Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I'm not gone, so I'm still here! I've been busy making future entries for this story and other ones. I hope those who are reading this are enjoying the story. Have fun, and Yume is the only character I own.
After waiting for some time after the first of the Battle City Finals, with Yume as the winner, everyone showed up back at the main hall for the next two duelists. But one doesn't show up either.
The selector choose a number at random, getting one inside the mouth, which brings it to the number 2. "Joey Wheeler is the first contestant." Serenity cheered that on. The selector picked the second number: 7. "And his opponent will be Marik Ishtar!"
This is it, Yume thought. He has to win this! If he wins, that'll bring us one step closer to ending this together.
"Hope you got a parachute ready," Joey said to Marik, "because I'm blasting you off of this blimp! You got that, Marik?"
After everything is ready, everyone was outside, with Joey and Marik on the elevating platform. Both Marik and Joey shuffled their decks, place them in the appropriate spot, and move on to their respective sides.
I'll make sure to make him pay for controlling my noggin. He thought as he turned around and see Marik with the Millennium Rod out. "That's enough, Marik! Why don't you fight like a true duelist and put that thing elsewhere?!"
"You don't know how I intend to use it, but it's not for this duel." He put it away, surprising Joey as Yume breathed a sigh of relief. They both drew their respective hands and started the duel with 4000 Life Points each.
Joey drew one more card to start the duel. I've worked really hard to get to the finals, and I can't screw this up! If I defeat this nutcase, I'll be the hero! He would be kicked out of the competition, and I'll be famous!
A heavy gust of wind blew his cards out of his hands, but he managed to catch them again and return to his post. And he managed to place a monster down. "I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in Attack Mode!" His knight showed up, all in iron.
"I'll end my turn, and wait to see what you have in store for me." Marik drew his card, then activated a Field Spell.
"I play Temple of the Kings. A card like none you've ever seen!" A building started rising, more likely a temple, behind Marik. Joey demanded what's going on. "The structure behind me is the ancient temple of the kings. Within this 5000-year-old sanctuary lie the greatest treasures of the kings of Egypt."
"And what does that big shack do?"
"To protect the king's treasure, it limits the number of Magic and Trap cards you can play in one turn. And in front of the temple, I'll lay two cards face down as an extra boundary of protection. And that's how I end my turn. So attack me if you dare. You have no idea what lurks within these temple walls."
Even though he hasn't summoned a monster, Marik wants Joey to attack so he could activate his facedowns! Joey needs to watch out for those, but that Egyptian Temple worries me even more. Who knows what's hiding in there.
'Yume,' She heard Yami speaking to her, 'Marik is trying to summon the Egyptian God through that temple. Brace yourself in case it does come, like last time.' She, of course, agreed, and waited for the outcome of the match.
If I'm going to beat this guy, I gotta pull myself together. Not only that, but Giant Trunade will send all of his Magic and Trap cards away, getting rid of his temple! Everything's all figured out!
I'll send a few more monsters in, but not attack. He'll probably send in a couple more facedowns, thinking he's got me in a corner. Then Giant Trunade will come out, blasting away all his Magic and Trap cards. Once that's out of the way, the combined power of my monsters will be enough to wipe out all his Life Points! He visions it all in his head.
He'll never know what hit him! He placed a monster down. "I summon Tiny Guardian in Attack Mode!" His little knight showed up. "That's everything I'll do for now, Chrome Dome."
Yume gasped. 'Yami! Joey's at a lost!' Yami asked her to explain further. 'Well, Joey will add another monster or two before playing Giant Trunade. He thought it would work for him, but it caused him harm from last time. I hope he's ready for this!'
Marik drew his card, then placed two more facedowns. Thus, ending his turn. Joey drew his next card, then summoned Hayabusa Knight, which is an eagle knight. And now, he thought, with enough monsters to wipe out his Life Points, Giant Trunade… He picked up his card. You're up!
"Time for your ancient palace to be demolished!" Marik just looked at him as Joey played his Magic card. "GIANT TRUNADE!" A heavy windstorm started approaching Marik's face downs, but it stopped just before reaching them.
I knew this was going to happen, just like how Father said. Yume thought as she watched Marik's facedowns with worry.
"Your Giant Trunade is gone, and more trouble awaits you!"
"What do you mean? All your facedowns, along with Temple of the Kings, should've been gone."
