Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! However, I DO own Marissa, Keline, Symari, and Joseph. Don't take them.
I like this chapter better, although it turned out a lot different than what I had planned.
Chapter 17------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Please, you must attack."
"No! Don't!" disagreed his Anger. "We should work together to defeat the Pharaoh and have our revenge. We can still take the infinite power of the Pharaoh and rule the world together!" However, Marik blatantly refused this offer.
Meanwhile, Yugi struggled within himself. "We can't attack – it's too risky," he told Yami. "We might end up sending the good Marik to the Shadow Realm."
"But we have no choice," argued Yami. "We must trust him." Then, he spoke aloud, making his move. "I activate the magic card Ragnarok, with Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl. By removing all the monsters in my hand, deck, and graveyard from play, I can destroy all of his enemy's monsters." In an amazing ghostly display, the spirits of every single one of Yugi's monsters rose from the floor and hovered above the field. They circle the field excitedly, waiting for an order.
"I've never seen anything like this!" Mokuba exclaimed in surprise, seeing a 3-D Kuriboh wave its arms in front of his face.
"You are your Egyptian God card are through, Marik!" Slifer, the Sky Dragon wrapped its long tail around the great golden beast that was Ra, while Obelisk latched onto its thick neck.
"No! Let me go!" protested Marik's Anger. The two Gods lifted the other off the playing field, while the two Dark Magicians crossed their staffs together. Then, a large circle appeared in the sky, through which the three God monsters disappeared in a burst of light. However, right before that happened, Marik's Anger spoke once again. "No, I will not be destroyed!" In a last-ditch effort, he somehow managed to play one card: "Retribution!" (A/N: I made up that card for purposes of this event.) Instantly, the field was shrouded with light. Dark Magician and his female counterpart were pushed back to their owner's side of the field. The gang began to cheer, due to their thought that Ra was destroyed. However, their applauding faded when an infamous evil laugh emerged from behind the cloud of light.
The light receded to reveal the smirking embodiment of Marik's fury, with a shocked right eye that still belonged to the good side.
"Didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?" he asked rhetorically. Odion and Keline almost collapsed onto the cold floor. Blood dripped from the latter's right hand onto the once-clean surface below.
"What?" Yami shouted in surprise, eyes widening in fear. "How are you still alive after that attack?"
Marik's Anger laughed again. "Simple. I played Retribution." He held up the quick-play magic card for all to see. The image on the card portrayed a dark red shield with a worn sword sticking it through it. "This card allowed me to return the 2,999 points that I gave to Ra earlier to my life points, thus also returning my spirit." His smirk grew wider as he reached behind his back. When he pulled his hand back it was holding the Millennium Rod. Yami stepped back in anticipation, knowing that "Marik" was going to attempt to send him to the Shadow Realm. "You may be able to defeat me in a duel, but I will not let you walk away from this platform."
"Marik, this darkness cannot go on," Yami growled in warning. However, the other was not perturbed. The Rod began to glow. Then, the unspeakable happened.
"Nooooooo!" screamed Keline, as he found newborn strength to launch himself towards the ring – straight at Marik.
"Keline!" Marissa called after him to stop, but her words were not heeded. Angry tears flew from his eyes as he rushed to the body of his father, overtaken by hate. Energy shot from the Rod, but it bounced right off a blue aura that flashed around Keline's self for just long enough. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl. Keline grabbed the Millennium Item from the clutches of evil and threw it away as if it were scrap metal. Then, he pushed forward his hands, but was stopped by the essence's own hands.
"Let my father go, demon!" the son screeched loudly, but remained locked in the struggle. All his opponent did was smirk confidently. Then, suddenly, his hands were pushed away by Keline's, allowing the boy to tear the glove of his right hand (for reasons which most of the others were unaware of at the moment) and press it against Marik's Anger's forehead.
A loud, piercing shriek filled the air. All who were able pressed their hands against their ears in a futile attempt to drown out the noise. Gradually, the darkness of the Shadows faded from around them as the cry did, and they were able to focus once again. What they saw was Keline crouched next to the still form of Marik – the one that looked good, that is. The Millennium Rod lay on the opposite side of the platform from Yugi's friends, seemingly harmless. Roland, who still was unsure of all the mystic happenings that were going on, took this silent opportunity to announce the winner.
"Since Marik Ishtar is unable to duel, Yugi Mutou is the winner of the Battle City Crown!" he stated resonantly. Joey and the others rushed to congratulate Yugi on his victory, while Ishizu and Odion stayed by each other's side outside the group.
