From Darkness To Light: Lost
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. I should say this, I have never seen Gozabura, so if my description of him seems a little off, I'll just chalk it up to the same thing that happened to Princess Sally over the course of the Sonic Comic. Also, I don't know the names of the Egyptian Gods' attacks, so I figured I'd use a few of my own.
Summary: Everyone has been transported to the Shadow Realm, where Zoa's powers are greatest. Now, with Mokuba in great danger and Raven gone, they must find a way home.
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
_ Telepathic communication
***************************************************************************
The downtown section of Domino City was a flurry of motion as hundreds of police officers and firemen sifted through the burned and broken remains of the city's only museum. Above, three helicopters cast their lights down to help the searchers in their task, while four more scoured the city, looking for any sign of the monster that had caused this.
"Chief! Chief!!" yelled one of the younger officers too his supervisor as he pulled away one of the fallen support beams from a small door. "I hear something!"
"Keep digging, lieutenant. We need some help over here," the Chief said as he pulled a walkie-talkie to his ear. "I need to get some light down here on my mark." In response, one of the helicopters stopped moving, focusing it's searchlight on the door. Soon a the group of four policemen cleared the area around the door. The vegetable hatch was opened and out stepped a shaky and dirty Isis Ishtar. The raven haired woman's white dress was full of holes where it had ripped by falling debris.
"The... The others..." Isis said.
"Miss, do you have any idea where they were when the museum exploded? Any idea that could help us find them?"
"Where... they were?" Isis said, thinking back. The Egyptian woman fell a little only to be caught by one of the policemen who helped her sit down. The Millennium Tauk glowed slightly as Isis tried to remember. She could remember running down the halls of the museum, using her shadow magic to bring cards to life in the defense of her friends. Of course they had proven useless, her millennium item had practically been screaming it. Nothing in her deck could stop a monster effect in action. The others had been next to her, with Yami and Bakura in control of their respective hosts' bodies also sending out defenses. Seto had his younger brother in his arms, practically sprinting the whole way, and Marik...
*Where was he?* Isis thought to herself. *He was... behind us all!* It was true. Marik, the youngest of the group next to Mokuba himself, had been falling behind them all. Isis could clearly remember stopping, reaching back to help her brother, only to see a black hole opening beneath him. In a second, the youngest Ishtar fell through, while a similar event happened to all of her friends, even Joey had fallen into the hole in reality. Just ahead of Isis, she could see another hole, obviously meant for her, abruptly close. Out of options, Isis had dived into a nearby closet and... that was it.
"Miss, where are these others?" the police officer asked again as a doctor ran up to examine the woman.
"I... I can't... I don't remember," Isis said. "But I can't feel my brother. He should be... somewhere. Why can't I feel him?!"
"She's obviously in shock," the doctor said, shining a light in Isis's eye. "Help me get her to the ambulance."
"Sure thing doc," the officers said, lifting the woman who continued to try in vain to feel her brother.
***************************************************************************
Elsewhere, across the barriers of both time and space, those missing could be found in an almost pristine looking meadow. Seto Kaiba was the first to awaken, holding his head from the aching he suffered. The young CEO looked around, taking stock of both the situation, and the state of his companions. Yugi and Mokuba were laying halfway in a nearby river, Yugi having thankfully landed on his back instead of on the Millennium Puzzle. Joey had actually succeeded in breaking Marik's fall, as the white haired thirteen year old was laying on top of the blonde. Bakura lay on his side nearby, his own Millennium Item laying next to him, one of the points sticking into the ground and it's chain barely clinging to his neck. That was when the young CEO spotted Tea laying facedown in the river with no bubbles coming out around her. Seto, having long since lost the coldness of heart necessary to allow someone to die for no reason, scrambled to pull the teenage girl to shore. A check proved she was not breathing, so the eighteen year old quickly began to perform CPR. Once, twice, he blew air into Tea's lungs. It was just as his lips approached hers for the third time that Tea's eyes opened. Of course, the result was predictable.
"PERVERT!" Tea yelled as she slapped Seto's face. Kaiba held his injured cheek, an angry look in his eyes.
"What was that for!?"
"You tried to kiss me while I was unconscious, you sick creep!"
"It wasn't a kiss, I was trying to save you life! What would ever make you think I'd kiss something as repulsive as you!?"
"Who kissed who now?" Joey said as he sat up, Marik falling into his lap.
"No one kissed anyone!!" Seto screamed.
"A kiss?" came Bakura.
"Yeah, apparently creepy Kaiba tried to kiss Tea while she was asleep," Joey said.
"Sly dog, aren't you?"
"NO!!" Seto said, rubbing his temples. "Look we can stand here all day gossiping with each other about something that could never happen, or we can try to figure out where those blackholes sent us." With that, Seto moved to pick Mokuba up and take him over to where Marik lay while Joey picked up Yugi.
"Hey Baky... Can ya tell us how Ryou is doin'?" Joey asked the white-haired tomb robber.
"It's Bakura, not Baky," Bakura said as he closed his eyes. "He's unconscious, but fine."
"Dat's good, and Yugi, Marik, and Mokuba don't look too bad, y'know considerin'."
"Is this your expert medical opinion Wheeler?" Seto said snidely (try saying that five times fast).
"Listen buddy, I'm gettin' awful tired of that mouth of...."
"Quiet," Kaiba suddenly said, emphasizing his point by clamping a hand over Joey's mouth. Bakura and Tea too began to listen, as did Joey when he calmed down a bit. Soon, the tell-tale rumble of an engine could be heard making it's way towards the group.
"A car! We're saved!" Joey exclaimed.
