Setting the Trap

"Hey, where are you taking me? Let me go now," Téa said as she was struggling to get away.

"You talk too much," a Rare Hunter complained as he and his partner continued to drag Téa.

"Do you creeps really think you're going to get away with this?"

They opened a door to a storage room and shoved her inside. "Welcome home," said the second Rare Hunter, shutting the door and locking it.

Téa gets up and starts pounding on the door. "Get back here! Let me out of this dump right now! I have friends in high places and you'll be sorry! Come Back!" But she was really just shouting empty threats and knew they wouldn't listen to her. Téa sighs and positions herself next to the empty boxes. "I wonder what those jerks did with Joey. And what do they want with us anyway? It's not like I have anything valuable they can take."

Then she remembered what Yugi and Emily told her when they were at the museum about the return of an ancient evil force threatening to destroy the entire world. "These guys must be part of the threat Yugi and Emily were talking about and who's after them. That's why they attacked us. It all makes sense now. Someone's trying to get to Yugi and Emily and they're doing it by putting their friends in danger." she said, thinking about Max and Bakura and how she and Joey got captured.

Joey, however, was not so fortunate with the accommodations he was given. Exhausted from fighting back, he blacked out after being taken down. Now he was in a storage room tied to a chair as he was recovering from the blows he was dealt. He heard the door open and saw a Rare Hunter coming in. It was Marik's right hand servant Odion. Joey weakly lifted his head and asked, "So what's the deal with all of this?"

"You'll find out what we have planned for you," the Rare Hunter answered. "For now, you are to keep quiet and do what you're told."

"Or else what?" Joey remarked. Despite being bound to a chair and having sore muscles, his spirit was strong. He truly was a fighter not just in physical might, but also in words. He knew how to battle in almost every way. "You Rare Hunters think you're so tough running around in your dark hoods. Why don't you untie me from this chair and I'll show you what being a tough guy's all about, you tattoo faced freak of nature? What's it gonna be? Let me go and I'll go easy on you!"

Odion just lifted his hand and placed it close to Joey's face.

"Hey, keep your grubby paws off of me," Joey growled. "If you touch me, you'll be sorry."

Behind Joey, Marik began using his Millennium Rod and banished his mind to the Shadow Realm. With Joey Wheeler as my mind slave, little Yugi's Millennium Puzzle and Princess Emily's Millennium Star are as good as mine.

It was a good thing Tristan left when he did because he didn't have to meet the same misfortune as Joey and Téa. The Rare Hunters weren't even out to pursue him. He finally came to the hospital and saw Serenity dressed and ready to go. As promised, he would take her to Battle City. "Hey, Serenity, you ready to go?"

Serenity was excited, but at the same time, she was scared. "Um, Tristan, I'm kind of nervous."

"Why, what's up?"

She places her hand close to her chest and confesses her fear. "What if I take the bandages off and I'm still not able to see?"

"Serenity, of course you'll be able to see," Tristan replied. "The doctor said you would. And besides, all of us will be there to help you. I promise, once we get to Battle City, the first thing you're going to see is your big brother dueling."

Serenity smiles like she had just recovered the hope she lost. "Thanks, Tristan. I needed that." But the truth was the fear would grow stronger along the way. But Serenity knew she wouldn't be alone. She would have the support of all of her friends and her brother. She lets her excitement take over and decides it's time to head out.

In one of the hospital's top floors, Bakura was resting in bed. Max was sitting at his bedside holding his hand, hoping he would come through. A physical recovery is one thing, but recovering from trauma is another; especially for the both of them.

"Max, are you all right?" Solomon asked.

"I'm just fine," she insisted. "But I'm really worried about Bakura. I know he's going to be okay, but I'll never forgive myself for this. I know he was trying to protect me, but still," she stopped herself.

