Yami: Last time, Yugi told me everything I needed to know about the past, including that there's a chance the completed Puzzle might turn me evil! But if I can save Yugi, I need to take that risk! Now we have to get to Nazo before it's too late!

Chapter 14 - Deux Ex Machina

The vulture stared out into the black void of the sky. She could hear the sea crashing to her left, the fire crackling to her right, and the wind howling at her back. The sands of Egypt lay at her feet, crying out. The trees bent to the wind, singing in praise and jubilation. Above her, the sky broke into color. She shielded he eyes for a moment, and then squinted. The elements lifted about her, swirling within the white light and black darkness, spinning into a point in the sky. The dove at her side took off into the air to follow. She spread her magenta wings obediently, dutifully following her guide.

In the center of the confusion flew a large, red, black, and gold falcon. It threw its head back, singing a long, powerful, triumphant note. In its clutches he carried a golden cartouche. Slowly, the blank cartouche etched out five letters: Vulture, bread loaf, reed leaf, owl, and vulture.

Nazo's eyes shot open. "Yami," she whispered. "That's it!"

The room she slept in was dark, but she saw the others sleeping nearby. Ignoring them, she jumped out of bed and slipped on her boots. 'That was Yami's real name! I have to get to him! He was calling for help!' She stumbled up the stairs.

Her footsteps woke Anzu up. "Nazo-chan… NAZO! What are you doing?"

Everyone else snorted awake. Nazo didn't turn around. 'Yami needs me, now!'

"You bastard," Jonouchi yelled. He passed Yugi off to Rishid and gave a flying leap over Mokuba's head to attack Bakura. The thief easily blocked his punch with a barrier via the Millennium Ring.

Keiko and Ryou grabbed a hold of Jonouchi, one on each arm, to pull him away. "Let me go," he screamed. "I'm gonna punch him so hard, his eyes'll switch sockets!"

Mokuba glared at Bakura. "What are you doing here?"

"Why else?" Bakura gave an over-exaggerated bow. "I am here it redeem myself by helping the Pharaoh stop the recent apocalypse."

Mai scoffed. "And you expect us to believe you?"

"Sure! You don't have anything to lose. All of our lives are forfeit if Minkabh gets his way." He made a motion with his thumb upward. "And from the lightshow outside, he's pretty darn close."

Keiko stared into Bakura's eyes, like staring down a savage wolf. This was no super-natural power, simply intuition. "He's telling the truth," she concluded out loud. "He actually wants to help."

Jonouchi shrugged off the arms holding him and pointed at Bakura, proceeding to list the offender's crimes. "This bastard killed Yugi, helped Minkabh, and sent everybody to the Shadow Realm! We can't trust him! I don't want him anywhere near Yugi!"

Ryou stared at his darker half. Somehow, Bakura had changed. Now that they were close together, he could sense guilt amid the normal malice in Bakura's heart. 'There may be hope for you yet,' he thought.

Yami stayed quiet, trying to judge fairly. On one hand, he hated Bakura with a passion. The thief had caused him nothing but hatred for three millennia. On the other, Bakura could use the Ring to find the other Items, not to mention use his summoning skills to fend off Minkabh's forces with his own monsters. He looked at Yugi, whose tired, lifeless eyes looked back at him. {Sorry Aibou, but I have to trust him.}

{I understand.}

"He stays," said Yami to everyone.

"But-"

"He stays, Jonouchi-kun." He faced Bakura fully. "Lead us to the other Items."

The shadows surrounded the tomb robber's eyes. "Right away, Ou-sama!" He held up the Ring. Its tendrils jiggled, and four pointed to the passage second from the right. He beckoned them with a finger. "This way, folks! Watch your step!"

"Don't talk," Jonouchi snarled.

Bakura now walked alongside Yami leading the way for the rest of the group. After them was Jonouchi, watching Bakura like an attack dog, followed by Mai, Rishid with Yugi, Calpurnia, Marik, Mokuba, and Keiko brining up the rear. She watched out from behind for anything coming from the other passageways they went past.

Bakura side-glanced Yami. "Ironic, isn't it?"

"I warned you, no talking," growled Jonouchi from behind.

"Keh!" Bakura shook his head. {Your attack dog is a nuisance.}

{He's the most loyal friend I have. Now, what do you find so ironic, tomb robber?}

{Us, working together, against a common enemy, for the good of Egypt. Its so refreshing to see that the gods have a sense of irony.}

{More like dark humor, Bakura.}

{Ah, so you are still there! Good! Ou-sama would be lost without his pet hikari!}

{He's not the only one, Mou hitori no boku.}

{If we had the Ishtal duo here, it'd be a yin-yang convention!}

{Let's get one thing perfectly clear, tomb robber: I invited you along because your skills in locating the Items are invaluable. Plus, you're good at finding safe escape routes, which we will need to get out of the palace.}

{Gee, I'm all choked up with the love…}

{Please stop…}

{Bakura, I'm dead, so I can hear your thoughts even when you don't voice them. I know you're sorry about what you did to me. Just so you know, you don't have to apologize.}

{I didn't intend to.}

Ryou smiled. {You may mature yet, 'Kura-kun!}

Bakura sneered. {Why, you condescending, little-}

"The Ring points to this wall," said Yami aloud.

