Yugi didn't stop running until he found Rebecca and the rest of his family in one of the VIP rooms. She was listening to someone on her phone and didn't notice Yugi come in. He was quickly noticed by AJ however as the kid just about tackled him.

"Dad, what's happening? Where's Uncle?" AJ asked. Yugi hugged his son with all his might and turned to Rebecca. She had noticed him at that point and hung up.

"Yugi! I'm so sorry but Atem... he's-" Rebecca's voice cracked. Unable to finish her sentence she held out a small note. Yugi took it and immediately read,

I am going back to the afterlife. Do not worry about the Earthbound Immortals or me anymore. If I leave now it will all be fixed. Once I go back you guys will not be able to speak of the afterlife, and shadow magic will mostly leave again. I am sorry I cannot give a proper goodbye. Please know my sudden departure had nothing to do with any of you. Just know with all your souls that we will see each other again. But please, do your best to make sure that reunion is far off, for my sake.

-Atem

Yugi gripped the paper as he read. He looked back up to Rebecca who simply shook her head.

"I found that on your bag. Atem's backpack was gone, he did leave his deck and cellphone but that was it." She said as she gestured to a table with the items on it. "Marik and Bakura took their gang and are currently sweeping the city. Seto is collecting his own resources with Mokuba and is about to join the search."

"He's not in the city anymore. He'd be in the Satellite by now." Yugi said as he pulled out the Silent Magician card. Both Rebecca and AJ gasped when they saw the writing on it. They both knew what that meant, another epiphany. AJ tried to look closer at the card but his mother grabbed and kept it out of his reach. AJ pulled away with a deep frown and stomped his foot. Yugi sighed, then bent down to look him in the eyes.

"AJ is any of the others still in the building?"

"Yes, Joey, Téa, and the Kaibas. Do you want me to get them?"

"That would be amazing. Please do it as fast as you can." Yugi said while putting a hand on AJ's shoulder. AJ nodded and headed for the door. Before he left the room, he turned once again to his father.

"Is Uncle going to be alright? I know he's leaving but…"

Yugi felt his throat tighten up.

"Of course, you've seen him in action before. He can often take care of himself better than we can. We just want to make sure we get our own goodbyes." Yugi said as he put on a smile. AJ nodded and raced out, fully trusting his father.

When Joey, Téa, and Seto were brought, Yugi explained everything he could remember from the epiphany. Once the group knew what was going on, they immediately went into action. While the group had an unshakeable faith in Atem and knew he would finish his mission. They couldn't let him leave like this.

"What I'm more interested in is where you're getting this information from, Yugi. Everyone else has seemed to accept these 'epiphanies' but I don't trust them. What if it's from the Earthbound Immortals or your own mind?" Seto said. At the same time, he was talking with the group, he was also working with Mokuba in the stadium and Bakura and Marik down by the docks. He had been keeping track of them all with video calls on his laptop,

Yugi had no good answers to his suspicion. He had wondered these too, but Atem had assured him that whatever made these thoughts appear was a real power.

"Atem said it was very similar to some group called the 'Higher Ups.' I don't know how to explain it but that sound right to me." Yugi said. At the name, Seto's back instantly stiffened. He found himself gripping the chip that kept his coat at the same temperature, just to make sure it was still there. He held there for a moment before going back to coordinating with his brother as nothing happened. No one noticed him.

"I remember Atem talkin' about dese Higher Ups. He seemed to respect dem like deities, but not the same way he respected the Egyptian gods or the Crimson Dragon." Joey said. The others nodded. This made Yugi sit back in his chair.

"As I said, this is hard to explain but, when I had my first one of these realizations it was with Atem in our yard. At that moment it felt… right, like I was supposed to remember those things. After that however, things like using shadow magic or getting more random memories, felt like an accident. It was still coming from the same place but it almost felt like I was overhearing these memories and skills instead of being given them..." Yugi looked up at the group's confused face. "…and that made no sense. Sorry guys, it's the best I got."

Seto gave an unconvinced sigh while the other remained just as lost. Rebecca eventually shook her head and shrugged.

"No time to worry about that now. Seto, have you got a helicopter or jet to the Satellite yet?" She nearly barked.

