The Other Side of the Mirror
"Was it really him? Atem?" Téa asked Joey.
He had told them about his encounter with Atem when Diva transported him to another dimension using the Quantum Cube.
Yugi stopped walking, making his friends stop and turn to look at him.
"Yug," Joey began, but Téa placed a hand on his shoulder, a sign to let him know to stop.
Yugi sighed.
"I'm sorry, guys; I just need to be alone for a while," Yugi said before leaving Tristan, Joey, and Téa.
"Shouldn't we go after him?" Tristan asked. "Yeah, poor Yug," Joey added.
"I think he needs to be alone, you guys. Come, let's head to the cafe. We'll call him later." Téa replied, pulling her friends along with her.
However, just like her two friends, she was worried sick for Yugi.
Yugi knew this was the last place he needed to be in the entire world.
A vast clue was due to the sick feeling in his stomach.
The Egyptian Museum of Cairo was doing a world tour, and today ancient Egyptian artifacts were at the Domino National Museum.
The closest thing Yugi would ever get to remind him of Atem.
Yugi walked around the expedition, blending in with the countless pedestrians visiting the artifacts.
He melancholically walked around.
It was no use. No matter how hard Yugi tried, Atem's name wouldn't be here.
He was erased from the world, permanently.
With a frustrated sigh, Yugi sat down on one of the many benches. He curled his hands on his hair in agony.
Why did his heart call him to come here? To feel more pain, or was it to make him face the dark reality that he would never see his friend again?
"I just want to know, how is he?" Yugi whispered, closing his eyes in exhaustion.
"He's gone Kaiba… gone forever."
"I've known it deep down in my heart since we said goodbye. He's no longer inside the puzzle because we've gone our separate ways."
"It wasn't easy, it still isn't, but I had to let him go. And you have to as well."
"I'm sorry."
The flashback kept repeating in his mind.
He truly was gone, and there was nothing he, Kaiba, nor anyone could do.
He stayed in a crouch position for a long time, the people slowly disappearing from the exhibition room.
"Do you wish to see him one last time?" someone asked.
Yugi slowly lifted his head.
"Yes!" he wanted to cry out, yet all he could do was stay in silent shock.
Who said that?
"Come forth, Yugi Mutuo."
Standing up hesitantly, Yugi looked around the room. No one but him was in the room.
How?
"Walk forth and study the hieroglyphics on that wall."
Yugi did.
Shapes and animals were either drawn or written on the wall. Yet what caught Yugi's attention was the Pharaoh, who sat in the middle of the stone.
Yugi read the information on the piece and stepped back, shocked at the news he just read.
"Priest Seto became Pharaoh under the command of the Nameless Pharaoh. Pharaoh Seto was known for his harvest system that brought years of surplus food, furthermore-"
As Yugi continued to read, the voice spoke again.
"Look at the hieroglyphics closer, Yugi Mutuo. Who do you see?"
Yugi squinted his eyes at the hieroglyphics, trying to see whatever the voice saw.
He didn't see anything-
Suddenly, the hieroglyphics began to move, and it was as if Yugi saw a mirror within the limestone. His reflection disappeared, and now he saw a different reflection.
It looked like Ancient Egypt.
Priest Seto stood next to Atem in the courtyard. Both were watching Mana play with a small child near the courtyard's pond.
Yugi almost passed out when Mana turned around to wave at them, carrying a miniature version of Atem.
She was pregnant.
Mana blew raspberries at the small boy, and he giggled before she attacked him with soft kisses.
A son!
"Do you miss your friends? From the other world?" the Priest asked his Pharaoh.
Atem closed his eyes, a sad smile crossed his expression as he replied, "Yes, I do. There is not a single day that passes where I do not think of them."
Priest Seto caught Yugi's eye, making him gasp.
"If they were here right now, what would you tell them?"
Atem stayed silent for a moment. Deep in thought.
Opening his eyes, Atem gazed at his wife and his son.
"I would tell them that I am at peace where I am," he returned his attention to the Priest.
"But," he added, "I will always be there if needed."
Priest Seto nodded, and before Yugi knew it, the mirror began to vanish, taking Atem and all of ancient Egypt along with it. The hieroglyphics reappeared again, and this time Yugi could only stare at the limestone in shock.
