Chapter 26
Friends til the End Part 1
Yugi vs Joey: Round 2
At the pier, Marik was ready to put his evil plan into motion. "Everything is in place. Kaiba and little Yugi should be arriving momentarily with a hopeless plan of rescuing you three. But, with all of you as my mind slaves, they'll have no choice but to play by my rules. Their Egyptian God Cards and Yugi's puzzle will be mine for the taking! And soon, I'll rule the whole world!" he said wickedly as he walked along, with the three mind-controlled captives following behind.
"Isn't that right, my friends?" he asked, though they said nothing before he started chuckling. "You're so quiet, almost as if you don't have minds of your own." he said sarcastically. 'When little Yugi sees his best friends and his beloved in my control, he'll have no choice but to obey me.' he thought before Odion appeared. "Master Marik. I beg your pardon." he said as he kneeled. "Yes, Odion?" Marik asked. "As your request, sir, I've secured twelve locator cards for the Battle City finals." Odion responded, showing the twelve precious cards.
"Excellent, Odion. You've done well. Now we both qualify to participate in the finals, if we need to. Hopefully that won't be required." Marik said before chuckling. "In which case, we've both wasted a great deal of time. But hand them over anyway. Entering the finals may be necessary if my current plan fails." he continued before Odion handed him half of the total amount of locator cards. "It's a pleasure to serve you." the humble, loyal servant said.
"I always have a backup plan to ensure that I get what I want, but the current setup seems foolproof. Now hand my servant the cards we prepared for him, Odion." Marik said upon taking the six locator cards. "Yes, master." Odion responded before doing so. "When Yugi is forced to duel against his brainwashed best friend, he's sure to lose it all!" Marik declared with a laugh as Joey put his new cards into his Duel Disk.
"Adding his slightly decent deck with an unstoppable assortment of extremely rare magic cards was an excellent idea, master Marik." Odion said before his master started to chuckle. "This is my most ingenious scheme yet. I took the things that made the most to Yugi, his friends." Marik simply said. "Brilliant plan, master." Odion responded. "I know. Now come and find me, little Yugi! For the last duel you'll ever fight!" Marik shouted.
Up in the sky, Kaiba's helicopter neared the pier. "As soon as we land, Mokuba should lead us to the warehouse he said that he, Tea and Fluttershy were kept. We break in and get them out." Yami said. "Look, Yugi, I brought you here and I'll be calling the shots today. And the first task on my personal agenda is to track down the third Egyptian God Card. After that, we'll free the captives." Seto replied. "Kaiba! Joey, Tea and Fluttershy may be in danger of possibly being killed, so rescuing them should be our top priority!" Yami stated.
"Sorry, but it appears that you and I have completely different priorities, Yugi. So how about we split up and take down each task ourselves once we land?" Kaiba responded. "That's foolish." Yami said, bluntly. "Maybe it is to you, but I've always worked much better on my own. Haven't you realized that teamwork just isn't my thing? When we battled against Lumis and Umbra in that tag duel, it was me who defeated Umbra and without much help." Seto responded, remembering the duel they just recently won. "So do me a favor and stay out of my way, Yugi, because our time as a team is finished. I brought you here so you can take care of the rest by yourself. I've done enough charity work already. Understand? Hope so." he added.
'Then I'll save my friends without your help.' Yugi thought. "We're approaching our target now, Mr. Kaiba." said the pilot. "Hey, guys! I think I see someone on the pier...and it kind of looks like Joey!" Mokuba said as he looked out the window. "It is, Joey! And he seems to be all alone." Yami said. 'Get ready, my mind slave, the fun is about to begin!' Marik mentally said with wicked glee. "Kaiba, we may be heading into a trap." Yami said, cautiously. "Yugi, please, I've heard enough caution talk out of you for one day." Seto responded.
'Alright, little Yugi, this is it. When that fool realizes I've turned his best friend against him, he'll be completely devastated!' Marik stated, mentally, before laughing. At last, the helicopter lands and the passengers disembark. "Yugi! This is it for you! Welcome." Marik said though Joey. "Joey!" Yami called. "Not exactly. Joey is not present, he's gone away." Marik responded, shocking Yami. "It's Marik!" he said. "That's correct. And if you want your friends back, you'll listen to me." Marik confirmed. "What's going on? That sure doesn't sound like Joey." Mokuba asked, confused.
