This story was done in collaboration between me and Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and we both own the OCs that are used in the story. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:

Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel

The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry

Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami

WARNING: These stories are rated either T (13-plus) or M for moments of violence, bloody moments, frightening moments, and some suggestive themes. Viewer discretion may be (or strongly is) advised.

Title: Temple of Traps, Part 4

On the duel platform, Odion was still speaking to Marik mentally…

"But, Master Marik, playing 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' is far too dangerous!" he protested, "Please relent… I beg of you!"

"If you don't play that card," argued Marik mentally , "then everyone will believe Percy that you're not actually me. And my plan for revenge against my greatest enemy will be ruined!"

Odion was now conflicting with himself over what to do—well, at least until some new words from Marik were said.

"Odion, listen carefully… If you are a true member of the clan of the Tomb Keepers, your strong heart will allow you to control the copy 'God' Card," reassured Marik mentally.

Odion still relented, "But I…"

"If you can control the copy 'God' Card… my late Father will accept you as his true son," proclaimed Marik mentally, as Odion seemed affected by the words, "You will no longer be treated as a mere servant. You shall be treated as a true heir to the clan!"

A flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

During the exchange between Flashback Odion and Flashback Mr. Ishtar, the former was currently on his hands and knees.

"I only have one wish…! All I wish is to undergo the ritual and be called your son!" begged Flashback Odion.

"You fool!" Flashback Mr. Ishtar roared, who was so angry that he slapped the candle on his table at his so-called 'son', "You're only a servant!"

The flame fortunately didn't burn Flashback Odion, while Flashback Mr. Ishtar stood up and towered over him (Flashback Odion).

"It's not my choice for his fate to be this," retorted Flashback Mr. Ishtar, speaking more calmly, "The Ishtar family's sacred duty can only be passed to a true heir. As you were adopted, you are not an option. Know that I have never even considered you a member of the family at all—just a lowly servant whom my dead wife adopted!" Seeing as his (Flashback Mr. Ishtar) mind had been made up, there was absolutely nothing that Flashback Odion could do to change it much to his (Flashback Odion) horror and regret, "My true son Marik shall receive the ritual, and I want to hear no more from you about it…lest I cut out your foul tongue!"

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended, but Odion was still thinking things over. Dare he go and play the counterfeit of the 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' Effect Monster Card…or not?

"Prove that you're part of the family, Odion!" The voice of Marik commanded mentally.

Odion closed his eyes. Below the platform, the spectators were curious as to why Odion stopped his attack.

"I wonder what's wrong," pondered Henry.

"Marik has this duel won, yet he stopped his attack at the last second," added Zack.

"The question is why?" came from Ryan.

"I hope whatever he has in store isn't going to be brutal," Ben prayed.

"With Marik, or whoever that guy is, I highly doubt that," retorted James.

"Why won't he attack?" thought Thomas.

Up on the platform, while taking out his fake Millennium Rod once more, Odion finally made a decision on what to do next. A move that surprised everyone else on the blimp.

"I have a better idea on how to defeat you, Mr. Avonside," Odion said to Percy, "I will instead activate 'Temple of the Kings's' third effect! During my Main Phase 1 or Battle Phase: I can Tribute 1 'Mystical Beast of Serket' and pay half my LP, then target 1 of my banished monsters; I must Special Summon it," The ark once again showed an image of the 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' Effect Monster Card, "If I Special Summon 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' this way, treat it as a Tribute Summon instead."

"The 'Egyptian God' Card, you said?" blinked Percy.

Below the platform…

"Is it possible… he's gonna Summon the monster in that ark?!" gasped Lady.

"Right now, the third 'Egyptian God' Card is resting in the holy ark, having been banished several turns ago by the second effect of 'Temple of the Kings'," explained Odion, "I shall offer 'Mystical Beast of Serket' as a Tribute and activate its fourth effect!" Focus went towards 'Mystical Beast of Serket' for a while, then towards the ark atop the mystical temple, "If I would Tribute Summon a monster, I can treat this 1 monster as a number of Tribute monsters for the Tribute Summon equal to the number of monsters it destroyed by battle. But the moment I do this, 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' will finally be Summoned!"

Below the platform…

"That's three Tributes in total!" realized Matt.

"Be very careful, Percy!" called Thomas.

On the platform, Odion turned to face the temple behind him and held the fake Millennium Rod up towards it.

