Spoiler Alert!
It goes without saying that I don't own rights to either YuGiOh! or the animated series "Gargoyles".
. . . .
FORECAST: Under 18, here is your warning!
. . . .
Suntory fell suddenly ill Friday night but insisted that she finish this by midnight tonight.
Writing is one of her greatest passions and even when she was bedridden, Suntory was brainstorming away for the finale of this piece. Between visits and naps we will be composing. We wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween! -BlueNovaNF & SuntoryAngel
Halloween 2021 FanFic Yu-Gi-Oh! X Gargoyles
When a Gargoyle Falls
Chapter 18:
This is Halloween
Sapphire eyes narrowed as each screen before him lit up with alarms and whistles, each bearing footage of the very city he resided within. He hardly recognized it though from the near apocalyptic devastation growing by the second. A swipe of his finger upon the panel beside his chair caused the screens to rotate so that he coul view each individual news channel in turn.
"As you can see behind me, hundreds of people are scrambling in attempt to find safety!" Screams filled the air as explosions broke out across the city block, two figures locked within a fierce battle high above the bustling streets of New York while earning the eye of international television. "I'm standing here on Fourteenth Avenue and the devastation is catastrophic! Buildings have large sections missing, several citizens have been injured by falling debris, but the miraculous thing is that no lives have been lost…"
"…tonight, we are finding ourselves within a warzone. No foreign country is admitting to these attacks falling upon New York City. Secretary of Defense and the President are currently meeting via remote communications in hopes to find out who is responsible…"
His hand stalled as one of the screens lost its signal, eyes widened as through the static he caught glimpses of two figures and captured the screenshot just before it went black. The computer built within his desk made quick work of the blurred image slowly cleared as the hard drive and software went to work; on the left the figure had platinum white hair, indigo skin, four large tattered bat-like wings, slanted eyes that shone red probably from the camera flare. On the right was a feminine figure, also with four pairs of large wings that were like those of a butterfly, loose feeling robes billowing around her like clouds, long hair flowing behind her, eyes locked upon the one attempted to evade her attacks.
"Rolan, bring in a few extra chairs and desks. Make sure to have the coffee bar and barista at the ready."
"MrKaiba?"
"Something tells me we are about to get a lot of company."
. . . .
"They're wrecking havoc all across the city and you're saying we can't do a thing?!"
"I thought I told you all to shut up so I can concentrate!" Valentine snapped, mauve flashing crimson along with a clear view of her fangs towards the pair of gargoyles that had been pestering her for the last hour. Multiple spellbooks she herself had collected over the centuries laid open before her to various pages with illustrations and complicated spell formulas. "I told you, I'm looking for something that will help us! Why don't you all go and do something productive instead of sitting here distracting me?!" She blinked, rising to her feet and removing a chain from around her neck to reveal an hourglass pendant. "The answer's been right under my nose this whole time! I don't have enough materials for the spell and it would take a lot of energy." A smirk raised her lips. "And I know just where to get it."
The clan curiously followed the rose hued female as she swept up a few of the book after closing them with a snap and hurried from the room. Corners were turned, hallways of sandstone gave way to metal, ancient decorations became shiny modernistic, but the doorway she blew through as f she were a fore of nature was a pair of doorways bearing the emblems of a mighty white dragon.
"You know, I always wondered why your logo was that of such a divine beast but now I think I know."
Sapphire eyes opened as she came to a stop in the center of the space. "I was wondering when you'd come marching into my office." Kaiba stood and moved around his desk, the screens also swiveling so that the gargoyles too could see the destruction being had. "Mind telling me why one of yours is out there destroying my city?"
"That is not an ally," she seethed, lip curling in disgust. "He is the one who betrayed us. As a descendant of the High Priest who wielded the power of the White Dragon, it's your responsibility to help us here and now to put an end to this threat."
"So that is the infamous Black Pharaoh, Ruler of the Darkened Sands." His arms crossed as he revealed the image he had enhanced earlier showing the battling pair. "In our history books, the golden empire of Egypt fell due to its cold hearted ruler that used an iron fist and a silver tongue to manipulate his own subjects or those of neighboring countries to commit high treason. From one of the most ancient texts is this:
"When the sands run with streams of blood, so shall the moon stain the skies with crimson stars. Royal ties once strong and steadfast now burned by hate's cruel flame. One shall slain the other, for the throne can only seat one, but if the unworthy were to sit within the golden seat the luster of Egypt will tarnish black as night."
He narrowed his gaze upon the gargoyles before him, fingers lacing while fixing his gaze upon Valentine. "During your original era, there were the siblings Bakura and Teanna, the sole heirs to the throne of Egypt in nine hundred-ninety-two AD. Incidents began happening, the sacred counsel that were advisors to the pharaoh disappeared unexplainably and people were acting more like monsters than man with an increase in crime rate. Records show that the last high priestess was succeeded by the princess but she too disappeared after the pharaoh, her brother, spread his rule to the neighboring countries."
