Chapter 7

An Unexpected Enemy

As the time ticked on by, the group in the limo were starting to feel either annoyed or concerned. "Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. The driver's been gone for about 20 minutes. What's taking him so long?" Tea said, clearly not too thrilled with the current events. "I'm with you, Tea, my Pinkie senses have been tingling for a while, too." Pinkie concurred. "Guess we better go check on the guy." Joey suggested before everyone got out of the car.

"Hello? Anyone home?" Fluttershy called. "Looks like business died off a long time ago." Tristan figured. "Yeah, about 10 to 20 years ago." Rainbow suggested. "I don't see anybody, no cashier, no one taking care of the pumps, nobody." AJ said as she looked around. "Be careful, Tristan, I don't like the looks of this place." Twilight cautioned. "He's not in the bathroom." Tristan said after he went in and came back out. "Then where did he disappear to?" Rarity wondered.

"Hold on." Joey said as he put his ear against the wall. "What is it, Joey? You hear something?" Spike asked. "Yeah, anyone else hear it?" Joey replied. "I think I do, and it sure isn't Tristan's stomach." AJ said. "Me, too, AJ. It's coming from up the road!" Yugi said as they all looked in that direction. "Whoever that is, we better flag em down!" Tristan suggested as he ran out onto the road. "If its the natives, let's hope they're friendly." Fluttershy said, nervously. What they saw was an army of bikers riding their way.

"I have a bad feeling these guys aren't here to welcome us." Spike said, concerned. Soon, the bikers came to a stop. "You folks shouldn't be roaming around these parts." said one of them. "You never know who might drive by." said another. "That doesn't sound like a welcome to me." Rainbow said, ready to stand her ground and fight. "If you're looking to fill up, I hate to be the one to tell you, but the gas station's closed." Tristan said to the gang.

'Yugi.' Yami said, mentally. "What's wrong, Yami?" Yugi asked. 'This looks dangerous, so let me take over.' Yami replied before switching with his young friend. "What do you guys want, anyway?" Tea asked. "I have a feeling its us they want." Yami figured. "Looks like the spikey-haired fella's the smart one." said one of the bikers before he revved up his engine. "What do we do now?" Tristan asked. "Only one thing we can do, run for it!" Joey shouted before they all did so with the biker gang on their tails. Up on a high ledge, Rafael and Valon watched on.

"The pharaoh and his pals are ours." Raf said. "Right. They'll never outrun those choppers." Valon added. Down on the road, the bikers overtook the group and started to circle them like hungry sharks in the water. "Now what?" Rarity asked, frightened. "We do whatever we need to to get out of this." Tristan answered. "Ready to dance?" asked one of the bikers before he took out a pipe, along with the rest of the gang. "No one ever said bikers fight fair." Joey pointed out. "Good guess, kid. Now, let's rock and roll, boys!" one of the bikers said before striking the ground with his pipe and he, along with his fellow bikers, started dragging the pipes on the ground to send sparks flying.

Suddenly, before one of the bikers could strike Joey, a card struck the rider's hand and knocked both him and his bike to the ground. "What just happened?" asked one of the bikers. "Looks like someone wants to muscle in on this action." another one answered. "Wait a sec, who's that?" another one asked before they saw a woman riding in on a bike of her own before throwing a couple Duel Monsters cards at them, just like the first one.

Up on the ledge, Raf and Valon noticed the stranger taking out the bikers. "Who's doing this?" Twilight asked. "We can ask questions later." Tristan said before he started running, along with the rest of the group. Joey then noticed one of the cards next to one of the downed bikers. He quickly realized just who was under that biker helmet, because the card he looked at was Harpie Lady. "I'll take that." said the biker before grabbing it and riding off. "Thanks, hon." she added before Joey saw her eyes through the visor. "It's Mai!" he said in surprise.

