A Note from Chione
I'd just like to take this moment to say a few things, after all, this is "technically" the last chapter of Shadow Gems (Yeah, I know I said there was two more, but the next one is the Epilogue). Can you believe it's almost over? I think it's awesome.
And just think, it was only a year ago I was sitting before a hotel computer, sometime around twelve in the morning, and I just had to write the first chapter. Right now I don't remember where I got the original idea for Shadow Gems, I really don't. Odd, eh? But I'm SO glad that I got it, whatever it was.
I'm very proud of how it all turned out. Sometimes I wondered if it would, and this chapter you're about to read came together much better than I thought it would. In all truth, I had no clue exactly how I was going to end it, and just two days ago I came up with this.
I can't wait to get started on the sequel, though I'm still not sure how I'm going to start the sequel yet… I'll think of something.
As for a question asked in the reviews- No, there will not be any dueling in this story. Why? I don't do that, I never have. In all my Yu-Gi-Oh stories I always lean more towards the magical aspect of the show, having to do with the Millennium Items, the Shadow Realm and Monsters, and Ancient Egypt. So, no, there will be no dueling, not now or ever. Sorry for the disappointment!
I'd really like to thank Shroomy, whom I forced to listen to my crazy ideas and asked what she thought about them.
And the internet where I found each gemstones that would become the Shadow Gems, and where I found the actual magical properties to these gemstones that would feed to the powers of the Shadow Gems themselves.
And of course, I'd like to thank you the readers for reading this crazy ass story, and sending me wonderful reviews that kept me going when I didn't feel like writing anymore.
Well, I do believe that's it! Hope you enjoy the last two chapters of Shadow Gems.
- Chione
The group moved on through the darkness, following the sounds of fire ahead. Slowly and steadily the light at the end of the corridor came closer, until they emerged from the shadowy stairwell and into the torch lit hall.
They looked around, seeing two different ways in which they could go. Each path looked identical to the other; a long, gaping mouth into the abyss.
"Now what?" Joey asked as the look at his companions. A few of them seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"We came here for a reason." Ishizu told him. "To find the others and stop the Chaos from entering this world.
"It looks like our best shot is to go separate ways." Yugi noted as he moved his gaze from one direction to the other.
Yami looked down at him. "I don't think that's the best way to go about it."
"No, he's right." Nina piped, placing a gentle hand on Yami's shoulder. "It would be faster for us to go in other directions."
"Nina, Yugi and I will go this way." Ishizu said, stepping towards the left most path. "Yami, you, Joey and Ryou go the other way. Be sure to check any doorway you come across for the Keepers, and whoever else might be down here."
"And what if we find the Chaos Gate?" Ryou asked.
"How will we even know if we find it?" Joey added.
Nina opened the leather book and flipped through it quickly. She then turned the book to show them both a picture of a grand platform with circles and other carvings etched into its surface. "This is the Chaos Gate. Be careful if you find it, because that means Sanders and his helpers are close by."
"Yami, you should take this." Yugi said. Yami turned to him and saw the boy holding out the Millennium Puzzle.
"Yugi-" He began, but Yugi interrupted him.
"It rightfully belongs to you." Yugi explained. "Besides, if something happens, I know I won't be able to use it's magic. Maybe you will, so take it."
"Alright." Yami uttered, taking the golden relic and placing its chain over his head. Joey and Ryou began to go one way as Ishizu, Nina and Yugi went another.
Yami watched them go down their corridor, and he felt a sense of fear. Quickly he caught Nina by the hand and pulled her back a step.
"Yami, what is it?" She asked, her eyes examining his face.
The past Pharaoh sighed. "Promise me you'll stay safe."
"What?"
"Please Nina. That's the least you can do for me."
She continued to look at him, then nodded slowly. "I'll be fine." She said encouragingly. "But will you?"
"I can watch out for myself." Yami told her. "And I'll make sure Joey and Ryou stay safe."
The pale girl smiled. She placed a slender hand on the side of Yami's face, then quickly leaned towards him and placed her lips on his other cheek. "That's all I need to hear." Nina whispered. Then, before he could react, she turned and joined Ishizu and Yugi who were farther down the passage. Soon all three disappeared into the shadows.
Yami stood, dumbfounded, gazing where Nina had gone off to. A voice brought him back to reality, calling, "Hey, are you coming or what?" Yami turned to Joey, who had yelled, then quickly caught up with the other two. They continued on to the unknown.
They kept walking down corridor after corridor, each one looking the same as the last. This seemed to be the pace, until they saw movement ahead. Silently the three stepped into the shadows of the hall, hidden from the light shed by torches. Up ahead it seemed four men with guns strapped across their backs were dragging two unconscious figures down the hall. Suddenly, they veered off into a room that had been hidden in darkness.
"Let's go see what they're doing." Yami uttered, and led the way towards the door.
As they approached they could hear a fire roar to life within the room, casting light into the hall. The men inside began to speak in surly voices. Cups clanked together and a liquid could be heard pouring into them. The voices within came together in a sort of cheer, and then went back to speaking normally.
"Sounds like they're having a party." Joey whispered as they stood just out of sight beside the door. "Shall we crash it?"
"I think that's a grand idea." Ryou added. He turned to Yami. "You're the leader, you first."
