"Yugi, wait." Serenity bade him, catching his wrist and stopping him as he walked down the hall. Yugi turned to look at her, curiosity written all over his face. Serenity was watching him intently, her eyes shining worriedly in the early morning light.
"I just... I mean, I can't just..." She stammered, unable to bring herself to utter the words. Yugi understood perfectly. She was grateful, deep down, that she would not be sacrificed after all, no matter what her earlier proclamation. But she was scared for him too, he saw, with a pang of sympathy. Even though he had volunteered to go in her place, in effect saving her life, Serenity did not want him to face such a danger. She was scared that she would lose him for good, and even though Yugi knew that this was still only a dream, he found his heart grow a little warmer with the knowledge that she didn't want him getting hurt. He reached out and twined his fingers with hers, giving her a confident smile that she could not hold against. Her worried expression faltered in the face of his courage.
"Don't worry about me, Serenity." Yugi said, smiling sincerely. "I'll be all right, and as soon as I escape from the beast we can go riding in the countryside together like we used to do when we were little."
Yugi honestly had no idea what had made those words fly to his lips, but as soon as he said them, images of rolling hills and grassy plains disappearing under flying hooves came to his mind. He could almost feel the wind waving through his hair and tugging on his long cloak as he and Serenity chased the birds across the cloudless blue skies. A happy feeling of freedom that he had not felt in a long time bubbled up within him.
A tear slipped from his sister's face, but she was smiling softly through the pain. She bent a little and kissed his forehead, murmuring softly.
"Thank you, my brother. I shall never forget this brave deed, and my life will be forever in your debt." She pulled back and smiled sincerely, her eyes still shining, but with gratitude. "Come back to us safely." And then she swept past him, running down the hall on bare feet, making not a whisper of sound.
Yugi started walking again, not really sure where he was going. The spot on his forehead where Serenity had kissed him seemed warmer than the rest of him. He had to almost constantly be reminding himself of the fact that none of this was real. It felt real enough, more so than any ordinary dream was supposed to, of that he was sure. He could feel the cool touch of the stones beneath his hand if he brushed it against the wall as he walked. When he passed by one of the windows, the sunlight warmed him as it threw it's blindingly golden rays across the glass. If he raised his head to the air and sniffed, he could just make out the rich aroma of the servants cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Everything was so real, so alive, but yet it was only a dream.
Is that an excuse? A small voice in his heart asked. Just because it is not actually happening in the world you are used to, does not mean that it does not exist. Maybe you really are transported to another world when you dream.
Yugi felt himself growing more and more confused the more he discovered about this place. Maybe it's not real... he thought. But the thoughts and the feelings that exist here certainly are. Just because the events themselves do not really exist in my world, it does not mean that the feelings are any less real, any less important.
He pictured the worry that had been on Joey's face when Yugi had offered himself up as the sacrifice for the kingdom. His face had betrayed the fear and true agony of a tough decision; which child to let go of. There was no way that could have been faked. And he remembered the way Joey's eyes had lit up when he had seen Serenity, despite the fact that she was not supposed to be there. Joey loves his sister more than anything else in the whole world. That feeling did not die when I came here. The only thing that changed was their relationship. From brother and sister to father and daughter.
Yugi was slightly more at ease now that he had put some of the puzzle together at least. Dream or no, the love that permeated this place was as tangible as anywhere else, and he was determined to make sure that he did his best to keep it safe.
Still meandering the corridors aimlessly, Yugi let his thoughts go. He was starting to remember more and more of this place, (if remember was the right term to use considering he had only just arrived.) But there was definitely something coming back to him. He began to slowly realize just where he was, for example. Up ahead there was the King and Queen's chamber, and his room was only a few paces before that. Serenity's room was back the other way, built where the old store room with the wall-to-wall window used to be, because she loved to rise with the sun in the mornings.
It was amazing how much detail was actually coming back to him. This is so weird. He thought again. Just then, the sound of soft whispers reached his ears, and he slowed down, putting his back to the wall and listening hard.
