The office phone rang, almost making the two younger Kaiba brothers jump.
Seto irritably picks it up and practically barks a cold ''What!?'' down the line.
''Um, there's a Mr. Wheeler calling you.'' The almost frightened woman spoke. She had been his secretary for a few short years, and she could still be surprised by how angry he could be and still not have any wrinkles or gray hairs.
Noah and Mokuba runs to the picture phone as Kaiba says to put him through. Joey's eye appears on the screen, then his face in fisheye close-up, as Joey exclaims in surprise that Kaiba took his call.
''Ahem. Kaiba~!? You in there?''
Mokuba tells him it works better if he'll step back from the web cam, and Joey moves away, to reveal the whole gang clustered around. Noah searched the group for red eyes and spiky hair and soon found who he was looking for, sighing in relief. He was about to smile and call his Nee-chii, but he stopped and narrowed his eyes when he saw that there was only one spiky head on the screen.
And that proud spiky head of wild hair was bowed in a a defeated, helpless gesture, pride all but leaving the figure. He almost growled as he watched Yuna suffer and wondered where her runt little brother was when she obviously needed him! That's when he noticed how there was not a single smile on the teens' faces.
'Something's wrong. But what and why is Nee-chii like this? Where's Yugi? Is he alright?'
A million thoughts were running through the aqua haired boy's head as he idly listened to the conversation.
''What do you want, Mutt?'' Seto growls, irritated by the blond's antics on top of everything that's been going on. He did notice Yuna's somber, sad expression, but he didn't know what to do about it.
'Maybe she had a vision and it's still affecting her?' He wondered.
He had yet to notice that Yugi was gone.
Joey tells Kaiba they've found some clues about those biker punks, but he's not giving them up that easily. If Kaiba will give them a lift to Florida, he'll fill him in on the way.
''Can you lend us one of your flying ships or jets or something? We're stuck!''
''Please Kaiba.'' Tristan adds, as if that was going to get the CEO to help them of all people. They knew full well that the executive didn't like them, lightly put, and only tolerated them for Yugi's, well it seems Yuna's sake.
Joey, who was never good to stick with the plan under immense pressure, leaned over, grabbed the camera and yelled out.
''Please, hurry too! Or else Yuna will never get Yugi's soul back in time ...''
The group gasped as he said this and Tristan quickly recovered, grabbing him and and telling him to shut up.
But ti was too late.
Things started clicking in the three Kaiba brothers' minds as they took note of how the proud Duel Queen looked even more to the side, seemingly not wanting to face the camera as Joey finally got his friend to let go of him and waved a hand in front of him as if to brush off his statement.
Mokuba wants to know what he means about Yugi's soul, and Joey, after slapping Tristan away from him, tries to get Kaiba to forget what he just said. Tristan says it doesn't matter—Kaiba doesn't believe in all that magic stuff, anyway.
Noah's eyes widen as he understands what happened as Duke goes off imitating his new big brother's voice and the way he says ''Hocus-pocus mind trick!''
Grimly, Seto looks at the image of depressed Yuna on the screen, everything clicking in place.
Suddenly, his chest felt heave as he thought of something he would rather die than witness!
''Yuna? Could it be ...? Did you ... lose?'' He said, barely in a whisper.
He expected for his rival to at the very least look at him, it would have been enough of an answer. But instead, he got the shock of his life when he saw those exotic eyes downcast, avoiding the screen as guilt, shame and dejection, along with some other emotions shine in her lovely eyes.
'No! It can't be!'
''W-what are you talkin' 'bout, Kaiba?'' Joey said nervously, laughing it off with the help of his geek friends.
Noah flinched as Mokuba and he stepped to the side when Seto grew tense. He had never seen this side of the young CEO before, and it was frightening to say the least.
Something snapped in the brunet's heart, and anger was all too happy to take over his entire being.
The nervous laughs were interrupted by a loud SLAM! and the group looked shocked at the enraged Duelist.
''ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?'' Seto yelled into the poor phone, his outburst making everything stop.
Even Yuna looked up to him.
''Yuna LOST!?'' Kaiba slams his hand on the desk again and leaps up in outrage. ''Are you telling me ... that ...'' He was trembling in his rage, the remains of the Shadows in his heart dancing in sheer joy at how good it was to bask in that uncontrollable anger. ''Are you saying Yuna gave her Duel Monsters championship crown to some nobody? That you lost that title, the title of Duel Queen I gave you on top of my Duel Tower on Alcatraz ... Are you telling me you LET SOMEONE TAKE THAT AWAY?! Nobody deserves that title but me!''
His eyes were glistening with his pure rage and hatred, the only twp feeling he was currently capable of, and were scaring the shit out or the already frightened group. The Hopkins, that were observing from beside the laptop, had never before been afraid in their lives.
How does Yuna stand up to this guy in their Duels?!
''Hold on, Seto!'' Yuna sadly whispers, almost pleads, having expected something among these lines. Yet it hurt even more so as the boy she loves glares at her like she was not worth more than the slime under his freshly polished boots.
