(A/N: This has been a rather chaotic week, and getting sick on top of it, blah. In any case, I have the next chapter here. Atem and Téa are rushing to get back to the palace before Mursili attacks. Unless, of course, he's already there.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 20: When Darkness and Light Combined

Mursili chuckled as he looked at Atem's Royal Court. So, these were the protectors of Egypt, the ones that served the pharaoh. They weren't much to look at. Of course, they had the power to summon Shadow Creatures, but Mursili was confident that none would be able to stand up to his Black Bandage Mummy. And if they were expecting their pharaoh to save them, they were in for a rude awakening. By now the Ghost of Dark Sanctuary would have possessed the king of Egypt and would be returning to Hattusa with Téa. And if by some chance the pharaoh had defeated Dark Sanctuary, his strength would be diminished, meaning no Egyptian Gods.

Seto pointed an accusing finger at Mursili. "You are not welcome here! Leave this palace at once!"

Mursili laughed. "Foolish Egyptian scum, I am a Hittite. I don't take orders from you. I'm not an Egyptian."

"Be that as it may, you are in our kingdom, in our palace, you will abide by our rules."

Again Mursili laughed. "Your rules. You mean your pharaoh's rules. You're meant to obey him." His grin widened. "And if everything has gone according to plan, he will soon be obeying me."

"How dare you!" Shimon snapped. "What have you done to the pharaoh?"

Mursili crossed his arms. "Before you worry about him, you should be more concerned for yourself." He pointed at them. "I bet you think you're sHow dare you!" Shimon Ho powerful with your golden trinkets and ability to summon Shadow Creatures. Well I have a Shadow Creature of my own, and he and I want to play a little game. Come forth, Black Bandage Mummy!"

The large mummy Shadow Creature erupted from his body, towering over the others. It moaned loudly, raising its arms in a very mummy fashion.

"Come on then." Mursili mocked. "I dare you to just try and face me."

Isis stepped forward. "I shall take that bet. And when I defeat you, your creature shall be sealed in stone, and you shall pay for your crimes. Now, I summon thee, Mystical Beast of the Serket." The giant blood red scorpion appeared beside her. "And to aid him, I shall summon Ancient Dragon."

Mursili raised an eyebrow. "Two beasts? Very well, it will make victory that much sweeter. Go, Black Bandage Mummy, show them your power."

Black Bandage Mummy unleashed his Wail of Death attack. His target was Ancient Dragon. His attack missed as Ancient Dragon took to the air. He breathed a fireball at Black Bandage Mummy, but the Shadow Creature jumped over the attack and lashed out with his bandages.

Ancient Dragon roared as the black bandages wrapped around his body. Mystical Beast of the Serket moved quickly. It's mighty claws cut right through the bandages holding Ancient Dragon.

"Well done!" Isis cried. "Now annihilate his beast."

Mystical Beast of the Serket, crawled towards Black Bandage Mummy. It lashed out with its pincers, grabbing each of Black Bandage Mummy's arms. Its stinger shot forward, but several of Black Bandage Mummy's bandages grabbed it, preventing it from stinging him.

"Ancient Dragon, attack!"

With a roar, Ancient Dragon shot a fireball at Black Bandage Mummy. But the Shadow Creature wasn't out yet. His body turned to dust, just as it had when Mursili had made his escape. The cloud of dust flew up and over Ancient Dragon, and then became Black Bandage Mummy again, landing on the creature's back.

Ancient Dragon roared and thrashed about, trying to buck Black Bandage Mummy off his back. But Black Bandage Mummy's bandages wrapped around him, giving him a better grip as well as sucking Ancient Dragon's energy.

"Bring it down!" Mursili ordered.

Black Bandage Mummy's grip on Ancient Dragon tightened. The dragon roared as its neck was snapped and in crumbled into sand.

Mursili sneered. "So much for that overgrown lizard. Now to deal with that hideous insect."

"Not so fast!" Karim cried. "I'm summoning Gaia, the Fierce Knight. And I will sacrifice it to Isis' Mystical Beast of the Serket."

Gaia appeared upon his mighty steed. But he wasn't there for long as Mystical Beast of the Serket devoured him. But it gave Mystical Beast of the Serket a power boost, and it began to mutate into a stronger, if not uglier, creature.

"Now my monster shall defeat yours." Isis declared.

Mystical Beast of the Serket tackled Black Bandage Mummy. The mummified Shadow Creature moaned loudly as it struggled to get away. But Mystical Beast of the Serket had him pinned down.

"Close up attacks won't work on my monster." Mursili announced, "Black Bandage Mummy, absorb that creature's power."

Black bandages wrapped around Mystical Beast of the Serket and began draining it of energy.

"Can your Shadow Creature drain mine completely before it's consumed?" Isis asked. "Mystical Beast of the Serket, devour it."

Mystical Beast of the Serket's sucker-like mouth opened, ready to swallow Black Bandage Mummy whole.

"Perhaps not all of its power." Mursili told her. "But enough to defeat it. Wail of Death!"

