Chapter 37
A Duel with Dartz: Part 5
"Be Revived! The Legendary Three Knights!"
The group soon saw that the vision of Egypt had faded and they were back in their own time. "Do you know why you were sent here, Pharaoh? It was no fluke. 5,000 year old ghosts don't just suddenly return for no reason. Fate brought you back so you could save the world, by offering your power to the Great Leviathan." Dartz claimed.
"That's a lie and you know it!" AJ shouted. Meanwhile, in an interdimensional void, Joey's soul-self woke up. "I've had some weird dreams, but this one takes the cake." he said. "Wait, hold on. I remember being trapped in some kind of duel, but, how'd I end up floating around in a bubble?" he wondered as he remembered being on the battlefield during Yami's duel.
"Joey? Is that you?" asked a familiar voice. Joey looked to the left and saw it was Yugi. "Yugi! Long time, no see!" the underdog said, happy to see his friend again. "I'm glad you're alright." Yugi said. "Please, Yugi-boy, you call this alright?" asked another familiar voice, this time it was Pegasus. "I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad to see you." Joey admitted. "If we don't escape soon, we never will." Pegasus stated. "But where exactly are we?" Joey asked.
Then he looked around and saw Mai and the Swordsmen floating in bubbles. "Hey, everyone who lost a duel while the Seal of Orichalcos was played is here!" the underdog said in surprise. "This must be where the seal sends you after you lose." he figured. 'Okay, calm down, Joey. There's got to be a way out of this.' he thought. "I honestly wish this were just a bad dream, but I think things are about to get worse." Yugi said as he looked ahead and saw the giant eye of the Great Leviathan.
"Is that what I think it is?" Joey asked. "If you mean the Great Leviathan, then yes. And its using human souls for energy." Pegasus answered. "So do we do to avoid being soul food?" Joey asked in a panic. "We can still get out of this mess if Yami defeats Dartz." Yugi said. "But how's he gonna do that? If Kaiba was his partner, then he's finishing the duel alone if rich boy is with us." Joey pointed out.
"Wrong. Kaiba may have been knocked out of the fight, but Yami isn't out there alone, Joey." Yugi replied. "I'm afraid I don't follow, Yuge." Joey admitted. "He's still got all of us. Sure, we're not right next to him like Twilight and her friends likely are, but that hasn't stopped him before." Yugi replied. "Yeah, but I'm afraid that might not work this time. Dartz is playing by a whole new set of rules and nothing can destroy that Orichalcos field spell." Joey said.
"There is one thing that can help. The card I gave him, and if the pharaoh draws it, he'll be able to unleash a force like no other." Pegasus revealed. "Does this card have anything to do with the Legendary Dragons?" Joey asked. "As a matter of fact, it does." Pegasus answered before he had a flashback to his younger days.
"You see, it was during a trip to Egypt where I was inspired to create the game of Duel Monsters, after making an astonishing discovery. Ancient kings and sorcerers once performed dark rituals to conjure real monsters. These creatures were believed to have lived in a universe parallel to ours, and guarding the gateway to this Dominion of the Beasts were three legendary dragons named Timaeus, Critias and Hermos." he explained.
"But you already know about them, right?" Pegasus asked. "Sure do, me and Yugi, or rather Yami, used ours before." Joey answered before Pegasus had another flashback. "What you don't know is that these dragons aren't what they appear to be. They were buried with a dark secret, so I created a card that unlocks this mystery." the man explained.
"I don't get it. What is the secret?" Yugi asked. "I've spent many years traveling the globe trying to find an answer to that very question, Yugi-boy." Pegasus asked. "I used my Millennium Eye and searched the microscopic world first for the tiniest clues, then I scanned the vast reaches of the universe, but still nothing. Other than one stone tablet hidden beneath the sands of Egypt, there was no record of the existence of these dragons. Then it dawned on me, what if these dragons aren't dragons at all? What if they're humans who were turned into dragons?" he explained.
"They were human? But how is that possible, Pegasus? And what does it have to do with that mystery card you gave Yami?" Yugi asked, surprised. "I discovered the myths surrounding the lost Greek island city of Atlantis many years ago and learned of the great battle that took place there. During that battle, Dartz transformed three brave knights into dragons in an effort to weaken them. Now the pharaoh must restore them to their original form, before we disappear forever!" Pegasus replied.
Meanwhile, at the temple, the duel continued, with Orichalcos Shunoros's attack points sitting at 17,200, clearly having decreased since Kaiba was defeated. "Don't you see what's happening here, Dartz? The Orichalcos stone fragment you found corrupted your mind." Yami insisted. "It's been filling your head with lies for the past 10,000 years." AJ concurred. "The Pharaoh should be one to talk. He's been lying to the world for half as long. Much like, from what I understand based on your magic, you and your six companions have also been lying to the people in your own lives by hiding your magic. But the pharaoh is worse because he's been trying to convince everyone that he returned to protect the world from evil." Dartz replied.
