Author's Note:: Hey everybody! I'm back! Just an FYI: I have a job now, as long as being a full-time college student my time is even more limited. I know that's seriously frustrating but it's the truth. So, be kind please! Reviews are always welcome! ::
Chapter 21:: The Final Battle Part II
"Master Marik! I'll save you!" out from the shadows crept a very weak Odion.
"Odion!" Ishizu ran up to him, supporting him on her shoulder, "What are you-How are you-"
"The darkness is here to stay, so keep out of my way!" Evil Marik hissed.
"Let him speak!" Yami ordered. Surprisingly, the Evil Marik relented and did nothing except glare angrily.
"Let my Master go!" Odion weakly yelled.
"You Master is nearly gone. I have his body and the Shadows will soon claim all that is left of him. He can no longer hold me back!" Evil Marik cackled triumphantly.
"That is not true," Odion said softly, "I've come back to make sure Marik's good spirit prevails."
"ENOUGH!" Evil Marik raised his Millennium Rod and a burst of dark energy sent Odion to his knees.
"Odion!" Ishizu ran to his side.
"Master Marik…" Odion didn't relent, "You must fight him. We've defeated your darker half before, we can do it again!"
"I said SILENCE!" the darker side of Marik sent Odion flying back again.
"Fight him!" Odion shouted.
Suddenly, Marik's arm holding the Rod fell. He gripped his face and started screaming in agony.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking back my life!" came Marik's voice – Aimee's Marik, "If you can hear me Pharaoh, attack me now! I'm so sorry for what I've done, but I'm ready to take responsibility for my actions. Please, I can't hang on much longer."
"I've waited so long to hear those words…" Odion whispered.
"You can't attack!" I suddenly shrieked, afraid for Marik, "The force of the attack could me too strong! Marik-"
"Aimee, stop. Listen, please. Don't worry about me. The Pharaoh must attack or else mankind will be destroyed!" Marik shouted through his distorted body.
"I don't care! I don't care about mankind!" I couldn't stop the words from pouring out of my mouth, "I care about you."
Marik fell silent, "Aimee… He has no choice. And neither do I."
"The force of our attack could send him straight to the Shadow Realm," Yugi said from beside Yami, "It's too risky."
"Yugi, we have no choice. We have to trust him." Yami said quietly, making the decision final.
"NO"! I ran forward, but was held back by Joey and Tea, "Lemme go! I have to stop them!"
"There's nothing you can do, just leave it!" Joey yelled over my protests.
"Here goes! I activate Ragnarock! Since my Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl are both on the field, I have to remove every monster in my hand and graveyard." Yami shouted, "Fusing Ragnarock with the power of all of my monsters!"
Aimee witnessed the army of monsters burst forth and hover around the arena, roaring in preparation for their attack. She felt hot and angry tears spill down her cheeks.
"Now Marik, feel the wrath of my monsters!" Yami shouted as Slifer the Sky Dragon wrapped around Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra and Obelisk the Tormentor held it down by the wings.
"Stop this!" Evil Marik shouted anxiously. He knew it was over. Slifer and Obelisk raised Ra up into the purple and blue shroud as the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl combined their enchanted staves. Obelisk and Slifer soared up into the pink magic seal the magicians produced. Then they disappeared in a burst of bright light.
The dust settled.
"Ra's gone!" Tea shouted, triumphantly.
"But he has one life point left," Tristan pointed out.
"Marik! Marik are you okay?" I shouted helplessly against Tea and Joey.
"Brother, tell me you're alright!" Ishizu cried, "That attack should have destroyed Ra and Marik's dark side."
And it did. When the clouds of dust wafted away, the gentler and kinder Marik Aimee had fallen in love with stood at the opposite end of the arena.
Gathering his strength, Marik spoke, "Pharaoh, we're still not done. I still have one life point left."
"Marik's dark side has returned to the field!" a little eye socket appeared, wide in terror.
"Marik, we can still do this together! We can rule the world with the Pharaoh's power and you will never have to serve him again! Listen to me!"
"No," Marik said quite calmly, "You are nothing. I will help the Pharaoh discover his true powers. For the first time in years, I'm making the right choice,"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" the eye-socket howled.
