Frist, sorry for the long break. I have excuses, but I won't bore you with them. Instead, I promise to have this done ASAP as it is now my top priority.
Second, thank you guys so freaking much for leaving reviews and your thoughts! They really are what kept encouraging me not to give up because I knew there were people out there waiting for this story to finish. Hyrules-Hikari, griffonskies , Anukis-san, TheKingInBoots, dragonfox123, angiembabe, Chibisimo, Thousandsmiles, BronwynSP06, BioGeek109, Pheonix of Memphis, Torni, and Quicksweetdreamer. You guys are awesome. And yes, heck yes I read these things over and over again to encourage me and freak out happily.
Now, on with the end. We are soooo close to finishing everything.
Epic music makes everything better. (Unless you're griffonskies, then apparently nothing can. XD Sorry my friend.)
The force of the wind made Atem's wings tremble. This far off the ground with the black clouds circling around Zorc, he could see everything. Feel everything. It had all fallen. Every stitch in reality had come undone and Zorc played in the destruction like a child among pebbles.
And atop the monster's crown stood a human figure. Yugi.
"I promised you," whispered Atem. "That your joys and burdens would be ours to share until the end of days. Now it is my duty to present to you that end."
Slifer snaked through the air beside Atem. He had no plans to listen to Attem. The monster would attack as he wished and Atem would make use of that.
Sure enough, the God-Ka suddenly halted, its second mouth opening as a rush of magic flew out of it. Zorc turned just in time to catch the attack between his palms, the force pushing him back as his feet slid over homes and lives.
Atem kept flying, acknowledging every life Zorc's feet snuffed out. Every soul now trapped. But his heart wouldn't feel them. Not now. He was a perfect shell. Hardened for what he must do to stop Yugi.
Atem changing directions in an instant, shooting for Zorc's head. He landed quickly, the monster still locked in the exchanged with Slifer.
Yugi turned to meet him.
Black was his soul, as were his eyes. Madness only manifested in the smile that greeted Atem.
"Isn't this amazing?" said Yugi. "So much unrestrained destruction. Finally. No more barriers. No more rules. Just death and souls crushed beneath—"
The attack between Zorc and Slifer broke. Zorc shifted, causing Yugi to falter.
Atem shot forward. An enormous blue fist of Obelisk formed around his hand as he bashed it against the unprepared Yugi.
The Hikari went flying, flopping through the air like a rag.
Atem wasn't done.
He pushed off after Yugi, Slifer tackling Zorc at the same moment he left. Their collision was as two mountains trying to flatten the other. Their clash was horrible, sound pounding deep like a drum in his chest.
Atem reached Yugi, the man still flipping through the air. Atem slammed a second punch into Yugi. This time Yugi fell straight down to the earth. His collision with the ground gave off a small boom, nowhere near as deafening as the collision behind Atem, but it still destroyed homes and leveled a circle of debris around him.
Atem released the manifested fist, slowly lowering to the ground with the assistance of Ra's wings. He searched the ground. Where was he? It couldn't have been that easy. Yugi was much more powerful than that.
A shiver ran up Atem's back causing every hair to stand on end. He spun in the air to face a grinning monster, blood dripping down his forehead.
"My turn," said Yugi.
Atem managed to cross his arms before he was hit. The pain was instant and powerful. His bones rattled in his skin. He spun through the air as he finally stopped with a crashed. Rock skid across his back and tore through skin. His sucked in air through his teeth, pain blinding his vision as spots of light threatened to take him. He blinked these away, struggling against the massive brick that threatened to collapse around him.
A whistle sounded, increasing in volume quickly.
Atem jumped just in time to avoid an explosion. It blasted apart the place he had laid, the force of the blast giving him the boost he needed to take to the air again. He re-summoned Ra's wings, its light shielding him with warmth. But Yugi was back again.
This time Atem was ready. Yugi's punch still sent him flying, but he remained airborne as he gathered his strength again, still shrugging off the pain.
Magic pooled around Yugi. It multiplied into dozens of blots staining the air. Each mass teemed with power growing with each second. That was not good.
Atem shot away just as Yugi released the attacks. He dove and ducked, circling around as the lad shot spell after spell toward Atem, cackling all the while.