"It could be anything Wheeler, how can you be so sure it's a car?"
"Take it from someone who hasn't been taken to school in a limo every single day of his life," Joey answered. "Dat's a car. And where there's a car, there has to be civilization, a hospital we can get these three to, something."
"Fine." They waited as the car moved into view. It turned out to be a very old Studebaker pulling a small flat-bed trailer. What really got their attention, however, was the driver. At first it looked like he was wearing a hat, but as he got closer, it could be seen that what they had mistaken for a hat was in fact a beak. It fact the driver's head looked like an crow. This birdy-appearence was further re-enforced by the two large feathery wings poking out of his back. A large gray robe and a pair of reading glasses were all that he was wearing, so the impression he gave was that of some sort of a scholarly crow. The vehicle pulled up and the birdman looked at the assembled teens and preteen.
"Good morning all, having a bit of trouble?" the crow asked in a voice that reminded Joey of the Domino High librarian.
"What da heck are you?" Joey asked, giving voice to the question that burned on all their minds. The crowman looked bewildered at Joey's question, as if no one had asked him that question in a very long time.
"Young man, I realize that crow goblins are not a common sight here on the Plains of Calm, but still it is quite rude to answer a question with another question."
"Crow goblin?" Tea asked. "Isn't that the name of one of the monster cards in Duel Monsters?"
"Duel Monsters..." the crow goblin said, a curious expression on his face, followed closely by one of recognition. "You're not from around here are you?"
"No," Tea answered. "We're from Domino City in Japan." At her words, the feathers at the base of the crow goblin's neck rose in excitement and a glimmer of hope began to appear in his eyes.
"Japan? As in Japan, EARTH?"
"Uh, yes... are you saying we're not on Earth anymore?" By this time the crowman was actually cawing in excitement, a huge smile on his beak. Tea, a bit confused by this action, took a step back in fear that perhaps she had given too much information.
"Oh I knew this would be a wonderful, wonderful day," he said as he got out of his car. The birdman turned out to be shorter than the group had thought at first, only as tall as Tea herself. His arms were very long however, with his hands falling to his knees and his legs were more human than bird, not being set up on his ankles. "I have been dying to speak with humans from the Earth Realm for the longest of times."
"'From the Earth Realm?' If we're not on Earth anymore, then where are we?" Seto asked.
"Why, the Shadow Realm of course."
"THE SHADOW REALM!" the humans said shocked.
"This can't be the Shadow Realm... Where's all the inky blackness?" Bakura asked.
"Oh, you must only be familiar the darker regions of the Fiend's Quarter. That would make you a Shadow Duelist, wouldn't it? Fascinating."
"And who are you?"
"Oh, pardon me," the crow goblin said, bowing. "I am Aza of the Golden Plume Crow Goblin Tribe, colloquially referred to as the Spirit of Books by the younger inhabitants of these plains. And you?" Introductions were made by the four conscious humans, who also introduced the three who weren't. After that Aza took a closer look at the fallen humans. "Well, it does appear your friends need some help. I am no cure master, mind you, but my research does cover medicine, and my home is fairly close by..."
"Think we can trust this guy, Joey?" Tea whispered.
"I don't know, he's definitely a wierdo, but do we really have any other choice?" Joey whispered back.
"You know you really shouldn't whisper around a Crow Goblin, we have excellent hearing," Aza whispered to them both.
"Waah!" came the two teens' startled cries.
"Now then, shall we put your friends in my trailer so we can get going?" Silently Joey and Bakura loaded Yugi and Marik respectively into the trailer, then got in alongside Tea. Seto gathered up Mokuba and took a seat inside the car itself.
* * * *
It took about ten minutes for the group of now eight to make their way towards Aza's house. Truthfully, house turned out to be a bit misleading. Aza lived in a rather large tower of black stone that stood about three stories tall. True to Aza's title, the place was littered with books of all shapes, sizes, colors, and various states of age. In fact, the entire third floor was a single roomed library filled wall to wall with books, and of the entire place it had the most lived in feel to it. It was in this larger than life room that the Spirit of Books conducted them. The birdman cleared off one of the many long tables and gesturing for the three boys to be placed on it. Next Aza pulled a particularly thick book from one of the shelves and brought it over to the table and opened it.
"Now let's see, head trauma, head trauma."
"Are you sure you can help our friends?" Tea asked.
"Human physiology may not be one of my strongest suits, my dear, but I am confident I can handle anything within reason," the Spirit of Books answered before finding the section he was looking for. "Ah ha, here were go, Head Trauma... Oh this was written by my great grandfather. It says here that I should check your friends for concussions, which may be fatal... Oh dear, I guess I better get to it then, shouldn't I?" The birdman strode over to Yugi first, laying his head on the teen's chest to listen for a heart beat. This was of course impeded by the presence of the Millennium Puzzle. "I'm all for jewelry but I'm afraid I'll need to get this out of the way before I can do anything." At his words Bakura walked up to him.
"I'll hold onto that until...'
"I don't think so," Joey said, bumping the Tomb Robber out of the way as he snatched the puzzle. "Too much chance you'll run off with it. I'll hold onto it."
"Fine, fine," was all Aza said, as if nothing had happened at all. He went back to listening to Yugi's heart. Satisfied the tiny teen was alive, the goblin used two feathery fingers to open one of Yugi's eye, checking back with his book as he did every so often. Once he was satisfied that Yugi was all right, Aza moved onto Marik examining the thirteen year old in much the same way. The crow goblin was not overly thrilled when he saw the markings burned into Marik's back, but otherwise found nothing amiss. It was when he placed his ear to Mokuba's chest that something happened.
