Chapter 28
Dawn
Author's note: just to not get in trouble, I should remind everyone that I don't own anything YuGiOh. I just own my characters and Dark Mage of the Sea owns hers.
This chapter will coincide with chapter 24 of A Star Among Darkness, each taking different POVs.
After this chapter, this story will go on a small hiatus for the next arc (Grand Prix), which is an ASAD exclusive.
When a sentence is **like this**, it's sign language. When a sentence is ~like this~, it's phoenix speech.
Thank you, Dark Mage of the Sea, my coauthor and best friend.
Tristan woke up first. He saw the Kaiba brothers being hugged by Tiki. While he was grateful Tiki was back, Tristan was also worried about Tea. Shaking her arm, he said, "Tea! Wake up!"
Groaning, Torru sat up and jumped onto Merina's head. ~Merina! Get yourself together!~
To their relief, the girls woke up. Tea moaned in pain as Merina rubbed her head. "Ow…looks like we're alive…" She looked and lit up. "Tiki! You're back!"
Tiki smiled as Tea realized, "Wait…if Tiki's back…that means…!"
Tiki smiled wider and looked behind her where Yami stood. Everyone stood up as Tea went forward. "Yugi…?"
He turned around: it was Yugi! Tea teared up. "Yugi! You came back!"
She almost collapsed into his arms but Tarra flew past her at super speed and tackled Yugi to the ground. Yugi was startled by her speed. "Ah! Tarra!"
Tarra bounced in his lap, crying out with tears flowing. ~You're back! You're really back! Pharaoh…and I…and…!~
Seeing her tears, Yugi hugged Tarra gently. "There, there Tarra…everything's all right."
Watching the scene, Torru flew to Merina's shoulder. ~Tarra always was the emotional one.~
Merina chuckled. "Can't really blame her." She looked at Yugi as he stood up. "Yugi's back…"
Yugi looked at everyone but lit up when he heard a familiar voice from the entrance. "All right, where's my little buddy?!"
Everyone looked to see Joey running in with a happy Earthzina flying behind him. The blonde ran right up to Yugi and hugged him; because of their height difference, however, Joey ended up hugging Yugi's head. "Man, how I missed this spiky, little head!"
Yugi laughed happily as Tiki came over. "It's great to see you, Joey!"
Joey lit up and hugged Tiki, pressing her face into his chest. "You're all in one piece! I would have killed anyone who did something to you!"
Not hearing Kaiba's hissing murmur, Tiki giggled as everyone but the Kaiba brothers joined in the group hug with the phoenixes circling above. In the hug, Yugi heard someone else. Aibou! We're…we're together again!
Yugi and Tiki retreated into themselves and saw Yami and Tima in spirit form. Yugi smiled. "Yami!"
Tiki smiled but the smile faded when she looked at Tima. "You're still have your scars…"
Tima looked down at her arms and touched her scarred cheek. I don't know why…
Yami looked at Tima out of his eye. Seeing the scars almost made him physically wince. 'I hope they eventually fade. I don't need…a constant reminder.'
To his relief, Tiki got his attention with asking, "Everything's okay now, right?"
Yami shook his head. "Dartz disappeared after our duel. That's when the Legendary Knights revived your souls. So it's too early to rejoice."
Coming back, the siblings heard Mokuba say, "If Nii-sama got his soul back, everyone else should have too."
Looking around, Earthzina got on Joey's shoulder and tapped his face to get his attention. Turning his head, Joey understood. "Not true."
Raphael was still soulless. Suddenly, Roland came running in. "Master Seto! We got trouble!"
Everyone followed him outside the building (Joey and Tristan carried Raphael out on their shoulders) and saw a humongous island-city rise out of the water. A bright, green pillar of light rose from the center and shot into the sky. As the island rose higher into the sky, Merina asked, "Is that Atlantis?"
Mokuba's eyes widened. "So it's real?"
Tristan snapped, "We don't have time to think about that!"
Yugi agreed. "I'm pretty sure Dartz's God is still alive!"
Tiki theorized, "Then there's where the other souls are!"
Joey's ear twitched, hearing that. "So, if we don't defeat that thing, then Mai and Valon…"
Mokuba made the same realization. "Alister's and hundreds other souls as well!"
Kaiba sneered. "Looks like we're going there to settle this."
Joey asked, "And how are we going to do that? Earthzina?"
Earthzina shook her head as Merina explained, "Our phoenixes can only carry so many people and we can't make multiple trips."
Mokuba suggested, "We could always use the helicopter."
Tiki was about to agree when Yugi suddenly remembered, "Wait! I think I know another way. That portal Dartz vanished into…that's gotta be it! I'm going!"
Joey stated, "Me too!"
Tea, however, was not as confidant. "Please don't! You just got your souls back! These are opponents we can't even pray to reach!"
Merina glared in annoyance but Yugi calmly spoke first. "Tea, that's not true and you know that. With our Duel Monsters, we can stop the Orichalcos God."
Joey nodded. "Damn straight! I still need to get Mai and Valon back!"
