V.
They continued on their way, deeper into the Shadows that surrounded their destination. Yami was growing increasingly nervous and was glad the Shadows hid this fact from everyone else. Well, almost everyone.
He knew Serenity was guessing his feelings and that she was probably right. He did not want to be here and he was scared. His hands tightened on Silver Fangs fur and the wolf looked back in question when he felt Yami's trembling.
Joey had noticed too and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Yami. It's alright. They are not going to capture you again. You can rely on us. Trust me, alright?" He looked back at the blond boy and dimly saw the worried yet determined look on his friend's face.
//Friend?//
He nodded. Yes Joey was his friend and he would trust him. He urged the wolf closer to Gadreel and they all stayed together. Serenity was on look out and they kept quiet for her sake, so she could hear and feel better. In here she didn't need her eyes and was the most valuable out of them all.
Yami also noticed a bond forming between the two siblings and the Flame Swordsman. One like he and Yugi possessed with their Deck. It was amazing to watch, how each knew what the other two were thinking and how to respond. The warrior wasn't a card to them, he was family and for those two, family meant everything.
There were no further fights till they were at the bottom of the castle. Serenity had said she could hear a soft humming and Yami guessed it was the castle's floatation device. She could also hear the sound of wings and that made him nervous.
They now had to get to the castle and Gadreel and Silver Fang were now use in that. The four dismounted and Yami thanked the two cards and then they left. Now they had to figure out how to get up there.
"Why don't we use one of your dragons Yami?" Yami shook his head.
"No, Joey. The other dragons will sense them and attack." He heard the other boy sigh and then nearly laughed at the muttered, 'Now why isn't Mai here when we need here.' He did smile though.
They thought hard and went through their decks, but most of their cards would be sensed as kin by the inhabitants of the castle. It was Serenity who came up with the answer. She turned to them.
"Dragons and fairies aren't the only ones who could help us fly up there. What about birds? Are their any bird monsters that you can ask for help?"
The warrior nodded. "The winged-beasts would not like the fact that their territory has been invaded so we can call one of them. I think Kurama is a bird and a wind-type so he'll not like the castle." Joey turned to his friend.
"Can you call for him then?" The warrior nodded and then all was silent for a minute until they heard the sound of wings. A giant blue bird, with bat- like wings landed in front of them. It looked from the Warrior, to the siblings and then to Yami. Here its gaze paused.
"So you are the Pharaoh. I feel your power, but also your fear. Do not worry so, we will not let you become a card again for our sake if nothing else." Yami nodded stifly, but got on it's back with the rest of them. It flew them to an entrance near the bottom and left them in complete darkness.
Yami was growing worse as his mind recalled the passages of the castle. His fear grew and he wanted to back away, only the thought of his friends beside him made him stay. They had each grabbed one of his hands in support and with the Warrior going in slightly ahead of them, they entered the castle.
Now they couldn't see anything, but Serenity didn't need to. She felt when the passage narrowed and when it opened up on either side. Using this and Yami's memory they made their way into the heart of the castle. The warrior guarded them, but would be no use alone, so Yami called the Dark Magician and he stayed by them and guarded their backs.
Every now and then though, Yami felt himself being watched by the card and knew the Magician knew him well enough to sense his feelings. He turned to the card and told the others to go ahead just a bit. He whispered to the Magician.
"If anything happens and you know what I mean, than it is up to you to destroy me. The Flame Swordsman can take care of the other two, but you are the only one who could get past my guard." Yami watched as the Magician studied him for a minute and than was caught off guard when he bowed.
"You are worthy of your title now and if that is your wish, than as much as I don't like I'll see it through. But I'll do everything I can to stop that from happening." They walked back to the group and Yami finally felt better, knowing that his friends would be safe.
With Serenity acting as their eyes and the two cards protecting them, they dispatched any monster they came up against before it could sound an alarm. It seemed days that they were walking before they finally came to where Yami knew they would have to.