"It's natural of you to feel this way," Solomon told her. "The both of you have been through a lot." He removes the cloth from Bakura's forehead and takes it to cool it down. "It's a good thing Namu found you when you did," he says, turning on the faucet and soaking the cloth. "I just wish we knew who attacked you and why."

"So do I," Max replied. Keeping quiet, the evil spirit chuckles. You foolish old man. Her partner opens his eyes and joins her.

In the storage room of the Rare Hunters' hideout, Téa stacked the boxes and began climbing them so she could get out through the window. She was able to reach the opening, but the boxes began to lose their support. Crushed by her weight, the stack comes apart and she falls to the floor. "That was not fun," Téa groans, rubbing herself. "Well, it could've been worse." Then a box falls and lands on her head.

The door opens and Téa hears Emily's voice. "Let him go! You've got me!" Then she and Mokuba are shoved inside and the Rare Hunters lock the door.

Téa removes the box. "Mokuba! Emily!"

"Téa!" Emily cries, running to her friend to hug her. "I was so worried. Are you all right?"

"I'm okay," she answers. "What about you?"

"We are too," said Mokuba.

The three sat down together and started talking about what was going on. "So they're called Rare Hunters?" Téa asks.

Emily nods. "And we were trying to find you guys before they captured us."

"The same thing happened to me and Joey. And I'm beginning to think I know why."

Mokuba immediately speaks up. "So do I. They're using us as bait to lure my brother and Yugi into a trap so they can take their rarest cards. Seto and Yugi both have Egyptian God cards, the most powerful monsters in the game. There's only three and whoever has them all will be unbeatable. We just got caught in the middle."

"Are you sure that's all these guys want?" Téa asked, though she had a feeling they were after so much more.

Nonetheless, Mokuba answered, "Well, it's all I can think of."

This time, Emily spoke up. "I'm afraid they may be after something more." Hearing that, Téa's fears start to become confirmed. Mokuba asks her what she means. "Marik, the leader of the Rare Hunters, is after the Egyptian God cards, but not for the goal of having an indestructible deck. He wants to rule the world. Another reason he's attacking Yugi is because he wants his Millennium Puzzle. He also wants me for my Millennium Star."

"Millennium Star? What's that?" Mokuba asks.

"I'll show you." She places her hand close to her chest and a white light shines, revealing a small white star surrounded by a ring of changing colors. Mokuba and Téa look at it in amazement. "The Millennium Star gives me extraordinary powers. That's how I got my wings and was able to fly to your rescue, Mokuba. But that's not all. I can also perform magic and bend the different elements. I can show you, but I think it's best if I continue explaining."

"Like why this Marik is after you and Yugi for the Millennium Puzzle and the Millennium Star?" Téa asked.

Emily nods and continues explaining. "Marik doesn't have what it takes to use the Millennium Star. It's too powerful and only I can control it. My guess is that Marik thinks he'll be able to use the Millennium Star if he can obtain the power of the pharaoh, which he can only obtain by winning Yugi's Millennium Puzzle in a duel and combining the power of the Egyptian God cards."

Mokuba knew a little bit about the Millennium Items after remembering the power Pegasus displayed with his Millennium Eye. Everything was making more sense for Téa.

"I should also mention this. There's an ancient spirit living within Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. His name is Yami and he always appears to take Yugi's place in every duel. He's the pharaoh I mentioned earlier," Emily pauses for a second and adds, "and he's also my father."

Mokuba's eyes widen. "Your father? So does that mean you're a princess?"

Emily nods. "But I don't know much about our lives in ancient Egypt or any more about our powers. I do know this, however, we can't let Marik succeed in getting what he wants. If he does, the whole world will suffer."

Téa agrees. "We can't let Marik and his Rare Hunters get away with this."

"Don't worry," Mokuba assures them. "As soon as my brother finds us, these jerks are going to pay." But that would be easier said than done. Mokuba had no way of contacting his brother now that the Rare Hunters had taken his laptop. After telling the girls that, he decides that it's best to wait it out.

