"On the banks of the Nile, among a sea of golden reeds...we'll meet again on the Otherside."
Those had been the final words from the Puzzle, from his partner, his dearest friend. It had taken him a long time to carry on without his other half, so profoundly ingrained had he been, the emptiness would have driven him to madness if not for his friends and family.
Those words he held inside his heart and memory, even as years went by as new memories were made. Many were happy and joyful, others more sorrowful with those he loved departing.
Older he grew, passing on King of Games' title to a new generation, one he was glad to have had a part in. Now he laid upon his deathbed, surrounded by his loved ones, many faces he knew had long since passed away, but he could hear them all the same.
Calling for him to cross over, to join them.
With a final breath of farewell to the living, the King of Games closed his aged eyes and allowed the swiftness of death to carry him away. It had been so swift, he nearly believed it had all put been a dream.
But this time, it wasn't.
The summer sun cast its warmth upon his face; the reeds tickled his palms as they danced in the soft breeze that blew past him. The river's waters flowed nearby, he could hear many voices familiar to him playing among its calm waters.
Yet still, he wished not to open his eyes, thinking it all just another cruel dream. Until a voice, one his heart knew all too well, called out like a melody he remembered all too strongly.
Yugi.
Violet was met with a vast ocean of golden reeds, reaching his knees, nearby he took in the sight of the flowing Nile River, and yet inside, he knew this wasn't Egypt in all the memories he had.
Had he finally arrived? Where they promised to meet again?
Yugi.
Looking out over the reeds for the voice, a figure slowly came into view. The sudden glare of the sunlight hid them, for all that was seen was a billowing color of rich purple, one that seemed to dance off the shoulders of the figure.
He could feel their eyes upon him as the words came back to him; while beginning to walk towards the figure themselves.
"On the banks of the Nile, among a sea of golden reeds...we'll meet again on the Otherside."
His feet moved faster than his mind did, and yet, all the same, he knew where he was. Arms extended, they each reached for the other until his impact sent them tumbling over into the reeds. Souls parted now rekindled as laughter overtook their hearts, yet they spoke not a word between each other.
Their silence spoke volumes, foreheads grazed against each other, and fingers interlocked to convey all the affection they shared during their lives. One that held tightly even across the boundless sea of time and space.
Guiding them to meet again on the Otherside.
This little short is based on some fanart I saw on Twitter! I might do a version from Atem's POV, but it's been forever since I've done any writing!
/leario4/status/1343656854287773697?s=20 - You'll likely have to c/p it since FFN doesn't like links!