"Ancient one, hear my call!" began Odion, as the ark started glowing and his LP took a hit (LP: 400 → 200), "I give up my 'Mystical Beast of Serket' along with half my LP to release thee!" 'Mystical Beast of Serket' shattered into shards of glass, and he continued his chant, "O soul of the God that sleeps in the ark! Rise and show us your sacred form—all in the name of the next great Pharaoh, Marik Ishtar!"

Below the platform…

"Excellent!" thought Marik, smirking.

Spencer watched with anticipation. Back on the platform, the ark opened up and revealed the 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' Effect Monster Card as it turned into a massive beam of fire into the sky and created dark clouds. Before long, the golden body of a gigantic titan-like dragon was shown in the sky. Below the platform…

"This is…!" began Michael.

"The…third 'God' Card!" gasped Thomas.

Back on the platform…

"What's going on, Marik?" demanded Percy, even though he had a clear idea.

As bolts of lightning struck all across the sky, Odion was facing the sky…or rather the heavens.

"Come forth, 'God' of all 'Gods'!" ordered Odion, "'The Winged Dragon of Ra'!"

Out of the clouds descended a large, golden-like, dragon. At once, it gave an enormous, screeching roar. The monster's body almost looked like fire rather than gold. Below the platform, Marik grinned to himself upon seeing the third 'God' monster being Summoned successfully.

"Well done, Odion," The Rare Hunter leader thought to himself, "You've made me, and the Ishtar family name, very proud on this day."

(elsewhere…)

Inside the tenth finalist's room, the woman there sensed something had happened in the duel going on…

"'The Winged Dragon of Ra'," The mysterious young woman told herself, "It has been awakened by Odion! But is it going to be for the better…or the worst?"

(elsewhere…)

Back atop the blimp, 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' had finished lowering from the stormy clouds and was gazing down at the opposition—Percy.

"Behold the fires of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'!" announced Odion proudly.

'The Winged Dragon of Ra' let out a roar to signal its arrival. Below the platform, everyone was gawking at the magnificent power the legendary beast seemed to possess.

"That's 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'?!" came from Michael.

"It looks unstoppable!" added Matt, looking just as horrified.

"It is, I'm afraid," Discord said in shock.

"The final 'Egyptian God' monster," whispered Spencer in amazement, "At last, we meet face-to-face!"

On the platform, even Percy was looking up in awe and shock at the huge monster.

"Behold the most powerful of the three 'Egyptian God' monsters!" boomed Odion, before revealing one of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra's' many effects (tenth to be exact), "If this card is Tribute Summoned: This card's original ATK/DEF become the Tributed monsters' combined ATK/DEF on the field. And remember one thing; earlier on, my 'Mystical Beast of Serket' had destroyed absorbed the powers from your 'Jinzo', 'Insect Queen', and 'The Legendary Fisherman'!"

A brief flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

'Mystical Beast of Serket' ate 'Jinzo' up.

(next…)

'Mystical Beast of Serket' ate 'Insect Queen' up.

(next…)

'Mystical Beast of Serket' ate 'The Legendary Fisherman' up.

(next…)

"This granted my monster an additional 1500 ATK, and gave it an ATK of 4000!" narrated Odion.

'Mystical Beast of Serket' gained a flipper at the end as it grew even stronger (ATK: 3500 → 4000).

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended, as 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' stared down at its prey with burning fury.

"And those ATK and DEF both are transferred to 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' after I Tributed my only monster! The 'God' has 4000 ATK and 2000 DEF!" The voice of Odion revealed, as he looked certain to finish the duel, "With only 200 LP left, you should be prepared to lose this duel and your chance at winning this tournament…" As he (Odion) finished speaking, Percy listened in defiance, "…once I declare an attack, Mr. Avonside!"

Odion let loose an evil laugh, while Percy continued to remain defiant in the face of getting attacked by the final 'Egyptian God' monster.

"Then what are you waiting for?" demanded Percy, fearlessly lowering his arms to his sides, "Just get it over with! Give me your best shot!"

"Don't mind if I do!"

Below the platform…

"Odion, you're doing well in controlling the counterfeit 'God' Card!" smiled Marik, talking mentally, "This alone proves that you have the same blood as an Ishtar! When they see 'Ra' before them, nobody will doubt that you are a user of the 'Gods'!" He (Marik) eyed 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' in the sky, then Odion on the platform, "No one will ever again doubt that you are Marik!"

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang was talking about 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' and the potential disaster that would ensue if it were to attack on command.

"Percy…!" grumbled James, clearly very concerned.

"My poor brother," worried Liz.

"Thomas, do you remember what happened when you used 'Slifer the Sky Dragon' in your duel against Duck—err, Montague?" Toby recalled in complete worry.