Looking at the window, Téa figures that maybe they don't have to wait. "Maybe there's a way for you to get to your brother instead." As they ask her what she means, she explains, "Emily, you said you can fly. Can you carry the both of us?"

"I'll try, but the weight might be too much for me." Emily unfolds her wings and tries lifting Téa and Mokuba, but can barely lift herself off the ground. "It's no good. We'll have to think of something else." She notices that some of the boxes are less damaged. "I'll have to carry one of you at a time. In the meantime, we should stack the boxes. It'll make things go a little easier."

"Okay," Téa replies. "You should carry Mokuba first. I'll climb the stack and when you're ready, you can help me."

Emily nods and they all get to work. She carries Mokuba in her arms and lifts him to the window. "Thanks, Emily," he says, climbing out.

Téa hears sinister laughter and warns them. "Hurry up, someone's coming."

"Now's our chance," Mokuba says, freeing himself. "Come on, girls. You can make it."

"I'll stay," Téa tells him. "You and Emily go find Yugi and Kaiba."

Then the door opens and three Rare Hunters charge in. "Stop them, they're escaping!" As they start climbing, the boxes start to become unsteady. Téa falls and lands on the Rare Hunters. Emily flies down to help her.

"Are you girls all right?"

"Don't worry about us," Emily tells Mokuba. "Just get some help!" Mokuba nods and promises to come back. She helps Téa get back on her feet. The Rare Hunters try to get up, but the girls run out of the room.

"Come on," Téa tells Emily. "We've got to find Joey and get out of here." They keep running until they bump into even more Rare Hunters. Emily knows that the only way for her to escape is to use her powers. Her hands catch on fire and she forces them to back away.

"That's enough!" a voice shouts. Odion appears and steps in front of the girls. "You may want to think twice before you decide to cast another spell, Princess. We still have another one of your friends. Trying to escape will only put him in greater danger."

"Where is Joey?" Téa demands.

"He's fine for now. But if you want him to stay safe, you should consider cooperating."

"I don't think it makes much difference," Emily remarked. "You'll probably do away with us immediately once you get what you want. Look, you've already got me. I'll stay, but just let my friends go."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. We need all of you. But the choice is yours, Princess. You can keep fighting your way out and risk the safety of one friend or you can stand down and ensure everyone's safety. What will it be?" Odion asked.

Listening to his words, Emily knows she must choose carefully. She knows the Rare Hunters will keep her and her friends safe if they cooperate and until Marik gets what he wants. Thinking about that, there might be a way for her to save her friends and they can all escape at the right moment. "Okay, then. I give up. You have us."

"What are you doing, Emily?"

"Let's just do as he says for now, Téa. If I continue to do anything rash, I could end up inflicting a lot of pain. I can't take that chance. But I promise, I'll get us all out of this." Téa is still against the idea, but she finds that Emily's right. So she nods in agreement. As the Rare Hunters take them away, the girls lose their grips on each other's hands and are taken their separate ways. Téa is taken to another storage room and Emily is taken outside. As she's dragged away, Emily promises her friend, "I'll save you, Téa! I will!"

Watching from the upper gallery, Marik laughs. Foolish princess, no one can save you now!

In the storage room, Téa is bound to a mechanical chair keeping her hands and legs locked in. She sees Joey sitting in front of her and is happy to see him. "Joey! I'm so glad you're all right! You've got to get me out of this chair so we can find Emily and escape from this rat hole!" Not hearing a response, she notices that he looks a little out of it. "Hello, Earth to Joey. Anybody home in there? Are you okay? Joke's over. Come on, Joey, you're freaking me out here."

Joey finally lifts his head and responds. "I am not Joey, you fool," he says, sounding mesmerized.

"That's not funny." Then Téa sees Odion standing behind him. "What did you do to him?" Suddenly, her vision turns black and she meets the same fate as her friend.