"It wasn't uncommon for siblings or cousins to commit crimes against their own blood if it meant they had power. That was one of the first things I learned while we watched from our original home I the Valley of Kings." Mauve flashed crimson for a moment. "I had always wondered why Princess Teanna acted so coldly towards us when the prince was supposedly our friend. Only the gods know of the lies and tales that he fed her until he could no longer blame us for what was happening to their kingdom." Fangs lengthened, appearing between her full lips as she lashed out at one of the opaque screens, lengthened claws harmlessly passing right through the projection when Bakura's face was shown. "The people looked at us as though we were monsters but that wasn't true, you sick bastard! They should have been pointing their fingers at you, you were the one who caused all of their suffering, not us!"
"Shouting at his picture won't accomplish anything." Kaiba moved across the room until he stood before her. "You know magic but you need the energy. I have it. You need it."
She caught on to what he was saying. "Now is not the time for striking a deal." Her eyes grew wide when the book, the old tome of magical spells, was offered.
"The girl was here the whole time and I see that now she would never put you in danger." For the Riefenstahl fraction of a second, his eyes softened as they fell upon the image of the brunette now turned to wrathful goddess. "I should have trusted in my cousin better than that."
"What?!"
All eyes, including those of the gargoyles who had exclaimed in unison, turned to the doorway to find a young man rooted within it who looked as though he was about to faint. The eldest of the Kaibas grimaced. "Dammit."
"What are you talking about, Seto? We don't even share the same name as her!" He took quick steps across the office until he was inches from his older brother. "Explain!"
"Your grandfather had a secret affair while his stay in Japan, one that eventually bore him a girl with chocolate hair and large cerulean eyes." a figure stepped into the room, her duo colored eyes sympathetically meeting azure then navy. "It was a moment of weakness, one that the proud man could not bring himself to acknowledge since he already had an heir who was promising and just when he thought his pride couldn't grow that son gave rise to two sons, one who rose to rule the company while the other chose to love the city they had come to call home."
Valentine's arms were thrown around Asuka's shoulders, rubbing their cheeks together. "I wasn't sure how to call you!"
"Once I form a bond with someone, you don't have to." Her lips raised into a smile as Shinsei appeared at her left, nodding in greeting to the other gargoyles. "I could feel that you were all desperate, afraid, that you wanted to save Anzu." A flick of her wrist revealed a hair tie, sweeping up her hair into a high ponytail so that only her bangs that nearly covered the blue eye were left hanging as she was released and faced the Kaiba brothers. "You don't need to be afraid of me or my partner, we aren't here to hurt you."
"So you must be the pair of travelers that suggested our own father not attempt to reach out to his own sibling. We found his journal after his death that spoke of two foreigners who seemed to be from another world. It was at your suggestion that he did not approach them." Sapphire narrowed. "Why?"
She met his gaze head on despite Shinsei's move to intervene. "For the gargoyle clan's sake, she had to develop into her own person without the influence of the Kaiba name. Anzu Mazaki has a destiny as we all do but hers is so integrated with his that if it were severed it would mean doom to this world." Asuka's eyes narrowed. "We can't waist anymore time. Every blow that those two exchange causes ripples to affect the other worlds, causing instability and altercations against their original timelines." A wave of her own hand caused a few of the screens to change locations, places that wouldn't normally have cameras, to reveal what looked to be-
"Wormholes?"
"I don't think she's meaning to, but those two are creating portals to alternate worlds across time."
Yugi took a step forward. "Two beings with immeasurable power colliding, it wouldn't be impossible, but the odds would be-"
A collective gasp rose as one of the screens, showing live footage of the fight, panned in time to catch sight of Bakura delivering a blow which caused a large gaping wound to appear upon her shoulder, lips and eyes widening as what was sure to be a scream of agony coming from her just before it lost its signal. Valentine shared a look with Asuka, earning a nod, and each turned to their respective companions. "Let's get to work."
. . . .
His fist slammed against the barrier as the fight waged on. No matter how loud he shouted, how much he searched the bubble for a weakness, he couldn't find an escape. She was out there trading blow for blow against the individual who was responsible for all of the suffering to not just Egypt but his clan members. A large wound appeared upon her shoulder and caused his chest to convulse as the air filled with her scream. He had to do something, but what?! Here he was, without his gargoyle strength and claws, trapped within a divine barrier made by what he could only guess was the goddess- Amethyst widened. Isis was the goddess that the High Priestesses were bestowed their abilities from; it was true for Lady Ishizu so if it was true that Princess Teanna took her place then she too would have been capable of wielding the same power. How or why would the goddess chose to take over Anzu?
A ringing nearly caused his tense heart to stop, his hands scrambling to find its source and gasped as he found it tucked within the belt around his waist. When had her phone been put there? His finger pressed against the large green button. "About time!" Valentine's voice came through the little device. "Atem, where are you?"
