"Sisters of the Moon"
By: Heikou and Janime Lee
"You know, if things weren't looking so down in the dumps… I could actually get to like this," Cheri said as she looked at her attire.
It had been shortly after Tea sent Marik back to Malik that the brothers appeared. Calling upon those shapeless black blobs to make sure the girls didn't try to run they were escorted to a room to change into their formal clothing. At first they wanted nothing to do with it but Deliem made it clear if they did not change they would do it for them. Uttering some rather choice words the girls agreed.
"I know what you mean," Tea sighed as she checked her own dress. All the gowns were stunning white with extremely long trains, complete with golden bracelets they easily slid onto their wrists, inlaid with diamonds and opals. "These dresses… look and feel familiar though…"
"You to? Weird… Hey Keriam, you feel anything about this?"
"…" She didn't say anything, even as she smoothed her hands over her dress. Keriam's gown dropped off her shoulders with the hem done in gold with the phases of the moon going around but in the center of a full moon was a small jade green stone. It held an important to her that even as she touched it she was instantly reminded of her true love. Joey…
Cheri looked at her friend sadly as she wrapped her arms around herself. Her dress was simple with a kind of shawl drooping off her shoulders, tied up front in a small bow but held a golden crescent moon brooch with oval opals her bracelets. Looking down she pulled off one of her rings and looked at the yin-yang symbol. Balance of life. Irony on how she viewed and lived life worked so well with such an ancient symbol, even now with Anubis as her guardian and Obelisk her god. Seto… She slowly put her ring back on.
Tea watched her friends and knew instantly they were thinking about the ones they loved. She smoothed invisible wrinkles from her gown with the long sleeves and layered half cloak over her shoulders, feeling the silky material shift against her legs as she moved. Reaching up she could feel the ruby earrings hanging from her ears and instantly thought of Yugi. I know you'll come rescue us Yugi… I just know it.
The door opened and the three brothers stepped in. They had changed as well into formal robes of a charcoal gray but Perjiem was the only one with the hood hiding most of his face. "Welcome home… Sisters of the Moon. Now is the time for your true powers to awaken and to summon forth the gods."
"You honestly think we're going to obey you?" Cheri frowned.
"After what you put us through, after hurting the ones we care about, give us one good reason why we should help you," Tea said in a low tone.
Haziem stepped forward, catching Tea's chin with his fingers and tilted her head up. "Why should we give you a reason?" he smirked.
"Get your hands off her!" Cheri smacked Haziem's hand away from Tea.
"Feisty one, aren't you?" Deliem grinned.
"What's the real reason you've brought here?" Keriam demanded. "And how did you know about us? All the scrolls that held the Sisters of the Moon's history were sealed away in the tomb."
"To answer your last question first," Perjiem adjusted his hood, "the legend of the Sisters of the Moon was passed down in our tribe. A priest that served the Sisters told their story to his family. They kept it secret as it went down through the generations, as did the royal family."
"However, when Egypt fell to Rome," Deliem picked up, "the Sisters of the Moon's legacy died with Cleopatra. The only ones who did know were the descendants of the priest. He was our ancestor, as well as Marik and Ishizu."
"Their father knew of this but he never spoke of it to them or his wife," said Haziem.
"That man was a nutcase!" Cheri hissed. "After what he did to his son!"
Deliem just smiled darkly. "Perhaps, but as for that passage on Marik's back-"
"They don't need to know right now," said Perjiem. "They'll find out when he gets here."
"We are not reading it," said Keriam.
Perjiem raised his hand. "As if you had a choice."
The girls backed away as his hand started to glow. Keriam could feel her mind slowly cloud over. Joey!!
Joey felt the tingle in his mind as they continued to speed down the near empty streets. "Step on it, Marik!" he yelled at the bike driver. "They're in trouble!"
"Alright. Seto! Tristen! Pick it up, the girls need us now!!" Marik called out to them.
"Just lead the way and we'll follow," Seto replied. The three bikes picked up the speed as they raced down the street. Luckily for them the dead of night had no one in sight but even so they wouldn't have stopped anyway. As they drove further into the city the boys began to recognize the place. It was the business district where Kaiba Corporations and several other offices were located but why they were here. Marik looked around before screeching to a halt before a tall office building. It looked normal enough but there was a large sigh that said "Office Space for Sale/Rent."
Joey got off first and pulled the helmet off. "You sure they're here?" he asked, a bit uncertain.
