Final Hours
Chapter Three
The choices had been made, the deck divided. Some would fight for Yugi, others were chosen to serve Pharaoh. And there were the ones not participating, who could only watch as friend was forced to battle friend in a duel that would bring pain no matter who was the winner…
The others were gone, save for Kuriboh, who even now would not leave Yugi's side. Kuriboh and one other, who dwelled in the deck yet kept himself apart from the others.
This one had given his power to save the lives of Yugi and Pharaoh, turning on the master who had mocked and abused him at Battle City. Although protected and sheltered within their deck, his card had been marked so that no honest duelist could use it. But, though Pharaoh's servant would follow him to the afterlife, he would first see to it that Yugi would not be deprived of his favorite monster.
"I will not deny that I thought about sending you into the duel in my place." He said to the other. "For I can hardly bear the thought of Yugi taking harm from me. But, I vowed to serve my pharaoh to the end and beyond, and that is Yugi's wish as well. Do you still wish to serve him?"
The other nodded gravely. "If you can do what you said, I will be honored to serve him. Both he and your pharaoh showed me kindness such as I knew from no other master. I will do my best even if another is chosen to lead the deck. It will be enough and more than I could have ever hoped for."
"The deck Yugi has made for this day has one specific purpose. Beyond that, when his heart has healed and he is ready to duel again, you will find that Dark Magician will again be the centerpiece of his deck-never fear, my friend." Getting to his feet, he held out his hands to his counterpart. "We had best do it now. Remember, when I am defeated in the battle, it is you who will go to the card graveyard."
Power flowed between them as the two magicians clasped hands. Shadow magic moved over the Red Dark Magician, changing his robes to a rich royal purple, the silver hair to blue. The next time Yugi examined his cards, the marked card taken from Pandora would be faded and unrecognizable, while his own Dark Magician card would be as vibrant as ever.
Pharaoh's Dark Magician pried Kuriboh out of Yugi's arms and handed the little fiend to the magician who would truly be Yugi's own. "Take care of him, my friend. Take care of them all." He bowed and hurried away, blinking back the sudden moisture in his eyes, and the images of a young boy grown too soon to manhood, a kindly old shopkeeper and, last of all, a mischievous orange kitten…
"Pharaoh, my soul is your eternal servant."
The new Dark Magician stared after the other's retreating form. "I will serve them. I promise." He looked down at Kuriboh who stared back with wide eyes. "Have no fear, little one. Though Pharaoh and his servant must say farewell, Dark Magician will always be with him."
The End