Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Pharaoh

I quickly caught Dria as she collapsed in what appeared to be a faint. The people around me, even Kaiba, gasped in surprise.

"Ancient One, hear my call. Come forth, my Winged Dragon."

Marik was going to summon the most powerful of the god cards, meaning that Joey was in serious danger. Yet, all I could think about was the girl in my arms. Why had she fainted? She didn't look ill in any way. Her skin had maintained a healthy color, and it was so soft against my hands. I shook my head a little, trying to refocus on the danger that was quickly surrounding us.

A green light shot up from the great temple, and the sky began to turn dark and ominous. This beast truly was a frightening creature. What could Joey do to beat it? Red eyes appeared from the dark sky as the golden god appeared. I felt Dria stir in my arms, but when I looked down, it wasn't her familiar green eyes I was staring into.

These eyes were blood red, and they were filled with a devastating fury. At first, I thought that it couldn't have been Dria, but Yugi informed me that he had seen her eyes change color once before when the Puzzle was stolen. I looked back towards the final Egyptian god, who was powered by Marik's scorpion creature, wielding an incredible amount of power. This looked like the end for Joey.

"Yugi, remember how your Egyptian god injured Bakura? These things are dangerous!"

Marik prepared to strike Joey with the power of his god, "Dragon of Ra, attack his Life Points directly."

Dria had been right. We were all in grave danger. However, the Winged Dragon simply stared, completely ignoring Marik's demands for obedience. It instead seemed to be glaring at him with those angry eyes.

"Why isn't it attacking Joey?"

Dria slowly removed herself from my arms, walking towards the dueling platform. She stopped just below the deck, staring at Marik with those angry red eyes. I looked back towards the Winged Dragon, who had the same eyes looking at Marik from above as well. What in Ra's name was going on?

"Dria?"

She turned back towards me, and I tried not to fear as I looked into those eyes. The rage in her eyes gentled for a moment, "Fear not, Great Pharaoh, your Kadesh is safe."

Kadesh? Why was that word familiar? Where had I heard that before? What did it mean that the voice had referred to Dria as "my" Kadesh?

"Foolish mortal!"

A distorted voice came from her mouth as she addressed Marik. It had sounded like her, but there was a second voice alongside hers, one much deeper and frightening. Marik stared in fright at Dria, who was now glowing the same eerie yellow as the god creature, the Eye of Horus clear upon her forehead.

"How dare you create a copy of my power! Nothing in this world can match me. It is impertinent that you would attempt such a hubristic idea."

Was the monster controlling Dria? It had to be it, but why? What had she done? Was it because she had created the cards?

"For this grave disrespect against the gods of Egypt, you will be punished. Everyone here will suffer for your foolishness and that of your master. What you have desperately tried to contain will be released. May the voice of the gods have mercy on you, for you will find none from us."

The glow faded as Dria gripped her head again. She staggered backward slightly before turning around to us with wide, but thankfully now green, eyes. The sky grew darker as lightning began to appear and move closer to us. Dria hurried back towards us, "Please everyone, get close. I can't promise that this will be able to cover a large area."

I looked at her in confusion, "Dria, what are yo-"

"Yugi please! We don't have time to argue. Just do as I say, and I promise I will explain!"

The group quickly moved closer to her. Only Kaiba and Mokuba did not move, since the great god distracted them. She threw her hands up into the air and began to mumble something. A thin blue light shot out from her hands and began to cover us like a shield.

"Wait! What about my brother?"

Dria gritted her teeth as she tried to focus on whatever she was doing, "I haven't practiced this enough recently to reach him! It's hard enough covering all of you right now! I don't know where the god is going to strike. I'm so sorry, Joey!"

"Don't worry about me, Dria. You just keep doing whatever you're doing and keep those guys safe."

I saw a small tear escape her eye before she refocused on her magic. She had said she was a magician back before the finals, but I thought she meant more of simple tricks. Even when she had shown me things like fire on her hand or her staff, I thought it was mostly a trick. But this was true magic. Lightning struck all around us, but when it hit the shield, it was absorbed and vanished. Marik, however, was not so lucky. The shock of the bolt even shattered his Millennium Rod. Wait, it broke? That Rod had been a fake. Joey's hunch had been right: He wasn't the real Marik! The now nameless man fell to the ground and didn't move. Another bolt hit Joey, knocking him out as well.

After Joey fell, the monster disappeared, as did the storm. The shield dissipated as Dria sank to the ground, panting and wiping sweat from her forehead. Her spell must have consumed a large amount of energy. Tristan quickly moved forward, grabbing onto the platform to reach our friend. For ridiculous reasons, the duel was still in progress. Even Kaiba supported his rule of continuing the duel, claiming that the lightning was a natural accident and was in no way related to the duel. Joey had to be the first to stand if he was going to win.

