Later in the day after most of their guests had returned to their own homes, Yugi and Atem decided that it was time to venture out to the Dominion of the Beasts in the Duel Monsters Spirit World to plead for the assistance of the legendary knights of Atlantis to defeat the Orichalcos from returning to power. They stood at the front porch of the palace, prepared to make their journey and they brought with them some unlikely friends.
"Everyone needs to join hands and I'll say the spell to transport us to the Dominion of the Beasts," said Dark Magician Girl.
"Alright, let's do this," agreed Atem.
"You're sure they won't mind me coming along?" asked Dartz.
"We'll make sure they'll treat you warmly. After all, you're on our side now," assured Atem.
"Timaeus will probably have a field day when he sees me," said Raphael.
"Alright, let's do this," said Dark Magician Girl as she began to utter the spell.
Instantly, they all vanished, traveling through time and space and out of the realm they currently were in to journey to the Dominion of the Beasts - a lush forest region where many duel monsters roamed freely throughout its lush terrain. In the center of a crystal clear lake was a castle that was quite massive. In fact, it was probably even bigger than the palace Yugi and Atem called home.
"I remember this place," said Yugi as he recalled the night in his youth when in a dream he visited this place with Atem and together they pulled the sword from the ice and unleashed the legendary dragon from its ten thousand years of imprisonment. It seemed like it was only bot long ago when that event occurred, forcing upon them the realization that the world of Duel Monsters actually existed and it was just as real as that of their own world.
"This place is… so beautiful," said Yugi.
"Indeed," agreed Atem.
They all landed before the front doors and Dark Magician Girl turned to them.
"Inside live the three legendary knights of Atlantis. They protect this realm from all evil and I'm sure that when we tell them the truth about the Orichalocs will they help us in our time of need," she said before opening the door. "Everyone must show the grandest kind of respect."
They all walked inside and bore witness to the beautiful architecture that graced its majestic halls. Dark Magician Girl led them to the room where the three knights had been sealed away as dragons for all those millennia, and on their thrones they were seated.
"Critias, Hermos, Timaeus," she spoke, kneeling before them with sincerity.
"She'll kneel for them, but she forgets to when she is honored enough to have a meeting with the Gods?" whispered Dark Magician to himself.
The three knights rose and with the forces of the millenniums they stood, expressing countless ages of both might and valor without even trying and what an incredible sight it was. They immediately recognized Yugi, Atem and Joey, and smiled upon seeing them - their former masters.
"We have come to request your assistance in a time of great need," pleaded Atem, kneeling on one knee. "I, as the Pharaoh of the realm of Heaven pledge myself to you three in our hour of need. The Orichalcos has returned and it has penetrated our realm. The Gods are not sure what to do and we are puzzled beyond comprehension."
"We will do whatever is necessary to protect both our realm and yours," said Timaeus.
"There's someone we'd like the three of you to meet with," said Atem.
"Who?" asked Hermos.
Suddenly, Dartz stepped out from previous room and made himself known to the three legendary knights, walking with his head held high as he braced himself for the not-so-warm welcome he expected himself to receive.
"What's he doing here?" demanded Critias.
Suddenly all three of them drew their majestic swords, prepared to impale their former enemy upon any given chance.
"No!" shouted Yugi. "He's good now. He's not evil anymore and the Orichalcos is no longer with him."
The facial expressions of the three knights still expressed skepticism and disgust upon seeing the man whom was responsible for their ten thousand years of imprisonment walk into the room so freely. They each clenched their fists as they noticed Raphael following Dartz to their throne.
"Hello, Timaeus, Critias, Hermos…" spoke Dartz, trying to seem cordial at the least.
"If he wasn't truly changed than the Gods wouldn't have let him pass judgment and he'd be in the Shadow Realm right now!" interjected Yugi.
"He has a point," said Timaeus.
"Well, perhaps we should give him a chance," agreed Hermos, still harboring skepticism.
"This is quite ironic that he comes to us, asking for help after all he did for ten millennia," said Critias.
"I come with a sincere heart and so does my former servant here," explained Dartz as he gestured to Raphael. "I truly have repented of my countless crimes in life and now I ask that the three of you assist us in our quest against the Orichalcos for without you three, we truly may be hopeless."
"Timaeus…" said Raphael, greeting the one he formerly faced in duels in life when the Pharaoh was his enemy.
"We will help you," said Timaeus. "If the Pharaoh believes he ahs truly changed and the Gods have declared him to have passed their holy judgment than what else can we say? He has changed and so has his servant."
Dartz smiled, feeling gratitude for the chance to prove himself to the three he formerly saw as enemies.
"I apologize for everything I did in life to you. I was so blinded by my own vision and influenced by the Orichalcos. It tricked me into believing that I was honestly doing the right thing by destroying humanity and rebuilding it anew. Yugi and the Pharaoh helped me to see the light and I surrendered all the darkness - ten thousand years of it. I am now a warrior of light," explained Dartz.
