Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Nick who belongs to Phoenix727.

Chapter 22: Summon the Power of Ra!

I glanced at the Galactic Dragon whose yellow eyes glared anxiously to destroy us. That foul creature had Artemis's soul and the Millennium Puzzle within itself. How were we to defeat it without harming them? My heart longed to have Artemis by my side, and I felt eel that she and I needed each other. I had to get her soul back before anymore damage was done!

The Millennium Guardians were warily watching whilst my friends stared with fright. Atem seemed depressed as he walked over, carrying Artemis's body. I realized he had tears falling from his eyes, but I knew he wanted revenge for what Pluto had done.

"Pluto!" Yukai called out. "If you're truly in your body, don't allow whatever it is to control you! You know that the Galactic Dragon will have the entire universe quaking in fear!"

"Sorry but your elder brother is no longer here!" Pluto taunted. "The darkness has claimed his soul, and the only way to free him is to defeat me."

"He has gone too far!" I yelled angrily.

"Yugi, the only way we can vanquish the Galactic Dragon is using Ra's power," Orpheus replied.

"He doesn't know how to use it!" Atem bickered, still holding Artemis's limp body.

"My other self..." I said softly.

Atem appeared greatly affected by her sacrifice. The pain struck my heart so much that my will to fight on had diminished. Everything seemed so hopeless. No, I couldn't give up! The whole universe was in danger and I might be the only one to stop the Galactic Dragon.

"How can I awaken the power of Ra?" I asked.

Yukai and the other Millennium Guardians were shocked by my question. They gazed at one another before Yukai began to speak. "Not much is known but one way is to open up the pure heart of Ra," Yukai suggested.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Joey questioned.

"I have no idea."

"For once this is a question he can't even answer," Apollo replied as the other Millennium Guardians looked embarrassed.

"Well, they're not much of help," Kaiba said. "What about the other Phoenix Dragons?"

"The Silver and Bronze Phoenix Dragons?" Nidoki responded.

"Luna mentioned them before." Atem reminded. "She said that their names are unknown."

"That's true and we haven't found their reincarnations." Forseti included.

Open up the pure heart of Ra, what could that mean? I couldn't help but watch Pluto smirk at us. He was going to pay for what he had done!

"I see young Yugi has no clue on how to awaken the power of Ra," Pluto replied. "Why don't I just finish you all now! Obelisk, Galactic Dragon, destroy them!"

Obelisk and the Galactic Dragon launched their attacks straight at us. With these two forces combined, we'll be killed. Suddenly Slifer appeared and stopped the attacks with its Thunderstroke. The serpentine-like dragon roared as it descended towards Yukai. He appeared to have felt some damage from the attacks.

"Will Yukai be alright?" Nick asked.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," Yukai reassured.

"We were lucky this time but we won't stand a chance next time!" Orpheus advised.

The Galactic Dragon roared as the earth shook. What could we do now? I had to do something! The universe rested on my shoulders, and I must not let evil win!

"We'll have to create a distraction so the mortals can escape," Yukai said.

"Any way we can help?" Joey asked.

"Foolish mortal, we'll get ourselves killed if we remain here," Bakura replied.

"I must agree with him," Atem said. "Live today, fight another day."

"NO!" I protested. Everyone stared at me with confused looks. "If I'm the reincarnation of Ra, then I have to unleash its power to defeat the Galactic Dragon," I began, "and I also have to rescue Artemis…"

"You love her very much, don't you?" Tea replied.

"Artemis sacrificed a lot to get us here, even for her soul," I continued, looking back towards Pluto.

"This is starting to get boring," Pluto complained.

"I hope you have a plan because we're going after Pluto!" Yukai decided. "Forseti, Nidoki, Apollo, Orpheus, let's go!"

The Millennium Guardians and their Ka left and began attacking Obelisk. Pluto ordered the Galactic Dragon to fight back, but Slifer defended them.

"Open up the pure heart of Ra, I don't understand!" Joey whined.

"Pathetic mutt," Kaiba murmured.

"WHAT?"

"Your fighting won't get us anywhere!" Nick yelled out.

"Nick's right, we have to work out a plan." Atem replied.

The pure heart of Ra must dwell within me if I am the reincarnation of it. What I could not fathom was revealing the pure heart. Didn't I have a pure heart?

Not likely.

I suddenly found myself inside my soul room. It felt so cold and dark. I noticed Artemis stood beside me.

I thought…

Yugi, your mind may be pure but your heart is not.

I don't understand.

My soul and the Millennium Puzzle have become a living heart for the Galactic Dragon, you must find it in order to destroy it.

Won't I be destroying you and the puzzle?

Yugi, I love you but you must awaken your heart of darkness!

The darkness still has me, how can that be?

You don't trust the power of Ra…

My soul room began fading.

Artemis…

The Silver and Bronze Phoenix Dragons will soon arise. They will help you defeat the Galactic Dragon…

I opened my eyes to find myself back in reality. Did that actually happen? My heart still belonged to the darkness, and the reason was I didn't want to use the power of Ra. No, I wanted to but everything seems so empty. I looked over and I saw that the Millennium Guardians were still fighting, but how long will they last?

"Yugi, you okay?" Joey asked.

"Awakening the power of Ra won't be easy," I responded. I suddenly felt a familiar presence right beside me. It appeared to be coming from Joey.

"It seems you haven't forgiven yourself for what you had done when you turned against us," Joey replied. "That is all behind us, and you know it wasn't your fault. Maybe it's time to get out of the past."

Joey had to be right. All that happened was because I didn't expect the unexpected, and Artemis forgave me after all I had done, even my friends as well. I knew now that Pluto didn't want me to awaken the Golden Phoenix Dragon, but he was wrong! Ra's power will defeat him and the Galactic Dragon, and I needed it to stop them! My heart of darkness could no longer control me, and it was time for me to summon the Golden Phoenix Dragon!

Shining golden light enshrouded me within its glow as I heard loud roars coming from deep inside myself. Everyone stared at me with awe, whilst Pluto watched with anger. I can feel the power of Ra coursing through my body as the mighty creature appeared beside me.

Ra the Golden Phoenix Dragon resembled the Ka Artemis awakened back at her temple. It had the head and wings of a phoenix and had the body and tail of a dragon. The phoenix and dragon crest back at the mansion must have represented the Phoenix Dragons. Ra roared as it descended.

"That's Ra?" Kaiba questioned, staring astonishingly at the creature.

"I trust the Ra can defeat the Galactic Dragon!" Joey replied.

"Pluto, you will now face the true power of Ra the Golden Phoenix Dragon!" I shouted. "You have renounced your duty as Servant of Ra, and you will pay for your crimes!"

This was it! The final clash of two mighty dragons, and who knew if either will succeed. I just hoped Ra was strong enough to overcome the Galactic Dragon, or the whole universe will be doomed.