Well, this is really the last chapter. BUT, there is still an epilougue! Aren't you all excited? I'm not! sniffle It ended so fast! Thanks to all the reviewers. Also, thanks for waiting. I've really been out of inspriation lately.

Oh! And if any of you are Poke'mon fans...I have a story up.

Chapter 21

The Mastermind Behind It All

Yami, Anzu, Bakura and Rebecca walked back into the castle. Yami and Anzu walked ahead of Bakura and Rebecca who were into a deep discussion of their respective battles with the chosen. Rebecca, who was still a little fazed with the battle, whispered to Bakura, "I can't believe she almost killed me."

Bakura nodded knowingly. "I think their power comes from their passion and emotions. We both mentioned their relationship in our fights and we fueled their anger."

Ahead, Yami had his arm wrapped around Anzu's waist. Anzu's head rested on his shoulder. Thoughts raced through her head, clouding her vision. They had so many things to do. Find their friends, defeat this man, Lord Pegasus, and…wait. What happens after that? Anzu looked up at Yami who in turn looked down. He smiled and then led them down another hallway. "Where are we going?"

Anzu had completely forgotten about the man and the witch. Yami replied, "Well the throne room. Where else would an evil man be?"

"How many throne rooms do you have?" Bakura asked, "We've only been here a few days."

"Two. The day throne to the east and the ballroom thrones in the south."

"It's the southern one. It's bigger right?"

Yami nodded and quickly withdrew his arm from Anzu's waist. Sad, Anzu felt herself want to put. A hand clasped around hers and she saw Yami smiling at her. "Let's go. We have to finish this now."

Cocking her head in confusion, Anzu, "What about the others?"

He smiled wider. "I trust those men. They will find the girls and bring them with them. We will either meet them there or they will meet us."

Rebecca nodded. "They aren't dead. No one can die in the hand of those two idiots, Rex and Weevil. Those boys are probably okay as well. The illusions were just testers."

Happier, Anzu squeezed Yami's hand. He squeezed back and the two, followed by their new comrades, ran south, towards the throne room.

The thrones in the ballroom were very elaborate. Velvet colored cushions adorned the chair backs and seats. The middle one had red colored cushion and gold armrests and designs around the cushions. On the top was a symbol of a star. On the queen's throne was violet cushioned and had silver designs and a moon above it. Yami's was red with gold and a sun above it.

The four walked cautiously into the room. There wasn't any light in the room. There did seem to be something near the throne tough. That's where the darkness seemed to be coming from. Anzu recalled that the sun had come up a little while ago. She looked around her. There was nothing but blackness. She felt Yami grip her hand harder.

Yami tried to act confident. He had to…for Anzu's sake. Bakura and Rebecca walked behind them. "Yami, use your magic," Bakura said.

Feeling stupid that he hadn't thought of that, Yami quickly lit all the torches that adorned the walls. Having been in this room countless times, he knew where everything was. The room was instantly bathed in light. The four looked to the thrones. A person occupied the Kings throne. Yami felt himself get anger. The fire on the torches burned yellow licked with white. "You! Get out of that chair!"

A dark chuckle sounded throughout the room. Anzu felt a chill run up her spine. How could a single noise strike fear in her? She watched as Yami's face contorted with rage. He looked slightly shaken. Was he…afraid?

Though never royal herself, she had been in court for a few years. Mokuba had opened up to her as well before he became a page. Always ranting about Gozaburo and Seto and unfairness and all the other terrible things the country of Arilea had to face. Anzu didn't have to worry about what Yami was thinking. She already had an idea. The enemy sitting in the Crishan kings chair had something to do with the flames almost turning blue. Bakura muttered, "Lord Pegasus."

She couldn't really see him for where she was standing, even with the room practically glowing. All she could tell was that he had shoulder length platinum hair and was clad in black. The only color around him was the red rose he spun between his fingers. He laughed again. "So, the great prince of Crishan has returned. How touching. Have you come back to reclaim your throne, fire lord?"

Yami's frown deepened. Pegasus continued. "I see you have brought others. The water chosen, I see. Oh! What is this? Two of my own have betrayed me?"

He didn't sound all that surprised. Bakura and Rebecca shivered. They felt as if a ghostly hand had run a finger slowly down their backs. Pegasus chuckled. How annoying, Yami thought. "You think so? Then I will continue to do so because you enjoy it so much."

The boy wasn't at all surprised he could read minds. Some of his minions could, why not the lord himself? He still loathed the man and he barely knew who he was. Without warning, Yami unsheathed his swords and ran at Pegasus. "Yami!" Anzu cried.

Only a few feet away, Yami felt his rage grow stronger and stronger. This man…No! He did not deserve to be called a human. This monster had killed too many people, had taken too many lives. "IT ENDS NOW!"

Pegasus smirked. "Really?"