"Some sort of shape etched in his skin?" Aza said as he felt the ridge of flesh under the boy's shirt. Carefully, the birdman began to pull up the boy's shirt to examine this new development with his own eyes, much to Seto's disapproval.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!" the outraged teen yelled as he moved to stop the Spirit of Books. This proved to be unnecessary, however, as the moment Aza saw the ankh shaped scar on Mokuba's chest, he jumped back about five feet, his eyes wide in shock. Quickly the goblin monster looked through his book collection tossing volumes everywhere as he searched for what he wanted. He found it in a fairly thin book with a faded brown leather cover.
"I thought so," he said after thumbing through his book.
"'You thought so?' What did you think? What about Mokuba?" Seto asked.
"Mokuba?" Aza answered. "Oh yes, him. I wouldn't worry too much, I doubt a simple bump on the head could do an immortal any real harm. I'm more interested in how he obtained this power to begin with."
"Immortal?!" the other teens gasped. In response, Aza flipped his book around to show them a symbol on it's pages identical to the one on Mokuba's flesh.
"Yes, that's what this mark's appearance on him means. And according to this," the book flipped around so Aza could once more see it, "it only appears on those who have ingested water from the fabled Wellspring of Eternity which...." The book suddenly fell as did the crow goblin's lower beak... "I don't believe this." Immediately, the Spirit of Books fell to one knee and lowered his head before Mokuba's inert form. "I... I never believed I would be in the presence of such greatness."
"Greatness? Whatcha talkin' about?"
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything about your friend's true identity? Why didn't you tell me you were traveling with the fabled Exodia himself." At Aza's words, Joey, Seto, Tea, and Bakura gasped in surprise.
"How... How did you know?" Tea asked.
"It's all in the book," the spellcaster answered. "'The only one who has ever successfully drunk from the Wellspring of Eternity was the legendary spellcaster Exodia. How could YOU not know that?"
"It's a fairly complicated story," Seto said in the same blunt voice he used each time he wished to end a conversation. The voice, however, proved to be ineffective against the curious nature of the Spirit of Books.
"Well then, I would suggest we start at the beginning."
**********************
Back in the Fiend's Quarter, Zoa watches as the events of the battle against the Barrel Dragon played themselves out alongside Machine King.
"It would seem you plan to capture Exodia has failed. That Barrel Dragon will be especially expensive to replace."
"It was not my intention to capture the twerp. That has proven impossible to say the least given the level of protection surrounding the boy. But Barrel Dragon's sacrifice has allowed me to transport Mokuba and a majority of those protecting him to the Shadow Realm."
"It was not yours to sacrifice," the Machine King said.
"Ah, but it was for the greater good. I have destroyed that wretched spirit that was protecting him, and as for those who wield the millennium items will discover the things will not work the same here in the Shadow Realm."
"But in the process, the final two Exodia cards were destroyed. Now you will have to deal with Exodia at his full strength."
"Bah... The brat has no idea how to use that power. It's like giving all your strength to a... mechanical pencil."
"Mechanical pencil? I don't know this term."
"It doesn't matter. At best he could attain mastery over one element," Zoa said as a fireball appeared at the tip of his finger. "Even if he somehow gained even slight control over a second element, he lacks the knowledge of his former life to bind the conflicting powers." A ball of water appeared over a second finger, and the moment the two came in contact, they both dissipated. "All we have to do is catch him, and we will be able to divide his power between us. Fire, wind, and darkness for me, water, earth, and light for you." The Machine King thought about this before turning to leave.
"Very well, I shall leave you to your tasks then. I trust you will keep me informed as to the status of our mission." With that, the Machine King left along with his entourage. From the shadows behind Zoa's throne, the strong muscular form of the Summoned Skull moved.
"Arrogant twit," Zoa said. "Does he think he can frighten me merely by bringing a few of his tin soldiers here?"
"You have nothing to fear sir, I am more than a match for anything he could throw."
"I'M more than a match for anything that clanking wind-up toy could throw, I'm not worried about what he can do. Unfortunately, until that sniveling little brat is mine, I need the resources of the Machine King and Zero-One. But now, it's getting harder and harder to string him along."
"You don't intend follow through with the deal you made?" Zeboim said, a slight look of disapproval flashing across his face like lightning.
"Give the bucket of bolts half of Exodia's powers? Don't be stupid," Zoa chuckled. "Powers like that cannot be transferred."
"Then how do you intend to obtain it?" Zoa walked over to his throne, pulling a small lever just under it's armrest. A trap door opened before Zeboim as a black cloud arose from the whole. The cloud was swirling and twisted around and around in mid-air. Inside the fiend could see a hundreds of thousands of white spheres streaming through the vortex. Each one emitted a scream of it's own, combining to create a sound that easily send the powerful Summoned Skull falling back. "What... What is that?"
"It is my Dark Nexus, repository for the souls of all those who have been felled by my hands and the source of my might."
"Impressive," Zeboim said, though he was a bit put out by the tormented sounds of those within the void. "But what does this have to do with Exodia?"
"According to legend Exodia power was first jump started when he stole the soul of the Dark God Set. And over the course of his life, he absorbed countless other souls from countless victims, becoming stronger as he did so."
"I suppose," Zeboim said carefully. "No one who knew Exodia himself is alive today, so who can say for sure."
"Yes, I suppose that is true, but you forget the research I've done into him. While the exact nature of his power is unknown, the boost in energy I've been receiving when I do it leads me to believe this is correct. But the problem is, I can only draw power from one soul at a time, one life, one charge."
