This story contains TRIGGER WARNINGS for rape, violence, blood, physical and emotional abuse, suicide (mentioned). READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.

This warning applies to the story in general. NO SPECIFIC WARNINGS FOR INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS WILL BE GIVEN!

Chapter 33

A message was sent to General Ironheart in Atlantis, informing him about his son being held hostage and the conditions for his return. While they waited, Rafael helped work out the peace treaty. Yugi insisted on a paragraph that made Atlantis swear to do everything in its power to bring the victims of Dartz's slave trade back home.

In the meantime Dartz stayed in the dungeon. Once the rest of the Atlantean army found out that their general had been involved in slavery, they lost all respect for him. Yugi was surprised to find any moral tendencies in Atlanteans. But when they now talked about Dartz, they crinkled their noses as if they smelt something rotten and only referred to him as "General Traitor".

None of them showed any sign of resistance at the prospect of capitulation. Aside from the news, they were tired of the war they had been fighting for almost two years now. They wanted to go home, regardless of the circumstances.

After a week, they got an answer from General Ironheart: He was on his way to take care of the matter. He wrote no word of his son.

During that time, spies kept a close eye on Tamiat. They also sent a letter to Otogi, demanding that he surrendered and warning him of the consequences if he didn't. They got no reply.

It was unlikely the Atlanteans who were still trapped in Tamiat knew about any of what had happened. Tamiat seemed to have turned into a fortress. No one was allowed to pass its walls, be it to leave or to come.

Whatever Otogi was doing, Yugi knew it were the people who were suffering the most. The thought of Otogi's selfishness made Yugi so angry that he wanted to tear down Tamiat's walls by himself. However, Yugi found distraction from his thoughts about Otogi, albeit unwillingly.

In the days after the battle, Yugi spent most of his time in what had been Pegasus and Cyndia's office. He told himself he was only there to gather evidence for Dartz's slave trade. Luckily, the two shelves Dartz had set aflame during his attempted flight had been put out quick enough and they were full of said evidence.

Yugi spent most of his day putting the scrolls in chronological order. He read as few details as possible, fearing that in his rage he'd go to Dartz's cell and do something he'd regret. Once that task was done, Yugi found himself alone with the rest of the hundreds of scrolls and with one thought.

Dartz had accused Pegasus and Cyndia of also having been slave traders. Of course that notion was absurd! Yet, Yugi couldn't help but wonder why his parents had forbidden him to enter their office ever since he could remember.

One day, when Yugi was sitting in one of the padded chairs at the desk, he couldn't help but give in to his desire to know the truth. With trembling fingers he gathered some of the scrolls, telling himself he'd only find the documentation of his parents' mines in Hellas.

The truth was like being drowned, stabbed, and ripped to shreds at the same time.

Dartz had been right.

Pegasus and Cyndia had been slave-traders.

The scrolls documented details of the shipments: how many men, women, and children had been among them, if any of them were sick or disabled, where exactly they came from. Reading about all these hundreds of people who had been treated like any other good made Yugi so nauseous he wanted to vomit.

He searched for anything that would prove that all this was just a misunderstanding. But every document had been written neatly and signed with the family seal. Nothing invited only the hint of a doubt.

Despite all that, Yugi kept coming back to the office for days. A naive part of him hoped every morning that through some miracle the scrolls would change. They didn't and all Yugi could do was pace the office, throw oil lamps and small figures against the walls, and cry in disgust.

Today, Yugi had let out his anger by breaking every single reed pen he could find. He sat on a green couch, cracking one pen after another into two. Each and every one of these pens might have helped sentence people to a life worse than death. A part of him wanted to do what Dartz had failed at and burn the whole office down.

Atem entered and closed the door behind himself. He sat down next to Yugi. Both remained silent until Yugi had broken the last reed pen and dropped the pieces on the pile between his feet.

"I don't understand," Yugi said, his voice frailer than he expected. "Ever since I can remember, they taught me that slavery is the worst anyone can do to another person. And all the while they…"

Yugi swallowed his tears. Atem placed a hand on his back and handed him a scroll. The seal was broken but it clearly was that of Pegasus and Cyndia.

"Maybe you'll find answers in this. It was in Dartz's former room. I didn't read it but it's addressed to you. From Pegasus."

Yugi's heartbeat quickened. His shaky hands unrolled the three pieces of parchment.

Dear Yugi,

it's been a few days since you left for Tamiat. I'm alone and scared and dying. There's something I need to confess to you before my life ends and you'll hate us for it.

The disgusting truth is that both Cyndia and I come from families that made their fortunes with the most disgusting "business" there is: slavery. For most of our lives, we never questioned this. It was just how things were. Until we met you.

