About two weeks since my last update. Not bad. This chapter turned out to be a lot longer, more intense, dramatic, angsty and emotional than I planned but it was SO worth it!
Definitely see end for notes
Disclaimer: Based on the manga volumes 9 and 10 which belongs to Takehashi who should be nominated for sainthood and which 4Kids should suffer miserably for completely and totally massacring...anyway ideas are mine.
WARNING: Angst, character death, mentions of pyrophobia, and very intense emotional situations. Seriously, this one is not for the faint of heart
Hell's Fire: Shadow and Flame
Something was wrong.
Yami felt it. Felt it with every fiber of his being. He felt cold, alone and suddenly frightened.
Horror came with realization.
Yugi's warmth was gone. The light and love and warmth he felt through their bond was weak and vacant.
Not even during their duel against Pegasus did it feel this bad.
He ran for the puzzle's door, wrenched at the handle. He needed to check on Yugi, check on his soul room.
The door was locked. It was never locked.
"Yugi!" Yami called out desperately.
"Yugi! Where are you!?"
He tried reaching out with their link but could only sense the slightest traces of Yugi's emotions: fear, confusion, shock, determination, terror!
Someone had taken the puzzle! Someone has stolen the puzzle! Stolen him. Was challenging Yugi for him. For his power.
Yami felt sick.
But he also felt Yugi's determination. His will to fight. His desire to get him back at all costs.
No! Yami wouldn't give up! If Yugi could fight then so would he. If they wanted his Power they were going to have to fight him for it, too.
Focusing all his power, all his strength Yami focused on Yugi on the presence of his kiind heart and courageous mind. Felt his strength wavering. And sent every ounce of encouragement he could through the fractured remains of their link.
Bold resolution fired back. And He heard the whisper of Yugi's voice.
"Other me, I will get you back! I can't lose!"
It was the most beautiful sound Yami had ever heard.
X X X
Someone was touching the puzzle.
Those slimy, disgusting, vile fingers that before had only touched the chain were now touching the puzzle. Touching him.
It was the grossest feeling. The most repulsive, nauseating thing. It was awful. Vile. Wrong. It felt completely and utterly wrong.
And the worst part was he could do nothing to stop it.
Even as he kicked, screamed and tore, the walls around him felt claustrophobic and numb as though his body and being had betrayed each other and surrendered helplessly to hopefulness.
But Yami would not surrender. Neveragain would he surrender. Not to the shadows. Not to the dark. Not to some ambitious, selfish, power-hungry maniac who only want him for his power. Not to anyone or anything.
He froze, paralyzed by pain as though someone had reached into his chest and ripped out his heart. He reached out to check on Yugi but the Eye was gone.
Someone had removed the puzzle's eye!
And then he felt the whole thing shatter.
Yami screamed.
Screamed at the feeling of a thousand needles piercing his body, completely numb to the outside world but feeling every spark of pain as the pieces hit the ground and it didn't stop until he felt them once more come together still separated but not scattered and that revolting touch finally gone.
He felt cold and numb absent Yugi's warmth and collapsed to the ground, his body exhausted from pain.
And then the shadows came.
The walls and stairs and rooms of the puzzle melted and morphed like a dispelled illusion revealing thick, oily black tendrils of shadow.
"No!" Yami screamed again throwing out the fragments of his power and shattered the coming darkness.
Not again. Never again. He would not go back there. He would never go back there. Ever again.
In answer to his determination and plea, lights burst from behind him, morphing and taking shape: quadrupedaled and lupine with fierce white fangs and untamed silver eyes.
"Silver Fang!"
Commanded by his name, the loyal wolf sprang forward savagely attacking the shadows all sharp claws and ferocious teeth. More lights burst behind him, colors of brown, white, purple, pink and turquoise: the Five Kuriboh Siblings! Boiling over with protective adamancy they opened their gaping maws, multiplied and attacked, a furious army of teeth and claws and fur and fury! The eldest and most loyal, the noble Kuriboh stayed behind to protect him, but even his brave little soul could not attack them all and when whips of shadows shoy forward catching the spirit by his wrist and ankles, Kuriboh bit and scratched and sawed valiantly with his claws and teeth but it did no good as the shadows started to pull and Yami felt himself being dragged.
Yami screamed again. This time in bold defiance.
