And so we begin our story with the start of Season 2. If you haven't read the updated version of the last chapter, please do so before continuing. Other than that, here are just a few things you need to know about the dialogue in this story:
"This" is regular talking.
These are thoughts and regular dialogue in flashbacks.
'This' is when the Yamis are speaking with their Hikaris and vice versa.
"This" is when the spirits of the monsters speak to Anya.
"This" is Anya speaking back to them telepathically.
Remember these and it will be impossible to get lost in the dialogue. Anyway, I do not own Yu-gi-oh or its characters. I only own Anya, the Millennium Charm, and the fourth Egyptian God Card. Enjoy!
Anya hummed as she brushed her hair, adding the finishing touches onto herself before heading to the soccer game. In only a few moments, she would leave to meet with Tea and Yugi where they would leave for the game.
Misssstressss, Ssssooon we will leave, yessss?
Anya glanced over her shoulder, throwing a semi-annoyed glance at the Venom Cobra spirit that laid curled up on her bed.
How many times have I told you, Venom, that the game doesn't start for half an hour. I'm meeting the gang at Yugi's and it's only a five minute walk. We'll go in a minute. Now get back in the deck!
Venom Cobra hissed softly before his body became just a stream of smoke, sneaking its way back into the deck of Duel Monsters. She picked it up and stuck them in her pocket-side deck holder. Hey, in a place like Domino City, you can get challenged to a duel at any time of the day. It never hurts to have them on hand.
Remind me again why we keep him with us, commented a rumbling female voice.
Anya smiled and closed her eyes, standing up and straightening her scarf and sash before grabbing her satchel.
You know why as well as I do, Rose. Besides, he means well.
Rose. More specifically, the voice belonged to one of Anya's favorite and most powerful monsters in her whole deck: The Black Rose Dragon. The two had dueled together for as long as Anya could remember. She actually came in the first pack of Duel Monsters cards that she had ever gotten, though it had taken her a long while before she even knew how to use the card properly.
"Hey, Anya! Good to see you!" Tea greeted as the raven-haired girl approached she and Mr. Muto.
"Greetings and salutations," Anya mockingly bowed. "I assume you guys are ready to go?"
"Almost ready," Tea answered. She then called up, "C'mon, Yugi! Anya's here! We gotta go!"
"Coming!" Yugi cried out as he bolted out of the door. "Sorry, guys."
"About time, Yugi," Tea said.
Yugi nodded apologetically, "Sorry."
"We're gonna be late for the big game! What took you so long?"
Yugi held his Millennium Puzzle thoughtfully and answered, "I…was talking to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. He seems kinda worried."
The girls looked to each other confused before looking back at the boy. Tea asked, "About what?"
"About the future, I think. He said something about destiny being unclear. Ever since we defeated Pegasus together, the Spirit's been talking about our fate, like there's something more he has to do. When you think about it; he doesn't really know that much about himself, like where he came from, why he's here. But I'm babbling and we're late. We should go."
Anya shook her head as Tea replied, "Oh, right! The soccer game! We definitely don't wanna miss it!"
"Bye, grandpa!" Yugi waved.
"See you, Mr. Muto!"
"Catch ya later!"
"Enjoy yourselves. If the game ends early, feel free to come back and help me sweep!"
"So, who do you think's gonna win?" Tea asked Yugi and Anya.
Anya shrugged, "Don't know. Both teams are pretty good."
"What about you Yugi? Who'll win?"
"Win? Win what?"
"The soccer game, buddy," Anya answered. "We're talking about the soccer game."
Blushing, he replied, "Oh. I-I don't know. Uh…"
Tea laughed lightly, "You don't really care much about sports, do you?"
"Aw, give'im a break, Tea," Anya said. "I can see why he's distracted. I've actually been feeling the same way for the past few days."
"Hmm?" Both Yugi and Tea stopped and turned to her for an explanation.
"Well, maybe not the exact same way, but I know the feeling," Anya brought up the Millennium Charm. "My Charm keeps giving me these weird warnings. They're faint, but they're there."
"Warnings?" Yugi asked. "About what?"
Anya shrugged, "Like I said, I don't know. They're just telling me to be very cautious for some reason. Aw, but we can worry about this later. We've got a soccer game that's gonna start without us!"
