Death T Final
May. 5th, 2005 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spokeThere is so much I could say, having finally finished this. Right now, I don't have the words.
Duel 36: Battle Beyond Hope
Mokuba: *thinking* Nuh... No way... It's a mistake... No... I... *shift to a closeup with lightning background* I... lost...?!?!
And Jou and Anzu are cheering, and the crowd is shocked that Mokuba lost at this. Someone yells 'Who is that pointy haired kid..!!', and Jou yells back, telling them his name.
Pharaoh, meanwhile, actually seems aware that all is not right here. He was leaning like he was trying to catch's Mokuba's eyes, but Mokuba... has his eyes squeezed shut and one hand in his hair and one clenched on the board, and he's saying "No way" over and over. So Pharaoh gets up, starts to leave, and then looks over his shoulder. : I'm going. *thinks* To the final stage where Kaiba is waiting ...!
And Mokuba. Whose eyes have gone solid, and whose face goes from angry to afraid as he speaks, yells to him: Wait! Yugi..!! I... I won't believe it! There's no way I could lose! All of my capsule monsters were higher level and stronger than yours! There was no way I could lose to you!!
Before Pharaoh can respond to this (not that he looked like he was going to) the screens above the duel box snap on, and Seto is looking down at them. "Kaiba!"
Seto: Mmeh heh... I've been waiting for you, Yugi! Good job. I've gotten bored of these amusements. Take that path to the elevator and rise to the final stage!
Pharaoh, looking up: :o ... >:o I will! Don't you go anywhere! You'll get your game all right, Kaiba!!
Okay. This is the point. Where I about choked, and actually wanted to slap Seto. Or possibly strangle him. Just so you know. x.x
Seto glares down at Mokuba, who cringes: S-Seto... Ah... I...
Seto: I've felt your pathetic, clinging, loser's gaze... staring at my back for years... I kept telling you over and over, Mokuba... If you play with fire you'll get burned...
Mokuba's expression is so sad and afraid and with sweatdrops : !! B-Big brother!
Seto: You understand, don't you? Only the winner is allowed out of that duel box! A penalty game awaits the loser! That is the law of "Death-T" !!
There is a 'click' where he's pushed the button, and the box starts to fill with smoke and monsters as it did with Grandpa.
Mokuba's expression just gets more and more afraid, and : *thinking* Huh... He wouldn't... My brother wouldn't do it to me... not that... Not "The experience of death!!"
And there is screaming, and Pharaoh stops in his walk to turn back in shock: :O Mokuba!! *thinking* Impossible!! Kaiba's putting his own brother through a penalty game!!!
And then we are in the box with Mokuba, and he's surrounded by the monsters and he's about to get eaten. Still yelling, and the only words in it are : S-Save me, big brother!
A hand appears in the swirling, and a voice : Mokuba!! Mokuba... Take my hand!
And then the panels. Of Pharaoh pulling him out just shy of getting bitten, and Mokuba seeing who pulled him out and snatching his hand away, still so scared.
Mokuba: Wh... Why...?! Why did you save me.. ?!
Pharaoh, hands in pockets again, for a minute (or a panel) keeps glaring (I think Mokuba hurt his widdle fweelings yanking his hand away) then a tiny smile: Mokuba... I wouldn't have won this game if I didn't have friends who reached out to me.
Mokuba: ! *thinking* Friends..?! *remembering Seto yelling at him* Mokuba! Until you realize that there is no such thing as brotherly love, you will always be a loser!
His hands are gripping his head as he yells : Noooo! B-b... And we don't see where he gets it from, but he looks down at a picture of him and Seto playing chess at the orphanage - there are three other boys watching them, and Seto has the slightest curve that might be a smile, and Mokuba is so very :D.
In the picture. ;_;
Mokuba: *thinking* Brother... My brother has changed... Ever since that day... It's like... He's been possessed by a demon of gaming... And he looks up at Pharaoh who is maybe a foot from the door now : *thinking* Yugi... Maybe when you face my brother...
Seto, briefcase in hand and henchman behind him : I'm heading to the final stage, "Death T-5!" *thinking with solid eyes and tiny toothy smile* My revenge will end there!!
Meanwhile - the crowd realizes that Yugi and Seto will be fighting upstairs! Oh no! So they all rush out of the bleachers and the henchmen inform Jou and Anzu they'll be going that way too. And this is one of the sweetest things Jou does, here. ^_^
Jou: You bet! Front row seats, if you please! Where we can get a good view when Yugi clobbers that jerk Kaiba! One more thing... Let me borrow your cell phone! *yoink!*
Guard: O.o
Anzu: Hey... Where are you calling?
Jou: The hospital where they took Yugi's Grandpa. Nobody could go with him, so I asked Hanasaki to check on him.
Hanasaki is a boy at their school whom they made friends with, but who sort of faded out of the story afterwards. : Ah, Jounouchi...! Yes... He's in emergency surgery right now... It started an hour ago... It's just... The surgeon says... There isn't much hope...
Jou: ...I see... Hanasaki.. Stay there and keep watch.
Hanasaki: Yes! I got it! *thinking* Please hang in there, Grandpa Mutou...
Anzu: How is he...?
Jou: It sounds bad...
Anzu: :/ ...!
Jou: Crap... Honda isn't answering his cell either... It can't get much worse...
Anzu: >:/ ...!
Jou: Anyway, right now... All we can do is watch over Yugi in his battle!
The next page is more like the next two pages, the panels spreading over it. From right to left - Pharaoh thinking of Jou and Anzu, standing there with guns pointed at them and Anzu still carrying Johji. Honda is under them. Yugi (?) standing in the empty room. Then Grandpa.
Pharaoh: *thinking* Kaiba... You've hurt my friends and family... I'll never forgive you, even if you beg for mercy!
Across from him is the dueling arena, a large dome instead of a box, and Seto with his solid eyes. The crowd cheering...
Seto: Welcome to the final stage, Yugi!
Now let's all say this with him! ;p Pharaoh: Kaiba!!!
They sit down at the table, arms crossed and glaring at each other. I assume a minute or so goes by without either of them saying anything, since Seto speaks next and it sounds like a response to silence.
Seto: Heh heh... words mean nothing to us anymore... what will decide our fates... are the cards!!
He lays his deck down, and Pharaoh does the same, only he looks as if he's drawing a gun or something. : All right! *thinking* Grandpa's deck and the heart of the cards!
But Seto is thinking, with that toothy grin of his: Mheh heh heh... I congratulate you on getting this far... It's almost a shame that this is where you'll probably die... I have in my deck three of the strongest cards in the world, the unfathomably rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon! No card exists that can defeat them!!
Pharaoh: *thinking* I believe in my Grandpa's deck...
Seto: Before starting the game... We will cut and shuffle each other's decks!!
And they've done so and are putting down the decks? You can see the ink on Yugi's hand, smudged but still recognizable. With Jou and Anzu above them watching the duel start, then the panel showing them laying down their cards, then one of those split-scenes where you see half of each person's face? Both of them holding their cards.
Pharaoh: Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress! Attack mode!
Seto: I'll take you on! My card is -- Hitotsu-Me Giant!
Pharaoh: Fire Ball !!! Your Cyclops was destroyed with that attack! And you lose 200 life points!
Seto: Heh... That doesn't hurt... a bit!
Duel 37: To The Death!
The briefest recap of the first exchange of cards, and the crowd's surprise that Yugi won it. <<
Seto: *thinking* Mheh heh... I let you win the first exchange. My deck has three Blue Eyes White Dragon cards! This duel is already won! Surprisingly, not smirking there - poker face perhaps?
Pharaoh: *thinking* I believe in Grandpa's deck!! I will defeat Kaiba!! But will he learn to stop repeating himself?! ...seriously, you know. He does it without being in a recap. <.<
Seto takes his time looking at a card, and then lifts his eyes to look at Pharaoh, who has also been paying serious attention to this. : Mmeh heh... Yugi... I can feel your puny heart pounding every time I draw a card. That's because you know the moment I draw my Blue Eyes White Dragon, you will die...
Silence and a sweatdrop from the Pharaoh.
Seto: The card I draw is... The Wicked Worm Beast!! It equals the Winged Dragon in both level and attack points!! Worm Beast, kill him!
Pharaoh: I'll take you on!
Seto: Worm Beast attack! Poison Soul! Its acid spray attacks the dragon!
Pharaoh: But the Winged Dragon has the power of flight! This gives it a 35% chance to evade! It made it!
Seto: Tch...
Pharaoh: And now, counter attack! Fire Ball! The Winged Dragon destroys the Worm Beast!!
Seto: *solid eyed yet unaffected* Hmph. Since their attack points were the same my life points aren't affected. Big deal. Round three...
Shock from the crowd, cheering from the cheerleaders.
Seto: My turn is over, but I don't have any monsters on the field... according to the first edition rules, this means I can put out a free monster in defense mode using one of the cards in my hand. Now, which one should I use... This one has good defense. I'll make it my barrier monster!
Pharaoh: My turn! I draw a card from my deck! *looking up at the monster, who's crouched and folded up, and thinking* I'm not familiar with the card Kaiba just played... If I attack him and his defense is higher than my attack points, I would be the one damaged... *outloud* I'll play my card in defense mode as well. Turn over!
