The Darkness Returns Part III

'Make your move!' Marik demanded.

'All right. Quit pressuring me!' I can't let Marik win and advance to the finals. Then I'll never rescue Mai from the Shadow Realm. In fact, I'll be trapped right there with her! Come on…Joey drew. Show me the…Joey made a sound of disappointment as he saw drawn Gamble. So much for that card. What do I do now? I can't attack Marik with Lava Golem. I'm sure that's exactly what he wants me to do. Why else would that freak give me such a powerful monster?

And that was on top of Marik's very vocal insistence on Joey attacking with Lava Golem.

I can't just let this thing melt away my life points. And if I hold onto it, that's exactly what it's gonna do. So I better take my chances and use it against Marik. 'All right.' And he knew what he was about to do would look absolutely insane to literally everyone else. 'I think it's only fair to use the gift you gave me.'

'Excellent!' Marik declared. 'I must say, that's the most intelligent thing you've said this entire duel.'

'Watch yourself!' Joey snapped.

'I guess you finally came to your senses,' Marik just continued pushing though, 'or perhaps you realised the truth: there's absolutely no way you can win this.'

'What?' Joey demanded.

Marik smirked again. 'Every pathway leads to the Shadow Realm.'

'Don't listen to a single twisted word that creep says, Joey!' Tea called out. 'He's trying to psych you out!'

YGO

Kaiba watched this. Wheeler's in quite a predicament. If he attacks, Marik will strike back. But if he doesn't, he'll lose life points.

It was one of the very few instances in which Kaiba felt he would take the exact same action Wheeler was taking.

YGO

'It's over!' Joey declared.

'For once, you and I are in agreement, Little Joey,' Marik said. 'The moment you attack me, it's all over for you.'

'Then I guess I'll have to take my chances!' Joey gave the order. 'Attack!'

He heard his friends calling out in panic – mainly Téa, Tristan and Duke.

Lava Golem charged up the attack.

'Time to block your attack…with this!' Marik activated his face down card. 'Reveal trap! This card, known as Relieve Monster, allows me to return one of my monsters to my hand. Once that happens, I can replace that monster with any four-star monster I'm holding in my hand.'

Joey's eyes darted to his Panther Warrior.

'Plasma Eel, return to me!' The Plasma Eel vanished off of his Panther Warrior and Marik took it back into his hand. 'And since it's a four-star monster I can bring it back in defence mode!'

Marik set the card and the Plasma Eel appeared just in time to catch the attack from Lava Golem. But…it was not destroyed. Marik laughed maniacally.

'Of course, you remember my Plasma Eel's special ability, don't you?' Marik asked. 'It can't be destroyed in battle.'

'So what?' Joey demanded.

'So your monsters, on the other hand are not so lucky! Now, go, Helpoemer!'

Joey looked down as the ghostly hand came out and snatched away another of his cards.

'Say goodbye to a random card from your hand.' Marik laughed maniacally.

Gamble was taken…and an idea began to form in Joey's mind. 'Are you done?'

'Not quite,' Marik responded. 'There's one more thing. Just look. That Lava Golem of yours is beginning to melt now, costing you 700 life points.'

Joey's life points dropped to 2200 as lava dripped around him. He yelled in fright and covered his head.

Marik chuckled. 'It's all over! Get ready. My move.' Marik drew.

'Hang in there, Joey!' Téa called out, drawing Marik's attention. 'You're still ahead of this jerk!'

'Your friend's life points may be greater than mine for the moment,' Marik responded, 'but that won't last long.'

'How do you figure?' Joey retorted.

Marik played the card he'd just drawn. 'Go, Machine Duplication! Turn one Eel into three!'

Two more Plasma Eels appeared on the field.

'Aw, man!' Joey exclaimed. 'Now he can lower the attack points of more of my monsters!'

'Now you're beginning to catch on,' Marik said. 'Go, Plasma Eels! Drain his monsters of points, and his body of strength!'

