A/N: Don't own YGO or references to Fire Emblem. Thanks for the reviews. Here is the final part. Special thanks goes to my terrific beta reader, Caorann fridh Bronach.

It was over. The great battle was…over. There had been no winner. Both armies retreated, intent on recovering their losses. They would meet again soon.

And Bakura vowed to do all he could to stop the misery from repeating itself all over again.

Having no cloak to cover the body, Bakura's dead friend lay on Syren's back. Tristan would need a proper burial – in fact, all those who had died here would need one. But first, Bakura wanted to bury his dear friend back in the homeland, in the place where Tristan's grandfather, a great man, lay buried. 'He'd want that,' Bakura thought, senseless. For now, he would have to dull the emotional pain that threatened to overtake him like a flood. Bakura would release it when the time was right.

Stepping over the numerous victims of war, Bakura narrowed his eyes, trying to find the way back to the forest. The fog was so heavy…it was nearly impossible to see. That's why he didn't like the fog. It was always thick and suffocating, making it difficult to travel. Tristan had hated it. Tristan had also hated the cold; he'd always talked about traveling down south where it was warmer…safer. "It's too late now, isn't it?" Bakura mumbled, "Too late, too late…" The white-haired teenager dropped to his knees in despair, breaking down. "Tristan, why?"

Louder sobs reached his ears and Bakura snapped his gaze up. Who could still be here? Unable to ignore those sounds of grief, Bakura stood up and motioned for Syren to follow him. Though he was sure a sobbing person would pose no threat, Bakura took out a spare dagger anyway.

The fog suddenly swooshed in his direction and Bakura was stunned to see a tall shadow – no, a shape, a form of a…dragon!

The dagger fell to the ground and Bakura became very still, wondering what was going to happen. Still, his eyes were able to make out a small boy bent over a body.

"Seto!" It was Mokuba, sobbing as if his life depended on it. "Seto, you promised to protect me! You lied!" Mokuba's body shook heavily as he clutched the limp hand of his hero.

Creeping closer, Bakura's heart went out immediately to the boy. 'He's young, younger than I…and he fought in the battle?'

Sensing Bakura's presence, Blue Eyes lifted his head and growled, shifting into protective mode.

Hearing the growls, Mokuba's head whipped around to see the teenager, and the boy gasped.

"No!" Bakura held up both of his hands. "I won't hurt you! I'm not here to kill you!" he said, hoping that would be enough to still the fierce dragon's actions and reassure the boy, somewhat. Beside him, Syren whined.

Mokuba looked back at his brother. "Then…I wish you would!" he suddenly yelled. "I want to be with my brother!"

Casting a wary glance at the dragon, Bakura inched closer. "…I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I'm sorry for your loss…I…I know how you feel."

"No, you don't!" Mokuba sniffed. "Nobody knows how I feel!"

Bakura closed his eyes, feeling that all too familiar lump in his throat form. "Yes, I do."

"Huh?" Mokuba looked up and noticed for the first time a Pegasus with a…dead body on its back. "…" He did not know what to say; what could he say?

Bakura walked towards the boy, and the dragon did nothing, somehow sensing Bakura would be true to his word. "What is your name?" Bakura asked, uncertainly. "I am Bakura."

Mokuba wiped away a tear, smearing dirt across his cheekbone. "Mokuba," he answered.

Bakura was a foot away. He knelt down, asking, "This is your brother-"

"He died saving me!" Mokuba began to cry again, not caring that he was in front of a stranger. "But he didn't keep his promise!"

Bakura let Mokuba sob for awhile, placing a hand on the boy's upper back. Then, the teen prompted gently, "What promise?" For now, Bakura held back his own grief. 'I have to be strong for this boy…here and now. He is so young…we're both alone, now.'

"Seto said he'd protect me, but-"

Now he understood. "But he isn't protecting you from your sorrow," Bakura finished.

Mokuba nodded in reply.

The teenager's eyes softened another degree. "Your brother…I, of course, didn't know him, at all, but…no doubt, he wanted you to live, even if he were not there."

"But why?" Mokuba wiped his eyes again. "He knew I was going to be alone! Our parents are dead," he stated bluntly. Mokuba's eyes then darkened. "I have to find the person who killed him!" It was as if another Mokuba was talking, one consumed with immense agony. "I-"

"-want revenge," Bakura finished for him, shaking his head sadly. "What will you do after you carry out your revenge?"

Mokuba was silent – he really hadn't gotten far along in his plan. "I…I don't know."

"Do you even know who killed your brother?"

Mokuba sniffed, remembering the large man who had attacked him. "It was this man-"

"How do you know that it was that same man?" 'He is like Tristan,' Bakura thought, 'and yet…' "Do you know at all?"

"No, but-" Mokuba stopped as a realization dawned on him. "Wait a minute, you're the enemy!" The child backed away, crawling, with one hand still grasping Seto's hand. "You're one of the Pegasus Knights, aren't you?" Mokuba accused him coldly.

