I lay on a balcony I found on my own, enjoying being outside after being cooped up for who knows how long. I stretch my wings out across the balcony as well, debating if I should go for a fly while I still can.
"Sheesh, Atem. You really know how to disappear. " Mahado says as he carefully walks around my wing. I tuck them away once more, allowing him room to walk.
"Sorry. Might fly." I respond as I give a few experimental flaps of my wings. Gusts of air flow past me, making shiver a little from the cold again. Mahado had to look away when they passed him. He chuckles as I sit up. "You should. Get out for a bit. But only if I have a drop of your blood. The potion is almost to that state for me to add the blood." I sigh as I hold my hand up towards him as he reveals a small, red vial. I prick my skin with a talon, making me growl at the small pain. Mahado the gently coax my blood to the skin, collecting it in the vial. I became intrigued by the fact my blood is gold now, not the dark red before my transformation. Mahado seems to be intrigued as well, seeing his eyes questioning it. After a few drops land in the vial, he releases my hand. I then lick at the wound without thinking, healing it as I also clean the blood away from my skin. Instead of the usual coppery taste, it seems to be more of an earthy taste with something else… an energy. I pull my hand away from my mouth, looking back at Mahado as he corked the vial. "Are you going to be ok outside? So you want Red eyes or REDMD to go with you?" I shake my head, also wanting to be alone for a bit as well. "Alright. Just don't go too far. Keep the Palace in your sights. Come back here if there is any trouble." I nod my understanding.
"Yes, Dad." I grumble in annoyance, Mahado sounding just like my dad every time I wanted to go into town or go horseback riding.
"I just want to make sure you are going to be ok. With what the Guardian said, I kinda wonder if anything is somehow passing the spell barrier without going thru it." I realize that as well. And it does worry me. But I need to think on things alone. Something is bothering me and I don't know what. "I'll send Red Eyes to come get you once the potion is done if you're are not back." I nod again before Mahado moves back inside. I climb onto the railing, unfolding my wings and taking off. I fly around the place a few times, getting my bearings on flying, before venturing a little farther away. My thoughts drift back to what I read about the dual daggers, the problem laying in the words.
"To halves of the same being… where did I hear that?" I ponder as my body turns lazily back to the Palace. My mind reels back to the discussion between me, Yami, and Yugi, recalling what he said. "Two halves of the same soul! Is it an accident the book and what Yugi say is the same? Or are they connected…!" My body veers to the right, avoiding a dark ball of magic by only inches. I turn my head around as much as I could, seeing only a shade coming after me.
"You won't escape me again, Slave!" I realize that this is the shadow of Afkida! He uses to use it on me when had the whip and it had a knife… I shake my head clear of those thoughts and kick it into great speed, diving low until I was only feet from the ground. I avoid many attacks, shifting at the last second out of the way.
"Yami! Yugi! I need help!" I cry in my mind as loud as I can. I feel alarm in the back of my mind "Afkida's shadow is after me! Get Mahado and Mana!" I yell again, barely avoiding another blast. The Palace comes closer as I try to pick up the speed to get away. Just before I could get high enough to veer over the wall, a blast hits my wing. I scream as I hit the ground hard, rolling a few times before I crash into the wall. Battered and bruised, I stand on all fours. The shadow lands in front of me. I spit blood out of my mouth, trying not to tremble.
"There is no barrier between us now, Slave. You'll be coming back with me where you belong, in chains and as our bitch." I narrow my eyes as many scents fill my nose. I only spit at his feet in retaliation.
"Fuck off." I growl before a blast sends him flying.
"You leave him alone, Jackass! If you want to get him, you'll have to get thru us first!" Yami yells as he and Yugi get in between us. The shadow only stands, laughing.
"Two measly human to protect you, Slave? How cute." Afkida crackles as energy come to his hands. Another blast sends him to the ground again.
"Did you also forget us?" Mahado questions him as he jumps down from the wall with Mana. They join Yami and Yugi in front of me. I limp around my friends and brothers, Standing in front of them.
"My fight too." I growl. Fire race in my veins once more, making my anger flare. "You. Marik. Zorc. FUCK OFF!" I roar as I rear on my hind legs, opening my wings to make myself bigger. All my fear, all my pain, burns into my anger. I slam my hand down, releasing all my anger in it. The earth shakes as fire spread from my hand, racing over to the shadow. "I will not be your bitch! I will not suffer any longer at the hands of you scum! You were nothing but a thief when I was pharaoh, still a thief to this day! I WILL NOT let you become free so you may hurt my brothers and friends! So FUCK OFF AND LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!" I let out a real roar, lunging at the shadow. Fire blaze around me as I swipe my claws thru the darkness. "I paid my dues to be free of you! So take this message to Zorc, Marik, and your master that I am now one of the guardians that keep them here. Let them try to enslave or kill me. Because when they do, I'll put them down like the rabid dogs they are!" I sank my fangs into the shadow, gripping it still as I shred it to pieces with all my talons. Fire burn at the darkness, singing it with its light. The shadows scream in pain, as well as a distant screech from below. I release the shadow before swinging around, bringing my spikes down on it. They pierce the shadow thru the chest, pinning it to the ground. It whimpers up at me as I maneuver myself so I stare at it in the eyes. "Wars on. Be ready." I growl before it dissipates. I pull my spikes free, looking back at the stunned group behind me. I only huff before sitting, cleaning some of my wounds with my tongue.