Each of Joey's monsters was coiled around and clamped onto by the Plasma Eels, including the Lava Golem. Joey openly screamed as he felt the ripping sensation of all three monsters being drained of power. His friends called out to him, but, unfortunately, all he heard was Marik.

'You remember the rule, don't you? When your monsters are damaged, you lose energy! And, before long, you'll be too weak to move, let alone duel.' Marik laughed maniacally again.

The pain faded and Joey dropped to his hands and knees and panted for breath. His head was starting to hurt. 'Is that all you got, Marik?' He lifted his head. 'Come on! This is nothing. It's gonna take more than that to keep me down, you frizzy-haired freak!'

'Then I shall place one card face down and let you go.' Marik did just that and the card appeared in front of him. 'If you can stand.'

YGO

Téa looked at the Pharaoh. 'Things aren't looking so good for Joey up there.'

She's right, Yugi agreed. Marik's shadow duel is really wearing Joey down! And if he loses, he goes straight to the Shadow Realm.

Yeah, Sharee threw in, standing back behind Mayet. But it's a good thing this is Joey. He's always had more energy than he knew what to do with. It's gonna take quite a bit to get him to the point of exhaustion Marik wants him at.

Mayet nodded.

YGO

Joey pushed himself to his feet. I gotta put out this flaming monster of mine before I lose anymore life points. But I only have one card in my hand and it can't help me now. If I don't do something soon, Marik's gonna win. And advance to the final round, which means the whole world's in trouble!

Joey looked across at Yugi.

And I promised Yugi I wouldn't let that happen! Joey exchanged a smile with his friend and then turned his attention back to Marik. 'If you think I'm gonna let you win this then you're even dumber than you look. Now feast your crazy eyes on this, Marik!' All right, Heart of the Cards, show me some love. He drew. 'This is it! Come on!'

Joey looked at the card and his eyes widened.

Gilford the Lightning! This guy can kick some serious Marik butt! There's just one little problem. I gotta sacrifice three monsters to summon him. Thanks to his Plasma Eels, my monsters are tied up at the moment. So as long as those Eels stick around, I can't sacrifice. Joey's eyes widened. That gives me an idea! He looked at both of his hands.

Joey looked across at Marik again. 'I'm glad I'm not in your shoes! Cause you're in for some hurt, thanks to my magic card. It's called Graceful Dice, and it's about to change my luck! Cause I can use it to raise the strength of any monster I choose.' It was Joey's turn to smirk. 'Oh, yeah, and I decided to use my card to increase the strength of your Plasma Eel. Once that happens, your Machine Duplication goes buh-bye. And so do your other two Eels!'

Marik growled in irritation.

'Since your magic card only works on monsters with 500 attack points or less, Graceful Dice was just the card I needed.' With that said, Joey played the card and the sprite appeared on the field with its die. 'Come on, big bucks!'

The sprite rolled the die.

Joey watched intently. 'If I get a two or more, you're toast.'

The die landed on a six.

Joey grinned. 'According to my math, six is higher than two. That means your Plasma Eel's points increase now…'

The Plasma Eel's attack strength went from 500 up to 3000.

'…by six times its original strength! Which means your Machine Duplication magic card no longer works on it. Later.'

The card shattered. Marik growled.

'I bet you know what happens next, Marik,' Joey said as the two duplicate Plasma Eels on his monsters were shattered. 'My Rocket Warrior and my Lava Golem are free from your Eels. So now I can sacrifice all three of my monsters to bring out my ultimate fighting machine!'

Joey played the card and there was a bright flash. Rocket Warrior, Panther Warrior, and Lava Golem were sucked away. There was a second bright flash and then lightning started to crash.

'Meet Gilford the Lightning!' Joey declared as the monster was suddenly on the field. An energy stream appeared between Joey and Gilford. 'He's about to crush any hopes you had of winning this duel, Marik. So how does it feel to be staring into the face of defeat?'

