DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fanfiction produced for entertainment purposes only. Yu-Gi-Oh! and all related characters are the creations of Kazuki Takahashi.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: There is a companion story for this fic, called 'A Life for a Life'. When they are finished, both stories will be complete in their own right. You do not need to read one to enjoy the other. 'Life' merely gives more meaning to certain things that happen in this story.
Chapter 14: The Explanation
By Shadow's Mirror
After a moment's consideration, Dark Witch directed her explanation at Bakura, since he had been the one to ask her the question.
"When Master Pegasus first created the cards which you use to summon us Shadow Monsters in duels, he used the Millennium Eye to ensure that the image and details on each one was accurate. He was determined that they would be as close as possible. With every one, he made a test card. He could tell at a touch if his portrayal of that Monster was accurate or not. If it was not, then it was merely a card, with no link to the heart of the Shadow Monster the card represented. When that occurred, he merely tried again. But... every now and then, something strange happened.
He would sometimes touch a test card and he would know that it was not right, even though there was a link to the Shadow Monster's heart. There was always a... reluctance, I suppose. As if the one the card summoned did not wish to obey him. But there was something more. The other cards were just ordinary cards. Only in the hands of one with skill in the Shadow Magic, were they anything more. But these strange cards were special. They held magic of their own. Whoever held them could use that magic to summon the Monster on the card into this world."
Dark Witch paused as everyone in the room gasped. She looked around at the circle of shocked faces and nodded, her expression grim. "Yes. As you can imagine, such cards would have been very dangerous in the wrong hands. Fortunately, Master Pegasus discovered it when his assistant accidentally summoned the Dark Magician into his office. The Dark Magician studied the cards and realised what had happened, right away."
She paused again, this time taking a deep breath before again looking around the room. "Most of the creatures of the Shadow Realm have been there for as long as the Shadow Magic has existed. They have always been a part of it and it has always been a part of them. Most of them are unique. There are no others like them, in the Realm or in this world. But there are exceptions."
Another pause, another deep breath. It was obvious to everyone that she was trying to explain something that was difficult to put into words. The whole room was silent as they waited for her to continue. Even Marik remained perfectly still, sensing how important this was.
"There are a few among us who once lived in your world. One way or another, for one reason or another, they became Shadow Monsters. But they are not unique. Each of them bears the same name as another Monster. They have a similar appearance to them also, although there is always some difference. The Dark Magician is one of them. When he was summoned by Master Pegasus's assistant, he touched the card he had been summoned with and realised that it was connected to him specifically. Each of the special cards is the same. Each of them connects with one of those who walk the Shadow Realm with the memories of other lives and times."
For a moment, the room was silent and still. Then it was as if everyone present took a breath all at once and began to whisper to each other about this revelation. After a moment of glaring, Kaiba finally couldn't take it any longer. "Quiet! You may not wish to hear the rest, but I do!"
As everyone sheepishly fell silent again, Dark Witch smiled at Kaiba. "Thank you, Master Seto." She looked around at everyone and nodded. "As most of you have probably realised, Master Pegasus ended up creating a card to represent every Shadow Monster in the Realm. Most of those cards are normal and summon the unique monsters, or the original monsters, in the case of those who have doubles. But the cards that represent those doubles are special and have the power to summon them into this world."
Kaiba frowned. "So when I requested the images and information from Pegasus..."
Dark Witch looked over at him and nodded. "Yes. Master Pegasus could not bear the thought of any of the Shadow Monsters being inaccurately represented. However, he had made a vow to the Dark Magician on the day they learned of the special cards' powers. He had promised that he would not reveal their existence. So, when he sent you the information, he included the images for the Monsters summoned by the special cards, but he did not tell you about them."
"That explains the different images for some of the Monsters," Kaiba's frown deepened into a glare as he eyed Dark Witch. "However, it does not explain what happened to my memory when I initially discovered those images."
Everyone stared in surprise as a tide of red flooded Dark Witch's cheeks. "Ah. Yes. I fear that... was my doing."
"Yours? Explain yourself. Now!"
The female Shadow Monster winced at Kaiba's furious tone. "When the special cards' powers were discovered, it was decided that a spell would be cast to prevent people from finding out about them, accidentally. It is a simple misdirection spell. Anyone who becomes suspicious about the cards will forget their suspicions and think of something else instead. When you were given the images and information on the special cards, a slightly stronger version of the spell was cast upon your computer system, so that anyone who learned of the second set of images would forget about them again."
Kaiba nodded once, although his frown did not ease. "So what was your part in it?"
Dark Witch sighed softly. "When the spell was cast on your computer, it was my suggestion that it should be made a little stronger than normal, to counter the effect of the mix of science and magic."
"The effect of what?" No one shushed Marik. They were all wondering the same thing.
A slight smile flickered over the Shadow Monster's face as she turned to the others. "Normally, science and magic do not mix well. Magic tends to be weaker when it is cast on technology. In this case, however... it seems that it did not weaken, but the effect was altered slightly, instead."
She returned her attention to Kaiba. "You, and the others present at this moment, are supposed to be immune to the spell. However, instead of not affecting you at all, the spell worked on you the first time, but the second time, it restored the memories it had initially locked away. With anyone else, the spell works the same way each time."
Kaiba's frown relaxed a little as he nodded. "I see. So that is why my memory was taken, and why it returned again." Apparently all of his questions had been answered, since he fell silent, but there was someone else in the room whose curiosity got the better of him.
