Valkyria : We have reached six-hundred and sixty reviews and I can thank everyone enough for sticking with me. Though to be honest, I really enjoyed everyone's reaction to the fact that it was Zorc this entire time and not Leviathan. All of you have no idea how long I had been waiting to see your reactions! Well, college has started to a good start. My coursework will be light, but my updates to these stories will be sporadic at best. I have already updated 3 out of 8 of my stories for the week and the remainder will come during this week and next.

With four chapters of Emperor's Prophecy remaining, I plan on doing a long author's note on the last chapter explaining what scenes were cut out which I'm sure all of you will enjoy?

Disclaimer : I claim no right to the anime/manga Yu-gi-oh!

Beta'd by : Moondalian.

"The black moment is the moment when the real message of transformation is going to come. At the darkest moment comes the light." - Joseph Campbell.

Chapter Thirty-Six: To the Unhallowed Ground

Numbly Yuugi gently turned his grandfather's lifeless body onto its back, stifling a broken sob as he saw the runes covering his grandfather's face. With badly shaking hands, he crossed his grandfather's rune-riddled arms over his chest and gently closed his eyelids. He laid his head on the elderly man's chest and sent a quick prayer to Ra to grant his grandfather safe passage to the Ethereal Realm.

Lifting his head from his grandfather's chest, Yuugi forced himself to look at the elderly man's rune-riddled face. This was all his fault. If he had just gone inside like Fenrir had ordered him to, his grandfather would still be alive. But no, instead he had stood frozen like a fool while ignoring their pleads. And now because of his foolishness his only remaining blood relative was gone.

Yuugi looked down at his hands and was unable to hold back the sob that escaped his lips as he saw the green time barrier surrounding him. Seeing the power that surrounded him was like a slap in the face; a reality check that constantly reminded him of his grandfather's sacrifice.

As he was about to reach for his grandfather again, he felt a nudge on his thigh. Looking down, he found himself pinned to the spot by Fenrir's intense gaze. Once again, he found himself wracked with guilt as he realized that he had forgotten about the wolf in his grief.

"Are you alright?" Yuugi questioned softly, lowering his hand and running it through the wolf's coarse fur, "Fenrir?"

"I am alright," Fenrir rasped out. "What about you? You were not harmed, were you?"

"No," Yuugi bit back another sob, "I'm alright. What happened?"

Fenrir lifted his head and Yuugi's heart wrenched as the wolf released a whimper at the sight of his grandfather's still body. He lifted his hand and laid it on top of Fenrir's head, sighing as Fenrir clenched his emerald eyes shut in an obvious effort to hide his tears.

"Yuugi-"

"I have grieved," Yuugi cut the wolf off quietly. "And I will grieve again when this war has come to an end. Please, tell me what this darkness is."

Fenrir opened his wet eyes and lifted his nose into the air. "I do not know, but it is...unnatural. It does not belong in this world and yet you can almost say that it does."

"I don't understand." Yuugi's brow furrowed in obvious confusion. "It belongs in this world?"

"I know that it is a strange thing to say, but that is how it feels." Fenrir stated, sniffing the air. "It's pulsing, alive. It's-" Fenrir quickly lowered his nose and snarled. "It can't be."

"Fenrir?" Yuugi questioned, worried about the wolf's sudden anger. "What's wrong? Do you know where this darkness came from?"

"It's not where it came from, Yuugi. It's who it came from." Fenrir rose to his shaky legs. "This darkness belongs to Zorc, God of Darkness. These are the same shadows that covered the world during the Ethereal War." The wolf gave him an inquisitive look. "Tell me, is this the darkness that showed up in your vision?"

Yuugi looked around, shivering as he saw nothing but shadows. Not even the city below was clearly visible. "It's the same. I really hope I don't start hearing that creepy laughter next." He rose to his feet. "If this part of my vision came true, then what about Atemu? Is he..?"

"I am sure he is fine, Young One. Atemu can be quite resilient when the occasion calls for it." Fenrir reassured, turning his eyes away from the Seer. "We can't linger here any longer. The barriers are protecting us from whatever effects the darkness around us has, but I have no idea how long they will last."

