To all my readers-I want everyone to know that for the duel of Yugi Muto and Maximillion Pegasus will take a while for me to write because I want to upload them in a certain way. They'll still be in episode order, mind you, I'm just going to be uploading them differently. So dont rush me on those chapters, otherwise I will delay uploading them by a month. Okay?

If anyone, and I mean anyone tries to rush me while writing this fanfic or any of my other fanfics, all written chapters will be delayed for a week. No exceptions. Leave a positive review and Happy Reading!

I DONT OWN YUGIOH AT ALL! I ONLY OWN THE OC AND HER DUELING DECK!

Shoutouts:

Yami-Bakura starts laughing at Tristan as he stares down the flight of stairs.

"So, what will it be, mortal?" he asked Tristan. "Are you going to hand over Mokuba willingly, or do I have to conjure something to consume your soul?"

"Forget it. No way." said Tristan and Yami-Bakura laughs again.

"You know that I have the power to back up my threats." said Yami-Bakura. "Hand him over this instant, or I'll dispatch you to the graveyard, too."

"Hmm."

Tristan was weighing his options. "Yeah, I remember." Tristan said, looking at the Millennium Ring around his neck. "Your evil power comes from that, the Millennium Ring."

"That's right. The Millennium Ring not only allows me to control your friend Bakura, it gives me many other abilities as well." said Yami-Bakura. "So, unless you want a more personal demonstration of my powers, you'll stop resisting me, since you know any attempt would be pointless. Why sacrifice yourself when you know I'll still wind up in possession of him in the end?"

Tristan growled for a second, then said, "All right. I give up. You can have him." He then lifts Mokuba up to Yami-Bakura. "Mokuba's yours."

Yami-Bakura smirks at Tristan, happy that it would use Mokuba's body. Out of nowhere, Tristan does the next best thing. "Here! Think fast!" he said, throwing Mokuba's soulless body at him. Yami-Bakura catches Mokuba as Tristan rushes towards him, karate chopping him in the back and knocks him out.

"Since the evil spirit inside that necklace is what's controlling Bakura, I've got to get rid of the necklace." thought Tristan. He takes the Millenium Ring off of Bakura's body and stares at the forest beside the castle. "So long, Evil Spirit." he said, looking down at the ring and tosses it into the forest. "And this time, don't come back!"

Glinting in the sunlight as it fell, the Millenium Ring finally lands in the forest. "Good Riddance." said Tristan as he walks back to Mokuba and Bakura.

A dark cloud appears behind Pegasus and starts to surround the dueling arena. "I will defeat you, in one realm or another, Yugi." said Pegasus.

"Huh?" Yugi said, confused. "It's just like last time. He's sealing us in another dimension, cutting me off from my friends and sister."

The dark cloud darkens as energy crackles around it. "Where'd they go, Joey? Paige?" asked Tea.

"You got me." said Joey as Paige looks down at her hands. "This is really spooky."

"How can we help Yugi when we can't even see him?" asked Tea.

"The Shadow Realm." said Paige.

"What?" asked Tea and Joey.

"Hey! How about a hand?" Tristan asked as he came back with Mokuba and Bakura on his shoulders.

"Tristan, where have you been?!" asked Tea.

"You wouldn't believe it." replied Tristan. "I've had an adventure and a half today. Phew!"

"Tristan, what happened to those two?" Tea asked as he sets Mokuba and Bakura down.

"That evil spirit took over Bakura again." Tristan explained.

"It came back?" asked Paige.

"Yep. And even though I got rid of it…huh?" Tristan said, looking back at the duel. "What's going on here?"

"You first." said Joey.

"I freed Mokuba, but then Bakura tried to grab him." said Tristan.

"What did he want with Mokuba?" asked Joey. "Details, man."

"He wanted Mokuba for his new host body." he tells him.

"Huh?"

"No way!" said Paige and Tristan nodded.

"Don't worry. I handled it." said Tristan. "But that's history. What's the deal with the indoor thunderstorm?"

"We're not sure. Paige said that they're in the Shadow Realm." said Tea.

"I don't get it." said Tristan.

"They're both in the Shadow Realm. Pegasus is cutting us off from cheering Yugi on by taking their duel to the Shadow Realm." Paige explains, looking up at her friends. "My guess is that he doesn't want us to see him defeat my brother."

"That's insane!" Joey and Tristan said to her.

"There's no way Pegasus will defeat Yugi." said Tea.

"I agree. I completely have faith in Yugi that he'll defeat Pegasus to get Grandpa back." said Paige. "What I don't understand is why Pegasus is choosing not to let us see the rest of the duel."

