Chapter 6: From Dreams to Nightmares Part I

To duel in the Shadow Realm is to seal one's fate, for it is in darkness where one's true light shines. A light that is bright will burn on while one that is dim will die quickly. To be put to the test of an ability to glimmer even during the darkest hour is an arduous one. For if someone shines, then someone must fade.

The darkness of the Shadow Realm grew. The black clouds swirling with wicked magic engulfed Yami, Yugi, and Akana, sealing them away from the park and the group.

The former ruler of Egypt studied his new surroundings. He had entered this world before, and it always brought out darkness and chaos. He shot his eyes towards the teen. He spotted the white duel disk that contrasted the dark realm, the deck of cards that had been created through a wicked heart, and the orbs of his friend that now retained distance.

"Yugi!" Yami shouted, his heart banging against his chest. "We mustn't do this! There's no need for the two of us to duel each other!"

He meant his words. He had only battled against his partner thanks to the sinful powers of the Oricacols, and he has always regretted it. But he could not stand the idea of fighting his partner while the boy worked for someone else, even if it was against his will.

Despite the grave plea from a friend, the teen remained at his stance, waiting for commands from his master. His mind remained underneath the other magic, so his body was in control of the spell caster.

Yami became terrified seeing his partner facing him with a Duel Disk strapped on, waiting to challenge him in a deadly duel. He knew Yugi could not survive in the darkness for very long. The Shadows will claim one soul whether they both make it through the fight or not. All around them was nothing but gloomy colors and a grave evil lurking.

"Well, Pharaoh, what do you plan on doing?" Akana taunted, feeling confident as all strings were pulled by him. "I have been around long enough to know that the once terrible battle that took place on our lands now has been transformed into a mere game. Lucky for us, though, I know how to play this modern version."

Yami looked from Yugi unto his enemy. He knew fragments of the history the man underwent all those years ago, but he was also aware of Yugi's tragic tale as well. He cast his gaze to the ground.

"What can I do?" he mumbled to himself remorsefully. "If Yugi wins this, then I will be sent into the Shadows. But, if I win, then Yugi will suffer eternally. Someone as kind as him does not deserve such a fate."

"It doesn't matter what you chose!" Akana shouted in a haughtily tone. "You'll surely pay a heavy price! Now let's begin the end!"

The unconscious teen placed the deck Akana had given him into the card slot. The Duel Disk glowed, signaling its activation.

Yami hesitantly enacted the same routine, trying to focus his mind so that the Shadows would not claim him. He glanced at his covered deck and asked for their loyal monsters to help him out.

Both players drew five cards.

Xxx

Everyone on the outside witnessed what happened. All were dumbstruck. Their enemy had mentioned a duel, the infamous dark sphere had made its ugly appearance once more, and Yugi had a Duel Disk strapped on him. They were aware they could not enter.

"So, is Yugi ok?" Tristan asked, referring to their small friend standing on his own.

"Not for long!" Joey yelled angrily, recalling his unpleasant experience in the Shadow Realm beforehand and understanding its terrible consequences. "As long as he's in there, anything can happen!"

Solomon stood there gazing into the darkness he had seen once long ago. His only living relative was in there, and it was possible that was the last time he would see the teen alive.

"No!" he shouted. "I won't accept that!"

Shocked from the unexpected outburst, everyone turned and looked at the man. His aged eyes burnt strongly with hope and were determine to see his grandson again.

"He's right!" Tea nodded, gaining her strength back into her stout heart. "We all need to be strong and believe that both of them will come out!"

Joey and Tristan agreed; their eyes heeded the courage they had displayed in prior situations dealing with the dark magic.

"We all need to be there for Yugi and the pharaoh!" the blonde exclaimed.

They all formed a circle and placed their right hands on topped of one another. Together they held faith in both Yugi and Yami that they will find a way to undo the mess and defeat their enemy.

Xxx

Yugi: 4000

Yami: 4000

Yami, unknowing of what to do, did not have the heart to place down any cards. He could not play against his friend, especially in a Shadow Game since agony would be placed down on someone who had already been in enough pain.

"Well, Pharaoh," Akana called out loftily, enjoying every moment of his enemy's anguish. "Since you won't make the first move, I guess I'll have my little puppet do it."