With small smiles, Yugi and Tea nodded and the group of three moved on.
"Future's told, fates unfold!" Yugi stopped in mid-step and saw from the corner of his eye something interesting. A man in a dark cloak was sitting at a table with a crystal ball on top. "Step up, boy, and I'll reveal the secrets of your future!"
Curiosity getting the better of him, Yugi did indeed step up to the table. A dim glow flashed upon the surface of the Millennium Charm and made Anya stop. She looked over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes, backtracking her way over to Yugi.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"What's the matter, Yugi?" Anya asked.
"Guys, maybe this fortuneteller can help me figure out the fate of the spirit inside the Puzzle!"
Tea seemed to nod and agree full-heartedly, "Hmm. Okay, but we really don't have that much time."
Anya, on the other hand, felt the disturbing sting coming from the Millennium Charm; a sure sign that whatever this guy was selling was definitely not worth buying. However, she knew it was up to Yugi to sense it. Who knew what could happen if she did and set this mysterious stranger off?
Meanwhile, the man's eyes roamed down and saw something that certainly peeked his interest, "Hmm! Boy! In order to tell your future, I must hold a personal item. Your necklace will do nicely."
Anya's eyebrows arched, her suspicion skyrocketing as Yugi replied, "My what? No. I'm sorry, I can't."
"Then I can't tell your fortune."
Looking mildly disappointed, Yugi said, "Yeah, but..."
"I need it in order to properly read your aura, to see what Fate has in store for you. You do want to know, don't you?"
The boy looked down at his Millennium Puzzle, feeling conflicted with his protectiveness of the item and the temptation of knowing what it will get him into in the future. By now, the Millennium Charm was screaming at Anya to pull Yugi away. To stand between him and the mysterious man so that nothing could harm him.
Misssstresss!
Anya was alarmed by the sound of Venom Cobra's voice, but even more so when he spoke again,
Sssstay away! Evil lurkssss here! Evil will hurt you!
Wait, what do you mean Venom?
"Okay, but only for a second," Yugi finally answered, removing the chained Millennium Item from around his neck and handing it over to the fortune teller.
"Yugi, I don't know about this…" Tea warned. The man seemed to be thoughtfully examining the item as he held it.
"Hmm. Something's coming to me. I see that this Millennium Item…belongs to me!"
Before any of the three could react, the table was flipped towards them. By the time they had recovered, the cloaked man was already zooming down the alley behind him.
"My Millennium Puzzle!"
Millennium Item? How would this guy know about the Millennium Items?! Anya thought as she rubbed her backside from the soreness.
"Come back here!" Yugi yelled.
"He's getting away, what do we do?" Tea asked worriedly.
"I know what I'm gonna do," Anya muttered, shooting up and running down the alley with Yugi after the man.
"We'll follow him this way, you try to cut him off around the corner!"
"You got it, Yugi!" she yelled before taking off down the sidewalk.
Though they had no idea where he was, Yugi cried out, "You'll never get away with this, you creep!"
"What could this guy want with your Millennium Puzzle, Yugi?"
"I don't know, Anya! But I've got a bad feeling about this!"
Tea panted as she kept up a fast pace, "There's no sign of that fortuneteller anywhere! I hope Yugi's okay!"
She was so busy looking around for the thief, in fact, that she had not noticed running past Bakura. He was startled to see her rush past, but then decided to get her attention.
"Hey, Tea! What's the rush?" Bakura called out to her.
She turned back on her heel and replied, "Oh, Bakura! Someone stole Yugi's Millennium Puzzle!"
His face took on concern and shock as he replied, "No! Where is Yugi?"
Pointing back the way she came, Tea said, "He and Anya went through the alley! We split up to catch the guy!"
"Well, then don't let me detain you! Keep looking and I'll get some help!"
"Right! Thanks, Bakura!" Tea nodded, turning back on her heel and taking off. Meanwhile, he watched her disappear down the street before his darker side decided to step in.
No one shall have the Millennium Puzzle but me!
"I want its power," Yami Bakura muttered, now taking control. He dropped the schoolbag and unzipped his school jacket. "And I'll track both Items with my Millennium Ring!"