Your mother's "owner" was a fellow slave trader and we met with him in his estate in Anatolia. Back then, Cyndia and I had been begging the gods for a child but they wouldn't hear us. When your mother became Cyndia's handmaid for the time being, she couldn't help but be a little jealous. You had just been born and because of certain circumstances your mother often carried you with her in a sling while working.

As you know, Cyndia and your mother eventually bonded over you. This was also how she learned what the cruelties of slavery really meant, that slaves weren't the dumb and unfeeling creatures we had been taught they were. She was horrified thinking that an innocent baby like you would have a life of violence and humiliation.

She tried to buy you and your mother from her "owner" but he refused. You know the rest. Right before we returned to Hellas your mother gave you to Cyndia and then chose her own death.

I'm unspeakably ashamed of this but back then I wanted to give you back to your "owner". I hadn't made the same experiences as Cyndia. I didn't understand why she was so adamant on keeping you or why she refused to do any work for our "business". We fought a lot about all this. In the end, it wasn't her who convinced me. It was you, Yugi.

It was the first time she let me hold you I started to understand. You were so small and fragile and the way you smiled at me… It was suddenly clear to me why Cyndia wanted to protect you.

Slowly, we became a family. At the same time I noticed that the slaves I sold like any other good love their children like we love you. The way they consoled their little ones when they scraped their knee, kissed them good night or played with them… There was no difference at all.

At first, I thought it'd be enough to treat them better. To forbid having them beaten, calling the doctor when they got sick, giving them more food. But I was still selling other human beings for money. I ended our business and we found other things to trade. That too, wasn't enough.

We owed it to all these people we sentenced to terrible lives to make a difference. So we tried to convince other nobles of our decision. Most thought we were crazy and laughed at us. There were however a few people who started to think differently.

Even that was too threatening for the slave traders who didn't want to lose one coin of their income. They made up crimes we never committed, bribed the judges, and so we were exiled from Hellas. The enemies we made threatened to hunt us down and harm you if we dared to challenge their businesses ever again.

As much as we wanted to help the slaves we had to acknowledge that we had no means to do so. The way things were we would have put you and everyone working for us in danger. So we decided to hide in Asphaleia.

We're sorry we kept a huge part of this story hidden from you. Like I wrote, back then we were wondering for years why the gods wouldn't let us have a child. We now know it's because they wanted us to find you.

You have every right to hate us for what we used to do. There are no words for how much we despise ourselves for causing so much pain. We will have to beg the gods for forgiveness and rightly so.

Regardless of how you feel about us now, know that ever since we became a family we love you like a son every single day. I only wish those years we spent together could have lasted a little longer.

Whatever you decide to do with your life, I know you will bring light and happiness to this dark and cruel world. You already did for us.

I love you, my son.

Hot tears were running over Yugi's cheeks. He turned to Atem and Atem wrapped his gentle arms around him.

For a while, he quietly sobbed in Atem's embrace. Once he had calmed down, he wiped his face and rose.

He had scattered many scrolls on the desk to his right. He checked them once more, this time paying attention to the dates. They were all at least seventeen years old. Pegasus had told the truth. While Yugi rummaged through the piles of papyrus, Atem read the letter.

"I still can't believe it," Yugi said when he had seen enough. "All my life they were so kind to me and everyone else in Asphaleia. I just can't imagine them…"

Yugi shuddered. Atem approached him and hugged him from behind.

"We all change, don't we? I know I did," he said.

"But you didn't keep your past secret from me for years."

"Honestly? I would have if it had been possible. I understand wanting to hide the most shameful parts of your past. And you can too, right? It's how we first bonded, after all."

Yugi couldn't deny it. For such a long time, the incident at Sobek's Bridge had haunted him. He had been terrified of facing people who knew about the whole thing, of them shouting at him, cursing him, or attacking him physically. He had to admit that he too might never have told Atem about what had happened if things had gone differently between them.

"That makes a lot more sense than I'd like to admit," Yugi said and leaned his head back against Atem's shoulder. "But still… I can't just… I can't love them and hate Dartz when they committed the same crime."

"But your parents eventually understood what they did. They ended their business and even tried to convince others of doing the same. I'm not saying that's an excuse for anything. Just that it makes the circumstances different."

Yugi stared at the painted ceiling. He was still confused, disappointed, and disgusted. He didn't know how to feel about his parents without being a hypocrite. What he knew was that them seeing the errors of their ways made most of his anger subside. And that despite that ugly truth, they had given Yugi a happy childhood in a safe and beautiful place.

