Chapter 3: History Lessons and Plans
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It had been a week since the duel with Pegasus and they had lost Sugoroku to Pegasus in the Shadow Game. After it had happened Sabah had called an ambulance and had him taken directly to the hospital well she had put Abasi to bed much to her friends dismay as they thought that she was the same as Grandpa. In the end it took Yugi and her to convince them that she would be alright. After they had left did she confront him about what had happened and learned that he was aware of their family's gift.
Two days later over dinner, she talked to them both. "I understand that both of you would like to know about what Abasi did to save me from being banished into the shadow Realm?" She asked them both.
"I know I would." Abasi said sarcastically. She even though it had been a two days she was still recovering, having never shown that kind of power before.
Sabah sighed before she took a sip of her tea. "Alright. As you both know our family comes from a long line of magicians and seers from the courts of ancient Egypt. What you don't know is that there is one in every few generations that has more power than any of the pervious generations ever had combined. I believe that you Abasi are the next in line for this power, to be a priestess of the modern world."
That made Abasi and Yugi stare at her aunt in shock. "You're kidding right?" Abasi asked.
"No I am not. Our family are decedents of the priests that once served the gods and pharaohs of Egypt." Sabah looked at Yugi's puzzle. "If I understand correctly that it the completed from of the Millennium Puzzle that once belonged to the nameless Pharaoh? As such you two are to use not only your skills as duelist but your strong wills as well to recover Sugoroku's stolen soul. With that in mind my dear I have something's you will need."
Picking up an old warn box that Abasi had seen many times but had never been allowed to touch, Sabah placed it on the table and opened it. She first pulled out an old warn book with the eye of Horus, which also means healing and protection on the cover. It was warn and had some miles on it but other than that it was in good shape. "Originally all the spells and ceremonies in this book were once on scrolls but were transferred to see to it that future generations would have them. It has a spell of protection on it to not only keep it in tact but only members of our family and those we trust can touch it."
Abasi took the book and opened it to look at its pages with Yugi looking over her shoulder. Even though he could not read hieroglyphs, Yugi could see that some of the spells were complicated. Abasi on the other had was speechless. "Hey that freezing spell that Pegasus used is in here and how to counter act it. It even explains how to dispel the effects of the Shadow Realm but it looks really complicated." She said reading it over.
Sabah laughed a little. "I never could master that one as it was always beyond my skills and power but I believe that you will one day, if only out of nicety. I know that you both will take good care of it and look out for each other. Now there is one more thing that will help you with this next stage of your training."
They both watched as she pulled out a small object wrapped in silk and started to unwrap it. Both of their jaws dropped when she held it up for them to see. It was a round amulet made of gold, it was flat on the back but rounded on top. Inlayed on the surface with the figure of a bird with its wings spread and curled around its body, held in its claws was a green jewel. It was held on a gold chain that was clearly newer then the amulet itself. Sabah got up, walked around the table and secured it around Abasi's neck. The moment it rested against Abasi's chest the jewel glowed brightly as the gold aura once again surrounded her and filled her eyes for a moment. When it faded Abasi looked better then she had since they had lost grandpa, rested and there was color back in her face.
Felling the difference Abasi stretched and rolled her shoulders a bit. "Wow, that feels-" she paused "I can't even describe how it feels."
Sabah nodded as she took her seat again. "Given time you will."
That had been a week a ago and both of them were starting to get worried about how they were going to get grandpa back. Surprisingly Yami had been quiet since the duel and when Abasi had asked Yugi how he was doing all Yugi could say for sure was that he was also worried about grandpa. One day after school they had just reached Yugi's place when they found an envelope addressed to Yugi, wedged in the door. Confused Yugi opened it and found that it was cards that were his invitation to the Duelist Kingdom tournament.
"A tournament at Duelist Kingdom?" Tea sked the next day at school when Yugi showed the rest of his friends the invitation cards. "Isn't that an island?"
"So that is where Pegasus is keeping your Grandpa?"
"Maybe. The only way to know for sure is to become a contestant." Yugi explained as he stared at a card. "The boat is going to be leaving in two days."
"But you can't go, it could be dangerous." Tea said.
"I already told him that but he won't listen." Abasi said as she frowned at her short friend. She was still new to the group but she was still worried of his safety.
"I have to go it's the only clue I have for rescuing grandpa."
"I still can't believe it. Pegasus used some kind of wearied spell to grab your grandpa's soul away and now his toying with you. Forcing you to duel in the tournament." Tristan said before he turned to Abasi. "Isn't there anything you can do to bring grandpa's soul back?"
Abasi gritted her teeth. "I know magic tricks Tristan I'm not a real magician." She lied. Well half lied as she was a magician in training or a priestess in training now. She hated keeping the truth from them but she felt now was not the right time to tell them all her family secret.
