Literature
Kingdom Hearts: Heart of the Cards - CH13
Chapter 13: Evil Spirit of the Ring
In the darkness of the Shadow Realm, Yugi, Sora and Bakura faced down each other, the bodies of Tea, Joey, and Tristan lying to the side.
"Bakura, what have you done?" Yugi asked. "Why have you taken us to the Shadow Realm?"
"Bakura? The friend you know is no longer present." “Bakura” replied.
"If you're not Bakura, then who are you?" Yugi asked, this time more demanding.
"I am a thief and a stealer of souls. And I have done terrible things in my quest to possess the Millennium Items. You do remember the legends, don't you? Who-so-ever wields all seven Millennium Items will possess power unimaginable. And before I'm done with you, your Millennium Puzzle will be mine.”
"That's not going to happen," Yugi said, gripping the Millennium Puzzle possessively.
"Then let the Shadow Game begin," Bakura stated rather calmly, before each side then sat across from each other with a stump between them as their field. “The first move is yours.” Bakura said, as he and Yugi drew their opening hands.
Yugi: LP: 2000
Bakura: LP: 2000
"My first card shall be the Cyber Commander," The spirit of the puzzle stated as he played his first card, "Tristan's favorite card."
He and Sora both gasped in shock as a light shone on the card before a miniature version of the Cyber Commander appeared, but it wasn't the dark skinned, black-haired man that appeared. It was Tristan, dressed in the Cyber Commander's sash of bullets, four-rocket launcher on one shoulder, metal pack on his back and metal mouth guard, his only form of proper clothes were a pair of dark blue camouflage military pants and a pair of dark brown combat boots and he was holding a bazooka gun.
Cyber Commander (Tristan)
Attribute: DARK
Monster Type: Machine
Level: 2
ATK: 750
DEF: 700
"That's not the Cyber Commander!" Sora gasped in shock and horror, "It's..."
"Whoa, what a weird dream," Tristan said looking at the shotgun he had in his hand. "Where am I? What's going...?"
"Tristan?!" Yugi exclaimed in shock, as Tristan turned around and saw Yugi and Sora giant-sized. He responded naturally... by screaming. "Bakura must've used his Millennium Ring to trap Tristan's soul in his favorite card," Yugi deduced.
"Who's your little friend, Yugi? He looks pretty tough, but can he stand up to... the White Magical Hat!" Bakura chuckled, as he summoned a human-looking monster in a top head and blue suit with a white cape.
White Magical Hat
Attribute: LIGHT
Monster Type: Spellcaster
Level: 3
ATK: 1000
DEF: 700
With a bone-chilling smile, Bakura ordered, "Attack." His monster ran at Tristan, who was still too confused to properly react.
"Oh, man! I must still be dreaming!" Tristan said with worry as the White Magical Hat charged. "Yeah, that's it. This is all just a really bad..." but before Tristan could complete his sentence, the White Magical Hat landed his attack, causing Tristan to disappear.
“No, Tristan!” Yugi and Sora cried out, causing Bakura to chuckle.
"Looks like that card's been defeated. And your poor friend's soul was trapped in it."
"Where is he?!" Yugi asked acidly. "What have you done with Tristan?!"
"Your friend is gone, on his way to the discard pile, or the Graveyard as we call it in Duel Monsters." Bakura simply replied.
“It can't be. Tristan can't be…gone." Yugi said in shock and sadness, thinking his friend's soul was lost forever, and with it, his life.
—-------------
Tristan was wandering through a cemetery. The tomb stones were all rotted away. The wind moaned around him.
"This place is freaking me out," Tristan said to himself. "But how did I get here? One moment I was being attacked and the next thing I know, I'm wandering around this place. And it doesn't look like there's any way out."
Tristan noticed that one of the tombstones looked new. “What’s this?” He walked up and brushed the dust off the name of the tombstone.