"Where in the hell did that come from?" Yami asks, being the first to find his voice. I merely peer at him over my shoulder.
"That is what happens when I fucking lose my temper. Many people fear it with good reason. You may have my memories when I was merciful or in fear. But not when my patience finally breaks and I lose full control of my temper. As for the earth shaking and the fire bending, I believe I understand what the Moon Maiden meant when she said I needed to mature. She meant when I discover my new powers." I explain. I return to cleaning my wounds, licking away dirt and blood from my arms. "Explain it to my friends before I lose my temper again at them for staring at me. I am self-conscious as it is in this bloodied mess and it will not take me much to be ticked off again" I growl. Yami repeats what I said, snapping them out of their shock. They too have received my wrath once or twice, so they know how irritable I am after I do calm down from my rage. I can hear feet cautiously approaching me. I stall in my cleaning, looking out of the corner of my eye as Yugi kneels beside me. My tail sways in warning to him not to push me. But the only thing he does is hug me, catching me completely off guard. The force lands me on my back, pinning my wings under me.
"You and Yami share the same temper. You had me so scared when you stood in front of us. Yami did it once and it nearly killed him. Please don't ever do something so stupid like that again! We work together!" Yugi cries out as worried tears slide down his cheeks, clinging to my chest with surprising strength. I blink at him in surprise. My anger completely went at his worry. I relax and give a gentle smile, sweeping some of his tears away with the back of my talons. They chime like music between us as I flick his nose carefully.
"Promise Hikari. My word. My honor." I speak aloud. He smiles brightly before getting up. I flip onto my stomach to stand on all fours once more, but pressure gathers in my hips. My back arches before forcing me to stand on my hind legs. I hold my arms out, trying to find my balance before Mahado and Yami come over and give me their shoulders to lean on. Each of my hands grabs one shoulder as I blink, realizing I am a good head taller than Mahado on my hind legs.
"What did you do, Yugi?" Yami ask the young boy, making him shrug his shoulders.
"I think I have a theory. Yugi force Atem on his back. It probably shifts his hips into a different position than what it is when he is on all fours, making him able to stand on his hind legs. Shift his hips back to where they were and he'll go back to all fours." I roll my eyes at Mahado's theory, though it has some sense to it.
"Help walk." I growl. The two of them start walking, stopping every few steps to let me catch up. I start to get used to the different weight on my back, learning to use my tail for balance. I let go of their shoulders, taking a few shaky steps on my own before I gain enough confidence to try a fast pace. I bound over to Mana, laughing at the feel to be on two legs again. Everyone smile as my mood lightens once more. "Who short now?" I ask Mahado smartly. Mahado glares up at me as everyone else laughs.
"Don't let it go to your head, Pharaoh. Just because you have longer legs than me at the moment doesn't mean it gives bragging rights on height." I only chuckle as I ruffle his hair for once. If looks could kill, I would be dead and buried before I could say 'Holy Ra.'.
"Come. Potion awaits." I say as I turn back to the palace. I climb over the wall in a single bound. I have to wait for the others to join me before I let Mahado take the lead. He leads us back to his lab. I duck my head to avoid hitting it on the door frame. But then a nasty odor hits my nose, making me swear mentally in my native tongue as I hold my nose shut.
"You're lucky Yugi doesn't know a lick of Egyptian or I would've pummeled you to the ground for saying such profanities." Yami snarls at me. I stop as I recognize the first sign of my temper. Eyes shining with anger with teeth bared.
"Sorry." I mutter hastily, my voice sounding off since I am holding my nose. Yami only holds his composure a moment more before the anger bleeds away from his eyes and a half grin pulls at his lips.
"It is hard to stay mad at you when you sound like that. It almost reminds me when Yugi tries to talk with his mouth full." I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing as Yugi tries to glare at Yami, only to come out as a cute pout.
"Very funny, Yami. Do you want to be on the couch for the next 2 weeks?" Yami turns to Yugi in a flash, apologizing quickly as I could pick up a hint of fear in his voice. I look confused at the boys, clueless on what is so bad sleeping on the couch.
"Don't ask, Atem. That is definitely between those two and you rather not know what they do at night. Lay down on the pillow, the potion is ready." Mahado interjects. My curiosity is peaked, but I would ask Yami alone later. It takes me a few tries, but I figure out how to shift my hips around. I go on all fours again, curling up on the pillow once more. Mahado lays a goblet on my lips, making me take the few sips of the white liquid inside. I find it hard to swallow as the foulest taste overcomes my mouth. I force myself to swallow, gagging harshly as it hits my stomach.
"What in the hell did you give me, Mahado? Poison?" I ask before I realize my throat doesn't hurt anymore when I speak. Everyone cheer as I smile, ecstatic to speak normally. But that ended when I become so tired, I could barely keep my eyes open. My body relax, almost becoming limp, as darkness claims my sight.