She knew that he would no longer look at her the same way if she doesn't say something now, but Seto was seriously misunderstanding things and wouldn't even let her speak!
''Save it! I won't hear another word!'' He hisses at her. ''I think I've misjudged you, Yuna!'' The said girl actually flinched as he spat her name like it was poison in his mouth, but the words slapped her right in the face. ''You're a disgrace to the game!'' He didn't even know what he was saying. He was too ngry to ralize what was coming out of his too big, stupid mouth. ''I don't want to have anything with a make inu(loser dog) like you!'' With that, he hung up, not even bothering to see or hear if they were going to say something.
He was, however, shocked when he saw the shattered look of sadness on Yuna's face just before the screen flickered off.
'W-wha-what?'
He might have been caught off guard, but he was still panting hard from his yelling rant.
''Nii-sama ...'' Came the quiet mumble from Mokuba and he looked over to him. The boy had a scared-worried expression on his young face, and it only served as a slap in the face as he remembered the look on his rival's own heart-shaped face just before he could no longer see her.
Just then, as Mokuba was about to ask his brother if he was alright, a rather loud slap resonated in the room.
00000
Back at the motor home, a crestfallen Yuna wonders ''Now what?'' She no longer had the help of her only friend and rival. Pegasus, her caretaker, was missing. All her other old friends were other in Egypt or somewhere else, but she didn't dare get them mixed up in all of this. Yugi was taken from her, both body and soul.
She was alone.
Alone with people who called her their friend without even really knowing her.
Joey and Tristan are furious with Kaiba, but quickly recover.
Joey suggests that Professor Hawkins stay there while the rest of them grab the next flight. Rebeca thinks they're right—traveling around the country's not the best thing for her grandfather right now. Joey suggests that Duke stay there and take care of the professor, and he agrees.
Rebeca says she'll book their flights and they can take a train to the airport. She just hopes they can save Yugi before it's too late.
Everyone looked over to the silent leather-clad girl and almost jump out of their skins when she asks to burrow the laptop, then exited the motor home. They all stare worriedly after her, but wonder what she wanted the laptop for.
00000
In Egypt, Ryou was surprised to get an anonymous online call on his laptop while he was reading the news on the Internet. He hesitated a little, but decided to see who it was and answered the call.
Imagine his surprise when the first thing he noticed was tear filled crimson eyes gazing sadly at him from the other side.
He gasped.
''Yuna! What happened!? Why are you crying!?''
Before he finished his question, the entire household had gathered around him and were asking the very same questions. Bakura and Marik, who had been playing poker still held their hand cards, while Odion still had only a pair of boxers on as he had just ran out of the shower. Mana still held her book from which she had been learning, and Mahad was still holding onto her wand-like rod since they had been in the middle of a lesson. Ishizu still had the apron around her waist as sh had been cooking and Malik's hair was all over the place from his restless nap on the couch.
''What happened, my Pharaoh?'' The all almost synchronized the question, making a slight half choked sob and half chuckle escape her lips.
Bakura narrowed his eyes as Ishizu asked a reasonable question.
''Did something happen to your friends or Yugi?''
The Duel Queen nodded, only saying her little brother's name, but the Thief could tell that that wasn't all.
Mana caught on as well.
''You're not telling us everything!'' She pouted at her lifelong friend's almost empty eyes, obviously worried sick.
Yuna averted her eyes, an unexpected depressed shame washing over her lovely face.
Bakura down right glared now, knowing that there was only one person who could affect the Queen of Games this much, since only she could affect them at all.
''Does it have something to do with that damn Priest?!'' He hissed out, venom clear in his voice at the word 'Priest'. The others looked shocked between the Thief and the Pharaoh, almost dying from it as Yuna nodded.
Bakura swore in English, Japanese and ancient Egyptian.
00000
Mokuba couldn't believe what he had just saw and so he just stood there, gaping like a fish out of water at the sight before him.
Seto's eyes were wide, his head turned to the side from the unexpected force of the even less expected impact. He tentatively brought his hand up to touch his face, even slightly flinching in his shock as he stared at the green-haired boy in front of him.
Noah's hand stung like a bitch, but he was to angry to even notice. His breathing was irregular as he glared at the brunet CEO, still not believing all the thing he had said to his precious, hurt Nee-chii and feeling his rage too close to the surface.
When Seto finally recovered, anger was his first reaction. "How dare you!? I take you in and accept you as a brother, and this is how you repay me! You're just as rotten as your father was!"
Mokuba flinched at the words, knowing that his older brother knows just what spot to attack to really hurt someone.
But Noah wasn't going to let Seto start an actual argument that was irrelevant to the situation at hand.
"Shut up and listen, you blind fool!" That got the CEO to quickly quiet down and pay attention. "You can't tell me that you didn't see how Nee-chii looked so depressed! You fucking saw that she was hurting and so you still went off and yelled at her like that! Something obviously happened to Yugi! Something that she could have prevented, but wasn't fast enough or something! She lost her fucking brother! How did you feel all those times when your own brother was in danger!?''
