Chapter 40
Awakening of Evil: Part 4
Ra's Anger
'Master Marik, counterfeit or not, playing The Winged Dragon of Ra is too dangerous for me. Please reconsider your request.' Odion pleaded, mentally. 'Listen to me, Odion, as far back as I can remember, you've wanted to be a part of the Ishtar family. Well, this is your chance to finally join the Ishtar clan of Tomb Keepers by serving me, the future pharaoh. Now fulfill your duty, and summon that Egyptian God Monster!' Marik responded. 'Yes. I'll be a true Ishtar. A true tomb keeper.' Odion thought as he remembered the day Marik's father told him he couldn't take Marik's place in the Tomb Keeper's Initiation. 'I know the dangers are great, but I must serve my master.' he continued.
"I don't understand, why didn't Marik finish his attack on Joey?" Fluttershy asked. "I'm not sure, but I have a bad feeling." Yami answered. "Alright, Mr. Wheeler, prepare to experience an ancient power like you have never seen before or will see again!" Odion declared as he held the Millennium Rod up and out. "I am Marik, and I will release my Egyptian God Card to prove it!" he continued. "Didn't see that coming." Joey said.
"Oh, great. Marik is gonna unleash probably the most powerful of the three Egyptian God Cards!" Rainbow said, worried, yet mainly frustrated. "Now, in order to release my Egyptian God Monster from the ark, I must sacrifice my Mystical Beast of Serket and the Temple of the Kings itself, first! Once this giant guardian and the temple he protects are no more, I can unleash the most powerful creature to ever roam the Earth from the sacred ark!" Odion explained.
"Joey, be careful!" Yami shouted before Odion turned around to face the ark. "Ancient one, here my call! I offer up my Mystical Beast of Serket and the very Temple of the Kings you were placed within to release thee!" he called out before the Mystical Beast vanished and the temple began to evaporate into dust. "Come forth, my mighty creature and reveal your awesome strength in the name of the next great pharaoh, King Marik Ishtar!" he declared.
'Excellent.' Marik thought while Seto grinned with glee. Soon, the ark opened and a beam of light shot up into the sky, creating a storm before the entire temple was destroyed and in its place, arose the giant, the mighty, Winged Dragon of Ra, a level ten, Divine attribute divine-beast/effect monster. "The third Egyptian God Monster!" Yami said in amazement. "Is that really it?" Joey asked. As the storm brewed, Ishizu felt the summoning of The Winged Dragon of Ra. "The Winged Dragon has awakened!" she said in shock.
"It is time! Show yourself, my beast!" Odion commanded before the mighty creature descended down. "Let anyone who doubts my power feel the fire of the mighty Winged Dragon of Ra!" he declared. "That thing looks unstoppable!" Pinkie shouted. "I fear that it is." Yami stated. "The third and final Egyptian God Card. At last, its revealed." Seto said. "Behold the strongest of all the Egyptian God Monsters! A being like no other! And because I had sacrificed my Mystical Beast of Serket, all of its attack points it gained from the creatures it had devoured on your side of the field were transferred over to my mighty beast! And once it attacks you, Mr. Wheeler, you'll wish you never entered this tournament!" Odion declared.
"Brace yourself, because you're about to lose the rest of your life points!" he added before laughing triumphantly. But surprisingly, Joey stood firm. "So what are you waiting for? Take your best shot, baldy!" he dared. "I don't know if that's the dumbest move ever or if he's just crazy." AJ stated. "Yugi, remember how your Egyptian God Card injured Marik? If this is the most powerful, then it's likely the most deadly!" Twilight said. "Well, I'm waiting for it. So come and get me already." Joey said, almost like he was begging to be attacked.
'You've made our family proud today, Odion. Your handling of the Egyptian God Card copy proves that you're an Ishtar, and a Tomb Keeper, once and for all. And it has convinced our skeptical friends that you are me.' Marik said, mentally. "Time has finally run out for you, Mr. Wheeler." Odion said to his opponent. "Guess this is the final blow." Spike said, worried. "Poor Joseph." Rarity said, just as worried. 'Thanks, Wheeler, for being my guinea pig. Now I can see what Marik's Egyptian God Card can do.' Seto thought.
'Unleash its mighty force, now!' Marik mentally demanded. "Winged Dragon of Ra, attack his life points directly!" Odion commanded, but the beast didn't listen. Instead, all of the Millennium Items aboard the vessel activated. 'What's this?' Marik thought. 'I detect a great disturbance! Odion has angered the gods!' Ishizu thought, worried. 'What's going on? My deck is emitting a powerful aura! One of great rage! It's as if the real Winged Dragon of Ra is angry that Odion played a counterfeit card!' Marik thought, shocked by what was happening.
