"Oh dear. I think that scream came from Mai!" Rarity said in realization as everyone rushes to see what Mai's screaming about. Soon, they find out just what, or who, caused Mai to scream in terror.

"Mai! Are you alright?!" Yugi calls out as they approach.

"You're too late." Mai says in sorrow.

"Too late for what, darling?" Rarity asks.

"Is this Paul Bunyan wannabe giving you a hard time?" Applejack asks.

"That's right, just as Pegasus pays me to do. Root out all the dueling filth on this island and dispose of it." the stranger says.

"Doesn't that make you a garbage man?" Tristan asks.

"This is no joke!" Mai retorts. "Panik's one of the island's eliminators and if you don't get out of here, he's gonna do to you what he did to me!"

"Eliminator? What's that, Mai?" Yugi asks.

"Look. This is what she means right here. Check out her duelist's glove" Panik says as he pulls Mai's dueling gauntlet up for the group to see. "Not a star chip left."

"But that would mean she's been disqualified." Fluttershy says.

"You're out Mai?" Rainbow asks. "You?! When you recently said you were just two chip away from getting into Pegasus' castle?!"

"I am." Mai says sadly. "It all happened so fast. The way Panik duels. I just lost it."

"This isn't right." Pinkie says.

"She was one of my easiest victims yet." Panik says with a laugh as he pushes Mai towards the group.

"You creep!" Joey says as he prepares to rush toward Panik, though Applejack, Tristan and Bakura hold him back. "There's no excuse for pushing a girl!"

"Calm down, Joey. I know how you feel, but that's guy's more than twice your size!" Applejack says.

"With Rainbow as back up, I can take him." Joey retorts.

"No, Joey. Fists are the answer." Yugi says. "Violence won't solve anything. I've dealt with a lot of bullies in my life and I'm afraid there's only one way to deal with them." Yugi then steps forward. "You have to stand up to them." Yugi's Millennium Puzzle soon activates and Yami Yugi takes over.

"But, Yugi--" Mai starts to say.

"No, Mai. Let Yugi handle this." Fluttershy says.

"Now, let's see you try your intimidation tactics against me, Panik!" Yami Yugi says with determination. "I don't scare easy, especially when I'm standing up for my friends. So, let's duel!"

"You twerp! I'll eliminate you from the tournament just like I did her!" Panik retorts. "Go ahead, Mai. Tell him how I trounced you."

"Please, Yugi." Mai says

"Let her go, Panik!" Yami Yugi says. "If you're looking to bully someone, try bullying me. Playtime is now over, Panik! It's time to duel!" Soon, both players have taken the field.

"This'll be a walk in the park for you, Yugi!" Rainbow calls out. "Time to show Panik how we deal with thugs like him!"

"Yugi, huh? As in, Yugi Muto? The only duelist to defeat Seto Kaiba?" Panik asks. "It must be my lucky night. Pegasus has promised a generous bounty to the Eliminator who defeats you. I wonder. Think he'd throw in some extra cash for inflicting bodily harm? Not that I wouldn't do it for free."

"You better start thinking about different ways to make money, Panik. Because after I get done with you, not only will you be out of some star chips, but you'll be out of a job." Yami Yugi retorts.

"Whoever said I was an Eliminator just for the money, Yugi?" Panik asks. "I've made enough cash to have retired long ago. But I won't quit because there's no better thrill than breaking weak duelists like you and Mai. So get ready, Yugi. I'm about to take you into a world of hurt!"

"I won't be bullied by the likes of you, Panik." Yami Yugi retorts. "I play with my heart--that's why I'll always win against your type."

"You've never faced my type before." Panik answer. "When I'm in a match with someone, there's a lot more to it than sheer dueling strategy."

"Meaning?" Yami Yugi asks.

"Panik's ruthless, Yugi." Mai says. "He had me totally terrified!"

"That's right, and she's not the first either." Panik says. "We Eliminators have built our career on stalking weak players like her, and strong-arming them into dueling us. You see, when you're as good as I am, you learn to appreciate the hunt as much as the duel itself. And now I'm gonna take you down just like I did Mai!"

