Atem awoke quickly, feeling slightly achey in his shoulder as he lifted himself off the stone floor around Yugi's head. He heard a nearby explosion which jolted him into alertness and noted the chaos around him. Tea, Tristan and Joey were all protecting them as they slept and Grandpa remained nearby, unwilling to move from Yugi's side. Maria though was in conflict with Macaria… somehow she must have found them and now they were fighting?
"What happened?" Atem asked them. He looked down to Yugi then and saw he was still asleep, with no sign of waking up. "And why is he not awake yet?"
"Maria's defending us against her sister. Dude they've got some freaky powers, just like what Yugi had before." Tristan explained.
"I don't know why Yugi isn't awake yet but if we don't move soon we might get caught in the cross fire." Tea said urgently.
"Atem… maybe they could use a hand." Joey suggested.
Atem had no idea what he was talking about… until he realised they were in the real world now… which meant on his arm was his dia diank. He could summon Mahad and maybe he'd be able to help.
He stood and called upon the strength within him. Summoning Mahad so far from Egypt and 5000 years since the last time he really did it might take more energy than he was accustomed to, but if he believed then he knew he would answer.
"Come forth, Mahad! The Dark Magician!" He proclaimed to the heavens as he raised his arm. He felt his energy being converted as it surged through him like lightning and as the heavens tore themselves apart, Mahad materialised before him, kneeling with his fist clenched to his breast as he once did so many years ago.
"My Pharoah. It has been some time." Mahad said, but there was no ill content in his voice, nothing but love and support.
"Mahad. Much has happened and there is no time to explain. But we could use your help defending us against this battle." Atem told him. Mahad stood and examined the battle before him.
"Who is who? They appear the same."
"They're sisters. One is Macaria, she seeks to do us harm. The other is Maria, she's trying to protect us."
"The one with the dark purple fire is Macaria." Joey added to help.
"Right. Their magic is powerful and other worldly. I have not seen this kind of power since our time." Mahad noted.
"Help Maria, but try not to kill Macaria. Her fate is between her and her sister." Atem ordered him.
"I'll try to subdue her, but my Pharaoh, it has been many years since you summoned me. Your energy is different now. I may not be as strong as I once was." Mahad warned.
"I have my complete faith in you my friend. Have faith in me too." Atem said to him reassuringly.
"Guys we should move Yugi out of the way." Tea suggested.
"Right." Joey and Tristan both took his arms and gently carried him off to the side of the room, propping him up against a pillar. Why he was not awake yet worried Atem… he was just speaking with him and was sure Yugi was convinced of the truth… why he didn't wake up when he did was puzzling… but all he could do now was trust in him to find his way back. Until then he needed to do what he could to protect them from this battle. Mahad was right. 2 months ago when he learned everything there was to learn about his past he relived it as if it were happening, but in reality it had been 5000 years since he last summoned Mahad and his body, while only 2 months old now, was feeling the strain. He needed to stay strong though, if Mahad falls they lose their line of defence and with Yugi asleep, they could not risk that. He trusted Mahad's abilities, but his own power would draw on his, so he needed to focus and unlock his potential from within.
Yugi awoke groggily, feeling light headed and dizzy. The cool air filled his lungs and tickled his skin as his body ached in places he didn't know could ache. He was shaken into reality when he heard a loud explosion nearby and he shielded himself from the force of it blowing his hair and clothes around him and sending dust and pebbles his way.
"Protect Yugi!" He heard someone yell through the dust cloud and then he felt someone's hands on his arms.
He looked to see the old stubby fingers of a familiar old man and followed them up his arms, to his body and finally to rest on his gray hair and rustled aged face. His violet eyes burned with love and determination as he watched whatever was before them, ignorant that Yugi had noticed him at all, or even awoken. He was alive… and so lively… he was.. Here. Alive.
"G-grandpa….?" He muttered quietly, almost a whisper.
Grandpa blinked and looked down at him, smiling when he saw him awake.
"Yugi!" He said happily, his voice dripping with relief.
Yugi launched himself onto him, clinging to his neck and nuzzling his head, crying heavily as his heart connected with his. He was alive! The only words in his mind right now were that he was alive and he was so thankful.
"Yugi it's okay. Calm down, it's okay." Grandpa said between his laughter and ability to breathe.
"I thought I lost you! How are you here? What's going on?" Yugi asked him quickly.
"Slow down my boy. There's a lot of explaining to do. But we don't have the time right now. Now that you're awake we all need to skedaddle out of here." Grandpa said as Yugi climbed off him.
Before him Tea, Tristan and Joey stood facing the conflict and protecting them. Further in he saw Atem standing defiantly with his dia diank activated and nearby he noticed the Dark Magician casting spells towards a cloud of dust.
They were protecting him… and they were here! Alive as well! Everything he had seen in his mind had been real, they came and brought him out. They did it.
Suddenly his rejoice was cut short when a stray beam of energy broke out of the dust and hit the Dark Magician. He fell to the ground, clutching at his chest as Atem screamed in pain, also falling to his knees.
"My Pharoah… I'm sorry." Mahad called to him.
"It's okay Mahad." Atem grunted as he straightened himself up again.
"Can you fight any more?"
"Yes… but not if there's another one of those."
