Thank you guys for showing me that despite taking such a long break, you were still interested in reading my story. Thank you all so much! I'm still floored by it especially how long this has been and how dead the Yu-Gi-Oh fandom is in general. So thank you so much Torni, Guest, TheKingInBoots, SupGirl95, angiembabe, Pheonix of Memphis, Chibisimo, Anukis-san, Thousandsmiles, and BronwynSP06.
BronwynSP06, no, sorry, still no puzzleshipping. Lol. But I will say that one of my main goals for this story was to create an awesome bromance while hitting many of the same beats of a romance. I mean, for me the only difference between romance and true friendship is the presence or absence of attraction. At least to me. So if it feels like one that's why. I did it on purpose as an experiment to see if I could write one.
Anukis-san, man you are right on. In fact, you're a chapter early. Just wait for the end of this chapter. :)
Epic Music Makes Everything Better.
The path to the afterlife was a literal path; The Hall of Two Truths. The stone was gilded as were the columns that lined on either side. Beyond that, the world grew muted until it darkened completely into oblivion. But just before that, rows of men could be distinguished, their various animalistic heads eerie in half shadow. They were the 42 assessors of Ma'at, lesser gods who would witness the judgments.
Atem didn't deviate from the path. He knew what oblivion would meet him if he did. Only the most foolish allowed their feet to carry them beyond the borders of the road. He kept his eyes on the end.
Two gods and a demoness awaited him there. The closest was Ammut, the demoness with the body of a predatorial cat, the hindquarters of a hippo and the face of a crocodile. She sat upon her back haunches, still as a statue save her gleaming red eyes. They followed Atem with predatorial precision that set Atem's nerves alight. Her duty was to devour the hearts and souls of those deemed unworthy for the afterlife.
The scales of Ma'at stood between Atem and the other two gods. It gleamed bare and golden, ready to fulfill its role. Ma'at herself stood behind them. Her ethereal face was human, black hair flowing free down her back. A bejeweled belt girded around her waist, flowing into a long white dress. Wings bordered her folded arms. Were she to spread them, they would extend to show vibrant hues of gold, greens, and blues.
It was the last God Atem focused on. The one god he had already met. Anubis.
The god of the afterlife remained as powerful and dangerous as Atem had remembered. The only difference now was that Atem was powerful as well, ready to stand as an equal among them. Still, he felt humbled to be in their presence, now fully aware of their power and majesty in a way his previous human understanding couldn't comprehend.
He reached the scales, stopping before them. Only now did he notice the double doors behind the dais. They were the doors to the afterlife where only worthy souls were given permission to enter.
Atem bowed, hand across his chest in respect.
"Anubis, God of Death and the Afterlife," he said. "I offer my respects and greet thee. I have come in humility to seek your help."
"Humility? Hmm?" When Anubis spoke, it echoed like the darkest caverns of a mountain. He regarded Atem with curiosity. It was off-putting to see that sort of expression on the face of a jackal.
"What request do you have of me, child of man and son of Ra?" said Anubis.
"Yugi," said Atem. "The Hikari and my partner. He died, and his soul came here to be weighed against the feather of truth. I wish to know what his ruling was."
"The former Hikari? Yes, we just finished weighing his soul. It was found to be heavy and thus cast away into the darkness."
As I thought.
It was inevitable, but Atem's stomach still tightened upon confirmation.
"I believe that was a mistake," said Atem. "Yugi should not have been cast into the eternal darkness."
"You disagree with my ruling?"
The air rumbled. The shadows of the room darkened in reaction to Anubis's words. Atem needed to be careful. He didn't fancy making the deity mad.
"I do," said Atem. "Surely as the god that instructed both me and Yugi, you understand him. You understand why he did what he did and that he doesn't deserve this fate."
"Many taught him over the years, including demons and fallen gods," said Anubis. "I seek not to understand but to weigh the hearts. His soul was overflowing with sin and darkness. It was heavy and thus, was fed to Ammut."
"But that's not justice," said Atem. "He took on those pains for the sake of humanity. For everyone. He did it for us and for your reality as well. After everything Yugi sacrificed he does not deserve eternal pain."