TRISTAN
TAYLOR
“No! If I'm reading that tombstone right, I'm dead! BUT THIS CAN’T BE!” Tristan exclaimed in disbelief.
—-------------
Back at the Shadow Game, Yugi was still unhappy about what happened to Tristan while Bakura chuckled. "When you duel in the Shadow Realm, the stakes are always higher, Yugi! You made a sloppy move and now your friend, he paid for it with his very soul! Now, which of your friends will you sacrifice next?" he said as Yugi looked at his hand.
'I'd avoid using the cards that have my friends' souls trapped in them if I could, but to save my friends, I have to win, and I only have one card that can beat his White Magical Hat.' Yugi thought to himself as he made his next move. "The Flame Swordsman, Joey's favorite card."
Like before, as the monster appeared, it wasn't the same monster from before. It was Joey, dressed in the Flame Swordsman's blue and orange garb, brown pants and boots, blonde hair poking out from under his thick orange helmet, sword in hand.
Flame Swordsman (Joey)
Attribute: FIRE
Monster Type: Warrior
Level: 5
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600
"Hey, what gives?" Joey asked. "Hey, Yugi-AAAAAHHHHHH!” He screamed when turned around seeing two of his friends at giant size. "What the?! You're both giants! Ah, man, I finally cracked."
"Joey, listen to us," Sora said. "Your soul has been sealed in your favorite card. You've become the Flame Swordsman."
“I’m the who?!” Joey shouted.
"He's right. And if I don't win this duel, we can't restore you to normal, and if you're defeated in this battle, you'll be carried off to the card graveyard just like Tristan was." Yugi added.
Joey gulped at the thought and whimpered, "Graveyard?"
"In order for me to win this duel, restore all of you back to your bodies and get us out of the Shadow Realm, I'm going to need your help." Yugi answered.
“You want my help? You got my help." Joey said with enthusiasm.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Sora asked.
"Okay? I figured I lost my mind, but I'm gonna go with it. Now, who wants a beating?" Joey responded before he turned around and realized just who he was fighting. "Giant Bakura?! Now I know I'm nuts! I'm, like, six inches tall, practically wearing a dress, about to fight my giant friend?!" he shouted.
"That is not Bakura," Yugi stated with venom in his voice, "An evil spirit within the Millennium Ring has overtaken him."
"Well, I have no idea what you're talking about, so here goes nothing." Joey sighed, before he hefted his sword up and charged White Magical Hat with a battle cry, cleaving the spellcaster in two, "Say goodbye to the Cat in the Hat!"
Bakura: LP: 2000 - 800 = 1200
"Nice work Joey," Sora smiled encouragingly as he stuck out his thumb and lowered it for Joey to high-five it, which he did.
"Yeah, I did it!" The blonde grinned widely at his win. “Now what?”
“Now it’s his turn.” Yugi said, looking at their opponent.
"Your little swordsman got lucky Yugi," Bakura said calmly, before playing a card face-down in defense mode, "But not this time."
“Huh? Why’d he play that face-down?” Sora asked, confused by the spirit’s move.
"Cause he's scared of what Joey the Swordsman will do to it!" Joey exclaimed.
"Hang on, Joey, it might be a trap." Yugi said.
“Only one way to find out.” Joey said, as charged it without a second thought, "I'm going for it!"
“Joey, wait!” Yugi and Sora shouted, but it was too late, the monster revealed itself to be a grinning black blob inside of a dark bluish jar.
Morphing Jar
Attribute: EARTH
Monster Type: Rock
Level: 2
ATK: 700
DEF: 600
It lunged at the blonde, who sliced it in two cleanly with a grin.
"What a dolt," Bakura chuckled in amusement.
"It was a Morphing Jar!" Yugi said grimly, which prompted Joey to turn to him with a worried look on his face.
“Huh? A Morphing Jar?” Joey asked, both confused and concerned. “Did I mess up?”
