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The Orichalcos Saga
Fanfic Chapter 224: Rematch with Raphael Pt 3: Tears of a Guardian
Episode Basis: Grappling with a Guardian Pt 3
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Under the control of the Orichalcos, the darkness within Raphael's heart was increased and amplified. While he used to respect his monsters, keeping them from the graveyard at all costs, now he was sacrificing them like they were going out of style. When Yami used Timaeus and Solon along with his Dark Magician to defeat Guardian Eatos, the darkness within him got out of control. A new monster was produced, a being of pure darkness and hatred: Guardian Deathscythe. But just as Yugi showed Yami the error of his ways, so was Yami about to do the same to Raphael. He played a magic card called Underworld Circle which caused the Seal of Orichalcos to cloud over. What happened?
On the outside, it looked like purple smoke. As much as Tristan, Amara, Tea, Mokuba, and Kaiba tried, they couldn't see inside. "How could this happen?" Tristan asked.
"I know," Mokuba said. "Yugi played that Underworld Circle card and somehow it interfered with the Seal of Orichalcos."
Tea went forward and pushed against the edge of the seal. The seal pushed back and Tea was forced to her knees.
"Did you honestly think you could break through?" Kaiba asked.
"No," Tea admitted. "But all the same, I had to try." She stared at the darkened seal. "Pharaoh…"
Inside, Yami walked through. "This is strange," he said. "Is this another vision generated by the Orichalcos?" He found himself on a path aligned with gravestones. "Wait a minute; Underworld Circle lets us bring back monsters from the graveyard. Could I have been transported to the card graveyard?"
"This wasn't part of my plan!" Yami looked in the distance and saw Raphael's shadowed form.
"Raphael?"
"What did you do, Pharaoh?" Raphael asked.
"Not this, that's for sure," Yami said.
"Help me, somebody!"
Yami and Raphael turned towards the new male voice. A figure was running towards them. They gasped as the figure came into view. "Raphael, that's you!"
"Yes, when I was younger." The young Raphael ran past his older counterpart and continued towards the distance. "Hey wait!" He took off after the young Raphael.
"Raphael, careful," Yami cautioned as he followed them. "It could be a trap!" He caught up to the older Raphael at a set of four gravestones and repeated his warning, "This could be a trap we don't even know where we are."
"I know exactly where we are," Raphael said. "It's the graves of my family!"
Yami gasped.
They heard laughing behind them. They turned and saw young Raphael joined by a man in a white cloak. "It's all starting to make sense," Raphael said. "Master Dartz took me here once to expose me to the truth."
"So this is a vision of your past," Yami deduced.
"Always remember that life is cruel," Dartz told young Raphael. "The sooner you learn that, the better. Your family is dead, everyone else has forgotten all about you so you should forget about all of them." Somehow an image of Raphael on board that ill-fated voyage that took his parents and siblings from him appeared for all to see. Yami noticed the anguished look on Raphael's face. "I brought you here so you could confront the past, and ultimately, forget it once and for all! All that matters is your servitude to me." He pointed to the ground, "Now tunnel your way into the ground and unearth your destiny!" Raphael began digging with his hands. Time progressed and the hole got bigger and bigger.
"I don't understand," Yami said. "What was Dartz trying to show to you?"
Young Raphael finally came upon something: two human skulls. "No," he said. "It can't be… IT CAN'T BE!" He let out a scream of anguish as rain started to pour.
"I thought your family was just missing," Yami said.
"That's what I thought too, until I saw that." Present day Raphael pointed to the two skulls. "Those skulls… were of Julian… and Sonia."
A glow came from up above. Everyone looked up to see Guardian Eatos floating over the pit.
"Eatos," young Raphael gasped. Eatos held out her hands. Young Raphael placed the two skulls in her hands. She held them close to her.
Tears were dripping down her cheeks.
"Is Eatos… crying?" Young Raphael asked.
"Forget that creature," Dartz said dismissively. "It is what is holding you to the past; it's what is keeping you from moving forward. It is your past, a memory to be forgotten. Your future… lay right behind you." Young Raphael was so awestruck by Eatos that he didn't see Dartz drop a Dark Duel Disk into the pit. "Now turn your back on the past and face the future." Young Raphael turned around and picked up the Dark Duel Disk and put it on. He drew a card. It was the Seal of Orichalcos. Raphael inserted it into the field magic card slot. The Duel Disk lit up and shot light into the air. Raphael groaned in pain, "Do not fight the power let it set you free!" The Seal of Orichalcos was traced on Raphael's forehead. The seal appeared underneath him and started to expand. As the edge of the seal touched Guardian Eatos, the skulls in her hands dissolved and she burst into flames, collapsing to the ground.
"Eatos!" Young Raphael cried.
"Forget about it, that creature was only holding you back. You have a new Guardian now." From the fires of Guardian Eatos rose Guardian Deathscythe. "This creature was created from your darkness and is bounded to you. Congratulations, your journey is over."
