahaado whispered, bringing the other into a light kiss before they walked along towards the warriors' dorm hand in hand so that Mahaado could tell what happened on his half on the duel.

0

Zypher: And there's the end of that little Duel Monsters story. Yes, Chaos is going to be the fun-loving person ready to tease poor Celtic. At least it was better than having him try to flirt with the elf. Probably be running for my life from Mahaado if I did that. -chuckles nervously- Anyways, hoped you enjoyed and please, don't forget to give me your input about the plots for future chapters. Especially the Doom/Doma series. If you want it in you have to say so or else it'll be taken out when I get started on the next chapter which probably won't be for a while. -waves- See you all later.