(no subject)

[spoke]

Last time, on insane Yu-Gi-Oh squee! I gleefully pointed out how very shippily different a certain bit of conversation is in the manga. ^^ Well, last time I did anything of depth, rather than simply saying Squeeeee! >.>

Now there is more squeee! And also pointing out other differences, some of which I may end up making separate entries for. >.>

Because the thing about the Pharaoh/Yami no Yugi potentially being evil? Duelist Kingdom!! Freaking DK, and Yugi got over that waaay too quickly, too. I remind myself this is the boy who thought keeping quiet about murders and insanity was an acceptable price for keeping his friends, but still. :P

So. Roughly speaking, the Mai vs. Yugi (s) and Keith vs. Jou duels went about the same. ...Keith? Cusses a lot. Unfortunately, we don't get to see the &$#@ cussing, as it is $#@%-ed out. %&*#!!

And that should give you an idea what it looks like. x.x

However, nobody in the manga-verse will ever have to deal with Keith's foul-mouthed self again, as Pegasus hit him with a Penalty Game. He shows up in the corridor as Pegasus is heading to duel Yugi, and demands the prize money. Pegasus tells his guard he won't be needed. There is an exchange that amounts to -

Keith : You suck, &%$# gimmie the money.

Pegasus: Hmmm. I seem to have broken you back when we first dueled. >> Well then! Penalty Game!

And Keith shoots himself with his finger. Seriously. Because Pegasus made him believe it was a gun, and well. He dies. XD I should perhaps be aghast at the casual murder? But the guy shot himself with his finger. *dies laughing* It is such a warped Penalty Game, and it so fits Pegasus, in his grim yet cheerfully cartoony brand of nuts.

So. Before this happens, Jou and the Pharaoh (still sticking with that, for the time being) talk and decide they're not going to duel. Very friendshippy touching conversation, with Jou not wanting to burden him and the Pharaoh saying it's not a burden, it's an added incentive to win. ^^ Jounouchi gives him the card, and the Pharaoh dramatically turns and holds it towards Pegasus. And he lets it stand. He talks about looking forward to the challenge, as Yugi has taken on the wishes of his friend and his dueling spirit is afire. >.>

*insert Keith dying here*

And then things get a big creepy. Creeepy. In that way that, while I love him to death, I continue to be freaked on behalf of Yugi-tachi when Bakura is there and nobody notices but Honda!!! Seee! Ryou doesn't say these things!

That cut-off text?

Honda: Am I the only one who notices? I guess now isn't the time to say anything...

Yes you're the only one who notices! >:o Honda, you freaking moron, there is never a wrong time to share that you think the psychopathic soul-collecting murderer is back! Never, do you hear me?!! XD omg, I died. I continue to die. And hope for their sakes that he remembers to say something about this.

Dude.*deep breaths* Story-time. Yes.

Then we go to the final showdown! Yugi vs. Pegasus! Psuedo-innocent high schooler vs. the grown man obsessed with cartoons and card games!

...I don't know why I felt it necessary to phrase it that way, it just struck me. They both present a certain slant on innocence. *files under 'think more later' *

It actually proceeds pretty much like the anime - but behold! Bakura the anti-cheerleader!

And then the Pharaoh hits the wall that is Toon World, and has Magical Hats and the Dark Magician out. There's a nice bit of drama, where one 'episode' ends with Pegasus not knowing how he could have missed the DM when he knew where it was and being mocked by Yugi - and the next going back a second in time to explain it.

And a very interesting explanation it is, too. First times are always interesting. ;p

The Pharaoh is all >:/ and ticked that he can't seem to win - and he hears this voice calling him. : "Other me..." ?? "Can you hear me? Can you hear my voice? Other me!!"

Duh, of course it is Yugi! And he goes to him, and it's cut off in the scan, but Yugi says: "You did it! You heard my voice!" Fear the cuteness!