Suddenly, one of the bikers tried to grab her with a chain, only for her to block it with her Duel Disk, which was the very same model used by Gurimo, a Chaos Disk. "Going my way?" Mai asked before pulling the biker off his ride and down to the pavement. But the bike kept sliding across the road until it struck one of the gas pumps, starting a fire. "That's not good." Joey said before running for the limo. "Joey, get in, hurry!" Twilight urged before he did so. "Hang on!" Tristan shouted as he took the wheel and drove as fast as he could before the gas station went up in a fireball.

Joey looked back and worried that Mai was caught in the explosion before he saw her riding out of the smoke. "Quick question, who just saved us?" Spike asked. "It was Mai, I saw her eyes through the visor of her helmet." Joey answered. "Mai Valentine? What's she doing out here?" AJ asked. Meanwhile, Raf was starting up his bike. "Looks like someone out there likes to crash parties, let's find out who." Raf said before riding off, but Valon kept on looking out. 'I already know who it is. And I know just where she's going, too.' he thought as Mai rode on.

Meanwhile, at Duelist Kingdom, Seto and Mokuba were about to leave. "How did Alister just up and disappear like that?" Mokuba asked. "I don't know, and frankly, I don't care." Seto answered. "Seto, aren't you worried he'll try to come after you?" Mokuba asked before remembering what Alister had said during his duel against Seto. "I don't know how true this whole soul-stealing spiel is, but I do know is that he's got a grudge against you and your company." he added. "Well, if its a grudge he has, he'll likely hang on to it. Yet he thinks I'm guilty for the war-mongering our step-father did in his life." Seto replied.

"And another thing, that Seal of Orichalcos field spell he played, I don't remembering reading about it either online or in Duel Monsters Weekly." Mokuba said. 'That card had to have been a knockoff, but what I don't get is how this card got in my deck.' Seto thought as he looked at his new Fang of Critias card and remembered the dream he had before he gained it. 'This is one of the most powerful cards I've ever seen. I don't know where it came from, but I have to find out more about it and there's only one person who would have that kind of information; the real Maximillian Pegasus.' he continued.

They soon reached the Blue-Eyes White Jet and climbed aboard. "Seto, we just got an email from HQ, they need us to come back." Mokuba said. "Whatever it is, it'll have to wait. Because right now, we have to pay a little visit to Industrial Illusions." Seto replied before starting up the jet. "Initiating navigation system, inputting coordinates of Industrial Illusions company headquarters." Mokuba said as the jet lifted off the ground. "Activating rear thrusters." Seto said before doing so. "We have our course set for Industrial Illusions headquarters in California." Mokuba said before the aircraft zoomed off.

Meanwhile, out in the California desert, the group was now traveling on foot because the limo's engine overheated. "I can't believe this, we have to walk through the desert on foot because the car overheated?" Rarity said, frustrated. "This humidity will ruin my hair." she added. "Tristan, maybe next time you should consider bringing some water so that we could use it as coolant, huh?" Joey suggested. "If I did that, then we wouldn't have any water to drink." Tristan replied. "Alright, boys, that's enough." Rarity said.

"Rarity's right, this isn't the time to be fighting one another." Yami concurred. "What we need is a plan." Twilight added. "And the first part of that plan is locating Pegasus." AJ suggested. "Well, its obvious whoever's after Pegasus already knows we're here. So we can't rule out the possibility of these thieves getting to him first." Twilight figured. "So that means using caution from here on out." Rarity concurred.

"But more importantly, how do we get to Pegasus without a car?" AJ asked. Soon, they heard a sound from down the road. "If that's more bikers, I'm gonna nail em." Rainbow said, clearly not wanting to tangle with any more of the punks they had just dealt with. However, it was a guy driving his truck driving their way. After some persuasion from Tea, the driver agreed, though they were all pretty cramped in the back.