"Right." Atem noted.
Yugi stood then and as the dust parted he saw Maria fighting Macaria. They were both dirty, bruised and scraped, both rugged and tired… but Macaria was stronger and poised for another attack.
"You have stood in my way for the last time sister. You will not stop me from reuniting with him!" Macaria shouted. She summoned forth another ball of magical energy but instead of directing it at her sister, she directed it towards Yugi and his friends.
"Mahad!" Atem shouted desperately as he moved in position to intercept the attack, bracing himself behind his staff. Atem braced himself for it too, knowing that soon he'd feel his pain but Yugi disagreed.
He raised his hand and summoned forth a magical barrier just before Mahad, blocking the attack with ease. He didn't know how he did this, but he knew it to be instinct. The power that Macaria had given him was still within him, only now he was in control and knew how to use it not just for destruction.
"Wait what?!" Joey and the others exclaimed.
"Mahad how?" Atem asked.
"That's not me, my Pharoah!" Mahad called back to him.
Yugi walked passed them then, eyes set firmly on Macaria who blinked in terror as he approached.
"Yugi!" They exclaimed excitedly as he passed them. Mahad floated off to the side, allowing him to pass and looking upon him with such wonder… how could a boy with no magical training protect him from a blast so powerful…?
"My lord! Why? Why protect them, they're -" Macaria began to ask hurriedly.
"They're my friends. The ones you didn't kill. And I'm not your lord Macaria." He said to her.
Angrily she attacked him.
"No, Yugi!" His friends shouted but with ease Yugi waved her attack away and continued to approach her.
She backed away from him frightened until her legs couldn't move anymore and she collapsed to the ground, staring up at him in utter fear.
He knelt down beside her and smiled.
"I know how desperately you want to see him. You gave me the same feeling when you made me believe everyone I cared about was gone. But now I see the truth, and now I can send you back to him." Yugi told her gently.
"You lie… why would you do that? I took everything from you to bring him back and it didn't work. But now you dare use his power like it's yours to use-"
"You don't remember why you were both separated from him do you?" Yugi asked her.
"What? He was taken from us, sent away! There's no other explanation!" She said angrily.
"No Macaria. We fell. He is right where he is supposed to be, it's us who are not meant to be here." Maria tried to explain to her.
"What?!" Macaria asked in frustration.
"We were fighting… much like this. And things got out of hand-" Maria began to explain.
"Your father meant to separate you, but you both ended up falling through the veil here. You gave me his power, believing it would bring him back to you, but Maria gave me his memory so that I would know how to send you back to him." Yugi explained.
He stood then and took a few steps away from them.
"Yugi, whats going on?" Tristan called to him.
He felt his heart tear open but he forced it closed… he couldn't let this deter him. He knew he needed to send the girls back, and he knew he couldn't contain this power for much longer… no human was ever meant to have this much power coursing through them… if he didn't stay strong then he might not be able to come back to them.
He turned to them, to look upon them and see them alive and safe.
Atem understood immediately… he didn't know how, but he knew that look in his eyes… was goodbye.
"No…" He shook his head and ran to him.
"Atem I need to do this." Yugi told him bravely.
"No! We just got you back, don't leave us again!" Atem told him. Yugi held up his hand to make him come no further.
"Look at me." Yugi told him. Atem looked closer and saw his hands beginning to crumble away, burning with raw white energy. Was this... because of the power inside him? It terrified him, was he dying?
"What-" Atem squeaked.
"No human was ever meant to have this power Atem. I need to do this, not just for their sake but for mine as well."
"What's going to happen to you Yug?" Joey asked him. Yugi smiled softly and shrugged.
"I don't know. But if I can I'll be coming back. But I won't be able to if I stay. I need to go." Yugi told them. Atem finished his run to him, tears falling like diamonds from his eyes. He took his head in his hands and kissed him deeply, holding him desperately until he knew he needed to let him go.
"P-pharoah's don't cry Atem." Yugi told him with a small gentle smile. Atem tried to smile but he didn't want to see him go so all he did was nod. He had said something similar to him when he was about to leave... but Yugi didn't have the luxury of choice right now.
"How long?" He asked, with tears threatening to fall.
"I don't know. But… trust me. I love you." Yugi said, smiling at him and his friends as a tear fell slowly down his cheek.
"I love you." Atem said painfully.
"I'll be back soon guys." Yugi finished.
As he said the words he felt his power surging from within him. Now was his only chance. Maria came over to him and took his hand and they both offered their other hands to Macaria. She hesitated but took them all the same and the light that shone from Yugi lit up the world with such intensity that it swallowed them whole.
Atem and the others shielded themselves again but in place of fear and confusion they felt love and reassurance grace them, as if the light itself was comforting them. It made the pain no less painful but as they watched the light launch into the heavens and out of reality Atem was determined to hold on to Yugi's promise that he would be back soon.
"What… just happened?" Joey asked eventually to break the silence.
"He's gone…" Tristan whispered.
"No… no he can't be. We just got him back! Why is he gone?!" Tea cried.
Joey hugged her as she punched his chest weakly in frustration. Atem shared her sentiment, wanting nothing more than Yugi to come back right now… but all he could do was stare up at the blue sky above them, hoping to see him come back.