DUEL 2: Return
6-years later, in that same quiet town, that same quiet boy still quietly played that same game as always.
"With that, your Life Points drop to zero. I win," Patrick announced triumphantly. His opponent walked off in disgust. Even though he sealed Anubis by sacrificing his Relinquished, he still made a powerful deck.
As Patrick walked through the halls, no one spoke to him. He had just finished leveling his 10th strait victim at lunch. But that's not why he was alone. He was just used to it. After a long, boring day at school, Patrick went downtown to his job. He sat down at the computer.
"PLEASE INPUT VOICE RECOGNITION CODE" the machine said in its mechanical, monotone, yet feminine voice.
"Relinquished," Patrick said.
"LOGIN FOR PATRICK KINGSTON IS COMPLETE. WELCOME TO KAIBA CORPORATION." Patrick hurriedly typed his data into the computer before the boss could notice he was late. He had acquired this job as a good duelist. He kept this job because he had nothing better to do. Today that would change.
A pop-up message appeared, kind of like a corporate IM, and Patrick clicked it. Kaiba Corp President Seto Kaiba appeared on the screen. He let loose a slur of Japanese before Patrick quietly responded with, "Hai, Kaiba- sama."
"What did the boss want?" Mitch, Patrick's co-worker asked.
"Mr. Kaiba said he wanted us to step up on the Kaiba Corp.'s Duel Database before his next tournament. Give me an hour and the last of the data will be uploaded." Patrick got to work and the job was done in half the time. He e-mailed it to Kaiba Corp.'s mainframe.
His work done Patrick began to whip out his dueling deck but started to feel nauseous. He sprinted to the Restroom where he violently threw up.
As he looked down into the toilet at his handy work and an old voice spoke to him, "You'll get used to having two people in your body again soon."
"Anubis," Patrick responded with a whisper. He looked up to see the Nubian Dog of Death standing above him. Obviously he was in spirit form, as he was standing on the toilet.
"Yes, it is I."
"How?" Patrick asked, "Why? Why are you here?"
"I believe 'how?' was first. Your card, the cherished Relinquished monster you, for lack of a better term, relinquished was stolen. Thusly my arch barrier broken."
The first thing that entered Patrick's mind was rage. "Who?" he insinuated angrily, "And why come back to me?"
"You and your bloodline were my 'aibou', my partner. You were all I had. The 'who?' I will say shortly."
"No! Now!" Patrick demanded.
"Your temper hasn't changed from when you were ten. But I do need your help to recover your card."
"This is the last time I'll ask," Patrick led in, "Who stole Relinquished?"
"A man named Maxamillion Pegasus, the creator of Duel Monsters and former holder of the Millennium Eye, one of the Millennium Items."
"Why would he need it?"
"When his Eye was gouged out, he lost much of his powers. He hopes to regain it by using these cards to reopen the Shadow Realm."
"Well, what are we waiting for? It's time to reunite with Relinquished!" Patrick said with a look of determination.
Anubis's shadow powers manifested around the bathroom stall. When the darkness clears, Patrick sees he is once again outside of the Pyramid he traveled to a mere six years prior. This is where he would get some answers. Remembering everything from before, he cautiously entered.
He felt reminiscent as he sparked up a torch. Remembering the glow of the ancient tomb from his past somehow made him feel at ease. He soon entered the chamber where Anubis's shrine was erected.
"It's not changed," Patrick muttered, "Even the grains of sand on it seem to be the same as before"
"This is an ancient sanctuary. Few rarely, if ever, enter here," Anubis responded from the back of Patrick's mind.
"You are very observant," an unfamiliar voice echoed. Patrick turned. He saw a young Egyptian boy wearing a veil over his face and an elaborate garment.
"Who might you be?" Patrick insinuated.
"I am one of few who know of this tomb. Judging by the conversation you just had with yourself, you didn't just stumble upon this place, you have some sort of business here," Patrick grimaced realizing he looked like a fool.
"Well, how do you know of this shrine, eh?" Patrick rebutted.
"I am but a humble worshipper, and guardian, of Anubis." Patrick thought to himself that he was the only guardian of Anubis. As if reading his thoughts, the boy said, "You too have a connection with Anubis."
"Yes," Patrick muttered, "I come looking for answers to questions about a man named Maxamillion Pegasus."
"Oh, the thief, yes?" the young man responded
"You know about my card?" Patrick responded hopefully, perking up at the statement.
"I know not what was stolen, but I do know that Anubis's spirit is restless. If you are looking for Pegasus, you and I should Duel."
Patrick's look grew puzzled. Why was everything solved with dueling? But, Patrick knew he still had his deck and lucky cards with him from the office, "Very well. But, if I win you must tell me what you know about Pegasus."
"Agreed," the young man said, "Let's begin." The two shuffle their respective decks and set them down in the designated area. After drawing five cards they are set.
"I'll go first," Patrick said. He set two cards face-down on the field and then summoned Giant Soldier of Stone in defense. "Go," Patrick ordered.
The young man draws and sets three cards face-down on the field. Then summons a Pyramid turtle in defense mode.
"You may go."
Patrick draws and studies his hand. Then he sets a monster face-down in defense and switches Giant Soldier of Stone into attack. The young Egyptian looks as confused as a monkey doing a math problem when Patrick flips over a card.
"I activate Rush Recklessly bringing Giant Soldier of Stone's attack to 2000! Giant Soldier attack! Granite Dagger!" The young man discards his turtle happily, knowing its effect. The young man retrieves his desired card and summons it in defense, another Pyramid Turtle. Patrick slaps his head in frustration.
"Man! I should've seen that coming!" He exclaims.
"Yeah," the young man agrees drawing a card, "But you definitely didn't see this coming." he summoned Emissary of the Afterlife in attack. "Emissary of the Afterlife, Ghostly Assault!!"
"Not so fast," Patrick flips a trap over, "Your attack activates my Sakuretsu Armor! It destroys your attacking monster and thus ends your attack!"
After both players get a weak monster thanks to Emissary of the Afterlife's effect, Patrick draws beginning his turn.
"I flip summon Man-Eater Bug to destroy Pyramid Turtle, and it won't get its effect since it wasn't battle." the young man discards his other turtle. Patrick then sets one more card face-down and another monster face-down in defense.
The young man draws and summons a new monster. "This is my Sand Stalker, he by-passes all face-up monsters on your field, so you lose 700 direct!"
"You forgot something ; I have a monster face-down in defense. You attacked it." Patrick flips over his Aqua Madoor. Its 2000 defense points make the young man lose 1300 Life Points. "And to finish you, I activate Reliable Guardian! You lose your remaining 700 LP because it raises my Aqua Madoor's defense by 700! It's over."
The young man bows honorably, "You won fair and square. I know where Pegasus fled. He went back to his Duelist Kingdom. That is where you will find him."
Patrick nods, "Thank you um…what's your name?"
"Oh," the young man starts, "And take this card. It will help you." The young man reached a face-down card toward Patrick. He looks down, not knowing what the card in his hand is.
He looks up, "What is-"he was astonished to see the young man was gone. He flips the card over and sees a Level eight monster with 3000 ATK and 2500 DEF
He reads the name aloud, "Lava Golem."