"No, after you." Yami told him, shaking his head.
Joey placed a hand on both their shoulders. "No, no, after me." He grinned at both of them, then pushed past to stand in the doorway. Yami and Ryou then joined him.
It took a moment for the guards to take notice of the three new additions, but once they did they stood quickly, some dropping their glasses of what appeared to be whiskey, and fumbled for their weapons. The closest one managed to swing his gun around, and found Joey standing right before him.
"Don't you know that guns are dangerous?" The blonde asked, then quickly punched the armed man in the face. He then grabbed the collar of his shirt and threw him into another guard. Both went flying into the room's stone wall, where the unconscious guard's gun came up and managed to hit the other in the face, making his nose bleed and also making him useless. Both slumped to the ground.
A third guard cried out and pointed his weapon towards Joey. "That's not a good idea." Ryou advised from where he stood behind the guard. He pinched the man's shoulder, hitting a nerve and rendering him into a deep sleep. The guard dropped his weapon and collapsed onto the ground.
The final armed man looked at his fallen comrades. A look a fright was on his face. He looked from one person to the other, then pushed past Ryou and ran towards the door.
"You're not getting away that easily." Yami muttered, and reached out towards him. The Puzzle around his neck glittered and a glimmer of light sparkled in Yami's fingertips, then went out towards the fleeing guard. It hit him in the back of the head, and he fell face first into the ground.
"What was that!" Joey cried, staring at the last of the fallen guards. "Did you kill him!"
Yami cast a dark glance towards Joey. "Of course not. He's just unconscious, no harm done."
"Except maybe to his face!" The blonde added. Absently he rubbed his own nose.
"What about those people they hauled into here?" Ryou asked, changing the topic.
"They're over there." Joey told him, gesturing to the two figures slumped against the wall. His eyes then widened. "It's Marik and Bakura!"
"Didn't Kaiba say they went to Egypt for the last Gem?" Ryou questioned as the three of them went towards the other two.
"Yes, he did." Yami told him. He knelt down before Marik and Bakura's forms. "Sanders must have beat them to it, and caught them. That means Sanders is here now."
"And he'll soon start that ritual thing." Joey uttered, the realization of it a hard hit. He leaned on a table and his hand brushed against one of the glasses the guards had. It was still full, so the teen quickly took a swig of whiskey.
The three of them were silent. "Let's wake these two up, then." Ryou finally said. He placed a hand on Bakura's shoulder and gently shook him. Nothing happened.
"How do we even wake them up?" Joey asked. "It looks like they're out cold."
Yami turned to him, unsure what to say. His eyes landed on the whiskey. "Joey, hand me that bottle."
The other teen glanced at the bottle of fiery liquid, picked it up, and handed it over to him. "What are you going to do with it?"
"Wake them up." Was the plain reply. He turned the cap and took it off, then held it under Marik's nose. After a second or two the sandy haired youth's eyelids started to flutter, then he managed to open his eyes. With one hand he pushed the bottle away from him, and with the other he rubbed his forehead and let out a groan.
"Welcome back to the world of the living." Ryou stated. "It seems that's been happening a lot lately." He added as an afterthought.
"Why does my head hurt?" Marik wondered, still not exactly sure what was going on.
"You've been out for awhile, I assume." Yami told him, handing the bottle of whiskey over to Ryou so he could wake up Bakura. "You're in the underground area where the Chaos Gate is. Joey, Ryou, and I are here. Just sit for awhile."
Beside him Bakura started to stir. Unlike Marik who pushed the bottle away, Bakura's hand enclosed around it and pried it from Ryou's grip. He raised it to his lips and drank a few gulps.
Joey cringed at Bakura's reaction. "How can you drink so much at once?"
"It comes with experience." Bakura mumbled, a weak smile on his lips. His hazy eyes then fixed on Yami and cleared a bit. "You."
"What?" Yami asked.
The thief's eyes narrowed in a glare. "You and your damn riddles and puzzles."
Yami smiled. "I thought there might be some in that labyrinth. I wasn't sure or not."
"Well, let's get out of here." Bakura muttered as he slowly started to rise. His legs were a bit shaky, and he grabbed hold of Ryou's shoulder. He then looked at Ryou and realized who it was. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? I told you to stay in Greece!"
"All of us from Greece are here." Ryou told him gently, not wanting to agitate him in the state he was in. "I wasn't about to be left behind."
"Ishizu's here?" Marik said. "Is she alright?"
"She's fine." Yami explained to him. "Nina, Yugi and her went a separate way, but we'll find them after." It seemed his words eased Marik a bit.
"You know what's wrong with people today?" Bakura asked, still glaring at Ryou. "They don't follow orders."
"And I order that we get moving." Yami told him. "Sanders is here, with the last Gem. The ritual will be starting soon."
Both Marik and Bakura stared at Yami, then remembered what had happened in Egypt.
"Shit…" Bakura muttered.
"We have to get moving." Marik said. "Let's hurry up, find everyone, and get out of here."
Joey clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the best idea anyone's had all day!"
As they moved towards the door Bakura eyed one of the guards, then bent over and grabbed his gun. To the questioning looks from the others he simple said, "I'm not going anywhere without a weapon now. They got me once, I'll shoot them before they can do it again."
"The scary thing is he will." Ryou muttered to Joey, who merely nodded.