Another creature came forward and with a flash of silver and a sheen like metal slicing through air he found himself tumbling free and crashing against something solid. Kuriboh held tightly in his arms. When he regained himself, the noble Celtic Guardian stood protectively in front of him smashing fearlessly at whips of shadow. But he could not defend and fight at once and so two more creature came forward and Yami found himself swept up by the motherly arms and long sleeves of the Mystical Elf casting protective chants as she kept her prince close to her. Behind her, a shadowy swoop a green color so deep it looked emerald black landed and spread its bat-like wings. Tuffs of green fur and mischievous golden eyes revealed the Feral Imp and true to its name, began attacking the shadows with all its wild, savage glory.
Roars echoed from overhead. Big blue wings and a ball of fire illuminating the darkness revealed the Winged Dragon. A gust of wind and a flash of skeletal gold and the Curse of Dragon joined the fight burning through the darkness with its fierce flames. Following it, Gia the Fierce Knight road in on his magnificent purple steed piercing Shadows with its powerful lance.
Still the shadows kept coming. Kept creeping. Closer and closer like half-buried corpses crawling out of their graves towards their prize: Yami. But his monsters would not let them have him. Wave after wave they fought: Feral Imp, Silver Fang and the Kuribohs with their teeth and claws, Winged Dragon and Curse Of Dragon with fire and flames, Celtic Guardian and Gia with sword and lance and Mystical Elf with defensive chants. Then the zombified shadows rise up becoming bigger, stronger, more monstrous. Still his monster's showed no fear.
The Mystic Elf changed her chant and suddenly with a ferocious fiendish roar like a dying shriek and a burst of lighting that electrified the shadow and reduced it to smoke and ashes, the Summon Skull burst forth. But the shadows would not give up and when it struck again determined to devour all his monsters and friends where they stood: he came and with a powerful burst of dark magic that caused all of reality to freeze and shatter the shadows, he landed gracefully, all radiant armor and pillowing purple robes.
"Dark Magician!" Never in all his life has Yami been so happy to see his most adored monster. The Magician flashed him a confident smile in turn though tainted with playful scolding as if this was not the first time it had to come and save his beloved master.
They were all here.
All his monsters were here. Fighting to protect him. Their loyalty unquestionable and their determination absolute.
Yami's heart swelled and he thought he might cry, so overcome was he with gratitude. They formed an army between him and the still coming shadows. Refusing to back down while Mystical Elf protected their King and comrade.
And then the shadows echoed with sound: a harsh, grating mocking sound that sounded disturbingly like laughter. And then it did something even more disturbing: it spoke. You foolish creatures! That eerie, slimy, sinisterly high and melodious voice sent a shiver down Yami's spine. Mystical Elf pulled him closer. Her gaze fiercely maternal and ferociously protective. The embrace was so familiar but Yami could not place it.
Do you really think you can defeat me! That you can stop me! That you can protect him from me!
It laughed maniacally so violent and vicious that the very walls of the dark shadow realm the puzzle's interior had become shook and shuddered under it. Shadows suddenly rose like plague demons. And in the darkness two glowing demonic eyes appeared: yellow and putrid.
Those eyes looked into his with such pure hatred, such intense and adamant rage: Yami had never been so terrified in all his life. He welcomed the Mystic Elf's unyielding embrace and the way all his monsters suddenly crowded in to protect him.
The demon of shadows let all its rage and hate bleed into its voice. I will kill you, Pharaoh. It spat like a joke. Because he. Is. MINE!
The realm shook and monstrous creatures of darkness, grotesque and gargantuan struck mercilessly and Yami watched in horror as one by one his beloved monsters fell trying to protect him. Curse of Dragon and Winged Dragon were ripped from the air by their wings, Feral Imp and Silver Fang overwhelmed by even more ferocious beasts tearing into their flanks. The Kuribohs did not give up even as their multiples fell quicker and quicker. Dark Magician struck out with his magic, Celtic Guardian fought close while Gia went long but then the largest and worsts is the brutes began ganging up on Summon Skull forcing the hulking giant to the ground even as his comrades fought to aid it. Mystical Elf threw up a shield around them all forcing the shadows back but they fought fiercely against it, killing themselves so others could pass. They attacked mindlessly, viciously, brutes with no will or purpose other than to destroy and they would destroy. Again and again to get to him.