Anubis's lips drew back showing a row of pointed fangs. He growled like a feral dog.
"Watch yourself, son of man," said Anubis. "In ignorance the sin in less, but with your knowledge, you will burden yourself with a heavier sin. Blasphemy against the gods is not often forgiven."
"If you believe truth is blasphemy then I worry for all our souls."
A sudden surge of power rushed through the hall. It whirled around Ma'at, the golden breeze seeming to bring her to life as a blush entered her cheeks. Though she did not move, she stood taller than before. Her angular eyes peered at him, but not with contempt. With a warning.
"Atem, Child of Man and Son of Ra." Her voice was melodic, clean and pure. Such would be the tone of the God of truth. "While now a god, do not assume you hold the right to stand among us as equals. You have no right to criticize our ruling."
"But I have a responsibility to my own soul, and to my partner's."
While he felt their contempt like a blanket over his body, it couldn't smother the desire in his chest. The guilt of too many broken promises would not let him fail again. The broken bond still throbbed like bruised skin.
"Yugi did not choose his path," said Atem. "He did not wish for the weight of the worlds. It was thrust upon him. He could have given up and fallen many times, but he didn't. He persevered, grew, loved and lost much. It would have been so easy for him to give up. So easy to fall. Human souls are fragile things, but then again, I do not expect you to understand just how heavy the burden was for him. You are gods, and in this, your sight is clouded."
Anubis growled.
This time it didn't sound like a dog. It sounded like a monster. The gods lining the room fled, disappearing into the dark mist without a look back. It left Atem alone with the three main gods. For the first time since stepping in here, Atem felt fear.
But then Ma'at lifted a hand. While Anubis's growls persisted, they didn't escalate. The goddess seemed sad as she spoke to Atem.
"For a lifetime, I have observed the souls of each departed human as they have been weighted against my feather," said Ma'at. "We both have. Out of all the gods, we know more than any just how fragile a human's soul is."
"Then—"
"But then, we also know how strong they can be."
Light suddenly blossomed in front of Atem. A soul appeared. It pulsed with multicolored splendor, shimmering in the outline of a human. A young man.
From Ma'at's folded wings, a single teal feather broke away. It drifted down to the scales and rested upon one side. The human's soul condensed into a small ball and joined the feather upon the other disk. For a moment the scales wobbled. Then they balanced. Perfectly even. The soul weighted true.
"You observed when Yugi's soul was weighted against the imitation he created," said Ma'at. "His soul was still true then, the good outweighing the evil. But not any longer. Before the portal was opened and Zorc was released, Yugi chose to give in."
The soul lifted off the scales. It drifted up and above the dais before reforming into a human. The double doors to the afterlife opened, revealing a breathtaking realm beyond. The Afterlife. Other souls, loved-ones, and friends stood in wait just beyond the threshold. Atem glimpsed their reunion before the doors shut, sealing the entrance to the afterlife once more.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" said Ma'at. "He did not fall. His soul did not break. He chose to destroy. He chose to give in to anger and despair. The destruction he reigned with Zorc cannot be forgiven, for in that moment he was not fueled by good. His actions were motivated by rage and despair."
"You're wrong,"
Atem's eyes were still focused on the doors but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Yugi may have been eccentric, distant and sometimes cruel, but he was never malicious. His fall was needed in order to break the worlds. To break our bond. I… I doubt nothing but giving in to despair would have given him the strength to break it."
Because that's what it would have taken for him to do the same.
"Weight it again, please," said Atem. "I cannot accept this ruling."
"What you ask of us is impossible," said Anubis. "Once a soul has been devoured, it loses all semblance of life. It is forever restless, indistinguishable from the other souls devoured by Ammut. None may return from this, especially now that you have rebuilt the borders between realms."
Emptiness filled him. The raw gaping throb from the severed bond engulfed his whole self as with their words he realized it would never heal. Never be reformed.
"No," said Atem. He shook his head, trying to collect himself. "No… I won't let that happen. I won't accept it."
His will snapped back as red flashed in his eyes.