Darkness surrounded the man. Waving his hand towards Yami and plumes of black flew at him at an alarming speed. Yami's violet eyes widened. Darkness crawled up his leg. He hacked at it. He cut the end part off. The blackness stuck to his leg like octopus tentacles, latching onto his leg and not letting go. Yami cried out and anger. Using his magic, his body became on fire. The tentacles jumped off and rejoined the man plumes. Touching the rubies on his blades, he quickly set them a flame and charged at the darkness. Pegasus smiled and said, "Fool."

The darkness seemed to become stronger. When Yami's sword slashed at it, the blade banged off. His arms quickly became numb and they fell to his side useless. The flames surrounding his body turned a pale orange. Anzu watched as he fell to his knees. Quickly, she raised her arms and water from the fountain outside smashed through the windows of the ballroom (it had glass walls in the front so there was a better view for the dancers). A wave of water swept towards the darkness. It only aimed for the blackness and went around Yami. Once again, the silver haired man smiled and flicked his fingers again.

The water was quickly sucked into the darkness. Anzu gasped. Her powers were useless! The sound of a window breaking sounded throughout the room, silencing the giggles from Pegasus. As glass rained down on them, two figures landed in the room. They stood up quickly. "Serenity! Seto!" Anzu cried.

The two began to glow, Serenity white and Seto black. Serenity smiled at Anzu. "Leave this to us."

Light flashed throughout the room, burning the darkness up. As it resided, Seto put his arm out and the remaining darkness was sucked into his grasp. Pegasus's smile faltered. "Hmm…I thought you would be dead."

"I don't die," Seto commented, glaring at the man.

Pegasus smiled again. "Oh yes you will."

He called back any darkness scraps around the room and they flew towards him. Pegasus smiled as more and more swirled around him. He clapped his hands. The darkness slowly began to turn a mix of colors that twisted and bubbled sickeningly. Anzu felt her stomach turn. Bakura gasped. "That's chaos," Rebecca whispered.

The chaos goo charged towards Seto and Serenity. Sensing that his power wouldn't stop it, he brought Serenity to him and turned so the Chaos would hit him. The two held onto each other for dear life and awaited the wave of swirling colors. It never came.

A large rock smashed through the walls of the ballroom and landed in front of Serenity and Seto, blocking the Chaos flow. They looked up to see the boulder to melt and the mass of colors flowed towards them again; they closed their eyes again in fear. The sound of rushing air made them look up and saw that a bubble of wind surrounded them. It was like a protective shell covering them from the Chaos goo. Serenity tugged on Seto's tunic. "It's Mai and Joey!" she said excitedly.

The Chaos receded and the air bubble fell away. Serenity was immediately enveloped in a hug by Joey, while Seto and Mai awkwardly said hello. Anzu cried out and they turned to see her, Bakura and Rebecca. Pegasus chuckled drawing attention to himself once again. "So, a little reunion huh? Well, since I have you were I want you…I'll let Marik finish you off."

Raising his hand, the man walked into the room. Bakura gasped. That was not his friend. The usually bright, lively violet eyes were blank and empty. In his hand was a sword. "What did you do to him?" Rebecca cried out.

"Well, he was feeling a little rebellious as well. So I bewitched his mind. He's like a puppet now," Pegasus replied and he turned towards Marik. "You'll kill them now, won't you?"

Marik charged at them. "A full on attack? Are you come kind of idiot, platinum head? I think he's blind!" Joey shouted.

The ballroom floor split and Marik began to fall through. He jumped to the left of the opening and continued forward. Lifting his hand, he sent out bolts of electricity that wrapped themselves around Joey. He cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Mai kneeled down next to him, trying to comfort him. Serenity raised her staff and rays of light beams shot towards Marik. He simply shot his own bolts right at them and they were deflected. As Marik reached closer, Seto unsheathed his blade and raised it to intercept Marik's blow. They clashed and Seto watched in horror as the electricity began to overpower his darkness.

Blue electricity flew at Marik, blasting him away form Seto. Bakura and Rebecca ran over. Bakura threw another bolt of blue electricity at the man who quickly raised his yellow magic in defense. Rebecca threw her own pink lighting and it was deflected as well. Yellow lighting blew the two back to the other side of the room. Marik smirked and began to charge again. He then fell backwards and gasped in shock. "Fatima?" Serenity commented, "What are you doing here?"

Fatima smiled and said, "I was meant to tell you the prophecy. I am here to protect you while you reach your goal. You must save the world."

Marik eyes widened. His eyes became less empty. "Do I know you?" he muttered.

Shaking her head, Fatima replied, "How would I have known you?"

His eyes flashed and he ran towards her. His blade fell to the ground as his two hands came together to gather all the electricity in a ball. Fatima frowned and a golden ball formed in her pal. When they hit each other, the flash was huge. Fatima and Marik's eyes widened. Images flashed through their minds. They fell to the ground.