Yugi looked at his friends with a determined look on his face. "I know more than anyone here what it's like to be trapped there for so long." Tiki shuddered a little as he continued, "But Tiki and I always knew Joey, Kaiba, and Yami would save us. I'm sure that's what the other souls are going through: hoping and believing that we will rescue them! That's why we got to go back."
Merina nodded. "Of course you do. Just make sure you come back this time."
Yugi smiled before turning to Tiki. "You should stay behind."
Tiki shook her head. "Absolutely not. You are my brother and I want to help you with this. Besides, I am your chosen pillar: I have to help you."
Suddenly Roland stuck his head out of the helicopter. "Bad news, Chairman! In one hour, this island will be hit by a giant tsunami!"
Now with a time limit, Kaiba turned and headed back into the temple. "Everyone stay here. My anger will not be satisfied until I'm through with Dartz!"
Giving Raphael fully to Tristan, Joey snapped, "Hold up, Kaiba! Who gave you permission to go off on your own?"
As Joey and Earthzina caught up with Kaiba, the brunette snapped, "As if a bonkotsu can save the glorious future…"
Joey shouted, "Say that to my face!" Earthzina snickered in mental speech, making Joey glare at her. "You're not helping!"
The Mutou siblings started to follow but paused when Tea called out to Yugi. Assuming what she wanted, Yugi smiled. "Hang on, I'll get Yami."
Tea blinked in surprise but smiled. "No…stay the Yugi you are. Just…" she stepped forward, "…you better some back. You too, Tiki. Tell Yami that too."
Hearing that, Merina gave Tea an annoyed-angry look. 'Once again, meddling and forgetting Tima…'
Torru leaned against her head to calm her. Tiki noticed the look and subtly used familiar hand-gestures to ask Merina if she was okay. The blonde nodded so Tiki looked at Tea. "Don't worry: we'll be back! I promise!"
Merina nodded. "We'll hold you two to that."
The siblings smiled and, with Tarra following, followed Kaiba and Joey. Because the two were already ahead, Yugi and Tiki had to run to catch up. But, in the altar room, the Millennium Puzzle glowed, making Yugi stop. Tiki stopped a few steps ahead and looked back. "What is it?"
Yugi went up to the three serpents that were on the altar and found, "The God Cards!"
Surprised, Tiki joined her brother as he picked them up. Yami looked down at them in spirit form. "We finally have them back. But they're drained.
Tima lowered her eyes, remembering "her" time with Dartz. They've been acting as life support for the Orichalcos God. That's how Dartz described them to me once.
Yami physically winced at remembering "her" standing with Dartz. Seeing the wince, Tiki tried to be optimistic and changed the subject. "I'm sure they're just happy to be with us again."
Yami knew what Tiki was doing and appreciated it. "Let's go, Aibou!"
Putting the cards back in his deck, Yugi took Tiki into the other room, where Kaiba and Joey were standing before the portal. Tiki looked around and paled. "The soul tablets are empty!"
Joey was angered by that. "That thing ate them!"
Reaching into his deck, Yugi pulled out Hermos and Critias. "You'll need these."
The two were grateful to get their dragons back. Joey even grinned, "Now that I have Hermos again, I'm feeling braver than ever!"
Earthzina chirped in agreement. Kaiba just scoffed. "Thanks…even though this was mine all along!"
The two phoenixes mentally rolled their eyes at him. But their attention was drawn to the sound of laughter. Looking up, everyone saw the image of Dartz looking down at them. "Come…Chosen Duelists!"
Joey stood up a little taller. "Let's go!"
Kaiba scoffed again. "Shut up already!"
Yugi looked at Tiki, who nodded and took his hand. With that, all four and the phoenixes went through the portal.
They found themselves in the middle of a ruined city. Joey wondered, "Is this really Atlantis?"
Tiki nodded. "It has to be."
Yugi's focus was on something else. "Dartz should be here somewhere."
Kaiba focused up ahead. "Look up there."
Everyone looked and saw, high above in the center, was the beam of green light they saw coming from the floating island. The phoenixes shuddered. Tarra whispered, ~Such evil power…~
Earthzina ruffled her feathers to try and calm herself. ~It's coming from there.~
Yugi's eyes narrowed. "Dartz has to be up there!"
With that, Yami and Tima took over. Out of the corner of his eye, Yami saw Tima's scars and forced himself to look forward. The four ran towards the beam of light, eventually finding a large courtyard with a small, open domed structure over the center of a pool. The light was coming from the top of the dome and there was someone sitting beneath the dome. As they got closer, they saw it was a glass figure in the shape of Dartz sitting on a small throne. Tima shuddered at the sight as Yami stepped forward and touched the figure's hand. As soon as he touched it, however, it shattered to dust. Everyone was confused; Joey vocalized, "Um, what just happened?"
Kaiba hypothesized, "Does this mean Dartz's body was destroyed?"
Just then, the familiar laughter rang out above them. "You are too late, Chosen Duelists!" An image of Dartz's face appeared above them, making Tima shiver. "For, you see…my God has already been revived!"
