Chapter 17

Brothers in Arms: Part 1

Noah vs Seto

Out in the desert, Twilight was closely examining Tristan. "Uh, Twilight? I'm not sure if looking me over with a magnifying glass is gonna help us." the robo-monkey said. "Tristan, think about it, your body is that of a robot monkey, emphasis on robot, so it may hold some sort of clue or hint or even the key to escaping Noah's virtual universe." Twilight replied. "Well, alright, just don't be too rough." Tristan said before she discovered a keypad hidden within his back.

"Well, looks like your robot body has some secrets." Twilight said before pressing one of the buttons, which engaged some sorts of function that made Tristan ride around on his wheels at a fast rate of speed. "Somebody stop me!" he shouted. Twilight soon managed to do so. "Alright, let's try another number. Maybe two is the lucky one." she suggested. "Something tells me it's not mine." Tristan replied before she pressed it and activated a helicopter propeller.

It seemed to be fine, until he went out of control and landed flat on the ground. "Well, let's try pressing that red one." Yugi suggested before pressing it, which caused the internal computer to say that the primate emergency escape sequence was initiated. "Looks like we hit the jackpot." Joey said as Tristan started to project something before his internal computer said that the virtual destination matrix was activated, thus revealing a passageway.

What was projected was a door, and on the other side was the virtual recreation of Seto's top secret theme park, Kaiba Land, puzzling everyone. "Either I'm seeing things, or Noah created some kind of virtual theme park and named it after the Kaiba family." AJ said. Meanwhile, inside one of the buildings of the park, Seto continued on his way.

'Noah may have tried to recreate my Duel Monsters theme park, but it's obvious that this is just a virtual ripoff.' he thought before he saw a Blue-Eyes White Dragon shaped train coming his way before a voice on the intercom announced that it was approaching the platform. Soon, the train came to a stop and opened for him. "At least he got the train right." he said before entering the train. Soon, the train departed.

'This train better lead me to Mokuba.' he thought before he heard a familiar voice on the speakers. "May I have your attention please? All passengers who have stolen family empires from their rightful owners, listen carefully. Prepare to exit at the next stop." Noah said as the train rolled on. "If he talks to you, don't believe a word he says to you." he instructed to his drone-like slave. "Yes, Noah. I won't listen. You're my only family, Noah." Mokuba said as his eyes glowed like the Terminator's.

Meanwhile, our heroes were investigating the KaibaCorp branded amusement park. "Unless it's going to be Duel Monsters themed, remind me never to waste my money here." Joey said. "Wait a second, yawl. Where's Tristan?" AJ asked. "There he goes! Follow that monkey!" Pinkie shouted. But as they crossed the threshold into the building, Tristan turned around, now completely taken over by his internal computer, and shouted about an intruder alert.

"Just how do you plan to stop us from going any further?" Rainbow asked daringly before the robot brought out laser guns from his hands, only for Rainbow to knock it out of the way, snapping Tristan back in control. "You okay, Tristan?" Serenity asked, but Tristan was more confused than anything. Meanwhile, the Blue-Eyes Express kept on rolling. "Attention, Seto, we are now leaving Kaiba Land." Noah said before an exit opened up and tracks went right through it, allowing the train to pass through into a volcanic area.

"Welcome to your final destination. For eternity. And don't mind the lava pits below, the molten rock is only 2000 degrees." he added before Seto saw him standing on a plateau above the lava. "Right on schedule, step-brother." he said as the train came to a stop. "Please watch your step while exiting. I wouldn't want you to burn to smithereens before our duel" he advised as Seto disembarked and the train departed.

"Look, I want my brother back, right now, you cowardly little runt!" the man demanded. "He's my brother, now." Noah replied. "Watch what you say, Noah." Seto said, angrily. "You ought to know by now that Mokuba hates you just as you hate everyone else! He'll be much better off once I scatter your mind across cyberspace!" Noah shouted. "The heat's on, quite literally, and it's time for me to do what I've been wanting to do for years, prove to both myself and my father that I'm superior to you in every way, Seto." he continued.

"If your so great, than why am I the president of KaibaCorp?" Seto asked. "Because of an unfortunate twist of fate that never should've happened, my death. But I'm about to correct that by returning to life in your body!" Noah replied. "You know better than most that Gozaburo is just your step-father, and as his biological son, he always intended to pass his company on to me!" he continued. "Keep dreaming, kid." Seto responded.

"It's all true!" Noah snapped. "Than just who are you? I saw your home movies, and you owe me some answers!" Seto replied as he remembered what he saw on that projector screen. And, as the same time, Yugi and his friends all saw those same home movies, including the funeral scene. "Wait a second, yawl. I think there's more to Noah than he originally let on." AJ suggested. "What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.

