Pre: Done?!? Done?!? Who said anything about it being done?!? *Hides behind M as angry voices continue to scream outside her door*
M: … *Steps away from Pre who looks around fearfully as the door begins to break down*
Pre: Here! *Thrusts the extremely late newest chapter at M and makes a run for it just as the door bursts open…*
*******************
The Dark Magician paused in his telling as his young charges breathing became more labored.
"It's alright." Soft hands rested on his shoulders gently. "He needed to rest for awhile that's all. His heart is still open to you."
The Dark Magician raised tired eyes to the face above him letting his own hands reach out to gently cover hers. "I do not even know how to tell this story or where to began."
The Change of Hearts hands tightened briefly on him as she nodded her understanding. "Maybe you should begin only from where the young one comes into it. All that went on before that does not need to be told for in reality it is not yours to tell."
"Maybe you are right." The Dark Magician sighed turning his eyes back to the small figure on the bed before them. "That is not my story to tell."
"But this is." The Change of Heart whispered softly. " Come, though he appears asleep, his heart is still very much open. Tell your story."
*******************
A man stood in the small quiet lane looking up at the ancient looming building in front of him. The cloak that he wore covered his body completely it's hood pulled up tightly over his head so that all that could be seen from beneath the hooded veil were two sharp blood red eyes. A snake rested comfortably around his shoulders stirring slightly every now and then before settling back down again.
The snake-man slipped back into the shadows and waited impatiently shifting from foot to foot as the faint sound of a bell being rung sounded throughout the otherwise silent street. His wait soon paid off as the street came to life a mere few seconds later. Children came rushing past him, paying no attention to the stranger in their midst, their voices and laughter grating heavily on long unused ears. The man grimaced, a scowl flashing across his darkened face and his eyes narrowed on the gates before him, as he waited.
"Come on Yug' or are you afraid I'm gonna beat ya this time?"
The mans eyes narrowed on the blonde head as its owner walked backwards through the gates.
"Jou I think Yugi wants a break from dueling for awhile he has just been in a tournament remember?" At the sound of the soft accented voice the snake around the mans neck hissed loudly its eyes beginning to glow brightly.
The snake-man nodded once, grimily, watching the white haired boy closely as he emerged through the tall wrought iron gates, before shaking his head.
"He is not the one but I sense that he is connected to him somehow." He murmured reaching up to stroke the rough scales on the snakes back as he continued to watch.
"Which I still say I should have won." Another boy retorted a slight Egyptian accent slipping through his speech as he followed behind the white haired boy.
The snake hissed again and the man raised one finely toned eyebrow. "So they are all together are they? It will make my job easier to say the least."
"It's alright Ryou, Malik."
The snake-man watched avidly as a forth boy, shorter then the others and with wild tri-colored hair stepped through the gates, his gaze transfixed on the puzzle hanging from around the boys neck as it glinted in the sunlight. The snake gave a loud hissing sound its tail standing on end as the boy spoke softly.
"I'll play you if you want Jou."
"Great Yug'!"
"Yes." The man hissed, his eyes glowing with an insane light as he watched the four friends move off together. "We've found him at last my beauty, we've found him at last."
*******************
The snake-man set about learning everything he could about the tri-haired boy, biding his time until the right moment came for him to strike.
At last the snake-man saw his chance and he cornered the boy as he walked home alone one night dragging him into a nearby ally.
The man laughed scoffingly as he stared down at the shivering boy at his feet. "So this is the vessel that houses the mighty Pharaoh, how pathetic."
"Who a…r..r..e y..ou?" The boy stammered.
The man laughed again the snake around his neck hissing as though it too were laughing at him.
"I am called many things my dear Yugi but you…you my pretty little vessel may call me Set."
"Set?" A slight frown marred Yugi's face as he looked up at him. "I don't…"
"Know me?" Set smirked cruelly, bending down so that their faces were level he slowly pushed his hood back from his. "Maybe you should ask the spirit that lives within in you."
Surprise flew across Yugi's face. "Ho-"
He cut himself off abruptly as some unseen force lifted him up and threw him back against the wall behind him.
Unable to move Yugi screamed in pain. It felt as though his very soul was being ripped in two.
