Of Mages and Elves: Blood Red Darkness
Author's notes: Well, we're getting down to the final piece of this story! Thank you to all who have supported me thus far, and enjoy ^_~
Warnings: Yaoi, AU, possible OOCness
Disclaimer: Do I honestly have to say this *every* chapter? -.-; Really, I don't own it… I really don't… I really wish I did…
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Pegasus' eyes narrowed as he watched Ryou run towards him, dodging various bolts of the high mage's deadly power. *What does that healer think he's doing?* the silver haired mage thought. It didn't really matter. The energy barrage would eventually kill the boy anyway. Instead Pegasus focused on destroying the shield created by Isis and Seto. Yugi had somehow managed to drag the prince inside and was now helping the two keep their shield strong.
Bakura rematerialized next to Malik, glancing around to make sure he hadn't been noticed. The young apprentice was gasping for breath, a hand clutched tightly over the heavily bleeding wound in his side.
"Malik?" the thief hissed. Malik glanced up, pain evident in his tired violet eyes.
"Ba… kura," he forced the syllables out.
"Don't talk," Bakura told him, lifting the boy into his arms and fading back out only to reappear a few minutes later inside the small shield sphere.
"Ishtal…" Malik choked, clutching Bakura's tunic tightly. Bakura nodded, setting the boy down.
"I'll get him," he said and vanished again. He was only half way to the mage when he heard Ryou cry out in pain. He froze.
Ryou! he yelled through their link. The elf had fallen to his knees, wounds littering his frail body. Ryou, I'm coming!
No! Ryou's voice stopped the thief in his tracks. No, get Ishtal. I can handle this, Bakura was at a loss.
Ryou I…
Please Bakura… just hurry! Ryou cried. Bakura nodded, vanishing back into shadows and reappearing beside Ishtal. He lifted the unconscious but otherwise healthy looking mage, ducking another volley of dark power and fading out.
Ryou, I have him, he told the elf. He reappeared inside the shield and glanced around frantically, all but dropping Ishtal to the ground. The golden tendrils in the shield were beginning to flicker. Ryou! he yelled.
Bakura… the voice was soft, weak almost. Then Bakura saw him. The young healer had collapsed barely conscious just outside of the shield. The power surge had subsided and the thief could see Pegasus smirking at Ryou. Malik pushed himself up with a good deal of effort, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side.
"Bakura!" he screamed as the half-blood thief leapt out of the shield and ran to his elven lover. Bakura knelt beside the boy, gathering him in his arms. "Bakura look out!" The thief looked up at Malik's scream and dove, rolling away from Pegasus's attack with Ryou in his arms.
"Very nice Bakura," Pegasus chuckled as the thief stood, Ryou cradled against his chest. "Your skills haven't diminished I see." Bakura growled, glaring at the man. Ryou clutched his shirt tightly.
Bakura… I have to heal Malik, he whispered. Bakura dodged another one of Pegasus' attacks and dashed towards the sphere. A blast of power struck him directly in the back as the others behind Isis and Seto's shield looked on, unable to do anything. The thief stumbled and fell, Ryou rolling out of his grip and immediately crawling back towards him. Bakura! he shouted.
Ryou, go… the thief hissed, pain evident in his mind-voice.
But-
Go! Bakura snarled and pushed the healer towards the shield, which he stumbled inside of.
Bakura! he cried.
Heal Malik, Bakura answered him. He won't last much longer. Ryou could have dashed out to his lover right then, he could have ignored the dying boy beside him. But even when bonded, his instinct was too strong. Malik was a friend. He couldn't let him down. Ryou moved to Malik's side and began to heal the boy, doing all he could to shut out Bakura's pain.
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Pegasus smirked at Bakura as the thief lifted himself from the ground, an angry glare that would have sent most mortals cowering lighting his face.
"So thief, you think you can protect your little lover from me? Arrogant aren't you," he murmured. Bakura growled.
"You'll only touch him over my dead body," he hissed. The amusement in Pegasus' eyes only grew.
"Three of your comrades are unconscious and the rest hide like cowards behind their thin shields. Poor arrogant half-blood thief do you think you stand a chance?" he asked. From behind his shield, Seto froze at Pegasus' words. *Another half-blood?* he wondered. Bakura stood tall, facing Pegasus will all his dignity. He had to do what ever it took to give Ryou the time he needed.
Malik is healed, Ryou told him, as if sensing his distant thoughts. Ishtal is only unconscious. Bakura smirked.
"Do what you want, bastard. I'm still going to kill you for manipulating me," he snarled, a confident gleam in his eyes.
"Indeed?" Pegasus asked, amused. "If I hadn't manipulated you thief, as you so eloquently put it, you would never have met your little elf." Bakura growled at that.
"Keep him out of this!" he hissed. Pegasus smirked, his blood-red magic collecting around him.
"Give me one good reason I should?" he asked sincerely. "It's your little healer's fault that Ishtal, the most arrogant thorn to ever grace my side is still alive. Why not make him pay for the trouble he's caused me by striking down that what is most dear to him?" The crimson light grew in mass around him. Bakura's eyes widened.
"No!" There was a shout, just as the power released and Bakura found himself on the ground. Where he had been standing, Ryou slumped to the ground. The shield the two had created shattered into nothing, revealing Malik and the now very much awake and very much annoyed Ishtal.
Ryou! Bakura shouted, gathering the elf in his arms. Ryou… He held the healer tightly, glaring daggers at the mage who had done this.
"Such a pity," Pegasus sneered mockingly. "I had hoped he would last longer. I would have loved some time to break him." Bakura growled at the silver haired mage. Ryou wasn't anywhere near dead, only deeply unconscious, and the thought of Pegasus getting his hands on him… Ishtal snarled and stood, walking towards Pegasus with storms in his eyes. He placed himself between Pegasus and Bakura, glaring daggers at the elder mage.