"I think… I can forgive them for hiding the truth from me. But for the slavery itself?" Yugi glanced at the scrolls on the desk and the thought of how many people they had sentenced to a life of pain made his skin crawl. "No. Though, I don't think I'm the one who is in the position to forgive them for that anyway."

Yugi looked out the window. Somewhere in the distance lay his parents' tomb. He had asked Atem to send a few soldiers there to clean up what Dartz had destroyed in his attempted flight. Yugi wanted their resting place to be pristine but he wasn't ready to go there yet.

"Anything you'd like to do now?" Atem asked. Yugi considered it.

"I'd like to go and see if I can help anyone with cleaning up the place from the battle. I feel like getting things in order."

"Sounds good. If you need me, I'm here for you."

Yugi turned around and cupped Atem's face. More than ever, he was grateful for his gentle eyes and even gentler words. He gave Atem a kiss and tasted a hint of grape on his lips.

"I know. Thank you."

Once they left the office, they parted ways. While Atem went to another meeting, Yugi walked upstairs into the library. It was still rather untidy from Dartz's attempted flight. Kisara and three soldiers – with arm slings or crutches unable to do a task that was physically more strenuous – were sorting scrolls back into their shelves. They bowed to Yugi when they saw him.

"Ah Yugi, good that you're here. Do you remember where these used to go?" Kisara said and pointed at a desk and two chairs that were full of papyri. Yugi approached them and checked some of the tags.

"They were somewhere over there…"

He helped the others for some time, a little surprised himself that he remembered nearly every section of the library. Well, he had spent a lot of time here, preferably in the green cushy armchair right next to the window, reading all he could about the unknown world beyond Asphaleia's walls. He still loved the scents of papyrus and ink that filled the entire room.

"You have quite a lot of scrolls about shipbuilding," Kisara said as they were placing one after another inside a shelf.

"We have something on nearly every subject. On the rare occasions Master Pegasus left Asphaleia he always came back with at least a chest full of new material for the library."

"I'm sure these would be especially interesting to all the ship architects in Tamiat."

"I would love to invite them over for that. Well, once we…"

Both looked to the floor. Anger filled Yugi's chest, this time for Otogi. Who knew what he had done to the ship architects, some of his own people? Kisara took Yugi's hand and opened his fingers, which had been crumpling a scroll. She placed it in the shelf.

"You know, I think we can do the rest alone. But there are many others who need your advice. Everything is a mess and you're the only one who knows this place," she said and Yugi agreed that the best thing he could do was finding some distraction.

"Sure. I'll go and find out if you're right. See you later."

Yugi left the library and headed for one of the courtyards. As soon as he stepped outside, he felt the sun burning on his skin. Soldiers were filling wheelbarrows with rubble, wiping blood stains from walls, and carried weapons and armour, probably taken from the Atlanteans. A few military officials had gathered in the shade of a tree, debating over a piece of paper.

"Ah Yugi, there you are!" Jou said and approached him. His tunic was soaked in sweat, his hands covered in scratches. He nodded at the military officials. "I think these guys need the advice of someone who knows his way around here. At least that's what they sound like."

"Have you been eavesdropping on people again?" Yugi said and laughed.

"I'm just interested in my surroundings." Jou smirked. "Seriously though, I think they will be glad to see you."

Yugi followed his advice and approached the officials. They were indeed glad to see Yugi and had dozens of questions for him. Yugi could answer them all, pointed out a few shortcuts, and directed them to certain tools and other objects that would make the soldiers' tasks easier. Everyone appreciated what Yugi had to say and some soldiers even had an extra smile or bow for him.

As he walked around the estate, Yugi realised how much damage Asphaleia had taken during battle. Many parts of the walls, statues, and the greenery had been destroyed or burned and the leftovers were now scattered everywhere. But even considering that, Asphaleia had changed.

Cyndia's once beautiful gardens were either overgrown or replaced with more stables, training grounds, and barracks. Pegasus' paintings were bleached out or had received cracks while the building had been modified. Lots of other things that had contributed to Asphaleia's harmonious atmosphere – swings, pavilions, stone ponds – were gone. More rage towards Dartz was about to overwhelm Yugi but he decided to use that energy to rebuild Asphaleia.

In the entrance hall, his hand ran over a painting of him, Pegasus, and Cyndia. In it Yugi's head barely reached his parents' knees. Regardless of how he felt about his parents now, Yugi wanted Asphaleia to once again become a place of peace and beauty.

"Yugi? What should we do about these?" Jou asked and Yugi turned around. In his arms Jou was holding dozens of blue banners. The mere sight disgusted Yugi more than a festering sore. "Should we burn them?"

