Hey guys! I'm so sorry that I haven't updated this story in so long! But I have been continuing it on my own..., so here's the rest of Ragnarok Solstice Part I! I hope you guys aren't too mad at me! . I have the first 5 or so chapters of Part II, so I'll post those up if you guys are still interested (review and tell me, please). Thanks!
Ragnarok Solstice
Part I: The Admonitions
By Healing Spirit
Chapter 4: Transcending Reminiscences
Sarah groaned and rubbed at the blisters forming on her slender fingers, trying to disregard the callous pains shooting up her back. She inclined backwards and arched her back in a semi 'bridge' to loosen her tense muscles, performing her dancing abilities. Bending back down to pick up her shovel, a small smile tugged at her lips when she witnessed Takashi and Yukari humorously having a tug of war over Yukari's shovel. Sarah raised an eyebrow as Yukari's normal quiet voice amplified to a more demanding tone- not at all like her.
"Takashi! Let go!"'Wow… O.O;'
"Yukari! Just let me shovel for you!" 'This guy's desperate… -.-;'
"NO!" 'I've never noticed that vein popping on her head before… O.O'
Her eyebrows elevated even more as they then switched their conversation into fluent Japanese, which- since she was Korean- did not understand. Though, it was fun to watch them fight. 'Wow, I've never seen Yukari so frustrated before,' Sarah thought amusingly to herself. Yukari may be your average next-door sweetie who is as quiet and shy as a mouse, but that doesn't mean that she couldn't stand up for herself! Sarah noted that ever since that morning at breakfast, Yukari had been avoiding Takashi's eyes and her cheeks flushed in deep embarrassment.
For some reason, that scene bought back a reminiscence. A faded memory, but nonetheless clear...
000
Flashback
"Sarah! Phone for you!"
"Oh! Coming!" Making my way down the steps, I thanked mom as I picked up the phone and placed it to my ear. "Ahnyung Hah She Yo?"
"Sarah?" In an instant, my heart froze as I gripped the phone for fear that the line might suddenly disconnect. I stared disbelievingly into space as my mind tried to register what was happening. That voice… It's been so long since I've heard that voice…
"Sarah, are you there?" Snapping back to my current situation, I answered back with shaking hands. "I-Idiot?" I whispered, afraid of his response. Just saying his nickname felt so strange, it has been so long!
"Sarah," he sounded so relieved, was it because he felt the same as me? "It's been so long since we talked, huh?" Once again, my voice caught in my throat, and I blinked furiously to keep my impending tears at bay. "Yes…it has…"
I felt so happy yet so sad at the same time. Everything around me seemed to fade into haze and I just stood there and listened to his beautiful voice.
"I've missed you Sarah. How's un-ma? Are your two sisters doing okay? Huh, I'm blabbering now!" The sound of his laughter was like spring rain to my ears. I couldn't stop the huge smile that graced my lips as he continued with his musing.
"Do you remember the time when our friends said that there was a party for 2-year couples and we both were invited? But when we got there, everyone was gone and we heard the door close behind us. They locked us in there for hours until they finally let us out the next day. But, while we were in there, I got to know you better and… huh. Now that I think about it, it makes me miss you even more."
I giggled lightly with him and said uneasily, "I miss you too. And I will never forget that day." But then, the memory of that day was poignant, for I knew that those days had long ago passed and we could never go back to the way it once was.
"Um, Sarah?"
"Yes?"
"I…I have something to tell you…"
"What is it?" I asked, not afraid of anything he would tell me. Besides, he contacted me after all these long years since I moved to America! I couldn't be happier!
"Oh, Sarah," I heard him sigh deeply and then I waited in anticipation, but then fear crept its way into my heart. "Min Sung," I only said his real name when I was serious. "Tell me what's wrong! Otherwise I won't be able to help you!"
