(Hello!! Okay yeah I know I took a long time to get this chapter up too, but hey I do have a life!!! In fact I was working on my school's Spring Production 'Bye Bye Birdie' which consumed most, if not all of my time. So yeah. Anyways I shortened this chapter so you guys would have something to read and not think I gave up on it. Well enjoy and no throwing things at the author! R&R PLEASE!!!)
Quick Thank You's
Kistune-Yasha: Hey, Hey!!! Glad you like it and that you are still reading it!!! Hurry up with your reviews though!!! JK!!! Anyways see you at school and keep up the good work on your story!!!!
Avelyn Lauren: Yippee I have two readers, well at least reviewers!! Thanks for the great complements and I am happy you liked the weddings and battle scenes; they were a challenge to write. Well hope you enjoy this chapter!! Later
To all other readers who chose not to review: Thank you
Disclaimer: (Alexia: I forgot it last time. Oops) Simply this: I DON'T OWN YU-GI-OH!
Character's Egyptian Names
Serenity = Safiya
Joey = Tarik
Tristan = Hondo
Mai = Ma'at
Gozaburo = Gahiji
Pegasus = Runihura
Chapter Fifteen: Judgment of the Dying Soul
As the dust settled the full moon high in the sky, which gave off the only light, reveled the damage of the night's battle. Almost the whole west side of the Palace was destroyed and there were bodies everywhere. Bodies of wedding guest, guards and servants lying dead or injured amongst the rubble, yet the real damage lay just beyond that of the Palace.
The Pharaoh Yami was kneeling in the sand clinging to Tea as silent tears streamed down his face. Occasionally he looked at Tea's face hoping beyond hope that she would be smiling up at him telling him that everything would be okay. But it was not to be, for she was gone. Her face held none of its rosy color or laughter that Yami had come to love. So Yami did the only thing he could do, he held her close to him and cried.
A few feet away from Yami Joey sat rocking back and fourth in the sand cradling his baby sister in his arms while Mai tried in vain to comfort Tristan. However she could offer him no comfort, for she found none herself. The most Mai could do was hold him in her arms and cry with him. This is just too much, Mai thought. How could anyone allow this to happen? To take Joey's baby sister, Tristan's girlfriend and three of Mai's best friends it was just not fair! Nothing it seemed could comfort them. Never again would Serenity's musical laughter fill their ears or her sparkling smile light up the room, she was gone.
Shadi stood completely still eyes closed as if willing himself not to cry while Ishizu held a trembling Mokuba in her arms because Seto was in no position to comfort him. Seto in fact was not even moving he simply sat as if made of stone with Ariel lying in his arms face pale with death. No tears ran down Seto's face, his eyes held no emotion they were completely empty.
Ishizu looked at the sight that lay in front of her then at Shadi and sighed she knew what had to be done. They needed to perform the ceremony to remove the Items from the dead and it was not going to be easy.
"Shadi it is time."
Shadi did not move
"Shadi I know it is hard but we must do it."
Shadi's eyes slowly opened meeting Ishizu's
"There is no need to perform the ceremony."
"What are you talking about? Shadi they are dead."
"They are not dead."
"But there is no life left in them."
"Only a tiny portion of their life remains in them. Sustained only by what power is left in each of their Items. This power is enough to keep them on the boarder between life and death." Shadi paused then continued, "Basically in the Shadow Realm"
"I don't understand all their energy was completely drained. How are they able to stay on the boarder?"
"Look at Isis' right hand."
Ishizu started in amazement at the object in Ariel's hand "The Rod?"
"Yes, the Rod gave them extra power. All three unknowingly drew upon the powers of the Rod and that is what saved their lives."
"So what do we do to bring them back?"
"Use the powers of at least three other Items to bring their souls completely back into life. For this I will need the help of the Pharaoh and the High Priest."
Ishizu nodded and looked down at Mokuba
"Mokuba?" Mokuba lifted his head up, "I need you to listen carefully to what I am about to say, alright?" Mokuba nodded, "Isis is not dead, well not yet anyway. There is still a chance that we can save her and to do that we need your help." Mokuba nodded again, "I need you to get Seto's attention for me. Can you do that?"
