Chapter 5 -- Hope for the Magician
Me: The last chapter! ^_^ I'm kind of sad it's almost over! Marik: I, however, am not. How much longer until you pay me? Me: At the end of this chapter. Marik: Who are you going to torture next, I wonder? Me: For my next story? Mmmm, probably Ryou and Bakura. *evil grin*
Later in the day, Nico and Bradcorh (the younger Magician, remember) finished their conversation. Yugi had stayed because he thought it was intriguing talk, but Yami had retreated to his soul room.
Nico stood up. /Well, it's settled then,/ he said. /We'll trade cards, so you can get the mistress instead of me./
/But, Nico../ Bradcorh thought it over. /My master doesn't duel! You obviously love to duel, and your master is obviously a great duelist!/ he said, gesturing at the cross tattoos on the backs of Nico's hands, a symbol of many duels won. Nico shrugged.
/I am old, young one. My master got me in his very first deck, and that was years ago. Now he only periodically duels, and I am getting tired. It is time for this Magician to retire,/ he said sadly, with the same subtle weariness that he'd always had in his voice, but it was only now that it stood out to Bradcorh.
/Are... you sure you want to do all this just for me?/ Bradcorh asked.
Nico's lips parted; he laughed softly. /Of course! It is the ancient tradition for old monsters to give their place to younger monsters./
The two Magicians, who were now good friends, embraced each other in a warm hug. Bradcorh turned to Yugi.
"You want Yami now?" Yugi asked, since the Magicians could not speak to him. They nodded in unison. Yugi smiled, then turned to the side, touched his Puzzle, and said as if to himself, "Yami, they want to talk to you. Come out please."
The Puzzle glowed for a moment as Yami emerged from his soul room, and looked at his hikari. "You needed something, Yugi?" He looked at the two Dark Magicians. Nico made movements with his hands of he and Bradcorh switching sides, and Yami seemed to understand. "They decided to exchange cards, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did," Yugi said. "Nico, I think that was the older one's name, says it is a tradition for the old cards to make sacrifices for the new cards."
"Good, then. Should I do this now, or later?" Yami asked, looking at the Magicians. Bradcorh mouthed 'now' and glanced at Nico for support. Nico nodded, looking at the pharaoh as if to say 'hurry up!' Yami nodded back. He put his hands out to the sides, and made small gestures with his fingers. Two empty monster cards appeared in his hands. They were only spiritual, and they were not the real thing, but they represented their physical objects.
"Now this card," Yami said, holding up the card in his right hand, "belongs to Nico's master, and it will most likely end up in the hands of the girl Beradcorh is after. And this card," he said, holding up his left hand, "represents Larry's card. Now just in case Larry does eventually end up giving her this card, both of you will leave a small bit of your spirits in your original card. It won't be enough for you to notice, just enough for you to feel it when one of you touches the hand that belongs to the girl. When that happens, the small parts of your spirits are withdrawn from the other card, so you have it back. Is that understood?" Yami finished, holding out the cards. The Magicians slowly nodded. "Good. Now, Nico, is that right?" The white-haired Dark Magician stepped forward with a serious look on his face. He nodded, staring at the cards. "Nico," Yami said, "I am going to transfer a small part of your spirit to this card. You might feel a very slight pull, but most of you will stay with you." He concentrated; the older Magician looked as if he did feel something odd, and then it was done. The bands of his armor had gotten a little paler, nothing more.
Now it was time for Nico's spirit to go into the card that was really in Larry's drawer. He knew it, and he turned to the Magician who he'd named Bradcorh. /Bradcorh,/ he said, /I do this because I know how it feels to need a worthy master. I did something much like this when I was younger, and now I feel that I have paid my debt to the Magician who'd sacrificed for me. This has been done since we were living, breathing creatures, and it is still done today, by the more intelligent monsters./ He smiled at the younger, less experienced Magician. Bradcorh simply stood there, not quite sure what to do or say. Nico said one last thing before turning back to Yami. /Goodbye, my young friend. See that the sacrifice I make does good for you and yours. We will meet again, someday./ His image flickered, then he disappeared completely.