"It's when you made the foolish decision to activate your Giant Trunade, Mr. Wheeler, you in turn triggered one of the most dangerous Traps I've placed on the field to protect myself. And now it's time for you to pay the price with your mistake." Joey asked for an explanation.
"You see, with all of my Trap cards in play, I knew you wouldn't attack me with a monster. You tried to destroy my Traps with a Magic card."
"So… you played a Trap that destroys Magic cards?"
"That's not all it does. The Trap you've just triggered is about to devastate all of your monsters and an extremely large portion of your Life Points. So prepare to feel it's wrath right now!" He revealed his Trap. "JUDGEMENT OF ANUBIS!"
A heavy purple wisp appeared, and started spinning around. "A Trap with such destructive force such as this! Judgement of Anubis will now annihilate every monster you have on the field and deduct half of their Attack Points from your Life Points!" Joey said it was impossible. "Anubis, DESTROY!"
The wisp started hitting Joey's monsters. "Building your army of powerful monsters was a grave miscalculation because they're about to disappear with more than 2000 of your Life Points!" The wisp destroyed every single monster on Joey's field, dropping his Life Points to 1900. "With the horrors that await you, those guys will be the last thing on you mind."
"How can Joey win?!" Serenity called out.
"I have faith, Serenity. If…" She wasn't sure if she should mention Yugi or not, but risk it, anyway. "If what Father told me is true, then this duel would be familiar to those watching it. I just hope Joey plays those cards right. Not only that, but he's been in tougher situations. He just needs support to go all the way to the end." Serenity nodded, and cheered Joey on for the win.
Marik just waited to see if Joey would buckle down in pain, but he just smiled. "Got you good, Marik. You may not realize this because your ponytail's tied too tight, but I fell into your little Trap on purpose, Marik!" Marik gasped.
"That's the ticket! I was just testing you to see if your dueling skills were any better than your sense of style, and it looks like you passed my exam. Now to kick my game up a notch and open up a big tub of duel whip all over you! Make your move!"
He drew his card, but placed two face down and ended his turn. "There's a reason this game's called Duel Monsters because you're supposed to fight your opponent with monster cards, not spend the whole game hiding behind your little Trap cards like a coward."
"If there's a rule that forbids me from playing Trap cards, then tell me now and I'll stop!" Joey growled.
"I'll show you the real meaning of Duel Monsters! MY MOVE!" He drew his card, but Yume is starting to have doubts.
Joey's starting to lose his cool, just like what Father said. Joey played down Aligator Sword in Attack mode.
I have to be careful! If I act without thinking, Marik will slaughter me with one of his face downs!
"I thought you were going to show me how to play the game. I'm still waiting." Marik just stood there, while Joey thought if he should attack prepared or not.
"I'm letting you off easy, Marik, by holding back my attack and placing a face down to end my turn."
It's smart, but an attack will have to happen eventually, or Marik might just win this! He needs to come up with a strategy quick, or Marik could easily defeat him.
Marik just decided to pass his turn and move it on to Joey. Why would he pass his turn?! He's forcing an attack on me. So far, they both drew their card, given that they both passed: Joey first, then Marik. Joey started losing it before drawing his card, and playing Rocket Warrior.
Here it comes! Just like how Father planned it. Joey ordered Rocket Warrior to make a direct attack. "Reveal, Eye Of Ujat!" His Trap was revealed, and have the eye symbol on Rocket Warrior.
"Now that the Eye Of Ujat appears on the front of your Rocket Warrior, it is under my control, and I shall redirect its attack to one of your own monsters! CHANGE YOUR TARGET TO ALLIGATOR'S SWORD!"
Rocket Warrior reaimed at Alligator's Sword, but Joey decided to play Fairy Box, to which a box showed up, and Alligator's Sword came inside. He activated a Trap card to protect his own monster?
"That's right!" Yume called out. "And since Alligator's Sword is inside, he's protected by the attack, which means that the attack has been short-circuited!" And just like how it went so far.
Joey thought he had it in the bag, until Marik said that he fell for another one of his Traps. Joey asked for an explanation, but he chuckled. "You're about to see what I mean firsthand. While I may be short on monsters, I possess a Trap card that is both a Trap and a Monster."
"I'm pretty sure that the barber clipped some of your brain when he was cutting your hair."