"I will go into the darkness and bring Yugi back," said Atem. "And when I return, we will again weight his soul upon the scales of truth."
For the first time, the gods looked unsure. He had surprised them. They exchanged a look that expressed all their hesitance.
"Such a thing has never been done before," said Anubis. "I doubt a second weighing will yield a different result."
"Not to mention the risk," said Ma'at. Her eyes skirted his form, seeing with amber eyes truths of what he was. "You understand that even as the God of Realities - a lesser God I might add – you may not have a way out."
"I'm willing to accept that risk."
"I don't condone this," snapped Anubis. "You are throwing your life and responsibilities away and for what? The life of a guilty soul. I thought you had much talent Son of Man, but I see you still have much to learn."
"Then it is my lesson to learn."
Atem bowed his head, eyes fixed on the floor as he plead. "Please, allow me to enter the darkness."
There was a pause.
Ma'at's clear voice spoke first.
"Atem, God of the Realities and Son of Ra, you have no need to seek our permission to transverse to any realm you desire. If you wish to, you may command Ammut yourself. But before you do so, know this."
Her eyes searched him, a gentle beseeching within them. They seemed sorrowful as if she would be sad to see Atem go.
"If you go in as you are now, you will lose yourself. That is not an opinion. It is the truth."
"Then so be it."
At least Yugi would not be alone in his eternal torment. In this Atem could finally fulfill his promise and help carry Yugi's sorrows.
"Then may Ra's light shine upon you, my former apprentice," said Anubis, his voice resigned.
A loud boom of thunder rang out. As the rumbles subsided it took with it the light of the gods. They dimmed and regressed back into stone. The air stilled as Atem found himself alone in a room with two statues of the gods. They had left, allowing him to traverse alone.
Atem turned to the statue of Ammut, the one who had not participated in the discussion. He eyed the crocodile head, steadying himself for what was to come.
"Black Luster Soldier," said Atem, "Come forth."
His Ka appeared, head bowed.
"Stay here," said Atem. "In case I don't return, I'd like you to return to Egypt and relay what happened to the councilors who are still alive. I will not have Yugi's story be buried under myth and lies. I want them to know the truth of what happened to the Hikari and Yami."
His Ka protested, their interwoven emotions clashing through their bond. But Atem would not be dissuaded.
"Please," said Atem. "I am unsure how long it will take for me to return with Yugi."
"Then I will wait." Black Luster Soldier took a warrior's stance, sword and shield out in wait. "Do not make me wait long for your return,"
Gratitude flowed from Atem. His lips twitched, not quite in a smile, but it was closet he could manage at the moment.
Thank you.
Atem approached Ammut. The part reptilian, part cat and part hippo seemed to grow in size with each step until her form towered over Atem. He barely reached the height of her front paw.
"Ammut, Eater of Hearts, The Devourer," said Atem. "Open your mouth and allow me to enter the realm of the second death."
A lake of fire erupted around Ammut. The demoness breathed in life as fur ruffled and leather skin shone. Nothing but the crackle of flames could be heard as she silently opened her mouth. It was slow and smooth, completely silent as she opened the door to the final death. Her jaw reached the floor.
Darkness stretched beyond. It was the true realm of the shadows. The condensed accumulation of listless and evil souls integrated into one cohesive force. A force Atem would have to overcome if he wished to find Yugi.
He had commanded the powers of the shadows on earth and as the Yami he was one who could call on much of their power. But even then, he had never done something like this. Never sought to resist their entire weight all at once. His soul shrank back at the thought. Their beseeching voices called out to join him. Only a madman would enter there voluntarily. Only someone who didn't value their life.
Yet he must resist their might to find salvation for the soul who deserved it.
Sweat trickled down his forehead. He walked forward, ignoring the points of Ammut's massive teeth as they sliced into his shoes. They were soon left behind in tatters as Atem continued forward, leaving bloodied footprints with each step.
Then he hit the darkness. The light behind him was extinguished.
Ammut had closed her mouth.
Shadows flooded into Atem.
