A/N: Bad news and some ehh news. After working on this fic for nearly two years straight, I'll be the first to admit I've lost all motivation. It's gotten to the point where I'm getting sick of writing in general, not just this story. But I really, REALLY do what to finish this. It's such a burning need that it literally keeps me up at night sometimes. So I've given myself until the end of June to finish this story. If I can't by then, I'm going to post everything I've written along with a summarized plot for everything I haven't so there is at least some sort of closure to this fic. I know this is no where near the best solution, but it's one that gives me a bit of drive as I work on other projects to try and reinvigorate myself.
I can never fully describe how thankful I am for all of you! I want to do right by all of you, so... see you by the end of June. 😄
"…And that's how we got here. But it's not much of a story compared to the journey you've told us." The Pharaoh ended.
Part one of Yugi's mental overload: His family now knew about all his adventures, including the existence of the Pharaoh, and they accepted it all? With no issue?! Even, "do you need to see a therapist," Mom?
Part two: They accepted the Pharaoh into the family? No questions asked? He was just… Yugi's brother… now…
Part three: Yugi's dad really could see duel spirits and wasn't mad at Yugi for not telling him about them?
Part 4: Yugi's theories about his Dad's old job titles of "security" and "military" being a cover-up for much worse was right! And now, the Pharaoh knew more about Dad's time as Gandora the Dragon of Destruction than Yugi did. Yugi was in no way jealous about that. It wasn't like he had been working up the nerve to ask his family about that the last few years.
Part 5: Did Yugi mention that all his family was now in the duel spirit world?! Because that fact alone tended to halt Yugi's derailing train of thought at every station.
The two brothers were currently surrounded by the rest of their family and the other spirits. They made a protective circle around the two in the cave the scarred Blue-Eyes led them to.
Grandpa and Mom were helping cover the two injured dragons' wounds with herbs they collected on their way to the cave as Dad and Dark Magician paced around the perimeter of the entrance. The group had originally hidden there, thinking there would be more attacks since the dragons were shot out of the sky. But none came. In fact, no monsters passed the cave opening at all—this left time for the Mutos to summarize their story's two halves.
"That's amazing, everyone!" Yugi gasped. His mind raced with all the information he had been told. From his prophecy in the museum, to Seto, to even Tetsu somehow crashing his way back into the Pharaoh's life. But Yugi couldn't help think there was more to that part of the story than what the Pharaoh had explained. His partner had only said he guessed that Dad had some history with the Gandora dragon, questioned Kaiba about it, then asked Dad about it in a gas station.
When the Pharaoh retold that part of the story, Yugi couldn't help but stare at his father. Dad paused in his defense of the cavern, but he still didn't meet Yugi's eyes. Eventually, he whispered, "Once this is all over, you, your mother, and I are having a long talk. I have many things to make up for."
Yugi wanted to ask for more, so much more. But at that moment, the Pharaoh pulled Yugi closer and continued with his story. Yugi wasn't sure if this was done as a distraction or if the Pharaoh genuinely didn't hear what Dad said. Either way, Yugi remained quiet for the rest of the explanation.
After everything was said, Yugi found himself holding tighter to the Pharaoh, and he didn't dare let go. The fact the Pharaoh was here, right next to Yugi, was the only thing keeping him grounded at that moment. He was still amazed that he and the Pharaoh hadn't recombined.
Yugi and the Pharaoh had talked about the fact they were still separated and had two guesses on what happened. First, the last time both the Pharaoh and Yugi came to the Dominion of the Beasts, they awoke Timaeus as two distinct beings. But they had also been floating spirits at the time, not the solid bodies they were now. Their second idea was that the wishing well was still trying to fulfill Hakairyuu's wish and kept them apart. Apparently, Hermos had said something along the lines of the wishing well being set on keeping its wishes. They had little proof for this theory, as they both didn't know how the wishing well worked. Yugi really hoped this wasn't the answer anyways. Because if it was, the Legendary Knights might be in trouble.
Yugi looked out of the cave to the purple sky. The rift through the Barrier was still hanging in the air, like a second sun. His family had come into this dimension with the Knights. Mom even said the three adults were the ones to push the Knights through the rift. Yet, none of them had seen the Knights since they came through.
A sudden series of beeps then made everyone jump. They all turned to see Silent Android start to light up again. They had left the Silent monster by the cave entrance, unsure of what else to do with them.
"Oh no, you don't," Dad muttered as he ran over and stomped on the monster's central orb. Just as before, it seemed to reset the android.