Bradcorh stepped forward, mind-speaking only a single word. /Nico!/
Slowly, Nico's image appeared on the card. Bradcorh looked at the card and the monster within, his eyes misting. He looked at Yami, once again asking a question with his eyes, the way he did. Yami nodded.
"Your turn," he said, terse but meaningful. Bradcorh nodded, hesitantly. First Yami took a small portion of his spirit and contained it within his original card, with Nico. The image on Nico's projected card shimmered, and then stilled. Yami looked at the Dark Magician and asked, "Are you ready?"
Bradcorh looked from Yami to Yugi, and then to Nico's card, and back to Yami. He slowly nodded. Yugi looked a little sad; this Magician had become his friend, and now it was not likely they'd see each other again, until... well, until after it was all over. He held out his hand to shake the Magician's; Bradcorh took it, and one singular, silvery tear dropped onto the side of Yugi's hand. The Magician named Bradcorh was going to sorely miss these two. Yugi smiled up at Bradcorh, and Bradcorh smiled back. He turned to Yami once their hands had parted. I'm ready, he mouthed silently.
Yami nodded. "Goodbye, Bradcorh. Yugi and I have enjoyed your company, but now it is time to part." He held up the remaining empty card.
Bradcorh nodded affirmatively. He looked at Yugi one last time. Bye, he shaped his lips to say. He looked at Yami, steadily holding his gaze. Yugi's darker side had 'opened' the card, and was waiting for Bradcorh to stop resisting. Just before he succumbed to the tug of the card, he looked Yami straight in the eye and mouthed, Thank you, pharaoh. Goodbye...
It was finished. Yami dismissed the projections, and then faced Yugi. "Strange business, ne?"
"Yes," Yugi agreed. "Strange indeed..."
"The one called Bradcorh..." Yami stared off into space. "He was the most determined monster I have ever seen. It was as if Ra himself had instilled all of his will into one Dark Magician. How strange..."
"He listens hard to the call of Destiny," Yugi said. "Just like you and I."
"I agree. We are hikari and yami; we couldn't be without each other, but he alone... it seemed as if he was ready to take on the force of the gods just to become the possession of one girl..."
"It just further proves that he was destined for her," Yami heard Yugi say before he retreated into his soul room for a nice long mental debate.
Yugi sighed, and decided that he needed to go home. His and Yami's work here was finished. Besides, the girl was asleep, and Destiny was about to call her name.
OWARI
~~~ Marik: That was... interesting,
Me: You're just jealous because you weren't in it.
Marik: Whatever. Anyway, we had a deal. *holds out his hand, which is empty, expectantly* Fix this now!
Me: *sigh* Fine then. *gives him $25*
Marik: Huh? *looks hard at money* This isn't Egyptian currency!
Me: Who said I had some?
Marik: FOR THE LOVE OF RA! *deep breath* Fine! Now! Write my story!
Me: Okay, but I don't think you'll have your Rod for most of it..
Marik: WHAT?! But without my Rod, I'm nothing but a weak, really dark- skinned Egyptian!
Me: Oh, no, you're more than that, dear... *edges closer* You're a sexy man, sexy man!
Marik: O_O
Me: *leans on his shoulder and abruptly gets whacked with the business end of his Rod*
Marik: Get away from me!
Me: You're not supposed to hit people! I'm telling!
Marik: No, don't tell! For the love of Ra DON'T TELL!!
Me: Too late! ISHIZU!!!! *gets strangled by Marik*
Marik: Shut UP!
Me: *passes out from loss of air* Now is a good time to paint my sister.... ghhh....
