Now they know everything. Kyo thought as she stood in the darkness. Everything I've ever done.
It's Judgment Day.
She felt tired. Somehow, this wasn't exactly how she had imagined the truth would come out. Part of her wanted to be relieved. After all, there were no more lies. And she was about to win, so there would be no more cruelty, either. She would finally be free.
After everything you put me through… She looked across at the demon that had been her stepfather. It's time you got a taste of your own medicine.
But she didn't move.
I'm sorry, Kisara. Her hand clenched. But I must do this. It's the only way to fix things.
It was true, after all. Seto had always been hard on both of them. Even if he was trying to help them toughen up, it was no excuse for how he'd acted. He could have been kinder. He could have explained himself. He could have given them a break. Instead, all he had ever done was beat them down.
She grimaced. She probably hates me now. The only person who ever cared about me.
Why should I care? It's her fault too. If she had been stronger, I wouldn't have had to protect her.
She glanced down at her dueldisk. And now that I'm stronger, Mahad won't have to protect me. She curled her lip. It's not like I'm the one he's trying to protect, anyway.
Her eyes grew hot, and her lip curled. Good riddance.
There was silence.
"Because we're friends."
She winced. Somehow, I doubt this is what he was picturing. She thought.
The Dark Magician of Chaos, barely visible in the shadows, turned to glance back at her. "What are you waiting for?" It was Mahad's voice, but it there was an overlay to his tones that made him sound wild. "Let's finish what we started and destroy him once and for all."
She gazed back.
His eyes narrowed. "He deserves this. It's time he was put in his place. Seal him away with the power of the Orichalcos!"
She looked down at her deck.
This isn't how it was supposed to go.
"That doesn't matter! Defeat him and win the duel!"
She closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek. What have I done?
Kisara looked up at Dartz. "What's happening?" She asked uneasily.
He didn't answer immediately. His eyes were focused on the shadow-wrapped field, trying to pierce the veil. The Leviathan's growls could be heard occasionally, but other than that, there was no indication of what might be happening inside.
"I think…" He said slowly, "We may have finally run out of time."
She stiffened.
"The Orichalcos drew out too much darkness. Kyo's soul is too inexperienced to cope." Dartz shook his head. "And now that I've lost control of the Seal, there are only two outcomes left. We face the Phantom in the body of an Egyptian God… or we face the Leviathan."
Kisara's expression darkened. "This is all your fault. You should never have given her that card!"
"My dear, if I hadn't, she would have lost, and we would be facing Raviel anyway." He said quietly. "There was a chance that she could have broken through. There was a chance Seto could have freed himself. But they've both given up. Which means we're out of moves." He bowed his head. "This is the end."
Kisara's eyes widened, and she looked back at the darkness. No. She thought.
She felt betrayed. The two people she cared about most in the world… had given up. She couldn't believe it. Her father, the strongest, toughest, most powerful and no-nonsense person she'd ever known was lying to himself. And her best friend, the one whom she'd loved as a sister… was a monster.
I can't believe this. She slid back down to the grass. I can't believe we lost.
"Why are you hesitating?" The magician hissed. "Draw your cards, and let's finish him off together!"
The tears wouldn't stop. What have I done? She touched her face, her shoulders shaking.
"Since he's useless, I'll sacrifice my Dark Magician."
A Catapult Turtle. Normally, not an issue, but with the power of the Orichalcos in play, these monsters were real.
Hmph. Maybe they'll be more useful to me then.
The Dark Magician flew obediently to the turtle's cannon… and then he was gone.
"And now that he's gone, he can actually serve a purpose. By strengthening my Dark Magician Girl!"
I did it. I actually did. She thought. It wasn't hard to believe anymore. She clutched her arm. I'm not worthy.
The magician growled impatiently. "Draw a card!" He commanded. "I'll finish him off myself."
She blinked, looking up.
He spread a hand back towards her, and it started to glow.
"What are you doing?" She asked, startled.
"Draw a card, and you'll see." He said. "I swore to protect you, and if you won't finish him off, I will."
Her eyes widened. He's changing what I'm going to draw. She thought, looking down at her deck. Which means he's probably grabbing something to power himself up with.
She looked across at Seto. He's going to destroy Mr. Kaiba.
"Draw the card already, so I can end this!"
She hesitated. "I can't." She said.
He looked back.
"I can't let you do that." She elaborated. "I can't let you destroy Kisara's father."
"Listen to yourself!" His eyes narrowed. "It's not even him you care about!"
She shook her head. "No. For once, I'm going to do the right thing." She said, raising her hand.
His eyes widened. "You can't! You can't surrender!"
She glared back. "I won't let you destroy him." She stopped, then closed her eyes. "I won't let myself destroy him."
She drew.
The shadows suddenly shot back, and Kisara gasped in surprise. They were still there, still standing exactly as they had been left, with the same monsters and life points. She came up to the edge. "Father? Kyo?" She called, worried.