"Yes." A small smile forming on his face, "Will Isis live?"
"More then likely, yes."
Mokuba quickly got up and ran over to where Seto was and waved a hand in front of his face.
"Seto! Seto! Isis is alive, but she needs your help!"
There was no response, Seto didn't even look at Mokuba he looked passed him.
"Ishizu he's not responding!"
Ishizu ran over and knelt down in front of Seto and looked into his eyes
"Oh no." Ishizu said covering her mouth "Shadi! He's fading!"
"What!"
Shadi joined Ishizu and looked into Seto's eyes as well (Alexia: I know it sounds really weird.)
"He kept so much emotion locked inside that this pushed him over the edge. Do you think you can bring him back?"
"I'm not sure, but either way I have to try or they will die." Shadi sighed, "Mokuba please place the Rod in Seto's right hand."
Mokuba did as he was told then moved back as did Ishizu. Shadi placed his Millennium Key to Seto's heart and closed his eyes. Both the Key and the Rod emitted a faint glow, but nothing else happened. A few seconds later they saw Shadi's mouth begin to move but no words came out.
Ishizu and Mokuba waited for what seemed like hours before anything else happened and what did happen next was astonishing. As they waited Mokuba caught a glimpse of something shinning on Seto's face. When he looked closer Mokuba realized that there were tears coming from Seto's eyes.
Tears? How could his big brother be crying? Seto hadn't cried in years, but yet here he was crying. The tears begin to flow even more only to be blinked away as Seto finally came too. Shadi too opened his eyes and blinked a few times as he placed the Key back around his neck.
"What do you want me to do?" Asked Seto in a hushed voice
"First give Isis to Ishizu then follow me."
Seto did so without question causing Ishizu to raise her eyebrow.
"Shadi did you put him in a trance?" Shadi did not answer
Whatever Shadi had done to Seto had certainly changed him. But if Shadi did indeed have him in a trance it would not be surprising.
Shadi walked over to Yami and bowed as he approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"My Pharaoh she is not dead."
"But she is pale and does not breath."
"That is because she is trapped on the boarder between life and death. Held there only by whatever power remains in her Item, but we can bring her and the others back."
"How?"
"By using the power of our Items. But we must first bring the High Priestess back. She has not had her Item long and is slipping quickly into death quickly."
"Alright."
Yami laid Tea's head on his lap and unhooked the clasp of his cap. It was torn and a little dirty from being in the dungeon but it was better then having Tea lay in the sand. Yami spread his cap out on the ground and placed Tea on it.
"Let's bring back Tarik's sister."
The three walked over to Joey and Yami placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.
"I don't understand Yami, how could this have happened?"
"Tarik we can bring her back." Joey looked at Yami with doubting eyes
"The Pharaoh speaks the truth, but we must act fast." Shadi turned to Seto "High Priest please come here." Once Seto joined them Shadi continued, "Now simply place one of your hands over Safiya, tap into your Item's power and concentrate on her life force."
Nothing happened for a few minutes but slowly the glow from the three Item's transferred into Serenity bring her soul back into her body and away from death. Slowly the color began to come back into her cheeks and lips. A few seconds later Serenity gasped for breath and her eyes fluttered open.
"Oh my god! Safiya! Your-your alive!"
"Wha-what happened?" Serenity asked her voice so soft they barely heard her, "I remember everything going black and then there was this light and I tried to go towards it but I couldn't move." Serenity tried to sit up but gasped at the pain and had to lie back down
"Don't try to get up sis."
"My head hurts really bad." Serenity saw Shadi standing over her, "Shadi what happened? Why do I feel so weak?"
"I will explain that later. Now you must sleep."
"But..."
Shadi placed his hand on her forehead and she fell asleep.
"She will be fine. Now we must attend to the others."
"Wait Shadi! What is this around her neck?" Asked Tristan pointing to the tine golden chain that hung from Serenity's neck with a small golden charm on it.