"The old theatre, not too far from the palace!" His grip upon it tightened. "She's been taken over by Isis, Valentine, and Bakura is the embodiment of Zorc!"
"Don't you yell at me too, I've got more than my fair share of shit to deal with right now!"
There was a scuffle sounded and then a voice that reminded him of a silk curtain fluttering in the wind as sunshine filtered through its weave filled his ear. "Atem, my name is Asuka, a recent friend of Anzu and Valentine. I'm sending my companion and someone else to come and try to help you get out of that barrier but you have to trust him. Until he gets there you must calm yourself so that when he does the plan can proceed." His breath caught as the image of a young woman with duo colored eyes filled his mind, her expression gentle and sympathetic yet determined. Her lips lifted into a soft smile as a wave of assurance passed over him in the form of invisible fingers squeezing his own. "You've just begun to trust humans again and I know you may not know me but we will get her back, Atem, you have my word." As his head bobbed in a nod, the image vanished as did the presence that had brushed against his own as the line went dead.
The strange phenomenon that had been occurring just on the other side of the near destroyed room flared for a moment, figures appearing from within it that Atem could only blink and question his sanity as what looked to be a reflection of himself stepped through. The other figure stepped up to the barrier, this one unrecognizable with Damascus steel colored eyes and black hair. "Name's Shinsei, Asuka sent us." He glanced over his shoulder as the other person he had brought with him came closer. "Meet the you from the alternate world where a ceremony known as the Holy Grail War is performed."
Though he was dressed in a hooded vest, black jeans, boots, and narrowed eyes, it was unmistakable. The energy around this one was strong enough that even on the other side of the barrier the gargoyle could feel it. This being, whoever or whatever version of him that this person was, they bore immense power. The hood was pulled back to reveal familiar ebony hair that stood upright with crimson tips and golden bangs. "If it wasn't for my Master ordering me with use of a Command Spell, I would not have come." He seemed to almost regard the bubble with boredom, his arms crossing over his chest. As if sensing his gaze the narrowed amethyst eyes met widened ones as his lips lifted into a smirk. "To think that this world's version of myself would allow himself to be subdued by something like this…it's almost laughable." His expression softened into one of calm understanding. "You must have been caught by surprise, that would be the only reason someone would gain the upper hand on us. Our weaknesses must be shared, for only with the one we hold closest does our guard truly fall." He winked as his brows furrowed while turning his attention to surveying the barrier from multiple angles, decorated fingers with bands of gold appearing from the hoodie's pocket as he went. "We best make this quick so I may return to her side swiftly before another Master finds her."
"Think you can bust through it, Ruler?" Shinsei's eyes widened as energy gathered within the Servant's fingertips. "Duck your head, gargoyle!" The room was swallowed up by a bright golden light.
. . . .
Duo colored eyes swam out of focus for a moment as her motions came to a stop, pupils returning to their normal size as the power of Ruler subsided. "Gah, not even the power of a Servant summoned for the Holy Grail War could break through it?" A hand rose to drag down her face as a wave of exhaustion threatened to make her lose balance. "Not yet, Asuka, there's still too much to do," she shook her head and forcing a smile when the lavender hued gargoyle approached. "I'm alright. Don't you worry, I'm not going to stop until your friend is back safe and sound." She blinked as he offered her a steaming mug, the scents of caramel and chocolate coming from the dark liquid as he placed it within her hands. "What's this?"
"Coffee. Thought you could use a pick me up." His lilac hued eyes widened as she placed it off to the side and enclosed him within a tight embrace.
"I know you're worried and scared," she whispered into his ear, "but you can't lose hope." Pulling back, she cupped his cheek within the palm of her hand. "She wouldn't want you to give up so easily, right? Chin up. Her hands turned him around so that he could see the room. Valentine was combing through book after book with Joey's support, Honda and Solomon were doing their best to ensure that things were kept in an organized manner so that the girls weren't backtracking, the Kaiba brothers were typing away upon their computer and tablets; all had been contributing in some way towards the goal that they were attempting to achieve. "Things may look rough but when you have your friends, anything is possible. You've been a huge help too. Don't think I haven't noticed that you've been making sure that everyone is hydrated and taking breaks while you step in for them while they do. You're doing great, Yugi, and thank you." She wrapped an arm around his shoulder to give him a brief squeeze. Her words were spoken with kindness but it seemed to do little to ease the young gargoyle's mind as he watched the nearby screen.
Lilac hued eyes met duo colored. "If only Atem wasn't cursed, he might just be able to break out of tha barriert." He yelped as she suddenly grabbed his shoulders with both hands, nearly shaking him as her eyes shone brightly.
. . . .
"What do you mean we've been going about this the wrong way?" The barrier is made with divine energy, similar to what Ruler wields! Hitting it with it's similar element isn't going to do squat! Have him focus upon the curse! Shinsei glanced between the gargoyle turned human still trapped inside to the frustrated Servant. "The divine energy of the barrier will amplify whatever spell he casts so if Ruler turns his full attention upon the curse, a dark attribute, then it will aid not hinder." The connection was ended with a nod of his head as he rose to his full height. "Ruler! Do you have the ability to break curses?"