"It's to bad that we can't come with you Yugi, but without invitations we can't." Joey said feeling useless at not being able to help his best friend or his sister. "Wish we could help ya pale."
Just then Tristan noticed something interesting about one of the cards. That the winner revised a prize of 3 million dollars. Hearing this Joey immediately snatched the card and looked at it with longing that confused Abasi a bit well Yugi said that he didn't care about money. During the day Abasi found it hard to concentrate on her lessons at school as she thought over everything they had all talked about and what her aunt had told her about her family. She knew that if Yugi and Yami went on their own they would be in a lot of trouble in a hurry. So telling Yugi that she would meet him back at home she caught up to Tea and Tristan and told them her idea.
"You want us to sneak onto the boat?" Tea asked her.
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"Are you nuts?" Tristan asked. "We could get into a lot of trouble or arrested?"
"Since when has that ever been a problem for you or Joey?" Abasi asked giving him look. "Come on, you guys know that Yugi is going to need our support and I know you both would do anything to save Grandpa."
"Your right we would." Tea said with a determined look on her face. "I'm in."
Tristan looked from one girl to the other like they were both crazy but flinched when they looked at him for his answer. He then realized they were right. "Alright I'm in but what about Joey, you going to include him?"
Abasi smiled as she fiddled with her amulet's chain. "I have a feeling that he already has his own plan in mind and Yugi will back him on it." They worked out a few more details that evening over some burgers before heading to their homes.
"Hey Abasi what took you so long?" Yugi asked when she walked in to the living room.
"Sorry Yugi I had to go to the library and look up something for my school project and I grabbed some dinner on the way home too." She lied.
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The night the boat was at the docks and all of the duelists invited to the tournament were lined up and waiting for their turns to get on board. Abasi, Tristan, and Tea were hiding amongst some creates as they watched Yugi stand in line but then left it to "save Joey". Abasi smiled at the two of them with a knowing look and a shrug. Tea just shook her head as they snuck closer to the ship. When they saw their chance they hid in one of the creates. It was a bumpy ride and they kept bumping into each other as they was lifted on to the boat but they didn't have to wait long till it was set down and secured.
They waited an hour before climbing out, after checking that there was no one around and hid near a set of stairs. They spotted Yugi and Joey at the rail talking amongst them self's. Just then a blond women approached them. She called Yugi by name and seemed surprised that Yugi had beat Kaiba and seemed rather full of herself. Joey on the other had looked smitten and tried flirting with her but she flat out turned him down, calling him a chump. She then said that she would crush all of them eventually as she walked away.
"How arrogant. There's no one better at playing duel monsters then Yugi." Tea said as she glared at the older women.
"I second you on that." Abasi growled as she also glared at Mai as she diapered in side.
"Be quite you two, they'll hear you." Tristan said shushing them.
"I don't care, Yugi is still the best." They both said, then exchanged smiles.
With all of the competing duelists inside the three of them hid up on deck of the ship next to the life boats. Abasi wasn't sure how long they had been there hiding but she knew that it was freezing. She had just started to pull some supply's she had in her bag when Tristan hissed at Tea to get down.
"But its freezing I can't sit still." Tea complained as she rubbed her arms.
Tristan chuckled. "In another few hours the sun will rise."
"That's not funny Tristan."
"Tea here." Abasi handed her a thermal blanket. Tea took it as Abasi took out two more, one for her and for Tristan.
"Well you certainly came prepared." Tristan said as he rapped the blanket around his shoulders. "You got anything else in there, like something warm to drink?"
"Not without a fire to heat some water. Sorry, but I do have some military rations if you're hungry." Abasi said pulling out a brown sealed packet. Both of her friends gave her a look of disbelief well she simply shrugged. "I didn't know what the accommodations for us would be like once the officials learned that we were tagging along. So I thought ahead."
Tristan was about to respond when they heard one of the doors open and he told both of them to get down. They watched as someone walked to the rail and it wasn't long after that Tea recognized Bakura. "What's he doing here?"
"Ah guess he's in the tournament."
Abasi wasn't sure as she frowned at their white haired friend, as she séance something strange from him that hadn't been there before. She tried to figure it out when he headed back inside probably to get away from the cold. They were just disgusting what they would do when the boat docked when they heard Yugi shout Joey's name. Looking around they saw Yugi at the rail as Joey jumping into the water.
"What is the moron doing?' Abasi shouted they ran over to the rail to spot Joey in the water. Tristan looked around and found a latter and brought it over as they saw Yugi jump into the water to save him. "You two help them I'll grab their stuff so no one steals any of it."
By the time she had grabbed their decks and Yugi's bag and joined them again Yugi and Joey were back on deck and soaking wet. "You two alright?"
"Ya but that was close. I'm sure glade you guys showed up, really glade." Yugi said as he smiled at the three of them.
"We're a team, we'll always stick together."