"Now do you understand the brilliance of Master Dartz?" Present day Raphael asked Yami. "He knows exactly how the world works and how to save it."
"If you are so loyal to 'Master Dartz,' why do you keep disobeying him?" Yami asked. Raphael reacted like Yami just slapped him in the face. "Dartz told you to let go of your past yet you cling to your Guardians, who, in your master's own words, 'represents your past'?"
"You don't get it Master Dartz was helping me move on!"
Yami scoffed, "Ultimately, the only one Dartz is helping is himself!"
The Seal of Orichalcos started to glow on Raphael's forehead. "Master Dartz gave me the power to survive and now it's time to unleash it on you!"
The fog cleared up. Yami and Raphael found themselves back facing one another. Guardian Deathscythe was still on the field but Dark Magician Girl was gone. "Pharaoh, are you all right?"
"He has no monsters on his side of the field," Mokuba pointed out. "So I wouldn't say he's okay."
(R: 1500)
(Y: 300)
"My Underworld Circle magic card should've destroyed every monster on the field, so why is Deathscythe still here?"
"Simple, by discarding a card from my hand, Deathscythe is able to revive itself," Raphael explained. One of the cards in his hand disintegrated. "It was created to be indestructible so Deathscythe can't be destroyed, not even by me!"
"So how's the Pharaoh supposed to win?" Tea wondered.
"Especially with a limited number of monsters," Amara added.
"What are you talking about?" Tristan asked.
"For Underworld Circle to be effective, both players must remove all the monsters that remain in their decks."
"For something that costly, that card better have a big perk," Tristan said.
"Thanks to Underworld Circle, I now have free access to every monster in my graveyard," Yami explained. "But because of Guardian Deathscythe's ability, yours is off-limits."
"I don't care about those worthless weaklings any more. There's only one creature I need!" Guardian Deathscythe roared.
Dartz gave Raphael that monster to feed the darkness in his heart. So if I destroy it, maybe I can set him free. "With the power of Underworld Circle I bring back Dark Magician from the graveyard!"
"Maybe he has a chance after all," Kaiba said.
"Yeah," Mokuba agreed. "Now that he can play cards in his graveyard, Yugi can start kicking some serious butt!"
"About time too," Amara said.
"I set a card face-down and end my turn," Yami finished.
Raphael drew a card saying, "It's over!"
"Not as long as my magic card's in play," Yami said. "I summon Jack's Knight from the graveyard!"
"You mean he can use that circle thing even when it's not his turn?" Tristan asked.
"That's awesome," Mokuba said.
"Guardian Deathscythe, attack Dark Magician!"
"I reveal my trap card Zero Gravity which forces all our monsters into defense mode."
"Yugi just stopped that zombie thing in its track!" Tristan exclaimed.
"I don't think so I reveal my own trap card Spirit Hunter which destroys all monsters in defense mode." Jack's Knight and Dark Magician were both destroyed.
Yami didn't seem perturbed as he started his turn. "I use Underworld Circle to bring back Dark Magician Girl and play Altar of Restoration allowing me to bring back another monster from my graveyard by discarding the top two cards in my deck." He took The Eye of Timaeus out of his graveyard. "Now I play Eye of Timaeus, fusing my Legendary Dragon with Dark Magician Girl to form Dark Magician Girl the Dragon Knight! And I use her special effect to destroy Guardian Deathscythe!" Dark Magician Girl aimed her sword and fired a blast of energy. Timaeus launched a blast from its mouth.
But as the smoke of the attack dissipated, everyone could see that Guardian Deathscythe was still there. "Deathscythe is indestructible," Raphael reminded.
Why did Yugi attack when he knew fully well it would just revive itself, Kaiba wondered as Yami placed a card face-down. Yugi better not let this chump beat him twice I'm the only one who deserves the honor of beating Yugi.
Raphael drew a card.
"I use Underworld Circle to bring back Queen's Knight."
"Your strategy isn't working," Raphael said. He slid a card into his graveyard. "I discard one card to activate The Sealing Sword of Orichalcos!" A sword penetrated Timaeu's foot. "There, that should keep your monster from using its special ability." But Yami was more interested in the card Raphael discarded to activate the magic card than the magic card itself. The card was Monster Reborn. "Now, Guardian Deathscythe, destroy his Dragon Knight!"
"No!" Yami cried as his hybrid monster was destroyed.
(R: 1500)
(Y: 10)
"How can you still have life points?" Raphael asked.
"My trap card Reduction Barrier reduces damage by ten percent."
"How annoying," Raphael grumbled.
"I promise that I'll fight until my last point is gone for my friends, and for the world, even those who might be ruled by evil."
"Suit yourself, but sooner or later your soul will belong to Master Dartz."
