DISCLAIMER: If you recognise it from somewhere else, it isn't mine.

Friends Til the End Part II

Shamee stood on the pier with the Kaiba brothers. She watched as the Pharaoh pushed himself up. She had a nasty feeling that wasn't the last they'd heard from Téa. She may have been book-smart but she had no concept that it was actually possible for people not to care about killing her.

Marik was gloating through Joey again. 'I've attacked your life points yet again, Yugi.' He laughed. 'You're finished. As soon as I wipe out the rest, that anchor will drop, taking you with it right into the sea!'

The Pharaoh lifted his head as the smoke cleared. 'Marik, I can assure you that you'll never get away with your plan.'

Marik sneered through Joey. 'Huh. Is that so, Yugi? I'd say you're in no position to make threats.'

The Pharaoh straightened up. 'I know the real Joey is in there, and I'm going to set him free no matter what it takes.'

Marik was doubtful. 'Oh?'

'There's no way you'll win my Puzzle or my Egyptian God card.'

Joey's face went completely blank again.

YGO

The Pharaoh watched as Joey was reanimated.

'Yugi.' Marik smirked through him. 'You're friend is gone.' He was operating off of the assumption that he didn't realise how brainwashing worked.

The thought was making him shake in anger though. 'I don't think so.'

'Then make your move. Not that it matters. Neither one of your monsters is powerful enough to defeat my Alligator Sword.'

Téa, still with clearly no sense of her own self-preservation, called out again. 'Hey, Joey! Snap out of it! We're your friends, remember?'

Shamee, apparently, had completely given up on trying to get it through her head. She said nothing. The Pharaoh ground his teeth in irritation. He was a little surprised, though, when Yugi spoke up in their mind.

Téa's right! I have an idea.

Inside their minds, the Pharaoh turned his head and looked at Yugi. What is it?

I may have come up with a way to save Joey, and get us out of this mess.

The Pharaoh closed his eyes. What's that? Well, last time Yugi had one of these ideas it turned out to be the best thing they could've done.

Well, it just came to me when Tea reminded us of our friendship.

No point mentioning that Tea calling out like that could get her killed.

There's a chance we can break through to the real Joey. I think you should let me duel in your place.

Wait, what? But why? He was just a kid.

Because through thick and thin Joey and I have always shared a really strong bond. A bond that I think might break through to him now.

Well, that was true. It was Yugi who'd befriended Joey in the first place. When the Pharaoh first came out he was…well, sick would be the correct word. What had Shamee once called it during those times? Solitary confinement syndrome? The point was that the Pharaoh only became friends with all of Yugi's friends after the two of them in this vessel came to that understanding: they came from different cultures and they both had to respect that in the other.

Yugi went on. We've been through so much together, like the time he rescued me from that fire. Joey and Tristan risked their lives for us! And now it's my turn.

This is a very dangerous match, Yugi.

I know it is, but I can't let that stop me. I feel in my heart that if there's anyone in the whole world that can get through to Joey right now, it's me.

But Yugi…

I'm ready to go in there and do whatever I have to do!

That was a shock. It surprised him so much, it actually made him jump a bit. The Pharaoh supposed he was right, but the boy would never grow up if he didn't learn to face his problems himself. Yugi didn't seem to realise he'd been convinced, though, and he went on.

Joey's my best friend and I know that he would do the exact same thing for me. Please understand, Pharaoh, this isn't just something I want to do. It's something I feel I have to do.

Well, Yugi…if you feel that strongly, then go. Go and rescue your best friend and know that I will be right here should you need me.

They switched over.

YGO

Shamee had seen it when it happened. Now Sharee was the one who stood on the pier with the Kaiba brothers. She was also aware that, at present, she was the only one aware that the switchover had occurred. That was…until Yugi opened his mouth and spoke across to Joey.

'Okay, Joey, it's just us now.'

Joey's head was lifted either in confusion or displease. 'Hm.'

