Story: Halcyon and Rhapsodize
Chapter: 3
Title: Elemental Trails
Series: YU-GI-OH!
Author: Kineticfairy

Disclaimer: renounce legal right: to renounce a legal claim or right to something. I have no legal claims on the creations of Kazuki Takahasi and now the story…

Hooves clomped loudly from outside the carriage. The carriage wheels themselves jounced over ruts in the broken street. Lord Pegasus was speaking on and on about the landmark. Battle City was once the Heart of Pym, but somehow after so many deputes about its wealth and position that an all out war overran the city. Turning it into an actual battleground, a city of many battles. However with the high loss of lives they were eventually worn down and the city itself reduced to rumble, now holy ground where the entitlement of Elemental Weapons were held five generations apart. Téa never asked any questions, she simply looked out the window and absorbed all that he said, he chuckled several times, delighted that he was present for such a holy ritual.

"Ah," King Solomon said with a grin. "We've arrived?" the carriage itself had come to a complete stop, Téa watched as a young man jumped down from the carriage, black hair spiked and gleaming in the sunlight, he opened the door and offered his hand to Téa.

"We've arrived." he said as she took his hand and he helped her down, not that Téa could not have gotten down herself.

"Excellent Mako." King Solomon said rising from his cushy seat. They climbed out of the carriage one by one, Serenity taking hold of Téa's hand and smiling at her, "This way ladies." King Solomon said, directing them ahead of him as Mako lead the way. "Well, Lord Pegasus? Is it a dream?"

"One coming true, dear friend." he said with a smile. Téa looked about her. Serenity had been right, the sun itself was hidden low behind some clouds, peeking through just enough to shed light, but the sky was now a dimmer blue. She saw the Prince descend from his horse and look over at her, he bowed his head and she blushed and turned her head. No matter what happened, she needed to forget about that, oh, so, wonderful kiss he planted on her last night.

"Look!" Serenity suddenly shouted as they began climbing worn and torn stairs. "Its Master Kaiba and his younger." she waved at them and Téa had to peer hard into the desert wasteland to see a man on a horse, accompanied by four others and a little pony on his right with a boy with long black hair, openly waving.

"So everyone one is here, so everything is ready." King Solomon said, ushering the girls higher. Serenity smiled and hurried to sit on the end chair of stone on the far right. She instructed Téa to sit next to her where King Solomon took his place on her left and Lord Pegasus took his seat to the King's right. Yami climbed the stairs and knelt in front of Téa… offering his hand. Serenity gently elbowed Téa into taking his hand.

"Lady Goddess, the Void in which I serve. Always do I promise to be your loyal servant, always do I swear to be your protector and savor in your time of trouble, always will I be willing to sacrifice myself for your greater good, for the power in which you possess to save us, your servants. May you be blessed and in turn bless us. I offer this of myself to you." From his neck he lifted a thin gold chain, contain the sigil for water. Releasing her hand he draped it over her neck. He then took her hands again and brushed kisses to each knuckle. Rising he bowed and descended from the steps. "Please let me be worthy." Yami muttered as he controlled himself from looking back. Serenity's hand went for the Goddess, he could sense her grip. His blond hair friend gave him a grin and thumbs up.

"Yami, you've got this under your crown." he said and squeezed his shoulder. Yami prayed that his friend was right as he made his way into the center of the broken city. He was allowed to see her now. His eyes absorbed the beauty of what she was, his dream lady. Seto Kaiba now made himself known. They locked eyes, violet battling vivid blue. He pulled on his horses' reigns, and continued his journey towards the other Knights. They were rival's from other Kingdoms, Seto Kaiba almost as powerful as a king it was only when Seto was out of his sight again that the pillar from underground began to rise, shaking and booming through the shattered city. It finished its ascent and Yami stared at the sword, so beautifully designed and emitting a soft blue glow. Yami drew in a breath. He had read this chapter over and over again, dreamed it repeatedly and had nervously awaited its arrival and today, was the day he would fulfill his destiny.

