A/N: This series will be a crossover of epic proportions, and it's all Atem-centric! We'll be venturing through the worlds of Pokémon, Final Fantasy X/X-2, Rurouni Kenshin, Kingdom Hearts, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, and Harry Potter!
Trust me, it'll work. I have it all planned out. Redemption will focus on the Pokémon aspect.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yuugiou (Yu-Gi-Oh) and/or Pokémon.
Redemption
Written by Fenikkusu
Chapter 1 – The Shadow Realm
This certainly was not the afterlife, if the swirling shadows had anything to do with it. Atem opened his eyes to greet the murky wisps gathering at his feet. His crimson eyes widened at the darkness threatening to swallow his soul, again.
"What is this?" Atem asked no one in particular.
"So you have returned, slave."
The pharaoh turned on his heel, attempting to find the source of the voice. Finding no one, his temper began to flare. "Show yourself!"
"That is no way to speak to us, Shadow-weilder." At those words, shackles clamped around his feet.
The king gasped at the sudden entrapment. No, this can't be happening, he thought, trying to release his bound legs. "What is the meaning of this?" Atem screamed. "I've defeated my aibou in a duel. Why have I returned to the Shadow Realm?"
A cackle echoed around him. A normal person would have cringed at the laugh, but Atem didn't so much as flinch. He merely glared into the unknown. "Don't you remember how we helped you seal away the evil all those years ago?"
"Of course. I bound my soul to the puzzle to keep Zorc's entity trapped as well. Breaking the Milennium Pendant sealed us both away for many millennia. What does that have to do with my imprisonment now?"
"Ah, so our dear Pharaoh does not completely remember how the ritual went. Interesting. Then let us show you, our dear king."
Atem found himself swept into a memory. He floated above a tanned room, a large feather bed sitting against one wall. This is… my room at the palace? Crimson eyes saw two men walk into the room, one of them himself. "I… have one last request as your king," the memory of the pharaoh whispered to a brunette.
"Anything," the other replied in a heartbeat to the king's turned back. Atem's heart clenched; he reminded him so much of Mahado. Was it possible that he had a friend just as close, if not closer?
"When Heba's time comes… please see to it that he is buried with me." Heba? Who in the world was that? Didn't that mean… Atem's eyes widened at the tone he took with the name.
The scene melded away to reveal red. Atem took a step back when he realized he was standing in a pool of blood. "My king!" The spirit turned left to see a battered soldier leaning against an archway. Atem gasped as he saw himself bleeding out on the floor. His wrists were slashed across the main veins, causing the liquid to spill quickly. His tanned skin was now a sickly gray, and he was fading fast.
"Cas-Cassius?" Crimson met gray eyes. So that was the name of the brunette.
The soldier knelt next to the fallen king. "I'll stop the blee—"
"No," said Atem's former self, as blood continued to pour out of his wrists, creating a pentagram around them. "L-leave, before…"
"I won't let you die like this!"
"Go!" Shadows shoved the general off of the raised platform. Cassius could only watch as the pharaoh began to scream and convulse. And all he and the current Atem could do was sit and watch.
"You see, master," the shadows drawled as the scene faded back into the Shadow Realm, "not everything went according to your plans. Although you were successful in sealing yourself and Zorc away, you inadvertently committed suicide. The sealing spell only required a drop of your blood, and yet you slashed both wrists."
Atem remained silent after the explanation. He lifted his arms and silently ordered a few Shadows to slice the gold bracelets off of his wrists. Sure enough, there were ugly scars extending over both. "What could have drove me to…" he whispered to himself, clenching both hands into fists so tight that his knuckles turned white.
The Shadows dared to laugh. "Love can make one do drastic things, my liege. It seems that you've fallen in love with his reincarnation. However, it seems like your love was unrequited…"
The pharaoh bit the insides of his cheeks. "There is nothing I can do about it now."
"And that is where we can aid you," the Shadows continued. "We pulled a few strings and have devised a plan to return you to your own realm. However, we need a bit of input from you."
The pharaoh jerked his head up, staring into the endless blackness. "Anything," he said in a heartbeat. "What do I need to do?"
"You will need to travel to many different worlds to atone for your sin. The first is filled with fantastical creatures known as Pokémon. There you will save the world from impending doom, because we all know that you're drawn to it." They cackled again, causing Atem to shiver.
Suddenly, a rainbow portal appeared beneath the pharaoh's feet. "Is that it?" Atem shouted as a wind began to spin around him.
"Do you want more to do?"
"Not particularly." As the lights increased in intensity, Atem remembered something. "Why are you doing this?"
"As much as we… dislike you, we don't loathe you. You are the one who gave us life, after all. We wish you luck on your newest journey, Creator. A boy named Satoshi shall greet you on your arrival."
Atem disappeared in a swirl of rainbow light.