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

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Egypt laid in ruins, its beautiful buildings and temples strewn across the desert. A dark miasma covered the land, obscuring any trace of light. This scene greeted my eyes as I opened them. I felt tears welling up as I took in my surroundings. This was the worst of the memories I had ever seen, the moments before I had lost my husband and the kingdom had been ruined. A terrible evil had taken control of the land I held dear and nearly torn it to pieces; now the gods were forcing me to relive this experience. My Pendant continued to glow across my throat, and I could feel the Eye of Horus on my forehead once more. Seto and the Pharaoh soon appeared as well, both staring at me in surprise and disbelief.

"Dria! What's going on?"

Seto demanded an immediate answer, but I could only shake my head in response. As if pulled by an invisible force, we made our way through the wrecked city. My kingdom looked horrifying, worse than even in my memories, and tears slipped down my face at such a scene. The next sight, however, nearly broke my heart. There, encased in stone, stood Obelisk and Slifer. I gasped in horror upon seeing them and covered my mouth in an attempt to hold back my cries. Leaving Seto and Yugi behind, I made my way over to my brothers, desperately hoping that I could do something to restore them to their rightful states. I fell to my knees before their frozen figures.

"Al'iikhwa, brothers, please come ba-" my voice caught in my throat as I tried to address them. Tightly clutching my Pendant with both hands, I bowed low to the ground and sobbed. I wanted to beg for their lives, plead that I become stone in their place, but the words wouldn't come. Grief swallowed me, and not even the comforting touches of the Pharaoh and Seto could bring me out of it. This couldn't be real. Slifer and Obelisk were currently in the capable hands of the two men with me, and their spirits were free, bound only to appear when summoned. There were very few powers in this world that could completely trap beings such as these. I felt my tears subsiding and I prepared myself to look at the two gods once again.

Before I was ready, however, the magic that had brought us here transported us to another location, taking us within what was left of the once beautiful palace. Two men were engaged in a dangerous duel, and it look little time to recognize them both. It was the previous incarnation of Seto and the Pharaoh himself. Though there were many times where they had fought one another in my memory and it brought a smile to my face to recall, this was a scene I'd prefer to have never seen again. This duel wasn't for practice or fun; this had been a death match. What were the gods trying to show us? The images vanished before I could receive an answer.

The present scene came into focus once more as the magic released the three of us. I found myself on all fours, staring at the ground below me, my arms and legs quivering from the magic of the gods. Seto and Yugi were in similar positions as they tried to catch their breath after experiencing such a strong spell.

"What's going on here? What did you do, little princess?"

Marik scowled at me as he stalked my way. He must have thought I was responsible for the Millennium Rod's self-activation, though he would have known that Seto was the previous owner. Marik's hand stretched down towards my throat, intent on forcing out an answer. Before he could grasp me, however, both my Pendant and the Rod activated once again, this time producing a force field between the two of us, preventing Marik from touching me. This was the unspoken desire of both Items' previous owners since Seto and the Pharaoh wanted to keep me safe in this life and the previous one. He growled as his Item acted under its own will once more, making it clear that he wouldn't be able to touch me, at least not yet.

"You can't deny what we both saw!"

"It was nothing more than an illusion."

"Acknowledge the truth!"

Seto refused to accept that he was connected to Ancient Egypt, stubbornly believing that it was nothing more than a trick on his mind. I sighed in defeat as I rose back to my feet. If seeing those visions wouldn't convince him, I wasn't sure what would at this point. Perhaps it would be better if he never understood the truth. It might keep him out of harm's way.

"Let's move on so I can end this and claim the victory I deserve."

The duel currently stood at 2000-3000, with Yugi in the slight lead. Both Egyptian gods were gone, which meant the duelists had to rely on other tactics to win. Seto's strategy would likely switch back to normal with him trying to summon at least one, if not all three, Blue Eyes. With his Cost Down magic card, it only required the sacrifice of one monster instead of the usual two.

"You may as well throw in the towel, Yugi. Your only monster is gone. Unless you can summon something with over 3000 attack points, this duel is over!"