"I'm sorry, I still don't see what this has to do with wanting a mere human boy, even if he does possess Exodia's spirit."
"You should stick to battle plans and simple things like that Zeboim. It's not Exodia's power I'm interested. Once I gain possession of that infantile boy's mind, I'll have access to the very essence of Exodia, his power is secondary to the arcane and cosmic knowledge he possesses, including how to merge all the conflicting powers necessary to obtain total mastery of all. All I need now is to find out where in the Shadow Realm they are."
"But didn't you bring them here?"
"That was originally the plan, but those dimensionholes beat me to it. Now find those humans before I have you ground into bone dust."
***************************************
"... And that's when we came here," Tea finished. The Spirit of Books's feathery hand was a blur as he tried his best to write down everything that had been told to him. Around him, Mokuba, Marik, and Yugi had awoken. Ryou had also awoken, but he had opted to allow Bakura to remain in control of their body. Yami too listened from inside Yugi's mind as Seto told Marik and Yugi who Aza was.
Mokuba was busy looking around the rather expansive library at all the books that lined the walls. A shiver ran up the boy's spine as he looked back to see Aza staring at him.
"Uh, is something wrong?"
"No, no, it's just... this is a tad hard to believe," the crow goblin said. "That I am meeting a living legend such as Exodia is startling, but to find out that the barrier between our worlds has been so savagely violated."
"I understand it's a shock," Yami said as he took over Yugi's body. "But it has happened. And now we need to find a way back."
"I'm afraid it will not be so easy your Highness," the Spirit of Books pointed out. "The attacks in your world and your transportation to my world, it can't all simply be a coincidence. It's obvious someone is after you, or more specifically, Mr. Mokuba. And only one creature with the power to summon so many minions to this task, Zoa."
"Zoa, you mean the blue fiend?"
"A bit descriptive, but yes that sounds like him. A more detestable wretch you will never meet. He completely dominates the section of the Shadow Realm known as Fiend's Quarter, and he's working hard to expand his empire."
"Doesn't sound too bad. Tyrants show up all the time," Seto said. "He shouldn't be too difficult to 'persuade.'"
"Zoa is no mere tyrant. He has been using dark magic of the worst sort to poison all the lands surrounding him with evil and festering the skies with darkness, making the lands more and more tolerable for his forces before conquering them. Farms, villages, even whole cities have been attacked when they have fallen under the dark shadow of that deadly Mystic Plasma Storm of his, unable to depend upon the rays of the sun to drive the demons away."
"So why not get rid of the clouds?" Joey asked.
"Easier said than done, my friend. Zoa has been gathering far more diverse forces than simply demons. Warriors, spellcasters, plants, beasts, even fairies and angels have been corrupted by him. These are his eyes and ears in the lands where the light still touches, and they are everywhere."
"So is there anyone who can help us?"
"There... There is one possibility. Your old pupil." Mokuba looked at Aza as though the birdman were talking nonsense.
"Uh, an old pupil of mine? I don't have any 'pupils' that I know of, and according to you Exodia disappeared thousands of years ago. What pupil could be alive today?"
"A spellcaster of great and terrible power and great age. He is leader of all the mages of the Dark Citadel in Cormick and one of the few powers able to hinder Zoa's quest for world domination."
"Mages of the Dark Citadel?" Yugi asked. "But wouldn't that make him a Dark Magician?"
"You know of the Dark Magicians? I'm impressed."
"Yeah he's my favorite card, see..." Yugi began flipping through his deck, only to receive a shock. "Hey... All my monster cards are gone."
"What?" Yami said, looking through the deck once more. "Bakura, Marik, Seto, check your decks. You to Joey." The four did as they were told.
"Hey, my monsters are gone too."
"Mine as well."
"All three of my Blue Eyes White Dragons are missing!" Marik looked at his deck when a thought crossed his mind.
"Yami, check your God cards!" The ancient Pharaoh looked in the belt pocket where Yugi kept his special cards, only to find it empty. Silently, Yami pulled a magic card from his deck.
"SWORDS OF REVEALING LIGHT!" The card shimmered a little, but nothing happened. "Marik, Bakura?"
"DARK PENDENT!"
"PARALYZING POTION!" At their commands, the cards shimmered and the items they requested began to appear for them. Before they could solidify, however, they disappeared completely returning to their cards.
"Our magic isn't working," Yami said. "This is most distressing."
"Do you think our Millennium Items are weakening as well?"
"I don't know Bakura. But I do think we should test them. Try to separate your body from Ryou's, I'll do the same with Yugi." Their Millennium Items glowed for a brief minute before returning to normal, with nothing happening to either spirit. "This is not good, this is not good at all."
"You," Marik commanded, pointing the Millennium Rod at Joey. "Get on all fours and bark like a dog!"
"What are you, demented?" Joey said.
"Blast! My item isn't working either," Marik stated. "What is going on?"
"I don't know, but the difficult task of getting to the Dark Citadel has just grown more difficult."
"Then it looks like you'll need some help from me."
"Thank you Aza, but we do not wish to impose..."
"Impose nothing Pharaoh," Marik said. "I want to go home."
"Yes, any help would be greatly appreciated," Seto pointed out.
"Very well, I can guide you to the Citadel, but even then it will be very dangerous."
"Thank you." With that, Aza stood, beckoning for the humans to follow him.
"Where are we going?" Yugi asked.
"Zoa went to a lot of trouble to try and strand you here. Without a doubt he will have every minion at his command searching the world over for you. With any luck, I'll be able to sufficiently disguise you enough to make their task that much more difficult. Now if you will please follow me, we can prepare."