They then looked back at Mokuba and Bakura. "These two should be all right here for now." said Tristan. "Let's go down and check it out."

"Pronto!" said Joey and they take off to the dueling arena while Joey updates Tristan. "Pegasus was losing, and he started ranting something about a shadow game, and this thing came out of nowhere. If Paige is right, I think they're still inside."

"Creepy." said Tea.

"This place always gives me the creeps." thought Yugi as he sees that he was completely cut off from the outside world. "Whenever Pegasus brings me here, it only means one thing…"

"A Shadow game." he and Yami said.

"You'll find your experience in the shadow realm this time around will be a lot harder than your last." said Pegasus. "The strain of maintaining your mind shuffle will make it more difficult for you to mentally conjure up your monsters."

"He's right!" said Yugi as Yami stood behind him. "I feel weak!"

"I'll take over, Yugi!" said Yami, switching with him and drew another card. "I think I'm strong enough, so let's finish our duel now! Hmm!" Yami glares at Pegasus. "You'll be safer if you let me handle Pegasus, Yugi. I can survive in this Realm easier than you and Paige."

"But we can't abandon our strategy!" Yugi tells Yami. "It was the only thing keeping Pegasus from reading our minds!"

"You're right, and it's the only reason why we have our narrow lead!" said Yami as Pegasus drew his next card and laughs.

"For my next brilliant move…." said Pegasus, placing down his next card. "I play my Dark Eyes Illusionist in Attack mode. And did I tell you? It's a monster I created just for this game!"

Dark Eyes Illusionist (ATT:0000/ DEF:0000) appears on the field. "And don't forget in this realm, it's as real as you are!" said Pegasus.

"I can see that!" said Yami.

"Oh, I know he looks formidable, but what sort of threat could he be to you?" Pegasus asked. "He has zero attack points and zero defense points. Of course, since it's a monster you've never seen before today, you have no way of knowing its hidden secrets, and I have been known to keep a few tricks up my sleeve from time to time. Right, Yugi?"

"I don't know what secrets your Dark Eyes Illusionist holds, but I'm certain its not as harmless as you would like me to believe." said Yami. "I'm sure it's quite dangerous."

"Yugi! You're so suspicious!" said Pegasus.

"I'll lay my Curse of Dragon on the field." said Yami, playing his Curse of Dragon. "Dragon, come forth!" Curse of Dragon screeches its way from behind Yami and onto the field, ready to battle.

"We've got to keep Pegasus off balance." Yugi said to the spirit. "We've got to keep switching our minds."

"All right, Yugi." said Yami as he switches places.

"I think Yugi overestimates his mental prowess and underestimates the burden of fighting a duel in the shadow realm." thought Pegasus. "I don't think you have it in you, Yugi-Boy. You now have 2 creatures to maintain: your Curse of Dragon and your Dark Magician."

"Uhh!" Yugi said, realizing that Pegasus was right. He had 2 monsters out on the field and nothing to protect them. "This is so hard. The strain, it hurts. It's like nothing I've ever felt before. The whole world is spinning!"

"Yugi, if this is too much for you, you should let me take over." Yami said. "What would Paige do if she saw you like this?"

"You're right. Give me a minute." Yugi said, then grips the panel. "I just want to try to last out the turn."

"He's too young and unskilled to cope with the stress, and communicating with that other spirit splits his concentration even more." thought Pegasus. "His mental and magical energies will soon be exhausted."

Outside of the shadow realm, Paige felt sweat go down her face as Tea felt a jolt in her chest. "You felt it too, huh?" asked Joey.

"Yeah, a sharp jolt, right here in my heart, along with the strangest feeling that something bad has happened to Yugi." said Tea.

"Tell me about it, Tea." said Joey. "I think our little buddy and brother is in big trouble."

"We know." said Tristan.

"Huh?"

"You felt it too?" Joey asked Tristan and Paige.

"Yeah, maybe it's because we've all become so tight, but its like we've developed some kind of weird link with him." said Tristan. "Paige, maybe even more."

"For sure." said Joey.

"Yeah, but if we're feeling what he's feeling, it must be really bad in there." said Tea.

"He's getting exhausted in there." said Paige.

"You don't mean?" asked Tea.

"Yes, we're feeling his exhaustion. I'm just hoping that the spirit will save him." she tells her.

"If only there was some way we could help him." said Joey.