Seto: *solid eyed and with a tiny toothy grin* Mheh heh... I get it... You plan to build up a strong defense before I draw a Blue Eyes White Dragon... But... ...that won't work! I was a champion before I owned a Blue-Eyes, and even without one, I can defeat you! I'll prove that right now! I change my barrier monster from defense to attack mode!!
Pharaoh: *sweatdropping slightly as the monster stands* That's... Saggi the Dark Clown!
Seto: Mmeh heh... Saggi could never defeat the Winged Dragon at his current attack power. That's why... I use the spell card "Dark Energy" to triple his attack power!! Now! Kill the dragon! Dark Glide! Mmmm heh heh heh heh... "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" is destroyed!! What do you think? Just your basic combo...The power of Saggi the Dark Clown enhanced by the spell card Dark Energy!
And here we see the problem with Pharaoh dueling without Yugi. <<;;
Pharaoh: *thinking* Grrrr... Strong cards alone aren't enough to win in this game! Using monsters together with spell cards is the key to victory!! Kaiba knows this game inside and out!! *outloud* But Grandpa built this deck! He's a game master! *thinking again* There must be a trump to defeat Kaiba in here!
And. He pulls out a card. That reads : 'Left Leg of the Forbidden One'
Pharaoh: *thinking* Grrrr - Useless!
We shall now pause for a moment of howling laughter, followed by a silent headdesking on behalf of Yugi, who could no doubt tell him exactly what it is useful for - if only they were communicating at this point. AHAHAHA!! >:D
Meanwhile, Seto would be blinking at the non-sequiter above?
Yes. Story-time. Isn't it fun how even in the darkest hours, story-time co-incides with 'let's laugh at Pharaoh' time? >:)
He then draws Sangan. : *thinking* This card can't defeat Saggi the Dark Clown. *again, outloud* I'll play another monster in defense mode and wait him out!
...okay. Either he is speaking softly to himself, or Seto has got to be thinking the guy has snapped already. XD
However, he gives no sign of that. Seto: >:D Let's start from the left! Dark Glide!
Say bye-bye to Sangan! ;p
Pharaoh: *thinking* !! Curses...
Seto: Mmheh heh heh...
Pharaoh: *thinking* No good! Now that Saggi's been powered up, the cards in my hand are no match for him!
The crowd cheers Seto! The cheerleaders freak because they can see Pharaoh freaking! And we move on to some shiny mocking. >:)
Seto: Yugi... You disappoint me! I don't even need my Blue-Eyes for this duel!!
Pharaoh: -.-;;
Seto: But what do you expect with the deck that failure of an old man left behind! I can hear the gasps of his last breaths echoing from the cards! Ha ha ha ha!
Pharaoh: >:o !! *insert memory of Grandpa telling Yugi to go forth and kick Kaiba's butt* Kaiba... Do your cards have the power of your trust?!
Seto: *suddenly still* ...! What do you mean?
Pharaoh: I believe in these cards!! Gaia the Fierce Knight!!
Seto: o.o *thinking* Gaia the Fierce Knight! The most powerful card in the warrior class!
Pharaoh: Go, Dark Knight! Vanquish Saggi! Spiral Saber! *Saggi dies, with sound-effect wording* One down!
Crowd: *cheering which notes that they're even again and this is a really great duel*
Jou: *cheering that Yugi realizes Grandpa's cards don't suck* <<
Seto: Well, well... I suppose the deck of a game store owner would have to have a decent card or two... Life Points: 1300
Pharaoh: You can't predict this duel... Not until the very end... Life Points: 1400
Seto: Mheh heh heh... Don't get arrogant... I know how this will end! It's my turn now!
And then. The manic grin. >:D
Seto: I've drawn the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!! Wa ha ha ha! *Blue Eyes appears, looming over Gaia* Too bad! Just after you'd drawn your trump card!!
Pharaoh: O.O;;
XD Cheers all around! Except for Jou and Anzu, who aren't much better off than Pharaoh. >:D
Seto: *still smiling* Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack! Burst Stream of Destruction! Die, Gaia - and prepare a place in hell for your master!
Gaia: *dies in the beautiful attack of Blue-Eyes ^^ with a scream beside him, no less* XD
Seto: >:D Wa ha ha ha! Well, Yugi? And remember, I still have two more Blue-Eyes White Dragons in this deck! You're finished!
Jou and Anzu: :( Yugi, no!
Pharaoh: o.o; *thinking* Grandpa... what should I do...?
*waves hand* Ohohoh! I know! The first thing is to stop sitting there cowering like an idiot 'cause it's not going to help! >:P In less, of course, Seto were to become incapacitated by laughter. Ha!
Duel 38: The Terror of Blue-Eyes!!
More with the cheering of the crowd! >:) Because 'nothing can beat a Blue-Eyes!' >:D
...why, yes. I am ignoring that this is a setup for Seto's eventual painful defeat - how about you? ;p
Seto: *smirking grin, points to Pharaoh* Now, Yugi... Draw! No matter what monster you bring out, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon will blow it away! Mheh heh heh!
Pharaoh draws Feral Imp, so : *thinking* No good - this card won't last more than an instant! *outloud* Defense Mode!
Seto: Attack! Kill! Destroy! Slaughter! It's painful to watch! As long as you play your monsters in Defense Mode, your life points don't change... No matter how many monsters I slaughter! But! You're only drawing out your inevitable demise!
Pharaoh: >:/ *with sweatdrops, thinking* Kaiba's right! But if I play a monster in attack mode, I lose...!
Seto: *solid-eyed and calmly smug* Now, play your next monster! Eventually, you'll run out of cards! Then you lose!
Pharaoh: *thinking as he stares at his hand* It's no good! My cards' attack scores just aren't high enough... *outloud* Defense Mode!
Seto: Attack...! ...is that what you expect me to do? I won't... not this time! Rather than put your "Beaver Warrior" out of its misery, I'll draw another card! I'll increase the size of my army!
Pharaoh: :o *thinking with sweatdrops!* Hrrrm... I knew this was coming! (Again, here the sharp edges would suggest he’s speaking rather than thinking? But I can't imagine that Seto wouldn't have some response directly to the words. ) Each monster can only defend against the attack of one enemy monster... If he brings out more monsters, I won't have enough defenders to stop them! I'll lose in the next turn!
The requisite shot of Seto looking at his card. ^^
Seto: *still looking at the card* It looks like the goddess of victory is on my side... *looking up* My next card is...!
Pharaoh: O.O;;; *thinking* Whaaa
What do you think, moron?! XD
Seto: Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!!
Pharaoh: Two Blue-Eyes White Dragons!!
Awww. *pets Pharaoh* Lookit, he can count! *searches for a cookie to give him*
Seto: Mheh heh heh! Next turn these two will attack at the same time! Your life is over, Yugi!
Pharaoh: *thinking* Ulp... I could play another monster this turn, but next turn I'd be defenseless! His dragons can kill two of my monsters each turn, but I can only draw one new card! I've lost...
Seto: *toothy grin, thinking* I've won!
The cheering of the crowd! The despondency of Jou (and Anzu? But we don't see her at the moment) ... ... ... The coming of the words of doom. >:/ Shall I continue, or break to look for something painfully sharp with which to stab %$#@*
...story-time. The telling must continue! ^^;
Pharaoh. With bowed head. Suddenly remembers Grandpa! :o and then : *thinking* I... I won't give up! I'm not fighting this duel alone!! *outloud* Everything rides on this card! *GASP* I've drawn the spell card, "Swords of Revealing Light!"
Seto: What?!!
Pharaoh: The Swords of Light bind your Blue-Eyes White Dragons! *thinking* Now I'm safe... even if just for three turns!
Seto: >:/ Feh... You still haven't given up? You're beginning to annoy me...
Insert cheerleading here! ...Perhaps imagine what Honda, Mai or even Ryou might say if they were present for this &*%$. ...if the latter two even existed yet. ....oooh, that's a fun thought. Perhaps somewhere, at this very moment in this universe, Mai is kicking some stupid rich jerk's butt at this very game! >:D Ryou is wondering what's happening to him/ Bakura is doing something fun involving other people's souls! XD Pegasus might already be scheming towards Duelist Kingdom!
And Malik has surely ditched his dear sister and begun the grand scheme of World Domination! >:D
...What? O:-) World Domination takes time, and all those people's whose brains had to be washed, Rishid no doubt trying to convince his Master to go home (or possibly to stop using the Rod as a sex toy, who knows? ) XD
Also I love this image of the various looming darknessess - omg. Duke! XD
*deep breaths* Okay. Story time. Really.
A neat little overhead shot of clenched fists and glaring, and then Seto: *calming* Well... You've used up the last of your luck, anyway... You can only bind the Blue-Eyes for three turns! What can you do in that short time?
Pharaoh: *thinking* ... ...He's right... I've only extended my life three turns... There's nothing I can do...
See, here I have to pause again. Because every time the guy says something, he's taking it back the next second!!! Stop saying/thinking things if you don't mean them you idiot!!! *strangles Pharaoh* ... <.<
Seto: Now... It's my turn to draw a card... *smirking* I'll put this monster in Defense Mode. That way the Blue-Eyes White Dragons will have the honor of finishing you off. That's how I envisioned this finale from the start. Now let's begin the countdown to your death. Draw your card You have three turns!
And. Now we may all laugh at the Pharaoh very hard. As he stares at the Pieces! of! Exodia! and thinks the following.
