Please be sure to catch the author's note at the end of the chapter...
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters and plots.
However the following characters (their powers and such) used in this fan fiction ARE mine:
Lady Aurora Phoenix
Lady Natara Fear
Lady Sapphira Star
Blaze
Chaos
Havoc
A Friend Lost
Atem scowled in his throne. He could not believe the audacity of this man before him. He violated the most sacred of all places. All to gain control and power. He could not be allowed to get away with this crime. Even if the priests could not get through to Bakura, Atem was bound and determined to do so. Before he could stand, however, Priest Set smirked and spoke.
"It takes courage to stand up to the six priests, even for a miserable thief such as yourself," he sneered. "We will be sure to have a somewhat larger canopic jar to hold your guts." Lady Phoenix sighed. Everything had just become so gruesome. It was not like she had never seen or heard talk like this before. She realized it was the fact that Priest Set was the one speaking the words that had become so revolted by them.
"Listen well, Thief," Akunadin was adding. "The Seven Millennium items are what rule the law and order here. Only the priests who have trained their souls and the divine Pharaoh who rules this land may be the ones to hold them. A person with a heart of evil, such as yourself, would have your very soul burned away should you even touch them. For the gods, themselves, you punish you with death!" Lady Phoenix had not thought it to be possible, but an even more sinister grin curved the lips of the self-proclaimed King of Thieves.
"You excite me, old man. You make me want them even more," he added, his voice almost a whisper before he broke out in laughter. Set eyed him without fear.
"No need to worry about the gods, you fool, for I shall punish you with death first," he replied a smirk crossing his features as well. It gave everyone in the room the impression he was certainly going to enjoy this confrontation. Bakura was not about to be pushed out this time either. Lady Phoenix gasped at the strength she suddenly felt coming from him. He was much stronger now. His Diabound ka that she had faced and defeated before had three long years to rest and gain strength. She sensed it had changed its form and the feelings she received from Bakura shook her to the core. She had already been standing and Atem stopped her from stepping forward. She looked at him and he only nodded at Set with a grave expression on his face. Bakura had raised his arm and pointed at all the priests lined up before him.
"I shall take you all on at once then!" he announced proudly. Shimon noticed Lady Phoenix's worried expression.
"No need to fear, my lady. No sane person stands a chance alone against the heka of all the priests." Lady Phoenix said nothing and let her visions tell her the outcome. She knew the shock that was about to come. A stone slab appeared behind Bakura and the floor began to shake with energy and magic. The Priest Karim stepped forward wielding his Millennium Scale. The tilted to wildly and he could not regain control in order to weigh the evil within Bakura. Mahado's Ring was still going crazy about his neck and Isis felt that the evil shadow within the thief would bring disaster to the world. Akunadin attempted to see into Bakura's soul with his eye and was met with only darkness. A bottomless pit of darkness and hatred. Bakura continued to laugh and Lady Phoenix cringed and closed her eyes, fighting yet another vision.
"Law and Order? Do not make me laugh," he spat at them. " I will show you the true nature of the Millennium Items and the Shadow Powers that can... and will... destroy the world!" He turned all his rage and hatred on Akunadin. "That is what I desire! Revenge for the Dark Past you tried to bury... The Darkness that was used to create your precious Millennium items!" Akunadin attempted to stop Shada from going farther into Bakura's soul but he was too slow. Shada had already tapped into the power of his Key and was instantly caught up in the darkness. A snake-like spirit snapped at him and forced him to retreat.
"It cannot be!" he gasped.
"What is it?" Akunadin asked him.
"His ka... It has grown too be too great." Shada stood and motioned toward the stone slab behind them that had appeared to seal Bakura's ka beast. "That sealing stone is too small for it!" Bakura chuckled softly as he listened to their plight. He bowed his head to concentrate and as the priests looked on, his ka monster, the great Diabound, appeared before them in an even greater form than the day they had first seen it. It had become a god ka. He had remained loyal to his own beliefs, which is what made his heart good enough to be able to have such a demon within his soul. Set scowled and stood firm raising his Rod at the beast.