"You're looking a little pale, Yugi." said Pegasus, picking his next card from his hand. "Maybe you should give up your mind-shuffle strategy. Take a breather. I can send you back to your world anytime you're ready to surrender."

Yugi was trying to stay strong as his hand struggles in exhaustion to keep his grip on his cards. "Yugi, for once, Pegasus is telling the truth." Yami tells him. "Paige will never forgive me if she saw you like this. Your mind just cant handle the stress of maintaining our monsters."

"Ok." said Yugi, giving in. "Take over…for now."

"I'll use my turn to attack with Curse of Dragon!" said Yugi. Curse of Dragon screeches as it attacks Dark Eyes Illusionist.

"An impulsive attack, precipitated, no doubt, by his concern for little Yugi." thought Pegasus, seeing that Yami would do anything for Yugi. "But in his rush, he's made a fatal mistake. Your attack activates Dark Eyes Illusionist's special ability."

Dark Eyes Illusionist's head spun once to the right and its eye starts to glow. A purple light shots out at Curse of Dragon, stopping it in its tracks. "Memorizing Magic!" shouted Pegasus.

"He stopped him." exclaimed Yami, shocked.

"To make up for Dark Eyes' nonexistent attack and defensive points, I endowed him with a special ability." explained Pegasus. "Dark Eyes Illusionist can use the power of its mesmeric eye to paralyze attacking monsters in their tracks. With such a superb monster at my disposal, what could my brilliant move be?"

"Just play it." Yami said, frustrated with Pegasus.

"As you wish." said Pegasus, turning over his magic card. "Believe it or not, I'm going to use the Black Illusion Ritual Card to sacrifice my incredible Dark Eyes. 'Has he gone insane' you may ask, 'sacrificing a creature that can paralyze any creature I play?'. No. I'm merely using this ceremony to create an even better monster."

Pegasus laughs as he starts the ritual. "I hereby sacrifice Dark Eyes Illusionist to summon another Spellcaster monster." said Pegasus. "Yes, there's more. The incredible, extraordinary, unforgettable creature known only as….Relinquished! Quite a looker, huh?"

Relinquished (ATT:0000/ DEF:0000) opened its shoulders at Yami. "What kind of monster can this be?" Yami asked. "I've never seen anything like it."

"I'll show you by activating its special ability." said Pegasus as Relinquished's eye glowed purple and its stomach area started to contract. "It's even more irresistible than my previous creature." Relinquished's stomach opens up, revealing a dark energy inside and starts to suck in Curse of Dragon.

Curse of Dragon starts screeching as it was pulled in. "Oh, no! My Curse of Dragon!" cried Yami.

"Gone, but not forgotten." said Pegasus once Curse of Dragon was sucked inside.

"Uhh! Dark Magician, go now!" shouted Yami. "Attack Relinquished! Dark Magic Attack!"

"Relinquished, activate your defense shield!" shouted Pegasus as Dark Magician points his staff at it.

Relinquished uses its shield as Curse of Dragon appears on the right side of its body. "No!" said Yami, shocked that Relinquished used his monster. "Its using my captured Curse of Dragon as a shield against the attack!"

"The Dark Magician's attack eliminates Curse of Dragon from the game. But, since he was your creature, you lose the life points." Pegasus tells Yami as his life points dropped to 400. "By absorbing its opponent's monsters, Relinquished can use them and their attack and defense points to protect against any attack monster. Relinquished remained unharmed, while the opponent suffers the damage. Your own attack reduced your life points! As long as I have Relinquished in play, you're your own worst enemy!"

Yami glowers at Pegasus, grinding his teeth as he tries to figure out his next move.

"Ooh, how frustrating it must be to be you, to know you have all these great monsters in your deck and, if you dare play any of them, they will be used against you." said Pegasus.

"This game's not over yet, Pegasus." said Yami.

"No, but it might as well be." Pegasus said as he drew his next card. "My monster's unstoppable. Watch! I activate Relinquished's Hypnotic Attraction!" Relinquished released its attack on Dark Magician, who in return, covered his eyes.

"Try as he might to resist, your Dark Magician will find my Spellcaster as irresistible as your dragon did." said Pegasus as black and purple electricity surrounded the Dark Magician's body, turning his eyes black. "Like your dragon, he'll soon be mine."

Relinquished then sucks in Dark Magician, making him a part of his shield.

"No! My Dark Magician!" exclaimed Yami, watching his Dark Magician disappear into Relinquished. "It captured him, too!" As Relinquished's shield closed, Dark Magician appears. "Ohh! And now its turned him into another defense shield!"

