Chapter 27

We all gathered around Mai's bad, gazing at her sadly as she lay there motionless. "Joey, she's not waking up!" Serenity said in distress.

"Mai?" said Joey.

"She can't hear you," said Tea. "Marik trapped her mind in the Shadow Realm."

"Poor Mai!" Serenity said sadly.

Joey balled his hands into fists. "This tournament's gotten way out of hand!"

"You know why?" said Duke. "'Cause there's a mind-warping psycho on board!" Everyone groaned. "Just being honest."

"I'll never forgive Marik."

"Anger won't solve anything," I said softly.

Joey turned on me, his eyes flashing. "What did you say?"

I sucked in a sharp breath. This is the point where I normally would have backed down, but I was tired of being weak and helpless. If I could not even stand up for what I believed in against my friend, what good was I? "Getting angry at Marik won't bring Mai back. And it's not really Marik who did it."

"So, he has another personality. Who cares? It's still him, isn't it?"

I bit my lip. "Well, yes..."

"Then he's still responsible, and he's going to pay!"

"Revenge isn't the answer!"

"What would you know about it?"

"He killed my parents!"

Joey stared at me, stunned, while silence permeated the room. "I - what?"

I took a deep breath. "My parents died during my trip to Egypt. It was Marik's fault. His dark side took over and killed them. He didn't even know about it until recently. But I understand what you're feeling, Joey. It's still him." I fought back tears. His gaze on me softened. "I'm not prone to anger, but I could have run and hid from everything. That's what I wanted to do. It's what I did do at first. But I knew Marik was in trouble, and I couldn't just do nothing. I chose to look past what he did. I chose love.

"Don't you see? It was anger and hatred that created Marik's dark side. He used to be just like any of us, and any of us could become like he is now if we let the worst of us take over. We have to be better than that. We need to defeat Marik, yes, but we can do so without hatred in our hearts. And we can try to save him if at all possible."

Joey sighed. "I understand what you're saying, Samia, but I just don't know if I can do that. You're a better person than me."

"Then imagine someone you'd care about was in Marik's place. How would you treat them? What if it was Serenity who went off the handle?"

Joey bristled. "She would never do that!"

I gave him a sad look. "That's what I would have said about Marik too. He was just as sweet as her when I met him."

"Yeah, well-"

"Joey!" Serenity said, grabbing his arm. "I think you should listen to her. I understand what she's saying. If you were in that position, I would do anything to save you. Wouldn't you do the same for me?"

Joey relaxed, lowering his head. "Of course I would, Serenity." He sighed and looked at me. "Fine. I still say Marik needs to be defeated, but I'll try to keep a lid on my anger."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks, Joey. I appreciate that."

"We all will," Yugi said. "You're right that anger will solve nothing. We need to stop Marik for the good of the world."

We paused as an announcement about the next duel was played over the loudspeaker. Everyone looked at each other and then at Mai with uncertainty. "Hey, you guys," said Serenity, "why don't you all go to the next duel, and I'll stay here and keep an eye on Mai. I'll be okay, and besides, we don't all need to be here."

"Hold on," said Joey.

"Look, I'm fine. And besides, the next duel of the finals is about to start. So, go watch! If Mai were all right, she'd say the same thing. Now, you go out there and be strong for Mai, and I'll sit by her side till you get back."

"You sure?"

"I've never been more sure than I am right now. Everyone here has taught me so much about being brave and facing my fears- including Mai. The way she stood up to Marik in that duel was so incredible! You guys are all so strong, and the way you support each other and support me is amazing. Thank you! But now it's my turn to help out. And I can start by being here for Mai. It's the least I can do, and it's really important to me, guys. What do you say?"

"Well, all right," said Yugi.

"Nicely said!" Duke said.

"All right, you convinced me, sis!"

"Just be careful," said Tristan. Everyone turned to leave.

Thank you for what you said back there, Samia, said Marik's voice inside my head.