"I see how you work, Panik." Yami Yugi says with a smile. "Sneaking up on unsuspecting duelists because you haven't the courage to challenge them face to face."

"Watch your mouth, you insolent cur!" Panik angrily says.

"True duelists fight with honor and respect, not the underhanded tactics of a poacher." Yami Yugi retorts.

"Looks like Yugi's rattling the cage, trying to get under Panik's skin." Applejack says.

"I just hope that's a good idea." Rarity responds.

"And to prove it, I wager all the star chips I have to win back Mai's." Yami Yugi says.

"Did he say ALL OF HIS STAR CHIPS?!?" Rainbow asks in shock.

"It's a deal." Panik responds. "If you win, I'll give you all eight of her star chips. The bet makes no difference to me."

"What do you mean?" Yami Yugi asks.

"What I mean, little Yugi, is that when you duel against Panik, you're putting much more than just your measly star chips on the line. Much more!" Panik says with a laugh as he activates some leg shackles in Yugi's player box and some flamethrowers around the arena.

"Holy smokes! Panik plays with fire!" Applejack says in shock.

"We have to get Yugi out of that thing!" Rainbow says.

"What's the matter, Yugi? Can't take the heat?" Panik asks. "Well, get used to it, because your strapped in for the long haul."

"Turn it off, Panik!" Joey shouts.

"Panik used those on me, too." Mai says.

"Yugi can handle this." Fluttershy says. "I don't know how I can explain it, but he just can."

"I can see the fear growing in your eyes, Yugi." Panik says as the flames die down. "I can hear you quaking in your boots! You're beginning to realize the nightmare you've stepped into! I do believe you're beginning to panic."

"Get a life, you psycho!" Tea shouts.

"Forget this guy, Yuge! This wasn't part of the duel stipulations!" Joey says.

"I'm with Joey, let's get you down from there and get out of here!" Spike concurs.

"Are you finished blowing smoke, Panik?" Yami Yugi asks, to the surprise and shock of his friends.

"What's he think he's doing?" Joey asks.

"It'll take much more than some cheap pyrotechnics to make me lose my cool." Yami Yugi says with a confident smile.

"The last time someone had the nerve to say something like that to me, I broke them in half!" Panik retorts angrily. "Now, let's duel!" Right then and there, both players' life points are set and ready. Mai knows that Yugi is a good duelist, but she also knows he's never faced an Eliminator before. She further knows that once Panik gets in Yugi's head, it's all over for him. "Seeing how the blaze of my fire didn't faze you, let's turn down the lights." Panik proceeds to play his first card. "My Castle of Dark Illusions will turn this duel into your darkest hour, Yugi. Its magic shrouds my half of the field with a veil of shadows, and the castle itself is extra fortified, thanks to the Field Power Bonus I get for playing it at night."

"I'm not afraid of the dark, Panik." Yami Yugi says as the shadows cover Panik's half of the field completely.

"You would be if you only knew, the fearsome nightmares within its shade." Panik responds. "The blanket of shadows cast over my entire side of the field make it impossible for you to see the creatures I summon, but leaves your entire side exposed and vulnerable to my attacks. Unnerving, isn't it, Yugi, how the darkness preys on your fears, on your mind until you're too scared think, too terrified to fight!"

"Don't listen, Yugi!" Mai shouts. "This is exactly how he threw me off my game!"

"Now you tell us?" Joey asks.

"And if you think you can storm my castle with the help of a Field Power Bonus of your own, think again." Panik says. "Because just as my shadows block the light from above, they've blocked the field power from the ground below. Only the night grants bonuses here." Yugi knows that without any idea what's waiting for him in the shadows, he can't risk attacking so he decides to play defensive.

"Celtic Guardian, defense mode!" Yami Yugi says aloud as his monster appears.