"Heh-Heh-Heh-Heh. That's right, Yugi." said Pegasus. "You're beginning to catch on, and this time, I've got one of your most powerful monsters to use against you. Not to mention your personal favorite."

Relinquished acquired the Dark Magician's attack and defense points. "But, in an attack, he'll take your life points all the same." added Pegasus as Yami glared at him. "Guess you're not his favorite, not anymore."

"How can I possibly win?" Yami thought to himself. "Any monster I use will be turned against me, and even if I come up with another strategy, Pegasus will know it instantly."

"We cant give up!" said Yugi. "We have to mind-shuffle again long enough for me to play a card and retreat before Pegasus can read my mind. It worked before. It'll work again!"

"Are you sure you're up to this?" asked Yami. "We don't know how long you can last in the shadow realm."

"I don't have to last long, just long enough to pull one last card." Yugi explained to Yami.

"But if you reached the limits of your endurance, your soul will be shredded, dispersed in the shadow realm for all eternity, and Paige will be sadden." said Yami.

"Whatever the risk, I have to take it, for grandpa's sake.." said Yugi. "Even if it makes my sister becomes sad in all of this. We both have to trust in the heart of the cards."

Yugi and Yami switched once more, with Yugi gasping. "I've….I've got to play fast." said Yugi. He shakingly reaches for his deck, pulling one last card for Yami.

"Its little Yugi. He's back." thought Pegasus, seeing Yugi reaching for a new card. "Some people never learn."

Breathing heavily, Yugi stares at his deck. "I've got to have faith in the heart of the cards…" thought Yugi. "Because the next card I pull….(heart beating fast) might be my last."

Yugi's eyesight starts to become blurry as he reaches for his deck. "Please, make it one that can defeat Pegasus." thought Yugi. "Please!"

Yugi quickly looks at the card before placing it on the field. "It's all up to the spirit of the millenium puzzle now." he then thought. "Pegasus, I play one card face down. For my last move, I throw Feral Imp in Defense Mode! At least now, there's one card that Pegasus doesn't know about. Now maybe we stand a chance."

"Hmm, if I try to read his mind, they'll just switch again. So instead, I'll overtax it, like this!" thought Pegasus, making his move. "Relinquished, prepare to attack! Use the Dark Magician's power!"

Dark Magician screams out in pain as Relinquish uses him. "Pilfered Power Attack!" shouted Pegasus. "Destroy that Feral Imp!"

"Wah!" shouted Feral Imp as Relinquished fires upon it.

"My Feral Imp!" Yugi cried out as Feral Imp was destroyed. "Ahh!"

"Yugi, switch now." said Yami. "Quickly!"

Yugi starts to pass out on him. "Yugi? Yugi!" Yami shouted as the eldest Muto falls to his knees against the dueling arena panel.

"Spirit…." Yugi said, using the last bit of strength he had left. "you've got to beat Pegasus. For me and Paige."

"One down." Pegasus thought, chuckling as Yugi finally passes out.

"Uhh!" said Yugi, laying across the panel.

"Oh!"

"Ooh!"

"Uhh!"

"Yugioh!" screamed Paige, knowing that Yami would hear her.

"Feel that?" asked Tea, covering her ears. "Something happened to Yugi just know."

"I know. But what?" asked Joey.

"Whatever it was, it felt devastating." said Tristan.

"He-He's hurt. Or worse." said Tea.

"Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle," Paige whispered to herself. "protect him. Help my brother win this duel to save Grandpa's soul."

Inside the Shadow realm, Yami felt Paige's plea. "Yugi! Yugi!" he called out to the eldest Muto as he held him in his arms. "I cant sense his spirit. I can no longer feel the presence of his young mind. No. He…he can't be gone!"

"Forget him. The boy was too weak." Pegasus said to Yami. "It takes a person of true fortitude to cope with the harsh unrealities of the shadow realm. Face it. Yugi is gone, and it's just you and me."

"This is too freaky." said Joey. "Suddenly, I'm not feeling Yugi at all. It's like he's vanished off the face of the planet."

"I know." said Tea. "What could have happened to him?"

"Yugi….where did you go?" asked Paige.

"I'm telling ya, I'm getting creeped out." said Joey. "One minute, I was feeling Yugi like he was right here beside me, and then the next…."

"He was gone. I felt it too." said Tristan.

"If Pegasus has hurt Yugi in any physical way, he'll have to answer to me." said Paige.

"Me, too." thought Tea. "We've got to get to him. He needs our help. Yugi!"