'Oh, yeah!' Tristan cheered from the sidelines.

'Way to rock the ultimate comeback, man!' Duke called. 'Now finish this guy off!'

'We knew you could do it!' Téa hollered.

But Marik started laughing.

'I must've missed the joke, chuckles,' Joey said.

'Let me fill you in,' Marik said. 'When you used your magic card on my Plasma Eel, you raised its attack points. So thanks to you, my Plasma Eel is now more powerful than your Gilford the Lightning.' Marik continued laughing. 'It looked like your strategy backfired, giving me the advantage, Little Joey.'

Joey grinned. 'Wrong!'

'Huh?'

'Do you think I'd be dumb enough to let that happen?' It was a rhetorical question. Joey was perfectly aware that Marik seemed to believe everyone else was stupid.

Marik was apparently unaware of what a rhetorical question was. 'Yes!'

YGO

Below, the Pharaoh had a subtle smirk. 'It looks as if Marik thought wrong. Because the special ability of Gilford destroys every one of Marik's monsters.' He raised his voice. 'It's time to take him down, Joey!'

YGO

'It's over!' Joey gave the order. 'Gilford, show this wannabe what your special ability is all about! Wipe out his Eel with your Lightning Sword!'

Gilford pulled his sword from his back and raised it into the air. Lightning immediately struck down and it the blade. Then it crossed the field with devastating force. The Plasma Eel was destroyed and Marik was forced to cover his head against all of the electricity in the air. He spun.

'But how?' he demanded. 'My Plasma Eel's special ability prevents it from being destroyed in battle by any monster!'

'Someone's not paying attention,' Joey sing-songed.

Marik glared at him.

'Let me make this easy,' he fired back at Marik the same rhetoric he'd been dishing out. 'Your Eel's not the only one with a special ability. And my Gilford's special ability destroys every monster you have on the field. I guess you shouldn't have skipped class that day, Marik.'

Marik growled in irritation.

'But don't worry,' Joey said. 'School's back in session starting right now! And Professor Wheeler's in the house.' He called out his next attack. 'Gilford, teach this kid a lesson the hard way! Attack Marik's life points directly.'

Gilford charged.

'Ha!' Marik retorted. 'You'd better think again! Reveal the face down card, Nightmare Mirror!' His only card on the field flipped up.

Joey jerked back with a cry of surprise.

'Disappointed?' Marik asked. 'Upset because my Nightmare Mirror blocks your attack? Well, I'm afraid it's much worse than that.' The card's effect took form on the field and Joey himself was reflected in the Mirror. 'Take a close look at the terrified image in my Mirror. It's you: the new target of your monster's attack! Now, feel the wrath of your own creature, Gilford the Lightning.'

Gilford's sword struck the mirror and Joey jerked back as his life points were hit. They dropped down to 1200.

'And I escape without a scratch.' Marik laughed again. 'You, on the other hand, are 1000 life points weaker, and mere steps away from the Shadow Realm. There's only one small price I have to pay and that's to discard one card to my graveyard.' He did just that. 'Did you honestly think that you could take control of this duel away from me? This is a Shadow Game, you fool!' He chuckled. 'Which means that I make all the rules.'

Joey gave him a hard look. 'I end my turn.' He doesn't have any cards in his hand or on the field. So if I can get through this next turn, I got it made!

'Are you ready? My move.' Marik drew. His eyes widened and a feral grin spread across his face. Joey especially didn't like the insane (or more insane than normal) laughter that escaped him.

'Enough with the laughing already,' Joey said. 'Just play your card and let's move on.'

Marik's laughter stopped dead and he glared at Joey, like a child who was just told to stop being silly. 'You'll regret those words, you fool, for I'm about to eliminate you from this duel once and for all – with Ra!'

YGO

'With Ra?' everyone demanded.

'His Egyptian God Card,' the Pharaoh murmured.