"This ends now Pegasus," Yami snarled, stepping out from behind the remaining shield. He had regained consciousness just as Ryou had taken the magical blow for Bakura and he was livid. Pegasus smirked at the prince.
"Yes, this does end now Prince," he replied. Simultaneously, Isis and Seto banished their shield and stepped forward with Yugi and Joey close behind. Malik also stepped forward to join his lover beside Bakura. The thief shifted Ryou in his arms, glaring up at Pegasus.
"What exactly are you planning Prince?" he snarled. "Everything so far has failed!"
"Not everything," Isis murmured, a distant gleam in her eyes. Yami glanced at her.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Isis smiled mysteriously.
Our savior is already here, she replied. Yami visibly jumped at the voice in his mind. Isis only smirked.
"How did you do that?" the elven prince demanded.
"That is my gift, the power of telepathy," Isis answered calmly. Pegasus smirked, even more amused by their antics.
"Try what you like, it won't make a difference," he told them. "Maybe instead of killing you I'll just wipe your memories instead." The mage chuckled at that thought. "To had you fools bow to my every whim would be priceless. How about destroying your homeland Prince?" he asked, staring into murderous crimson eyes. He whirled on Bakura. "Or you, worthless thief, what about forcing you to destroy your lover with your own hands?"
Bakura snarled at the comment, drawing Ryou further into his arms and escalating Pegasus's laughter to maniacal levels. "I could do it, you know. Anything is within my power. And now," the mage stepped forward menacingly. "Now it's time to end this." Pegasus lifted his hand, his dark power gathering around him, waiting for his command. "Say goodbye," he hissed. The dark power released, and in that moment, time froze.
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Anzu jumped to her feet, a feeling of absolute dread flooding her perceptive senses.
"Yami?" she whispered, voice fearful. The feeling did not leave, only grew stronger. "Yami where are you?" she whimpered.
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Honda gripped the body of the young boy next to him tightly as the room shook with the power exploding below. Suddenly everything stopped. The brunette looked up, loosening his grip on Kaiba's brother and glancing around.
"What happened," he wondered aloud. Silence was his only answer.
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Ishtal stared in shock at the scene unfolding before him. Behind Pegasus, the ghost of a tall blond woman had appeared, gripping the silver-haired mage by the arms and holding back his destructive power. She smiled at them, deep violet eyes glittering and vengeance lighting her face.
Now is your chance. Destroy him, she spoke within their minds, her voice strong and determined. Ishtal's stormy violet eyes narrowed. Beside him, Yami, Isis and Seto focused their powers, waiting his for his signal.
*Thank you… mother,* Ishtal whispered, before releasing all of his remaining power at the mage who had destroyed his life. Without control of his magic and held back by the ghost of Ishtal's mother, the silver haired mage could do nothing but watch as the four beams of energy struck him and tore his body apart.
This world shall never mend, foolish foes of mine. Even with my destruction, the balance can never be mended. Those words were the last he spoke before vanishing, body and soul, in to the world of the dead.
Ishtal stepped forward, trembling slightly both from the extensive use of his powers and from seeing his mother again for the first time in ten years. He approached her, staring with eyes of child-like proportions. Isis smiled, stepping forward as well. This woman, before she had allied with Pegasus, had been one of her closest friends and mentors.
"It's good to see you again… Mai," she murmured. The ghostly woman smirked, nodding to Isis before turning to her confused son.
"Mother?" Ishtal asked. Mai nodded, opening her arms. The blond mage ran to her, hugging her shimmering form tightly. Malik watched the two from where he stood, shock flowing over his features. He had never seen Ishtal look so vulnerable. Bakura answer watched the reunion closely, his mind half-focused on the unconscious healer in his arms. Mai smiled and released her son, taking a step back.
I see you are doing well Ishtal, she said, winking at Malik. The apprentice blushed brightly at the attention. Ishtal smiled lightly.
"Yeah," he replied, beckoning Malik forward and wrapping an arm around the boy's thin waist. "I am now." Malik's blush grew deeper as Mai smiled at him.
You better take good care of him boy, she warned with a mischievous smile. Malik grinned, leaning his head against Ishtal's shoulder.
"I'll make sure he stays out of trouble." That comment earned a mocking glare from Ishtal and a laugh from those around him. Ishtal smiled sadly at Mai.
"You can't stay can you," he murmured. Mai shook her head.
No, I can't. I've done what I can to help, now the rest is up to you, she told them. Yami stepped forward, as did Seto. Isis glanced at the two warily. She turned to Mai, holding up her pendant.
"Can you do anything for the child within this?" she asked. Mai shook her head.
His soul will release when he chooses it, the woman replied. The large sapphire glowed brightly in response. Mai was beginning to fade slightly.
"Thank you," Yami murmured. Seto nodded in agreement. Ishtal smiled, watching her. *Finally…* he thought, holding Malik closer to him. *Finally I can let go.* Mai walked, or more floated forward and kissed her son's forehead. She was all but a shadow now.
Good luck… my son, she murmured, before vanishing completely.
"Thank you," Ishtal murmured in response. Malik wrapped his arms around the mage, closing his eyes and leaning into him.
"It's over…" he whispered softly. Ishtal sighed.
"No love… It's just beginning."
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Author's notes: *glances warily at readers* Um… yeah… sorry if that was a little… anti-climatic… I personally think I suck at battles -.-;
Bakura: YOU HURT MY RYOU!!!!!
*sweatdrop* Hehehe… well… at least Pegasus is dead…
Ishtal: FINALLY!
*mass cheering*
Yeah… well, I hope you enjoyed ^_^ There is only one chapter left in this saga, so stay tuned for the epilogue!