"Positive." Marik pulled the helmet off and watched as the other two drivers stopped their bikes next to his. "Inside and more than likely the top floor or roof."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Without another word they young men ran inside.
"They will arrive shortly," said Haziem.
Perjiem looked up from where he sat. "And the Sisters of the Moon?"
"They are ready and waiting, brother," Deliem nodded.
"Very well," Perjiem rose from his chair, and followed his two brothers out of the room. Reaching behind his back, under his robe, the eldest pulled out two daggers and stabbed them just below his brothers' necks. "That's for leaving me behind," Perjiem said as he watched them fall to the floor. Then he started walking up the stairs to the roof.
"Twenty floors," Tristen huffed as they ran up the steps, "why can't they make these things shorter?"
"Just think," Yugi panted, "maybe we can beat that time limit on the mile run after this."
"Yeah right," Joey said as they neared the top. "That'll be a cold day in..."
Everyone stopped at the two bodies lying in pools of blood on the floor with daggers in their necks.
Bakura's eyes widened. "What the..."
Marik cautiously stepped over to one of the bodies. "Haziem..."
The other one made a gurgling noise, startling everyone. Marik went to Deliem, turning him over and pulled him in an upright position. "Deliem, what happened?"
"Perjiem..." the dying man looked at Marik, "He thinks...we left him behind...when you...you locked him..."
"More psychos in that family," said Bakura.
~I'm just going to let that slide for now,~ Malik said.
"H-he wants it all for himself..." Deliem coughed.
"Wants what?" Yugi asked.
"The power within...the Ninth Level of the...Shadow Realm..."
"Ninth Level?!" Joey exclaimed.
"There are nine levels in the Shadow Realm..." Deliem gasped. "The Shadow Games that were played were on the first two... sometimes the third level... The Sisters of the Moon...their power is from the Ninth Level...the very heart of the Shadow Realm..."
"So that's what Perjiem is after," said Seto.
"Marik..." Deliem grabbed his shirt. "Don't let the Sisters read the passage on your back... Certain hieroglyphs are marked...it's a code the Sisters used..."
"What is it?" Marik stared at him.
"A spell...after they sing and summon the two dragons and Obelisk...they will open...open a gate to the Ninth Level..." Deliem's breathing became rasp. "Perjiem...wants it for himself now...don't let him win..."
"So now you know what you were doing is wrong?" Tristen narrowed his eyes.
Deliem laughed. "I wanted the power...as well...Perjiem has stabbed me in the back...so will I do to him...not literally though..." His grip lessened on Marik's shirt. "Marik...your sister...by the gods...she's always right..."
"Deliem," Marik said but he was gone. He set the limp body on the floor again and stood up.
~Marik...?~
"You know where to go, Malik," he answered his light. "I'll be there shortly."
~Right.~
Once he felt Malik retreat deep enough inside, Marik pulled out his switchblade. "Bakura?"
"What?"
Marik walked over to him and handed him the switchblade. Bakura looked at him confused, then his eyes widened in shock as Marik turned around and lifted up the back of his shirt.
"Wait a minute!" Joey ran in front of Marik. "You're crazy if you go through with that!"
"They can't read it," said Marik. "Malik is safe; he's not going to feel anything." He shut his eyes. "Do your worst, Bakura."
Placing the tip of the blade at the first hieroglyph on Marik's left shoulder blade, Bakura looked at the other three. "If you don't want to see this, now would be a good time to look away," he said. Then brought down the sharp edge diagonally.
Marik held back the pained growl as he felt the switchblade cut into his skin. He staggered a bit and felt someone grab his arms. Looking up, Marik was surprised to see Joey holding him up. The expression on the blonde's face was one of worry and respect.
Shutting his eyes again, Marik retreated into his mind. He found Malik with little trouble; the ten-year-old was curled up in the corner of the room with his arms flung over his head.
"Malik, it's okay," Marik gathered the child persona into his lap and held him. "I won't let it hurt you."
Malik said nothing except cling to him tightly, hiding his face in his chest as it to try and escape. "I-I'm scared, Marik..." he said softly.
"So am I. But this must be done so no one can get hurt by Perjiem." His arms tighten as he reached up and stroked the child's hair. "Everything will be alright in the end. You'll see."
Bakura paused time to time as he made sure the images would be unreadable before stopping back, lowering his arm at his side. "It's done," he said emotionlessly.
