Epilogue.

Ring ring.

Ring ring.

Ring ring.

'Hello! You've reached the Kame Game Store. We're currently closed. Opening Hours are nine am to six pm every day except Sunday: then we only open in the morning and only if my grandsons remember they're supposed to be awake before noon. Achem...

We're not here. Leave a message if you need anything.'

Beep.

'...Yugi, is that the actual Store message?'

'You've never heard it?'

'No! We aren't that bad are we? We absolutely get there before noon... Most days.'

'Suuure. By about a half hour... Also, half the time we're not in Domino, so um, we probably need to work on it?'

'Hm... shouldn't we say something?'

'Oh! Right... Hi Grandpa! We're all okay, we just arrived at Domino-'

Beeeeep.

'-Airport... Damn.'

'...Why do they always record for such a short time?'

'I have no idea. Um... got anymore change, Other Me?'

'No, but that was already ridiculous. Five hundred yen for one call?'

'We should probably invest in a new phone... Pretty sure Light Magic has wrecked mine beyond repair this time.'

'Well, it likely doesn't matter. You know he's probably already at the airport waiting for us? In fact, our friends probably already found him while we stopped to make this call.'

'Yeah... Yeah they probably did. We'll be home soon, anyway.'

'Hm... Are you alright?'

'Well asides from the aching ribs and the giant headache...'

'Not exactly what I meant, Yugi.'

'Yeah... I know. But there's nothing must to be said about the rest of it. Also, if you get me started worrying about Kaiba and Mokuba I'll... probably explode before we get back to the Shop.'

'Heh. Look around, partner. what do you see?'

'A bunch of people who all seem really annoyed at the world? Probably because half their planes were cancelled?'

'Mhm, what else?'

'Well, um... there are kids asleep on chairs...'

'Right. And?'

'Aaaaand a lot of coffee cups lying everywhere?'

'Very observant.'

'Don't be sarcastic, Other Me... Um... well a few people are staring at us. They're probably wondering how we managed to get off a plane when they've been stuck here for a couple of days... Wow. The world nearly ended today didn't it? We were right there, we saw it.'

'More than just saw it. You ended it. You saved every one of the people looking at you right now, and everyone they love besides. Half the people in this airport were speaking your name like a prayer. Perhaps they'd have more respect if they knew.'

'It went both ways, Other Me. It's just... it's all so normal now. I doubt it looks this way in Europe but... a few hours ago, according to Serenity, this airport was in total chaos, and now... how can people be so calm?'

'Heh. One thing I've learned about human beings in both lifetimes, Yugi... We have an extraordinary ability to recover from the unthinkable. Whatever happens, whatever's beginning...'

'...We'll finish it. Right. That's the point you were trying to make right? We... we should catch up with the others, they'll be wondering where we got to.'

'Yugi...'

'Yeah?'

'I was telling the truth, you know. In the Shadow Realm. You know that, of course, but... I wanted to say it again, for you alone. Whatever happens next, however selfish this might sound, I wouldn't change where we are. I don't regret... coming back.'

'I know. I wouldn't change it either, Yami. And heck, where we are now could be the only reason there's still a world left for those passengers to be angry at. I just wish...'

'...'

'You know what? I wish we had burgers.'

'What?'

'Well, we haven't eaten a proper meal in like, a week. I want burgers. Other me, when's the last time we had real food?'

'In what universe do those things count as food?'

'In the universe where- grandpa!'

'...Where grandpa what?'

'No, Yami, over there! Joey found him.'

'Aha! See, I told you he'd meet us. Um...'

'What?'

'...Well, how many missed Sunday shifts do you think I have to make up for now?'

'Heh, we saved the world, Other Me. Again. I think grandpa will let you off just this once.'

'Hm, yes this once, but what about the hundred other times before this?'

Beep beep be-click.

'Joey?! Joey is that you? Tell me it's you!'

'Heya Ren! Yeah, it's me, you alright? Sorry Yugi had first dibs on the airport phone, all the others were broken and... Um... Serenity? You there?'

'...'

'Hey... hey, sis, I... aw, jeeze are you crying?'

'N-no...'