'My turn, Marik.' Yugi drew.

With any luck, it'd be Joey's Red Eyes.

Uh oh.

Sharee turned her attention to her guest. What do you mean "uh oh"?

Looks like Tristan and Serenity have company.

Sharee ground her teeth. Didn't they stay in a crowded place like I told them to?

Seems the Rare Hunters don't care about witnesses.

Sharee looked back at the duel and scowled. I'd like to go help them, but we'd arrive far too late.

Unfortunately true.

YGO

Kaiba stared over at Yugi, as he stared at the card he'd just drawn. There was a difference now, though. It was almost like he really was a different person. But he's not. He can't be. That's impossible. He seemed shorter and chubbier…more like his normal self. More like when he wasn't duelling. Next to himself and Mokuba, Sharee pulled her arms from their folded position. She rubbed her jaw and furrowed her brow. That was different from how she usually stood when watching the duels.

No, its gotta just be my imagination.

Yugi suddenly lifted his head and looked across the field at Wheeler. He was clearly muttering to himself. Kaiba wondered what in the world was going on over there. It was almost like something had happened and he just hadn't noticed whatever it was. His mind flashed back to Sharee's words.

'What's important is that Marik believes it.'

That, he supposed, was true. Even if he said it was nonsense, Marik very clearly believed it – obviously raised in a more superstitious place – and he was willing to do anything. He had some kind of tricks. Kaiba was just yet to find out what they were.

Marik spoke through Wheeler again. 'Remember, when time runs out that anchor falls. Now make your move!'

Whatever Yugi was doing, he was thinking real hard about it. Maybe Wheeler was under a form of hypnotism. Certainly Yugi was trying to figure out how to break him out of it. Why Marik had wasted this on Wheeler was anyone's guess. Perhaps because he was the only duellist Marik could get. Kaiba turned his gaze to Sharee. She'd said he'd tried to grab her family. The only thing was, they'd turned around and kicked the Rare Hunters to the curb.

Yugi reached for the card, then paused. Either he was reconsidering how to approach this or the Pharaoh was advising him in his head. Kaiba hoped it was the former. Yugi glanced up at Wheeler again, consideration written over his face.

Marik was getting impatient. 'Go! What's taking so long?'

So was Kaiba, really. 'All right, Yugi. It's time to sink or swim.' Quite literally.

Téa tried again. 'Joey, please wake up! We're your friends! You've gotta remember our bond! Remember our Ring of Friendship! Nothing can break that bond, so snap out of it, Joey, please!'

Kaiba rubbed the bridge of his nose, annoyance moving through him. He had to agree as Sharee muttered something about gagging her. It seemed she was just as annoyed as him, despite Téa being her friend. Then again, Sharee's background meant she had a deeper understanding of words being limited and useless in certain situations – like now. That little pep talk had more effect on Yugi than it did on Joey.

Yugi finally took a card from his hand. 'I play the magic card Exchange!' He set the card and it flipped up on the field.

Kaiba started.

'A foolish move,' Marik stated.

Sharee let out a low whistle. 'Now that's what I call a gamble.'

Gamble was right. What's Yugi thinking? The Exchange card allows Wheeler to take any card he wants from Yugi's deck. At the same time, Sharee was accurate. It looked like Yugi was having real trouble with that one. Did Yugi have an ulterior motive in playing that card?

YGO

'Look at you!' Marik mocked him through Joey. 'Ha! You must be desperate to play a card like that.' He started walking around. 'But if you insist I'd be glad to take a card from your hand, little Yugi.' He chuckled.

Yugi watched him approach worriedly. This was his only chance. He really hoped the real Joey was paying attention. As he watched his brainwashed friend approach, Yugi braced himself.

'Not that I need any help.' Marik stopped Joey next to him. 'Show me your pitiful cards.'

Yugi lifted his hand and showed Joey the cards he had.

