From Darkness To Light: Tablet of the Past
By Asher Tye
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I wish I did 'cause then I'd be rich. Since I'm not, suing me would be pointless. Thanks bunches for all the reviews. I can't wait to see the reviews for this chapter.
Summary: Mokuba's out cold, which leaves the group with apparently no way to gain the answers they want. No way save for an ancient tablet and an Egyptian Tomb Guardian who's more than willing to try a new invasion plan.
Author's Note: I've heard tales that the only cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh game that have a basis in myth are the ones that make up Exodia. I'm just wondering if this is true or not.
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
(_) - Raven to Mokuba
[_] - Mokuba to Raven
_ Telepathic communication
***************************************************************************
"Mokuba..." Seto said as he held his little brother in his arms, the stain of the boy's blood on his sleeve where Mokuba had coughed it up.
"He doesn't look so good," Joey said.
"Congratulations, you're a master of the obvious," Seto said angrily as he got up, lifting his brother with him. "Now move aside, I have to get him to a hospital."
"That will not be necessary," came the soft voice of Isis. Everyone turned to see Isis and Malik standing at the doorway.
"What do you mean it's not necessary? My brother's coughing up blood and I will not see him die on the advice of some loon."
"Watch your mouth Kaiba," Malik said. "If Isis says it's not necessary than it is not necessary."
"Your brother's injuries have already been healed. What afflicts him now is simple exhaustion. His body is simply not accustomed to channeling that level of energy," Isis said as she looked down at the raven-haired boy. "In truth he is extremely lucky."
"Lucky?"
"If what I heard is true, he was channeling the power of Exodia himself, a very powerful spellcaster. By all rights he should not have survived to make it to the ground."
"If a doctor can't help him, than what can?" Seto Kaiba asked impatiently.
"Time and proper care, for which I suggest we relocate to you mansion," Isis said as she turned to leave.
"Wait a minute," Bakura said, blocking the woman's path. "If you wish to help the brat that's fine by me, but first I want to collect my payment for helping to find this place. I'll be taking the Millennium Eye if you please." With those words, the white-haired tomb robber reached towards the Millennium Item's bearer, only to find his hand stopped by Yami. "We had a deal Pharaoh. My services in exchange for the Millennium Eye..."
"Yes, you asked me for the Millennium Eye, and were it in my possession, I would have been honor bound to deliver it to you," Yami said. "But as you can plainly see, the Eye rests in another person's socket, negating any obligation I have."
"WHAT!? YOU SWORE!!"
"It was your mistake. You asked for something you should have realized was never in my power to give."
"But you won the game... the Millennium Eye is yours now."
"The terms of the game were thus... If I won, they released Tea, and if they won, they got my remaining cards. I recall no mention of the Eye at all." At the Pharaoh's words, Bakura began to twitch a little, trying to come up with something, anything he could use to regain his missing item.
"Pegasus. The Eye really belongs to Pegasus. It shouldn't even be in the brat's possession, he stole it."
"From whoever stole it from Pegasus in the first place. With Pegasus dead, the only one who can claim the Eye is that one, and of course in doing so he'll forfeit his life," Yami said. "Face it Bakura, you don't have a leg to stand on." Bakura's eyes were closed as he gritted his teeth in a rage. His hands were completely balled into fists as a vein began to pop up on the boy's head. Instinctively, Ryou backed away from his counter-part.
"Man dat guy looks like he's about ta go nova," Joey said, taking a hint for Ryou. Yugi moved in front of Tea, not really sure what he could do if the Tomb Robber decided to use his shadow magic against them. Almost no one was prepared for Bakura's next action.
"He he he he ha ha ha ha ha," Bakura began to laugh. "It is true what they say, those who live by the sword die by the sword. I would never have thought you capable of such a deception, Pharaoh. Very well, I shall take the Millennium Eye at another time." So saying, Bakura turned on his heels to leave. "Ryou, let's get out of here. I'm hungry enough to stomach that bile you call food."
"Um... Of course," Ryou said, following his darker half.
"Ryou! Ya know ya don't have to listen to that windbag if ya don't wanna!"
"He's less trouble if he's well-fed. Besides, it's not like it's any trouble," Ryou said.
"RYOU!"
"Coming."
"Well, now that we're done with that, I would suggest we leave here."
"Joey," Yami said as he walked over to Yugi, preparing to rejoin with his lighter half. "I would like you to take Tea home for us."
"Wha..."
"Yami, I don't need to go home I'm...."
"Tea," Yugi pleaded as Yami faded back into him, "There are still a lot of questions we need answered. And I'd prefer not to involve you if I can..."
"Yugi?"
"Please, I don't want to put you two in any more danger."
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Chaos. Mokuba had found himself in a scene of utter chaos. Once more he found himself back in prehistoric time. Once more he was dressed only in a loincloth, but the boy could easily see there was something different about himself. His skin was tanner and his hair longer. He looked a full two years older than the last time he had been here. A small part of him wondered what else had changed, but that part was quickly drowned out by what the boy saw.
All around him, members of the tribe of cavemen he'd become so familiar with ran in terror as the towering forms of a little under twenty Hitotsume Giants rampaged after them. Of course the warriors and hunters of the clan were fighting valiantly against the marauding monsters, but they were clearly outmatched. All around him, Mokuba could hear the screams of men, women, and even children as they were torn apart and eaten alive by the sharp claws and pointed teeth of the Cyclops monsters. The tribe members couldn't even escape into their cave thanks to a huge fire that covered it's mouth, courtesy of a Darkfire Soldier #1 that was smiling as he overlooked the carnage being wrought. Suddenly, Mokuba found himself caught in a huge shadow belonging to a Hitotsume. The ravenous beast looked down at the boy, it's slimy tongue licking it's lips as it seemed to be sizing up how he would taste. The Cyclops raised it's massive club over it's head, preparing to crush the boy. Mokuba turned his head and closed his eyes, not wanting to see his own impending doom. The sickening sound of crushing bones came to Mokuba's ears, and he wondered why he hadn't felt the impact.