"Prepare to experience the power of an extremely rare breed of card that's known as a Trap-Monster!"
'I actually expected such a thing, because Father was surprised at first.'
'Too true, Yume. In this duel, Joey barely made it on top due to one monster's attack of refusal to obey and struck them both down.'
'Right. Now, to wait and see how it goes!'
"Not only do I possess such a rare Trap-Monster card, but when you attacked, you activated it! And now feel the rage of a card like none you've ever seen before! There's no escaping from the Embodiment of Apophis!" His Trap was revealed.
"It triggers like a Trap, but attacks like a Monster! I'd say this card disproves your theory about my deck and it's weakness, Mr. Wheeler!"
Well, that's a strategy blown. "Not only did you activate it, you also activated not one, but three of my Apophis cards! And now it's time to meet your doom. Come forth, my beasts!" Wisps of purple smoke hit the field as it all transformed into three monsters, each with the same strength. (ATK/DEF: 1600/1800.)
Each is a reptile soldier with a shield and a sword. "Just be strong, Joey! You can still win this!"
"You are at the end of your rope. Now, then, for someone who was so vocal before, you seem to be very silent. Perhaps you've realized that talk doesn't win duels. It takes skill and power. And as soon as my three creatures attack, you'll see exactly what I mean: YOU'RE FINISHED!"
Stuck at 1900 Life Points remaining, Joey needs to find a way to get rid of them before it's too late. "Joey has to be prepared for Marik's three reptiles. Otherwise, Marik can easily defeat him!" And that's not really Marik. From what Father described, that's Odion.
Joey drew his card, places one facedown, then ended his turn by switching Alligator's Sword from Attack to Defense.
"Seems like a final desperate move to me."
"We'll just see, won't we?" As soon as he attacks, Scapegoats would save me, but not for long, though. He'll fall into my Trap once again.
"You're about to feel what real power can accomplish, Mr. Wheeler. Now my three beasts, ATTACK!"
"You were in for a surprise, Marik. GO, SCAPEGOAT!" His Magic card was revealed, and four goat tokens showed up. "They'll absorb all three of your snake attacks!"
"Good, but not good enough." He discarded one card, then revealed Magic Jammer. "I reveal the Trap card Magic Jammer! By discarding one card from my hand, Scapegoat's no more!" His goat's disappeared as all three Apophis destroyed Rocket Warrior and Alligator's Sword. The third one attacked him directly!
All of those attacks sent him to his knees as he's on his last 200 Life Points. "It's all over, Mr. Wheeler! One attack would leave you defenseless, but one attack will finish you off! You made it all the way to the Battle City Finals just to lose on your knees. You may as well stay down, because I'm about to take away the few Life Points you have left!"
And hearing Marik's suggesting to surrender, Joey has his hand over his duel disk, ready to be placed down, but Mai stopped that. "Don't you even think about listening to this nut-job!" Joey asked why he shouldn't.
"Well, is that how you got here, by just giving up when the odds are against you? Or did you keep on fighting until the very end? Just think about it."
Well, I did win some pretty tough duels: Weevil, Espa Roba, even Mako Tsunami. I beat them by playing my hardest. And it helped me win by the end of this duel! I can't just give up! Mai has a point there. Joey removed his hand from the top of his duel disk, then got back up.
Serenity explained how Joey was an inspiration to her, then he turned to Marik. "Bet you didn't have anyone who cared about you like that, pal!"
"I did, but that was a time so long ago." More likely, a certain someone pulled me away from the darkness, so I know what it feels like to be loved.
"You can do this, Joey!" Yume called out with Serenity. "We all know you'll pull through!"
"You staying down on your knees in defeat, or continue this duel? Just give in and face reality. Just a suggestion from me alone." Marik said, but Joey just laughed.
"I'm not backing out. I've gone too far to give up now. If I quit now, I'll be letting down everyone who ever believed in me, not to mention letting myself down. I've been in tighter spots and I still pull through." Memories of the duels he finished with Espa Roba, Weevil, and Mako flashed before him.
I fought my hardest to get where I am right now. And I never let anyone get the best of me, even when all hope seemed lost. So why should I start now? "You think I'm gonna lose to you? Then guess again, tough guy! I came to the finals to win this thing!"
"You tell him, Joey! Now, do what you would've done, and get out of this tight spot!"