"Stay still," said Yugi in a sing-song voice. "So I can blow your head off."
Buildings exploded as spells went awry and collided with the city. It pelted Atem with shards of debris and smoke.
Yugi was enjoying himself, it was evident in his manic grin and delighted laughter. It also distracted him to the point that he failed to observe the monstrous Ka creeping up on him.
Slifer had returned. The monstrous Ka opened his first layered jaw and slammed it down on Yugi.
Atem's heart stopped. His initial reaction was the cry out in surprise and pain at Yugi's disappeared. No. It was good. Yugi needed to be stopped. To be killed. Slifer puffed out a stream of smoke in triumph, pride humming golden through their bond.
Then surprise bled into it.
Slifer's jaws began to reopen. Inch by inch with a grating that made Atem's ears bleed, the Ka's pointed teeth separated. Yugi appeared slowly, hands pressing on either side as forced Slifer's jaw open. His body was coated in blood, a faint glow etched into his forehead. The eye of Horus. Dark. Twisted. Bleeding red shadows.
"Insolense!" roared Slifer. "You dare defy my power?"
"Aw, come on, you don't expect me to just die do you?" cooed Yugi.
Atem's eyes darkened. He summoned a spear into his hands, its shaft extending into a golden feather of Ra. He needed to act while Yugi was incapacitated. He threw it at Yugi with the intent to kill.
But Atem wasn't the only one with an ally.
Atem saw the monster coming. Saw the giant Ka reach for Slifer just as Atem released his spear.
"Slifer! Watch out!"
But the god Ka was too preoccupied with tearing in Yugi. He didn't react in time. Zorc's massive corroded hands grabbed Slifer. His filth dripped on Slifer, hissing at contact. Then Zorc yanked.
Slifer howled both outside and in Atem's head. It shook the earth and rattle the undead that haunted the air. The noise and action jostled Yugi from Slifer's hold, causing Atem's spear to careen off course and disappear into nothing.
Slifer needed help.
"Obelisk, Assist him."
The second god Ka separated itself from Atem, tangible and enormous. It took off toward the battle between Zorc and Slifer, each step crushing homes and shaking the earth.
Atem didn't watch to see him assist. He would have to hope the Ka would be enough help. None of this would end until Yugi was killed. Until he was taken down.
Atem shot forward, electrical power crackling in his hands. He reached Yugi in a second, thrusting his hand at the man. Yugi was ready for the attack. He dodged, an elbow coming down to smash itself against Atem's arm. It cracked, pain shooting through him, but the contact had also caused Atem's attack to land. Yugi yanked his arm away, gasping from the electric magic that had transferred on contact.
Atem swung his leg around. Yugi dodged the kick, twisting and spinning midair before returning with his own attacks. Magic, jabs, and kicks hailed Atem, but he didn't back away. He stayed within arms' reach with every attack, forcing Yugi to use smaller attacks, to concentrate on blocking and dogging than power.
It worked for a second, but then Yugi had the upper hand again.
Yugi grabbed hold of Atem's wrist, crushing it in his grip. Atem yelled, blinking through the fire of pain that ignited around his now crushed bones.
Yugi was just too good. He had too much experience compared to Atem.
Fire exploded between them, white hot and burning pure. The fires of Ra. It encircled Yugi, burning bright orange and yellow. A flame of the sun. Fire that pure was bound to hurt Yugi.
With the distraction. Atem was able to pull away, nursing his injured wrist and arm.
A screech sounded.
Obelisk and Slifer were losing against Zorc. They were blown away by magic attacks, pieces of their armored flesh torn and broken as they created ruts in the ground the length of the Nile. Atem felt the pain reverberate through their connection.
They needed help. Two wasn't enough against the monsters form that was Zorc. His body had grown, more bulbous than toned as he grew fat from the creatures he had corrupted. At the destruction he had created.
Atem shot toward Zorc, the monster turning at his approach. His blackened eyes bore no end to their depth. Their soulless desire for death. Just looking upon its face cause despaired to well up inside Atem. He stretched out his broken wrist, bones already knitting together in place. A sword landed in his hands, hooked and reminiscent of one of Ra's claws.