Cautiously, Mokuba opened his eyes to see that the club had not hit him but had instead been blocked. It was what had blocked the club that upset Mokuba the most. On the ground between Mokuba and the giant lay a beautiful woman, her body slowly going cold, her pulse and heart stopping, thanks to where the club had broken her skull.
*Momma,* Mokuba thought as he crawled to check the woman, desperately hoping there was some way he could help the woman he'd given the role of his mother in this place. The boy's stomach almost flipped as he saw the extent of the damage done to the woman. That was when he felt a large hand wrap it's fingers around the back of his neck, picking him up with effortless ease. Mokuba gagged as he was pulled up to eye level with the Hitotsume Giant, it's mouth still salivating. The boy struggled as he felt the monster's claws stroke his chest. White-hot pain shot through Mokuba as he felt one of those claws pierce his shoulder, cutting almost completely through his body. Smiling, the Cyclops pulled out his claw, licking the red blood that coated the finger. The monster opened his mouth wide as he brought the boy closer to him, preparing to take a bite out of his young prey. Mokuba struggled in the Cyclops's grip, wiggling and squirming like a madman, or mad-boy as the case may have been.
Before the monster could get his teeth into him however, the Hitotsume Giant's neck exploded as a spear-tip exited it, spraying Mokuba's chest and face with the monster's dark red blood. The giant dropped Mokuba as he fell to the ground, revealing his killer to be Cave-Seto. The brown-haired man's body was covered in red streaks where he'd suffered gashes and scratches from battle. Cave-Seto looked down at Mokuba growling at the boy as he pointed away from the battle, obviously telling him to get to safety. Clutching his aching and bleeding shoulder, Mokuba began to move only to spot a dark hole that hung quietly in the air. It was from this portal that a new Hitotsume Giant appeared, rushing to join his friends.
*So that's where they're coming from...,* Mokuba thought to himself. *Maybe... Maybe I can stop them from the other side.* The boy stumbled his way towards the portal. Looking back for only a few seconds, Mokuba flung himself into the void, and all of the boy's senses went black.
***************************************************************************
"Are you sure this is necessary?" Seto asked Isis as she lit a small stick of incense.
"This will help him rest easier," the woman said. "His body cannot properly regain it's energy if his mind refuses to relax." Next to the nightstand on which the incense rested, Mokuba lay in bed asleep. Seto had carefully tucked his younger brother in, afraid that anything could hurt him in his current condition, and more than a little suspicious of what Isis was doing. The woman's head now rested on Mokuba's chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Next she pulled open his eyelid, looking at his eye as it darted around.
"New age nonsense," was all Seto said as he watched the woman in white, not sure he liked someone he knew so little about taking such liberties with his unconscious younger brother. "So now what do we do?"
"We let him rest and prepare some food that will further speed his recovery." With that, Isis held open the door to Mokuba's room. Seto Kaiba, of course, refused to leave before anyone else did. Both traveled downstairs to find Yugi sitting on one of the armchairs, looking very uncomfortable and out of place.
"You know, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to," Seto said.
"No, Yami said we need more answers, and that means we have to stay here."
"Perhaps I should rephrase my statement..." Just then Seto heard a knock at his door. The knock proved only to be a formality as a short figure in black robes carrying two brown paper bags entered the mansion without invitation.
"Malik, you've returned. Were you able to find everything I requested?" Isis asked of her brother.
"Might I remind you dear sister, I am not an errand boy. But yes, I did retrieve the items you asked for." Isis led her little brother into the kitchen where a big pot of water was busy boiling.
"What are you making, some ancient Egyptian potion that restores energy?"
"Nothing quite so grandiose. What I am cooking will prove infinitely more helpful for you brother than any magic." With that, Isis placed the chicken Malik had purchased for her into the water, closing the pot. "The time it takes to create the broth should give us plenty of time to deal with our new guest."
"Guest?" Seto Kaiba asked. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the front door being opened. Angrily the elder Kaiba stalked into the front room, ready to bodily throw the intruder out. He was actually quite surprised to find Yami waiting as well, staring at Shadi as the Egyptian Tomb Guardian entered.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Yami said.
"I was not aware you were expecting me, my Pharaoh," Shadi answered. "But if you knew I was coming, you probably also know why I came."
"You want to attempt to pry your way into Mokuba's soulroom again. You're hoping that with his energy so depleted, he won't be able to defend himself against you. You're hoping that you'll be able to find out the identity of the one who stole Pegasus's Millennium Eye."
"Very good. Now please leave me alone so I can perform my..."
"You're not going anywhere without me," Yami said.
"What?"
"I have questions that must be answered as well, and I have a feeling I'll find those answers in Mokuba's soulroom."
"I'm not sure that is within my power to do."
"Aren't you two forgetting something?" Seto said. "You aren't going anywhere near my brother without my permission."
"With or without your permission..."
"Shadi, there is no need to cause more trouble than necessary over this," Yami said before turning to his rival. "Seto, there is no cause for concern. Mokuba will be in no danger from this."
"And for that you think I'll allow you to just violate my brother's privacy?"
"Listen to me. For some reason, the spirit of Exodia has taken up residence in Mokuba's body. So far I have counted four attacks against him and twice where he's come after me. If we're going to get to the bottom of this we need to seek out the answers." Seto considered what Yami was saying.
"Very well." With that, the young CEO led the two up to his brother's room. Mokuba still lay in the exact spot on his bed that Seto had left him and he looked just as helpless as well. "I'll give you one warning. If Mokuba even looks like he's in pain, I'll send you both out that window."
"That should not be a problem," Shadi said as he lifted his Ankh. "Your highness, please place your hand on my Millennium Ankh. Then you'll be able to enter the boy's mind with me."
"Very well," Yami said as he grabbed hold of the item. Shadi touched the tip of the key shaped ankh to Mokuba's temple, and the item began shinning gold.
**********************************************
"Incredible," Yami said as Shadi and his own astral selves appeared inside Mokuba's mind. They had appeared in an expansive room, but the odd thing about it was that most of the place was bare.
"This is getting ridiculous."
"What do you mean?"
"This cannot be his true soulroom. For it to be this empty, the child would have to have never lived a single second of his life."