"I do," replied Thomas grimly.

"Those things are dangerous!" protested Mavis, "Percy could get seriously hurt or worse!"

"It's too bad Spencer won't call the match off" Gordon muttered, glaring over to his cousin nearby, "All because he only cares about winning the tournament and getting the 'God' Cards!"

Speaking of Spencer…

"Nicely done, Percy, your role as a lab rat is done," thought Spencer, and there was a small smile on his face, "To be destroyed by the power of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'… You must be feeling very honored, right now."

"Now, Odion, finish him off!" Marik shouted mentally, "The power of the 'Egyptian Gods' is yours to command!"

"Yes, Master Marik," obeyed Odion mentally, before looking towards Percy and resuming the Battle Phase, "This is the end for you, Mr. Avonside… Go forth, 'The Winged Dragon of Ra', and attack my opponent directly!"

But, in the dark sky, 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'…just stood there doing nothing.

(elsewhere…)

Inside the tenth finalist's room, the finalist felt her Millennium Necklace glowing with power, and it horrified her when she learned what was about to happen.

"Oh no! Odion has angered the 'Egyptian Gods'!" gasped the mysterious young woman in realization, "He's played a counterfeit of 'Ra'…!"

(elsewhere…)

The tenth finalist wasn't the only one who had sensed something was terribly wrong. Marik's Deck began glowing all rainbow-like colors from the fury of the real 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' from within, and the Millennium Rod was glowing all gold.

"What the hell is with this aura?!" thought Marik, growing worried, "My Millennium Rod and Deck are both emitting power and anger to the copy of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' being on the field! Can it be? Could it be that anger is growing stronger by the second…!?"

Unfortunately, that wasn't the worst bit…

"My Millennium Puzzle!" Thomas suddenly exclaimed, seeing that his own Millennium Item was glowing, too, "Something's happening!"

"What's going on?" blinked Emily.

"Shouldn't Percy be roasted by 'Ra' right by now?" questioned James.

Thomas winced, "No," he mused, "Something is seriously wrong."

"Yes, I agree," said Discord, closing his eyes, "Something is wrong. No… it's far worse than that."

"What's that supposed to mean, Discord?" asked Edward.

"Marik must have made, and then foolishly played, a counterfeit of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'," realized Discord, horrified, "Now the fury of the real 'Gods' will be unleashed upon those taking part in the duel!"

"WHAT?!" Everyone in the group gasped in shock.

On the platform, Odion turned towards the temple while still trying to get his monster to attack in a futile effort.

"Obey me! Attack my opponent, now!" he called out in desperation.

Suddenly, the huge dragon copy roared defiantly as if to say "No!". Below the platform…

"Why's the fake acting all weird?" pressed Ben.

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning nearly hit Carlie, causing her to yelp and dodge.

"Look out! It's raining bolts of lightning!" The brown-haired girl panicked.

Then, much to Odion's further shock, the face-up 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' Effect Monster Card (more like fake card) coming from the ark atop the temple began glowing before bursting into flames.

"It didn't work!" thought Odion, becoming greatly saddened, "I…guess it wasn't meant to be for me."

Suddenly, once 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' was gone, more and more lightning began striking the duel field.

"What the heck?" cried Percy, "What's going on here?! Why's lightning suddenly striking?"

"This has happened once before!" Marik thought to himself, "Whenever a fake 'God' Card is played by someone, both players will suffer the judgmental wrath of the 'Gods' themselves… I thought it was because my Rare Hunters were weak!"

A flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

During a practice duel, one of his hooded Rare Hunters removed three Monster Cards from his Monster Zones and nervously took a card ('The Winged Dragon of Ra') from the hand and held it up.

"This is 'God's' wrath for using a copy card!" thought Marik.

As Flashback Marik watched anxiously, bolts of lightning struck the guilty party and stone pillars collapsed onto the others. Flashback Marik scowled, knowing that this wasn't going to be an easy code to crack; who was capable of controlling a copy of the 'Egyptian God' Cards?

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended.

"'God's' wrath is striking down the players of the game! I've always believed that Odion would be able to control the counterfeit of 'The Winged Dragon of Ra'!" Marik went on, mentally, "Was… was I wrong all this time?"

Back on the platform, Percy was seeing bolts of lightning striking from the sky.

"Percy!" yelled Thomas.

"Get down from there!" begged Liz, before shrieking due to nearly getting hit by lightning.

