'Yugi, you know what we have to do.' The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle
"said" in the young mans mind.
'Yes, I guess it is the only way.' Yugi agreed mentally, nodding his head slightly.
"Everyone, I have to ask you to leave. Everyone except Sammantha that is." Yugi spoke forcefully, it wasn't really a request.
Slowly the others shuffled out of the room, Joey placing a comforting hand around Kelly's shoulders, offering the young woman a reassuring smile.
"What's going on Yugi?" Sammantha asked curiously as Yugi removed the massive golden puzzle from around his neck and placed it upon Roberts chest, directly over his heart.
"Sammantha, please kneel on Roberts right side and place both of your hands upon the Puzzle." Yugi instructed as he did the same thing from Roberts left side.
Sammantha did as she was instructed, something about Yugi's tone of voice told her that it was all for the better that she comply.
"Now, Close your eyes and call to Robert with your mind. No matter what your minds eye shows you do NOT remove your hands from the Puzzle." Yugi's voice was deeper now, his eyes almost glowing as he gave Sammantha the instructions.
Both Duelists sat for only a few moments, but in Sammanthas worried mind it seemed as though hours were passing.
Still, she followed Yugi's instructions, her eyes closed and her mind calling out for Robert.
With her eyes closed Sammantha did not see the glowing golden eye form upon Yugi's forehead. Nor did she see the same form on the Puzzles surface begin to shin a bright prismatic light.
The light Behind Robert began to pulse and flared blinding both Duelists, Spring more so due to the fact he'd been facing the source of the light.
As the light began to subside Robert felt a presence behind him, slowly turning as his entire body cried out in agonizing pain he saw them.
Yugi and Sammantha were standing there, in far better health than he'd last seen them. Something was different about Yugi though. His body language and demeanor were both that of someone far older than the young man.
There was almost something regal about the younger Duelist.
"I don't know how you did it Mr. Marcus, but I'll get rid of these feeble thought forms once and for all." Spring shouted as he raised his hand palm out towards the two new arrivals.
Yugi stepped forward and did the same, the glowing eye on his forehead flared brightly as the two fought an unseen fight.
Spring seemed to be on the losing side though as Yugi began to smirk. It was the same Smirk he'd end up flashing to all those he faced in Duels.
Yugi had his game face on.
"The genuine article huh? Risky game you play here boy!" Spring spat as he and Yugi continued to stand opposite one another, arms extended. A strange rippling was beginning to form between the two.
"Perhaps, but it would seem you're quite worn from maintaining this Shadow Game, mean while I'm fresh as the proverbial daisy." Yugi spoke, his voice deepening further.
Sammantha took this time to help Robert to his feet, trying her best to avoid hurting him. His burned flesh was still quite hot beneath her finger tips. His emerald green Duel Disk charred and blackened but still the lights on the device were glowing brightly.
"S... Sam?" Roberts voice was weak and sounded as though it were miles away.
She looked into Roberts eyes. His vivid green eyes still shinning and bright. A single tear rolled down her cheek, her crystal blue eyes shinning in the growing light.
Time seemed to stand still as the two stared into each others eyes.
In a flash Sammantha felt it. An electric jolt up and down her spine. The the images began to flood into her mind.
A small child in the kitchen with a tall auburn haired woman. The smell of cooking food was in the air, as was the woman's perfume, it smelled heavily of lilacs and jasmine.
"Robby, are you going to help me with dinner honey?" the woman asked as she stooped slightly to pick the child up, her smile big and bright, Hazel eyes twinkling prettily in the light of the late day sun.
Sammantha could feel the complete and total love in this room, it was coming from every where.
The child and woman began to clean potatoes, the child more playing in the water than actually cleaning the tubers.
The scene shifted rapidly, so quickly in fact Sammantha felt as though she were about to tumble to the ground.
The day was dark and storm clouds were threatening to release their torrent upon the gathered people.
Sammantha stood at the front of the crowd of people, opposite the young boy with the vivid green eyes, the two separated by a red oak casket suspended above a deep hole.
Sammanthas heart felt as though it had been weighted, tears flowed freely from her eyes as she felt the complete sorrow and loss. The little boy with the green eyes walked to the casket holding his fathers hand and laid a single red rose upon it. His eyes were watering madly but he was fighting to hold back the tears.
His father however tried no such thing, tears ran down his cheeks as he looked at the picture placed upon the casket. In his right arm a small purple blanket, inside a baby cooed softly and played with the medals on the mans dress uniform.
The scene shifted again, this time more slowly.
Sammantha felt panic and fear, her heart was racing.
"NO! Kelly, put it down! Kelly! AHHH!" Sammantha's hand shot up to her left arm, grasping the bicep she cried out slightly at the unexpected pain.