"Let's see you protect you precious Pharaoh now Horus." Set hissed as the spirit appeared in its ghost like form beside them.
"Aibou!"
"N..o…o Ya..mi r..u..n…" Yugi whispered as he lifted his head, pain written across his face with each breath he took.
"You! What have you done to my Aibou?" Yami demanded swinging around with murder flaring to life in his eyes.
"You-" Yami stopped his mind suddenly becoming vacant full of nothing but emptiness as he found himself staring into the hypnotic eyes of the snake.
"Yes." Set hissed. "That's it! Look into my little beauties eyes, oh great pharaoh, fall under her spell."
"Ya..mi no..o" Yugi gasped vainly struggling to get free from the invisible bonds that held him firmly in place.
Set's laughter echoed throughout the ally as he released his hold on the vessel's body. "Oh how the mighty have fallen!" He crowed as he left the weakened and bleeding boy on the floor Yami trailing behind after him seeming not to notice his Aibou's outstretched hand.
Set with Yami now by his side went after Ryou. Using the same strange magic he had used on Yugi he trapped the ring-bearer and forced the spirit out of Ryou's body. Bakura struggled against the intrusion into his mind but to no avail and he too was taken over by the snake and her master.
With both the puzzle and ring now under his control it wasn't hard for Set to take control of the rod or the spirit that dwelled within it. After a short battle between the rod spirit and the joint force of the pharaoh and Bakura the rod-bearer too was left for dead.
With the three ancient spirits now under his control Set felt that nothing could stand in his way of accomplishing his plan. So Set took his followers deep into the Egyptian desert to a temple resurrected long, long ago to worship the serpent god of the darkness and of the desert.
But, as fate would have it, something followed him into the desert. As Set sat in his temple, the three spirits at his feet, he viewed that something.
Five boys, struggling against the elements with no idea where they were going or what they were getting themselves into. Of those five three he recognised as the vessels within once lay the spirits now at his beck and call. The three weak little boys with only half a soul who he thought he had removed permanently from this world. The forth he remembered seeing that first day the blond-haired fool. But the fifth… the fifth was older then the other four he was arrogant and strong willed and seemed only to travel with them solely because he did not wish to give up what was his.
Intrigued Set demanded that the spirits go forth into the desert and bring the fifth to him for this boy reminded him of something he had lost a long time ago…he reminded him of himself.
Using the rod the three spirits corrupted the mind of the fifth and although the four boys left behind tried to convince the older boy that it was merely a trick they could not break the spell he had fallen into and he walked away from them leaving them to walk through the desert alone.
Now that it seemed all hope was lost a woman wearing a strange headdress made from a single ostrich feather appeared before them.
"Children of the light - Ryou other half of the once-thief Bakura, Malik the shunner of destiny and other half of Marik, Yugi other half of the Pharaoh Yami. Friend of these three Jounochi. I am the Goddess of Truth and Justice and I come before thee dressed as a mortal. I am Ma'at."
Indeed destiny had not finished with these four boys.
"I have a story to tell you young ones so please listen…
*******************
I think that maybe it is better for me to start at the beginning when Atum, the original God, came forth from the waters on to the Island of Creation where he then produced Shu, God of the air and Tefnut, Goddess of Moisture. Together the two created the Earth-God Geb and the Sky Goddess Nut. From this union came Osiris, Isis, Seth and Nephthys.
Osiris married his sister Isis and his brother Seth married their other sister Nephthys. His father Geb, the Earth God, made Osiris an earthly king. Osiris ruled wisely and became more and more popular and important to his people teaching them about agriculture and fine arts.
But Seth was jealous of his brother and vowed to kill him. Aligning himself with Aso, the Queen of Ethiopia and anyone else who wished to conspire against the king he thought up an evil plot. He invited Osiris to a feast and showed the guests a fine chest, promising that who ever fitted inside would be the owner. One by one all 72 guests tried to fit into the box until it was Osiris' turn. Osiris stepped inside the chest and it fitted perfectly. Seth and the other conspirators slammed the lid and nailed it closed before pouring molten lead into the seam to keep him locked in. They then threw the chest into the Nile so that Osiris was never to be seen in the land of the living again.