Bakura examined it for latches. "Looks like it, but I don't see any kind of way to…"

Keiko stepped forward and put her hand on a stone with a small indentation. "Open," she said in Egyptian.

The bricks rolled away magically to reveal a small, plain room with two other doors and no windows. [1] Chained up against the opposite wall were Kaiba, Isis, and Karim. "Nice trick," mused Mai.

Kaiba pulled at the chains. "Keiko! Mokuba!"

"Niisama!" Mokuba ran over and hugged his brother.

"Marik," cried Isis. "Brother, is that really you?"

Marik, Rishid, Keiko, and Calpurnia ran to their respective family members. "How do we get you out," asked Mokuba checking Kaiba's locks.

"Last time I checked, you had the key," snarled Kaiba at Marik.

Marik looked at him. "Its not me, really…"

"What the Hell is that-"

"Not now, Se-chan!"

"What's this," Jonouchi wondered aloud, looking at a large onyx stone on the stand near the other captives.

"Its a Soul-Binding stone," explained Karim. "Minkabh indicated that Shadi's soul may be imprisoned inside."

"Can you release him," asked Yami.

"I may be able to." Karim was released first, thanks to Keiko's lock picking skills, and stood in front of the stone. He folded his hands in a special, complicated fashion, and began muttering something in a dead language no one recognized.

Yami's attention was on a metallic chest near the back entrance of the room. The design curved about in an oddly twisted fashion, with flames twisting around the gates of the underworld. A magical binding sealed away whatever was inside, although he had a pretty good idea as to the contents. The Millennium Puzzle could sense the power of its fellow Items stored away. 'I wonder... Could the Puzzle open it alone?' Yami held his Item up to the gates. A green spark lashed out, and the pharaoh jumped backwards to avoid it. A small bit landed on his arm, and he grunted in pain. 'Guess not. But we need them quickly!'

A white light flashed from the Soul-Binding Stone, and Shadi's cryptic form materialized in front of Karim. The expressionless spirit nodded in thanks. "I hope I can still be of use at this late time of battle," he said.

"Maybe a little," said Mai sarcastically.

Shadi bowed deeply to Yami. "Is it within your power to open this," asked Yami.

"Only an evil person can break the seal, and a key is needed to open the door," explained Shadi.

Jonouchi exaggerated a pleading gesture to Bakura. "You're on, oh Evil One!"

Bakura muttered something obscene about dog meat in Arabic, and went to work on breaking open the cabinet.

Each prisoner's lock had now successfully been picked. Mokuba tugged his brother's coat. "Minkabh is still out there, Niisama, and so are our real bodies! He's going to destroy the world if we don't stop him now!"

"You're still not going along with this, are you," demanded Kaiba.

"Seto, that's enough," warned Keiko, standing by the door to sense for nearby evil.

"No! I'm sick and tired of being involved in this hokey nonsense!" He glared at Yami in particular. "I don't know what your plan is, Yugi, but if you expect me to help you escape this madhouse, you really have lost your mind! I'm getting Mokuba and Keiko out of here myself!"

Bakura's mouth hung open, appalled. "Don't fucking tell me you still don't believe in magic, Daishinkan!" [2]

Kaiba's fist tightened. He did not know what to believe anymore. Everything seemed so confusing. He wanted to trust his eyes, but nothing that happened the past day made any logical sense. And he refused to think that he was wrong on the issue of magic, past lives, monsters, and long-dead pharaohs. The whole story was straight out of mythology! Children's tales! How could he believe...

Yami's eyes were in shadow. He slowly walked over to stand right in front of the CEO. There was quiet as they now faced each other, only a foot or so apart. Kaiba wanted to yell at him. He wanted to blame this crazy nobody for messing with his mind. But before he managed to open his mouth, Yami did something no one expected.

Yami bowed to Kaiba Seto.

The intimation was an unmistakable Japanese sign of respect. But what shocked the spectators the most was what Yami said, his face was still down and very quiet. "Kaiba, I beg you, please help me!"

Kaiba straightened up more, more confused than ever. "Why would you ask for my help, all-powerful pharaoh?"

"I do not come to you as a pharaoh, nor a rival. I come to you as a fellow older brother."

"What?"

Yami straightened up and pointed to the passage behind them. "If Mokuba was that hurt, would you concern yourself with anything else but his well-being?" [3]

Kaiba noticed Yugi for the first time, being carried by Rishid. His computer mind had shut down in shock. All he could realize was that, right here in front of him - at the same time - were both Yugis at once! One of them, the normal one, was grimacing and whining in pain, white as a ghost, and looking to him with sad, pitiful amethyst eyes. The other, unmistakably the King of Games, also stared but with crimson eyes.

"Listen to me, Kaiba. I don't care what you believe or don't. I don't care if you hate my guts for asking. All I care about right now is saving my brother's life. I'm sure that's something you can relate to." Marik handed Yami the Millennium Rod, and Yami held it to Kaiba, as if handing him a sword hilt first.