Yami glared. "Impossible! You said yourself the God of Orichalcos could not be revived without our souls!"
Tima looked up at Dartz. 'Or a body sacrifice…something's not right.'
"True, it is far from perfect. But I will offer up my soul and my body in your steads!"
The beam split into four and hit the water below the island. Seconds later, the island shook as the God of Orichalcos, the Great Leviathan, wrapped its serpent-like body around the island. Its gigantic head leered down at the humans and phoenixes and, right in the middle of the head, there was a crystalized form of Dartz. "Chosen Duelists! None can stop this God!"
Kaiba shouted, "Shut up! So that's the real you?! Then let me personally erase you from existence!"
Dartz laughed. "Go ahead and try!"
The Leviathan roared, almost knocking everyone over. Tima covered her ears, shaking from the power she felt; her scars felt agitated from the roar as well. Joey proudly declared, "Don't think something like that will stop us after everything we've went through!"
The phoenixes cried out in agreement as the teenaged boys activated their Duel Disks. Yami summoned Dark Magician, Summoned Skull, and Kuriboh; Joey summoned Flame Swordsman, Jinzo, and Red Eyes Black Dragon; Kaiba summoned Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Gadget Soldier, and Vorse Raider. They all finished with summoning their legendary dragons and Yami played Legend of Heart, transforming the dragons into the Legendary Knights of Atlantis. Joey's eyes sparkled. "That's their true form? Whoa…"
All the monsters and Knights attacked the Leviathan, causing the monster to back up a little. Yami activated Multiply to Kuriboh and had Timaeus absorb their landmine ability. Timaeus landed a blow with his sword, creating a huge explosion of light. But, when the light faded, everyone was shocked to see that the Leviathan was not even scratched. Roaring again, the Leviathan attacked, destroying the monsters; the Knights, phoenixes, and humans were saved thanks to Yami equipping Big Shield Gardna's abilities to Timaeus. They were knocked off their feet, though. Tarra and Earthzina checked on their guardians as Yami looked at Tima. Her scars looked raw, as if they were starting to open up. Paling, Yami told Tarra quietly, "Shed some tears on her scars. They might not heal but at least keep them from opening."
Tarra nodded and went to Tima. Yami's theory was correct: while the tears did not make the scars disappear, they reverted them back to their original dull color. The Leviathan was about to attack again when, suddenly, the Aurora Bourelais lit up above the island. Out of the light came Dark Magician Girl and the remaining Duel Monsters. Dark Magician Girl declared, "Everyone! Now is the time to lend our strength to our master!"
The monsters attacked the Leviathan, exploding on impact. Yami and Joey were both horrified and touched by their sacrifice; Kaiba, however, glared at them. "Don't just stand there, Yami, bonkotsu! They're giving their lives so we can rebuild our defenses!"
Before he drew, Joey managed to spit out, "Stop calling me that!"
Joey summoned Gearfried the Iron Knight, Rocket Warrior, and Gilford the Lightning. Kaiba followed suit with XYZ-Dragon Cannon, Blade Knight, and Kaiser Sea Horse. Yami finished the shield with Black Luster Soldier, Buster Blader, and Valkyrion the Magna Warrior. As their Duel Monsters joined the battle, Tima looked at the phoenixes. You two need to help!
Tarra was about to protest but Tima gave her a look. Agreeing, the yellow phoenix looked at Earthzina. ~Let's go!~
The brown phoenix nodded before the two took flight. Joey reached for his phoenix to try and stop her but Kaiba stated, "Don't insult your pet by trying to stop her!"
Joey glared as Earthzina pulled up boulders from the island and hurled them at the Leviathan. Tarra summoned lightning and aimed them at Dartz. Seeing everyone battling, Joey fisted his hand with excitement. "Hell yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"
But they were silenced by Dartz's laughter. Suddenly the Leviathan's spines shot out beams, hitting every Duel Monster and destroying them. Two even hit the phoenixes, causing them to fall. Yami and Joey cried out to them but, because they were close, they were able to catch them. Suddenly three beams hit and destroyed the Legendary Knights. More beams hit the pool and area around the humans and phoenixes. Holding Tima close, Yami heard Joey say, "Damn it! It really is hopeless!"
Turning its attention to the Duelists, the Leviathan used tendrils from its body and grabbed them. Yami pushed Tima down, saving her but still getting stuck. She looked up in time to see the three being pulled away, Yami and Joey dropping the phoenixes in the process. Silently crying out, she reached for them. 'No!'
When the three were slammed into the Leviathan's body, they heard Dartz. "Legendary Duelists…you cannot even fathom enough hope to come close to the power of this God. For, you see…this God's power was born from the darkness of the hearts of all I have captured! Listen to the chorus of voices crying out from within!"
The duelists listened and heard people wailing but, for each, some were louder than the rest: Yami heard Weevil and Raphael, Joey heard Mai, Rex, and Valon, and Kaiba heard Alister. Joey closed his eyes. "I feel them…Mai…Valon…the darkness in so many hearts…"
Feeling the same thing, Kaiba wondered, "Is it growing stronger inside?"