Yugi stared as the robot turned off again. Both he and his father had ignored duel spirits their entire lives. Now they were in a world surrounded by nothing but duel monsters. And while Dad seemed to be taking it all in stride, Yugi couldn't help but flinch at how rough his dad was with Silent Android (even if the monster had threatened to kill Yugi earlier). The way his father paced and jumped at every little sound…
Yugi felt the Pharaoh squeeze him just a bit tighter to his side. "It is going to be ok." The Pharaoh whispered, seeming to notice Yugi's apprehension.
Yugi didn't answer. This was still so unreal to him.
As the Pharaoh comforted Yugi, Red-Eyes glanced up from nursing his wings. "I don't understand how you continue to turn that machine monster off."
"A glowing purple orb is a pretty good indicator of a weak spot," Dad said as he returned to guarding the entrance. "Do we really have no way to restrain that thing other than turning it off every time it reboots?"
"No, we don't. Silent Android is an effect monster, and their effect negates anything we could do to them. Or at least it should. And yet, here we are. You even punched them," Red-Eyes answered with a shake of his head.
"Yeah, I'm surprised that worked too. Punching a magic metal man was not one of my smartest ideas." Dad said as he rubbed his knuckles. He must have then seen Yugi's worried face because he gave a small smile. "But I'm fine. I honestly didn't even feel it at the moment."
"And that's what catches me." Red-Eyes continued. "That Silent's effect should have stopped you. And yet you were the one to stop them."
"This isn't the time for jokes, Red-Eyes." The scarred Blue-eyes said while she rolled her eyes. "The younger Solomon merely distracted the android."
"I'm not joking! You had to have seen it too. He did damage with that punch!"
"I've been wondering something else too, Junior," Grandpa said as he turned away from helping Seto's Blue-Eyes. "The dimension spell picked you up when we were promised it wouldn't affect humans."
Dad gave an exasperated shrug. "So, the spell didn't work perfectly. It sounded like a slapdash effort, to begin with, with how the Knights talked of modifying some evil spell. I'm guessing it had some bugs, and I just happened to be one of them."
"And hitting that monster?" Red-Eyes asked.
"It was threatening my son. Of course, I'm going to attack it!"
"That's not what I mean! You did battle damage. The most humans can do is push around a duel monster. If they have a weapon forged from this land, that's a different story, but you don't have that. You hurt this Silent."
"Of all the things to worry about right now, that's what we are going to focus on? It was a fluke. See?" Dad then aimed a light punch at Dark Magician's shoulder, more of a slap than anything. Dark Magician wasn't watching, so he didn't expect the hit when it came. There was an audible thwack as Dark Magician stopped floating and clutched his shoulder. His face remained neutral, but both the Pharaoh and Yugi stiffened at seeing their card partner's pain.
"I didn't… I mean…" Dad stuttered. He reached out as if to help Dark Magician but hesitated.
Dark Magician waved away Dad's help and straightened up. He shifted his shoulder and found it fine, or at least acted like it was fine. He then returned to guarding as if nothing happened.
"Wow, what are they feeding you in the human world to give you such high ATK?" Red-Eyes chuckled. "You mind sharing?"
"ATK?" Dad mumbled in disbelief.
"That is not funny, Red-Eyes." The scarred Blue-Eyes said, her voice growing crisper. "Humans cannot have ATK. They can 'attack,' but nothing that would equal our power numbering system."
"Was Dark Magician acting then?" Red-Eyes asked as he used his tail to point to the mage.
Dark Magician didn't answer and kept his gaze outside the cave. He refused to meet anyone's eyes.
"I will repeat in case someone is a little slow. Humans, cannot, do, damage." the scarred Blue-Eyes snipped.
"Well, I guess he must not be human then,"
Blue-Eyes completely stiffened when Red-Eyes said that. She bared her fangs at the other dragon, but he and everyone else had their eyes on Dad.
"I'm… I'm not a duel… I am not a monster." Dad stuttered.
Yugi then felt as the Pharaoh shifted so he could sit straighter. While the Pharaoh was good at keeping his expression calm, Yugi could see the small signs of worry as he spoke. "I know this is going to sound crazy, but the Knights did say only duel spirits, and… half-spirits were going to be affected by the spell."
"And what about it?!" Dad snapped. Yugi shrunk back at Dad's hostile response. Yugi hadn't seen him raise his voice at, well, anyone in over a decade.