Seto's eyes widened, but quickly narrowed.
''Don't you dare glare at me! I know full well what I did and I'm not proud of it! But that aside, the point is that Yuna had broken down just before they called and yet she still faced you! She may not have lost, per see, since we don't even know. But in her eyes, she has shamed herself as an older sibling and thus she saw herself as unworthy of being your rival and friend! But your stupid pride didn't let you see that!''
The brunet's jaw clenched.
''All you saw was the defeated look in her eyes and assume that she lost a freaking Duel and lost her goddamn title!''
Both of Kaiba's hands tightened into fists, as if he were getting ready to punch Noah.
''And what if she did lose a fucking duel! You said that you two had promised each other to always be there for the other! Does that mean that your word means so little? I thought my insane father had at least thought you that oaths were to be taken seriously!''
That was the last straw as Seto banged his fists against the wooden desk once again.
''THAT'S ENOUGH, NOAH!'' He was seething, but not because he was angry at the preteen. No he was angry at himself for not thinking clearly in the first place and saying all those things he didn't even mean in the slightest!
But hell if he was going to be spoken to by this brat in such a way!
''You have no right to speak to me this way! Especially since what I've done for you!''
Noah snorted. ''You gave me a new life history record. But Yuna Nee-chii gave me a new life and a new hope! I am more in-dept to her than you.''
Only then did the blood brothers realize just why Noah was risking ending up on the streets and without a legal existence. He was standing up for the girl that had actually gave him a chance to grow old and have his of family, his own life.
Mokuba understood all too well. After all, weren't he and Seto similar to Noah's and Yuna's situation?
For the first time since they left the virtual world, Seto realized that Yuna was far more than just a nee-chii(older sister) to Noah. She was his whole family besides him and his younger brother who had decided that Noah deserved to keep his surname.
Seto sighed, trying to calm down.
''You're right. I'm sorry.''
The younger boys stared at him in shock, but Noah soon recovered.
''I'm not the person you should be saying that to.''
The CEO shook his head.
''You are as well. I'm sorry for comparing you with Gozaboro. You're nothing like him. Really. But don't you worry. I plan on apologizing to Yuna as soon as we get to them!''
''Yeah!'' Mokuba cheered and Noah looked satisfied. He suddenly looked sheepish.
''Um ... Seto-nii?''
''Hm?'' The mentioned teen hummed, closing his eyes as he tried to relax and think about all that had happened.
''I'm really sorry for slapping you.'' Noah's cheeks flamed in embarrassment. ''I was just really angry and-''
''Stop apologizing when that actually helped me. You did nothing wrong.''
''Huh?'' Was all Noah
Mokuba smiled, rather amused, but soon turned to his brother, worried.
''Are you okay, Nii-sama?''
Kaiba says he's fine. ''Now I hava one more reason to hunt down and destroy those thugs.''
'They'll pay for hurting my Yuna and them causing me to hurt her, too!'
00000
The gang arrive at the train station, where Téa wonders how long the ride will be, and asks Duke if he wants to go instead of her. Nope, he says, he'll stick with Professor Hawkins in case those biker guys come back. Tristan says Duke has to keep an eye on Rebeca, too.
Yuna remembers Rebeca protesting that she wanted to go, too, and the professor telling her that it was too dangerous, adding that the Pharaoh had enough on her mind already—she didn't need the responsibility of looking after her, too. Crying, Rebeca had ran into the motor home.
Now, Yuna stands at the train station, staring at the ground in misery, while Téa looks at her in sympathy, something that was really annoying the shorter girl. She didn't need sympathy, just to get her little brother back and explain things to her best friend.
Duke warns them that they'd better get on the train, Joey and Tristan, Yuna and Téa grab their luggage and get on board. Duke waves as the train pulls out, and Joey and Tristan wave back, then plan to hit the dining car.
But Yuna remains silent in his grief.
Soon, Joey and Tristan are settled happily into their seat with sodas and bags of chips.
Yuna and Téa sit across from them.
Téa watches Yuna with a troubled look on her face, thinking that she's barely said a word all day. She's got to get her to say something!
She begins with a sneeze, which gets no response, then cheerfully tries to get her to look at the view.
Still nothing.
Then she rhapsodizes about Florida's beaches, and complains that she forgot to bring her bathing suit.
Even that doesn't work.
'She must really miss Yugi. It must be like a part of herself is missing—the fun, carefree side. Twins are like the same soul, right?'
She remembers happy moments with Yugi, and thinks that she misses him, too.
She tells Ynaa that she has to cheer up. She promises that they'll get Yugi back, but meanwhile she can't just sit around moping.
With a brief apology, Yuna gets up and walks away down the aisle.
Tristan thinks she needs to be alone for a while.
''She is alone.'' Joey says. ''That's the problem. But she'll be all right soon enough, because we're going to rescue Yugi!''
Téa agrees.
00000
Meanwhile, Yuna stands by herself between the train cars, looking out the window.
