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The Orichalcos Saga
Fanfic Chapter 203: Train Ride to Terror Pt 1: Divide and Conquer
Episode Basis: On the Wrong Track Pt 1
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! It was a mixture of good news and bad news. The bad news was that someone destroyed the ruins that Professor Hawkins was studying. The good news is that visual evidence, including pictures which might lead to a discovery on how to beat the Great Leviathan, still existed at a museum in Florida. The bad news is when they called Kaiba for a ride, he basically told them to bugger off. The good news is that they decided to go by train. The bad news is the Warriors of Doma already know their plan. The good news is that there's no more bad news.
"I always love taking trains," Amara said as they sat down inside the cabin. "It gives you a chance to sit back and enjoy the world."
"Too bad we're not really on vacation," Tristan said.
"Still, it's going to be exciting," Joey commented as the train started moving.
Yami and Tea sat on the other side of the others. Tea noticed that Yami had been silent all morning. He must've still had a lot on his mind.
"This is going to be cool," Amara said.
"Yeah," Tristan said. "Let's hit the dining car.
(10 minutes later)
"Amara, that's your third hot dog!"
"Give me a break, Tristan, running from soul-stealing psychopaths makes me hungry."
"Leave her alone, T, she needs a little weight on her bones."
"Duck and cover!" Tristan called and did just that as Amara did something improper to Joey.
Tea laughed at the three's antics but Yami didn't even seem to notice. Tea decided she needed to make the Pharaoh say something. She started by faking a sneeze, no response. "Hey, do you want to get something to eat too? No sense in saving the world on an empty stomach." No response. "I hear Florida has some great beaches," she said enthusiastically. "And I've been dying to try on a new swimsuit." No response. Tea was starting to consider breaking into a chorus of Oklahoma when she opted for discretion and turned inward to her own thoughts. The Pharaoh must really miss Yugi. It must be like he's missing a part of himself, the caring, free-spirited side. She thought back to the conversation she and Rebecca had. Deep down, I guess I always took for granted the fact that Yugi would always be there. It never even occurred to me that something like this might happen. I probably should've talked to him more when I had the chance. But I know I'll have that opportunity after we rescue him. "Cheer up," she told him. "We'll rescue Yugi, just you wait. In the mean time, there's no point in sitting around moping."
Yami got up. "I'm sorry," he said curtly and left the car.
"Pharaoh…"
"Leave him be, Tea," Tristan said. "I think he needs to be alone for a while."
"He is alone," Joey said. "That's the whole problem."
"And it's not just about Yugi," Amara said. "I saw him last night and he said that he's not sure about himself any more. Confidence is the most important tool a Duelist needs. This is just my opinion, but if the Pharaoh doesn't have that confidence, that dueling spirit if you will then the next time he goes up against someone using the Seal of Orichalcos, he's going to lose. And the worse part is, there's nothing any of us can do about it. This is something he has to work out alone."
Alone in between the cars, Yami sunk down and punched the wall. The duel, kneeling before the monsters he disgraced, Yugi making the ultimate sacrifice to save him. "Yugi… I'm sorry… partner."
"Pharaoh's been gone an awfully long time," Tea said. "I hope nothing bad has happened to him."
Tristan looked around and stood up, a shocked look on his face. "He's not the only one!" Joey, Tristan, and Tea looked around.
Their train car was empty.
"This isn't good," Joey said. He nudged Amara who was sleeping next to him. "Amara, wake up."
"What's wrong?" She asked groggy.
"The train car's empty."
"The other passengers must've disembarked."
"But we haven't stopped anywhere since we first left the station."
Amara finally opened her eyes and looked around. "Hey, you're right." The others searched the car even going to the upper level.
"Oh man, there's not a soul around."
"Did you have to say soul?" Amara asked.
The four came back down just as Yami came back into the car.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"Pharaoh, thank goodness," Tea said. "All the passengers just disappeared."
"Something weird is going on and I have a feeling I know who's behind this."
"Doma," Amara filled in.
Yami's face got fierce and he ran off with the others following.
Yami ran to the next car. As the others moved to follow, the train cars disengaged. "Jump across!" Yami yelled. Tea leapt onto Yami's car. Amara moved to follow but she lost her footing. Only Joey gripping her waist kept her from falling. But by then the cars were too far apart to jump safely.