Also fear the power of a Yugi armed with a pouty frown and superior logic. >.> For lo, he wields these weapons to make the Pharaoh accept his tag-team tactics, and the butt-kicking begins! >:D

There is much trash-talking and blows exchanged, and the Pharaoh tells Pegasus that he is a coward who relies too much on his Eye - one has to wonder if he intends that to be ironic, or if it's just thoughtless hypocrisy? - and that when it comes to real confidence in one's skillz, his partner is ten times better. XD

Alternate presentation!
teh Pharaoh: You suck! >:/

Pegasus: *flashes the Eye* Mwahahaha! It is so much fun pwning you! >:D *preenpreen*

teh Pharaoh: Oh yeah! Well you suck because you couldn't duel without that Eye telling you what my cards are! But I'm dueling even though I don't know what my cards are! 'Cause Yugi's got confidence in his skillz like that! Who's pwned now?! .... >.>;; *slight panic due to, hello, not knowing what card he's got*

Pegasus: *smugs* You are, once I play this.

Sadly, Pegasus becomes less toonily smug and more mystical/psycho as he begins to realize he is getting pwnd - he snarls some and then tells him how it was seven years ago that he made this card game, blah blah ~Egypt!~ You want to go there, for there lies the origin of all card games tarot cards! But more importantly, I came up with this game while I was over there. >:) ...all that was by way of letting you know I'm turning this into a Shadow Game, by the way. ^_^ Our psychic strength will maintain the forms of our monsters! ... Keep up with me now, high school brat! >:D

Yugi: o.o;;; Too much strain. Owwies. *passes out*

teh Pharaoh: *twitch-glare!* You just - taunted me with knowledge and now ;_; - !!! I hate you. >:/

Actually it's a bit more serious than that, especially the divergence into taunting us with the origins of the game - but basically that the legend of the Egyptian Shadow Games and their monsters sealed in stone tablets were recorded in the Book of Thoth and passed down, eventually inspiring such things as the tarot cards and of course, Pegasus's Duel Monsters. Only Pegasus was actually trying to recreate the games.

And now he finally has another sorcerer to duel against! Whoo-hoo! Let the Shadow Game begin!

After the initial panicked comments, Jounouchi expresses his confusion. Whaaat?

Again, not a Ryou-comment, really. *beats them with the Pay Attention stick*

Then the utter horror-stricken panic, when Yugi visibly collapses - everyone yelling for him, the Pharaoh seems to be trying to catch him but since he's incorporeal! :( Everyone thinks he's dead, and their faces - solid eyed, and here's another frustrating point.

Bakura/Ryou (I'm not even sure at some points in this - Shadow-Game knowledge says Bakura, but what looks like sympathy and genuine concern for Yugi says Ryou) he's in two shots of the panicked thinking Yugi is dead, and neither of them are clear. It looks like he's upset but not as bad as Jou and Honda, who are solid eyed - his look like he's halfway.

Then the Pharaoh takes control of their body, and Anzu is the first to recover. She remembers something Yugi said to her once, and tells them their Yugi is still alive - because their two souls are interconnected, and one can't live without the other. There are exclamations of relief and happiness - Jou looks so teary I just wanna hug him - but she has to caution them he might be on the verge of dying.

Frustration and gritting teeth as they turn to watch again, and I would've scanned this if it weren't too near the spine - Anzu thinking "If we could share our hearts with him..."
Leaving the cheerleaders

All continues up to Jigen Bakudan and the Pharaoh's panicked attempt to play knowing he's going to be hit with Mind Scan. Only he isn't.

Yes, that is Ryou. Or is it?! Ahhhh!

For the rest of the duel, it keeps flipping between actual game-play and cheerleaders defending Yugi. And all goes pretty much as in the anime, only hello! *pointpoint* Ryou! With cheerleaders, yes! *ignores the small voice saying it's maybe not such a good thing that he is always positioned behind Yugi or to the side*

And in the spirit of this duel (and Yugi's playing style) I give you a random shot of Kuriboh! Besides, what's Yu-Gi-Oh! without Kuriboh?!

*ignores the headspace consensus of 'less annoying'*

And then! Booyah! There follow high fives and thanks and jumping about (literally, Jou and Anzu) and general mad cheering because they rock like that. XD

And then soul-freeing! The amazing flying Grandpa! (spirit)

( A note - the Big Five were on the island to see Pegasus get his butt kicked)

Then begins the dramatic story telling! Because, you know, some of us *coughRyou!!cough* really came to the island after Answers! Answers, dammit, gimmie!