The slightly larger group left the room and continued down the hall, disappearing into the dark once more.
He leaned against the rock wall, staring out at the man who stood by the door. He sat in a cell, beside three others that were filled with an older East Indian man, and what seemed to be his wife and daughter. The others had been taken to other cells somewhere else in the complex underground system, and he hoped he could find them when the time came.
He supposed the ring leader of this whole chain of events was rather confident that no one could get out of the cells, because he had instructed only one guard to stand before the door. Though the guard had a large rifle, he was confident that the weapon would be rendered useless, as with its owner.
Taking his hand out of his pocket and with it the key ring he had managed to hold onto, he slowly went over to the door of the cell and put his arms through the bars, resting his elbows on a cross bar and holding his hand before the lock. He idly concealed the ring of keys with his hand, and managed to slip one of the keys into the lock. He tried to turn it, but it wouldn't budge. He pulled it out and tried another one.
"What are you doing?" The guard barked.
Kaiba looked at him, making sure the guard didn't see what he was up to. To this man, he was just leaning against the door of his cell. "Nothing."
"Get back against the wall." The other man ordered.
"Why should I?" Kaiba asked. "I'm not doing anything." Another key didn't work. He moved on to the next.
Slowly the guard began to venture towards him. "I said, get back against the wall."
Kaiba gave him an icy stare. "What are you going to do?" Yet another one didn't go.
"I'll make you." The guard said, tightening his grip on his gun.
"I'd like to see you try." Two more keys that didn't work.
"Don't think I won't." He persisted. "I can and I will." He stood right before Kaiba, their faces close as they glared at each other.
Finally! The key for the lock!
Kaiba smiled a bit, a cruel smile. "Then why don't you come inside?" He asked. He turned the key, and the locked clicked. He forced the cell door open, smashing its metal bars into the guard's face. Kaiba quickly stepped from the cell, grabbed the guard by the arm, pried the gun from his fingers, and spun him into the cell in one smooth movement. He shut the door, locking the guard inside.
"Let me out!" The guard demanded, grabbing onto the bars and pressing his face against them.
"How about you wait for me here?" Kaiba asked, slinging the gun onto his shoulder. "I'll be back in awhile."
He turned to leave, but the older man in the next cell began to call after him. Kaiba stopped and turned, looking at this man.
"I don't speak Indian." Kaiba told him, though he knew the man wouldn't understand him. "Just wait here, it's safer for you." He made a gesture, trying to get across for the man to stay. After a moment or two the other man fell silent, seemingly understanding. Kaiba nodded, and quickly left the room.
He wandered down the dank corridors, not exactly sure where he could find the others. As he turned the corner, voices reached his ears; a female, and a male. His heart sped up.
Bree? Quickly he continued down the hall, seeing a doorway. As he got closer, it was clear the female voice belonged to Bree, and the male probably to the guard watching her. They seemed to be arguing, though Kaiba couldn't make out the words.
When he was only a few feet away, he heard a shot fire. Two more voices, sounding like they belonged to small girls, screamed. Kaiba's heart skipped a beat.
Bree, what did your loud mouth get you into now!
Before he knew what was happening he found himself running the rest of the way to the room. He entered it and saw that it was smaller than the one he had been in, with only two cells. One held two little girls, clinging to each other in fear. The other had had its lock shot off, and the door slowly swung open. Bree stepped out of it, holding the handgun Kaiba had given her. The guard was on the ground near the cell, knocked out.
He stared at Bree, and her eyes rested on him, almost stunned to see him standing there. A wave of relief washed over him as he realized she was safe, as well as anger for making him panic like that, and an odd sort of happiness from seeing her there. For the second time he moved without thinking about it, but this time it was towards her and pulling her close to him.
"Kaiba?" She squeaked, almost as surprised as him for this sudden action.
He stepped away from her, though his hands remained on her shoulders. His face then took on a serious look. "Don't ever do anything like that again."
Bree blinked, confused. She looked back at the cell door she had shot with the handgun. "So, next time you want me to stay in the cage and be locked up forever at gunpoint?"
Kaiba shook his head, releasing her shoulders. "No. Never mind."
"Alright…" The girl mumbled, examining Kaiba closely. She then sighed, and went over to the other cell. "Alright, girls, I'll get you out." She lifted the handgun and pointed it at the lock.
"No! No! No!" The two inside cried, and huddled closer together.
Kaiba went over to Bree and pushed her hand away. "I have a better way." He told her, then took the keys from his pocket.
"Where'd you get those?" She demanded. "I want a set."
"You can have them later." Kaiba told her. He went through the keys, and eventually found one for the cell. It opened, and the two girls came out.
"We have to hurry." One said. It was the Spanish girl, the one Mokuba had called "Chiquita".
"True." Bree muttered. "Now that Sanders is here, the ritual will be starting soon."
"Wait-" The other girl muttered. She raised a hand for them to be silent, her eyes on the door. "I think I hear someone coming."
Indeed, from the hall, there were footsteps slowly coming towards them. Bree and Kaiba exchanged looks, then silently raised their guns, pointing towards the door, and moved in front of the two little girls. They waited, the footsteps coming closer. Finally, a figure came around the corner, saw their guns, and jumped back.
"Don't shoot!" He cried, covering his head with his arms. "It's just me! Don't shoot!"