Téa watched him, his legs moving and his hand outstretched, his fingers working and he stopped and braced himself, grabbing hold of the glowing sword. He pulled it out of the slit in the stone and suddenly the glow flowed away forcefully, pushing Yami back, holding his ground as best as he could. He didn't fall, but what she saw next made her eyes widen and her breath catch in her throat as her heart thudded against her rib cage. It couldn't be… it wasn't possible. But there it stood, thirty feet tall, hovering over Yami with gleaming sharp fangs, its narrowed, chest heaving and water mist shot from its nostrils. The scales served as armor that shimmered a brilliant blue. Téa rose from her stone seat, her gown draping on the broken rock below her feet, her hands pressed down on the ruined railing. Yami rose his sword high above his head and the Dragon eyed him balefully, and the Prince smiled. This was a powerfully angry beast, the stench of oil was rank in the hot air, oozing from the glands at the base of the long, spiked tail. The Dragon stood tall, its nails extending into the ground below its massive feet, the talons as thick as a man's waist, balance easily kept even with its long tail lashing about. It seemed to her an unequal contest: the massive, dagger-toothed Dragon against one man on foot. "Yami." she whispered under her breath, her hands clenching tighter on the railing.

The Dragons tail whipped at the ground behind his massive body, its head reared up, its wide, long mouth opened, revealing a row, high and low of sharp yellowish-white dress. As frightening as this beast was, beauty still shone, she was enticed and afraid all at once, her fear for the Prince as great as her faith in him. Her head turned from the sight when a shadow befell her. She looked up, he hovered high above her, handsome of face. His eyes empty and deep blue, no smile lines graced his face as if he never smiled at all, his windblown hair looked feather soft of chocolate brown, his skin creamy peach. He was bejeweled in gold and sapphires, his outfit whites and soft blues. "My Lady… you should sit." his voice was deep and gravelly. She stared at him, then sucked on her bottom lip, shaking her head.

"I'm worried." she said as she watched Yami gulp down terror, hold his sword high and stand his ground. "Will he die?" she wondered. The Dragon loomed over him, sunlight glaring off his bluish hide. She had a mental image of Yami's head being swallowed into that gaping throat. She had never imaged anyone being so close to a real, live Dragon. She wanted him to run and hide from the Dragon until it flew away.

Instead he leaped to one side, slashing the sword down with all his might. The Dragon let out an enraged roar and thundered towards Yami. "If you believe he will succeed and if he believes then he will come out as the one meant to guard you." He told her and she looked into those yellow, infuriated eyes. The Dragon extended his wings and the bones cracked like blasts of lightning across the sky. Yami swung the sword again, chopping into the meaty leg of the giant lizard. Wings beating heavily as he continued advancing on the Prince. It rose on its hind legs and its front leg slashed out, Yami jumped back, the Dragon missed his vitals but caught his arm. Yami fell to his knees and rolled away, sand sticking to blood. The Dragon plunged its head down, Yami rolled away, it repeated this method three more times, its large left front foot pinned Yami's body down, as it came down for a forth try, Yami lifted his pain wracked arm and plunged the newly gained sword deep into the eye socket of the great beast.

A great wail filled the air and it flew backwards, landing on the backside, like a giant whale out of the sea. Her hands flew to her face, unable to watch. A hand landed gently on her shoulder and she looked back to where the stranger stood. "Believe, Goddess." she nodded and looked back.

Yami struggled to his feet, gripping his right arm with his left. He hurried towards the flailing beast and pointed his sword. "Blessed Signet!" he yelled and a blue sigil emitting light whirled slowly until it stopped and the Dragon glowed brightly and turned into water and was sucked into a sapphire stone embedded in the swords blue and black leather hilt. Yami breathed heavily and then fell to his knees. King Solomon jumped from his seat, cheering and clapping. Téa sighed and leaned forward over the railing, her arms supporting her.

"I'm next." Téa looked at him.

"You're next?" he nodded and his hand slipped from her shoulder, the hot wind blowing across her face. She watched him descend down the stairs. Téa ran to the edge of the steps. Yami was being helped up the stairs, one eye shut, but he was smiling and laughing as he spoke to the blond. King Solomon opened his arms and walked down the steps, opening his arms to his eldest grandson.