"That, Hondo, is her Item. If you look close enough that little charm is the Scale." Seeing Tristan's confused look, "It may be small now but it will grow to its normal size when Safiya needs it." Shadi motioned to the others. "We must help Queen Nefertiti now."
They repeated the same possess with Tea and she too awoke with a gasp for breath and eyes fluttering open with the same glazed and confused look. Yami hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead.
"Yami?" Tea's voice was weak as well
"Yes."
"Is it over?"
"Yes it is over."
"What happened?"
"Shadi will explain everything later, but you need to rest."
Tea nodded and closed her eyes. Yami nodded to Shadi who placed his hand on her forehead. A look a peace came over Tea, she was asleep. Finally they moved to Ariel, Seto took her from Ishizu. The glow from all the Items last briefly and Ariel woke up dazed, confused and with a headache just like Tea and Serenity.
"Isis!" Mokuba unable to contain his excitement run up and hugged Ariel while knocking both Ariel and Seto to the ground. Ariel gasped as pain shot through her body Mokuba realizing what had happened jumped back, "I-I'm sorry Isis."
"That's okay Mokuba." She gave him a weak smile then looked at Seto, "Have you been crying?"
"No."
"Sure." Ariel smiled then tried to get up
"Lady Isis please don't!" exclaimed Shadi
"I'll be fine."
"Oh no you don't. You almost died once I will not have you actually die because you were too stubborn to let some one help you." Seto pulled Ariel back into his arms trying not to hurt her
"Would you let me go! I can walk on my own thank you very much!" But she could barely talk
"No. Now you need to rest. Would you make her sleep before she hurts herself even more."
Shadi placed his hand on Ariel's forehead and she quieted right away.
"I wonder who's more stubborn you or her." Asked Joey
"Shut you mouth mutt!"
"Nice to see everything is back to normal." Said Mai
"We'd better get these girls into bed." Said Tristan who was carrying Serenity
"Myself, Seto and Hondo will take the girls to their rooms then help with the search for survivors. Once we finish looking for survivors I will meet with Shadi, Seto and Hondo in the smaller throne room. Is that clear?"
"Yes my Pharaoh." Everyone answered
"Shadi have any and all survivors taken to the Healing Room even Marik, Bakura, Duke, Keith and Jackson if they are still alive. As for Runihura take him to the dungeon, but see that he is treated properly." Seeing the looks from the others Yami added, "I will not sink down to their level of cruelty."
With that the three walked off towards the eastside of the Palace where the rooms were then returned to help the rest look for any survivors.
It took about an hour, but with the help of the guards they found all the survivors including Keith and Jackson who were both found unconscious under rubble. Surprisingly they had no major internal injures.
Yami called Shadi, Seto and Tristan to the throne room to speak with them about the girls.
"Shadi what information can you give us?" Ask Yami
"My Pharaoh, I can not give you anything to help you have a restful nights sleep as I have the others. You can sleep but you must be able to wake up. The girls will sleep through the rest of the night and well into the morning, but they will have nightmares that seem far too real as their strength returns. I know not why this happens, but it is my belief that having been temporally trapped in the Shadow Realm might be what causes these dreams."
"So then what must we do?" Asked Yami
"You may awaken to screaming, crying and trashing maybe even sleepwalking. Your jobs are to calm them down and keep them calm whatever way you can. That way they risk no further harm to themselves. Understand?"
"Yes." The three replied
Seto entered Isis' room where Ariel was sound asleep in her bed. The maids had changed her out of her battle worn cloths and into a white nightgown while he had been gone. For the moment she slept peacefully, but how long would it last?
Mokuba slept on a pile of lavish pillows on the other end of the room where the sitting area was. Seto walked over and selected one of the larger pillows that Mokuba had not spread himself out on and placed it by Ariel's bed and went to sleep.
Yami entered Tea's room as quietly as he could. Tea lay sleeping in her bed the moonlight lighting her face revealing a slight smile. Yami smiled
"At least her dreams are peaceful for the moment." Yami looked around, "Now where to sleep?"