'How could I be so foolish!? I know that everyone is born with a little amount of darkness in their hearts, but that it doesn't always grow. But that doesn't mean that it's not there! And that damned seal awakens it until the person is not even the shell of their former selves! But Yugi ... He gave in to the darkness inside his heart, and Yugi paid the price. I recall him sacrificing Dark Magician Girl, the only monster that looks like our childhood friend Mana, to Catapult Turtle, then facing the ranks of my angry monsters he cruelly discarded. He had begged them to forgive him, but it was too late. He lost the duel, and Yugi lost his soul. Why did they let it happen?'
Yun punches the wall of the train, then sinks to the floor in anguish, moaning that she's lost Yugi forever.
'And Seto ... I'll never be what I used to be to him. I lost everything!'
Silent tears started falling from the crimson eyes as the proud girl clutches her Millennium Puzzle in one hand and her Deck in the other, utterly lost to the rest of the world.
00000
The train hurtles along the tracks. Téa says that Yuna's been gone for a while, then Tristan notices that she's not the only one. Their car is now empty of passengers except for themselves.
Téa's freaked out!
00000
In his temple, Dartz laughs, saying that a vacant train car is the least of their problems.
He was simply enjoying it all.
''Soon, Nameless Pharaoh! Very soon, you'll be in my hands and help me with my plans!''
00000
As the train crosses a bridge, Joey and the others climb the stairs to the upper level of the train, only to find that it's empty, too.
''There's not a soul here,'' says Joey, and Tristan asks if he has to say "soul."
They continue to search, and Yuna finally returns.
Joey tells her that something weird's going on. Tristan says the whole train ride is another trap, and Joey's sure those same slime balls are behind it. They must be on board.
Yuna gets fierce, and runs off to find them.
Yuna crosses to the next car. Téa and the others try to follow, but before she can cross the connection, the train cars disengage. Yuna reaches out to her, and she leaps to join her, but Joey and Tristan are trapped in the car behind.
Yuna calls to them to get help.
00000
As their half of the train slows to a stop, Joey and Tristan jump out.
''We're in the middle of nowhere!'' Joey says, ''And we don't even know where the other two are going to end up.'' He tells them to hang in there, and Tristan says it's just him and Joey now.
Then they hear a chuckle behind them.
Rex Raptor appears from inside the train, wearing one of the Dark Duel Disks, with a strange look in his eyes. He jumps down to the ground, saying he has a score to settle with Joey—he took Rex's Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
Joey says this isn't the time, but Rex says it's the perfect time—for revenge!
00000
In the still-moving cars up ahead, Yuna and Téa continue to look for any other passengers. Téa finds an intercom and tries to contact the conductor, but there's no answer. They reach the engine, and Yuna runs outside, saying she has to get in there and try to stop the train. She begins to climb a ladder to the roof of the engine, saying there might be a hatch she can use to get inside.
But atop the train she finds Weevil Underwood waiting for her, demanding a rematch with the Queen of Games.
Yuna wants to know who put Weevil up to this, but he claims no one did. It's time to try out his new secret weapon. He pulls the glowing Orichalcos stone out of his pocket.
00000
Rex has also just shown Joey and Tristan his Orichalcos stone. Tristan asks Rex where he got it, and Joey says he knew it—Rex is working for them.
00000
Yuna tells Weevil he's been brainwashed, and Téa says those guys are just using him, but Weevil doesn't care as long as he has ultimate power. Yuna tells him he's wrong, but Weevil says to just duel him.
Téa climbs up to the roof of the engine, asking Weevil if he doesn't realize that if they go through with the duel, one of them will lose his soul forever.
''Of course I know!'' Weevil says. ''That's the reason I'm here, to seal Yuna away. Soon the Pharaoh will be locked away with her brother, Yugi.''
Yuna demands to know where Yugi is, and Weevil says the only way she'll ever find out is to duel him.
Yuna accepts the challenge, asking her cards to forgive her for all that has been happening to them.
00000
Rex activates his Duel Disk as well, saying he's going to enjoy this.
Joey asks what Rex did with his friends, but Rex says he did nothing—Weevil's handling those two while he deals with Joey.
Joey tells Rex he picked the wrong side, but Rex says he's been given more power than Joey ever dreamed of. Joey says he can duel circles around Rex, and tells him to get out of the way.
But Rex isn't going anywhere until they duel.
Reluctantly, Joey agrees, saying he'll trample this geek, and then they can go find Yuna and Téa.
Rex pulls out the Seal of Orichalcos. Joey warns him to drop the card, saying it's evil and Rex has no idea what he's doing.
But Rex slaps the card into his Duel Disk, and the Seal forms around him and Joey, throwing Tristan outside its boundary. Rex's eyes glow red and the Seal appears in his forehead.
''That's what I call power!''
Tristan sits up, telling Joey that now whoever loses will lose his soul.
Joey didn't really need the reminder. He says he refuses to duel, but Rex tells him he has no choice.
00000
Meanwhile, on top of the train's engine, Weevil tells Yuna that he's improved since their last duel.
