Friends to the Rescue
Just because certain characters weren't playing the game, didn't mean they weren't part of the game. Kisara and Freya sensed that their friends were trouble and needed help. As for Yugi and his friends, the hour of the search was through, so it was time to meet up back in their guest room. This called for another twist. The game was approaching its climax and it wasn't yet time to set the stage. But Max and Bakura got another idea; to return to the game. But first, they needed a little help from the outside. They were going to use the same tactic Yami did when he was feeling weak by gaining a bit of a power boost from a friend. Their vessels from the modern era weren't part of the game, but Bakura and Max knew where they could get the energy they needed. Yami told them it was impossible, but it wouldn't be.
Kaiba was about to regroup with his friends until he felt a pain in his back. He unfolded his wings and one of them was burning up. It was the one Bakura broke the other night. The pain was becoming stronger, making the brunette scream and fall on his knees. And it worked. By draining Kaiba's strength, Max and Bakura were able to return from the shadows. The Shadow Game would still be at a standstill, meaning Yami, Max, and Bakura would continue to sit and watch. But things were about to get interesting. In the meantime, Bakura and Max decided it would be fun to continue tormenting and torturing their opponents, starting with devastating the rest of the sacred guardians.
"This is cheating," Yami reprimanded.
"Not quite," Bakura protested, "we make the rules in this game."
Max sighed. "Oh, well, if only you could remember a little more about your past. Then you might remember how you beat us the first time."
"But no, you had to go and erase your own memory," Bakura added, "giving us the chance to do what we should have done in the past: destroy you and your family."
"But the question is, who will lose their souls to the shadows first," asked Max. "Any guesses? Come on, it's a game. You should have fun." Maybe she and her partner were having fun, but to Yami, this was no game, but a war. Yami knew he had to find a way to put an end to this. If he can't, Bakura and Max will succeed in rewriting history.
Joey found Kaiba and called Yugi and Emily over. Carefully, he placed him on his back. Emily placed her hand on his forehead and felt that it was hot. She couldn't produce ice with her magic, but she was still able to cool him off with her Cure Water spell. Not only did it cool him down, but it was also restoring his strength. The brunette groaned and tried opening his eyes as he heard his friends calling him.
"Kaiba?" Yugi asked. "Kaiba?"
"Come back to us, pal!" Joey pleaded.
His vision finally became clear. He sat up and groaned, "What happened to me?"
"I was on my way back to this room until I heard you screaming," Joey tells him. "When I found you, you collapsed with a fever."
Kaiba stands up and folds his wings out and back. Bakura must've done something to me when he broke my wing. That was where the pain was coming from. He places his hand on his forehead to check his temperature. "It came from my wing and started to spread around my body. Then I just blacked out. But somehow, I thought I could hear Blue-Eyes."
When Joey heard him say that, something started coming into mind. "I think I know what you mean. While I was looking around, I could've sworn I could hear Red-Eyes calling me like she was in trouble."
This made Joey and Kaiba starting thinking about Freya and Kisara. They didn't want to forget the importance of finding the pharaoh's name, but something inside was telling the blonde and the brunette that they should take a detour in finding Kisrara and Freya.
Suddenly, the girls and their guardian beasts stopped and appeared before the group. "Seto, is that you?" Kisara asked. "We heard you scream and – hold on, you're not Seto."
Emily's eyes widened. "Hey, you can see us after all."
"It's you," Kaiba said to Kisara. "You're the girl from my visions. You're Kisara."
"And you're Freya, the girl from my dreams," Joey tells her cousin.
The cousins were confused. "But who are you children?" Freya asked. "And why do you look so much like our friends?"
"It's a bit complicated," Yugi replies. "Hey, do you girls have any idea what's going on here?"
"An evil force is threatening our land," Kisara tells him. "We must act quickly or everything will be lost to the Dark Lord Cobalt."
"Let us help you girls and maybe you can help us out too," Joey suggested.
"I'm sorry, but we don't have time. The darkness is coming and we've got to help our friends. Farewell, children," Kisara tells them. Freya follows after her.