Pharaoh: *thinking* I have four cards in my hand... Only one is a monster card I can use in battle... The other three are useless... I don't even know what they mean... These are junk cards... There's no way to defeat Kaiba... The spell card that I managed to draw - The Swords of Revealing Light - is only a ploy for time... I really lose... >:/
And this is the first time we see them split, the Pharaoh still looking ticked, while Yugi is more :( And this - vision? Hallucination? Hyper-active imagination moment ala Miles Vorkosigan? Is allll Yugi.
Yugi: *standing in blackness* ... :(
Sugoroku: *appears out of the blackness behind him*
Yugi: :o Grandpa!
Sugoroku: Ho ho... You look down, Yugi... Yugi... Have you given up? That's not like you...
Yugi: :( But... What can I do?
Sugoroku: Yugi... Not too long ago you were suffering. Remember how you got over it that time...
Yugi: Huh...?! ... The Millennium Puzzle! I completed the Millennium Puzzle!
Sugoroku: Mmhm... You put each piece of that puzzle in its place... You didn't give up... You believed in yourself, and completed the Puzzle even though it took you eight years!
Yugi: :o Yup!
Sugoroku: Yugi! There is nothing meaningless in this world! Like pieces of a puzzle. The cards as well...
And with these amazingly enigmatic words, Sugoroku vanishes! >:P Don't you love how his words of guidance are like, 'Remember how miserable you were before you were a time-share for an ancient Egyptian psycho? *hinthint* There's a similar solution now!
You know? In someone else's story, this would be Yugi slipping further down the path of the Dark Side. ;p
Yeah, yeah. Story-time!
Yugi: *turning around to watch as his Grandpa vanishes* Huh...?! Grandpa... The Millennium Puzzle... and the cards?
And back to reality, where Pharaoh's eyes snap open: :o ! *gasps* *thinking* Exodia!! Can it be... This deck of cards...? Can it really have Exodia?!
Meanwhile, having apparently decided Yugi has exhausted his 10-minute Internal Dialogue Session - it's in the rules, you know :P - Seto has gotten a wee bit impatient!
Seto : >:o Yugi! What are you waiting for! Draw your card!
Now. Let the confusion begin! Since Pharaoh also calls Sugoroku 'Grandpa', is this him thinking or is it Yugi? Is this the first time they speak to each other, instead of about? Who knows?! And why, for the love of little fuzzy dice, do I even care?! >:P Stupid exhaustion. I stick with who's in control of their body for the speaking. @.@
Pharaoh (?) : *thinking!* That's it! Grandpa once told me something once! In Duel Monsters, cards usually work alone. One card summons one monster... But there is one monster that's different... an experiment by the makers of Duel Monsters... Where you have to collect five cards in order to summon it...
*flashback* (which has to be Yugi's, because he's not wearing the Puzzle - hence before Pharaoh’s time, if one can use that phrase >:P ) Grandpa: That's the story, Yugi... But the odds are against it! Only a few people know what these cards are for! No one has ever collected all five and managed to use them in a game! In other words, no one has ever seen the Summoned God, Exodia... even me!
*thinking* Exodia! Grandpa has those five cards in this deck...!
Pharaoh: *outloud no less* The Legs of the Forbidden One! And the Left Arm! I get it! You collect the sealed parts of his body! I have three of the cards in my hand now!!
Seto: That's enough, Yugi! You're just stalling to extend your miserable existence! Draw your card!
Pharaoh: Yes! I'll draw now! *draws the Right Arm* I've collected four of the cards!
Um, no, you've drawn four of them - Sugoroku did the collecting, sothere! >:P
Seto: *thinking suspiciously* Mmm... Yugi's expression has changed... Heh... But there's no card better than the Blue-Eyes White Dragon... Yugi's hope is like the last flicker of a candle before it's blown out... *outloud* My turn... Well, it's dull just sitting here so... I'll use the Judgeman to destroy your defense monster... The stress will do you good... *say bye-bye Beaver Warrior!* Mheh heh heh... Two turns left!
Pharaoh: >:. *thinking* The Dark Magician! I could put it in defense mode, but it won't matter against two Blue-Eyes White Dragons... *outloud* I play this card in Attack Mode! Judgeman, die!
Seto: *contemptful glare* Feh... The futile struggles of the condemned!
Pharaoh: Black Magic!! Judgeman is destroyed! Kaiba! I won't give up on this duel until the end! I'll take every chance I get to chip away at your life points! You lost 300 points with that move!
Seto: *looking down slightly* Mheh heh heh... Is that so... *looking up :) * It's the last turn! You have no chance left... And the last card is... The third Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!!
Pharaoh: O.O !!
Seto: Burst Stream of Destruction!! Destroy the Dark Magician!!
Pharaoh: Gulp...
Seto?: *now looking particularly maniacal* Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Now! Draw your last card, Yugi! No matter what card you draw , you will die!
Jou: Yugi! No!
Duel 39: Endgame
One sentence from the recap.
Seto: >:D Now, the Blue-Eyes White Dragons have been released! On the next turn, the three Blue-Eyes will attack together and you'll go to negative 8800 life points!
Because I love the image of -8,800 points, even though I doubt the little counter would show that. XD
Pharaoh: *thinking* In my hand I have four pieces of the Forbidden One... both arms... both legs... If these are the cards Grandpa was talking about... the cards to summon the Forgotten God Exodia... If I can get all five I'll be able to summon Exodia! All I need to do is draw the last card! But... But it's impossible! 40 cards in my deck... 5 cards in my hand... What are the chances of drawing the one I need? Am I... Am I going to lose...?
YES! ...I so wish. It would be amusing. ...also, he seems to have forgotten how to count - there's no way there are 40 cards still in his deck after Seto's Blue-Eyes was rampaging through his defense monsters. Also, -5 for his hand. Also I am nitpicking in my mocking, but I don't care about that. ^^;
Seto. Is sooo happy! XD It's like if he were any younger, he'd be bouncing up and down in his seat, chanting 'Diediedieeee! You're gonna die now, you know that? You know that, right, because you're gonna die? Dieee! XD And I did it! With my Blue-Eyes. *beams at the dragons* >:D'
Seto: *looking particularly manic for a moment - his eyes are doing that gleefully evil O.o thing* Do it now!! Pick your card!! Yugi!!
Pharaoh: :o *sweatdrops*
Seto: *thinking* *possibly because he doesn't trust himself to speak XD* Mheh heh heh...You're just delaying the inevitable... No matter what card you draw, there's nothing that can stand against the might of three Blue-Eyes White Dragons!
And Pharaoh. XD Is actually reaching for the card without taking his eyes off Seto. XD
Seto: *still thinking* That's it! Draw the card and you can rest - in peace! Rest for eternity in the blackness of death!
Pharaoh: *looks down finally* I should be able to reach the cards... but they seem so far away all of a sudden!
And then - it's like his cards are sitting on Seto's side of the table. Like he'd have to reach into the curling dragons, and frankly Seto looks like he might bite too. XD In order to draw his card. <.<
Pharaoh: O.O No! It's not the cards! It's me! I'm trying to escape - to get out of drawing it! My fear is making the distance wider! -.- I'm afraid... afraid to draw the last card....
Next. He sees their hands, Anzu and Jou and Honda. The smiley face. *&%$#@ smiley face. >:p
Pharaoh: *thinking* "If we're ever alone, we just have to think of this smiley face"
Everyone is there and smiling at him and it doesn't show who says this, but - 'We're here for you, Yugi!' And he responds: :o Everyone! And puts out his hand to complete the Smiley Face Circle of Friendship.
Perhaps in a more sympathetic mood, I would not be hissing at this? But then again.
Seto
Pharaoh: *thinking* My friends are with me... Thanks, everyone... I won't be afraid anymore.
Seto: :o *thinking* Mmm...? What happened? A minute ago Yugi's face was twisted in fear... Why's he smiling? Has he gone past fear? Has he accepted that he's going to die?!
I do not like it when Pharaoh responds to things that Seto is thinking. *kicks him* >:/
Pharaoh: No, Kaiba! It's hope that you're seeing! My next card is... Exodia the Forbidden One!
Seto: :o *thinking* ..... ....what?! Exodia?
Pharaoh: I have all five cards! Exodia, awaken!
Seto: o.o;; It can't be... The Exodia cards... they really exist... where did he... where did he get them?
Then there are about 6 pages or so of Exodia destroying Blue-Eyes, and Seto's reaction, which is all pain and shock and >.<
Seto's words here are wavery! :/
Seto: M ..My Blue-Eyes White Dragons...! Th-they just... just...
Pharaoh: Your Blue-Eyes White Dragons were powerful... But even weak cards can join together sometimes. And together, they can create an infinite power which can defeat any enemy! It's over, Kaiba! I win!
Duel 40: A Piece of His Heart
Seto: *thinking, in shock* Th-this can't be happening! M-my Blue-Eyes White Dragons have been blown away! He had Exodia?! He summoned Exodia?! No... no! that would take a miracle!
Pharaoh: Miracles happen! As long as you remember the heart of the cards! I win. *the Eye symbol appears on his forehead* And for the loser, a Penalty Game! It's time for you to pay for your crimes!
Seto: O.O W... wait... I...
Pharaoh: Penalty Game! Mind Crush!