Below the platform, everyone was trying their hardest to take cover and avoid the lightning—but Spencer stoically stood in his spot, even as bolts of lightning almost hit him

(inside…)

Inside the tenth finalist's room, the finalist closed her eyes for a moment with a sad look in her eyes.

"Odion…" she whispered.

(outside…)

Back outside and on the platform, Odion finally realized that his efforts to be accepted by the late Mr. Ishtar as a son were all in vain.

"Has fate not accepted me as your real son?" thought Odion solemnly, looking up at the heavens (the 'Egyptian Gods' themselves), "Are you saying that I do not have the right to command you?"

Below the platform, Marik had finally realized the true danger, horror, and consequences of his actions, and tried to get his adopted brother to safety.

"Odion, please get out of there!" ordered Marik mentally.

But Odion just stood in his place, his head bowed, and a heartbroken look on his face. Moments of his early life flashed before his eyes.

"No, Master Marik," refused Odion mentally, "It must be this way for me. I'm so sorry for failing you once more…"

He smiled sarcastically and accepted his fate. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck him in the head. As Odion began to fall forward, the fake Millennium Rod shattered into pieces—which wasn't lost on the eyes of Thomas and everyone else.

"That Millennium Rod is a fake!" realized Thomas, seeing the little bits of the fake Millennium Rod.

"That means he wasn't Marik after all, just like Percy said!" put in James.

"But if he isn't Marik," Mavis asked quickly, "who is he?"

Meanwhile, Marik could only watch in horror at what was happening to his adopted older brother—something that was his (Marik) fault for making Odion play the fake 'God' Card in the first place.

"Ma-Master…Marik," groaned Odion mentally.

"ODION!" Marik screamed out mentally, briefly becoming Young Marik in the process, "PLEASE! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN! ODION! ODIOOOOOOOON!"

It was too late; Odion had finally collapsed. Percy noticed this almost immediately…

"Hey, are you alright?!" Percy demanded, before beginning to run over to check and see if his opponent was hurt, "Hang on, I'm coming!"

But stopped when a lightning bolt nearly hit him. Below the platform…

"Percy!" cried Edward, "You have to get down from there!"

"Hurry Get off the platform!" called Liz, panic-stricken.

Back on the platform, sadly, just before Percy could even try to escape, a lightning bolt finally struck him on the head, making him scream before collapsing face-down, as well. Below the platform…

"PERCY!" Thomas and the likes cried out in horror.

"NOOOO!" shrieked Liz tearfully, trying to run towards the platform nefore being held back by her husband.

"Don't, Liz!" warned Ryan, as Liz was screaming wordless protests while trying to break free, "It's too dangerous to get up there!"

Almost immediately, Gordon tried to climb up onto the duel platform to get to his badly hurt friend.

"Percy, I'm coming!" assured Gordon.

"Get down. There's a duel going on!" scolded Roland.

"Are you blind or something?!" accused Gordon angrily, "Both duelists have been struck with lightning! They could die if we don't help 'em!"

"Just a freak of nature…" dismissed Roland, as focus went towards the unconscious Percy and Odion (LP: 200) x2, "Both players are left with 200 LP, meaning the duel is still on," He (Roland) looked at Gordon, "Both duelists must abide by the rules, regardless of the situation! Otherwise they will both be disqualified!"

"But this isn't the time for that!" protested Gordon.

"Spencer, call off the duel!" Mr. Gresley (Boxford) ordered his oldest son, "Those two were hit by lightning and need medical attention!"

"Enough," cut in Spencer, taking charge, "The Duel Disk's 'Realism System' is not set at a fatal level. The two of them most likely suffered mental damage due to the flashing images earlier."

"What?!" Gordon raged.

"Then how the hell is the duel settled?" pressed Michael.

Back on the platform…

"Then what shall we do, sir?" asked Roland, "Do I disqualify both of them?"

"I've got a better idea; since both players have an equal amount of LP, the first to stand within five minutes will be declared the winner," suggested Spencer, "If neither stand up, then they will both be disqualified."

"How can you see a duel being more important than innocent lives?" berated Mrs. Gresley (Boxford) in an upset tone.

"This tournament WILL go on, no matter what happens!" proclaimed Spencer determinedly.

Below the platform, no one could believe Spencer was behaving like this… Why did he not care if people died in this tournament? They shouldn't be surprised, since Spencer wanted to win the tournament, defeat Thomas, and win all three 'Egyptian God' Cards. Right now, however, all that mattered was that Percy needed to wake up, now!

"Percy, please wake up!" Liz pleaded.

"Get up, Percy!" called Ben.

"We know you can do it!" added James R..

