"Shall we?" Atem asked them. They nodded, determined to make sure this went right. This was dangerous...with Yugi's unpredictably strong power and desire to see them hurt, they knew this needed to go right. There were no second chances, but they were ready to try.
Atem lead the way out of the cells and down the corridor until they were faced with yet more indistinguishable corridors. He thought about what Maria had said, how this temple was a reflection of Yugi's heart now. He had seen Yugi's mind many a time before and knew it to be a bright place of love and childlike innocence, certainly nothing like this old, blank slate of a temple with walls that hummed with pain and anguish. If there was one good thing about this temple, it was that it made him even more determined to set things right within Yugi.
The ball in his palm grew hotter as they neared a corner and as they came around the bend he sensed something quickly approaching him. Thankfully, Joey was quick to react, pulling on Atem's shirt so he'd narrowly miss the ball of purple fire that seemingly shot from no where.
"The real Atem would have sensed that coming!" Yugi taunted from down the corridor.
"Crap, we gotta go back!" Joey said to them and they began running down the way they had come.
"Why run? You made me! Isn't this what you wanted?!" Yugi shouted behind them.
"What way Atem?!" Tristan asked urgently.
Atem ran ahead so he could lead, feeling the ball in his palm until it grew even hotter as they approached a corner. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be looking out for but he trusted his instincts and made them turn left, again narrowly missing another fire ball.
They didn't need to run for long as they turned two more times they entered a large room, like a great hall with stained windows, pillars, candelarbras… the only room in the entire temple that had been somewhat furnished.
They saw Maria standing in the centre of the hall and Grandpa standing beside a strong looking pillar.
"Make your stand." She told them.
Atem immediately turned on his heel to face Yugi as he entered the hall, fire ball poised and ready to be thrown and eyes directly on him. Tea, Tristan and Joey each took their own stance beside Atem, fearful yet ready.
"Yugi, this ends here." Atem said defiantly.
"Yes… it does…" Yugi said darkly, his eyes narrowing with blood lust.
Yugi attention was solely on Atem, as if all others had been dismissed. Atem was his first target… for this Atem was thankful. He didn't know what Maria's plan was only that she needed Yugi unconscious. They successfully lead him here, but what was to come next was a mystery… so all he could do right now was act on instinct as Yugi charged at him. He was tired of missing and chosen a direct assault. He could work with this. If he could get close enough to Yugi perhaps he could keep him still.
Atem allowed him to come a little bit further until he was within his own range. He skillfully dodged the attack, rolling below his arm and getting in behind him. Yugi moved quickly but not quick enough as Atem smacked his arm up towards the roof where he unleashed the fire ball. It smashed against the stone, sending debris and small stones down upon them but it gave Atem a chance to wrap his arms around him, keeping his hands close to his chest so he couldn't use them to attack without causing himself injury.
"Let me go!" Yugi shouted furiously. He tried to elbow him in the ribs but Atem was not letting go. He would take any bruising so long as he kept him here.
"Whatever your plan is, now would be good!" Joey shouted.
"Yugi, it's us!" Tea screamed desperately.
"Shut up! Stop saying that!" Yugi shouted back as he struggled.
"I need him unconscious!" Maria ordered.
"Yugi…." Atem whispered in his ear. He stopped momentarily to listen, or to gather some strength… either way Atem used this. "I'm sorry." He finished.
Lightning quick he let Yugi go and then pulled his arm up to smack him in the back of the head with enough force to make him black out. His strength left him and his knees buckled as his energy fell from him. Atem caught him quickly and gently lowered him down, resting his head on his lap and checking his face to make sure he was okay.
Maria was first to approach them as tears formed in Atem's eyes. He knew he needed him unconscious but he never thought he would ever be so violent with him. He felt dirty for doing so.
"Is he okay?" Tea asked as she knelt down beside them.
"Yes, but he won't stay out for long." Maria said. She blew something from her hands over his face, like a midnight blue sleeping powder. Yugi didn't react to it but Maria seemed relieved.
"That will keep him asleep for longer. Now I need you all to trust me. I'm going to send you into his mind but what you see in there might be testing. While you're in there I'll do what I can to protect your bodies out here but if he wakes up before you're done, then he might just have the upper hand to finish his...ambitions. You won't have forever, but by all means this needs to be done with care and diligence. I don't know what you will see or what you will have to do to convince him you're alive, but it must be done." Maria said to them each urgently.
They nodded determined and strong. They would bring him back and clear the shroud clouding his mind.
"Get comfortable and touch him. You could be in this position for a while." Maria told them.
Atem was content where he was with Yugi's head upon his lap, Tea chose to lay down beside him, resting her head against his shoulder while she held his hand tightly. Tristan and Joey each laid down as well, making sure to each have a spot of his arm to hold.
"This feels pretty weird I'll admit." Joey said lightly.
"You could be here for half an hour to a few hours. While you won't feel it inside his mind your bodies certainly will. You must remain in contact with him or you could be lost forever." Maria said simply.
"Wait what?!" They exclaimed but Maria blew more of the dust over them, and quickly their minds were pulled away from them and they too fell to the overpowering darkness.