Marik: o_o; ..Aaanywayyy, READ MY FIC! Or I will be forced to poke you! *brandishes pointy parts of Rod*
Me: this... is... truuue.... *popped again by Rod*
Me: The last chapter! ^_^ I'm kind of sad it's almost over! Marik: I, however, am not. How much longer until you pay me? Me: At the end of this chapter. Marik: Who are you going to torture next, I wonder? Me: For my next story? Mmmm, probably Ryou and Bakura. *evil grin*
Later in the day, Nico and Bradcorh (the younger Magician, remember) finished their conversation. Yugi had stayed because he thought it was intriguing talk, but Yami had retreated to his soul room.
Nico stood up. /Well, it's settled then,/ he said. /We'll trade cards, so you can get the mistress instead of me./
/But, Nico../ Bradcorh thought it over. /My master doesn't duel! You obviously love to duel, and your master is obviously a great duelist!/ he said, gesturing at the cross tattoos on the backs of Nico's hands, a symbol of many duels won. Nico shrugged.
/I am old, young one. My master got me in his very first deck, and that was years ago. Now he only periodically duels, and I am getting tired. It is time for this Magician to retire,/ he said sadly, with the same subtle weariness that he'd always had in his voice, but it was only now that it stood out to Bradcorh.
/Are... you sure you want to do all this just for me?/ Bradcorh asked.
Nico's lips parted; he laughed softly. /Of course! It is the ancient tradition for old monsters to give their place to younger monsters./
The two Magicians, who were now good friends, embraced each other in a warm hug. Bradcorh turned to Yugi.
"You want Yami now?" Yugi asked, since the Magicians could not speak to him. They nodded in unison. Yugi smiled, then turned to the side, touched his Puzzle, and said as if to himself, "Yami, they want to talk to you. Come out please."
The Puzzle glowed for a moment as Yami emerged from his soul room, and looked at his hikari. "You needed something, Yugi?" He looked at the two Dark Magicians. Nico made movements with his hands of he and Bradcorh switching sides, and Yami seemed to understand. "They decided to exchange cards, didn't they?"
"Yes, they did," Yugi said. "Nico, I think that was the older one's name, says it is a tradition for the old cards to make sacrifices for the new cards."
"Good, then. Should I do this now, or later?" Yami asked, looking at the Magicians. Bradcorh mouthed 'now' and glanced at Nico for support. Nico nodded, looking at the pharaoh as if to say 'hurry up!' Yami nodded back. He put his hands out to the sides, and made small gestures with his fingers. Two empty monster cards appeared in his hands. They were only spiritual, and they were not the real thing, but they represented their physical objects.
"Now this card," Yami said, holding up the card in his right hand, "belongs to Nico's master, and it will most likely end up in the hands of the girl Beradcorh is after. And this card," he said, holding up his left hand, "represents Larry's card. Now just in case Larry does eventually end up giving her this card, both of you will leave a small bit of your spirits in your original card. It won't be enough for you to notice, just enough for you to feel it when one of you touches the hand that belongs to the girl. When that happens, the small parts of your spirits are withdrawn from the other card, so you have it back. Is that understood?" Yami finished, holding out the cards. The Magicians slowly nodded. "Good. Now, Nico, is that right?" The white-haired Dark Magician stepped forward with a serious look on his face. He nodded, staring at the cards. "Nico," Yami said, "I am going to transfer a small part of your spirit to this card. You might feel a very slight pull, but most of you will stay with you." He concentrated; the older Magician looked as if he did feel something odd, and then it was done. The bands of his armor had gotten a little paler, nothing more.
Now it was time for Nico's spirit to go into the card that was really in Larry's drawer. He knew it, and he turned to the Magician who he'd named Bradcorh. /Bradcorh,/ he said, /I do this because I know how it feels to need a worthy master. I did something much like this when I was younger, and now I feel that I have paid my debt to the Magician who'd sacrificed for me. This has been done since we were living, breathing creatures, and it is still done today, by the more intelligent monsters./ He smiled at the younger, less experienced Magician. Bradcorh simply stood there, not quite sure what to do or say. Nico said one last thing before turning back to Yami. /Goodbye, my young friend. See that the sacrifice I make does good for you and yours. We will meet again, someday./ His image flickered, then he disappeared completely.
