Pharaoh's Gate Ch7:- Giving it up, Giving it in

"Yami... Yami..." the voice of a small boy spoke out.

"Who is that?" Yami Yugi sat up slowly at the call of his name, but noticed a place he didn't recognise. His friends didn't surround him, nor did the stone room; instead he saw a dark cold space and a graveled pathway. His near-direct reflection looked back before him. "Yugi," he rasped.

Little Yugi was not see-through like a ghost any more. He stood over him. "Pharaoh. Good to see you awake."

"But where are my friends? Why are we both inside the Millennium Puzzle?"

"Pharaoh listen. Something is going terribly wrong. Every time I come back to this place, I feel more and more frightened. There are cries of something here that shouldn't be."

Yami glanced around inspecting the setting. Standing up for a better view, he could see a long pathway connecting to hundreds if not thousands of staircases that connected to doors that seemingly went nowhere. Some even defied gravity, with stairways reaching up impossible 90 degree angles, some even loomed directly over his head. "Of what exactly?"

"That's what I want to know. Even since Tea vanished, it's been getting louder and louder."

"So if we don't find her soon..."

"Whatever it is... will show itself." Yugi confirmed. "I think this Black Wing is dangerous Yami. Somehow Tea was able to keep the power in check, but without her, it's causing both us and the Puzzle to go haywire."

"What makes you think it was Tea? What could she possibly do?"

"I don't know. But it's something to do with this RPG. And at the rate this is going..."

Yami swung his fit in the air "...but this is just a game Yugi!"

The boy merely shook his head "No, it's a Shadow Game. Everything that happens here, as unrealistic as it appears DOES happen. Are you forgetting what nearly happened to you earlier?"

"I..." The Pharaoh was lost for words.

"For a short period of time I completely lost all connections with you! I was bound by something... something terrible. It was black and... it wouldn't let me go! This world of the Puzzle is owned by you... so you must know what's going on with it!" Yugi interrupted. He seemed scolding, but his blank expression shared some of his desperation and fear. "I.. I was sure I was going to die here. Have my heart eaten by some monster... surely you know what it is!"

"I...I don't know..." Strangely for Yami, he felt at a loss of confidence for a change. He knew his partner spoke the truth in his words.

"I just don't want anything bad to happen to you Pharaoh... "

"It's my apology. If this place is as dangerous as you say, then I will take control of it for the meantime. Only call me when absolute necessary." Yami seemed keen to defend Yugi by tooth and nail. However the boy still felt concerned for the former ancient rulers well-being, as he would be left at the brunt of the Millennium Puzzle abnormal behaviour. But he knew that alone, it wasn't entirely the Puzzle at fault. Despite being a mere spirit currently, he could feel the unnatural sting of some external force. Suddenly, Yugi felt himself falling backwards, and the world around him fell into darkness.

Eyes flickered open. "Hey he's waking up!" Tristan's face could be seen directly above as Yugi slowly came to. His hair lacked the three extra gold bangs, which signified Yami's control. With the help of Tristan and the open arm of Joey, he managed to get up. "What just happened? I lost contact with the Pharaoh for a short while when I was inside the puzzle."

Duke flicked his hair as he usually did. While he didn't remember Yugi, he still behaved as the old Duke Devlin they all knew and loved "Your taller, prettier version blew a major fuse man."

"Hey!" Yugi stomped his foot "What do you mean prettier!?"

Everyone just chuckled. Little Yugi could even see the Harpy Lady behind him giggle slightly, it made him feel less nervous. He had to remember that these Duel Monsters were not Duel Monsters at all, just an illusion by Eradi. "We should keep moving."

The Harpy Lady nodded "Yes. His illusion magic is strong, but it is also limited. With the imposters dead it should allow us to directly confront Eradi in the next room. If it's not too much to ask..." Harpy lady took a quick glance towards Joey "Is it alright if I come with you?"

"Sure..." Joey replied. "I don't see any problems."

"I'm fine with it." Tristan replied scuffling his feet across the stone pathway. "Just ahead is another doorway. I think it might lead us to our guy!"

The team nodded and made their way through the large room to the second black void of the door that beckoned out to them.