"Looks like your dragon either didn't hear you, or has other plans." Joey said before Odion turned around to face it. "Obey me, and attack my opponent now!" he commanded. But the dragon ignored him. "Why isn't it attacking Joey?" Tristan asked. "What's the hay is going on with that thing?" AJ asked. "Something's gone wrong!" Yami said in worried shock. "I think that dragon has a mind of its own!" Spike shouted, realizing the reason why it, Obelisk and Slifer were called the Egyptian God Monsters, they couldn't be controlled by just anyone. "It's more than a card, it may very well be a monster that serves a god!" he added. And right at that moment, the counterfeit dragon began to destroy itself.
"What now?" Odion asked, frustrated. 'The Winged Dragon of Ra isn't obeying Odion's commands! How can this be? My Rare Hunters tested these card copies extensively! I know there were difficulties at first with some of my weaker servants, but I thought Odion could control it.' Marik thought, remembering how his many servants died trying to control one of the counterfeits. "What's going on? And what's up with this storm?" Joey asked as said storm brewed to the point of danger. "Either this is the most advanced and impressive Duel Monsters hologram we've ever seen, or we better take cover!" Pinkie shouted.
'The rage of my Egyptian God Card is going to strike everyone involved in this duel!' Marik realized in shock as lightning bolts struck the battlefield. "Joey!" Yami shouted. "You both have to get down from there, fast!" AJ called. 'Oh, my brother. What have you done?' Ishizu thought. 'Master Marik, I am not worthy to control a card such as The Winged Dragon of Ra, just as I am not worthy of being part of the Ishtar family.' Odion thought as his childhood flashed before his eyes. 'Forgive me, master. I've failed you again.' he said before a lightning bolt struck him down, shattering the Millennium Rod in his hand, which Yami was shocked to see.
'That Millennium Rod was a fake! Joey was right! That's not the real Marik!' Yugi thought. 'Odion!' Marik called, mentally. 'I'm sorry. I tried my best to serve you, master. I tried. I...tried.' Odion responded as he collapsed. "Hey, are you okay?" Joey asked before walking towards his fallen opponent, but a lightning bolt stopped him. "Joey, whatever you do, don't move!" Twilight shouted. "Please be careful." Serenity said before another bolt of lightning struck, this time hitting Joey right on the head. "Joey!" Rainbow shouted before she and Tristan climbed up on the edge of the arena to check on him.
"Are you okay? Say something!" Tristan called. "Both of you, get down. There's a duel going on." Roland stated. "But both of them got struck by lightning!" Rainbow stated. "She's right, both Duelists are out cold!" Tristan concurred. "Maybe so, but they both have life points remaining. So according to Battle City rules, this duel is still in progress. Now get off the playing field." Roland responded. "Just forget the rules and make sure they're both not dead!" Rainbow shouted. "Enough bickering." Seto said at last. "I don't know where that lightning came from, but it had nothing to do with either the Duel Disk System or the holographic projection system. Whatever it may have seemed to be, its obvious that this lightning storm is a freak act of nature and nothing more." he stated.
"Who cares what it was, what caused it, or where it came from, just end this duel, now!" Rarity declared. "Should I declare the duel a double forfeit or a draw and disqualify them both?" Roland asked. "Not yet. Since both Duelists are unconscious, the greatest amount of life points on either side won't apply. Therefore, we'll give them five minutes. Whichever Duelist gets to his feet first will be declared the winner and continue on in the finals." Seto answered.
"KAIBA! That's ridiculous!" Yami shouted. "I agree, that is the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard ANYONE say in my life!" Twiilght bellowed. "Wake up, Joey. You can do it!" Mai called out. "Come on, dude! Please..." Rainbow said, worried. "Come on, Joey! Wake up!" Tea shouted. As everyone was calling for Joey, Marik was clutching his head. At the same time, Odion began to stir, as if sensing Marik was in need. 'Master Marik.' he thought. In Ishizu's room, she also felt what was happening with her brother. 'Marik has angered the gods! And now everyone aboard this ship is in life-threatening danger!' she thought.
"Joey, can you hear me?" Tristan asked. "Come on, big brother! Wake up!" Serenity shouted. "Stand up, Joseph! We know you have what it takes to beat this imposter!" Rarity called. "They both have three minutes left. If neither one of them gets up, they'll both be eliminated from the Battle City finals in a double draw." Roland said as Odion continued to stir. 'My necklace tells me that the evil within Marik will grow stronger.' Ishizu thought as she remembered the day he was taken away to receive the Tomb Keeper's Initiation. 'I'll never forget the day Marik was taken away to receive the Tomb Keeper's Initiation. It was a day that would change all of us forever. For during that ritual, a great evil awoke within my brother. And now that Odion is unable to protect him, that evil presence will increase in power.' she thought, remembering when Marik's evil side was emerging and when Odion tattooed his face as proof of his loyalty to her little brother.