"I've defeated three of the toughest duelists out there to earn my way onto this blimp, you light-bulb head! And I'm not gonna let you or your shiny skull stop me from finishing what I started."
"You got this, Joey! Now… win this duel!"
"Don't you worry, Yume. I got this. Here we go!" He drew his card, with Marik thinking how foolish he was, and prepare to destroy him.
"You got this, Joey! Remember what happens when you win against Marik!"
Yume's right! If I win this, not only will Marik's plans be crushed this time, but Yugi will return, as he's the father of Yume. "I promised Yume that I'd help her stop you from achieving whatever sick and twisted goals that you and your Rare Hunters have, Marik. And I'm gonna keep that promise by knocking you out of the finals, got it?"
He looked at his card, then said to him that he'll be losing everything. "YOU'RE FALSE THREATS DON'T FRIGHTEN ME, MR. WHEELER!"
"I place two cards face down, then summon Swordsman of Landstar in Defense Mode! I'll let you take over."
His determination is surprising. There has to be a way of his retaliation when he has only 200 Life Points. "I hoped you've enjoyed your brief experience as a Battle City Finalist. Embodiment of Apophis, TRIPLE ATTACK NOW!"
"I got you right where I want you, Marik. Because I reveal Foolish Burial!" He revealed his Magic card. "It lets me put one card in my hand and send it to your Graveyard. Then I'll reveal my Trap, Graverobber!" He revealed his Trap.
"And you plan to use him to steal a card from my Graveyard?"
"Did you figure that out all by yourself or did someone send you a cheet sheat? Yes, Einstein, I'm gonna rob your Grave!" Graverobber cackled as he has a card in his hands. "I've taken back the card I just put in there." The card glowed to reveal Jinzo, then he came to the field.
"That's an extremely powerful monster you just summoned!"
"If I can recall correctly, your snake creatures were a special breed of monsters that also happened to be Trap cards. Your slimey reptiles have all the strengths of a Trap cards, but they all have the weaknesses, too." Marik forced for an explanation.
"Jinzo's special ability lets him destroy Trap cards. Jinzo, wipe out his serpents!" Jinzo's eyes started glowing. At full power, they released an eye beam that hits Marik's monsters, destroying them all. "I won Jinzo on my first Battle City duel against a real opponent."
"That's right, Joey! You got him on the run now."
"Do you still think I'm still an amateur or did you learn your lesson?"
"I'm not through with you yet, Mr. Wheeler! Because I still have every single Life Point because I've neither gained a point, nor lost one."
"Not for long, Marik. You see, with Jinzo on my side, you're Trap cards are ancient history."
I got Jinzo by defeating Espa Roba, and his card is giving me the strength to beat Marik. Joey drew his next card and looked at it. "I summon Battle Warrior in Attack Mode!" His Warrior showed up. "I'm not done because Swordsman of Landstar is being switched to Attack Mode!" Swordsman of Landstar raised his shield and replaced it with his sword.
"Time for some payback, Marik! Jinzo, make a Direct Attack on his Life Points!" Jinzo used his orb of energy at point-blank range to drop Marik's Life Points to 1600. "Battle Wariror and Swordsman of Landstar, make a Direct Attack on his Life Points!" With the combined powers of the two, Marik had his Life Points dropped to 400 as he skidded back a bit.
"You got this, Joey! You're almost there! You can do this." Even though Odion can't play his Trap cards, that doesn't mean he can still play Magic cards.
"Don't feel so tough now, do you? Maybe you should've protected yourself a little better." Marik retained his position after the knockback and just looked at Joey.
"Attack me all you want. You can't win. Remember that I still possess my Temple of the Kings card, a card that has ancient powers so strong, it can't be stopped. Just wait until you experience its unparalleled force."
"Your palace doesn't scare me, Marik." I highly doubt it, Joey. Yume thought when Joey said that. If anything, I bet that that temple will be used to summon a fake Ra. "I think I've already proven that Joey Wheeler doesn't sit back and let people walk all over him. So bring it on! I can take whatever you got and dish it right back, buddy. Just make your move."
The real Millennium Rod, which was held behind Namu, glowed with the eye. "Listen to me, Odion. You've allowed Joey Wheeler to come too far. Now destroy him at once or face severe consequences."
Yes, Master Marik.