"And you think that's a lie?" Yami asked. "Yes. In fact, your very heart is filled with darkness. The same darkness you claim to be fighting. To me, you represent the darkness that's inside all humans. And for that, every one of you must be punished! For today, history repeats itself. And the Battle of Atlantis shall begin again!" Dartz replied as he had a flashback to the original battle.
"You can't! Not another war! I won't let you!" Yami said defiantly. "Neither will we." Twilight concurred, with her friends standing firm with her. "Too late. It's already begun." Dartz replied. "Well, if that's the case, Dartz, then I'll end it here and now!" Yami declared. "It's my move." he added before drawing. "So, I begin by activating Pot of Greed to draw twice more." he continued before doing so. "Then I'll summon my Obnoxious Celtic Guard in defense mode!" he added before his warrior arrived.
'All I can do for now is try my best to avoid his attacks until I draw the right card.' he thought. "I'll set a card face down and end my turn. Your move, Dartz." he concluded. "And you know what that means, I automatically get another 1500 life points." Dartz said as he drew before his life points increased to 20,000. "Yes, we're quite aware." Yami said. "And then there's Dexia's special ability, which ensures that its strength is always 300 points higher then the monster its attacking." Dartz added as Dexia's attack points increased to 1500.
"So you're only defense is as good as gone, Pharaoh. Leaving your life points wide open for annihilation. It's over." he continued. "Orichalcos Dexia, destroy his Obnoxious Celtic Guard!" he commanded. "Hold on! I activate my trap!" Yami declared as his trap sprung and created a shield that protected the warrior from destruction. "All I have to do is give up half my life points to activate my Soul Shield and block your attack!" he explained as his life points were cut in half, to 2150. All the while, Shunoros' attack points decreased to 15,700
"Not bad, but what's the point? Just look around you. The only allies you have that are still standing can't do a thing to help you and the scoreboard doesn't exactly point in your favor, does it? So why drag out this torment when all you have to do is forfeit? Accept your destiny, and join your friends on the other side." Dartz said. 'Maybe he's right. He has 20,000 life points and three indestructible monsters. Perhaps I can do more for my friends by surrendering and allowing the Orichalcos to take me where they are.' Yami thought.
"Don't you want to be by Yugi's side? Your friend may be completely lost without you. Don't turn away from him, all you have to do is place your hand over your Duel Disk and submit." Dartz insisted. "Yami, don't!" Twilight shouted, but he didn't hear her. "Declare defeat and you can rejoin your friend. You'll be free to see him one last time before the rise of the Great Beast. It's time for you to accept your true destiny. You've returned to right the wrongs that you once committed." Dartz said.
"Don't listen to that varmint!" AJ shouted, but it was no use, Yami didn't hear her either. "I don't think he can hear us." Rarity said, worried. "Then maybe there's another way to get his attention." Twilight figured, putting her hand out in front of the others. "If we concentrate on him, maybe our magic can penetrate the Seal of Orichalcos and stop him from surrendering." she suggested. The other girls and Spike all agreed and joined hands to concentrate.
"You know what I say is true. You nearly destroyed the world, so in order to compensate for that near-disastrous misdeed of your past. You must join me in ushering in the future. Surrender your spirit so that I may rebuild paradise!" Dartz continued. "Just give up." he added. "I must surrender my soul. It is my fate." Yami said as he prepared to surrender.
"Yes, Pharaoh. Keep listening to the voice of reason inside your head." Dartz urged. "I must, give up." Yami said. "You're almost there. Closer than ever to seeing Yugi again. Give in and join the boy." Dartz said while Yami had flashbacks to Kaiba's sacrifice and last effort to make sure his partner won, the moment Yugi decided to go on to Industrial Illusions as per Pegasus' message and the willingness of his friends to join him and Yugi's sacrifice in Death Valley.
"The time has come. Farewell. Sacred seal, encircle the pharaoh!" Dartz declared with a laugh. "Just relax. Let the darkness consume you. Reach deep within your core and set your spirit free." he instructed. But before the seal could completely encircle and steal his soul, with tears rolling down the ancient one's face, a single tear fell on the Millennium Puzzle and activated some sort of magic that FORCED the seal back to its original position, to Dartz's shock.
