Chapter 25
The Rescue
All over Domino City, duels were taking place everywhere. From up on the rooftops, to an overpass bridge, to even the middle of the street where a battle between a level seven, Earth attribute warrior/effect monster with 2450 attack points and 1700 defense points called Sword Hunter and a Two-Headed King Rex ended with the dino being slashed in half, resulting in the Duelist controlling the Two-Headed King Rex losing 850 life points. But then, a pedestrian came to a halt behind some of the audience, which mainly consisted of kids and teenagers, honked and asked them if they had school.
Right after, a police officer told the driver he'd have to back up and go another way, since that particular section of the city was shut down due to the Battle City competition. Though thinking the tournament was a ridiculous reason for part of that city to be shut down, the driver did as instructed. High above, the rescue party was on their way to the pier. "The Rare Hunters' hideout, we're just eleven miles away. I already informed Fluttershy's friends about this, they'll be there soon. I know exactly where those creeps are keeping Tea and Fluttershy and Joey should be nearby, we'll get them all out in no time." Mokuba said, while his brother looked at Yami looking out the window in annoyance and disgust.
"I'm concerned with more important issues, like finding the third Egyptian God Card." Seto said. "Tell me, Yugi, who exactly is this Marik? He leads the Rare Hunters, but what else do you know about him?" he asked. "Well, I haven't even seen his face, but I did learn, through his servants, he has one of the seven Millennium Items, the Millennium Rod." Yami answered. "Those things? Spare me the bogus magic talk, Yugi." Seto said.
"I'm not talking about magic, I'm talking about what his ultimate end goal is. You see, he thinks that by taking my Millennium Puzzle and possessing the three Egyptian God Cards, he can rule over the world as pharaoh." Yami stated. "How can one person use some object and three cards to rule the entire world?" Seto asked. "He's a madman, plain and simple, but he does have knowledge of ancient Egypt." Yami responded before turning back to Yugi, catching Seto and Mokuba's attention.
"Whoa! Yugi, what happened? You were almost as tall as Seto just a second ago! Now you're as tall as me!" Mokuba said in surprise. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you what happened, Mokuba. Neither would you, Kaiba. But here's proof that these Millennium Items are the real deal' they're 5000 years old and made from solid gold." Yugi explained as he remove the puzzle. "Here, have a feel." he said as he handed the puzzle to Seto. Seto held it in his hand and was honestly surprised. "You're right! This thing is made of solid gold!" he said.
"Exactly. And don't you remember what happened at Duelist Kingdom when you went to rescue Mokuba?" Yugi asked as he took the puzzle back and put it back around his neck, while Seto started to remember what happened. "That was likely just a cheap trick." Seto said, clearly not looking to believe Yugi all that quickly. "But Seto, how do you explain how Pegasus knew one of your Blue-Eyes White Dragons was in your hand? Rainbow Dash told me what happened after I was rescued, including your duel against Pegasus." Mokuba pointed out. Though Seto stayed silent.
"You can believe whatever you wish, but I can assure you, like my Puzzle, the other six Millennium Items are no trick. And, they were once owned by people of great power in Egypt. In fact, my Puzzle was probably the most important. It was, in fact, worn by the legendary Nameless Pharaoh during his reign as king of Egypt, 5000 years ago." Yugi stated.
"That's a lie! Do you honestly expect me to believe you?!" Seto stated. "My grandfather is an archaeologist and he's the one who found and gave me the Millennium Puzzle. He dared me to solve it and after eight years, I managed to put it together. But after I did, playing Duel Monsters has never been the same for me." Yugi responded.
"As for what I just said about the Puzzle being owned by the Nameless Pharaoh, it's true. I recently went to the museum and learned it from the curator of the Egyptian exhibit." he continued. "It was owned, by a pharaoh?!" Seto asked in shock. "No way!" Mokuba shouted. 'I also spoke with the curator of that same exhibit!' Seto thought. "Ishizu. She told me the same thing when I went to the museum the very night she gave me Obelisk the Tormentor! The carvings on those tablets looked just like Duel Monsters cards! She told me some wild theory that the monsters used to create the creatures in Duel Monsters were real!" he said, remembering that fateful night.
"Furthermore, she told me that story that you and I are related the pharaoh and the court magician that turned against him! I honestly thought it was a joke, but now that you proved that the Millennium Items are truly ancient, I don't know what to think anymore." he continued. "Remember after you two dueled? You told me the day that the boat to Duelist Kingdom was about to leave that you wouldn't be going because you felt like you lost a part of yourself, the part of you that always made you believe Duel Monsters cards were all about power." Mokuba pointed out as he remembered that particular day.
"Ever since you dueled against Yugi, you were never the same." he added. "He's right. But currently, what Ishizu told you and me has connections to you and me. She told me that I'm possibly related to the Nameless Pharaoh and you're possibly related to the court magician that turned against him." Yugi pointed out, remembering that Ishizu told him the events of the past are happening all over again. "I know who I have to defeat, and I'll never forget the day I first heard his name." he continued as he remembered the first duel he ever fought in Battle City against Seeker while they passed over yet another duel being waged far below.
"So let me get this straight, this Marik is not only the leader of the Rare Hunters, but he wants to rule the world and thinks that having all three Egyptian God Cards and your Millennium Puzzle will allow him to do it? Sounds too wild a story to be true." Mokuba said. "If you think about it, it kind of explains his actions so far to get his hands on them." he continued. "Impossible. Yugi, if I know anything about powerful Duel Monsters cards, they'll only grant you the chance of being close to unbeatable, not the chance to rule the planet." Seto stated bluntly.
"Not the Egyptian God Cards, they're far too powerful than any ordinary cards. Remember when you saw what Slifer could do?" Yugi said as he remembered the duel against Strings just some hours earlier. "Plus, Marik made it clear that he wanted both my Puzzle and my Egyptian God Card." he added. "I think I'd better understand it this way; Marik would wear the Millennium Puzzle as a trophy for beating you and, if your story about him were true, as a sign of his dominating rule. And if anyone tried to oppose him, he'd challenge them to a duel and crush them with the Egyptian God Cards." Seto said, trying to put his logic to such a fantastic idea.
"You can say it any way you wish, but the fact remains that Marik is dangerous and now that he has my friends and Fluttershy, there's no telling what he's done to them." Yugi said before he remembered the moment Joey let him keep the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. "Once we land, we have to find them as soon as possible and get them away from that madman before its too late for them." he continued.
"We're only two miles from the pier, guys." Mokuba said. "Good, then it won't be long before we can rescue Tea, Fluttershy and Joey." Yugi said. "I'm getting a bit tired of hearing about the company you keep, Yugi. Especially that second place Duelist, Joey." Seto said, slightly annoyed. "Joey has gotten better since Duelist Kingdom, Kaiba. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he already qualified for the Battle City finals." Yugi retorted, remembering his best friend's battle against Espa Roba, yet also unaware that Joey had also beaten Weevil Underwood and completely knocked him out of the tournament and, after that, defeated Mako Tsunami at Ocean World.
"Don't worry, guys, I promise I'll set you free." Yugi set before letting Yami take over. "Hey! Yugi got taller again!" Mokuba said in surprise. 'How is he able to do that?' Seto wondered. "There! That's the Rare Hunters' hideout!" Mokuba said as they neared the pier. "Good. Pilot, begin our descent, immediately." Seto said, to which the pilot agreed. 'Alright, this is it! No matter what happens down there, I'm not leaving without my friends and Fluttershy! You won't get away with this, Marik!' Yugi thought as the helicopter finally approached the pier.