The scene changed again, very slowly this time.
Sammantha stood inside of a very large plush waiting room, A teenaged boy with green eyes and a medical bandage wrapped around his left arm sat in a chair by one of the doors. His face expressionless.
Sammantha noticed that for the first time she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as though her mind had sealed off her emotions.
The boy looked at her and wryly said, "They only hurt you ya know? Emotions, best to be rid of them completely. I would have too, Until that day..." The boy stopped suddenly as the scene shifted again.
It was the second round of the World Tournament.
The young man with the vivid green eyes, Robert, walked to his designated Dueling field.
Sammantha felt her heart skip a beat, this was....
Robert stopped, his jaw wide open as he watched his opponent standing on the opposite side of the field.
The young woman was half standing half leaning against the platform they would be using as their Dueling area. Her short black hair framing her slightly pale face, her crystal blue eyes a stark contrast to her red shirt and black pants.
"You Marcus?" She asked, walking towards the young man.
"No... yeah... I mean, My names Robert, Marcus is my last name." Robert stammered.
"Nice to meet you Robby." She smiled taking the mans hand and shaking it firmly.
All around them the sounds of the Tournament raged.
Sammantha felt her heart swell, happiness. It was so warm and felt so good she didn't want it to end, after feeling absolutely nothing this was almost like a glass of water to a woman trapped in the desert.
"It's all your fault you know. If we hadn't met you that day odds are we wouldn't have become the weak fool we are today." The teenaged Robert was standing behind Sammantha.
"I've felt so much pain in my life. I didn't want to feel anything more, NOTHING!" He shouted as the scene shifted again.
Sammantha stood on the roof of the Industrial Illusions building. The stars twinkling overhead in a cloudless sky, the moon bright and full seemed as though it were just within reach.
"Sammantha Catherine Dawson, Will you marry me?" Robert was on one knee before her holding her right hand in his. A small black box opened with a shinning stone set on a circle of gold resting within it in his left hand.
"Ohmygod! Robert! Yes!!" She screamed as he swept her into his arms. and spun her about. Knocking over a half full glass of wine in the process.
Sammantha felt it again. The love, the complete and total love, pouring out from the two as they stood together on the roof and kissed under the moonlight.
It was the same as the first scenes and yet there was a very distinct difference to it.
The scene shifted again violently.
"Which brings us to now. Well, a few minutes ago really." The teenaged form of Robert Marcus spoke.
Sammantha watched as every one was wiped out one by one by the maniacal man in the black business suit.
She felt it again, the total sorrow and emptiness was creeping back up again.
Then point were Spring had "disposed" of her arrived.
Everything shattered and crumbled away.
"You're his world." The teenager was standing behind her again. He continued, "Without you he has no strength, no will to go on. He's become weak."
"But you're him. If I'm his world then aren't I yours?" Sammantha asked of the teen.
"Damn, conceded much? I'm the past you nit. I only helped to give the future a rough shape. Without me he would've been a blithering fool his entire life. You're nothing to me, but to that pile of meat..." He motioned to the sobbing form encased in a blue crystal in the center of the room.
'When did we get here? I don't remember coming here!' Sammantha thought as she surveyed the room. No windows, no doors. Slate gray walls and floors and a ceiling the ascended into blackness.
"... You're the sun and moon. The very fabric of the universe." The teen said as he walked over to the crystal and gave it a kick.
"Innit that right you pansy!?" He spat. kicking the crystal again.
"Stop that! Stop torturing him!" Sammantha cried out and walked to the crystal. placing her hands upon it's cold surface she noticed a faint change in the color and shape of the crystal.
"I'm part of him. I'll always be here to make sure he knows where he came from." The teen said and placed his hands upon the crystal, it's shape changing again.
Out of the darkness stepped the woman with the Auburn hair, her warm smile bringing warmth and light to the room and her very presence filling it with the sweet smell of Lilac and Jasmine.
"I'm part of his past too." She said and placed her hands upon the crystal.
"So am I." A voice called out from the shadowed part of the room. A young blond girl in blue jeans and a purple t-shirt stepped out of the shadows and approached the crystal. Placing her hands upon the now spherical crystal the color shifted again to a vibrant white light. Energy began to crackle off of it. Arcing between all four people touching it.
The light was blinding.
Spring brought his left arm up to block the intense white light coming from the glowing ball floating several feet in the air.
Contained within were Sammantha Dawson and Robert Marcus, Sammantha was cradling Roberts head to her chest, smiling down upon him.
He smiled up at her.
The light pulsed and Robert stood behind Yugi, Sammantha at his side. His wounds were gone.