Bradcorh stepped forward, mind-speaking only a single word. /Nico!/
Slowly, Nico's image appeared on the card. Bradcorh looked at the card and the monster within, his eyes misting. He looked at Yami, once again asking a question with his eyes, the way he did. Yami nodded.
"Your turn," he said, terse but meaningful. Bradcorh nodded, hesitantly. First Yami took a small portion of his spirit and contained it within his original card, with Nico. The image on Nico's projected card shimmered, and then stilled. Yami looked at the Dark Magician and asked, "Are you ready?"
Bradcorh looked from Yami to Yugi, and then to Nico's card, and back to Yami. He slowly nodded. Yugi looked a little sad; this Magician had become his friend, and now it was not likely they'd see each other again, until... well, until after it was all over. He held out his hand to shake the Magician's; Bradcorh took it, and one singular, silvery tear dropped onto the side of Yugi's hand. The Magician named Bradcorh was going to sorely miss these two. Yugi smiled up at Bradcorh, and Bradcorh smiled back. He turned to Yami once their hands had parted. I'm ready, he mouthed silently.
Yami nodded. "Goodbye, Bradcorh. Yugi and I have enjoyed your company, but now it is time to part." He held up the remaining empty card.
Bradcorh nodded affirmatively. He looked at Yugi one last time. Bye, he shaped his lips to say. He looked at Yami, steadily holding his gaze. Yugi's darker side had 'opened' the card, and was waiting for Bradcorh to stop resisting. Just before he succumbed to the tug of the card, he looked Yami straight in the eye and mouthed, Thank you, pharaoh. Goodbye...
It was finished. Yami dismissed the projections, and then faced Yugi. "Strange business, ne?"
"Yes," Yugi agreed. "Strange indeed..."
"The one called Bradcorh..." Yami stared off into space. "He was the most determined monster I have ever seen. It was as if Ra himself had instilled all of his will into one Dark Magician. How strange..."
"He listens hard to the call of Destiny," Yugi said. "Just like you and I."
"I agree. We are hikari and yami; we couldn't be without each other, but he alone... it seemed as if he was ready to take on the force of the gods just to become the possession of one girl..."
"It just further proves that he was destined for her," Yami heard Yugi say before he retreated into his soul room for a nice long mental debate.
Yugi sighed, and decided that he needed to go home. His and Yami's work here was finished. Besides, the girl was asleep, and Destiny was about to call her name.
OWARI
~~~ Marik: That was... interesting,
Me: You're just jealous because you weren't in it.
Marik: Whatever. Anyway, we had a deal. *holds out his hand, which is empty, expectantly* Fix this now!
Me: *sigh* Fine then. *gives him $25*
Marik: Huh? *looks hard at money* This isn't Egyptian currency!
Me: Who said I had some?
Marik: FOR THE LOVE OF RA! *deep breath* Fine! Now! Write my story!
Me: Okay, but I don't think you'll have your Rod for most of it..
Marik: WHAT?! But without my Rod, I'm nothing but a weak, really dark- skinned Egyptian!
Me: Oh, no, you're more than that, dear... *edges closer* You're a sexy man, sexy man!
Marik: O_O
Me: *leans on his shoulder and abruptly gets whacked with the business end of his Rod*
Marik: Get away from me!
Me: You're not supposed to hit people! I'm telling!
Marik: No, don't tell! For the love of Ra DON'T TELL!!
Me: Too late! ISHIZU!!!! *gets strangled by Marik*
Marik: Shut UP!
Me: *passes out from loss of air* Now is a good time to paint my sister.... ghhh....
Marik: o_o; ..Aaanywayyy, READ MY FIC! Or I will be forced to poke you! *brandishes pointy parts of Rod*
Me: this... is... truuue.... *popped again by Rod*