Yami glared at his foe with pure hatred for forcing Yugi to fight him and labeling him a plaything.

The mesmerized adolescent gazed at his cards with an empty expression while seeing what strategy could be pieced together from the first few cards. He took one card and placed it in the Magic/Trap slot and set another into defense mode faced down.

Yami looked at what was placed onto the field and carefully examine his next move.

"I may not know what cards Akana has, but I must act careful to not harm Yugi."

His heart already ached knowing he was in a match against his light. He did not know how he could free Yugi while his own mind was split with protecting himself. Unaware of the consequence if he were to send himself to the Shadow Realm, he pondered if that was Akana's plan all along. If that theory came true, he still did not understand why Yugi had to be caught in the middle. For now he had to play.

"I place one card faced down, and then I'll set the Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress in defense mode." he announced.

One card materialized with only the back side up, and a blue dragon with large eyes appeared (1400/1200). Since he could not attack, not that he would right away, it was Yugi's turn.

Yugi drew one card and looked at his hand. He placed Dragon Zombie in attack mode (1600/0). A purple dragon appeared on the field. He instructed his undead monster to attack, but his command come out as just a whisper. The devious, undead dragon flew over and struck down with its yellow claws the other creature.

Yami braced himself for the assault. His own dragon had been destroyed. With the mystical creature placed in defense mode, his life points remained intact.

Yugi placed one card faced down and ended his turn.

Yami drew a card. He looked up from his hand onto his partner and then to Akana. He knew the wicked man was enjoying every moment that was passing by. He wondered if his enemy enjoyed seeing him squirm on the battlefield as he might have in that epic battle.

"I place Giant Soldier of Stone in defense mode!" Yami announced as a huge creature made of grey and brown rocks popped up (1300/2000).

"What's wrong, Pharaoh? Afraid of fighting back?" Akana mocked freely.

Yami just glared at the man.

Yugi drew one card. He activated his facedown card, Fissure. The card immediately rid Yami of his monster. He then ordered his dragon to attack.

The former ruler braced himself as a claw struck against him. He tried his best to withhold his cries, lest they ring joy into his enemy's ears. Though the pain was great, he bore no ill will against his friend. The pain of the assault was devastating, but not as much as the agony he felt from having his mesmerized partner attacking him unconsciously.

Yugi: 4000

Yami: 2400

"Yugi," Yami panted, regaining some strength back. "I will think of something."

Xxx

Yugi found himself walking causally down a smooth dirt path. He held no memory of his strange spasm or irregular illusion. He came to a tree with his darker half sitting under it. A smile grew on his face as he picked up his walking pace. Drawing closer, he saw Yami sitting in the shade flipping through his deck. He took his spot right next to him, admiring his partner and his skills as a duelist.

"Hey, what are you doing, Yami?" he finally asked.

Yami looked up from his deck briefly, smiled, and continued flipping his deck.

"Yami!" Yugi yelled.

The spirit found enjoyment in pretending to ignore his light.

"Fine, I'll just go then," a fed up adolescent pouted. He stood up from his spot, but before he could take a step, someone grabbed his arm. He looked seeing Yami was the one.

"Yugi, why don't you and I have a duel?" Yami asked as he stood up. "Just for fun."

Yugi looked into his dark's eyes and smiled.

"Sure." he gleefully accepted.

The two stood opposite of one another. They both had on a Duel Disk and had cards ready to play. Yugi did not question the origin of his Duel Disk or set of cards. The life points were set, and the initial draw already commenced.

Yugi: 4000

Yami: 4000

After a brief stare down Yugi announced bravely, "I'll make the first move!"

He took one card and placed in the Magic/Trap slot and placed another into defense mode face down. "I'll keep my move simple for this round so I can see what Yami has planned."

Yami smiled, "I place one card faced down, and I play the Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress in defense mode."

Yugi noted the sky blue dragon with 1400/1200. He drew one card and looked at his hand. He failed to notice the type of monsters he held. While he was accustomed to sharing a deck, he did not notice these monsters did not compliment either of his or his partner's styles. He also never took into account of how he could duel his other half if the two were together through the Puzzle. Nevertheless, he summoned Dragon Zombie in attack mode (1600/0). He spotted he could strike Yami's monster, seeing as his had the greater attack points.