Two pairs of amethyst locked upon him, one with hope while the other filling with understanding. "Ah, so you are not human." The Servant held up a hand. "That was not meant as an insult, I myself am by definition a Heroic Spirit summoned forth by my Master for the duration of the Holy Grail War."
Atem grimaced, fingers rising to pinch the bridge of his nose. "That sounds…"
"Do not pity me." Amethyst met amethyst. "I met Miss Anzu that way. It was by fate's hand that my betrothed, Teanna, would be reborn as she. I will not bore you with details," a tilt of Ruler's head caused the shadow of his bangs to conceal his gaze for a moment, "though I could not return those feelings that Teanna had, I have full intention of protecting Anzu to the full extent of my power if it means that I can somehow express my innermost affections for her. Ever since the summoning, I have been left in awe of the kind of person she is and before I realized it myself…"
"It took me some time to realize how I too felt about Anzu," His head hung, the shadow falling over his eyes as well. "I had only just begun to confess my feelings for her when we were..interrupted…but I do not intend to leave the rest unspoken. Human traditions are beyond me but I have been crafting something, a token, that I hope she will accept as my form of dedication and loyalty."
"For she whom our hearts beat for.."
"…the one we care most…."
"We will be successful." Both pairs of tanned cheeks dusted with pink as their gazes met once more.
Ruler's eyes became tinted with sadness. "Then you know of how precious it is, the time that you spend with one another. Once the Holy Grail War ends, I shall return to the plane of existence to await the next and be separated from her. Though my time with Master Anzu is limited yours does not need to be." Rejuvenated resolve filled his gaze as he straightened, rolling his shoulders as his attire transformed from modern to ancient in similar fashion to the confined gargoyle turned human. "I am the Nameless Pharaoh of Egypt, summoned as a Ruler Class Servant. No curse has a chance against me when it's been cast by my enemy!" His open palms met the barrier as his amethyst eyes gave way to gold as another flood of light filled the ruined room.
"Blood of Ra, might of God-Soldier, wisdom of Osiris! The ancient trinity manifests within this holy court! Darkness has no power here, let it be judged and purged from this land! Rise, golden walls! Rise, throne of kings!
Noble Phantasm: Millennium Court!"
For several seconds, Shinsei could only shield his eyes from the blinding flash of energy and felt Asuka's consciousness brush against his own. I'm alright, he quickly soothed when the image of her worried expression filled his mind, Ruler was just having a heart-to-heart with him is all but he's giving your idea a try. His eyes cracked open as the light faded and for a moment his breath was stolen away from him as a pair of large dragon-like wings unfurled to reveal a giant violet skinned being that was only myth even in their home world. "You could have mentioned his size. There's no way that barrier is going to be able to-" He gasped. "Oh, I see!"
Sure enough, the small confined space of the barrier proved no match for the strength of the one it was straining to contain. Spiderweb patterns appeared within its translucent barrier as Ruler's jaw grew taunt in concentration. It caved beneath his hand as he offered it to the one within its center and with a unified roar between the two the divine spell was shattered into tiny fragments that rained down upon the gargoyle and Servant.
. . . .
Yugi and Valentine instantly took notice as Asuka's eyes clenched shut, both moving to catch the young wizard as she swayed. The cup of nearly finished coffee was placed against her lips, which was sipped from then put back on the desk she'd been using as she sat up.
"I'm fine, really, just got a little light headed from Ruler's power is all." Her smile wavered as a rigid mess came over her body, arms wrapping around herself as pain erupted across her being when one of the wormholes sealed itself shut. A fierce bite to her bottom lip prevented the rise of a scream but even it couldn't stop the tears that flooded her eyes. Asuka took a deep inhale through her nose as swept a sleeve across her eyes when her mobility returned. "The portal we used to pull him through was closed but not before he was capable of freeing Atem from the curse and barrier. It hurt a bit more than I expected but no worries here. I'll recover soon enough."
The rose hued gargoyle's gaze remained upon Asuka while Yugi earned a cheer from the rest with the news of Atem's broken curse, her mauve eyes narrowing. "You look like you're going to pass out. At least sit down for a breather-"
"I'll stop when the battle is won."
"Stop trying to be the hero!" All eyes turned to the females. "You've been casting spatial passage stabilizing spells for two hours straight which kept that wormhole open then you've been connecting telepathically to that friend of yours so you're using even more of your energy and power than I am." Her hands took hold of the young wizard's clothing. "Asuka, you're going to end up killing yourself if you keep this up! For the love of the gods, stop!"
Duo colored eyes locked on mauve as she slipped free. "I'm getting back to work but the rest of you should take a breather," she growled, knocking back the last of the coffee within her mug as she refocused upon the open book. "I'm not stopping."
