A/N- And now in the heat of battle, some really random things will begin to take place! Lol

Anyway, thank you to those who have continued reading with me. I am grateful to you all. Remember, this is going to start becoming a much different story in some key aspects, so just as a reminder, this is an AU YGO universe. Be prepared.

Disclaimer: I do not own YGO or anything related to it. I do, however, own Aurora and her friends and family.

Chapter 11

"I never dreamed one day you would end up being the one to save me," the Dark Magician told his student gratefully. "I'm proud of you. Even in my absence you still continued with your training."

Mana smiled and stood, grasping onto one of the pillars and sliding down to the ground, kneeling beside Yami, Zahara, and Aurora. Zahara smiled warmly at the girl who looked back and forth between her and Aurora. Aurora chuckled softly and Yami just grinned.

"Thank you for helping me, Mana."

Bakura growled. "The little twit should have stayed home."

Yami slowly stood as Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl moved to stand in front of him. Together they began attacking Diabound once again.

"Nice try," Bakura said smugly. "But its going to take more than that to take my beast out." He raised his arms up. "Spirits! Come and give my creature some company. Show the Pharaoh and his kind what you are all made of!" He laughed as two more Diabounds appeared before them. "You see, thanks to the spirits, my Diabound has now picked up a few extra tricks. Attack!" He growled again when the two magicians fired back and destroyed the two extra Diabounds, ordering his real creature to attack. Diabound's shock wave was so powerful, it sent them both flying away.

Aurora and Zahara looked up from the zombie-like creatures they had been fending off when Yami and Mana struck the cavern wall near them.

Bakura laughed. "Face it, Pharaoh, your reign is over!"

Diabound sent another attack, deflected only when Dark Magician Girl returned to protect them with her Magical Hats. Mana and Yami became concealed within one of the hats in a desperate attempt to buy some time.

"Don't think you can hide from me," Bakura taunted. He ordered another attack that blew away all of the hats, sending Yami and Mana flying backward again. Diabound's huge, clawed hand stretched forward to swipe at Yami.

"Father!" Zahara screamed out.

"No!" Aurora shouted, raising her staff and hitting it with all her strength toward the hand. Her eyes widened when she saw a second weapon embed itself beside hers in the claw. Turning, she saw Priest Set, Karim, Isis, and Shimon running down the staircase and coming to a shop in front of Yami.

"And that brings three more items for the stone."

"Are you alright, my Pharaoh?" Shimon asked Yami as he stood tense to fight.

Yami nodded but turned when he heard Isis exclaim Mahad's name. The Dark Magician came closer to them. "Yes, I have returned just as you predicted. But even while my spirit is trapped in stone, my soul will always live on to protect the Pharaoh."

"You truly are the greatest magician in the country," Shimon praised.

Priest Set coughed pointedly. "We will have plenty of time to chat about praises later, right now we have a villain to defeat."

"Set is right," Karim agreed. "The Pharaoh is weak and time is short. We must act quickly to get this finished."

Aurora broke away from her fight and turned to kneel beside her husband. "You were all the distraction I needed." She reached out and placed a hand in his shoulder, a white flow of energy transferring from her to him. "Sorry for the delay, love. They are keeping us just busy enough for me to be unable to restore your energy."

"So I noticed," Yami said as he stood and kissed her cheek. "Thank you." He looked toward the guardians. "Thank you all for coming."

Bakura growled. "You all have interfered for the last time."

Yami faced him with dark eyes. His guardians gathered around him. Zahara and Aurora stayed on either side of him. A fight in this land was definitely proving to be more difficult than they thought it would be, but it was a fight that needed to be concluded. They were all prepared to give all that was needed.

Shimon reached out and touched Yami's arm. "My Pharaoh, it is too dangerous for you without your Millennium Puzzle. You really should allow us to take Bakura out for you."

"Such a splendid idea," Bakura agreed. "This way, when I've beaten you all, I can acquire three more items for the stone. A grand total of five."

"I might not be able to fight with all the creatures I once could, but that does not mean that I am not entirely defenseless," Yami said proudly. Flames licked at the tips of his fingers and Aurora and Zahara took a step back. A small smile curved Aurora's lips and she felt a whole new wave of Power fill the room. His magic began to grow as his guardians all called forth their own monsters to battle.