"What I mean is, if this is a funeral, than that means only one thing..." AJ explained. "Oh, dear. Does that mean little Noah, died?" Rarity asked. "Afraid so. Poor feller must've been the victim of an accident." AJ replied. Back at the volcanic area, the two step-brothers continued staring each other down. "You want the truth, Seto? Are you sure you can handle it? Well, you won't be around for much longer, anyway, so I don't see any harm in telling you." Noah stated.

"It's true. I haven't aged in years. In fact, this isn't really me. The real Noah Kaiba is up there!" he revealed before something came down from above. "Behold, your true step-brother!" he declared as a giant metal sphere came down from the sky. "What is that?! Explain yourself!" Seto demanded. "That metal sphere you see above us, is just a shell. And it protects and nourishes my living brain." Noah revealed.

Meanwhile, the group was looking around before Tristan shouted that he found something. What he found was the train tracks the Blue-Eyes Express ran on. "Don't tell me you guys are thinking of following those tracks." Tea said, worried. "Got any other ideas?" Rainbow asked. "We can't stand around talking, we have to find the Kaiba Bros, get my body back and get out of here!" Tristan stated before hopping off the platform.

"Well, if we have to follow the tracks, when's the next train supposed to come?" Twilight asked. "Who needs a train when you got a handcar?" Tristan asked as they all saw he did, indeed, find a pump handle handcar. "Nice find, Tristan." Joey complimented before, moments later, the group was riding the handcar down the line. "Well, this is slightly better than riding in a steam engine with a firebox sending soot and coal dust everywhere." Rarity admitted.

"That may be, do any of you know where the brakes are on this thing?" Rainbow asked. "Yeah, it's right behind me." AJ replied before pulling it and setting the brakes hard on. "Well, that solves that problem." Joey said, but he spoke too soon as the brakes broke while the handcar zoomed down the line, out of control. Meanwhile, Seto was still in shock that he was looking at, essentially, Noah's brain.

"Did you just say that your brain is in that thing up there?" he asked. "That's right. It's hardwired to a computer that projects a virtual image of me. But things weren't always that way. I used to be a normal, living kid. A normal, living kid who had everything." Noah replied as he remembered his previous life.

"As the only child of a multi-billionaire, I was afforded every luxury known to man. My father's servants, both butler and maid, waited on me hand and foot. I was groomed for success since the day I could walk. Mathematicians and scientists from around the globe lined up for the chance to teach me, the son of the world's most powerful business man. Musicians, champion athletes, they were all lured to our front door by my father, Gozaburo Kaiba, with the sole purpose of educating me into an educated, well-rounded future president of KaibaCorp." he explained before his flashbacks ended.

"So you see, Seto, it was I who was destined to run my father's company, not you. And I would have, had it not been for a tragic car accident. It was all the blame of a careless driver, but after it happened, I was rushed to a hospital. However, my body was practically rendered useless, my face scarred and scratched as the doctors operated on me to try and save my life. But my mind was still sharp as ever, so my father used his company's cutting edge technology to save my consciousness and my mind after my body was completely wrecked." he continued as he remembered the moments leading up to the accident.

"He linked my mind to a central computer of the design of his scientists, transforming my brain waves into electromagnetic impulses. Every thought pattern, every memory, every bit of knowledge I had was digitized and downloaded into my father's mainframe computer. It was the end of my former, living life as a human, and the beginning of my current life as a virtual being whose power is limitless!" he continued.

"Soon after that, you came along. Originally, father adopted you to motivate and challenge me as part of my training to take over KaibaCorp, but that was no longer possible. Although I was extremely powerful in cyberspace, with no human body of my own, I couldn't serve as the future president of my father's company. Until now!" he continued.

"So you see, Seto, I'm not human anymore. Haven't been for years. I exist only as a digital file in the super computer built by my father. But as soon as I defeat you in a duel, proving once and for all that I should be running KaibaCorp, I'll upload my mind into your body. Then I'll fulfill my father's wishes by taking over the company and making it what it once was, a military arms manufacturer." he concluded, but Seto just laughed.

"You expect me to believe that? Please, Noah, the only thing more ridiculous than that story is you outdueling me, a former world champion." he stated. "Then let's get this duel started. What better way to prove my power over you than by beating you at the game you claim to be best at, Seto?" Noah replied. "I've heard enough! Is that clear? I rebuilt KaibaCorp from the ground up on my own terms with no help at all!" the man shouted. "That company is what it is because of me, no one else could run it, especially not some kid!" he declared.