Yami begged them not to fight but they would not listen, even Mystical Elf as she let him go and through all her strength into her shield even as she struggled under it.
Yami gasped. The strain...it was killing her!
"No! Please don't do this!" He begged determined not to lose her, knowing she was special to him somehow though he couldn't remember why. She only smiled at him and, using the last of her strength, throughout her shield. The shield expanded like a bubble and burst destroying anything it touched that was not her ally. The shadows disintegrated into dust but the victory was short lived.
She collapsed in a heap.
"No!" Yami cried out crawling over to her. The Celtic Guardian dropped to his knees at her side and Yami noticed something like tears glittering in his eyes. She offered them both a smile and whispered one last chant before her body evaporated into glittering dust like stars.
Yami burst into tears. The loyal Dark Magician was beside him. He looked around crying for his fallen friends: Silver Fang and Feral Imp, both wounded and dying; Summoned Skulk a fallen titan, limp and weak; Cuss of Dragon and Winged Dragon, their winged broken and their flames almost out. Gia and the Kuribohs stood beside them. Kuriboh placed a comforting green paw on his knee. Yami scooped him up into his arms and hugged him then cried in the Dark Magician's armored chest.
He never wanted any of them to die for him.
Laughter coming from the dark chilled his spine.
Yami shot up and the shock nearly stopped his heart.
The shadows.
They were healing themselves!
They were coming back!
Seeing them Celtic Guardian jumped up, roared and burst with an unstoppable energy! Empowered by grief and love and victory and vengeance, he struck them all down, taking strike after strike and refusing to slow! He would not go down fighting! He was going to win! He gave a protective battle cry in honor of his lost love and a new guardian came forward: a huge bulky black haired man holding an enormous shield: Big Shield Guardna! Yami remembered.
Silver Fang released a summoning howl, the Feral Imp a death rattle and with their final breathes before disappearing, two more beasts burst foreword: a massive lion-like animal and a bipedal demon with wings and horns and fierce yellow eyes. Gazelle and Berfomat. Suddenly, they merged together and in a burst of purple light a magnificent two-headed quadrupedal beast with massive wings joined the battle. Chimera, he remembered. He remembered.
As Curse of Dragon and Winged Dragon closed their eyes and vanished, Gia raised his lance and with a warrior's cry four bursts of lighting shot from the sky: four knights appeared, three young in matching armor, a king, a queen, and a Jack and a tall massively dragon- armored warrior brandishing a huge sword. The Buster Blader, Knight of Dragons and the King, Queen, and Jack's Knights!
From Summon Skull's sacrifice, he saw three robotic like creatures come forward then split apart and fuse themselves together into one powerful winged warrior: Valkyrian. Finally, beside Yami to the shock of both himself and the Dark Magician, a bubbly looking blond girl in a revealing pink and blue costume forced herself into the battle in an explosion of pink hearts. Her face made it clear she was determined to fight and no one would stop her, not even her Master.
Yami almost stumbled in shock when she kissed his cheek. He knew her. He knew her, though he could not remember her name. Finally, Dark Magician and Gia shared a warrior's nod and in a burst of sacrifice evolved so that standing before him was the Magician of Black Chaos and the Black Luster Soldier. Even the Kuribohs found themselves fired and Kuribeh, Kuribee, Kuriboh, and Kuriboo surrounded their friend while Kuriboh gallantly led the charge.
It was then Yami understood. His fallen comrades had summoned new ones to continue their fight and the Mystical Elf has given them all one last gift: the power to become stronger.
But as he watched the army of new and powerful monsters fight, even Guardna who knew how to use its shield as both weapon and wall, the shadows kept coming and this monstrous demonic god determined to destroy him just kept laughing at their efforts.
It wasn't enough. Dread almost consumed him.
They were going to lose.
His fallen friends' noble sacrifice would be in vain and his remaining friends would fight until they fell.
He would lose them. He would never see Yugi again. All because there was something everyone knew, that he didn't.
His monsters retreated forming a defensive wall around him.
The shadows lingered closer, circling like sharks, making a mockery of their efforts then feared up to strike.
All the while, the demonic darkness laughed.
"Helical Shockwave!"
Light more beautiful than anything Yami had ever seen suddenly burst from behind him vaporizing the shadows with such force they shirked and screamed as they were vaporized.
