He finally realized it as he stared at the two magicians now standing before the pharaoh. It finally made sense that no matter what he could do, Set couldn't find the modern counterparts of Mahad and Mana. They existed in a different way, as magicians in the Duel Monsters deck.

Set scoffed. Not that it mattered. The pharaoh and the princess couldn't pull another revival stunt. They had to be on their last leg, the confidence across the field a mere facade. He'd crush their last bit of hope and destroy them. He smirked.

Across the field, Atem's expression hadn't changed. He stood confident and tall with his two magicians at his side. Usagi stood near him, her hands over her heart. She didn't have any way to summon her friends, but they were there with her to help back them up.

"Let's show Set the true power of our hearts," Atem proclaimed. "Mahad, let's start things off. Chaos Black Magic Rain!"

The magician was more than happy to make the first move, ready to use this new power at his command. Bending his knees, he leapt up towards the sky, drawing the staff upward towards the dark clouds. The clouds responded to his command, gathering at his staff then shooting downward at Set and Sekhmet in a massive rain of black magic.

"Master looks so cool!" Mana cheered.

Set and Sekhmet leapt out of the way, the black magic impacting with the ground and kicking sand into the air. The chaos god scoffed at the attack. "Fire back with Chaos Missiles!"

Sekhmet landed, turning towards the skies. The magician seemed like an easy target just hanging there in the sky. With a quick thrust of her hands, she fired off red blasts of modern-looking missiles. They hurtled up towards the magician quickly.

"Mahad, evade the attack!" Atem commanded. He was certain Set would try something underhanded with this battle, but he had faith in Mahad's abilities now emphasized by the effects of the Shadow Games.

Silently, the magician twisted in the air, diving towards the ground at a sharp angle. The missiles turned in the air, careening after them. Mahad scoffed, shifting to place a foot on the ground and rebounding back towards the sky. He glanced over his shoulder. The missiles continued to follow him, speeding up with every twist and turn he attempted to make.

"Oh no, Master!" Mana worried. "Should we-"

Usagi placed a hand on the magician's shoulder. While watching the magician attempt to evade the attack, Usagi had felt a warmth around her heart as if Mamoru had wrapped his arms around her. She could feel him near her in her heart.

Before this all started, Mamoru mailed Usagi some cards, one in particular she treasured. She could hear the card calling out to her. She wasn't certain if she could channel it, but Mamoru was there, helping her out, supporting her when she had doubts. She had to trust in their love and bond. "Moon Mirror Force!" she called out right as the missiles collided with Mahad.

Red clouds of smoke spread out in the sky, obscuring the magician from view. Yet as quickly as they appeared, they dispersed. Mahad was unscathed, now surrounded by a protective bubble that shone like a full moon in the night sky.

Atem smirked, amused that they had switched roles in the Shadow Game compared to their Duel Monsters battles. Usagi's bond with her friends was so incredibly strong, even Atem could feel it standing next to her. "Alright, Mana, let's show him what you can do. Attack with Magical Heart Strike!"

"Alright!" The magician girl grinned, leaping up in the air. Waving her wand in the air, she jabbed it forward with a wink, sending hearts and swirls of black magics at Sekhmet.

Set scoffed again. "Red barrier!" Sekhmet leapt forward at the command, raising her hands up and creating an invisible barrier. The hearts simply bounced off it.

Mana frowned. That was disappointing. How was she going to prove herself as a worthy magician this way?

Usagi stared up at Mana worried until she heard the gentle words of Ami droning on about something strategic in chess. There were so many times she relied on Ami and Mercury for strategy, but they were also very close friends, sharing a deep bond with each other. Ami seemed to whisper something in Usagi's ear, and the princess began to grin. "Hypersomething or other revelations!"

Mana blinked at the words. She had no idea what Usagi was talking about, but suddenly before her spanned out a digital grid-like system running some analyses she didn't understand. What she did get, however, was that suddenly a massive bullseye formed at a point in the shield.

Atem watched the display from below. It was the same techniques that Mercury had used in battle and with her computer. "Mana, aim at the bullseye and strike again!"

"You got it!" the magician grinned, twirling her wand and sending hearts and black magics directly at the indicated location. The attack proved true, striking Sekhmet and sending her reeling backwards with one hand over her face.

"Damn you, magician!" Sekhmet hissed. "I'll curse you with the plague!" Still holding her eye, she drew out her free hand. Dozens of locusts swarmed forward, surrounding both magicians. They fought against them as the locusts chewed at their clothing and skin. They could feel their strength sapping quickly from them.

Usagi gasped. How could anyone fight against a plague? Her own powers were based around healing, but at the moment, she didn't have full access to them without being able to transform.

Why don't I help you out?