"We'll always watch your back."
"And your stuff." Abasi added with a smile as she put their stuff to the side as she grabbed two of the blankets and wrapped both of them up in them. When they both gave her a raised eye brows at her actions she frowned. "The last thing we need is you two catching a cold or worse."
"Thanks a lot you guys."
"I'm sorry Yugi, I failed. I only got two of your Exodia cards." Joey said as he held up the two soaked cards and looking disappointed in himself.
"It's ok Joey."
"It's not ok, it's always this way with me. I'm never able to help anybody. Not even my own sister Serenity." Joey said as he looked sad.
"You have a sister Joey?" Tea asked.
"I believe that's what he just said but why are you only telling us this now?" Abasi asked.
"Our parents divorced years ago, when we were kids. She lives far away with our mom. She's had really bad eyes since she was born. Eventually she'll go blind." Joey said
They all really felt bad hearing this and they really felt for him at his want to help his sister out. It made since to Abasi that Joey would enter the tournament to not just help recover Yugi's grandpa but get the prize money to save his sister's eye sight. They all understood this and didn't question him any further. They went in to get the two of them dried off before they stood at the bow of the ship to watch the sun come up.
"We'll both do our best Joey. You for your sister and me for my grandpa."
"That's right we'll do this together." "Tea said as the island came into view. They watched as the boat came closer to the island and Abasi could see that it was pretty big but other than the dock and what looked like a castle on a cliff, Abasi didn't see much else for manmade structures. It was as they were starting to disembark that Tristan realized that they may have a problem.
"Hey Tea, Abasi, what if one of those security guards find out we're stowaways?"
"Just relax Tristan. If you just act like you belong then they won't suspect a thing." Abasi said calmly.
"Ya but maybe we should just play it safe and swim back." He said.
"We're in the middle of nowhere lame brain. If you can just try to act normal we'll be ok." Tea snapped at him to try and put him at ease but the rest of them could see that it didn't work as he seemed to march off the ship. It seemed for a second that he had blown their cover when a security guard started to talk to him but he was only telling Tristan to not be nervous as they were guest.
"Oh don't mind him he just the uptight about the up and coming duels is all." Abasi said as she grabbed the back of Tristan's coat and pulled him over the others. He was still a nervous wreck as they waited.
"I think I just had a heart attack."
"Way to play it cool Tristan that wasn't subspecies at all." Tea said well Abasi laughed behind her hand. Suddenly Joey sneezed and both girls had to dodge a large booger that hung from his nose which he then sucked back in. Abasi and Tea were both grossed out.
"You wouldn't have caught that cold if it wasn't for Weevil." Yugi said feeling bad.
"That may be true but he didn't have to jump into the ocean to try and receive them either but what's done is done." Abasi said fishing out some tissue for Joey. "I'll keep an eye out for some Cedar leaves and an Oregon Grape plant. They'll make a good remedy for that cold but no grantees."
"Ah thanks but no thanks Abasi. Speaking of our wormy friend, it looks like he just slithered his way off the boat and is already looking to start trouble." Joey said as he wiped his nose before he glared at Weevil. "That slime ball, I'd like to wipe that smirk off his face."
"You may just get your chance Joey but right now we have other things to be worrying about." Tristan said as a security guard with a unicorn hair style got their attention as he welcomed them all to the island and told them to go up their stairs to meet their host.
So up the stairs they all went and along the way Tea thought she spotted Bakura again in the tress but when they all looked where she was pointing he wasn't there. Tea was starting to think that she was starting to just imagine seeing him but as Abasi stretched out her séances a bit. She picked up the same strange energy she had felt from Bakura on the boat in the wooded area where Tea had spotted him.
(I'm not sure what it is I keep sensing from him but my instincts tell me that it's not good. I better keep an eye on him if he decides to finally show himself.) Abasi thought as they continued up the stairs.
They soon reached the top and waited for Pegasus to show up and start the tournament. As they waited they could all hear some of the Duelist picking out some of the more well know ones or the ones with the reps but then the question was asked why Kaiba, the world champion wasn't there. As one kids explained about Yugi beating Kaiba in his own office. The 4 of them all smiled down at their smaller spiked hair friend as he blushed but didn't say a word. Soon Pegasus showed up and they all glared at him for what he had done to Grandpa and for nearly sending Sabah to the Shadow Realm too.
"Greeting Duelist, I am Maximillian Pegasus. It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you all to the Duelist Kingdom. You stand before me, the world's greatest duelist but come tournaments end only one shell be crowned king of games. I implore you all to assemble your dueling decks with care, with creativity, and with cunning. For this competition will test your skills like never before. To track your progress in the tournament you've each been given a dueling glove. You've also been given to precious star chips. You must wager these star chips in each duel you compete in. To advance to the finale level of competition and a chance at the three million dollar prize you must collect ten star ships. Ten star chips will admit you into my castle were you'll face me in one final duel.