"Do not underestimate the power of the Millennium Items!" he shouted. "By the power of the Millennium Rod I cast this evil Ka into the Holy Stone!"
It will not work, Lady Phoenix realized in shock. Shada was right! It is too strong!
The beast seemed to disappear into the stone but Bakura had begun to laugh again. "You think this is over?" he asked them as the rumbling began again. Set stumbled back only briefly in surprise as the stone began to crack and crumble until finally it exploded. "Your stones are useless against my ka!" Bakura exclaimed. Set regained his composure and smirked again.
"In that case, let me show you the true power of the priests!"
"Good, then," Bakura grinned madly. "That sounds like fun! Come all of you and fight me!" he challenged. Akunadin made an attempt to stop Set.
"His beast is too strong, we must join forces..."
"I am more than strong enough to take him!" was his furious retort. Fierce and determined, Priest Set began to chant a spell. A summoning spell to bring out his own servant monster. Lady Phoenix watched in awe as a stone tablet appeared just behind Priest Set.
"Those who hold the Millennium Items can command three monsters from the many thousands in the shrine of Wedju," Shimon explained to her. She nodded but said nothing as she continued to watch.
"I summon thee, Galestgoras!" he shouted. A dragon-like beast appeared and faced off against Diabound. Bakura laughed.
"You summon the beast of some sinner to go up against me?" I am much more than any other sinner you have gone up against. More than you can ever possibly imagine!"
"I have no need to summon my personal guardian to go up against you," Set countered.
"Bah! You are afraid," Bakura taunted. "You know full well if your guardian is hurt your own life would be in danger!" Set snarled his temper near its breaking point.
"Boast while you can fool!" He turned toward the monster he has summoned. "Snap him in two!" he commanded. The dragon attacked and Diabound began it's defense. It did not take long before the dragon had grabbed the snake-like bottom half of Diabound and held it firm, surprising Bakura. "I will end this in one move!" Set shouted. He shouted a new command to his monster and the dragon obeyed by sending Diabound to the floor with a sickening thud that made Lady Phoenix cringe. "It's over," Set said with a smile.
"Or is it?" Bakura questioned. The smoke from the battle had begun to lift to show that Diabound was no longer beneath the dragon.
"Did it return to you?"
"No." Bakura's lip turned up in a smirk of his own. "I simply activated its special ability," he explained "His powers reflect my deepest wishes. I am but a thief, so what would help me to steal the treasure? The ability to move through stone!" The room was filled with gasps, but Bakura's surprises were not done yet. "And when a monster is summoned from a stone slab, they vanish if that slab is destroyed, correct?" Priest Set looked down at his feet in shock as the ground began to shake beneath him again. He spun around to see the image of Diabound appearing on the stone behind him. Then the stone began to crumble. It finally exploded and the dragon Set had summoned began to disappear in wisps of smoke. Bakura shook his head.
"This is boring," he chided. His eyes grew dark and he made a hand motion to the Pharaoh, calling him out. "I want to fight the Pharaoh!" The priest lined up again to cut off Bakura from the Pharaoh, and Lady Phoenix placed a hand on his arm. She gasped as the vision of him being trapped within his puzzle struck her again and she muffled her cry of shock. Atem glanced at her but mistook the cry for shock at the sight before them. Bakura began to rant about the creation of the Millennium Items and Akunadin began to explain that Atem's father had intended to use them to ensure peace in his kingdom as they were created to seal a powerful evil within them. Bakura had scoffed at him and the battle of words continued. Atem's eyes grew darker with every motion Bakura made toward the corpse of the former Pharaoh. When the thief stomped his foot upon his father's corpse, Atem shook off his wife's hand. She closed her eyes and turned her head away as he stepped forward and shouted his demand.
"Bakura! Take your foot off that corpse!" Bakura raised an eyebrow at him.