I stopped in the middle of the hallway and jumped. W-What?

Yugi stopped and looked back at me. "Is something wrong, Samia?"

I gave him a weak smile. "No, I'm fine."

Yugi appeared uncertain. "If you say so."

I resumed walking once he looked ahead. Marik, what are you doing in my head?

You let me in when you connected to the Millennium Rod, remember?

Actually, I had forgotten until that moment with everything else going on. Even then, I had not been entirely sure what we had done. Sorry, I was trying not to get killed by your worse half.

I could almost feel him wince. Sorry.

Why couldn't I feel you until now?

I was not in your mind until now. I needed time to recover after my battle with the other me. This is the soonest I could make it to you. I hid in the back of your mind until I felt it appropriate to talk.

So, you're safe in there?

For the time being.

Good. I paused. If you liked my speech, does that mean you've let go of your own hatred and anger?

He remained silent for a moment. It's difficult to say. It's complicated without the influence of my dark side. I have a lot to sort through.

If you need any help, I'm here for you.

Thank you, Samia. I heard the tenderness in his voice, and I smiled.

Let's watch Ishizu's duel and talk to her afterwards. Maybe she knows something that can help us.

Sounds like as good of a plan as any.

I followed my friends to the top of the blimp, where Kaiba stood alone on the dueling platform. Dark Marik arrived soon after and shot us a wicked grin. I felt Normal Marik's anger, but he said nothing to me. We waited a long time until, finally, Ishizu arrived, a veil hiding her face.

"You've got some nerve showing up late to duel me!" Kaiba barked. "Were you scared? Did the thought of facing a duelist as superior as myself make you second guess your own abilities? Who are you?" Ishizu pulled down her veil, and he gasped.

"Let's begin," Roland said. "Tell me... What's your name?"

"You may call me Ishizu," said the woman. "Ishizu Ishtar." She looked down at Yugi while he appeared surprised. "Hello, my pharaoh."

"Who are you?" Yami asked.

"I am Ishizu, and I have uncovered many mysteries about you and the ancient carvings using the magic of my Millennium Necklace."

"This is quite a surprise," Kaiba said.

"Yes, we meet again, Seto Kaiba."

"So, you've come to win back Obelisk."

"What I've come for is of greater importance. I've come here to save my brother."

"Brother?"

"Yes. For the past five thousand years, an Ishtar has stood guard over the pharaoh's tomb. Only Marik, he turned against us, and the evil within him is even stronger now." She looked at Dark Marik with compassion. "He is my brother."

"Oh, boy," said Joey. "One Ishtar was bad enough. Who needs two?"

"She can't be any worse than Marik," Tristan said.

"Well, for once you're right," said Duke.

"She is good," I said. "She is on our side. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt. Marik is the only one who defected."

"If you say so," said Joey.

I noticed Ishizu watching me, so I figured this was the perfect time to speak to her - at least briefly. "Ishizu! Don't worry, your real brother is with me! I'll keep Marik safe!"

"Eh?!" my friends exclaimed. I flushed. Right, I had not informed them about that yet.

"Samia," said Yami, "what do you mean Marik is with you?"

"She means he hid himself in her mind with the Millennium Rod right before I took over," Dark Marik said, smirking at me. "But that is of no concern to me. I will destroy you both."

Yami moved in front of me and glared at him. "I don't think so."

"Yeah, come and try it, freak!" said Joey.

"Samia, I am glad Marik is safe," said Ishizu, "but I am afraid you have made yourself an even greater target."

"I don't care," I said. "I want to protect him."

Ishizu dipped her head. "Thank you."

"Enough talk," said Kaiba. "Let's get on with the duel so I can win."

Ishizu looked at him. "If you remember, Kaiba, my Millennium Necklace has the power to show me events that are yet to come. And right now it tells me you will lose this duel to me!"

