The tension faded from the air as the knights divided into the six and then as all the cards dissolved into the light. Yugi stood alone, save for the silent cloaked form opposite him, shadow merely trickling from his frame. Something appeared at the center of the ground, drawing Yugi's eye in its simplicity. It was the stone, now black as space, no energy radiating from it. It lay as still as its previous holder, but not as feebly. All at once, the dark currents barely visible on the ground flared up, moving in an undertow towards the stone, which segued into the streams so smoothly Yugi could not have told in which instant it had vanished.
But he had other things to worry about, because the circle of shadow at the border had heightened as well, spinning as a whirlpool, its trails vanishing to the center. Then the border began to tighten, and at the same moment, the leaks from the opposite cloak burst into a silent flood, enraging all the streams. Unconsciously, Yugi retreated a step, but the circle then constricted in haste, closing only inches around the spot where Nightshroud stood.
Gasping, Yugi ran to him, stopping several feet short of the border. "Nightshroud..."
"Spare me your pity," spat the figure. "There is nothing to be done for me."
"That's not true." Though unable to draw his gaze, Yugi pressed on. "If you give up your darkness, you can still be saved."
"You say this, knowing of my beginnings and my actions?"
"Yes, it's still possible."
"Yugi... your compassion is astounding. Your deepest weakness," and in a lower voice he added, "and your greatest strength."
Before Yugi could register this, the dark streams rose ever fiercer, blurring the edges of the figure before him. "Even so, I do not envy you. You have chosen to return to the persistent struggles and cycles we both recognize. But in the world from which I come, there is no height and no falling, no strength or weakness. I emerged from darkness, and I will return to it. Even now, the pressures of your world ease away from me."
He was nearly gone, but if there was anything to be said, Yugi had to say it. "You don't have to choose this."
"On some level, many do; I embrace it as its true form. Perhaps someday, you all will see that it is only natural to return to this level."
"But as long as we pass the light and the life to each other, we won't have to."
The streams pulled at Nightshroud until every fiber of his being melted back into shapeless darkness. All the shadow swirled and spiraled into the closing ring, until even this swallowed itself. Before Yugi could see it was gone, the column burned itself out, leaving no source or trace of its existence.
Silence reigned, and it was the silence not of obscurity but of release. Then Yugi felt the light behind him. He spun around, only for a moment seeing the shining smiles of his two dearest companions before they dissolved and streamed away, one to her body and the other to the Puzzle, which now welcomed it home. But even as Yugi felt the comfortable presence alongside his own self, from all around him came the sound of his friends shaking the cobwebs from their minds and pushing themselves to their feet.
"Everyone!" As they gathered together, he was so happy to see everyone alive and well that at first he didn't notice the confused looks on their faces.
"Yugi, what happened to us?" "Where's Nightshroud?"
Before he could figure out how to say it, Anzu answered for him. "He's gone. Yugi beat him."
Even Mai, only barely familiar with how widely the two Yugis differed, was amazed to hear this. Only Mokuba was able to manage, "You?"
Any further confusion was swept aside as the sky opened and the light shone down in all colors of the rainbow. Before and around them stood the six knights and their leader. Dark Magician Girl spoke for them all, "Thank you, all of you. Because of your devotion, Nightshroud's power is broken. He has fallen back to the level from which he came; he and the Orichalcos have been erased from both of our worlds."
Marik asked, "And what of our friends?"
For answer, Hermos and Critias released the orbs of light from their hearts, letting them fly off to the horizon. "They are already returning, and it is time for us to bring you back to them." The six knights focused their energy together, their leader raising her staff. Enveloped in the spectrum, they all lifted up into the stream and away from the island.
\\\
The miles streaked by with no effort at all. Presently, they landed gently on the shore they had left, so long ago to Yugi's mind. At last, it's over, but... most of them don't even know what happened in there. What if... what if he was right in saying we still aren't beyond the reach of the darkness?
He stirred himself back; Dark Magician Girl was speaking to them. "You have supported each other well. We will do so in our world, especially now that we all are united again."
Mai, Marik and Yugi nodded back, answering the promise. "We'll be ready if you need us again."