"Damnit Marik... the shit you go through," Joey said softly as he helped him remain standing.
Marik slowly opened his eyes, hissing at the new pain coursing all over his back but he didn't care as he slowly pulled his shirt back down. "Let's go."
"But you're bleeding," Yugi spoke up.
"I'll take care of it later. Let's just go." Although he tried not to focus on the pain it still left him a bit dazed. Joey and Bakura both wordlessly helped him. Heading for the final staircase Tristen opened the door to the roof only to find that the Tea, Keriam and Cheri were there, wearing white gowns.
"Tea!!"
~No Yugi wait!~ Yami called out, stopping him before he could run to the girl. ~Something isn't right.~ The girls never moved as they stood perfectly still, like statues. As they all stepped onto the roof the door slammed shut behind them. Tristen tired to get it open but it refused to budge an inch.
"It's locked! We're stuck up here!" he told the others.
The black ooze creatures sprung up from beneath their feet, wrapping around all six, immobilizing them and covering their mouths. Despite their struggling, the blobs slowly carried their captives closer to the Sisters, stopping just outside a large white circle drawn on the concrete. Inside the circle was a triangle with a symbol at each of the three points. Marik recognized them: the names of Ra, Osiris, and Anubis.
Another blob slimed it's way past them and Perjiem rose from it. "What do you think?" he smiled darkly. "Almost identical copies of their temple attire." Perjiem turned to Yugi. "Tell me boy, does the Pharaoh recognize them at all? He had a tapestry of the Sisters hanging in his tomb, though it has worn with time. The archeologists were afraid to touch it because it might fall apart. I had no problem taking it when they weren't looking."
He moved down the line and stopped in front of Seto. "Your brother was returned to you. I don't see the point of you being here."
Seto narrowed his eyes at the scarred man.
Perjiem walked over to Joey and Marik. "Well, well, well. The self proclaimed prince of Egypt, and the Chosen of Ra's guard dog. How does it feel, Marik, to be passed over by the mutt, as you call him?"
Both boys narrowed glared at him. Perjiem laughed darkly and motioned his hand. The blob holding Marik followed Perjiem, carrying him to the center of the circle where the girls stood. The blob turned around so that his back was towards the Sisters.
Cheri raised her hand and Marik's shirt lifted up. The three girls looked at the bloody wounds now covering the ancient text, and then turned to Perjiem. Marik could feel the man's rage seething from him and he grinned underneath the blobby band across his mouth.
Perjiem grabbed a fistful of Marik's hair and pulled his head back, causing the blonde Egyptian to yelp and stare into rage-filled back eyes. "Do you think that by destroying the text that you've ended this? It's inevitable!" He released Marik's hair with a shove and looked at Keriam. "Heal him."
Oh no! I forgot! Keriam! Don't! Marik started struggling but it was no use. Keriam raised her hands and a golden glow washed over Marik's back. He could feel the cuts Bakura had made slowly close and the pain faded.
Perjiem smirked before throwing his head back, watching the looks of failure past before his captives' faces. "The only way you could have known about the passage is by my traitorous brothers... and you thought you would by destroying the passage you would defeat me?" He chuckled some, shaking his head. "A good plan and it would have worked but you forgot one very important detail. One of the Sisters has the power to heal any mortal wound. Sisters! Summon forth the Gods!"
The girls said nothing but moved closer, ignoring Marik's desperate attempts at freeing himself. Cheri reached out and with a fingertip traced a line of images down his back. Upon contact the words began to glow a bright blue color; she read the words and walked over to the point where Anubis's name was marked.
Tea also moved her fingers along Marik's back, the words jumping out in a bright ruby red color. Finished, she walked over to the point where Osiris' name was inscribed.
Keriam repeated what her Sisters had done, but her fingertips lingered on Marik's back longer than their's did and he took note. The hieroglyphics turned golden, and then she walked over to the point with name of Ra.
"God of the Dead and Guardian of the Scales, come to my aid;
Grant me the power to summon the god of light and darkness;
I summon thee now, Obelisk the Tormentor!"
As soon as the words passed Cheri's lips the image of the blue demon began to glow fiercely. Holding up Seto's card, everyone--except Marik--watched as the card began to glow brightly, slowly floating up into the air as the energy within it pulsated. Tea held out the card of Slypher as she spoke her own verse for the Saint Dragon.