Dria

While the others were cheering for Joey to get up, I rose from the ground and turned towards the real Marik. The evil around him was beginning to grow, as if some kind of seal inside him had broken. I watched in horror as his gripped his head, trying to maintain control over himself. Odion tried to stand to protect his master, but he didn't have any strength left. Marik was alone. He had lost the last person on his side, and now he looked like he was losing himself. I turned back to Joey. He was the complete opposite. He had so many people supporting him that he almost couldn't lose. Even if I were forced out on my own again, I would still use my power to support him and everyone else. They were the closest friends that I've had since leaving the Egyptian palace.

I knew the day would be terrible the moment I awoke. This was the day I had been betrayed, the day my home had been destroyed, my family lost, and my death postponed. While this day did come every year, it chose today to completely engulf me. I could not even find the strength to keep my eyes open. I simply remained in bed, waiting for the day to pass, and praying it would quickly.

"My Lady? Have you awakened yet?"

I heard Shimon outside the curtains that covered my room. I wanted to say yes, rise from my bed, and go about my day like there was nothing significant about it. But I could not find the strength to do so.

"Dria?"

Shimon entered my room, concerned that I hadn't responded to him, and gently touched my shoulder. I managed to open my eyes enough for him to realize that something was wrong.

"Do you feel unwell?"

I nodded and closed my eyes again as he placed his hand on my forehead. He swore violently before quickly leaving my room, pulling the curtains down behind him. I didn't want any medic or soothsayer examining me. I wanted to be left alone. Today was my day to mourn my losses. To my knowledge, I was the sole survivor. I was alone.

"Kadesh? Shimon said you were unwell. May I enter?" My heart leapt at the sound of the Prince's voice from the other side of the curtain. He must have stopped Shimon as the latter made his way to the healing room.

"Forgive me, My Prince, but I will be unable to attend the gathering with the nomad leaders. Please leave me for today and I will recover as quickly as I can."

Mustering up a little strength, I magically sealed off the entrance to my room. Now, no one could enter until I removed the seal. I heard him try to make his way past the barrier, but he sighed angrily when he could not. Soon, his footsteps faded away as he walked down the hallway, leaving me alone once again. I tried not to cry as the man I loved so deeply walked off, even though I had pushed him away.

Memories of my homeland flooded my mind as I faded in and out of sleep. The flames covered every inch of the broken city as it fell off into the ocean. This former paradise was finally collapsing on itself. People were shouting and running through the streets, pushing others out of the way and into danger. I saw myself standing in the middle of the city, looking up towards the palace. There stood my betrayer, the one who had caused all this pain. A bright green light shone from behind him.

Two hands suddenly threw the blankets off me and grabbed my arms. If someone had come to kill me, he had chosen the perfect opportunity to try. I was completely helpless against my own memories. But what I felt wasn't cold iron pushing through my chest. It was another warm body surrounding me. I opened my eyes again and looked straight into a pair of sunset eyes.

"How did you get here?"

He smirked at me as he gestured to the far end of the room, "You taught me how to scale these walls remember? I simply used the other door."

There was a balcony that sat above my garden. That little troublemaker had scaled the palace walls from the garden to reach my balcony and enter my chambers. Though my muscles cried out in protest, I pulled myself out of his grasp and sat up to scold him.

"You know that's incredibly dangerous, Prince. You could have injured yourself or worse, you stupid fool." He pushed me back down onto the bed, curling his arms around me as he settled in next to me.

"I wasn't going to leave you alone. No one should be alone when he, or she, feels unwell, regardless of the ailment."

I sighed in defeat. There was no changing this stubborn man's mind. I turned my back to him, but he only pulled me closer. His body was so warm against my back and I felt myself relaxing against him. I awoke hours later, feeling slightly better. The Prince had not moved from his place behind me. When I turned back around to face him, his eyes opened and stared directly into mine. We both broke into a smile and laughed quietly. I hugged him tightly, fitting myself perfectly into his neck.

"Why did you come?" I felt his chest rumble as another chuckle escaped him.

"You are dear to me, Kadesh. I will always be here for you."

Joey managed to be the first one to his feet. While he might have lost what few brain cells he had left to the lightning, it was a relief to see him regain consciousness and stand once more. He was quickly declared the winner, ending the duel. As the dueling platform came back down, Pharaoh and I rushed over to Joey's opponent. I grabbed his hand, praying that he would recover before it was too late. Finally, Odion opened his eyes and looked at Joey.

"Please forgive me. It was an honor for me to duel with you." He turned and gazed at me for a few moments, "Thank you for protecting everyone, including my master, when I could not." I held his hand close to my cheek and nodded in acknowledgement.

"If you're not Marik, then who are you?" In response to the Pharaoh's question, Odion merely gestured to the real Marik, who was still in serious pain. His revelation was supported by the fact that Marik had the real Millennium Rod clenched in his fist, not to mention the fact that he affirmed it verbally as well.

"Namu was a disguise to get me closer to Yugi and the Lady Alexandria." I glared at him as the Pharaoh moved in front of me, blocking Marik from reaching me. "Now at last, I can finish the job my pathetic servants started."