"Partner," Yugi whispered.
"He's finally at peace," Yugi confirmed to himself.
And for the first time in a long time, so was Yugi.
EPILOGUE
"Big bro, the new duel disk numbers are in! It's a big hit!" said Mokuba with a proud smile.
"Thank you for the update Mokuba, but I really need to concentrate right now." the man replied, not taking his eyes off his screen.
"Big bro, are you sure you wanna go through with this? We haven't even tested this prototype. It's too dangerous." Mokuba began, but silence greeted him.
"Seto?"
"Seto!"
"It's time. Mokuba, you're in charge." Seto replied curtly.
"Seto… promise you'll come back." Mokuba pleaded with a whisper.
"Duel dimension system activate!"
AFTERLIFE, ANCIENT EGYPT
"I sense a visitor will come today." the Pharaoh spoke to his wife.
The Queen raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do you mean…"
"Yes." the Pharaoh chuckled.
Rolling her eyes, the Queen replied, "Ra, that man."
With a light chuckle, the Queen leaned in to kiss her husband's cheek.
"Well, in any case, try not to go easy on him."
"I wasn't." the Pharaoh replied with a smug.
"I'll take our little one to the river so you can attend to our visitor."
However, before leaving, the Pharaoh grabbed her by her waist and brought her back to him.
"Aren't you going to wish me luck?"
"Atem," Mana began, giving him a "Are you serious" look.
Laughing, Atem allowed her to leave the throne room.
"You don't need luck, almighty Prince." she joked before blowing him a kiss and disappearing from his view.
Prince.
Even after becoming Pharaoh and marrying him, she still called him Prince. Her particular title for him.
A smile formed on his face before it quickly vanished and turned into a serious expression.
"Guards!" he called out.
"Yes, my Pharaoh!" all guards replied, bowing their heads down as they placed their left feet forward and right hand on their chests.
"If any foreign man arrives in Egypt, do not attack. Let him come to me. He is my visitor."
"Yes, my Pharaoh!"
"Spread it out throughout all of Egypt! Let him come to me!"
It didn't take long for the Pharaoh's visitor to arrive.
Watching his stance and his unfazed eyes, the Pharaoh knew what he wanted from him.
A duel.
With a sly smile, Pharaoh Atem stood up.
Note(s):
1. The cover artwork is credited to Siosiri on Tumblr.
2. This story is my ending for the 2016 Yu-Gi-Oh! movie (Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions).
3. I used Dan Green's exact lines from an interview he did.
The question was: If you could give Atem a line at the end of DSOD, what would it be?
Dan Green replied, "Maybe his line would be: I am at peace where I am, but I will always be there if needed."
*sobs* I think that's just emotional.
4. Both museums mentioned in the story are in fact real. They're so cool!
5. I have Yugi call Atem his "partner" as in the Japanese version, both Yugi and Atem call each other partners. If not, Yugi calls Atem "Other Me".
*cries*
6. In Ancient Egypt, anyone who met the Pharaoh had to bow their heads down, place their left feet forward, and right hand on their chest. This was a sign of respect. The reason was because the heart controlled the body, one had to present their souls to the Pharah. Ancient Egyptians thought the heart was the brain, thinking it controlled one's movements and emotions.
7. I used PandaXclone2's (their Youtube username) theory for this book. They quote, "Kaiba didn't go into the past, but rather the afterlife. He's using a combination of his Duel Disk and the Quantum Cube to even exist physically in there. The last time he tried doing it was mentally i.e. his brain waves which was implied to be deadly. So he should be alive in the afterlife (as weird as that sentence sounds), but it's unknown if he can actually get back to the mortal realm."
I REFUSE to believe that Seto died and left Mokuba all alone. I know the guy is cold hearted, but not that cold.
8. PLUS, I believe the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh! confirmed that Seto did return alive. I think he made a social media post talking about Yugi and Kaiba a few years after the movie. I believe he said Yugi becomes a game creator and works with Kaiba to produce Spherium II, Yugi's new game. Also, we have to remember that this movie is canon to the manga, so Kaiba's involvement in GX never happened.
Author's Note:
So I ended this book exactly like the movie. Muahaha! It's all up to your imagination on how the story ends.