"Talking to you is like…like…"
Yugi's hand landing upon her shoulder cutoff the rest of her sentence as she was redirected by Joey. Lilac hued eyes watched the young woman for several seconds then moved to the opposite side of the table across from her, hands grasping her wrists so as to stop them from moving. His tail appeared, swiping the finished cup to place it in an unknown location as he moved her from the table to the corner of the room where a sofa had been moved. Though she fought him, his and Valentine's suspicions were confirmed as she failed to free herself. "You don't have to keep every forcing every new wormhole closed."
Duo colored eyes widened. "What are you-"
"Just in the last forty minutes the bags under your eyes have grown and the footage shows that none of the other holes have fully opened except for the one that Ruler came through." His hand rested atop of her head as she made to object, leading her back down to the cushions. "I'm sure Honda and Joey need to burn off some energy so why not let them go make sure that if any other ones pop up that nothing comes through? We can take care of things while you take a quick nap." The hand atop of her head fell to rest against her eyes. "I'll wake you up in ten minutes." A content smile lifted his lips when he found her sleeping soundly not two seconds after completing his sentence and shared a glance with the sand and mahogany gargoyles as they made for the nearby window.
"Hold on. You'll need these." Both snatched earpieces that were tossed and with a wave they departed. Seto pressed a button on his computer and two new screens popped up that were feeds from both gargoyle's point of views. Solomon took Joey's place assisting Valentine as Yugi took up Asuka's slack with a glance at the clock. "One needs to head towards the theatre to pass on one piece to your clan leader while the other to Madison Square Garden. According to these levels, another wormhole is about to open. Should we have them bring that other traveler with them?"
The lavender hued gargoyle shook his head, placing a claw against his lips. "She should be fine wit some rest but unless you lower your voice I doubt she'd be thankful to be woken up by your voice instead of his."
. . . .
A roar rose up Atem's throat as talons and claws dug into the concrete beneath while the wings upon his back unfurled fully with an arch of his spine, amethyst flashing crimson for a split second when a hair raising scream tore through the air. The destruction of the barrier must have caused that reaction. He would find some way of making it up to her once this was all over. Raising his head, he fixed his gaze upon the swordsman who approached. "Your name is Shinsei, correct?" The young man with Damascus steel hued eyes nodded. "It was you who guided him to come free me."
"Don't give me all the credit," he shrugged. "Asuka did most of the work tracking him down. If I know her like I think I do, she'll be sending another here shortly to help."
The violet gargoyle's head rose as a roar sounded and blinked in surprise as Joey nearly crash landed in between them. "N-no time *gasp* to explain!" He shoved a similar device into Atem's hand as to the one he was wearing himself. "Put it *gasp* in your ear!" And he took to the air once more.
Shinsei, with permission, helped Atem place the device within his ear then placed the secondary one he had also been tossed. No sooner had they been installed that they flinched from a high pitched beep. "Makes me glad Asuka's telepathy doesn't hurt like that," he grumbled, shaking his head while adjusting the volume.
"You two alive?" The voice of the eldest Kaiba son came through.
"We hear you loud and clear." Alarm filled him as the faint connection he had with Asuka was severed. "Let me guess, she ran herself into the ground. Who was it that got her to take a break?" A small smile tugged on his lips as the youngest of the gargoyles spoke up. "It wouldn't have been easy but I'm glad you did. Thanks."
"Uh, yeah, she looked really tired so I kind of left her no choice."
Atem's head tilted. There was no sign of the young lavender male yet it sounded as though he was in the same room as them. Technology of this era was truly something incredible. "Yugi, it is good to hear your voice."
"And I bet you feel even better now that you're back to your full strength."
A deep baritone rumbled within his chest. "Being human was not so bad. It has its perks."
Shinsei chuckled. "You gotta teach me that trick when we get back." His expression grew serious as an explosion sounded from outside. "What's the plan?"
. . . .
Everything was beige in color; the ground, the towering pillars, even the walls that were decorated in ancient writing. This place, she'd been here before although the visit was fleet. She entered the room with her head held high ensuring to keep the left foot forward whenever she came to a halt. It was a sign of respect for the kings of old. A great baritone voice called out to her, full of weariness as they commanded her to lift her face for them to see, and earned a gasp from between her lips as her gaze rose to find amethyst.
The mummified pharaoh held out a hand as the nearby dead made to approach her. "Do not lay a hand upon her head." He gestured for her to come closer with a wave of his hand.
"Hail, he who is the son of Ra, for I am unworthy to be in your presence." She bowed lowly then slowly approached the throne while keeping her head bowed low.
"Your knowledge and mannerism is accepted." His head tilted when she came to a stop a few steps away from the throne. This woman's being was radiating with desperation, her gaze full of sincerity, a voice full of a silent plea for his assistance. There was the telltale hint of moisture gathering within the long lashes of her eyes when she blinked. "Come, traveler, tell me what brings you here."
"Please, your highness, on behalf of the woman your other worldly self cares for I beg for your help."