Their voices were everywhere. He couldn't find where one began and another started. They pressed and pressed and pressed. He couldn't even cry out for fear that they would flood in through his mouth. But they were already inside. He hadn't stood a chance.
The shell around his soul splintered. He desperately held on and willed his soul to resist their might. He drew forth all his powers as a god and pushed back. Both light and dark within him combined to reinforce his shell.
The seams closed. His shell began to reform.
Yugi, where are you?
Atem sought his partner among the shadows. He reached out, sifting through the muck of thousands of dispersed souls.
He couldn't feel him.
Yugi's wasn't anywhere to be found.
As he searched, a helplessness started to fill him. His soul started to doubt.
The shadows surged.
Atem pulled away, scrambling as the cracks along his shell. No. He couldn't let them in. They were going to break his shell.
It shattered.
Darkness took him.
Fear. Anger. Hate. Sorrow. It was all the shadows and it was all him. The only thing he retained was his failures. His regret.
This was what he deserved. This was his existence. To drown in the embodiment of his own guilt. As the last of his individuality was stripped away, the only thing Atem could feel was acceptance. He greeted the feeling with open arms.
Atem was lost to the shadows as he was assimilated into their conscious.
…
...
No.
One thing resisted.
One with the darkness, the shadows immediately found it. Found Him.
It wasn't one soul, but two desperate threads of conscious one yank from unraveling. A human soul and a Ka.
Yugi and his shadow-self.
Yugi!
The shadows bubbled. They broke and sputtered, shifting as ribbons of their existence condensed. Threads of conscious were plucked out of the entire weave until a human soul was suddenly reconstructed.
Atem stumbled forward, desperate as he thrust his arms around the two small pricks of light. Then the shadows pelted him again.
He cowered against their blows, strengthened with the purpose to protect. The purpose to save. His back was strong as his arms remained tender. Caring. Full of purpose.
Full of regret.
The shadows started to pour in again.
Atem roared, fighting even as pieces of his soul were stripped away. He was losing. He'd fail again.
..all my fault. This is all my fault.
The Ka's light suddenly leapt into Atem heart.
He gasped, his mind clearing for a single moment as he saw in his mind's eye the Ka's true form. It was a familiar brown fuzzball with one big difference. Small white wings sprouted from the monster's back. Yugi's Ka, Winged Kuriboh.
The Ka's spirit purred, it's gentle hum soothing and protective. Uplifting, and full of hope. Full of love.
And an admonishment.
But an admonishment of what? Why was Winged Kuriboh angry with him? Was it because Atem had failed? That he was here because Atem was weak?
But the Ka shook his head. No, that wasn't it.
"You're forgotten your original purpose."
Winged Kuriboh shot out of Atem's soul. Before he could yell, the monster collided with the darkness. The shadows screeched, held back by the ultimate sacrifice.
"No!"
Atem stumbled to his feet, clutching the last thread of Yugi's conscious to his chest. He stared at the gentle glittering remains of Winged Kuriboh.
"Why did you do that?" shouted Atem. "Why?" His sacrifice wouldn't stop the shadows. It would be for nothing. Any moment the shadows would recover and pour into Atem once again. There'd be nothing to stop them from destroying them both.
You've forgotten your purpose.
Atem hung his head, soul aching from the missing chunks. Why was he even doing this? Why did it even matter? What was the whole point of going through so much pain and anguish?
Yugi's soul had no weight, but it still had warmth against Atem's palm. It still brought him joy.
I remember now...
Winged Kuriboh's sacrifice vanished. The shadows poured over Atem. They covered every inch, a single cohesive mass of unsettled darkness.
But that was it. They couldn't get inside. Not anymore.
Atem raised a hand.
Light exploded outward. It pushed the shadows back forming a white dome around him. This time it wouldn't crack. The eye of Horus shone upon his brow as Atem raised his chin in defiance. With a tweak of his fingers, Atem yanked the pieces of his soul from the shadows. They unraveled and flew back into him, each ribbon strengthening his light and majesty.
"I remember now," he said. "Thank you Winged Kuriboh, for reminding me why I'm here."