"Not a very bright idea." Panik says as he prepares his next card. "I use the Polymerization card to fuse my Frenzied Panda and my Ryu-Kishin together in order to summon a much more powerful beast." Yugi knows well that he can't see the monster he just played, and that leaves his Guardian vulnerable.

"Barox, attack! Dark Grasp of Fury!" Panik calls out. In mere seconds, the Celtic Guardian is swallowed by the monster within the shadows. "Our first victim of the night."

"That's cheap! How can you fight and defend yourself from something you can't see?" Rainbow asks.

"Yeah, or defeat a monster you can't find?" Rarity adds.

"Anybody got a flashlight?" Tristan asks, jokingly.

"Now's not the time for jokes, Tristan. Let's let Yugi duel." Fluttershy says.

"Looks like all but one of your friends has lost hope for you." Panik says with a laugh. Yugi knows he needs to get Panik's monsters out of the shadows, but the only way to do that is by destroying the Castle of Dark Illusions, which has over 2500 defense points, making it untouchable. Yugi then starts to realize why Panik got his name, as he's already flustered, and the game just started. "Play any monster you like. The creatures within my veil of shadows will consume them all!"

"Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress in defense mode." Yami Yugi says as he plays said card.

"This defensive maneuvering may keep your life points safe from one monster, Yugi, but not two!" Panik says with a laugh as he summons another monster. Yugi knows that Panik is right, because defending alone won't win him the duel. "You're terrified aren't you, Yugi?" Panik soon asks. "Admit it! All your courage has been devoured by my shadowy fog! Yes. All that's left is a trembling little duelist powerless to defend himself.

"How's Yugi supposed to take this guy out, Mai?" Tea asks.

"If I was able to figure that out, we wouldn't be in this situation." Mai answers. Yugi then gets an idea. He may not be able to attack either Panik's monsters or his Castle of Dark Illusions, but he can attack the darkness itself.

"Guardian of the Fortress, take flight!" Yami Yugi calls. Soon, the dragon takes to the air. "Fireball Attack!" Yami Yugi commands. The attack temporarily illuminates Panik's side of the field.

"His monsters! I can see them!" Spike calls.

"And I recognize both of them!" Fluttershy calls out. "The one on the left is Barox, a level five, dark attribute fusion monster made from Frenzied Panda and Ryu-Kishin. Normally it has 1380 attack points and 1530 defense points, but with that 30% Field Power Bonus from the night, it has 1794 attack points and 1989 defense points. And as for the creature on the right, that's called Dark Chimera. It, like Barox, is a level five, dark attribute monster. But thanks to the Field Power Bonus, it's attack and defense points went from 1610 and 1530, respectively, to 2093 and 1898."

"And what about the Castle of Dark Illusions?" Applejack asks.

"It's attack and defense points are normally 920 and 1930, respectively, but thanks to the night Field Power Bonus, they increased to 1196 and 2509." Fluttershy responds as the light from the attack fades.

"So you saw my creatures, but I doubt it gives you the foresight to see what's coming next." Panik says. "Dark Grasp of Fury!" he soon calls out, and in no time, the little blue dragon is devoured by Barox. "Lights out for your Guardian of the Fortress." Panik says as Yugi's life points decrease to 1606. "My creatures hungrily eye your remaining life points, Yugi. And I'll see to it that they feed again quite soon."

"Well, at least Yugi knows what he's fighting against, even though it cost him his Winged Dragon." Spike says.

"Has it sunk in yet, wimp?" Panik asks. "Standing up to a bully leaves you nowhere to go but down!" Yugi knows Panik's right, as his life points are down by 304. Meaning he's out maneuvered and overpowered, but he knows he'll find a way to put him in his place and to keep his cool and not panic, no matter what happens. "The night has eyes, Yugi, and all of them are on you!" Panik says with a laugh. "Keep struggling, Yugi! Bullying's so much more fun when the victim resists!"

"Tough talk, Panik, coming from someone who makes all their attacks while hiding in the safety of the shadows!" Yami Yugi responds. But this only causes Panik to activate the flamethrowers, causing the others to worry.