As they started to sink deeper, Dartz answered, "Yes! After all, it is impossible for humans to completely destroy the darkness in their hearts! No matter how much you three fend off the dormant darkness in your own hearts, it will always be revived as long as a fragment no bigger than a mustard seed exists!"
Joey felt his heart sink. "That means…everything we've done…was all in vain?! No! Lies! I won't believe it!" Sinking lower and lower, he cried out, "Mai! Valon! He's lying! It might have been brief but we got through to each other!"
Knowing what Joey was doing, Kaiba followed suit. "Alister! How dare you give up like this?!"
Dartz chuckled darkly. "Nameless Pharaoh! Seto! Joey! Become one with my God!"
Joey and Kaiba fully sank into the void that was the Leviathan. Tima screamed silently as she watched Yami sink; all that was left was the arm with the Duel Disk. Dartz leered at Tima. "Fear not, my child…you'll be joining them shortly."
Tima covered her ears and started to shake. But she heard a small but familiar voice in her head. Do not give up. Believe!
Looking around, she saw only a white feather fly by.
Yami struggled to keep his arm up, to keep from sinking deeper. Sensing something, he looked and saw Yugi in spirit form. Yami! Don't give up! If we can hear everyone, maybe we can cry out to them as well!
Yami realized what Yugi was saying and closed his eyes to concentrate. Raphael! Mai! Weevil! Rex! Everyone! Please…listen to me. It is true, it is not simple to fully overcome the darkness in your heart…I've sacrificed my Aibou, his sister, my beloved, and many others in this battle. But there is something else in us that can never be snuffed out: a vessel of memories we created that have the bonds we have with our friends! Even if you yourself…are shattered to dust… he remembered holding the chalice with Tima hugging him from behind, …if all you do is believe in that vessel…have faith in it…we are reborn! It is from that chalice the light in our hearts will shine brightly! Think, everyone…think of those you've fought! Think of everyone you suffered with!
To her surprise, Tima heard Yami's words. Looking up at the Leviathan, she no longer felt afraid. Sitting on her knees, she clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in prayer. If everyone can hear me…please…listen to Yami! I know times get tough and you feel like giving up. But we mustn't let our darkness win; that is when we are truly lost. Please…find the light, even if it is no more than a star…
As she prayed, not sure if anyone could hear her, the phoenixes started to stir.
Mai thought of Valon volunteering to run away with her and Joey giving up his soul to the Orichalcos to save her…
Raphael thought of the vision of his family's graves he had with Yami before Yami brought back Eatos with Monsters Reborn…
Alister remembered Kaiba's declaration of doing anything he could to save his brother and Mokuba being concerned for both teenagers…
Valon remembered his duel with Joey…
With each memory, a light was formed.
Dartz laughed. "At last, my God has been revived! Now, my Queen, time to become one with—huh?!"
Small balls of light started to come out of the Leviathan and into Yami's duel disk. Seeing this, Dark Magician Girl realized, "Our comrades are still in Master's deck! Let's go!"
As the Duel Monsters joined with the Duel Disk, the phoenixes woke up. Earthzina looked around. ~Where's Joey?!~
Tarra looked at Tima, who was still praying. Looking at the balls of light, her eyes sparkled. ~Everything's okay, Earthzina…I know it.~
His strength fading by the second, Joey focused on his light. "Yugi…with my…last strength…!"
With his own light, Kaiba proudly declared, "The light she gave me…take it!"
Their lights joined the Duel Disk just before Yami's arm disappeared into the Leviathan. Dartz started to relax when he felt powerful pulsations vibrating the Leviathan. "What?!"
Yami closed his eyes, his Millennium Puzzle glowing. 'I feel it…everyone's feelings. They have given me new life!"
He felt something awaken in him, a feeling that felt familiar. But he did not dwell on it, knowing what he had to do. With the Eye of Horus on his forehead, he opened his eyes and loudly declared, "From 3,000 years ago, craved in the Pharaoh's name!"
Tima opened her eyes in time to see three beams of light cut out of the Leviathan. She smiled brightly, recognizing the blue, red, and yellow. Dartz recognized them too.
Standing tall, Yami ordered, "Arise, Egyptian Gods!"
Suddenly a huge explosion ripped open the Leviathan's body, expelling Yami, Kaiba, and Joey. Tima stood up and the phoenixes took flight as the three were returned to them. Tarra got on Yami's shoulder and Earthzina got on Joey's shoulder. The brown phoenix, however, was mentally laughing, both from relief and humor from Joey landing on his face. ~One day, I hope you learn how to land on your feet.~
Joey mentally sulked. 'Shut up.'
Tima hugged Yami from behind, relieved he was all right, as everyone looked up. Emerging from the clouds were Obelisk, Slifer, and Ra. The humans and phoenixes were humbled before the three; Dartz, however, was terrified. "Impossible! How could he resurrect the God Cards?!"