When news reached Isis of her husbands death she was grief stricken and set out to search for her husband knowing that his soul could not rest until a proper burial had taken place. She searched long and hard but no sign of the chest could she find. Finally when she was about to give up all hope she came across some children playing by the Nile. The children told her of a magnificent chest that had floated out to sea and towards the land of Byblos. Isis traveled to Byblos and at last brought her dead husbands body back to Egypt
Seth discovered the body, though, and enraged hacked it into fourteen pieces so that it could be scattered throughout Egypt and never be restored to life. But Isis, assisted now by her sister, Nephthys, searched once more. Again it was the children that helped her by leading her to where the pieces had been thrown.
Wherever she found a piece of Osiris she bade a shrine be built in its place and so, at last, when all the pieces had been collected Isis remodeled the bones into Osiris's form and used all of her magic and power to restore her husband to life. But the divine judges had other ideas and met in the great Hall of Judgement where they decided that Osiris should not become a living king once more but eternal King and Judge of the Underworld.
As the years went on and nothing was heard from Seth, Horus the son of Isis and Osiris grew up in peace.
Horus heard many a different tale of how his father was murdered by his brother Seth who wanted his power and wisdom for himself. Eventually he grew vengeful swearing to seek out and destroy his uncle just as Seth had done to his father. Horus tracked down Seth and a huge battle began. Victory was elusive and the battle turned first to one side and then the other.
It is not certain who, if indeed either, won the battle or if the battle still rages on just as the sun still rises and then slips away to give into the night…
*******************
"Yes." Ma'at nodded sadly at the look upon the four boys' faces. "Set is Seth he is still very much alive and he is still, it seems, set on ruling this world."
"But what can we do?" Ryou cried. "He's taken our other halves and turned them against us!"
Ma'at looked at him gravely. "There is away. Never give up hope ring-bearer."
"You mean we can get them back?" Malik asked eagerly.
"Yes."
"But…" Yugi glanced up at them as he spoke in his soft, gentle, voice. "What about Seth? We have to stop him. We can't just let him take over this world! Can you imagine what he'd do to it and the people in it?"
"Yug's right you guys. We can't just think of ourselves here." Jou said, placing a hand on his small friend's shoulder.
For the first time since arriving there Ma'at smiled. "I see now what it is the Pharaoh sees in you."
Yugi couldn't help but smile back at the goddess.
Ryou bit his lip and glanced over at Malik who sighed in exasperation. "So what do we have to do then?"
Ma'at stood swiftly. "There is a ceremony that must be performed to break the spell placed on your other halves. It is…that is…the outcome may not be that good."
"Oh." Malik glanced at the others as Ma'at's words sank in. "What do you mean by 'not that good'?"
"A sacrifice is needed."
"Ohhh." Malik trailed off into silence. 'Was he, was any of them willing to give up a chance at a life with their other halves even if it meant the destruction of the world as they knew it?'
Ma'at glanced around at them sadly knowing exactly what was going through there heads, she really hated her job sometimes. "Come with me."
Ryou glanced up from his contemplation of the floor. "Where are we going?"
"To see the Divine Judges you must make the choice but only they can say who's to be the sacrifice."
"You mean we can't choose?" Jou asked startled.
Ma'at shook her head as a silver plated door appeared in mid air before them. "The sacrifice requires one pure of heart and although you three are all Hikari's, the lighter half of a soul, that does not mean you are sin free."
Yugi kept his head low as he stepped through the door after the others his hand coming down to clasp the chain that held his puzzle closer to him. 'I'd do anything to save Yami…anything even die if I have to…'
As though she had heard Ma'at turned her head towards him her eyes full of sorrow. "We are here."
They were standing in what appeared to be a room made entirely of gold but this room was a room without walls or a ceiling only darkness seemed to spread out all around them. The door that they had just entered by had also vanished, having faded into the darkness just as suddenly as it had appeared in the hotness of the Egyptian desert.
Before them, in the center of the room, a pair of gleaming, golden scales sat.
Ma'at hurried them forward towards the scales. "Come, we do not have much time left."
As they got closer they could just make out two figures sitting beneath the scales with a dog at their feet.