"Impossible! No one can overcome the power of the Orichalcos! You should've lost the duel!" he shouted. Suddenly, Dartz saw something, or rather, someone. "What's going?" he asked as he saw Yugi and his friends and allies, including the Mane 7, Ironheart, Chris and even the Swordsmen, stand in front of the Nameless Pharaoh to defend him. "Why didn't the seal take your soul? And are THEY all doing standing around you?! Tell me!" Dartz ranted before they all entered the Millennium Puzzle.
"You forced me to gaze inside my heart, thinking I would find only darkness. But you were wrong." Yami replied. "Then you gazed in the wrong place!" Dartz stated. "No, he didn't!" Twilight declared before he saw all seven of the magical defenders from Equestria were surrounded by an aura. "What manner of sorcery is this?!" Dartz shouted. "The magic of harmony, that's what." AJ replied. "It flows through us all, both in our homeland and here." Rarity added.
"And now part of it flows through Yami." put in Fluttershy. "You can believe what you wish, but I know the truth, as do the friends I have standing next to me. Their hearts and mine are filled with the light of friendship, and no magic can take that away, no matter how strong it is. So I should really say thank you, you reminded me that my friends are always with me. And we're going to win this fight and take you down together!" Yami stated, ready to continue.
"Dartz, it all ends right now!" he shouted before drawing. Then he sensed what he drew was just what he needed, and the Mane 7 saw it, too. 'It's the card Pegasus gave him. I can sense it.' Twilight thought. 'Looks like its time to see what that card REALLY is.' Spike figured. "Well? Get on with it!" Dartz said, impatiently. "You don't know what's in my hand, do you?" Yami asked. "It's the key to unlocking the secret of the Legendary Dragons!" he added, to Dartz's shock.
"Behold, Dartz, Legend of Heart!" the ancient one declared. "I give up 1000 life points and remove my Obnoxious Celtic Guard from the field!" he said before his warrior was gone and his life points decreased to 1150. "This let's me summon Critias, Hermos and Timaeus in their true forms!" he declared before the dragons appeared and took flight into the clouds. "Finally. After ten millennia in captivity, we've been set free!" declared a booming voice from on high, bringing a look of awe to Yami and the Mane 7.
"No! Not them!" Dartz shouted in horror before three bolts of lightning struck the battlefield and bathed the chamber in light before it faded to reveal three knights, each a level eight, Light attribute warrior/effect monster with 2800 attack points and 1800 defense points. "I am he who is named Timaeus!" declared the knight in the middle. "And I am, Sir Critias!" declared the knight on the left. "I am known as, Sir Hermos!" declared the knight on the right. "In the name of Atlantis, we have been reborn!" they said as the lifted their swords and brought them together above their heads.
"It can't be! I thought I dealt with you three centuries ago!" Dartz shouted, shocked to see that the warriors he turned into dragons had been restored to their human forms. Suddenly, the three knights slammed their swords to the ground and their combined might DESTROYED the Seal of Orichalcos. "What have you done?! My precious seal is gone!" Dartz shouted. "And that means your three monsters lose their 500 extra attack points!" Spike pointed out as Shunoros' attack points lowered to 15,200 while Dexia's and Aristeros' dropped to 0.
"Your ring of darkness is useless in our presence!" Hermos stated. "Did you forget our last encounter?" Critias asked. "I certainly did not. And I've a score to settle with you, false king!" Timaeus said, pointing to the right eye he had lost in battle. "The time has come to weaken your defense." Yami said. "Timaeus, attack Orichalcos Aristeros!" he commanded before Aristeros' attack points greatly increased to 3100.
Timaeus charged and struck, but all the attack did was lower Shunoros' attack points lowered to 12,100 and lower Yami's life points to 850. "I'm not done." he said, boldly. "Now, Critias, Hermos, its your turn!" he declared before the last two knights struck, decreasing Shunoros' attack points to 5900 and lowering Yami's life points to 250. "And with that I shall end my turn." the ancient one concluded.
"Now, Orichalcos Shunoros, attack Critias with Photon Ring Blast!" Dartz commanded before the ring headed for the warrior. "Hold on! Critias, defend!" Yami declared before the knight's sword began to glow. "Your attack won't work, thanks to Critias' special ability." he added. "What?!" Dartz said in horror. "Critias can bring back one trap card, and I choose the reflecting power of Mirror Force!" Yami explained before all that power entered Critias' sword.
The ring soon struck. "Now Critias can stop your attack and send it right back at your monsters!" Yami declared. "Oh, no!" Dartz said in horror. "I'm afraid so!" Critias replied before sending the attack right back to where it came from, destroying all three monsters, but only lowering Dartz's life points to 14,100, due to the special ability of Shunoros.