"I do like that idea," Yugi said but his rational side reigned in the impulse. "But we shouldn't do it yet. Let's bring them somewhere else for now."

Yugi took some of the banners – he could have sworn that they had a revolting smell to them – and lead Jou outside. They followed a path to the guards' original training grounds and threw the banners into a shed. Yugi wiped his forehead, his throat dry like parchment.

"With how hot it is I wouldn't be surprised if…" Jou began but a groan interrupted him, followed by the sound of wood being hit. Both looked around a corner and found Bakura, hitting a dummy with the mace in his hand.

Yugi knew there was no point in consoling Bakura. The only thing that could calm his fury was revenge and Yugi couldn't blame him.

"Come on," Yugi said to Jou and turned around. "There's a lot that needs to be done."

A few days later, when Yugi looked out a window one morning, he came upon a sight that first filled him with cold fear, then with hot anger: In the distance on the shimmering sea floated another ship with blue banners. But their position indicated that those on board were here in peace.

Yugi, Atem, Egyptian generals, scribes, and Rafael gathered in the conference room with the longest table. Atem sat at its head and Yugi to Atem's left. Except for a hushed whisper here and there, no one spoke a word. Yugi's heart pounded in his chest, yet at the same time he was focused and couldn't wait for the meeting to start.

A servant opened the door. Along with a few scribes and servants, General Ironheart entered. His face was wrinkled but of a roundish shape. His grey wavy hair was only a bit longer than his beard. Aside from the leather uniform with a long cape, Yugi saw little resemblance to Dartz.

"Pharaoh," he said coolly and bowed.

"General Ironheart," Atem said in the same tone and gestured at the chair at the other end of the table.

They didn't waste any time on niceties. Despite the room turning into an oven the closer noon came, everyone concentrated on the task at hand. They went through every paragraph of the prepared peace treaty and General Ironheart had few objections. He did however, oppose returning the victims of Dartz's slave trade to Egypt.

"No Atlantean would ever engage in such barbaric practises as slavery," General Ironheart said, his voice hard like the metal in his name. "In fact, one of the goals of our wars is to end horrible customs like these. My son knows this."

"A stance you will have to reconsider," Atem said and asked a scribe to present the scrolls that detailed Dartz's business. The soldiers who had been involved were then called in and confessed everything without anyone pressuring them. Lastly, Rafael too confirmed the accusations.

General Ironheart had his hands folded on the table, staring into nothing. His face was rather expressionless but Yugi could tell that he was trying to deal with the truth.

"What's the punishment for slavery in Atlantis?" Yugi said into the silence. Everyone looked at him, including General Ironheart.

"I'd rather not go into the details but I can assure you that death would be preferable."

The thought gave Yugi no joy but he also didn't have a shred of pity for Dartz.

"Your soldiers already know about Dartz's crime and they've lost all respect for him. If you deny the truth now, your soldiers might turn on you in the future. Not that I'd be sad but if you agree to help save Dartz's victims, the reputation of your family and that of all Atlantean generals can still be salvaged," Yugi said, unblinking. General Ironheart exhaled deeply.

"It seems you have a sharp mind."

If the compliment had come from someone else, Yugi would have thanked him.

"Now General," Atem said. "I'm sure you understand that I want your troops out of my country as soon as possible. So if you please."

General Ironheart looked at the document in front of him. Yugi held his breath. General Ironheart hesitated but eventually he picked up the reed pen to his right and signed the peace treaty between Egypt and Atlantis.

Messengers were sent out to the occupied sectors. It would be a matter of a few weeks until all Atlantean forces had withdrawn from Egypt. General Ironheart would leave with all Atlantean soldiers still in Asphaleia on the same day. Only shortly after the meeting, Atem gave an order to have all Atlantean soldiers brought to the generals' ships. The last prisoner who was brought to the harbour was Dartz.

Yugi stood next to Atem on the jetty. Yugi's eyes narrowed when Dartz came closer. Two men carried a few boxes that contained some of Dartz's belongings. A third was holding his weapons, his sword, shield, and bronze dagger.

Dartz's shackles clicked against one another as he approached Yugi, Atem, and General Ironheart.

"Hello father," he said but got no response. Whatever General Ironheart was feeling, he hid it behind a stony face. Dartz turned to Yugi. "I hope you know that Otogi will hate you forever, little whore. And let me assure you that this is not over."