But his smile was back.
'Yes, I guess it is the only way.' Yugi agreed mentally, nodding his head slightly.
"Everyone, I have to ask you to leave. Everyone except Sammantha that is." Yugi spoke forcefully, it wasn't really a request.
Slowly the others shuffled out of the room, Joey placing a comforting hand around Kelly's shoulders, offering the young woman a reassuring smile.
"What's going on Yugi?" Sammantha asked curiously as Yugi removed the massive golden puzzle from around his neck and placed it upon Roberts chest, directly over his heart.
"Sammantha, please kneel on Roberts right side and place both of your hands upon the Puzzle." Yugi instructed as he did the same thing from Roberts left side.
Sammantha did as she was instructed, something about Yugi's tone of voice told her that it was all for the better that she comply.
"Now, Close your eyes and call to Robert with your mind. No matter what your minds eye shows you do NOT remove your hands from the Puzzle." Yugi's voice was deeper now, his eyes almost glowing as he gave Sammantha the instructions.
Both Duelists sat for only a few moments, but in Sammanthas worried mind it seemed as though hours were passing.
Still, she followed Yugi's instructions, her eyes closed and her mind calling out for Robert.
With her eyes closed Sammantha did not see the glowing golden eye form upon Yugi's forehead. Nor did she see the same form on the Puzzles surface begin to shin a bright prismatic light.
The light Behind Robert began to pulse and flared blinding both Duelists, Spring more so due to the fact he'd been facing the source of the light.
As the light began to subside Robert felt a presence behind him, slowly turning as his entire body cried out in agonizing pain he saw them.
Yugi and Sammantha were standing there, in far better health than he'd last seen them. Something was different about Yugi though. His body language and demeanor were both that of someone far older than the young man.
There was almost something regal about the younger Duelist.
"I don't know how you did it Mr. Marcus, but I'll get rid of these feeble thought forms once and for all." Spring shouted as he raised his hand palm out towards the two new arrivals.
Yugi stepped forward and did the same, the glowing eye on his forehead flared brightly as the two fought an unseen fight.
Spring seemed to be on the losing side though as Yugi began to smirk. It was the same Smirk he'd end up flashing to all those he faced in Duels.
Yugi had his game face on.
"The genuine article huh? Risky game you play here boy!" Spring spat as he and Yugi continued to stand opposite one another, arms extended. A strange rippling was beginning to form between the two.
"Perhaps, but it would seem you're quite worn from maintaining this Shadow Game, mean while I'm fresh as the proverbial daisy." Yugi spoke, his voice deepening further.
Sammantha took this time to help Robert to his feet, trying her best to avoid hurting him. His burned flesh was still quite hot beneath her finger tips. His emerald green Duel Disk charred and blackened but still the lights on the device were glowing brightly.
"S... Sam?" Roberts voice was weak and sounded as though it were miles away.
She looked into Roberts eyes. His vivid green eyes still shinning and bright. A single tear rolled down her cheek, her crystal blue eyes shinning in the growing light.
Time seemed to stand still as the two stared into each others eyes.
In a flash Sammantha felt it. An electric jolt up and down her spine. The the images began to flood into her mind.
A small child in the kitchen with a tall auburn haired woman. The smell of cooking food was in the air, as was the woman's perfume, it smelled heavily of lilacs and jasmine.
"Robby, are you going to help me with dinner honey?" the woman asked as she stooped slightly to pick the child up, her smile big and bright, Hazel eyes twinkling prettily in the light of the late day sun.
Sammantha could feel the complete and total love in this room, it was coming from every where.
The child and woman began to clean potatoes, the child more playing in the water than actually cleaning the tubers.
The scene shifted rapidly, so quickly in fact Sammantha felt as though she were about to tumble to the ground.
The day was dark and storm clouds were threatening to release their torrent upon the gathered people.
Sammantha stood at the front of the crowd of people, opposite the young boy with the vivid green eyes, the two separated by a red oak casket suspended above a deep hole.
Sammanthas heart felt as though it had been weighted, tears flowed freely from her eyes as she felt the complete sorrow and loss. The little boy with the green eyes walked to the casket holding his fathers hand and laid a single red rose upon it. His eyes were watering madly but he was fighting to hold back the tears.
His father however tried no such thing, tears ran down his cheeks as he looked at the picture placed upon the casket. In his right arm a small purple blanket, inside a baby cooed softly and played with the medals on the mans dress uniform.
The scene shifted again, this time more slowly.
Sammantha felt panic and fear, her heart was racing.
"NO! Kelly, put it down! Kelly! AHHH!" Sammantha's hand shot up to her left arm, grasping the bicep she cried out slightly at the unexpected pain.