Tea runs towards the bubble of the Shadow Realm. "Huh? Tea, no!" Joey called out as she ran inside, only to come back out the same way. "What happened?"

"Uh, I'm not sure." said Tea. She then places her hand in, causing her hand to come back out the same side. "Oh! Oh!"

"Now that really creepy!" said Paige.

"So, what'll we do now?" asked Joey.

"Stand back. There's gotta be some way in." said Tristan and rushes his way through, only to end up on the other side of the arena. "Huh? Huh? Huh?"

"Tristan, where are you?" asked Joey.

"Yell if you can hear us!" said Tea and Paige.

"Somehow I just passed through it." Tristan tells the others. He then runs at it again, returning to the other side where Tea, Paige and Joey were.

"What happened?" asked Tea.

"No good, huh?" asked Joey.

"Ok, now it went from being creepy to an all-time high level freaky." said Paige.

"Whatever this dome bubble thingy is, its clear Pegasus designed it to keep Yugi in and us outside." said Tristan.

"I just cant believe that our best friend's in the worst jam ever and there's nothing we can do to help him." said Joey.

"Oh, Joey's right." thought Tea. "There's no way we can get through to help Yugi, and now it feels like it's too late."

In the Shadow Realm, Yami takes Yugi's place. "You used your underhanded tactics to overwhelm Yugi's mind!" growled Yami. "You will pay for what you did."

"So, I take it, from this emotional outburst, that you're having a difficult time acknowledging the fact that you failed in your self-appointed duty to protect your little dueling protégé and his sister." said Pegasus. "Whoever you are, perhaps Yugi and Paige would have been better off without your interference, hmm?"

"Be silent!" shouted Yami. "For what you have done, I will show you no mercy."

"Then let the game continue. It's your turn." said Pegasus. "You no longer have Yugi to help you. Once more, your mind is an open book to me." He then reads Yami's mind. "The card you drew is Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress, a weak monster. Without Yugi, he can't stop me from reading his mind any longer."

"Pegasus has read my mind, so he knows all the cards in my hand." thought Yami. "The only card he doesn't know is the one Yugi left on the field. I have no way of knowing if that's a card that could tip the duel in my favor. I play Winged Dragon in Defense Mode!"

Winged Dragon roared its way onto the field, ready to protect Yami. "Its your move." said Yami.

"Destroying your defense monster wont affect your life points, but I'll do it just for fun." said Pegasus as Relinquished uses Dark Magician's energy. "Relinquished, destroy Winged Dragon!"

Relinquished fires its attack on Winged Dragon, sending it to the graveyard. "Ah, that was fun." said Pegasus and draws his next card. "Now the card of your final defeat. Your time's run out." A bomb-like monster with numbers on it drops from the sky and lands on Pegasus' side.

"Jigen Bakudan! The infamous time bomb." said Yami. Jigen Bakudan (ATT: 200/ DEF: 1,000) showed Yami how many turns it had left before detonating.

"Yes, Jigen Bakudan is a self-destructing monster that's immune to all attacks." Pegasus explained. "In just two turns, it will explode and destroy my beloved Relinquished."

"You're using Bakudan to destroy your own monster?" asked Yami.

"Yes. But, more importantly, it will also destroy the ones Relinquished has absorbed. Namely yours." said Pegasus. "And Relinquished? His attack power is zero."

"Meaning your life points wont be affected at all. Right?" said Yami.

"That's right." said Pegasus as Jigen Bakudan was ticking away. "While my score is unaffected, the explosion will wipe out the Dark Magician, and his attack points will be deducted directly from your life points, ending the game."

"And that'll destroy any hope I have of rescuing Yugi and Paige's grandfather, Kaiba and Mokuba!" thought Yami.

"Face it, the clock is ticking on your demise, and there's nothing you can do to stop it." Pegasus said, taunting Yami. "I just cant remember the last occasion I had so much fun. Remember, only two turns left until kaboom! And you don't have a single card in your hand that can help you. Trust me, I know."

"What am I going to do?" Yami thought as Pegasus giggled at him. "Even if I drew a new card, Pegasus' Millenium Eye will let him read my mind and see exactly what card I've drawn!"

"That's right. As long as I can read your mind, you can do nothing against me." thought Pegasus as he stares Yami down. "You've lost. The game is over."

"He's right. As much as I hate to admit it, I've failed." thought Yami. "I've failed Yugi, I've failed Paige, and I've failed all of their friends. Nothing I draw can help me now. Yugi's sacrifice was in vain. His grandpa and the Kaiba brothers are doomed!"