To be continued....
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. I should say this, I have never seen Gozabura, so if my description of him seems a little off, I'll just chalk it up to the same thing that happened to Princess Sally over the course of the Sonic Comic. Also, I don't know the names of the Egyptian Gods' attacks, so I figured I'd use a few of my own.
Summary: Everyone has been transported to the Shadow Realm, where Zoa's powers are greatest. Now, with Mokuba in great danger and Raven gone, they must find a way home.
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
_ Telepathic communication
***************************************************************************
The downtown section of Domino City was a flurry of motion as hundreds of police officers and firemen sifted through the burned and broken remains of the city's only museum. Above, three helicopters cast their lights down to help the searchers in their task, while four more scoured the city, looking for any sign of the monster that had caused this.
"Chief! Chief!!" yelled one of the younger officers too his supervisor as he pulled away one of the fallen support beams from a small door. "I hear something!"
"Keep digging, lieutenant. We need some help over here," the Chief said as he pulled a walkie-talkie to his ear. "I need to get some light down here on my mark." In response, one of the helicopters stopped moving, focusing it's searchlight on the door. Soon a the group of four policemen cleared the area around the door. The vegetable hatch was opened and out stepped a shaky and dirty Isis Ishtar. The raven haired woman's white dress was full of holes where it had ripped by falling debris.
"The... The others..." Isis said.
"Miss, do you have any idea where they were when the museum exploded? Any idea that could help us find them?"
"Where... they were?" Isis said, thinking back. The Egyptian woman fell a little only to be caught by one of the policemen who helped her sit down. The Millennium Tauk glowed slightly as Isis tried to remember. She could remember running down the halls of the museum, using her shadow magic to bring cards to life in the defense of her friends. Of course they had proven useless, her millennium item had practically been screaming it. Nothing in her deck could stop a monster effect in action. The others had been next to her, with Yami and Bakura in control of their respective hosts' bodies also sending out defenses. Seto had his younger brother in his arms, practically sprinting the whole way, and Marik...
*Where was he?* Isis thought to herself. *He was... behind us all!* It was true. Marik, the youngest of the group next to Mokuba himself, had been falling behind them all. Isis could clearly remember stopping, reaching back to help her brother, only to see a black hole opening beneath him. In a second, the youngest Ishtar fell through, while a similar event happened to all of her friends, even Joey had fallen into the hole in reality. Just ahead of Isis, she could see another hole, obviously meant for her, abruptly close. Out of options, Isis had dived into a nearby closet and... that was it.
"Miss, where are these others?" the police officer asked again as a doctor ran up to examine the woman.
"I... I can't... I don't remember," Isis said. "But I can't feel my brother. He should be... somewhere. Why can't I feel him?!"
"She's obviously in shock," the doctor said, shining a light in Isis's eye. "Help me get her to the ambulance."
"Sure thing doc," the officers said, lifting the woman who continued to try in vain to feel her brother.
***************************************************************************
Elsewhere, across the barriers of both time and space, those missing could be found in an almost pristine looking meadow. Seto Kaiba was the first to awaken, holding his head from the aching he suffered. The young CEO looked around, taking stock of both the situation, and the state of his companions. Yugi and Mokuba were laying halfway in a nearby river, Yugi having thankfully landed on his back instead of on the Millennium Puzzle. Joey had actually succeeded in breaking Marik's fall, as the white haired thirteen year old was laying on top of the blonde. Bakura lay on his side nearby, his own Millennium Item laying next to him, one of the points sticking into the ground and it's chain barely clinging to his neck. That was when the young CEO spotted Tea laying facedown in the river with no bubbles coming out around her. Seto, having long since lost the coldness of heart necessary to allow someone to die for no reason, scrambled to pull the teenage girl to shore. A check proved she was not breathing, so the eighteen year old quickly began to perform CPR. Once, twice, he blew air into Tea's lungs. It was just as his lips approached hers for the third time that Tea's eyes opened. Of course, the result was predictable.
"PERVERT!" Tea yelled as she slapped Seto's face. Kaiba held his injured cheek, an angry look in his eyes.
"What was that for!?"
"You tried to kiss me while I was unconscious, you sick creep!"
"It wasn't a kiss, I was trying to save you life! What would ever make you think I'd kiss something as repulsive as you!?"
"Who kissed who now?" Joey said as he sat up, Marik falling into his lap.
"No one kissed anyone!!" Seto screamed.
"A kiss?" came Bakura.
"Yeah, apparently creepy Kaiba tried to kiss Tea while she was asleep," Joey said.
"Sly dog, aren't you?"
"NO!!" Seto said, rubbing his temples. "Look we can stand here all day gossiping with each other about something that could never happen, or we can try to figure out where those blackholes sent us." With that, Seto moved to pick Mokuba up and take him over to where Marik lay while Joey picked up Yugi.
"Hey Baky... Can ya tell us how Ryou is doin'?" Joey asked the white-haired tomb robber.
"It's Bakura, not Baky," Bakura said as he closed his eyes. "He's unconscious, but fine."
"Dat's good, and Yugi, Marik, and Mokuba don't look too bad, y'know considerin'."
"Is this your expert medical opinion Wheeler?" Seto said snidely (try saying that five times fast).
"Listen buddy, I'm gettin' awful tired of that mouth of...."
"Quiet," Kaiba suddenly said, emphasizing his point by clamping a hand over Joey's mouth. Bakura and Tea too began to listen, as did Joey when he calmed down a bit. Soon, the tell-tale rumble of an engine could be heard making it's way towards the group.
"A car! We're saved!" Joey exclaimed.
