Episode 3: A Shadow Game (Part 2)

 

Back at the Game Shop. Tristan, Tea, Joey, Yugi and Solomon are crowded around the large box on the table.

Solomon rises his eyebrows "Hah! With all the excitement of the championship, you forgot to open your package, Yugi."

Yugi thinks a little "What could it be?" He opens the box contains a strange device with a bottom, a red glove and two gold stars.

Everyone rises their eyebrows and look at each and then back at the box.

Tea leans closer to the box "Some kind of glove..."

Joey rises his eyebrows and he slowly puts his hand on the box "And stars too! Look, they are so shinny!"

Tea slaps his hand "Joey! Don't touch it!"

Joey hisses a little, rubbing his hand "Aw! Jeez.... Anyways... What are we suppose to do with this, Yugi?"

Yugi rises his shoulders "Well, I really don't know.... But it comes from Industrial Illusions so it must be Duel Monsters related."

Solomon cracks his fingers "Alright, you all step back."

Yugi eyes wide open "Grandpa! Wait a minute.... I don't think we should press this button!"

Solomon sighs crossing his arms "Well then, what should we do now?"

Tea, Tristan and Joey look at each other, thinking a little.

Tristan scratches his head "Maybe we should press the button?"

Joey eyes wide open "What if it is a bomb!?"

Tea eyes wide open "Joey! You are freaking me out!"

Yugi thinks a little "I got a idea, what if we use something to press the button from far while we get back for safety?"

Joey nods eagerly "That's a great idea!"

Tristan nods "Yeah, that should work, right?"

Tea looks around and gets a idea, she gathers some things and then greats a pocking stick. "Here ta-da!"

Yugi giggles "Nice one, Tea!"

Solomon grabs the stick "Nice job, now let's step back."

Yugi, Joey, Tea and Tristan nods at unison as they step back, they stay behind Solomon as he gets ready.

He leans the stick slowly, equilibrating it closer to the devices button and then he pokes it quickly projecting something.

A little static is projected and then Pegasus materializes, her hologram sitting on a couch with her arms crossed.

Yugi and the others gasp and step back.

Pegasus shakes her head a little, whispering something to herself "I should just send a tape... This took more time than the expected..."

Pegasus quickly cleans her throat and smiles "Greetings, Yugi-shota~ I am Cecelia Pegasus. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Joey eyes wide open "Pegasus?"

Tea gasps "Woah! We just saw her on TV..."

Solomon smiles proudly "The famous Cecelia Pegasus sends greetings to my Yugi?"

Pegasus smiles "I have heard some terribly interesting things about you, Yugi... Very very interesting...."

Yugi rises his eyebrows "Huh?"

Pegasus takes a sip of her wine "Your present defeat of Seto Kaiba intrigued me so much, I've decided to investigate your amazing dueling skills personally. Right here, right now, we shall hold a special duel. She smiles "We'll play with a strict time limit of fifteen minutes and when time's up, the player with the highest life-points will be the winner. Are you ready?"

Suddenly a digital timer appears close to her projection.

Joey eyes wide open "Woahhhhh!"

Yugi stumbles back a little "Wha-? A duel?"

Joey eyes wide open "Wha-? She can't seriously expect you to fight a duel against some kind of video, right?

Tristan eyes wide on surprise "That's mad crazy!"

Pegasus laughs with her voice echoing around the room. "Uhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhum~"

Yugi and the others look at each and then back at the projection.

Joey shiners "Jeez... This is creeping me up!"

Tea frowns a little "Yugi.... this unhinged"

Solomon whispers at Yugi "Yugi, my boy... What are we suppose to do now?"

Yugi thinks a little, his eyes narrowing a little "I... I really don't know..."

Pegasus finishes her laugh and sighs a little, resting her hand on her cheek "Well.... Now, Yugi-shota. Let's begin shall we?"

Yugi laughs a little embarrassed "Eheh..."

Joey points at the projection "You should duel me instead old lady! You totally don't have any chance!"

Tea shouts at Joey "Joey!"

Pegasus loses her patience, she pushes her hair to the side a little, revealing her left eye as it starts to shine bright. "Now, let's begin."

All: Huh!?