"It must be one of Marik's tricks." Seto responded. "Joey, listen! You have to be in there!" Yami shouted. "It's hopeless. Now, you listen close, Yugi. We're going to be playing by my regulations. I'll release your pathetic friends and loved ones as soon as I get what I want. Of course, since I want your puzzle and your Egyptian God Card, there's only one way to do this; you and I are going to duel!" Marik responded.
"YOU'RE INSANE!" Yami shouted. "Refuse and your friends and loved ones are mine forever!" Marik retorted. "Release Joey from your control, Marik!" Yami demanded. "What's going on, bro?" Mokuba asked. "Well, Mokuba, it appears that this Marik was somehow able to turn Joey Wheeler against Yugi. Now he wants to duel. This should be interesting, to say the very least." Seto answered. "Interesting? But how?" Mokuba asked. "Well, if Wheeler is fighting on the side of Marik and the Rare Hunters now, he may be holding the third Egyptian God Card." Seto explained. 'And I want that card in my deck, so if its played, I want to be there.' he thought.
'It's time to seize the power that should've been mine all along!' Marik thought. "Joey, I know you can hear me. Your mind is under Marik's control and you must break free, understand? The same Marik you vowed to help me crush! Think, Joey! You've got to remember your promise to me when you gave me your Red-Eyes!" Yami said, trying to get through to his best friend by recalling the memory of the first day of the Battle City tournament. "Marik couldn't defeat me in a duel, so he decided to turn you against me in order to win my Millennium Puzzle and my Egyptian God Card. Joey, I know you're in there and I'm going to set you free. Marik's power is feeble compared to the bond of our friendship. Please, say something, Joey!" he continued, only for Joey to turn away.
"You'll never set him free, unless you follow me, Yugi." Marik responded, shocking Yami before walking away. "Joey, wait!" Yami called. 'What do I do? Following Joey may lead to another one of Marik's traps! But if I don't go, how will I ever rescue Joey, Tea and Fluttershy?' Yugi pondered. "Yugi! You better do exactly as I say." Marik said again, but this time his voice came from behind Yami. He turned and saw Tea and Fluttershy under Marik's power. "Oh, no! Tea! Fluttershy!" Yami shouted in shock.
"This may come as an unpleasant surprise, but like your friend Joey, Tea and your beloved Fluttershy are BOTH under my control." Marik explained before chuckling. "Surprised?" he asked. "Marik, leave them alone, now! They've done nothing to you!" Yami demanded. "Looks like I turned your closest friends, into your greatest enemies. You're at my mercy." Marik stated from his yacht, hidden away from view in a covered mooring dock while he makes Tea and Fluttershy move on.
"Tea, Fluttershy!" Yami called before following them and Joey all the way to the chosen dueling site. "Welcome to my very special dueling arena. Look around you. Should you accept, you'll be battling against your best friends in a duel like you've never experienced, for the highest stakes imaginable!" Marik said through Fluttershy as Yami got in place. "Alright, let's duel. If it means saving my friends and my beloved." Yami said as Marik, through Tea, prepared shackles. "Let's begin. Why don't you try these on for size?" he suggested before both Duelists had their ankles shackled.
"Notice that you're both securely fastened to a chain that leads to a giant anchor hanging above you. 30 seconds after one player's life points hit 0, a bomb will go off and that will cause the anchor to drop to the bottom of the sea!" Marik explained through Tea as Yami looked up. "That's right. Now look down between your feet. That small yellow box is your life point counter, but it also contains the key to your survival. When one player's life points hit 0, the other player's box opens, revealing a key that unlocks his shackles. Remember, you'll have 30 seconds to free yourself before the anchor drops." he continued through Joey.
"So the loser of this duel will be dragged to the bottom of the ocean, while the winner frees himself at the last minute." Yami says, attempting to better understand and contemplate the rules. "That's right. Quite ingenious, isn't it?" Marik confirmed before chuckling right as Twilight and her friends arrive. "What the hay is going on here?!" AJ shouted. "Ah, good, the rest of our guests have arrived." Marik said through Fluttershy. "Wait, Fluttershy?!" Spike said in shock. "No, that's not Fluttershy, not entirely. It's Marik." Twilight said, knowing just what was causing her voice to be distorted. "Allow me to explain the rules of this duel for you; whoever loses has 30 seconds to free themselves from their shackles, which are connected to the anchor above us. The loser gets dragged to the bottom of the sea after the bomb up there explodes!" Marik explained.