"When a Morphing Jar is flipped over, all cards in both players' hands go directly to the Graveyard.” Yugi replied but let out a small relieved sigh, “We're just lucky I didn't have Tea's soul card in my hand."
Joey cringed at the close call and bowed his head in apology, "Sorry Yug'."
Yugi placed his cards in the discard pile and started to draw a new hand. He was stunned as he got the Dark Magician. ‘The Dark Magician! He's MY favorite card! But is it also my soul card? What happens when I play it?’ He thought to himself.
"With a new hand comes a new perspective," Bakura commented, laying a card face-down in the monster card zone. "The game, ever shifting." He placed a card on the magic and trap card zone. "New dangers surround every turn."
‘He's trying to freak me out. I can't figure out what he's up to. I'm just going to have to risk playing.’ Yugi thought to himself as he readied his next card. "I summon, the Dark Magician!"
Much to Sora’s surprise, the figure revealed itself to be the real Yugi dressed in the Dark Magician's dark purple robes and lighter armor, holding the spellcaster's green staff, everything, like Stephanie, had been modified to fit his much shorter stature. Yugi groaned as he came to and looked around confused, before gasping at seeing Joey.
Dark Magician (Yugi)
Attribute: DARK
Monster Type: Spellcaster
Level: 7
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2100
"And I'll play a Spell Card that lets me revive monsters from the Graveyard: Monster Reborn!" the bigger Yugi added as he played said card and brought Tristan back to the field.
Cyber Commander (Tristan)
Attribute: DARK
Monster Type: Machine
Level: 2
ATK: 750
DEF: 700
"Huh, what's going on? Joey? Yugi? You guys dreaming this too?" Tristan asked.
"This is no dream, Tristan," Joey said. "This is me going insane."
"What's going on?" Yugi asked. "Just a second ago, I was dueling, now I'm down here."
"Well if you're down here, who's that up there?" The three monsters turned to look at the bigger Yugi.
"I don't know," Small Yugi said.
"Don't you?" Big Yugi asked.
"Well... I have noticed sometimes when I duel it feels like someone is guiding me." Small Yugi said, causing the bigger version to nod. "And sometimes I can hear a strong voice call out to me through my Millennium Puzzle, an ancient, powerful voice."
"Really?" Sora asked, amazed at what he was hearing.
"I'm not sure what it's all about, guys, but I'm pretty sure we can trust him, whoever he is." Yugi responded
"If the big guy's okay in your book, then he's okay by me," Joey said with a smile.
"Yeah," Tristan agreed.
"So what do we do now?" Joey asked
"Maybe we should try to find Tea." Tristan suggested.
"Her card must still be in the deck." Small Yugi theorized.
"Then we should try to win this thing before her card gets played. Okay, I'm gonna bash me some Bakura." Joey got ready to strike.
"Wait a minute, Joey, Yugi was just played, so he has to attack," Sora said.
“Right, here goes. Dark Magic Attack!” Small Yugi exclaimed, as used his magic on Bakura's monster, which revealed itself to be yet another Morphing Jar, making the others gasp.
Morphing Jar
Attribute: EARTH
Monster Type: Rock
Level: 2
ATK: 700
DEF: 600
“No! Another Morphing Jar!” Small Yugi exclaimed, as the monster was destroyed.
"We'll have to send all the cards in our hands to the graveyard again." Yami Bakura said with a chuckle, as he and Big Yugi did so.
"I'm sorry." Small Yugi said to his larger self and his friends.
"It's okay man," Joey comforted, "I made the same mistake."
"No! The Magician of Faith!" Big Yugi said in shock as he drew his fifth card, knowing just who saw that card as their favorite.
"Isn't that Tea's favorite card? Do you suppose her mortal soul is trapped within it? I wonder. Maybe you should play it and find out. But then again, you don't know what I'm laying here, so you might be putting her in danger." Bakura pondered as he played another defense monster. "A dilemma. And while you decide, I'll just activate this trap card, Just Desserts!" he added.