"Solomon!" Mom snapped right back. This made Dad pause and released his gritted teeth. He then saw Yugi's reaction, and his anger fully fell away.
"I'm sorry. That came out very wrong. Let me rephrase that. What were you trying to say, Yami?" Junior said in a much quieter voice.
The Pharaoh paused a moment. This was another eerie moment for Yugi as he realized he couldn't guess his partner's thoughts. In the beginning, the two's minds were nearly indistinguishable from each others'. Yugi's thoughts would have the Pharaoh's consciousness flow and mingle with it, and vice-versa. But as the years went on and they gained their own identities, their thoughts became more of a dialogue. The Pharaoh would start an idea, and Yugi would answer it or could at least hear what was going on in his partner's head. But now, it was silent. The Pharaoh's mind was his own, just as Yugi's was.
Yugi liked the silence, but he wasn't so sure if he should be happy with it.
The Pharaoh nodded at Dad's apology and continued. "All I'm saying is you've always had a connection with the Gandora archetype."
Mom quickly went to Dad's side and grabbed his hand. "Well… Um. Maybe the spell knew about the name?"
"Names are powerful, but not that powerful." Red-Eyes huffed. "Just calling yourself Gandora wouldn't suddenly make magic see you as a spirit."
Yugi found his words dying in his throat. It had to be impossible, right? But then again, Timaeus was apparently their ancestor, yet he was also a half-duel spirit. But as Yugi tried to follow that idea, he could only shake his head. His father felt nothing like the Knights. Not a single moment in all of Yugi's life had he ever thought that his dad was anything but that, his human dad.
"I'm not a monster," Dad said between clenched teeth.
"Dad…" Yugi began but then trailed off. He looked to the Pharaoh for some sort of aid, but his partner only shook his head. They both knew there was little they could say that would help. That word carried too much history for their father. But while there was nothing they could say, there was something they could do.
Both Yugi and the Pharaoh got up at the same time while still holding hands. They went over to their parents and snuggled up to them both. Dark Magician even came over and stood next to Dad. It was their silent sign of love and trust in him. This made Dad release his held breath and pull both boys close to him.
After a few moments of silence, Dad snorted as he gestured to Grandpa. "This is silly. Unless you're going to admit Mother had a wild affair with a duel spirit in her youth, I'm pretty sure I'm hum-"
"That is not how half-spirits are made!" the scarred Blue-Eyes cut in with a growl. She then stood up, her tail swishing back and forth. Seto's Blue-Eyes tried to reach out to comfort her friend, but she was pushed away. "You should know what I mean. You are one!" the scarred Blue-Eyes snapped at the mute dragon.
Yugi saw the hurt that came to the scarred Blue-Eyes's face. He also felt an ancient ache deep within his heart. Yugi then noticed all the other Mutos seemed to feel this ache too. Something about this talk of half-spirits brought up painful memories for their Blue-Eyes, and it wasn't about whether or not Dad was one.
"Blue-Eyes, you told me half-spirits could only be made by someone called the Supreme King or spirit partners at death." Yugi tried to recall.
"Even then, the resulting fusion is always in the duel spirit's body! Not… some human's…." Blue-Eyes's words grew weaker the more she spoke. She then looked to the other Blue-Eyes. She could only shrug.
"Let us take a step back," Grandpa spoke up as he walked to the center of the cave. He then turned to the two Blue-Eyes. "What are half-spirits anyway? How do they happen and…." Grandpa looked nervously at his son. Dad was now sitting with his family and squeezing his wife's non-injured hand. "Is this even possible? I was there for Junior's birth and everything before. He's definitely my son. I didn't give my name to just any baby."
The scarred Blue-Eyes glanced at her dragon friend. "Half-spirits are exactly what the title implies, a fusion of a human soul and a duel monster soul. Originally, a being known as the Supreme King was the only one we spirits thought could do it. He and his reincarnations are masters of fusion and duel spirits. His fusions are complete, for lack of a better word. They are a perfect mix of their original human counterpart and duel spirit. The Legendary Knights are a good example. They were three fusions the Supreme King did to try and help fight the Great Leviathan."
Blue-Eyes then suddenly turned and angrily pointed at the duel monsters by her. "But back in ancient Egypt, some genius over here found out that if a spirit partnership between a human and duel monster is strong enough, at the human's death, the two can have an 'incomplete' fusion without the Supreme King!"