And this image. Is on the freaking center of the book. *&#%$# But it's a puzzle built almost like the Millennium Puzzle, only it's a globe, and it shatters - all the pieces flying apart from the center, and the pain and fear on Seto's face. ;_;
Pharaoh: I've destroyed the part of your heart that was filled with evil! Goodbye, Kaiba!
Cheering from the cheerleaders, and shock from the crowd. Anzu's thoughts are telling, here.
Anzu: *head bowed, tears in her eyes, thinking* Yugi... or is it the other one? No... it doesn't matter which one.... you're not the scared little boy you once were.
Pharaoh: *thinking* I did it, Grandpa! I beat Kaiba with your deck. Jounouchi! Honda... Anzu! Thanks for being there... when I needed you...
Then, amidst the cheering, the goons guarding Jou and Anzu start to twig that something's wrong with the boss, and Johji (little snotty nephew baby) finally wakes up again. Notices the gun. And pretends he's still sleeping. :P
Jounouchi: *thinking, as he looks back out of the corner of his eye* Now... gotta do something about these goons... But as long as he's got that gun... *glance* I can't put Anzu in danger! Crap! Can't take on two of them alone!
And then. This shadow appears behind them and takes out one of the goons. And I can't help but cheer, here, even with Seto down. Because it's Honda! He wasn't flattened! :D ...although, he is missing his jacket.
Honda: >:D Yo!
Jounouchi: Honda!! :D
Goon: Why, you!
Jounouchi: *while he is kicking butt on the second goon, mind* >:D Honda! You jerk! You survived after all! !
Honda: *assists in butt-kicking* Darn right!! I wasn't gonna let a bunch of blocks flatten me!!
>.> Yes, it's another statement of Illogical Macho, brought to you by the gentleman who will try to punch out a boulder come Duelist Kingdom. ... you know. Just in case you think he doesn't mean the above sentence. XD
Johji: Go, Hiroto! Kill him!
Anzu: Go Honda!!
As they both hit the same goon (they've been getting back up, the morons) Honda: There's too many guys askin' for a beating to leave this world yet!
The last goon, having gotten up and recovered his gun: You little brat! I'll kill you for this! *grabs Jou and puts the gun to his face*
Honda: Jounouchi!
Mokuba: That's enough! Let him go!
Goon: M-master Mokuba!
Mokuba: I said that's enough! The game is over!
Goon: Y-yes sir!
Jou: *through gritted teeth* Let go already!
Honda: *as an aside, to Jou* Is that...?
Jou: Yeah, his little brother! He's just as big a creep as the other one!
Honda: This 'creep' saved my life.
Jou: *pulls a face fault that's somewhere between >:o and O.o* Huh?!
Honda: *skeptical brow-tilting* I was locked in that room for awhile, with the blocks dropping, until this kid turned 'em off and got me out! So he's Kaiba's little brother...
Mokuba: *not meeting his eyes* HMPH! Don't take it personally! I just owed Yugi a favor... *noticing something* ...!
That something would of course be:
Jou: Yugi! You did it, Yugi!
Anzu: Oh Yugi!!
Honda: *thumbs up* Good job! Wish I could've been there!
Pharaoh: :D Honda!!
Honda: ...?! *another aside to Jou* Is it just me, or does Yugi seem different...?
Jou: ^^ Yugi is Yugi!
A happy moment of everyone beaming at Yugi x.x , then.
Pharaoh: Guys... You were there for me... Thank you....
More staring! >.< Then, Jou: You bet!
Then the point of view shifts to Mokuba's, and she's sort of smiling at him? This tiny smudge of a smile, with her eyebrows raised... almost like she really thinks he's going to come over and talk to them, when it's Yugi and Jou is already filling Honda in on everything.
Naturally, he starts walking away after a minute. Equally naturally, Anzu has to ruin the smooth and dignified exit. :P
Mokuba: *to henchmen* Let's go!
Anzu: ...! :o Mokuba...
Mokuba looks back, and it's... I love little family resemblances. Like the way he looks irritated, and then looks back without moving his head so much as an inch. XD So Seto-glaring, and yet there's no way Anzu can see this - she has to be going by the fact that he's stopped, here.
Anzu: Can you tell me something? Why did Kaiba do all this? Why did he plan this revenge ...?
Now, I think Anzu just wanted current back story, likely? She's... not that she's shallow, just very immediate most of the time. Like, her concerns seem to be what's right in front of her. Mokuba, however, took a far more philosophical view of this question - not, 'How did Yugi tick off your brother this badly?' but 'Why is he like this?'
... >.> Also there is the story itself, and the need to expand on the Kaibas' backstory, but ssssh. ^^;
Mokuba: It all started with that chess game...
Here begins some pretty condensed flashing back, which I have scanned and selected some of the more interesting panels. Some of it I think is provided for illustration, without Mokuba having actually seen it - or at least I hope. x.x
Mokuba: When brother was ten and I was five... We had already lost our parents... Mother died soon after I was born... ...Father died in an accident when I was three... Our relatives used up our inheritance, then left us in an orphanage! *them outside the orphanage, of course, and then Mokuba crying and trying to wipe his eyes*
Seto, age 10: Mokuba... don't cry! I'll make a good life for us someday! Listen to me! If you show weakness, it's over!! Don't trust anyone!
Mokuba: My brother was always saying that... But life at the orphanage wasn't all bad. Seto taught me chess. We lived to play each day... But that time.... when that picture was taken... was the last time I saw my brother smile. Not long after that... He came to the orphanage... to adopt an heir.... Gozaburo Kaiba... Seto knew he was the president of Kaiba Corporation... and a world Grandmaster of chess. My brother challenged him...
Gozaburo: Hahahaha! What did you just say?
Seto, 10: If I beat you in chess, I want you to adopt me and my brother!
Gozaburo: Heh... you're an interesting kid...
Mokuba: And Seto won... ...but he won by cheating! And so our last name changed to Kaiba... but the life we began that day was the opposite of what we had hoped for! That man Kaiba was a monster. He put my brother into a special accelerated school program. Day in and day out, he forced him to study: foreign languages, social studies, economics, game strategy... It was like endless torture.... But what he didn't realize was he wasn't creating his heir... he was creating a powerful enemy!
Kaiba Corp. Board Meeting, Six Years Later
Seto: The board has spoken! Starting today, Kaiba Corporation belongs to me! Have I learned what you wanted... "Father"?
Gozaburo's expression twitches a bit skeptically, but then: Seto! I lost my game with you! Burn this into your brain! This is what a loser deserves! Ha ha ha ha ha!
At which point the man jumps out of the window, and we learn this meeting has been taking place very near the top of a skyscraper.
And here it's not even clear if Mokuba's speaking or if we're only seeing what Seto was thinking, but.
Seto: Heh heh heh... To lose means to die... thank you... for teaching me...
In present time, in what must be a very uncomfortable silence, Yugi-tachi stare at Mokuba, who has stopped speaking. And is crying. ;_;
Mokuba: *thinking* If he hadn't cheated at that game that day... Maybe I would still have a brother... the way he used to be... *remembering the last smile* Maybe he wouldn't have forgotten how to smile...
Pharaoh: Mokuba... Right now, Kaiba is picking up the pieces of his heart in the darkness...
Mokuba: *looking up* :o Huh?!!
And they're both looking at Seto, who is. Well. >:/
Pharaoh: He's reassembling the shattered puzzle of his heart! One piece at a time, with his own strength... So that this time he won't make any mistakes...
Mokuba: *ever so slightly ...angry? annoyed?* :o *thinking* Brother...
And again. &%$# middle of the pages, but what looks to be 10 year old Seto, sitting in a spot of light, putting his own puzzle together - and as two of the pieces come together, there's an expression that might almost be a smile.
Mokuba: Yugi... My brother will come back, won't he...?
Pharaoh: Yes... someday... when he completes the puzzle... He will return...
Mokuba: *calm but with a tear still in his eye* I'll wait for you forever... I promise, big brother... Forever......
Then Yugi-tachi are outside, and the sun must be setting, their shadows are so long.
Jounouchi: Hey Yugi! I just got a call from Hanasaki at the hospital! Your Grandpa's surgery went great! They say he's the healthiest collectable card game player they're ever seen!
Yugi: *arms spread wide* :D Grandpa's okay! *thinking* Thank goodness!!
Jou: *grabs Yugi's hand and is spinning him around* Isn't that great, Yugi??
Yugi: Yup!! I wanna go see him right away! Let's all go to the hospital together! :D and @.@
Johji: *from his position of strapped onto Honda's back* I'm going too! The nurses at the hospital are hot!
Anzu is glaring while Honda looks over his shoulder: You go to sleep!
Jou: *thinking* Huh... come to think of it... When did Yugi change back to his usual self...? *outloud* Hey, Yugi... Are you...
Yugi: *innocence itself looking up* Hmm? What's up, Jounouchi?
Jou: *solid-eyed, tiny smile* Aww, it's nothing!
And grabs him in this one armed hug, and they're all walking off with their shadows stretching out in front of them and to the group's left, and Yugi's thinking sort of hovering - lookit, a voiceover!
Yugi: I knew right away what Jounouchi tried to ask me... After all... Today, for the first time, I can remember all the battles we fought together...
The End.
...As If.
He will wake up. Revenge will be had. >:)
Duel 36: Battle Beyond Hope
Mokuba: *thinking* Nuh... No way... It's a mistake... No... I... *shift to a closeup with lightning background* I... lost...?!?!
