A Spiritual Matter Part III

'So Marik's good side does still exist?' the Pharaoh asked.

'Yes,' Ishizu said. 'Yes, and he was able to confront his dark side by controlling Téa's body.' Of course, now she knew there would be consequences to that if it continued. 'But the good Marik is weak and he'll grow weaker with every passing second until the shadows engulf him.' She lowered her eyes. 'Please, Pharaoh, don't allow the evil within my brother to prosper. You can destroy it, by defeating Marik in your next duel and stopping him from gaining your power.'

'I will,' the Pharaoh stated.

'Thank you, my Pharaoh,' Ishizu said. 'I know that you will prevail. You have to. Otherwise, the world will crumble.'

Yugi looked at him. Ishizu's right!

The Pharaoh didn't bother concealing his responding to the boy. 'Yes. If we are victorious against Marik's dark side, we'll gain all three Egyptian God Cards. But if we lose, they're his.'

And he'll also get the Millennium Puzzle! Yugi added. Giving everything he needs to absorb your power!

The Pharaoh wrapped a hand around the Puzzle. 'I promise you: I shall save the world from Marik's evil, Ishizu. And save your brother from himself. I just hope that defeating him will also reverse the damage that's been done.'

'Hm.' Ishizu bowed her head. 'So do I.'

At that moment, Téa stirred. With a groan, she sat up.

The Pharaoh and Mayet walked over to check she was all right.

'Hey.' Téa looked around. 'What's going on? Why am I up here?'

Don't tell her, Sharee quickly said.

Why not? Yugi asked. It's not a big deal when the Pharaoh and Mayet do it.

And do remember how long it took to get to that point? Sharee responded. Add in that it's Marik, and I'm not dead sure she comprehends the two parts of him as separate yet. To her, the bad side took over her mind and the good side took over her body.

Oh, yeah, Yugi mused. Good point.

'Are you all right?' the Pharaoh asked.

'Yeah,' Téa said. 'But I still don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is watching Joey complain about getting a check-up.'

The Pharaoh smiled and offered her his hand. 'We better get back.'

YGO

Mayet walked back into the med-bay with the Pharaoh and Téa.

Joey looked over, apparently done with his check-up. 'Where did you two go?'

'Sorry,' Mayet said. 'Marik was playing up again.'

Téa looked over in confusion. 'I didn't see Marik.'

'You were unconscious,' Mayet said.

No need to say more than that.

YGO

Kaiba sat back and sighed in irritation.

'They said the same thing Sharee said?' Mokuba guessed.

'Hmph.' More or less.

'I guess that's it then.' Mokuba said. He got up and walked around. 'Seto…I wanted to talk about something.'

'What's that?' he asked.

'What you said while you were duelling Yugi,' Mokuba said. 'About the past.'

Kaiba groaned. 'It's the past, Mokuba. I'd prefer to put it behind me.'

'That's the problem,' Mokuba said. 'I think that what Yugi said about you is right.'

Kaiba twisted around.

'You're filled with hate,' Mokuba told him. 'Why don't you smile anymore? I know our childhood wasn't the best, but at least we had fun sometimes. And now you're always in a bad mood and I want it back the way it was!'

'Those days are over!' Kaiba argued.

'They don't have to be!' Mokuba retorted. 'You can change! Instead of just standing by and watching more damage happen, why don't you…oh, I don't know! Why don't you help Yugi win and prevent more damage?! If you know the secret to defeating Marik, then tell Yugi!'

And Kaiba blanched at the thought. How can I help Yugi win my tournament? The reason I organised the Battle City Tournament was so I could defeat him!

YGO

Malik was waiting for them as they came up onto the top of the duel tower, a sadistic smirk on his face. Then he laughed maniacally.

'Marik, you have no idea who you're messing with!' Joey snapped at him, before he spoke more quietly to the Pharaoh. 'Just be careful out there, Yug. And, remember, this nutcase plays by his own rules.' He paused to sigh. 'Yeah, just think of Mai. Having her in the Shadow Realm's bad enough. But if you beat this freak, Yugi, you'll save Mai, not to mention the entire world!'

'I'll do my best,' the Pharaoh said.

YGO

Kaiba debated with himself as he and Mokuba made their way to the battlefield.

As Mokuba said, there was a chance for Yugi to win. There was only once card that could do it, though. And that card lived in his deck and his deck alone. The question was…was he willing to hand that card over to Yugi? Was he willing to let Yugi use the card?

The card had to be played in a certain way in order to take down Ra.

Would Yugi work out what that certain way was?

Kaiba certainly wouldn't have time to explain it to him.

Well…it was Yugi.

I could let Yugi lose to Marik. I have to admit, I'd enjoy seeing him fall. But I have to admit, it should be interesting to see if he has what it takes to properly use this card.

YGO

Mayet stood with their friends as Roland ordered the platform to be raised.

Ishizu was waiting with them.

A moment later, the Kaiba brothers stepped from the lift and came up too.

'Hold on, Yugi!' Kaiba called before Roland could say more.

'Huh?' The Pharaoh turned.

'I've got something you need.'

'Really?' the Pharaoh asked. 'And what's that, Kaiba?'

'Take this!' And Kaiba flung a card up to him.

The Pharaoh caught that card and looked at it. He looked at the card in surprise, and then down at Kaiba in surprise. Whatever that card was, it was significant enough that the Pharaoh had been temporarily stunned speechless. And that wasn't an easy thing to do, by any mark.

Curiouser and curiouser, Sharee remarked.

Said Alice.

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