"I don't think that was the best idea." Rarity says as the flames die down.

"You uppity little cretin!" Panik snaps. "Perhaps you should think twice before insulting someone who can scorch you with a touch of a button! You're afraid, Yugi! You're lost and alone in the dark like a child, and I'm the big, bad boogeyman, about to leap out and give you the scare of your life!" Yami Yugi soon starts chuckling, puzzling Panik. "If you could see what I have in store for you, you wouldn't be laughing!"

"But that's why I'm laughing." Yami Yugi explains. "Because I can see...right through you."

"What? What are you talking about, you little runt?!" Panik asks.

"You are the boogeyman, Panik, scaring children and duelists into being afraid of both the dark and the night." Yami Yugi answers. "Until they realize that both are nothing to be afraid of, like you. Once a person conjures up the confidence not to be fearful of the unknown, they've disarmed the only weapon the dark and the night both have and share."

"You wish it was that simple..." Panik says.

"But it is that simple!" Yami Yugi retorts before Panik can finish his sentence. "I have the card to prove it."

"What card?" Panik asks.

"A card that'll expose you, and lift up that veil of shadows you cower behind." Yami Yugi explains.

"What is it?" Panik asks, more worried than before.

"It's just a little something that'll teach you a tough lesson in broad daylight." Yami Yugi answers.

"Hey, Mai, why would Yugi tell Panik what he's planning?" Pinkie asks. "It's like saying that you plan a surprise party for your friend to your friend before you can even set it up."

"It's panic." Mai says bluntly. "The same thing happened to me. You start making amateur mistakes."

"I don't know, Mai." Bakura says. "He doesn't look like he's panicking to me."

"I'll admit, you almost had me there." Panik says with a laugh. "But we both know that card you're holding is nothing but a big, fat bluff! Prove me wrong, Yugi. Go ahead. Let's see you give me my 'tough lesson'!"

"Why should I show you my card after you've gone to such lengths to keep yours in the dark?" Yami Yugi asks with a scoff.

"I think you're stalling." Panik answers.

"You don't trust me, Panik?" Yami Yugi asks. "Believe it or not, not all duelists are lying dogs like you. And to prove it, I'll show you. After all, I wouldn't want you thinking I was some kind of liar."

"Show me!" Panik says.

"Yugi doesn't need to prove anything to that slime." Rainbow says.

"Ready, Panik?" Yami Yugi asks. "Here it is. The Swords of Revealing Light!" Yami Yugi proceeds to show Panik his card of choice.

"The Swords of Revealing Light?" Panik asks.

"The blinding magic of the swords not only stops all enemy monsters from attacking for three full turns, but it bathes the entire field in a light so luminous that even your lurking shadow creatures will be exposed!" Yami Yugi explains. "Soon, Panik, the monsters in your dark empire will have nowhere to hide. But rather than play it now, I'll take a page from your book, and let you worry about when and how I'll use it. Just like you do with the monsters you hide in the dark. You're going down in five turns. Five turns, Panik! Then my monsters will finish you off. Curse of Dragon, defense mode!" Soon, the Curse of Dragon appears while everyone on the sidelines star questioning what Yugi is thinking.

"How can Yugi be so sure he can beat Panik in five turns?" Twilight asks.

"I don't know, but it's like I think I can feel what Yugi has in mind." Fluttershy says.

"And, of course, the card that'll make you see the light." Yami Yugi says as he plays a facedown, making everyone think that he just told Panik he played the Swords of Revealing Light. "Your five turns start now, Panik. It's your move." Panik knows that Yugi's taunting him, which is usually what he does, and starts thinking that the facedown Yugi laid out is the Swords of Revealing Light. "What's the matter, Panik?" Yami Yugi asks. "Has bullying lost its thrill?"

"I'll teach you about loss, just you wait!" Panik retorts.

"I still don't get it. If Yugi's gonna have that card out, why didn't he play it yet?" Applejack asks.