"You're mad!" Rarity shouted. "Wait! If I win this duel, will you set my friends free from your control, Marik?!" Yami asked. "You'll have to fish Joey out of the sea first, and don't think I left Fluttershy and Tea out of all the fun. But I'll get to them a little shortly and just in case you had any plans of refusing the duel, think again! If there's no winner within an hour, the bomb will detonate automatically, sending you both plummeting into the sea!" Marik answered as both girls were strapped into chairs side by side.
"But I assure you, you will lose, Yugi. But before that anchor drops, I'll take your Millennium Puzzle and your Egyptian God Card!" he continued through Tea before chuckling. "You're not going to get away with any of this, Marik!" Yami stated, boldly, but Marik scoffed. "And Seto Kaiba, don't think you're merely a spectator in all this. As soon as I'm through with little Yugi, his friends and beloved, I'm setting my sights on your Egyptian God Card, Obelisk the Tormentor!" he said through Fluttershy.
"Big bro, I've heard enough of this! This duel is getting way out of hand, Seto!" Mokuba stated. "Mokuba's right, you've got to put a stop to this before someone gets killed!" Rainbow concurred. "And what should stop him from doing something like this to you and your brother?" Rarity pointed out. "For once, you're right. As head of the Battle City tournament, I demand that this duel be stopped right now!" Seto shouted. "Sorry, but your rules do not apply to me so the duel will continue as planned. And speaking of plans, here's the final piece of my plot." Marik retorted as a crane drove in.
"What in the world is that above Tea and Fluttershy?!" Twilight asked in shock. "Tea! Fluttershy! What's the meaning of this, Marik?!" Yami asked. 'I'm afraid that anchor won't be the only thing getting dropped!' Marik thought. "I've taken extra measures to make sure no one interferes, so don't try. If you attempt to stop this duel, the crane you see holding a shipping crate over our heads will fall. You wouldn't put two women in danger of dying, would you? he said aloud. "Make one false move and I press the button, releasing the crate suspended above the girls' heads." said the Rare Hunter operating the crane.
"Looks like no one can stop this duel." Seto said, frustrated. "Now that everything seems to be in place and everyone is familiar with all the rules, why don't we start the show? Oh, wait. I almost forgot. I wouldn't want Tea and Fluttershy to miss all this." Marik said before releasing the two girls from his control. "Tea! Fluttershy!" Yami shouted as they started to awaken. "Where am I? What's going on?" Tea asked. "That's what I'd like to know." Fluttershy concurred before the realized they were strapped in. "Hey! We're trapped!" Tea said in shock.
"Now, there's one last matter. Yugi, your Egyptian God Card is off limits. So if you were planning on using it against me, you're out of luck. Now remove the card from your deck so that I may claim it when I win." Marik said. "As you wish, Marik. I keep my special cards in here." Yami responded as he removed the belt that carried his deck box. 'I wasn't going to use Slifer anyway. It's too dangerous. Wait a second, I know something that may be able to help! Joey's Red-Eyes Black Dragon!' Yugi thought as he opened his deck box and took out Joey's best card. 'This card meant so much to Joey and he gave it to me as a sign of our friendship. Well, I'm putting it in my deck. I know the real Joey is in there somewhere, and maybe there's a way I can use this card to save him from Marik!' he continued as he shuffled the Red-Eyes Black Dragon into his deck.
"Now place Slifer on the ground, Yugi." Marik said before Yami did so. "So whoever wins this duel will retrieve that card while the loser goes swimming." he continued. 'Soon I'll possess Slifer the Sky Dragon and Yugi's puzzle! My plan won't fail!' he thought. "I think it's finally time to begin this duel." he said at last. "Wait, Yugi and Joey, are gonna duel?" Tea pondered. "I don't think that's Joey, Tea. That's just Marik using Joey as a puppet." Fluttershy stated. "Are you ready to duel, Yugi?" Marik asked. "I am, so let's do this." Yami answered.