Kyo was holding a card. Her magician was glaring at her with an expression that looked positively wild with rage.
"I activate Illusion Magic!" Kyo shouted.
Kisara stopped. Wait, but that– "Kyo, what are you doing?!"
"Setting things straight." Kyo said quietly as she straightened. "By tributing a spellcaster on my side of the field, I can add up to two copies of Dark Magician from my deck or graveyard to my hand."
"NO!" The magician shouted, but it was no good; his image vibrated, splitting and fading until there was nothing left.
Kyo closed her eyes briefly, then went to her graveyard. "I choose to bring back Palladium Oracle Mahad." She brought it to her hand, but she couldn't sense his presence anymore.
She blinked, then looked around, but he wasn't there. Mahad… She winced. He's abandoned me. She closed her eyes and turned back to the field. Or I've abandoned him.
Why did she do that? Kisara wondered, confused. She just gave up a really powerful monster, and she can't summon Mahad without a sacrifice!
Kyo sighed. "Next, I play Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two more cards." She drew. "Then I activate Monster Reborn!"
Oh no! Kisara bit her lip. If she'd played Pot of Greed before she brought Mahad back to her hand, she could have summoned him–
Wait, is that…
"And I'm using it to bring your Blue-Eyes White Dragon back to the field!" Kyo shouted.
The dragon roared as it emerged, spreading its wings.
Seto stiffened.
"Be strong, Blue-Eyes," She called up as the Orichalcos spread from her. She could see it now; the way it acted and pretended, the way it deceived its user into thinking it served them. I'm sorry. She thought, wincing. Please, forgive me.
The dragon whined as the power coursed through it, strengthening it, yet infecting it as well. Its growl deepened, and its eyes took on a red glint.
"Then I activate Polymerization!" Kyo continued. "This lets me fuse my Blue-Eyes on the field with the Dark Magician in my hand," She lifted Mahad, "To form Divine Dragon Sorcerer!"
But though the card in her hand was the Palladium Oracle, it was a Dark Magician that emerged from it. His eyes were blank, and the presence of Mahad was glaringly absent. He flew up to land on the white dragon's back, staff in hand, and a moment later, the Orichalcos was stamped on his forehead as well.
"I place one card facedown." Kyo hesitated for a moment, then let out a breath. "It's your move."
"Kyo?" Kisara called cautiously. Does this mean she's back?
But if Kyo heard her, she didn't answer.
Raviel drew himself up, raising his fist, but Seto was giving him trouble again.
"No… my… Blue-Eyes…" Seto grimaced. "What have you… done to my Blue-Eyes?" His eyes narrowed, and the light started to come back.
"I attack!" Raviel rumbled, drawing himself up.
"No!" Seto shouted, clutching his head. "I can't attack Blue-Eyes!"
Kisara blinked, and Kyo paused, halfway to her dueldisk.
Raviel growled. "Attack!"
"No!" Seto shook himself. "I… won't!"
"Do not defy me!" The Phantom God snarled with fury.
Seto trembled, then slammed his hand down on the dueldisk in surrender.
There was a stunned silence.
Seto panted, then threw back his head. "KISARAAA!"
Kisara jolted. "Father!" She started running around the Seal.
"Kisara, wait!" Kyo shouted.
"I will tear you apart!" Raviel roared, rounding on him.
"No!" Kyo gasped, then ran forward. "Blue-Eyes!" She called. She stumbled a little when she saw the golden armor. Mahad? She thought, but a second later, the green light was shooting past her, shrinking down around Seto and Raviel, even as the Phantom God's wrath spiraled down on the mortal below, slamming him into the ground.
"Mr. Kaiba!" Kyo shouted.
"FATHER!" Kisara screamed.
Both Blue-Eyes struck Raviel, and Mahad jumped clear, flying down to join Kyo as she and Kisara pelted towards the fight.
"Orichalcos Kyutora!" Dartz shouted behind them, and a large sea-urchin creature appeared over Seto, creating a small gap between him and the chaotic maelstrom overhead as it sucked in the damage.
"Mahad, help him!" Kyo called, and he darted forward, raising his staff to form a golden shield, but the Orichalcos had encircled its victim at last.
"NO!" Kisara dived, grabbing her father as the Seal started to glow. "Father, don't go!"
"Kis… ara…" Seto managed thickly, reaching up to touch her cheek.
Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Please, don't go." She begged.
"Take care of each other." He said quietly. His eyes glazed over, and he groaned as the Seal narrowed into a beam of light… then vanished.
"FATHER!" Kisara wailed, sobbing into his jacket as it returned to its normal color.
Kyo skidded to a halt beside them and looked up. Raviel was holding the dragons at bay, but even as she turned, he seemed to decide he was done; he transformed completely into a maelstrom and shot away.
Both Blue-Eyes lifted their heads back, letting out their cries of sorrow. Seto's Blue-Eyes faded away, leaving Kisara's alone, howling its pain to the sky.