Seto gave her a sideways glare and returned to working with his brother. Mokuba had heard everything in the conversation thanks to the video call. He was down in the lower parts of the stadium trying to avoid the public as he worked.

"We're trying here guys. On a normal day, it's almost impossible to get permission to land in the Satellite! The boats are done for the night and all these people are waiting for the old King of Games. It's a juggling act just to keep suspicions down. We don't want Security or fans marching into whatever Atem's doing." Mokuba explained. It was Téa that then stood up.

"Sector Security's not going to let us on the island in time, are they?" She asked. After a few silent moments, Seto nodded. "Can we sneak on?" Her second question made Seto chuckle.

"Security's on high alert today. Now that the main tournament is done, they'll definitely notice a stray helicopter."

"What if they had another thing to distract them? Like a big star suddenly putting on a show for the new King of Games?" Téa continued. This made both Kaiba brothers stop.

"As in right now?! That would be a nightmare for the workers here." Mokuba gasped.

"It would also be hell for Security. Having to suddenly keep a big star from her ravenous fans. That would certainly keep their attention." Seto said. Téa's determined look once again covered her face. She had practically coined the facial expression when she was a teen and now there was no backing out.

"But Téa," Yugi said, worry quavering his voice. "If you're here, then you won't be able to see Atem before he-" He was cut off by Téa's raised hand.

"I know this isn't the end, and I absolutely know you'll give him a goodbye that is enough for all of us. So please, don't waste any more time." She said. Yugi wanted to fight this. She was Atem's friend too, but the timer Yugi knew he had stopped him. He could only nod to her, letting her confidence fill him with some too. She was always braver than he was.

"Thank you. Who else is coming?" Yugi asked.

"I said I wasn't lettin' go of Atem dis time and I meant it. I'm seeing the kid off!" Joey announced as he jumped out of his chair.

"I'm coming too!" AJ yelled, just as ready as Joey.

"Oh, no you're not!" Rebecca grabbed AJ and pulled him back towards her. "You're staying here with me and your sister. I know this hurts but it's just too dangerous."

Both parents cringed when they saw tears started to fill AJ's eyes. A.J looked pleadingly at his father. Yugi couldn't keep eye contact. His shoulders slumped and he looked away.

"If we can, we will bring Atem back for a proper goodbye." Was all Yugi could say.

Joey walked over and put a hand on AJ's head. "Your mom and sister need you now. You have to be the man of the family, dat's a big job you know."

AJ pulled away from Joey and squeezed himself into a tight space between the chairs and wall. Joey looked back to Yugi with a sad shake of his head. Rebecca watched as her son slunk into the shadows. She knew the feeling all too well. She on many occasions had to stay behind so the older kids could save the world. Now she understood why. She could only hope AJ would eventually too.

They all then turned to Seto who had been talking to Marik and Bakura.

"There isn't time to pick us up. We'll try and catch a boat if we can. Just go." Marik said through the video call. He was standing next to Bakura who nodded.

"Your chances are better if you don't wait for us. While we're down here we can continue to trying to find information. Maybe one of these workers saw him." Bakura added. Yugi felt his mouth dry. Most of his friends wouldn't be with him this time. The thought seemed to blow a cold chill inside him.

"It'll also be better for you two to take a small helicopter. One that can better disappear into the night." Seto added before closing his laptop and striding out of the room. "Follow me. Téa, get down to Mokuba so you can start your distraction." Without giving Yugi any more time to argue Seto set out. Both Joey and Yugi had to run just to keep up with him.

"Wait Kaiba, you just said 'us two.' Are you not comin'?" Joey asked. Yugi almost stopped dead in his tracks when Seto nonchalantly nodded.

"Don't be surprised, Muto. It would look strange to the Sector Security director if the man running the tournament was not around." Seto kept his back to the two and continued on. His long strides were stopped however by the strong hand of Yugi on his shoulder.

"This is Atem," was all Yugi said. His voice did not quiver, it was back to being authoritative and strong. Because of this Seto remained still for many seconds, not even turning to face Yugi.

"I'll see him later." Seto then marched on without another word. Yugi's eyes grew wide. That was the most faith he had ever heard out of Seto in years. The last time Seto had let Atem leave without a fight he had become obsessed with the pharaoh, to the point that it forever cursed him.