The golden artifact came to life, the pointed pendants quivering and pointing in the direction that Tea had mentioned.
"Show me the way," he spoke to the Ring. "Trace the Items' mystical energies and lead me to the Millennium Puzzle and the Millennium Charm. If I control all the Millennium Items, I will control power unimaginable. And I will make certain that nobody stands in my way..."
"Where are you hiding?!" Yugi yelled out. He and Anya followed a path of arrows leading them deeper and deeper into the city.
"Come out and show your face, you coward!" Anya shouted, her patience wearing ever more thin.
Finally, upon the door of an old warehouse, they found one more arrow. This one pointed right at the entrance. The Millennium Puzzle was in there. Anya could feel it with the Charm and she knew Yugi could sense it, too.
"The last arrow...Give me a hand with this, will ya?" Yugi grunted lightly as he pulled on the door. Anya nodded and pulled as well, making the door slide open with ease.
As they entered, both definitely thought that the inside looked just as bad as the outside...if they could even see. The entire place was a dark as night! What they did know was that judging from the outside, this wasn't the safest place to be.
"My Millennium Puzzle's here, Anya. Even though we're apart, I can sense it. But I don't see it."
"Who could?"
Yugi cried out into the darkness, "I know you're in here!"
The two jumped at the sound of maniacal laughter, "Congratulations, little Yugi! You've found me-or should I say, I've found you! And the Millennium Puzzle!"
Yugi and Anya gasped as the spotlights were turned on, revealing the Millennium Item hanging by its new chain into a wall. From the looks of it, whatever jammed it in there made sure it wouldn't come out so easily.
"Give it back to me!"
"It's not going to be that easy for you. If you want your Puzzle back, you'll have to fight me for it! That's right, Yugi, you and I are going to duel!"
The lights snapped on in the warehouse, blinding them at first, but then dimmed enough to see quite a sight. An entire dueling arena...in a rundown place like this?
"And the winner gets to keep your Millennium Item! Are you up to the challenge, Yugi? I've been waiting for you a long time," the cloaked stranger chuckled ominously, revealing himself at the other end of the arena.
"Who are you? And what do you want with my Millennium Puzzle?"
The stranger was silent for a moment, but then answered, "I desire the power your Item contains within, but according to the rules of its ancient magic, I have to win it from you in a duel...As for who I am, let's just say that I'm the one who will control your destiny as I have controlled others and that I am not unfamiliar with the power of a Millennium Item!"
Yugi and Anya exchanged strange looks, but looked back when the stranger continued, "Indeed, I understand more about their hidden mysteries than you will ever know! Take your Millennium Puzzle. There are ancient secrets buried within it, of which you, and even the spirit that inhabits it are unaware! That's why I will add it to my collection!"
Anya growled in irritation and impatience of this stranger. If this guy thought he could talk down to one of her best friends like that, then he better be able to change his mind pretty quick!
"I'm not dueling you for my Millennium Puzzle! It already belongs to me!"
"Just beat this guy, Yugi," Anya whispered to him. "He can't be that strong if he didn't have the nerve to challenge you in public."
He nodded, "All right! I accept your challenge!"
"Of course you do," the thief turned and approached the red podium.
If I have to duel, I'll need the Spirit of the Puzzle to help me. Maybe I can still connect with him, Yugi thought to himself, concentrating hard to make a connection with Yami.
'I can...barely hear you, Yugi. Our bond is weak. It's hard to maintain contact. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you with this duel. You'll have to fight him...alone.'
An apprehensive ping struck at his heart as he replied, 'Alone? But I've never fought a duel without you. And if I'm defeated I'll lose you forever!'
'You can defeat him,' Yami encouraged. 'Just trust yourself, and your deck, and you'll find a way. And don't forget, Anya will be right by your side.'
'You're right. I've got to believe in the Heart of the Cards!' Yugi nodded confidently. Anya merely kept her heated glare on the cloaked stranger as he mounted on the red podium. She did, however, soften her features as she allowed an aquamarine iris to look at her friend from the corner of her eye.
'Be very careful, Yugi! I sense a great evil!' Yugi gasped as he heard Yami's voice echo away before disappearing completely.
"Spirit!"