"Enough with the Millennium Items! I don't believe in that nonsense, is that clear? And as for this duel, just because you were foolish enough to hand me Obelisk the Tormentor doesn't mean that I won't use it to destroy you now! And I don't appreciate you using my tournament to solve your personal family issues. I planned this with one goal in mind, to reclaim my place as the number one duelist in the world!"

"Have you forgotten that it was my idea for you to organize the battle city tournament? To lure duelists... like Marik."

"Say what!?" said Joey, appearing upset at the news.

"And my plan worked, for my brother is here. But the hardest task is yet to come. The evil within him must be stopped. And this mission can only be accomplished with the help of the great pharaoh, which is precisely why Yugi needed to enter this tournament as well. For this ancient pharaoh dwells within Yugi's Millennium Puzzle."

"How lame. You went through all of that trouble just because of some Egyptian fairy tale? I'm surrounded by superstitious nitwits."

"Do not deny your heritage. As I've shown you before, you, too, can trace your origins back to ancient Egypt."

"All right! That is enough! I know who I am! I'm a far better duelist than you, and I plan to win this tournament- regardless of what you and your demented brother may believe. You made two mistakes: the first was handing Obelisk to me; the second was expecting it back! That card is mine! And soon I'll possess the other two Egyptian god cards. Then I'll have the world's most powerful deck! And you can do a favor for me, take your hocus pocus nonsense to someone else's tournament 'cause to me it's a colossal waste of time! Let's go, Roland. Begin this duel at once!"

"Yes, sir!" said Roland. "Begin now!"

Kaiba started. On Ishizu's turn, she played a card without looking at it. She proceeded to play like this, even stating some of Kaiba's cards before he revealed them. I wondered if there was any way he could win. Could the future ever be changed? If not, did she see Marik's destruction in the future? After all, she seemed so sad when talking about him...

Of course there's a way to change the future, Marik said.

You still believe that even now?

Yes. I will admit some of my actions were wrong, but I still do not believe it is right to blindly submit to fate. Otherwise, what is the point of it all? Are we simply puppets?

I agree. There must be more. But what did this mean for the duel? Who did I want to win? Ishizu thought she could save her brother if she won, and yet that meant following a path against fate she did not really believe in.

Ishizu seemed to hold her own against Kaiba until her opponent played his Crush Card, destroying all her high level monsters. Still, she appeared calm and said her Millennium Necklace told her she did not need strong monsters to defeat him. Then she passed a few times. I wondered at her plan.

And then he did it. Kaiba pulled Obelisk the Tormentor. Yet, Ishizu appeared calm and said, "Your future is decided. Use obelisk and you'll be destroyed."

"Wrong! You can't win! Nothing can save you from Obelisk's wrath, so, don't resist it, for the end is here!" Kaiba laughed. "Tell me, Ishizu, do you still think destiny is on your side, or have you finally faced up to the undeniable truth that this duel is mine?"

"You know, I gotta hand it to her," said Joey, "she's about to get stomped, but that Ishizu's keeping her cool."

"Yeah," said Tristan. "I'm starting to think that maybe she does know something we don't."

"No way," said Duke. "That's just an act."

"Act or no act, she's in big trouble," said Yugi.

"Yeah, thanks to Kaiba, most of her monsters are in the graveyard now," said Joey.

"She's got to have something planned," I said.

You are right about that, said Marik. This is how she used to play against me. Just watch...

"Your most powerful monsters are in the graveyard, and soon the rest of your cards will join them!" Kaiba said.

"I'm well aware of your plan, Kaiba," said Ishizu.

Kaiba drew a card. "Ha! This is it! My facedown card will finish you off! Virus Cannon, wipe out magic cards in her deck!" I gasped while Kaiba laughed. "I'm about to destroy your deck- or what's left of it. And now, almost every magic card in your deck has been sent to the graveyard! As if your deck wasn't pathetic enough. First, my Crush Card destroyed all your high-powered monsters, then my Cannon did the same thing to your magic cards. Your deck is no longer a threat! So, do you still think I'm gonna lose?"