"Come on Yuge. Trust Seto, he'll be fine." Joey words shook Yugi out of his frozen state. Slowly, a trusting smile found its way to Yugi's face.

Joey trusted Seto… he never in a million years thought that would be true. Then again, he never thought in a trillion years he'd see Atem living. These were just the things he had to accept after the Zero Reverse. Despite his friends not being physically there like they were in the past for villain fights, he wasn't doing this alone just as Atem was not. They were all working together in their different ways to keep each other safe. The way it always should be.

Yugi ran after Seto and as soon as he saw the helicopter, he jumped in with no more delays. Seto gave the two one last nod before he turned away as the helicopter took off. As Yugi watched the landing lights become glowing dots in the night air he suddenly felt absolutely cold. Not just a temperature kind of cold, the chill that runs up one's spine when true fear sets in. The chill of finding one's self lost or realizing one just helped an enemy get the upper hand. This feeling was even stranger to Yugi since it didn't quite feel like he was the one that was cold. It felt like he was sharing this feeling. Yugi could explain this even less than his epiphanies and yet he knew, something was wrong.

Jaden was leaning back in a large plush chair after his marathon of interviews. He needed a rest and was glad when his friends were able to pull him aside into their own lounge. He was surrounded by Jesse, Chazz, Alexis, Zane and his posse of duel spirits in a bright, warm room. He finally felt comfortable here, the first time all day.

"That was quite a duel there, buddy! You had my heart a poundin'." Jesse cheered as he slid a plate of fried food over to him. Jaden almost cried at the sight of the food and immediately dug in. He had been too nervous earlier that day to eat anything. Something he had regretted as soon as he was swarmed by reporters and fans.

"It's sad you didn't win, but no one can deny that you did better than any other duelist against Yugi. Can you believe that guy managed to keep a perfect winning streak his entire career?" Alexis said, making sure to block her face from the incoming rain of food crumbs.

"I know! It really was a sweet duel, until the end." Jaden happily said in-between bites.

The others in the room glanced at each other nervously. They had all been close enough to the duel to see Yugi nearly break down out of nowhere. Many reporters had also noticed this and asked Jaden about it. Each time they did Jaden stopped the discussion then and there. His kind voice turned harsh (a voice that Zane recognized a little too well) as he explained how he had not noticed any weakness in the old King of Games. Everyone was curious but if it was important enough for Jaden to keep it secret, they had to trust him.

"Most pro duelists are also impressed with you Jaden. Very few have officially beaten Yugi's Gandora combo, even less have defeated the Five-Headed Dragon in straight combat." Zane said as he was looking through social media. "While it will take time, I think people will accept you as the King of Games."

Jaden responded with a fist pump in the air echoed by the duel spirits around him. Even Ojama Yellow cheered, which got him an eye roll from Chazz,

"Aw, come on Boss! We're friends with the King of Games now! This is gonna get us way more popular!" The little monster cheered as he flitted around his partner. Chazz growled and lazily swatted the duel spirit away.

"You should listen to your partner Chazz. No one likes a sore loser at events like this." Jesse playfully prodded Chazz with his elbow. Chazz pushed him off and was about to walk away when he nearly stomped through a sulking duel spirit.

It was Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, curled in a ball and facing away from Jaden. The room was filled to the brim with duel spirits, it was almost impossible to not walk through them. Chazz was used to this kind of environment however, his own house was filled with even more spirits. He usually wouldn't care about going through a spirit, but this one…

"Why are you moping? Jaden did amazing in the duel." Chazz asked, a bit annoyed. He hated the fact that he was still was bitter about his loss. He wasn't going to let anyone else be as grouchy as himself or so help him Ra.

"I was right in his hand, in his hand!" The spirit grumbled to himself, not even noticing Chazz.

"Sorry there Chazz. He's just upset I didn't get to use him in the duel." Chazz managed to make out between Jaden's mouthfuls of food. The mole angrily grumbled at his master then scooted under the table Jaden was eating on.

"It's ok little guy. A lot of y'all didn't get a chance, but that doesn't mean you didn't help." Jesse bent down so he could look under the table.