"You've been brainwashed, Raphael, but I still believe there's good in you and I'm going to bring it out!" He drew a card. "I use Underworld Circle to bring back Big Shield Gardna and play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two extra cards." The cards Yami drew were Spider Web and the Claw of Hermos. "I play the magic card Spider Web which lets me take a card from your graveyard and I'll take Monster Reborn!" A web latched onto Raphael's graveyard slot and withdrew the card which landed in Yami's hand. "I'll set you free from the darkness, Raphael, and I'll use your cards to do it! I play Monster Reborn to bring back Guardian Eatos!" Raphael's graveyard shot out energy into the air. Guardian Eatos landed on Yami's side of the field. When she looked at her former master, there was hurt in her eyes. It almost looked like she was in tears.
"Kaiba, promise me you'll never make holograms that realistic."
"No promises," Kaiba told Amara.
With Eatos out of the graveyard, Deathscythe lost 500 attack points.
(GD: 5500-5000)
Yami cast a side glance at Joey, if I'm going to win this I'm going to need Joey's help. For just as Harold's dragon helped me defeat Guardian Eatos, so will Joey's dragon help me defeat Guardian Deathscythe. "I play the Claw of Hermos!" The red dragon appeared.
"Check it out, Joey," Tristan said to the soulless Joey. "It's your dragon."
"I'll combine Hermos with my Queen's Knight to form the Goddess Bow!" Queen's Knight transformed into a bow which Guardian Eatos grabbed.
(GE: 2500-5000)
"What are you planning?" Raphael asked. "Both of our monsters have the same number of attack points so they'll destroy each other, but mine will come back."
"We'll see about that," Yami replied. "Eatos, attack and I activate the special effect of Goddess Bow allowing Eatos to attack again each time Deathscythe revives itself!" As Eatos pulled back on the bow, an arrow of energy appeared. Eatos fired and the arrow struck Deathscythe. One of Raphael's cards disappeared. Eatos fired another arrow and another of Raphael's cards disintegrated.
"Of course!" Mokuba cried. "When Raphael runs out of cards, it can't be revived."
The last of Raphael's cards disintegrated. Deathscythe burst into flames and fell into the ground. Soon only its mask remained. Eatos picked up the mask and held it close to her heart as she ascended into the sky.
Raphael fell to his knees. As he did, a card fell out of his deck. Raphael stared at it absentmindedly. It was a magic card called Soul Charge. He recognized it because of who gave it to him: Jonah.
"Lord Raphael."
"What is it, kid?"
"I have a gift for you, it's a Duel Monster card."
"Soul Charge? Jonah, this only works for monsters that are in the graveyard. You know I don't like having monsters in my graveyard."
"Please keep it; I'd like one of my cards to help you win a duel."
"All right, kid, I'll keep it for you."
"Now do you understand what you've done?" Yami asked. "You turned your back on your monsters. Once they meant the world to you but Dartz convinced you to abandon all that. He fueled your grief and anger and in your moment of weakness you allowed yourself to be consumed by the dark magic of the Orichalcos. But I knew the real you was still in there and I also knew what I had to do: force you to face the darkness."
"There's only one problem," Raphael said picking up the card Jonah made for him. "The Seal of Orichalcos still needs a soul. I use Underworld Circle to bring back Guardian Grarl. Then I play the magic card Soul Charge which lets me bring more monsters back." Kay'est, Elma, and Backup Gardna all reappeared.
"Now he has four monsters!" Tristan exclaimed.
"Hold on," Kaiba said. "Monsters summoned by Soul Charge can't attack for one turn so he's safe for now."
"Then why do it?" Mokuba asked.
"That's it," Raphael said. "My graveyard is empty and my Guardians are free. But each monster I brought back cost me 500 life points."
(R: 0)
(Y: 10)
"He just committed Duelist suicide," Amara commented. The Seal of Orichalcos started to shrink around him.
A bright light came from the sky. Everyone watched as Guardian Eatos descended again. She landed in front of Raphael. She leaned over, took Raphael's head into her hands and kissed him on the forehead. The Seals of Orichalcos branded on all the monsters disappeared. "You made the right choice," Yami said. "The darkness has lifted."
"You're right, thank you." Raphael heard childish laughter and looked down to see Julien and Sonia hanging off of him. "Julien, Sonia…" His eyes tear up, "I missed you guys."
"Silly," Sonia said a smile on her face. "You couldn't have missed us because we've never left you."
Raphael saw his parents standing amongst his guardian monsters. "I see, this is a vision of what is in my heart. Everyone I turned my back on is still here and always will be." The visions of his monsters and family rose into the sky and disappeared. His Orichalcos Stone cracked and the seal disappeared from his forehead.
Yami and the others gathered around Raphael who hadn't collapsed like the others who have lost a duel in the Seal of Orichalcos. "What happened to the seal?" Tea asked. "Doesn't it normally put on a big green laser show?"
"Yeah," Raphael agreed. "It usually takes someone's soul as well. But I'm still here."
"I have a theory about that," Yami said. "The Seal of Orichalcos is powered by the darkness within the person who plays it. But Raphael was able to conquer that darkness so his soul was spared.
Suddenly the building started shaking violently. "Is it an earthquake?" Tristan asked.
"No," Yami said. "I'm afraid it's something much worse."
The End