"Are you sure you're all right?" It was Joey's voice, low and filled with worry still. He was answered with a sigh.
"As well as I can be, considering I am about to lose my only son." That was Mai, her voice choked and shuddering.
"Don't say that, we cannot know for sure." Yugi peeked around the corner in time to see Joey gather her up in his arms, stroking her long golden hair softly. "Yugi is strong, and he is incredibly brave. You know that he'll make it through this."
"This is not just any normal enemy!" Mai cried, pushing away from him. "No one even knows what this thing is! It has been terrorizing the kingdom for thousands of years; and even when it sleeps it strikes fear into the hearts of the bravest warriors!" She stood rigidly, trembling hard.
"Why didn't you tell him?" She whispered, and Joey's face hardened with pain.
"What good would the knowledge have done? I would have only scared him. It's better that he does not know."
"Better that he walks to his doom unprepared?" She shouted, her anxiety as a mother bubbling over in misdirected anger towards her husband.
"Better that he does not follow the same path!" Joey shouted back. Mai went white as a sheet, and she wobbled, leaning against the wall for support. Joey immediately softened, the anger flying from his face and his tone like dust in the face of a powerful wind.
"You know the legend." He whispered, and Mai screwed her eyes shut to hold back her tears. "There is no doubt that Yugi is the one."
"No. No! It cannot be!" Mai whimpered, holding her head in her hands.
"It is. Just look at him Mai, he has the same air of nobility and righteousness as the First Prince." Joey paused for a moment, thoughtful. "His eyes are the same as well. Pure, innocent, full of love."
Mai sobbed and flung herself at him, tears streaking her face. "I cannot lose him! I won't! He is my only son, you cannot do this to him!"
"The choice is no longer mine to make." Joey said firmly. "Yugi had made his choice, and no one will sway him."
Mai's voice sounded hopeless and defeated, muffled because her face was pressed into Joey's shirt. "Then we have already lost him."
Yugi's eyes were wide as he listened to Mai's anguished sobbing. Was the monster really such a nightmare that the whole kingdom trembled at the mere mention of it? And who was this 'First Prince'? And what was it that Joey had not wanted to tell him?
Joey seemed at a loss as to how to comfort her. He began to sing softly, a soothing and yet somehow haunting melody that seemed to hold much meaning to the both of them.
Light has existed since the dawn of all,
Teaching, guiding, protecting.
But so to has the Darkness.
Lying, misleading, stealing.
When the Darkness grows too strong,
And the Light is swallowed in it's grasp,
Only one will set it free.
The First of the Last, and the Last of the First.
The Prince of the greatest of Kings.
With courage as his cloak,
And purity as his blade,
He will strike down the evil Dark,
And Light forever shall reign.
Mai had stopped shaking, and her face was set in an expression of reluctant acceptance.
"You believe he is the one?" She whispered, and Joey nodded.
"There can be no doubt." He grasped her by the shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. "Have faith. Yugi will succeed only if we believe in him with all our hearts."
Mai wiped the last of her tears away with the hem of her sleeve. "Very well. Though it pains me greatly, I will support him in his endeavors."
"Good." Joey whispered, giving her one more squeeze. "Then let's go fetch him for breakfast shall we?"
They turned and started toward Yugi's hiding place, and he took off down the hall as quickly and quietly as he could. When he reached his bedroom door he opened it, paused for a moment, and then shut it again, turning so it looked like he had just exited his room. When the sound of the door banging closed echoed through the hall the King and Queen rounded the corner.
"Ah good, you're up and about." Joey said, obviously trying to keep the mood lighthearted. "Come Yugi, join us for breakfast. The servants have been working diligently all morning, and my stomach cries out for food so loudly I'm afraid I might shake the castle to it's foundation!"
He laughed and motioned for Yugi to follow them, Yugi just smiled and tagged along.
That sounds more like the Joey I know. He thought happily.