The scene changed again, very slowly this time.
Sammantha stood inside of a very large plush waiting room, A teenaged boy with green eyes and a medical bandage wrapped around his left arm sat in a chair by one of the doors. His face expressionless.
Sammantha noticed that for the first time she felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was as though her mind had sealed off her emotions.
The boy looked at her and wryly said, "They only hurt you ya know? Emotions, best to be rid of them completely. I would have too, Until that day..." The boy stopped suddenly as the scene shifted again.
It was the second round of the World Tournament.
The young man with the vivid green eyes, Robert, walked to his designated Dueling field.
Sammantha felt her heart skip a beat, this was....
Robert stopped, his jaw wide open as he watched his opponent standing on the opposite side of the field.
The young woman was half standing half leaning against the platform they would be using as their Dueling area. Her short black hair framing her slightly pale face, her crystal blue eyes a stark contrast to her red shirt and black pants.
"You Marcus?" She asked, walking towards the young man.
"No... yeah... I mean, My names Robert, Marcus is my last name." Robert stammered.
"Nice to meet you Robby." She smiled taking the mans hand and shaking it firmly.
All around them the sounds of the Tournament raged.
Sammantha felt her heart swell, happiness. It was so warm and felt so good she didn't want it to end, after feeling absolutely nothing this was almost like a glass of water to a woman trapped in the desert.
"It's all your fault you know. If we hadn't met you that day odds are we wouldn't have become the weak fool we are today." The teenaged Robert was standing behind Sammantha.
"I've felt so much pain in my life. I didn't want to feel anything more, NOTHING!" He shouted as the scene shifted again.
Sammantha stood on the roof of the Industrial Illusions building. The stars twinkling overhead in a cloudless sky, the moon bright and full seemed as though it were just within reach.
"Sammantha Catherine Dawson, Will you marry me?" Robert was on one knee before her holding her right hand in his. A small black box opened with a shinning stone set on a circle of gold resting within it in his left hand.
"Ohmygod! Robert! Yes!!" She screamed as he swept her into his arms. and spun her about. Knocking over a half full glass of wine in the process.
Sammantha felt it again. The love, the complete and total love, pouring out from the two as they stood together on the roof and kissed under the moonlight.
It was the same as the first scenes and yet there was a very distinct difference to it.
The scene shifted again violently.
"Which brings us to now. Well, a few minutes ago really." The teenaged form of Robert Marcus spoke.
Sammantha watched as every one was wiped out one by one by the maniacal man in the black business suit.
She felt it again, the total sorrow and emptiness was creeping back up again.
Then point were Spring had "disposed" of her arrived.
Everything shattered and crumbled away.
"You're his world." The teenager was standing behind her again. He continued, "Without you he has no strength, no will to go on. He's become weak."
"But you're him. If I'm his world then aren't I yours?" Sammantha asked of the teen.
"Damn, conceded much? I'm the past you nit. I only helped to give the future a rough shape. Without me he would've been a blithering fool his entire life. You're nothing to me, but to that pile of meat..." He motioned to the sobbing form encased in a blue crystal in the center of the room.
'When did we get here? I don't remember coming here!' Sammantha thought as she surveyed the room. No windows, no doors. Slate gray walls and floors and a ceiling the ascended into blackness.
"... You're the sun and moon. The very fabric of the universe." The teen said as he walked over to the crystal and gave it a kick.
"Innit that right you pansy!?" He spat. kicking the crystal again.
"Stop that! Stop torturing him!" Sammantha cried out and walked to the crystal. placing her hands upon it's cold surface she noticed a faint change in the color and shape of the crystal.
"I'm part of him. I'll always be here to make sure he knows where he came from." The teen said and placed his hands upon the crystal, it's shape changing again.
Out of the darkness stepped the woman with the Auburn hair, her warm smile bringing warmth and light to the room and her very presence filling it with the sweet smell of Lilac and Jasmine.
"I'm part of his past too." She said and placed her hands upon the crystal.
"So am I." A voice called out from the shadowed part of the room. A young blond girl in blue jeans and a purple t-shirt stepped out of the shadows and approached the crystal. Placing her hands upon the now spherical crystal the color shifted again to a vibrant white light. Energy began to crackle off of it. Arcing between all four people touching it.
The light was blinding.
Spring brought his left arm up to block the intense white light coming from the glowing ball floating several feet in the air.
Contained within were Sammantha Dawson and Robert Marcus, Sammantha was cradling Roberts head to her chest, smiling down upon him.
He smiled up at her.
The light pulsed and Robert stood behind Yugi, Sammantha at his side. His wounds were gone.
But his smile was back.