"Hate to break up this super-corny scene," said Keiko, her voice higher with slight fear, "but something wicked this way comes!" [4]

Kaiba heard her tone and took the Rod. "Just make sure my family doesn't get hurt. That's the only reason I'll help you."

Yami nodded. "Nothing will happen to them."

"Hey," exclaimed Bakura. "The Bracelet is missing!"

"Nazo must still have it," said Ryou.

"The Puzzle cannot be solved without it. We need to get to Nazo before Yugi dies again."

Shadi was given the Key, Karim the Scales, and with insistence from Marik, Isis got the Necklace. Bakura was about to pocket the Eye when Jonouchi snatched it. "No way, thief! I'm keepin' a hold of this fer now!"

"How do we attack them without cards," asked Kaiba sardonically.

Yami almost said, "Trust in the loyalty of your monsters," but thought that was way too close to saying, "Trust in the Heat of the Cards." He would never hear the end of it from Kaiba if he said that phrase one more time.

{Call out your monsters,} Yugi mentally suggested. {You should be able to summon up to five at a time.}

Keiko braced herself and opened the door. A large, long hallway met them. Luckily the pillars to the side were similar to those close to the entrance. If she chose the correct direction, they could escape the palace and fight in open ground. 'Which way do I go,' she asked mentally.

On command, the same gray cat that led Keiko to Seto's study appeared at her feet and meowed loudly. "Well," said Keiko impatiently, "answer me!"

Lilac took off to the right. Keiko motioned for the others (some wondering why the heck she snapped at herself) to follow her. She kept the lead as the sprinted the first length of the hallway, to where Lilac stopped at the corner. Keiko sensed the evil forces gathering just beyond. They all quieted their footsteps as they approached, and those with Items stepped behind Keiko. 'Here we go!' She put up a magic shield to cover herself and her friends, and they all stepped around the wall.

Waiting for them were the soulless, controlled bodies of Marik, Mokuba, Mai, and Rishid. They too had sensed the approach of their enemies and had their cards at the ready. "I call Harpy Lady," yelled the Kairai Mai. [5] (3/1800/1300)

"Skilled Dark Magician," shouted Yami. (4/1900/1700)

"Dead Master," shouted Bakura. (4/1700/1200)

"X-Head Cannon," shouted Kairai Mokuba. (4/1800/1500)

SDM destroyed Harpy Lady, while X-Head Cannon destroyed Dead Master. However, the cannon disappeared, and Bakura looked unfazed. "Learn your monsters' weaknesses, kid," he said to Kairai Mokuba. "Dead Master's special ability: I don't take any damage, and I destroy your monster."

"Harpy Lady Saber," yelled Mai. Nothing happened. "Why won't my monsters come?"

"You have no magic," said Keiko, straining to keep up the shield as Rishid's monster attacked.

Jonouchi patted the Eye in his pocket. "Let me try, then! Gearfried the Iron Knight!" (4/1800/1600) His monster appeared on the field. "Awight! Now we're gettin' somewhere!"

Isis summoned Zorgoth (4/1700/1200) to attack Marik directly. But Marik set a the trap Mirror Force, attacking Isis instead of himself. Keiko's shield stopped the blow. "Kaiba-san, help us," yelled Isis.

'I feel like an idiot!' Kaiba summoned Blade Knight (4/1600/1100) to attack Kairai Rishid's Hayabusha Knight (3/1000/700). 'What the heck is attacking each other when we can't get any closer to the door!'

Yugi heard Kaiba's complaint and agreed. The Shen's power of sustaining him was starting to fade, and Yugi felt his own essence slipping away. "Rishid-san," he whispered. "Help me stand up."

Ryou, standing next to him, helped support Yugi. "You have a plan?"

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking." He clenched his teeth to bite through his pain. "The monsters are summoned to the other side of Keiko's barrier, so they can attack and be attacked. The other monsters can't attack us directly, but we can attack them." He gripped Rishid's robes to keep himself steady. "If Minkah's controlling them, the puppets are summoning the monsters according to their decks. He's feeding them magic to summon them."

"So we get rid of the puppets," said Ryou, trying to help Yugi think.

"We can't risk hurting them!"

"Then transfer the souls back into the right bodies!" Ryou's eyes lit up with inspiration. "My yami can transfer souls into objects. Maybe that'll work!"

"It's worth a shot. You talk to Bakura."

A minute later, Bakura held out his Ring towards Kairai Mokuba. Kairai Mokuba called for the trap "Trap Hole," and Bakura's magic disappeared into a hole that materialized in space. "Any better ideas," Bakura asked.

"Their guard is down once they're attacked," suggested Shadi.

"Gotcha. So attack them!"

"No problem," said Jonouchi, getting into this. "I sacrifice Gearfried to summon Red Eyes Black Dragon!" (7/2400/2000) The dragon roared, shaking the already cracking walls of the palace. "Red Eyes, attack that fraud!"