"I hate to say it, guys, but it's not a good sign." Mai answers. "I was able to keep it together for about this long, too. But after a while, Panik has a way of getting to you and making you slip up."

"Not my pal." Joey says. "He knows what he's doing."

"I sure hope so." Bakura replies.

"He does, and somehow, I just know it." Fluttershy adds.

"Listen, I know Yugi's good, good enough to beat Kaiba and Weevil, but fighting Panik isn't about being good, it's about keeping a level head while you're lost in the dark or being attacked by fire." Mai says. "Yugi's gonna need guts to win this duel, not skill."

"He's got more than guts, he's got heart to back it up." Fluttershy says with confidence.

"That may be, Fluttershy, but he just left his best card out in the open and vulnerable." Bakura responds. "You don't make those kinds of mistakes unless you're nervous, and Panik's not one to let a mistake like that go unpunished."

"Make your move, Panik!" Yami Yugi says aloud.

"I must say, it was quite a daring move to illuminate me with the presence of that card, little Yugi, but it was a critical mistake to leave it on the field completely exposed!" Panik says. "If you thought idle cards were safe from attacks, you were dead wrong! I summon, Reaper of the Cards!"

"The Reaper?" Yami Yugi asks, surprised that Panik would bring that out.

"When the Reaper is summoned, all magic cards hear the ghostly toll of doom!" Panik says with a wicked smile. "He'll be sending your Swords of Revealing Light straight to the graveyard, leaving you defenseless! Reaper, attack!" Everyone on the sidelines worries that this could be the move that clinches the match for Panik.

"But that card was Yugi's only chance!" Mai shouts as the Reaper approaches its target.

"Your fate belongs to me now, Yugi!" Panik says with wicked glee. "Call of the Graveyard!" he shouts. However, everyone soon notices that the Reaper's scythe didn't strike the facedown and destroy it, even Panik.

"What's going on?" Panik asks. "It can't finish its attack!" Yami Yugi soon starts laughing. "It should've destroyed your facedown Swords of Revealing Light!"

"I said my Swords of Revealing Light was the card that would illuminate your monsters, I never said it was the one I placed on the field. You just assumed that." Yami Yugi explains.

"But if that's not--" Panik begin to say until Yami Yugi cuts him off.

"The card I placed on the field was a different card. The Spell Binding Circle, a trap card." Yami Yugi says as he reveals his facedown.

"You set...a trap card!" Panik says in shock.

"Yes, a trap card that ensnares your Reaper, stopping him dead in his tracks!" Yami Yugi explains. "Encircling him in a magical prison." The circle soon indeed ensnares the Reaper. "In Duel Monsters, one must be wary of the Reaper of the Cards and its ability to send magic cards to the graveyard. I figured that you probably had one stalking around your deck somewhere. But now that he's frozen, unable to damage my deck, I'm free to lay whatever magic cards I want on the field." Yami Yugi says as his friends start celebrating.

"Nice play, Yugi!" Spike shouts.

"Way to put one over on that lummox!" Rainbow says with a smile.

"What is it with this kid?" Mai asks in wonder. "I can't even keep up with him on the sidelines."

"He's doing good, but it's not over yet." Bakura says.

"Well, Yugi did say he'd win in five turns, and that was turn one." Fluttershy responds

"How dare you!!" Panik shouts. "You fooled me!"

"You fooled yourself, Panik." Yami Yugi says with a chuckle. "And wasted quite a powerful card, too. But now that the coast it clear, I'll really lay my Swords of Revealing Light! And a second magic card, both facedown." Yami Yugi puts both cards facedown while Panik stews in his anger.

"Facedown? Why?" Panik asks.

"Now what's up?" Joey asks.

"I think I know, but it's best for Yugi to show us instead of tell us outright." Fluttershy says. "Either way, Panik's gonna find out soon enough."

"So what. You captured my Reaper, but he's only one of my powerful monsters." Panik says. "And the ones that remain will destroy you!"

Author's Note

Once again, the anime messes with the rules, because the Reaper of the Cards destroys only trap cards, not magic cards.