You mean you didn't know? Cut off words are - "My men will get your prize ready. Don't worry."
then : "You don't know about... ...the evil (etc)
then, the Pharaoh: "How did you get your Millennium Item? Where (etc) "

Pegasus: "Once upon a time, I was in love, blah blah tragic death and I never recovered" But they really are that cute. Except. He couldn't paint anymore. :/ Then he goes to Egypt, having felt some interest in Egyptian mythology about the afterlife - and still nada. But while wandering the Valley of the Kings, he finds himself in a village.

Pegasus: "What the? O.o Village? Here?"

And wandering about, he sees a thief running. Said thief has tried to steal the Millennium Ring. And Pegasus's reaction? That poor thing.

We shall now pause to look askance at Pegasus, for clearly he lacks a sense of judgment. Survival. And many other things. :P

Also clearly, Shadi is a bit too talkative. Let's give him just enough information... Cut off at the bottom : His words stayed with me, so I followed them, in secret... To here Cut off: 1. They entered a house of sun-dried brick....
2. It was a hidden underground temple...

And then, you know. Geeee, I wonder why this wasn't in the anime? ;p
Cut off: The Millennium Items test the souls of those who possess them. Those who are not worthy will be burned alive, body and soul...

It's a bit hard to tell with Shadi and his eternally-solid eyes, but judging by the little shadows he has under them, he's at least a little disturbed. >.> Not so much the other Tomb Keepers, though. The shock!
Cut off: Minion-type: "When will the chosen ones appear? Until (etc) "
Shadi: The Millennium Items are drawn to each other. If I had to liken it to something, the seven Millennium Items are like pieces of a puzzle... When (etc)"
and the Pharaoh, thinking: The tablet of the Pharaoh’s memories?!

Of course, Pegasus does not go unnoticed in this - Busted! Nothing important is cut off on that one, but the next... the Ring got one already, it's the Eye's turn now
Shadi tells him he will be tested by the Eye, and on the bottom right panel - "We will open the door to the other world... ...and (etc)"

It is not the beginning - but is a beginning.

So they leave Pegasus, that the Pharaoh might angst properly - standing on a balcony while wearing Yugi's jacket as a cape! :P

The rest of the group is inside the room, watching over Mokuba until he wakes up. So Ryou (we assume) remarks that Yugi isn't happy about beating Pegasus. Jou chimes in that this is indeed so, and what's more he didn't hit the creep with a Penalty Game! :o Why Jou shoulda just decked the guy anyway! >:o But Ryou feels sorry for him about the Eye, and Anzu feels sorry about Cyndia.

And the Pharaoh, being properly settled into angst-mode, responds to none of this. *throws peanuts at him to see if that gets a response*

Anzu, being a bit more intuitive than the rest *stops self ranting about why, why can't we see what the Bakurae are thinking?!* Anzu thinks to herself, that he's angsting upset about what Pegasus told him about an evil intelligence in the Items, and that this must be why. Hitting Pegasus with a Penalty Game would amount to admitting he'd been right - would have been acting on that evil intelligence's will. x.x

Then Mokuba wakes up to the smiling joyful faces of Yugi-tachi, and recoils. XD Clutching the blanket even, and the heck it's him being scared, they're just that scary! :P But they explain to him that everything is okay now, Pegasus beaten and the company safe - and he responds by scrambling out of bed and almost trampling Anzu in his hurry to get home and take care of Seto.

the Pharaoh: Mokuba... Your brother is on this island!

This, of course, was a mistake. Because he does not have Seto in his pocket, and is thus incapable of producing Seto quickly enough to suit Mokuba. XD All that sudden energy turned on Yugi and yelling his demand to know where his brother is!!

And we cut. x.x And darnit, I would have loved to see Mokuba shoving and yelling and driving Yugi-tachi through the castle on a Seto-hunt, I really would. But it's okay, because we cut to Seto, and thus it is okay.

Kemo unlocks the door, telling Seto it's over and he's free - but Seto doesn't move. :/ And then... !!! Vision-Seto? Chibi-Seto?! Who cares omg cute!!! Wait, where am I going?

Cut, again - ahhh!! Croquet has come to give Seto's briefcase containing the Duel Disk to Yugi, (still the Pharaoh, though I wouldn't relax until they left either) who comes out into the hall to take it. And the prize money. But more importantly the Duel Disk. For some reason *cough* he feels compelled to tell Yugi that what Pegasus was really after was that technology, to make his visions of Cyndia more and more lifelike. And really, I love this line of his as he's walking away - "Perhaps Mr. Pegasus was forever chasing the illusion of his lover..."