"So you can play with fire, eh, Pharaoh? Didn't anyone tell you that's the best way to get burned? It doesn't matter what you can do. Diabound, show these fools the power of the Shadows!"

"Be ready," Set commanded, looking around him to the other guardians. "Synchronize our counter blast!"

Creature, fire, and white light all struck as a counter attack, but all were shocked and dismayed when the smoke cleared to find Diabound protected by a web of spirits.

Bakura laughed heartily. "My creature is and always will be, protected by the spirits of Kul Elna."

Zahara sighed angrily. "Those spirits hate our kingdom about as much as he does. If not more so. So long as we keep the battle here, Bakura and his creature will always be safe and protected by them. We will never be able to break through."

"Very good, Princess. You have been paying attention after all." He flashed her a wolf-ish grin when his only response was a scowl. "Your attacks will never be able to get past my shield. Diabound, attack!" There was another shock of power. Mystical Elf was destroyed, causing Isis to sink to the floor in pain. Just off to Yami's side, Aurora was dropped as well.

"No, Isis! Aurora!"

"Mother, no!"

Set lifted Isis and brought her closer to Aurora as Yami and Zahara knelt beside them both. Karim cradled Isis' head in his arms while Yami held Aurora tightly to his chest. Zahara's vision blurred with her tears and she looked up at her father.

"No more," she whispered fiercely. He nodded, his own gaze dark.

"No one will be regenerating anyone's strength now. Unless the Princess has another secret to share with the class."

"Go screw yourself," Zahara muttered under her breath.

"What was that, love?"

His taunting chuckle was cut off by a series of pulsing bursts of energy that were not aimed at his creature, but at him directly. The spirits attempted to keep the wall up about him, but were forced to move and rebuild with every step that she took forward. Set's eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold and he motioned to Yami.

"Pharaoh, look! His creature is weakening. Perhaps we can use this chance while she has him on the run."

Isis reached out to Karim and then looked at Yami. "I will be alright. Go on, and do what you must."

They nodded and all stood to take up battle formation yet again. All the monsters left began their assault on Diabound. All parties striking at once. Zahara was lost in her own rage, forcing the power to expel from her as quickly as she could bring herself to. She didn't have the time to withdraw when he reached out and snagged her arm, yanking her closer to him.

"Don't forget, I know you. I know your mind."

"Not anymore, Thief."

Bakura chuckled. "We shall see. It won't be long before I have all seven of the items. The last two are near to present themselves. Then, Zorc will rise and this time, he won't be defeated."

"You're wrong, Bakura. Zorc will tire of you. He will find another to take your place and then you will be left with nothing. No drive or will or anything. And even more? You most certainly will not have me." Zahara let out a shout as she kicked away from him, striking him in the chest with her firmly planted foot. She rolled backward and watched him back away yet again when a burst of fiery flames struck Diabound square in the center.

Zahara looked up to see that Karim had used the magic of the Millennium scales to merge his, Set's and Yami's monsters together as one being to attack. She slowly stood, accepting her father's hand when he reached out to her.

"It doesn't matter how many monsters you merge together, you are still no match for mine," Bakura snarled at them.

"We shall see," Set returned as they ordered their dragon to attack.

Diabound countered with Helico ShockWave. The attacks met at equal strength, but before either could give, Bakura called upon the spirits to boost Diabound's strength yet again. The beast began to attack with more power and the Duos Dragon found itself weakening. Set called upon the Aura Sword and Karim called for his monster's Flame Burst Attack. Zahara watched as the attack slowly began to melt the spirit shield. Yami added his own strength of Fire and Zahara turned her energy on the shield as well. But the smell of burning flesh brought her attention back to Priest Set who's arm holding the Millennium Rod had begun to sizzle.

"We're almost through," she said tensely, trying to strengthen what was left of her energy.

"If we can just get. Through. This. Shield…" Karim started between gasping breaths. "We can defeat Diabound."