"Lord of the Underworld and Ruler of Egypt, come to my aid;
Grant me the power to summon the god of good and evil;
I summon thee now, Slypher the Sky Dragon!"
The image of Slypher began to glow brightly, making Marik arch his back as if someone had placed a red-hot poker against the scarred tissue. When the spell was first beginning he was able to bear the icy cold pain that pierced his skin but this was getting to be a bit much. Holding up Yugi's card it too, began to glow brightly and took to the air as well, joining Seto's card in the night air. Keriam followed suit as the words glowed a golden yellow, speaking the words clear and strong for all to hear.
"Father of Creation and Child of the Sun, come to my aid;
Grant me the power to summon the god of earth and sky;
I summon thee now, the Winged Dragon of Ra!"
No! No, Keriam please! Marik tried to scream but it was no use. He would have screamed aloud as he felt the final image of the god glowed. It felt as if someone was now pouring molten lead over his raw flesh after the ice numbed it then the fire burned the skin away. He watched with dazed eyes as the card floated into the air to join its brothers before closing his eyes tightly. No…
Cheri, Tea, and Keriam slowly raised their arms up to the sky, calling out the final verse of the spell. The remaining words along Marik's back now glowed white as lighting and this time, he dropped to his knees heavily as lightning danced along his spine.
"Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, come to our aid;
Grant us your strength, bestow us your wisdom;
Dragon Gods of the World of Shadows, we summon you!"
Keriam began to sing. It was a dark, wordless song, sending chills through the six men held captive. When Keriam finished, Tea began to sing the exact same notes. As soon as she stopped, Cheri started to sing. When her verse was finshed, all three Sisters of the Moon sang as one.
As the spell was completed, the cards grew so bright everyone but the Sisters turned away from the light but when they looked again, it was in amazement and a bit of fear. Obelisk stood behind Cheri on his knees, a menacing growl issuing from his chest but the girl didn't stir. Curling its serpentine body around Tea, Slypher didn't move from the young woman's place. His dark golden gaze fixated on Marik. Ra's Winged Dragon sat behind Keriam as well, looking for all the world as a golden statue that had come to life with his wings folded against his back. The spell had been complete and now the Gods had been summoned in all their glory.
Perjiem laughed and snapped his fingers. The black blob moved from the center and threw Marik, sending the boy back over to the others. He crashed on the ground, rolled a few times and lay still before Joey. All the blonde could do was stare at Marik's back. The cuts Bakura had made were now replaced with scorched marks and ice burns. Clenching his fists tight, Joey sent a deadly glare to Perjiem.
"I thought that you would be happy for that," the sadistic man walked around the circle. "After all, didn't he try to go after your precious Keriam a few times?" Perjiem turned from the boys and looked at the Sisters. "So beautiful; it's a pity that they won't live after they open the Gate. But there is one possibility... oh well, I don't have the energy to give to them anyways. Perhaps it's best since I wouldn't be able to decide which one to take as my queen. The Chosen of the Keeper of the Dead," Perjiem walked by Cheri and ran his hands along her neck.
This did not go well with Seto.
"The Chosen of the Lord of the Underworld," Perjiem caressed Tea's cheek and Yugi glared at him.
Perjiem wrapped his arm around Keriam's waist. "Or the Chosen of the Father of all the Gods." He laughed at Joey's reaction and walked closer. "Or all three, then. A harem isn't unfitting of kings, am I correct, Pharaoh?"
Joey growled and somehow during his struggling, managed to get the blob to move away from his mouth. "Just wait until we get loose!" he shouted. "You're gonna-!"
Perjiem slammed his fist into Joey's stomach, hard enough to wind the blonde but not to cause too much damage. "That should stop your barking for now," Perjiem walked away.
"Joey..." Marik slowly returned to consciousness. "You okay?"
"Peachy," Joey coughed as he regained his breath.
Theliane looked on as Kasuyan sat patiently as the priests finished their work. It had hurt when they tattooed his arms and chest and his right cheek with the prayer to Ra. The priests moved away and Theliane walked over to her husband, looking at his arms and chest intently.
She reached out and touched his chest, chanting softly and the hieroglyphics slowly vanished. "When the time comes," she said, "use it to help protect everyone and everything."
Kasuyan nodded. "I will."
I never used it then! Joey thought, and the spell came back into his mind. Closing his eyes, Joey began to recite the words in a loud clear voice.