Red Eyes blasted the Judgeman monster Kairai Mokuba had protecting him, and its owner doubled over in pain. Bakura tried again, and this time the green light around the puppet's eyes faded. The Mokuba standing beside Kaiba exploded into the sand it was made from. "MOKUBA!" Kaiba screamed.

"Here," Mokuba yelled from the opposite side. He dashed and tackled Kairai Mai from behind, pinning her to the ground. "I've got her!"

"Stop him," yelled Kairai Marik at his Rivival Jam. (3/1500/500)

"Big Shield Gardna, defend him," shouted Yami. (4/100/2600)

The monster appeared in front of Mokuba, its huge shield protecting the younger Kaiba brother from the blast. Yami glanced at the other, who looked ready to have kittens. "I promised you, they wouldn't get hurt."

"Get off me," grumbled Mai.

Mokuba blinked. "Eh? Mai-san, izzat you?"

"Kid, no man lies on top of me, and you're no exception!"

Although the sexual humor went clear over his head, Mokuba got off and helped her up.

Bakura was about to switch Rishid, when Isis yelled, "Bakura! Malik next!" Bakura turned in time to see Kairai Malik setting up a trap for him. "Forget it, turd!" He switched the soul. Calpurnia screamed as the Malik beside her blew up. "I oughta help you guys out more often," commented Bakura as he turned on Rishid. "Exploding people is my idea of a party!"

The opposing monsters disappeared. Kaiba caught Keiko before she fell. Mokuba ran over and handed Kaiba his deck. "Niisama…" Yami walked over to check on Yugi. Jonouchi kissed his deck.

"We're not finished," said Shadi.

"What do you mean," asked Mai.

"Miss. Ayaat's body is still missing," he pointed out, "as is the Pharoah's deck. We still have no god cards."

"All Seeing White Tiger," Nazo cried as she reached the entrance of the tomb.

Anzu and Honda panted behind her. How could a person in Nazo's condition move so fast? "Nazo-chan," yelled Anzu.

Nazo mounted the tigress clumsily. "I heard him, Anzu-chan," she said. "I'm going to him! He needs my help!" She clicked her tongue, and ASWT took off in the direction of the palace.

Honda reached out but missed the tail. "She's lost it! Her meds are making her nuts!"

"I don't know… She looked pretty sure of herself."

"What now, Anzu?"

"We follow them," said Furia, climbing the stairs, carrying a rifle. "Tousan, start up the car! We're going to help now no matter what's out there!"

Yami lead the way with Buffomet (5/1400/1800) and Gardna. Yugi rode atop Gazelle (4/1500/1200), flanked by Ryou and Jonouchi. The streets lead directly to the gates, which were still closed. Standing in front of them was Kairai Calpurnia, levitating several feet off the ground. If Bakura switched with her now, she'd fall to her death.

The sky was still black as ink. The only light came from Kairai Calpurnia and an unknown source behind them. The former took out a card. "I summon Curse of Dragon! Attack the witch!" (5/2000/1500)

The dragon aimed a blast at Keiko, but Kaiba stepped forward. "Trap Card, Attack Guidance Barrier!" The blast redirected to destroy Kaiba's Knight. He then summoned Different Dimension Dragon and Y-Dragon Head.

"Red Eyes, get rid of Curse of Dragon!" Jonouchi's dragon destroyed its opponent, just as Kairai Calpurnia summoned Catapult Turtle (5/1000/2000) and Old Vindictive Magician (2/450/600) Because of its effect, Buffomet was destroyed.

Bakura stepped forward. "I sacrifice Necro Mannequin to summon Diabond!" (6/1800/?) "Attack her magician!"

As Bakura attacked, she used the magic card "Twinkle Five Star". Catapult Turtle disappeared, and in its place were the five Kuribo brothers. Yami thought, 'Why would he summon my weakest monsters?' Then it hit him: She was going to use three of them to summon a god card! "Everyone, destroy the Kuribos quickly!"

"With pleasure!" Bakura ordered Diabond to attack Kuribe. Kaiba attacked Kuribi. Isis attacked Kuribu. Yami attacked Kuriba. {Sorry, Kuribo.} The lone Kuribo bounced up and down, showing its affection und comprehension. Yami summoned Celtic Gaurdian to the field. (4/1400/1200)

Meanwhile, Marik snuck over underneath Calpurnia. "Now Bakura!"

Bakura activated his Ring. Calpurnia froze for a moment in midair, then shrieked as she fell into Marik's arms. "Ow," was all Marik managed to groan. His girlfriend had passed out from fear.

Shadi motioned toward the gate with his Key. Nothing happened. Red Eyes went to the gates to push them open, but they would not budge. Diabond joined him, and both monsters struggled at the heavy doors. The rest of the monsters present came to help, yet nothing worked. It remained steadfast.

"Minkabh!" shouted Yami back to the palace. "Quit hiding behind innocent lives and fortress walls! Come out and fight us yourself, you cowardly snake!"