Kaiba and Joey both had a bad feeling that the girls were heading for danger and needed help. "I say we follow Kisara and Freya," Joey suggested. "I can't help but feel in my heart that I've got to protect Freya. She means a lot to me." Kaiba nods and says the same thing about Kisara. Neither Yugi nor Emily could argue. They wondered if the cousins were special to their friends because of an ancient bond. Then again, when they looked at Kisara and Freya, they noticed how similar they were to the White and Black Dragons. Perhaps they would know the strength of the bond and how much the girls meant to Joey and Kaiba if they followed the girls.
The group followed Kisara and Freya to a temple in the desert. As the cousins feared, their friends were under attack. The Great Shadow Negas brought Seto to the temple to lure Kisara and Freya into a trap. Joseph found out about the dangers too and came to the rescue.
Yugi and Emily didn't want to get involved this time. They didn't know anything about this monster, so they stayed by the stairwell to watch the fight and encouraged their new friends to be strong. Joey and Kaiba wanted to help, but their friends kept holding them back. Kisara and Freya summoned their Dragons to protect their friends, but the Shadow Creature summoned by the wicked knight withstood their attacks and began using his magic to try to capture the White and Black Dragons and seal them in stone tablets. Seto and Joseph beg the girls to withdraw their monsters, but Kisara and Freya refuse to allow this madman to continue to hurt the men they love. The Great Shadow Negas attacked again, but this time, he attacked Kisara and Freya, fatally wounding them and sealing their Dragons.
The scene was bringing tears to everyone's eyes. Emily turned away and began crying on Joey's chest. Now the blonde lad understood the pain of losing his lost love after witnessing her fate. He felt like his heart was being crushed and his eyes began to fill with tears. Yugi was crying too. Kaiba placed his hand over his friend to console him. Even the brunette was feeling the same pain. "Those poor girls," Yugi sobbed. "They were only trying to protect their friends."
"It's not fair," Emily protested. "What did either of them do to deserve this?"
"Even if we did want to help, what could we have done to stand against that monster?" Kaiba asked.
Feeling a strange sensation, Emily gasped. "I sense a dark presence," she told her friends. She refocused her attention on the scene and noticed something different. The Great Shadow Negas was having a direct conversation with Seto and Joseph. The dark force she sensed was the same presence the Cobalt Star carried. This made her wonder if the Dark Lord was among them. She was half right, actually. The Dark Lord was speaking through his wicked knight, telling Seto and Joseph to relieve themselves of their burdens and fight on. Kaiba could see the expression on Seto's face and knew that his ancestor was being tormented and manipulated; wanting to give in to his darkest desires. Everything was starting to become clear to him now. He was seeing how the demon inside was taking over him.
Finally, Yami and Mystery came to the temple and found their friends. When the pharaoh asked what happened to Kisara and Freya, Seto explained that they were all attacked. Immediately, he pulls himself together and decides he wants to duel the pharaoh. Without giving him a choice, Seto raises his arm and summons the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Yami knew what needed to be done, so he summoned the Dark Magician.
"It's the ancient struggle," said Emily.
Joey was about to charge in to stop the duel, but Kaiba held out his arm to block his way. "We can't interfere this time."
"But we can't let them fight," Joey protested.
"We have to," Kaiba said again. "I've watched this battle several times. I want to see how things ended between the pharaoh and the sorcerer."
Emily knew the story and decided to explain it to her friends. "Seto is loyal and devoted to my mother and father. But after having lost so much, he's tormented by pain and confusion. Seeing him like this, the Dark Lord has convinced Seto to fight with anger and prove he's superior to his leaders. Because he's hurt, Seto is easily manipulated and unsure of what he most desires. But if anybody can break through to Seto, my father can."
"It's just like what happened in Battle City," Kaiba explained. "Your father is doing for my ancestor what he did for me; helping him to conquer the darkness in his heart."
"But why does it have to be between those two?" Joey asked.
"The pharaoh knows that the only way to save his friend is to face his foe. We've all faced that challenge, but this time, it's hard and personal for the pharaoh," said Yugi. "As long as he doesn't give in, the pharaoh will save Seto and help him to see the light."
"Besides, Seto and my father are more than friends," continued Emily. "They're like brothers and share a really strong bond and that bond will save them both."
"And it's like you guys told me," Kaiba was saying, "to continue his path to save mankind, the pharaoh must first start by saving his friend."