'Its good to be moving again, but I still can't make sense of what happened back there.' Twilight thought before remembering what happened. "Hey, Joey, you said Mai helped us out back at the gas station before it went boom, but how do you know?" AJ asked. "That's easy, AJ, her cards. She attacked those punks with Harpie Lady cards." Joey answered before he remembered finding the card. "Its Mai's trademark, not to mention she snatched it out of my hand after I picked it up." he added.

"I had a feeling I'd run into my girl again someday." he said with a smile. "Good thing she's a friend of ours." Fluttershy said. 'She's right, but something's bugging me. Why didn't she stick around to check on us?' Yugi thought. Meanwhile, back in San Francisco, Weevil and Rex were wondering through the alleyways of the city. "Could this day get any worse?" Rex asked. "I was stuffed into a smelly bag, dumped off in the worst part of San Francisco and used as a trampoline by a bunch of street punks." he added. "Think of it this way, things can only get better from here." Weevil replied before someone ran right past him.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" Rex shouted before Weevil realized what had happened. "Hey! My wallet!" Weevil shouted. "Our money!" Rex added before they both started chasing the thief. But before they could get the chance to catch up to him, a die nailed him in the head, causing him to drop the wallet. "Hey, someone stopped him!" Weevil shouted before the thief ran off. The man who drove the thief off picked up both the wallet and the die and handed the former to Weevil. "Here, I believe this is yours." he said. To Weevil and Rex's surprise, it was none other than Duke Devlin, creator of Dungeon Dice Monsters.

A bit later, Duke was driving the two boys on. "So, you two know Yugi, huh?" he asked. "Pretty wild coincidence. I mean, what are the odds that I run into the same guys who dueled Yugi and Joey in both Duelist Kingdom and Battle City in my own part of the world?" he added. "So, what brings you and, by extension, Yugi, to the USA?" he asked. "Well, Yugi got an invite to Industrial Illusions and we figured we should tag along." Rex answered. "Yeah, its probably because of his most recent victory at Battle City." Weevil suggested.

"Well, I assume you also heard the rumors I've heard. Word on the street is that Yugi lost the Egyptian God Cards." Duke said. "I hate to be the one to tell you, Duke, but the rumors are true. A trio of bikers called The Three Swordsmen swiped them after Battle City ended." Weevil said. "It's really a disgrace to the game of Duel Monsters in my opinion." he added. "So Yugi told us to keep an eye out for those Swordsmen guys and tell him as soon as we see him, but then we got word of his invite to Pegasus' company and that's why we're here." Rex pointed out.

"I have a feeling that the thieves that stole the Egyptian God Cards may be after something else, and that's why Pegasus invited Yugi out here. He may have some more information about them." Weevil added. "Thankfully for you, I know the way to Industrial Illusions. After all, what friend would I be if I didn't help out?" Duke replied. "Next stop, Industrial Illusions headquarters!" he declared as he drove on. Meanwhile, the group had arrive at the place but found the lobby was empty.

"Hello? Mr. Pegasus?" Twilight called, but there was no answer. "This place is completely empty." Tristan said. "Maybe its some kind of corporate vacation day or something." Joey suggested. "If that were the case, why were the doors open?" Rarity asked. 'I've got a bad feeling about this.' Yugi said, mentally. 'So do I. I suspect the thieves that were after Pegasus may have already found him. And if that's the case, I'm sure they'll be expecting us.' Yami replied. Soon, Tea picked up the phone to see if they were still operational.

"More trouble, the phones aren't working." she said. Then came more trouble, shutters were coming down in front of the doors on all sides. "Dagnabbit, we just walked right into a trap!" AJ shouted before they tried lifting the shutters. "These shutters won't go back up!" Spike shouted. "This better not be Pegasus' doing!" Rainbow said, irritated. "Stay calm, everyone." Yami advised before they heard an engine start up and then rev up.

"Sounds like we're not alone." Joey said as they all looked up at the balcony on the floor above. Suddenly, Mai jumped down from the balcony on her bike and landed with a screech. "Mai, is that you?" Joey asked before she took off her helmet. "Mai! What are you doing here?" Spike said in surprise. "I wanted to ask the same thing. Why are you out in the middle of the California desert?" Joey asked before Mai gave him a not-so-happy look.