Marik looked at him with wide eyes. "No way..." he whispered as the hieroglyphics that the priests had marked upon Kasuyan began to appear on Joey.
"Sacred Light of Ra!" Joey screamed as a pure bright light emitted from him, destroying the black ooze creatures in turn freeing him and the others.
Perjiem turned and looked at Joey. "It can't be!" he yelled as the boy charged directly at him. Perjiem threw an enormous energy wave at the blonde, knocking him over the side of the roof.
"Joey!" Yugi cried.
Perjiem went to the side of the roof, smiling. However, instead of seeing Joey's corpse splattered all over the ground, he came flying up and punched his fist into Perjiem's jaw.
"Wings?!" Tristen exclaimed.
~The Wings of Isis.~
"Malik..." his darker half whispered.
~I'm not going to hide from the pain anymore, Marik. You're not going to face it alone anymore.~
Marik smiled as he looked at Joey who flew around Perjiem, dodging his attacks. "I'll be damned."
"What the hell happened to Wheeler?" Seto demanded; he couldn't hide the awe in his voice.
"The Child of Ra blessed by Isis," the Egyptian answered with a smile.
"You mean he's..." Bakura couldn't finish.
"Yup."
~Chosen by the gods themselves,~ said Yami. ~To protect the Sisters of the Moon.~
Joey flew back towards the other five and landed, his wings retreating into his back. "Hey Perjiem!" Joey shouted. "Here's a little something I picked up on my travels five thousand years ago." He closed his eyes. "You who guard the Gates of the Underworld, I call upon you to protect us. Hear me now and do as I command! I summon you!" Joey slammed his right hand against the roof top. "CERBERUS!"
A large wave of energy rippled across and then the air itself before Joey seemed to split open. The infamous demon dog guardian of the underworld stepped out from the crack and let out an unearthly howl.
"Amit," said Marik. Whether in Greek, Roman, or Egyptian mythology, that great beast before them was the devourer of souls.
Perjiem backed up as the dog demon growled threateningly at him. "Child of Ra blessed by Isis... the Guardian of the Sisters of the Moon is this worthless mutt?!" he shouted.
Joey smirked as he kept his gaze focused. "I may be called a mutt... but I sure as hell ain't worthless..." Getting to his feet slowly he nearly fell but remained standing, panting softly. "You will never gain the powers..."
"That's what you think. You may have summoned the demon beast and while I do not have the power to destroy you... I can still destroy your friends!!" Looking at the group behind him he smirked and unleashed another energy wave at them. "Die so I may extract my ultimate revenge!!" he yelled.
"No guys!!" Joey could only watch as the wave tore up the roof, streaking so fast he knew that even Cerebus could not get to them in time. But something streaked past him, nearly knocking him to his feet he watched as something counter-attacked the wave with another, creating a kind of sonic boom. "What the?!"
Obelisk slowly drew his fist back, growling deeply as he stood before the group, eyes glowing brightly. Ra screeched defiance at the scarred man where he hovered in the air, eyes glowing hotly as the heart of the sun. Slypher had his body in a protective circle around the group, having protected them from the blast he too, voice his anger at the man who would have destroyed their true masters.
All the color in Perjiem's face drained away, leaving him white as a ghost as he stumbled back. No! The gods are only to respond to the Sisters of the Moon for they were given to them by the gods themselves! Yet... they are protecting these mortals and spirits from death...
"I'll be damned..." the blonde smirked as he walked forward until he was standing next to Cerebus, "the gods don't take kindly to being used as tools of destruction. Not when their true powers were to protect and defend. You've lost Perjiem... Give it up already."
"... Lost Have I? To the untrained eye, yes... it would seem as that but I have learned to never have just one plan..." He softly began to laugh, starting with a dry chuckled before he could contain it no more as it changed into a maniac laughter. "Sisters!" The three unfortunate girls stiffen as his command. "Open the Gateway and bestow upon me the full power of the Shadow Realm! Now!!"
Cheri raised her hands up. "Muit, Nuit, Khnum, Neith, Nephthys, Nekhbet, Sobek, Sekhmet, Sokar, Selket, Anubis!"
"Anukis," Tea continued, "Reshpu, Wadjet, Seshmu, Meshkent, Hemsut, Tefnut, Heket, Mafdet, Geb, Osiris!"
Keriam picked up. "Maat, Isis, Hapy, Horus, Thoth, Bastet, Hathor, Min, P'tah, Shu, Ra!"