Bree lowered her gun first. "Joey?"
Soon the others came into view and stopped, some looking at Joey and some looking in to see the people in the room.
Yami smiled as he stepped into the room. "Well, this is a nice surprise."
"What's wrong with him?" Bakura asked, who still hadn't seen Bree and Kaiba within the room. He turned, and finally saw them. The former spirit cried, then pointed his own gun at them.
"Oh, lower you gun." Ryou told him. He then looked over to Kaiba who still had his raised. "You, too."
Kaiba slowly lowered his. "I was hoping there was a way I could've shot Wheeler, and still made it look like an accident."
"Ha, ha." Joey told him in a dry tone. "You're just on a roll today, aren't you?"
Kaiba opened his mouth to retort, but someone pushed past him. "Stop your arguing!" Chiquita demanded, her small voice oddly strong. Finally the others acknowledged her and Takoda.
"Who's this?" Ryou asked.
"Who cares who I am." Chiquita snapped. "We have to get to the Chaos Gate, we have to stop the ritual!"
"She's right." Takoda added, stepping up beside Chiquita. "There are lives at stake, maybe even the whole world. We have to get there, now."
"You heard the little girls." Bree muttered. "Let's get moving." She looked down at Chiquita. "Do you think you can get us there?"
"Of course." The Mexican said, smiling a bit. She took to the lead, with Takoda beside her.
When the others didn't move, Bree glared at them. "Go! They know their way around this place better than the rest of us."
The others began to move, and Bakura muttered, "Taking orders from little girls. What is the world coming to?" But Ryou glared at him, rendering him silent. Their pace quickened with a sense of urgency, and quickly they moved through the darkness.
He pulled her across the large room, his strong hands tight around her wrists. Whenever she tried to pull away he'd yank her forwards, hard. But she refused to let him see her squirm, and kept a strong face, though her arms and wrists were starting to ache.
The room wasn't as dark as it had been the last time she was in there. Now torches flickered in brackets hung on the walls, making the slick surface of the platform shine, and the items sitting on it sparkle.
He led her up a small set of steps onto the platform, and started leading her over to one of the circles carved into the surface. As her eyes fell to the circle and what sat in it she began to pull away harder, fear rising in her. This might be her end.
"Stop fighting." Sanders hissed at her, pulling her roughly so that she stood between him and the circle. Seeing it so close she finally stopped and stared at her fate. "Good, now get in."
"Why?" Medea asked, turning towards her stepfather. She might be doomed to die in that circle, but she could stall for a few more minutes of life.
Sanders' eyes were hard as he looked down at her. He looked odd, now dressed in what seemed to be High Priest robes from ancient Egypt. It was a plane, white robe, with golden wristbands, a heavily jeweled necklace, and a dagger hanging at his hip for decoration.
"I need you in the circle." He told her darkly. "Get in it."
"No." Medea stuck her chin out stubbornly. "You can't make me."
"Oh really?" He chuckled at this. "Because, I'm pretty sure I can. See, I have in my hold your dear Marik. With the snap of my fingers, I can make him gone. For good."
Medea kept her gaze cold, but she knew Sanders would go through with his threat. Still glaring at him she took three steps backwards, then stopped in the center of the circle.
"That's my girl." Sanders said, smiling at her mockingly. "Now, pick up the brooch." Medea stood there, unmoving. "Don't test my patience." He warned.
"Bastard." She said under her breath, but she knelt down and picked the brooch up, the Turquoise glittering in the light.
He continued to grin at her, like the victor in some odd contest. "My dear, you're just like your mother. Beautiful beyond belief, as well as strong willed." His tone had been light, almost dreamlike as he remembered Medea's mother, but now it dropped and became cold. "But powerless once you found the right weakness."
"What do you care about my mother?" Medea snapped.
"I did care about your mother." Sanders told her. "Loved her, really. And she loved me. But," he stopped for a moment, a frown creasing his forehead. "She loved you more."
The girl couldn't help but scoff. "If she loved me, why did she leave?"
"She didn't know what else to do." He explained. "Like I said, I did love Kalista. That's why I shared with her my plans of finding all the Shadow Gems, I thought her and I could have everything. But she refused to let me use you as a "tool", so she tried to leave and take you with her. I could let her go, but I needed you."
"Why did you need me?"
"Because, you had a certain quality. A darker side, one that my dear, late sister didn't have. Because of this darkness, the Gem revealed more to you than it ever did with Nina. Darkness begets darkness, as it were."
Medea's glare darkened. "That's the only reason you kept me?"
"Oh course." He said matter-of-factly. "But, Kalista kept trying to come back and take you."
"She did?"
"Yes, but I made sure her attempts never reached you. Though, after awhile they became tiring, so I went to the courts. I presented to them that Kalista was an unfit mother, they agreed, and gave me legal custody of you.
"But that didn't stop her, oh no. She thought that maybe if she had a better husband, and a more suitable place for you to live, the courts would give you back. And her plan almost worked, too."
Medea stared at him. "But?"
"But I stepped in." The smile on his face sickened her. "I saw a problem, and I removed it."
Her eyes widened in horror as she understood. "Yo-you killed her?"
"I didn't kill her." Sanders said quickly. "I almost had her killed. I made some calls to a few old friends, and they were more than happy to help me."