"I already told you," Bakura began, uncharacteristically firm. "I'm not here to kill you." Bakura then broke into a dismal smile, so faint it might as well have not been there in the first place. "Look at me. Am I holding you against your will? Have I brought a sword to your throat?"

"…" Mokuba turned his eyes away, ashamed of himself. 'Bakura's right. He isn't doing anything, but…' "I'm sorry," Mokuba said quietly, on the verge of tears again. "But I can't…trust you, just like that. We were told to kill Pegasus fighters."

"You seemed to trust me only a moment ago," Bakura pointed out. "You seemed to have forgotten about my Pegasus, Syren. With that exception, you knew nothing of me and you talked with me." Bakura brushed away his bangs from his eyes. "But now that you know who I am, you've become distant and suspicious, yet I have done nothing. Pegasus Knight…" Bakura swallowed hard, remembering Tristan. "That name is only a label, a duty, an occupation I am or was involved in. It has no meaning; for what gains has it brought? I've lost my best friend." A heavy sigh on his lips, Bakura said to himself, 'Funny, though, I might have been proud of such an honor…being a Pegasus Knight…but it truly is needless at this time.'

Mokuba suddenly snarled like a wild animal. "My brother is dead, too, and I'm crying, but how come you're not crying for your friend?" he snapped. "Are you heartless!"

Bakura frowned, trying to remember that this was a child he was dealing with. "I am not crying because I am trying to comfort you…to help you."

Silence overcame him and Mokuba's chest heaved, ready for another round of tears. However, tears were expected; a loved one that had meant the world to him had passed on. Mokuba knew the tears were going to keep coming…maybe they would never stop. "Nobody can help me."

Hesitantly, Bakura reached out and placed his hand on Mokuba's shoulder. It would be pointless to pursue the subject any further. "Well, is there anything I can help you with?" he asked, all of a sudden feeling awkward.

"…No."

Nodding, Bakura stood to his feet and then he remembered the dragon. Worried, Bakura spun around and saw Blue-Eyes staring at him. 'Oh, my…I think I had better go.'

"Why?"

"Hmm?" Bakura stopped and cocked an ear.

"Why did he have to die?"

Shifting his helmet to his other arm, Bakura turned his body around, facing the child. "Mokuba…"

"Why does everyone have to fight?" Mokuba's voice broke and then strengthened itself several times. "Why couldn't we just leave each other alone and then Seto would still be here!"

Bakura's eyes were full of such deep and aching sorrow, eyes that watered instantly, as he spoke the truth, something Tristan had told him. "Because that is the way we are."

"But don't they know – can't they see what's really going on?" Mokuba sobbed. "Seto died…and others will die, too! When is it going to end?"

"When people change their hearts," Bakura answered slowly. "That is when it will end."

"Then I'll make them change!" Mokuba said defiantly. "I-"

"You cannot force people to change…you cannot force the world to change." Bakura bent his head towards the ground, in silent mourning for the lost. "But you can change yourself first…then change the world through your actions."

"It's hard! I-I can't forgive the one who killed Seto! I just can't!" Mokuba wailed loudly, causing Blue-Eyes to move closer to the child as if to console him.

Bakura's hand clenched up into a tight fist. "I know…I know." He then paused, thinking of another possibility. "Mokuba…did you kill anyone, yourself?" Mokuba was, after all, dressed in armor, but did it make him a soldier, too?

The child froze as guilt washed in like a wave, remembering the one he had taken down. "Y-Yes."

"Then you are just as blameworthy as the one who killed your brother."

Mokuba was abashed. "But I was just doing what I was told to do!"

"And so was the soldier." Bakura sighed. "I killed, too, because I had been ordered to kill all enemies. I am no better or different than you or that soldier…or your brother and my friend."

Mokuba said nothing.

'Have we been pawns in a disturbed game?' Bakura wondered and went on: "It doesn't make you feel good, does it? We all are, in a way, murderers. We've destroyed peace by creating a war and now war has become something to fight to regain peace…with bloodstained hands."

"I never knew…" Mokuba whispered, and looked away, seeing all the fallen bodies around him, smelling the scent of death.

"And what about those who are tying to live peacefully?" Bakura sighed and shook his head. 'This has gone on far too long, the endless conflict in this world.' "You said you were alone?"

Mokuba nodded numbly. "I have no place to go, now…"

"Come with me."

"H-Huh?" Mokuba blinked. "You want me to go with you?"

"That is, if your dragon doesn't mind," Bakura said. "I need to return to my homeland to bury my friend."

"But what about my brother? I want to bury him, too." Mokuba looked back at Seto, feeling those tears stream again. 'I can't believe he's gone…'

Bakura was still, pondering over an idea. "You know…why don't we bury both of them, together? There is a place in the forest that my Pegasus took me to. It is a place that is so beautiful…and the strange part is, it is directly down the line on which we've been fighting on."

Understanding, Mokuba replied, "All right."

When they arrived at the place, Mokuba was in awe. Moonlight shone on a small valley with wild flowers growing all around. Blades of grass danced to the tune of the wind and trees hid them from the view of retreating armies in the distance.

