AN: Well, after almost two years (the majority of the first year being dedicated to the first chapter and actually figuring out the plot), we finally have it. Welcome to the long awaited re-post!
Acknowledgements: Before we start, I'd like to thank everyone who has stuck by me with this story, expecially nefelokokkygia (known hereafter as Hikari-chan), who has listened to my plot-related ramblings, talked me through tough spots, and spent many an hour correcting tedious grammar errors that I am ashamed to admit I make. Thanks also to Dragon-Tooth, who helped with detail work and the fleshing-out of characters I'm unfamiliar with, all of my muses (Ari and God included, along with parents, friends, brothers, and various teachers), who take the seeds of ideas and run with them, and dozens upon dozens of authors and storytellers, both here and in real life, who set the bar high and inspire me to be the best I can be. Thank you everyone, for being so very patient with me.
Continuity: My story takes place after the end of the series, and makes references to things in both the anime and the manga, depending on what I need. For those of you who haven't read the manga (I know there are many of you out there), I will be more than happy to explain/spoil whatever you want, just leave a note in a review, or PM me if you like. Some manga references are extremely plot-relavent, so it's important you know your history. Also, I will be using the English names for people, cards, and whatever else is needed... with exceptions, of course. I grew up with the dub, but sometimes the original Japanese is more mature, relevant, or just plain cool. If anything's unclear, let me know and I'll fix it.
Feedback: Begged for! This is my first real chapter-fic (Somewhere doesn't really count), so I'll need plenty of R&R and concrit in order to make this story a success. I know there are lots of authors around here who are too good to reply to reviews, but I swear on my life I am not one of them! I make it a point to reply to each and every review and message, so could you pretty please take the time to let me know what you think?
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh and never shall, nor do I own anything I may make reference to, knowingly or unknowingly. If you recognize it, it's not mine.
Prologue: Envoy of the End
The time has come for the end to pass.
The key between has become dead.
It's been corrupted, it grows untended,
It shares what is unprovidable.
The key between has become dead.
The slate is clear. The key is dead.
Of the many, one is left.
A deep rumble filled the chamber, echoing in the silence.
"What the...?"
"An earthquake!"
The floor beneath their feet began to tremble and shake as forces natural and unnatural fought to make themselves known. The twelve people present turned to escape the collapsing shrine, when a sound like a gunshot could be heard: the Millennium Stone cracked, dust streaming from its pores as though caught in an updraft. Deep fissures made way for smaller ones, and the great Stone crumbled, the seven Millennium Items falling into the abyss beneath it.
"The Items!" one of them shouted.
Another turned to pull at the boy's arm. "Yugi, let's go!"
The boy called Yugi hesitated, then turned to leave with his friends. None of them saw the thirteenth person in the room, an ethereal spectre watching them from above the crumbled remains of the Stone.
He was a dark-skinned fellow, tall and silent, and dressed in flowing white robes. A turban wound about his head, shadowing strange, empty blue eyes. Those eyes stared holes into the backs of the retreating humans—their owner had stopped considering himself human long ago.
So, he thought to himself, A new king has been crowned. A new heir to the legend. But what now, little Yugi? You have passed every test presented to you, and your predecessor has guided your way on the path to your destiny, but how will you fare alone?
His attention turned to another boy present, one with thick white hair and soulful brown eyes. And you, he thought, What will you do in the events to come? No longer overshadowed, your true power should begin to awaken. Of course, it would have anyway, given time. Each of the Items granted one wish, and his had not yet been fulfilled...
One by one, the man in the white cloak silently addressed everyone present, and even some who were not. None of them heard him, at least consciously, but all of them were marked by their connection to the pharaoh, and so were targets. In fact, hundreds of individuals in this time would be targeted, either directly or through more subtle means, but this group stood the best chance of fighting back. Lingering magicks made it possible for them to do extraordinary things—and the power would only grow as time went on...
From the depths of his folded robes, a slim brown hand reached out, completely unhindered by the falling rocks—indeed, the rocks seemed to go right through the man. There was a brief glow, and a shining golden key shaped like an ankh flew gracefully from the black depths below and into his outstreached hand. With a final groaning shudder, the shrine completely collapsed, and the man in white turned with a sigh. You have so little time... Prepare now, little king, and perhaps the world will come out of this relatively intact...
With a final glance at the rubble that was once the Millennium Stone he had guarded for so many centuries, Shadi closed his eyes and vanished.
There was still work to be done.
-o-
In a matter of seconds, the matter of centuries is no more. The pyramids have crumbled, the earth has shaken, the sands of time have shifted. There is no doubt, no question as to what has happened. The deception has failed, the trap sprung with no prey found struggling in its jaws. The Pharaoh is dead. The Items are buried. The Door is locked, and the Key is thrown away.
The Pharaoh has locked the Door behind him, and he is the Key and the Door will never open again.
The Keyhole still remains.
(Growgrowgrow. Power flowing, intoaroundthrough, ever stronger, ever faster, ever increasing in intensity as it thirsts for MORE.)
The Door swings both ways, it is true. The stage was set for invasion, but the Pharaoh barred its way, knowing everything at stake, protecting his friends as best he could, even unto death. Countless others have fallen/are still falling/will fall before it (falling like stars into the blackness between them), but none had proven this resilient. So many times they had brushed with it, but always fighting, always escaping, always somehow knowing. But not knowing, never truly knowing. They know nothing of what is in store.
(Peep through the Keyhole with the Eye, see see see watch what lies behindbeneathaboveeverywhere—)
The Door is locked. So it will seek a Window.
The Eye is the window to the soul, after all... and what a Soul I seek!
The last resort is called into play, the one option remaining to it. The Puzzle has been purged, the Ring all but useless. Only one is left (one that sees all, knows all, watches gleefully as they fall), but it will be difficult. Getting its previous bearer to seek the Puzzle, and its true memories, took all of its strength and cunning, and still it failed. (The lovesick fool was strong of mind, if weak of heart, but the early stages of the Game were set perfectly.) This time, the pawn will be replaced by a sacrifice much more powerful, much more intimidating, much closer to home.
A Door that will never open again needs no Key, and the Pharaoh has been flung from the ring, taken himself out of the game, and replaced anew.
The Keyhole has been crossed. The Door to freedom has been breached.
(Another day, another dawn, another Door—)
And this Door needs no Key.
"This wasn't a story about a special king. Everyone has a story, and this was a story that ended in light. My story, though... My story has just begun." —Yugi Mutou
AN: Ta-daa! My first re-written chapter. Yay! Now show me how much you love it by leaving a nice long review, kay? Remember, I make it my business to answer each and every one!
Hikari-chan tells me I need to stop breeding plot bunnies. As if it were my fault they seem to like me. But believe me, the damn things are more trouble than they're worth, biting me in the arse every five minutes with their What about this idea and this idea and can we fit this in somewhere?
Anyway.
All scenes from the unnamed it's point of view are written with the help of the aforementioned Hikari-chan. Her and her DEEP SHIT, as we have humerously nicknamed the writing style, are both positively amazing, and I love having them here with me! The prophesy-sounding thingy at the top is credited to my friend Haruka. In fact, many elements in this tale were spawned by her wonderfully creative mind. Without her and Hikari—and the philosophy books of Neale Donald Walsh, to which I will be making countless references—there would be no long-term plot to this story.
See y'all next time!