"You have to regain consciousness!" shouted Emily.

While that was going on, Marik was clutching his forehead with his left hand (with the Duel Disk) and groaning in pain. At that very moment, on the platform, Odion chose to slowly awaken.

"I…must…get…up!" Odion muttered weakly, "I…must…protect…Master Marik…!"

Below the platform, the pain in his head slowly got worse for Marik.

"Odion," whimpered Marik mentally, "Help me…"

"He'll never hold me back again," A new voice (male) from in Mariks' head taunted, "The time for me to resurface is now…"

(inside…)

Back inside the tenth finalist's room, the Millennium Necklace was once again glowing around the tenth finalist's neck.

"Oh no," The mysterious young woman sighed to herself sadly, "'He' is returning! And there's nothing that can be done about it…"

A flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

Two men wearing robes were carrying a screaming and wailing Young Marik away to have the carvings carved into his back.

"No, please!" he cried, "I don't want to be a Tomb Keeper!"

Young Marik then saw Flashback Odion standing nearby with his (Flashback Odion) head bowed in shame.

"Odion, please help me!" begged Young Marik, but knew there was nothing Flashback Odion could do to stop it, "Odion… ODION!"

(elsewhere…)

Alas, there was nothing Flashback Ishizu could do, either, except pray inside her room for Young Marik's safety.

(elsewhere…)

Young Marik was chained onto a table while lying on his stomach while his own Father heated a dagger over a burning candle.

"The time has come for you, my son," The voice of Flashback Mr. Ishtar said calmly, as the dagger heated to a really high temperature. He held it up with a small, cruel smile on his face before he faced his chained son, "Today you shall bear the honor every Ishtar has held of guarding the Pharaoh's Tomb until the arrival of his chosen descendant."

There was a sinister gleam in his eyes. With that said, a remorseless Flashback Mr Ishtar began carving the symbols into Young Marik's back, all while the poor boy screamed in agonizing pain through the gag on his mouth.

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended, and the young woman closed her eyes.

"Odion needs to be conscious to prevent the evil in my younger brother from taking over completely," recalled the tenth finalist, opening her eyes, "But now that Odion is near death, that evil will certainly overpower Marik's good side," Her eyes then widened, "A being who controls the darkness, born straight out of pure suffering!"

Another flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

"Tell me, Odion…" hissed Young Marik, filled with anger at his own destiny, "Why should I have to devote my life just to serve some stupid Pharaoh?!"

As Young Marik said the last part of his sentence, his voice sounded like there were two people speaking at once—along with the image of a darker version of the boy briefly appearing while smirking evilly. Suddenly, Young Marik saw that Flashback Odion had his face all bandaged up.

"Odion, what's with your face?" he asked curiously.

"I performed my own ritual since your Father would not allow me into the clan," said Flashback Odion, just as he undid the bandages to show his new markings, "You will never be alone again, Master Marik."

The sight of the markings on Flashback Odion's face seemed to have calmed Young Marik down. Nearby, Flashback Ishizu stood behind the corner, looking sad for her two brothers.

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended, and the young woman sighed, knowing that, once again, there was nothing that could be done; with Odion gravely injured, the evil that Marik had in his (Marik) heart was going to be unleashed and make everyone in his sights suffer.

"Odion…" whispered the mysterious young woman.

(outside…)

Back on the platform, Percy's friends were still trying to get him to wake up.

"Stand strong, Percy!" exclaimed Zack.

"Wake up, brother!" added Liz.

"Stand, Percy!" hollered James, "If you don't get your ass up, you're gonna regret it later!"

On the platform, Roland noticed that three minutes had passed and was about to say that when he noticed that Odion was managing to stand back up.

"Master…Marik…!" grunted Odion.

Below the platform, the group noticed what was going on and grew even more desperate.

"Percy, please!" pleaded Emily.

Back on the platform…

"I…cannot…afford to fall here…!" insisted Odion, trying to resist the pain, "I have…to save…my master!"

"So this match has been determined?" acknowledged Spencer.

"And it looks like Marik Ishtar is going to be the winner," confirmed Roland. Suddenly, he (Roland) saw that Odion had collapsed once more, "Err… maybe not."

"Mas-ter…Ma…rik," bemoaned Odion.

On the other end of the platform, Percy was still unconscious, but that was because he was having a dream sequence of some sort…

DREAM SEQUENCE

Percy was inside the Tidmouth classroom at Sodor High School…and sleeping on his desk.

"Percy, wake the heck up!" A voice (male) echoed.