"Almost had her killed?" Medea said. "What does that mean?"
"They managed to get her, but she isn't dead." He explained. "Right now I believe she's in a hospital, deep in a coma. She's doing now what she use to do, slowly eating up all her husband's money. Only this time, it's for hospital bills and not designer clothing."
"A coma…" She stammered. Her brain was still trying to process this. "A coma… you put my mother in a coma?"
"Why else do you think her letters stopped coming?"
Her breath came in sharp gasps, then she looked at him. The hatred she had always felt for him grew stronger now. "You bastard!" She cried, and moved to hit him. But her hand hit something else, an invisible barrier that flickered now that something made contact with it. The enclosed around the circle holding her within it.
"Wondering what it is?" Sanders asked when he saw Medea's confused look. "It's the magic of the Chaos Gate. Once the Shadow Gem and Keeper are both in their designated circle, they can't leave. Not until the ritual is over, that is." He smiled. "But I don't want you to get lonely, so I'll have the others brought in for some company." He turned around and began walking to the edge of the platform, nodding towards a man standing near the door. This man turned and opened it, allowing more guards to enter, each one pulling a Gem Keeper after them.
"You're a monster." Medea said to Sanders' back.
He glanced at her from over his shoulder. "I do what I can." He then looked back at the guards. "They have to go into the circles on their own, you can't force them to."
The nearest one nodded, and he looked to Sundari. "Go in, else your family gets it." The young girl stared at him in fear, then submitted and stepped within the circle, picking up the bracelet with the Iolite.
In a similar fashion they forced the other Keepers into their circles. Finally, the only ones who remained were Mokuba and Sanders. The boy, who was now dressed in Buddhist monk's attire, was still struggling against his captor, and Sanders stood watch. Finally, Sanders pushed the guard out of the way and grabbed hold of Mokuba.
"Just get in the circle already!" He ordered.
From across the room there was a crash, and the door opened. Two guards fell onto the ground, and behind them entered four people. One of them looked up at Sanders, a dark look on his face.
"Let him go." Kaiba ordered. He raised the gun he was holding, aiming it at Sanders. Beside him Bree and Bakura did likewise, while Marik grabbed a gun from one of the fallen guards.
"I was wondering when you'd all show up." Sanders told him. He didn't release Mokuba, but pulled the boy between himself and the armed weapons.
"But this time we're not alone." Bree stated plainly. "We have backup." Behind her Ryou, Joey and Yami stepped forwards to be seen.
"Ryou…" Sundari uttered, her eyes wide as she stared at him. Then they moved to his former yami. "And Bakura? How are there two of you?" It seemed most of the others, including Sanders, were thinking the same thing.
"This isn't the time or place to explain." Ryou stated.
"It doesn't matter." Sanders said, bringing the attention back to the matter at hand. "You see, I knew it was only a matter of time before the others from Greece showed up." He nodded to something behind the group.
Confused, Joey turned around to see what Sanders had been looking at. From the corridor beyond a group of guards came, ten of them, all armed. They pointed their guns at the new comers, and one uttered, "Lower your weapons." Slowly Marik dropped his, followed by Bree and then Kaiba.
Bakura glared at the guard. "To bloody hell if I'll give up that easily." He raised his up to shoot at one of the guards, but another took the blunt end of his rifle and hit Bakura in the back of the head. The thief slumped, dropping his gun. Joey quickly caught him, and pulled one of Bakura's arms around his neck, making sure he didn't fall.
All the while Sanders watched, grinning. "You probably thought I didn't think you'd get out because I didn't have a lot of security." He muttered. "But it's not that I'm not prepared, it's that you are too predictable."
From the other room with the cells three more guards came, one holding Yugi, one holding Nina, and one holding Ishizu.
"It's so nice that you've all come to share my triumph. Take those Items away from those two." Sanders added as he looked around at all of them. One of the guards took the Millennium Puzzle from Yami and the Ring from Bakura. Sanders then turned back to Mokuba. "Now, get in the circle."
"Mokuba, don't do it." Kaiba told him. The boy looked towards his brother and nodded.
"Get in the circle Mokuba." Sanders said. Then he dropped his voice so only the boy could hear. "Or else your brother dies." He watched as Mokuba's eyes widened. "It's the least you can do." He added, louder. "Think of all he's done for you. Lost one of his expensive helicopters, traveled all the way to Ireland, then to Greece, then to Greenland. Got lost, and then captured, in an underground maze. He's done all that for you. Now, do something for him."
"Don't." Kaiba called.
Mokuba looked at him. "I have to." He finally said. "He's right…" Silently, and ignoring Kaiba's cries, he stepped into the circle and picked up his key.
"No…" Kaiba uttered, then hung his head. Sanders had defeated them both.
"Finally, all the Keepers and all the Gems are together once more!" Sanders exclaimed. He made his way over to his own circle and stepped within it, picking up the Lapis Lazuli as he did. "Hold your Gems before you." He ordered the other Keepers. When some hesitated, he continued. "Do it, or the others will die." The ones that had hesitated looked towards the others, then did as they were told.
