Chapter 5
"So what do you know about this Pegasus guy, Yugi?" Addy asked as she, Yugi and Joey sat in front of a newly built campfire. The three had just finished settling down for the night, and were now passing the time with conversation. "Well, I know he created Duel Monsters. Supposedly he has every card ever made at his disposal. In order to win the prize at the end of the tournament, you have to defeat Pegasus in a duel." Yugi explained. Both Addy and Joey were looking at him intently now, wanting to learn what they could from him. "So," Addy began, "what are you guys playing for? I mean…what are you going to use the prize money for if you win?"
Addy watched Joey now, whose glance had just caught Yugi's as they remembered past events. "Well, Addy. I'm playing to save my grampa." Yugi said, sounding distressed. "To save your grampa? What do you mean?" Addy asked him, as curiosity grew inside her. "You see this?" Yugi asked her, holding up his millennium item. "Yes…" Addy answered, unsure of where the discussion was going to progress. "This is one of seven rare millennium items. There's a puzzle, an eye, a key, a ring, a scale, a necklace, and a rod…" Yugi paused momentarily, the other members of his party still watching him intently. "Each one has a mysterious power. And depending on who possesses the items, the power can be either good, or bad. Other than my puzzle, I've only ever seen two other millennium items; the millennium ring, which belongs to a friend of mine by the name of Bakoura, and the millennium eye, which belongs to Pegasus." Yugi explained.
"Yeah, I think I saw it on the tape he sent me along with my star chips. But what does it have to do with your grampa?" Addy asked. She was still very confused. Joey sat quietly as the two spoke. "You see, Addy, the power that the millennium eye holds…" Yugi trailed once again. "Is that it can steal souls and send them to the shadow realm. If I defeat Pegasus, I can get my grampa back." Yugi concluded. "Wow...that's so sad, Yugi. I hope you save him….And Joey? What about you?" Addy asked, now looking from Yugi to Joey.
"I'm playing for my sister." Joey replied. "She has bad eyes and will eventually go blind. I need the money to buy her operation so that she'll be able to see in the future. I promised that I would help her." He sat staring at the fire as he talked, and abruptly ended his tale about why he needed the money.
"Jeez, I'm sorry you guys," Addy began. "I feel so selfish." She looked at Yugi and Joey with a look of shame now. "I'm not playing to save a family member like you two are…." She said, and trailed, now looking at the fire and occasionally tossing twigs into it to pass time. "What are you playing for?" Yugi finally asked. "Everyone has there reasons." He continued, sounding calm and nurturing as he tried to comfort her.
"I'm playing in my brother's memory." Addy said, now looking into Yugi's eyes. "You see, my brother was champion duelist whose name is known throughout the world of Duel Monster players. After he won his last tournament, he gave me my deck." She continued, as she retrieved her cards and allowed Yugi to look through her deck. "I started playing soon after with the teachings of my brother. To my surprise, I quickly started to win several tournaments of my own." She continued, and looked back at the fire. "Just before the regional tournament that earned me a place here at Duelist Kingdom, I received the news that my brother had died in a plane crash when he was returning home after guest hosting a Duel Monsters tournament hosted by none other than Pegasus."
She switched her gazed back to Yugi, who now had a sympathetic look on his face. Addy continued. "At first, I didn't want to continue playing Duel Monsters. I stopped playing for months. But then my mom started talking to me about how important the game was to my brother, and how he would want me, like him, to become a champion duelist." Yugi returned her deck, and quickly offered his condolences. "You're not so different from us, Addy. You're not playing for the sake of yourself, like many other duelists here. I'm sure you'll be a successful duelist one day, and succeed at making your brother proud. Right Joey?" Yugi asked, as he nudged Joey and startled him out of a trance. "Oh, yeah, right. Big success, no problem, Addy." He said, sounding surprisingly sincere. "Thanks guys, you're good friends, and I don't even know you that well." Addy laughed briefly. She hadn't had friends like these since she could remember. I was a nice change.