"I was literally in his hand! He was about to use me! He even summoned Neos using Necroshade's ability so we could fuse, but then he had to be heroic and mature." The mole continued grumbling but Chazz wasn't listening anymore.

"You had Neo-Spacian Grand Mole in your final hand!" Chazz yelled. Everyone in the room paused as Chazz stomped over to Jaden. He slapped his hands down on the table, causing Jaden's plate to jump.

"I did," Jaden admitted, having a hard time swallowing his last mouthful.

"YOU WOULD HAVE WON!" Chazz shouted in a mixture of confusion and rage. Jaden's smile disappeared and he looked away from Chazz. This made Chazz grit his teeth and continue. "You could have normal summoned Grand Mole and then used Necroshade's ability to get Neos. You have the old Necroshade card which means his ability counts as an extra normal summons. With them, on the field, you could have gotten Elemental Hero Grand Neos! His ability is literally targeting one monster and returning it to the hand. You could have used it to get rid of 5 heads and then attack Yugi directly. He only had 300 more life points!" Chazz roared. Jaden continued to be silent.

"You would have won," Chazz repeated with a sigh as he felt all his anger drain out as quickly as it flowed in. He fell back in a chair shaking his head. The others in the room had their eyes glued to Jaden. The new king crossed his arms and turned back to the group with an almost somber face.

"I might have won if I did that." Jaden finally said. "You never know how duels will go, especially when fighting someone like Yugi. He still had many cards in his hand, while those in mine were my last few. If I went with that plan, he probably would have countered and the duel would go on even longer. At that point I really wasn't fighting the King of Games anymore, I was fighting a man about to lose a family member. That's not a duel I want to see as my crowning achievement."

The room went silent, even the duel spirits stopped their chatter. Jaden looked to each one of his friends, making sure they knew this was not something to be shared. He then uncrossed his arms and rested them behind his head, his carefree aura once again filling the room.

"Besides, actually destroying that dragon was way cooler than anything else I could have done. You have to at least admit that. It's a lot better than decking out." Jaden said with one of his famous grins. Zane was the next to smile.

"You wanted to end the duel on your terms." He said.

"Something like that I suppose." Jaden shrugged.

Laughter and chatter once again danced around the room as everyone relaxed. It was Alexis that looked directly at Jaden then. She remembered when he had first come to Duel Academy. Back then a battle with Chazz had ended early, but Jaden had been so sure he would have won thanks to the cards in his hand. She couldn't have convinced him otherwise if she tried. Now here Jaden was…

"Mr. Yuki?" The group turned as the towering Mokuba strode into the room. He exuded confidence, but they couldn't help notice that he seemed a little rushed. "The famous Téa Gardner is putting on a surprise show for your crowning as King of Games. It starts now, as in right now. Please follow me."

"Sweeet! Téa herself? Can this night get any better?" Jaden hooted as he jumped out of his chair. His friends couldn't help but chuckle as they followed the giddy King of Games out of the room. Their smiles disappeared however when Jaden suddenly stumbled forward as if he had just been hit in the back of the head.

"You ok?" Jesse asked as he caught Jaden. Jaden's whole body went rigid as he stared forward at nothing.

"The balance is off." He whispered. The hairs on the back of Jesse's neck went straight up. Jaden's voice sounded almost like two men were speaking at the same time.

"What do you mean?" Jesse asked.

"The balance between light and dark. It's wrong. The dark… the bad part of the dark…it's wrong."

"Yeah, people like you never win!" Téa yelled.

Atem couldn't see anything, yet he felt wind rushing past his face. Was he standing? It felt like any moment he would go flying back thanks to the strong force blowing against him. It was only his stubbornness and determination that kept him standing.

"What's this? More comments from the peanut gallery? Tell me, what is 'a person like me'?" The nasally voice of a young Weevil wormed its way into Atem's head. Atem suddenly felt so tired and empty, like someone had cut him open and scooped out everything inside. The only thing he had left was the guilt. The all-consuming guilt.

"You're a greedy, power-hungry worm." Atem felt himself say, with all the venom he could muster.

"What's that make you?"