"I can't believe this is happening." Joey muttered, his eyes wide as he watched the Keepers hold out their Gems. "This can't be happening…"
"It is." Yami assured him. "There's nothing we can do…"
On the platform the Gems were starting to glow. They warmed in their Keeper's hands, then started to pull away from the items they were hidden in. Everyone in the room could feel the power building up, and it made their hairs stand on end. Finally, the things that held the Shadow Gems fell away. The key, the bracelet, the brooch, and all the other things fell to the platform in a clatter. Before each Keeper their Gem hovered in the air, on it's own.
The lights within the magic items grew brighter, and a soft humming began to fill the air. Without knowing it, some held their breaths as they watched. Then, without warning, it all stopped, and each Gem fell to the ground.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sanders cried out. "Why did it stop!"
"Your ritual would have been successful," Ishizu muttered from where her guard was holding her. "If all that needed to be here was on that platform."
"What are you talking about?" Sanders hissed. "Everything is here; all the Gems and all the Keepers."
"That is correct." The woman continued, unfazed by his outburst. "All the Gems and all the Keepers are present. But not all of them are on the Chaos Gate."
Sanders' eyes narrowed in a glare. "What are you talking about?"
"If you weren't so confident in yourself, Sanders, you would've seen." Nina added. "You screwed up."
"I did no such thing." He said.
Nina nodded. "You did. See, not everyone on that platform is a Gem Keeper. You have an imposter in your midst."
"Who is it!"
The smile that crossed Nina's face was cruel. "Why, you, my dear brother."
Sanders stared at her in disbelief. "What? I am the Gem Keeper of the Lapis Lazuli!"
"If you weren't so blind, you'd see you weren't." Nina told him.
"You're plan was perfect." Ishizu added. "But you overlooked one important thing, the very thing that allowed you to get all the Gem Keepers from Greece; the collision of the Iolite and the Turquoise."
"See, you would've been the Gem Keeper," Nina continued. "If you hadn't gone and resurrected the former Gem Keeper. Only if he was dead could you become the new one, but when you tried to claim the Gem it was too late, he was no longer deceased. Isn't that right, Yami?" She turned to him and smiled.
Yami stared back at her, baffled. It seemed none of this had occurred to any of the others, or to Sanders himself.
"Yami was the original Keeper of the Lapis Lazuli." Nina stated. "With him back in the world of the living, he once again became the Gem Keeper he once was."
"So, you did indeed screw up, Sanders." Ishizu told him. "The ritual won't work, not until Yami is standing where you are now."
"Is that so?" Sanders said. "Then he will stand where I am!"
Before anyone could react one of the guards grabbed Yami and pulled him forwards to the platform. Sanders stepped from the circle, able to do so because he wasn't the Keeper it was made to contain. He grabbed Yami's arm once he was on the platform, and pushed him towards the circle.
"Get in it." Sanders ordered, a slightly mad looked crossing his face. "Or everyone in this room will die!"
Yami looked around at the faces of his friends, then stepped into the circle. Once within it, the Shadow Gems which sat on the ground began to glow once more, then rise up in to the air. Their lights increased, almost blinding.
It was Chayton who cried out first. A pain filled cry that matched the agony racing through his small body, almost as if something was pulling the life out of him in a savage way. Mokuba screamed as well, and the rest of the Keepers soon followed. Each felt a ribbing sensation like nothing they had ever felt before.
"Mokuba…" Kaiba muttered weakly. He couldn't stand to see his brother's face twisted in that sort of pain, but he couldn't look away either.
The rest of the others felt that way, or had their eyes squeezed shut like Takoda. She couldn't take her brother's cries. She struggled against the guard that held her, until she was able to jam her fingers into her ears. Though forced to stand, she let her legs give way, so the only thing keeping her up was the guard.
Above the Chaos Gate a darkness began to loom, like clouds brewing during a storm. The strange fog kept growing thicker with each passing moment, it then it began to stir, as if a wind was spinning it, threatening a funnel cloud.
Chiquita stared in horror as her brother struggled to stand. Some of the younger Keepers had already fallen to their knees, but Antonio refused to fall. The guard that held Chiquita's grip was weak, so when she ran forwards he didn't hold on. She raced towards the platform, to her brother.
"Antonio!" She screamed over the dull humming that encircled the Chaos Gate. "Antonio, please stop this! It's not what you think it is!"
"I… can't…" He said, his voice gripped with pain.
Tears fell from the girl's eyes. "Yes you can! You can! You just have to believe, you just have to will it! Please, Antonio! The Chaos will destroy everything, not save it!"
"I… know…"
"What!" Her eyes widened at hear his words.
"I… know… what the Chaos… can do…" Antonio said through clenched teeth. "I-I thought… that with the Moonstone… I could change… what it does… But I was wrong…"
"Then stop this now!" Chiquita cried. "You can, I know you can!"
Antonio slowly turned to her, and saw her through the pain. He nodded to her, then forced himself to stand straight. With a bit of struggle he managed to reach out and grasp the Moonstone before him. As he pulled the Gem towards him, it's light went dim.
"What are you doing!" Sanders cried from where he was standing at the center of the Chaos Gate.
"I'm… stopping the ritual…" Antonio said through gasps. "I won't let you… hurt so many innocent people…"
Sanders glared at him. "You won't, will you?"
"No…" Antonio uttered. "You need all the Keepers to complete the ritual… well…" He held the Moonstone above his head. "I hereby give up my right to the Moonstone of the Mayans!" The Gem glittered, then it's light went completely out.