'Now, which card shall I take?' As soon as that question was out of his mouth, Joey had the desired effect. His blank eyes widened and something flickered in them. 'Huh?' He'd seen it. For a second, there was a tremor in Joey's body. Then Marik seemed to regain control of him again. 'Playing an Exchange card was a huge mistake, little Yugi.'

'Well, pick your card, Marik. You can have any one you want, including the Red Eyes Black Dragon.'

Joey's face tightened again.

Yugi, the Pharaoh called to him. It may be working.

Joey's face became tighter. His hand reached out. Yugi's eyes were jammed shut. He couldn't look. His nerves were twisting in his stomach. Marik tried to reassert himself. 'Your friend is long-gone.' Joey's hand laid on the Red Eyes, and froze. 'So I'll be taking your Red Eyes Black Dragon.'

It's not working. Yugi insisted. He's still under Marik's control.

Hold on, Yugi. Look again.

Yugi cautiously opened his eyes and looked. Joey was frozen, just staring at the card he had his hand on. His hand was now froze…shaking. Yugi stared, hoping filling him up as he realised that, somewhere inside, the real Joey was stopping his own hand from taking the Red Eyes Black Dragon.

'Can't…take…Red Eyes!' Joey's other hand went to his head. 'No! I…I just can't! Not that card! No! Yugi…needs it!' His eyes snapped open and his hand shifted, taking a different card from him. Turning his cards back around, Yugi saw which card he'd taken: Card Destruction.

Yugi smiled. 'Yeah, Joey! You didn't take it!'

'Not finished!' Sharee called across to him.

Yugi calmed down as he realised what Sharee meant. Joey still wasn't free. He still had to work on it. They had more work ahead of them to get their friend back to himself. Marik, though, was apparently not happy with being defied. He turned Joey's eyes to Yugi in a glare.

'I told you, Joey has gone away and I'm here to defeat you with my arsenal of rare magic cards so I don't need your Red Eyes.'

'That's what you think!' Yugi was in an absurdly good mood now. 'Now I get to pick one of you cards, Joey.'

Even as he held out his cards, Marik tried again. 'I said Joey is gone, and you're finished.' He ground his teeth.

'We'll see about that.'

Joey was walked back over to his side of the field.

'You can deny it all you want,' Yugi said. 'But I know my best friend is in there and I'm gonna set him free, Marik!'

'You're fooling yourself.' Marik stopped Joey.

'I don't think so! That's why you didn't take my Red Eyes. Cause the real Joey is in there, fighting to get out and he gave me that Red Eyes when he promised to help me defeat you, Marik.'

'That's enough.'

'Admit it,' Yugi said. 'As soon as he saw that card, the real Joey came through.'

'What are you talking about?' Marik asked. He spun his head, the look from before was back. 'I'm controlling his mind!'

Yugi realised what that look meant. 'Not for much longer.' He held up the Red Eyes. 'I know I can use this card to stop you and bring my best friend back. Just wait.'

Joey's eyes were narrowed. 'Don't hold your breath.' Marik continued walking him around the perimeter until he was back in place. 'Now let's get on with this duel already, so I can claim what is mine and get rid of you once and for all.'

'It's still my turn, so stand back.' Yugi took the card in question from his hand again.

Marik stopped Joey in his place across the field. 'Go ahead and make your pathetic move, little Yugi. There's not a card in your hand that can stop me from wiping out the rest of your life points.

Yugi played his card. 'And now I sacrifice my two monsters…' They both shattered. '…so I can summon this to the field!' The card appeared and flipped up. 'Red Eyes Black Dragon!' The dragon emerged from the card with a mighty roar.

Joey's eyes widened. He muttered so that Yugi barely heard him. 'It's my…Red Eyes. Yugi…!'

'That's right, Joey!' Yugi called to him. 'Fight it! Look at your Red Eyes and break free!' He kept trying as his friend stared at the Dragon in front of him. 'That's right, Joey! I know you remember your Red Eyes.'