Atem opened his mouth but before he could speak Yugi grabbed Dartz's bronze dagger, unsheathed it, and held it against Dartz's throat. Dartz's eyes widened.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore, Dartz. If you hurt my home or anyone I love ever again, I will have no mercy for you. So after you endured your punishment in your homeland you better think twice about what you'll do with the rest of your pathetic existence. Got it?"

Dartz gritted his teeth, seething with silent rage but Yugi didn't care. To him, Dartz was no more threatening than a piece of dirt beneath his sandals. He gave Dartz's dagger back to the soldier holding his weapons.

Without any other word, two sailors led Dartz over the plank and below deck. General Ironheart bowed to Atem, entered the ship, and exchanged a few words with the captain. He shouted some commands and the sailors obeyed. They removed all ropes, set their sails, and soon the ship began to drift away.

Yugi and Atem stood and watched for a little while before they entered their palanquin. But even on the way back to the mansion, Yugi didn't let the ships out of his sight. They became smaller and smaller until they disappeared behind the horizon. Still, Yugi's body remained tense.

At their destination, an entire court full of soldiers awaited them. They were cheering, applauding, some even singing. The moment Yugi and Atem got off, they started chanting Atem's name. Tears of relief ran over their cheeks and they hugged everyone close to them, not caring if they were of a higher or lower status.

While Yugi stayed in the court, Atem made his way inside and to a balcony. From there he held a victory speech, praising everyone's courage and endurance. The soldiers clapped after every sentence.

In the meantime, Yugi and Jou brought the Atlantean banners. Some others had gathered wood and lots of dry leaves in the middle of the court. Yugi and Jou threw the banners on top of the pile. Another soldier brought Yugi a flaming torch.

"…and just like this day is ending right now," Atem said and gestured at the orange-red sky, "so is the time of terror that the Atlanteans brought upon us! The Atlanteans may be a strong people but they are nothing compared to us, to each and every single one of you! Yes, the Atlanteans inflicted unspeakable pain on my people, you and your loved ones, but these scars will heal! And once they do, Egypt will be more powerful than ever! Nothing shall be left of the wounds the Atlanteans caused and that includes the sign of their wretched kingdom! Royal Ornament, please proceed!"

Yugi nodded and threw the torch into the pile. The wood and the banners caught fire immediately. Smoke emerged and a few sparks here and there popped out of the pile. Everyone cheered, praising Egypt or cursing Atlantis.

Yugi just stood there, silent. As he watched the banners turn into a crisp, a smirk played about his lips. Nothing could bring back all the dead or make all the cruelties of war undone. But in the end they had been victorious and it gave Yugi the sweet satisfaction he hadn't known he craved.

While the soldiers celebrated, Yugi and Jou walked back inside. They met with Atem, Bakura, Kisara, and a few other military officials in the throne room. It was almost dark by now and a few fire plates filled the room with light. A cool breeze blew from the windows above them but it couldn't make up for the heat that had been growing during the day. Yugi sat down next to Atem while the others remained standing.

"We have achieved a great success but there are still a few things that need to be done," Atem said and turned to Kisara. "What can you tell me about our food situation?"

"Now that our sea routes are free, we can order food from other countries. I've sent letters to inquire about the supplies and prices," she said, checking the scroll in her hand.

"Thank you. Then I think there's only one more matter that needs to be taken care of."

Yugi's fingers dug into the armrest. Everyone else's backs straightened as if they were already prepared.

"I get to kill Kek," Bakura hissed, his arms crossed. Atem nodded.

"They have Seto, Mai, Anzu, and everyone else. I have no doubt they will use them," Kisara said. She spoke at a normal volume but Yugi noticed the anger and disgust in her tone.

"They most certainly will. Besides, Otogi is still in possession of that bomb shipment and he will use it. Tamiat is everything to him. Or so he believes," Yugi said, rolling his eyes.

"We will consider this in our strategy." Atem glanced at the military officials. "One thing is clear: Our biggest and hardest battle lies still ahead of us. Our soldiers may outnumber Otogi's but he has hundreds – maybe thousands – of bombs at his disposal. And he will use them."

"He could have the gods themselves on his side," Bakura said. "We will invade Tamiat."

"We will save all the hostages and everyone else," Jou added and took one step forward. Yugi let a hand run over his golden wristband, representing Tamiat with its sapphires and pearls. When he had first put it on, he had promised himself to do all he could to protect Tamiat.

"And we will free Tamiat from Otogi and end his reign once and for all," Yugi said, his heart thudding, his voice sharper than a blade.

"So be it," Atem said, his posture perfectly erect, a small crease between his eyebrows. "Have everything prepared. Ask the sectors to send as many soldiers as possible. For this battle we need to give everything we have. Together, we shall march on Tamiat."