I folded my hands together and tightly closed my eyes. The Pharaoh needed one card right now, and if he couldn't draw it, the duel really would be over. I had never considered myself to be devout to any religion, but I had to give the Pharaoh all the help I could find. Please let him draw the right card. Only he can save everyone from Marik's darkness. In the past, so many people believed that I had the ability to control fate, as if something so fleeting could ever bow to a mere human. Even I wasn't prideful enough to believe I had such a skill or power.

"I use Monster Reborn to bring back a monster from my graveyard, the Dark Magician!"

I sighed in relief. He'd done it, and now the stage was set for the final moves of the duel. Though I was certain that Yugi would be asking me questions later about their old rivalry, ones that would have to be answered very carefully, he also knew that none of it mattered if he didn't beat Seto.

"You disappoint me, Yugi. You're willing to put all your faith into some old folk story. How pathetic."

Seto's words hurt more than I should have let them, likely more than he had intended. It wasn't just a folk story; it had been my life. I had been there when the two of them met, and I had chosen Seto as my partner in guarding the Prince. I had watched as they became friends, though their interactions with one another suggested otherwise. Though it broke his heart, Seto was one of the first people to congratulate us on our marriage; he was also one of the first I went to when the pressure of bearing a child, and the subsequent lack thereof, became excruciating. He had cried relentlessly with me after my husband sealed his spirit away in the Puzzle and his body ceased functioning, making it clear that he was gone from our world. I brushed away tears as these memories threatened to surface.

"Behold this! A monster that will seal your fate. I summon Lord of Dragons!"

Now Yugi's magic and trap cards couldn't affect Blue Eyes. But Lord of Dragons wouldn't stand a chance against the Dark Magician, not without help. The Pharaoh made an impatient move, and I nearly shouted at him to stop.

"Behold! The rebirth of my Egyptian god card."

Obelisk reappeared, causing Yugi to lose 1500 Life Points as Obelisk guarded Lord of Dragons from the Dark Magician's attack. He was slow to stand once again, and though he didn't spare me a long glance, the Pharaoh's eyes burned with such determination that I could feel it deep in my bones. He would fight until the absolute end, and even then, he would find a way to victory. I feared, however, what might happen if he stopped believing. If only Joey and his friends were here to support him. The spell I had cast on Joey would likely be wearing off soon, which meant the Shadows it was holding back would force their way through if Joey couldn't manage to wake up on his own.

"I activate the magic card Flute of Summoning Dragon."

My eyes widened at the appearance of Seto's card. He was about to successfully summon all 3 of his Blue Eyes White Dragons. Joey, please wake up!

Joey

Where was I? What was going on? Yugi, Tea, and Grandpa said that I was competing in a Duel Monster's Tournament, but the situation didn't feel right. There was something missing, or I might have been forgetting it, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I was dominating in this tournament though; none of the other competitors could even come close to me.

Finally, it was the championship round. I felt more than confident in my deck and in my skills as I stepped up to the platform. But the final match was more difficult than I had expected it to be. My opponent kept improving with every turn. My Life Points were dropping rapidly, and I had no cards that could win against the Metal Dragon my opponent had summoned.

"Not again! I can't believe this kid is dueling circles around me."

This was embarrassing, and I was almost upset that my friends were here to see it. But I needed their support right now, and I knew this duel would have been worse without them. I racked my brain, trying to think of what Yugi or Dria might do in this situation. Yugi would tell me to think carefully before making a move, and Dria would say to trust in the monsters and cards that I did have; there was always a strategy. That was it!

"Now I activate my Gust Fan magic card. It raises your monster's attack points but lowers its defense points."

My opponent was confused by my decision, but the look on his face when I played my Shield and Sword magic card was priceless. If only my plan had worked; that brat had a trap waiting for me. The duel was over, and I lost. As I headed over to my friends, I felt proud of what I'd done in the tournament, knowing I'd dueled my best.