"This place is not completely barren," Yami said, pointing towards the far wall. There stood the only a single statue of Mokuba himself carved of a black stone. The stature's arms were crossed over it's chest and it's eyes were closed. It looked like he was supposed to be asleep, except this statue was leaning forward with it's feet planted on the ground, looking very unnatural.
"Perhaps if I try to contact the spirit the statue represents we'll be more successful in finding out the truth about this boy." Shadi place the Millennium Ankh to the stone statue. only to have cracks begin to appear in the stone.
"What did you do?" Yami asked as he backed away from the now crumbling statue.
"Nothing... yet." Before the duo's very eyes the entire room began to develop cracks as large chunks began to fall away into nothingness. Space warped as the room began to shudder and quake, changing form as it did so. From the floor, a large bed rose while dozens and dozens of shelves appeared. On the walls, pictures and posters morphed into position, but it was what lay on the bed that caught Yami's attention.
"Mokuba?"
"Impossible, how could he be in his own mind?" Shadi asked. Yami ignored the Tomb Guardian, moving over to the sleeping boy. Before he got within arms reach, however, he was stopped by the towering form of a Krokodilus wielding two Axes of Despair. The man-beast made no move to grab the young Pharaoh, but it was quite clear the lizard would not let him pass.
"Krokodilus may not be the strongest of my servants," came a labored voice. "But you will be hard pressed to find a more capable sentry." Yami and Shadi looked to see a taller, older version of Mokuba. The boy looked to be in his teens, though still younger than Yugi. The beginnings of a beard could be seen on the teen's chin and his hair was tied into two huge pony tails that stood out of the back of his head like an antennae. All over his body, fresh cuts and bruises could be seen, and his eyes were almost completely black with only a dim red light shining in their centers.
"I take it you would be the astral representation of Exodia," Yami said.
"I prefer the name Raven," Raven said. "I suppose the two of you had some reason for daring to invade the inner sanctum of our mind?"
"Your presence has generated a great deal of questions. I have come seeking the answers."
"And your reasons are the same Key-boy?"
"I have come to gain the information you hold concerning the Millennium Eye. I demand that you tell me where and who you got it from."
"And who are you to demand anything of me?"
"Someone who holds the key to your mind."
"Where?" Shadi looked down and was indeed surprised to find that the Millennium Ankh was no longer hanging. In fact the golden item now hung from Raven's finger.
"How dare you?"
"Enough of this foolishness," Yami said, blocking Shadi before he could advance on Raven. "I did not come here for a fight or to be distracted by you childish games."
"You shouldn't be so down on childish things, Pharaoh. Some of the happiest people are still children at heart."
"I am here for answers Raven, not lectures. I want to know why the spirit of Exodia is inhabiting my friend's body. I want to know why you're so intent on gathering the Exodia cards. And I want to know when you plan to leave."
"Care for my shoe-size and favorite color too?" Raven said as he walked a little unsteadily to sit in a chair that materialized out of nowhere.
"Are you going to answer my questions?"
"That depends on what you expect. If you're expecting perfect answers to your questions, you're going to be rather disappointed. But if you want to know what I know, then I'd be happy to share, for a price."
"What kind of price?"
"Guess..."
"The remaining piece of Exodia belongs to my partner, not to me. Unless you want to suffer the same fate as Bakura, I suggest you think of another price."
"Very well. How about a rematch, at a later date of course." Yami considered the phantom teen's request.
"That's acceptable. So what do you want to know?"
"First thing's first. Why are you here?"
"Ah, this is one of the questions to which I fear I can give you no satisfactory answer, but I shall do my best," Raven said. "About two years ago, the man you know as Pegasus sealed Mokuba's soul away into the Shadow Realm. While he was eventually released, thanks to you and your partner's efforts, he didn't exactly come back alone."
"So while in the Shadow Realm he crossed paths with Exodia and you just hitched a ride back to our world."
"That was what I thought at first, until I was able to get a look at him myself." At this Raven's hands swept over his body. "As you can see, there is more than a passing similarity between us."
"I noticed."
"I decided to remain unobtrusive until I'd gained more information, watching as the events of Battle City unfolded themselves. As time passed I found myself getting stronger and stronger. It soon got so I could take control of his body when he fell asleep, something I used to try to understand more of what was going on. Unfortunately, all I have are theories."
"Then how did you know you were Exodia?"
"Next question please."
"Why?"
"Because I don't really have an answer you'd find acceptable for that question. I just know."
"Very well. So if you decided to stay out of the way, why have you been so active lately?"
"About a month or two ago, I began to feel a disturbance in reality, something that was strangely familiar to me. Then Mokuba began to have nightmares. I was quite surprised when he started shooting off energy of his own. Weak energy to be sure, but from what I understand, no one else should be able to do that, especially someone who's never trained in the mystic arts. For a while, I tried to curb this with bits of advice and strange feelings. Then, when Witty Phantom tried to skewer the kid, I found I had to take a somewhat more active role in protecting him."
"You were the one who activated the force-field that protected him, weren't you?" Shadi asked.
"Yes. And when you came along, I figured it'd be best to let you take the credit for the rescue. Something I noticed you didn't object to."
"So why are you after the Exodia cards?"
"Another feeling. I know that once I have all the Exodia cards, I'll have enough power to protect Mokuba. You saw what happened when I destroyed one of your cards. Which is why I need the other card."
"I haven't decided whether that's a good or a bad thing yet. You've caused a lot of trouble with the limited power you have, I'm not sure what you'd do with more power."
"In my defense, I haven't actually hurt anyone. Now, are there any more questions, I do have things to do?" Yami looked around, once more spying Mokuba's still form on the bed behind the still present Krokodilus.
"Final question, why is Mokuba's astral self lying over there apparently comatose?" Raven steepled his fingers, trying to find an acceptable to way to word what was going on.
"In order to defeat Gate Guardian earlier, I was forced to summon a much larger portion of the vast energy wielded in our Exodia form than I have before. While this was effective, it was rather like sending a titanic surge into an unprotected and somewhat fragile computer."
"How much damage was done?"