"No!" Big Yugi shouted as the trap activated.
"I think it will help you come to grips with your situation." Bakura said as a ghostly hand came out of the trap card and squeezed Big Yugi's heart.
“What do you do to him?!” Sora glared.
"Just Desserts takes 500 life points from you for each of your monsters on the field. And he’ll feel like each and every point has been ripped from his heart!" Bakura explained.
Yugi: LP: 2000 - (500 x 3) = 500
"Big Yugi, are you all right?" Tristan asked, concerned.
"Yes," Big Yugi said, gasping with pain. "But one more attack like that and I'm done for!"
"Man, that trap card drained 1500 of Yugi's life points!" Joey said in shock.
"I think you should say, OUR life points." Tristan pointed out, seeing as his and his friends' souls were on the line.
'Another play like that, and it could be over for all of us. Tea's soul card isn't safe while in my hand. I'll have to play it.' Big Yugi thought, as he laid the Magician of Faith face-down in Defense Mode. No sooner did he set the card down did Tea pop up from under it wearing her monster's more traditional deep purple robe over a baggy wine-red yutaka, complete with the head-ring, gold-rope belt and bronze staff with its crescent moon topper.
Magician of Faith (Tea)
Attribute: LIGHT
Monster Type: Spellcaster
Level: 1
ATK: 300
DEF: 400
Not realizing what was going on, Tea simply smiled, "Hey guys, what's up?"
“Oh, boy.” Joey said as everyone sweatdropped and gulped, before the three Yugi quickly stood in front of her, trying to block her from view.
"Uh...guys...?" Tea asked, confused.
"Be quiet!" Joey urged.
“Isn't it a little early for Halloween?" Tea then looked down at herself and saw what she was dressed in. "What the... what's this?"
"Shush. Bakura and Yugi are big dueling giants and are fighting for our souls." Joey explained.
"But Yugi's right here." Tea pointed out.
"Yeah, well, the big guy's not really me, but he does look like me, but taller, and he sounds older and more confident." Yugi explained, though it made Tea even more confused. "I know it's complicated, but it has something to do with the Millennium Items Bakura and I have. It's some kind of magic." he continued.
"Magic? So I'm not crazy." Tea pondered.
"Nope, unless we're all either sharing the same dream or going crazy." Small Yugi responded.
"Just think of it this way, Tea. There's two Yugis; the confident and tall one up there, and the shorter, puny one we know and love down here." Joey tried to explain, though he inadvertently hurt Yugi's pride.
"I'm confident even though I'm short!" Small Yugi shouted, clearly offended.
“Whoa, Yugi, relax. It was just a joke.” Joey said.
"You forget, I have the powers of the Dark Magician." Small Yugi pointed out as he stepped forward. "I'll show you who's puny around here."
"Ho boy," Joey cringed, as the face-down monster revealed itself to be a purple lizard with red lips and round red tips on its antenna and sharp teeth.
Electric Lizard
Attribute: EARTH
Monster Type: Thunder
Level: 3
ATK: 850
DEF: 800
"Yugi, wait!" Big Yugi called out to his smaller self.
"Dark Magic Attack!" Small Yugi shouted as the monster was destroyed.
When it was destroyed, everyone released a sigh of relief when nothing seemed to happen, until Yugi let out a cry of pain as electrical arches ran across his body.
“No!” Tea gasped, as Small Yugi fell to his knees.
"What was that?" Tristan asked.
"It must've had a special effect, it's making me go numb!" Yugi answered.
"Hang in there, pal." Joey said, hopeful that his friend would come out of it.
"Yugi!" Sora shouted as Bakura chuckled.
"You can't attack the Electric Lizard without some rather shocking feedback. A lesson your little Yugi won't soon forget." the evil spirit said.
"Alright, Soul Stealer, I play my next card face-down. And it's your move." Big Yugi said, playing a card face-down.