The world materialized around Atem. He was on top of a speeding train surrounded by the Seal of Orichalcos. In front of him was the sneering Weevil, radiating over-confidence. Usually, Weevil's childish insults never got under Atem's skin, but here they hurt, they scarred.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you the one who wanted power? So much that you sold out your best friend for a taste of it?" Weevil continued.

For a long moment Atem could only stand there. It was the truth and that wounded more than any monster attack. Atem felt back into his soul, it was hollow and cold. Yugi hadn't been there for eighteen years but it didn't matter at that moment. The homesickness and pain he still felt thanks to leaving New Domino combined to make the all-consuming guilt. It only made the dream seem more real. This was not like past nightmares where there was a difference between Atem and the Pharaoh. Here, Atem was simultaneously acting out the past and remembering the present as one entity. All he knew in the very pit of his heart was that Yugi was gone, whether it was by Dartz or his own choice. It was all his fault.

"That seems like a power-hungry monster to me." Weevil continued to laugh.

Atem tried to talk back to Weevil, to get him out of his head, but his own shaking hand betrayed him. He was losing, not just the duel but his hold on reality. Yugi had been the one to keep the pieces together. It had been the boy's true kindness that pulled Atem into the light. Yugi was so sure that the pharaoh wasn't a monster that Atem couldn't help but believe it himself. Yet, what had he done? In the back of Atem's mind, he could hear fire crackling with three adult men burning inside, trapped. He had caused that with another game-

I am not a monster. I had to do that to protect the world.

Atem felt himself play out the next turns almost like he was on strings. He expected and yet didn't know what was going to happen. He witnessed Poison Butterfly crack out of its cocoon, his eyes widened when the legendary dragon abandoned him. In the back of his mind, he wasn't surprised, it probably was the last remains of true Atem. It didn't change the fact that the pharaoh was losing his grip on everything. What made it worse was the awful feeling that something horrible was coming. This feeling made him more on edge as he summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior. He was about to continue his turn when Weevil cut in with a trap and more taunts.

"I'll tell you what. Because I feel sorry for you, I'd be willing to do you a little favor before you lose." Weevil snickered.

Atem then felt it, the fear that had been building up this entire duel was about ready to explode. Whatever had been putting him on edge was coming. Yet he had a feeling, the fear wasn't coming from what Weevil was about to do.

"You want to see Yugi right? His spirit is trapped with the same fate that you have. I know how to set you both free."

Atem slowly blinked. That was different, both sides of his mind knew that.

"What do you mean? Tell me how to save him right now!" Atem roared through the cutting wind.

Weevil once again laughed his grating laugh. Atem was about three seconds from ripping out the boy's vocal cords. Weevil then pulled out a small card.

"Your fate, to forever end up here. Not just on this train mind you. You are stuck here forever and because of that Yugi will be pulled here with too. If you want to free him, you'll need a special card. And I've got it right here. With this, you won't have to choose between your duty and your own happiness." He then held out the card. It was an average brown and black duel monster card.

Atem was suspicious but he was also tired. He wanted to rest. He didn't want to play these games anymore. He felt his feet move robotically. He didn't care at that point how unlikely it was that Weevil was telling true. He needed his partner, he needed his family. He hadn't even noticed that Weevil had given him a command. When he didn't listen, Weevil's smirk grew even larger.

"Oh well, guess that means I need to teach you a lesson on manners." Atem stopped dead as he saw Weevil reach with his other hand towards the card. He knew what was coming.

Weevil ripped the card completely in two.

The little card ripping made more of an impact on Atem than any wind, insult, or attack. Atem had expected it, yet it was pure agony. It shattered through the empty haze of his mind and hit him at his very core. At the same time, Atem felt something else ripping. Back when this duel first took place it had been his restraint, now it was his sanity. The Condor had been waiting for this.

Atem screamed, all his grief and guilt came bursting forth. It felt like his very insides were trying to claw their way out. As he yelled Weevil continued to laugh. His laugh twisted, it started to sound like Dartz's laugh, then Yami Marik's. The laugh echoed and warped, jumping to every person Atem had ever faced. They were all laughing at him. Atem quivered as the laughter surround him on all sides. So many enemies that at one time or another wanted to end him. Then another group added to the joyous noise. Atem blinked and saw his father, his friends, his priests, all joining in.

