The Magicians' Realm Chapter 116: The Coming Storm, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Chapter 116, everybody! Yes, we're back with a few more chapters, and hopefully more because I intend to work on this fic in October so here we go!

Real talk, as I said in getting to what I had originally written what I had written was so dated and not at all where the fic was going so I had to take some time out to edit and in some places cut content entirely. Not only were we in an entirely different place than when I had started writing, this thing with Skulduggery (which wasn't planned at the start) actually accelerated my intended timeline. Ended up cutting about twenty pages worth of content into a scrap document and will probably cut more before it's all over with, but for now I'm liking the peppier pace we've got so far. Granted, this also might end up cutting the length of the intended story from three books to two, but we'll see.

Also I like how originally I wanted the two Yamis talking in this scene but the younger Yami is just exhausted so…it leads to an interesting bit of characterization, maybe.

So in other news, when I started this fic I was venting a lot of my frustrations with my first college and now years after the fact it shifts to me venting my frustrations with politics. Yami is quoting Dumbledore from the fifth Harry Potter book there, by the way.

Angiembabe, thanks for the review! Yeah—it's been happening a lot with that Harry Potter fic I've been writing too (might post one or two of the better scenes—right now the only one I'm somewhat sore about losing is a scene where Skulduggery tries to contact one of his old friends for more information). It's fun when you end up going ooh that's much better though. :D Good question—and no, Yami! D:

References:

Original characters, + setting © Kineil D. Wicks (myself, not the girl in the story)

Yami Skellington found the younger version down a back alley, apparently where he had curled up after exhausting himself. Fair enough. Slide down the wall, sit with a bump next to him, listen closely to make sure he was still alive. Yes…but his situation wasn't exactly improving. They were going to have to do something to keep the kids alive, and unfortunately Kineil's idea of force-feeding them was starting to be an actual option to consider.

Debate on waking him…sit there after a while, deciding he wasn't in a big hurry to face anyone after the incident with Dr. Heller. Unfortunately, the good doctor had a point—he was chasing a pipe dream that had no interest in reforging any familial ties.

But if that were the case…then why summon him? Why pull him from this dimension? It couldn't have been just for a lark—to bring back the one person that made all those old…okay he needed a properly insulting word for the filth that was the Administrators…but to be able to do so meant he had to hunt for that information. It wouldn't be out in the open.

Sigh. Perhaps this particular relative would have been doomed to end up here anyway…but that didn't mean he had to take this lying down. It was still within his power to keep these kids from dying, and he was going to do it.

No matter what it took.

*\*/*

Yami heading home for the day had been Maxwell's signal to kick back, light a cigar, and debate about what to do next. That he started smoking in the Administrative Chamber to spite the other Administrators was a bonus that also had him deciding to take the rest of the day off, after giving Yami plenty of time to be somewhere else.

So he was less than happy to run into Yami on his way up the front steps as Maxwell was making his way down them, especially with the way he was dragged back up in Skellington's wake to join that busybody detective.

"You wanna explain to me why you just ruined a perfectly serviceable day?" he demanded, teeth grinding as he growled around his cigar.

"Because someone went and ruined my perfectly serviceable day so I decided to spread it around," Detective Pleasant said. "Besides, it's Skellington in a towering mood, that's rare enough that you don't want to miss it."

Considering the doors blew open well before Yami got there and coincided with a properly thematic clap of lightning, Maxwell was inclined to agree, leaning against a column near the doorjamb and opting to watch the show.

The show itself was as thus: nothing short of declaring all the Administrators treasonous yeasty benedicts who conducted themselves like the Ancient rulers of old.

"Do you mind?" Sumbinix demanded.

"I mind having my house broken into and my family threatened, yes," Detective Pleasant said, hands on his hips. "And the indecency to ransack it without cleaning up as well."

"Detective, I feel like you having certain files in your possession—"

"Aha, which are no longer in my possession, which you would not have known about if you were innocent in these dealings. Or was Agent Montgau mistaken when he said that those files kept being kicked back? Something about letters from the Administrators saying that the Head Mage refused to review them? Perhaps because if anyone reviewed them they'd see an abuse of power that'd make the worst tyrants go green about the gills."