Suddenly the room becomes dark and twisted, everything else desapearing and only remaining Yugi and the projection. Tristan, Tea, Solomon and Joey fade into background frozen like statues their eyes wide open.

Yugi eyes wide open and he looks around "Everything's growing dark and cold and the others aren't moving. What have you done to them? Where have you taken us!?"

He quickly runs to his friends, trying to shake them out of it "Joey! Tea! Tristan! Do you guys can hear me!?"

He dashes to his grandfather, trying to shake him out of it "Grandpa! Grandpa!"

Yugi's eyes narrow a little "Why?...."

Pegasus laughs a little, trying to get a little reaction from him "We're no longer in the world you know. But I will return you... after our game. You would want them to get hurt.... Right?"

Yugi eyes sharp up, standing on front of his friends and grandfather "Then it's time to duel!"

Yugi holds his Millennium Puzzle close to him, he closes his hand shouts with determination.

                   YU-GI-OOOOOOOOOH!!!

Yugi changes to Yami Yugi, opening his eyes with intensity walking into action fearless.

"Start the clock and make your move, Pegasus."

Pegasus laughs a little "Certainly. Let's begin."

Timer is shown set to 0: 15.00 and starts ticking, A duel field is projected on the ground and the duel starts.

𝗗𝗨𝗘𝗟!

𝑫𝑶𝑵'𝑻 𝑭𝑶𝑹𝑮𝑬𝑻 𝑻𝑶 𝑷𝑼𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑺𝑻 𝑶𝑵 𝑳𝑶𝑶𝑷 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑨 𝑭𝑼𝑳𝑳 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬.

         | 𝗣𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗨𝗦 - 2000 / 2000 - 𝗬𝗨𝗚𝗜 |

Both draw 5 cards from their decks and inspect their hands.

Pegasus giggles covering her mouth "Nervous, Yugi-shota? You should be. You have never faced a duelist like me before after all."

Yami closes his eyes "You may be good."

Pegasus giggles a little taking another sip of her wine"I assure you, I am Fufufufu~"

Yami points at her, his eyes full of determination "But I will beat you to save my friends. You may start!"

Pegasus draws a card, she slaps her hands together excited "Fufufufu~ You are such a good boy my Yugi-shota~"

Yugi grints his tooths wondering about what he got himself into.

Pegasus puts a card on the field. "Well, because you were so polite by giving me this turn, I will end with just a little back row."

Yugi draws "Draw! Tsk..." He inspects his hand and grabs a card slamming it on the field "I first start by activating my Spell Card Zone of the Forbidden One! With this card i can Special Summon any number of monster i want in face-down defense position, i will set two cards!" Yami puts two cards on the field and then slams another one. With said, now I summon my Koumori Dragon-!"

Pegasus laughs with her left eye glowing slightly "You won't save anyone with that dragon card."

Yami eyes wide slightly "What do you mean?" Yami puts the card slowly on the field.

Pegasus shakes her finger a little with a amoused smile "I told you, you've never faced anyone like me before. I know every move you'll make. Before you can even make it."

Yami glares "What!?"

Pegasus reveals her card "Knowing every move you'll make gives me a distinct advantage, wouldn't you say? For example, I can anticipate your next play and counter it with this Dragon Capture Jar."

Yami grunts annoyed "Aghh!"

Pegasus puts a hand on her cheek "When this card is activated, All dragon monsters on the field cannon attack. It draws the Koumori Dragon and imprison the beast. Trapped. Never to be played against me."

Yami thinks to himself "This is crazy. First he reads my mind, and puts counter measures.... I gotta believe this is some kind of strategy..."

Yami looks around, the place they were was totally strange, maybe some kind of prison.

Pegasus takes a sip of her wine "This dark dimension we're in is known as the Shadow Realm, a mystical place where incredible monsters can be quite.... aggressive and the impossible is quite possible.

Yami jaws tight up "But what you're telling me can't be true."

Pegasus laughs a little "Oh Yugi-shota~ Tell me, do you believe there is magic in these cards?"

Yami looks away, his answer quick "Don't you know? You invented this game."

Pegasus leans back at her chair a little more laughing "Fufufufu What if I told you I didn't?"

Yami eyes wide "Huh?!"