"Sarah, I'm," he hesitated, ranking up my curiosity even higher. "I'm getting surgery…"
End Flashback
000
'But then…' Sarah's mental words chocked at her throat, and she felt her eyes sting from some indefinite source. Biting her lip, her grip on the handle of her shovel constricted. Acid burned her eyes as tears flowed down her rosy cheeks and an imaginary thorn had embedded itself in her chest. 'I wonder if he's all right. He hasn't called yet, ever since he told me that he needed surgery.' Sarah's eyes widened in painful comprehension and she stifled her gasp with a raised hand. 'What if he didn't make it through the operation…?'
000
"MY BAAAAAAAAACCKKK!!" Jounouchi howled out loud only to get cut off by a slap. "Tatsuya, be quiet! You're making this worse then it already is!" Mai screeched as loud as her tired body would allow. Like Jounouchi, she was equally as drained from energy and had no intention of continuing any time soon.
"Mai, you can't blame me! My back hurts!" He whined pathetically, and was rewarded with another slap. However, this one was performed with less vigor. "When's lunch?" Jounouchi asked his fiancé, watching her sweat drop mingle with the other drops of sweat studded on her creamy skin.
"Hopefully soon," she responded, enduring her work with utmost dignity.
"It's not fair! Kaiba's not workin'!" Jou pointed his finger accusingly at the smug C.E.O. sipping cool lemonade and winking at them. "Why I oughtta," a vein popped on Jounouchi's forehead as he watched Kaiba purposely cool himself off and basked in the shade.
"Jou, just don't watch him!" Mai sighed and nonchalantly flicked a golden lock off her shoulder. Suddenly, her eyes flew wide open as her finger made contact with her now frizzy hair.
"MY HAAAAAAAAIIRRRR!!" She screamed in horror as she grasped handfuls of her usual silky blond hair now frizzy from the heat. She, in turn, was silenced by a slap and she fell to the ground on her face. Picking herself up and spitting out the grains of sand; she glared menacingly at the idiot who slapped her.
Jounouchi cowered sheepishly beneath his fuming fiancé. "Oppsi?"
"Mai? Jou?" They both turned at the voice of their 'younger sister'. "What's up Anzu?" Jou greeted nervously, still not free from Mai until she finally turned her head to her as well.
"Can I ask you guys something?"
"What is it, hon?" Mai released her glare from Jounouchi and placed a comforting hand on Anzu's shoulder.
"I- um…" The couple arched their eyebrows at Anzu's behavior. She was usually not this shy, this must be important. "Well, it was great seeing you guys! But, I have to go back to New York."
"WHAT?!" Jou made the first move. Mai widened her violet hues and blinked in shock. "Why now, hun? Why not later?" She waited patiently for an answer, but when no response came, she took Anzu by the hand and led her away from a rambling Jounouchi.
"Anzu, why are you leaving?" Mai had switched herself to big sister mode, taking full responsibility for the younger. "Don't you like Egypt?" Anzu shook her head, moving her gaze directed at the sandy ground to flicker among the many forms of her friends still digging on the dig site. "It's not that."
"Then what is it?" The golden haired beauty grew more and more aware of the way Anzu's eyes faltered whenever her gaze settled upon a certain tri-haired cutie. "Is it Yuugi?" Her guess was rewarded with a solemn shake of her head.
"I- I just can't stay here any longer," Anzu turned away apologetically and started towards the hotel. As Mai gazed after her retreating form, she wondered why Anzu was acting this way. 'Can it be Yuugi? Either him or I'm missing her point. Nonetheless, Vivian had left for China for some business and we barely started this reunion; now Anzu's leaving too…'
"Anzu!" The brunette turned her head. "Can you at least stay for the Ramadan festival?"
She seemed hesitant at first, but then flashed a cheerful smile and nodded. "Of course!"
000
"Yukari!" With a turn of her head, Susan appeared into Yukari's view. Shizuka was beside her, setting down her shovel and tenderly caressing her throbbing blisters. She smiled warmly at the sight of her boyfriend strolling up to them behind Susan.
"What's wrong Susan?" The ebony haired beauty responded softly.