'Odion dedicated his life to protect my little brother. He must've contained the evil within Marik as best he could. I know the good side of Marik exists and I must find a way to bring it out. But with Odion unconscious, things will only get worse.' she continued. 'I must, get up. It's my duty to protect Marik.' Odion thought before attempting to get up as Marik's evil half began to emerge. "No way! That guy's getting up!" Rainbow shouted. "That's not good." Mai said while Twilight noticed 'Namu' was clutching his head in pain. 'What's wrong with... Wait! If that man up there isn't Marik, then that must mean...' she thought, shocked to realize the truth that Marik was hiding in plain sight this whole time.
'I won't, disappoint you again...master Marik.' Odion thought as he struggled to his feet. "It looks like we have our winner." Seto said as Odion was soon on one knee. "And the winner is..." Roland began to say before Odion collapsed again. "I'm, sorry. Sir." Odion said faintly. "You can still win, Joey!" Yami shouted as Twilight continued to look at Marik. 'If he's Marik, why is he holding his head?' she pondered. 'Wait, I sense something emerging in his very being. Something, evil.' she continued. 'I remember when Seto's evil side was banished to the Shadow Realm, I felt that evil presence leaving when Yami mind-crushed him. But this, this feels like the presence of Yami Bakura, only much...MUCH darker. Like it didn't even come from the Millennium Rod like Yami Bakura did.' she continued, worried.
"If neither Duelist gets to his feet in the next two minutes, both players will be disqualified from the finals!" Roland said. 'Please, Princess Luna, if he's unconscious, let me and my friends into Joey's mind to try and wake him.' Twilight silently prayed in her mind. Sure enough, Luna heard her and transported Twilight and her friends into Joey's mind, where he was dreaming of being back at Domino High. In said dream, he saw his friends helping him get ready for a big Duel Monsters competition, though Kaiba was his usual taunting self. But at Tristan's suggestion, he ignored him before pulling out a list of his best cards.
Next thing he knew, he saw Serenity, Mai, Spike and the girls lending a hand. Next thing he noticed was, when Tristan pulled him aside, he found that his card list was completely blank. After saying how fortunate he was to have his friends by his side, claiming he'd be clueless without them. Soon, the deck was built but before the gang could leave, Joey found that he couldn't get up, so his friends lent a hand. And as soon as they helped him up, the dream ended and Joey was actually on his feet.
"He's up! Joey's up on his feet!" Rainbow shouted with a smile. "Well, done, Joseph." Rarity said. "That means you win the duel!" Serenity said in delight. "I was in a duel? Last thing I remember was getting struck by a bolt of lightning. Can someone fill me in?" Joey asked. "Sure! See, you're dueling in the Battle City finals and what happened was, that guy laying down over there summoned the Egyptian God Monster called The Winged Dragon of Ra, but it disobeyed him and started sending lightning bolts everyone. One struck him, and then another struck you, and Kaiba said that you both had 5 minutes to get back on your feet before you were both disqualified, but then after that guy failed to get up, you got up. And as for the duel, you were losing for a while before you made an awesome comeback only for that guy to summon a giant scorpion monster that ate your monsters and transformed with each one before summoning Ra and the rest went as I had said!" Pinkie said.
"And aside from that brief recap, you scared us, you big dope! Don't ever do that again!" Mai shouted. "Sorry." Joey said before looking across the battlefield to Odion, who was still down. "But who's that guy?" he asked. 'That's what I'd like to know. He had a fake Millennium Rod so he's clearly an imposter posing as Marik.' Twilight thought. "Now I remember." Joey said as he remembered what transpired moments ago before he was struck by a bolt of lightning. "His Egyptian God Card disobeyed him and went nuts. And that's the last thing I remember before that bolt of lightning hit me." he recalled.
"And so, the winner of this duel is Joey Wheeler!" Roland declared. "So I won this duel?" Joey asked. "Yes, you did." Yami said, proudly. "I knew you would!" Serenity said with a smile. "Alright! Who's the greatest underdog in Duel Monsters history? The Wheelman, Joey Wheeler!" Rainbow said in delight. "Wait a second, Rainbow. I think the other guy might still be hurt." Joey said as he walked toward Odion while the arena lowered. 'Looks like either his dumb luck or scrappy underdog nature saved Wheeler again, and I emphasize dumb and, or, underdog. But what happened to Marik's Egyptian God Card? Why didn't it attack? I know there wasn't a glitch in his Duel Disk because I spared no expense to make sure my equipment and products are problem free.' Seto thought.
'That card should've worked, unless...his card was a fake!' he continued, realizing that the card Odion played was just a counterfeit. Soon, Yami and some of the others rushed up to check on both Joey and Odion before the latter came to. "Please, forgive me, Joey. I'm sorry. It was an honor for me to duel with you." he said. "Well, same to you. And thanks to that lightning bolt, I won't be forgetting this duel for a while." Joey responded. "But now that it's over, it's time to come clean." AJ said. "Applejack is right, if you're not Marik, then just who are you?" Rainbow asked.