"You saw him cough up the blood. I've been setting everything right in here since he fell. Unfortunately, using his body as a conduit produced a fantastic strain on his mind as well and drastically weakened him. I leant him just enough energy to stabilize his conscious mind, but not wake up. This way I could work on repairing the damage. Now then, I still have a lot to do, and I've given you all the information I have. I'm sure you both know the way out." Raven tossed the Millennium Ankh back to Shadi.
"Wait, we are not done yet. I still need to know from whom you got the Millennium Eye," Shadi said.
"Now, now, that would be telling. I know perfectly well what you would do with the culprit, and I might still need them."
"You said you'd given us all the information you had," Yami said. "You seem to be doing an awful lot based solely on feelings and hunches. There must be more information."
"There might be... in that," Raven said, pointing towards a corner of the room. Sitting there where no light dared go was a massive black safe.
"What is that doing there."
"I've seen this before, my Pharaoh," Shadi said as he approached the cube. "Things like this appear in the soulrooms of people possessing repressed memories."
"So, it's protecting something Mokuba's forgotten?"
"No, the manifestation of the safe is not protecting the memories from intruders, it is protecting Mokuba's soulroom from the memory."
"Mokuba once told Yugi about the man who adopted him and his brother. Do you suppose this is where Mokuba keeps his memories of the man?"
"It's too big for that to be all," Raven said. "You could keep a lifetime of memories in such a safe. That's why I tried to open it, to find out what else was in there. But that proved to be harder than I thought."
"It always is," Shadi said. "And I would advise you to leave the safe alone as well my Pharaoh. Never once have I seen one that contained anything that was not dangerous."
"Very well. If there is nothing else that can be done here, then we should leave Shadi."
"Yes."
"Yami."
"What is it 'Raven?'"
"Tell Seto that he doesn't have to worry, Mokuba will reawaken in fourteen hours thanks to Isis's help," Raven said. "And he'll be very hungry, so ask him to have something more besides chicken soup ready."
"Very well." A white light overtook both Yami and Shadi as the Millennium Ankh returned them to their own bodies.
****************************************
Mokuba looked around him, more than a little disturbed at the scene that had unfolded itself before his eyes. He was still at the same cave, but now the scene was completely quiet. All around him lay the bodies of the Hitotsume Giants that had been attacking the tribe earlier. A look of absolute terror was plastered on each and every one of the putrid green corpses, a look that was echoed on the still living faces of the tribe that was busy backing away from him. Even Cave-Seto had a look of fear in his eyes. Mokuba looked down and found himself no longer wearing the same loincloth he'd had before. Instead, his body was covered in the same bronze armor he had seen Raven wearing, only this armor covered his left arm as well. His hair had been braided back into their antennae-like form, but were now covered in the same armor. In fact, a bronze helmet covered his entire head making it look much bigger. All over the armor, archaic symbols were etched, including an ankh shape in the dead center of the boy's chest.
*Why... Why am I dressed like Exo...*
"RAAA!" Mokuba's train of thought was disrupted by the howling battle cry of the Darkfire Soldier. The flames still swirled around the sword-wielding warrior as he fell from the sky, his sword ready to slice the boy in two. Mokuba's first instinct was to jump out of the way as the Soldier slammed into the ground. Immediately the warrior leapt forward, once more ready to strike Mokuba. This time, though, it was the boy's arm that moved, catching the sword within it's gauntlet-clad hand. With the sound of breaking glass, the blade of the sword shattered in the boy's hand. Mokuba's second hand grabbed the man by the throat, pulling him closer. The young Kaiba saw his reflection in the man's dark eyes and was startled. His skin was completely purple and his eyes were glowing a brilliant red. Immediately the Darkfire Soldier's face changed into one of fear. Mokuba felt himself talking, but he couldn't understand any of the words he was saying.
The Darkfire Soldier's mouth opened as well as though he were going to scream. What ever he was going to do was cut off as a beam of energy exited Mokuba's mouth and entered the swordsman's. Seconds later Mokuba watched in horror as the man's soul was ripped violently from his body flying directly into his mouth. The Darkfire Soldier's body collapsed as Mokuba let go, rapidly reducing to nothing. For his part, the whole experience left Mokuba feeling horrible.
*Did I... Did I just... eat his soul,* Mokuba thought to himself. It had been the most vile and disgusting experience he'd ever had in his life. And yet, as he felt the surge of power coursing through his body and his gaze once more fell upon the survivors of the battle, one thought came to his mind... he wanted more.
***************************************************************************
"I see you've both returned safely," Isis said as both Shadi and Yami walked down the stairs.
"Returned from where? They never left Mokuba's room," Seto Kaiba said.
"That is not important," Yami said to the elder Kaiba. So saying Yami began to tell everyone present what Raven had told him.
"Well your mission obviously was a success then," came the elder Kaiba's sarcastic comment.
"You may be interested to know that Isis's care has helped your brother, he should be awake again in fourteen hours."
"Most excellent," Isis said.
"Why do you seem more interested in Mokuba's revival than me?" Seto asked suspiciously.
"Once he is awake, Mokuba will be able to use the Millennium Eye to complete the tablet in the museum," Isis said.
"I see," Malik said. "You believe the tablet will be able to answer our questions where this Raven person wasn't."
"It's discovery and the subsequent arrival of Exodia plus all the Shadow Realm monsters popping up cannot be a coincidence." Isis stood, walking to the Kaiba's front door and placing a circle of wood on the knob. "In the meantime, I suggest that we all remain here. As long as my Millennium Necklace is unable to see the future as it pertains to Mokuba, anything could happen. It would be foolish to leave him unprotected when he's in such a weakened state."
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Elsewhere, in another dimension, in a manor covered in the power of darkness, a small green-furred bat-winged monster talked excitedly as he described what he had found out in vivid detail. Sitting next to him in a massive chair was Zeboim, the Summoned Skull, his claws crossed in front of his face as he listened, lost in thoughts from long ago.
*****************************************************************************************
To be Continued....
Yeah I know, this chapter had a lot of exposition in it, and the next chapter will probably have a bit more, but I figured the bad guys could use some down time and the good guys could use a break. Well, you can't have a story without... well... story. See ya in thirty.