Bakura looked down to the Duel Monsters, and saw Tea had appeared on the field, though Tristan and Joey tried to hide her. "Don't bother, you fools, I can see her perfectly well. Now I have all four of you right where I want you. Helpless on the field, easy prey for my Man-Eater Bug." Bakura said as he set said monster.
"Man-Eater Bug?" Tea asked, a little relieved as she tried to crack a joke, "Good thing I’m a  girl."
“Yugi, Spike, either of you know what that card does?" Joey asked.
"The Man-Eater Bug can automatically destroy one creature on the field as soon as it's flipped up." Yugi added through his clenched teeth, to the horror of the other three on the field.
"Well, that's certainly not good." Tea pointed out.
"Guys, I really don't want to go back to that Graveyard." Tristan said, remembering the time he spent there.
"Don't you worry, Tristan. None of us are going there, we'll destroy that bug before he plays it." Joey said, willing to squash the creature.
"That won't work.” Yugi interrupted Joey. “The moment one of us makes an attack, that card will activate." Yugi retorted.
"Graveyard here we come." Tristan whispered in fear, thinking it was all over and they were all on a one way trip to the Graveyard.
"What are you saying, Yuge? That one of us is gonna end up bug food?!" Joey asked.
"I'm saying that there's only one way out of this, and we're standing right in front of it." Yugi answered.
"Right! The trap card big Yugi put down!" Tristan said, realizing that there was a chance.
"Yes, but I'm afraid to use it. It requires that I sacrifice a creature." Big Yugi revealed.
"You mean, one of us?!" Tea asked as the Man-Eater Bug peeked out from under the card, hungrily eyeing Yugi and his friends.
"Don't worry, Tea. I'll go." Tristan said bravely.
"No way, Tristan!" Tea responded.
"Think about it, that Man-Eater Bug is gonna take one of us out no matter what we do. And at least this way, we can take it down, too. And I'll volunteer to..." Tristan retorted before everyone heard a soft cooing.
Confused, Big Yugi looked at his hand, before gasping in shock. ‘Winged Kuriboh!’ He thought, as he saw the cute monster wink at him, motioning towards Big Yugi’s last Monster Zone, which was currently empty. ‘Of course! I can still play one more monster. And since Winged Kuriboh doesn’t have Sora’s soul in it, I can use it without sacrificing my friends!’ Knowing what he had to do, he nodded at the card and exclaimed, “I summon Winged Kuriboh!” And just like that, the winged, brown puff ball appeared onto the field.
Winged Kuriboh
Attribute: LIGHT
Monster Type: Fairy
Level: 1
ATK: 300
DEF: 200
“No!” Bakura yelled, as Winged Kuriboh then charged towards the face-down monster, which revealed itself to be a rather ugly brown bug with horns on its head, matching blades for hands and was strangely eyeless.
Man-Eater Bug
Attribute: EARTH
Monster Type: Insect
Level: 2
ATK: 450
DEF: 600
"Now I activate a trap card, sacrificing my Winged Kuriboh to do so! Behold, the Horn of Heaven!" Big Yugi said at last. "Its celestial tune will blast your Man-Eater Bug and obliterate it from the field, once and for all!" he added, as a winged bulge horn appeared.
The horn flew towards Winged Kuriboh, who saw it coming and dodged the Man-Eater Bug so it could catch it. With a spin, it began to play the celestial horn as it created a heavenly call, which caused both Winged Kuriboh and Man-Eater Bug to glow, much to the others' surprise.
"They're disappearing..." Tristan said with wide eyes, just before both monsters went to their respective Graveyard’s.
“Alright!” Joey cheered, as Small Yugi, Tristan and Tea smiled, grateful for the furball.
Bakura coughed awkwardly getting their attention back on their situation and it was clear he didn't approve of Big Yugi’s plan, which showed both on his face and in his voice as he said, "You waste your time and your turns rescuing these foolish mortals."
“Our friends are never a waste of time, spirit!” Sora shot back. “Our friend’s are what gives us strength!”