"That's not going to happen," Bakura called upon yet another creature which attacked Karim directly, knocking the Scale out of his hand. He grinned when one of the spirits retrieved the Scale and brought it to him. He laughed as the Dragon was forced to spilled back up into the individual monsters yet again. He ordered Diabound to attack and this time he succeeded in destroying all of the monsters and sending all the guardians and the Pharaoh into the air.

Zahara reached her father when his body slid to a stop near her mother. She reached out to him and gently shook him, grateful when one eye slowly opened and blinked up at her. Behind her, Bakura had used the Scale to fuse his own two monsters. Zahara helped her father to slowly stand, and stood near as he turned to face the thief.

"Finally," Bakura said to them. "The spirits of Kul Elna will have their revenge!"

"Stop this."

Zahara's eyes widened at her father's haggard voice. He was standing as tall as his body would allow him to, which wasn't by much. One eye was swollen shut and he had a hand gripping his right shoulder while his right arm hung at his side. His body was badly ravaged from the battle, yet he continued to stand. He took another step forward when it appeared that Bakura was actually going to allow him to speak.

"Stop this, Bakura. Spare my friends. Take me."

"Father, no!" Desperation stung within Zahara's voice and tears filled her eyes as she reached out to stop him from continuing to step forward. "Don't do this… You can't, please…"

"I'm sorry, my daughter. This is something that I must do."

Her tears fell, her voice broke. "Father, please… no…"

He turned his head toward her and she could see his own eyes filled with tears. She could feel his grief tearing him apart on the inside. "I have no choice, Zahara. It's the only way."

Zahara started toward him when firm hands gripped her shoulders and she stopped, looking up at her mother's shaken form behind her. She saw the muscle twitch at the side of her mother's head the gave away her clenched teeth. A stray tear slid out of the corner of her own eye. But she did not stop him. She continued her grip on her daughter and swallowed hard.

"Finally, you come to your senses," Bakura chided. "Now, prepare to be trapped for eternity in the spirit realm!"

Yami dropped both arms to his sides, lifting his head high. "My father may not have known what had happened here at the time the Items were created; that all of these spirits had to be captured to make them. But they blame my father for trapping them there. If the same thing had happened to my friends and family, I would, no doubt, feel the same hatred as Bakura. It is my fate to accept the punishment. I will allow my soul to join them so that the grudge can finally be laid to rest. So, spirits of Kul Elna, take me!"

The scream that ripped itself from Zahara's throat nearly outdid the sounds of the spirits screaming as they rushed toward her father. She continued to scream for him, her mother desperately trying to keep her from running to him and risking herself being taken as well. Isis brought a hand to her lips, watching as Yami took on the strike of the spirits and feeling the effect it was having on his wife and daughter on an emotional level. Even Priest Set stepped forward to place a hand on Zahara's shoulder, trying to help calm her as she continued to watch her father's body being invaded by the evil that surrounded them.

There was an odd flicker in Bakura's eyes when he heard her scream. He glanced at her briefly but had to force his eyes away from her as he felt his victory at hand. "It's over. Farewell, Pharaoh."

The scene unfolding before them was like that out of a nightmare. Zahara could no longer stand as she watched her father standing there, shivering, with the spirits circling within him. Zahara no longer had a voice to use, having used it all in her protests and pleas. She closed her eyes, hugging herself tightly enough for her nails to bite into the skin of her arms. Trickles of blood began to flow, but she could not feel the pain. She was numb to everything around her.

Someone, please help him… Don't let him be taken away from me… from us… we need him still… It was a silent prayer, but it was all that she had left. Her strength gave on her completely and hung her head.

There was a sound of breath hissing inward just above her. She felt the hands of her mother and Priest Set still on her shoulders. She slowly looked up to see a golden glow surrounding her father. Her breath came in small pants and her eyes widened.

Fear not, my Granddaughter, your prayer has not gone unheard….

She froze. The golden light surrounding her father began to take a shape. The light made it difficult for her to see, but she could almost imagine a man in very elegant and regal clothing, a golden headdress atop his head.

"It's me that you want," the figure said to the spirits. "Take the one you truly desire!"

The golden light stepped forward after the spirits entered within it and Yami took several steps backward. Zahara stood and reached out to him, gripping him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her just as tightly before looking up at the light. Behind it, Diabound had begun to shrink.

"Father," Yami started. "What will happen now?"