Yuna warns Téa to get back in the train. It's too dangerous up there, and there's no telling what Weevil will do.
Weevil holds up the Seal of Orichalcos and laughs, taunting Yuna that this is the card that locked Yugi away.
He slots the card into his Duel Disk, and the Seal forms, knocking Téa off the engine. As Yuna watches in horror, she flies through the air, just barely catching onto the roof of the car behind. Then she slides back even farther, but catches onto a seam in the roof. She tells Yuna she's all right, and she turns back to Weevil, who laughs as his eyes grow red and the Seal appears in his forehead.
00000
Dartz kneels before the altar of his temple, fire reflecting in his eyes.
''The battles are underway.''
Rafael comes up behind him, saying that if all goes well, the soul of the Pharaoh will soon be his.
''But whatever the outcome, we'll still get two souls.''
Dartz chuckles.
''You know, I kind of wish to Duel her myself, Rafael. Oh well! We need her strength more than my desire to duel her.''
00000
Weevil begins, playing Pheromone Wasp (800 ATK). It's boosted to 1300 attack points by the Seal of Orichalcos. Then he sets two cards face down and ends his turn.
Yuna draws, and summons Obnoxious Celtic Guardian (1400 ATK).
00000
Back with Rex and Joey, Rex asks if Joey's going to duel, or just stand there while he takes him apart. Joey doesn't like it, but he's got no choice. Still, he thinks that as much as he hates this little runt, he can't let the Orichalcos take him.
No one deserves that.
Rex says that before his turn begins, he can play a card, and brings his Gilasaurus (1400 ATK) onto the field. Joey protests, but Rex explains that if he has Gilasaurus in his hand, it automatically jumps to the field before he makes his move. And he's got two.
A second Gilasaurus joins the first.
Next, Rex summons Chitoptera (1400 ATK), and all three of his monsters' attacks are raised to 1900 by the Seal of Orichalcos. Joey's facing a formidable array of monsters before he's even had his first turn!
But Joey chuckles. Rex has just had a lucky draw on his opening hand. You can't win a duel on just luck. Rex says Joey only beat him last time because he got lucky. Joey's annoyed—and even more so when Tristan says Rex is right.
Finally, Rex sets a card face down and ends his turn.
Joey draws, thinking he only has one monster in his hand that can stand up to those lizards. He summons Panther Warrior (2000 ATK) in attack mode. But it can't attack unless he summons another monster first. He sets his Scapegoat magic card face down and ends his turn.
00000
Atop the train, Weevil summons Pheromone Wasp again, while Yuna thinks that her Celtic Guardian has been infected by Weevil's Parasite Caterpillar, so it's no longer able to protect his life points. Weevil's Pheromone Wasp is able to attack her directly, reducing her life points to 2700. Then Pheromone Wasp's effect is activated, allowing Weevil to summon any insect monster in his deck to the field.
He summons Leghul (300 ATK), whose attack is raised to 800 points, then activates the magic card, Insect Barrier, which protects him from attack by Insect monsters.
Téa says Yuna doesn't have any insect monsters in her deck, but Weevil points out that Celtic Guardian has been turned into an insect called Poison Butterfly by Parasite Caterpillar's infection. Even though it now has 2700 attack points, it can't attack thanks to Weevil's Insect Barrier.
Yuna thinks that Weevil is a much stronger duelist than she remembers, now that he's been infused with the power of the Orichalcos.
But she refuses to let Weevil stand in the way of rescuing Yugi.
Yuna draws.
00000
Dartz laughs, saying that the soul of the Pharaoh is nearly in his grasp.
He looks at the image of Yugi in stone on the temple wall.
''After all, I have the perfect bait.'' He cackles evilly. ''And with the Pharaoh in my hands, my dreams will become a reality!'' He looks to the side, his eyes landing on a picture showing an old man, a child and two young adults, all with big, happy smiles on their faces. ''Soon, I'll make this world into paradise!''
00000
Tristan exclaims that was Joey's last monster!
And Joey advises him that his cheerleading skills need work.
Finally, Rex attacks with Gilasaurus, but Joey activates Scapegoat to block the attack.
Rex grumbles that he always hated those hairballs, as Joey laughs that they always hated him, too.
Relieved Tristan thought Joey was a goner, and tells Joey to warn him when he's going to save himself!
00000
The engine Yuna and Weevil are dueling on is hurtling towards an overpass.
Yuna warns Weevil to look out, and Weevil crouches down just in time to avoid being hit. Weevil thanks her for the warning, then continues his move, drawing a magic card that has him chuckling.
He plays Cell Division, using it to duplicate his Leghul.
Yuna says he's not afraid of a monster with only 800 attack points, but Weevil says he's disappointed that she doesn't recognize a good strategy.
Yuna sighs, already really pissed off with this guy. She just wanted to get Yugi back, stop Dartz's plan and go talk with Seto to clear things up.
This guy was just as annoying as the bugs he loved so much!
00000
Rex says that was the lowest point of his life.
''Since then, it's been one bad day after another. And I owe it all to you, Joey Wheeler!''