"Uh... Dark Witch?"
The Monster turned to Joey and smiled sweetly at him. "Yes, Master Joey?"
"What happened to the special cards? I mean... How come Pegasus didn't keep them? We know Yug has the Dark Magician's card, but that means there are others with the other cards, right?"
Joey looked worried and he wasn't the only one. All the others wore expressions ranging from wary to uneasy to nervous. Even Kaiba looked slightly apprehensive.
Dark Witch nodded. "Yes, that is true. Initially, Pegasus kept the special cards himself. However, one by one, the cards disappeared. It seems that each of them was destined to be paired with a duellist. We can only assume that they are in the keeping of those who hold them for a reason."
Bakura spoke up very quietly. "But you know who holds them, don't you?" His dark brown eyes locked with Dark Witch's as she turned to look at him in surprise.
"Yes and no, sweet Master." The female Monster smiled slightly. "We know a few of them. But the others have never been summoned into battle. They remain without knowledge of who holds their cards."
"Yugi holds the Dark Magician. We know that much." Kaiba almost growled the words. He was obviously not happy about it.
"He also holds the Dark Magician Girl." Dark Witch smiled sweetly at the startled boy, ignoring Kaiba's furious glare. "They are the two that are called the most. Aside from them, there is only one other that has ever been called into battle."
Bakura smiled slightly. "Fire Sorcerer."
As Dark Witch nodded, everyone blinked and stared at Bakura. Yami raised an eyebrow. "Bakura? How did you know that?"
The white-haired yami shrugged. "I saw him being summoned. Remember last Christmas when I helped that little girl in Mokuba's class get her favourite card back from her bully of a brother?"
Everyone blinked. Yami stared at Bakura. "Surely you are not saying... That little girl?"
Dark Witch nodded. "Yes. Fire Sorcerer's card is indeed held by a child. Her name is Morgan."
The mutters and whispers began again, but Ryou's soft voice was still heard. "Dark Witch, if this is supposed to be a secret then... Is it truly all right for all of us to know this?" By the time he had finished speaking, the room was silent. It seemed like everyone was holding their breath as they waited for the Shadow Monster's reply.
She smiled gently at the white-haired light. "Yes, my sweet Master. It is only a secret because of the cards' power to summon the Monsters they represent. Everyone here is aware of the Shadow Realm and its Magic already. So if one of you were to find such a card, and learn of its power, you would not panic or misuse it."
"Most of us would not, no." Yami eyed Bakura meaningfully, causing the white-haired yami to bristle. Before he could give voice to the anger blazing in his eyes though, Dark Witch laughed, drawing everyone's startled attention.
She winked at Yami. "Ah! But my sweet Master Bakura has no need of special cards for that, Master Yami. He can already do it using any card he holds, just as you and Master Marik can."
"So there." Bakura smirked, causing Yami to scowl at him as Ryou sighed and shook his head.
"Yes, and it's really fun too!" Marik's happy exclamation interrupted the other two yami's before they could get into an argument. They, as well as everyone else in the room, shot wary looks at the wild-haired boy. Seeing him pull out his deck, more than one of the others began to nervously edge away from him.
Isis sighed the sigh of the long-suffering-older-almost-sister and gave Marik a stern look. "Marik, what have I told you about summoning Monsters?"
Marik blinked, then sighed before replying, his voice taking on the tone of one who is repeating something he's been told so many times he knows it off by heart. "I'm not to do it unless I'm duelling, and I'm to do it the normal way and not with magic." He pouted at Isis but put his deck away again, sighing heavily.
As everyone relaxed after that close call, Dark Witch looked around. "Well, if there is nothing else anyone wishes to know, I should return to the Shadow Realm. D. Human was making muffins and I would like to have at least one while it is still nice and warm."
Bakura grinned and nodded. "I think we're done." He looked around at the group, to see if anyone disagreed. When no one did, he held up her card. "Thanks, Dark Witch. I knew you'd be able to clear that mystery up for us."
Dark Witch smiled at him. "I am pleased that I could assist you, my sweet Master. Farewell."
As soon as she had left, Kaiba stood up. "Now that has been settled, I have business to attend to."
Yugi nodded and stood as well. "I'll see you out, Kaiba."
Yami also rose. "Before you go, Kaiba... If any of those other cards should be used..."
Kaiba nodded once. "I will inform you." He strode out of the room without looking back, Yugi hurrying out after him.
Joey looked thoughtful. "For him to agree to do that, he must be worried too."
Yami nodded. "He has reason to be. As Dark Witch said, in the wrong hands, such cards could be very dangerous. At least now we know of their existence. If there is ever any trouble of that nature, we will be aware of what we are dealing with."
Joey nodded too. "Yeah." He stretched and looked around. "Well, I guess this party's over. I wonder if Grandpa has any new cards in?"
Tristan joined them in time to hear Joey's comment. He laughed and slapped his friend on the back. "Man, Joey, you have a one track mind."
Joey's response was to poke out his tongue. The two were still tossing friendly insults at each other as they headed out of the room. Duke followed, smirking in amusement at their behaviour, which earned him insults from both of them as soon as they noticed.
"Sister Isis..." Marik looked at Isis pleadingly. She sighed and also rose from her seat.
"Very well, Marik. We will pick up some muffins on the way home."