"Is he going to be okay?" Yugi asked, walking over to where Keline was kneeling next to the seemingly sleeping form of his father. The others followed in step.
"I hope so," replied Keline, feeling for a pulse. His face visibly lit up when he found one.
"What exactly did you do to him?" Joey asked, earning a slightly creeped-out look on his face. "And how?"
"I don't know." The honest air in which that was said caused Joey's face to contort further. "I never know how this thing will work. All I know is that he is gone for good." It was at that moment that they saw for the first time what, exactly, Keline had been hiding about his right hand. Crouching down beside him, Téa took his hand in hers and brushing a finger over the strange marking that was embedded in it.
"So this is what you've been hiding from us?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied, somewhat reluctantly, and wincing when her finger touched the burned skin.
"Does it hurt?"
"A little."
"At least it's not leaking anymore," Marissa cut in, leaning over her boyfriend's shoulder. In unison, the group asked,
"'Leaking'?"
She nodded. "Yes, leaking. It used to sort of 'leak' magic – that's way Kay always wore those gloves. They were enchanted in a way that kept the magic inside his body."
"Is it the same type of magic that's in the Millennium Items?" Yugi wondered aloud. She nodded affirmatively to that, too.
"That's how I sent him wherever I did," Keline continued, finishing the explanation. "Joey, do you think you could help me carry him to the medical room?" The asked teen almost wanted to say no, for all the times that he had caused them trouble, but was overcome with sympathy.
"Sure," he answered instead, sliding his arms underneath Marik's body. When Keline had done the same, the stood up carefully and made their way to the indicated room.
'You're going to be okay, father,' Keline silently told him, looking at Marik's peaceful face. Ishizu and Odion followed after them.
Later, after the gang assured Mai's return – during which time Joey received a nice surprise – and after they made sure that Bakura was okay, they made their way to the another compartment in the medical room where Joey and the Keline had laid Marik. They entered, and saw the bleached blond fully awake and sitting up in bed, with Keline by his side. The other two Ishtars sat nearby, while Marissa stood by the curtain, desperately trying to fold Marik's cloak. All wore smiles on their faces.
"Pharaoh…" Marik began when he saw them enter. Yami had just then taken control of Yugi's body. "I should apologize–" Yami waved him off.
"Later," he said. "Now, how are you feeling?"
"Fine," he answered, a bit surprised. "Thank you for saving me from the darkness within my heart."
Yami smiled. "I couldn't have done it without Keline." The mentioned one blushed slightly, hiding his face in the white sheets. Marik laughed playfully.
"Yes, I'm sure we all helped in some way," Marissa offered, placing the now-folded cloak on the nearest surface. "Including – Shadi!" The way her eyes widened and the surprise in her voice showed that she had not been intending to say "Shadi" at that point, and was indeed shocked when he appeared in the doorway. "Hello…" She grinned nervously at his narrowed eyes.
"You," he started slowly, "need to come with me." Reluctantly, Marissa was dragged off into another room.
"Be right back!" she managed to announce before going out of earshot.
"So I guess all the pieces of the puzzle are put together now, right?" Téa asked, taking a seat.
"Well, not all the pieces," replied Marik, taking a card off the end table and handing it to Yami. "You still have to solve the Pharaoh's puzzle." The spirit glanced down at the Winged Dragon of Ra now in his possession.
"But at least we're one step closer," he said.
"Just one question," interrupted Joey, turning to Marik. "Who's 'Katrina'?" The one on the bed looked taken aback. "When your 'dark side' or whatever it's called took over, you screamed her name." Marik averted his eyes and sighed.
"Katrina…" was all he muttered. Ishizu reached out a comforting hand.
"…was my mother," supplied Keline, once again turning his head to look back at the others. "She died when I was three and a half." Just as the gang was about to mutter sympathetic apologies, Marissa returned, this time bearing an extremely pissed look on her normally cheery face. About half of the occupants of the room knew that anger was aimed at Shadi, who had most likely scolded her for disobeying his orders.
"Well, that's what you get for not doing what your 'master' says," joked Marik, smirking at her expression.
"Yes, well," she replied, "it's times like these I hate being the apprentice to the Guardian of the Millennium Items. Although, knowledge and use of all the Millennium Items does come in handy sometimes." She smiled admittedly, and Keline smiled back.
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YAY! I've actually finished a fanfiction! Yes, this was one of my favorite stories, so I'm sad it's over, but I'm glad to finally be done with it. I also went back and edited chapters 1-7, the most important edits being the combining of chapters one and two.
I was planning on a sequel, but I'm not so sure now. Maybe.