Yu-Gi-Oh Au

The Ceremonial Duel

Part 3: Heart of the Cards

RECAP:

Yugi has 400 LP, no cards in hand, and Dark Magician equipped with Book of Secret Arts (2800 ATK). Joey has 700 LP, 2 set cards, and Baby Dragon in his hand.

"Aw man, just when I finally get those stinking God's outta da way, now I gotta beat Yugi's favorite monster." Joey thinks in annoyance. Yugi raises an eyebrow as he eyes his friend's unease.

"What's wrong Joey? Your move." Yugi says, his tone mixed with confusion and sternness startling Joey.

"Ya I know. Just catching my breath Yug." Joey says in panic.

While the crowd is mostly unnerved by this development, Tea folds her hands to her chest and sighs in relief, something Tristen catches.

"What's up Tea? Why are you looking relaxed when Joey's losing out there?" Tristen asked, a hint of offense in his tone that made Tea recoil a bit. As more curious eyes are drawn to her, she can't help but feel immense pressure, not just from their stares, but by the answer she knew deep down in her heart she couldn't bring herself to lie about. She averted her head from them in shame as she spoke.

"I-I really….just don't want the pharaoh to go." She said softly to their amazement.

"But why? He deserves to rest in peace with his friends and family." Bakura asks shocked. Solomon places a comforting hand on her wrist, trying to sooth her as she winced hearing this.

"Indeed sweetie. The pharaoh is out friend but this era is not his own. He belongs with them not us." He said softly but Tea recoiled hearing this, a flare of anger rising in her.

"I KNOW THAT! It's just…I can't stand the thought of losing a friend. I know its selfish, but I'll miss him more than anything if he leaves." Tea cried, tears swelling in her eyes.

"Pff! You might get your wish considering Wheeler's about to lose out there. Honestly, while I admit he surprised me by destroying the Egyptian gods like he claimed, I knew he couldn't follow it up. The king of games can't be dethroned by a monkey like Wheeler" Kaiba scoffed. Tea groaned in annoyance hearing this.

"Kaibaaaaaaaa" She growled, but he raised an eyebrow confused.

"What? Isn't that what just said you wanted?" Kaiba asked. His question made her wince as she knew he was right. She was being hypocritical and it wasn't helping her case. Tristen put a hand on her shoulder, knowing he couldn't let her distress keep up.

"Look I get it. We all would miss him. But this isn't about us, the Pharaoh deserves a chance to rest in peace and be happy with those he grew up with. We'll all have our chance to see him again when its our times too, I know it." Tristen said enthusiastically.

"Some sooner than others right? Ooof?" Solomon chuckled, the old man exaggerating his back hurting to emphasize his point. Tea sighed as she sadly nodded, turning her attention back to the duel. She saw Joey giving off nervous sweats as he struggled to draw his next card, the pressure obviously getting to him. With that, an inner fire lit up in her, knowing what they all said was true. She had to support the pharaoh if she truly cared for him, and that meant encouraging Joey right now so he could win.

"GO GET HIM JOEY!" Tea roared, the others, minus Kaiba obviously, joined in the chorus to Wheeler's shock.

"There all cheering…for me?" Joey thought confused. He never thought any of them would support him over Yugi; it was honestly mind-blowing.

Yugi's corporal spirit appeared next to Atem, whispering to him.

"Partner." Yugi asked, getting the Pharaoh's attention.

'What is it?" He asked.

"Let me switch in." Yugi said firmly to his partners surprise.

"Are you sure?" Atem asked raising an eyebrow.

"You bet! I want to face Joey in the last round. He's my best friend too and I want this last bout to be between us. I promise I'll give it my all!" Yugi said with determination. After a moment pondering this, Atem smiled and nodded.

"Alright then Yugi, may the heart of the cards guide you then. Good luck." Atem said as his body shined to everyone's shock, reverting to Yugi Muto.

"Yug?" Joey said confused.

"JOEY! THE REAL DUEL BEGINS NOW!" Yugi cheered. This made Joey's eyes sparkle with joy, his little friend's excitement infectious.

"YOU BET YUG! LETS DUEL!" Joey roars as he draws.

Turn 14: Joey LP 700 Hand 2

Joey sets baby dragon in DEF (700), then he plays the Magic card Pot of Greed to draw 2 new cards from his deck. Joey sets 1 card and ends his turn.

(1 card in hand).

Turn 15: Yugi Muto LP 400 hand (1)

"I'll start by activating the magic card, SPIDER WEB!" Yugi declares as a line of threat shoots out of his card and plunges into Joey's graveyard.