Joey asks Rex if he's finished. He's sick of Rex's sob story.
He tells Rex to get a life.
Rex says that's the point—he doesn't have a life any more. Joey took it away, and now he wants it back.
''I can't see any hope for the future as long as I can't defeat you!''
''How can you be so blind to Hope when its Light had shined upon you just a few hours ago?'' Joey exclaimed across the field to his, obviously stupid, opponent.
''What are you talking about, Wheeler?'' Rex had no idea what the blond was saying, and it was irritating him!
''The Light of Hope! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! Don't you know the single word that means that?''
Rex growled. ''Enlighten me!''
A smirk. ''Yuna.''
Rex's eyes almost popped out of his head as he heard the most talked about word in the world, only now knowing its true meaning. ''What?''
Joey stared him straight in the eyes. ''Yuna is special in more ways than one. But most people don't even know what her name means. 'Light of Hope'. Heh. It suits her, don't you think?'' He said as he looks to his Duel Disk. ''Before I met her, I was just a punk who didn't care about anything but hanging out with his friends and getting into fights. Sure, I entered Duelist Kingdom to get the money for my sister's eye operation, but I didn't care about Duel Monsters or my cards. To me, that whole tournament had been just a fucked up game, not even knowing that two lives were at stake. And honestly ...'' He snorted. ''I hadn't really cared. It was the brother of the guy whose guts I hated and some old man I never even met. I just plain didn't give a fuck.''
Rex stared at him like he had just grown a second head, completely disbelieving.
The blond chuckled. ''Yuna showed me that I was a jerk when I saw how she supported that bastard Mr Moneybags even though he was so cruel to her just minutes before. It inspired me to look deep into myself, and after that I started tryin' to get better at the game that she treasured so much. I got better, but every time I challenged Kaiba to a duel, he would either sneer at me and decline, or trash me beyond recognition that it was even a duel. In Battle City ...''
Joey didn't know why he was telling Rex all this, but he knew that he couldn't just let this guy treat him like a piece of shit.
Besides, the guy needs to see that life is more than just winning.
''In Battle City ... For the first time, I felt that I should really get better at Duel Monsters. The very first duel in that tournament was played and won by the Queen of Games herself. She showed me what it was to be a True Duelist! And I desperately wanted to be in the same league as her. But no matter how close I came to that goal, I would see how far I actually was from it whenever I saw the connection between her and Kaiba, and their Decks. I only then realized that I can even by some fluke of luck defeat her or Kaiba, but I would still never be on the same level as them. I was crushed, until one day when we were hanging out with Mokuba, he said something that caught my attention. Do you know what that was?''
Rex just glared, looking annoyed, although he wanted to know.
Joey snorted. ''He quoted their butler's last words. 'My young master is beyond your reach, touching the stars with his rival!' That was just before DK. Imagine that, Kaiba and Yuna really are on a completely different level than the rest of us, yet there are other true duelists around. But those two always make a person want to give it their all and more. But with their past, they should have long ago fell apart. Kaiba especially. But Yuna saved him from it, just like she showed me what it means to be connected to one's deck. I learned to trust my cards and to duel for more than pride and titles.''
Joey tells Rex he's dueling for the wrong reasons. To him, the game is about striving to be his best. It's taught him to trust himself, and to keep trying, no matter how tough things get. Remembering some of his past duels, he says that things have gotten pretty tough. But he never gave up, no matter what. Rex just pulls his hat down over his eyes, and Joey asks him if he can't handle the fact that Duel Monsters isn't all about fame and fortune.
00000
Meanwhile, the train engine emerges from a tunnel as Weevil and Yuna's duel continues. Weevil laughs, asking Yuna if it feels like her life is spinning out of control.
Yuna says that's enough.
Weevil reminds her that two turns have passed since his cocoon appeared on the field. It won't be long before it hatches, and when it does, Yuna will meet the same fate as her little brother Yugi.
Thinking that she never meant for this to happen, Yuna draws and summons Kuriboh, who sprouts antennae as it turns into an insect. Weevil's Insect Queen gains another 200 attack points from having another insect on the field, increasing its attack to 3500.
Then Yuna sets a card face down.
00000
In his temple, Dartz kneels before the altar, telling the Great Leviathan that soon the soul of the Pharaoh will be his.
''Once the Light of Hope diminishes, the other two will be easy to take care of and then my plan will succeed!''
00000
Weevil tells Yuna that she's about to pay the ultimate price, and Weevil will be the new King of Games!
"Please don't lose, Yuna. If you disappear, too..." Tea couldn't even think it. Not when Yugi's life was on the line of a single card game!
The engine carrying Yami and Weevil's duel continues to speed down the tracks. Weevil says this train's been rerouted.
''Next stop Loserville! My turn. Draw."
But Yuna activates her trap card, Natural Selection, which makes a clone of Weevil's Insect Queen and adds it to Yuna's side of the field, then destroys the original.