"My friends." Ma'at bowed low as she stopped before the three.
"You have found them then I see." The figure on the right said rising and returning the goddesses bow.
Ma'at nodded turning to beckon the four boys forward. "This is Thoth." She said softly. "He is the righteous judge."
Thoth inclined his head slightly.
"Sire this is Ryou the ring-bearer."
Ryou bowed clumsily as he stepped forward.
"This is Malik the rod-bearer."
Malik stifled his snigger as Ryou glared at him before bowing low his forehead touching the ground.
"This is Yugi the puzzle-bearer."
Yugi glanced up locking eyes with the god. "Hello."
"And this is Jounochi friend of these three."
"Hi!" Jou grinned, sticking his hand out. "I've always wandered if you guys were for real."
Thoth's laugh boomed out around the hall as he took Jou's hand in his grip and shook it firmly. "Welcome to the Hall of Judgement, four of the light. Are you ready to take the test?"
Ryou, Malik and Jou glanced at each other nervously before nodding their answer. Yugi too nodded but did not raise his gaze from the floor.
"Then let us begin."
The man that been sitting quietly on the left arose the dog following suit behind him and went to stand by the scales.
"Friend of the three come forward." Thoth said.
Jou stepped forward nervously.
"Anubis here will instruct you." The other man nodded holding out a scroll for Jou to take. "I am Anubis, guardian of the Underworld and keeper of the sacred Scales of Ma'at. Please step forward and take your place beside me."
Jou stepped forward taking the scroll. Anubis nodded placing his hands onto Jou's chest.
"Ack." Jou jumped back eyes wide as he stared down at Anubis's hands.
Anubis nodded in satisfaction turning to place his burden onto the left-hand side of the scales.
"Is that his heart?!?" Malik squeaked.
"Shhh." Ryou whispered as the dog turned to growl at them. "He looks hungry."
"Read." Anubis said inclining his head towards the scroll that lay forgotten in Jou's lifeless fingers.
Jou nodded, hurriedly unfolding the scroll he began to read. "O my heart, don't forsake me in judgment, don't repulse me on the part of the Divine Chiefs. Don't forsake me in the presence of the scale keeper."
Ma'at nodded gravely, reaching up to take the feather from her headdress she placed it on the opposite end of the scales. The side of the feather instantly tipped down the heart raised slightly higher.
"You may now return the heart." Thoth said scribbling away on the stone tablet in his hands.
Anubis stepped forward taking the heart and placing his hands over Jou's chest once more.
Jou stepped back patting his chest in disbelief as he checked to see if any sign of his heart having been ripped out of his chest had been left behind.
"Rod-bearer step forward."
First the friend, then the rod-bearer, the ring-bearer and finally the puzzle-bearer stepped forward.
When at last they were done Ma'at stood picking up her feather and placing it back inside her headdress and then she turned to face Thoth who bowed low before handing her the tablet.
Ma'at looked it over once then bowed and turned towards them.
"Jounochi, friend of these three, you have failed the test your heart was heavier than the feather. The sin for which you have failed was that of you're father's beatings. They have tainted your soul so therefore you are no longer as pure as you would have been. Malik, rod-bearer, you too have failed the test. Your sin that of the marks upon your back and failure to complete your destiny as tomb keeper. Ryou, ring-bearer, you also have failed. Your sin is that of your mother and sister dying and the bullying you receive constantly from those different to you. Lastly Yugi, puzzle-bearer, as you are the other half of the once-Pharaoh Yami his protection from the God Horus was passed onto you. You have no sins - you have passed the test."
"Passed!?!" Ryou and Malik practically screamed.
"Yug'?" Jou said angrily.
"I'm the sacrifice?" Yugi whispered finally raising his head to look the others present in the eyes.
"There has to be another way surely?" Ryou whispered hoarsely.
"I am truly sorry." Ma'at said bowing her head. "This is the only way."
"If it takes my life to save Yami's and everyone else's then I am willing to give that up." Yugi's words rang clearly throughout the hall stopping everyone's protests short.
"Yug' no!" Jou growled. "I won't let you die."
"How long?" Malik asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"You have a day to prepare." Thoth replied.