Odion groaned, "Oh no, I was afraid of this. Beware the great evil hidden within. I am unable to contain it anymore."

My guess had been right. It was too late now. I quickly moved in front of the Pharaoh, gathering my power once more to defend everyone on this ship if the need arose. Marik yelled in pain as his alter ego took over his body.

"I'm going to file this under the category of not good."

A bright light blinded me momentarily before it revealed the nature Odion had desperately tried to subdue. The new, evil Marik laughed, "I'm finally free. I'm the true Marik, and soon I'll finish the job. Pharaoh, I'll strip you of your powers. So, get ready for the real battle."

I narrowed my eyes at him as he raised his Rod toward me, "Perhaps I'll start by taking your little princess for myself."

As his Rod activated, my necklace did as well. It glowed around my neck, causing the Millennium Eye appeared on my forehead as my own power surged to block his attempts to control me. The two forces crashed together, creating a powerful gust of wind around us. As the winds died down again, Marik scowled angrily when he realized his trick wouldn't work.

I smirked, "Surely you didn't think it would be that easy, did you Marik? Your other self already tried that and learned that I can't be controlled by the power of the Rod."

He merely laughed, "Perhaps, but that doesn't mean failure isn't helpful. By failing, Odion did prove one thing. Only a chosen few can control the Egyptian god cards."

"Marik, I'm sick and tired of hearing these Egyptian fairytales," Seto was clearly irritated with how his tournament was being used as a catalyst for something much larger. Marik cackled in response.

"You can't escape your 5,000 year old heritage. You'll find it is a lot closer than you know." His eyes darted back to me for a few moments, "Your role in this game runs much deeper than you can imagine."

He soon turned and walked off, leaving behind one angry magician and many bewildered mortals. I sighed, allowing my power to dissipate and the Eye disappeared from my forehead. The others looked at me as if I were an enemy just as dangerous as Marik.

Odion was quickly carried downstairs into the medical ward. I followed behind silently, hoping to hear good news about the condition of the man who had protected me from Marik. I was relieved to hear he was just unconscious, but there was no telling what the evil Marik would try to do to him. If Odion was the reason the evil had been sealed, what would that evil would attempt in order to stay free?

"He and I were both standing right there when his Egyptian god card went all crazy, but I'm perfectly fine."

I smiled a little when Joey said that. I'd like to think I was trained better than I had expected but not this time. His friends had protected him from the god's wrath.

"I guess we're not going to be able to find out who this guy is until he is able to wake up."

I stepped forward, out of the shadows, "His name is Odion. He's the leader of Marik's Rare Hunters, and Marik's oldest and most faithful servant. He protected me when Marik kidnapped me, even though he never disobeyed his orders."

Most of the members looked at me warily, one even glared with hatred, but one set of eyes still seemed to trust me. I bowed my head and stepped back, trying to be as docile Oas a lamb.

"For what? Odion is lying in a hospital bed, and Marik could care less if he ever wakes up again."

I couldn't help but agree with Joey. Odion cared deeply for his master, yet this Marik hated his servant and his whole family.

"Hey, isn't it time for Kaiba to pick the next two duelists in the finals now?"

I moved out of the way as they headed towards the doors. The last one to pass me was the Pharaoh, who stopped and stared at me for a few moments. I kept my head low and tried not to anger him more than I already had. But, instead of being upset, he extended his hand towards me with a warm, gentle smile covering his lips. I felt tears rising when I saw my favorite smile. I cautiously raised my hand to meet his, worried it wasn't really happening. He gently set his fingers in between mine and pulled me along behind him, smiling the whole time. We walked down towards the elevator together and entered the doors in silence. As soon as the doors shut, I threw my arms around his neck, holding in as many tears as I could. He held me tight around my waist with one arm, stroking my long hair with the other.

"I am not upset with you, if that is what you are concerned about. I would however," his mischievous eyes met mine, "like that explanation you promised me, and have yet to deliver on." I nodded, wiping away the few tears that escaped my eyes.

He continued, "I remember you mentioned something about being a magician. I didn't realize you meant more than simply illusions and mind games. Even when you showed your simple tricks, I thought you were only playing with my mind."

I giggled, "It is a lot more than illusions and brain games. My magic is, well, real."

He laughed at my obvious comment, "I think I figured that one out on my own."

He winked at my playful glare. His eyes drifted toward my necklace, which was now resting peacefully against my bare neck.

I smiled, "You remember it from the pier, don't you? It's called the Millennium Pendant. It was not one of the original Millennium Items, but it was created with the same magic, so it possesses similar properties to your Puzzle."

I went to remove it from my neck, as he was the true owner of the necklace, but he stopped me.

"It does seem familiar to me. I know I saw it when Joey was brainwashed, but even then, I felt like I knew what it was. Where did you get it?"

"I've had it a long time, Pharaoh, a very long time."