Yami spotted a pile of lavish pillows on the far side of the room. He decided, just like Seto, to arrange a few of them beside Tea's bed that way he would be close by if anything happened.
After arranging a few pillows next to Tea's bed, Yami went over to a chest at the end of the bed and pulled out a light blanket, which was more like a sheet. Yami had just settled down onto the pillows when Tea began to mumble. Yami jumped up then felt stupid, Tea had simply been talking in her sleep.
"Figures I'd get all jumpy." Yami laughed at himself then settled back down onto the pillows and went to sleep.
After leaving Shadi's room Tristan stopped by Joey's room. He knocked on the door but no one answered so he opened the door. Much to his surprise Joey was sprawled out on his bed sleeping deeply.
"Why would he be sleeping? I thought he might want to hear about Safiya?" Then Tristan remembered what Shadi had said about giving the other something to help them sleep, "That would explain it. Joey would never have gone to sleep other wise."
Tristan left Joey's room and headed for Serenity's. Like Tea and Ariel Serenity's maids had changed her into a white nightgown and placed her in her bed. She was sleeping peacefully now, but Tristan knew it would not last.
Shadi had pulled him aside after leaving the throne room. Shadi had explained to Tristan that because Serenity had used the full extent of her Item's powers shortly after she acquired it that she would be the one most greatly effected by the Shadow Realms dark magic. Serenity had not received the training nor had, had the time to allow her body to adjust to the power of her Item; this is what had made her so weak.
Tristan shook his head and collapsed into a near by chair, too tired to make a bed out of pillows or move another inch. He just hoped that he was wrong about the not have a quite night.
The night would not be a restful one for the three, but at least Shadi had warned them.
Tristan was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of something crashing. Half awake and half asleep Tristan sat up and rubbed his eyes. Looking around he noticed Serenity was not in her bed. Another crash on the other side of the room told him where she was.
Serenity appeared to be sleep walking when Tristan approached her. There were tears streaming down her cheeks and she was mumbling something that sounded like help, but Tristan couldn't be sure. Knowing that it is not a good idea to try and wake someone up when they are sleepwalking Tristan gently placed a hand on her shoulder, well it was not exactly the best move.
The minute Tristan touched Serenity's shoulder she grabbed his arm and flipped him onto his back. How she came up with the strength he couldn't even guess.
"So thought you would come back and take over my mind again!" Yelled Serenity
"Safiya? What are you talking about?" Tristan was down right confused "It's me Hondo."
"How dare you try that trick on me again you scum!" Serenity kicked Tristan in the side, "Pretending to be the ones I love! I won't fall for it again!"
Serenity tried to kick Tristan again, but this time he was able to move out of they way in time. What was wrong with Serenity? Was she remembering something from her past or was it something that happened in the Shadow Realm? He wasn't going to fight her, but if he didn't stop her she could do some serious damage.
"Do you dare run away like some coward!"
But Tristan wasn't running he was drawing Serenity away from anything that could be dangerous if broken. He finally stopped at the other end of the room where there was nothing but pillows. Serenity came running at him and he grabbed her pinning her up against the wall.
"Let me go!"
"Safiya that is enough! I am not trying to hurt you and I am not pretending to be Hondo, I really am him!"
"How do I know I can trust you!?!"
"Just look into my eyes and you'll know."
Serenity in her dazed, confused and dream like state looked right into Tristan's eyes and whatever she saw convinced her that he was not lying. The anger left her eyes and was replaced with sadness.
"Oh Hondo I was so sacred. They were pretending to be you and Joey, trying to trick me. To trap me deep within the Shadow Realm so they could take over my body and wreak havoc on the world." Serenity clung to Tristan crying.
Tristan carefully picked Serenity up in his arms and carried her back over to her bed. She was still crying as he placed her back into bed, but she would not let go of him.
"Don't leave me."
"I'm not going anywhere I am just going to bring that chair closer so that I will be closer to you." Tristan brought the chair over, "See I'm staying right here."
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
"Is Tarik alright?"