Anya smiled, setting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it reassuringly, "Go get'im, Yugi. This guy's got nothing on you!"
With that little bit of extra confidence, Yugi returned the smile and nodded. He mounted the blue podium and the dueling arena came to life as the holographic projectors activated.
"Prepare to lose your precious Puzzle."
Yugi defiantly replied, "I don't think so!"
The stranger merely chuckled darkly, "Remember, Yugi. I've seen your future; foretold your fate. And this duel...will be your last."
"Man, this guy is really getting on my nerves," Anya muttered heatedly. Her eyes roamed up to the Millennium Puzzle. She knew that this duel was for that Puzzle and that Yugi could whoop this guy blindfolded...but still, what if he tried to double-cross Yugi even if he won the duel?
I need to get that Puzzle down. I might need to hand it over if this cloaked con-artist actually wins, but why take the chance of him stealing it again if Yugi wins?
She looked around, and then sweatdropped, But I guess it would help if I could actually reach it...
"It's time to duel!" Yugi cried out, planning his strategy from the cards he just drew. "I place the Celtic Guardian (1400/1200) on the field, in attack mode! I've made my play, now you make yours!"
"I place my monster in defense mode."
As the shimmer of the card lit up on the other side of the field, Yugi called out, "What's the matter, don'tcha have the courage to face me head-on?!"
"...I don't need to. You're the one that better go on the offensive if you hope to win back your Puzzle!" This answer startled the two children, but Yugi managed to keep his cool and make his next move.
"All right, then, I attack with my Celtic Guardian!"
The large warrior came charging forward with his sword to slash at the monster in defense mode. The stranger merely chuckled, "Heh. That's exactly what I wanted you to do, Yugi. Your attack has activated the power of my Cyber Jar (900/900)."
"This machine card destroys every monster on the field!" Once both monsters were destroyed, he continued, "And it also requires us to draw five new cards. Let's see what you've got up your pathetic sleeve this time, little Yugi."
Setting down and stacking up a staircase of various crates and debris, Anya saw Yugi thinking up a new strategy, "I'm placing my monster in defense mode!"
"And I'm placing mine in attack mode! Meet Mechanicalchaser (1850/800) and Ground Attacker Bugroth (1500/1000)!"
More machine cards! Wait...this seems familiar! There's only one player I know whose deck is filled with machine cards! Yugi thought before yelling aloud,
"Show yourself, Bandit Keith!"
The stranger did not hesitate to remove his hood, which revealed him to be Bandit Keith after all. For the first time ever, he didn't wear his sunglasses, which also showed just how blank and dull his facial expression and eyes were.
"Wow. That's probably the smartest Bandit Keith's ever looked," Anya muttered as she finally climbed her way to the top of the dueling field.
I was right! But why would Bandit Keith disguise himself and steal my Millennium Puzzle? The last time we saw him was when he battled Joey in the Duelist Kingdom tournament. He broke the rules, but Joey beat him! Yugi thought to himself.
"What happened to you?"
"I'm not Bandit Keith. I only speak through him, since he's become, my mind-controlled slave," he replied, making them notice something that had escaped their notice before. From what they could tell, Bandit Keith was talking, but his voice was a mixture of his own...and someone else's.
"What do you mean? How can this be?! Tell me!" Yugi demanded.
"After Bandit Keith was ejected by Pegasus from Duelist Kingdom, he fought for his life against the harsh ocean waters. My followers and I were on the way to retrieve some very special items, when we fished him out of the sea. I'm always looking for new minds to control, and Bandit Keith seemed like the perfect puppet to do my bidding...and, as fate would have it, he led me right to you: the boy who possesses the legendary Millennium Puzzle!"
Yugi stayed silent, not sure if he could completely comprehend what this mysterious puppetmaster was saying to him, "Is it all sinking in now, little Yugi? Now that I have found you after all these years, I will stop at nothing to make your Puzzle, and all of the ancient powers it possesses within it, my own."
"Don't let this creep psyche you out, Yugi!" Anya shouted up to him. "Keep your head in the game and you can't lose!"
"I grow tired of hearing you talk, girl," he said. What happened next was all but a shock to both of the children.