"NO!" Sanders cried as he watched the other Gems darken and slowly float to the ground.
"It's over." Antonio told him. "The ritual didn't finish."
"You gave up your right…" Sanders muttered as he took a step forwards. "Then… I no longer need you." In an instant he pulled the dagger out from his hip and moved towards Antonio, pushing the blade into his stomach.
"Antonio!" Chiquita cried.
Sanders grinned, almost like he had lost all sanity. The Mexican before him gasped in shock as Sanders pulled the blade out of his body and let him fall to the ground. Chiquita climbed up onto the platform and cradled her brother's head in her lap. She ripped the corner of her dress, balled it up, and pushed it into the wound, though it didn't seem to help.
"And you're wrong, you know." Sanders muttered, looking down at the bloody Antonio. "The ritual did finish." He then gestured towards the roof of the cavern.
Everyone stared in terror at the dark clouds that circled there. Slowly an opening was appearing in the center of it, an opening that gradually got larger like a gaping mouth. From it odd noises could be heard, like something from a nightmare. Cries, and snarls, and screams of agony to make the blood go cold.
"It's open…" Ishizu whispered in horror. The guard that held her had already backed up in fear, and now the woman dropped to her knees, placing her forehead on the ground and started to chant a prayer.
Everyone stared in wonder and fear at the gateway above them. Ribbons of dark energy were already slithering out, slowly moving through the air like strings of evil. Only Sanders seemed to great them, opening his arms and smiling.
"Come to me!" He called out to them. "Come to me!"
They seemed to heed his call for the closer they got, the less they wandered and redirected on him. Finally, one got close enough and began to twirl around his hand, then moved up his arm.
"Yes, that's it." Sanders cooed. "Come to me."
More and more found their way to his hands, and slowly slithered up his arms. One twirled around his torso, while more attached to his feet and legs. A tentacle that was wound around an index finger squeezed it, then began to pulsate, making it feel like a burning stick was being pressed against Sanders' skin.
"Alright, stop that." He ordered. But slowly each one began to pulsate, burning his skin. "Stop that now." He said, almost panicked.
They didn't, only continued to making the pulsing stronger. The tread around Sanders' torso grew bigger, and lifted him from the ground.
"Release me!" Sanders said, not trying to hide his fear anymore. "I command you to!"
But the tentacles didn't listen, just pulled him towards the gaping hole in the clouds. Sanders let out a scream that chilled anyone who heard it to the bone, then disappeared into the hole.
"Ch-Chiquita…" A voice whispered. The girl pulled her eyes away from the hole in the sky and down at her brother who lay dying.
"What is it?" She asked, stroking his hair.
"Y-you have to claim the Moonstone." Antonio told her. "Y-you have to send it back…"
"What back?"
"T-the Chaos…" Her eyes widened, then she glanced up at the hole. More tentacles were beginning to come out, and they seemed to be moving faster. "Y-you have to close the gateway before everyone here is pulled into the Chaos, like Sanders was."
"But how can I do that?"
"Use the Moonstone…" He told her. "E-each Shadow Gem has it's own gift… the Moonstone fights back the powers of darkness, that's why I thought I could change the power of the Chaos for good."
"But why me?" She couldn't help but feel like she wasn't up for the job. She was, after all, just a child.
"Because you're pure…" Antonio's voice was fading. "And you're full of light… and goodness… you'll be able to tap into the Moonstone's power… more than anyone else will be able to…" With a bit of a struggle he lifted his hand, the one that still held onto the Moonstone. He hoped it, reveal the Gem which twinkled a greeting to her.
"I… don't know if I can…" Chiquita muttered. She looked up at the Chaos, it's long ribbons getting closer and seeking out it's next meal.
"You can…" Antonio assured her. His voice was so faint she had to lean closer to hear it. "Just… look inside you… and use that light…" He then closed his eyes, and his chest ceased to move.
Tears fell from Chiquita's eyes. She kissed her brother's forehead, then reached out and took the Moonstone from his grasp. "I proclaim myself the keeper of this Shadow Gem." She whispered. The Gem responded, glowing bright and humming in her fingertips. She felt a warmth move from it, filling her completely.
Assured by, not only her brother, but the Shadow Gem as well, Chiquita stood and took a few steps into the middle. Slowly she held the Gem up above her, doing as her brother had advised and looking within herself. She concentrated on the Gem, on the power she felt within it, and forcing that power into motion.
The others watched as slowly a light began to gather within the Shadow Gem she held. The light grew, and it's rays shone against the tentacles of the Chaos, making the larger ones slow down and the small ones shrivel up. She forced more power into it, and the light grew, but the large treads kept coming closer, though slowly.
"I-I can't stop them…" Chiquita said through clenched teeth. She was using everything she had, as well what the Gem had, but it didn't seem to be enough.
"But we can…" A voice told her. Chiquita glanced over her shoulder to see Mokuba beside her. He smiled weakly, still drained from the ritual to summon the Chaos. In his hand he held the Obsidian. He raised the Obsidian up beside the Moonstone, and placed his hand on Chiquita's shoulder. Light began to gather within the black jewel, and it's light added to that of the Moonstone, making more tentacles turn away or disappear.