And Jou and Anzu are cheering, and the crowd is shocked that Mokuba lost at this. Someone yells 'Who is that pointy haired kid..!!', and Jou yells back, telling them his name.
Pharaoh, meanwhile, actually seems aware that all is not right here. He was leaning like he was trying to catch's Mokuba's eyes, but Mokuba... has his eyes squeezed shut and one hand in his hair and one clenched on the board, and he's saying "No way" over and over. So Pharaoh gets up, starts to leave, and then looks over his shoulder. : I'm going. *thinks* To the final stage where Kaiba is waiting ...!
And Mokuba. Whose eyes have gone solid, and whose face goes from angry to afraid as he speaks, yells to him: Wait! Yugi..!! I... I won't believe it! There's no way I could lose! All of my capsule monsters were higher level and stronger than yours! There was no way I could lose to you!!
Before Pharaoh can respond to this (not that he looked like he was going to) the screens above the duel box snap on, and Seto is looking down at them. "Kaiba!"
Seto: Mmeh heh... I've been waiting for you, Yugi! Good job. I've gotten bored of these amusements. Take that path to the elevator and rise to the final stage!
Pharaoh, looking up: :o ... >:o I will! Don't you go anywhere! You'll get your game all right, Kaiba!!
Okay. This is the point. Where I about choked, and actually wanted to slap Seto. Or possibly strangle him. Just so you know. x.x
Seto glares down at Mokuba, who cringes: S-Seto... Ah... I...
Seto: I've felt your pathetic, clinging, loser's gaze... staring at my back for years... I kept telling you over and over, Mokuba... If you play with fire you'll get burned...
Mokuba's expression is so sad and afraid and with sweatdrops : !! B-Big brother!
Seto: You understand, don't you? Only the winner is allowed out of that duel box! A penalty game awaits the loser! That is the law of "Death-T" !!
There is a 'click' where he's pushed the button, and the box starts to fill with smoke and monsters as it did with Grandpa.
Mokuba's expression just gets more and more afraid, and : *thinking* Huh... He wouldn't... My brother wouldn't do it to me... not that... Not "The experience of death!!"
And there is screaming, and Pharaoh stops in his walk to turn back in shock: :O Mokuba!! *thinking* Impossible!! Kaiba's putting his own brother through a penalty game!!!
And then we are in the box with Mokuba, and he's surrounded by the monsters and he's about to get eaten. Still yelling, and the only words in it are : S-Save me, big brother!
A hand appears in the swirling, and a voice : Mokuba!! Mokuba... Take my hand!
And then the panels. Of Pharaoh pulling him out just shy of getting bitten, and Mokuba seeing who pulled him out and snatching his hand away, still so scared.
Mokuba: Wh... Why...?! Why did you save me.. ?!
Pharaoh, hands in pockets again, for a minute (or a panel) keeps glaring (I think Mokuba hurt his widdle fweelings yanking his hand away) then a tiny smile: Mokuba... I wouldn't have won this game if I didn't have friends who reached out to me.
Mokuba: ! *thinking* Friends..?! *remembering Seto yelling at him* Mokuba! Until you realize that there is no such thing as brotherly love, you will always be a loser!
His hands are gripping his head as he yells : Noooo! B-b... And we don't see where he gets it from, but he looks down at a picture of him and Seto playing chess at the orphanage - there are three other boys watching them, and Seto has the slightest curve that might be a smile, and Mokuba is so very :D.
In the picture. ;_;
Mokuba: *thinking* Brother... My brother has changed... Ever since that day... It's like... He's been possessed by a demon of gaming... And he looks up at Pharaoh who is maybe a foot from the door now : *thinking* Yugi... Maybe when you face my brother...
Seto, briefcase in hand and henchman behind him : I'm heading to the final stage, "Death T-5!" *thinking with solid eyes and tiny toothy smile* My revenge will end there!!
Meanwhile - the crowd realizes that Yugi and Seto will be fighting upstairs! Oh no! So they all rush out of the bleachers and the henchmen inform Jou and Anzu they'll be going that way too. And this is one of the sweetest things Jou does, here. ^_^
Jou: You bet! Front row seats, if you please! Where we can get a good view when Yugi clobbers that jerk Kaiba! One more thing... Let me borrow your cell phone! *yoink!*
Guard: O.o
Anzu: Hey... Where are you calling?
Jou: The hospital where they took Yugi's Grandpa. Nobody could go with him, so I asked Hanasaki to check on him.
Hanasaki is a boy at their school whom they made friends with, but who sort of faded out of the story afterwards. : Ah, Jounouchi...! Yes... He's in emergency surgery right now... It started an hour ago... It's just... The surgeon says... There isn't much hope...
Jou: ...I see... Hanasaki.. Stay there and keep watch.
Hanasaki: Yes! I got it! *thinking* Please hang in there, Grandpa Mutou...
Anzu: How is he...?
Jou: It sounds bad...
Anzu: :/ ...!
Jou: Crap... Honda isn't answering his cell either... It can't get much worse...
Anzu: >:/ ...!
Jou: Anyway, right now... All we can do is watch over Yugi in his battle!
The next page is more like the next two pages, the panels spreading over it. From right to left - Pharaoh thinking of Jou and Anzu, standing there with guns pointed at them and Anzu still carrying Johji. Honda is under them. Yugi (?) standing in the empty room. Then Grandpa.
Pharaoh: *thinking* Kaiba... You've hurt my friends and family... I'll never forgive you, even if you beg for mercy!
Across from him is the dueling arena, a large dome instead of a box, and Seto with his solid eyes. The crowd cheering...
Seto: Welcome to the final stage, Yugi!
Now let's all say this with him! ;p Pharaoh: Kaiba!!!
They sit down at the table, arms crossed and glaring at each other. I assume a minute or so goes by without either of them saying anything, since Seto speaks next and it sounds like a response to silence.
Seto: Heh heh... words mean nothing to us anymore... what will decide our fates... are the cards!!
He lays his deck down, and Pharaoh does the same, only he looks as if he's drawing a gun or something. : All right! *thinking* Grandpa's deck and the heart of the cards!
But Seto is thinking, with that toothy grin of his: Mheh heh heh... I congratulate you on getting this far... It's almost a shame that this is where you'll probably die... I have in my deck three of the strongest cards in the world, the unfathomably rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon! No card exists that can defeat them!!
Pharaoh: *thinking* I believe in my Grandpa's deck...
Seto: Before starting the game... We will cut and shuffle each other's decks!!
And they've done so and are putting down the decks? You can see the ink on Yugi's hand, smudged but still recognizable. With Jou and Anzu above them watching the duel start, then the panel showing them laying down their cards, then one of those split-scenes where you see half of each person's face? Both of them holding their cards.
Pharaoh: Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress! Attack mode!
Seto: I'll take you on! My card is -- Hitotsu-Me Giant!
Pharaoh: Fire Ball !!! Your Cyclops was destroyed with that attack! And you lose 200 life points!
Seto: Heh... That doesn't hurt... a bit!
Duel 37: To The Death!
The briefest recap of the first exchange of cards, and the crowd's surprise that Yugi won it. <<
Seto: *thinking* Mheh heh... I let you win the first exchange. My deck has three Blue Eyes White Dragon cards! This duel is already won! Surprisingly, not smirking there - poker face perhaps?
Pharaoh: *thinking* I believe in Grandpa's deck!! I will defeat Kaiba!! But will he learn to stop repeating himself?! ...seriously, you know. He does it without being in a recap. <.<
Seto takes his time looking at a card, and then lifts his eyes to look at Pharaoh, who has also been paying serious attention to this. : Mmeh heh... Yugi... I can feel your puny heart pounding every time I draw a card. That's because you know the moment I draw my Blue Eyes White Dragon, you will die...
Silence and a sweatdrop from the Pharaoh.
Seto: The card I draw is... The Wicked Worm Beast!! It equals the Winged Dragon in both level and attack points!! Worm Beast, kill him!
Pharaoh: I'll take you on!
Seto: Worm Beast attack! Poison Soul! Its acid spray attacks the dragon!
Pharaoh: But the Winged Dragon has the power of flight! This gives it a 35% chance to evade! It made it!
Seto: Tch...
Pharaoh: And now, counter attack! Fire Ball! The Winged Dragon destroys the Worm Beast!!
Seto: *solid eyed yet unaffected* Hmph. Since their attack points were the same my life points aren't affected. Big deal. Round three...
Shock from the crowd, cheering from the cheerleaders.
Seto: My turn is over, but I don't have any monsters on the field... according to the first edition rules, this means I can put out a free monster in defense mode using one of the cards in my hand. Now, which one should I use... This one has good defense. I'll make it my barrier monster!
Pharaoh: My turn! I draw a card from my deck! *looking up at the monster, who's crouched and folded up, and thinking* I'm not familiar with the card Kaiba just played... If I attack him and his defense is higher than my attack points, I would be the one damaged... *outloud* I'll play my card in defense mode as well. Turn over!
Seto: *solid eyed and with a tiny toothy grin* Mheh heh... I get it... You plan to build up a strong defense before I draw a Blue Eyes White Dragon... But... ...that won't work! I was a champion before I owned a Blue-Eyes, and even without one, I can defeat you! I'll prove that right now! I change my barrier monster from defense to attack mode!!
Pharaoh: *sweatdropping slightly as the monster stands* That's... Saggi the Dark Clown!