"What about Atemu-"

"Yuugi," Fenrir cut in sharply, "I know you are worried about Atemu, but there is nothing we can do for him now. He would want you to be safe and I am going to make sure that happens."

"What place could possibly be safe, Fenrir?!" Yuugi waved an arm towards the dark city. "For all we know all of Eternia could be like this! So tell me, what place could we possibly go?"

"The ancient hall of the Radiant," Fenrir replied. "All of our hopes lie there. We can fix this, Yuugi, but you have to be the one to do it. You have to be the one."

"Why me?" Yuugi ran a hand through his hair. "Why does it have to be me?"

"You are Ra's true child. You carry his blood." Fenrir stated. "If there is a chance to defeat Zorc and put his darkness to rest, it lies in you."

"This," Yuugi snorted bitterly, "really stinks, Fenrir. It really does."

"I know it does, little one." Fenrir stepped closer to him. "But I also know that you won't let us down. You haven't before and you aren't going to now."

"No," Yuugi stepped towards the table and grabbed his knives, strapping them to his thigh, "I'm not." He turned to his grandfather and smiled sadly. "I can't afford to."

"Come," Fenrir prowled into the chambers, "we have a long way to go to reach the hall, and it is very likely that there are creatures lingering in the darkness."

Unfortunately for Yuugi, Fenrir was right. As they progressed down the three floors, they encountered a multitude of monsters, all of which Yuugi - with Fenrir's help - managed to cut down. As they reached the first floor, Yuugi leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. "It's getting harder to breathe."

"The darkness is particularly strong down here," Fenrir explained. "Do you need a break? I believe we can spare a minute or two."

"No," Yuugi pushed himself off the wall and wiped the sweat off his forehead, "we're making good progress. I don't want to slow us down."

"If you are sure." Fenrir glanced ahead. "The entrance to the chamber leading into the hall is straight ahead. It won't be much longer now."

"You said that this darkness belonged to Zorc," Yuugi began as he took his first step down the empty hallways, "How can that be? I thought he had been sealed away by Leviathan and Ra?"

"He was, at least he was supposed to be," Fenrir murmured, "but, that seal was thousands of years old. I have no doubt that Zorc was working on a way to get out. He is a smart and manipulative God according to the legends."

"Grandfather told me that, but could he possibly want?" Yuugi searched the wall and let out a noise of triumph when the wall slid open revealing a set of stairs.

"He is the God of Darkness, he lives to disrupt the lives of innocents," Fenrir allowed Yuugi to go first before climbing down himself. "Zorc was known as a very good shape shifter during the Ethereal War. There was many a time when he snuck into Atlantis or Elysian and assassinated an important figure or even a member of the royal family. It is one of the few reasons why the war was so devastating."

Yuugi opened the door and sucked in a sharp breath when he saw that the hall was also covered in darkness. "Is there no place Zorc didn't touch?"

"We must hurry." Fenrir raced down the grand staircase. "Come, Yuugi!"

Racing after Fenrir, Yuugi abruptly came to a stop when a glow of bright light appeared from the corner of his eye. Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted the display case holding Aldan's blades glowing dully. Entranced, Yuugi made his way over to the display case and placed a hand on the glass and startled when it felt warm to the touch.

"Strange. I never thought they would allow consorts down here."

Yelping, Yuugi took his hand away from the glass and frantically looked around to find the source of the voice. Where did it come from? It couldn't have possibly have came from the case could it?

Curious, he placed his hand back on the case and a deep, amused voice entered his mind and it took everything Yuugi had in him not to take his hand away from fear.

"Ah," the voice was mixture of sadness, amusement and just a touch of bitterness. "A Seer and a fellow time mage."

"E-Emperor Aldan?" Yuugi whispered, his eyes widening when the blades glowed brightly to response. "What? I don't understand-"

"It seems that part of my soul remained in my blades and Zorc's arrival awakened it." Aldan explained. "I take that none of my descendants are around?"

"No-"

"Yuugi," Fenrir called from a short distance away, "What are you doing?"

"Gods, it has been an eternity since I have heard that gruff voice! Fenrir, my old friend!"