"Ka of Seth," said Atem. "It's time for you to be purified."
Atem shot forward.
Zorc swiped at Atem with both hands. Atem dodged the blow, circling around the wrists until he was running up the forearm. His hand lowered, the sword now dragging along the Ka's skin. The blade wailed at the contact, screeching like stone on steel. The drag on it was terrible, but he had to keep going. He had to fight against his rattling soul and the dark pressing against his shell. He felt it crack, nothing leaking yet. But the crack was there.
Atem yelled, finishing the swing as he flew away from Zorc's shoulder. Light erupted from the cut, piercing the darkness with its brilliance. Then something flew out of it. Gusts of souls spewing forth like smoke. The sacrificed monsters were being let free. Just as Yugi had done to Diabound over a month ago, Atem was depolymerizing Zorc.
Panting, but pleased with the result, Atem turned to fly away.
Something heavy slammed against Atem.
He flew, colliding with something that caught him. Protected him. Obelisk's palm.
"Thanks for the catch," said Atem.
The Ka acknowledged the thanks.
Atem steadied himself, noticing that Slifer had joined them as well. Yugi currently stood atop Zroc, a blade covered in greyish blood. Obelisk's blood. Both sides stood opposite each other. Both sides had taken heavy hits. Zorc's arm continued to spew souls while both Slifer and Obelisk were missing large chunks of their body. This wasn't working. They were losing.
"We need more power," said Atem.
The third and final Ka manifested from Atem's chest. Winged Dragon of Ra. The glittering gold bird crown in a halo of feathers screeched its battle cry. With the final Ka manifested the strain on Atem's soul was that much greater. The crack on his shell spread. He also no longer had Ra's wings, yet he remained airborne. An ability of his own powers. His own strength still rising within him every second.
"We attack together," said Atem. It was the only way to end this. It was four against two, but the opponent had the advantage. Only with combined attack could they win. Only by working together could they defeat the darkness.
He held out a hand. Light gathered there. Pure burning fire from Ra, blue radiating power from Obelisk, and red rage from Slifer. It condensed and swirled, gaining in strength every second. From atop Obelisk, Atem could see Yugi doing the same. Building power for a final confrontation. He was like Atem. He wanted this ended in one final strike.
"I do not obey you, Little Pharaoh," said Slifer, but he too began to build power inside his second Jaw.
Obeslisk chortled, voice booming as he raised a hand to do the same.
"For light, and for glory," said Ra, her sweet voice calm even in this confrontation. "For truth, and for the bonds that connect us together."
"For Egypt," said Atem, "And for the promises I've made."
And the promise he couldn't keep.
Heba's image came to his mind. The little boy that had begged Atem watch over Yugi. Scared, hesitant to disappear, but smiling all the same.
Others were with him. Mahad. Mana. Karim. Marik. All those he couldn't protect. The hundreds of souls that had already died. The hundreds more that probably would.
Atem roared, his emotions causing his attack to flare. It all hurt. It all throbbed with loss that threatened to overtake him with every beat. Nothing could bring back what had been lost. It was time to end this with his own hands.
He launched their combined attack.
Incandescent color stretched in a single beam across the sky. It obliterated the darkness, its rays casting harsh shadows against the world. At the same time, Yugi and Zorc launched their counter-attack. Their magic crackled with darkness, sucking away light and draining the world of color. An opposite to Atem's attack.
Where the two collided, reality shook. The reverberations from the conflict ran down Atem's arms ringing shrill pain through his bones. Blood seeped from his open wounds, their seams widening with every second. He pressed harder against Yugi's attack. Against the despair. Against pain. The cracks grew too numerous on his shell. It would break any second.
No. He wouldn't let that happen. Then reality truly would fall. Nothing could bring the worlds back together. Nothing could undo what had been done.
Save one thing.
Atem slanted their attack. It shifted, immediately breaking their stalemate. Atem's attack now redirected at Zorc. It blew through the monster's head, destroying a large chunk of the monster's energy. But in exchange, Yugi's attack had landed as well.
The darkness tore through Slifer. Half of the dragon's red armored body disappeared in an instant. Slifer's roars were unintelligible, for the moment Slifer was hit, so too was Atem.
