FAUST, YU-GI-OH STYLE
Faust has been one of the well-explored pieces in literature. It has been the topic of many plays, operas, books, movies, and other creative pieces all over the world - whether it be loosely based, or following the actual story line.
Two famous writers in literary history wrote their own version of the Faustian story. The first one was Goethe, the German novelist. The second one was Christopher Marlowe, an English writer during Shakespeare's time.
The fundamental Faustian plot is the same: a man makes a pact with Mephistopheles (the Devil) and sells his soul to the dark forces. The Faustian figure then struggles to find realization and eventually redemption.
Goethe's and Marlowe's Faust did, however, have a difference: what went on within the heart and mind as well as the consequences faced due to their decisions.
Marlowe's Faust does not get redeemed (yep, the demons of the underworld pull him in to join them).
Goethe's Faust is redeemed at the end but boy, does he suffer a lot to earn his soul back.
Goethe's version expands more with the inner workings of the mind – the conflict between a person's desire to be good and to give in to the darkness within their soul. Although Marlowe's version has the same elements, Goethe's Faust (I strongly believe) does a better job in exploring the human psyche.
So I got inspired to do a Faustian story, Yu-Gi-Oh style. What better way to tell an awesome tale than telling it through the eyes of our well-loved Yu-Gi-Oh characters?
Let me just give a forewarning…
Faust – particularly Goethe's version – has a lot of drama, supernatural elements, and angst in it. As angst-ridden as it is, Goethe's work has a lot of edifying and redeeming values to impart its readers. I hope to do the same with my version of the story.
For those who have read Goethe's work before, please don't expect that this story will progress and end exactly like his version. Remember, this fanfic is loosely based on Goethe's and Marlowe's version :-D.
Enough said. Before I start my tale, here are a few things to iron out:
Setting
Ancient Egypt. Forty years of peace have been achieved. The duel monsters are sealed in stone tablets. Set, Teana, Jono, and Seren are as young as they are in the anime and manga. Shimon, the Pharaoh' s counselor, died a long time ago.
As of our dear Pharaoh Atemu, he is thirty-four years older than the characters mentioned above. Kujaku Mai (Mai Valentine) is forty years older than the characters mentioned above.
Main Character List (Who's Playing Who)
Pharaoh/ Atemu: Atemu or the other Yugi
Zork: (in the manga, he is Akunadin's shadow spirit that Atemu imprisons in the Puzzle)
Teána: Teá Gardner (Mazaki Anzu in the anime and manga)
Seren: Serenity Wheeler (Kawaii Shizuka in the anime and manga)
Jono: Joey Wheeler (Jonouchi Katsuya in the anime and manga)
Set: Seto Kaiba
Pharaoh Atemu is our Faustian figure
Zork is our Mephistopheles figure
Teána is our Gretchen figure, one of Faust's love interests. Rest assured she is a minor character here
Seren is Jono's sister
Jono is Seren's brother
Set is one of the Pharaoh's high priests and our Faustian figure's main love interest
Mai is Teána's mother
The character list will be updated once new characters are introduced.
Okey dokey, my dear folks, hope you enjoy this story as much as I will enjoy writing it :-D
PJ Zatken
"Another day..."
Although the sun shone brilliantly to herald a new day full of good tidings, the great Pharaoh Atemu was in despair as he stood at the huge balcony of his bedroom chambers. His view afforded him a spectacular Egypt in all its glory.
Before, knowing that he had a huge contribution in making Egypt a renowned and respected civilization was enough to make Atemu satisfied. He was proud of his land and most especially its citizens. It warmed his heart just to see children laughing, playing, and enjoying their young lives.
However, something inside Atemu began to erode over the past few years – to be blown away just like the sands in the desert. Even a smile from an innocent child could not pacify his troubled soul. The closer he approached his fiftieth birthday, the more that he lamented about not living a fulfilled life.
Atemu's father, Akunamukanon, gently ingrained in Atemu the duties and responsibilities of wielding the crown. After all, his father was right: the Pharaoh was the living embodiment of the Egyptian gods.
The closer that Atemu reached adolescence, the harder this reality had been pressed against him – so hard that when he finally ascended the throne at age fourteen, he was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready to assume the responsibility. He whole-heartedly accepted the burdens that the crown and throne carried – the first ten years of his reign being the most challenging.
When Egypt was transferred under Atemu's leadership, the land was in turmoil due to invaders and internal strife within his council. Eventually, when the dark magic ran amuck, he and his priests sealed the monsters inside stone tablets - locking away their mystical ferocity and making them ready to do their master's bidding. As he learned how to harness the true powers of the Millennium Items, most especially the Millennium Puzzle, nearly all who threatened Egypt and her citizens disappeared.
Egypt enjoyed the peace she richly deserved for thirty years and counting under Atemu's leadership. The land became so peaceful that the monsters sealed inside the stone tablets remained unused and their existence simply became a spectacular myth.
Once his homeland achieved peace, Pharaoh Atemu concentrated in the welfare of the land and the citizens. Over the years, he did not bother to marry or find someone to share his heart with. Many monarchs have sent their daughters for his consideration, only to have every single beautiful noble maiden respectfully returned to her respective homeland empty-handed.
Atemu's counselor, Shimon, constantly advised him so long ago to marry and produce an heir to the throne.
"The citizens are my heir and my family," was all that Atemu said to Shimon, leaving the wizened counselor miffed but silent in the Pharaoh's decisive remark.
Atemu's own words now echoed within his empty heart at he stared at the splendor of Egypt at his bedchamber balcony.
Regretting his words from long ago and with his hands clasped together, Atemu deeply sighed and tiredly leaned on the marble railing. He mused, "Thirty-six years went by quickly. I achieved what needed to be done for the land. Have I outlived my purpose in this world, the land, and its citizens?"
Atemu then saw Set walking downstairs at the gardens, the morning sun being reflected against Set's smooth skin and giving the latter the pinkish hue of life.
As Atemu's amethyst eyes followed the High Priest's movements, he was reminded of how he was in his prime years: handsome, energetic, muscular, and proud. If he was as young as Set at this very moment, he would have given the latter a neck-to-neck competition.
However, reality sadly reminded Atemu as to how his regal physical stature transitioned over the years. His once-enthralling amethyst eyes were now listless. His brilliant tri-colored mane lost its sheen due to the grays that betrayed his age. His muscles lost rigor and tone. His once-smooth face lost its youthful features due to the passage of time.
Unable to fight back his overwhelming emotions, tears began to flow from Atemu's eyes. His heart cried out his most earnest wish. "Ah, to be young again... I would give up everything to recapture all that was lost. Is there not a way to be finally rewarded for every sacrifice that I have done?"
Suddenly, the Millennium Puzzle activated – startling the pondering Pharaoh and making him assess the eeriness looming over him. He frantically pondered, "This is strange. The Puzzle has not done this in decades."
Minutes later, the Puzzle subsided and left the thought-plagued and heart-burdened Pharaoh to once again lament and hope for things that never could be.
End Prologue
DISCLAIMER
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. And of course, Faust belongs to Goethe, Marlowe, and whoever owns the rights to it. The rest belongs to little, lowly me who loves Yu-Gi-Oh and Faust.