'You totally are, I can hear the sniffles, jeeze, sis, I'm sorry, it's fine, okay?I'm fine, we're all fine, really!'

'Y-you're sure? I-it's still such a mess on the news a-and when we left Kaiba Corp I couldn't contact you and Joey, you all scared me half to death! Are you sure everyone's okay?!'

'Positive! Well... I mean, a few of us have concussion but the KC Docs checked us out, an' everything's mostly fine.'

'Mostly? Wait, Kaiba Corp? Um... do... do they know what... exactly has been happening over the last few days?'

'Beats me, but even if they do, they'll probably brush it all under the carpet soon as they can, right? Where are ya? I'll come meet you.'

'Oh I'm at the Black Crown right now, s-so...'

'You're at... Duke's.'

'Yes, he's been so nice, especially after Yami Bakura just up and left us all goodness knows where on the outskirts of town and-'

'W-wait, Yami Bakura? The hell is he... O-okay. Okay, so that's what they were up to...'

'Wait what the hell man, did I hear that right?'

'Shut UP, Tris, I'm on the phone.'

'But where did she say she was?!'

'Tristan, I swear to god-!'

'Ah... Joey?'

'Sorry, sis, Tristan is bein' a dumbass, as usual.'

'Heh... w-well he's alright then. I... we have to talk, Joey. About... everything.'

'Yeah...I... look , Ren, Yugi's calling us over, I'll see you in like, fifteen minutes, ok?'

'Okay... I love you, Joey.'

'I... yeah. Yeah I love you too, sis.'

Ring Ring Ring Ring.

Click.

'Kaiba.'

'Good afternoon, Kaiba Boy, and how are you this fine post-apocalyptic day?'

'...'

'I assume you had a safe flight home.'

'How did you get this number?'

'Well, you do have a website with an up to date contact section, you know.'

'My personal phone details aren't on that website, Pegasus.'

'Well, things tend to happen when corporate information gets exchanged on a massive worldwide scale with a dose of magic thrown in to the mix. Information tends to slip through the cracks. Also, can I just say how surprised I am that you allowed such a massive breach of information and company secrets all in the name of helping little ol' Yugi in the first place?'

'Hmph.'

'You know, my colleagues are thinking of giving our little collaborative project an appropriate name for the newspapers -and for our company records of course- How does the term The Three Way Union of Card Hearts sound?'

'...Like a bad romance novel.'

'Aha! But my social market team are all romantics at heart! But then, it is really quite heart-warming. You have come a long way.'

'...Pegasus, have you actually gone crazy or is there a point to all this?'

'Now now, Kaiba, you may well scoff, but we all know the truth of this matter. It's so nice to see you making actual friends-'

'Okay you can cut the pretend concerned citizen act, it's was either help Yugi with some ridiculous... magical strategy, or watch my empire, not to mention the whole planet, collapse into a pile of shadow realm infused apocalyptic nightmare fuel. Don't get any ideas.'

' Yes that was all a surprise as well.'

'What?'

'Well, I mean I'm just surprised that you're admitting it actually was a world ending scenario. Why you've had the apocalypse standing on your porch right in front of you and slammed the door in its face. But now? Now you're following a bunch of crazy children into the Shadow Realm of all things. What on earth happened to create such a change in you?'

'You're acting like I'm some delusional child naive as to what's going on in the world.'

'You said it, Kaiba Boy, not me.'

'I call as I find, Pegasus. But I don't owe you any kind of explanation. Now was there a point to you bothering me , or...?'

'Well, as pleasant as it would be, I didn't call you just to chit chat. It's about the link up, actually.'

'What about it?' Also if you're holding any of Kaiba Corps major secrets in your greasy little hands Pegasus, I'll-'

'Oh do calm down, Kaiba boy, you're far too young to give yourself a blood clot. I am getting to the point.'

'Get there faster, I'm busy.'

'Well you see, I've been thinking a lot since the incident in Europe... my team has been studying the event extensively for the last several days, and my technicians and I have come to the conclusion that what happened was impossible.'

'... Impossible?'