"Finally, you stand to face me, Pharaoh," he returned with a crooked smile. Quick to distract the thief from the Pharaoh, the priests all summoned their Ka's to attack him. As they fought, Atem carefully made his way through the battle field that was once his main hall and moved to the mummy that laid in abandon on the floor. Lady Phoenix saw him speak softly to the mummy and close his eyes in a silent prayer before capturing Bakura's attention again with a vow of vengeance.
"I will accept your challenge," he told him in a dark voice. "And I will defeat you." He carefully moved the mummy out of harms way. Lady Phoenix watched as he turned to head back to the battle when he seemed to stop. His eyes widened and he looked back at the mummy for only a brief moment. When he turned back she caught a glimpse of grim determination in his crimson eyes and knew the danger had not passed. This battle was far from over. The priests were quickly losing strength and had yet to be able to seal Diabound within the tablet. All fighting stopped when Atem entered the battle field and stood before his weakened priests.
"Enough!" he shouted. "It is my turn, all of you stand down!"
"Pharaoh!" Priest Set exclaimed. Bakura's evil sneer grew larger and he bowed his head in mock respect of Atem.
"So finally, Pharaoh, you face me. Prepare to be a mummy," he taunted. He pulled back only briefly however the Millennium Puzzle around Atem's neck began to glow and he summoned his own beast to fight. Not just any beast however. The god of Justice; Obelisk. He had finally gained enough strength and faith to call upon one of the mighty gods. The duel had just spun in Atem's favor as shock filled the room. Suddenly however, Bakura's face cleared of his shock and he devised a new way to throw Atem off guard.
"So you call forth your god," he sneered. "But the six priests behind you. You say they were the mask of justice. How do you not know they will one day betray you?" Those words hit a memory for Atem and he momentarily looked back at Lady Phoenix. Her words echoing in his mind.
One of your own people will betray you, Atem. I did not see his face, nor do I know when... She saw the look in his eyes and knew he was remembering her words. She took a deep breath to steady herself but remained silent. This was a battle he needed to face on his own.
"What are you talking about?" Akunadin demanded. Lady Phoenix raised an eyebrow at him. "We are the Pharaoh's loyal servants!" Bakura scoffed at him.
"Bah! I too, have a face of justice and I shall use my power to destroy you all!"
"Justice?" Atem echoed in anger. He clenched a fist and brought it to his heart. "You claim justice, yet you use violence? That is not justice. I shall never forgive you for all you have done in your name of justice. Obelisk! Attack with God Hand Crusher!" Obelisk moved from his place and not only attacked Diabound, but sent his attack at Bakura as well. Knowing he was too weak to defend against Atem's god ka, Bakura swore to return and used his Diabound's ability on the monster and himself to pass through stone walls and escape the palace. Atem remained on edge, thinking it to be a trick. He knew Bakura would return. He also knew he had to be ready.
Silently, Atem moved to a terrace in the palace and stared out at the sky. Lady Phoenix moved to join him and remained just as silent. There was not a word she could say to ease his pain and suffering at the events of today. She did not even dare to lay a hand upon his as she could see it would not be right. He startled her when he turned to face her and took a breath to say something to her. He was interrupted by a light step behind them. They turned to see Mahado kneeling and bowing before them. Atem cast a questioning look over his friend.
"What is wrong, Mahado?"
"It was my charge to see your father's tomb well protected. I have failed in that duty and await your judgment." Atem looked hard at his friend and then his eyes lightened. He could not hold it against him as he knew what Mahado had been spending his time doing the past couple of years.
"Just see to it his body is returned safely, Mahado." The priest stood, his head still bowed and left the terrace to begin preparations. Atem turned back to Lady Phoenix but was still unable to speak as a little hand reached up to grab his and two tiny arms circled Lady Phoenix's waist. They both gasped and looked down. Adais was innocently gazing up at his father and Zahara was shaking in fear. The royal couple looked up quickly to see Sanura safely in Lady Fear's arms.
