Disclaimer: I don't own Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh!
When Arrathir woke up, he found himself in a strange room he'd never seen before, but which seemed familiar. One wall was covered in an enormous bookcase crammed with books. Arrathir's overcoat was hanging on a coat rack next to a computer. Next to the computer was a picture frame; the glass shattered. Arrathir had trouble making out the picture, but he managed to recognize the face of his mother.
What is this place?
In the middle of the room was a bare table with a box full of Magic cards. Arrathir shuffled through the cards and found many cards he possessed.
There was a single door in the room with ivy-covered columns on both sides. As Arrathir approached the door, he heard someone knocking on the door. Apprehensively, he opened the door. Yami was standing on the other side.
"Arrathir, are you OK?" he asked.
"Yeah, but what is this place?"
"This," said Yami "Is your Soul Room. Everything in here represents your soul, who you are."
"OK…" said Arrathir "So, what's the ivy stand for?"
"Ivy?" said Yami "Ah, yes. Ivy represents faithfulness and undying friendship. You are loyal to your friends and in returns, they are loyal to you."
"So why am I here?"
"The evil spirit that resides in your soul and who took over your body; where does he come from?" asked Yami.
"Apparently, I'm his reincarnation or something," said Arrathir and he related to Yami the events that had happened in the graveyard.
"So," said Yami "You are the reincarnation of an ancient wizard. This would explain the second door."
"What second door?'
"Come with me," said Yami.
He left the room and Arrathir followed him. He found himself in a hallway. To the left and right it stretched into darkness. In front of the door to Arrathir's soul room was another door. On it was engraved a skull, the symbol of black mana.
"Only you can open the door," said Yami "But if you do, it means you accept this spirit in your body. Do not be afraid," he added, "I will protect you."
Arrathir put his hand on the doorknob and was immediately flooded with feelings: cold and death. He turned the knob and pushed the door open. From within the room came the stench of swampland. All Arrathir could see was darkness. He tentatively stepped inside. As he did, the door was slammed shut by the person standing behind it. Yami only had the time to jump back to avoid getting hit by the door.
Arrathir spun around and saw…himself. It was a bizarre sensation, like looking into a living mirror image of one's self.
"I was wondering when you'd show up, Naki (weakling)," the other Arrathir said. (A/N: Italicized text is the other Arrathir speaking in some forgotten language.)
Before Arrathir could react, his double had driven his fist into his stomach. Arrathir doubled over in pain. The other Arrathir followed up with an uppercut that sent Arrathir flying. Arrathir lay on the cold ground; he could taste the blood in his mouth. The other Arrathir walked up to him and kicked him in the chest, sending bolts of pain through his body.
"Pathetic," said the other Arrathir "You can even fight. Why did I have to return in such a weak body?"
He delivered another kick to Arrathir, smiling sadistically as he head bones cracking.
"Why…are…you…doing…this?" Arrathir choked out between gasps of pain.
"Isn't it obvious? It's because of you! You are the reason I've awakened," said the other Arrathir, punctuating each "you" with another kick. "You brought me back; you died and awakened me; you stopped me from taking the pharaoh's power!"
Arrathir coughed up gobs of blood, trying to stay awake despite the excruciating pain his body was in.
"Now get out!" said the other Arrathir, grabbing Arrathir and flinging him out the door. Arrathir landed in the corridor.
"Oh, RA!" said Yami "Arrathir, what happened?"
"He…got…a…little…upset," said Arrathir before passing out.
Yami was furious. He hammered on the dark half's soul room door until the other Arrathir answered.
"What do you want, pharaoh?" he sneered.
"Look what you did to you hikari!"
"Oh, him?" said the other Arrathir "Look, I don't know or care how you treat your host, but to me, he's nothing but a nuisance."
"You owe it to him to be alive!" said Yami "Did you enjoy being dead so much?"
"That's not the point! Nobody asked me if I wanted to be reincarnated!"
"It was your destiny," said Yami "From what I gather, you must help awaken the other mages."
"Those idiots?" said the other Arrathir "I'd rather stick my head in a Shivan Dragon's lair!"
"You will no longer harm Arrathir," said Yami "Or I will personally take care of you."
"You're bluffing!" said the other Arrathir.
"Are to try me?" said Yami, menacingly.
The evil spirit looked uncertain. He finally turned and re-entered his soul room, slamming the door behind him.
When Arrathir awoke, he was out of the virtual world and in a hospital ward.
"Hey," said Yugi.
"Hi," said Arrathir "So what happened?"
"Yami had a talk with your spirit and he says he won't hurt you anymore."
