"Now we will finally find the true Marik," Joey says.

"He will pay for what he has done," Mai says, going up for her duel.

The door for the oppoinate opens and everyone look in shock as Gabrielle walks out. She takes the spot across from Mai, her eyes dark and serious.

"Gabrielle? What are you doing here?" Mai demands. "You should be resting!"

Gabrielle doesn't respond as she prepares to duel. Maria takes Seto's arm and makes him look at her.

"You can't seriously let Mai and Gabrielle duel?" Maria asks.

"Gabrielle! Move from the duel arena!" Seto calls.

"Fool," Gabrielle says, her voice dark. "I am Marik."

Everyone is dumbstruck and do not know how to react, Marik must be controlling her. Yami clenches his fist, how dare Marik control his love! First his best friend and now Gabrielle, what is he planning?

"You cannot be serious!" Mai yells. "We all know that Gabrielle is not Marik! Come out you coward!"

Gabrielle starts to laugh as Nabu walks up, the scepter in his hand. Everyone glares at him as he goes to Gabrielle's side. He puts his arm around her, making Maria and Yami (and Yugi) glare daggers at him, wishing their looks could kill.

"Seems like someone is too scared to duel their friend," Marik taunts.

"She has nothing to do with this Marik!" Mai tells him. "Duel your own battles."

"This is far from over, Yugi will have to duel my puppet before I duel you."

"That won't happen you freak!" Maria growls.

"Well then, I suppose there is no need for her," Marik says, his scepter glows. "I'll just send her mind to the shadow realm then."

"No!" Everyone yells.

"Seto, what are we going to do?" Mokuba asks. "We can't let him send her there."

Seto looks at Marik and Gabrielle, what can he do? If he does what Marik wants, Yugi may not have it in his heart to duel his love. Seto knows he wouldn't if he had to duel Maria. But if he goes against Marik, Gabrielle will be sent to the Shadow realm, Seto know fully well what it's like to be trapped somewhere.

"Seto?" Maria asks. "Please, we have to help my sister."

"Alright Marik, we have a deal," Seto says.

"Are ya crazy Kaiba!?" Joey yells. "You can't do this!"

"Please! Don't do this!" Serenity calls.

Maria looks at him, why would he do this? He can't really be doing what Marik said, that's when she notices the look in his eyes. Her eyes widen, he's doing this to save her sister so her mind won't be sent to the shadow realm.

"Mai, your duel is postponed for now," Seto says. "Yugi, come duel Gabrielle."

'Yami! We can't duel her!' Yugi argues.

'We have no choice, if we don't Gabrielle will be sent to the Shadow Realm,' Yami says, his teeth clenched.

Yami walks up and takes Mai's places, he faces his beloved as Marik walks away.

"I can't believe there is nothing we can do to help them," Tristan says.

"That guy is a monster," Duke says. "First, controlling Joey and now Gabrielle?"

"Oh Yugi," Tea whispers.

"Are you ready?" Gabrielle asks, a sinister smile on her face.

"Remember Marik, when I win you will release Gabrielle from your hold!" Yami yells.

"You will have to win first Pharaoh," Marik says. "That means destroying Gabrielle."

Yami growls as the duel starts, he takes his turn and makes sure he won't get any cards that are too powerful to use against Gabrielle. Gabrielle smiles as she summons her Amazon Fighter and attacks Yami.

(Maria's POV)

I can hardly watch, my sister is being controlled so Marik can get what he wants. Yugi so far has only 700 life points left while Gabrielle has 1100, I know he is not dueling at his best.

"Yugi!" I call. "You have to duel like you mean it! If you don't Gabrielle will be lost forever!"

I see Yugi clench his cards, he knows I am right. There isn't much else we can do to help her, suddenly I see something flash in my eyes. Gabrielle is facing me, dressed in an amazon combat gear. What is going on that I am seeing this? Again I see something, but this time I know what it is.

(Flashback, Regular POV)

"Mommy, daddy," five year old Maria sniffs.

Today is Maria's first day at the orphanage, her parents had passed away two days before in a car accident and her aunts and uncles did not want to take her in. While the other kids run around and play, Maria stays in the sandbox alone.

"Why are you here all alone?" a voice asks.

Maria looks up to see her first friend, Gabrielle Rosalin.

"I...I just my mommy and daddy," Maria says.

"You miss them, but they won't be coming. I'm sorry."

Maria sniffles more, but she knows what the girl said is true. She was there that day, in the car, she was only one to survive. The two start to play together and Gabrielle introduces Maria to her "cousins".