"Yami! Yami!" he laughed as he hugged his grandson, careful of his wounds. "I'm so proud of you… obtaining the soul of the Water Dragon. Yugi will be proud too." he laughed. Téa smiled and he looked at her.

"Congratulations… I knew you could do it." he smiled at her and made his way over to her, when she went wild with tears and gathered him in a hug, crying. He laughed, wincing a bit. He lifted his good arm and touched her hair.

"Thank you, but… not here." she nodded and stepped back, wiping her tear stained face as Serenity came to her and escorted her back to her seat.

"Lady Téa we need to speak. Yami is a Guardian, he isn't allowed to hold you in need like that. Its forbidden." She nodded. He wasn't allowed to love, she remembered now, looping the necklace around her index finger.

"What if I fall in love?"

"Death… that's what the prophesy predicts."

"Has… has it ever happened? Has the Goddess or any of the men she has loved profoundly died?"

"Well, like Lord Pegasus spoke of: its every five generations. I don't really know. Just keep any emotions you feel buried." Téa didn't think that made any sense, if there were no witness to the demise of Goddess and/or lover than what was the use in telling two people they were forbidden to love. She looked back over at the Prince whose arm was still draped over his Grandfather's shoulder, laughing and talking about how nervous he had been in the face of his Elemental Beast. Her eyes turned from him as she noticed the lone figure. "Oh, Master Seto is preparing himself for the trail!" Serenity looked star stuck. "He's a wonderful fighter."

"Have you witnessed many of his duels?" King Solomon asked as he sat back down next to Téa. Serenity looked over at the king, the invisible stars from her eyes all but vanished. She whispered a sad little "no" and he gave her a reassuring smile.

"But I've heard so many tales from actual witnesses. Many have challenged him and failed to beat him, they even wanted rematches, but he refused, saying that they should come back where they were worthy of his dueling skills." she sighed then, the dreamy look in her eyes. She giggled suddenly, covering her mouth.

"Oh, what is it?" Lord Pegasus wondered as she covered her dainty mouth with her gloved hands. Serenity looked back over at the older man, wiping her hair off her shoulder.

"My brother has challenged Master Seto, unfortunately, he didn't even come close to beating him, failed so very quickly. Poor Joseph." she said looking a little sorry for her brother. Téa found it odd that this young girl thought it funny that her own brother lost to the duel.

"Oh, I see." Téa said, getting a catty girl look on her face, a smirk appearing from nowhere.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you fallen for Master Seto?" Téa wondered and suddenly Serenity looked flushed. Her dreamy state vanished all over again and she turned her head. Obviously the Healer had. Téa decided to lay off and she looked over at Seto. He was now approaching a levitating bow and quiver, white feathers stuck to long whitish-blue shafts within the white quiver.

"It's happening, another Elemental Trail." Pegasus said with delight, lifting himself from his seat just a bit to get a better view of things. Téa looked around now, seeing that Yami had vanished from his spot where he had been talking to his grandfather, she hadn't seen him wander off. The Dragon made an appearance in her mind. She stood alone in a black background, the Dragon towered at her right, its long neck twisted in her direction, she faced it. It shot out a stream of water, parting on either side of her. She stood in a frighten motion.

It was your faith that helped him succeed.

My faith?

Yes, Void… do you know who I am?

Leviathan. She shocked herself by knowing who this mind-speaking creature was. It boomed as it turned its body towards her. She stepped forward, instead of backwards, surprising herself further. Her arm slowly rose, her hand flat out facing the face of the Dragon. Its long neck drew down and she touched the space between the large nostrils that jettison water.

I love you and will serve you faithfully.

Love me?

I am Prince Yami's anima.

His anima?

in Jungian psychology, the true inner self as opposed to the outer persona. Watch. Will you have faith in this one as you did in me… Prince Yami. It all faded, everything became bright again as Seto grabbed for bow and quiver, slinging the leather strap over his head and shoulder. He stepped back as the sky darkened with gray clouds. Thunder rolled in the heavens and Téa was afraid that it would begin to rain. Her hands clutched the stone arm rest. Rain, rain made her angry and panicky. Lucky there was no sudden dropping of water, only great gales. Long and slender, white with a blue jewel embedded in the center of its eyes, that gleamed a bright gray. It had about ten wings, one on each side of its slender length, the wings themselves transparent. It opened its mouth revealing a toothless gap of blue, wind shot out like a whirlwind towards Seto, he rolled to the side as the whirling wind cut through the broken street. Seto pushed himself up from his knees and drew an arrow. Alien eyes widen and the new monster, the Unnamed, struck at Seto. Téa's hands involuntarily went to her eyes. Seto jumped back as the monster came at him again. It rose, sensing that striking impulsively wasn't working. It's long body snaked and Seto flipped backwards and landed, turning to take off towards higher ground. The creature plunged deep into the ground, leaving a crater in its wake.