"I'll have my monster attack you!" he whispered. He noticed his voice wasn't too loud. "Wait, did… did my monster hear that command?"

The purple dragon with exposed red muscle wounds spread its torn wings, flew across the field, and clobbered the other monster with its grotesque yellow claws.

Yami braced himself for the assault, but his life points remained the same.

The younger boy ignored the sequence and placed one card faced down and ended his turn.

Yami drew a card. "I place Giant Soldier of Stone (1300/2000) into defense mode!"

Yugi drew one card and decided to play a strategy. He activated his card that was faced down, Fissure. The card immediately terminated Yami's monster. He then had his undead dragon strike once again.

Yami braced himself as his life points dropped.

Yugi: 4000

Yami: 2400

"Hmm… This is odd; it almost seemed too easy." Yugi pondered. "Is… he going easy on me?".

Xxx

Yami drew one card and studied his hand. He had one facedown with no monsters while Yugi had one facedown and Dragon Zombie in attack mode. He needed a plan, but he had trouble concentrating as he feared for his friend's safety. Just then, he felt something wrong. He looked up from his cards, and his face turned from solemn to horror: He saw Yugi growing pale and breathing a bit harder.

Akana, remaining in the sidelines and relishing every passing moment, spotted the pharaoh changing his expressions.

"So, having the monster out on the field is draining his energy now, isn't it," he scorned delighted.

Yami did not want to admit it but knew Akana was right—The longer Yugi manifested his monsters, the more energy he would be spending. Matters will only become worse if the teen summoned more than one monster at a time.

Yami knew he must destroy Yugi's monster without harming him. If he were to attack, the pain will go straight to Yugi. He returned to minding his cards and formed an idea.

"I activate my Change of Heart on Dragon Zombie!"

The named monster moved over to Yami's side.

"What are you up to, Pharaoh!?" Akana questioned, shocked at his enemy's move. "You can't attack your friend unless you want to bring him harm!"

"That's not my plan!" Yami yelled heroically. "I chose to sacrifice Yugi's monster and bring out my own monster, Curse of Dragon!"

The undead creature cried out as it disappeared. An unusual, yellow dragon with grand wings but no limbs took its place (2000/1500).

"That's my move." Yami announced staunchly. "At least now Yugi won't need to use any extra energy to hold out a monster."

Yugi's expression had yet to alter since the beginning of the duel. His face had just carried a blank articulation with empty eyes.

Yami longed for his light to smile and to hold the gentle, soft sparkle they always had. And although he recently found out about his partner's dark past, he did see how strong the boy had been. Yugi's hope in saving his grandpa back at Duelist Kingdom and his friends from dark magic may have been fueled by him never wanting to lose anyone in his life. He continued to fight. Yami knew he could not surrender.

Yugi looked back at his hand and took one card. He placed a monster in defense mode to protect his life points. But as he took the card, Yami noticed his lighter half's hands were shaking.

"Yugi…" Yami felt concern. His concentration was interrupted by the laughter of Akana.

"My, how much longer will this little mortal last against the powers of an ever growing darkness?" he mocked.

Yami knew Akana had also noticed Yugi turning pale and wheezing. Although the small boy had plenty of experienced in the actual Shadow Realm, only once did he have to use his own strength to keep a monster on the field.

Xxx

Yami drew one card and examined his hand. He had one facedown with no monsters while Yugi had one card faced down and Dragon Zombie in attack mode. Yami decided to activate his Change of Heart, and the monster Yugi owned moved to his side.

"I choose to sacrifice your monster and bring out my Curse of Dragon!" Yami declared with pride.

The creature cried out as it disappeared, and it was replaced by an unusual, yellow dragon with grand wings but no limbs (2000/1500).

"That's my move." the spirit announced with a smirk on his face.

Yugi looked back at his hand and took one card. He placed a monster in defense mode to protect his life points. But as he took the card, he noticed how both of his hands were trembling.

"What's wrong… with my… hands?" Yugi asked himself. He then noticed his vision of his surroundings and friend were starting to blur, and it was becoming more and more difficult to breath.

"What… wrong with… me?"

His arms felt like they were holding bags of sand while his legs wanted to cave underneath his growing weight. He felt he would collapse any moment. What started out as a fun activity soon transformed into an arduous chore.

"Why am I… getting… so… tired?"

To be continued…