Seto: Mmeh heh... Saggi could never defeat the Winged Dragon at his current attack power. That's why... I use the spell card "Dark Energy" to triple his attack power!! Now! Kill the dragon! Dark Glide! Mmmm heh heh heh heh... "Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress" is destroyed!! What do you think? Just your basic combo...The power of Saggi the Dark Clown enhanced by the spell card Dark Energy!
And here we see the problem with Pharaoh dueling without Yugi. <<;;
Pharaoh: *thinking* Grrrr... Strong cards alone aren't enough to win in this game! Using monsters together with spell cards is the key to victory!! Kaiba knows this game inside and out!! *outloud* But Grandpa built this deck! He's a game master! *thinking again* There must be a trump to defeat Kaiba in here!
And. He pulls out a card. That reads : 'Left Leg of the Forbidden One'
Pharaoh: *thinking* Grrrr - Useless!
We shall now pause for a moment of howling laughter, followed by a silent headdesking on behalf of Yugi, who could no doubt tell him exactly what it is useful for - if only they were communicating at this point. AHAHAHA!! >:D
Meanwhile, Seto would be blinking at the non-sequiter above?
Yes. Story-time. Isn't it fun how even in the darkest hours, story-time co-incides with 'let's laugh at Pharaoh' time? >:)
He then draws Sangan. : *thinking* This card can't defeat Saggi the Dark Clown. *again, outloud* I'll play another monster in defense mode and wait him out!
...okay. Either he is speaking softly to himself, or Seto has got to be thinking the guy has snapped already. XD
However, he gives no sign of that. Seto: >:D Let's start from the left! Dark Glide!
Say bye-bye to Sangan! ;p
Pharaoh: *thinking* !! Curses...
Seto: Mmheh heh heh...
Pharaoh: *thinking* No good! Now that Saggi's been powered up, the cards in my hand are no match for him!
The crowd cheers Seto! The cheerleaders freak because they can see Pharaoh freaking! And we move on to some shiny mocking. >:)
Seto: Yugi... You disappoint me! I don't even need my Blue-Eyes for this duel!!
Pharaoh: -.-;;
Seto: But what do you expect with the deck that failure of an old man left behind! I can hear the gasps of his last breaths echoing from the cards! Ha ha ha ha!
Pharaoh: >:o !! *insert memory of Grandpa telling Yugi to go forth and kick Kaiba's butt* Kaiba... Do your cards have the power of your trust?!
Seto: *suddenly still* ...! What do you mean?
Pharaoh: I believe in these cards!! Gaia the Fierce Knight!!
Seto: o.o *thinking* Gaia the Fierce Knight! The most powerful card in the warrior class!
Pharaoh: Go, Dark Knight! Vanquish Saggi! Spiral Saber! *Saggi dies, with sound-effect wording* One down!
Crowd: *cheering which notes that they're even again and this is a really great duel*
Jou: *cheering that Yugi realizes Grandpa's cards don't suck* <<
Seto: Well, well... I suppose the deck of a game store owner would have to have a decent card or two... Life Points: 1300
Pharaoh: You can't predict this duel... Not until the very end... Life Points: 1400
Seto: Mheh heh heh... Don't get arrogant... I know how this will end! It's my turn now!
And then. The manic grin. >:D
Seto: I've drawn the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!! Wa ha ha ha! *Blue Eyes appears, looming over Gaia* Too bad! Just after you'd drawn your trump card!!
Pharaoh: O.O;;
XD Cheers all around! Except for Jou and Anzu, who aren't much better off than Pharaoh. >:D
Seto: *still smiling* Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack! Burst Stream of Destruction! Die, Gaia - and prepare a place in hell for your master!
Gaia: *dies in the beautiful attack of Blue-Eyes ^^ with a scream beside him, no less* XD
Seto: >:D Wa ha ha ha! Well, Yugi? And remember, I still have two more Blue-Eyes White Dragons in this deck! You're finished!
Jou and Anzu: :( Yugi, no!
Pharaoh: o.o; *thinking* Grandpa... what should I do...?
*waves hand* Ohohoh! I know! The first thing is to stop sitting there cowering like an idiot 'cause it's not going to help! >:P In less, of course, Seto were to become incapacitated by laughter. Ha!
Duel 38: The Terror of Blue-Eyes!!
More with the cheering of the crowd! >:) Because 'nothing can beat a Blue-Eyes!' >:D
...why, yes. I am ignoring that this is a setup for Seto's eventual painful defeat - how about you? ;p
Seto: *smirking grin, points to Pharaoh* Now, Yugi... Draw! No matter what monster you bring out, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon will blow it away! Mheh heh heh!
Pharaoh draws Feral Imp, so : *thinking* No good - this card won't last more than an instant! *outloud* Defense Mode!
Seto: Attack! Kill! Destroy! Slaughter! It's painful to watch! As long as you play your monsters in Defense Mode, your life points don't change... No matter how many monsters I slaughter! But! You're only drawing out your inevitable demise!
Pharaoh: >:/ *with sweatdrops, thinking* Kaiba's right! But if I play a monster in attack mode, I lose...!
Seto: *solid-eyed and calmly smug* Now, play your next monster! Eventually, you'll run out of cards! Then you lose!
Pharaoh: *thinking as he stares at his hand* It's no good! My cards' attack scores just aren't high enough... *outloud* Defense Mode!
Seto: Attack...! ...is that what you expect me to do? I won't... not this time! Rather than put your "Beaver Warrior" out of its misery, I'll draw another card! I'll increase the size of my army!
Pharaoh: :o *thinking with sweatdrops!* Hrrrm... I knew this was coming! (Again, here the sharp edges would suggest he’s speaking rather than thinking? But I can't imagine that Seto wouldn't have some response directly to the words. ) Each monster can only defend against the attack of one enemy monster... If he brings out more monsters, I won't have enough defenders to stop them! I'll lose in the next turn!
The requisite shot of Seto looking at his card. ^^
Seto: *still looking at the card* It looks like the goddess of victory is on my side... *looking up* My next card is...!
Pharaoh: O.O;;; *thinking* Whaaa
What do you think, moron?! XD
Seto: Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!!
Pharaoh: Two Blue-Eyes White Dragons!!
Awww. *pets Pharaoh* Lookit, he can count! *searches for a cookie to give him*
Seto: Mheh heh heh! Next turn these two will attack at the same time! Your life is over, Yugi!
Pharaoh: *thinking* Ulp... I could play another monster this turn, but next turn I'd be defenseless! His dragons can kill two of my monsters each turn, but I can only draw one new card! I've lost...
Seto: *toothy grin, thinking* I've won!
The cheering of the crowd! The despondency of Jou (and Anzu? But we don't see her at the moment) ... ... ... The coming of the words of doom. >:/ Shall I continue, or break to look for something painfully sharp with which to stab %$#@*
...story-time. The telling must continue! ^^;
Pharaoh. With bowed head. Suddenly remembers Grandpa! :o and then : *thinking* I... I won't give up! I'm not fighting this duel alone!! *outloud* Everything rides on this card! *GASP* I've drawn the spell card, "Swords of Revealing Light!"
Seto: What?!!
Pharaoh: The Swords of Light bind your Blue-Eyes White Dragons! *thinking* Now I'm safe... even if just for three turns!
Seto: >:/ Feh... You still haven't given up? You're beginning to annoy me...
Insert cheerleading here! ...Perhaps imagine what Honda, Mai or even Ryou might say if they were present for this &*%$. ...if the latter two even existed yet. ....oooh, that's a fun thought. Perhaps somewhere, at this very moment in this universe, Mai is kicking some stupid rich jerk's butt at this very game! >:D Ryou is wondering what's happening to him/ Bakura is doing something fun involving other people's souls! XD Pegasus might already be scheming towards Duelist Kingdom!
And Malik has surely ditched his dear sister and begun the grand scheme of World Domination! >:D
...What? O:-) World Domination takes time, and all those people's whose brains had to be washed, Rishid no doubt trying to convince his Master to go home (or possibly to stop using the Rod as a sex toy, who knows? ) XD
Also I love this image of the various looming darknessess - omg. Duke! XD
*deep breaths* Okay. Story time. Really.
A neat little overhead shot of clenched fists and glaring, and then Seto: *calming* Well... You've used up the last of your luck, anyway... You can only bind the Blue-Eyes for three turns! What can you do in that short time?
Pharaoh: *thinking* ... ...He's right... I've only extended my life three turns... There's nothing I can do...
See, here I have to pause again. Because every time the guy says something, he's taking it back the next second!!! Stop saying/thinking things if you don't mean them you idiot!!! *strangles Pharaoh* ... <.<
Seto: Now... It's my turn to draw a card... *smirking* I'll put this monster in Defense Mode. That way the Blue-Eyes White Dragons will have the honor of finishing you off. That's how I envisioned this finale from the start. Now let's begin the countdown to your death. Draw your card You have three turns!
And. Now we may all laugh at the Pharaoh very hard. As he stares at the Pieces! of! Exodia! and thinks the following.
Pharaoh: *thinking* I have four cards in my hand... Only one is a monster card I can use in battle... The other three are useless... I don't even know what they mean... These are junk cards... There's no way to defeat Kaiba... The spell card that I managed to draw - The Swords of Revealing Light - is only a ploy for time... I really lose... >:/
And this is the first time we see them split, the Pharaoh still looking ticked, while Yugi is more :( And this - vision? Hallucination? Hyper-active imagination moment ala Miles Vorkosigan? Is allll Yugi.