By Asher Tye
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I wish I did 'cause then I'd be rich. Since I'm not, suing me would be pointless. Thanks bunches for all the reviews. I can't wait to see the reviews for this chapter.
Summary: Mokuba's out cold, which leaves the group with apparently no way to gain the answers they want. No way save for an ancient tablet and an Egyptian Tomb Guardian who's more than willing to try a new invasion plan.
Author's Note: I've heard tales that the only cards in the Yu-Gi-Oh game that have a basis in myth are the ones that make up Exodia. I'm just wondering if this is true or not.
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
(_) - Raven to Mokuba
[_] - Mokuba to Raven
_ Telepathic communication
***************************************************************************
"Mokuba..." Seto said as he held his little brother in his arms, the stain of the boy's blood on his sleeve where Mokuba had coughed it up.
"He doesn't look so good," Joey said.
"Congratulations, you're a master of the obvious," Seto said angrily as he got up, lifting his brother with him. "Now move aside, I have to get him to a hospital."
"That will not be necessary," came the soft voice of Isis. Everyone turned to see Isis and Malik standing at the doorway.
"What do you mean it's not necessary? My brother's coughing up blood and I will not see him die on the advice of some loon."
"Watch your mouth Kaiba," Malik said. "If Isis says it's not necessary than it is not necessary."
"Your brother's injuries have already been healed. What afflicts him now is simple exhaustion. His body is simply not accustomed to channeling that level of energy," Isis said as she looked down at the raven-haired boy. "In truth he is extremely lucky."
"Lucky?"
"If what I heard is true, he was channeling the power of Exodia himself, a very powerful spellcaster. By all rights he should not have survived to make it to the ground."
"If a doctor can't help him, than what can?" Seto Kaiba asked impatiently.
"Time and proper care, for which I suggest we relocate to you mansion," Isis said as she turned to leave.
"Wait a minute," Bakura said, blocking the woman's path. "If you wish to help the brat that's fine by me, but first I want to collect my payment for helping to find this place. I'll be taking the Millennium Eye if you please." With those words, the white-haired tomb robber reached towards the Millennium Item's bearer, only to find his hand stopped by Yami. "We had a deal Pharaoh. My services in exchange for the Millennium Eye..."
"Yes, you asked me for the Millennium Eye, and were it in my possession, I would have been honor bound to deliver it to you," Yami said. "But as you can plainly see, the Eye rests in another person's socket, negating any obligation I have."
"WHAT!? YOU SWORE!!"
"It was your mistake. You asked for something you should have realized was never in my power to give."
"But you won the game... the Millennium Eye is yours now."
"The terms of the game were thus... If I won, they released Tea, and if they won, they got my remaining cards. I recall no mention of the Eye at all." At the Pharaoh's words, Bakura began to twitch a little, trying to come up with something, anything he could use to regain his missing item.
"Pegasus. The Eye really belongs to Pegasus. It shouldn't even be in the brat's possession, he stole it."
"From whoever stole it from Pegasus in the first place. With Pegasus dead, the only one who can claim the Eye is that one, and of course in doing so he'll forfeit his life," Yami said. "Face it Bakura, you don't have a leg to stand on." Bakura's eyes were closed as he gritted his teeth in a rage. His hands were completely balled into fists as a vein began to pop up on the boy's head. Instinctively, Ryou backed away from his counter-part.
"Man dat guy looks like he's about ta go nova," Joey said, taking a hint for Ryou. Yugi moved in front of Tea, not really sure what he could do if the Tomb Robber decided to use his shadow magic against them. Almost no one was prepared for Bakura's next action.
"He he he he ha ha ha ha ha," Bakura began to laugh. "It is true what they say, those who live by the sword die by the sword. I would never have thought you capable of such a deception, Pharaoh. Very well, I shall take the Millennium Eye at another time." So saying, Bakura turned on his heels to leave. "Ryou, let's get out of here. I'm hungry enough to stomach that bile you call food."
"Um... Of course," Ryou said, following his darker half.
"Ryou! Ya know ya don't have to listen to that windbag if ya don't wanna!"
"He's less trouble if he's well-fed. Besides, it's not like it's any trouble," Ryou said.
"RYOU!"
"Coming."
"Well, now that we're done with that, I would suggest we leave here."
"Joey," Yami said as he walked over to Yugi, preparing to rejoin with his lighter half. "I would like you to take Tea home for us."
"Wha..."
"Yami, I don't need to go home I'm...."
"Tea," Yugi pleaded as Yami faded back into him, "There are still a lot of questions we need answered. And I'd prefer not to involve you if I can..."
"Yugi?"
"Please, I don't want to put you two in any more danger."
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Chaos. Mokuba had found himself in a scene of utter chaos. Once more he found himself back in prehistoric time. Once more he was dressed only in a loincloth, but the boy could easily see there was something different about himself. His skin was tanner and his hair longer. He looked a full two years older than the last time he had been here. A small part of him wondered what else had changed, but that part was quickly drowned out by what the boy saw.
All around him, members of the tribe of cavemen he'd become so familiar with ran in terror as the towering forms of a little under twenty Hitotsume Giants rampaged after them. Of course the warriors and hunters of the clan were fighting valiantly against the marauding monsters, but they were clearly outmatched. All around him, Mokuba could hear the screams of men, women, and even children as they were torn apart and eaten alive by the sharp claws and pointed teeth of the Cyclops monsters. The tribe members couldn't even escape into their cave thanks to a huge fire that covered it's mouth, courtesy of a Darkfire Soldier #1 that was smiling as he overlooked the carnage being wrought. Suddenly, Mokuba found himself caught in a huge shadow belonging to a Hitotsume. The ravenous beast looked down at the boy, it's slimy tongue licking it's lips as it seemed to be sizing up how he would taste. The Cyclops raised it's massive club over it's head, preparing to crush the boy. Mokuba turned his head and closed his eyes, not wanting to see his own impending doom. The sickening sound of crushing bones came to Mokuba's ears, and he wondered why he hadn't felt the impact.