Pegasus opens her arms, as images start to appear around Yami "In ancient times, the Egyptians called this the Shadow Game. Powerful fellows would hold mystical duels in other dimensions just as we're doing now. But not with cards, they battled with real monsters and real magic. Magical forces so powerful, the Egyptians lost control of them and nearly destroyed the entire world."

Yami eyes narrow as looking at the images, he shakes his head a little and stares back at Pegasus. "It's a good story, Pegasus. But these monsters can't be real."

Pegasus puts a card on the field "Tell that to my Dragon Piper as his effect activates, When a Dragon Capturing Jar is activated i can Special Summon Summon him from my hand, but wait, there is more." She smirks "When he is Summoned this way, I can target 1 dragon monster you control, which is Koumori Dragon, and puts him under my control.

Yami eyes wide with a creepily intense look "I have to protect myself! Silver Fang!"

Koumori Dragon appears out of the Jar and flamethrowers hitting Silver Fang, dissolving him into pieces.

Yami crosses his arms with a smirk "Nice try, Pegasus!"

Pegasus shakes her head giggling a little. "Now now, Yugi-shota~ The duel isn't over, yet."

Pegasus takes a sip of her wine "Hah! As you see, Yugi, these monsters are very real, Fufufufu~" She laughs amoused "And also quite dangerous too, Fufufufufu~" She sharps her eyes with malice "Ah, my Yugi-shota. You really are quite entertaining- the way you celebrate and cheer for the smaller things.... so defiant and yet helpless. And so completely ignorant of the power of your Millennium Puzzle."

Yami eyes wide open "What?!"

Pegasus smirks "Five thousand years ago, a powerful pharaoh locked the power of the Shadow Games away."

Yami points at Pegasus, demanding answers "What's this have to do with me?"

Pegasus says "The pharaoh captured these vast magical energies in seven mystical Millennium Items."

Yami looked down at the Puzzle around his neck, then back at Pegasus. "Seven items? You're saying that... my puzzle's one of them?"

Pegasus took a sip of her wine, appealing to his curiosity. "Yes, and there are mystical energies locked within it. Magic that could change your life forever... if you only knew how to unleash it."

Yami pointed at her, suspicious. "But why are you telling me this?"

Pegasus giggled, covering her mouth. "Why? Simply because I need you to know... But perhaps I have said too much. And since the clock is still ticking, I propose we resume playing our little duel." She laughed. "Tic tac, Yugi-shota~"

Yami focused, his inner monologue urgent. "She's right, time's running out and I still haven't figured out if she can really read my mind or if it's some kind of trick."

Pegasus lifted the hair aside from her left eye, which now glinted with the clear image of Beaver Warrior. "Fufufufufufu..."

Yami's own eyes briefly glinted with the same image. He checked his hand, grabbing a card. "I've gotta try something, maybe my Beaver Warrior!

Pegasus laughed slowly, eager to see him fall into her trap. "Don't be afraid, little Yugi~ Uhuhuhuhuhum~"

Yami’s eye twitched as he realized something crucial. He thought, his mind racing. "Wait a minute, she definitely knows what I'm about to do. But how? It's gotta have something to do with that weird eye of hers. That's it, isn't it? That weird eye must somehow let her see the cards in my hand. So no matter which card I pick, she's already one step ahead of me. But that gives me an idea."

Pegasus reapplied a dab of lipstick. "Hurry up now, Yugi-shota. Time is running out for you and your friends."

Yami’s eyes sharpened with determination. "I guess she's expecting me to play one of the cards in my hand. But what if I play a card even I haven't seen yet?! What happens if I draw a new card straight from the deck without even looking at it?"

Pegasus tapped the arm of her chair with a long, manicured finger. "I already know you plan to play the Beaver Warrior, and I'm already prepared to counter it with a card that will flood your little encampment!"

Yami smirked, realizing his loophole. "Not this time. I figured out your little game, Pegasus. You may be able to see the cards in my hand, but you can't see the cards I pull from the deck."

Pegasus’s eye narrowed slightly. "Hmmm?"

Yami drew a card, slamming it into the field instantly. "My next card is... the Dark Magician! I use two of my monsters as tribute to bring him out!"

Pegasus covered her mouth in a sarcastic gesture of surprise. "Whoa, the big, scary Dark Magician."

