Fateful Night in Egypt
The chase was still on in the city as the pharaoh and queen continued to pursue Bakura and Max. A Shadow Game was also in play as they ran through the streets. Diabound and the Angel of Death were summoned to hold back the royals and attack the villagers. The pharaoh and queen fought using their own Shadow Creatures; Rainbow Dragon and another Egyptian God monster named Slifer the Sky Dragon. The two Dragons fought with everything they had, but with all of the new tricks Bakura acquired in his Shadow Game with Mahad, Diabound and the Angel of Death were not easy to attack, let alone take down.
Queen Mystery knew this wasn't going to be like the rescue adventures she had in the past, but at the same time, she still didn't know what she was up against. Bakura did, however, and he was more than prepared. He knew all of Mystery's weaknesses thanks to Max and he would do everything to make sure the queen would not fight back. With Diabound and the Angel of Death attacking the city, the royals had to decide whether to continue pursuing the two thieves or save their people.
Atem and Mystery couldn't let Bakura and Max continue to get away with their evil ways, but they couldn't let the two thieves harm their people. Instead of fighting back, they ordered Rainbow Dragon and Slifer to protect the villagers from their enemies' attacks. It wasn't very easy, though. For every attack the Dragons took, Atem and Mystery were also putting themselves in danger.
When they reached the last street, Bakura and Max stopped on top of a house. Bakura chuckled and tormented the pharaoh and queen. "Looks like a dead end for you two. So much for rescuing your villagers." Then Diabound and the Angel of Death prepare themselves to attack.
"No harm shall befall the people of our kingdom, Bakura. Mark my words," said Atem. Slifer and Rainbow Dragon launch their attacks; colliding with Diabound's and the Angel of Death's and lighting the sky as great as broad daylight. When the light dies down, the Dragons grab Diabound and the Angel and drag them higher into the sky.
"What!?" Bakura and Max cried.
"We refuse to let you put this city in any more danger!" Mystery told them. "With your creatures above the city and into the skies, our people are safe from your attacks!"
"Your Dragons may control the skies, but our Diabound and Angel of Death command the darkness; making them infinitely more powerful," Max told her. Then Diabound and the Angel of Death disappear into the darkness.
"They're gone!" gasped Atem. "What have you done?"
"Our monsters have the ability to move in shadows; completely undetectable. And by the time they reveal themselves, it will be too late," Bakura explained, Still invisible, Diabound attacks Rainbow Dragon from behind. Mystery groans and places her hand against her chest. Bakura chuckles once again. "Your bond with your Rainbow Dragon is so strong; when it feels pain, so do you. But I think it's time we concluded this Shadow Game. The question is, how? Should Max and I destroy your Dragons or your city? Or perhaps we should crush you? I could also kill your precious little princess right now." He holds the infant out for her parents to see her.
Hearing her wail and scream, Atem and Mystery gasp and reach out for her. Mystery flies up to Bakura to try and get back her child, but Bakura stops her.
"Not so fast, Queen Mystery. There is an easy way to spare yourselves and your child from my wrath. Everything comes with a price. If you want her back, then you and your husband must surrender your Millennium Puzzle and Millennium Star. Do this, and I'll return your child and leave you all alone."
Mystery backs away and lands herself. She and Atem face each other, unsure of what to do. They knew that if Bakura and Max got the Millennium Star and the Millennium Puzzle, they would become invincible. But they had to rescue their daughter. Atem removes the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck and holds it out towards Bakura and Max. Mystery is shocked, but is asked to trust her husband. Hoping that there is a way for them to get out of this predicament, save Emily, and defeat Bakura and Max, she lowers herself to kneel.
The thieves smile in delight. "A wise decision, your majesties."
This just might work, Atem wondered. If we can distract them long enough, we may be able to rescue Emily. It's our only hope.
Bakura gets off his horse. "All right, Queen Mystery. As a man of my word, I'll give you back your princess. But you must release the Millennium Star from her heart and give it to me. So come up here and we can settle this."
I do not trust you, Mystery thought to herself, but I will do what I must to save my baby. She takes the Millennium Puzzle, lifts herself from the ground, and approaches Bakura. Like a childish trade over a simple possession, Bakura takes the Puzzle from the queen and gives her back her child.
"Don't try anything funny, Mystery," said Max. "If you think about running off, we will kill all three of you and continue attacking your city."
Mystery looks at Max and softly growls at her. The way things were going, neither the royals nor the thieves were in the mood for any games or stunts. Unlike Bakura or Max, however, Mystery wasn't as cunning as her adversaries and always played fair. And in a situation like this, she had no choice but to do her part of the deal. She takes her child and places her hand over her to release the Millennium Star.
Before the spell starts to take effect, however, Diabound and the Angel of Death are stricken by blasts launched not by Slifer or Rainbow Dragon, but by Salamence and Flygon. Seto and Joseph had come to rescue their friends. While Bakura and Max are recovering from the attack, Mystery quickly takes back the Millennium Puzzle, tightly holds her daughter, and rejoins her husband.
"Pharaoh and Queen," Seto calls out, "we shall save thee!"