As the battle raged on, things started to get physical as the pharaoh and the sorcerer dealt punches at each other. But neither the Dark Magician nor the White Dragon wanted to fight. That was why they weren't even trying to attack each other. It was because the Shadow Creatures carried the souls of two special friends.
Finally, Yami and Seto agreed that they didn't want to fight anymore. But the sorcerer was still feeling weak in spirit. The White Dragon sensed his weakness and approached him. In the dark void of Seto's soul, Kisara's spirit reached out to him to illuminate the darkness and set him free. When Seto came to his senses and saw Yami approach him, the sorcerer welcomed his brother with open arms and began embracing him. Even the White Dragon began comforting the Dark Magician. In the end, Kisara was the real winner of the duel. It was her light that saved her friends.
Seeing how they're all bonding, Joey teases Kaiba. "I'm starting to get an idea on where you get your brotherly love."
"Oh, shut up," said Kaiba. Yugi and the others were glad that the duel ended this way, but were still sad for the loss of the girls. Seeing that it's all over, they approach their ancestors. "That was quite a show," said Kaiba.
Yami heard his voice and was surprised to see his friends. "What are all of you doing here?"
"We followed Kisara and Freya to this place and watched everything from the beginning to the end," said Joey.
"That's not the answer he wants," Kaiba told him. "I know you told us to go home because it wasn't safe here and it's been one disaster after another, but friends never abandon each other. We came all this way to help you and to leave would mean we've done it all for nothing and everything would be lost."
Mystery turns around and sees Seto and Joseph holding Kisara and Freya as they kneel before the tablets of the White and Black Dragons and mourn for their lovers. She really didn't want to lose any more friends, but she and the others need all the help they can get if they expect to save their kingdom and the future. "I knew as much, which is why I asked Yugi and his friends to stay. They seem to know more about what's going on than we do, so I say we work together."
"It's not the first time we put ourselves in harm's way," said Emily.
"But this time is different," Yami protested.
"How is it different?" Kaiba argued. "This isn't a game, that we know. We also know it's a fight that will decide the fate of the world. We risk life and limb looking out for each other and working together to save mankind. No matter how hard you push us away, we'll stand by you."
"But, Kaiba-,"
"But nothing," the brunette continued. "You stood by me when I struggled, now I'm standing by you in your battles. In all the times I pushed you away, you refused to give up on me. Well, you're not giving up now; not when we've come this close."
The queen sets her hand on her husband's shoulder. "We don't have to do this alone."
Yami knew that everyone around him was telling the truth. He had been saying the exact same thing many times before; that everyone is best united as a team. So he accepted their help.
Seto was confused and could have sworn he heard someone speaking with his voice. He thought he was losing it until he turned around and saw the pharaoh and queen talking to Yugi and his friends. He set Kisara down, approached Joseph, and gently tapped his shoulder. When the blonde looked up and gave him his attention, he asked, "What is it, Master?"
"Joseph, do you see what I see?"
Joseph followed his master's gaze and looked at Yugi and his friends. "I do."
"Who are they?"
"They're children."
"Yes, I can see that, but why do they look exactly like us?"
Joseph knew that if he tried telling Seto, his master would think he was crazy. But he had to be reasonable. "They're our descendants, Master Seto. They came from the future and have come to help us."
"I guess that explains the strange clothes on their backs," said Seto. He grinned at Yugi and said, "That boy's cute. He looks like the king from when he was prince except his eyes are softer and carry a hint of innocence." He fixes his gaze at Emily and says, "And she's beautiful. She looks just like the queen except her hair is light gold like… like…" he became silent when he looked at Yami, then back at Emily.
"I know what you're thinking," Joseph tells him. "She looks like the princess as a young lady."
Seto relaxed himself and grinned once more. "I'll be the judge of that." And he began approaching the group. "Hello there."
Emily looked up at him and returned the greeting. "Oh, hello." Then she became startled. "Wait, you can see us?" She was confused because she remembered that he and Joseph didn't see them in the capital when they came to Kisara and Freya's rescue.
Seto said nothing. He turned his attention to Kaiba and said, "Let me take a look at you, young man." Reluctantly, Kaiba shrugged and approached his ancestor. Seto noticed that he and his descendant weren't all that identical. Kaiba's eyes were a little closer together and his hair was a bit lighter, they didn't share the same smile, but their noses were the same. "Well, I suppose it's reasonable that our physical appearances are different given the fact that I'm so much older than you."