"He's useless, you fool! Now finish him off!"
Not to worry, Master. I won't disappoint you. In fact, I've already figured out a way to render his monsters useless. "This should hold you up, Mr. Wheeler." He picked a Magic card from his hand and plays it. "I play Swords of Revealing Light!"
Swords made out of light came to Joey's side and surrounded his monsters, making him unable to attack for 3 turns. Even though Joey can't attack, he can still sacrifice his monsters to summon stronger ones. Even though Jinzo can't attack, it still prevents Odion from playing Traps.
Joey drew his card, then prepared his move. "Even though I can't attack, I can still sacrifice Battle Warrior to play a stronger monster!" His warrior disappeared as a tribesman on a shark took his place. "The Legendary Fisherman." (ATK/DEF Points: 1850/1600)
I know how much, Joey thought, this card meant to you, Mako, and I promised you I'd use it well. "But before my turn is over, my monsters will now switch to Defense Mode." Swordsman of Landstar raised his shield while Jinzo kneeled down with his arms crossed.
Marik held up his duel disk. "Prepare to lose!" He drew his card, then looked at it: The Winged Dragon of Ra. He looked at it with great shock
"Why do you seemed so shocked, Odion? If you're posing as me, you should have my card in your deck. Right? That's why I slipped it in before the duel."
But, Master, this card is too dangerous. And I'm not meant to control its great power. You can't possibly expect me to play it. Please reconsider, I beg of you!
"Stop whimpering! You sound pitiful. I command you to play that card. It's the only way to win this duel. You must play it within the Ancient Ark on the Temple Steps. And when the time is right, you will release its rage!"
Marik looked back at Joey. "I play one card facedown. Now prepare yourself, Mr. Wheeler, for the next card I play will be the final instrument to your destruction!" He picked up a card. "I seal this card in the sacred ark of the temple!" A bigger version of a Duel Monsters card, back side facing towards Joey, before being inside the sacred ark.
"You have no idea what I've just done by securing this all-powerful card within my ancient sanctuary. By sealing this card of the Gods, I have also sealed your fate! And that ends my turn." CARD OF THE GODS?! It must be the Winged Dragon of Ra!
Joey drew his next card, then played a Magic card. "I'll be bringing a monster back from the Graveyard using Monster Reborn! Alligator's Sword shall come back!" Alligator's Sword came back.
"I'm not finished yet, Marik. I'll sacrifice Alligator's Sword and Swordsman of Landstar so I can summon this-" He placed the monster down. "-MY INSECT QUEEN!" His spider had her legs out of the card, then the whole body came out in Defense Mode. (ATK/DEF Points: 2200/2400) "I won this card from a feisty little germ called Weevil Underwood."
All of my Battle City victories is starting to pay off right now. Because those duels got me 3 incredible monsters. Joey thought as he looked at them.
That's impressive! I've heard from my friends that Joey won these cards against Espa Roba, Mako, and Weevil. He has become a long way as a duelist since this Battle City Tournament began a second time.
"Look out, Marik, because your Swords of Revealing Light will lose their power next turn. And when those lights go out, there'll be nothing holding my monsters back. And since you have nothing to protect you, you're finished."
"You think that just because you were able to summon a few strong monsters, you can defeat me. You're so naive, for I am about to summon a beast that you can't destroy. While you're monsters were trapped in my Swords of Revealing Light, I was able to prepare for the arrival of my ancient creature." Joey started losing his cool a little and started sweating.
"This all-powerful entity will serve as the guardian of the sacred Temple Of The Kings, protecting my ancient sanctuary and all of the secrets that lie within. In other words, you can't win once I play THIS-" He played a card down. "CUP OF SEALED SOULS! Then I reveal my facedown known as Seal of Serket!"
I don't like the looks of this! Joey could be finished, if it were not for Marik convincing Odion to summon the Winged Dragon of Ra. Thanks to all three of his Magic cards, he's able to summon Beast of Serket to the field. And with that thing out, it's impossible for Joey to win without his monsters!
She thought too soon as smoke started forming around, until Marik's beast showed up. "You don't scare me!" Joey said confidentally. "I'll find a way to crush your oversize scorpian, Marik!"
"I would find this amusing, provided that my Serket is more powerful than all three of your monsters, Mr. Wheeler. The only question is, 'Which is the first one it should devour?' And it's pointless for you to try and stop my ancient creature because there's not a card in your deck powerful enough to do it." Joey looked at his deck inside his duel disk.