"It could be anything Wheeler, how can you be so sure it's a car?"
"Take it from someone who hasn't been taken to school in a limo every single day of his life," Joey answered. "Dat's a car. And where there's a car, there has to be civilization, a hospital we can get these three to, something."
"Fine." They waited as the car moved into view. It turned out to be a very old Studebaker pulling a small flat-bed trailer. What really got their attention, however, was the driver. At first it looked like he was wearing a hat, but as he got closer, it could be seen that what they had mistaken for a hat was in fact a beak. It fact the driver's head looked like an crow. This birdy-appearence was further re-enforced by the two large feathery wings poking out of his back. A large gray robe and a pair of reading glasses were all that he was wearing, so the impression he gave was that of some sort of a scholarly crow. The vehicle pulled up and the birdman looked at the assembled teens and preteen.
"Good morning all, having a bit of trouble?" the crow asked in a voice that reminded Joey of the Domino High librarian.
"What da heck are you?" Joey asked, giving voice to the question that burned on all their minds. The crowman looked bewildered at Joey's question, as if no one had asked him that question in a very long time.
"Young man, I realize that crow goblins are not a common sight here on the Plains of Calm, but still it is quite rude to answer a question with another question."
"Crow goblin?" Tea asked. "Isn't that the name of one of the monster cards in Duel Monsters?"
"Duel Monsters..." the crow goblin said, a curious expression on his face, followed closely by one of recognition. "You're not from around here are you?"
"No," Tea answered. "We're from Domino City in Japan." At her words, the feathers at the base of the crow goblin's neck rose in excitement and a glimmer of hope began to appear in his eyes.
"Japan? As in Japan, EARTH?"
"Uh, yes... are you saying we're not on Earth anymore?" By this time the crowman was actually cawing in excitement, a huge smile on his beak. Tea, a bit confused by this action, took a step back in fear that perhaps she had given too much information.
"Oh I knew this would be a wonderful, wonderful day," he said as he got out of his car. The birdman turned out to be shorter than the group had thought at first, only as tall as Tea herself. His arms were very long however, with his hands falling to his knees and his legs were more human than bird, not being set up on his ankles. "I have been dying to speak with humans from the Earth Realm for the longest of times."
"'From the Earth Realm?' If we're not on Earth anymore, then where are we?" Seto asked.
"Why, the Shadow Realm of course."
"THE SHADOW REALM!" the humans said shocked.
"This can't be the Shadow Realm... Where's all the inky blackness?" Bakura asked.
"Oh, you must only be familiar the darker regions of the Fiend's Quarter. That would make you a Shadow Duelist, wouldn't it? Fascinating."
"And who are you?"
"Oh, pardon me," the crow goblin said, bowing. "I am Aza of the Golden Plume Crow Goblin Tribe, colloquially referred to as the Spirit of Books by the younger inhabitants of these plains. And you?" Introductions were made by the four conscious humans, who also introduced the three who weren't. After that Aza took a closer look at the fallen humans. "Well, it does appear your friends need some help. I am no cure master, mind you, but my research does cover medicine, and my home is fairly close by..."
"Think we can trust this guy, Joey?" Tea whispered.
"I don't know, he's definitely a wierdo, but do we really have any other choice?" Joey whispered back.
"You know you really shouldn't whisper around a Crow Goblin, we have excellent hearing," Aza whispered to them both.
"Waah!" came the two teens' startled cries.
"Now then, shall we put your friends in my trailer so we can get going?" Silently Joey and Bakura loaded Yugi and Marik respectively into the trailer, then got in alongside Tea. Seto gathered up Mokuba and took a seat inside the car itself.
* * * *
It took about ten minutes for the group of now eight to make their way towards Aza's house. Truthfully, house turned out to be a bit misleading. Aza lived in a rather large tower of black stone that stood about three stories tall. True to Aza's title, the place was littered with books of all shapes, sizes, colors, and various states of age. In fact, the entire third floor was a single roomed library filled wall to wall with books, and of the entire place it had the most lived in feel to it. It was in this larger than life room that the Spirit of Books conducted them. The birdman cleared off one of the many long tables and gesturing for the three boys to be placed on it. Next Aza pulled a particularly thick book from one of the shelves and brought it over to the table and opened it.
"Now let's see, head trauma, head trauma."
"Are you sure you can help our friends?" Tea asked.
"Human physiology may not be one of my strongest suits, my dear, but I am confident I can handle anything within reason," the Spirit of Books answered before finding the section he was looking for. "Ah ha, here were go, Head Trauma... Oh this was written by my great grandfather. It says here that I should check your friends for concussions, which may be fatal... Oh dear, I guess I better get to it then, shouldn't I?" The birdman strode over to Yugi first, laying his head on the teen's chest to listen for a heart beat. This was of course impeded by the presence of the Millennium Puzzle. "I'm all for jewelry but I'm afraid I'll need to get this out of the way before I can do anything." At his words Bakura walked up to him.
"I'll hold onto that until...'
"I don't think so," Joey said, bumping the Tomb Robber out of the way as he snatched the puzzle. "Too much chance you'll run off with it. I'll hold onto it."
"Fine, fine," was all Aza said, as if nothing had happened at all. He went back to listening to Yugi's heart. Satisfied the tiny teen was alive, the goblin used two feathery fingers to open one of Yugi's eye, checking back with his book as he did every so often. Once he was satisfied that Yugi was all right, Aza moved onto Marik examining the thirteen year old in much the same way. The crow goblin was not overly thrilled when he saw the markings burned into Marik's back, but otherwise found nothing amiss. It was when he placed his ear to Mokuba's chest that something happened.