(End Flashback)

Maria slightly smiles at the memory, after that day things became difficult at the orphanage.

'Yami, we have to end this!' Yugi says.

'I know, but how can I hurt her?'

'She would want you to do anything to stop Marik, even if it meant hurting her.'

Yami sighs, he knows Yugi is right. She told him as much when she saw what happened with Arkana, but it is different when it is happening.

"Alright, I sacrifice my monsters to summon Dark Magician!" Yami says. "Now attack her Amazon Warrior!"

Dark Magician attacks her Amazon and destroys it, knocking Gabrielle's life points down to 800. Gabrielle growls in frustration.

"My turn," Gabrielle says. "I summon Harpie Lady in attack mode."

The harpie appears on the field and Gabrielle activates her face down card, turning Harpie lady into Harpie Lady Sisters.

"Before I end my turn, how about a change in scenery?" Gabrielle asks.

"What?" Yami asks as the area around them changes.

The area changed to one of a plain field, one Yami swears he has seen before. Gabrielle smiles evilly as Yami looks around in confusion.

"Look familiar? It's the same place where we first met 5,000 years ago," Gabrielle tells him. "Back when you were a mere prince and I a princess."

"This isn't you Gabrielle! You have to fight his control!" I cry.

Gabrielle says nothing as she has her Harpie Sisters attack his Imp. Yami knows there has to be a way to get through to her. Soon a thought pop into his head, he begins to walk around the field, Gabrielle keeps her eyes on him. He is soon by her side, she raises her hand to strike him but she stops. He holds her wrist and lowers her hand and kisses her hand. Gabrielle looks at him, her eyes showing a bit of her light. What is he doing?

"I will not hurt you," Yami says. "You are my love, my queen."

"Y-your Queen?" Came Gabrielle's sweet voice.

"Yes, my Queen in the past and now."

Gabrielle hesitates, but Marik takes over her mind again. She hits him across the face, knocking him back. He staggers a bit, but goes back to her. He takes both of her arms and looks right into her eyes, again they are clouded just like how Joey's were.

"You are stronger than Marik," Yami says. "You fought to help Maria have a better life, you did anything to make your dreams come true. You love your friends, your family, fight for them. In the past you would never let anyone hurt those you love."

A little life comes back to her eyes, Gabrielle is fighting against Marik's control. As she does, her bracelet begins to glow brightly as does her pendant and Yami's puzzle.

"H-Harpie Sisters!" Gabrielle calls. "A-attack me and destroy the rest of my life points!"

The harpies look at one another before doing as she said, taking the last of her life points. Yami looks in horror as she screams and the hold Marik had on her breaks.

(Outside the barrier)

"Yugi, please be okay," Tea says. "Please save our friend."

"Damn, with that barrier they can't hear us!" Tristan growls.

Marik smirks as they watch, waiting for the victor to emerge. He tightens his grip on his scepter, he knows the Pharaoh will not have it in his heart to hurt the love of his life. Marik looks over at former Priest Seto and Warrior Skylar, seems like even their love has survived for three thousand years. Suddenly his scepter begins to glow, he looks at it in confusion as it got brighter and causes everyone to look.

"What!? No!" Marik screams as he feels the breaking of his spell.

"What's going on?" Serenity questions.

"I don't know but whatever it is it may be good for us," Joey says.

That's when the barrier disappears and everyone can see their friends, Yami is holding Gabrielle in his arms. He is holding her close to his chest as they sank to the floor.

"Gabrielle!" Everyone cries, running to their friend.

"How did she break my spell!?" Marik demands.

"You are a fool," Seto says. "Did you honestly think you were going to be able to control her for long? She was unconscious and mentally exhausted, that is the only reason you could hold her for as long. She is too strong for anyone to control."

Marik growls in anger as his sister walks up to him.

"You should have known the Queen is too strong to be under your influence," Ishizu says.

"I am so sorry," Yami says, tears in his eyes.

"I-it's not your fault Yami," Gabrielle says. "You h-helped me break the control Marik had over me."

"I should have protected you."

"You are trying to save the world, I can handle myself."

"Sis, I am so happy that you are okay!" Maria smiles.

"Ya had us worried," Joey says. "We are glad you made it out fine."

Gabrielle smiles at her friends, happy to be with them again.

"Take Ms. Pegasus back to her room," Seto orders. "Mai, it's time for your duel."

Mai nods and goes to face Marik, her anger even stronger now and is fueling her determination.

"You are going down for what you did to my friends," Mai says.