Through it all, Ishizu remained perfectly calm. "I do. You've played into my hands, Kaiba. Now you've sealed your own fate."

"Nonsense! I've heard enough of your false predictions!"

"My predictions are quite real. And now you've fallen into my trap!"

"But how? Your cards... They're gone!"

"I still have my trap cards. Reveal Exchange of the Spirit. This trap card will be the beginning of your downward spiral toward defeat, Kaiba! At a cost of 1000 life points, my trap replaces the cards in each of our decks with those in our graveyards."

Kaiba appeared horrified. "But that leaves me with a deck of only six cards!"

I told you she had a plan, Marik said rather smugly.

She sure is something. Once Kaiba drew all six cards, he would automatically lose the duel.

It was Ishizu's turn, and she played a card face down. Then Kaiba played the magic card she predicted, but her trap automatically sent it to the graveyard. Next, Ishizu summoned one more monster. She destroyed Kaiba's monster with this one and then attacked his life points directly with her other monster. Finally, she set a card face down.

Kaiba drew a card, but Ishizu activated another trap that sent it to the graveyard. So, he set a card face down and ended his turn. Ishizu placed a card face down and summoned a third monster. A strong feeling of triumph wafted from Kaiba.

"Kelbek! Agito! Zorga!" he shouted. "These monsters are now in my control and will soon be sacrificed! Open face down card, Soul Exchange. Show yourself, Obelisk the Tormentor!" He laughed.

"Whoa!" Joey exclaimed. "Kaiba sacrificed Ishizu's monsters so he could summon his own!"

"Still think I'm going to lose? Let's see which is stronger, your necklace or my Egyptian god card!"

"We shall find out," Ishizu said calmly.

"Counting on a piece of jewelry In order to win this duel is pathetic! To win a duel takes skill and an extremely powerful deck. You'll see that soon when I attack you with Obelisk the Tormentor and wipe out your life points."

"Try as you may, there's no escape from the defeat that awaits you in your next move."

"Fat chance! You have no monsters left to protect you! So, spare me the gloom and doom speech and just surrender to me now!"

"Yugi, can Ishizu be right about Kaiba losing even though he has an Egyptian god card on the field?" Tea asked. Yugi frowned but said nothing. "Ahh, Yugi?"

"Of course she can," I said. "She has a plan. I can feel it."

"Maybe her feelings are wack," said Duke.

I shook my head. "I doubt it."

"The end is here," said Kaiba. "No one can survive the fury of Obelisk! Attack her life points directly, my beast!"

This is it, said Marik, for some reason, feeling sad. Then I understood. He did not want destiny to win... and neither did I. "Kaiba!" I shouted suddenly. "Don't do it! You'll lose! You'll be playing right into her hand!"

Kaiba shot me a look. "What would you know? You're not even a duelist!"

"I don't have to be to know she must have something to back up her words. She's already surprised you this duel, hasn't she? Don't fall into her trap."

"What are you doing?" Yugi said. "I thought you wanted Ishizu to win."

"I don't want fate to win."

Then I felt a strange power from the Millennium Rod. A beam of light shot out from it and struck Kaiba, who stood in shock, halting his attack. I felt his emotions go haywire. Then resolve took over. I could not think well from the pressure of the magical power. Once it subsided, Kaiba was back in action.

"Observe as I activate my magic card, Silent Doom," he declared, "which lets me summon a card from my graveyard: Gadget Soldier in defense mode! Before I can summon my Blue Eyes White Dragon, I must sacrifice two monsters. First, this! It's my Egyptian god card!" A chorus of confusion broke out among my friends. "Hear me now: I won't be controlled! I decide my future!"

"That's right!" I shouted, earning puzzled looks from the others. "Way to go!"