'Well, I can't deny that what happened was all rather unprecedented. That young girl behind it... Hawkins, isn't it? She's quite the technological genius -worth keeping an eye on, by the way- if she was able to create a controlled online server connection between the companies of Kaiba Corporation, Industrial Illusions, and Schrödinger Crop - not to mention she was able to hack an international cable company from New York and create a worldwide online broadcast via some as of yet unidentified video steaming platform that no longer appears to exist... all so little Marik Ishtar could tell us a story about a long lost king...'

'...'

'And then comes Yugi and his friends. That's where things start to get really unbelievable.'

'...'

' I remember how it felt, you know, Kaiba. When I, like so many others, saw that broadcast. I believe everyone in the world knew of it, to some extent... the pull of the Shadow Realm on our souls. That darkness deep within every heart. You and I both know how... uncomfortable that feels, and I certainly don't need a Millennium Eye anymore to remember it.'

'Hm.'

'At any rate, somehow Marik Ishtar's little story reached into the hearts of every human being who saw that broadcast. Somehow it affected us all on a level that allowed us to reach back. To reach into the Shadow Realm... to send a part of ourselves to Austria. To Yugi. To the source of all this darkness. To the one person who might have the capability to close the door to darkness. The souls of every human being in the world, untied by a single word. A single name.'

'...I'm sure you can agree, my dear Kaiba... there's nothing scientific about that.'

'...'

'I see I have your interest based on the fact you haven't hung up on me. So Kaiba... what do you think happened that day?'

'...Yami would call it magic.'

'And what would you call it?'

'...I can't disagree with him. "Any sufficiently advanced tech is indistinguishable from magic.'''

'Indeed! I do like a bit of Arthur C Clarke myself. But also, Kaiba... perhaps we have it backwards. Do you think... science or magic can accomplish what was done in Austria that day alone? I don't believe so. I think the only reason any of that worked is because it operated via a technology greater than anything any human has yet accomplished: the power of the human soul itself. And if we could do that again...'

'...You can't be suggesting what I think you are, Pegasus. Are you insane? Wait, that's a pointless question, I know you're insane. Using Shadow Magic? Deliberately? In your technology?'

'Why not? It's already happened. You and I are cut from more similar cloth than you would care to believe, Seto. We both know that magic and science are not so different. They might even be one and the same. And the people who can use that knowledge to their advantage... well... What might we accomplish with it, I wonder?'

'...The point, Pegasus. Now.'

You've done it already, haven't you? Combined technology and magic... united them as nobody has before. Though you try to hide it as technology alone, we both know better.'

'...The Crystal Cloud Network.'

'Precisely. You may not even have been aware of it, but the technology you developed has tapped into realms or power far beyond ones and zeroes... Much as my paintings tap into far more than just brushstrokes and creativity. Your technology is the reason the Pharaoh himself was able to return to this world - or a form of him, at least. You have that capacity... And I... well, I'm as deeply connected to the worlds of magic as you are, Kaiba.'

'This is nonsense. Unless you have something more sensible to discuss...'

'Ah, you object, but trust me, Kaiba Boy... I know you. Perhaps better than you know yourself. I've seen inside your heart and mind, as you have into mine. We are both driven by an endless insatiable curiosity. And I know. you're curious about the potential of this new science, if nothing else.'

'...'

'I would like to leave a doorway open for you, at any rate. Know that representatives of Kaiba Corporation may visit us here in I2 whenever they wish... and that we are more than happy to share our unique skills with you. Together we might find a way to combine your astonishing technological achievements with our own... talents.'

'First, you're suggesting that we literally use shadow realm magic in my technology and peddle it to customers. That alone is madness. Second, even if it weren't madness, the last time I tried to enter into any kind of bargain with you it resulted in the theft of mine and my brothers souls because you didn't know how to play fair. We may have worked together this once, Pegasus, but like hell am I going to trust you with my company ever again.'

'Ah, but we were young and foolish back then, Dear Kaiba... and now, we adults have far more mature ways of dealing with our differences, do we not? The door remains open. And my offer remains. Should you wish to explore this new avenue of science with me... I would be more than happy to accommodate you. Goodbye for now.'

'Pegasus I-'

Click.

Beep.

'...God damn it...'

The End.