Pain racked through him. Every inch of his body felt like it was being torn apart as if it were on fire. His nose stung from burned flesh, the fibers of his clothes melting. He took only one more second to breathe. To deal with… oh, gods the pain.
Atem struggled forward. It was ungraceful, his flight pattern wobbling as he blinked hard to clear his vision. But he pushed forward. He had to use this moment.
Yugi was snarling, face screwed up in anger as he staggered as well. The Hikari was stunned, taken aback by Zorc losing his head. Slow to react.
That was all Atem needed.
Atem plunged his hand into Yugi's chest. It sank not into skin, but into Yugi's soul. The light of Ra coated Atem's searching hand, protecting it from the corrosive fester that Yugi had become. But the light didn't protect him from the feelings that passed from Yugi to him. The terror. Anger. Hatred.
Pain.
So much pain…
The world around him was a blur. Atem shuddered. He bit back the acid burning his throat. He bit back the memories and lies. He bit back everything as he reached for the one thing that could stop Yugi and bring the world's back into balance. Gods it hurt so much…
His hand found it.
His fingers curled around the small beautiful light and pulled it free.
Yugi broke from Atem, hovering momentarily as he tipped backward. All sense of life and power drained from him as his eyes dulled. A shell containing only his corrupted soul.
Then he fell, a dead weight crashing to the ground with no opposition.
Atem's soul trembled. No. He couldn't think about that. Couldn't indulge the pain. He still wasn't done. Still couldn't rest. His shell was covered in cracks. Just one brush of air could shatter him.
Atem pressed the power to his chest and embraced it. He imbibed the powers of the Hikari he had wrenched from Yugi's soul.
Atem gasped as light filled his heart. It was as if he were breathing for the first time. Like the air his body had always needed finally filling his lungs, clearing his senses. The cracks in his shell disappeared as it sealed itself perfectly. He saw everything. Understood it all. Possessing both the dark powers of the Yami and Light power of the Hikari changed him.
He knew what needed to be done.
Atem regarded the worlds. Saw their ripped seams and broken foundation. Life on earth, the realm of the afterlife, the god's realm. Even the spaces between these realities. They all lay in ruins, completely destroyed. Nothing had been spared as demons burst from their prisons having broken free. He could see the gods now as they fought with their foes. Demons, Seth, Apophis. Ra, Anubis, Ma-at. They didn't care about the lives that still lived. Only Atem could save them all. Only Atem could right this. Because he had the powers given by the gods to do so.
He was no longer a demi-god. He was a God. The god of the realities.
Atem held out a hand, palm up.
Slifer, Ra, and Obelisk moved as one, combining in front of him as they polymerized into a new being; The Creator God of Light, Horakhty.
She was a humanoid, clothed in a white skirt that draped to her feet. She bore a golden headdress of Horus, the point of the god's beak resting in the center of her forehead. Gold plated armor covered her breast and arms. From her back, golden wings stretched the length of the city. She was beautiful. In a world that no longer bore any light or reason, the mere sight of her brought tears to Atem's eyes.
"Horakhty, the creator of light," addressed Atem. He bowed his head, arm pressed across his chest.
The Ka raised a hand, her serene face gentle.
"You who commands me has no need to bow before me," she stated. Her voice was like clear water for the parched soul. "I will do the thing you desire of me. Together."
"Together."
Atem faced with her the outside world. The broken realities. His destroyed home.
And he began to rebuild them.
With Horakhty's light, and with his combined powers of the Hikari and Yami, they took the worlds and separated them.
Souls disappeared from the air. Ka returned to their resting place. The sky split as the dark clouds abated and the light of Ra shone through. Each reality gained a new space, clear lines and borders were created. Even with the power of Horakhty, it was difficult. The strain was great, but Atem barely felt it. He was too elated to see what was happening before him.
The corruption was leaving.
Zorc was separated from the souls he'd consumed. They spilled from him, rushing to their masters or to find rest. The Ka of darkness and destruction was rendered powerless. He and his corruption were sealed together in his prison, this time with no leaks. His corruption would never spread to their world again. Their magic was finally free of pain.
Light trailed Atem's fingers as he slowly lowered his hand. Light magic… it was his first time using it. It was beautiful.