"Oh, really?" Noah asked as lava gushed up between them. "I'll show you real power, now let's go!" Seto replied. "Okay, then choose your cards, Seto." Noah suggested. In no time, both players picked their cards and activated their Duel Disks. "Now it's time for you to meet my Deck Master, Kaiser Sea Horse!" Seto declared as his Deck Master appeared. "You have no idea how long I've waited for this, step-brother. Prepare to lose it all." Noah responded before they both gave an equally determined 'Let's duel!' before their life points set to 4000, beginning the game.

"I'll go first." Seto said before drawing. "Now behold, I summon Giant Germ in attack mode!" he declared as his creature, a level two, Dark attribute fiend/effect monster with 1000 attack points and 100 defense points, appeared. "Then I'll set this card face down." he added. 'His first mistake was taking Mokuba, his second was challenging me to a duel. With my Crush Card Virus lying in wait, he's finished. Once he attacks my Giant Germ, the Crush Card Virus will begin to spread, destroying every monster in his hand and deck with 1500 attack points or more.' he thought. "Let's see what you've got, step-brother." he concluded.

"With pleasure, Seto, so stand back." Noah replied before drawing. "I summon, Chiron the Mage!" he declared before his creature, a level four, Earth attribute beast-warrior/effect monster with 1800 attack points and 1000 defense points, appeared. Meanwhile, everyone was holding on for their lives as the handcar sped out of control before it exited the tunnel and entered the volcanic area where Noah and Seto were dueling and crashed on a rock big enough for all of them to stand on.

"Is everyone, okay?" Yugi asked. "If you call being crushed under Joey and Duke's combined weight okay, then I'm fine." Rainbow answered, sarcastically. Yugi soon looked around and saw where they ended up. "Whoa. Look at this!" he said in surprised as everyone started to stand up. "Where in the world are we?" Rainbow asked. "Not sure, but I think we're not in Kaiba Land anymore." Tea replied.

"Well, looky over there, yawl!" AJ pointed out as everyone saw the two step-brothers Kaiba dueling. "Looks like the two supposed step-brothers are finally confronting each other." Duke said. "Be careful, Kaiba!" Yugi shouted before the man looked back and saw his rival and his friends. "Looks like your rival and his fan club have arrived. And they came just in time, to witness your last duel, Seto, and my rebirth into the real world as the new leader of KaibaCorp." Noah said.

"He's still after Kaiba's company? He must be looking to make it a military arms manufacturer again." Rainbow figured. "Let's continue. Behold the power of my mage and his Mirror of Truth!" Noah declared as a mirror-like shield appeared in the creature's left hand. "Nothing can remain hidden from me, for the Mirror of Truth reveals your facedown cards and destroys them." he explained. "Now, let's see what you were trying to hide." he added before the mirror revealed the hidden Crush Card Virus trap and destroyed it.

"Your Crush Card Virus has been nullified before it could even begin infecting, now your open for attack." he said. "Attack, my mage, destroy his Giant Germ!" he commanded before, with one stab of the centaur's staff, the germ was eradicated, lowering Seto's life points to 3200. "You just triggered my Giant Germ's special ability!" the man declared before another Giant Germ appeared on the field. "Not only do I get to summon another Giant Germ to the field, but you also lose 500 life points for destroying the first one." he explained as Noah's life points lowered to 3500.

"I'm not too worried, your creature's ability is rather weak." Noah said, confidently. "That may be, but what makes you think I brought it back to attack you?" Seto asked before drawing. "I sacrifice my Giant Germ, in order to summon my Vampire Lord!" he declared as his new monster, a level five, Dark attribute zombie/effect monster with 2000 attack points and 1500 defense points, appeared. "Now, my creature of the night, attack Chiron the Mage!" he commanded before the vampire sent a flurry of bats to destroy Chiron, lowering Noah's life points to 3300.

"That's not all. Thanks to his special ability, every time my Vampire Lord sucks away some of your life points, he forces you to send one of your cards directly to the graveyard from your deck depending on if I choose said card to be a magic, trap or monster card. And I choose monster." Seto continued before his step-brother did so. "At this rate, your deck will be empty in no time." he concluded.

"I doubt that. I'm afraid that fanged freak of yours is about to take a trip to the graveyard as well." Noah responded before drawing. "But you have no monsters." Seto pointed out. "I don't have any intentions of using a monster, I'll destroy him with this, the magic card known as Fissure!" Noah replied before he activated said card, causing the ground to give way and sending the Vampire Lord plummeting into the lava.