"Fenrir," Yuugi swallowed the lump in his throat at how sad Aldan sounded. "come over here, quickly! look!"

"Yuugi?" Fenrir slowed to a stop next to him and his eyes narrowed at the sight of the glowing blades. "What's going on? We have to hurry-" he froze when the glow grew brighter and a familiar feeling settled over him. "A-Aldan? I never forget that magical signature! Aldan."

"Fenrir, my old friend.."

"He misses you, Fenrir," Yuugi pressed harder against the glass, flinching only a bit when the warmth of the glass became a little hotter at the Emperor's excitement. "Zorc's resurrection woke up the small part of his soul that remained in his blades."

"You plan on going against Zorc? A foolish thing to do, child. I sense that you have only recently awakened your magical ability."

"We don't have a choice." Yuugi said, all to aware of Fenrir curious gaze. "It's either Fenrir and I or no one at all."

Aldan was quiet for a moment before speaking again, his tone thoughtful and resigned. "Very well then, I insist that you take me with you."

"I can't do that! Your blades are considered scared within the Faenor family! It's blasphemous to remove them!"

"It is alright, little one," Aldan reassured. "you can always return the blades later and to be honest, you have little defense against a God. With me by your side, you stand a better chance."

"I don't know how-"

"You needn't worry about not knowing how to wield the blades." Aldan interrupted gently. "I will guide your hand and you will be a force to be reckoned with. I promise you that. But, for this to work, you must cooperate with me. Well? What say you, Seer?"

"Okay," with his heart beating against his chest, Yuugi opened the display case and took out the twin blades. He shivered as their power raced up and down his arms. He knew about Aldan's power from Leon's journal, but it seemed that the legendary Seer miscalculated just how powerful the Emperor was. No wonder Atemu's family was always considered S-Class Mages.

"I assume that Aldan will be joining us?" Fenrir stepped closer to Yuugi and placed his head on Yuugi's arm and growled approvingly when Aldan's voice echoed throughout his mind; joyful and full of pride as it always been.

"Yes." Yuugi replied, tightening his grip on the blades and feeling a rush of comfort and confidence. Good. He would need both in the end.

"Those are dangerous weapons," Fenrir warned. "One swing can unleash all three abilities. If you are going to use them, you must be careful. Do you understand?"

"I understand and Aldan says stop worrying so much."

Fenrir released a bark of laughter. "I have a right to worry! Aldan is a wild, reckless man. Now come, the darkness lingering in this wall worries me."

Following behind Fenrir, Yuugi raced towards Leon's chamber, mindful of the blades in his hands. Coming to a stop once they'd reached their destination, Yuugi tightened his grip on the hilt of the blade and looked around.

"No one's here." Yuugi looked ahead to see the door with the golden barrier. "Shall we?"

"Yes, all you need to do is touch the door and that should break the barrier."

"Ah," Aldan spoke up again as he advanced towards the door. "That's your plan, eh? I never expected any less from Fenrir and my descendant."

Yuugi stepped towards the door and placed a shaking hand on the barrier. He flinched as it instantly shattered; turning to Fenrir and giving the wolf a worried look.

"Are you sure about this? What if it doesn't work?"

"We do not know that." Fenrir chided. "You cannot give up so easily."

Pulling the door open, Yuugi stepped inside. He gasped at the size of the room, but the most magnificent part of it was the almost gargantuan statue of Ra in the very center.

Lowering his blades, Yuugi took a tentative step forward. "I saw this in my vision," he turned to Fenrir. "Is this supposed to save us?"

"Yes-"

"Are you planning on waking my brother up?" a smooth voice called out.

"W-Who's there?" Yuugi raised his blades and scanned the room. "Come out now!"

A chuckle echoed throughout the room, causing Yuugi to tense. Where was it coming from?

"It's nice to finally meet you, Seer Motou. Though I must say I'm disappointed you did not come alone. I wanted to speak to only you."

"You'll have to excuse me when I say that I don't care that you're disappointed. Now come out." Yuugi raised his blades, ready to swing them. "I will not ask again."