Yami whirled around and saw an enormous winged shadow rise up behind him but she (somehow he knew she was female) was different from the others. For though he could only make out the massive shoulders and wings of her outline and the lights of her solid blue eyes and the long slithery snake of her tail something about her triggered something dormant inside him.
A memory.
A memory of sand and soldiers. Bandits and a battle and himself fighting on a cliff as two brutes attempted to attack him, his power sealed away but that did not mean he could not fight and fight he did. And her, the beautiful majestic monster whose power rivaled and reflected the land itself. Her saving him and someone's hand catching his wrist before he fell. He could not make out the face. He could not remember the identity. But what he did recall was Her and her master's pillowing burgundy coat...and sharp, smirking, lavender eyes.
He was brought back to the present by the massive serpent of her tail wrapping protectively around him but he was not afraid. His monsters did not react, even looked relieved—they recognized an ally when they saw one and continued the fight. Shadows fled in absolute terror of the strange goddess' power and might but the dark god roared in pure, primal fury.
YOU! It howled like thunder. YOU ACCURSED BITCH! HOW DARE YOU! YOU WILL NOT STOP ME! NOT THIS TIME!
The serpent tightened protectively around Yami, its snake head rearing up like a spiting asp, and the goddess clenched her glowing fists and delivered a ferocious punch to the glistening forcing him back to the bowels from wench it came, puncturing every punch: YOU. WILL NOT TOUCH HIM! YOU WILL NOT TOUCH EITHER OF THEM!
Releasing another powerful attack fueled with light, the demon screamed and retreated, cursing and chanting vengeance. Yami's remaining monsters charged in attacking ferociously and not stopping until the beast was gone, sealed away back into that deep, dark chamber from where it had been kept and locked away behind a maze of locks, doors and traps.
Slowly then, the walls of the labyrinth started to reform and come back together. The battle was over. His monsters were safe. A new guardian had helped protect him. Relief so fierce and strong Yami nearly collapsed from it overcame him.
The serpent tail loosened her grip, forming a sort of near around the exhausted king. His monsters new and old surrounded him and for a moment he felt the spirits of his fallen friends hovering in the air, as if coming to tell him they were safe. They would be alright.
Yami put all his strength into his smile. "Thank you. All of you."
And he passed out.
X X X
Fire.
Heat.
It was the first thing Yami felt as he shot awake. The puzzle restored in all its strength, and Yugi's familiar warmth wiping away the memory of all others.
Yugi had done it!
He'd saved him! He'd restored the puzzle! Their bond was back and Yami threw himself into it determined to tell his Aibou and friend he was alright.
He felt Yugi's relief and love through the bond. He saw Yugi's expression through the Puzzle's eye: heartbreaking relief.
Yami almost cried from sheer joy, but something was wrong. Yugi looked exhausted: his face was pinched, his eyes weary, his skin pallor, his breathing hard as if he was struggling to do so and his lids looked so heavy it was a momentous effort to keep them open.
"Heat..." Yugi moaned. "Dizzy." Yugi collapsed and that was when Yami saw it: fire. Roaring, riveting red tongues of fire licking at every surface like the tongues of some horrible beasts. Tendrils of crimson burst and roared hungrily, consuming everything in its path like the flames themselves were a living thing growing stronger and more monstrous with all it devoured…and it had set its appetite on Yugi.
Yami screamed again, telling, begging, pleading with Yugi to wake up. To run! To escape and leave him because nothing was worth Yugi's young life. But Yugi's will was strong, even consciousness, and no matter what his friends tried, Yugi would not let go of the puzzle.
Yami gasped. There all his strength into a single word. "Jonouchi!"
Yami watched their friend gasp at his name, become inspired by it, let it clear his mind and form a plan to save he and Yugi both. Watched as it worked and watched as Jonouchi carried Yugi through what could only be described as the fiery pits of hell and outside into the light and relief of their friends.
Watched as Yugi was taken to a place called "The Hospital" for treatment. Relaxed when the healers called "doctors" in this time told them he would be alright and allowed him to keep his puzzle since it was so important to him, stunned that the heated chain had not left any burns.
Yami all but collapsed in relief once again but instead dashed again to the soul room door.
It practically swung open and their standing directly across from him in his own open doorway to his soul room, was Yugi.
They both looked exhausted and a little worse for wear but otherwise alright. Tears came to Yugi's eyes and he practically threw himself into Yami's already opened arms. They fell to the ground together wrapped in a fierce hug so tight and needed as if the other would disappear forever if they let go.