Weevil sacrifices the Insect Queen's egg to summon Armored Centipede (1600 ATK). Its attack rises to 2100 from the Seal of Orichalcos' effect. Then he attacks Yuna's Kuriboh with it. Armored Centipede gains 500 attack points for every insect it destroys, and Kuriboh's been turned to an insect by DNA Surgery, so Armored Centipede's attack is raised to to 2600. Weevil ends his turn, and Yuna's cloned Insect Queen is destroyed, since Natural Selection's effect only lasts for one turn.
Now the only monster on Yuna's side of the field is Weevil's cocoon—and it's about to hatch.
00000
Back at Joey and Rex's duel, it's a dragon showdown.
And, Rex says, Joey's is about to be toast.
Rex attacks with Tyrant Dragon, and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon is destroyed, reducing Joey's life points to 300.
Joey apologizes to the Red-Eyes, but Rex says he doesn't have to say goodbye to him just yet, because his trap card will bring him back. Rex activates Chain of the Underworld, reviving the Red-Eyes Black Dragon on Joey's side of the field, but reducing its attack by 700 points, to 1700.
Tristan worries that if Joey loses all his life points, he'll lose his soul!
Rex says this was his plan all along. Tyrant Dragon can attack twice in one turn, as long as his opponent has another monster on the field. And now, Joey does.
Joey tries again to talk to Rex, telling him that those people he's teamed up with aren't his friends, and they'll turn on him. Rex says it doesn't matter, because he already has what he needs—the power to annihilate Joey. Then he says that the Chain of the Underworld lets Joey draw one card, but it won't help.
Joey draws, warning Rex not to do this—he's messing with supernatural powers he could never understand.
'I should know, I felt that darkness inside that damned seal in my duel with Mai!'
But Rex insists he knows what he's doing.
00000
Joey plays Release Restriction to release Gearfried's true form, Gearfried the Swordmaster (2700 ATK).
Rex laughs—Joey went through that whole story for this? ''That monster's useless.''
But then Joey reveals the Claw of Hermos.
''That, on the other hand, might help you.''
00000
Weevil continues laughing like a madman. He's given Yuna a powerful monster—but it takes 500 life points from her for every turn it stays on the field.
Yuna tells Weevil he shouldn't be laughing, and shows him the Eye of Timaeus card. She summons the dragon, and tries to fuse it with Poison Butterfly, but Timaeus is destroyed and Poison Butterfly remains on the field.
Yuna is horrified—Timaeus has abandoned her.
'No! It must be because of what happened with Yugi! Could it be that I can't be forgiven that I hadn't been able to stop Yugi from taking my cards and then him using them in such a way. Like sacrifices. What have I done!? My companions, my monsters ... Please forgive me!' Yuna was sure that she would have burst into teras if she hadn't had more important matters at hand. She needed to stay strong and then show her Deck that she was truly remorseful of what had happened.
Weevil shrieks with glee, telling Ynaa that the dark magic of the Orichalcos is within her because of her evil soul.
''In his last duel, Yugi turned his back on all your monsters, and now Timaeus is returning the favor to you!How does it feel, to you who has always had their favor, to now be discarded by them in such a way? It must hurt. Oh, poor Pharaoh! You make me sick!''
Téa tells Yuna not to listen to Weevil, but Yuna knows he's right. If she had been able to stop Yugi, her cards would still trust her! But like this ...
Yuna ends her turn.
Poison Butterfly's effect activates, and Yuna loses 500 life points, reducing her score to 700. Téa worries that if the Pharaoh loses this duel, she's a goner, and they'll never rescue Yugi!
Weevil draws and sets one card face down, ending his turn.
00000
Joey says he guesses Rex recognizes the Claw of Hermos.
Rex just grimaces, remembering the last time Joey played that card.
Joey activates Hermos, combining it with the Red-Eyes Black Dragon to form the Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword, which he equips to Gearfried the Swordmaster.
''Now Gearfried gains 500 attack points for every dragon on the field, along with another 1000 attack points, for a total of 4100 points. Not only that, the Dragon Sword allows Gearfried to destroy any monster automatically, so I use its effect to destroy your Tyrant Dragon.''
Now Rex is wide open for attack.
Joey hesitates, knowing that if he beats Rex, the Orichalcos gets his soul, but if he doesn't, he'll never save Yugi.
Rex begs Joey not to attack, but Joey says he's gotta. But he promises that when he saves Yugi, he'll save Rex, too. Joey attacks with Gearfried the Swordmaster, and Rex is defeated.
The Seal of Orichalcos shrinks around Rex, and his soul is sucked out into a vortex in the sky as he screams, the falls to the ground.
Tristan runs to Rex, trying to wake him up.
But Joey says it's no use.
''The Orichalcos has him now.''
But he promises they'll get him back, as soon as they find Pegasus and Yugi. First they have to find this Dartz guy, and then they'll find the others.
Joey calls out a challenge to Dartz—they're coming to get him, and they're not leaving without their friends!
00000
Yuna says it's her move now.
Weevil says he can't wait to deliver Yuna's soul to Dartz, but she says the duel's not over yet.