His kingdom now stretched beneath him, still destroyed and broken, but now it was clean. Pure. Untainted from the realities beyond and Zorc's evil influence.
They'd won.
"Pharaoh."
Horakhty lowered her head toward him in thanks.
"Our objective has been completed," she stated. "And now, after a thousand years of waiting for this moment, we may now return to our gods. Our true masters."
"Of course," said Atem. "Egypt… no, I can't thank you enough, nor the gods enough for lending us your aid for all these years."
Horakhty's maternal beauty was something Ateme would never forget. Nor the smile she gave. He was blessed to have witnessed her here.
"Then we will return. I am unsure if we will meet again, but it was an honor to fight by your side."
Horakhty blurred. Her form separated, shrinking back into three individual Ka. Obelisk, Slifer, and Ra. The last step in setting everything right.
Atem called forth their bonds, holding them for one last moment before separating himself from their presence. It didn't hurt, but he was sad to see them go. Even Slifer. He'd started to grow fond of the temperamental Ka.
Indeed, Slifer lingered the longest as the other two immediately departed back to their masters. The Ka gave one last hiss, smoke issuing from its jaws before departing.
That was it.
It was over.
Atem slowly descended, the destruction rising to greet him as he touched the ground. So much power had filled him. So much light and majesty that he was sure the very sun would be scorched under his gaze.
But now it was all gone. Drained from him because of the strain of reforming the realities. He felt no stronger than a human. Weak and ridiculously brittle. His vision finally focused on what lay before him.
A single body lay in the wreckage.
Atem's knees hit the ground. A god brought to his knees from the harrowing pain that wracked through his soul. He could reform realities, rebuild prisons, but he couldn't fix this. He couldn't bring back the dead or heal souls.
The sky trembled as he roared, everything flooding in him as he finally allowed himself to feel. To finally experience all the hurt. He felt every death. Every pain from the living still around him. But most potent of all was the broken connection he felt still bleeding afresh from their severed bond. His failure to prevent Yugi's fall.
It had been his responsibility. His task to help and support Yugi as they saved Egypt. To be his darkness… except Yugi hadn't needed more darkness. He'd needed light, and Atem's measly flame hadn't been enough. He'd failed Yugi. Failed the young boy that had plead for Atem to watch over him. He'd broken his promise to Heba.
Atem had restored order between the realities, but he couldn't rejoice. Not when the cost had been so high.
"…The winner… shouldn't be on his knees, Atem."
Atem's head snapped up.
Yugi was still alive. His eyes fluttered, voice thin as every breath looked to be his last. Not a single bone looked to be unbroken, yet life still clung to them, threatening with each second to wither away.
Atem stumbled forward, failing to completely rise before he collapsed again, this time kneeling beside Yugi. He didn't dare draw breath for fear it would whisk away the life from Yugi's lips.
"Yugi…"
The hatred was gone. The darkness purged from his soul. When Atem had sealed Zorc away, he had taken all the corruption with him. Now Yugi was shining through. Broken and soul tattered, but he somehow still managed to shine. The sight made Atem's eyes burn. He was back. His Yugi was back.
"I knew you could do it," whispered Yugi. "You managed to rebuild the division between the realms. I knew I was right to choose you…"
His words hit Atem with a roaring clarity that made his breath hitch.
"You knew," said Atem. "From the beginning, this was your plan. To merge with Zorc, to bring him out and to have me take your powers. Why?"
"Someone had to," said Yugi. "The realities… the Ka. It was getting worse. Nothing could stop it from breaking. Funny... I only realized it after fighting my first partner. Ha… ironic isn't it?
"But why couldn't you have done it?" cried Atem. "Why couldn't you have just called out Zorc and fought him? Why did you have to sacrifice yourself like this?"
"It wouldn't have done any good. For the realms to be built anew, their foundation had to be completely destroyed. It had become too weak from faulty repairs. That's how this all happened in the first place. If I'd called out Zorc, I'd be no better than the gods. Besides… my soul was too broken to do it myself. So I had to break it. This world, the bond between the Hikari and Yami..."