The ground shook. Most everyone was knocked off their feet. The top section of the palace burst out like a volcano, and an evil, bright green energy erupted from its center. Rubble showered in blazing green fire around them. A dark green, two-headed monster emerged within the light. Its huge, reptilian body filled the walls of the entire palace, and from it came two long, slimy necks as thick as sequoias. From them sprouted two heads, each with a set of sharp teeth, slithering tongues, and bright, bulbous eyes.

"Oh, mamma," muttered Jonouchi.

One of the hydra heads took a deep breath. "RUN!" somebody yelled, and the monster set out a blast of magic and fire to the back of the group. Gazelle bit the back of Ryou's shirt like a cub and sprinted one way, with Yugi still riding and Celtic Guardian by their side. Diabond protected his master. DD Dragon grabbed Kaiba and Mokuba, while Y-Head Dragon pushed Marik and Calpurnia aside. Shadi vanished from sight. Keiko ran away faster than any monster could take her! Red Eyes took Jonouchi and the rest in one, sweeping movement. The area almost cleared at the first blast, and more so the second.

"'Cowardly snake,' he says," screamed Keiko sardonically referring to Yami. "'Come out and fight us,' he says!"

"Let's give him more ideas," screamed Bakura.

When the smoke cleared, a lone figure stood at the edge of the destruction. Yami, King of Games, remained alone in front of the gates of the city. The Eye of Horus glowed on his forehead, and a red aura shone brightly around him.

Minkabh's dark silhouette flew between his creature's heads, his robes billowing in the cold breeze. "Now you face me, boy pharaoh, and all the powers of HELL!" [6] Both heads took a deep breath.

Yami didn't blink.

"Yami," wondered Mokuba.

"Pharaoh," whispered Isis.

"What's he doing," wondered Jonouchi.

Hydra let loose. Still, Yami didn't move.

"He's mental," stated Bakura.

"Get out get out get out get out GET OUTTA THERE!" yelled Ryou.

"YAMI!" screamed Keiko. "YOU STUPID BASTARD!"

"PHARAOH, MOVE!" screamed Marik.

Kaiba watched in stunned horror.

The double blast caused an explosion that knocked over the buildings the others were hiding behind. The monsters covered their masters as the sand and debris showered them. Ryou and Yugi huddled against Gazelle, Ryou near tears. "Did he… How could he…?"

Yugi kept his face covered, trying to understand. 'Mou hito- … boku…'

"Kuri-i-i-i-i…," came a quivering voice.

Yugi looked up to see Kuribo, quivering inside Yami's jacket under his arm. They were being carried by none other than Dark Magician Girl. (6/2000/1700) "Gate's open," said Yami with a smirk.

Kuribo flew away from Yami and behind Ryou's shoulder. "I'm with him," said Ryou. "You're gonna kill us before Minkabh does!"

Yami landed beside Gazelle and mounted behind Yugi. "Celtic Guardian, keep Ryou safe! Mana, follow us!"

Gazelle leaped into the smoke. Yami could no longer see the walls where the gates once stood as they were completely obliterated by Hydra. But once they passed the dust cloud, he saw the open desert of Egypt, spanning for miles until coming against the mountains in the distance. With the Nile to the west, and Shukura's tomb to the south, Yami relied on his monsters' instincts to take him the proper direction. With no moon or stars, instinct was all they had.

"Dark Magician Girl," called Yami. "Light our way!"

Mana nodded, and lit up her staff like a beacon. {Hydra most likely has night vision, so the light will make no difference.}

Back in the city, the dust settled, and Minkabh shrieked in rage. The pharaoh was getting away! His perfect revenge was escaping! "You'll regret this, boy!" He shouted a spell in his own language.

From the sandy streets emerged six-foot-tall shabtis, crawling out of the ground like silent zombies. Minkabh shouted something to the gods Anubis and Set. Wailing, demonic ghosts floated from the sky, swirling around the streets, possessing each clay soldier. The human faces cracked into those of dogs, fierce and unmerciful. One raised his spear and roared a charge. The army of demons marched on to catch up to the pharaoh.

"Where do you think they're going," asked Mokuba softly to Keiko.

"Out for Chinese," she suggested sarcastically. "They have a few thousand miles to go, so may as well get started!"

The humor was welcome, but no one laughed. No one could really think straight. Until Ryou, Celtic Guardian, and Kuribo made their way to the group. "Where've you been," asked Bakura.

"Talking to Yami and Yugi."

"What!"

"The Pharaoh actually survived," asked Isis.

"They made a break for it on Gazelle!"

Jonouchi walked over to Red Eyes. "You heard 'im, Red Eyes! Let's get going!"

"And do what," asked Keiko incredulously.

"Nothin', just save the world." Red Eyes put Jonouchi on his back. "Anyone else coming with me?"

Bakura stood in front of Diabond. "Wouldn't miss it!"

Kaiba heard a dragon call from his deck. He drew the first card. "Blue Eyes," he whispered to himself. The card lit up, his two monsters sacrificed, and an image of a beautiful woman with long, white hair and blue eyes appeared. Kaiba stared in wonder. "Kisara…"

Kisara nodded. She lifted her hands to the sky, and she morphed into Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Memories of his past visions flooded into Kaiba's conscious mind. The city in Egypt destroyed, facing off against the pharaoh, Kisara in his arms… Perhaps they weren't dreams after all…

Filled with new resolution and radiant spirit, Kaiba said, "Blue Eyes and I are taking the lead. If you want to coming along, bonkotsu, you need to follow me!"

