WHEN MEMORIES WOULD NEVER BE ENOUGH
Chapter Nineteen – Avengers and Betrayers
As the royal court followed Thief Bakura's tail, the platinum-haired young man's twisted smirk became more malevolent as he felt the pulsating powers of the six Millennium Items inside his sack. The adrenaline rush of invading the palace once more filled his head - making his thoughts and heart swim in insane delight.
Now, the moment of truth had finally arrived for him. On his way to Kuru Eruna, he would lead the royal court back to the place where everything began. As far as he was concerned, the murderers that massacred his hometown created him.
The least that he could do for his creation was to return the favor...
Thief Bakura's Point of View
The fools will never catch up with me! Even if they catch up with me, it would be too late for them to do anything to stop me!
I am now one step away in fulfilling my mission - to avenge the death of my loved ones and townspeople. Even though I am one Millennium Rod short, that Item will soon fall in my hands as old man Akunadin had promised me. I could already feel such power as the six Items are now with me.
The former Pharaoh had asked for this. He robbed me of my parents when he ordered the massacre of Kuru Eruna - leaving me as the only survivor as I hid in the darkness and stifling my tears and screams as they murdered my parents, relatives, and neighbors. I regretted that very moment, as I hid at that dark corner as if I were a coward. At first, I rationalized that I was merely a child then. As time went on, though, I realized that even childhood was never an excuse to hold me back from doing what was right.
On that very night that I lost my loved ones and my childhood, I also vowed never to let fear succumb me ever again.
Since that dead and cursed Pharaoh robbed me of my parents and townspeople, I will now take the pleasure of robbing him of his son. I want to see him die and squirm as the coward that he truly is. He will die and pay for his sins, and have Maat feast on his heart! I would not ask for anything less than that!
I just wonder, though, as to how he and High Priest Set were immune from the sleeping spell that Zork and Akunadin have conjured up. Have they made pacts with the dark powers, too? Is that why the Pharaoh is still alive, even after he had been thrown off to that abyss in the outskirts of town?
I knew that the old man was the henchman for the Pharaoh. For now, I will play along with his game since he will give me access to the seven Millennium Items. However, once I gain everything that I need, he will also fall prey to my revenge.
Ah, Kuru Eruna is right ahead! I must hurry!
As my horse quickly responded for my command, my heart pounded in anticipation. I am definitely closer to my goals, and my doomed townspeople and I will have our revenge very soon.
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In another part of the Shadow Realm, the seemingly-eternal battle between opposing Sparti continued.
Xandra already lost count as to how many fell from her sword. However, as one fell, two or three took that soldier's place. Losing all thought and feeling, her focus locked into one goal - to kill. Atlantis, Egypt, the royal court, Mana, Shimon, Set, and even Atemu were no longer in her mind as she swung her sword and struck as many Sparti as she possibly could in every blow.
So far, the battle was going towards Egypt's favor. One mistake, however, could ruin everything and prove fatal...
She gasped as she felt the opposing Sparti's sharp and cold blade run through and deep in her right side. Kicking the offender hard, her eyes went wild as she swung her sword with all her might - decapitating her enemy.
More enemy Sparti rushed with spears or swords.
Not heeding to the pain, she continued battling the enemy as rich crimson oozed out from the fresh and deep wound. Once her life began to ebb away from her, she repeatedly recited the resurrection incantation as if it were a mantra. After many repetitions, her focus wandered as she saw someone at the corner of her eye.
It was Hyperion.
Without any forethought and blinded with hatred, she ran towards him as if she were a madwoman. Before she was able to run a sword through him, he blocked her blade. Emerald and hazel burned as the two cousins concentrated their energies against each other.
The Sparti, on the other hand, fought each other - feeding more on their masters' current hatred and fierceness.
Hyperion's twisted smirk turned more malevolent. As he kept swinging his sword in efforts to kill her, he spat, "The gods have turned their backs on you already!"
Upon hearing his words, she blocked and swung harder. "Egypt - or any other land - has never been Atlantis' enemy! I will never join a butcher and a blasphemer!"
"Never say never, Cousin!" he said in the middle of clanging blades. His eyes narrowed and gleamed as he spat, "You might find us fighting together at the same side someday."
"You traitor!" she screamed as she kept attacking him. "As long as I live, I will make you pay for everything!"
Eventually, he made a fatal mistake. When he parried, she found that split-second opening and quickly ran the sword through him. She shoved the sword deeper into him until her blade was in him to the fullest extent. As blood came out of his mouth and his eyes turned listless, she then propped her foot against his torso. After kicking him away to pull her sword out from him, she then swung her sword as hard as she could - decapitating Hyperion.
The detached head rolled alongside the mass of dead bodies.
Without an afterthought and already numb from the carnage, she now ran towards another enemy Sparti - leaving her dead cousin sprawled on the ground in the pool of his own blood as his head lay a few feet away from his body.
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Thief Bakura dismounted from his horse and ran inside the chamber wherein the Stone of Memory was located.
Standing directly above the Stone was Akunadin - patiently waiting with a tightlipped smirk on his face as the thief placed the six Millennium Items in their respective pockets on the Stone.
Once the sixth Item was in place, the wind howled inside the chamber. Shortly thereafter, sorrowful wails and shrieks of torment filled the chamber as the ninety-nine restless spirits of his townspeople were awakened.