"Oh; what do you care about them?" Bakura sneered, "They're not your real friends."
"Yes they are!" Sora proclaimed in defiance.
"You mean you don't want to return to your world?" Bakura asked.
Sora wanted to respond defiantly. However, he could only manage a feeble, "I-I do..."
“Hang on a second, just what are you talking about?" Tristan demanded.
“Oh, so you never told them?” Bakura smirked, an idea forming in his head.
“Told us what?” Tea leered at the evil spirit.
"You're supposed friend has been lying to you all from the start," Bakura pointed at Sora, "This boy you call your friend actually came from another world." Sora reeled back in fear as Bakura ran his mouth.
"From…another world…?" The Big Yugi repeated, staring at the Keyblade Wielder, who reeled back in fear.
“That’s…not possible…” Tristan said in disbelief.
“Of course it is.” Bakura spoke up. “Did you really think someone with powers like his could exist in our world?” Through the pain in their stomach, the group considered what the spirit was saying. They always knew in the back of their minds that something was unnatural about Sora. But an alien?
"Sora," Tea regarded the anxious boy, "Is this true?"
Sora stumbled on his words, unsure how he should respond. Taking a look at his friend's stunned and unsure faces, what could he say to make this better?
"So the truth comes to light," Bakura gloated, "The mysterious Sora is nothing more than a lying cheat who was going to abandon you all."
"What?! No!" Sora defied immediately. He made to quickly explain what was actually going on, but a cursory glance towards his friends showed a different story. They all looked at him like a dangerous monster they should be afraid of. This subtle treatment shook Sora to his very core.
"I'll tell you what, Sora," Bakura placed the cards in his hand on the stump face down, "If I were you, I would just leave: You don't belong here, so I'll give you what you desire most."
The spirit snapped his finger. A blinding flash punctured the darkness of the realm, prompting Sora to cover his eyes. When Sora looked back, he was met with a shattering sight. There was a portal, showing a completely different world on the other side. The pristine sand, the clear skies, the gorgeous water, the hanging tree, it was all there.
"Is that..?"
"Indeed. That's your real home." Bakura spoke in a genuine manner that betrayed his disposition, "Isn’t this just generous of me? You can return home now. If I were you, Sora, I'd take this offer," Sora's head towards his friends who all wore expressions of uncertainty, "They'll never trust you again now that they know the truth. Go on, go home. There's nothing for you here in this world: anyway."
Sora, who was still cautious, stood up, as he walked towards the portal.
“Sora?!” Tea exclaimed in shock.
"What is the meaning of this, Spirit?!" Big Yugi demanded.
"Isn’t it obvious? You're about to see just how much your precious 'friendship' is actually worth. The boy's going to up and abandon all of you."
"Abandon?!" Small Yugi repeated, as they stared at Sora.
"Right over there is a portal to what Sora wants most. Take a good long look at what happens next. The Key Bearer's about to reacquaint himself wîth his own world, just like he really wants. A stupid notion like friendship means nothing compared to selfish desires."
Everyone looked ahead. Surely that wasn't true. Surely Sora wouldn't just up and leave, right? Then again, did he really know him at all?
Sora simply stared at the gateway in wonder. He finally had a way back home. But was it really so? The Spirit of the Millenium Ring wasn't trustworthy in the slightest, but what if his offer was real? Sora cautiously reached out towards the image of his world, his home. The gentle breeze, the comforting sunshine, the serene waves; all of it was there. All he had to do was step forward. It was so easy.
Yeah, it would be easy. But it wouldn't be right.
In a rapid motion, Sora pulled his arm back and clenched his fist. His whole form trembling, Sora brandished his Keyblade and held it high above him. He released a yell that rang in everyone's ears as he struck downward. A terrible wind billowed across, forcing everyone to shield themselves. The portal was no more. Everyone could hardly comprehend what had just happened, especially Bakura.