It allows me to take a magic card you played last turn in add it to my hand, so thanks for the help buddy." Yugi says cheerfully.

"Always happy to help bud….except now that is." Joey whined to Yugi's amusement.

Yugi Muto plays Pot of Greed to draw 2 cards. He then sets 1 and activates the equip magic card, Dark Spear (The staff of the magician transforms into a spear form). Now if Dark Magician equipped with this card attacks a monster in DEF it inflicts Piercing damage.

"DARK MAGICIAN ATTACK BABY DRAGON!" Yugi yells as Dark Magician lunges at Baby Dragon. Suddenly a barrier blocks the attack to Yugi's shock.

"Sorry Yug, reveal my face-down, SOUL SHIELD. Now by cutting my LP in half, I got to cancel out your attack and save my Dragon." Joey yells with a smug grin.

(JOEY LP 700-350).

Yugi ends his turn.

(0 cards in hand).

Turn 16: Joey

Joey draws Energy Drain and smiles. (Cards in hand 2).

"Alright! I'm trading in my Baby Dragon for Summoned Skull! Welcome out old pal!" Joey yells to everyone's surprise.

Joey tributes Baby Dragon to summon Summoned Skull (2500 ATK).

"Thanks for the card Yug, always nice of ya to trade or give me cards… really. Ever since Duelist Kingdom you've been pulling me back up. Teaching me and bailing me out of a jam. You're the best bud I could ever have." Joey says softly.

"Always bud. You're my best friend Joey. That's why I wouldn't have any other opponent for this duel." Yugi says honestly. Both men nod as they know the time for talking was over, now was the time to duel!

"Alright! Summoned Skull Lightning Strike!" Joey yells as the fiend attacks Dark Magician to everyones shock as it has less ATK points. Joey then activates Energy Drain to draw a card, then he uses its second effect to target Dark Magician's to lower it's ATK to 0 during battle. Yugi reveals his set Dark Illusion to negate the effect and let Joey draw a card. The attack continues and Summoned Skull is destroyed. (Joey LP 350-50). Joey then plays Return of the doom to revive Summoned Skull in ATK (2500), but it can no longer attack this turn. Joey sets 1 card and ends his turn.

(0 cards in hand).

Turn 17: Yugi (LP 400, Hand 1)

Yugi plays the magic card Graceful Charity to draw 3 new cards and discard 2. He discards Dark Magician Girl and Skilled Dark Magician. Next Yugi plays the magic card called Soul Servent to place a magic card that lists Dark magician in its ability text on the top of his deck then he removes it from the graveyard to draw 3 cards as he has 3 dark magician monsters on the field and in his Graveyard. Yugi then plays the magic card Bonds between teacher and Student to revive Dark Magician Girl from his graveyard. Yugi then attacks Joey's summoned Skull, but Joey reveals his trap Red Eyes Spirit to revive a Red Eyes Black Dragon Monster from his graveyard. He chooses the original (2400 ATK). Next Joey activates the trap card Take on Chance. A random card is activated from Joey's graveyard during an attack, if he meets the requirements it's played, if not it gets banished, furthermore, any monsters Yugi controls must attack this turn.

"Come on Heart of da Cards show me some love" Joey thinks as he closes his eyes and adds the card from his graveyard to his hand. His eyes widen as he cheers, getting the card he really wanted.

Joey plays Polymerization to fuse Red Eyes and Summoned Skull to fusion summon Black Skull Dragon (3200 ATK). Due to Take on Chances effect, Yugi must attack. Kaiba announces in shock if this attack hits Yugi will lose exactly 400 LP and lose the duel.

Yugi sees Dark Magician girl nod at him. He activates the Magic card Magician's Unite to join Dark Magician and Dark Magician girl as a single attacking monster with 3000 ATK. The attack continues and both magician's are destroyed as Black Skull Dragon shoots a molten fireball at them. (Yugi LP 400 - 200).

"Alright Joey! I just knew you were the perfect opponent for me!" Yugi cheers. Joey rubs his nose and blushes while giving a cocky grin.

"It was pretty cool to finally beat your Dark Magician Yug." Joey yells. Suddenly his smile descends as he sees Yugi do so first, his tone getting more serious.

"I'm sorry though. This duel will be over now…with me as the victor. I know you did your best to help me separate from the Pharaoh, but it just wasn't meant to be. I use Magician's unit's other effect to activate the Magic card, Monster Reborn right away. I resurrect Obelisk the Tormentor!" Yugi solemnly says to everyone's shock.

Obelisk soon rises from the ground bellowing as it stares down Joey, who surprisingly is calm as he stares up at the beast.

