Chapter 19:

That Sinking Feeling

"Are we ready?" Yami asked a nervous Tea and Ishizu.

They both nodded hesitantly.

 "Let's go!"

They waited till the dragon got closer to the roof and they jumped.

Maxellus was sitting in his chambers, when a loud thump distracted him. "What in the world was that?" He asked, looking up. His eyes went huge. Yami came crashing down right on top of him! "What the –

"Shut up!" Yami shouted grabbing him by his collar.

"Get off me!" Maxellus gasped through choking breaths.

"Tell me how to stop this now!"

A dark shadow appeared behind him. "Put him down Pharaoh!"

Yami looked up and saw Seto glaring down on him. "Seto…I should have known you'd betray me again. You filthy excuse for a priest!"

Tea's eyes went wide. She had never seen him so angry. "Yami…"

Ignoring her he threw Maxellus down and walked over to Seto. "So, you want to challenge me?"

Seto smirked evilly. "But of course my Pharaoh!" He said sarcastically.

Yami glared. "Very well, name your stakes!"

Seto glanced over at Tea and Ishizu. "One for the other!"

Yami's eyes went wide. "What?"

***

Tristan and Bakura were still running from the mob of monsters.

 "Damn it! This might be the distraction Yugi wanted but it's not what I would have liked!"

Bakura glared. "At least we bought him some time!"

Tristan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but seriously, this is getting tiresome!"

***

"Seto, you can't be serious. I just can't choose my friends like that!"

Seto smiled. "True, but you really don't have any other choice!"

Yami looked over at Tea and Ishizu. Tears were threatening to fall. "Tea…Ishizu…"

Ishizu approached him. "Yami…please do what you think is best. We are always right behind you."

Yami looked over at Tea. "Tea?"

She smiled. "Yami. We have to stop this madness, and whatever you choose, I'll understand. Just remember, the world is more important then just one little life."

Yami put his head down. Looking up again he grew more frustrated at Seto's smug smile. "I can't do this!!!" He cried falling to his knees.

Tea rushed over to him and put her arm around him. "Yami…" She looked up at Seto. "Take me. Ishizu is needed in this, and…" She got up and walked over to Seto. "I know you want me." She dared, looking him right in the eyes.

He stared back, unmoving. "More then anything…" He whispered.

She gasped and felt a strange urge to run far away. She held her ground.

"Then I'm yours, if you leave Yami and Ishizu alone!"

Seto thought this over for a minute. "Very well…for now I will accept this…but it isn't over between us yet Pharaoh!"

Yami stood up, reaching out to Tea.

"No Yami! Find Yugi and get out of here!"

Yami stood up. "No! I have to finish this!

 Just as Seto cast a spell to entrance Tea, Yami lunged at him.

***

Yugi and Joey were helping the King up the long stairs of the tower.

"Almost there!" Joey urged.

"We have to find Yami!" Yugi cried. "He'll need us!"

They continued their hectic pace toward the top tower.

***

Back in the underground, the group had just escaped the Dark Magician Girl.

Serenity kneeled down, taking a deep breath. "Please, can we rest for just a moment?" She asked.

Duke was by her side in a second, helping her up. "We can't, but I'll carry you!"  He smiled brightly, showing all of his teeth.

Serenity blushed.

Mai rolled her eyes as she always did when a man was being a complete ass.

"Let's go! We need to find an exit and evacuate the city!" Shadi spoke up, picking up the pace. Everyone followed in silence.

***

Tea was collapsed on the floor now; Ishizu was over her trying to stand her up. Yami had Seto pinned down and was proceeding to choke the life out of him.

"Do you really think you can kill me? Isn't that against your code or something?"

Yami squeezed harder. "All of this suffering was because of you…and I will see to it that it ends forever!"

Seto smirked. "We'll see about that! "Tea, help your master!"

Tea rose up, her eyes a faint blue colour. "Yes master…" She said in a hypnotized voice. She lunged at Yami, knocking him off his feet. Grabbing a near by dagger that fell out of Maxellus' cloak, she pointed it at Yami's throat.

"Tea…what are you –

"My master asked for help. And I can see that destroying you would be all the help he needs. Master will reward me greatly!" She smiled evilly.

Yami closed his eyes. "I won't hurt you Tea. I won't hurt any of my friends. I won't sink to his level and fight you once again. That's just what he wants! You'll have to finish me off!"

A strange glow flickered in her eyes. "Yami…?" She asked in a breathless whisper. The spell regained itself and she plunged into him.

***

A loud cry was heard as Yugi opened the doors to Maxellus's chambers.

"Yami!" Yugi cried, running over to him.

Tea fell off of Yami into a heap on the floor, the bloody dagger still clinging in her hand.

"Yami!" Joey shouted.

Yugi lifted Yami onto his lap.

Yami looked up at him. "Don't…hurt Tea. She doesn't know what…she's doing."

Yugi reached out to touch the wound on Yami's left shoulder blade.

"Leave it. I'm fine…just get Tea and Ishizu…out of here…"

Yugi nodded. Ishizu picked Tea up into her arms as the proceeded to run out of the castle.

Maxellus got up suddenly. "There will be on escape!" He cried out, throwing his arms into the air. Bolts of lightning struck the roof of the chamber.