"Some sort of shape etched in his skin?" Aza said as he felt the ridge of flesh under the boy's shirt. Carefully, the birdman began to pull up the boy's shirt to examine this new development with his own eyes, much to Seto's disapproval.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing!" the outraged teen yelled as he moved to stop the Spirit of Books. This proved to be unnecessary, however, as the moment Aza saw the ankh shaped scar on Mokuba's chest, he jumped back about five feet, his eyes wide in shock. Quickly the goblin monster looked through his book collection tossing volumes everywhere as he searched for what he wanted. He found it in a fairly thin book with a faded brown leather cover.
"I thought so," he said after thumbing through his book.
"'You thought so?' What did you think? What about Mokuba?" Seto asked.
"Mokuba?" Aza answered. "Oh yes, him. I wouldn't worry too much, I doubt a simple bump on the head could do an immortal any real harm. I'm more interested in how he obtained this power to begin with."
"Immortal?!" the other teens gasped. In response, Aza flipped his book around to show them a symbol on it's pages identical to the one on Mokuba's flesh.
"Yes, that's what this mark's appearance on him means. And according to this," the book flipped around so Aza could once more see it, "it only appears on those who have ingested water from the fabled Wellspring of Eternity which...." The book suddenly fell as did the crow goblin's lower beak... "I don't believe this." Immediately, the Spirit of Books fell to one knee and lowered his head before Mokuba's inert form. "I... I never believed I would be in the presence of such greatness."
"Greatness? Whatcha talkin' about?"
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything about your friend's true identity? Why didn't you tell me you were traveling with the fabled Exodia himself." At Aza's words, Joey, Seto, Tea, and Bakura gasped in surprise.
"How... How did you know?" Tea asked.
"It's all in the book," the spellcaster answered. "'The only one who has ever successfully drunk from the Wellspring of Eternity was the legendary spellcaster Exodia. How could YOU not know that?"
"It's a fairly complicated story," Seto said in the same blunt voice he used each time he wished to end a conversation. The voice, however, proved to be ineffective against the curious nature of the Spirit of Books.
"Well then, I would suggest we start at the beginning."
**********************
Back in the Fiend's Quarter, Zoa watches as the events of the battle against the Barrel Dragon played themselves out alongside Machine King.
"It would seem you plan to capture Exodia has failed. That Barrel Dragon will be especially expensive to replace."
"It was not my intention to capture the twerp. That has proven impossible to say the least given the level of protection surrounding the boy. But Barrel Dragon's sacrifice has allowed me to transport Mokuba and a majority of those protecting him to the Shadow Realm."
"It was not yours to sacrifice," the Machine King said.
"Ah, but it was for the greater good. I have destroyed that wretched spirit that was protecting him, and as for those who wield the millennium items will discover the things will not work the same here in the Shadow Realm."
"But in the process, the final two Exodia cards were destroyed. Now you will have to deal with Exodia at his full strength."
"Bah... The brat has no idea how to use that power. It's like giving all your strength to a... mechanical pencil."
"Mechanical pencil? I don't know this term."
"It doesn't matter. At best he could attain mastery over one element," Zoa said as a fireball appeared at the tip of his finger. "Even if he somehow gained even slight control over a second element, he lacks the knowledge of his former life to bind the conflicting powers." A ball of water appeared over a second finger, and the moment the two came in contact, they both dissipated. "All we have to do is catch him, and we will be able to divide his power between us. Fire, wind, and darkness for me, water, earth, and light for you." The Machine King thought about this before turning to leave.
"Very well, I shall leave you to your tasks then. I trust you will keep me informed as to the status of our mission." With that, the Machine King left along with his entourage. From the shadows behind Zoa's throne, the strong muscular form of the Summoned Skull moved.
"Arrogant twit," Zoa said. "Does he think he can frighten me merely by bringing a few of his tin soldiers here?"
"You have nothing to fear sir, I am more than a match for anything he could throw."
"I'M more than a match for anything that clanking wind-up toy could throw, I'm not worried about what he can do. Unfortunately, until that sniveling little brat is mine, I need the resources of the Machine King and Zero-One. But now, it's getting harder and harder to string him along."
"You don't intend follow through with the deal you made?" Zeboim said, a slight look of disapproval flashing across his face like lightning.
"Give the bucket of bolts half of Exodia's powers? Don't be stupid," Zoa chuckled. "Powers like that cannot be transferred."
"Then how do you intend to obtain it?" Zoa walked over to his throne, pulling a small lever just under it's armrest. A trap door opened before Zeboim as a black cloud arose from the whole. The cloud was swirling and twisted around and around in mid-air. Inside the fiend could see a hundreds of thousands of white spheres streaming through the vortex. Each one emitted a scream of it's own, combining to create a sound that easily send the powerful Summoned Skull falling back. "What... What is that?"
"It is my Dark Nexus, repository for the souls of all those who have been felled by my hands and the source of my might."
"Impressive," Zeboim said, though he was a bit put out by the tormented sounds of those within the void. "But what does this have to do with Exodia?"
"According to legend Exodia power was first jump started when he stole the soul of the Dark God Set. And over the course of his life, he absorbed countless other souls from countless victims, becoming stronger as he did so."
"I suppose," Zeboim said carefully. "No one who knew Exodia himself is alive today, so who can say for sure."
"Yes, I suppose that is true, but you forget the research I've done into him. While the exact nature of his power is unknown, the boost in energy I've been receiving when I do it leads me to believe this is correct. But the problem is, I can only draw power from one soul at a time, one life, one charge."