His eyes glazed, no longer seeing as he spoke. His words came out slower, each syllable costing him. "There is as much power between bonds… as there are in broken ones," he said. "Only through a strong connection and an equally strong break could you acquire the power needed to rebuild everything. To become a god… and save us all. I just wasn't sure when he would break free. When I would finally fail Egypt and let darkness fall..."
Yugi stopped talking, catching his breath as his chest rose and fell sporadically. His ribs were piercing his lungs as he bled internally.
He was in pain.
Atem shook himself from his stupor, raising a hand to stop the pain. To heal Yugi and fix everything. He could still save him!
But he was stopped by Yugi's firm voice.
"Stop," he said "You can't… It's not my body. It's my soul."
He was right.
Atem's hand lowered, magic only capable of healing the flesh. He was a master of realities, not life and death. He couldn't stop this fate. Never had he wished harder for the ability to heal souls as he did now. To pull Yugi's broken one back together. It was inevitable now that Yugi would die. He already had one foot in the afterlife, grasping at life for these last stolen moments with Atem.
"Is there nothing I can do?" he said through gritted teeth. "Why… Why did it have to be you and me?"
Had he the strength, Yugi would probably have shrugged. He settled for a chuckle so low it sounded more like a gasp. "I already had enough blood on my hands… A little more wouldn't hurt."
His hands twitched, palm open to the sky. Atem reached for it, clasping his hand firm against Yugi's. It was warm, grimy and slick with blood from both their palms.
Surprise flashed in Yugi's eyes, turning into warm wonder.
"It seems I was wrong," he whispered. "I've hurt you, haven't I?"
The light was fading faster now, his soul already spent. Atem clung to his hand like it was Yugi's only lifeline. There was so much he wanted to say. So many things he still wanted to ask, but nothing would surface. His thoughts were clogged along with his throat.
"I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not," said Yugi. "These last few months… I finally didn't feel alone. I could go through with everything because I knew you were there. That you would kill me." His lips spread into a smile, joy etched in his dying expression. The sight both burned and soothed Atem at once, bittersweet feelings welling up inside him. Even in his last moments, the lad could smile like the sun.
"Hate me, Atem," he breathed. "Don't ever forget the pain and suffering… I've caused…"
His spirit departed.
Atem watched it depart, unable to do anything but observe as it was swept into the afterlife. He was left with Yugi's body. An empty husk covered in blood, soot and pain. Yugi's eyes remained partially open, his last calm smile the only source of light.
Atem was unaware how long he knelt there, still clasping Yugi's hand.
Eventually, he let it go, resting it carefully by the lad's side.
"I'm sorry, Yugi," he whispered. "But I can't hate you, no matter the pain you caused."
He struggled to pull himself together, aware of the destruction his turbulent emotions could cause now that he was a deity. But it was impossible to gain complete control. Not when words echoed in his head from a past encounter.
I don't think he'll find peace, even in the afterlife. His soul is too heavy with his own sins.
Silent Magician's words haunted him. Whispered that nothing but pain awaited Yugi.
He didn't deserve that. Not after everything he had suffered for their happiness. Yes, he'd killed, fallen and brought unspeakable destruction. But it would have happened eventually. So Yugi had prepared for it. Planned for a savior to come and bring peace. Planned for Atem to take power and restore order.
He deserved peace for what he'd sacrificed, but the gods would not give it to him. They'd weigh his soul and find it heavy.
"I won't let this be how it all ends."
He wouldn't let Yugi rot in eternal darkness, tormented for the sins he never wanted. The burdens that were thrust upon him were not of his doing. He deserved better.
Atem stood, powers coursing through him as he raised a hand. Shadows split the air in front of him creating a portal. This one was not a tear in reality. It was a proper entrance between realms. A portal only the gods could create.
It swirled and grew, expanding to show not murky depths, but a brilliance so bright that it was impossible to see the realm beyond.
Before he advanced, Atem felt a soft presence nudge his heart. His Ka had returned, whole and uncorrupted. Black Luster Soldier's conscious asked a question. Expressed concern.
"We're going to save him," answered Atem. This time, he would fulfill his promise. This time, he would not fail. "I won't let him suffer in eternal torment."
Atem walked through the portal, disappearing into the realm beyond.
