Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
The Nutcracker
By: Sparxyu
Chapter 7
Yugi woke up in the middle of the night to feel his arms around something. There in his arms, lay Yami, fixed and whole again. For a moment, he pulled Yami closer to his chest in a hug, feeling grateful to Sugoroku that Yami was whole again.
I'll have to thank him in the morning, Yugi thought. But right now, I'd better put Yami back downstairs underneath the Christmas tree.
With that, Yugi slid the bedcovers away and stepped on the floor in his dark blue pajamas with silver stars on them. He scooped up Yami in his arms and headed down the staircase and into the drawing room, where the Christmas tree was. He cuddled Yami against him.
"I'm sorry, Yami," Yugi whispered, burying his face into Yami's coat. "I'll make sure that Tea won't ever make fun of you or hurt you again. I don't care what she says, really. I'll always treasure you and love you. I promise." He stroked Yami's hair in an effort to comfort him. To his surprise, Yami's hair was soft and velvety. It had looked so… hard before.
I promise. The last few words seemed to echo around the room and in Yugi's mind. Yugi could have sworn he heard a voice breathe, "Hikari…"
"I really must get back to bed," Yugi said to himself. "Now I'm starting to hallucinate."
Suddenly, Yugi heard a loud SQUEAK! He jumped nearly out of his skin and held Yami closer, not wanting to let go. When he took his fingers away from his eyes, he saw a small mouse scurrying across the floor.
"Oh," Yugi whispered. "It was only a mouse. Silly me, being scared of something so small." He turned around and let out a horrible scream.
There stood a mouse with seven heads. On each of its heads sat a golden crown. It was not a small mouse, either. Instead, it was life-size.
The Mouse-King, Dartz, drew a sword from a sheath at his side. "Give the Nutcracker to me!" He screeched.
"Who are you?" Yugi squeaked. "What do you want with Yami?"
"That doesn't matter," Dartz snapped. "Give him to me!"
"NO!" Yugi yelled as Dartz advanced. He tried to snatch Yami from Yugi's arms, but the Nutcracker ended up on the floor.
"You fool!" Dartz yelled. "I'll teach you to mess with my plans!" He snatched Yugi by the arm and threw him to the floor. As he drew his sword, he made to stab Yugi in the heart, but another sword connected with it instead.
"Yugi, run!" a voice yelled.
Dazed, Yugi looked up. There stood Yami, his Nutcracker, life-size and taking on the Mouse King. Yugi gaped at Yami in surprise.
"Don't just stand there!" Yami yelled. "Go!"
Yugi snapped back to his senses and did as he was told. Suddenly, loud squeaking was heard and an army of mice came running up to defend their King. Then, the doors of the toy cupboard opened and Tea's dolls and toy soldiers came running out. They charged the mouse army and began battle.
After a few minutes, everyone heard a loud clang. Yami's sword had been knocked from his hands and it had crashed to the floor. The soldiers and dolls had been taken prisoners by the army of mice.
Dartz snatched up Yami by his collar. "I have you now, Nutcracker!" he yelled.
Yugi glanced around frantically, looking for something to throw. Finally, his eyes settled on a china tea cup. He threw it at Dartz with all of his might, shards of it connecting with his head and embedding themselves. Dartz fell to the floor, dead.
The army of mice let go of their prisoners and scampered over to Dartz's body. They scooped it up and disappeared.
Yugi looked over at Yami, who was still standing, despite his exhaustion. With a last glance at Yugi, he fell to the floor as well, but in a faint.