As if knowing its place, the Leviathan flew up into the clouds. But the God Cards were close behind. As everyone watched, the Millennium Puzzle started to glow again. Yami and Tima looked at each other and nodded. Taking each other's hand, they separated from their hosts and followed as dual beams of light. Yugi and Tiki watched the spirits, worried, but Tarra's eyes sparkled. ~They'll be fine…you'll see.~
Above the clouds, Yami, Tima, and the Egyptian Gods faced the Leviathan. Dartz glared and cursed the two. "I will erase those pathetic Gods with the God of Orichalcos!"
The Leviathan roared, causing shockwaves rippling through the air. But the Gods were not intimidated. Obelisk went first, punching the Leviathan's side. But it caused an opening for the Leviathan to wrap its serpent-like body around the God. Coming to their comrade's rescue, the two dragon-like Gods attacked, damaging the Leviathan even more and freeing Obelisk.
From the ground, all everyone could see was the violent lightning storm. Joey shuddered. "Damn…a battle of the gods…"
Kaiba nodded. "Powerful enough to blacken the sky!"
Tiki and Yugi watched the clouds, praying for Yami and Tima's victory.
Yami and Tima stood below the Egyptian Gods, infuriating Dartz even more. "Must you continue to pester me, you wretched Duel Monsters?! I will wipe you out with a single blow!"
The Leviathan attacked but the Egyptian Gods attacked back with their most powerful attacks. Their triple attack stopped the Leviathan's attack and cause an earth-shattering, blinding explosion. Yami strongly declared, "Dartz! We will never lose to the darkness in our hearts!
The triple attack finally pushed back the Leviathan's, hitting the God of Orichalcos. Crying out in paid, Dartz said, "No…impossible!"
The Leviathan exploded in light and fell to Earth.
When the Leviathan dropped, everyone stood up a little straighter. Kaiba said, "The three gods won!"
Tiki nodded. "Yes! They did it!"
Joey brightened. "That means, all the souls that were taken…!"
When the Leviathan hit the ocean, millions of human and Duel Monster soul orbs escaped, freeing them from their torment. The four teenagers watched the soul orbs, glad everyone was free, as daylight returned to the sky. Suddenly, the island started to shake violently. Though worried from the shaking, Yugi and Tiki were relieved to see Yami and Tima return to them. Kaiba realized, "This place is going to be destroyed! We need to leave!"
Everyone agreed and ran back to the vortex, which was still open. Kaiba, Joey, and Earthzina made it through; Yugi and Tiki were about to when Yami spoke up. "Wait! I sense something…"
Tima shuddered and hugged herself in spirit form. I do too…
Tarra looked behind them and squawked. The humans looked and saw Dartz, in pain but still alive. He leered at them with dull eyes as smoke-like darkness started to come off him. The darkness then turned into a hideous-looking serpent. It was decrepit-looking but gave off a fiendish aura. Yami glared. "Even after being killed by the Egyptian Gods, it still…!"
He summoned Timaeus in knight form, who quickly attacked. But the wound healed and the creature hit back, almost cutting Timaeus in half. Yami called back the knight. Tima looked at the creature. It's like a demon…what is it?
Yami agreed. "It's different from any monster we've ever faced!"
Dartz suddenly appeared, standing within the creature. "Nameless Pharaoh…you can't stop me. This creature you see is the true form of the God of Orichalcos. Lady Queen Tima, your description is not far off: it is the embodiment of the resentment from every human being who has ever walked this planet. Every cell was born from humanity. What I said was true: one cannot full escape the darkness of the heart…for, as long as this planet and its humans exist, the planet's darkness of the heart will continue to exist!"
Dartz disappeared and the creature leered at Yami with red, glowing eyes. Yami prepared himself. "Aibou! Tiki! Tima! Run! I'll stop it! If I don't, history will repeat itself!"
Tima looked at Yami, who continued to stare down the creature. "Was it you?! Did you call my soul here?!"
The creature did not answer. Yami calmly took a breath. "Aibou, Tiki, Tima…everyone has supported me in this battle…and now I understand. My greatest mission and biggest responsibility as the Pharaoh…I must cleanse the planet's darkness of the heart!"
Yugi and Tiki looked at Yami, almost in awe at this declaration. Tima, however, looked very scared. Yami, what are you doing?
Tarra was just as scared. Pharaoh…
Yami stood up tall at the creature. "Come on! All your anger, all your hatred: I'll take it! I will shoulder the planet's darkness of the heart!"
As he spread his arms wide, he heard Tima running towards him. Yami, no!
He turned in time to push her away seconds before the creature attacked Yami. Yami screamed in pain, taking everything in the dark whirlwind. Tima's eyes widened in horror, Tarra screeched, and Yugi and Tiki cried out. They tried to run to him but he stopped them. "Stay back! This is my battle! This will bet on my ways of justice and beliefs!"
The siblings and phoenix's eyes widened and Tima paled: that was the same thing Yami said before he played the Seal of Orichalcos. Yami saw their looks and quickly said, "This is different! Aibou, Tiki, there will come the day when Tima and I must part ways from you! There will be a day where you and I, Aibou, will fight our own difficult battle! That time is now!"