Instead of fear, Bakura maniacally laughed and said, "Soon, my friends, we will have our revenge!"
The elderly priest's eyes flashed as his tightlipped smirk became more twisted. "You have not yet finished your part of the covenant, Thief!"
As the priest raised his hand and seemed to have clutched something from thin air, Bakura's chest began to heave. His heart violently pounded, and he felt as if the blood rushed through his head. In such agony and pain, his eyes went frantically wide as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "We had a deal!"
"You wanted power, did you not?" asked Akunadin as his voice echoed over Bakura's bloodcurdling screams. "I am fulfilling our agreement, Thief. A part of Zork is now being instilled in you, and the power that you seek is in the Shadow Realm. What you did not know, though, is that you, Zork, and the Ring need to be one to complete the pact!"
The ground shook, all six Items emitted a mystical light, and the Stone shifted to the side - revealing an abysmal opening.
From the Stone's opening, Zork's deep voice filled the chamber. "It is now time to fulfill my end of our covenant, priest. Once the seventh Item is in place, everything will come to pass!"
Akunadin's eyes went wide, since he did not like the demon's foreboding tone.
A dark and heavy mist came out from the opening and formed into a towering demon with glowing eyes and hideous features. The misty form may be non-corporeal, but it could still have an effect on the physical word.
It was now Akunadin's turn to let out a bloodcurdling scream as the demon grabbed him by the neck and lifted him from the ground.
Eventually, more black mist crept out from the opening - filling the chamber until nothing inside was visible.
Minutes later, Atemu and his party arrived at Kuru Eruna. Dismounting from their horses, the Pharaoh and High Priest Set walked side-by-side and entered the chamber - followed by Shimon, the rest of the high priests, and a handful of soldiers.
As the dark mist's concealing powers began to clear, a deep voice that was vaguely familiar greeted, "If you wish to claim the Items, Pharaoh, then you must duel for them! I want to formalize my ownership of the Items by beating you in a duel!"
Everyone's eyes went wide once the fog cleared - revealing Akunadin and Thief Bakura standing side by side.
"What is the meaning of this, Uncle?" Atemu - still in shock - demanded with his customary scowl.
"You and my brother were never been fit to wield the throne. I sacrificed so much in life to serve under your reign, but how were those sacrifices rewarded? My brother held potent powers with the seven Items, but refused to increase Egypt's borders by conquering other lands. Instead, the Items were merely used to fend off the Hyskos. To make matters worse, you gave half of Egypt's throne and your bed to a foreign whore from a doomed kingdom!"
Tear-filled amethyst eyes flashed in fury, as their owner clenched his fists. "How dare you dishonor my father and my wife! My father had great regard for you, and trusted you with his very life! Xandra treats you with great respect! How could you betray Egypt, Uncle? Why?"
The elderly priest scoffed, as he gave his nephew an intimidating look. "I did not dishonor anyone, if there was no honor to rob in the first place. I also do not value the respect given by those who do not deserve my respect. I am claiming my son's rightful property - the throne and crown of Egypt. You must duel me to reclaim your Puzzle and keep your throne!"
As the angry Pharaoh advanced a step and was about to accept the challenge, Set grabbed his arm to stop him. After amethyst made contact with azure for a split second, the high priest then glanced sideways across the chamber. "You and I still have a score to settle, Elder Akunadin!"
Akunadin's now-red eyes glowed as his voice boomed, "Stay away from this, Set! I am doing this for you!"
"I do not want anything to do with a traitor!" snapped the sable-haired high priest, as he held on to the Millennium Rod. "You killed Kisara!"
A sarcastic chuckle escaped from the elderly priest's lips and echoed throughout the chamber. "She is nothing more than a means to and end - an object to be tossed away when it is no longer useful..."
Glaring at the two traitors across the chamber, Atemu interjected through gritted teeth, "Set - this is my uncle's treason that I must deal with. I appreciate your steadfastness, but this is my fight!"
Set's azure eyes burned with resolved as he stared at his royal friend. "He may be your uncle, but I am his son. I have also made a vow to someone to avenge her death. If he committed this treason, then I - as his son - must set matters right!"
Shimon, Isis, Karim, and Shadah all stood speechless from Set's words. They knew that if Set were truly Akunadin's son, then that would make him Atemu's cousin and next in line to the throne should anything happen to the Pharaoh. However, their heart heaved at the same time since one of their own - and the most respected one in their circle - happened to be a traitor.
"How poignant!" spat Bakura - giving dagger stares and pointing at Atemu. "Since the throne has been tainted by blood spilled at Kuru Eruna, you must pay for your father's sins!"
This time, the Pharaoh's ears pounded as adrenaline rushed in his system. "I have heard enough! My father is a good and peace-loving man! He would never order the slaughter of an entire town!"
Bakura's almond eyes gleamed and a twisted smirk crept from his lips. His ka, Diabound, then came out and stood behind him. "Prove it, then. You and the priest will fight together for your cause, and the old man and I will do the same for ours."
As Atemu gazed sideways, Set said with a meaningful stare, "Are you ready to fight, my Pharaoh..."
The amethyst-eyed young man remarked with a smirk of confidence, "As always, Cousin...
End of Chapter Nineteen
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Author's Notes
Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Emrys / Xandra, Hyperion, the Orichalchos Medallion, the Mages' Council, and this fanfic are the author's property.
This fanfiction was written for entertainment purposes only, thereby releasing the author from all liabilities.