"Prepare to lose, fool." Marik said before Yami confidently stated it was time to duel as both their Duel Disks activated, the hologram projectors glided into place and both players' life points set to 4000 while they drew their hands. Meanwhile, at the Domino train station, Tristan and Serenity finally arrived. "Well, we finally made it, Serenity." he said. "Great." she responded before taking a couple steps forward. "You grew up here, right? I bet it's been ages since you've been back, hasn't it?" he asked. "Yep. Joey and I used to visit downtown all the time when we were little. It was the best." she answered, remembering her childhood.
"I can picture it so clearly. It's like Joey and I were here just yesterday." she added. "That's great. But speaking of your brother, we should go and find him." he suggested. "Right! Let's go." she concurred. 'But the question is, where can he be?' he thought. "Let me try giving Tea a call." he suggested before heading to a phone booth. However, he was unaware that Tea's phone was completely crushed. "Weird. She's not picking up. That girl always has her phone on and with her." he said before hanging up and returning to Serenity. However, as he told Serenity what happened, Marik's Rare Hunters approached.
At the pier, the duel was underway. "Yugi, have the first move. It's the beginning of the end for you." Marik said before Yami did indeed draw. 'I've got to figure out a way to stop this duel! When that anchor falls, it's gonna take one, or even both of us with it!' Yugi thought. "What's the problem, Yugi? Are you too frightened to play a card?" Marik asked. "I don't think so, Marik! I summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts in defense mode!" Yami responded before Gazelle appeared. "That ends my turn." he added.
"Very well." Marik said before drawing. "Yugi, say goodbye to your Gazelle, for I play Raigeki, which destroys it!" he stated before, in moments, Gazelle was completely blown apart. "Wait, Raigeki?! That's one of the rarest magic cards in the game!" Spike said in shock. "And now I summon Alligator's Sword!" Marik added before the mighty reptile appeared. "Attack his life points directly!" he commanded. In no time, with one slash of its sword, Yami's life points dropped to almost half, prompting Marik to laugh.
"Surrender yet? Or do you want more?" he asked. "I hope you're not going easy on me because we're old friends, Yugi. You'll be sorry." he added. "We're not friends, Marik." Yami said bluntly as he drew. "I play Big Shield Gardna in defense mode." he added as his monster appeared. "So, you think that's enough to protect your life points, Yugi? So naïve." Marik said before drawing. "I play my Hinotama magic card! Now watch closely, as its power blasts away your life points!" he declared before fireballs rained down on Yami, lowering his life points right down to the halfway mark. "Yami!" Fluttershy shouted.
'That's the second time he's attack me directly!' Yugi thought. "That rookie Duelist Wheeler never had cards that rare and powerful in his deck! Looks like he is being helped!" Kaiba said in surprise. "Looks like Yugi's starting to panic already after getting a taste of the powerful new deck I built for his friend." Marik said with a chuckle. "Now that it's enhanced by rare and powerful cards gathered by my Rare Hunters, Joey's deck is virtually unbeatable. Yugi will be out of my way shortly, leaving behind his puzzle and his Egyptian God Card!" he said with wicked glee before Odion arrived behind him.
"Pardon me, master Marik, but I've just learned that Joey Wheeler's sister has arrived in Domino City." the loyal servant said. "Did you say he has a sister?" Marik asked. "Yes, master. And she has an escort." Odion answered. "This sister of his may prove to be an excellent pawn in my game, Odion. Bring the girl to me, immediately." Marik instructed, to which Odion loyally agreed. Back at the duel, things continued in the favor of Marik. 'Excellent work, my mind slave. I'll continue to use my Millennium Rod against your friend until his life points are completely wiped out!' he said mentally.
'I've got to figure a way out of this! I've already lost half my life points! And if I lose this duel, the whole world will be in danger! But if I win, my best friend gets dragged into the ocean! There must be a solution!' Yugi thought desperately. "Time is running out, Yugi." Marik said. 'He's right. In less than an hour, that bomb automatically detonates and we're both sunk! Please, Heart of the Cards, guide me.' Yugi thought. "It's my move." Yami said as he drew. Back in the city, Serenity and Tristan were walking the streets.