It was the only room lit up, by a single torch, but that torch hurt their eyes briefly, after the complete darkness they had been travelling through. The light lit up a dark crystal and a cage. No one had to ask what the cage once held, because they knew by the look in Yami's eyes. The Pharaoh quickly composed himself though and pointed to the crystal.
"That must be destroyed and then the darkness surrounding the castle will be lifted."
"After that we can take care of the rest and you three can go home." Joey looked over at the Warrior.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" He didn't want his friend to die. He was almost like the Father that Joey had always wanted. In a way he didn't want to leave. Suddenly the torch was blown out and they were left in darkness once more. "Yami, what's going on? Yami?" He wasn't getting an answer. But he felt through the puzzle the sheer terror that had Yami pinned.
"He can't duel like this Joey." That was the Dark Magician. Fine, if Yami couldn't duel, it was up to him and Serenity."
"Dark Magician, please, guard him and don't let whatever it is near him." He Magician gave his consent and Joey turned to his sister. "Serenity, do you know where it is." He felt her pause.
"To your right and ahead. It's huge but walks like a human."
"The Dark King of the Abyss." Joey heard his warrior and knew the card, he had seen it in Grandpa's shop. What had the card said?
'It's said that the King of the Netherworld once had the power to rule over the dark.'
Made sense why he was here, but how to defeat him. The Swordsman couldn't fight what it couldn't see and Joey couldn't hear well enough to tell when it was going to attack, unless.
"Sis! I need you to tell me when and where you think that thing is going to strike. Flame Swordsman, listen to her and attack or defend as you think best. I'm going after the crystal." He hoped the King hadn't understood him as he moved backwards trying to find the wall near where the crystal was.
"To the left, from above!" He saw the flash of fire and heard something cry out in pain, but it wasn't his friend. It was working. His hands touched the cool metal of the cage and he saw a flash of violet eyes in the next attack. The Dark Magician was defending Yami with everything, taking no chances.
'You'll be alright Yami. We got it under control.'
//I'm sorry I failed you Joey.//
'You didn't fail. Everyone freezes sometimes. But your relying on friends and that trust makes you strong. You told me that one.'
//You're right.// He felt Yami smile and then his hand was on the crystal. He picked it up as Serenity kept directing the attacks. He smashed it and watched as the shadows fled and everything was filled with light once more. The skeletal creature that was the King came into view and Joey looked over at Yami and they both grinned.
"Flame Swordsman." "Dark Magician."
"Attack!" They shouted in unison and the two cards attacked and destroyed the King. Serenity went to help Yami on to his feet and then Joey helped steady him. They turned to the cards and the Swordsman came over.
"Time for you to go home. Just don't forget that were not just players in a game." Serenity smiled.
"No, you're are friends."
They were sent back to their world and were back in the same position they left. It seemed no time had passed. Yami was back in his soul room and was reassured that Yugi was alright and still sound asleep. He then turned his attention to the brother and sister.
"Is that sort of what you had to go through to win the tournament."
"Yep. With so much at stake and Pegasus playing for souls, we were put in the shadow realm quite a few times. It took us all as a team to make it out of some pretty hard places."
"So, you risked your life?"
"It was worth it to see you again."
"What about Yami?"
//I'm fine.//
"He says he's fine and I think he is now. He is one of my best friends and we dueled as a team once and once had to duel each other. He's not just part of Yugi, or this puzzle. He's a person, someone completely on his own. But it took a lot for both him and Yugi to realize that."
"Doesn't he want to be free?"
"He is. I think this is his choice to stay with Yugi. There are other ties than those of blood, and one of them is friendship."
"Well at least now I know what really happened."
"Just wait till morning when we can tell everyone."
They both laughed and Yami drifted off, content to know that he had a place in this world, with his friends.
And far away a lady opened her mail and saw a picture of a bunch of kids in what looked to be a castle. She turned it over and read there names and smiled.
"Thank you, my son. I will always love you."
She placed the picture in a frame and put it on the mantle where she would see it everyday and remember the one she had never really lost at all.
**Okay! That is the end of this series. I'm still going to write, just nothing more for this time line. It is officially over. Hope you liked it!!