"Tea, Pharaoh," Tristan called.
"Get help!" Yami called. The engine picked up speed while the half of the train that Joey, Tristan, and Amara were on slowed to a stop. The three hopped off.
"Great, we're in the middle of nowhere," Amara complained.
"And we don't even know where those two will end up," Tristan added.
"Be safe, you guys," Joey muttered.
"Well, better start walking," Amara said.
A chuckle came from inside the train. The three turned to see Rex Raptor jump off the car.
"Raptor, what are you doing here?" Joey asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Rex asked. "I'm here for a duel. You and I have a score to settle, Wheeler."
"Rex, this isn't the time," Joey said.
"It's the perfect time… for revenge!"
Amara noticed the Duel Disk he was wearing. "Joey, watch out! He's wearing the same type of Duel Disk that Mai and that Guido guy were toting!"
In the still moving cars, Yami and Tea tried desperately to find other passengers but no success. Tea even tried contacting the conductor through the intercom but nothing came from that.
Yami turned and ran outside. "Pharaoh, what are you doing?"
"I have to try to stop the train," he said and climbed on top of the engine. "Maybe there's an emergency hatch I can use."
When Yami reached the top, he found Weevil waiting for him. "Weevil Underwood, what do you want?"
"Simple: a rematch with the King of Games."
"Who put you up to this?"
"Nobody, I just wanted to try out my new secret weapon." He held up his Orichalcos stone. Yami was horrified.
"Rex, please tell me you just found that thing in the trash," Joey said.
"Hardly." Rex had also shown Joey his stone.
"Rex is a Warrior of Doma?" Amara asked.
"This isn't good," Tristan commented.
"Weevil, you're being brainwashed!" Yami cried as Tea climbed up on the roof with him. "Don't you know they're using you?"
"Who cares as long as I have ultimate power!"
Yami shook off the feeling of déjà vu.
"Don't you realize that if you go through with this duel, one of you will lose your soul?" Tea asked Weevil.
"That's precisely why I AM dueling him, to seal the Pharaoh away for good! Soon you'll be along side Little-Yugi."
"Tell me where Yugi is!" Yami demanded.
"Duel me and maybe I'll tell you."
"Fine," Yami said and activated his Duel Disk.
(W: 4000)
(Y: 4000)
Rex also activated his Duel Disk. "I'm going to enjoy this."
"What did you do with our friends?" Amara asked.
"I did nothing. Weevil's taking care of those two clowns while I put you down for good, Mutt."
Joey shrugged off the Mutt comment, "You've picked the wrong side to join."
"I've been given more power than you could ever dream of."
"Power means nothing," Joey said. "I can still duel circles around you."
"You're not going anywhere until you duel me."
"Just duel the clown, Joey," Amara said. "We really don't have time to be fighting like this."
"All right," Joey agreed reluctantly. "I'll trample this geek and then we can go look for the others." But as Joey moved to activate his Duel Disk, he found that he couldn't. "What, my Duel Disk won't turn on!"
"Joey, this is not the time for joking," Tristan scolded.
"I wish I was, man."
Rex drew a card. "I play the Seal of Orichalcos!"
If I don't activate my Duel Disk by the time that seal gets to me, I automatically forfeit and then I won't be able to save Yugi or Harold. The seal formed under Rex and started to expand.
If Joey doesn't do something, he'll be at Rex's mercy, Amara thought. She looked down at her Duel Disk. Desperate times call for desperate measures. She ejected her deck and removed her Duel Disk. "Joey, catch!" She threw her Duel Disk like a Frisbee.
Joey saw it out of the corner of his eye. He removed his own Duel Disk and dropped it on the ground. He caught it with one hand and in one smooth motion, put it on. "Thanks, Amara." Amara's gift came just in time for the seal had engulfed Joey now.
(J: 4000)
(R: 4000)
The seal appeared on Rex's forehead and his eyes took on a red tint. "Now this is what power feels like."
"Great, now whoever loses the duel loses their soul," Tristan said.
"He doesn't need the reminder, Tristan," Amara said picking up Joey's Duel Disk.
"Rex, you were an idiot to activate that card."
"You'll find that I have improved since our last duel," Weevil said.