'I re…member…my Dragon…'

YGO

'That Red Eyes Black Dragon seems to be affecting Wheeler's mind.'

Sharee wondered if Kaiba was even aware he'd spoken aloud. Normally, he wouldn't be caught dead admitting this stuff. It was more likely that the thought had come out of his mouth as Kaiba had become wrapped up in what was happening. Sharee kept a close watch on Joey, though, looking to see when he broke the effects.

'Well, you heard Yugi,' Mokuba said. 'It used to be Joey's card. Must be a hard spot to be in. A card you really care about being played against you.'

Sharee remembered when Kaiba had been in that spot.

So did Kaiba, apparently. 'It's about to get harder.'

YGO

'Joey!' Yugi called. 'Marik has taken over your mind, and he's using you to destroy me. So I'm gonna try to blast you back to your senses.'

Joey ground his teeth.

'If it doesn't work you, me and the whole world are in danger!' Yugi didn't even notice the tears in his eyes. 'Joey, I'm only doing this because I'm your friend. Now, prepare to be knocked back to your senses!' The Dragon moved in preparation for the attack. 'Red Eyes Black Dragon, attack his Alligator Sword with Inferno Fireblast!' The blast came out of the monster's mouth and crossed the field. The Alligator shattered. Dust shot around Joey's side of the field.

When it cleared, Yugi saw Joey crouching there with his arm up defensively. His face was tenser than a drum. Joey's life points dropped to 2400.

'Are you there, Joey?' Yugi called. 'Hey, Joey? Is that you?'

The stress in Joey's face just increased. He stood up and smirked. 'Sorry, Yugi. Your trick didn't work. I'm still in control, and now it's time. I'll wipe out what's left of your life points, my little friend.' He lifted his cards. 'And take what belongs to me.

The Pharaoh called to him. Yugi, this is getting too dangerous. I'm taking over.

'No.' Yugi wrapped his hand around the chain of the Puzzle. I can't let you, Pharaoh.

Huh?

Yugi took the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck. 'I need to do this myself, and I have one last idea.' He held it in his hand, by the chain.

But Yugi…

'You have to trust me on this one. I know I can save him.' They retreated into their minds. Since the day I put together the Millennium Puzzle, you've given me hope, courage and confidence. You've even helped me to make new friends. But Sharee's right. We can't go through our lives depending on you and Shamee. I need to know that even without the Millennium Puzzle hanging around my neck, I can still be brave and help out my friends. I guess what I'm saying is…sometimes I need to prove to myself that I can be like you without you, you know?

Yes, I do.

Then you understand that I need to finish this myself?

You are aware of what will happen if you lose this duel, aren't you?

I sure am. That's why I need to do this because I can't let that happen.

All right. If you believe in yourself, then I believe in you too, Yugi. Good luck. You have the power to win. The fate of the world rests with you.

'And I won't disappoint you, Pharaoh.' Yugi turned his attention back to the duel. All right. It's time to save my best friend, and the world on my own.

'Well, now,' Marik said through Joey. 'Have you given up or are you ready for more?'

I don't have much time left. My life points are low and, if I lose, Marik gets everything. My only hope is to free Joey's mind.

'All right. It's time for me to finish you off now, and take the power I deserve. So say goodbye…' The card was drawn from Joey's deck. '…as I attack your life points again with yet another Hinotama magic card!'

Yugi looked up and braced himself as the fireball shot down again.

'Fire Shower Attack!'

It impacted. Fire ripped around Yugi, sending pain shooting through his body. He cried out as he was thrown back, his hand tightening around the chain of the Millennium Puzzle. Yugi's life points dropped to 1000.

'Oh, no!' Téa cried out.

YGO

Sharee watched Yugi struggle to push himself to his feet. It was harder for him to push himself up than it would be for the Pharaoh. Of course, the man was a warrior king from 3000 BC. It stood to reason that he was far stronger than a schoolboy from the nineteen-nineties.