"So, now I sacrifice my monsters. Obelisk and Gadget Soldier, I send you to the card graveyard! You're so quiet, Ishizu! Where's your magic now? Or have you realized that there's no such thing as destiny? Now, observe as I summon my Blue Eyes! Show yourself!" The mighty dragon appeared and let out a roar. I felt amusement from Kaiba. "Ishizu... If you could foresee all my moves, how did Blue Eyes surprise you? Unless, of course, you're nothing but a fake- as I suspected!"

"No, her power is real, but you changed the future."

Kaiba ignored me. "Time to finish you off now!" Blue Eyes roared again. "Blue Eyes White Dragon, attack! Wipe out her life points with White Lightning Attack! Farewell! Victory is mine!"

"The winner of this duel is Seto Kaiba!" Roland said after Ishizu's life points were reduced to zero.

I let out a breath of relief. "Fate loses."

It can be changed, Marik agreed.

Kaiba and Ishizu stepped down from the platform to join the rest of us. "Very impressive, Kaiba," said Ishizu. "You managed to overcome the fate that my Millennium Necklace showed me. Your past is the key to your power."

Kaiba scoffed. "I won this duel for the same reasons I'll win the tournament- my superior skill and intelligence."

"Perhaps. But you've taught me a valuable lesson about the nature of destiny, and for that I am grateful, Kaiba. You have given me hope for changing the future of my brother. I may have lost the duel, but in the process I have gained something of far greater importance: the realization that if I am to win this battle for my brother's spirit, I will need your help, Kaiba. Thank you. For I know you will help me save my brother."

"Hmm! Believe whatever you need to, Ishizu, but I'm only in this for myself."

"You're right," I said to Ishizu, smiling. "The future is what we make it."

Ishizu dipped her head. "Indeed."

"Are you coming, Samia?" Yugi said, halfway turned to our friends, who were making their way to the elevator.

"I'm going to talk to Ishizu for a minute," I said. "I'll catch up with you."

"Alright. We'll be in Mai's room."

I turned back to Ishizu and smiled slightly. "That was a good duel. I'm sorry you didn't win, but..."

"No, you were right," said Ishizu. "I needed to lose. It seems even I have lessons to learn."

"Kaiba may need to accept his past, but what he says about the future is correct. It should be what we decide it to be, not something, not something that's predetermined. Anyone would resist confinement like that."

"Did Marik tell you that?"

"Yes, but I believe it too. Everyone wants their choices to matter. No one wants to be a tool for fate." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Listen, Ishizu, Marik may have gone about it all wrong, but that doesn't mean he didn't have legitimate complaints. It was cruel what he had to go through. It seems to me he was just responding in kind. There's a better way, isn't there? I understand your family has an important job, but why couldn't some sort of choice be worked in?"

Ishizu considered this for a moment. "Our father was very strict and needed things a certain way. Perhaps he and Marik could have reached a compromise if he was more flexible." She paused. "I did not help matters either. Though I sympathized with him, I simply reminded Marik of his duty instead of helping him find a solution. For that I am sorry."

No, I'm sorry sister, said Marik. I betrayed you when you were as bound as me. I should have gone to you first.

I relayed the message and Ishizu smiled. "Thank you. Mistakes were made on all sides. Now what is important is that we correct the future. Samia, how are your friends dealing with your involvement in all this?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "They're surprisingly understanding - to me, at least. They're not mad at me at all, but it is hard to convince them that Marik is good. I do not know if I can rely on their help."

"I see. Why don't we pay them a visit? Maybe I can shed some light on the situation."

"Alright."

We headed inside and made our way to Mai's room. My friends were crowded around Mai's bed, despair thick in the room. I stopped beside Yugi and let out a sigh. Their mood was affecting my mood.