"That's good. Ouch! He really beat the shit out of me!" said Arrathir.
"That was a great duel though," said Yugi.
"Yeah. I still can't believe you won," said Arrathir "But I guess they don't call you YuGiOh for nothing, eh?"
Yugi laughed.
"Oh, yeah, here," said Arrathir, taking his deck from the bedside table and pulling out Anubis.
"No," said Yugi "Keep it. I won on a fluke."
"It's the rule," said Arrathir "Besides, you beat me fair and square. You're the only one who really knows how to control these things anyways."
Yugi smiled and slipped the God card in his pocket.
Arrathir remained in the hospital for about a week where he was treated for cracked ribs and a minor concussion. His friends dropped in now and then to see how he was doing. Marik even came by to apologize for his yami and to thank Arrathir again. He was also given a crash course by Ryou on, "How to control your psychotic inner spirit." Bakura was not amused. All through his stay, the other Arrathir never manifested himself until his last day in the hospital.
That day, Arrathir received a strange visitor: a dark-haired Egyptian woman dressed in white robes.
"Konnichiwa (Hello)," she said, "I am Ishizu Ishtar. I have come to thank you for freeing my brother from his darkness."
"You are most welcome, Ishtar-san," said Arrathir. (A/N: The "-san" suffix is a formal and respectful way of addressing people.)
"I am deeply in your debt," she said, "As is my brother."
"May I ask you something?"
"Why, of course," said Ishizu.
"You are the keeper of the Millennium Tauk, are you not?"
"I am," said Ishizu "However, the Tauk seem to no loner perceive me as its keeper and its power has diminished."
"Could you try looking into my future?"
"I knew you would ask me that," said Ishizu with a smile "You face great trials ahead. You will struggle against many obstacles, but in the end, you will accomplish great things."
Arrathir pondered the meaning of this, then smiled and said, "Arigato, Ishtar-san. Your wisdom is indeed that of which I've heard."
"I take my leave now," said Ishizu "Sayonara,Arrathir-san."
What a load of bullshit!
Arrathir jumped. The spirit had just talked to him!
What is your problem, anyways?
Don't tell me you bought that fortune-telling crap. Nobody can predict the future. There is no way since it is always in motion. Even now, the actions of people are shaping the future. It's like a raindrop falling from the sky. There are a million different things that affect where that drop will land.
I never pictured you as the philosophical type.
Well, don't get used to it.
So, what's your name anyways? If we're going to share the same body, might was well be civil, no?
Listen, naki, I don't care about you, or anybody. So you can drop the friendly bullshit and leave me alone. I could have killed you, had it not meant me dying again.
What's it like, being dead?
What would you care? Fuck off and die!
Arrathir felt the spirit locking himself in his soul room. He sank back into his pillow, perplexed.
A few days later, Arrathir, having been discharged from the hospital, was in the Kame Game shop having a friendly duel against Joey.
"…And I attack you with Havoc Demon!"
"I block with Red-Eyes Black Dragon," said Joey.
"Activate trap!" said Arrathir "Terror! Take 2500 damage!"
JOEY: 0
ARRATHIR: 250
"Good game," said Joey as Khell walked in.
"The preparations are finished," he told Arrathir "Tonight, I leave for Dominaria."
"Can I see you off?" asked Arrathir.
"I'd rather not," said Khell "When the portal will open, it will suck in everything around it, which is why I chose a desolate place to open it. I wouldn't want you to get sucked through. You belong in your world."
"When are you leaving?"
"Soon," said Khell "I must gather my mana and prepare the spell. It is time for good-byes."
"I'm gonna miss you," said Arrathir "I've learned so much from you!"
"It was no coincidence that our paths crossed," said Khell "Fate has helped me awaken the Keeper of Black Mana."
"Wait, so you knew?" said Arrathir.
"The legend of the keepers is known by all in Dominaria, but few believe it. Now that the Keeper of Black Mana has awakened, I know he will help awaken the others."
"Don't talk about him," said Arrathir "He makes me sick; always complaining about everything and always so grumpy."
"Do not loose hope," said Khell "One day, you will understand him."
"Will I ever see you again?"
"Only time will tell," said Khell "But since our paths have crossed one, I see no reason they should not cross again. May the Gods watch over you, Arrathir, Keeper of Black Mana. Goody-bye."
"Khell!" said Arrathir, grabbing his friend in a hug "Good-bye."
The mage nodded to Joey and Yugi and left. Arrathir stood in the doorway, watching his silhouette becoming smaller and smaller as he walked away into the sunset.
To be continued…