Yugi nodded blinking back the tears that welled up in his eyes. "Then so mote it be…"
*******************
"I only remember bits and pieces of what happened next snippets of conversations here and there…" The Dark Magician frowned bringing a hand up to rub his temples.
"That is understandable." The Change of Heart replied. "You're master was going to die and there was nothing you could do to stop it."
"You're right it wasn't a game anymore - it was life."
*******************
"The ceremony will restore the spirits souls to them and in so doing leave Seth weakened and open to attack…"
"And Horus will be ready for him…"
*******************
"When your blood mixes with that of the puzzle-bearer your sins will be transferred to him but as he is to be sacrificed nothing will come of it…"
*******************
"You do not have to worry the pure one will be safe walking with Osiris in the land of the dead…"
*******************
"Are you sure Jou?"
"With you gone Yug' dueling just want be any fun any more…"
"But the Flaming Swordsman? He's one of your favorites!"
"And my Change of Heart…"
"And mine too!"
"Don't forget 'Kura's Man Eater Bug."
"But…"
"He'd want you too…"
"And Marik too…"
*******************
"I wish there was another way Sire."
"I've been thinking and maybe there is away…"
"There is?"
"Hmm I just hope I can find them in time."
"Them who?"
"The Three Fates of course"
"You're going to ask the Greeks for help?"
"Let's just say they owe me a favor or two."
*******************
"I love you 'Kura. Please forgive us."
"This is for you, for all of you."
"This is the only way."
*******************
"You're two late Sire it's been done there's nothing we can do now…"
"It's never too late goddess."
"You're here!"
"Yes. Now lets see if we can unweave this web you've gotten yourselves caught in, shall we?"
*******************
"Everything is as it should be?"
"Hai, Horus has caught Seth."
*******************
"The spirits, their vessels and their two friends will be reborn."
*******************
"We could not undo the memory lose of those under Seth's control it was part of the spell cast and we simply have no control over it."
"The three lights and their friend will remember everything but the others will not, not until the cloth has spun full circle."
*******************
"What about the sins? They were all passed onto him!"
"It's too late now the cloth has been woven we can not go back and undo it."
"You mean…?"
"In the next life those sins will be the purest of the pures' to undertake."
"All of them?"
"Hai, all of them…"
"By all that's Holy no…"
*******************
"And that Yugi-sama is the end to me story." The Dark Magician said smiling sadly as he brushed away a single tear from the sleeping boys' face.
"You are wrong my friend." The Change of Heart said as she sniffed back her own tears.
The Dark Magician turned to look up at her enquiringly. "Wrong?"
"Yes. That is not the end of your story but the beginning for this story isn't over yet."
The Dark Magician smiled softly. "No this story isn't over yet is it? I just hope that in the end everyone gets their 'happily ever after' ending."
*******************
In a golden room far, far away a woman sat as she has always done unable to do anything but watch in silence as sin after sin was forced upon one brave child.
Pulling a golden harp into her arms she began to play her sad eyes ever watchful over one small tri-haired figure.
Her beautiful voice drifted down towards that child as she began to sing. It was the same song she always sang the one just for him, the one that showed him that she was still there, that she'd always be there even if he couldn't see her.
Goodnight, sleep tight
No more tears
Goodnight morning, I'll be here
And when we say goodnight,
Dry your eyes
Because we said goodnight,
And now goodbye
We said goodnight
And now goodbye
*******************
Yugi: M where's Pre?
M: *Grins* On the run
Yami: Oh the usual then?
M: Hey you can't talk about Pre like that!
Yami: I can talk about her anyway I like I am the Pharaoh you know
M: I'll show you where you can stuff you're high and mightiness!
Pre: *Runs through the door sheepishly* Hiya! Yu-chan have I missed anything?
Yugi: *Points in Yami and M's direction* Not really
Pre: Ohhhh right, shall we leave them to it then?
Yugi: Ok! *Grabs Pre's sleeve* Please leave a lil' ole review? *Puppy dogs eyes at readers*
Pre: Cya's all next time! *Waves and vanishes in a puff of sparkly purple smoke*
Yugi: *Faintly* Hey Pre-chan your exit changed!
Pre: *Even fainter* No the plug just blew a fuse again!