"I remember when you talked about this incomplete fusion," Yugi spoke up, glancing at Seto's Blue-Eyes. "You said it was a... tortuous life."
"Yes! And because of that… my friend isn't here anymore. At least not how I knew her." Blue-Eyes growled. The cave seemed to grow colder at those words. Seto's Blue-Eyes remained blank-faced under the other dragon's scrutiny. Yugi felt his partner Blue-Eyes's anger and annoyance boil thanks to that empty stare. Eventually, the scarred Blue-Eyes had to turn away. A wave of resignation then blanketed her. Her wings slid along the ground as she walked to the entrance of the cave. "But that's in the past. Long in the past."
The scarred Blue-Eys then shook her head as she stared at the rift in the sky. "Anyway… The younger Solomon feels nothing like either of those kinds of half-spirits. He cannot be one. He is right. The spell must have affected him weirdly." She then turned back to the group and slumped between the two dragons, not meeting the other Blue-Eyes's gaze.
Yugi wished he could say something to his family's Blue-Eyes, but he didn't even know where to begin. Once again, he felt so useless when a friend of his had clearly been in pain. But unlike before in his journey, he was able to look to his family for comfort. The Pharaoh clutched Yugi's hand a little tighter as Mom pulled him to her side.
Dad looked the least satisfied with the scarred Blue-Eyes's words. While she agreed with what he said, he kept opening his mouth as if to argue. But nothing came to him. He eventually shook his head and turned to the family around him.
"No matter what weird force of the universe yanked me here, I'm here now. Let's focus on the present. We have hostiles in the area and no idea where the Knights went. How do we get back to our dimension?"
Everyone looked out of the cave to the still purple sky. While the rift was no longer sucking everything up, it seemed to be still spitting things out.
"I hope that is duel spirits getting back home," Yugi said.
"Do you think the Knights would be up there?" Mom asked.
Seto's Blue-Eyes turned to her friend, but she still refused to meet her gaze.
"I feel that the lockdown is still going. Perhaps they are already working on ending it?" The scarred Blue-Eyes said as she kept her eyes to the sky.
"Then let's hope for that," Yugi said.
Yugi wanted to stand up but looked to the Pharaoh first. They both didn't know what letting go of each other would do, but they couldn't hold on like this if they were going to leave the cave. The Pharaoh nodded to Yugi, and both got to their feet. They then let their hands fall to their sides and waited. What they waited for, they weren't sure. For the headaches to return? For the two to be forced together? For some world-ending villain to erupt out of the ground? But nothing happened.
"Are you ok, Pharaoh?" Yugi asked after he found himself to be in near-perfect health.
"Yes… I'm not in the best shape, but being around you is leagues better." The Pharaoh then tested his extremities. "It's like my limbs have fallen asleep, but I can move them. Whatever was hurting me before seems to have retreated." The Pharaoh grinned at him.
"Same here for my headaches and exhaustion." Yugi then held the Pharaoh's hand again. They both immediately felt a burst of energy at their touch. "And it looks like we get reenergized when we touch."
"That is good to remember," Grandpa said as he walked over to the two.
Yugi felt as everyone turned to him, including the Pharaoh. "What?"
"You know best what is going on in this crazy wonderland." Mom said.
"Where do you think is the best place to start?" The Pharaoh asked.
As Yugi looked at his family, he couldn't help the sick feeling in his stomach. While he was ecstatic to have them here with him, they were also now in real danger. The memories of Hakairyuu crushing him, the castle nearly entombing him, and Silent Swordsman slashing him flew through Yugi's mind. But instead of Yugi in each of those situations, he imagined his family.
"Um… Guys? I know we want to get home, but it's... It might be... It's going to be bad out there." Yugi began with a sigh. "Maybe it's best if you all remain here?"
"Don't you have friends out there?" The scarred Blue-Eyes said, her voice unimpressed. "Yugi… you aren't planning on running on us to save your monster friends alone, right?"
Yugi blushed. "I was planning on taking the Pharaoh with me…."
"Yeah, no," Dad said as he came up to Yugi. "Where are your friends?"
"Spread around the domain probably," Yugi said as he looked down at his feet. "The teleporting magic would have spread them around just as much as it did for the Silents."
"That's probably why we were attacked in the air. The Silents that are still sided with this Swordsman must know they are separated while in enemy territory. There are most likely skirmishes everywhere." Dad said.