"Yeah he's fine, but he was so tired that I told him I would watch you tonight. He did check on you before he went to be though."
"Oh, okay" Serenity let out a big yawn
"You should sleep now."
"Okay."
Tristan held Serenity's hand as she drifted back off into a peaceful sleep then he too drifted off never letting go of her hand.
Tristan wasn't the only one to have a hard night. Yami woke up to find Tea hysterical, she was crying and acting like she had lost something. When he tried to talk to her it was as if she didn't hear him or ever see him, she was locked in her own little world.
Yami couldn't think of anything that would bring her out of it except to try and keep talking to her, asking her why she was upset and what she lost. It turned out that for Tea the Shadow Realm had fed upon her worst fear, the fear of being alone forever, left to wonder in darkness for all time.
Slowly Yami was able to reach her convincing her that she was not alone and that it was all an illusion. It took a while, but he still managed. Yami was finally able to get Tea back in bed and ended up falling asleep kneeling next to her bed.
For Seto things were quite a bit harder; for both Ariel and Isis' instinct when their lives were in danger or the lives of the ones they loved was to fight. Ariel seemed to think she was in some sort of battle or at least in danger.
When Seto tried to get close to her she kicked him right in the stomach causing him to fall into a table knocking over a vase. How Mokuba was able to sleep through all the noise he could only guess.
Seto tried to get close to her again without fighting her, but the result was the same except this time he didn't knock over anything. It seemed that the only way to get close enough to Ariel to reach her was to fight her. Now he just had to do so without doing too much damage.
Using mainly blocks Seto was finally able to pin Ariel up against one of the pillars. Ariel struggled against his grip but the night's events and her imaginary battle had weakened her and she soon gave up.
"Fine kill me then!"
"I am not going to kill you."
"Then what do you want!?!"
"For you to shut up and go back to sleep so that I can sleep to." The famous temper was showing through
"I don't believe you." Ariel started to struggle against his hold again.
"Oh for the love of Ra!" Seto was really annoyed not to mention tired
"LET ME GO!"
"Would you stop it!?!"
"NO! NOW LET ME GO!!"
"I guess I have no other choice." Seto did the first thing he could think of he recited a spell he had heard somewhere before. The spell was one of rest and peace, it worked.
"I SAID..." Ariel's eyes fluttered and her head hung, she was asleep
"Finally." Seto sighed placed Ariel back into bed, fell back onto the pillows and slept. Mokuba never heard a thing.
The night's events had taken its toll on every one, so no one was up before noon, but once up there were a great many things to do. Yami and Tea had to go and over see the plans for rebuilding the western section of the palace that had been destroyed in the night's battle. Joey, Tristan and Mai had to punish those guards who had truly been unfaithful to the Pharaoh, the Queen, their people and Egypt.
Seto and Serenity had to over see the work and ceremonies in the temples of the gods and goddesses. During all the uncertainty and chaos thieves had plundered some of the gold and jewels from the temples. Therefore it was necessary to perform cleansing rituals not to mention offering up prayers asking for forgiveness. Seto kind of got into the whole thing, but to him it was like going through the motion. He understood what he was doing any why, yet at the same time he didn't and found it very pointless.
Ariel and Ishizu helped out in the Healing Room where several people were in critical condition after have stones from the collapsing palace fall on them. Ishizu tended to the lesser cases while Ariel tended to the ones close to dying. There was, however, one she could not save and that was Marik.
Marik's case was not a simple one of not enough blood, internal injury or any number of things. Marik's soul was fading, his body could be repaired but his soul could not or at least not by Ariel's magic. There was only one person Ariel knew who could save Marik now and that was Serenity and her Millennium Scale. The Scale has the power to judge ones soul. If your soul proves to be a good one your life will be spared or you will live, that is if you are close to death. On the other hand if your soul proves to be an evil one you will die or be sent to the Shadow Realm.
With that thought Ariel ran out of the Healing Room towards the temple of Isis where she thought Serenity would be. Marik didn't deserve to die no matter what he had done. Ariel knew fully well that it was the evil inside of him that was making Marik do these things. She knew that his true nature was fun loving, kind, and stubborn. She had seen his true side while they were growing up together in the small village.