Jonouchi was in no mood to object!

Sugoroku drove the jeep at a ten foot distance behind ASWT. They were keeping close to the Nile, as it ran right beside the city. His gun-toting daughter-in-law sat next to him, readying ammunition. Honda and Anzu were in the back seat, trying to think of something to do once they caught Nazo. "We can tie her up and drag her back to safety."

"Let's not freak her out more than she is," warned Anzu. She shuddered. "I wish she didn't run out like that in the first place!"

"I think she's the most sensible among you kids," commented Furia. Anzu looked at her confident face as she continued. "Jaone, Yugi's father, always said that if you have the arms to help someone, you help someone. If you have the means to shelter them, you shelter them. Even if you don't succeed, it is your duty to protect those you love at all costs. That is the true worth of a person."

Anzu smiled. "You're right! We may not have magic, but we still need to help them no matter what! Thanks, Mrs. Moto!"

Honda stood up on the back seat to see over Mrs. Moto's head. "Whoa… There's something you don't see everyday!"

The hydra was in clear view of the jeep, now, as were the flaming pieces of rubble caused by the destruction of the palace walls. The monster roared at the Duel Monsters circling around its head, and viciously attacked and slaughtered them.

Furia gulped. "I think I need a bigger gun!"

"YAMI!" Nazo called out her lover's name. Anzu stood up next to Honda and saw Gazelle racing towards them, with two sets of tri-colored spikes riding him.

Yami had activated "Curtain of Black Magic" to summon Dark Magician. (7/2500/2100) His most loyal monster faced behind them, blasting any shabtis that broke through Red Eyes, Blue Eyes, and Diabond's defenses. Luckily for all of them, the dragons' abilities came in handy for observing each soldier and destroying them on sight. Blue Eyes, Kaiba riding on its back, proved most useful of them all, as it was the most powerful and accurate.

Meanwhile, Yugi's telepathic voice had been coming in softly and broken since before Yami joined him on Gazelle. He sounded like a broken radio. {Can't h… much long… -ami…}

{Stay with me, Aibou,} begged Yami as he held onto Yugi's cold body tighter. {We've escaped the city walls. Nazo would be in the Ayaat tomb. It's not too far."

{Weak… Shen i… lost power…}

{You need to rely on your own will power now, Aibou.}

{Dark… so dark… cold…}

Yami closed his eyes, concentrating on sending all of his love for his brother through their link. {Yugi, remember when you solved the Puzzle for the first time? I hadn't had any contact with anyone for thousands of years. I was trapped in an abyss of darkness and despair. But when you solved the Puzzle, a light entered my world, and I could sense you pulling me from that abyss. You mean everything to me, Yugi! I can't lose you now! Not when we're so close!"

{Thanks… Yami…}

Yami held onto Yugi's hand and prayed. "God Horus, my heavenly father, king of all pharaohs, hear me now! Please send me some sort of miracle to ensure the safety of my friends and the world!"

"YAMI!" Yami looked up and saw something glint in the distance. It was Nazo's Millennium Bracelet! Nazo was headed towards them on All-Seeing White Tiger! Yami looked skyward. "Thanks!"

ASWT slowed to a halt, and Nazo slid off and ran to Yami. "Yami! I saw it! I saw your name! I heard your call to me in a dream!"

Gazelle stopped, and Yami hopped off to meet up with Nazo. He embraced her momentarily, and then pulled her to arm's length. "Nazo, you need to give me your Bracelet now!"

Nazo held out her arm to let Yami unfasten it as she rambled on, still high off the morphine. "It was an amazing vision, Yami! Not boring like my old ones! I was this giant vulture! And everything just started spinning and spinning, and you were a falcon in the sky, with this huge cartouche, and …"

Yami sweat-dropped. "I'll worry about you later." He took the bracelet off and ran to Yugi's side. Dark Magician had lifted Yugi off Gazelle and set him down. Yami pulled off the Puzzle, and set the two Items in Yugi's hand. "Alright, Aibou. You need to put the remaining pieces back together."

Dark Magician looked at Yami sadly. "Pharaoh…"

{Please Yugi! Wake up}

Furia leaped out of the jeep. "YUGI-CHAN!" Sugoroku held her back. Honda took the hint and held Anzu back also.

Yami trembled. "No… not now…"

Anzu pulled away from Honda and crouched beside Yugi to his right. "Yugi?"

"I…" Yami's voice was very soft. "I don't think I made it in time…"

Nazo's eyes widened. "No! He's our guide! He's the dove! He needs to be here too!"

Meanwhile, the battle behind them raged on. The empowered ushabtis tore through the called upon monsters without mercy. Marik was the first to run out of monsters to call, and passed out from the pain. Calpurnia, the only human nearby, used herself as a shield to protect him from any wreckage caused by the battle. "It'll all be over soon," she repeated over and over again to Marik. "It'll all be over soon!"