"Very well, I will let you see me. But please spare me the surprise, alright?"

A movement from behind the statue caught Yuugi's eye and he pointed his blade towards the statue. Soon enough a man drenched in black walked out. Yuugi shivered as the man's vermillion eyes locked with his own.

"Who are you?"

The man bowed mockingly. "I am Zorc, God of Darkness. It is a pleasure to meet you."

At hearing the man-God's name, Yuugi started to shake. What was he going to do? There was no way that he could kill a God! Even with Aldan and Fenrir beside him, there was no way-

"Calm your mind, little one!" Aldan scolded harshly. "Fear is the first step towards death! I am here and so is Fenrir!"

Yuugi took a deep, shuddering breath at Aldan's reassurance and asked. "Why are you here? Why have you done this?"

"I do not have to answer the questions of a mortal. I suppose that you are a special case, though, Yuugi, so I will answer." Zorc ran a hand down one of Ra's wings. "I am here for you, and you are the reason why I have done all of this. I want to wipe out all that Ra has and all that he loves."

"Green isn't a good color for a God." Fenrir spat out. "You want to destroy what your brother-God has created because you can't have it."

"Neither of you know this, but Ra is the youngest." Zorc stated as if he hadn't heard Fenrir's venomous words. "He was my beloved little brother. I cared for him and he cared for me once upon a time. But our differences were too great and we disagreed quite a bit." Zorc stared at Yuugi. "The matter of the Seers is one thing we fought over. To gaze into the future is a gift that only a God should possess. No mortal should be allowed to gaze upon events not yet seen."

"Is that why you did all of this?" Yuugi questioned harshly. "To get rid of the Seers? To get rid of Elysian itself?"

"Yes, but you are a special case, Yuugi. You are untrained." Zorc stepped closer. "You are untainted by the laws of the Seers and it is because you are untainted that I will be able to use you and the blood of Ra that you possess inside you. The first Seer, Jaden Yuki, made sure that his descendants, his brethren, were strong of mind, unable to become vessels for the Gods. But you do not know his techniques and thus…"

Yuugi was pushed back by Fenrir, who by this point was glowing with power. Yuugi shivered as Zorc chuckled at them both. Throughout Zorc's confession he had found himself increasingly disgusted by the God's words, but a lingering thought hit him full force. If Zorc wanted to get rid of the Seers…

"You," Yuugi whispered, horror dawning on him. "You're the one responsible for the execution of the Seers three hundred years ago! You're responsible for Emperor Aldan's descent into madness."

"Yes, little one," Aldan sounded grim. "It is that evil that drove me to madness and death. I have longed for this day. Longed for the day where I could confront him for all of his sins."

Zorc threw his head back and let out a dark chuckle. "I may have been responsible for it. Just a little bit."

Yuugi flinched as Fenrir releasing a howl loud enough to rattle the walls. Before he could grab the wolf, Fenrir charged towards the God. Yuugi could do nothing but watch, horrified, as Zorc simply grabbed Fenrir's neck and slammed him into the ground, creating a crater in the stone floor.

"Bad dog," Zorc taunted. "You aren't supposed to attack your master. I can hear your Sylvantian blood sing, pup. I am not foolish enough to believe that you hail from the forests of Elysian."

"Stop it!" Yuugi cried out as he saw Zorc produce a knife from the shadows. "Let him go!"

"Or what?" Zorc taunted.

As Zorc brought down the knife, Yuugi swung the blades down, activating all three runes of light, darkness and time. Yuugi wasted no time rushing towards Fenrir as the magic pushed Zorc back and through the opposite wall.

Sliding down next to Fenrir, Yuugi leaned down and could have cried out in joy as he heard Fenrir's shallow breathing. He tensed as he heard Zorc's laughter through the cloud of smoke coming from the wall.

"You are a persistent child, aren't you?" Zorc stepped out of the smoke, holding a sword in his hand. "If it is a fight you want, then you shall have one."

A/N : What a chapter, eh? Aldan joins the fray as the spirit of his own blades! Now it Yuugi, Aldan, Fenrir vs Zorc! Who will be the winner? Stay tuned to find out!