She summons Breaker the Magical Warrior (1600 ATK).
''Breaker's attack rises to 1900 when it's summoned.''
Weevil activates his trap card, Infestation, which drains 100 attack points from each of their monsters, subtracting them from their life points. Weevil's life points go down to 3800, but Yuna's are down to 500.
At the end of Yuna's turn, Poison Butterfly will take Yuna's last 500 life points, and she'll lose the duel.
Yuna says her turn isn't over yet.
But Weevil says she can't win, but he's willing to do her a favor before she loses. He has a card in his pocket he thinks Yuna would like to see. It's the least he can do to repay Yuna for ruining his life.
Weevil tells Yuna that Yugi's spirit is trapped deep in the caverns of Dartz's lair, and he knows how to set him free.
Yuna demands that Weevil to tell him how to save Yugi right now!
Weevil laughs, saying that in order to release Yugi's soul, she'll need a special card, and Weevil's got it right there.
But the card he brings out of his pocket, keeping its face hidden from Yuna, is an ordinary insect card.
Yuna demands that Weevil give her the card, but Weevil tells her that's not a nice way to ask. As she starts to walk towards Weevil, Weevil says he'll teach Yuna a lesson and rips the card in half, telling Yuna that Yugi's gone forever.
Yuna screams in despair and outrage.
''Nooooo!''
Then ahe glares at Weevil fiercely, calling him a snake.
Weevil laughs, saying it was just a joke. He tore up a useless bug card.
Téa says that's not funny, and Yuna returns to his side of the field, telling Weevil he'll pay for that.
Weevil's a little freaked by Yuna's fury. He'd never witnessed the Duel Queen this angry and he started to wonder why people feared Kaiba's glares the most when the one that was set on him could make a God Monster piss itself. There was a fire burning deep inside the ancient looking eyes as Shadows and Light fought the ancient, never ending battle in the bloody pools of red.
And although he was ready to piss in his pants, Weevil had never seen anything more beautiful in his life.
He tries to collect himself, saying that there's nothing Yuna can do to win.
Yuna doesn't agree. She activates Breaker's special ability.
Weevil says big deal. ''So you can destroy a magic or trap card... oops!''
Yuna destroys Weevil's Insect Barrier, and now her monsters are free to attack. Breaker's attack is reduced to 1500 by the use of its effect, but Yuna says it's a small price to pay, because now she can destroy Weevil and make him pay for that stunt he pulled.
She attacks Weevil's Armored Centipede with Poison Butterfly, and Weevil's life points are reduced to 3700. Then she direct attacks with Breaker the Magical Warrior, bringing Weevil down to 2200 life points.
Weevil tells Yuna it was a nice try. ''But now your turn will end, and Poison Butterfly will take the rest of your life points!'' He dances wildly, jumping up and clicking his heels together, saying he wins.
But Yuna's not done yet. She plays the magic card, Berserker Soul, discarding her hand to draw new cards until she draws a magic or trap card. Each monster she draws allows her to attack with one of the monsters she has on the field, as long as that monster has 1500 attack points or less—which Breaker now does.
Weevil realizes that Yuna's been planning this all along!
Yuna draws.
Her first card is Queen's Knight, allowing Breaker to attack and reduce Weevil's life points to 700.
Then she draws Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts, allowing her to attack again.
Weevil's life points are zero, but Yuna doesn't stop. She draws another monster and attacks again, and again.
Suddenly she stops and Tea runs to her, begging her to stop as Weevil falls to his knees from the repeated attacks, the Seal of Orichalcos shrinking around him.
Still Yunaa draws... But she doesn't attack.
Panting, Yuna sees Weevil kneeling on the other side of the field, and finally her rage subsides.
She looks at the card in her hand, Dark Magician Girl, thinking that she has a few promises to keep.
'But first, I must do something about this rage. The seal is affecting me even though I never even touched it! This ancient rage ... Nameless Pharaoh, what have you seen and lived through to be so angry with the seal? Or is it the cruel stunt Weevil pulled?'
Yuna calmed down, knowing that there has to be a good reason for her to feel that sudden, ancient rage.
00000
Two more victims appear on Dartz's wall of souls—Rex and Weevil.
'So many souls,' Dartz thinks, 'so little time. The Great Leviathan is growing impatient.'
Dartz must provide him with the power he needs to awaken, and for that, he needs the soul of the Pharaoh.
00000
Yuna falls to her knees, still panting but for a different reason, and stares at her now empty hands.
The train speeds out of control, derailing and flying off a cliff.
Dartz watches the train fall, thinking he needs the Pharaoh alive. From the woods at the bottom of a cliff, Téa's voice is heard, asking Yuna if she's all right.
''Barely,'' she responds.
At the top of the cliff, a old man in robes looks down.
A/N: OH MY GOD! 40 CHAPTERS ARE DONE! I can't believe it!
It's all thanks to you lovely readers, especially Red-Eyes-Black-Dragon516, who have read and maybe reviewed my story!
Thanks for the support! If you have any questions, please don't be shy to ask!
R&R