"Older, yes, but are you wiser," challenged Kaiba.
His ancestor pointed to the red amulet around his neck. "My amulet will determine that." He turns to Emily and begins evaluating her. "Look up at me, young lady, so I can get a better look at you," he says, placing his hand under her chin and tilting it up. Emily felt like this was like the time when Kaiba began evaluating her on her first day of school. Sure enough, Seto could see that this girl looked exactly like the queen. Her blue eyes were the same shade and carried the same hint of kindness. Her hair was long and straight with no waves or curls and was light gold like Yami's bangs. Seto moves her hair from her face to look at her ears. He sees that they're like Mystery's. Seto also saw that Emily had the same nose Yami did. It was true, this girl was the princess.
When Seto kept still with an amazed expression, Emily asked him, "Is everything all right?"
"It is you," he whispered. He raises his voice and cries, "Princess," and wraps his arms over her.
Yugi didn't like this. "Hey, let her go!"
"Yeah, give the girl some air," said Joey.
Joseph chuckled. "And you tell me to control my enthusiasm."
Seto loosens his grip and apologizes. "Please forgive me. I just couldn't believe it was you."
Emily dusts herself and forgives him. "Just please don't do that again. I really don't appreciate that kind of demeanor." She really didn't like it when guys just jumped on her and hugged her without her consent. This was one of the reasons she had little patience for boys.
"It's all right, Emily," Mystery was saying. "Seto's really kind and gentle and doesn't show it a lot." Emily knew and she could see that Seto didn't mean any harm.
"It's strange," Seto was saying, "this feeling. I felt like my spirit was being consumed by darkness. But now that I'm surrounded by my family and new friends, I feel like I have nothing to fear and that everything is going to be all right."
Joseph agreed and said he felt the same way. But he didn't want to leave Kisara and Freya alone; not in the state they were in. But the girls wouldn't be able to go home. Until everything would be back to normal and this whole fight would be over, the cousins would have to remain here at the temple. So Seto and Joseph told the girls to rest and that they would return.
Yugi and his friends approached the girls too so they could say 'goodbye'. Looking down, they saw that Kisara was wearing an amulet around her neck and it was glowing. The amulet around Freya's neck was doing the same thing. That made them wonder if the amulets were sustaining what little life force they had before the girls would be gone forever. Kaiba, Joey, Yugi, and Emily all get down and say their prayers for Kisara and Freya and rejoin their friends as they return to the palace.
Yami, Max, and Bakura continued to watch the game being played out from the Shadow Realm. "Well, you made quite the comeback," Bakura complemented Yami. "But unfortunately, a few more of your pawns were lost to the darkness."
"Kisara and Freya are my friends, not pawns," Yami corrected. "And they'll return from the shadows. I know because I believe in them the same way I believe in the rest of my friends."
"Of course, how very insensitive of us," said Max. "We forgot how much you care."
"It's remarkable," Bakura was saying. "You have no memory of these people, yet you feel compelled to call these shadows of your past your friends. Our advice to you is let them go."
"How could either of you understand?" Yami asked his opponents. "Neither of you have ever had a friend in your lives."
"Max and I have had each other," Bakura argued, "and that's all we've ever needed."
"Well, I may not remember my friends and family, but there is a bond that's lasted between us for five thousand years; a bond that can never be broken."
To Max, this was pathetic. What Yami also said before wasn't true. She did have friends; true friends and more loyal and caring than Bakura. So really, she did understand better than her partner did and more than her opponent assumed. In the game, Yami would be taking time catching up with his friends and family and Bakura and Max had a lot of catching up to do as well. While that was going on, Max decided to explain a few things to Yami. "You think this was terrible for you? Why don't imagine how I felt when I was watching?"
"What do you mean?" Yami inquired.
"What was a tragic happening for you and your family also turned out to be the worst day of my life," Max retorted. "That's why, right now, I have some things you need to hear. You won't be around for much longer anyway, so I don't see any harm in sharing any dark secrets." So Max decided to tell Yami some things that his friends would learn later in the game; more secrets about their pasts and what made them who they were. At the same time, she and her partner decided it was time to begin the countdown. So they turned the hourglass over and the sands began to fall.