Cautiously, Mokuba opened his eyes to see that the club had not hit him but had instead been blocked. It was what had blocked the club that upset Mokuba the most. On the ground between Mokuba and the giant lay a beautiful woman, her body slowly going cold, her pulse and heart stopping, thanks to where the club had broken her skull.
*Momma,* Mokuba thought as he crawled to check the woman, desperately hoping there was some way he could help the woman he'd given the role of his mother in this place. The boy's stomach almost flipped as he saw the extent of the damage done to the woman. That was when he felt a large hand wrap it's fingers around the back of his neck, picking him up with effortless ease. Mokuba gagged as he was pulled up to eye level with the Hitotsume Giant, it's mouth still salivating. The boy struggled as he felt the monster's claws stroke his chest. White-hot pain shot through Mokuba as he felt one of those claws pierce his shoulder, cutting almost completely through his body. Smiling, the Cyclops pulled out his claw, licking the red blood that coated the finger. The monster opened his mouth wide as he brought the boy closer to him, preparing to take a bite out of his young prey. Mokuba struggled in the Cyclops's grip, wiggling and squirming like a madman, or mad-boy as the case may have been.
Before the monster could get his teeth into him however, the Hitotsume Giant's neck exploded as a spear-tip exited it, spraying Mokuba's chest and face with the monster's dark red blood. The giant dropped Mokuba as he fell to the ground, revealing his killer to be Cave-Seto. The brown-haired man's body was covered in red streaks where he'd suffered gashes and scratches from battle. Cave-Seto looked down at Mokuba growling at the boy as he pointed away from the battle, obviously telling him to get to safety. Clutching his aching and bleeding shoulder, Mokuba began to move only to spot a dark hole that hung quietly in the air. It was from this portal that a new Hitotsume Giant appeared, rushing to join his friends.
*So that's where they're coming from...,* Mokuba thought to himself. *Maybe... Maybe I can stop them from the other side.* The boy stumbled his way towards the portal. Looking back for only a few seconds, Mokuba flung himself into the void, and all of the boy's senses went black.
***************************************************************************
"Are you sure this is necessary?" Seto asked Isis as she lit a small stick of incense.
"This will help him rest easier," the woman said. "His body cannot properly regain it's energy if his mind refuses to relax." Next to the nightstand on which the incense rested, Mokuba lay in bed asleep. Seto had carefully tucked his younger brother in, afraid that anything could hurt him in his current condition, and more than a little suspicious of what Isis was doing. The woman's head now rested on Mokuba's chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Next she pulled open his eyelid, looking at his eye as it darted around.
"New age nonsense," was all Seto said as he watched the woman in white, not sure he liked someone he knew so little about taking such liberties with his unconscious younger brother. "So now what do we do?"
"We let him rest and prepare some food that will further speed his recovery." With that, Isis held open the door to Mokuba's room. Seto Kaiba, of course, refused to leave before anyone else did. Both traveled downstairs to find Yugi sitting on one of the armchairs, looking very uncomfortable and out of place.
"You know, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to," Seto said.
"No, Yami said we need more answers, and that means we have to stay here."
"Perhaps I should rephrase my statement..." Just then Seto heard a knock at his door. The knock proved only to be a formality as a short figure in black robes carrying two brown paper bags entered the mansion without invitation.
"Malik, you've returned. Were you able to find everything I requested?" Isis asked of her brother.
"Might I remind you dear sister, I am not an errand boy. But yes, I did retrieve the items you asked for." Isis led her little brother into the kitchen where a big pot of water was busy boiling.
"What are you making, some ancient Egyptian potion that restores energy?"
"Nothing quite so grandiose. What I am cooking will prove infinitely more helpful for you brother than any magic." With that, Isis placed the chicken Malik had purchased for her into the water, closing the pot. "The time it takes to create the broth should give us plenty of time to deal with our new guest."
"Guest?" Seto Kaiba asked. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the front door being opened. Angrily the elder Kaiba stalked into the front room, ready to bodily throw the intruder out. He was actually quite surprised to find Yami waiting as well, staring at Shadi as the Egyptian Tomb Guardian entered.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Yami said.
"I was not aware you were expecting me, my Pharaoh," Shadi answered. "But if you knew I was coming, you probably also know why I came."
"You want to attempt to pry your way into Mokuba's soulroom again. You're hoping that with his energy so depleted, he won't be able to defend himself against you. You're hoping that you'll be able to find out the identity of the one who stole Pegasus's Millennium Eye."
"Very good. Now please leave me alone so I can perform my..."
"You're not going anywhere without me," Yami said.
"What?"
"I have questions that must be answered as well, and I have a feeling I'll find those answers in Mokuba's soulroom."
"I'm not sure that is within my power to do."
"Aren't you two forgetting something?" Seto said. "You aren't going anywhere near my brother without my permission."
"With or without your permission..."
"Shadi, there is no need to cause more trouble than necessary over this," Yami said before turning to his rival. "Seto, there is no cause for concern. Mokuba will be in no danger from this."
"And for that you think I'll allow you to just violate my brother's privacy?"
"Listen to me. For some reason, the spirit of Exodia has taken up residence in Mokuba's body. So far I have counted four attacks against him and twice where he's come after me. If we're going to get to the bottom of this we need to seek out the answers." Seto considered what Yami was saying.
"Very well." With that, the young CEO led the two up to his brother's room. Mokuba still lay in the exact spot on his bed that Seto had left him and he looked just as helpless as well. "I'll give you one warning. If Mokuba even looks like he's in pain, I'll send you both out that window."
"That should not be a problem," Shadi said as he lifted his Ankh. "Your highness, please place your hand on my Millennium Ankh. Then you'll be able to enter the boy's mind with me."
"Very well," Yami said as he grabbed hold of the item. Shadi touched the tip of the key shaped ankh to Mokuba's temple, and the item began shinning gold.
**********************************************
"Incredible," Yami said as Shadi and his own astral selves appeared inside Mokuba's mind. They had appeared in an expansive room, but the odd thing about it was that most of the place was bare.
"This is getting ridiculous."
"What do you mean?"
"This cannot be his true soulroom. For it to be this empty, the child would have to have never lived a single second of his life."