It wasn't because of guilt. It wasn't because of anguish or broken promises. It was because of love. Because of the bonds he'd made. It was because of hope and truth. He'd nearly lost himself in a sea of regret, allowing the darkness to control him. No more. He'd banished those thoughts. He'd banished the guilt. He now only looked forward with hope.
"Return him to me," said Atem, power crackling around him. "The rest of Yugi's soul and Winged Kuriboh."
The shadows swayed like an entranced snake. Then a face began to form. Along the lines of deep purples, grays and black, features appeared. They didn't remain constant. They continually shifted from old to young, male to female.
The voices of a million of souls echoed in Atem's head as the embodiment spoke.
"His soul belongs to the void," it said. "We will not give him up."
Atem repressed a shiver. It was like the death's hand sliding over his heart.
"You will!" said Atem. "Or I will make you."
It laughed. The cloud shifted and broke apart, circling Atem's dome. Hands pressed on every surface, looking for a break. It wouldn't find one.
"Release him!" he repeated.
"Why would we release the most delicious soul in our possession?" the shadows mocked. "His sins will nourish our power for millennia. His sins belong to us. They are us."
"Those sins do not belong to him!" shouted Atem. "You may keep the sins but return the soul they clung to. It does not belong here."
But the shadows didn't respond. They continued to circle, indistinguishable voices calling for Atem to join them. To fall to despair.
Atem growled in frustration. It was taking all of his power just to hold the dome. He had no extra power to search for the threads of Yugi's soul, let along fight against the entirety of the shadows. What could he do? The shadows would never give up Yugi.
Atem looked down at Yugi's soul, even now seeking help and strength from his presence.
And an idea hit him.
"What if we make a trade?"
The shadows surged with laughter.
"Your sins are not worth shit!" it said. "They are nothing in comparison to the mass that clings to Yugi."
"I'm not talking about taking my soul or my sins," said Atem. "I'm talking about something else I can offer."
With his other hand, Atem reached inside his chest and pulled out a sphere. Inside resided two different extremes. One of light, and one of darkness. They constantly shifted and spun, seeking to destroy the other but ultimately creating its opposite. The powers of the Hikari and Yami. The powers of a god.
That stopped the shadows. They pressed against the wall, entranced by the swirling black. Where light shifted in the orb, the shadows drew back, waiting before the black to return before pressing forward again in eagerness. Atem couldn't repress a smirk. He had them now.
"Why settle for millennia, when you can feed yourself for an eternity?" taunted Atem. "The powers of a god, for a single soul and his Ka."
The space shook as the shadows screeched. It was mad with desire, thrashing in delight. Its greed caused a frenzy that Atem withstood, waiting for it to respond. A voice floated from the shadows, small as a whisper repeated the mantra; I want it, I want it. I WANT IT.
"You are a fool," shouted the Shadows. "With this, we will be unstoppable. We will overcome this realm. The reformed seams will burst, and our powers will infect every plane of existence."
"Then so be it," said Atem. He raised the orb higher, the power both warm and cool to the touch. "This power for one soul. Make your choice."
The shadows shook. Every molecule buzzed and hummed like a horde of bees. The sound grew so loud that Atem could feel the vibrations in his ribcage.
The surface of the shadows rippled. It flowed toward Atem until a section suddenly split.
Two pricks of pure light drifted toward Atem. They passed through the dome without resistance and Atem quickly moved to catch them. He dropped the powers of the Hikari and Yami in the process, but he didn't care.
Atem pressed the lights to his chest feeling as the threads of Yugi's soul reformed and merged together with his Ka. Emotions pricked at his eyes as Atem. He'd found him. Finally, Yugi's soul was whole.
But the moment Atem had dropped the sphere, his powers had left him. He was no longer a god. He was only a human now. A normal human.
The dome disappeared.
The shadows dove for the powers. They engulfed it greedily into its jaws, gorging itself like a starving man. So distracted by the power, they left Atem alone. But it only lasted a moment.
Shadows beat down upon Atem. They pressed and beat down as they had before, seeking for any entrance to pull him down into oblivion. They mocked his idiocy for leaving himself exposed. Jeered even as their claws dug into him.