"Adios, bat boy." the boy said before picking another card. "And now that you're defenseless, I summon this. Aeris!" he declared before his new monster, a level four, Light attribute Fairy with 1800 attack points and 1400 defense points, appeared. "Great, without Vampire Lord, Kaiba's wide open for a direct attack!" Spike shouted. "Go, Aeris, attack Seto's life points directly!" Noah commanded before the creature's spear struck Seto, GREATLY decreasing his life points to 1400,

"Surrender now while you have the chance." Noah suggested. "Kaiba never surrenders, especially to the likes of you!" Rainbow shouted. "He'll show you just who's the boss, you green-haired punk!" Joey added. "I'll set one card face down." Noah said before doing so. "You'll never get away with what you've done, Noah. I'd rather watch KaibaCorp crumble to the ground than fall into your grubby, little hands. It belongs to me, you got that?" Seto stated.

"You stole it! I'm just taking back what rightfully belongs to me." Noah retorted. "Keep dreaming, kid." Seto replied before drawing. "Now, I believe you remember my old friend, Vampire Lord?" he asked before a coffin rose out of the lava and opened to reveal the creature. "You look surprised. You must not know anything about vampires. They can't be destroyed easily, and my Vampire Lord's special ability acts as immortality. So when he was sent to the graveyard by your Fissure card's effect, you triggered his ability and allowed him to come back." he explained.

"And now, I summon this! Slate Warrior in attack mode!" he declared before his new creature, a level four, Wind attribute fiend/flip/effect monster with 1900 attack points and 400 defense points, appeared. "I never thought I'd be rooting for Kaiba, but it looks like he's got Noah outnumbered, two to one!" Joey said with a smile. "I can't be beat. We're in my world and I make the rules." Noah stated. "Listen, you may think you created this virtual universe, but in reality you just ripped off my system. Now, Vampire Lord, attack!" Seto responded before his creature of the night pounced.

"I don't think so! Your attack just activated my trap card, so behold, the mighty Earthshaker!" Noah declared before his trap sprung, causing an earthquake. "It's time that I shake things up a bit." he said as the entire landscape shook and everyone on the sidelines braced. "Allow me to explain how this groundbreaking trap card of mine works in case you don't know; you have two creatures with two different attributes on the field, wind and darkness. And one of those two is about to be destroyed, but the choice of which one is up to you, Seto." he explained.

'So his trap card is forcing me to choose which monster to destroy. If I choose wind, I lose Slate Warrior and if I choose darkness, my Vampire Lord is gone!' Seto thought. "Make your choice!" Noah demanded. "I choose my creature of darkness, Vampire Lord!" Seto said at last. "Now observe, as my Earthshaker swallows your Vampire Lord!" Noah declared as a gush of lava destroyed Vampire Lord.

"Why'd he pick that one? Vampire Lord was a lot stronger than Slate Warrior." Joey asked. "That's where you forget what Kaiba had said, Vampire Lord's special ability will allow it to come back on his next turn." Spike pointed out. "Exactly, he's not a former world champion for nothing." Twilight concurred. "Now it's time for you to say goodbye to your own monster!" Seto declared. "Slate Warrior, attack Aeris!" he commanded before, with one powerful blow, Aeris was destroyed, lowering Noah's life points to 3200.

"Now you're the one whose defenseless." he concluded. "That's a good move, but Noah is still ahead by 2000 life points." AJ said. "You're right, AJ, so now isn't the time for celebration." Yugi concurred. "You know, Seto, I was wondering if you and I just got off on the wrong foot." Noah suggested upon drawing. "Perhaps it's time we wash away our differences, and this should help. The magic card known as Giant Flood! Hope you packed a swimsuit." he continued before his magic card caused the ground to shake again before creating a forty foot wall of water.

"Uh, guys... TIDAL WAVE!" Joey shouted. "We're gonna need a bigger boat." Pinkie said, meekly. In no time, the tidal wave came crashing down as Noah declared it was time for him to drown out his competition. "Looks like your monster needs a life jacket." the boy said before Seto saw his monster in the flood water. "No! My Slate Warrior!" the man shouted as he watched his creature get sucked into a whirlpool. "Man, Kaiba's monster got flushed right out of the game!" Rainbow said, surprised.

"It's not the only one!" AJ shouted, pointing toward the whirlpool. "What's happening?! Every monster in my graveyard is being washed away!" Seto shouted as he saw the monsters in his graveyard getting sucked down the whirlpool. "Now it's time for you to see what my Deck Master can do." Noah said. "But I never saw you pick a Deck Master." Seto pointed out. "Oh, forgive me for being so rude and inconsiderate." Noah replied before the ground shook again.

"What's that freak up to now?" Joey asked. "MEET MY DECK MASTER! SHINATO'S ARK!" Noah declared as his Deck Master burst from the flood water. "This is nuts! He picked a magic card that's pretty much the Duel Monsters version of Noah's Ark!" Spike shouted. "That boat's your Deck Master?!" Seto asked, shocked. "Correct, Seto. Now my ark will allow me to sail away with everything you have, your company, your life and your brother!" Noah replied as they all gazed at Noah's Deck Master.