"This will be a tournament unlike any you have ever experience. State of the art dueling arenas cover this entire island and intriguing new dueling rules are in affect. I could tell you these new rules are but what fun would that be. You'll discover them as you compete or you won't last very long. Remember, play boldly, think strategically, and duel mercilessly. You have one full hour to prepare both your cards and your self's. When the sky light up with fireworks the duels will begin."
A cheer went up as Pegasus finished and headed back into the castle. Everyone started to explore the areas around them and do last minuet work on their decks as they waited for the tournament to start. Seeing a field nearby the 5 of them went there to wait and talk. Joey started to daught himself as he offered to Yugi his star ship back but Yugi wouldn't have it. He knew like the rest of them that Joey wanted to duel for the prize money and help his sister. "Between your grandpa and my sister, we don't have any room for mistakes." Joey said feeling a bit better about things.
"That's not the way I see it." Abasi said making them all turn to her as she smiled. "It just means that you two have better reasons that drive you to win beside a fancy title and a large amount of money."
"Your right Abasi and as long as we remember that we'll do better than our best." Yugi said with a smile of his own.
A moment later the fireworks filled the sky signaling the start and they started walking.
After a few minutes of walking down a path Joey asked. "So what's your plan Yugi?"
"Well I might as well stick with Weevil, after all we do have a score to saddle." Yugi said bitterly.
"I was hopen you'd say that."
They didn't have to search for long as they spotted Weevil up an incline and just outside some tress. When Yugi challenged him, he turned and ran down the path that lead into the tress. Not wanting to lose him they fallowed but were completely confused as to why he would run. It didn't help as the deeper they headed in they were surrounded by moths. Abasi didn't mind but tea was grossed out. They soon caught up to Weevil in a clearing where he stood waiting of them with a sneer on his face.
"Welcome, said the spider to the fly. You fell right into my trap, again" Weevil said as she chuckled at the memory of throwing Yugi's Exodia cards over board.
"It's time you answer for what you did on the boat Weevil" Yugi said before the Millennium Puzzle glowed and Yami switched places with him. This was the first Abasi had seen him since they lost grandpa and she could see that he was really to make up for losing that one.
"Long time no see." She muttered so only he would hear her. He looked at her from the corner of his eye and smirked a little before he turned his attention back to the challenge at hand.
"Alright Weevil, time to find out if you're as good a duelist as you are at running away." He said as he stood confident.
"Was I really running away or cleverly leading you into my web?"
Weevil chuckled. "As you wish!"
As if his shout was a trigger for something, the ground under their feet started to shack which made them think it was an earth quack but Abasi could see by the smirk on Weevil's face that it wasn't but she wondered how he knew. Than it occurred to her, he must have cheated somehow and learned the new rules for the tournament and if that was true it meant that Yami/Yugi would be in a lot of trouble.
Soon the ground opened up and a dueling arena surfaced behind Weevil. He didn't waste any time at stepping on to the platform which raised him up to the terminal. Yami handed Abasi his back pack and went to the other side, to take his place.
"I noticed that you only have one star chip Yugi. I guess that means I'll have the pleasure of eliminating you form the tournament. Once your gone everyone else chips will be easy pickings."
"Not if I take your two first." Yami told him.
"What?"
"This will be an all or nothing match for both of us?"
"Why should I risk both of my star chips when you only have one?"
(Please don't be thinking what I think you're thinking Yami.) Abasi thought as she bit her lip nervously.
"Because I think I have something else I think you want. My whole duel monsters deck."
(Yep that's what I thought.)
This please Weevil as his smirk grew and it made Abasi worry that Yami had just made a grave mistake. The others weren't as worried as Joey told him to swat that twerp like a mosquito but they were all a little distracted as more duelist showed up and noticed the duel and who was dueling. They of course rescinded Weevil but then they asked who Yugi was.
Joey of course opened his big mouth. "That guy is Yugi Muto. He beat Kaiba and I happen to be his best friend Joey Wheeler. These three happen to be trespassers."
Hearing this Tea and Tristan sweet dropped well Abasi punched him on the head. "In case you're forgetting, you would have drowned in the ocean if it wasn't for use you ungrateful jerk." She snapped at him as he rubbed that back of his head.
"I'm sorry alight." He said as he glared at her.
Of course their antics went unnoticed by the other duelist as they said that they thought there wouldn't be a Weevil vs Yugi match up till the finals and that they figured that Yugi didn't stand a chance against the regional chap. But they didn't know Yugi and what he could do.
But they would soon learn as the duel between Yami and Weevil began.
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A/n: well this chapter is done and I'm pleased with the encouragement I have gotten so fare from just the first couple of chapters I have posted so far. So keep reviewing and telling me what you think.