Ariel raced through the temple of Isis offering up a small pray in her head for not properly stopping to pay her respects and hoped that it would be enough. Ariel quickly checked every room she passed, Serenity had to be in one of them. As Ariel got closer to the last rooms of the temple she begin to panic if she couldn't find Serenity then there was no chance of saving Marik and it would be all her fault no matter what Ishizu said.
Heart racing Ariel entered the final room as she did she held her breath and prayed. Thank the gods she thought. There was Serenity performing one of her many rituals, she looked somewhat exhausted but was still going about her duties.
"SAFIAY!" Ariel yelled as she ran into the room
"Isis!?! What's wrong?" Serenity looked worried
"It's Marik. He is going to die if we don't do something soon. There is not medicine that can cure him it is his soul that is fading and only you can save it."
"But after all the mean things he has done I don't believe it is possible or that he deserves it."
"Safiya I know that he has hurt many people including me but I believe that the goodness that he once had is still there buried deep inside of him."
"But is it enough to save him?"
"I have to believe it is."
"Fine I will do it only because it is important to both you and Ishizu and you are my friends."
"Thank you! Now we must hurry!"
Serenity followed Ariel as they raced from Isis' temple to the Healing Room. Once there they found Ishizu kneeling by Marik's bed holding his hand and crying.
"Ishizu!" Ariel called busting through the doors
"Isis! I was hoping you would come back before it was to late to say goodbye. He is fading fast."
"I think we might be able to save him."
"How?"
"Judgment of the dying soul." Stated Serenity
"But that-that could kill him and send his soul to the Shadow Realm if he doesn't pass."
"Ishizu it is the only chance we have to save him. His soul is slipping into the Shadow Realm as we speak!" Ariel said with the utmost urgency
"Precede Safiya. It would not be right if we did not try to save him." Ishizu turned to Ariel, "Remember Isis no matter what happens as I have said before none of this is your fault."
Ariel didn't respond. They both watch as Serenity approached Marik. From around her neck she took a gold chain from which hung a small Millennium Scale. Serenity held it in her hand and they watched as the chair shrunk and the Scale grew in size. Serenity Placed the Scale next to Marik and raised her arms and head towards the sky.
"I High Priestess Safiya keeper of the Millennium Scale call upon the powers of the Scale and the gods to carry out the Judgment of the dying soul upon this man. If the Scale should find his soul worthy may it be returned and his body healed. But if the Scale determines his soul unworthy may it bestow him with the proper punishment."
Marik's body arched a black substance with a hint of white to it emerged from his chest; as the last of it left him his body fell back onto the bed. The substance divided itself the white part going into one part of the Scale and the black, which there was more of, into the other part of the Scale.
The Scale began to weigh each substance, which proved to be Marik's soul. Ishizu, Ariel and Safiya held their breath as the Scale considered its final judgment. The judgment seemed to last forever, finally it was over. The Scale showed the black part of Marik's soul to be the most potent part of his soul it out weighed his goodness.
Ishizu collapsed onto the ground as black cloud began to consume Marik's body. Ariel turned her head she could not watch she had failed to save him. Serenity's head hung and a small tear fell from her sad eyes.
A white light erupted from the black cloud around Marik's body. Ariel and Serenity looked up in shock the Scale had tipped the other way at the last minute choosing the small, yet good part of Marik's soul over the evil part.
The white light dissipated and the now fully white substance went back inside Marik. The Scale had not only passed judgment, but it had also rid Marik of the evil that had been controlling it for so long.
Marik's eyes fluttered open and he turned his head to face his sister whose he was still hung with tear streaming down her cheeks.
"Sister why are you cry?" Marik asked in a sweet voice that Ishizu had not heard since he was a little boy
"Mar-Marik?" Ishizu could not believe what she was seeing. The Scale a spared him and brought him back, her little brother was alive.
(Okay so lets see next week is my last week of school so I should be able to write more. That is until I get a job then again who knows. Anyways please review!)