Of course. Sailor V had some purifying abilities with her mirror. She could feel Minako leaning on her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders like she did when they hung out. She was there with Usagi too. The moon princess jabbed a finger at the sky. "Venus Love Megaton Shower!" The clouds parted, light from the sun streaming in through the darkness. The light enveloped the locust swarm, causing the locusts to wither and fall dead from the sky.

Set boiled over. How could they have a counter for every single move and why were they so ridiculous?

Usagi felt another presence standing beside her, hooking an arm around hers. Naru was there with her, leaning into her best friend. I always wondered if you were Sailor Moon. I sort of had a feeling about it, you know? I'm not magical like the others, but maybe I can help out too.

Usagi couldn't turn down the request of her best friend. Even with the other guardians surrounding her, Naru always found a way to drag Usagi off to spend time with her. They had been best friends for so long. Their bond was incredibly strong. Usagi pointed at Set and shouted, "Chocolate Parfait!"

"What?" Atem stared at Usagi.

Usagi knew how ridiculous it sounded, but she'd seen some weird stuff in her time as a guardian. "Just trust me and point your staffs at Set!"

The magicians shrugged, pointing their staves at Set in unison. As soon as they did, chocolate exploded from them, caking both Set and Sekhmet in dessert. The two gods rubbed at their eyes, blinded by the unorthodox attack now making them sticky in the desert heat.

"Naru-chan, you're the best!" Usagi cheered. She hadn't expected to be that effective, but it was just what they needed. Set and Sekhmet kept trying to get the upper hand, but now that they were caked in chocolate syrup, they would find that to be a bit more difficult

Do not forget the power of the Moon. It is always with you, my daughter.

Usagi paused in her cheering, staring up at the sky. The voice wasn't those of the souls she'd been entrusted to protect. That was her mother's voice, the voice of Queen Serenity. The Moon peeked out from behind the clouds, barely visible in the daylight and beyond the gathered storm. "Hey, Atem-kun."

Atem was busy staring at the chocolatey mess. "Is it another chocolate attack?"

Usagi shook her head. "I have an idea. Do you think you could summon something that could power up the battle, something that could emphasize our strength?"

Atem glanced at her, noticing she was staring at the sky. He peered up, noticing the Moon peeking out from behind the clouds. "You want to use the Moon?"

"Something on the Moon," Usagi corrected him. "I've only done it once before, when I was fighting against the evil Queen Metallia. Everyone else had fallen and it was my last hope. With everyone's strength and whatever else we can cook up here, I'm certain I can harness it again."

Atem turned back towards the capital city behind them. He couldn't see it in the distance, the Shadow Game's effects obscuring it from view. But as he stared into the storm, he could see all his friends gathered behind him. Even Kaiba stood in the back, folding his arms and looking disinterested.

"We can do this together," Yugi reassured him.

"We better," Jounouchi agreed. "I wanna kick that jerk's ass. He turned us into cards! Who does he think he is? Pegasus?!"

Atem grinned. He could feel their power as they channeled their hopes for the future into him. He couldn't fail now. Whatever Usagi had planned, he had every intention of helping her achieve it. She was a champion of justice fighting beside a king of games. It was time to show Set who he was messing with. "I think I have just the thing. Mana, Mahad, I need your strength as well."

The two magicians landed on the sand next to him, crossing wand and staff with Atem's outstretched hand. As his 13-year-old self, he wouldn't be able to do this, but Setsuna's words still glued themselves to the back of his mind. This wasn't his younger self. This was the pharaoh's soul who had survived countless battles and duels across time.

Set pulled the chocolate from his eyes, fuming in anger as he saw the united force on the other side of the field. It was enough that he'd been doused in chocolate. It was another that these two losers were trying to foil his plans. "To hell with you two!"

Atem smirked, the power of his closest friends powering him as he summoned for the greatest power he could imagine. "I summon the embodiment of justice and light, Ma'at!"

"Impossible!" Set hissed.

The clouds began to part, the sky streaking with the light of the sun as the shadows began to disperse. The light beamed down, forming a magician in the sands covered in gold and adorned with the Millennium Items in his attire. A long white cape fluttered from his shoulders. He held a tall golden staff in his hands.

"Gods," Mahad stared.

"You said it, Master," Mana agreed.

Ma'at stood impossibly tall, illuminated by the bright rays of the sun, causing Set and Sekhmet to shield their eyes.

"It's time we end this," Atem proclaimed. "It's time we bring you to justice!"

...

Author's notes

I know I know it's been nearly half a year! All the madness that is the world really is terrible for creativity and honestly it's been punching me in the face. Hopefully I can get these last few chapters out soon and this one is a nice long one!

I couldn't fit all the friends into weird duel support spells, but at least I squeezed Naru in. I love the thought that she knew Usagi was Sailor Moon all along (she kinda figures it out in the manga as well).

And Ma'at is easily my favorite god card. So pretty!