Yami pointed at her, shouting. "Mock me all you like, Pegasus. But my Magician will destroy that dragon!"

Pegasus shrugged. "Go right ahead, if you think it'll help."

Yami shouted with determination, ready to end the duel. "It'll do more than help, Pegasus. It'll bring you closer to defeat and bring me closer to saving my friends!"

Pegasus sighed, feigning defeat. "If it can do all that, by all means, play it. Poor little me~"

Yami shouted, pointing forward. "Dark Magician!"

Dark Magician appeared on the shadowy field, holding his rod tightly, his eyes sharp for the battle. He positioned himself close to Yami.

Yami roared. "Now! Dark Magic Attack!!"

Dark Magician channeled a shadow ball of dark energy, threw it into the air, and slammed his rod like a bat, striking the sphere with a powerful swing. The blast hit the Koumori Dragon in the jar, shattering the prison and reducing the dragon to mist.

         | 𝗣𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗨𝗦 - 1200 / 2000 - 𝗬𝗨𝗚𝗜 |

Pegasus covered her mouth, letting out a small, high-pitched yelp. "Ohh~"

Yami crossed his arms as Dark Magician stepped back. "I end my turn."

Pegasus blinked, then burst into triumphant laughter. "Hohohohoho~ Nicely played. But by using your Dark Magician, you've let me manipulate you once again."

Yami frowned. "Huh?"

Pegasus drew a card, a sickeningly confident look on her face. "By playing that one card, you have ensured my victory."

Yami shook his head. "No. You are lying!"

Pegasus giggled. "We shall see, my Yugi-shota." She revealed a card. "Oh look at this, a very rare card. This is the fearsome Faceless Mage!" She placed the card on the field.

The Faceless Mage appeared, slowly landing. It put its hands behind its back and offered a mocking smile to the Dark Magician. Dark Magician frowned, preparing for battle.

Yami raised his eyebrows. "I've never seen that card before. My Dark Magician is one of the strongest magic cards in the game, I am not intimidated."

Pegasus leaned back in her chair. "But how will he fare once I combine my Faceless Mage with the, equally rare effect, Eye of Illusion.... Well, I end my turn then."

Yami gritted his teeth. "Stop toying with me! Draw!" He drew his card. "I set a monster face-down!"

Yami raised his hand forward. "Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack!"

Dark Magician attacked, striking the shadow ball forward, but just as it reached the Faceless Mage, the dark sphere vanished without effect.

Yami’s eyes went wide. "Dark Magician! My attack had no effect at all."

Pegasus laughed, her voice echoing cruelly through the Shadow Realm. "Pftt Ehahahahahahahaha~"

Yami’s eyes narrowed. "His Faceless Mage should've been destroyed, but it's still standing and I'm running out of time."

Pegasus smirked. "What's wrong, Yugi-shota~? Are you afraid of attacking?" She drew another card. "I end my turn."

The timer ticked, now showing 0:05.00 remaining.

Yami drew his card, his mind focused despite the vanishing time. "I'm up with full LP, but only because Pegasus is toying with me. I've got to find a way to beat him at his own Shadow Game." Yami glared. "Pegasus knows all kinds of tricks. But I gotta find a way to defeat him. I just have to trust in my grandpa's cards." He slammed a card on the field. "I attack your monster with the Celtic Guardian!"

Celtic Guardian appeared, holding his sword ready to fight.

Yami pointed at Pegasus. "This mighty warrior will cut your Faceless Mage down to size!"

Pegasus nodded, then quickly smiled, her eyes gleaming. "True, your elf is mighty. But you have once again underestimated the incredible power of my Eye of Illusion! Hah hah!"

Suddenly, Dark Magician moved swiftly to Pegasus' side of the field, his eyes flashing with a sickening darkness.

Yami stared, aghast. "What?"

Pegasus pointed forward with absolute malice. "Now go! Dark Magic Attack!"

The enslaved Dark Magician channeled the dark energy and struck, hitting Celtic Guardian and shattering him. The damage was dealt to Yami.

         | 𝗣𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗨𝗦 - 1200 / 1000 - 𝗬𝗨𝗚𝗜 |

Yami staggered. "Arg! But that's impossible! The Faceless Mage doesn't have a Dark Magic Attack!" Yami looked at his now empty field. "Oh no! It was my own Dark Magician that attacked me! Pegasus is controlling him with the Eye of Illusion effect!"