The hydra continued sending out blasts of flame, burning down trees and monsters in its path. A group of shabtis came riding on demons with wings, taking to the skies to go over the battle to attack the pharaoh. The bird-like creatures shrieked and flapped their black, strong wings, blending in to the darkness.

The Millennium Eye flashed in Jonouchi's pocket, and he saw the new threat in the sky. "C'mon, Red Eyes!" With its master riding, the dragon took to the air to meet the creatures.

Until he was stopped by Blue Eyes and Kaiba. "Kaiba! What the fuck is your problem?"

"Jonouchi," he shouted, "we need to fight smart! Their target is the pharaoh, so go down there and defend the idiot twins directly!"

"But-"

"No time to argue!"

"Kaiba, ya can't even see them well!"

Kaiba touched his dragon's neck. "I trust this dragon with the lives of my family. That's more than enough!"

Jonouchi spat, frustrated. "You'd better come back alive, cocky bastard!" Red Eyes dove downward, leaving Blue Eyes to deal with the on-coming demons alone.

"Yugi…" Anzu's voice trembled with suppressed sadness. She leaned over and placed her forehead on Yugi's. It was so cold… "Yugi, you said you'd come back to me alive. Please! I need you in my life." She whispered something in his ear.

Yami sensed a spark of recognition from Yugi. Nothing in words, but a small bit of emotion still lingering. 'He's still lingering…' "Anzu, keep talking to him! I have an idea!"

Red Eyes landed nearby, and Jonouchi slid off to check up on Yugi. "Hey Yami, how's-"

"Jonouchi-kun, come over here quickly!" Yami waved Honda over. "Honda-kun! You too!" Yami got behind Yugi and sat him up, the Items in his lap. "Jou, you kneel on my left. Honda, in front. Anzu, stay where you are."

"What're we doing," asked Honda nervously.

"Hopefully, transferring some of our life force to Yugi."

"'Hopefully,'" asked Anzu.

"I'm going on an impulse," Yami admitted. He placed Yugi's right hand on the front of the Puzzle, on the piece with the Eye of Horus. "Everyone, put your hands next to Yugi's from where you are."

"I get it," said Anzu. "Our friendship symbol!" [7]

"Right!" Yami watched as the three friends placed their hands as he'd suggested. 'Each piece of the Puzzle represents a particular power. The most important power is that of love and friendship. If I'm right, the piece with the Eye of Horus is just that!'

"Please wake up, Yugi," begged Anzu.

"C'mon, Yugi," said Honda.

"We can't do this without ya, Yug," added Jonouchi.

Moments passed, and they felt their hands shake. Yugi's eyelids contracted, then slightly parted. He no longer thought anything really. Most of his spirit had moved on. But his love remained, and it was enough. His fingers glided over the warm, gold pieces of the Puzzle, as if he saw only with his fingers. He lightly took the Bracelet and wrapped it around the pyramid, placing the indentation of the Eye over the ridge of the Eye. The metal, at Yugi's touch, folded like ribbon, and melded into the bricks. Next, the Shen. The body of the snake had a small notch at the base, where the tip of the pyramid sat. The rest slid over the sides perfectly.

As soon as the pyramid clicked into place, Nazo closed her eyes and thought of her husband's name, clearly. Yami placed his hand on the Puzzle. Through it, he heard his wife, saw what she saw, and knew his name.

"My name," he said, "is Atem."

Several heartbeats passed with nothing. For a fleeting moment, everyone wondered if something had gone terribly wrong.

Then, Shadi noticed his Key glowing. The sound of the Pharaoh's true soul room rang like music. The other five Millennium Items around him glowed in the hands of their owners.

The complete Millennium Puzzle glowed. It shot out of Yugi and Yami's hands like a rocket into the sky.

Yugi's body fell backwards as the Yami golem exploded into sand. Anzu caught him in her lap. She lifted his head to see that his eyes were now completely white.

But she had no time to mourn, because as it happened in Nazo's dream, the fire from the battle burned brighter, and grew skyward. Waves crashed from the Nile. Sand began to swirl around them. Everyone covered their faces to breathe, and tried to stand still as the ground once again quaked beneath them.

The Puzzle reached the clouds and pierced through the darkness. A single beam of sunlight hit the sands of Egypt, and the sand and wind swirled around it, dancing around the light. The sand solidified in the light, taking the form of golden stairs leading up to the heavens, up to the point where both darkness and light dwelled.

A glowing gold figure began making his decent down the stairway. At first some thought it was Osiris himself. The shabtis, monsters, and mortal stood transfixed at this in equal awe. Each step felt like a beat of their hearts, which may not beat without "his" permission. Mortals and monsters alike dropped to their knees and lowered their heads to the ground.