Also, I like the bit of irony - Seto creates the Duel Disk to counter Pegasus' unknown power, who then turns that power on him in order to take the Duel Disk. If it were the Tauk Pegasus had, instead of the Eye, I'd almost think he provoked Seto on purpose to make him make the things - but I don't think the Eye sees time that way... much Item-speculation remains to be done! Yes. >.>

So we time-lapse, Yugi-tachi are now outside, Mokuba is lugging that briefcase and getting a bit hostile because he hasn't seen Seto yet - what if they're lying to him! >:o They have just enough time for Jou to make a really tactless remark about Kaiba's soul getting summoned to heaven, for which Anzu yells at him - then she notices that they've lost Bakura.

They. Lost. Bakura. !!!!!!! XD Augh! *bounces*

Of course, Jou even shrugs it off - he's still in the castle hunting Kaiba, eh. *sputters!*

And then I utterly stopped caring, at least for a little bit, because. He found him. Ignore the horrible typo of doom and focus on their faces! I have no words But it needs none.

The Glomping!! ^___^

Besides, Jou's reaction is too perfect not to be shared. Awww!

As the brothers are touchingly reunioned, they have the decency not to barge in and bother them - *patpat* Instead, discussion turns to Jou for the umpteenth time questioning whether he really deserves the prize money. (Well, the third or fourth, at least) And they agree that Jou so owes Yugi and someday *coughBattle City!cough* they really will duel each other!

Then the comic note of Anzu asking what their record is.
Yugi: 187, Jou: 0
XD

And it pans away from them, to show the Pharaoh watching silly physical hijinks, only to turn and find Yugi standing beside him. It isn't really made clear that he's a spirit, but no one else seems to see/hear him, so I'd say yes. And Yugi tells him it doesn't matter where he came from, what matters is he's glad he's here - and everyone else feels the same way! (Another shot of hijinks) Feel the smiling warm camaraderie! ^_^

Which turns the page to this oh my god. Bwhahahaha! >:D

XD And how does he make that look so obscenely cute?! Waitwait, I know! It's 'cause he's holding the thing delicately - his fingers are covered in blood but he's holding it delicately!!! And the walking away with his arms thrown wide and you can just see that the hand that isn't holding the Eye is open and and his head is thrown back laughing and wheeeee!!! *would spin except she has no spinny chair anymore*

*made a total idiot of herself spazzing at work*

Especially when I realized that's it. That is all it shows. Next thing we (Ryou?) know, he's down by the boats - but how would Ryou know?! Ack speculation about this really needs it own entry. Yes. >.> Story-time, not let's dissect Bakurae time.

So cut back to Yugi-tachi, and the Kaibas, in a dramatic wind tableau! And now it is Yugi again, tells Seto to take care of Mokuba. >:o !! Seto responds by admitting he owes them for taking care of Mokuba (yeah, real good job they did. >:P ) But he wants Yugi to tell the other Yugi, their battle is not done yet.

*pause for me utterly freaking because on the one hand, :o Seto recognizes what's going on!! singing ensues - but on the other hand, ewww so utterly Seto/Pharaoh slashy and, and I don't wanna see it! but I'm not blind. dammit*

And he attempts a dramatic exit, thinking of the Pharaoh. @.@

Which is blown pretty quickly, between the arrival of Bakura, and the fact that Mokuba pwns Seto. Yup.

And then XD Nobody can breathe in there! And it's cut off, Mokuba telling them they should thank Seto for letting them come. Poor, poor Seto. So getting a migraine from that. XD

And last but not least, Mai too is stuck on the island! But for the good graces (and bad judgment) of one Jounouchi Katsuya! Sweeeet Except he almost falls out as they fly into the sunset. >.> Honda has to hold onto him.

And I feel the stirring of tiny bunnies about that helicopter ride, because if the boat trip took a whole night, how long will it take a severely overloaded helicopter? Assuming it doesn't, ohh, run out of fuel halfway, forcing Seto to radio for backup before they all drown or something... :D

THE END! *confetties and mad running about!!!*