Serenity asked Yume if Joey would win this. "I have faith in him, Serenity. Even though Marik has the upper hand, Joey can still beat him." Not only that, she thought, but this duel is just like how the Pharaoh described it between Joey and Odion. "All that's needed is the weakness within the Serket before his Life Points reach zero."
Mai asked her about the Winged Dragon of Ra, inside the ark. "That's his Egyptian God card." He'll need to win before that card is played, but I doubt it'll happen. Depends on how this turns out.
"It's time for you to make your final move, Mr. Wheeler! Before my Mystical Beast annihilates you, and thanks to my Swords of Revealing Light, you still can't attack."
Well, here goes nothing! Joey thought as he drew his card and looks at it: Polymerization. That card's useless for now! I have to destroy his Mystical Beast Serket before it knocks me out of the finals! "I'll just have to pass my turn for the risk, Marik."
"One move that's desperate." Marik drew his next card. "Say goodbye! My beast can't be stopped. SO FEEL HIS ANCIENT FURY! ATTACK HIS JINZO NOW!" His Hystical Beast came after Jinzo and grabbed him, not only destroying him, but half of Jinzo's ATK Points were added in, making the Mystical Beast's total ATK Points 3700.
"Not only is that the only effect, it only gets bigger and uglier!" He drew his card, but he has to pass.
Marik then ordered his Serket to attack his Insect Queen, raising the ATK Points to 4900. "There's no stopping me, Mr. Wheeler! You're finished!"
"Hang in there, Joey! You can still win this!" I hope he pulls through, though.
"I'm taking my turn now, Marik!" He drew his card, then looked at his hand: Polymerization, Salamandra Sword, and Shield and Sword. How am I supposed to win with three usless Magic cards?! Joey can't do anything except to pass his turn.
"Ending your turn was smart, but forfieting would be even smarter!"
"Zip it, Marik! You may look creepy, but I'm not scared, and there's no way I'm going to lose this duel! My little sister should continue to see me duel, and making sure that I win this duel."
"How very touching, but nothing can save you now."
"He's definately," Mai said, "come a long way since the last time I dueled him. He's made plenty of great comebacks, but I think his streak will end here on this blimp. He did what he could, though."
"Mai." Yume said. "There's more to it than that. Look at his eyes!" Mai did, and saw some surprised as he said that it's Marik's turn now.
"They burn with a fire that I've never seen in him before. Like… he knows that he's going to win. But how could he do that? Even I couldn't think of a move to save him!"
"It's what Joey feels in his heart that matters, Mai. It's his determination to beat Marik, which is very strong. So, Joey believes he could win this duel, even though the likelihood of his victory over Marik is extremely small. He vowed with me to put an end to Marik's scheme, and he's keeping that promise." Mai asked how Joey would win.
"All he has to do is trust in himself and believe in the heart of the cards, he'll soon find a way."
With Marik's turn, he calls upon his Serket to attack Joey's Legendary Fisherman, raising the ATK Points of the Serket to 5825. I'm sorry, Mako. I didn't mean to turn your card into a fish-stick dinner. "Make your last move."
Joey drew his card, but can't do anything about it and passed his turn. He just stood there, not shocked by anything, until he said that he's not going to lose. That's when everyone gasped.
"Can't explain how I know. But I got this strange feeling that this duel heads to my victory. Kinda like a voice inside my head. Go ahead and take your best shot, Marik."
"I will, Mr. Wheeler. And when my Mystical Beast of Serket attacks your Life Points, YOU'RE FINISHED! So say goodbye to the finals."
"Before you make your final attack and win this duel, I got something I want to say to you. I'll never forget when you controlled my mind and forced me to hurt my best friend's daughter in that crazy duel. You didn't have the courage to face her yourself, so you made me do your dirty work while you hide like a coward!"
"I'm facing you now, aren't I?" Joey agreed on that, and Marik told him to look at the scores. "I'm destroying you in a duel face-to-face!"
"It's funny you bring that up. Ever since we started this duel, I've had a weird feeling about you. I can't put my finger on it, but you don't seem to be the same guy that controlled my mind. That Marik was a regular slime-ball. But you played a really fair duel, and it was one of the toughest duels I ever fought."