"Tea, get back in the train," Yami instructed. "It's too dangerous out here, there's no telling what Weevil might do."
"You know, he's right," Weevil agreed. "I could do something… like this!" He drew a card. "I play the Seal of Orichalcos!" The seal expanded to include Yami but Tea was thrown from the engine to the car behind it. Only be grabbing onto the edge did she keep from flying off the train.
"TEA!"
"I'm all right!"
Yami turned back to Weevil, ready to duel him. Weevil was obviously enjoying seeing Yami so peeved off.
In his temple, Dartz knelt before his alter. "The battles are under way," he said.
Raphael appeared bowing behind him. "Soon the soul of the Pharaoh will be yours, Master."
Jonah appeared also bowing, "But we get two souls no matter the outcome."
"I'll begin by playing Pheromone Wasp (1) in attack mode." The Seal of Orichalcos appeared at the center of its face.
(PW: 800-1300)
"Then I'll set two cards face-down and end my turn." He cackled again.
Yami drew his sixth card. "I summon Obnoxious Celtic Guardian (2) in attack mode."
Pharaoh better not attack, Tea thought. Weevil has two face-down cards.
But that's just what Yami did. "Celtic Guardian, attack!"
"Pharaoh, no!"
"I activate my trap card Mimisus which allows me to trade in my insect monster for another one and I pick Parasite Caterpillar (3)." A small green worm appeared.
(PC: 800-1300)
"Its attack points may be the same, but Parasite Caterpillar has the ability to infect your monster!" The worm latched onto Obnoxious Celtic Guardian's chest and slowly began to overwhelm the warrior.
I don't like this, Joey thought. But I don't have any other choice. As much as I hate this runt, I can't let the Orichalcos claim him, nobody deserves that not even a slime like Rex.
"I'll start my turn by summoning two Gilasauruses (4) in attack mode." Two raptor monsters appeared.
"You can't summon two monsters on your first turn."
"Sure I can, I can summon as many Gilasaurus as there are in my hand and I have two. Next I summon Chitoptera (5) in attack mode." The Seal of Orichalcos appeared on all three monsters' heads.
(Gx2: 1400-1900)
(C: 1400-1900)
"You're facing down three powerful monsters and it's not even your first turn."
Joey chuckled, "So you just got a lucky opening hand. It takes more than luck to win a duel."
"You only won our last duel because you got lucky."
"You know he's right," Tristan agreed.
"Whose side are you on?" Joey snapped at Tristan.
"Do I really want to know?" Amara wondered.
"I'll set a face-down card and end my turn."
Joey drew a card. I only have one monster that can stand up to those prehistoric powerhouses. "I summon Panther Warrior in attack mode." Too bad Panther Warrior can't attack unless I sacrifice a monster first. So… He set his Scapegoat magic card face-down. "I'll set this and end my turn."
"I summon Pheromone Wasp again. Now attack him directly!" Because Obnoxious Celtic Guardian was infected by Parasite Caterpillar, it couldn't Protect Yami's life points so the Pheromone Wasp was free to literally nip Yami in the hip.
(W: 4000)
(Y: 2700)
"Now Pheromone Wasp's effect kicks in allowing me to bring out any insect monster in my deck and I choose Leghul (6)."
(L: 300-800)
"Then I activate the magic card Insect Barrier which prevents any and all insect monsters from attacking me."
"But I don't have any insect monsters."
"Oh really? Look at your Celtic Guardian." Yami's Obnoxious Celtic Guardian was still ensnared by Parasite Caterpillar. "In three turns your Guardian will be turned into an insect. Even right now, it's treated as an insect type so it can't attack thanks to my insect barrier!"
Weevil is a much better Duelist than I remember, now that he's been infused with the power of the Orichalcos. But I refuse to let him stand in my way of rescuing Yugi! Yami drew a card.
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Pheromone Wasp
Level: 3
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 800
DEF: 800
(2)
Name: Obnoxious Celtic Guardian
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1200
(3)
Name: Parasite Caterpillar
Level: 2
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 800
DEF: 400
(4)
Name: Gilasaurus
Level: 3
Type: Dinosaur/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1400
DEF: 400
(5)
Name: Chitoptera
Level: 4
Type: Dinosaur
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1300
(6)
Name: Leghul
Level: 1
Type: Insect/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 300
DEF: 250