Halfway down the stairs, the group could see that it was Pharaoh Atem, shining in celestial light from above. He wore a white tunic, red sash, and golden cape flowing behind him in the swirling winds. His crown with the Eye and falcon wings spread into his spiky hair. In his crossed arms, he held a crook and flail, and around his neck, he wore the complete Millennium Puzzle. He had no pupils, only solid gold light in his eyes, contrasting brilliantly against his dark skin. He was flanked by the three Egyptian god cards; Obelisk to his left, Ra to his right, and Osiris above him.

Keiko, the Ishtals, and Ayaats began chanting praises, bowing over and over. Honda watched this, shrugged, and said, "Oh well, when in Egypt…" [8] And he got down on his knees also. Sugoroku knelt down, and forced the catatonic Furia beside him. Red Eyes, Blue Eyes, Mahado and Mana all bowed their heads. Bakura kept as low as possible, trying to sneak away amid the crowd of stunned ushabtis. Now that the pharaoh had his memories and powers back, what would happen it him?

Pharaoh uncrossed his arms. With his left hand, that which held the flail, he swept at the air. A red wave rippled the fabric of reality, and the ushabtis and evil monsters on the battle field burst into dust. The hydra did not die, but was knocked backwards to the palace.

Pharaoh nodded to Osiris, and the three divine monsters flew out to keep the hydra, and presumably Minkabh, at the palace.

Bakura froze where he was. Ryou smiled. "Lucky for you, Bakura," he said. "Yami doesn't think you're evil anymore!"

The flail disappeared once its job had finished. Pharaoh gently waved the crook.

Several of the mortals glowed. Keiko's leg healed. Bakura's cuts closed up. Malik regained consciousness. Nazo's mind cleared, and her burns healed. Anzu felt Yugi's body become warm and his entire body healed right before her eyes. He gasped and sat up, eyes wide and full of life. He looked at Anzu and smiled. "Hey, Peach Girl!"

Anzu hugged onto Yugi, sobbing hard. "I thought I lost you!"

Yugi hugged back, breathing in deeply. "You almost did!" He whispered, "But I heard you call me, and I couldn't let you go."

"I love you, Yugi."

Yugi's heart flipped. "I love you too, Anzu!"

Before this fluffy, romantic moment went any farther, Jonouchi grabbed them both into a bone-crushing bear hug. He mumbled something about his back, and Yugi laughed. 'Seems like everyone is getting healed!' Honda and Ryou joined in the hugging, along with Sugoroku, who waited for the teens to finish before he held his grandson again. Furia had passed out cold.

Yugi's attention shifted to the being making his way to the bottom stair. Nazo, the only one not paying attention to those around her, stood transfixed by the pharaoh's awesome presence. She was so overcome by everything that had happened, and now the presence of her husband, that she could not move.

Yugi had his own reservations. He thought about Aknamukanon's warning three thousand years ago. "The evil of the completed Puzzle would eventually enshroud his soul, and your brother will become more dangerous than Minkabh himself." Was this still his brother, his yami, or someone totally different?

The demi-god finally stepped onto the ground of his homeland. The golden eyes scanned the scene before him. Yugi tentatively stepped forward. "Honored Brother?"

The being's eyes closed for a moment, and when they opened, they were the same crimson hue all present recognized so well. He raised his arms, and his gold cape spread out like wings. His voice now sounded like thunder dulled down to protect their earthly ears. "I am here, Aibou."

Relief flooded Yugi's soul, and he dashed to Yami. Nazo, prompted by Yugi's movement, also ran to embrace her true love.

Anzu moved to follow, but Jonouchi held her back. "They deserve this moment."

Yugi reached Yami first and wrapped his arms around his brother's chest. Nazo came and held onto both brothers. Yami, his cape doing the same, wrapped his arms around them. The royal family was reunited at long last!

Title explanation: "Deux ex machina" means "God from the machine" in Greek. Back in the times of Ancient Greek plays, when a seemingly impossible situation arose, to solve the problem quickly they'd have a god intervene. He'd come in on a cloud or something. The term sort of stuck, and this phrase now refers to a seemingly impossible situation suddenly being solved!


1 East hall room - For those who don't remember, this is the same room from that scene of ESoT at the end of "A Prince's Worth"
2 "Daishinkan" - "Honored Priest" or "High Priest"
3 Yami's plea - Just had to ask, but who agrees that it's about time Kaiba got a verbal slap?
4 "Something Wicked This Way Comes" - A line from Shakespeare's Macbeth. Just thought I'd show some of Keiko's more intelligent humor
5 "Kairai" - means "puppet"
6 "Now you face me, and all the powers of Hell!" - Does anyone remember Maleficent anymore? She was my fav Disney villain!
7 Symbol of Friendship, the smiley face - Oh, don't you guys dare groan at me! The whole damn story of Yu-Gi-Oh is based on friendship! It was 'Tea' that made this word so annoying, not Anzu! There's a difference!
8 "When in Egypt…" - This is a play on the phrase "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." It means to go along with whatever culture you are submerged in.

Yugi: The work isn't over yet! Yami has to challenge Minkabh to a Shadow Game in order to be fully initiated as a god under Osiris. But he needs six priests and several loyal subjects to help him. Damn, I wonder where he can find some likely candidates… big grin Next chapter is the start of the final game!