His hand reached out to take a gentle hold upon her arm when she made to kneel. "There is no need for you to beg. I shall listen to all you have to say." The palm of his skeletal hand met her chin, lifting her gaze so that it was no longer upon the beige stone beneath their feet but so that their gazes could meet. "You said this concerns the one who another version of myself cares for. Explain."
"The man you know as Bakura, the one who slain you and your ancient bride who now plots to claim your current one as his own, he is also a malicious force within the world I hail from." The cold of death within his fingers slowly seeped into her skin but she held fast. Breaking away from his hold or gaze would only give him means to doubt her words or express that she was not honest. Though it wasn't her conscious doing she had somehow found herself back within this world and they were going to need all the help they could get. "He is in war with she who holds your other self's heart. Their love is newly declared, not yet fully accepted by either, and I cannot allow this heinous villain the chance to tear them apart. Wise and just pharaoh, please heed my plea and assist in his quest to save his beloved!"
The honesty within her words rang in the air as did her desperation, causing all within the large room to look upon her in sympathy as the pharaoh's fleshless finger moved in time to catch a tear that slipped from the corner of her eye. "Why do you weep for the fate of others?"
"I have a companion, a love of my own, but he was nearly taken from me by another. A man my own parents favored became jealous of our friendship and nearly stole my dear friend from me. He was not another version of the one known as Bakura, just as despicable and cunning but not the same." Her eyes spilled over with tears, wetting the white bone of his hand with salty droplets. "I remember all too well the pain when the one held closest is put in danger so I could not ignore the suffering of your other self."
"It is not that I doubt your words, traveler, but it is the enemy of which you speak that cause my hesitation." His hand procured a piece of cloth which he used to wipe the droplets from her face. "However your words of truth cannot be ignored when spoken with such passion. Tell me all that you know, traveler, you shall have my aid."
Once the cloth was put away and her tears dried, she raised her head as he released his hold upon her chin. "Though our worlds may be different, the bond you share with her is all too similar. She is locked in battle with he who had slain you in this world. Your counterpart was cursed, rendering him nearly weak as an infant if not for another's aid, but even with his strength returned the one whose love is in danger." Her hand slipped within her clothing then revealed a goblet with ancient writing around its brim. "In exchange for your assistance, I offer up this chalice. I acquired it along my travels that will enhance any spell cast upon the liquid it contains. Asuka is my name, mighty pharaoh, and I cannot thank you enough"
The figure seated upon the golden throne, along with the twin gods behind him, rose and approached the woman as she offered it. Anubis accepted it, he and his brother conversing lowly over it as they slipped from the room. Amethyst gaze met her own as he bowed his head. "As the gods have accepted your gift, the agreement is sealed. Return to your world, Asuka, and I shall await for the time when you call."
Valentine rushed to her side as she gasped sharply while bolting upright, her hands resting upon the woman's shoulders to prevent her from falling off the couch. "Nightmare?"
"Nope." With a stretch, the young woman bit back a smirk as she hurried back to her desk where Yugi welcomed her back. "Ten minutes on the dot. New record even for me. Now let's get to cracking."
. . . .
"Those wings of yours really come in handy." Shinsei couldn't help but smile as the violet gargoyle carrying him rose to even greater heights, earning a joyous shout.
Atem would be amused by the traveler's sudden change in demeanor from stoic to child-like excitement but they were on a mission. The battling pair in the distance were drawing nearer with every passing minute. His heart gave a painful squeeze when he spotted her wound covered body whenever she appeared from the rubble of a building they would crash into. They had to find a way to stop the fighting, but how?
"You two hear me?" Asuka's voice came through their ear pieces, earning vocal confirmation from both. "Good. You need to somehow herd them towards the National Museum."
"There are priceless artifacts in there that the government and curators will be furious about if anything was damaged. Don't know if you've noticed, but we don't necessarily have the funds to replace them."
The scratch of a record was heard, earning a grimace from the pair the longer silence dragged on. Amethyst met Damascus steel. "Something tells me that was not the wisest of counters." Atem shook his head as a deep inhale was heard and glanced down in time to see the young man he carried grimace.
"Unless you have a better idea, Shinsei, I suggest you go with what we have!" Their minds filled with the image of her anger filled expression. "The city is in a state of disarray and they should have been smart enough to have insurance for all of those supposed 'authentic' relics within glass cases! Which is more important: the lives of the innocent people in danger on the streets and the bond between these two or the dusty old bones of civilizations lost?"
"I wasn't insinuating-"
Atem deterred him from answering with a shake of his head. "I cannot thank you enough, Asuka. It must not be easy for you to gather such powerful allies all on your own while the others work on a solution of freeing Anzu." His head bobbed in a nod. "I shall do as you suggest."
The image within their heads blinked then broke out into a smile. "At least one of you has your head on straight. There will be another ally that will be showing up soon to help you out once you get there. You'll have to unsheathe that sword of yours for this one." And then she was gone.