Suddenly, I felt a tightness in my chest and a chill ran down my spine. Joey, please wake up! Dria's voice echoed in my head. I couldn't think of a time when I'd heard such desperation in her voice. Yugi must have been in trouble. I needed to wake up before it was too late. I saw a golden light ahead of me and stretched my hand toward it.

My eyes felt heavy, like I hadn't slept in days. I had to resist the urge to close them once again; I didn't think I'd have the strength to reopen them again. The world was fuzzy around me for a few moments before finally coming into focus.

"Come on, big brother. Say something." That was Serenity's voice. I was in the hospital room with all my friends, excluding Yugi and Dria. My sister burst into tears and hugged me tightly. I gently stroked her hair, reassuring her that I was fine.

"This is impossible. Someone in your condition could never recover this fast."

I wasn't a doctor, but I somehow knew he was right. That golden light had pulled me out and brought me back to my friends. The details were still unclear to me, but as my memory returned and Serenity filled in the blank spaces, I understood the desperation I'd heard from Dria's voice in my dream. I hadn't won the duel, I hadn't saved Mai, and now Yugi was facing off against Kaiba. I clenched my fists in frustration, but this tournament wasn't over yet. I still had something I needed to do. Despite the protests of my friends, I slipped on my shoes and ran out the door.

Suddenly, an emergency medical team came running down the hallway. "We're here to transport the patient. Where is he?"

"He was in critical condition a minute ago!"

"Don't lie, doc. It was five minutes ago!"

Right now, my place was beside my best friend, cheering him on to victory alongside the one who'd won his heart. A medical examination could wait until later. I started running down the hallway until a voice called me back.

"Don't go!"

Tea was furious at me, demanding that I stay with the doctor until his examination was over. I knew I had worried them, and I could tell how frazzled her emotions were because of the tournament. Tears gathered in her eyes as she recounted how people we cared about had been seriously hurt in what was supposed to be a tournament celebrating a game millions of people loved. I felt the same as Tea, and if that was how we felt, I could only imagine what Dria, the creator of the game, was feeling about what had happened in this tournament because of her game.

"I have to go and be there for Yugi. I know I had you all scared, but I came back for a reason."

Turning back down the hallway, I sprinted towards the Duel Tower. I didn't know how much time was left in the duel, and I needed to get there as quickly as possible. Hang on, Yugi! I'm coming!

Seto

Three cards, and they were all I needed to finally defeat Yugi. It wouldn't matter which cards Yugi picked; I would still win. I wanted to spare a glance to Dria, but I knew it wasn't me that she had been supporting in this duel. It didn't matter though; I didn't need her to win. I could and would do this on my own.

My strategy worked perfectly. I was able to bring back the Blue Eyes that Yugi had destroyed and fuse all 3 dragons together. Now, my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon stood beside me, and it would lead me to victory. Yugi had nothing that could stand up to my creature.

"This is the creature that will strip you of everything you have once and for all."

The Battle City crown would be mine, title of the best duelist in the world would return to me, and the respect of everyone in the world, including the woman I loved, would belong to me once again. I could see frustration and fear in Yugi's eyes as he realized my strategy. I was positive that he wouldn't have the cards to counter it. I smirked as I addressed him for the final time.

"You're right, Yugi. This duel is about the past. But it's not about some ancient battle you think we fought in another life. I mean it's about burying the past for good! I'll be closing the book on my past so I can concentrate on my future."

Memories flashed across my eyes of my childhood: Mokuba and I being dropped off at the orphanage after my parents' deaths, Gozoburo adopting us, taking over Kaiba Corp. I had fought and struggled through them all and came out on top. Once I defeated Yugi, I could wipe out the single blemish in my otherwise perfect record. Nothing would stand in my way after this of creating the perfect future for Mokuba and myself.

"Once I beat you, I can forget the past for good."

"Seto…" Dria's sad voice rang through my ears, and I spared her a brief glance. Slightly red and watery eyes stared up at me, hurt evident in her expression. My breath caught in my throat for a moment before I looked away from her. She didn't understand now, but I needed to do this. I had to be the best at everything if I wanted to win her affection back. Defeating Yugi was the only thing standing between us, I was sure of it. Yugi chuckled, expressing his amazement at my incredible deeds, but he didn't intend it as a compliment.