Dark Magician spoke the answer. "King Aknamkanon will lead the wandering spirits to the realm of shadows where they belong. But he does this knowing that he will be trapped there as well."

"That's not fair," Yami protested. "He was innocent, he didn't know…"

"He knows, love," Aurora told him softly. "It is your father's sorrow and regret that are the souls' redemption.

"No!" Bakura snarled as Diabound continued to shrink away. "Come back! Have you forgotten your hate? Come back and tear them all apart!"

Yami stared after his father's spirit until the light faded away, taking the spirits with him. "Farewell, Father."

"Restore peace to our land, my son," Aknamkanon's voice whispered back toward him on the breeze.

Yami nodded and turned to the Dark Magician. "Mahad, attack Diabound now, while he is weak."

The Magician nodded and turned, leveling his staff at the creature and firing off his attack. Diabound destroyed, Bakura fell to his knees.

"Now, Bakura, your reign ends now. It is time you sleep with the ancient darkness."

The Thief stood, gasping for breath. He turned, eyes wide when he realized the Stone was no longer protected. "No, this isn't over. The Empire will crumble. The Items will be mine and Zorc will rise!" He stumbled and fell onto the ground. With all of the strength he could muster, Bakura crawled weakly up the steps to the Stone.

"This land will finally know peace," Yami told him patiently. "It's no use to continue. We still have the remaining Items. You can't break the seal on Zork." Yami's eyes darkened when he noticed the thief attempting to place the Scale and Puzzle back into the stone. "Return those Items to me, Bakura. Give it up, you've lost."

"I think not."

Aurora frowned at the voice. A part of her knew she should know this. A vision she had once, a long, long time ago. She blinked and she gasped as she looked up at Yami.

"What it is?"

"The betrayal of one of your own… It was a vision I'd had soon after you and I had met. A vision I kept hidden from you for weeks. Months even… The tides of the empire would change. You would face a betrayal of one of your own people. Someone you trusted."

Yami shook his head. "No, no one here would betray us…"

"You really should listen more to your wife, Pharaoh. Especially when it comes to this." Aknadin appeared on the upper steps. In his hand was the Millennium Key.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"I am the one responsible for the creation of these Items," Aknadin revealed. "And now that they are all gathered in this place, I shall be the one who decides their fate."

"He's right, all seven are here," Yami breathed.

"What have you done with Shada?" Priest Set demanded.

Aknadin waved his question off. "What's important is that his Millennium Item will be put to good use," he said instead as he walked toward the stone.

Bakura began laughing wildly for a short moment before a strange purple light surrounded him and he pitched forward. There was a groan against the stone and he slowly tried to sit up. When he was kneeling on the Stone, he looked down at his hands and then up at everyone around him.

"What the hell…?" Zahara whispered as she looked deeper into his eyes. "Mother… something is wrong. That's not the Thief… I mean, it's him, but it isn't."

"What do you mean?"

There was a wry, humorless bark of laughter from the princess as she shook her head. "I was right. He was nothing more than a puppet. And the puppeteer just cut his strings."

"What?" Aurora and Yami both turned and looked at Bakura who was watching his hands slowly disintegrate into sand.

"Wh-where am I?" Bakura asked in a soft, scared tone. "Who are all you people? What is happening to me?"

There was a new voice in the cavern that belonged to know one anyone could see. "Thank you Bakura. For a pawn, you have done me very proud. But unfortunately, it would seem that I have no more use for you."

"Who are you?" Yami shouted out to the voice.

"Please, help me!" Bakura pleaded. "Please, help, the shadows are taking me!"

Zahara's heart almost ripped apart again when she thought she heard Ryou's voice within the body she had grown to despise in this battle. She looked up but could only watch as he completely disappeared, leaving only a torn cloak in his place.

"Necessary chess pieces must disappear," the mysterious voice said. The tone of the voice inflected a mild smile to be hidden somewhere in the darkness.

"Explain yourself!" Yami commanded.

"Pharaoh!" The newest voice was weak. It held a note of fear and warning. They all turned to see Shada propped against a wall near where he stood at the opening of the cavern. "Be careful, Pharaoh. It's Aknadin. You must stop Aknadin!"