"I'm definitely going to be hearing about that one when I get back." Shinsei groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "I'll have to make it up to her with a gift."
"The relationship between you is odd but the bonds connecting two individuals is as unique as they are. I can tell she cares a great deal of your opinion and wellbeing."A smirk raised his lips when the man he carried sputtered then fell into silence as pink entered the human's cheeks. "Come. It is best that we follow along with the plans that have been made."
Shinsei's gaze narrowed in thought. How were they supposed to lure the pair towards the opposite end of town?
. . . .
Silence reigned as she stood within the middle of the room, the battle between the gargoyle and swordsman against the giants waged. Blow for blow, wound for wound, each shed blood or battle cries as they exchanged hits. Her expression tightened then slackened as she watched them dodge each blow. Duo colored eyes opened wide as an opening was presented. An idea occurred to her just then. "That's it! Shinsei, cut them with your blade!"
"Are you crazy?!"
"You have no idea what that sword is capable of!" She locked her gaze upon the rose hued gargoyle who made to intervene. "The answer to returning her to normal was with us the entire time! Shinsei was once a ninja of a suspected extinct clan who wielded the power of dragons once upon a time. He is the sole survivor of the bloodline that was leader so I suggest you sit down, shut up, and let him use it!"
Yugi and Solomon pulled back the female. "What will happen to Anzu?"
"My hope is that it will separate her from the goddess that has taken her over. Isis is not an evil deity but her wrath has altered definition of right and wrong. It will not destroy her but it will be enough to purge her from Anzu's body." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "It will be agonizing for her though."
"It will be a small price to pay compared to what would happen if we allowed this to continue." The elder gargoyle nodded.
The rest of the clan members shared a nod, the two out surveying the wormholes voicing their agreement, and finally Valentine gave a curt nod.
Asuka bowed her head then turned her attention to the screen that was her partner's body camera. "You're going to have to cut off their wings first. Their natural forms have no use for them and the sword will do the rest." Her hands folded beneath her chin as if in prayer as the long black steel blade appeared from its sheathe.
The oxygen in their lungs turned to ice as the first wing that was cut belonged to the wrathful goddess, her head rearing back as a shrill scream that shook the earth. He who rushed to take advantage of her lapse lost two of his own with another swing of the black sword, his own howl intermixing with her own as he dropped to one knee…another pair of his fell to the ground as the matching one of her already fallen wing joined its partner… It was as the blade came downward once more that the giants in unison took hold of the swordsman, their combined grip earning an agony filled cry from the swordsman.
"No, Shinsei!" Tears spilled down her cheeks as his pain filled face filled her mind, her hands rising to the cieling. "Great and mighty pharaoh, please heed the call of she whom you have promised your aid! He who holds my heart is in danger as is the woman! Free him so that he may in turn may save those who are taken over!"
A collective gasp rose as from within one of the exhibits rose as from within one of the museum's many halls rose forth a fog that caused all surfaces to became covered in frost. From the clouds of icy air came a being that caused several of the onlookers within the room to recoil but the young woman with duo colored eyes streaming with tears. "I have heard and I am answering. Your tears have been shed already, Asuka, no more shall be shed this night." A deep baritone voice called as if they could see her weeping. His skeletal hand rose towards the two giants who turned in his direction. "By the powers of Horus, the god of life, and Anubis, the god of death, I bind you both where you stand! Until the last swing of the Dragonsbane you shall be suspended between the world of the living and that of the dead!"
"I never knew that he would be capable of wielding such strength," she whispered in awe as the two giants were frozen in place. "Amazing."
"I am using all of my strength, swordsman! You must strike them now before I lose my grip!" Amethyst met amethyst as Shinsei broke free. "You must be who the traveler spoke of. She failed to confess that you were not human." His head tilted a bit. "What sort of creature are you, pray tell?"
Atem entered the wispy clouds, their gazes never breaking. "Gargoyle and you are a mummy."
"Indeed."
A curious smile raised their lips as they studied each other. "Fascinating."
"Okay, you two, enough checking each other out!" Asuka shook her head, unable to hide her own amused smile while directing their attention back at the giants as they began to move. "Help Shinsei cut the wings left so that all of this can end!"
. . . .
"When I see her next, I just might kiss her. Truly genius to use my blade against their unnatural transformations."
The pair, breathing heavily and covered in light wounds, took a moment of rest as the giants slumbered beneath a pile of rock. Neither would have guessed that an ancient Egyptian exhibit would allow a wormhole to open into another world where another version of Atem was a pharaoh who wielded the power of Horus despite him being…well, dead. It was a bit unsettling to see a half decomposed magic wielding mummy.
"That sword you wield," the violet gargoyle eyed the blade as it was returned to its sheath. "What is it?"
"It is known as the Dragon Sword. It only cuts down pure evil, stripping away all darkness. I knew it would have no affect upon Anzu but that guy on the other hand may not feel the same once he comes to." He rested a hand upon Atem's shoulder as the giants slowly shrank. "It felt horrible, slicing through their wing joints, but it was necessary. She should be just fine once she awakens and heals."