"I'm sorry, I still don't see what this has to do with wanting a mere human boy, even if he does possess Exodia's spirit."
"You should stick to battle plans and simple things like that Zeboim. It's not Exodia's power I'm interested. Once I gain possession of that infantile boy's mind, I'll have access to the very essence of Exodia, his power is secondary to the arcane and cosmic knowledge he possesses, including how to merge all the conflicting powers necessary to obtain total mastery of all. All I need now is to find out where in the Shadow Realm they are."
"But didn't you bring them here?"
"That was originally the plan, but those dimensionholes beat me to it. Now find those humans before I have you ground into bone dust."
***************************************
"... And that's when we came here," Tea finished. The Spirit of Books's feathery hand was a blur as he tried his best to write down everything that had been told to him. Around him, Mokuba, Marik, and Yugi had awoken. Ryou had also awoken, but he had opted to allow Bakura to remain in control of their body. Yami too listened from inside Yugi's mind as Seto told Marik and Yugi who Aza was.
Mokuba was busy looking around the rather expansive library at all the books that lined the walls. A shiver ran up the boy's spine as he looked back to see Aza staring at him.
"Uh, is something wrong?"
"No, no, it's just... this is a tad hard to believe," the crow goblin said. "That I am meeting a living legend such as Exodia is startling, but to find out that the barrier between our worlds has been so savagely violated."
"I understand it's a shock," Yami said as he took over Yugi's body. "But it has happened. And now we need to find a way back."
"I'm afraid it will not be so easy your Highness," the Spirit of Books pointed out. "The attacks in your world and your transportation to my world, it can't all simply be a coincidence. It's obvious someone is after you, or more specifically, Mr. Mokuba. And only one creature with the power to summon so many minions to this task, Zoa."
"Zoa, you mean the blue fiend?"
"A bit descriptive, but yes that sounds like him. A more detestable wretch you will never meet. He completely dominates the section of the Shadow Realm known as Fiend's Quarter, and he's working hard to expand his empire."
"Doesn't sound too bad. Tyrants show up all the time," Seto said. "He shouldn't be too difficult to 'persuade.'"
"Zoa is no mere tyrant. He has been using dark magic of the worst sort to poison all the lands surrounding him with evil and festering the skies with darkness, making the lands more and more tolerable for his forces before conquering them. Farms, villages, even whole cities have been attacked when they have fallen under the dark shadow of that deadly Mystic Plasma Storm of his, unable to depend upon the rays of the sun to drive the demons away."
"So why not get rid of the clouds?" Joey asked.
"Easier said than done, my friend. Zoa has been gathering far more diverse forces than simply demons. Warriors, spellcasters, plants, beasts, even fairies and angels have been corrupted by him. These are his eyes and ears in the lands where the light still touches, and they are everywhere."
"So is there anyone who can help us?"
"There... There is one possibility. Your old pupil." Mokuba looked at Aza as though the birdman were talking nonsense.
"Uh, an old pupil of mine? I don't have any 'pupils' that I know of, and according to you Exodia disappeared thousands of years ago. What pupil could be alive today?"
"A spellcaster of great and terrible power and great age. He is leader of all the mages of the Dark Citadel in Cormick and one of the few powers able to hinder Zoa's quest for world domination."
"Mages of the Dark Citadel?" Yugi asked. "But wouldn't that make him a Dark Magician?"
"You know of the Dark Magicians? I'm impressed."
"Yeah he's my favorite card, see..." Yugi began flipping through his deck, only to receive a shock. "Hey... All my monster cards are gone."
"What?" Yami said, looking through the deck once more. "Bakura, Marik, Seto, check your decks. You to Joey." The four did as they were told.
"Hey, my monsters are gone too."
"Mine as well."
"All three of my Blue Eyes White Dragons are missing!" Marik looked at his deck when a thought crossed his mind.
"Yami, check your God cards!" The ancient Pharaoh looked in the belt pocket where Yugi kept his special cards, only to find it empty. Silently, Yami pulled a magic card from his deck.
"SWORDS OF REVEALING LIGHT!" The card shimmered a little, but nothing happened. "Marik, Bakura?"
"DARK PENDENT!"
"PARALYZING POTION!" At their commands, the cards shimmered and the items they requested began to appear for them. Before they could solidify, however, they disappeared completely returning to their cards.
"Our magic isn't working," Yami said. "This is most distressing."
"Do you think our Millennium Items are weakening as well?"
"I don't know Bakura. But I do think we should test them. Try to separate your body from Ryou's, I'll do the same with Yugi." Their Millennium Items glowed for a brief minute before returning to normal, with nothing happening to either spirit. "This is not good, this is not good at all."
"You," Marik commanded, pointing the Millennium Rod at Joey. "Get on all fours and bark like a dog!"
"What are you, demented?" Joey said.
"Blast! My item isn't working either," Marik stated. "What is going on?"
"I don't know, but the difficult task of getting to the Dark Citadel has just grown more difficult."
"Then it looks like you'll need some help from me."
"Thank you Aza, but we do not wish to impose..."
"Impose nothing Pharaoh," Marik said. "I want to go home."
"Yes, any help would be greatly appreciated," Seto pointed out.
"Very well, I can guide you to the Citadel, but even then it will be very dangerous."
"Thank you." With that, Aza stood, beckoning for the humans to follow him.
"Where are we going?" Yugi asked.
"Zoa went to a lot of trouble to try and strand you here. Without a doubt he will have every minion at his command searching the world over for you. With any luck, I'll be able to sufficiently disguise you enough to make their task that much more difficult. Now if you will please follow me, we can prepare."
To be continued....