"But I want to know my friends are ok!" Yugi said as he ran to the cave's edge, the Pharaoh following close behind. From the cave entrance, Yugi could see over the domain. It looked so peaceful, even in its unwavering perfection. The purple sky even gave the domain a sunset-like glow—something Yugi hadn't seen in so long.
The Pharaoh spoke. "I want these monsters to be ok too. They have protected you these…." The Pharaoh paused "...last few days... weeks? How long have you been here?"
Yugi shrugged. "I'm not quite sure. I was out cold for most of it." Yugi then looked back up to the looming mountain top. "But I don't want to put you guys in more danger."
"Well, too bad, because we are here now, and I'm not letting you out of my sight again," Mom added as she pulled Yugi into a strangling hug. Yugi had to beg for air just to be released.
"So, we want to go into unfamiliar territory, with an unknown number of enemies, lugging injured troops." Dad sighed as he gestured to the two wounded dragons. "On the off chance, we might come across your friends? Do I understand the situation?"
Yugi blushed. "Yeah?"
"Well, it's a good thing your dad has been dealing with circumstances like this most of his career," Dad said as he rubbed Yugi's head.
As Dad pulled away, the Pharaoh looked expectantly at him, but when nothing came, he spoke. "What about m…." The Pharaoh's cheeks then reddened as he quickly cut himself off.
"Something wrong?" Dad asked. The Pharaoh didn't say anything and simply shook his head.
"I think he was expecting a hair ruffle too." Mom giggled.
The Pharaoh tried to look defiant, but Yugi could see that Mom had hit the mark.
"Really? Well, I have more than enough to go around." Dad chuckled as both Yugi, and the Pharaoh found their hair roughly messed with.
"Hey! Not that hard!" Yugi laughed as he pulled out of his father's clutches. He then put on a somewhat serious face and asked, "You guys are really ok with trying to find my friends?"
"If we are strategic about this," Dad answered. "We only have two fliers at the moment. Grandma Blue-Eyes and Dark Magician. We have to be careful to make sure they don't get shot down too."
"Wait! Grandma Blue-Eyes?! I'll have you know I am the same age as the other dragons here. I am in no way an elder!" the Blue-Eyes jumped to her feet and pushed her much bigger head into Dad's body.
Dad held his ground, which was a little surprising to Yugi since Blue-Eyes's head was the same size as Dad's torso. "I thought since you were originally my father's card and since everyone calls him Grandpa now…." Dad began but then trailed off. "Well, we have to call you something! We have to know which Blue-Eyes we are talking about."
"I think it fits." Yugi smiled as he ran up to the dragon. "You've been like a grandma to me this whole time anyway."
The Blue-Eyes tried to remain noble-looking, but she couldn't ignore Yugi's panda eyes."I suppose I wouldn't be averse to being referred to as Grandma." Grandma Blue-Eyes murmured. Dark Magician gave her a friendly pat on her side as Seto's Blue-Eyes nudged her.
Grandma Blue-Eyes finally looked at the other Blue-Eyes. When she was met with the other dragon's continually expressionless face, she snorted. "If we are doing nicknames, her name was once Zara, and it's the only thing I'll refer to her as." She said, pointing her tail to the other Blue-Eyes. The other dragon looked surprised but eventually nodded. Yugi even thought he might have seen a slight grin on Zara's face.
"And I am Yami." The Pharaoh said as he put a hand on Yugi's shoulder.
"Are you sure?" Yugi asked. "We originally stopped calling you that out of respect to whatever your true name is."
"Yes, I want to be Yami Muto. Even if it's only for now."
Yugi paused at the word Muto. Then, he let his own grin spread across his face. "Muto fits you nicely." Yugi couldn't contain his excitement, and he hugged Yami. This excitement also helped Yugi bury the knowledge that when Yami wanted to go by the Pharaoh again, it would be because they were about to get his real name.
"Now, let's find these spirit friends," Yami said.
Almost as if the gods were listening, a boom rattled the mountain. The cave held together, but no one wanted to test its limits. They all ran out of the cavern to see what looked almost like a wave sweep across the sky. This wave came from the top of the mountain. Barely perceivable beyond the thick clouds above them was a tremendous bolt of green lightning followed by waves of magic lettering that spread across the sky, then disappeared.
"That looks like Atlantean magic!" Grandma Blue-Eyes gasped.
Both Yugi and Yami looked at each other and nodded.
"Looks like we have a direction," Yami said.
"To the top," Yugi murmured as he prayed his spirit friends would be safe. His family was going to search for who they could on this last journey up the mountain.