"This place is not completely barren," Yami said, pointing towards the far wall. There stood the only a single statue of Mokuba himself carved of a black stone. The stature's arms were crossed over it's chest and it's eyes were closed. It looked like he was supposed to be asleep, except this statue was leaning forward with it's feet planted on the ground, looking very unnatural.
"Perhaps if I try to contact the spirit the statue represents we'll be more successful in finding out the truth about this boy." Shadi place the Millennium Ankh to the stone statue. only to have cracks begin to appear in the stone.
"What did you do?" Yami asked as he backed away from the now crumbling statue.
"Nothing... yet." Before the duo's very eyes the entire room began to develop cracks as large chunks began to fall away into nothingness. Space warped as the room began to shudder and quake, changing form as it did so. From the floor, a large bed rose while dozens and dozens of shelves appeared. On the walls, pictures and posters morphed into position, but it was what lay on the bed that caught Yami's attention.
"Mokuba?"
"Impossible, how could he be in his own mind?" Shadi asked. Yami ignored the Tomb Guardian, moving over to the sleeping boy. Before he got within arms reach, however, he was stopped by the towering form of a Krokodilus wielding two Axes of Despair. The man-beast made no move to grab the young Pharaoh, but it was quite clear the lizard would not let him pass.
"Krokodilus may not be the strongest of my servants," came a labored voice. "But you will be hard pressed to find a more capable sentry." Yami and Shadi looked to see a taller, older version of Mokuba. The boy looked to be in his teens, though still younger than Yugi. The beginnings of a beard could be seen on the teen's chin and his hair was tied into two huge pony tails that stood out of the back of his head like an antennae. All over his body, fresh cuts and bruises could be seen, and his eyes were almost completely black with only a dim red light shining in their centers.
"I take it you would be the astral representation of Exodia," Yami said.
"I prefer the name Raven," Raven said. "I suppose the two of you had some reason for daring to invade the inner sanctum of our mind?"
"Your presence has generated a great deal of questions. I have come seeking the answers."
"And your reasons are the same Key-boy?"
"I have come to gain the information you hold concerning the Millennium Eye. I demand that you tell me where and who you got it from."
"And who are you to demand anything of me?"
"Someone who holds the key to your mind."
"Where?" Shadi looked down and was indeed surprised to find that the Millennium Ankh was no longer hanging. In fact the golden item now hung from Raven's finger.
"How dare you?"
"Enough of this foolishness," Yami said, blocking Shadi before he could advance on Raven. "I did not come here for a fight or to be distracted by you childish games."
"You shouldn't be so down on childish things, Pharaoh. Some of the happiest people are still children at heart."
"I am here for answers Raven, not lectures. I want to know why the spirit of Exodia is inhabiting my friend's body. I want to know why you're so intent on gathering the Exodia cards. And I want to know when you plan to leave."
"Care for my shoe-size and favorite color too?" Raven said as he walked a little unsteadily to sit in a chair that materialized out of nowhere.
"Are you going to answer my questions?"
"That depends on what you expect. If you're expecting perfect answers to your questions, you're going to be rather disappointed. But if you want to know what I know, then I'd be happy to share, for a price."
"What kind of price?"
"Guess..."
"The remaining piece of Exodia belongs to my partner, not to me. Unless you want to suffer the same fate as Bakura, I suggest you think of another price."
"Very well. How about a rematch, at a later date of course." Yami considered the phantom teen's request.
"That's acceptable. So what do you want to know?"
"First thing's first. Why are you here?"
"Ah, this is one of the questions to which I fear I can give you no satisfactory answer, but I shall do my best," Raven said. "About two years ago, the man you know as Pegasus sealed Mokuba's soul away into the Shadow Realm. While he was eventually released, thanks to you and your partner's efforts, he didn't exactly come back alone."
"So while in the Shadow Realm he crossed paths with Exodia and you just hitched a ride back to our world."
"That was what I thought at first, until I was able to get a look at him myself." At this Raven's hands swept over his body. "As you can see, there is more than a passing similarity between us."
"I noticed."
"I decided to remain unobtrusive until I'd gained more information, watching as the events of Battle City unfolded themselves. As time passed I found myself getting stronger and stronger. It soon got so I could take control of his body when he fell asleep, something I used to try to understand more of what was going on. Unfortunately, all I have are theories."
"Then how did you know you were Exodia?"
"Next question please."
"Why?"
"Because I don't really have an answer you'd find acceptable for that question. I just know."
"Very well. So if you decided to stay out of the way, why have you been so active lately?"
"About a month or two ago, I began to feel a disturbance in reality, something that was strangely familiar to me. Then Mokuba began to have nightmares. I was quite surprised when he started shooting off energy of his own. Weak energy to be sure, but from what I understand, no one else should be able to do that, especially someone who's never trained in the mystic arts. For a while, I tried to curb this with bits of advice and strange feelings. Then, when Witty Phantom tried to skewer the kid, I found I had to take a somewhat more active role in protecting him."
"You were the one who activated the force-field that protected him, weren't you?" Shadi asked.
"Yes. And when you came along, I figured it'd be best to let you take the credit for the rescue. Something I noticed you didn't object to."
"So why are you after the Exodia cards?"
"Another feeling. I know that once I have all the Exodia cards, I'll have enough power to protect Mokuba. You saw what happened when I destroyed one of your cards. Which is why I need the other card."
"I haven't decided whether that's a good or a bad thing yet. You've caused a lot of trouble with the limited power you have, I'm not sure what you'd do with more power."
"In my defense, I haven't actually hurt anyone. Now, are there any more questions, I do have things to do?" Yami looked around, once more spying Mokuba's still form on the bed behind the still present Krokodilus.
"Final question, why is Mokuba's astral self lying over there apparently comatose?" Raven steepled his fingers, trying to find an acceptable to way to word what was going on.
"In order to defeat Gate Guardian earlier, I was forced to summon a much larger portion of the vast energy wielded in our Exodia form than I have before. While this was effective, it was rather like sending a titanic surge into an unprotected and somewhat fragile computer."
"How much damage was done?"