They continued on their way, deeper into the Shadows that surrounded their destination. Yami was growing increasingly nervous and was glad the Shadows hid this fact from everyone else. Well, almost everyone.
He knew Serenity was guessing his feelings and that she was probably right. He did not want to be here and he was scared. His hands tightened on Silver Fangs fur and the wolf looked back in question when he felt Yami's trembling.
Joey had noticed too and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Yami. It's alright. They are not going to capture you again. You can rely on us. Trust me, alright?" He looked back at the blond boy and dimly saw the worried yet determined look on his friend's face.
//Friend?//
He nodded. Yes Joey was his friend and he would trust him. He urged the wolf closer to Gadreel and they all stayed together. Serenity was on look out and they kept quiet for her sake, so she could hear and feel better. In here she didn't need her eyes and was the most valuable out of them all.
Yami also noticed a bond forming between the two siblings and the Flame Swordsman. One like he and Yugi possessed with their Deck. It was amazing to watch, how each knew what the other two were thinking and how to respond. The warrior wasn't a card to them, he was family and for those two, family meant everything.
There were no further fights till they were at the bottom of the castle. Serenity had said she could hear a soft humming and Yami guessed it was the castle's floatation device. She could also hear the sound of wings and that made him nervous.
They now had to get to the castle and Gadreel and Silver Fang were now use in that. The four dismounted and Yami thanked the two cards and then they left. Now they had to figure out how to get up there.
"Why don't we use one of your dragons Yami?" Yami shook his head.
"No, Joey. The other dragons will sense them and attack." He heard the other boy sigh and then nearly laughed at the muttered, 'Now why isn't Mai here when we need here.' He did smile though.
They thought hard and went through their decks, but most of their cards would be sensed as kin by the inhabitants of the castle. It was Serenity who came up with the answer. She turned to them.
"Dragons and fairies aren't the only ones who could help us fly up there. What about birds? Are their any bird monsters that you can ask for help?"
The warrior nodded. "The winged-beasts would not like the fact that their territory has been invaded so we can call one of them. I think Kurama is a bird and a wind-type so he'll not like the castle." Joey turned to his friend.
"Can you call for him then?" The warrior nodded and then all was silent for a minute until they heard the sound of wings. A giant blue bird, with bat- like wings landed in front of them. It looked from the Warrior, to the siblings and then to Yami. Here its gaze paused.
"So you are the Pharaoh. I feel your power, but also your fear. Do not worry so, we will not let you become a card again for our sake if nothing else." Yami nodded stifly, but got on it's back with the rest of them. It flew them to an entrance near the bottom and left them in complete darkness.
Yami was growing worse as his mind recalled the passages of the castle. His fear grew and he wanted to back away, only the thought of his friends beside him made him stay. They had each grabbed one of his hands in support and with the Warrior going in slightly ahead of them, they entered the castle.
Now they couldn't see anything, but Serenity didn't need to. She felt when the passage narrowed and when it opened up on either side. Using this and Yami's memory they made their way into the heart of the castle. The warrior guarded them, but would be no use alone, so Yami called the Dark Magician and he stayed by them and guarded their backs.
Every now and then though, Yami felt himself being watched by the card and knew the Magician knew him well enough to sense his feelings. He turned to the card and told the others to go ahead just a bit. He whispered to the Magician.
"If anything happens and you know what I mean, than it is up to you to destroy me. The Flame Swordsman can take care of the other two, but you are the only one who could get past my guard." Yami watched as the Magician studied him for a minute and than was caught off guard when he bowed.
"You are worthy of your title now and if that is your wish, than as much as I don't like I'll see it through. But I'll do everything I can to stop that from happening." They walked back to the group and Yami finally felt better, knowing that his friends would be safe.
With Serenity acting as their eyes and the two cards protecting them, they dispatched any monster they came up against before it could sound an alarm. It seemed days that they were walking before they finally came to where Yami knew they would have to.