Yugi: *standing in blackness* ... :(
Sugoroku: *appears out of the blackness behind him*
Yugi: :o Grandpa!
Sugoroku: Ho ho... You look down, Yugi... Yugi... Have you given up? That's not like you...
Yugi: :( But... What can I do?
Sugoroku: Yugi... Not too long ago you were suffering. Remember how you got over it that time...
Yugi: Huh...?! ... The Millennium Puzzle! I completed the Millennium Puzzle!
Sugoroku: Mmhm... You put each piece of that puzzle in its place... You didn't give up... You believed in yourself, and completed the Puzzle even though it took you eight years!
Yugi: :o Yup!
Sugoroku: Yugi! There is nothing meaningless in this world! Like pieces of a puzzle. The cards as well...
And with these amazingly enigmatic words, Sugoroku vanishes! >:P Don't you love how his words of guidance are like, 'Remember how miserable you were before you were a time-share for an ancient Egyptian psycho? *hinthint* There's a similar solution now!
You know? In someone else's story, this would be Yugi slipping further down the path of the Dark Side. ;p
Yeah, yeah. Story-time!
Yugi: *turning around to watch as his Grandpa vanishes* Huh...?! Grandpa... The Millennium Puzzle... and the cards?
And back to reality, where Pharaoh's eyes snap open: :o ! *gasps* *thinking* Exodia!! Can it be... This deck of cards...? Can it really have Exodia?!
Meanwhile, having apparently decided Yugi has exhausted his 10-minute Internal Dialogue Session - it's in the rules, you know :P - Seto has gotten a wee bit impatient!
Seto : >:o Yugi! What are you waiting for! Draw your card!
Now. Let the confusion begin! Since Pharaoh also calls Sugoroku 'Grandpa', is this him thinking or is it Yugi? Is this the first time they speak to each other, instead of about? Who knows?! And why, for the love of little fuzzy dice, do I even care?! >:P Stupid exhaustion. I stick with who's in control of their body for the speaking. @.@
Pharaoh (?) : *thinking!* That's it! Grandpa once told me something once! In Duel Monsters, cards usually work alone. One card summons one monster... But there is one monster that's different... an experiment by the makers of Duel Monsters... Where you have to collect five cards in order to summon it...
*flashback* (which has to be Yugi's, because he's not wearing the Puzzle - hence before Pharaoh’s time, if one can use that phrase >:P ) Grandpa: That's the story, Yugi... But the odds are against it! Only a few people know what these cards are for! No one has ever collected all five and managed to use them in a game! In other words, no one has ever seen the Summoned God, Exodia... even me!
*thinking* Exodia! Grandpa has those five cards in this deck...!
Pharaoh: *outloud no less* The Legs of the Forbidden One! And the Left Arm! I get it! You collect the sealed parts of his body! I have three of the cards in my hand now!!
Seto: That's enough, Yugi! You're just stalling to extend your miserable existence! Draw your card!
Pharaoh: Yes! I'll draw now! *draws the Right Arm* I've collected four of the cards!
Um, no, you've drawn four of them - Sugoroku did the collecting, sothere! >:P
Seto: *thinking suspiciously* Mmm... Yugi's expression has changed... Heh... But there's no card better than the Blue-Eyes White Dragon... Yugi's hope is like the last flicker of a candle before it's blown out... *outloud* My turn... Well, it's dull just sitting here so... I'll use the Judgeman to destroy your defense monster... The stress will do you good... *say bye-bye Beaver Warrior!* Mheh heh heh... Two turns left!
Pharaoh: >:. *thinking* The Dark Magician! I could put it in defense mode, but it won't matter against two Blue-Eyes White Dragons... *outloud* I play this card in Attack Mode! Judgeman, die!
Seto: *contemptful glare* Feh... The futile struggles of the condemned!
Pharaoh: Black Magic!! Judgeman is destroyed! Kaiba! I won't give up on this duel until the end! I'll take every chance I get to chip away at your life points! You lost 300 points with that move!
Seto: *looking down slightly* Mheh heh heh... Is that so... *looking up :) * It's the last turn! You have no chance left... And the last card is... The third Blue-Eyes White Dragon!!!
Pharaoh: O.O !!
Seto: Burst Stream of Destruction!! Destroy the Dark Magician!!
Pharaoh: Gulp...
Seto?: *now looking particularly maniacal* Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Now! Draw your last card, Yugi! No matter what card you draw , you will die!
Jou: Yugi! No!
Duel 39: Endgame
One sentence from the recap.
Seto: >:D Now, the Blue-Eyes White Dragons have been released! On the next turn, the three Blue-Eyes will attack together and you'll go to negative 8800 life points!
Because I love the image of -8,800 points, even though I doubt the little counter would show that. XD
Pharaoh: *thinking* In my hand I have four pieces of the Forbidden One... both arms... both legs... If these are the cards Grandpa was talking about... the cards to summon the Forgotten God Exodia... If I can get all five I'll be able to summon Exodia! All I need to do is draw the last card! But... But it's impossible! 40 cards in my deck... 5 cards in my hand... What are the chances of drawing the one I need? Am I... Am I going to lose...?
YES! ...I so wish. It would be amusing. ...also, he seems to have forgotten how to count - there's no way there are 40 cards still in his deck after Seto's Blue-Eyes was rampaging through his defense monsters. Also, -5 for his hand. Also I am nitpicking in my mocking, but I don't care about that. ^^;
Seto. Is sooo happy! XD It's like if he were any younger, he'd be bouncing up and down in his seat, chanting 'Diediedieeee! You're gonna die now, you know that? You know that, right, because you're gonna die? Dieee! XD And I did it! With my Blue-Eyes. *beams at the dragons* >:D'
Seto: *looking particularly manic for a moment - his eyes are doing that gleefully evil O.o thing* Do it now!! Pick your card!! Yugi!!
Pharaoh: :o *sweatdrops*
Seto: *thinking* *possibly because he doesn't trust himself to speak XD* Mheh heh heh...You're just delaying the inevitable... No matter what card you draw, there's nothing that can stand against the might of three Blue-Eyes White Dragons!
And Pharaoh. XD Is actually reaching for the card without taking his eyes off Seto. XD
Seto: *still thinking* That's it! Draw the card and you can rest - in peace! Rest for eternity in the blackness of death!
Pharaoh: *looks down finally* I should be able to reach the cards... but they seem so far away all of a sudden!
And then - it's like his cards are sitting on Seto's side of the table. Like he'd have to reach into the curling dragons, and frankly Seto looks like he might bite too. XD In order to draw his card. <.<
Pharaoh: O.O No! It's not the cards! It's me! I'm trying to escape - to get out of drawing it! My fear is making the distance wider! -.- I'm afraid... afraid to draw the last card....
Next. He sees their hands, Anzu and Jou and Honda. The smiley face. *&%$#@ smiley face. >:p
Pharaoh: *thinking* "If we're ever alone, we just have to think of this smiley face"
Everyone is there and smiling at him and it doesn't show who says this, but - 'We're here for you, Yugi!' And he responds: :o Everyone! And puts out his hand to complete the Smiley Face Circle of Friendship.
Perhaps in a more sympathetic mood, I would not be hissing at this? But then again.
Seto
Pharaoh: *thinking* My friends are with me... Thanks, everyone... I won't be afraid anymore.
Seto: :o *thinking* Mmm...? What happened? A minute ago Yugi's face was twisted in fear... Why's he smiling? Has he gone past fear? Has he accepted that he's going to die?!
I do not like it when Pharaoh responds to things that Seto is thinking. *kicks him* >:/
Pharaoh: No, Kaiba! It's hope that you're seeing! My next card is... Exodia the Forbidden One!
Seto: :o *thinking* ..... ....what?! Exodia?
Pharaoh: I have all five cards! Exodia, awaken!
Seto: o.o;; It can't be... The Exodia cards... they really exist... where did he... where did he get them?
Then there are about 6 pages or so of Exodia destroying Blue-Eyes, and Seto's reaction, which is all pain and shock and >.<
Seto's words here are wavery! :/
Seto: M ..My Blue-Eyes White Dragons...! Th-they just... just...
Pharaoh: Your Blue-Eyes White Dragons were powerful... But even weak cards can join together sometimes. And together, they can create an infinite power which can defeat any enemy! It's over, Kaiba! I win!
Duel 40: A Piece of His Heart
Seto: *thinking, in shock* Th-this can't be happening! M-my Blue-Eyes White Dragons have been blown away! He had Exodia?! He summoned Exodia?! No... no! that would take a miracle!
Pharaoh: Miracles happen! As long as you remember the heart of the cards! I win. *the Eye symbol appears on his forehead* And for the loser, a Penalty Game! It's time for you to pay for your crimes!
Seto: O.O W... wait... I...
Pharaoh: Penalty Game! Mind Crush!
And this image. Is on the freaking center of the book. *&#%$# But it's a puzzle built almost like the Millennium Puzzle, only it's a globe, and it shatters - all the pieces flying apart from the center, and the pain and fear on Seto's face. ;_;
Pharaoh: I've destroyed the part of your heart that was filled with evil! Goodbye, Kaiba!
Cheering from the cheerleaders, and shock from the crowd. Anzu's thoughts are telling, here.