The green-haired boy let out a startled yelp and fell to the ground. Once Percy gave a yawn and regained his vision, he saw most of his friends looking at him.

"Hey there, guys… What's going on?" mumbled Percy sleepily.

"You fell asleep, you silly goof," scolded Lady, "You're going to be late!"

Percy got up and stretched out his arms, still acting all absentmindedly due to having a good dream.

"Late? Late for what?" peeped Percy.

Gordon facepalmed himself in annoyance, while James stepped forth to speak to the groggy green-haired boy.

"Do you even know what today is?" James asked irritably.

Percy blinked, "Of course," he confirmed, still not getting it, "It's Friday."

"That's right," nodded Toby, but then added, "But the main event is that you have that big duel against Diesel today."

"You've been saying all day that you're gonna be the city's 'number one' duelist!" reminded Emily.

Percy smiled and nodded as though he knew that—just before his eyes widened like dinner plates when he realized it was something he 'did' forget.

"Wait… I what?!" he wailed, "GAH! Oh no, I totally forgot!"

"Why am I not surprised?" deadpanned Mavis.

Percy started gathering his belongings, but due to the rush he slipped and fell down, taking his whole desk (and belongings) with him while scattering all of his Duel Monsters cards.

"Oh botheration!" cried Percy, leaving his belongings and beginning to pick up some of his cards, "Why now of all days?"

"Gosh, just what on Earth are you doing?!" spat Lady, annoyed.

"Somehow, I'm really glad I'm not the one who's dueling today," commented James innocently.

The rest of the teenagers started helping Percy clean up, as well.

"Don't worry, Percy," said Emily kindly, "We'll help you get ready."

"We'll make sure that you kick my former boyfriend's butt!" added Mavis, winking

As everyone gathered up Percy's dropped school stuff and Duel Monsters cards, Percy noticed a certain someone standing nearby and watching with a smug smile. It was Spencer… which was just what Percy needed at the time, and not exactly in a good way.

"Only a little flounder needs assistance from a band of losers," teased Spencer spitefully, just before walking away importantly while carrying his metallic briefcase, "See you around, you ordinary duelist."

"Why, that Spencer!" fumed Percy, before looking curious, "Why is he even here, anyway? He doesn't go to this school!"

"It's your dream sequence, you know, kiddo," came a familiar male voice.

Percy turned and saw Ryan and Liz both helping the others with picking up Percy's dropped cards.

"Ryan? Sis?" gawked Percy in surprise, "What are you both doing here?"

"Silly, you know why. Today's your big duel. We just had to be here," giggled Liz.

"After all, we're family," reminded Ryan, winking.

Percy felt better hearing this. Pretty soon, his Deck was fixed up.

"Well, it's ready," announced Thomas, handing the Deck to his best friend, "We fixed it up with some of the best cards you had."

"Man, thanks a lot, guys," said Percy happily, kissing his cards, "You all rock!"

"Let's get going," suggested Edward.

Everyone except Percy got up and started to leave… before noticing that Percy was sitting on the floor and not moving.

"What's the matter?" pondered Henry.

"I would get up… but I seem to be stuck," smiled Percy, "A little help?"

Emily raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you're not trying to chicken out?" she presseded curiously, "Because that's not you."

"I'm serious," Percy insisted, not losing his smile, "A little help, you guys?"

"Of course, Percy," accepted Lady sweetly, extending a hand.

"Anything for our friend," finished Thomas, extending a hand.

Soon, everyone had a hand out for Percy to grab. Despite being in darkness, Percy had clearly found the light…

END DREAM SEQUENCE

The dream ended, and Percy felt groggy—yet was standing up.

"Percy!" began Lady.

"He's standing!" agreed Thomas.

"That means he's the winner!" concluded Liz.

"G-Guys?" asked Percy, having no idea what was going on, "Aren't I supposed to be dueling Diesel outside school?"

Below the platform…

"Dueling Diesel outside school? What are you talking about?" frowned Emily, sweatdropping.

"You just scared us half to death, you dolt!" snapped Lady, but not unkindly, "Don't you ever do-!"

"She's just glad you're alright," cut in Liz, cutting off Lady's sentence.

Back on the platform…

"I…" Percy started to say, but then saw Odion unconscious, "Why's he on the ground? Oh yeah, now I remember!"

A flashback ensued.

FLASHBACK

Flashback Odion turned towards the temple while still trying to get his monster to attack in a futile effort.

"Obey me! Attack my opponent, now!" he called out in desperation.