"He's gone mad!" Joey shouted.

"This whole place is about to collapse!" Ishizu cried.

Tea awoke in Ishizu's arms. "Yami…where's Yami?"

Ishizu glanced over at the still figure on the floor. "He's right with us! Don't worry, everything will be ok!"

Yugi stopped running. "Ishizu…this has to stop!"

Ishizu knew what he meant. "Very well young Pharaoh to be…" She handed Tea over to Joey. "Get her out of here, at least for Yami's sake." She pleaded.

Joey nodded and ran for the exit.

Tea was now fully awake. "Where is Yami?" She demanded.

Joey looked down at the girl in his arms. "He'll be coming out soon. Everyone will. Just don't worry.

***

"I hear noise!" Bakura hissed.

"Me too." Tristan peeked around the corner. "On three…. ready?"

Bakura nodded.

"1…"

"Joey let me go! Yami and the others…I can't leave them!"

"2…"

"No way Tea! I have my orders!"

Tea huffed. "But Joey, you don't understand! I have something they'll need!"

Joey gasped as the ring started to glow. "How –

"3!"

All Joey could remember were stars; lot's of stars and little Mai's floating around his head laughing at him.

Tea braced herself for impact and looked up at the offending party. "Bakura! Tristan!" Thank goodness!" She hugged them both.

"Where are Yugi and the others?" Tristan asked out of breath.

"Back in there! I need to go…get Joey out of here!"

They nodded.

"Be careful, Tea!" Bakura said.

She nodded and ran back into the room.

Joey opened his eyes. "You idiots!" he yelled, rubbing a bump on his head and proceeding to bash their heads with large mallets.

"Ouch, Joey! It's not…ow! Our fault!" Bakura cried running in the opposite direction with Tristan.

An Angry Joey on their tail. "Come back here!"

***

Tea carefully snuck back into the chamber. She gasped when she saw Maxellus lifting Yami into the air.

"You foolish little Pharaoh!" He yelled. "Did you really think you could defeat me? I have all of the powers of the gods."

Yami gritted his teeth, as he was slammed hard into the floor. Blood was running down his nose and mouth.

"You have nothing!" He retorted.

Ishizu and Yugi nodded and took position behind Maxellus.

"He's right."

 Maxellus turned to face Ishizu. "The only way you could have any power was to absorb all of ours!"

Maxellus hissed. "I just need that blasted ring and then you'll never say those words to me again!"

"Then come and get it!"  Everyone turned to see Tea standing in the entranceway. Hand son her hips. "Or are you afraid of losing to a little girl?"

Maxellus tossed Yami aside and strode over to her. "I would take that back little one!"

Tea glared. Make me!"

Yami pushed himself up so he was on his hands and knees. Coughing up blood, he turned to see Tea and Maxellus. "No…" He gasped.

Yugi was by he side in less then a second. "Yami…are you ok?"

Yami nodded and stood up shakily. "Never better..."

For a quick second Tea glanced over at Yami, but that second gave Maxellus just enough time to grab her by the throat. "You little bitch…it's over now!"

She cried out as he lifted her off the ground. Time stood still for a moment. All of a sudden Seto charged at Maxellus and knocked Tea out of his grip.

"You betrayer! The deals off!"

Seto growled. "Fine by me!" He began to summon a powerful spell.

Ishizu followed suit.

Yugi looked up puzzled.

Yami stood behind him. He grabbed his hands in his own.

Yugi looked worried. "Yami…?"

"It's ok Yugi. Just trust me!"

Yugi nodded and closed his eyes.

Tea joined the circle and held out her ring, placing it on her finger. "The power of the gods!" She whispered in awe, gasping as a light coming from the ring hit Maxellus.

Another light emitted from Seto, Yami and Yugi and finally Ishizu. The lights went right through Maxellus.

Tea looked up. "Oh my god…it's the power of Ra, Isis and Set…"

A dark cloud formed above Maxellus and everyone watched in horror as he began to tear in half.

Yugi tried to close his eyes, but then he noticed something strange. Yami's hand was becoming transparent. "Yami?"

Yami looked down at him. "Focus Yugi!" He said, beginning to fade from view.

"But you –

"I am you, Yugi. We are just returning to each other!" He looked over at Tea. She had tears in her eyes, but nodded.

"Good bye…" She mouthed.

With one final bright flash of light, it was all over. A crumpled body lay on the floor.

Tea approached it. "It's…Pegasus."

***

The whole castle began to shake. "Whoa, I don't think this is safe anymore!" Mai cried as they slid into a wall.

"It's beginning to sink! "Let's get out of here!" Duke shouted.

Mai began to run when she heard her name being called form above.

"Mai!"

Her eyes lit up. "Joey! Down here!"

He nodded and pulled the ladder, which was at the side, down for them to climb. One by one everyone climbed to the top. When it was Mai's turn, she let Joey pull her up and rewarded him with a quick kiss on the lips. He went bright red. "I didn't know you missed me tat much."

Mai blushed.

"No time for that guys! Let's get out of here!" Marik warned.

Everyone nodded and ran through the crumbling halls. Once outside, they watched as the palace began to sink.

"What about Yugi and the others?" Mai asked.

Joey shook his head. "I don't know…

To be continued…