Anzu: *head bowed, tears in her eyes, thinking* Yugi... or is it the other one? No... it doesn't matter which one.... you're not the scared little boy you once were.
Pharaoh: *thinking* I did it, Grandpa! I beat Kaiba with your deck. Jounouchi! Honda... Anzu! Thanks for being there... when I needed you...
Then, amidst the cheering, the goons guarding Jou and Anzu start to twig that something's wrong with the boss, and Johji (little snotty nephew baby) finally wakes up again. Notices the gun. And pretends he's still sleeping. :P
Jounouchi: *thinking, as he looks back out of the corner of his eye* Now... gotta do something about these goons... But as long as he's got that gun... *glance* I can't put Anzu in danger! Crap! Can't take on two of them alone!
And then. This shadow appears behind them and takes out one of the goons. And I can't help but cheer, here, even with Seto down. Because it's Honda! He wasn't flattened! :D ...although, he is missing his jacket.
Honda: >:D Yo!
Jounouchi: Honda!! :D
Goon: Why, you!
Jounouchi: *while he is kicking butt on the second goon, mind* >:D Honda! You jerk! You survived after all! !
Honda: *assists in butt-kicking* Darn right!! I wasn't gonna let a bunch of blocks flatten me!!
>.> Yes, it's another statement of Illogical Macho, brought to you by the gentleman who will try to punch out a boulder come Duelist Kingdom. ... you know. Just in case you think he doesn't mean the above sentence. XD
Johji: Go, Hiroto! Kill him!
Anzu: Go Honda!!
As they both hit the same goon (they've been getting back up, the morons) Honda: There's too many guys askin' for a beating to leave this world yet!
The last goon, having gotten up and recovered his gun: You little brat! I'll kill you for this! *grabs Jou and puts the gun to his face*
Honda: Jounouchi!
Mokuba: That's enough! Let him go!
Goon: M-master Mokuba!
Mokuba: I said that's enough! The game is over!
Goon: Y-yes sir!
Jou: *through gritted teeth* Let go already!
Honda: *as an aside, to Jou* Is that...?
Jou: Yeah, his little brother! He's just as big a creep as the other one!
Honda: This 'creep' saved my life.
Jou: *pulls a face fault that's somewhere between >:o and O.o* Huh?!
Honda: *skeptical brow-tilting* I was locked in that room for awhile, with the blocks dropping, until this kid turned 'em off and got me out! So he's Kaiba's little brother...
Mokuba: *not meeting his eyes* HMPH! Don't take it personally! I just owed Yugi a favor... *noticing something* ...!
That something would of course be:
Jou: Yugi! You did it, Yugi!
Anzu: Oh Yugi!!
Honda: *thumbs up* Good job! Wish I could've been there!
Pharaoh: :D Honda!!
Honda: ...?! *another aside to Jou* Is it just me, or does Yugi seem different...?
Jou: ^^ Yugi is Yugi!
A happy moment of everyone beaming at Yugi x.x , then.
Pharaoh: Guys... You were there for me... Thank you....
More staring! >.< Then, Jou: You bet!
Then the point of view shifts to Mokuba's, and she's sort of smiling at him? This tiny smudge of a smile, with her eyebrows raised... almost like she really thinks he's going to come over and talk to them, when it's Yugi and Jou is already filling Honda in on everything.
Naturally, he starts walking away after a minute. Equally naturally, Anzu has to ruin the smooth and dignified exit. :P
Mokuba: *to henchmen* Let's go!
Anzu: ...! :o Mokuba...
Mokuba looks back, and it's... I love little family resemblances. Like the way he looks irritated, and then looks back without moving his head so much as an inch. XD So Seto-glaring, and yet there's no way Anzu can see this - she has to be going by the fact that he's stopped, here.
Anzu: Can you tell me something? Why did Kaiba do all this? Why did he plan this revenge ...?
Now, I think Anzu just wanted current back story, likely? She's... not that she's shallow, just very immediate most of the time. Like, her concerns seem to be what's right in front of her. Mokuba, however, took a far more philosophical view of this question - not, 'How did Yugi tick off your brother this badly?' but 'Why is he like this?'
... >.> Also there is the story itself, and the need to expand on the Kaibas' backstory, but ssssh. ^^;
Mokuba: It all started with that chess game...
Here begins some pretty condensed flashing back, which I have scanned and selected some of the more interesting panels. Some of it I think is provided for illustration, without Mokuba having actually seen it - or at least I hope. x.x
Mokuba: When brother was ten and I was five... We had already lost our parents... Mother died soon after I was born... ...Father died in an accident when I was three... Our relatives used up our inheritance, then left us in an orphanage! *them outside the orphanage, of course, and then Mokuba crying and trying to wipe his eyes*
Seto, age 10: Mokuba... don't cry! I'll make a good life for us someday! Listen to me! If you show weakness, it's over!! Don't trust anyone!
Mokuba: My brother was always saying that... But life at the orphanage wasn't all bad. Seto taught me chess. We lived to play each day... But that time.... when that picture was taken... was the last time I saw my brother smile. Not long after that... He came to the orphanage... to adopt an heir.... Gozaburo Kaiba... Seto knew he was the president of Kaiba Corporation... and a world Grandmaster of chess. My brother challenged him...
Gozaburo: Hahahaha! What did you just say?
Seto, 10: If I beat you in chess, I want you to adopt me and my brother!
Gozaburo: Heh... you're an interesting kid...
Mokuba: And Seto won... ...but he won by cheating! And so our last name changed to Kaiba... but the life we began that day was the opposite of what we had hoped for! That man Kaiba was a monster. He put my brother into a special accelerated school program. Day in and day out, he forced him to study: foreign languages, social studies, economics, game strategy... It was like endless torture.... But what he didn't realize was he wasn't creating his heir... he was creating a powerful enemy!
Kaiba Corp. Board Meeting, Six Years Later
Seto: The board has spoken! Starting today, Kaiba Corporation belongs to me! Have I learned what you wanted... "Father"?
Gozaburo's expression twitches a bit skeptically, but then: Seto! I lost my game with you! Burn this into your brain! This is what a loser deserves! Ha ha ha ha ha!
At which point the man jumps out of the window, and we learn this meeting has been taking place very near the top of a skyscraper.
And here it's not even clear if Mokuba's speaking or if we're only seeing what Seto was thinking, but.
Seto: Heh heh heh... To lose means to die... thank you... for teaching me...
In present time, in what must be a very uncomfortable silence, Yugi-tachi stare at Mokuba, who has stopped speaking. And is crying. ;_;
Mokuba: *thinking* If he hadn't cheated at that game that day... Maybe I would still have a brother... the way he used to be... *remembering the last smile* Maybe he wouldn't have forgotten how to smile...
Pharaoh: Mokuba... Right now, Kaiba is picking up the pieces of his heart in the darkness...
Mokuba: *looking up* :o Huh?!!
And they're both looking at Seto, who is. Well. >:/
Pharaoh: He's reassembling the shattered puzzle of his heart! One piece at a time, with his own strength... So that this time he won't make any mistakes...
Mokuba: *ever so slightly ...angry? annoyed?* :o *thinking* Brother...
And again. &%$# middle of the pages, but what looks to be 10 year old Seto, sitting in a spot of light, putting his own puzzle together - and as two of the pieces come together, there's an expression that might almost be a smile.
Mokuba: Yugi... My brother will come back, won't he...?
Pharaoh: Yes... someday... when he completes the puzzle... He will return...
Mokuba: *calm but with a tear still in his eye* I'll wait for you forever... I promise, big brother... Forever......
Then Yugi-tachi are outside, and the sun must be setting, their shadows are so long.
Jounouchi: Hey Yugi! I just got a call from Hanasaki at the hospital! Your Grandpa's surgery went great! They say he's the healthiest collectable card game player they're ever seen!
Yugi: *arms spread wide* :D Grandpa's okay! *thinking* Thank goodness!!
Jou: *grabs Yugi's hand and is spinning him around* Isn't that great, Yugi??
Yugi: Yup!! I wanna go see him right away! Let's all go to the hospital together! :D and @.@
Johji: *from his position of strapped onto Honda's back* I'm going too! The nurses at the hospital are hot!
Anzu is glaring while Honda looks over his shoulder: You go to sleep!
Jou: *thinking* Huh... come to think of it... When did Yugi change back to his usual self...? *outloud* Hey, Yugi... Are you...
Yugi: *innocence itself looking up* Hmm? What's up, Jounouchi?
Jou: *solid-eyed, tiny smile* Aww, it's nothing!
And grabs him in this one armed hug, and they're all walking off with their shadows stretching out in front of them and to the group's left, and Yugi's thinking sort of hovering - lookit, a voiceover!
Yugi: I knew right away what Jounouchi tried to ask me... After all... Today, for the first time, I can remember all the battles we fought together...
The End.
...As If.
He will wake up. Revenge will be had. >:)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-09 09:25 am (UTC)(can they ditch the creepy little kid now? Please take his little pervy butt home!)...I want a Mokuba plushie^^
(no subject)
Date: 2005-05-09 12:01 pm (UTC)^_^ Plushies. I wanna plushies. ...I am now picturing a plushy Seto beating up a plushie Pharaoh with his soft fluffy Duel Disk, and Pharaoh laughing because it is a soft and fluffy Duel Disk. *chokes*
...maybe it is time for sleeping. >>