Black Bandage Mummy attacked with his newfound power. The attack went into Mystical Beast of the Serket's mouth, causing it to expand and then explode, sending sand flying everywhere.

Mursili sneered. "For some reason I thought you would provide a better challenge."

Mana stepped forward. "I'll give you a challenge. Come on, Dark Magician Girl."

The Mana look-alike appeared, twirling around her wand. Mursili eyed her for a moment before he burst out laughing. "And what is that thing supposed to do?"

Mana stamped her feet. "Don't insult my Dark Magician Girl!" she whined.

"Yes," Dark Magician Girl cried, "don't underestimate me! Dark Burning Attack!"

She fired a blast of magic at Black Bandage Mummy. He didn't even bother to try and avoid it. The attack caused him to stumble back, but he was otherwise unharmed.

Mursili shook his head. "Pathetic. Black Bandage Mummy, time to literally wrap things up."

Black Bandage Mummy raised his hands and several bandages shot out, wrapping around Dark Magician Girl.

Mursili smirked. "This won't last long."

"Let her go!"

Mursili's cocky look became one of surprise. He turned around to find Téa and Atem running towards them.

"Pharaoh!" Shimon cried happily. "Thank goodness you're all right."

Mursili glared at the newcomers. "I see you managed to defeat Dark Sanctuary."

"That's right!" Atem cried. "And you're next!"

Mursili laughed. "And what are you going to do. You're strength is diminished. How much longer can you fight before the shadows take you?"

Both Atem and Téa glanced at their DiaDhanks. Mursili was right. Their Life Meters were nearly gone. It would take hours to replenish their power.

"So we can't fight for long." Said Téa. She glanced at Atem. "I have an idea. You willing to share your magic with me again?"

Atem glanced at her. "If you have a plan, then yes. Just be careful. Don't use too much power or else the shadows will take you."

Téa nodded. She knew the consequences. 'Ok, I hope this works.' She glanced at Dark Magician Girl, who was ensnared in a cocoon of bandages. 'This is for you, Dark Magician Girl.'

There was a flash of light from within the confines of the bandages wrapped around Dark Magician Girl. Suddenly the cocoon began spinning around. Black Bandage Mummy's bandages knotted up and suddenly he was the one ensnared by his own attack.

Dark Magician Girl burst out of her prison, but there was something different about her. She was smaller, cuter, and very cartoonish.

Mana blinked. "What the heck did you do to her?"

Téa glanced at her Life Meter. It nearly went down completely. She had cut it close. "Just a spell that I got from where I come from. She's now Toon Dark Magician Girl."

"That's me!" Toon Dark Magician Girl cried.

Mursili growled angrily. "I don't know what this is about, but you won't make a fool of us. Black Bandage Mummy, take her down."

Black Bandage Mummy untangled himself and unleashed his Wail of Death attack. Toon Dark Magician Girl simple took off her hat and used it like a vacuum to suck up the attack.

Mursili looked at the toony Shadow Creature in confusion. "What in the…"

Téa smirked. "The cutest most cuddly creatures are never taken down. That's how it's done in cartoons."

"What is a cartoon?" Mursili demanded angrily. He shook his head. "Forget it. Black Bandage Mummy, go for the element of surprise."

With a moan, Black Bandage Mummy's bandages shot out. But they went straight down, burrowing into the ground. Toon Dark Magician Girl looked down, keeping an eye out for the bandages when they came up. While she was distracted, Black Bandage Mummy launched another Wail of Death attack.

Toon Dark Magician Girl gave a squeak of fright and, her head retreated inside of her body like a turtles would, the attack passing by over her.

Mana gave her Shadow Creature a strange look. "This is really weird."

Just then, the bandages burst up from underground and wrapped around Toon Dark Magician Girl. She struggled, but was unable to break free this time.

"This time you won't escape!" Mursili cried.

Black Bandage Mummy fired his Wail of Death. Toon Dark Magician Girl's eyes popped out of her head in a very comical fashion just before she was blown away by the attack.

"No." Téa muttered. "It didn't work."

She glanced at her Life Meter, but Atem rested his hand over it.

"Téa, you're exhausted. Rest."

"But…"

Seto stepped forward. "Listen to him. I shall deal with this freak with my Blue Eyes White Dragon!"

Blue Eyes White Dragon appeared, but it was visibly tired and drained. Seto did not know that Téa had summoned it when facing Dark Sanctuary.

Mursili smirked. "Your creature looks like it's about to keel over."

"Kisara!" Seto cried. "What's happened to you?"

"I'm sorry." said Téa. "I summoned it earlier when we were in trouble."

"And left it with no energy to fight." Mursili mocked. "But still some to drain. Go, Black Bandage Mummy!"

Black bandages flew out, wrapping around Blue Eyes. It roared loudly, but was in no condition to be able to fight.

Atem's fists clenched. "If he absorbs Blue Eyes White Dragon's power, we're finished."