The violet gargoyle quickly accepted the young woman being passed to him as the swordsman's figure flickered. "What is happening to you?"
Damascus hued eyes grew wide then filled with understanding as his hands grew opaque. "Oh, Asuka, you just had to go and push yourself to your limit, didn't you?"
. . . .
"Anzu…Anzu…" Gentle hands brushed the hair from her face. "I know you're conscious, silly, but I understand if you're too tired to open your eyes. I'll go ahead and say what needs to be while I have your attention." Something wet splattered across her forehead. Was that a tear? "I did everything I could to help you but I guess it wasn't enough…"
The quiver in Asuka's voice was too much. Her hand rose, fingertips becoming wet from more droplets. "It…it was you…I heard…you…"
"Save your strength, Anzu, you may be needing it. Yes, I was the one you heard calling out to you. Isis and Teanna have been removed from your being. You've returned to your normal size. Both you and Atem are back to-" A fit of coughs interrupted her, something incredibly warm dripped onto her cheeks as the scent of copper filled the air. "Looks like I'm out of time. I left you one last gift as my well wishes for you two…I hope it comes in handy…"
"Anzu?"
Cerulean eyes fluttering open as someone called her name, tears spilling down her fair cheeks as amethyst filled her gaze along with a pair of violet wings that wrapped around her as tightly as the arms that were cradling her. "A…Atem?"
"It is I, Anzu," he whispered, nuzzling her hair so as to hide the moisture gathering within his eyes. "You are safe now."
She pulled away slightly so that their gazes could meet as their foreheads rested against each other. He looked as though he had gone through hell with all the scratches and wounds covering him but the gargoyle she had fallen for was back to his normal appearance straight down to the claws that carefully brushed against her skin. An exhale slipped between her lips as his nose nuzzled her own, relishing in the warmth that he gave off as he held her close against his chest. "I'm sorry…" she sniffled. "I just got…so upset…"
His lips met the space between her eyes. "The fault was not yours. Even I would have been incapable of remaining steadfast."
"Asuka and that other guy… What happened…to them?"
Atem rose to stand, adjusting his hold upon her so that she could see the fading figure of the swordsman. "Shinsei believes that the last of her strength was used and that they are returning to their own world now that her power, which was their anchor, no longer in affect." His eyes narrowed as they locked over her shoulder, keeping a tight hold upon her as a roar sounded that was nowhere near any animal that she recognized. "The battle is nearly won, Anzu, but until it's over you have to keep your head down. You are heavily injured and do not want to risk you farther harm."
She blinked as her hand that had been resting against his chest caused something to crinkle slightly. What was that? A narrowing of her gaze caused it to shift away from his face and spotted an object she never expected to see. "A black card…with a swirl?" A weak tug on his tunic earned his gaze once more as she held it up. "Asuka's gift…she said to use it…"
With a nod, he took it from her hand and held it up into the air as the black chimera monster that had separated itself from Ryuo's fallen body reached for the pair. A wormhole opened, causing the beast to fall back as golden light spilled forth, its crimson eyes widening as a figure stepped through. "You've threatened this world for the last time, Dark One, I will not allow you to farther influence the poor individual that you have taken over!" An upside down golden pyramid hanging from a thick chain glittered brilliantly as his arm flexed outwards, activating the strange contraption he wore as his amethyst eyes glanced over his shoulder to the pair behind him. "Asuka and Shinsei have explained enough. You two have done enough, allow me to properly put an end to this battle." They softened as they fell upon the gargoyle as he wrapped his wings around them both. "Other me from a different world, you have found the one who will stand by your side no matter the battle field. Perhaps seeing you and she will spark my own courage to approach the my own." With a swipe of his hand, three cards appeared between his fingers as he refocused upon the monster before them, the jacket pinned to his shoulders for a moment appearing to transform into a cape as his modern clothing transformed to similarity match the gargoyle's. "Come forth, mighty Gods of Egypt! Obelisk the Tormentor, Slifer the Sky Dragon, and the Winged Dragon of Ra!"
The gargoyle and his beloved watched as from the swirling clouds in the sky came forth three mighty beasts: a giant soldier, a serpentine dragon with two mouths, and a golden sphere that looked like a miniature sun. His hand quickly rose to shield her eyes as with an incantation from the card wielding version of himself form another world it began a golden Phoenix. Their combined strength erupted within an explosion of light. After a few minutes, it finally faded, leaving nothing of the figure who had summoned the ancient gods by the names only the pharaohs would have known. Darkness closed in on the pair as weariness crashed over them, his being curling around Anzu's own to protect her as they fell.
A message from Suntory: "See you tomorrow for the EPILOGUE! I know this was a bit choppy but I hope you can forgive me for having BlueNovaNF type this when I'm awake. Happy Halloween!"