But they didn't break him.
Confusion rippled through the collective power.
Something was different. They shifted and faltered, flickering between shades of gray.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO US!"
The shadows shrank back from Atem, clawing as it sought to tear itself apart. He watched as sections broke then reformed, a never-ending chain of destruction and reconstruction.
"I did what I promised to," said Atem. "I gave you the powers of the Hikari and Yami. Coincidently, that includes both infinite light as well as infinite darkness. You are no longer just shadow, but you are now light and darkness. You are possibility as well as stagnation. You are hope and fear. You are destruction and life."
The shadows wailed, new streaks of yellow burning the darkness.
It was no longer interested in Atem.
He was left alone as he walked away from their new suffering.
While no longer a god, the touch of that power on his soul was still present. Atem knew his way out of here.
"Black Luster Soldier, lead us home."
He reached for his shadows-self and found it waiting. With a lighthouse showing him the way home, he would never be lost.
A light split the gray, and Atem walked toward it carrying Yugi's dormant soul. He squinted as the light suddenly expanded and engulfed him whole.
Blinking in the brightness, Atem found himself once again in the Hall of Two Truths. Ammut's mouth was closing, both Anubis and Ma'at standing closer to Atem. Black Luster Soldier was there was well, waiting in perfect attention for Atem's return.
Now human, he felt immeasurably smaller. The god's presence was so great and terrible that his knees trembled. He immediately fell both out of respect and from sheer exhaustion. He was trying hard not to pass out. He felt his skin would melt just from their presence. Gods, it was starting to hurt.
Then the pain left. The pressure cooled to a warm touch soft as a newborn's skin. He felt compelled to look up despite not being granted permission to do so.
The two gods remained the same as he had seen them before. Not now, just as he had exited the shadow's realm, but like before when he had been a god. When he had wielded power. They'd dimmed their light for his sake.
"Do you understand what you have done?" said Ma'at. "In exchange for a single soul, you have given the shadows of the damned immeasurable power."
Atem wet his lips, mouth dry in fear. While Ma'at's voice was melodic, there was a definite threat beneath the sweet tone. He scrambled to his feet, swaying from the exertion he'd spent over the past twenty-four hours.
"I do," said Atem. "Or at least, I understood it better when I was a god." His mind was now fuzzy on the details, but he could remember the general concept.
"With the powers of both light and dark, the shadows have been changed for eternity. Those who are swallowed will suffer eternal torment under the blazing sun of Ra or embrace its light and reform into something better than they were before. It now offers both worse torment for the guilty or hope for the repentant."
Ma'at nodded, seemingly approving, but Atem wasn't done.
"It also provides an opportunity for the magicians on earth," said Atem. "Those that wield the powers of the shadows now have access to the power of light. Magicians of light will no longer be rare. Their brilliance will now spread universally through the kingdom of Egypt as well as the world."
Anubis suddenly rammed his rod into the stone. Atem clamped his mouth shut, afraid the god was upset. But no, he was laughing.
The jackal's head reared back, canine howls issuing from its mouth.
"Splendid," said Anubis. "Human's are such interesting creatures." He smiled, showing too many pointed teeth and appearing more intimidating than pleased. "I consent to this change and to your request."
"As do I," said Ma'at. "We will bring these changes to the attention of the other gods in your stead. You need not worry. There will be no punishment for your actions."
Hope filled his chest. Atem raised his cupped hands wherein Yugi's soul resided.
"Then…?"
Ma'at nodded and stepped aside. It revealed the scales behind him. They were massive, circling in delicate threads of gold. On one side, the feather of Ma'at already lay in wait.
Atem approached the scales of truth. He sent one last silent prayer to the gods before carefully placing Yugi's soul upon the opposite side of the scale. It wobbled for a moment, Atem holding his breath as he watched. As he waited.
Then one side shifted. One side sunk lower than the other.
Yugi's soul, pure from the sins that had previously harrowed up its brilliance, slowly rose, its weight lighter than the feather of Ma'at.
Next chapter is the epilogue.