"They broke away from us, I am sorry," Lady Fear whispered as they drew near. Sanura unhooked herself from Lady Fear and lunged at Lady Phoenix with enough force to nearly send them both flying backward. Instead, Lady Phoenix fell to her knees and clung to her daughters, tears stinging her eyes. Her buried grief ripping her heart to shreds at the visions she had seen. The visions that had returned with such force she knew what would happen. And that it would happen soon.
"Has anyone seen Kisara?" Priest Set asked. His eyes were still showing his anger from the battle. Everyone shook their heads and Lady Star stepped forward.
"She left a few days ago, High Priest Set. I thought you knew. Something scared her and she just left." Set turned to face her and together they moved back inside the palace. It was not long before the group on the terrace were able to see Set again, this time headed for the Veju Cathedral with Akunadin, both deep in the conversation. Silently, Lady Phoenix gathered the children and hurried them away from the terrace. Atem watched her as she left and wondered what was wrong.
The children had long since been put to bed for the evening and Lady Phoenix struck out on her own. Something puzzled her about her visions. She needed to get away from everyone and just concentrate her energy. Mahado had remained dutiful as he prepared to take the body of the former Pharaoh to its tomb on his own. Isis and Lady Phoenix had agreed this may not be the best move for him and tried to tell him so. Priest Set warned him that if he failed again to protect the Former Pharaoh, that his priest tile would be taken from him. This only gave him a warning of his own. For only the Pharaoh could strip one of the title of Priest. He had no intentions of doing so to Mahado as he had faith in his friend. He was beginning to wonder about the change his cousin seemed to take on, however. Darkness seemed to be clouding his judgment. He became more competitive and grown to be disrespectful of his cousin. Atem had challenged him to a practice duel to try to teach him that power and control were not what the shadow powers were all about. He won that match without even bothering to call upon his god guardians as Set had wished.
"How much longer does he have here with us?" Lady Phoenix whispered sadly. "Just when will he fight his last battle?" She fell to her knees within a cathedral and gazed up at the stone carving of Ra looming above her. Her cloak had dropped around her and she lowered her head. "Is there nothing I can do to help him?" Closing her eyes this time proved to be a mistake. She saw a battle in her mind. Bakura facing Mahado. She watched in shock as the clash between them grew stronger. She also saw the ending. Her eyes snapped open and she stood to race from the cathedral. She found Atem standing with Mana and then saw the golden light in the sky of a beast being summoned.
"It has already begun!" she gasped. Atem had also seen the light and had gone to fetch a horse. Others had followed, including Lady Phoenix, but she already knew what they would find. Outside the false tomb, Mahado had used to trick Bakura stood a stone slab. Mahado's voice seemed to echo above them as he made his vow to always be there to protect Atem. He had sealed his soul within his Illusion Magician to become the Black Magician. Lady Phoenix went inside with Set and a few others while Isis stayed to help Atem console Mana over the loss of her teacher. They searched the room but found no trace of Bakura or Mahado's Millennium Ring. Bakura had managed to gain one of the items he needed. They all looked at each other thinking the same thing. He had to be stopped from getting the others.
After seeking permission from Atem to send a troop into the village to seek out Bakura, Set begins his hunt for stronger Ka. Shada goes with him and uses his Key to seek out what they are after. It is after their search begins, Set finds Kisara. Shada uses his Key to look into her soul and finds a powerful beast had been hidden within her all that time. A beast Priest Set wanted for his own. However he did eventually learn that could not happen unless her life was taken. Set could not bring himself to kill the girl he had fallen for. He swore to find another way to bring out the beast. Unfortunately, he would not be given a choice in the end.
Ok, For those thinking I may be giving away all the answers I will not (grins)- seems I do not know a few answers myself so this next chapter will fly through a few points and go right to the end of this part which will be continued in Eternal Love part 2 : Returning Spirit.
By doing so I will have something I can actually write again when the Pharaoh has to regain his memories. So don't be too disppointed at the speed of the last chapter as it only touches on things to happen. They will be explained later in a different part of the series. Oh... and a bit of advice... have a box of tissues ready for the next chapter... It is the one we Atem fans will hate as he says good bye for now... I am not exaclt looking forward to writing it, but it must be done.
