Yu-Gi-Oh! - Episode 212

=Summary=

"Join Me Seto!!"

 * In Kul Elna, the transformation of Aknadin into "Shadow Magus" almost resulted in the Pharaoh's "elimination" from the Shadow RPG, however the arrival of Hassan has complicated things.
 * As a result, Aknadin/"Shadow Magus" is now trying to convince his son Priest Seto to join him as Zorc's servant.
 * Aknadin: "Seto, obey your destiny and stand by my side, so that we may rule Egypt as father and son"
 * Priest Seto: "I am not your son! My father would never betray the Pharaoh like this. You lied, and I will never join your side!"
 * Aknadin/"Shadow Magus": "I understand your anger my son, but you must realize that impostor is no Pharaoh. It is you who should be King!"
 * Priest Seto: "I vowed to protect the king, not replace him."
 * Aknadin/"Shadow Magus": "You deserve more!"
 * Hassan: "Seto, it is true that you are the son of Aknadin. However he has lost his identity to the shadows, so the creature that stands before you is no longer your father!"
 * Pharaoh: "He's right."
 * Aknadin/"Shadow Magus": "Nonsense!! You are my flesh and blood Seto, and that makes you royalty. No! Don't let these fools deny you the power you deserve."


 * Meanwhile, Seto Kaiba has found its way into the shrine with the Tablet of Lost Memories. He passes by the inanimate bodies of Ryo Bakura, Yugi Muto, and Joey, Tristan, and Téa.
 * As he takes out the Millennium Eye, it projects an image of current events inside the Shadow RPG on top of the tablet.

Motives Behind Aknadin's Betrayal

 * Pharaoh: "Seto, your father chose a path of hatred. But I beg of you: don't make the same mistake. Fight by my side and together we can restore peace to Egypt."
 * Then, Aknadin/"Shadow Magus" reveals his true motives for his betrayal: it is the jealousy and lack of appreciation received after defending the kingdom from invading armies. The Egyptian people revered and thanked King Aknamkanon for Egypt's victories, when in reality Aknamkanon was in favor of a more idealistic and peaceful approach, leaving war only as a last resort. It was actually Aknadin who pressed the king to mobilize the troops and attack first, and then created the Millennium Items after finding the Millennium Spellbook. In addition, Aknadin is resentful of the choice he had to make for creating the Millennium Items: abandoning his family and his son Seto!
 * NOTE: in the Japanese version of the anime, we also learn that Aknadin and Aknamkanon were born as twin brothers. However, Aknamkanon was raised as the "older" brother because he cried louder than Aknadin. Seeing how he was denied the throne this way, one can better understand Aknadin's resentful feelings.
 * However, creating the Items was not exclusively beneficial to Egypt.
 * Shimon Muran: "Don't you understand? The items may have helped us stop one enemy, but their creation gave rise to an even greater enemy, one more sinister than we could ever imagine!!"
 * Hassan: "Yes, they sparked the creation of Zorc"


 * Slowly, Priest Seto's mind is starting to change. He remembers the time of his younger years, his arrival at the Royal Palace, how he became the guardian of the Millennium Rod and how Aknadin personally supervised his training, spending more time with him than other of the Sacred Guardians.
 * Aknadin/"Shadow Magus" then mentions the "White Dragon" (found within Kisara), and how Seto was destined to wield its power to rule Egypt, as "King of Darkness" and with Zorc as their God.
 * Priest Seto's eyes start glowing yellow: he seems to be under a dark influence. He says: "Perhaps he's right... I should rule. And the White Dragon will help me." (NOTE: in the original Japanese, Seto's eyes do not glow and he does not say much; rather, the internal conflict going inside his mind is left to the viewer's imagination).
 * Sensing Seto is slowly giving in to temptation, Kisara wakes up at the Royal Palace. Seto hears the cry of the "White Dragon". Kisara sets off to find Seto to prevent him to join the darkness.

Bobasa's Role is Revealed

 * Meanwhile back at the Royal Palace, Bobasa is crying because... there's not a scrap of food left in the kitchens! And the search for the Pharaoh's real name is at a dead end.
 * The others want to leave Bobasa behind, but Yugi decides they will help find Bobasa some more food.
 * The find some grapes, and drag Bobasa to the tree (NOTE: why they did not bring the grapes to Bobasa is a mystery). He thanks them and with replenished energy, he... starts floating in mid-air. He's turned into a means of aerial transportation (or to quote Joey, a Thanksgiving day balloon).
 * Everybody jumps on Bobasa's back, and he starts floating towards the desert. Meanwhile "evil" Taylor thinks to himself (in Bakura's voice): "I'm beginning to understand Bobasa's role in this game. He was placed here as a shortcut: feed him and skip to the prize!"
 * The group arrives at the "Valley of the Kings": it is where grandpa Solomon Muto found the Millennium Puzzle originally!
 * Bobasa: "Well I finally know why I was put here: for you . (...) There is more to this adventure than meets the eye, so remember: life is a like a game and sometimes helping others is the key to winning it all". And with those words, Bobasa vanishes into thin air (NOTE: in the original Japanese, Bobasa is also referred to as an NPC, or "Non-Playing-Character").

The Resurrection of Thief King Bakura!

 * At this point, Yami Bakura says Yami Yugi's friends are doing much better than he ever expected: they are close to uncovering the Pharaoh's ancient name. Yami Yugi is puzzled, and exclaims: "How do you know? (...) You've been spying on them haven't you?". This suggests one of two things:
 * 1) A Game Master does not have the capability of seeing everything that takes place on the game board, including his own "pawns", OR:
 * 2) A Game Master can only see what his own characters are doing, unless he has a "spy" among them (in Yami Bakura's case, Tristan).
 * Yami Bakura then states it is time he added another "little twist" to their game. He mentions he obtained this idea from Yugi Muto during Ep.207, when he replenished the Pharaoh's energy after Slifer got defeated.
 * Following that, Yami Bakura targets Seto Kaiba (who is still standing in front of the Tablet of Lost Memories in the real world) and "absorbs" into the game!
 * We thus find out the reason why Yami Bakura gave the Millennium Eye to Seto: to lure him to Egypt and take part into his evil Shadow RPG.
 * Seto has now entered the ancient Egyptian memory world of the Pharaoh's past: by doing so, Yami Bakura is able to "borrow" Seto's energy and resurrect one of his game "pawns". He resurrects Thief King Bakura at Kul Elna!!!!!