Yugi, Tarra, and Tiki decided to trust Yami but Tima glared and charged forward. Tiki tried to stop her but her cries fell on deaf ears. Yami's eyes widened. "Tima, stay back!"
Tima charged through the whirlwind and grabbed Yami around the waist from behind. He was about to protest when he felt her arms tighten and her forehead against the back of his head. In that moment, he heard her mental speech. This is not your mission…this is OUR mission! Like Yugi and Tiki, you and I are in this together! Your burdens are my burdens!
Yami remembered her confession of love and Dark Magician Girl calling her and Tiki the Chosen Pillars. He realized she was right. Using her for support, he continued to struggle. "I chose this battle! This mission has been passed to me! This is my feelings…and everyone's!"
He remembered the conversation he had with Yugi and Tiki after their duel in the Stone Wilderness. While that memory and Tima's touch helped, he still cried out in pain as the creature, now made of the smoke-like darkness, roared at him. The siblings and phoenix shouted encouragement to him as he glared at the creature. "I will never be consumed by you! For what I have in me…!"
Tima hugged him tighter as he remembered Ironheart and Chris' deaths, finding Joey soulless, watching Raphael's soul being stolen, Kaiba's loss in their duel against Dartz, and Dartz's psyche-shattering words about Yami's lost memory. He remembered how broken he was when he almost surrendered to Dartz. But he also remembered his friends stopping the Seal and remembered the warmth he felt from Tima hugging him from behind. Thinking of his chalice of memories, he declared, "My memories with everyone will never be erased! My vessel of light!" He spread his arms. "Darkness of the planet's heart! Using this vessel, I erase thee!"
The creature tried to get away, causing the weather to turn dark, but Yami was not letting escape. The creature got sucked into Yami's heart, shrinking until it was nil. As the daylight returned around the world, Yami and Tima fainted but were caught by the siblings. They were all right, though, shown by their tired smiles. Yami said, "It's gone…! It's gone…!"
Tiki hugged Tima from behind and Yugi teared up. "You are…!"
Tarra suddenly cried out and pointed ahead: Dartz was collapsed in front of them. Suddenly a warm light appeared in front of him with familiar voices speaking. "Father!"
"Dartz!"
Dartz looked up and saw Ironheart, Chris, and Sunny. His two yellow eyes widened as his family helped him sit up. Chris smiled brightly and Ironheart told his son, "All the malice you had on your shoulders…the Nameless Pharaoh took it all from you."
The Atlantian family looked at the humans, spirits, and phoenix. Dartz's shocked look became a smile, the first genuine smile he had in years. Chris wiped away her tears. "Thank you for saving my father!"
Ironheart stood up. "I too would like to express my gratitude. Now return to your world. A new future awaits you beyond that door."
As the four looked at the portal, Dartz spoke up. "Lady Queen Tima…" When she looked at him, his smile fell. "I know I am not worthy of it… butI hope to one day earn your forgiveness for everything I did."
Before Tima could answer, Yami turned and looked at Dartz. "You can start by explaining how to get rid of her scars."
Dartz lowered his eyes. "Unfortunately, I do not know. They should have faded by now…I am sorry."
While he was upset, Yami could tell Dartz was being truthful so he looked at Yugi. "Let's go back, Aibou!"
Yugi smiled and nodded before the siblings helped the spirits stand up. Before they went through the portal, they took one more look at the Atlantians. They then left with Tarra leading the way. Chris smiled. "Father…we should cross over too. Mother's waiting for us."
Dartz smiled at the thought of his wife.
At sunset, Yugi and Tiki were woken up by waves hitting their feet. They stood up and found themselves on an island. Yugi wondered, "Where are we?"
Tiki asked, "More importantly, how did we get here?"
Yami looked around. "Maybe we were guided here."
Tima looked up into the sky and smiled. I think you're right…and I think they're coming to say goodbye.
An aurora lit up above them, creating an orb of light that revealed the Dark Magician Girl and the three Knights. Dark Magician Girl smiled. "Thank you, masters! Our world and your world have been saved! The God of Orichalcos has returned to our world. Now, without its hatred corrupting its soul, we can try and let it live with us again. I pray it eventually sees how wonderful our world is once it lives with us."
The four smiled at that. Timaeus nodded. "Thank you, Nameless Pharaoh, Queen Tima, Yugi, and Tiki!"
Critias and Hermos smiled. "Our grudge has been removed from our shoulders!"
Yami said, "I am the one who should be saying thank you. Were it not for your strength, I would not have overcame the darkness in my heart."
Tima smiled and took his hand as the Knights left after saying their goodbyes. Dark Magician Girl started to leave but hesitated, looking at Yami. "Master…" After a minute, she smiled and winked. "Never mind. Farewell."
With that, she left with the aurora. When the aurora faded, Yugi felt something and pulled out his Timaeus card in time to see it disintegrate. Tiki smiled. "Looks like their job is done."
Yugi smiled. "Yeah…"
Tiki smiled before she realized, "Wait…" She touched her neck. "Where is it?"