 

Pegasus giggled, covering her mouth. "Well, Yugi-shota~, our time together is nearly up, and as I have more Life Points than you, it appears I am the victor. Fufufufufu~"

Yami stood his ground, defiant. "Humph...!"

The timer now read: 0:00.05.

Yami drew his card with lightning speed. "Time's not up yet, Pegasus! And you've left your Faceless Mage vulnerable to a physical assault!" He held up the card he held up the card he just drew. "I summon my Summoned Skull!"

Pegasus frowned, glancing anxiously at the timer. "Looks like you are about to beat me, huh..."

Yami raised his hand, shouting. "Now, Summoned Skull, attack!"

The timer hit 0:00.02. Summoned Skull materialized, slamming its fists on the ground before dashing forward, raising a punch toward the Faceless Mage. The clock read 0:00.01, then 0:00.00 just as the punch was about to land. The projected field and all the monsters instantly vanished. The room went silent.

Pegasus leaned back in her chair, taking a composed sip of her wine. "Well, we've run out of time. But how close was that? If you had been able to complete that attack, I would have lost. But I didn't, did I? I have taken the measure of your talents this day, Yugi Muto. And when next we duel, we shall play for far higher stakes." 

She smirked, leaning closer to the projection screen.

Yami slammed his knuckles onto the ground in frustration. "I'm done with your games, Pegasus! You don't have the right to do this!"

Pegasus shook her finger playfully. "Nananana~ You presume I'm giving you a choice in the matter. But..."

 

She lifted her hair aside, revealing the glowing, golden Millennium Eye. "I'm not, for I too possess one of the seven Millennium Items the all-powerful Millennium Eye!"

Yami’s eyes were wide. "The Millennium Eye? That's what it is called?" He felt a strange, sickening lurch in his stomach and stumbled slightly, fighting to keep his eyes on Pegasus.

Pegasus laughed, raising her hand. "That's right, my little Yugi. And now I'll show you the true extent of its magic. You see, I have found that given the proper incentive anyone can be made to play my game." The Millennium Eye pulsed with a bright, terrifying gleam.

Yugi instinctively stumbled back, covering his eyes. "Gahh!"

Suddenly, Solomon Muto’s frozen form vanished, his space in the background now empty.

Yami’s eyes snapped wide as he looked back. "Huh? Grandpa!?"

Pegasus smiled, holding up a card between her long, sharp fingers. Inside the card was the miniaturized, screaming image of Yugi’s grandfather. Solomon looked around surprised, then saw Yugi and shouted. "Yugi!!!"

Yami was forced to regress back into Yugi Muto. Yugi gasped, his eyes wide with horror and anguish, and darted toward the projection. "Grandpa!" Yugi screamed, tears welling in his eyes. "Grandpa!"

Pegasus gave a mock sympathetic smile. "Yes, we will duel again, Yugi. How else will you reclaim your grandfather's soul? Fufufufufufu~ Ta-ta, Yugi-shota~" She waved her fingers dismissively, and the device instantly shut off, her projection dissolving into nothingness.

The world violently snapped back to normal. Color rushed back into the room, and Tea, Joey, and Tristan became unfrozen, blinking in confusion. Solomon Muto’s physical body fell to the ground lifelessly, his eyes blank and staring.

Tea shrieked, her hands flying to her mouth. "Gahh!" She looks around slightly confused. "What?..."

Joey quickly looked around, panicked. "Wha-!? What's going on!? What happened!?"

Tristan looked at his numb hands, shaking his head. "Woah... What happened here!?"

Yugi rushed to his grandfather, lifting his lifeless head into his hands. His voice was a choked sob. "Grandpa...."

Tea stumbled forward, her voice a gasp. "Grandpa!?"

Joey quickly fell to his knees beside them. "Gramps!!!"

Tristan was pale, terrified. "What happened!? Grandpa!"

Yugi looked up at the ceiling, his voice raw with pain, grief, and dawning fury. "Grandpaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

                          To Be Continued....