"Excellent move, Pharaoh. Bravo. But I believe you should know, Shunoros has a special ability as well." Dartz said with a wicked grin as Shunoros cracked and crumbled to pieces while the force of the attack got seemingly pulled into a single area. "What's going on?" Rarity asked, worried. Then, a black vapor soon appeared in front of Dartz before that vapor created a portal with a snake inside. "The moment Shunoros was vanquished, my greatest monster, Divine Serpent Geh, was born!" the madman declared.
They all gazed at the new creature, a level ten, Dark attribute reptile/effect monster with an unknown amount of attack points and 0 defense points. "Of course, there's a price to pay for summoning such a creature. First I must send ever card in my hand to the graveyard, then I'm required to give up every last one of my life points." he added as he discarded his hand and his life points hit 0.
"But that means you lose." Rainbow pointed out. "Under normal conditions, yes. However, as long as my Divine Serpent is on the field, I remain in the game. But if the pharaoh destroy him, he'll win. But I doubt that's possible, it has the same sort of attack power as when all five pieces of the Forbidden Puzzle are put together." Dartz replied. That's when Spike realized what he meant. "Oh, no. That snake has the same attack power as when all five pieces of Exodia are played!" he shouted, catching everyone else off-guard.
"You mean it's power is, infinite!?" Yami said, shocked. "Which means there's not a monster in your deck that can stand up to it. And once it strikes one of your knights, your soul is mine." Dartz confirmed before Yami started staring at his deck. "Staring at your deck won't help. Or are you considering giving in?" he continued. "Not on your life, Dartz!" Yami replied before drawing, then he saw just what he drew. 'Dark Magician Girl.' he thought before remembering the moment he first entered the Dominion of the Beasts, where Dark Magician Girl told him and Yugi about the threat they now face.
'Yugi and I made you a promise, and I won't go back on my word.' he vowed. "I'll set one card face down, so its your move." he said aloud. "Very well." Dartz replied before drawing. "First I discard 10 cards from my deck so my Divine Serpent can attack." he added before discarding. "Go, Divine Serpent! Strike down Timaeus!" he commanded before the snake blasted Timaeus. "Timaeus, no!" Spike shouted as Yami's life points hit 0.
"And then there were two. But more importantly, Pharaoh, you just lost the rest of your life points, so the duel is over. As is your existence, so fare thee well!" Dartz said with wicked glee, thinking he finally finished Yami off. However, the seal was destroyed once again. "What's this?! You should be gone!" the madman shouted in shock. But the smoke cleared to reveal Yami was still standing, and in Timaeus' place was the Dark Magician Girl.
"How did you survive?!" Dartz asked, angrily. "That's what I'd like to know." Rarity added. "Simple, I played a card. A powerful trap known as Relay Soul. When my life points hit 0, it allowed me to stay in the game by summoning Dark Magician Girl and putting my fate in her hands. So you and I are in the same situation now. Each of us has one monster, you have your serpent and I have Dark Magician Girl. When one is destroyed, the card-holder will lose." Yami explained before turning towards Dark Magician Girl, who nodded at him.
"Alright, let the final phase of this duel begin!" he declared. "Very well, but understand this; you may have altered the rules of our battle, but your chances of victory are just as slim." Dartz replied. "I have the spirits of my friends and allies to support me, Dartz. But you on the other hand are completely alone." Yami retorted. "He's right. Look around you. You surround yourself with stone carvings of people whose lives you robbed when you stole their souls for this insane cult." Twilight concurred.
"Speaking of your cult, none of them are left, like you said. Meaning we have the numbers on our side." Rarity added. "It's over, Dartz." put in AJ. "You'll pay for your crimes one way or another." Fluttershy said, bravely. "Doma will fall, and so will the Great Leviathan." Rainbow added. "Looks like your little homecoming party is cancelled!" Pinkie said with a grin. "So prepare to lose!" finished Spike.
"I possess more power than all of you put together, and I'll prove it by playing this! Impact Revive!" Dartz retorted. "This allows me to bring back a monster that was destroyed this turn and gives it an extra 500 attack points." he explained before Timaeus returned, now with 3300 attack points. "Why did you revive Timaeus?" Yami asked. "I thought it would be amusing to prove how powerless you truly are. And I'll prove it, because Impact Revive allows my monster to attack one more time." Dartz answered.
"Oh, no. And I think I know what monster he plans to attack." Spike said, worried. "I send ten cards from my deck to my graveyard." Dartz said before discarding. "Now, Divine Serpent, end this duel!" he commanded before the snake attacked Dark Magician Girl. 'His soul is mine.' he thought. 'If she's destroyed, all hope is lost.' Yami thought as everyone else feared the worst was about to happen.