This is really surprising! Yume thought. Not only is Joey feeling that he's facing against Odion, but it was really risky when he brought up my Father.
"Just like I got a little voice deep inside me that tells me I'm not going to lose. That voice also tells me that you're not the rotten snake that took over my brain and forced me to duel her! And I'm sure of it! You are not Marik! I always trust what I feel in my gut, and it's telling me two things: You're not who you're pretending to be. And you won't win!"
Both Marik and Namu growled while Kaiba said that it was insane. Long story short, Kaiba. You should've checked back when it was just Father, you, Joey, and Marik in the finals. Now, if all goes well, it'll be the same, except I'm taking Dad's place. She looked back at Namu, and sensed an evil within him almost immediately. Yep, that's Marik for sure!
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Marik called out and pulled out the Millennium Rod. "Only the real Marik wields the power of the Millennium Rod! Think of that before you listen to those senseless voices of yours, Mr. Wheeler! Now let me finish this duel!"
Marik drew his card, then ordered to prepare a Direct Attack on Joey's Life Points, but Namu was quick and ordered him in his thoughts to stop his attack. The beast stopped just before snapping Joey's neck!
"Shouldn't Joey be a scorpian snack right about now?" Duke asked in surprise.
I held back my attack as you requested, Master Marik. But why?!
"I want you to destroy him with the Egyptian God card! Play the Winged Dragon of Ra! It's the only way to convince everyone that you are me! My true identity must be kept a secret if I am to gain the powers of the Pharaoh along with his Apprentice!"
But it's too dangerous, Master! Please! Don't make me remove the Winged Dragon of Ra from the sacred ark!
"If you want everyone to think that you are me, then you should play that Egyptian God. Not only that, but so I could rule as Pharaoh!"
Master Marik! Playing the Winged Dragon of Ra is too dangerous! Please reconsider your request!
"Listen to me, Odion! Ever since I remember, you longed to be a part of my family. Well this is your chance to finally join the Tomb Keeper's clan by serving me, the future Pharaoh! Now, fulfill your duty and play that Egyptian God card!"
Yes. I'll be a true tomb keeper. I know the dangers are great, but I must serve my Master.
I know why Odion stopped his attack. But I want to see if it'll work.
"Prepare to experience an ancient power like nothing you've ever seen before or will see again! I am Marik. And to prove it, I will now play my Egyptian God card!"
"Didn't see that coming."
But I did. Father informed me of all the duels he's seen and faced. I can only hope that it ends the same as it did when he was here.
"But in order for me to release my Egyptian God Moster from the ark, I must sacrifice my Mystical Beast Serket first! Once this giant guardian of the temple is no more, I can release the most powerful creature that ever walked the Earth from within the sacred ark." He turned around and faced the tomb, Millennium Rod pointing at it.
"Ancient One, hear my call! I now offer up my Mystical Beast along with half my Life Points to release thee!" His Life Points drop from 400 to 200 as his Serket gets destroyed.
"Come forth my Winged Dragon and reveal your awesome strength in the name of the next great Pharaoh: King Marik!" The tomb opened up and revealed the card as it brought a beam of light upwards, creating mystified clouds as the beam extended, showing the shadow version of the beast. "SHOW YOURSELF, MY BEAST!"
The Winged Dragon of Ra came down, but still as a shadow version. "Let anyone who doubts my power feel the fire of the mighty Winged Dragon of Ra! A being like no other! The strongest of all Egyptian God Monsters! But remember that my Mystical Beast has absorbed the powers of your Jinzo, Insect Queen, and the Legendary Fisherman!"
Joey was getting scared as the calculated Attack Points equal 5825. "And those Attack Points are transferred to my Winged Dragon of Ra! And once it attacks you, Mr. Wheeler, you'll wish you'd never entered this tournament! You'll be losing the rest of your Life Points soon enough!"
"So, what you waiting for? Take your best shot, Baldy!"
"Yume, don't you remember that your Egyptian God card injured Bakura?!"
"I remember, Téa. But… if what I think is true, then the outcome is possible."
"You've made our family proud today, Odion. Your handling of the Egyptian God card copy proves you are one of us, once and for all and it has convinced our skeptical friends that you are me!"
"You're time has run out, Mr. Wheeler. Winged Dragon of Ra," he called out. "Attack his Life Points directly!" The beast let out a roar, but didn't attack just yet.