"WHAT?!" The spirit exclaimed in disbelief, and looked at Sora in angry disapproval, "Don't you realize what you just did?! That was your ticket out! I thought you wanted to go back to your world!"
"You're right," Sora said through heavy breaths, "I want to go back home more than anything," He turned around and looked Bakura straight in the eyes, tears streaming from his determined face, "But if I just left you here, this world would never be safe! I'm going home no matter what, but not with you loose!"
"You're even stupider than I thought," Bakura shot back. "You think these mortals will just accept you back?! They know what you really are! They're going to abandon you."
“Now hold on just a minute there, pal!” Everyone turned back to the dueling mat, looking at the source of the voice.
“Joey?” Sora asked.
"I don't know what you're playing at, but no way am I gonna abandon Sora just like that.” Joey said, pointing his sword at Bakura.
"What are you blabbering on about?!" The Spirit of the Ring yelled, "He's a liar! He lied to all of you about who he really is!"
"Sora ain't no liar," Joey responded, "Let me tell who I really hate: people who go around spreading lies and misdeeds for their own selfish gain. Exactly like you.”
“And why do you think Sora isn’t?” The Spirit asked.
“Because he saved my life.” Joey said, recalling what happened on the boat, as he turned to Sora, smiling. “If that ain’t true friendship, I don’t know what is.”
“Joey’s right. Who cares if he's from some other world or whatever?" Tristan spoke up, taking Joey’s side, "I'm not gonna leave my friend behind over something like that!"
"You're all just a bunch of easily-trusting idiots! Your friendship has no way of lasting!" The Spirit angrily retorted.
"You only say that because you don't have any real friends!" Tea shot back with conviction.
“Friendship is worth it, no matter what kind of struggles present themselves. Even if I'm not entirely sure what's happening right now, I know one thing with absolute certainty: Sora is my friend!" Small Yugi said.
“Guys…” Sora smiled sadly, still feeling a little overwhelmed. He never expected the truth to come out this way. For a moment, he was really worried that they were going to abandon him. How silly. He should have more faith in his friends. He really was lucky to have ended up in this world with friends like these.
"You failed, Spirit," Big Yugi declared, as Sora took his side once more. "All of your attempts to drive us apart have only made our friendship with Sora stronger. So unless you have anything else to try, make your move."
“Oh, I'll move. And you will lose. This next play will win me the match and your Millennium Puzzle.” Bakura stated his smirk turning even crueler as he summoned a new monster. “First I will play the Lady of Faith in Attack Mode.”
This new monster was also a spellcaster, like Yugi and Tea, but wore the long bluish-white robes of a priestess or nun with a green shawl and a pink and purple-striped turban-like hat on her head with a hollowed-star design in the center and a green jewel sewn in the middle of the star. She had long deep blue hair, fair skin and soft brown eyes, and she had her hands held in prayer.
Lady of Faith
Attribute: LIGHT
Monster Type: Spellcast
Level: 3
ATK: 1100
DEF: 800
"And next I'll play the card that will turn one of your friends against the others, Change of Heart." he continued as he held up Bakura's favorite card.
"Change of Heart? Isn't that Bakura's favorite card?" Small Yugi asked.
"And a very magical card it is. With this card, I can turn you against your comrades. One of the very friends you seek to protect, you will soon destroy."
The others all gasped in shock, as Tea cried, "Oh no!"
"No! I refuse!" Small Yugi retorted.
"You won't have a choice in the matter, the Change of Heart card allows the user to control any opposing monster, and I choose you, little Yugi!" Bakura rebelled with a laugh.
"Leave the young one out of this!" Big Yugi demanded.
"Why should I? By simply destroying one of your cards on the field, I defeat you as well. Your purpose for being here is to guide and protect him?! Then protect him against this!" He then played the magic card, creating a bright light, which had shield their eyes with their arms. When the light died down, Small Yugi was the first to recover as he turned to see the real Bakura, now the half-angel, half-demon creature of the Change of Heart spell card.