"We need a strong creature." Téa muttered.

She looked up at the white dragon, seeing how much pain it was in. The sight sickened her and she glared at Mursili, and saw the smirk on his face, the laughter in his eyes. If only Yugi or Joey were here. They would know what to do.

At the thought of her friends she was struck by inspiration. "Atem, I have an idea!"

He turned to her. "What is it?" She whispered her plan in his ear and his eyes widened. "Ingenious."

"You have enough strength for that?"

Atem smirked. "I do." He turned to his Royal Court. "Karim, ready your Millennium Scale."

Karim nodded. "Yes, my pharaoh."

Atem raised his DiaDhank. "Now, I summon the mighty Red Eyes Black Dragon!" There was a loud roar as Red Eyes Black Dragon appeared, roaring loudly. "Red Eyes, free your counterpart! Molten Fire Blast!"

Red Eyes opened its mouth and unleashed a ball of fire. Blue Eyes' bindings were incinerated. Blue Eyes was freed and it flew over to Red Eyes' side.

"Karim," Atem cried, "now!"

Karim raised his Millennium Item. "With the power of my Millennium Scale, I fuse together Blue Eyes White Dragon and Red Eyes White Dragon!"

The two dragons merged together and there was an explosion of power. The light was blinding, and the others had to shield their eyes from its intensity. Even Black Bandage Mummy took a few steps back.

"What is this?" Mursili cried.

"The birth of creature that will bring forth your doom!" Atem cried. "Behold, Purple Eyes Silver Dragon!"

The light faded and a new dragon was in the place of the other two. It looked like a large hybrid of Blue Eyes and Red Eyes, as if they had a child. It was silver in color, reflecting the light around it. Bright purple eyes glared at Black Bandage Mummy while streams of smoke continuously drifted out of its nostrils, white smoke out the left nostril, black smoke out the right.

Mursili's eyes were wide with disbelief. His fists clenched together as he turned to his Black Bandage Mummy. "Don't let that creature stop you. Absorb its power."

Black Bandage Mummy moaned and shot out its bandages. Purple Eyes didn't even try to avoid them and the bandages wrapped around him.

Mursili smirked. "Your dragon's power is ours now.

"Guess again!" Atem cried.

Purple Eyes flexed his muscles and the bandages around him snapped off.

Atem smirked. "Your days of draining energy are over. Now, Purple Eyes Silver Dragon, attack with Purple Pyro Sphere!"

Purple Eyes opened his mouth and created a large purple fireball. It launched it at Black Bandage Mummy. There was a massive explosion and Black Bandage Mummy went down. Mursili cried out as he felt the pain of his Shadow Creature.

"Such… power…" he grunted. With great effort, he turned to his creature. "Don't just lay there! Get on your feet. Fight back!"

Grunting, Black Bandage Mummy slowly got to his feet and turned towards Purple Eyes Silver Dragon. The mighty dragon snorted, sending out a cloud of black and white smoke. It growled at Black Bandage Mummy, who stood his ground. But his strength soon ran out, and Black Bandage Mummy collapsed.

"Black Bandage Mummy, no!" Mursili cried. He ran to his creature's side. "You can't be beaten. Get up. Rise and fight."

"It's all over." Seto declared. "Now I shall seal away your creature. Millennium Rod, I beseech thee! Seal his beast in stone!"

The Millennium Rod flashed and Black Bandage Mummy was consumed by light.

"No!" Mursili cried, hugging himself. "I won't let you! He's mine, and he's not going anywhere!"

The light faded, and Black Bandage Mummy remained where he was, laying on the ground, twitching. Mursili breathed a sigh of relief and grabbed hold of him as he glared at the others.

"This isn't over." He announced. "You may have won this round, but I will come back for revenge." He turned to Atem. "And I'll start with you!"

He raised his hands and unleashed a blast of dark magic. Téa reacted quickly, summoning a creature to defend him.

"I call forth Scape Goats."

The four furry critters appeared, each one blasted away from Mursili's attack. While they were distracted, Mursili and Black Bandage Mummy made their escape, turning into a cloud of dust and flying off.

But Atem's attention was on Téa and her courageous act to summon more Shadow Creatures when she was so low on power. What if she had been lost to the shadows? "Téa, you saved me again."

Téa gave him an exhausted smile. "Well… I'm not going to… lose you now…"

And then she collapsed. Atem gasped and rushed towards her, catching her before she hit the ground. He looked at her DiaDhank and his eyes widened in terror.

Her Life Meter had reached zero.

(A/N: Intense battle, huh? I decided to go with Purple Eyes Silver Dragon rather than Purple Eyes Gray Dragon as I had originally planned; seems cooler that way. And he whooped Black Bandage Mummy. Unfortunately, Mursili got away again. And to make matters worse, Téa used up all her Life Energy. You know what that means; she's now trapped in the Shadow Realm. That's not a good thing. How will Atem save her? Can he save her? Wait and see. I promise the next chapter will be a good one. Next update will Atem / Anzu.)