Sitting behind Joseph while riding Flygon, Karim asks, "Pharaoh and Queen, are you all right?"
Bakura growls, obviously having not anticipated their arrival. He didn't want to take his chances against them, so he told Max to retreat with him to the desert. Diabound and the Angel block the royals' path to keep them from pursuing, and then follow the thieves.
"Those cowards," Joseph jeered.
"Don't be fooled," cautioned Atem. "Max and Bakura's retreat may be an attempt to lead us into a trap."
"What choice do we have but to follow them," asked Mystery.
"Leave that to us," Seto tells her. He and Joseph raise their left arms and summon two warriors called Duos and Flame Swordsman. Karim summons a winged lion and they all send their Shadow Creatures to pursue Bakura and Max.
"You need to be careful," the queen warned. "They could be near. They hide by night."
Knowing that, their adversaries could also attack without warning. There would be no telling when or where they would strike. Suddenly, Diabound's Heiligo Shock Wave attacks. Duos and the Flame Swordsman escape, but Karim's beast is defeated. Karim gasps, feeling as though his heart is being crushed. Joseph turns around and tries to aid him.
"If we're to defeat them, you must stand tall," said Seto. "Now wipe the sweat from your brow and rise above this! The fate of Egypt depends upon it!"
"Yes, you're right," Karim said and stopped gasping. "I will be fine. But there is no telling where those monsters lurk or when they will strike next."
Unable to stand by any longer, Mystery lifts herself from the ground and begins flying in pursuit of her adversaries. Atem follows her out of the city and into the desert.
"Pharaoh and Queen, wait!" Seto called. He grabs his reins and tells Joseph that they have to follow and protect their friends. The princess was back where she belonged, but also still in danger. The Shadow Game was also still being played out; meaning the king and queen were in just as much danger.
Joseph agrees and grabs the reins. "Right. Hyahh!" He cries, and Flygon starts flying out to the desert. Salamence starts flying as well.
Mystery keeps flying in pursuit of Max and Bakura, but wonders if she should have gone back to the palace. The princess would be safe if she was taken back home, but Mystery didn't want to leave her there unprotected. Right now, despite the danger she was putting herself in, the queen wanted to keep her child close to her. Bakura has already become more powerful than I imagined, the queen thought to herself. I must stop him before he brings about any more destruction.
Stopping at the base of a mountain, Bakura and Max see Atem and Mystery coming their way. Who knew their majesties could be led astray so easily? Bakura wondered. Your reign ends now, Pharaoh and Queen.
Atem and Mystery summon their Dragons back into battle and stop below the mountain; ready to end the Shadow Game once and for all.
Salamence and Flygon keep to the skies and watch the fight from above. "How can we defend ourselves from an enemy we cannot see?" asked Joseph.
"Our pharaoh controls the Egyptian Gods," Seto answered, "the most powerful beings in this realm. And our queen controls a legendary Dragon; just as powerful."
Max and Bakura chuckle. Finding that they've kept their foes in suspense long enough, they order their monsters to attack. Atem and Mystery steady themselves and order their Dragons to attack as well. But just before Slifer can launch its Thunderforce attack, the Dragon stops; feeling as though something had attacked it. Vulnerable and trying to recover, Slifer is engulfed by Diabound's Heilego Shock Wave and defeated. Frightened and worried about her husband, Mystery withdraws Rainbow Dragon and comes to his aid. She knew that Slifer wasn't destroyed; just wounded. But Atem was very weak and unable to keep conscious.
"Do you surrender," Max calls out.
With her family's well-being on the line, the queen had no choice but to say so to her foes. "But we will not surrender our spirits to the Shadow Realm."
"I'll see to it that you all get there," Bakura said and ordered Diabound to attack again. Salamence and Flygon intercept with their Hyper Beam and Dragon Pulse. Gathering her strength, Mystery unfolds her wings and sets her husband on her back. With her arms full and extra weight on her back, it's hard for her to move steadily. But she was strong enough to hold her husband and daughter. It would still be hard to escape with everyone blasting their attacks back and forth at each other.
Seeing the royal family trying to escape, Bakura decides to surprise them once more with another sneak attack. Seeing that their foes are still distracted by the fight, Max and Bakura take this chance to attack Atem and Mystery with another one of Cobalt's spells. Max distances herself from Bakura so they don't think the magic is coming from her, and then uses her Dark Force spell to attack Mystery.
Unable to defend herself, Mystery is shot down. She tries to steady herself and keep in the air, but has a hard time doing so. Now close to Bakura and in striking range, Mystery finds herself standing near the edge of the cliff.
Bakura approaches her and tells her, "It seems the tables have turned." He reaches his arm towards Atem and takes the Millennium Puzzle from around his neck. "Don't worry, where you three are going, you'll have no use for this." Bakura pushes Mystery, causing her to fall back.
Seto and Joseph see the royal family and try to rescue them, but Diabound and the Angel of Death block their way. Only until after Atem and Mystery are out of sight do the beasts disappear. Seto and Joseph notice that Bakura and Max are gone as well, but instead of pursuing the thieves, they decide that finding the royal family is their first priority. They hoped that the Great Goddess Millennia would protect them all and not allow them to fall to their death.