"It's your complete stubbornness and lust for power that I find so puzzling."

"Why is that?"

"It holds you back, that's why! You'll never defeat me with a heart full of hatred and mistrust."

He was afraid of what he was about to lose, so he was trying to distract me. It was my inner rage that drove me to reach the highest possible achievements. I had protected Mokuba, outwitted Gozoburo, improved my company, and reached all my goals with it. I would now defeat Yugi with it as well.

"Reveal facedown card, my Double Spell magic card."

No, not that card! Using my own magic cards against me, Yugi was able to bring forth Dark Paladin, the Ultimate Magical Swordsman. However, his monster was still weaker than my Ultimate Dragon, even with the special ability of Buster Blader. My dragon began its attack against Yugi, and I smiled in victory. This duel was mine at last.

"Remember, I still have one facedown card left."

"My Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon can't be stopped, Yugi."

"I'm afraid you're wrong. I play this, my De-Fusion card."

This couldn't be happening. Yugi's card split apart my Ultimate Dragon into the original 3 Blue Eyes. My victory had been stolen away from me once again by a duelist who had taken everything away from me: my pride, respect, honor, and Dria. His Dark Paladin received an extra power boost from the additional dragons, becoming the most powerful monster on the field.

"It's time for my final move."

"Just go." There was nothing more I could do. I would never be able to regain what was mine. But why? Why was Yugi able to defeat me again? What did he have that I didn't that had earned him Dria's love? What had I done wrong?

As my Life Points hit zero, I saw everything that had once been mine vanishing before me. I had been beaten in my own tournament, which I had organized for the sole purpose of defeating Yugi and regaining everything he had taken from me. It felt like the floor was falling out from beneath me. I was nothing now.

The geek squad ran to congratulate Yugi on his victory. Even Wheeler was there, which meant he had recovered from his fainting spell. The only one who wasn't there was Dria, who was instead heading my direction. I couldn't face her now, not when I had just lost once again. I shook my head and took a step back from her. She halted in her approach, standing just out of my reach.

"That was the most challenging duel I've ever fought, Kaiba."

Rage surged within my chest as Yugi approached and attempted to placate me. How dare he humiliate me in such a manner again. I glared at him with more hatred than I'd ever felt before.

"Just save it. I don't need the pep talk."

"You can never truly be a success until you are able to conquer the monsters within your heart, Kaiba."

I wanted nothing more than to strike that disappointed look off his face. Who did he think he was, lecturing me like some small child?

"I didn't crush you on my own. Joey and I did it together, using the card he gave me. I never duel alone, Kaiba."

I couldn't hold back any longer. "Wake up! Don't you realize that every single one of us is alone in this world, Yugi? Look at me. I've never had to ask for anyone's else."

Pride prevented me from understanding how wrong my words truly were. I could never admit to accepting help from anyone, not even Dria or Mokuba. That would mean there was some shortcoming, some weakness, within myself that I couldn't overcome. I was Seto Kaiba. I always stood at the top through my own efforts.

"You don't consider anyone your friend, Kaiba?"

"Friendship is for fools. Keep your friendships to yourself! I'm not interested in having any pals to slow me down."

A sharp intake of breath stole my attention, but I couldn't bring myself to look to the source. Without even checking, I knew what my words had done; they had hurt Dria more deeply than ever before. If I knew well enough, her eyes were overflowing with tears that she was barely restraining, and her hands were clasping that necklace she never took off. I had tried so many times to give her a more suitable piece of jewelry to adorn her slender neck, but she had politely declined every offering.

"The time has come to accept my defeat like a man, Yugi."

As I passed over my Egyptian god card, I was also relinquishing any hope I had of ever gaining Dria's love. It was clear that I would never been good enough for her, and while losing her would damage my heart beyond repair, she only deserved the best. If that meant being with Yugi instead of me, then so be it. I would make this as clean a break between us as possible. Without sparing her another glance, I walked away with Mokuba, intent on leaving the past behind me no matter what.