"Do not look so down," Ishizu said gently. "There is hope ahead. For where there is evil, there is also good. Marik was good once. He began life as an innocent child like everyone does, but that innocence disappeared, leaving my brother with a dark hole where his heart once was. I remember when this evil was born. It happened on the night Marik received the tomb keepers initiation and inherited the task of protecting the pharaoh's tomb, a task he always resented. Now, this dark presence has completely taken over my brother's body."

"Ishizu, what happens if there's no way to save your brother?" Yugi asked.

"It's not!" I said. "The good Marik is still with me."

Yugi looked at me with compassion. "But what if it's too late to return him to his body?" He turned to Ishizu. "You said it was my destiny to save the world from destruction. I thought that meant defeating your brother and putting an end to his plan, not saving him. He's caused enough damage already! Marik must be stopped."

I shook my head. "We can accomplish both."

"Yugi's got a point, Ishizu," said Joey. "What if it's too late to save Marik from the evil that's inside him? I mean, ya gotta admit, the guy's about as nasty as they come!"

"Yeah, it's hard to imagine him ever being nice," said Tea.

"That's because you've only seen the worst of him," I said. "He's never had a reason to be nice to you, but he has always treated me with kindness. If there's a way to save him, we've got to try." I looked away as I felt myself swell with emotion.

Ishizu placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You must trust me. I know there is hope. There's still much you don't understand. It wasn't that long ago that my brother, Marik, began to lose his way and turn toward the darkness. For generations, my family has lived in secrecy, deep beneath the desert sands, watching over the tomb of the pharaoh. For 5,000 years, an Ishtar has stood guard waiting for pharaoh to return. As the first-born Ishtar son, Marik was required to bare the pharaoh's secret on his back and forbidden to ever leave the tomb."

Ishizu proceeded to explain how she had taken Marik outside to the village one day against her family's orders. Marik was fascinated with everything and did not want to leave. They met a strange man who told them to accept their sacred duty or tragedy would occur. Confused, they tried to chase the man but lost sight of him.

When they returned home, Ishizu realized they had tripped the alarm. Their father was already punishing Odion for letting this happen. Then he ordered Odion to leave and never return. Horrified, Marik's dark side took over. Dark Marik stole the Millennium Rod and killed his father. Odion managed to suppress him, halting further damage. Not remembering what had happened, Marik saw the strange man near his father's dead body and assumed this servant of the pharaoh killed him.

"Lady, I'm supposed to feel bad for that spoiled brat because he grew into some evil nutcase?" Joey said. "Look, your brother trapped Mai's mind in the Shadow Realm. Now she's living out her worst nightmares, and I'm gonna make sure he pays!"

"Joey!" I exclaimed. Hadn't we just talked about this? "Revenge is not the answer."

Joey smiled sheepishly. "I, uh, what I meant was-"

I sighed. "We're not asking for sympathy but empathy. Can you at least try to imagine yourself in his place? How would you like to be confined in a dark place with no hope and then have your only ally taken away from you? Maybe you would not have gone as far as him, but he wouldn't have either if he retained control. It was another presence that took advantage of his anguish.

"And the fact that he was distressed enough over seeing Odion harmed that his dark side emerged that proves he's good. He cares about Odion. He didn't want to have his friend taken from him. That sounds pretty normal to me. It is good that you hate evil, but if you had the darkest part of you separated from you too, you would also do some pretty horrible things. It's unfair to condemn him based on that. Can you understand how he got to where he is?"

Joey looked away. "Yeah, well, how do we know the process can be reversed?"

"Anything that can be twisted can become un-twisted."

"She is right," Ishizu said. "It is possible to destroy the evil within my brother without destroying the good. I realize now that destinies can be changed."

"But how?" said Yugi.

"As the pharaoh's vessel, you have the power to do it."

"Please, Yugi," I said. "If there's a way you can save Marik, you have to try. That's all I'm asking."

Yugi thought it over for a minute. Then he gave me a nod, determination in his eyes. "Alright, Samia. I will look for a way to save Marik and choose it if given the opportunity."

I smiled at him in relief. "Thank you."