"Nothing's wrong, but Ishizu wants us to get ready for the Ramadan festival," she hastily grabbed Yukari's hand and pulled her along down the hazy dig site. Shizuka came up to Seto and slipped her ivory arms around his neck, kissing him gently.
"Do you know what's going on?" Seto grinned at his beautiful girlfriend's inquiry, enjoying her bewilderment when he chuckled. "You'll just have to see."
"Hey!" Shizuka gasped as she grasped his shirt. "How come you're not sweaty?"
"I didn't toil in the sand," he smirked at her while she mock glared at him. Being unsuccessful, she burst out into giggles. "Come on, let's go!" Taking his hands in hers, Shizuka led Seto back toward the hotel.
000
"Min Sung! Do you have ANY clue to where we are?" Aaron snapped back at his partner, somewhat irritated at their present circumstances. His handsome companion smoothed back his messy black hair, squinting his eyes through the swarming mass of shopping Egyptians. "Um," his voice faltered from hesitation. "Why don't we ask someone?"
Aaron sighed and stared at Min Sung straight in the eye. "Do you know how to speak Arabic, Weirdo? Well, if you do, then go right ahead! Look," he pointed down the street to two giggling girls peering over at them; one was staring vigilantly at Min Sung. "We've got admirers." He winked at them as Min Sung flashed him a disapproving look.
"I'm not talking to them," he stated simply.
"Oh, come on Weirdo! Do you ever talk to girls? At all?!"
Before he could respond, Aaron cut him off. "Stop. I know what you are going to say." He cleared his throat and slicked back his dirty-blond locks. Putting on a sullen expression on his face that looked amazingly similar to Min Sung's usual face, he imitated, "Well Aaron, I am not single like you."
Then he switched to a high pitched voice, casting a dreamy expression onto his eyes. "I already have a love. The most beautiful girl in the world had chosen me to be her boyfriend! Oh how I wish to see her again! How I yearned for her to be by my side and hold my hand during the operation! Oh, how I-"
A loud punch echoed throughout the marketplace and many turned their heads to see what was going on. Aaron staggered from his spot, tenderly fingering his injured eye, now glowing a light purple. Min Sung turned away from him, feeling built up anger obscure his senses. Several seconds slugged by, but it seemed like hours between them. When he spoke, an unintended harsh tone escaped from his lips.
"Do not make fun of her that way. Just because you have not found someone to love as much as I love her, that doesn't mean that you can criticize me that way. Please don't do that again. You do not know my pain. I'm sorry that I hit you."
As he walked away, head downcast and eyes sad with remorse, he left Aaron and the rest of the overseers stationed absolutely still and watching after him in hushed shock.
000
"Sister, I have to go back to America for a little while," Marik told Ishizu solemnly. "And why is that? Did something happen?" Ishizu asked suspiciously, searching for answers beneath the deep violet of his eyes.
"No, nothing! It's just that, they are having a little trouble with the new shipments of artifacts, that's all!" He replied hurriedly, trying not to worry his sister. "And just to reassure you, I'll take Odion with me, okay?"
"You're going to miss the Ramadan festival, you know," Ishizu stated bluntly, knowing how much Marik loved the event. He wouldn't miss it for the world! "I know. But I have to go," Marik insisted and swirled around on his heel, treading down the hall leading to the door.
"Something's not right," Ishizu mused to herself.
000
The sky was lit up with fireworks that zoomed through the air and exploded into billions of sparkling lights, conquering the vast heavens. Egyptians and Muslims alike cheered in grand excitement as music burst from modern loudspeakers.
Dressed in sashes of brilliant gold, striking crimson and all the colors of the rainbow, dancers lifted up their arms and danced to the beat of the drums. What seemed like millions of stores lined the streets all the way down to the horizon; swarms of people crowded around the plaza, laughing and eating the delicious Egyptian delicacies.