Anya yelped as a sudden, unseen force pushed her back, though she was able to grab onto the chain of the Millennium Puzzle before she could fall. The Millennium Charm took on a powerful glow, which seemed to be pushing at the same force that had pushed her away. It was almost as if her Millennium Item was fighting off the forces of another. When the magical forces disappeared, both children looked across the field as 'Bandit Keith' chuckled ominously.
"The bearer of the Millennium Charm. I should've known only you would be desperately loyal enough to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle to stand by the side of this little runt."
She narrowed her eyes into dangerous slits, "How about you keep your interest in the duel. That's the only way you'll ever hope to win against Yugi."
"...As you wish. I play Machine King (2200/2000) in attack mode! My new monster gets an extra one hundred attack points for every machine that's on the field. That's three hundred more points (2500)! Machine King, attack with Jet Punch!"
Machine King's clenched fists shot out with a fiery blast and obliterated Yugi's facedown card, which happened to be Silver Fang (1200/800).
As soon as the arms returned and reattached, 'Bandit Keith' said, "You may as well give up now!""
"It's not over yet!" Yugi answered as he drew his next card. "I play another card in defense mode!"
"Your defenses are useless against my mechanical army!" After drawing, 'Bandit Keith' made his next move. "Especially now that I'm adding this machine to my troop! Megasonic Eye (1500/1800)! It adds another one hundred attack points to Machine King (2600), making him even more deadly! Machine King, attack now!"
Again, Machine King attacked Yugi's facedown card, which was revealed to be his Giant Soldier of Stone (1300/2000).
"No! My stone soldier!"
"That's right- all your defenses are gone! Give up, yet? You have no idea the power you're up against, little Yugi."
This guy is really getting under my skin, Anya tightened her grip on the chain, casting a glance up at Yugi. And it looks like it's not only affecting me.
"Come on, guys, hurry! Yugi and Anya may be in trouble!"
Joey let his locker slam shut as he quickly put on his sneakers, "Jus' point the way, Tea. We're right behind ya!"
"Yeah, any creep picks on our buddies have to deal with us all!" Tristan said.
"You said it!" Joey grunted as he finally got his shoe on. The three were out the door and ready to help their friends up until they were stopped by the school coach.
"All right, people, just where do you think you're going? You volunteered to help at the soccer game!"
Joey sweatdropped a bit as he answered, "I know, Coach, but, we got an emergency. Eh-"
Tristan took over, gravely explaining, "Tea's cat has gotten sick. We need to take it to the vet."
"Please, we need to help Fluffy," Tea begged, setting her face in her hands and sobbing, "Poor Fluffy!"
Coach Morty, being the sensitive type despite his reputation, set his hands on her shoulders, "I didn't realize your little kitty was sick! Of course you can go.
Joey and Tristan exchanged accomplished looks, but kept up the act, "Yes sir, thank you, Coach!"
"Save that little kitty!" Coach Morty called after them as they ran.
"He's really a softy at heart," Joey said.
"It wasn't cool to mislead Coach Morty!" Tea commented
Tristan replied, "It's an emergency; we had to, Tea!
Joey nodded, "Yeah. Yugi needs us!"
Tea couldn't help but agree, "I hope we can find him!"
The blonde boy merely said, "Don't sweat it, guys! Remember, whoever this creep is, he's gonna have ta get past Anya first. Even the football team doesn't mess with her!"
Tristan laughed, "Yeah. Even you have to be careful around your girlfriend so she doesn't blow a fuse!"
Joey blushed profusely and growled, but didn't go any further than that. He knew as well as anyone else that on most days, Anya was a sweet, gentle spirit that wanted nothing more than lend a helping hand to anyone that needed it. However, make one wrong move and that gentleness would melt away faster than a hot fudge sundae on a sunny summer day...still, he couldn't deny that that very unpredictability was what made him like her all the more.
"Come on, Yugi. Stop stalling! Unless you want to admit defeat," 'Bandit Keith' taunted.
"I'll never give up!" Yugi said. "I have too much at stake in this game. So take this! I play Curse of Dragon (2000/1500), in attack mode! And I play Gaia, the Fierce Knight (2300/2100)! But that's not all; I also use my Polymerization card to combine these two monsters in order to create Gaia, the Dragon Champion (2600/2100)! This monster can take your machines apart! Dragon Champion, attack Mechanicalchaser with Double Dragon Lance!