"Wait, my Pinkie senses are tingling again." Pinkie said, cautiously. "Aren't you gonna say anything?" AJ asked, unsure why Mai was giving them the silent treatment. "I'm not the Mai you all once knew." she answered before drawing a card. "What are you talking about?" Twilight asked before she saw the Chaos Disk on her arm. "You heard me, Princess." Mai replied before remembering the previous night, when she dueled and beat Pegasus, robbing his body of his soul.

"Anyway, say hello to Pegasus." she said before showing them the Orichalcos card that contained his soul. "No..." Twilight said in horror. "That's the Seal of Orichalcos!" Rarity said in shock. "Mai, tell us what's going on." Joey urged. "I don't think she needs to." said a familiar voice. They all looked up and saw it was Valon, with Raf right behind him. "What's the matter, Wheeler? Did your little reunion with your girlfriend not go as well as you expected?" he asked. "And while I'm thinking of it, why are you keeping these guys for yourself, Mai? Why not let me and Rafael share in the fun?" he added.

"Mind your own business, you lackey! One of these guys are mine, so deal with it!" Mai replied, sharply. "Mai, come on, stop kidding around. You know we're together, right?" Joey said, remembering the moment he and her shared a kiss before parting ways. "Please, Mai, tell me this is all a joke. You and I are boyfriend and girlfriend, remember?" he added, worried beyond belief. "Don't tell me, Mai totally sold us out?!" Rainbow asked, heartbroken. "She'd never do that. Would she?" Fluttershy replied.

"I suggest you explain yourself." Yami said. "My heart may belong to Joey, but I wasn't a permanent part of your entourage. And now I'm gonna break you apart, one by one." Mai replied before activating her Chaos Disk. "And Joey, baby, I'm starting with you." she added. "If its a duel you want, fine." Joey said as Mai drew her hand. "Payback time starts, now." she said as she drew her first card. "And to think, I really thought we could make a relationship." she added. "But now I know the truth! My feelings for you were holding me back from achieving true power! Now to show you where I put those feelings, The Seal of Orichalcos!" she shouted before activating said card.

"This card has done for me then you ever could!" she added as the power surrounded her. "No. Not this!" Yami said before Joey found himself within the seal. "You look scared, Joey." Mai said before chuckling. "If you think its bad now, just wait until you lose." she added. "Mai, listen, that card's nothing but pure evil. Its messing with your head, big time!" Joey protested. "Don't you remember everything we've been through together? Just call off that freaky magic card and I'll make up for whatever I didn't do for you." he continued.

But Mai just looked at him and chuckled as the seal appeared on her forehead. "Mai..." Joey said, softly, though he was heartbroken. "It's exactly as I feared. The Seal of Orichalcos controls her. There's only one way this duel will end." Yami said. "Yeah, the same thing Mai did to Pegasus will happen to either Joey or her." Spike said, worried. "So no matter who wins, someone loses." Twilight added.

"Mai, we should talk this over." Joey insisted. "There's got to be another way to settle this." he added as Mai played her next card. "Sorry, honey, but I play Harpie Lady!" she replied before her ace monster appeared, this time with 1800 attack points. "As long as the Seal of Orichalcos is in play, every one of my monsters falls under its control, giving them 500 extra attack points." she said. "Come on, Mai, stop this. If you cause Joey to get his soul taken, then you'll be no better than Pegasus used to be!" Rainbow shouted.

"That may be the case, but at least now Joey will be with me forever, while trapped within the seal that is." Mai replied. "No, I can't play. I won't. Mai, I'm not gonna lose you again like I almost did to Marik! You got to stop this duel, now!" Joey shouted, desperate to try to get Mai to call off the duel before he made the biggest mistake of her life.