'What's the matter, little Yugi?' Marik mocked him through Joey. 'Did my direct attack leave you speechless?'

Yugi slowly managed to stumble to his feet.

'Please, Joey!' Téa called. 'Come to your senses! Kaiba, Mokuba, can't you guys do something to stop this?'

'No.' Sharee was really getting fed up with Téa.

'If we move, Téa will be…' Mokuba, at least, realised that they would kill Téa. 'Well, we've still gotta find a way to stop this before it's too late.'

'I know,' Kaiba murmured.

Sharee wondered why Yugi had taken the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck.

'Surrender yet, Yugi?' Marik sneered.

Yugi pushed himself the rest of the way up. 'Listen, I'm not going to stop until my best friend is safe from harm.' As he started moving around, slowly, Sharee frowned.

'What's he doing?' Unfortunately, she didn't understand Yugi as well as Shamee understood the Pharaoh.

Yugi continued as he moved. 'And I know just how to get through to him, Marik, so watch me!'

'Too late. I'm about to send you into the sea, when I summon Rocket Warrior.' He set the card. It appeared in attack mode and the monster emerged from the card. 'Any monster struck by Rocket Warrior loses 500 attack points for the duration of the turn.'

Yugi didn't stop moving. 'Wait, Joey. I know you can hear me…'

Even if he could, Marik went on relentlessly. He set a card face-down on the field. 'And then I'll play Attrition!' The card flipped up and activated.

'I know you remember,' Yugi said, ignoring him. 'Think, Joey.'

'No, really,' Kaiba said. 'What is he doing?'

As he asked, Sharee realised.

'I said you're too late, you fool!' Marik crowed. 'Rocket Warrior, attack now!' The headpiece snapped shut over the Warrior's face. It transformed into a rocket with a spike on top. 'In its invincible mode, it will weaken your Red Eyes while remaining unharmed!' It shot across the field, a stream of rocket fire propelling it forward. It impacted and the Red Eyes cried out in pain. The Dragon's attack points dropped down to 1900.

'Joey, hold on,' Yugi said. 'I just want to give you something of mine.'

'Aha…' It was just as Sharee thought.

Marik either didn't hear or just ignored him. His magic card began to glow. 'Now my Attrition card activates. It takes the attack points of my Rocket Warrior and it subtracts them from your Red Eyes, making it even weaker.'

The Red Eyes Black Dragon's attack points dropped to 400. It dropped down, like a poor wounded beast. Yugi watched Joey's face very carefully. He waited to see the devastation of Joey try to get through. He wasn't disappointed.

'How sad.' Suddenly Joey froze up, a horrified look on his face. Sweat rolled down his face. Marik's control was weakening again.

'You're my best friend,' Yugi said. 'And just like you gave me your Red Eyes…' He watched Joey lift a hand to his head. '…I wanna give you something that's meaningful to me.'

Joey's grip on his head tightened. He jammed his eyes shut and his head dropped with a cry of pain. 'What's…happening to me?' He fell to his knees as Yugi came to his side.

Yugi leaned over. 'Joey, it's me.'

Joey opened his eyes and looked up at him.

'Please, take this.' Yugi held out his Puzzle. 'It's my most precious possession. The Millennium Puzzle.' He hung it around Joey's neck.

Sharee wasn't surprised. That was just what she'd thought. Now it'd simply been proven to her. The Kaiba brothers were confused though. They both knew that was what Marik had been after. Why hand it over now. Kaiba even made a "humph" and then looked at her.

'Why give him that?'

Sharee kept her eyes on the ancient artefact hanging around Joey's neck. Her mind flashed back to the first time she'd ever seen these boys. Back then, it would've been just about impossible to tell how close they'd become. That had been months before she'd "formally" introduced herself to them. Sharee answered Kaiba's question.

'Yugi's going to use déjà vu as a weapon.'