They didn't hold back their tears: tears of grief and sadness and loss and apology and heartbreaking relief and love.
Yugi sobbed apologies over and over and Yami crying "Don't ever like that again!" For nothing, not the loss of his monsters, the fear of the shadows nor that horrible darkness that had once held him captive nor that demonic shadow god whatever it was, none of it scared him more than the terror of losing Yugi.
"I'm so sorry!" Yugi wept. "I'm sorry I was so careless and..."
Yami pulled him back met Yugi's eyes with fierce loyalty "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Yugi. Don't you dare!" He said it without doubt or hesitation. "This was not your fault."
He hugged him again and they both cried holding each other in their arms. Yugi explained what had happened. Explained the Otogis' relationship with his grandpa and the puzzle. How it shattered. Yami explained what happened when the puzzle shattered. The shadows that attacked and their monsters who fought and fell valiantly protecting him. Yugi burst into tears and together they mourned their fallen comrades: grateful for their sacrifice and grieving their loss. Yugi vowed that when they returned from the puzzle together they would make a new deck both to honor their fallen friends and welcome the new ones who'd saved Yami. True, the deck had originally been Grandpa's but he generously gave it to them claiming their cards' hearts had already bonded with Yugi and his spirit, and they had proved that today. Yugi would get all their names and ask Grandpa if he would get them for him, somehow. But for now it didn't matter. Because none of it mattered. They were back together and that was the most important.
They didn't notice the sharp set of lavender eyes watching them from behind the shadows.
X X X
Bakura collapsed against the stone wall so full of relief he feels sick from it. The only reason Ryuji and his father are still alive and not mad, raving shells is because there would be no point: Ryuji already scolded his father and the man was nearly mad under the weight of his own shame—and in the case of the old man, the puzzle beat him to it. But even if it hadn't it would not have mattered.
She returned to him then, fused with his shadow and her warmth was a comfort he could not begin to thank her for, but he did anyway.
"Thank you." He looked back to the Pharaoh still clinging tightly to Yugi even though they'd both passed out. She is the only one he would ever utter those words to.
She replaced his shadow. Nods, her blue eyes bright.
"Is he locked away?"Bakura hissed refusing to even honor him with his name.
She nodded.
"Good," he sighed and closed his eyes but his vision was consumed by memories. Memories of shadow and fire and flame and screams and burning corpses and the melting face of that hideous clown while two boys and a third trapped inside a puzzle fought their way out of hell.
It was the only thing he truly feared.
Fire had taken everything from him once and it had almost done so again. Almost.
Damnit, now he actually owed Jonouchi a debt.
"This cannot happen again." He stood looked at his shadow, into her bright burning blue eyes. "I will not let it." She nodded in agreement.
Oh man, this one was an adventure to write but again it was totally worth it! I'd started it a week ago and finally finished it today when work stress got to me...
Originally, I only planned on having a few of Yami's monsters helping him fight the shadows but as i started getting into his duelist kingdom monsters vs his and Yugi's battle city monsters I realized with a heavy heart just how many of my favorite monsters were replaced in the second season. Special shout out to Silver Fang, Feral Imp, Cure of Dragon, Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress, Summoned Skull, Curse of Dragon and, of course, the Mystical Elf...halfway through writing this (and based off the hospital episode in the manga) where Yugi mentions that during his three day stay at the hospital, he and Yami built a new deck together) this was my explanation why certain monsters were removed and replaced with others and how Celtic Guardian become Obnoxious Celtic Guardian-I have a head cannon of the Mystical Elf and Celtic Guardian being together and you can declaim that headcannon over my cold, dead, rotting carcass!
Also shout out to the Mystical Elf for having an awesome power! Seriously, I checked the manga! she had the ability to transfer her own attack power to other monsters IN THE MANGA! WHY DID THEY NOT MAKE THAT HER POWER IN TH GAME!
Anyway...LOTS OF FORESHADOWING and important bits this chapter! I strongly recommend reading it more than once to get them all ;) There is so much i wanna say about this chapter and yet i can't. Not yet ;) so PLEASE any theories or guesses on who the shadows were though i think its pretty obvious send them all my way!
Next chapter is in production and my goal is to get one updated per week so be on the look out for another one later this week!