Téa's hands moved from her eyes and she once again rose from her seat. "SETO!" she cried out and he looked up at her, smirked and then jumped up onto a fractured pillar and strung his bow once more as the creature burst through the ground. This wasn't its advantage, rather its heated mistake. Seto released the bow and struck at the heart of beast… at least that was what she suspected. Serenity grabbed Téa by the shoulders and tried to pull her away from the balcony. Téa strived to fight her off, worry coursing through her, the same as it did before with Yami. Her emotions were going wild, Lord Pegasus stared at The Void, his interest sparking higher. She was something to marvel at, not because of her undeniable beauty, rather the power that she radiated.

The Unnamed howled into the dark sky. "Faith. I have to have faith." Téa muttered as she swatted at Serenity's hands. Téa bowed her head and closed her eyes, locking her fingers together as to pray. Her lips moved slowly, quickening with each beat of her heart, but no words came from her mouth.

"Uh… Lady Téa?" Serenity looked over at Seto as the Monster came crashing down, winding like rope on the broken floor.

Seto drew another arrow and released, hitting the creature in the eye. It shrieked again, green blood oozed from its eye. "Ignite Arrows!" He pulled three arrows from his quiver, strung them and released. The arrows exploded on contact, giving off small fire blasts. It lasted for about twenty seconds before the Unnamed vaporized into white smoke, into the white jade embedded in the quiver. Seto lowered his bow and looked back at the balcony, seeing The Void pray. "A zealous Goddess… hmm." he made his way over to his little brother, who ran over to him, cheering.

"Seto! Seto, you did it!" he cried, grabbing his brother around the midsection in a tight embrace. Seto smile, running his hand over the top of his long black hair.

"Sure I did, The Void is on my side, Mokuba." His smile was thin, but there and it made his little brother smile. "Now, we must pay homage to The Void." Mokuba smiled that classic child's smile and he ran ahead of his body. Serenity saw them approaching and she tapped on Téa's shoulder. Téa opened her eyes and looked over at the Healer.

"Master Seto is coming this way." Téa turned her body towards the approaching boys and lowered her hands, the clouds were beginning to part and when had the rumbling in the sky ceased? She watched them climb the steps. The little boy ran up and looked up at Téa in awe and wonder.

"Are you really The Void?" Before Téa could say anything to the awestruck boy Serenity's hand came out and brushed back Téa's bangs. "Amazing! Seto, Seto, look at the Sigil! I've never seen one like that!" Seto was now standing before Téa. She leaned her head back a bit to look up at him.

"I live to serve you. I live to protect you. As your Guardian, the Air Knight, I will lay down my life in order to ensure your survival… Pym's survival. My Goddess." he lifted her hand and brought it to his slightly chapped lips, brushing butterfly kisses to her knuckles and making butterflies flutter in her stomach.

A/N: Once again I've failed on achieving a greater number of reviews and actually fell short, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

End chapter three: Reviewing this story saves a Moogle, Won't someone please think of the Moolges?

Jadepriestess: Took a while for me to understand what you were saying, but I think I got it. You liked the story so far and wish for me to continue updating, which I will. I'm hoping to achieve a certain amount of reviews in a certain amount of days before releasing the next chapter and I hoping to get the page to exceed a certain number of pages before hand. I'm glad you like it, but be patient and thanks for hanging in there and for your review as well.

Xanthia Nightshade: I have heard of Mysterious Play. I never considered it in the mix of my story. Writing a good story takes a lot of work, phew! So I am pleased that this is still holding interest, though I was starting to rust on chapter three. Thanks for your review!