One of the other Administrators started in. "And what would you know—"

Detective Pleasant pointed at him. "You shut up, Serpine—or should I start airing out your dirty laundry? War crimes, for starters? Charming group you've got here," he told Yami. "My hat could do better."

"I agree," Yami said, taking them all in.

"You don't propose you believe this cockamamy story," Sumbinix said, gesturing at Detective Pleasant. "This so-called detective stirs up more trouble than he's worth."

"Excuse you I am worth plenty of trouble," Detective Pleasant insisted—cut off at Yami raising a hand.

"You're right," Yami said. "So let's clear some things up, shall we? Starting with procuring said documents?"

"We can't procure what doesn't exist," Sumbinix said.

"Funnily enough, I wasn't asking you."

Which was when a large box and several folders came smashing through one of the doors, a page running after it and apologizing profusely. Yami caught one of the folders, scanned through it—

Thunder rumbled through the building when he looked back up.

"I really don't think I have to look at our founding articles to know that this—" And here he gestured with the folder. "Is an abuse of power that needs to be addressed. Or are we stripping people of magic for petty theft now?"

Even Max went cold at that declaration—talk about your worst punishments. And for a crime that usually saw a person cooling their heels in a bound cell? No wonder Yami was furious.

Sumbinix stood. "Skellington, I think you've gone far enough."

"I don't agree. Matter of fact, I think we should start with arresting every last one of you."

"I don't," Sumbinix said, gesturing at the window. "This storm is your doing. I believe such an egress of power is grounds for removal. All those in favor?"

Twelve Administrators said aye.

Something about the way Yami was holding himself was dangerous. "So. I don't let you run roughshod over everyone and you see fit to remove me from office. Any particular reason, or are you being petty now?"

"Ah, see, when power-hungry grubbers like this lot get into a position of power, they always want more," Detective Pleasant said. "And when they can't get it they remove those obstacles. Pettiness is probably a contributing factor, however."

"While we're at it, you are removed from your office as well," Sumbinix told him. "And the both of you are under arrest."

Yami made a noise deep in his throat that bore resemblance to a mirthless laugh. "Now see, I thought we'd hit this snag."

"And what snag is that? Oh let me guess, you refuse to come quietly."

"That, yes. But also: in order to remove the Head Mage the vote has to be unanimous. I only heard twelve of you."

As one, everyone's attention shifted to Maxwell. Oi.

"Well Max?" Yami asked, tone deceptively mild. "This is your chance to get rid of me."

"True," Max noised, taking a long draw on his cigar. "And I wouldn't say no to seeing less of you. I definitely have better things to do than to deal with an aggravation. Here's hoping your successors are easier to tolerate.

"I vote nay."

Sumbinix smiled, nodded, got ready to speak—

Froze when what Maxwell said sank in, looked at him with consternation and growing anger.

Maxwell shrugged in response. "I vote nay," he repeated, taking his cigar and gesturing with it. "I won't deny that he is an aggravation on an epic scale, but he's still one guy. One guy isn't as dangerous as say, a group of fools convinced they're right and everyone else is wrong. So let's put it this way: it's not me, it's you, and if I understand everything correctly you are out the door."

Yami had practically swelled with triumph between smiling at Maxwell and turning to the Administrators. "Detective Pleasant," he declared. "Arrest these men."

"With pleasure," Detective Pleasant said.

"You can't do that," Sumbinix said.

"Reason being?"

Yami tipped his head, glanced around.

"You've bound this room," he observed. "Hastily, I notice."

Maxwell jumped at the door next to him banging back shut, causing his ears to pop as well—fingers feeling like they lost circulation alerted him to the fact that Yami was right on what they had done.

"The job still gets done," Sumbinix said. "And now, you're just a man."

"So are you."

Detective Pleasant grunted at that. "So tell me, since I obviously am not friends with an expert in glyphs: how well do those stop bullets?"

Twelve Administrators and several pages dove for cover when Detective Pleasant whipped out a gun—the detective aimed high, fired—

A glowing sigil went dark as the bullet gouged through the markings.

"The problem with such detail work," Detective Pleasant said. "Is that one little scratch means the whole thing is ruined."

Yami nodded, cape billowing as power came surging back into the room. "And now so are you."

The Head Mage flinging a hand up in the air was the last thing Maxwell saw before lightning flooded the room.