"Very well," said Timaeus. "We trust you and your friend," as he gestured to Raphael.
Critias expressed a confused look upon his face. He saw Yugi and Atem, as well as Joey, but where was the one who released him from the ice? Where was Kaiba?
"Where is Seto Kaiba?" he asked, perplexed.
"This may be hard to tell you, but he's turned to the side of darkness. He launched an assault on our palace today and he controlled a legion of Orichalcos soldiers. He truly is lost to them," explained Atem, delivering the dreadful news to the knight.
"I see," replied Critias, expressing sadness upon those words. "I must still serve the cause of justice with all my might and believe me, the Orichalcos will be destroyed by our holy blades."
"We may be dealing with more than just the Orichalcos. You see, the Gods believe that Aporia, Nightshroud, the Earthbound Immortals, Yami Marik, Don Thousand, and worst all, Zorc, may have be returning to power in a sort of grand alliance of evil. The Orichalcos is only the beginning," stated Atem.
"We're dealing with a lot than," replied Timaeus, whom expressed worry. "The side of light will prevail. We must believe so."
"Yes," agreed Atem.
"Well, now that we've discussed what needs to be discussed, what now?" asked Dark Magician Girl.
"I don't know. I guess we'll return home and begin initiating all of our defenses and just… wait for the next attack," answered Atem.
"I never thought we could be attacked in the realm we were inhabiting," sighed Yugi.
"I don't think any of us did," agreed Atem.
With that, they returned home and took extra precautions to assure that the palace was safe of all harm from evil. Atem was completely baffled by the return of the Orichalcos and found himself in stern contemplation over the matter. He found comfort knowing that his love, Yugi, was with him and that night, they lay in bed together, discussing the chaotic day and its ridiculous circumstances.
"Don't worry, aibou, we'll come through. We'll prevail. We have the light of our friends alongside us and with that we can't go wrong. Trust me…" consoled Yugi.
"I know, but I can't help but fear the worst and I think you know it too… the fear. It's so hard to wrap it around your mind and you're just plagued with all this uncertainty that makes you only speculate the worst possible scenarios. I just hope you're right…"
"I am right," smiled Yugi. "We have each other, we have our monsters, and we have our friends."
"Yes, we do…"
"Well, I'm going to have to leave you for about a half and hour now because I promised I'd read Watapon a story tonight, so I'll be in his room for a little while. Until then, carry on, my love," said Yugi as he kissed his husband on the lips and got up to leave the room, leaving on the light and blowing him a kiss.
Atem lay in silence for a few minutes before rising himself and walking down the hallway and opening the locked door that led to the balcony. Ge stepped into the night air and felt it breeze against his skin, suspended only by the balcony on which he stood, gazing out at the endless night sky where billions of stars shone, burning bright as the moonlight poured itself into his eyes, reflecting in their blazing crimson beauty and reflecting the desires of his heart. Those desires were real and full of sentiment and authenticity, which seemed to be things that the Orichalcos could never possess.
"Yugi… I hope you're right. I cant do this without you, my love. I need you by my side and together we'll fight the darkness."
The thought of his love for Yugi soothed his angsty mind, but one thing still bothered him beyond belief. Kaiba had become victim to the Orichalcos and all its evil, so would it be possible for anyone else, including himself, to succumb to its malefic force like he had in life when he played that evil card in the first duel against Raphael? Could he become enslaved by it once again and have his true hatred reosnate from deep within himself, eclipsing all the love he felt? Only time would tell, but he refused to let that happen for he was far to good to fall victim to it.
"Kaiba was always ignorant of the truth. I don't even know the circumstances of how he came across that evil force. I shouldn't worry myself so much."
"My king…" came a voice from behind. It was Dark Magician.
"Mahad?"
"Yes, my king. I was just about to go to my room to fall asleep, but I passed in the hallway and saw this door cracked open and came to shut it, but I found you here. I sense that something is bothering you."
"There is… Everything we're possibly going to be fighting against… I'm afraid I won't be strong enough to defeat it and it goes even further than that, Mahad. I remember in life when I fell victim to the Orichalcos' wrath and played it in that duel and I betrayed you and the others… I'm terrified that I'll fall victim to its ungodly influence again."
"My king, I know that you won't. I trust you and I feel that you are so much stronger than that. Kaiba fell victim to it because he is weak and denies the truth of everything like he always has, but you are not like him."
"I hope you're right…"
"I am right, Atem."
Overcome with emotion, Atem fell into Mahad's arms and rested his face against the magician's chest as fear surged through his body, disabling him in the current moment. The Dark Magician could only stare at his king as he did his best to console him.
"My king… all will be well."