"With Mechanicalchaser gone, your Machine King loses a hundred attack points, and you lose seven hundred and fifty life points!"
Anya leaned against the blue podium, smirking, "Told ya he's got nothing on you, Yugi."
"Very impressive. But what will you do- when I put my weaker monsters in defense mode, to protect them from your Dragon Champion's attacks?" After setting two of his three monsters in defense mode, he then made his next move, "And then play Machine Conversion Factory, a Magic card that adds three hundred attack and defense points, to all of my machine cards!"
"Oh no! You've raised Machine King's power even more!" Yuri gasped
"That's right, enough to overpower your Dragon Champion! Machine King, attack!"
Anya winced as the Dragon Champion was blown off the field, and also lowering Yugi's life points.
"Your offensive is over, Yugi! Your Champion destroyed! I've made Keith's machine monsters' attack strength overwhelming!" 'Bandit Keith' commented. "So why don't you stop resisting and just hand over your Puzzle to me? It's the inevitable conclusion to our game anyway."
What'm I going to do? I have to stop him somehow, but how?! He's assembled an army of the most rare and powerful machines in Duel Monsters! Yugi drew and looked at the card, Wait! The Summoned Skull! This gives me an idea. But first, I'll have to play a magic card.
"Your machines might be the most impressive I've seen, but they're still made out of metal! So I play Makiu!"
The thick fog of Makiu swarmed the field, clinging to the machine monsters and weakening them. As they rusted and corroded away, so did their attack and defense points.
"You think a little mist'll destroy my machines?" 'Bandit Keith' scoffed.
Yugi countered, "It won't destroy them, but it will cause them to rust, and lower their points!"
"And the mist turns your machine monsters into one gigantic lightning rod. Which makes them the perfect target for my Summoned Skull (2500/1200)! Summoned Skull, use your Lightning Strike on Machine King, now!" Yugi commanded. Summoned Skull's eyes glowed a bright red before unleashing a powerful lightning attack and removing Machine King from the field. "Any more machines for the junk heap?!"
"You little...!" 'Bandit Keith' growled under his breath. Anya smirked as the tables were finally turning into her friend's favor.
Yugi got an extra spark of confidence as he shouted, "Now you're the one who's stalling- are you gonna draw, or what!"
"I've picked the Graceful Charity card. By placing this card on the table, I'm able to draw three new cards from my deck. And I'm confident that they'll be exactly the cards I need to end this duel once and for all!"
The cloaked 'Bandit Keith' drew from his deck, "You're finished, little Yugi. I've drawn the ultra-rare Zera Ritual card! It's used to summon one of the most powerful monsters in the game!"
"Whoa," Yugi sighed. "I've never even heard of the Zera Ritual card before, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that I'm about to learn more about it than I really want to know."
'Bandit Keith' nodded, "How perceptive. For once I put Zera Ritual into play, this duel is over!"
"Maybe, but activating a ritual card takes more than just talk. You also need to have the right monster card in your hand, and what're the odds of that!"
"No way!" Yugi and Anya gasped.
'Bandit Keith' gave a nod, "Maybe you finally understand the power you are up against, Yugi. Now, Zera Ritual sacrifices my two remaining monsters in order to bring forth the greatest of my creatures! Behold the instrument of your destruction, one of the strongest beasts in Duel Monsters!"
"Behold, Zera the Mant (2800/2300)! Our battle ends here! Say goodbye to your Millennium Puzzle! Zera! Attack now!" And with that, Zera slashed at Summoned Skull, destroying the beast.
"Zera obliterated my Summoned Skull, but...I can't give up. You'll never get my Millennium Puzzle!"
That's it, Yugi. Keep your faith, Anya nodded at his unbreakable spirit. You've gotten out of more sticky situations than this. You can't give up hope...you just can't...
'Bandit Keith' laughed cruelly, "You're finished, little Yugi! With Bandit Keith under my mind control, you'll never win this duel!"
What do I do now? I have nothing to fight his monster with! Yugi looked down at the Puzzle, where Anya still had a firm grip on the chain. If only I could call on the Spirit and ask for his help; but we've lost contact!