Chapter 6

When we reached Exeter, it was just as I feared. Zombie illusions everywhere.

"Wh-what are those things?" Yugi asked, frightened.

"Zombies. Lucky for us, we can literally wave through them like gas." I said, waving through one.

"Yes you can." A voice resonated through the streets. I actually recognized it.

"Bones? Bones is that you?" I asked, amused.

"Actually, here I'm known as Necromancer. If you want my White Rose Card, come to town square. My Zombie deck hungers for a taste..."

Ok, cryptic. "You heard the boy. Let's find town square."

After about an hour of pointless wandering, we found town square. Bones was waiting for us. I personally had nothing against Bones. I didn't really get to know him in the anime, and what little he did was heavily influenced by Bandit Keith. He actually seemed like kind of a nice guy, if a bit amateurish.

The town square for some reason reminded me of the one from Ocarina of Time. It was relatively small, with a fountain in the center. Mist went up to my shins, and oil street lamps gave the place a beyond the grave look.

"Hey Bones. You wanted a duel?" I said.

"Yep. Rex told me you forced him out of Tewksbury. Just how did you do that?"

"I bet one perfect request. But he would have lost the city holdings anyway."

"Interesting. Do you mind if we play with the same stakes?"

"Sorry, but that was a custom punishment. Besides, you seem like a nice guy. The only reason I imposed that challenge on Rex was because he pissed me off."

"Really? Well then I'm afraid to say I've done the same. Minions, will you bring the prisoner here?" Bones motioned to the darkness. Out shambled two zombies...and Yugi's mom?!

"I caught her snooping around where she didn't belong. I assume you know her?" Okay, [EFF] everything I said about me liking Bones. This son of a bitch was dead!

"Mom!" Yugi shouted, and bolted forward. I grabbed him by the back of the shirt.

"Yugi. Let me handle this. If he wants wrath, he'll get wrath." I stepped forward. "Bastard...let's duel."

We set down our deck masters and drew. Schwarzchild Limit Dragon, Darklon, Maldicion de Dragon, Non Spellcasting Area, and hooooly crap, Number 22: Zombiestein. I was gonna beat this bastard with his own monster type! Wicked Dreadroot may have been my best monster, but Zombiestein was my most powerful. He was also a cheaper summon, with eight stars instead of ten. I put down Darklon and Non Spellcasting Area as a bluff.

Bones did something similar. I drew. Slate Warrior, perfect. I put him face down in defense position and advanced Darklon. Bones threw down another monster and moved his deck leader into a corner. Good. I drew. Gorz, The Emissiary of Darkness. That was good. If Bones destroyed Darklon, I could summon this in its place AND an Emissiary of Darkness Token. Come on you shitty skeleton. TAKE IT.

Bones moved his monster forward and attacked Darklon, destroying it.

"Tut tut voodoo man. When I take damage, I can summon Gorz, The Emissiary Of Darkness from my hand, and because it was battle damage, I can also summon one Emissiary of Darkness Token as well." I moved Gorz up the right side and Token up the left. Bones continued to fiddle with his monsters.

I drew. Rosaria the Stately Fallen Angel. If I could just hold out one more turn I could start decimating him. I flip summoned Slate Warrior, activating its effect. It gained 500 attack and defense. Bones just fiddled with his monsters, moving them out of Gorz's way.

I drew. "Bones, you've done something I will never forgive you for: you hurt my friend. For that, you must pay. I summon Number 22: Zombiestein!"

From the misty depths, a huge monster rose to tower over the entire battlefield. I moved him two spaces forward on his wasteland arena.

"What in Hell is that?!" Bones shrieked.

"This is my wrath incarnate, Bones. Don't try to use Pumking's ability either. As you could guess by his name, Zombiestein is a zombie type. You'd only make him stronger."

Bones did nothing this turn. I think he was paralyzed with fear. I drew. Reptilianne Naga. Sure, I'll put her down. I advanced Zombiestein so he was within a square of Pumking.

In a last ditch effort, Bones put a card in between us since I already had him in a corner. He didn't realize that Gorz was there to ensure that Zombiestein would reach his target. Gorz killed a Skelegon, and I attacked with Zombiestein. -4500 for Bones, end game. Victor: Lucy Miyako.

"Wha-What the hell?!" He stuttered. I shot across the battlefield and snatched him by the collar.

"Release her. NOW." I growled.

"And what if I said no?" He grinned.

"How can a corpse say anything?" I countered. His grin was replaced with a look of absolute fear. "Minons! r-Release her!"

The zombies let go of Mrs. Muto, and she ran over to hug her son.

"Mom!" Yugi said. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Me too honey!"

"Mom... I want you to meet Lucy. I'm travelling with her now."

"It's nice to meet you." I said, reaching a hand out to shake hers. She seemed a bit hesitant, but shook it.

"Forgive my hesitation, you're just so intimidating." I raised an eyebrow. I must have forgotten to turn scary off. I let myself relax a little.

"I hope you will be a good traveling companion for my son." She said.

I nodded. "If today was any indication of-" suddenly, things were fading.

"Lucy? What's wrong?" I heard Yugi ask faintly. I barely felt myself fall to the ground.

...

When I woke up, I was in a bed. To my right, a window, which daylight streamed in through. To my left, a sleeping Yugi. He was knelt with his head on the mattress, kinda like Ash in the second episode of Pokemon. I raised an arm and ran my fingers through his hair. It was really soft, like I had imagined it. I wonder if Yami's was just as soft... It had to be, right? They shared a body in canon. So in effect, I was feeling Yami's hair as well.

"Mmm..." Yugi sighed. I smiled. He was having a dream, how sweet!

I heard a turning of the doorknob. I quickly withdrew my hand and placed it next to my side. Mrs. Muto walked in with some sort of hot liquid in a bowl. Probably soup or something.

"Oh good, you're awake. I brought you some stew." She said. Well I was kind of right. Stew is just chunky soup, right?

"Thank you. What happened to me?"

"You passed out from hunger. You can't live your life on vegetables and sweets, you know."

"It's all I can afford right now. I'm sorry." I said. She frowned. I took a bite of the stew. Beef and potatoes, I loved it!

"Here." She said, handing me a small pouch. Inside were an indeterminate amount of shillings.

"I can't take this, ma'am. It's not right." I said. In all actuality, I wanted to take them so bad. But I figured I should refuse.

"Hon, these aren't from me. They're from the people of Exeter. They were so thankful you got rid of Bones, they wanted me to give you this and they chartered you guys a carriage to St. Albans." She said. I blinked, and took the pouch.

"Thank you." I said, and finished up the stew. Yugi stirred.

"I have to go. Lucy, take care of my baby, okay?" Mrs. Muto said.

"Of course." I said. As soon as she left the room, I broke down crying again. That woke Yugi up.

"Mmng... Lucy? Why are you crying?"

"The people of Exeter got us a carriage to St. Albans..." I said, sniffing.

"What? Really?"

"Yep..." I started sobbing again.

"Lucy, this is a good thing! Why are you crying?"

"Because... No one's ever done this kind of thing for me..." I sobbed.

"Lucy..." He sat on the bed and hugged me tightly. I hugged back.

After I pulled myself together, we packed up and walked outside. Turns out we were in some sort of castle in the center of town. The townspeople had even gathered to see us off.

"Everyone, I thank you for your hospitality. Without you, we never would have gotten this far." I said, bowing. I climbed up and into the carriage, taking a seat across from Yugi. I closed the door, and the carriage moved onward.