Suddenly, the huge dragon copy roared defiantly as if to say "No!". Then, much to Flashback Odion's further shock, the face-up 'The Winged Dragon of Ra' Effect Monster Card (more like fake card) coming from the ark atop the temple began glowing before bursting into flames. Flashback Percy was soon seeing bolts of lightning striking from the sky.

"Percy!" yelled Flashback Thomas.

"Get down from there!" begged Flashback Liz, before shrieking due to nearly getting hit by lightning.

Flashback Odion was soon hit by the lightning and fell unconscious.

"Hey, are you alright?!" Flashback Percy demanded, before beginning to run over to check and see if his opponent was hurt, "Hang on, I'm coming!"

But stopped when a lightning bolt nearly hit him. Sadly, just before Flashback Percy could even try to escape, a lightning bolt finally struck him on the head, making him scream before collapsing face-down, as well.

END FLASHBACK

The flashback ended.

"After that guy Summoned 'Ra', we were both struck," recalled Percy.

"And the winner of the duel is Percy Avonside!" announced Roland.

"I-I'm the winner?"

Below the platform…

"Yes, you did!" grinned Thomas.

"I knew you'd win, Percy!" cheered Liz.

Once the platform lowered enough, the group climbed aboard to congratulate Percy.

"You did great, man!" praised James.

"Never mind me," said Percy, looking over towards Odion, "What about him?"

Percy was talking about the unconscious Odion. Nearby, Spencer watched with a small frown on his face, although Skiff, along with Mr. and Mrs Gresley (Boxford), was very happy that Percy was okay and had won.

"Percy won… I guess I should have figured that," thought Spencer, before looking in the direction of Odion, "But why didn't his 'Ra' materialize? And why were both players attacked? As if a raging storm stirred the heavens…!" The look on his face became one of shock, "Unless the card that was played was a fake!"

Finally, Thomas, Matt, Percy, and Discord reached the unconscious man.

"Hey, are you alright?" worried Matt, while Thomas and Percy knelt.

Odion opened his eyes weakly, staring at his former enemies.

"I'll…be okay," he answered weakly, but was lying, "Please forgive me for deceiving all of you… Especially you, Percy. It was an honor for me to duel a True Duelist like you."

"Thank you," bowed Percy, smiling slightly, "You're a True Duelist, too. But…the jig is up. Just who exactly are you?"

"My name is Odion," answered Odion, giving his true name, "I am the servant and adopted brother…to the real…Master Marik."

He (Odion) weakly pointed over to Marik, who was still clutching his (Marik) head and groaning in pain. The boy was also holding onto the real Millennium Rod.

"Namu?" questioned Emily.

"What's wrong?" came from Carlie.

"Enough of the charade," shouted Thomas, finally getting the idea what this was all about. "Reveal your true identity, villain!"

Marik stopped clutching his head and turned around with a pained, yet sinister, smile on his face.

"Very well then, Thomas Billinton," he confessed deviously, "I admit it… I am the real Marik Ishtar!"

Thomas scowled, "I knew it!"

"You bastard!" snarled Matt.

"Why did you lie to us?!" pressed Emily, feeling outraged over being lied to, "Why say your name was Namu?"

"I made up that identity so that I could gain your trust," explained Marik, "It was also I who set your friend Duck up to get that injury on his arm!"

"You what!?" demanded Ben angrily.

"Master Marik…" whispered Odion.

"So that guy has the real copy of 'Ra' in his Deck!" thought Spencer furiously.

With the truth officially out, Marik then addressed Thomas at once.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, Thomas Billinton," stated Marik gleefully, "Very soon, I will take revenge for my family by killing you—the descendant of the Pharaoh… By doing so, I will finally be rid of that stupid curse of the Ishtar bloodline, forever! I will then drown this world in darkness…"

As he spoke that last part, a new voice had joined in briefly (along with his face briefly stretching out like bad animation). Groaning in agony, Marik started to clutch his head in pain once more.

"Umm… what's up with that?" Percy asked naively.

"Oh no," realized Odion, "I was afraid of this. 'His' power is growing now, because I'm unable to contain it any longer…"

"Say what!?" gasped Matt, looking positively shocked.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Carlie.

"There is a great evil deep inside of Master Marik," explained Odion weakly, "You have to stop it… Once I go out, he will then awaken, and we will all be in great danger… Please! You must save Master Ma-!"

He didn't get a chance to finish, as the Rare Hunter second-in-command finally collapsed into a coma.

"Hey, wake up!" Percy shook Odion, "Hang in there, please!"