Yugi protested. But there's no way Marik can summon a monster as powerful as the Winged Dragon of Ra. He has nothing to sacrifice!

YGO

Mokuba looked up at his brother. 'Seto, now's your chance to find out the weaknesses of Ra!'

Kaiba smirked. Everything's working out according to my plan. Now that Wheeler served as my guinea pig, I can watch Ra in action and learn how to defeat it. I may have been able to read the Egyptian text on the card, but reading is one thing. Witnessing is another. When I first saw the ancient writing, I knew that the Winged Dragon of Ra was powerful. But seeing Marik summon it was much more useful to me. I need to see Marik's Egyptian God Card one more time, so when I face him in the next round…I'll be prepared to crush it.

YGO

Marik took the card he'd just drawn and played it. 'I activate the magic card, Monster Reborn…' The card appeared on the field in front of him. Then its effect began to glow brightly. '…to bring back Ra!'

Obviously, then, Ra had been the card he'd discarded before.

Marik chuckled. 'Show yourself, my Great Beast of the Sky!' The effects of Monster Reborn flew into the air.

A great gust of wind blew over them.

'Oh, man!' Joey groaned.

The first thing he saw, when he looked up, was the massive golden wings. They parted to reveal the colossal golden Egyptian God Monster that had forced Mai's duel to an end, with her on the losing side. And that beast let out a massive roar that had Joey shaking right down to his bones.

'This is the last monster you'll ever see, Little Joey!' Marik declared.

Joey was mainly confused though. He distinctly remembered Ra took on the attack points of the monsters sacrificed to summon it. No monsters had been sacrificed to summon it, so it'd have no attack points. And that was the bit that really had Joey scratching his head in befuddlement.

How did Marik expect to win here?

'First I'll activate Ra's ability of Instant Attack so it can attack now,' Marik said. 'But that's just the beginning of your troubles.'

Ra let loose a stream of fire. But that fire wrapped around itself.

'Someone wanna fill me in here?' Joey asked.

The Pharaoh answered. 'It looks like Ra is transforming.'

Ra transformed into a massive firebird.

'Behold the true form of Ra!' Marik declared.

'What?' Joey demanded. 'Tell me what's going on here, cause where I'm from giant flaming birds are not a good thing! So give it to me straight!'

'My Winged Dragon has taken on the form of Egyptian God Phoenix,' Marik said. 'In this mode, Ra is unstoppable.'

YGO

'It's awesome,' Mokuba murmured.

Kaiba hummed in agreement. 'Yes, and soon it will belong to me.'

YGO

'Now my beast is ready!' Marik declared. 'Ready to feed you to the Shadows!'

Marik laughed maniacally.

YGO

Serenity was frustrated.

She sat at Mai's bedside, and looked up at the duel tower with its ominous dark cloud. I can't stand not knowing what's going on out there. Sure, Joey's a great duellist. But Marik can't be trusted. Just look at what he did to Mai. Serenity looked back down at the older woman in the bed.

The door opened behind her. Serenity didn't notice until she heard a throat clear behind her.

'Huh?' Serenity turned and was surprised to see Miss Ishtar there. 'Oh, hi, Ishizu.'

'Serenity, shouldn't you be out there with the others?' Ishizu asked in concern. She looked out the window. 'I am certain your friends could use your support.'

'They'll be fine.' Serenity wasn't sure if she was trying to convince Ishizu or herself. 'Besides, someone needs to stay here and keep an eye on Mai. Ever since she lost her duel to Marik…well, you know.'

Ishizu walked over to Serenity's side.

'She hasn't said a word for days,' Serenity said. 'Poor Mai. My brother's trying to save her mind. He promised not to let anything happen to her. So he's duelling against Marik right now in a Shadow Game.'

Ishizu took a sharp intake of breath.

'He thinks winning will bring her back,' Serenity said.

'So now both of our brothers are facing one another in a battle with the ultimate stakes,' Ishizu concluded.