Tima looked at Tiki. What's wrong, Tiki?
Tiki frantically looked around the sand. "I don't have the Queen's Necklace!"
Yami blushed and cleared his throat, getting her attention. "Um…Yugi has it…"
Tiki raised her eyebrow and looked at Yugi. She smiled brightly. "You're right!"
Yugi felt his neck and felt the necklace. "That's weird…how did it get there?"
He peeked at Yami, who was looking at Tima. Understanding, he took off the necklace and put it back on Tiki. "There you go…where it belongs."
Tiki smiled and touched the necklace. "Yep!"
Tima smiled before seeing Yami looking at her. Assuming he was looking at her scars, she tried to cover what she could with her clothes. Yami was about to say something when everyone heard Tarra. ~Guys, I found everyone!~
The four looked up to see the KaibaCorp helicopter being led to them by Tarra. Yugi breathed a sigh of relief. "They're safe!"
Tiki smiled and looked up into the sky. "Thank you, God!"
When the helicopter landed, Joey jumped out and put Yugi in a playful chokehold. "Will you stop disappearing like that?" he teased.
Merina ran up and hugged Tiki. "You're okay! I'm so happy!"
The rest of their friends joined them and expressed their happiness for the siblings being okay. They then started to board the helicopter. But Yugi and Tiki stopped for a moment to look at Yami and Tima. Yugi thought to himself, 'I know what Dark Magician Girl was about to say: the planet's curse is buried deep within Yami. If he were to control the darkness in his heart again…the curse will reactivate. But we don't need to worry about that anymore: Yami's different than how he once was. He was able to overcome the darkness in his heart…and he and Tima are now ready to walk into a new light. Because Yami has been reborn as a true Pharaoh!'
As Yami and Tima walked towards the siblings, for a brief moment, they saw the spirits as Pharaoh and Queen.
The entire helicopter ride back to land, Yami stayed in the Millennium Puzzle. He kept thinking about Tima's scars and Dartz not knowing how to remove them. 'Does this mean I have to have…a constant reminder…of what I did?'
He sighed and leaned his head back. "I know Tima's forgiven me for what happened…but I'll still apologize properly tonight…"
They finally made it back to port, where Rebecca, Duke, and Arthur were waiting (Merina called ahead on the satellite phone). Yugi no sooner stepped out of the helicopter before Rebecca tackle-hugged him to the ground, sobbing almost violently. "Darling! You're back!"
Yugi blushed from the display of affection but he did not fight it, knowing how much Rebecca missed him. "Yep…everything's all right now."
Rebecca kept crying in Yugi's chest, making Tiki giggle. "You two are so cute together."
Yugi glared at Tiki, blushing deeper. That made her giggle even harder before Kaiba stepped in front of her, looking serious. "May I speak to you…alone?"
Everyone was surprised. Joey raised his eyebrow. "What? Since when do you care about Tiki? This is suspicious…"
Merina rolled her eyes as Kaiba and Tiki walked off. The blonde American said, "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's none of your business."
Joey gave her a look. "Is no one going to acknowledge Kaiba's acting weird?"
Merina rolled her eyes and looked at Professor Hawkins. "Good to see you looking better."
Arthur smiled and nodded before looking at Yugi. "I'm glad to see you back, Yugi. Is the Pharaoh all right?"
Yugi nodded and smiled. "Yep! Everything is okay now."
Tea smiled. "We're just glad to have you back."
Everyone agreed. Torru looked around and noticed, ~Where are you going, Joey?~
Joey and Earthzina were trying to sneak away. Joey said, "I want to know what Kaiba's doing with Tiki."
Tristan rolled his eyes. "You are so nosy."
Joey tried to escape but Merina grabbed his shirt, making him yell, "Damn it, let me go, Merina!"
Merina yelled back, "Do you have to be so damn loud?!"
Duke teased, "You're almost as loud as the boats."
Rebecca added, "And just as dumb."
Duke and Rebecca laughed at that, making Joey snap, "Shut up!"
Earthzina's eyes sparkled. ~They're just having fun.~
Joey glared. "You're not helping! Why do you always take their side?"
Earthzina ruffled her feathers. ~Because it's fun.~
Joey sulked, making Yugi and Merina laugh. Just then, Tiki came back, blushing. Tea asked, "You okay? You're bright red."
Joey demanded. "What did Kaiba do to you?"
Tiki giggled with delight. "That's none of your business, Joey."
Yugi asked, "You sure everything's okay?"
Tiki smiled and did a little twirl. "Never better."
Mokuba looked over Tiki's shoulder. "Where's Nii-sama?" His eyes then widened. "Whoa!"
Everyone looked behind them and their eyes widened: Kaiba was walking up with a black phoenix on his shoulder. Merina grinned. "You're a Guardian too? Awesome!"
Joey grimaced. "You mean I have something in common with Rich-Boy?"
Kaiba snorted with a smirk as he walked through the group. "Don't flatter yourself, bonkotsu."