It was the only room lit up, by a single torch, but that torch hurt their eyes briefly, after the complete darkness they had been travelling through. The light lit up a dark crystal and a cage. No one had to ask what the cage once held, because they knew by the look in Yami's eyes. The Pharaoh quickly composed himself though and pointed to the crystal.
"That must be destroyed and then the darkness surrounding the castle will be lifted."
"After that we can take care of the rest and you three can go home." Joey looked over at the Warrior.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" He didn't want his friend to die. He was almost like the Father that Joey had always wanted. In a way he didn't want to leave. Suddenly the torch was blown out and they were left in darkness once more. "Yami, what's going on? Yami?" He wasn't getting an answer. But he felt through the puzzle the sheer terror that had Yami pinned.
"He can't duel like this Joey." That was the Dark Magician. Fine, if Yami couldn't duel, it was up to him and Serenity."
"Dark Magician, please, guard him and don't let whatever it is near him." He Magician gave his consent and Joey turned to his sister. "Serenity, do you know where it is." He felt her pause.
"To your right and ahead. It's huge but walks like a human."
"The Dark King of the Abyss." Joey heard his warrior and knew the card, he had seen it in Grandpa's shop. What had the card said?
'It's said that the King of the Netherworld once had the power to rule over the dark.'
Made sense why he was here, but how to defeat him. The Swordsman couldn't fight what it couldn't see and Joey couldn't hear well enough to tell when it was going to attack, unless.
"Sis! I need you to tell me when and where you think that thing is going to strike. Flame Swordsman, listen to her and attack or defend as you think best. I'm going after the crystal." He hoped the King hadn't understood him as he moved backwards trying to find the wall near where the crystal was.
"To the left, from above!" He saw the flash of fire and heard something cry out in pain, but it wasn't his friend. It was working. His hands touched the cool metal of the cage and he saw a flash of violet eyes in the next attack. The Dark Magician was defending Yami with everything, taking no chances.
'You'll be alright Yami. We got it under control.'
//I'm sorry I failed you Joey.//
'You didn't fail. Everyone freezes sometimes. But your relying on friends and that trust makes you strong. You told me that one.'
//You're right.// He felt Yami smile and then his hand was on the crystal. He picked it up as Serenity kept directing the attacks. He smashed it and watched as the shadows fled and everything was filled with light once more. The skeletal creature that was the King came into view and Joey looked over at Yami and they both grinned.
"Flame Swordsman." "Dark Magician."
"Attack!" They shouted in unison and the two cards attacked and destroyed the King. Serenity went to help Yami on to his feet and then Joey helped steady him. They turned to the cards and the Swordsman came over.
"Time for you to go home. Just don't forget that were not just players in a game." Serenity smiled.
"No, you're are friends."
They were sent back to their world and were back in the same position they left. It seemed no time had passed. Yami was back in his soul room and was reassured that Yugi was alright and still sound asleep. He then turned his attention to the brother and sister.
"Is that sort of what you had to go through to win the tournament."
"Yep. With so much at stake and Pegasus playing for souls, we were put in the shadow realm quite a few times. It took us all as a team to make it out of some pretty hard places."
"So, you risked your life?"
"It was worth it to see you again."
"What about Yami?"
//I'm fine.//
"He says he's fine and I think he is now. He is one of my best friends and we dueled as a team once and once had to duel each other. He's not just part of Yugi, or this puzzle. He's a person, someone completely on his own. But it took a lot for both him and Yugi to realize that."
"Doesn't he want to be free?"
"He is. I think this is his choice to stay with Yugi. There are other ties than those of blood, and one of them is friendship."
"Well at least now I know what really happened."
"Just wait till morning when we can tell everyone."
They both laughed and Yami drifted off, content to know that he had a place in this world, with his friends.
And far away a lady opened her mail and saw a picture of a bunch of kids in what looked to be a castle. She turned it over and read there names and smiled.
"Thank you, my son. I will always love you."
She placed the picture in a frame and put it on the mantle where she would see it everyday and remember the one she had never really lost at all.
**Okay! That is the end of this series. I'm still going to write, just nothing more for this time line. It is officially over. Hope you liked it!!