"Looks like your dragon's got other plans!" Marik turned around and commanded Dragon of Ra to attack, yet it still does nothing.
This is exactly how Dad described it! Yume thought as she saw the storm. Lightening struck the playing field, yet it hasn't hit niether duelist.
Master Marik, he thought, I am not worthy enough to control this card. Just as I was not worthy enough to be a part of your family. Forgive me, Master, I've failed you again. He looked up, still with his eyes closed, and got struck by the lightening.
The Millennium Rod that he held started cracking, then exploded as he was rendered unconscious. Yume quickly found out that the Millennium Rod was a fake. Joey was about to approach Odion, but he got quickly struck by lightening, then fell unconscious.
"Even though they've been rendered unconscious, both duelists have 200 Life Points remaining. And according to Battle City rules, the duel is still going on."
Yume got up to face the referee. "Then how about a proposition: Whichever duelist gets up first is declared the winner?" Everyone gasped as they never thought of Yume being this forward before.
"I'm sure it was nothing involving the duel disk." Yume looked and saw that it was Seto who spoke. "Whatever that storm was, it just a freak act of nature and nothing more." The referee asks for a double disqualification.
"No! Since both duelists are tied, I'll agree with Yume. Five minutes is the time limit. Whichever one gets up to his feet first is the winner and move on in the finals."
Everyone has been supporting Joey to wake up, but two minutes passed and nothing happens. But Odion found out that Marik needed help and started to get up. First from his hands, and now he's lifting up slightly until he's able to be on his hands and knees.
But when the winner was about to be announced for Odion, he fell again. Yume saw that happen, then turned her attention back to Joey. Please, Joey… get up!
'He will, Yume.' Yami said to her. 'Just keep cheering him on, and he'll wake up.' Yume told her that she knew, yet she continued for another minute.
Niether duelist has yet to come up, but when the referee was about to call that time was up, Joey was suddenly up on his feet, unaware of what's happened. "Joey, you did it!" He looked and saw his friends and younger sister there, all smiling.
"You won the duel, Joey!" He nodded, then proceeded to Odion with Yume coming to them as the platform lowered. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"This guy's still hurt." Yume went down on her knees and looked at Odion.
"You okay, Odion?" He slowly opened his eyes upon hearing Yume, but looked at Joey.
"Forgive me Joey. It was an honor to duel you." Joey asked him who he was. "A servant of the real Master Marik." He pointed over to Namu, but he was clutching his head with the Millennium Rod in his hand.
'Mind if I take over, Yume?' Yami asked her, yet she disagreed because she doesn't want Marik to know that she's here. Marik just looked at Yume.
"So… you're the daughter of the Pharaoh, aren't you? We finally get to meet face to face. Now, I can finish the job my pathetic servants couldn't! Yume, that puzzle and power will soon be where they belong!" He grunted, and clutched his head again.
'What's happening, Yami?! It's like… he's not himself!'
'Be careful, Yume. His dark side is getting too strong. Now… he won't be able to control it in time!' Yume nodded, then heard Marik screaming out as his hair became more wild.
"At last," he said, sounding more sinister. "I'm finally free. Been trapped for years by that fool Odion!" Yume asked who he was. "I'm the true Marik and I'm not as kind as the one you've come to know. And soon, I'll finish the job he couldn't complete and strip you of the powers of the Pharaoh along with his Apprentice. For I deserve to be Pharaoh!" He looked hard at Yume.
"Get ready for the real battle. And when I'm through with you, you're puzzle will be around my neck, where it belongs. And you will be trapped forever in the realm of eternal darkness. Along with your friends. And Odion, as well." Joey said that he should get a life.
"Fool! Thanks to Odion's failure I now have a life! Of course, by failing, Odion proved one thing. Only a chosen few can control the Egyptian God cards." He looked at Seto and said that he's one of them.
"I'm sick and tired of hearing these Egyptian Fairy Tales. I control Obelisk the Tourmentor because I'm a Master Duelist."
"Don't deny your ancient past. You'll find you couldn't escape your five thousand year old memories. But you'll learn in good time, Kaiba. Your role in this game runs much deeper than you could imagine. But that won't matter once I take over. And the battle for the Pharaoh's power, along with his Apprentice, will begin right now!"