Joey growled and would have attacked Kaiba but Tristan and Duke held him back. Earthzina laughed at the display as Torru looked at the black phoenix. ~You got your hands full with this one.~
The black phoenix's eyes sparkled. ~Nothing I can't handle.~
Kaiba smirked at that as he and Mokuba got on the helicopter. Once they left, everyone piled into the trailer and Duke got behind the wheel to drive them to a quieter place. As Yugi and Tiki settled in for a night, Tima smiled at them. She then heard Yami's voice: Tima…please join me in my soul room.
Surprised, Tima appeared in Yami's soul room. At first, she did not see him. Yami…?
She wandered through the labyrinth for a few minutes. Eventually making it back to the main courtyard, she looked around. Yami…
Yami came out from around the corner, looking ashamed. Seeing him, she smiled gently and went up to him. For someone who just saved the world and sealed the darkness away, you look quite sad. What's wrong?
Yami looked at her, his eyes zooming in on her scars. Feeling guilty, he sat down on a nearby stair. "Tima…I…"
He looked away. Looking at her scarred arms, Tima sighed and sat next to him. He did not look at her so she leaned her head on his shoulder. Stop beating yourself up: it wasn't your fault. Even the mightiest of men have fallen to temptation.
Yami stared off into space. "Perhaps…but I still hurt you…"
Tima made him look at her. Let it go…please. You shouldn't torture yourself like this.
Looking into her eyes, Yami felt his heart beat faster. Nodding, he put his arm around her and held her close. Tima smiled and closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Tima…it took losing you for me to realize. I wish…I could have seen it sooner." He pulled back and looked in her eyes. "Tima…I love you…more than I express in words."
Tima's eyes shone, feeling her heart swell. Yami…
Yami smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She started to lean in too but heard the same voice as before. Do not kiss him. It is not time yet.
So she turned her head, making him kiss her facial scar. He pulled back, hurt. "Why did you look away?"
Tima took his hand and kissed it a few times. I'm sorry…but I'm hearing someone telling me…it's not the right time. Believe me…I do want to.
Yami sighed. While he was disappointed, he did not want to force her. He looked at her and noticed something: her facial scar was gone. Curious, he looked at a scar on her neck and kissed it. He pulled back and saw it fade away. Tima blushed. Yami…
Yami stood up and helped her up. "Come with me."
Where are we going?
"You'll see."
Tima let Yami lead her deeper into the Puzzle. When he stopped, the Millennium Puzzle glowed, creating a door in front of them. Tima raised an eyebrow when Yami opened the door. Beyond the door was a grand bed with crimson silk sheets and many pillows at the head. Yami blushed. "This is…where I sleep."
Tima smiled. I like it.
Moving behind her, Yami wrapped his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. Tima looked and saw how red he was. "Tima…I…know this might be too soon…but…I can't help…but feel this is right."
Tima blushed, knowing what Yami was implying. I trust you with all my heart…my love.
With her given permission, Yami took her into the bedroom. For the next hour, they experienced passion that was both fulfilling and familiar. Yami managed to kiss every scar off Tima's body, making her look like the Orichalcos never affected her. She was grateful for that and for their lovemaking. While he did want to kiss her on the lips, he was still happy with her, especially when she agreed to stay the night afterwards. Tired but happy, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
A door opens to a shadowed room, revealing three silhouettes in the light…
Duel Monster cards scatter across the room…
Yami, Tima, and Tarra, the silhouettes, slowly open their eyes…
The three face a ruined Ancient Egypt with a pyramid in the sky…
Stone tablets resembling Duel Monster cards burn…
The palette from the museum burns…
The Pharaoh on the tablet appears before changing to Yami…
The priest on the tablet appears before becoming Kaiba…
Slifer prepares to attack…
Obelisk prepares to attack…
Ra becomes the Sun God Phoenix…
The Egyptian Eye on the top of the palette glows…
Tea looks off into the distance, thinking about Yami and Yugi…
Joey runs along the coast with Red Eyes Black Dragon and Earthzina by his side…
Kaiba summons Blue Eyes White Dragon in the park with Itami in flight…
Yami summons Dark Magician in his duel with Joey after Battle City with Tima and Tarra proudly watching …
Aurora borealis appears above Domino…
Yami, Tima, and Tarra join Tristan, Joey, Duke, Merina, Tea, Ryou, and Rose…
Yami and Joey share a look…
Yami and Tima fall down a vortex…
Yami's eyes shot open. Laying on his right side, he looked over his shoulder. 'A dream…felt so familiar…'
He laid on his back and stared at the ceiling for a moment. The more he tried to remember, however, the more he forgot. Soon he could not recall it at all. He looked at Tima, who was sleeping peacefully, and smiled. Turning to look at her, he propped his head up with his hand as he studied her. Without her scars and after their passion, she looked even more beautiful to him. He reached over and moved a stray piece of hair out of her face. 'I do not remember our life together. But I know this much…'
He pulled her into a cuddle. She smiled in her sleep and curled up in his arms. He kissed her forehead and started to drift off to sleep again. 'She was my Queen…but I would love her all the same.'