Slowly the other Keepers moved towards the two children already in the middle. Chayton clasped onto Chiquita's hand and with his other one held up his Hematite. Sundari raised her Iolite up, and placed her free hand on Chayton's shoulder. Medea placed her hand over the Sundari's, and Neil placed his on Mokuba's. Finally Yami placed his hand on Medea's shoulder and held the Lapis Lazuli above them. The seven Shadow Gems twinkled together, making a light that held off the Chaos.
But it still wasn't enough. Though they held off the Chaos, it didn't retreat, only remained suspended in the air, bearing down on them. And they were all still weak from the ritual, the little energy they had was draining fast.
"We need to help them!" Yugi declared. He pulled out of the guard's grasp and went towards the platform. He placed his hands on it, and willed his own energy through the Chaos Gate and into the Gem Keepers.
Ryou and Joey joined him, then Takoda, Nina and Ishizu. Though most of the guards fled when they saw the clouds, and more when Sanders was "eaten", the ones that remained rushed forwards to assist.
All that was left on the sidelines was Bakura, who was now awake, Bree and Kaiba. The three stared in wonder at the phenomenon before them.
"Well, I'm not about to let myself get killed." Bakura said to the other two, and moved forwards to the platform to help out.
Bree glanced at Kaiba, who made no effort to move. "He has a point." She stated. When he didn't reply she sighed, and raced over to the Chaos gate, pouring her own energy into it. As she strained to keep her energy flowing she saw a shadow move beside her. She turned her head to see Kaiba with his hands on the platform. Bree didn't say anything, just smiled.
The light grew much stronger with the others helping, and finally the Chaos' tentacles moved back or vanished into smoke. Once all the dark ribbons were back through the hole, it closed quickly, and the dark fog swirled together, getting smaller and smaller until in vanished.
The Chaos was gone.
The sun was bright, as if it was smiling down at the group standing within the warm airport. Through the window they could see the glistening snow, and the people moving back and forth. They didn't know what had almost happened in that underground cavern, just on the outside of their very own city.
"All the flights are in order." The old East Indian man said as he joined the group that huddled in the sitting area. Ryou translated to the people who didn't understand, and everyone sighed with a bit of relief.
"It's finally over!" Joey said with a wide grin as he leaned back in his chair. "I wonder when the next "great catastrophe" will happen?" He turned to Yugi who sat beside him. "What do you, give it a few weeks?"
"It's good to see you in high spirits." Bakura said darkly. "I'm not sure about you, but I'm dead tired. In fact, I kind of feel like I'm dead again."
"I know that feeling all too well." Nina sighed. She turned to Chiquita who sat beside her and patted her hand. "Where will you go now?"
Chiquita sighed, her eyes on the pocket mirror. The Shadow Gem was back in the mirror's rim, but the glass had a long crack in it from where it had fallen to the ground. "I'll have to go live with my aunt."
"Where does she live?" Takoda questioned.
"In Canada, I believe."
"Canada!" Chayton cried happily. "That's where we live! Maybe we can visit each other!"
This made the Mexican girl smile. "I hope so, that would be nice."
A voice spoke out on an intercom, announcing that one of the flights were leaving.
"That would be us." Neil said to Bree. He looked around at everyone. "Well, it definitely was a pleasure meeting you all."
"Yes, good bye everyone." Bree added as she hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. "Hopefully we'll see each other again." Neil took her arm and started to lead her away. She glanced back and met Kaiba's gaze. A sigh escaped her, and she faced forwards again. The two Irish folk disappeared into to crowd.
Another announcement was made, calling for people to board a private jet.
"Private jet?" Joey said. "I wonder who that would be."
"That would be us." Mokuba said with a yawn as he and Kaiba stood. "We taking the Kaiba Corp. Jet back home. The next flight to Japan isn't for a long, and we have to get back to running a business."
"And how are we suppose to get home?" Joey demanded.
"We're not going home just yet, Joey." Yugi told him. "I explained this to you this morning. We're going back to Greece for awhile."
"Oh." Joey said. "Well, next time Yugi, don't explain this to me in the morning, I'm usually not paying attention when I say I am."
"I should've known…" Yugi muttered.
"Well, see you guys back in Japan then!" Mokuba cried as he followed Kaiba towards the crowd.
Chiquita stood from her seat. "Mokuba, wait!" He stopped and turned as the girl made her way over to him. Once she was before him Chiquita leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Don't forget to keep in touch." She told him, then quickly went back to her seat.
Mokuba only nodded, his face bright red. He then turned and caught up to Kaiba who had a faint smile on his face.
"And visit us sometime!" Takoda called after him as they, too, disappeared into the crowd.
"It's about time this whole things was over." Medea uttered from where she sat beside Marik, her head on his shoulder. "I know when I get home, I'm sleeping for a week."
"Where will you live now, Medea?" Sundari questioned. She was holding her small sister on her lap.
"I'm going to find my mom." Medea told her. "I know she's somewhere out there, I just need to find here." She gently rubbed a finger against the Turquoise that was once again at her throat. "But I'm sure this can help me."
"It seems like we all have some sort of plan." Nina said. "Let's just hope things go accordingly."
This thought made all of them fall silent. Though, it was sort of comforting to be able to just stop and listen to the movement around them, and know that the world continued on.