The circle began to glow fiercely, and the girls themselves began to glow the colors of their deities.
"Look!" Bakura pointed to the moon.
Everyone turned their gaze in the direction and their eyes widened as a star suddenly appeared forming a perfect triangle around the moon. Joey looked at the Sisters. "Tea's star..."
"What?" Marik asked, leaning against the Winged Dragon for support.
"When the Sisters died, two were sent to another dimension." Joey turned to him. "The two stars closest to the moon were supposed to be for the Sister that was left here to remind her that her Sisters would always be with her. The hidden star is the one representing the Sister that stayed. That's Tea's star!"
"And it's not hidden anymore!" Yugi said.
Suddenly the three gods let out cries of anguish and they six young men watched the Sisters of the Moon collapse, their life force spilling out of them in their represented colors.
"No!" Yugi shouted.
Perjiem laughed and he stood in the center. "At last! The Gate to the Ninth Level of the Shadow Realm is open!" he looked at them with an insane expression. "You're too late! The stronger the monster, the more energy it takes away from them! Enjoy what little time you have left! Marik! I couldn't have done it without you! Be sure to give my thanks to your father in hell!"
Still laughing like a madman, Perjiem rose into the air. A swirling cloud appeared before him and he went through into the Shadow Realm.
"KERIAM!" Joey screamed as he ran to her.
Marik followed behind and fell next to Joey as the blonde held his love in his arms.
"Cheri, wake up," Seto pleaded as he held her tightly.
"Tea," Yugi was on the brink of tears, "Tea, please..."
None of the girls responded.
"Not again..." Joey whispered as tears made their way down his face. He shifted Keriam so that her back rested against him and he hugged her tightly, his left arm around her waist as his right hand fell over her heart.
Marik and Malik could only watch, feeling sympathy for the couple; Marik was broken-hearted that he placed his hand over Joey's. No sooner than he did then a strange feeling came over both boys. Joey's eyes opened and the glow that had only surrounded Keriam now enveloped both of them as well.
"Wha..." Joey started to say, and then Keriam moaned.
"Everything comes in threes," said Marik.
Slowly, Keriam's eyes opened and she looked up at the two in a daze.
"Joey? Marik?"
"Hey, sweetheart," Joey smiled at her.
"Yugi! Seto! Put your hands over their hearts!" Marik yelled at the others. "Tristen! Bakura! Put your hands over theirs!"
Bakura was about to say something but then he saw Keriam sit up with Joey and Marik helping her.
"She's alive!" Tristen said in amazement.
"Tristen, I need your help!" Yugi yelled at him, holding Tea's head in his lap as one hand held hers tightly and the other he rested over his heart. Tristen quickly scrambled over to them and soon, they were enveloped by the glow as well. Tea's hand slowly closed over Yugi's weakly as her eyes opened to half mast.
"Yugi… Tristen…" she said softly.
Yugi didn't say anything except to smile down as her before leaning and gentle kissed her on the lips. "I thought I almost lost you…" he whispered.
Bakura did the same as he knelt and rested his hand over Cheri's heart. Seto frowned at him but said nothing as the glow covered them like the others. It took longer but she stirred awake, looking at them with slightly glazed eyes. "Cheri…"
"I-I'm not dead… am I?" she asked weakly.
"No of course not. I'm not letting you go that easily," Kaiba said as he helped her to sit up but held her to his chest tightly.
Cheri smiled but looking at the pillar of light. Carefully turning she noticed the gods but they looked to be in pain. They look like they're dying… she thought. Perjiem was no where to be found which could only mean one thing. He must be stopped… And we're the only ones who can stop him…
When the golden aura disappeared, Keriam stood up and ran over to the Winged Dragon of Ra. "Its okay," she whispered, leaning against the great beast. It let out a small roar and nuzzled her back. "I've missed you too."
Tea and Cheri, now recovered, ran to their deities.
"I don't get it," said Tristen. "Summoning the gods uses all their life energy, but what exactly did we do to help them?"
"One-third of our life force went to the Sisters," Marik said. "Everything comes in threes. We all have two-thirds of energy now."
"It'll be enough," Tea said as she ran her hand over Slypher's talon. "What do you say? Shall we go get Perjiem?"
"Of course," Cheri grinned. "Do you think we should change?"
"Yes, we'll move better," said Keriam and she turned to the boys. "Do us a favor and try to control yourselves."