Fatima began to slow change. Her hair turned from white to gray to black in a matter of seconds. Her hair shrunk so it was waist-length. Her eyes changed from gold to sapphire blue. Her skin changed from eerie white to a golden tan like Marik's. Marik's eyes regained their usual likeness. He stared at Fatima. Was it really Fatima?

"Isis?"

Anzu quickly ran towards Yami as everyone's attention was on Fatima and Marik. She had noticed that while the scene as happening, Pegasus was walking down to wear Yami kneeled. The boy was frozen in shock. Anzu sped up when she saw Pegasus draw a blade from the Chaos around him. Smiling, he swung the blade at Yami's neck. "No!"

Water swirled around Pegasus, pushing him back from Yami. Anzu crashed into the boy, hugging him fiercely. "Yami," she cried, "Please wake up!"

She began to weep into Yami's tunic. Anzu grabbed fistfuls of his shirt and pulled him to her, crying harder with every passing second. The water around Pegasus fell to a pool at his feet. Face contorted in rage, Chaos swirling around his body, sword in hand, he walked towards Anzu's crying body. He swung the blade down then stopped. She hadn't even turned. She just kept crying.

His eyes clouded over.

"Pegasus!"

A younger looking Pegasus turned to see a blonde-haired girl running at him. She jumped at him, sending them both crashing to the ground. The two laughed as they rolled through the field of flowers they were in. He looked at the girl on top of him when they stopped rolling. She had a beautiful face. Full lips a perfect nose, happy, light blue eyes and a charming smile. Just looking at her made his heartache with some much happiness.

"Cynthia…I love you."

The girl smiled and hugged him. They continued rolling until the flowers ended and they were at the lakes edge. They sat up and she leaned into his hold. Laughing, she looked up at him and said, "I love you too."

Three days later, he presented her with the engagement ring. The two shared another three happy years. Cynthia was all Pegasus could think about. Not about his title as a deck, not a rich mans son, but a complete person. He had found his other half.

They had made the wedding plans so it would be in June, her favorite month. That was the time were everyone was happy, no matter what the situation. In early may, bad things began to happen. Pegasus's father didn't approve of Cynthia. She wasn't exactly the richest heiress Pegasus could marry. His father wanted money, only money. That's why his father married his mother.

A month before the wedding, Cynthia was attacked on a morning ride with some friends. She was killed along with the others. Pegasus locked himself up after that. He became cold, heartless, unforgiving.

That was three years ago. During that time, Pegasus found books that told him the ancient magic that was locked away. Destroying the Chaos prison, he became the man he was today.

Serenity watched Pegasus warily as she and Seto ran towards Anzu and Yami. When they reached them, they found a weeping Anzu and a blank Yami. Serenity kneeled down next to him as Seto gently pulled Anzu off. Running her hand down her staff once, she felt the light magic flow into her. Placing a hand on his chest, she felt it leave her and flood into Yami. "What is she doing?" Anzu choked out in between tears.

Seto didn't answer. He wasn't worried about that. Serenity was healing Yami. He kept his eyes on Pegasus who began to come to from some sort of a trance. His sword and dropped from his hand and the Chaos had faded away from him. He fell to the ground, weeping into his hands. Surprised, Seto could only watch in shock as the man continued to break down. He was muttering incoherently. He only caught one word. "Cynthia."

Yami's eyes widened and he took in a deep breath; he fell into Serenity's arms. Patting her shoulder, he got up once again and turned to see Anzu staring at him. Anzu felt an urgent need to just push Serenity out of the way. Sensing she was interrupting something, she quickly got up and stepped over to Seto who hugged her. Seto watched Pegasus as Serenity watched the other two.

Joey walked over hand-in-hand with Mai. Bakura and Rebecca followed. Marik and Fatima…Isis came up behind them. Serenity watched as her brother hugged Mai tightly and Marik and Isis began to quietly whisper. Anzu and Yami were hugging as well. Feeling Seto leave her side, she turned to see what he was doing.

Seto walked over to Pegasus who had stopped crying. His hair shielded his face. Seto asked, "Are you finished?"

Pegasus looked up. His eyes were red. His face was lined with pain. He smiled slightly. "Even with all this power I couldn't bring her back. I'm ready to go see her, to be with her forever."

"Who?"

"My other half."

"Oh."

Chaos flowed towards Pegasus. He was covered in it. He rose up from the ground. His arm latched around Seto and pulled him so he was close up to the mass of Chaos. It said, "Please. Kill me now. I need to be with her."

Seto was dropped to the floor. Yami and Joey walked over. They raised their swords, each glowing with their own magic. The red, green and black swords plunged into Chaos. Water, light, and air were blasted at it. Four different colored lightings joined the barrage. The Chaos began to blink out like little stars, floating into the wind. They watched as the Chaos drifted far off in little bits of dust. Mai heard Pegasus's voice in the wind. "Cynthia, I'm coming."

so, you wanna know what happens next. Please leave reviews! It's the second to last chapter for goodness sakes!

I love you all!

Em