"Yug….I knew you'd play that card." Joey thought as a tear streams down one eye. "Your right about one thing. This duel is over!" Joey says firmly to everyone's surprise, realizing he had something planned.

"I activate da trap card card Celebration of Creation!" Joey yells as he fist pumps the air and reveals the card to Yugi's shock. Now due to the fact Yugi summoned a monster from the graveyard using a magic card during the battle phase, his turn automatically ends so since Obelisk was revived with Monster Reborn it is automatically destroyed at the end phase via its effect. Obelisk fades into a pillar of smoke to the groups shock.

"Unreal, he just defeated Obelisk for the second time today!" Mokuba says and Kaiba nods in agreement.

"Well he's not the King of Game's best friend and rival for nothing kid." Tristen says amused as he sees Joey draw his next card shakily.

Turn 18 Joey

Joey draws slowly, revealing Time Wizard.

"Time Wizard…the card my best friend gave me." Joey thinks as he shivers and cries a bit, grinding his teeth, but doesn't move or do anything for a minute to the crowds confusion, though Yugi understands as he too cries a bit, but smiling instead.

"What's going on? Yugi's wide open. All Joey has to do is attack and he'll finally beat Yugi?" Tristen asks confused.

"That's just it Tristen. Once Yugi loses the pharaoh's spirit will be released….and we'll never see him again." Bakura sadly says as Tea cries hearing her worst fear come true.

"This has been the greatest duel of our lives." Yugi and Atem both think in unison.

"Pharaoh...thank you for letting me finish this duel on my own. I really needed that." Yugi thinks and Atem nods.

"I will miss you deeply Yugi." Atem says.

They open their tearful eyes to look at Joey still shaking, tears flooding his face as he chokes on his breath.

"Go on Joey….Your move." Yugi says softly. Joey doesn't respond.

"It's alright Joey. Proceed." Yugi and Atem think in unison with a smile. Joey grinds his teeth as he can almost read their minds and gets his resolve.

"Alright! Black Skull Dragon Attack his Life Point's directly! Go Molten Fireball Attack!" Joey hollers as Black Skull jumps and fires a ball at Yugi, Joey closing his eyes as an explosion of red energy shines through the room.

"W-What happened? Did Joey win the duel?" Duke asks.

"If this attack is successful then yes!" Ishizu yells.

The crowd looks in awe as Yugi winces but regains his composure as the energy from the attack fades. (Yugi LP 200 – 0).

Joey wins. Black Skull roars as it fades from the duel in a shine of rainbow light as the duel disks deactivate.

Aftermath

Joey and Yugi collapse from the strain of the duel and their emotions, both crying. Tea and Tristen also cry from this sight, sad but happy it's finally over.

Soon the tomb of the Pharaoh and the millennium items shine as a doorway suddenly opens from the symbol splitting. Yugi's body shines as the Pharaoh suddenly appears in physical form from yugi's body.

"So this is it?" Tea asks fearful and Ishizu nods.

"Yes, after 5000 years, our duty as tomb keepers has been fulfilled, the Pharaoh shall return home to his own era and family." Ishizu says.

Before entering the tomb, Atem goes up to Yugi and Joey and hugs them to their surprise.

"Thanks you both, for your bravery and faith in the heart of the cards. Both gave you the strength to finally help put me to rest today. Your both champion's in my opinion then." Atem says firmly. Joey and Yugi cry as they return the hug.

"I hate to break it to you buddy, but your not going anywhere!" Joey yells, his declaration startling Atem and everyone.

"I thought we just talked about this with Tea Joey?" Tristen said disappointed, thinking Joey was going to make the Pharaoh stay.

"Your not going anywhere buddy because, no matter what time or place you'll always be here in our hearts and in our decks!" Joey says fervently. Atem wincing as he hears this. Yugi nods as he wipes his eyes and smiles.

"That's right, no matter how long it will take we will meet I again I just know it. Maybe we can duel when we do?" Yugi asks and Atem cries a bit and nods.

"You bet!" He says with confidence as he turns around and slowly walks to the door to the afterlife..

"Then as we always say…IT'S YOUR MOVE!" Yugi yells. Atem doesn't look back, but gives a thumbs up as his wardrobe changes from Yugi's uniform to his Egyptian formal wear and passes through the door, his chapter finally coming to an end.

FIN

Thanks to anyone who read this, especially Lealius. This little passion duel project has been fun, especially Black skull and time wizard being added for emotional appeal. I honestly cried a bit myself writing those parts, considering my friends I dueled used those cards and have passed. As Atem's chapter has ended, a new one will soon start as I prepare to write a new Yugioh x Ruby duel series coming soon. Thank you!