"Surrendering this duel." He placed his hand over his duel disk, lowering his life points to zero, "You win."
A lingering cry of, "NO!" echoed as the darkness faded away and the eye disappeared.
"Marik," I knew my eyes were shining with tears, "You're free!" I cried happily.
He smiled down at me and nodded.
"And the winner of the Battle City Championship Crown is Yugi Motou!" yelled Roland.
"YES!" Joey whooped as the dueling arena lowered. He and Tea finally released me and they all ran to the stage.
"Ya did it, Yug! You really did it!" Joey ran to Yugi, gathering him up in his arms and hugging him wildly.
"Give the dude some breathing room, geez." Tristan face-palmed.
I barely felt my legs as I walked behind my friends. Could this be real? Was it really over? The giddiness came later, after my initial shock wore off. But at the moment, all I could do was gape at Marik. He was back. Everything was back to normal. I was afraid that if I shut my eyes, I'd find myself back in the Shadow Realm and this would have all been a dream. My throat went dry.
"Aimee," Marik walked past his happy siblings and stopped before me, "Are you alright?"
I felt myself nod, "Yeah, yeah I think so. You?"
"I'm fine now," he grinned, "You were brilliant."
"What? When?"
"Just now. You said you didn't care if the world crumbled." He couldn't hide his snicker, "Sorry though, but I think the world is a little bit more important than you."
Feeling rather embarrassed, I passed it off with a wave, "Pfft, yeah right."
"So, it's all over?" Tea asked apprehensively, "For real?"
"Yes," Yami/Yugi said, "It's over."
"Pharaoh," Marik turned to Yugi, "I'm so sorry. Let me make amends for what I've done. But first, you'll need this." He handed Yugi the Winged Dragon of Ra.
"Thank you," he said, grabbing his deck and taking the other two God Cards and placed Ra alongside them.
"There is something I have to do," Marik said, gripping the hem of his black shirt, "Pharaoh, scarred into my back is the secret to unlocking your powers." He pulled it off, revealing his finely chiseled body. I did my best not to blush or gawk, but apparently did it poorly, because Joey was elbowing Tristan in the ribs and pointing at me. I pouted at them.
"This is…" Yugi examined the intricate and rather crudely drawn inscription, "…all in hieroglyphics."
"You can't read it?" Joey asked, surprised.
"No…"
"Sorry, but I have to interrupt," Kaiba rudely said, "But as the organizer of the Battle City Tournament, I'm obligated to congratulate you on your victory."
"Thank you," Yami said, nodding to Kaiba (who 'feh-d' in response).
"Let me assure you, Pharaoh," Marik said, "That all who were trapped in the Shadow Realm will be returned."
"That means Mai's back!" Joey said happily.
"We were taught that long ago, the Pharaoh saved the world from destruction, but in doing so he wiped his memory clean. So he entrusted one family to bear the secret to unlocking his lost memories." Ishizu explained, "All you have to do is read the words on Marik's back."
Yugi appeared troubled. He had said he couldn't read them, but he was gazing down at his three God Cards intensely, as if he recalled something. As soon as the expression crossed his face, it disappeared and he looked around as if confused as to how he got there.
"Take this," Marik handed him the Millennium Rod, "It's safest with you, where it can do no more harm," he took off Bakura's Millennium Ring, "And take this, too."
"Thank you," Yugi took them both.
"Alright, all of you! The Tournament is over so get off of this island. If you want a free ride home, board the Kaiba aircraft now because in one hour this island will explode. Then the Kaiba Corporation will have no responsibility for your safety." Kaiba sneered.
"What?" Joey and Tristan shouted simultaneously.
"Tell me you're kidding!" Tristan yelled.
"I don't kid." Kaiba said before walking away with Mokuba trailing behind him.
"No kidding," I rolled my eyes, "Well, I don't wanna be blown up so…"
"Yeah, let's go." Tea agreed, smiling at me happily. Apparently, all was forgiven and we were besties again. I was glad, because if I lost Tea (or any of the gang because of Marik) I'd simply be devastated.