Slowly and surely, the two males dug with their bare hands, with Mokuba's sword and Bakura's dagger, as best as they could with limited sources. Surprisingly enough, the Pegasus helped, too, catching on to its rider's actions. Blue-Eyes even deciphered what was going on and even moved a claw to help Mokuba remove some dirt. The two beasts – they were simply amazing.

Then the time came to say their good-byes, their final farewells…

Bakura went first, giving a salute to his captain and then kneeling down to speak with his friend: Tristan. "I will never forget what you did for me. I…" Bakura suddenly found it hard to speak. "I promise not to let your sacrifice go in vain. I will do all that I can to make things r-right." He tugged at a piece of grass, squeezing his eyes shut to stall the tears for a few seconds more. "Y-You were my friend since birth. You were my fearless captain. You were brave when I wasn't, strong when I couldn't be. I thank you for…for all the lessons I learned from you, for your kindness. Farewell, my friend, and rest in peace."

Mokuba went next, already past the point of faltering in speech; he was already crying. "Oh, Seto! I miss you…I miss you so much! I love you, big brother, I always will!" Mokuba covered his face with one hand while the other hung onto a pendant his brother had given him. "You were the best brother anyone could ever have! You took care of me and made me proud of you. Seto, I'll make you proud of me - someday!"

With an oath being made by each of them, they walked into the darkness together.

Two years later at the graves of Seto and Tristan…

"I know this is the anniversary of their friend and brother's death, but Mokuba's dragon keeps looking at me funny! It's making me very uncomfortable, you know!" a young man hissed.

"Pipe down, you fool!" a woman snapped. "Don't you have any respect in your puny little mind?"

"Both of you, calm down." Another woman sighed. "They'll hear you."

Three friends stood by their horses and the Dragon and the Pegasus. There was Joey, a mercenary-turned-warrior to help protect his friends. Then there was Mai, a nobleman's daughter on the hunt for adventure. Finally, there was Tea, the one whose family took in Bakura and Mokuba, though they did not "adopt" them. Tea had become a sister to Mokuba and something more to Bakura. All three of them were accompanying the former Pegasus Knight and Dragon soldier back to the north.

At the graves…

"I don't feel like I've made a big difference in this world," Mokuba was saying to Bakura. "There's still fighting going on around us."

"Mokuba, tell me, what do you see when you light a candle?"

"…Uh, a flame?"

"And what does it do?"

"It gives a little light to a dark room."

"And what can a flame turn into?"

"Um, a fire?"

Bakura smiled, patting his friend's shoulder. "Don't worry, Mokuba. Someday, people will begin to understand. Someday, there will be others like you, people who will have to the determined fire and shining hope that resides within you."

Mokuba sighed. "Thank you, but when will it happen?"

"Only time will tell."

Over the last two years, ever since the day Tristan had died, Bakura had changed. He had gone from being doubtful and worrisome to being almost lion-hearted, yet still cautious and kind. In a way, he was honoring Tristan's memory.

Mokuba, too, had evolved, but into a twelve-year-old boy whose dream of being a great swordsman like his brother was being fulfilled day by day, being taught by both Bakura and Joey. Mokuba would not use his sword to do battle, but rather enjoyed the art itself of sword fighting. It would be a legacy honoring Seto's memory.

"I'm telling you, it's going to attack me one of these days!"

"Probably will because it will be fed up with your stupidity!"

Joey and Mai were still arguing by the time Bakura and Mokuba arrived back at the edge of the valley. Bakura moaned. "Please, can you both refrain from saying nasty things to each other?"

"Oh, Bakura," Tea said, giggling. "That's the only way they know how to express their love for one another!"

"What!" two voices chimed in shock.

"Blue-Eyes won't hurt you, Joey." Mokuba touched the dragon's nose affectionately. "He'd never hurt anyone."

"You're just saying that because it never hurts you!" Joey remarked stiffly.

"But at least he stops the majority of the threats that come our way," Tea said, running her fingers through her horse's mane. "Just one look at the dragon and poof! All the cowards run away."

"Or maybe they were frightened because of this idiot's face!" Mai pointed at Joey, who retaliated.

"Or yours!"

Bakura only smiled. "Let's go. We'll have just enough time to reach the next town before dark."

Mokuba and Bakura were making it their life's journey, living to help others and preserve the bits and pieces of peace that formed along the way. They would not dominate, but take part in the ride into a new age…
Story Complete.

A/N: Now, now, don't flame me for killing of Seto and Tristan (I don't know if you care about him, but he's one of my favorite characters.); they are in a war after all – it had to be realistic.

In awhile, I plan to post one of my last YGO fanfics, Veritas, and it is a crossover taking place several years after Gundam Seed Destiny. Some of the war discussion in Together, We Ride is a kind of prologue for Veritas – Mokuba is one of the main characters and is in a more dangerous situation than the one in here. Maybe you'll keep an eye out for it…? If you do, it is appreciated.

A review would also be greatly appreciated. It doesn't take long, you know.