In no time at all, they stood before the black portal in front of them. Yugi took the first leap of faith, placing his hand in the black space, consuming it. Before long he inserted his entire body bravely and his allies did the same. On the other side of the gateway was a building interior that looked like the entrance all of a white, luxurious mansion. Yugi scanned across the white marble floors, until his eyes touched with a suit of silver armour.

It moved. It turned around slowly. It looked like armour that belonged to some kind of crusader or a servant of god. While most of his body was encased in silver, his tunic was blue and white cloth with a yellow Ankh decorated upon it. He had two spiked imposing pauldrons and a creepy steel helm that belonged to a brute. It was like a villan out of a Medieval role playing game.

"...I am Eradi. How did you get past my illusionary magic?" His presence alone was dominating, making even Joey seem weak and helpless. "That weirdo is scary. In more ways than one," Wheeler scorned.

"You dare mock my presence? Look at whom you face," the knight in armour sneered.

Yugi leapt bravely forward and drew his sword out almost immediately. It was like a small man trying to face off against a giant, malevolent dragon. "I won't have you belittle us!"

Joey above all, was impressed by his confidence. "Hey Yugi... you're not usually so bold."

"Thanks Joey." Yugi replied, keening his blade and keeping direct focus on his target "But we've faced far worse ordeals than this."

Eradi clutched his gauntlet in a menacing way "You may talk big, but you're no more than a little man!"

"That may be true..." little Yugi crept closer and closer forwards. His hands shook a little under fear, but he kept up his guard and merely grinned "But you're just an illusion!"

Metal clanked as Eradi gasped in surprised and held his arms up "T-that's not true!"

Yugi kept his advance "Oh? But your body language says otherwise."

"N-no! Stop, don't come any closer!" Suddenly the knight dropped to his knees. The boy now towered over him with his sword in his hand. The villainous knight clutched his head "No! I give up! I surrender! Please... let me go!"

Yugi stood their quietly for a moment.

"Hey Yug', what's up?" Joey asked from some distance away. He still stood by Tristan and the others.

Poor Yugi tightened his grip on the handle of his weapon duel disk. A voice in his head of Yami further pestered him. "Why do you hesitate?"

"I can't kill a man."

"But he caused so many people to suffer. So many people to die needlessly."

"That doesn't give me a reason to kill him for his crimes!"

The cowardly knight removed his hands from his head and looked up to take a peep at the boy openly talking to himself. "If you need to, I can take over."

"But that's... that's not going to help."

"If you don't kill him, I will!"

Eradi had stopped shaking at this point and was confused by the events that were unfolding. "You've really lost it haven't you?" The knight leapt to his feet and grabbed Yugi by one of the arms and pulled him close to his own body, holding him as a hostage. His Duel Disk slipped out of his hand and dropped to the floor making a clanging sound as if a metal kitchen pot had hit the ground.

"You snake!" Joey ran to Yugi's aid but Eradi placed one of his hands around little Yugi's neck. The vile knight began laughing. "That was too easy! Move one inch and this guy with the stupid hair gets it!"

"You... YUGI!" Joey decided to keep his focus on making sure Yugi was safe. He noticed the boy didn't struggle, in fact, he seemed like he was out of it. His eyes were shut in a state of unconsciousness, but not enough so to make his legs go limp.

"So how do you like this?" Eradi cackled, playing with one of Yugi's arms like a doll "He's on another planet! And I can do whatever I so please." He giggled as he continuely began to manipulate his arms.

But then the laughing stopped.

One arm ripped free of Eradi's control and the hand placed itself firmly on the knight's arm, clamping it in place. It gripped hard, cutting straight through his illusionary armour and dug into his flesh. The fraud knight screamed in pain. He saw a blue cluff covering the arm, belonging to none other than Yugi. "I warned him." A voice came from Yugi's lowered head. It was deepened in comparison to normal Little Yugi.

"Who... just who are you... AHHH!" Eradi let out a horrific scream as he felt the bones crack in his arm as it twisted at the demand of Yugi's wrist.

"I AM YAMI YUGI!" His manoeuvre allowed him to break free and somehow shattered the illusion in the room. "This mesmerism ends here!"

The room reverted to the interior of a circus tent. The party stood in the middle of the performance grounds while the rest of the captives sat in a huddle some distance away. The Duel Monsters were no longer under the influence of Eradi and returned to human form.