"You saw him cough up the blood. I've been setting everything right in here since he fell. Unfortunately, using his body as a conduit produced a fantastic strain on his mind as well and drastically weakened him. I leant him just enough energy to stabilize his conscious mind, but not wake up. This way I could work on repairing the damage. Now then, I still have a lot to do, and I've given you all the information I have. I'm sure you both know the way out." Raven tossed the Millennium Ankh back to Shadi.
"Wait, we are not done yet. I still need to know from whom you got the Millennium Eye," Shadi said.
"Now, now, that would be telling. I know perfectly well what you would do with the culprit, and I might still need them."
"You said you'd given us all the information you had," Yami said. "You seem to be doing an awful lot based solely on feelings and hunches. There must be more information."
"There might be... in that," Raven said, pointing towards a corner of the room. Sitting there where no light dared go was a massive black safe.
"What is that doing there."
"I've seen this before, my Pharaoh," Shadi said as he approached the cube. "Things like this appear in the soulrooms of people possessing repressed memories."
"So, it's protecting something Mokuba's forgotten?"
"No, the manifestation of the safe is not protecting the memories from intruders, it is protecting Mokuba's soulroom from the memory."
"Mokuba once told Yugi about the man who adopted him and his brother. Do you suppose this is where Mokuba keeps his memories of the man?"
"It's too big for that to be all," Raven said. "You could keep a lifetime of memories in such a safe. That's why I tried to open it, to find out what else was in there. But that proved to be harder than I thought."
"It always is," Shadi said. "And I would advise you to leave the safe alone as well my Pharaoh. Never once have I seen one that contained anything that was not dangerous."
"Very well. If there is nothing else that can be done here, then we should leave Shadi."
"Yes."
"Yami."
"What is it 'Raven?'"
"Tell Seto that he doesn't have to worry, Mokuba will reawaken in fourteen hours thanks to Isis's help," Raven said. "And he'll be very hungry, so ask him to have something more besides chicken soup ready."
"Very well." A white light overtook both Yami and Shadi as the Millennium Ankh returned them to their own bodies.
****************************************
Mokuba looked around him, more than a little disturbed at the scene that had unfolded itself before his eyes. He was still at the same cave, but now the scene was completely quiet. All around him lay the bodies of the Hitotsume Giants that had been attacking the tribe earlier. A look of absolute terror was plastered on each and every one of the putrid green corpses, a look that was echoed on the still living faces of the tribe that was busy backing away from him. Even Cave-Seto had a look of fear in his eyes. Mokuba looked down and found himself no longer wearing the same loincloth he'd had before. Instead, his body was covered in the same bronze armor he had seen Raven wearing, only this armor covered his left arm as well. His hair had been braided back into their antennae-like form, but were now covered in the same armor. In fact, a bronze helmet covered his entire head making it look much bigger. All over the armor, archaic symbols were etched, including an ankh shape in the dead center of the boy's chest.
*Why... Why am I dressed like Exo...*
"RAAA!" Mokuba's train of thought was disrupted by the howling battle cry of the Darkfire Soldier. The flames still swirled around the sword-wielding warrior as he fell from the sky, his sword ready to slice the boy in two. Mokuba's first instinct was to jump out of the way as the Soldier slammed into the ground. Immediately the warrior leapt forward, once more ready to strike Mokuba. This time, though, it was the boy's arm that moved, catching the sword within it's gauntlet-clad hand. With the sound of breaking glass, the blade of the sword shattered in the boy's hand. Mokuba's second hand grabbed the man by the throat, pulling him closer. The young Kaiba saw his reflection in the man's dark eyes and was startled. His skin was completely purple and his eyes were glowing a brilliant red. Immediately the Darkfire Soldier's face changed into one of fear. Mokuba felt himself talking, but he couldn't understand any of the words he was saying.
The Darkfire Soldier's mouth opened as well as though he were going to scream. What ever he was going to do was cut off as a beam of energy exited Mokuba's mouth and entered the swordsman's. Seconds later Mokuba watched in horror as the man's soul was ripped violently from his body flying directly into his mouth. The Darkfire Soldier's body collapsed as Mokuba let go, rapidly reducing to nothing. For his part, the whole experience left Mokuba feeling horrible.
*Did I... Did I just... eat his soul,* Mokuba thought to himself. It had been the most vile and disgusting experience he'd ever had in his life. And yet, as he felt the surge of power coursing through his body and his gaze once more fell upon the survivors of the battle, one thought came to his mind... he wanted more.
***************************************************************************
"I see you've both returned safely," Isis said as both Shadi and Yami walked down the stairs.
"Returned from where? They never left Mokuba's room," Seto Kaiba said.
"That is not important," Yami said to the elder Kaiba. So saying Yami began to tell everyone present what Raven had told him.
"Well your mission obviously was a success then," came the elder Kaiba's sarcastic comment.
"You may be interested to know that Isis's care has helped your brother, he should be awake again in fourteen hours."
"Most excellent," Isis said.
"Why do you seem more interested in Mokuba's revival than me?" Seto asked suspiciously.
"Once he is awake, Mokuba will be able to use the Millennium Eye to complete the tablet in the museum," Isis said.
"I see," Malik said. "You believe the tablet will be able to answer our questions where this Raven person wasn't."
"It's discovery and the subsequent arrival of Exodia plus all the Shadow Realm monsters popping up cannot be a coincidence." Isis stood, walking to the Kaiba's front door and placing a circle of wood on the knob. "In the meantime, I suggest that we all remain here. As long as my Millennium Necklace is unable to see the future as it pertains to Mokuba, anything could happen. It would be foolish to leave him unprotected when he's in such a weakened state."
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Elsewhere, in another dimension, in a manor covered in the power of darkness, a small green-furred bat-winged monster talked excitedly as he described what he had found out in vivid detail. Sitting next to him in a massive chair was Zeboim, the Summoned Skull, his claws crossed in front of his face as he listened, lost in thoughts from long ago.
*****************************************************************************************
To be Continued....
Yeah I know, this chapter had a lot of exposition in it, and the next chapter will probably have a bit more, but I figured the bad guys could use some down time and the good guys could use a break. Well, you can't have a story without... well... story. See ya in thirty.