Oh, that was right. Marik was her brother. Serenity couldn't imagine how Ishizu must be feeling right now. How would it feel for your brother to turn evil? To turn so evil you knew he had to be stopped? How would it feel to want to stop him, but at the same time not wish to lose him?

'I guess that's true,' Serenity said. 'And all I can do is stay strong for Joey and wish for the best. I'll never give up hope.'

'I know just how you feel,' Ishizu said.

'Huh?' Serenity looked up at her.

'I know there's still good within Marik,' Ishizu said, 'and he will be saved from the evil inside him. Then all of the wrongs he's committed will be fixed, and everyone he's sent to the Shadow Realm will return – including your poor friend, Mai.' She looked at Serenity and gave her a smile. 'Now, then, why don't you go and support your brother?'

'But what about Mai?' Serenity asked.

'I'll keep an eye on her for you,' Ishizu promised. 'Why should we both stay?'

'Well…' Serenity was torn. She looked down at Mai again. She wanted to go up and support Joey. At the same time, she had promised to stay with Mai just in case she woke up or anything happened. 'I promised I would. That's all.'

'Well, I promise you she'll be fine, Serenity,' Ishizu said.

'Hm?' Serenity looked back at her.

'So, go,' Ishizu said. 'Be there for Joey.'

Serenity nodded and stood up. She bowed respectfully. 'Thank you so much Ishizu.'

'Of course. Stay strong, Serenity.'

'I will! Thanks!' Serenity rushed from the room.

YGO

I understand their bond well.

Ishizu watched Serenity leave, and then she let her smile fall.

But it has been so long since I felt that bond with my own brother. And without the power of my Millennium Necklace, I am unsure what the future holds for us.

Ishizu walked over and took Serenity's place at Mai's bedside.

I can only hope that destiny has chosen my brother to be delivered from the darkness that now controls him. She closed her eyes. 'Otherwise, the whole world is in a great deal of danger.'

YGO

The Pharaoh stood on the sidelines, staring up at Ra's Phoenix form.

I don't get it, Yugi said. First Malik summons the Winged Dragon of Ra without making a sacrifice, so it has 0 attack points. Then he transforms it into a totally different looking monster.

'Pharaoh!' Malik suddenly called, drawing his attention. 'Kaiba! Take heed. For once of you will have to face your greatest nightmare, and face my Winged Dragon of Ra in the next round – once little Joey has been disposed of, that is.'

'Hold on,' Joey said. 'Last I checked this duel was still on, Psycho-Boy. I still got my Gilford the Lightning at my back, and he's got 2800 attack points with your name on them. Meanwhile, your oversized, flame-broiled chicken doesn't have any!'

Marik chuckled. 'You still don't get it, Little Joey. Like I said: Ra has powers beyond your understanding. And unfortunately for you, I'm about to activate yet another of my creature's special abilities.'

'Say what?' Joey demanded. 'Not another one!'

'Yes!' Marik crowed. 'In its Phoenix mode, Ra can instantly disintegrate your monster even though it has zero attack points.'

'Uh oh…' Mayet muttered.

'All I'm required to do is give up 1000 of my life points,' Marik went on. 'Then Ra will be free to banish you into the darkness!'

Joey's eyes widened but he quickly composed himself. 'So what if your monster can use some secret ability to wipe out my Gilford? Your monster still doesn't have any attack points, which means that I'm not gonna lose any life points.'

'Don't you know?' Marik retorted. 'Losing life points should be the least of your worries now. Look down. Thanks to that energy stream, when Ra attacks you will be drained of all your strength.' He chuckled. 'In a few short moments, every ounce of energy in your body will be gone for good! You'll be rendered completely useless at the hands of the Winged Dragon of Ra! The time has come.'

Marik raised a hand to the sky.

'I'm moments away from claiming my victory!' he declared. 'The Phoenix rises tonight!'