"What?" Bakura asked as everyone looked confused.
"Ah, now I remember," smiled Joey as a flashback flew into his mind. "Girls, maybe you should change them just a little."
"Hmm maybe just a tad... but we still need to move in them!" Keriam winked.
"What are you three saying? Change into what?" Seto asked.
The girls just smiled at each other and closing their eyes their bodies were engulfed in a bright light. When it died the girls now wore some rather revealing clothing of ancient Egypt, their land of birth with golden jewelry but in their hands were very deadly weaponry. The outfits looked more like scraps of cloth with wrap-around skirts, more cloth wrapped around their chests to just barely cover their chest and sandals laced up their legs. The men could only stand there and, for lack of a better word, gape.
Tea sighed as she lifted her clef blade, testing the familiar weight as she fingered the golden collar with a ruby crescent moon in the center. "Well, this feels weird but I remember it," she said with a small smile.
"At least your back isn't bare," Cheri flushed lightly. She kept tugging her halter top down as she kept a firm hold on her double-bladed staff. Sighing in defeat she shook her ponytail past her shoulders. "But we can move around."
"Can you imagine if we tried fighting in our temple attire? We'd be tripping all over the place!" Keriam pointed out, making them laugh as they just pictured them trying to fight Perjiem in their white gowns. Her skirt was secured in the front of hip on the left side with a simple, gold brooch with the top going over her right shoulder. She studied the curved blades in her hands, noting the name their Mother Goddess and Father God crafted into the blade itself. "Well? Better?" she asked.
"Na-noo! Na-noo!" Cheri waved her hand when none of the guys responded. "Well, we can guess where the blood supply went."
"Of course," said Tea.
Yugi was the first to speak, although not very steadily. "...Those," he pointed to the girls, "are your fighting outfits...?"
"Not bad, eh?" Cheri smiled and turned around.
~Bakura! Breathe! Calm down!~ Ryou said.
~Uh, Joey, you have permission to hit us later,~ said Malik.
The Child of Ra looked at the Egyptian. "Why?"
"The thoughts we just had," Marik said through his teeth.
"Great minds do think alike," Keriam smiled and turned to the Winged Dragon. "All aboard!"
The golden beast leaned down, allowing the Sister to climb onto his neck. Joey and Marik snapped out of their daze and followed.
"Let's move out, people! We have a mad man to catch!" Cheri called out.
Obelisk held his hand out, waiting as the Sister stepped on but waited until Seto and Bakura climbed on before raising his hand. Cheri carefully stepped onto his shoulder once lifted high enough with perfect balance.
"I normally don't like fighting but in this case, I can make an exception," Tea said determinedly as she gripped her staff tighter.
Slypher rumbled lowly as he lowered his head, waiting until the Sister was seated comfortly before rising up and looked a the remaining youths.
Tristen swallowed as he looked up at the red dragon. "Um is this safe?" he asked in a slightly strained tone.
"You rather be stuck here on the roof all alone with no safe way back down?" Yugi asked as he climbed onto the dragon's back, a bit behind where Tea sat. The brunette needed no other encouragement as he scrambled to sit behind him.. "Alright, let's go."
"Cerberus!" Joey called out to the demon dog. "Stay here; don't let anyone or anything enter or leave until we return." The beast roared his response to his master.
The three gods voiced their readiness as they stepped into the once hidden doorway and were transported to the heart and Ninth Level of the Shadow Realm.
Authors' Note:
Janime: Wow... look at how far this fic is going.
Heikou: (grins) It's wonderful! People like it!
Janime: I'm unfortunate to say that we won't be able to continue it until after I come home from Florida.
Heikou: :( I hope you have a good time, though.
Janime: I'll try. Oh and the gods that the Sisters were naming off, we got most of that list from the animated (not japanese animated, mind you) feature, The Prince of Egypt. Good movie, good music.
Heikou: Yes, we are nearing the final chapter! Now the major question: What is going to happen to Cheri and Keriam?
Janime: You have to read to find out.
Heikou: Also, the spells mentioned above are the products of both our minds working together. The spell the girls use to summon the gods I created with help from Janime. The spell she gave to Joey to summon Cerberus she created. And before anyone asks in Greek myth Cerberus did have three heads but she told me she got the idea for this demon beast from Tokyo Revelation.
Janime: Yes, in Tokyo Revelation, Cerberus only had one head not three. He was still a cool demon dog, though.