Joey nearly fell over in suprise as he saw a familiar face beside him. "Serenity!?"

The girl with long brown hair, pink dress and white wings nodded. "Yes big brother. Eradi's mind tricks made me appear as a Harpy."

"Brother? You remember me?"

"No but..." Serenity clasped her hands together nervously. "There's something about you I cannot deny. I know you are my brother even though I don't remember the circumstances. But after the gracious acts you performed... I think I can believe."

Joey and Serenity's reunion was interrupted by the Pharaoh shouting in the background and the culprit screaming in terror. Eradi's arm trickled blood and he bandaged it with the sleeve of his own arm. He was no longer a tall imposing knight, he was no more than a short, chubby man with scraggy blonde hair. "You're some kinda madman aren't ye?"

Yami loomed like a shadow. The poor lighting inside the tent made him appear nothing more than an eerie silhouette, with a sword gripped in one hand that glinted in the light. His other hand still dripped from the taint of his victims blood. His stance appeared eerie and unwelcoming, like the shades that had once attacked them earlier. He said nothing while he pulled his sword forward and swept it down to finish Eradi.

"Yami don't!"

The sword stopped. It stopped inches away from his victims skull. The voice in his head repeated again "You don't need to continue any further... we've won."

The blade trembled in Yami's hand before he snapped and threw it to the side of him. He fell to his knees. "I can't fight anymore!"

Serenity ran immediately to his side and gripped him tightly. "You don't need to... we're here for you."

"But Yami, if you don't use your Duel Disk, you can't complete this Shadow Game!" Tristan countered. He felt uncertain. Without the Pharaoh's masterful gaming skills we'll never complete it."

Joey watched as his sister tended to his brother. He was still baffled as to why she had white wings, but I guess anything was possible in a video game world. "We'll just have to trust in each other, as long as we have that, we can do anything."

Serenity picked up the Pharaoh from his crouched position, while Tristan grabbed Yami's golden Duel Disk sword. Eradi on the other hand, tried to take advantage of the situation. He had shuffled backwards somewhat, slowly and at a bit at a time, until he was a good meter or two from the group. "There's no point going for the power of the Black Wing if this is the sort of lame powers it provides. I-I'm probably going to do something else..."

"...Yo. You really thought you could get away after what you've done man?"

Eradi looked up to see a man in a red coat looking down on him with his emerald eyes. It was Duke. Before Eradi had a chance, he was grabbed and held down until the others got help.

Before long he was arrested and taken into custody by a group of hooded mages. They wore a similar uniform to the same ones that had arrested Marik and Tea earlier. They walked in an orderly line and promptly picked snatched the criminal from Duke Delvin's hands.

"Eradi Rhynhard, you have been arrested on charges of endangering public lives with your magic. Twenty counts of kidnappings. Two murders. You shall be taken to Horus Watch whereby you will be judged and remain in custody."

"Horus Watch?" Tristan asked.

"It's the main prison where criminals of magic are held. It's on the west side of Pharaoh's Gate, on a small secluded island a little off the shore. Security there is tighter than a snake choking a dead man." Duke deduced. "I learned a lot of these things from the folks around. Though... I've been feeling a little weird lately."

"Weird?"

The raven haired man placed his hands on his hips "Let's put it this way. Ever since you folks have showed up, you've had this certain air about you. I'm not sure what it is, but if I let you go off on your own... I wouldn't feel right y'know? So I've decided I'm coming with you."

Serenity heard Duke's confession and moved over to his side "I-I also want to come along. With my big brother. I simply can't leave him!"

"But both of you lack Duel Disks! It could get pretty dangerous." Tristan warned.

"We know." Duke snappily replied "But when the wind calls for me to move on, I gotta follow. I may not have anything special to offer, but we'll be cheering you on!" He raised his thumb in the sleek, cool way he usually did.

They left the circus tent together whilst the Pharaoh lagged behind. Joey's Kuriboh friend appeared to support him but he gave nothing more than a fake, weak smile. He wondered how much longer he could go on like this. It felt like his body and mind were degrading and wasting away, and there was nothing he could do about it. For one moment in his life, Yami hadn't felt any darker than he did right now.