Marik, meanwhile, was still gripping his head and trying to fight whatever was inside his body and trying to take over.

"I can't let you…take…!" Marik winced hard.

"Let me out… You know you can't hold me back any longer," The voice from inside Marik's head dared.

Unable to hold it back any longer, Marik suddenly raised his head up and screamed in agonizing pain as he became engulfed in yellow energy. Once the energy faded, Emily, Mavis, Carlie, and Liz all let out a terrified scream at the sight… Although Gordon, Henry, and James each didn't look any better, either.

"He's changed!" Henry exclaimed, pointing forth in shock.

"Oh man…!" groaned Gordon.

"Can I file this in the category of…not good?" stammered James nervously.

When Marik lowered his head, he suddenly looked very demented. His hair was now even crazier looking also. The man immediately gave a sinister laugh from the triumph of his arrival.

"At last," The evil-looking man spoke up in a deep-toned voice, the Millennium Eye symbol glowing on his forehead, "I'm finally free again!" His face seemingly stretched out like crude animation of a sort, "I no longer need a shadow… Whenever Odion is around, I am but a mere shadow…"

"Who—err… What are you?" James R. demanded, looking visibly sickened.

"I am Marik's inner darkness," Dark Marik, as he's named, revealed, "As I've just said, Odion was the only one who could keep me from coming out. But with him in a coma, I am free to do as I wish!"

"Inner darkness?" quizzed Zack.

"Yes," answered Dark Marik, "But compared to me, the other Marik is a mere child. That is why he cannot ever finish a duel properly," His face started stretching like crude animation once more as everyone else watched him ramble, "And, while I'm rather ashamed to admit it, my weaker self always loathed, even feared, the darkness. Me? I don't hate it at all… In fact, I love the darkness!"

"Another Marik?" thought Thomas, "Don't tell me…! Marik has another personality?!"

"Well, to me, every single one of you are merely shadows," Dark Marik remarked coolly, looking at the gang of teenagers and adults alike. He then turned his attention over to unconscious Odion, "On the other hand… that man was one of the more convenient ones…" He closed his eyes and looked away, smugly, "…to disappear on me."

"Marik, you bastard," growled Michael.

"Why, thank you for your kind words," smiled Dark Marik, chuckling sadistically as he opened his eyes and faced the group once more, "In this duel, Odion had proven something to me—as expected—the only ones capable of controlling the 'Egyptian God' monsters are the wielders of a Millennium Item…or have a connection to them," He then looked to Spencer, "However, one thing does elude me… Someone like you, Spencer Gresley, can actually control the power of a 'God'," The insane smile never left his face, "And you don't even possess a Millennium Item like me nor Thomas here."

"Hmph! Rubbish…" huffed Spencer, closing his eyes smugly, "I have no interest in your occult nonsense," He opened them, "But the 'God', 'Obelisk the Tormentor', obeys me as my loyal servant."

"Or perhaps it has something to do with your Egyptian ancestor from 3000 years ago," Dark Marik snickered in response, "Like it also has to do with Thomas here, as well."

Spencer, as well as Thomas, let out a gasp. Dark Marik merely chuckled to himself from making his greatest enemies feel all confused and such.

"Ah, forget about it. We'll find out the answer soon enough," shrugged Dark Marik.

(inside…)

Inside the tenth finalist's room, the said finalist was dismayed that Marik's evil side had been unleashed… And it was all because Odion was in a coma.

"Marik's darkness has been awakened," said the mysterious young woman unhappily, "It was as my Millennium Necklace had told me it would happen…"

(elsewhere…)

Outside the blimp…

"Now it's up to fate if the darkness can be stopped…or not," The voice of the tenth finalist concluded.

Back atop the duel stage, Dark Marik continued to taunt his enemies with wicked glee and all that kind of jazz…

"Thomas Billinton, the 'real' Millennium Battle has begun," said Dark Marik slowly, as Thomas listened to him (Dark Marik), "We are headed for true darkness… and none of us can turn back!" The evil man's expression turned more and more deranged by the second, "Brace yourselves, you little fools. Because you will all be devoured by the darkness and I will reign supreme as its new ruler!"

Everybody aboard the blimp stared on in fright as Dark Marik began to snicker quietly before erupting into loud, terrifying laughter. His savage laughter echoed throughout the whole blimp. Before long, images of all three 'Egyptian God' monsters appeared in the night sky.

And there we go; Percy VS Odion is done, the next duel would have been Lady VS Dark Marik, but that was the first one done to go with Lady's personal story. Next is Spencer VS Ishizu. Stay tuned for it!