"Thank you." The seven guardians together agreed it was time to go, and as one, they soared up into the distance, the window in the sky opening to accept them. Even when they were no longer to be seen, the friends below held their vigil until the whisper from Yugi's deck caught their attention. With only a moment to pick them up and see their faces, the six dragon cards melted into light and dissolved from Yugi's hand.
The spell broken, Mokuba remembered, "Hey, we shouldn't be standing around! Brother and Jonouchi should be back already!" His words sent them off like a shot. After just enough time to pile back into the car, they too were lost in the distance.
Swinging into the parking lot, Mai didn't bother finding a space near the building. It was quicker for them to run, and they easily intercepted the group already exiting the doors. Jonouchi, after breaking out of Honda's welcoming headlock, returned the enthusiastic welcome from everyone, and Kaiba allowed himself to be caught by his brother's tight embrace. Even Rishid gave a rare smile, and Anzu felt happier than she'd been in a long time.
Their words all ran over each other. "Seto, I'm glad you're safe again..." "You were... incredible, Mai." "Sister, I already told you I'm all right."
Upon Ishizu's concerned gaze, Yugi took the moment to switch places with his other self. "Kaiba, Jonouchi-"
"Aha, mou hitori no Yugi!" exclaimed Jonouchi, clapping his friend on the shoulder. "I knew you'd find a way to bring us all back."
"It wasn't me. Aibou was the one who beat Nightshroud."
The blank look on Jonouchi's face was nothing to the shock on Kaiba's, which only recovered somewhat when the others laughed to see him like that.
As they made their way back into the parking lot, Honda by now ribbing his friend for having been brought back so stirringly by his Red-Eyes, Marik called out, "Will we be seeing you all at the museum tomorrow? It's a bit late to open the memory tablet now, but I'd be glad to see you all there when we take it back to Egypt."
"That'd be great!" Anzu said.
"The transport isn't due until the evening, so you won't miss school." Anzu had forgotten about that, but she didn't care.
"Thank you," said the other Yugi. "I'm sure we'll all be glad to be there." He switched places, leaving Yugi to simply nod his agreement.
Bit by bit, the group broke apart. Kaiba strode off to his car, leaving Mokuba to break off his discussion with Marik about the latest cards released in their parts of the world. However, as he ran to catch up, Mokuba saw his brother was not in an impatient mood but a pensive one. "What's on your mind, Seto?"
"When I was protected by Critias, I could tell he was moving, but I couldn't sense many details of the place we reached."
"What, that island? There wasn't anything to it, it wasn't inhabited at all. I wouldn't have even known it was there."
"Mokuba... I think this may be the place I've been looking for."
With a thrill, Mokuba realized, "You mean... for building the acad-" His voice quelled by a single look from his brother, Mokuba hoped no one had been listening as he climbed into the car after him.
They drove off, and everyone left for their various homes. Only Yugi and Anzu were left. It had gotten quite dark, the moon barely visible behind the clouds. Distantly, he could sense the other Yugi was keeping back, but with a friendly encouragement to it. "Do you mind if I walk you home, Anzu?"
Making their way down the regularly-lit streets, there wasn't much to say. Both felt quite relieved to have the recent weeks behind them. Construction on the road diverted them down a side street, and as they made their way along the next block, they paused. A strange noise greeted them, singing like a falcon, then dropping to a growling rumble. Nervous, but not afraid, they peeked around the corner.
Mai and Jonouchi must have slipped away some minutes earlier. Neither one looked in the least bit tired, each one's attention fully engaged by the other. Their duel had already developed splendidly, Harpie's Pet Dragon and Cyber Harpie on the one side, Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Flame Swordsman on the other.
"This is it, Jonouchi. Just as we promised."
"Nothing to hide from. Nothing to fight against. Bring it!"
As Mai drew her card, Yugi's eyes turned to Anzu, both embarrassed and enthralled to be seeing this. To share this together, fully and eagerly... He felt very awake now, all his worries of loneliness gone for the moment, pushed out by simple realization. His bonds were not all the same as those of his friends, but they were no less important. More than that, the very act of living those bonds lay at the root of experiencing life at all. Looking on, without a word he took Anzu's hand in his.