"Looks like I messed up. I should've asked the guys where to meet up before I went to Yonezato to pick you up. Sorry." he said apologetically. "It's fine. I'm sure we'll find everyone." she responded, cheerfully. "Guess you're right." he said. "Think about it; the tournament is taking place all over the city, so that means they've got to be here, right? So how far away could they have gone?" she theorized. "I'm sure I'll see my big bro in no time." she added before a Rare Hunter came out from behind a tree with two more coming in from behind.
"Hey, who are you punks and what do you want from us?" Tristan asked, not willing to take any chances with Serenity around. "Tristan? What's going on?" Serenity asked, frightened. "How about you three move along? We don't want any trouble." Tristan suggested. "You may not want any trouble, but there might be if you don't listen to what we say." said one of the Rare Hunters. "Tristan? What's happening?" Serenity asked, still frightened. "Get on my back and hold on." Tristan instructed, so she did before he took off running down an alleyway.
"Don't let them get away!" one of the Rare Hunters shouted before the chase began. Back at the pier, the duel continued. "Hey! What's going on here?! Why is Yugi dueling against Joey?! Is this some sort of dream?!" Tea asked. "No, it's not, Tea. The leader of the Rare Hunters, Marik, brainwashed Joey and forced him into this duel." Twilight answered. "But why did he do that?" Tea asked. "I think I know. He wants Yugi's Egyptian God Card and his Millennium Puzzle. So he's forcing Joey to duel for him." Fluttershy explained.
"So Marik's been behind everything? Then he must be the one Ishizu warned us about! Now it all makes sense!" Tea said in realization. "Stop making a fuss, you two! I suggest you both keep quiet, or you're done. So don't test me!" the Rare Hunter at the wheel of the crane warned before showing them the remote, prompting both girls to look up and see the shipping crate dangling above their heads. "You wouldn't do it! You don't have the guts!" Tea said, daringly. "You want a bet?" asked the Rare Hunter.
"Kaiba, you have to try and stop this duel or Domino City and the world may pay the price!" Fluttershy pleaded. "We're begging you!" Tea added. "But they can't, sugar cube. It's too risky to stop this duel, because if any of us try to, that shipping crate will be dropped on you both and the bomb attached to that anchor will go off!" AJ explained. "Let's go, Yugi. Time is of the essence and stalling is not an option. You know that as well as I do, so make your move, now!" Marik urged. 'Alright, I will make a move. Let's see, his Alligator's Sword as 1500 life points and I don't have anything powerful enough to destroy it, but I do have Big Shield Gardna. It's got enough defense points to keep me safe for now, but I still need to find a way to win this duel without hurting Joey. This card in my hand might help me, until I can figure out a plan. Well, here goes.' Yugi thought as Yami prepared to set his Spellbinding Circle.
"I set this card face down and then I'll summon my Kuriboh in attack mode." Yami said as he made his move and his loyal fur ball appeared. "I'll end my turn there." he added. "Are you playing some sort of a joke? Kuriboh's weak, it only has 300 attack points. Why would you play it in attack mode?" Marik asked. "Unless you're trying to lose this duel on purpose to save your friend. Alright, then. If losing is your goal, allow me to help you." he said before laughing. "I won't lose. Understand? I'll defeat you and free Joey from your control!" Yami responded as Marik drew.
"Wrong. I'm afraid that this time you're in over your head, Yugi. So now, Alligator's Sword, attack his Kuriboh!" Marik retorted but as Alligator's Sword charged in for an attack... "Hold it right there! I activate my facedown!" Yami declared as his trap sprung. "It was a trap?" Marik asked. "Alligator's Sword is now caught in my Spellbinding Circle!" Yami explained as the attack power of Alligator's Sword lowered to 800. "Your monster's power has decreased while my Kuriboh is safe and sound." he continued.
"Clever move! Kuriboh was just a decoy so that he could spring the Spellbinding Circle." Twilight said. "But he still can't destroy that overgrown iguana." Seto pointed out. "Joey! I don't know if you can hear me, but don't attack on your next turn!" Tea called out. "Alright, Yugi. I've had enough of your childish games. Now it's time for me to regain control of this duel. Ready? Because this worked so well last time, I'll use another Hinotama to attack your life points!" Marik said before activating his second Hinotama, lowering Yami's life points to 1500.
"Yami! No!" Fluttershy shouted while Marik laughed. 'Farewell forever, Yugi Muto!' the madman thought with wicked glee and triumph.