"I am Odion Ishtar, adopted brother and humble servant, of the real, Marik Ishtar." Odion answered before pointing to Marik, who was holding his head, trying to hold back his evil side. "So that sidewinder is the real Marik?" AJ asked. "No doubt about it! Look at what he's holding, the Millennium Rod! And unlike Odion's, this one is the real thing, I can see my reflection in it because it's made of solid gold!" Twilight confirmed. "I can't believe it! Namu is the real Marik, and he's been hiding in plain sight this whole time!" Rarity said in shock.
"Tell us now! Admit your true identity, Marik Ishtar!" Yami demanded before Marik turned towards them. "Yes, it's true. I am indeed the real Marik, you fools!" the madman admitted. 'Then he must have the REAL Winged Dragon of Ra!' Seto thought. "So you lied to us all day?!" Fluttershy asked, remembering when he 'found' Bakura and met them. "Yes. Namu, was just a disguise so that I could get closer to Yugi." Marik answered. "You little worm." Joey said, disgusted. "He's the one who brainwashed you, Tea, Fluttershy and the many servants of his that I defeated." Yami revealed.
"So, pharaoh, we finally meet face to face." Marik said as Odion tried to keep consciousness. "And now, at last, I can finish the job my pathetic servants couldn't! Yugi, your puzzle and power, along with you Egyptian God Card, will soon be where they belong." he continued before his evil side flared up again. "Oh, no. I was afraid of this. You're all in great danger." Odion said weakly. "What do you mean, Odion?" Fluttershy asked. "I think he means..." Twilight responded, pointing toward Marik. "Yes, princess... Beware...the great evil...hidden within." Odion confirmed. "What are you talking about?" Rainbow asked. "Master Marik has a darker side, one that was born on his 12th birthday. And I am, unable to contain it anymore. It's too late now." Odion responded before losing consciousness.
"Too late?" Spike asked. "Yes. Too late, to stop that..." Twilight responded, pointing at Marik, who was succumbing to his evil half. "Let me out. You can't restrain me anymore." said the evil presence before Marik screamed in horror as he completely fell to his darker half. "Guys, I think this falls under the category of, not good." Joey said. "You're right." Twilight confirmed. "Look at his hair." Rarity said in shock. "The mark of an ancient Egyptian spirit, otherwise known as a yami." Twilight stated as they all gazed upon the true evil that was in their midst, Yami Marik.
"Marik, what's goin on here?!" Yami Yugi demanded, only for the evil presence lowered his head, chuckling while showing he had the Eye of Anubis on his forehead. "I'm finally free again." Yami Marik said. "As I thought. That's not really Marik, a yami's taken over." Twilight said, grimly. "Quite observant, princess. And now that I'm free, I can do things my way." Yami Marik answered. "I was restrained for many years by the very mental presence of that fool, Odion. You see, I'm the true Marik, and I'm not as restrained as the one you've come to know. And soon, I'll finish the job he couldn't complete and strip you of your powers, for I deserve to be pharaoh, not you or any other human. So get ready for the real battle. And when I'm through with you, your puzzle will be around my neck, where it belongs." he explained.
"Once I have broken the body you inhabit, your spirit will forever be trapped in the realm of eternal darkness, along with your friends, and Odion as well." he added. "Get a life, you monster." Rainbow said, defiant. "Foolish girl, thanks to Odion's failure, I now have one." Yami Marik retorted. "Of course, by failing, Odion proved one thing; only a chosen few can control the Egyptian God Cards. Kaiba, you're one of them." he added.
"Marik, I'm sick and tired of hearing ancient Egyptian myths. I control Obelisk the Tormentor easily because I'm a master Duelist." Seto responded, but Yami Marik scoffed. "Don't deny your heritage. You'll find you can't escape the 5,000 year old memories that are buried deep in your mind, memories that your ancient Egyptian ancestor made. You'll learn in due time, Kaiba. Your role in this game runs deeper than you can imagine. However, that won't matter once I take over." the evil yami stated.
In Ishizu's room, she sensed what had happened to her brother. 'Just as my necklace predicted, a great disturbance in the mystic alignment has awakened a deeper evil that's long been dormant inside of Marik, an evil yami that was infused in him the day he received the Tomb Keeper's Initiation. And the goodness within my brother's heart is now a small spark covered beneath a fog of utter darkness and despair.' she thought. "Yugi, the battle for the pharaoh's power will soon begin, a conflict 5,000 years in the making. And there's no turning back!" Yami Marik stated before laughing. "The great Egyptian God Monsters will serve and protect me, while I rule the Earth as the new pharaoh!" he declared before laughing once again.