"You have already defeated this one, Atem! Do what you have to do and move on to the next one!" His father chuckled.

Atem shook his head then looked back to Weevil, behind the boy grew a never-ending line of nightmares and enemies that Atem would have to fight in the future. He couldn't see the end of it.

"Get moving Atem, you have a long road ahead of you. You are the only one that can finish them. It is your destiny." His father added. Atem with his whole body still shaking looked onward at the villains he had left to fight. Even where he was supposed to finally rest the enemies never ended. He then looked slightly to the side. Another line of enemies grew from him, this time it was for Yugi's future fights. The two lines weaved and bobbed in and out of each other. It was then Atem didn't feel empty anymore

He felt it slowly light inside of him, it was small at first but then it blasted forth. Rage. Pure, untainted wrath. Not just at Weevil. The Condor allowed Atem to remember everything. How he had to leave his family on multiple occasions. How he had to sacrifice his mind and body just to keep the world together. And most recently, how he had to once again choose between his happiness and the world. All the rage he had hidden over the years regarding his destiny blazed. It burned away any restraint, any kindness left in the teen.

"You ok over there? I would personally love to have such a great destiny. It makes sure you are always the Pharaoh, no matter how much time passes." Weevil sneered.

Oh yes, Atem was the pharaoh. He had been one for over five thousand years at this point. Never once had he gotten a break, never once had he gotten a choice. Forever playing games where people's lives were on the line. Just when he thought he could rest he was pushed into all this again. His friends had asked him to be a normal teen but how could he have done that when he didn't even know what normal was?!

Atem stopped quivering then. No, he was never meant to be "normal". His father, the priests, the Higher Ups, even his friends, they all called it being a hero but Atem finally understood. He was their own personal monster, grown to take care of anything that got in their way. It was always destiny or some prophecy but it was all the same. He was a monster.

He was done pretending otherwise

The world seemed to twist as Atem's rage built to its boiling point. Weevil didn't even get a chance to finish his little joke before Atem was playing his next move. He had to end it all, make him suffer. That's just what monsters did.

Atem looked at his card. To his surprise, Berserker Soul wasn't in his hand anymore. It was a monster card. The small part of his mind that was not yet blazing with fury knew something was wrong. Playing this card would break many of the game's rules, but then again, there were no rules in a dream. This card was the manifestation of Atem's need for revenge on the world, it could do whatever he wanted it to. In return, it only asked for his soul.

This is wrong.

Atem ignored the small remaining piece of sanity. It sounded too much like his abandoned partner. Because of him, innocent Yugi was pulled into this monster's never-ending fight. The Pharaoh could almost forgive the world for dooming himself, but he could never excuse doing it to his partner.

"I summon Earthbound Immortal Wiraqocha Rasca!" Atem announced. A twisted smile spread across his face. A smile only a few got to see and even fewer came away with their mind intact. Weevil's own smile fell into pure terror as the Seal of Orichalcos changed. It turned a neon violet and warped. Its intersecting lines and runes fell apart and reconnected in the shape of a great bird. The lines then began to shine as the horrid creature burst forth.

It was bigger than the train and darker than the blackest night. It seemed to absorb any sunlight that touched it, leaving only the cold void of the bird. The only color that came from it was the ancient, violet designs that outlined everything from its wings to its feathered tail.

Atem pointed at Weevil. The beast roared and charged the unprepared child. What Atem saw as Weevil the Condor saw as the thing that had stopped it last time. Two names hung in front of the bird. Atem and Yami. Instead of trying for both the Condor reached out with its clawed feet and ripped into the name Atem. It was finally all its own. As it cawed with grim satisfaction Atem echoed with his own roar. A combination of laughter and held back tears.

Atem felt the world fall out from under him, this time he accepted it. He wasn't anywhere near done. He felt a new power surging through him, it wasn't shadowy like how Zorc had been or kind like the Gentle Darkness. It was a lust to be the monster he always was.

As he fell, he saw a familiar sight. Téa. She had been behind him the entire duel. Her eyes showed sadness and fear, similar to what he had seen in the little girl back in the Satellite. For a split second, Atem realized what he had let loose.

With that Atem was no more.