"It’s the real Bakura!" Sora gasped before realizing, “So you were sealed in your favorite card as well."
"I want to help, but we must act quickly!" The Real Bakura said, before he ran at the Lady of Faith, who gasped in surprise, and took her over, instead of Yugi. "I've taken over his card instead of yours!" he added, to Small Yugi's confusion and the Evil Spirit’s shock. "I'll control the Lady of Faith while you attack me. That way, you can defeat the evil spirit of my Millennium Ring!" he explained.
"But he can't! He'd be destroying you, sending you off to the Graveyard!" Sora shouted.
"I don't care, it's better than being enslaved by an evil spirit! Do it!" Bakura retorted.
“BE QUIET!” The Evil Spirit yelled at him, enraged.
“I have a better idea!” Big Yugi exclaimed, his puzzle glowing and the Eye of Horus appearing on his forehead. "If the evil power of Bakura's Millennium Ring can pulls souls from people, perhaps the power of my Millennium Puzzle can put them back!"
Sure enough, The Spirit and the real Bakura swapped places, leaving the Spirit of the Ring trapped in the Lady of Faith's body, much to his horrified-shock as he screamed, "THIS CAN'T BE!"
"Listen closely, Yugi, use the power of the Dark Magician and send him to the Graveyard, now!" Big Yugi advised.
"You got it! Dark Magic attack!" Yugi responded as he destroyed Yami Bakura, sending him to the Graveyard once and for all and ending the Shadow Game.
Bakura: LP: 1200 - 1400 = 0
—-------------
When The Spirit of the Rings opened his eyes, it was only after a painful reconstruction in the Graveyard, much to his irritation. "Sora, Yugi, know that this is not the last you will see of me! The Millennium Puzzle will be mine!" The Spirit said angrily, but his anger turned to horror when he turned around and saw the Reaper of the Cards right behind him, ready to fill his quota of souls.
—-------------
Back in the real world, everyone’s soul’s had returned to their bodies, as Yugi checked on Bakura.
"Are you all right, Bakura?" Yugi asked.
"I am now, thanks to you," Bakura replied.
"Where did you get your Millennium Ring?"
"My father picked it up on one of his trips. He told me its from the ancient days of Egypt, I think that's where the time period they're all from. He was shopping in a merchant bazaar when the Millennium Ring caught his eye. The man who sold the ring to my father said it had something to do with Duel Monsters, but that never made any sense to me since the card game was, then, new and the ring was clearly ancient. When my father got back, he gave it to me. He said he felt I was destined to have it." Bakura answered as he told the tale.
Soon, Tea, Tristan and Joey woke up, thinking they were all just dreaming. "I just dreamt that Bakura went totally mental." Tristan said.
"Same here. Last time I'm sleeping with Duel Monsters cards under my pillow." Joey added as Bakura approached.
"Sleep well, guys?" Bakura asked, though his sudden appearance spooked the two boys, who grabbed each other in fright, before realizing what happened and threw each other off, causing everyone present around to laugh.
"I dreamt that we were dressed as Duel Monsters, there were two Yugi’s and Bakura’s." Tea said, causing both Yugi and Bakura to try to rub it off and fail to explain it. “And the evil Bakura said that Sora actually came from another world.”
Gasping softly, Yugi looked over at Sora, who was faced away from the group. “Sora?” He asked, concerned.
Not getting a reply, everyone looked at him, concerned. "That wasn't a dream?" Tristan asked as he, Joey, and Tea paled, "That was all real?" Yugi and Bakura both nodded, just as Sora turned around, his face still stained with tears.
“It’s time I tell you guys everything.”
—-------------
Author’s Note:
Next chapter is probably not gonna be out for a while, because I want to focus on Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir for a while. I am also taking Deck suggestions for Marinette and Adrien, one for their Civilian selves and one for their Hero selves. Feel free to give Ideas.
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