"This food is really good!" Shizuka, adorned with a sparkling baby-blue Arabic dress and a long hijab, giggled elegantly beside Anzu and passed her a plate filled with 'aish shami which is a sort of puffy bread, kind of like pita. Lifting it up to her mouth, she was about to eat it when Susan screamed "Stop!" Anzu nearly dropped it from surprise.
"Dip it in this!" She stared skeptically at the bizarre looking dark sauce Susan was holding out to her. Hesitant, she dipped the bread in and took a bite. She nodded in agreement. It was really good! It was like an olive-and-pepper hummus thing.
Anzu sighed contently as she watched Mai invite Shizuka, Yuki, Susan, Sarah and Miho to dance in the middle of the plaza. Yuki shook her head and refused to go in front of everybody and dance. She claimed that she wasn't very good at it. Susan and Sarah were standing beside her, trying to convince her that dancing wasn't that hard.
"You don't even have to belly dance! Just shake your hips a little!" Mai insisted. Yuki's cheeks were accented with a deep shade of rogue as she covered her face with her pink hijab.
"I- ie! I don't want to!"
"Come on Yukari! Sarah will teach you!" Susan persevered, trying to pry Yuki's hands from her hijab. Suddenly, her face lit up as an idea popped into her head.
"Oh Yukari," she said in a sing-song voice. "Takashi is going to be watching!" Yuki glanced to her right and spotted Takashi laughing with Yuugi, Jounouchi and Mokuba. When he caught her staring at him, he winked cutely at her red face.
"Now will you dance?" Sarah asked. This time Yuki shook her head even harder, shouting "No!"
"LOOK! We finally made it!" Anzu turned her head behind her when a male voice sounded above all the rest. "Look Weirdo! I told you that I knew where I was going!"
Two boys were trudging along the borders of the plaza, glancing to and fro, looking as if they had just run a 10-mile relay.
"Aaron, I'm- sorry about before," the Asian boy hung his head in shame, finding his hands very interesting to stare at. His midnight black hair came over his forehead in messy tangles; he was tall and not lacking in the muscle department. His eyes reflected sadness and a deep loss, which reminded Anzu of herself. His height was overwhelming, maybe even rivaling Kaiba's stature!
"I got out of hand."
"No, I'm sorry," the blond scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He was well built as well, with blond tresses of hair gelled straight up to reveal his forehead. Standing a few centimeters below the Asian, his skin tone was slightly tanned. "I shouldn't have made fun of Sarah that way."
Anzu was flabbergasted when they mentioned Sarah's name. Was it just a coincidence? She jerked her head back to the middle of the plaza when she heard Yuki had finally agreed to dance.
Lining up in a straight procession, Mai, Shizuka, Miho, Sarah, Yukari and Susan finally started to dance, following Sarah's lead. Being the professional among the six of them, she led them into a simple belly dance, swirling their arms like snakes, they twirled and slowly slipped into a deep trance, ignoring the stares they were receiving from all the people in the plaza.
Even the music was adapted to their style, the fireworks reflected off their multicolored dresses which swirled out like colorful birds whenever they turned or spun on their feet.
When Sarah intensified her steps, the rest of the group continued with their simpler dance. She used her golden dress to its full extent, spinning about and arching her back in a quickened pace, the hem of her dress billowing out like the radiant wings of an enchanted eagle.
"Sarah…" Anzu raised an eyebrow in puzzlement when one of the boys breathed out her friend's name. What was with this guy? Was he like a weird stalker or something?
Min Sung ignored Anzu's stare as his gaze was fixed on the beautiful midnight–haired seraph dancing in the middle of the stage, instantly alleging the stage as her own. A tear rolled down the curve of his face as he continued to stare with incredulity. Can that really be the same skinny little girl that he grew up with? He had to talk to her.
'But… does she still love me after what I done?'
000
"Where's Aaron and Min Sung?! They should be here by now!" Rebecca screeched as she raised her head to the sky, tugging on her forest green dress. She glanced down at the festivities, angry that she could not join in because of the absence of two meteorologists.
"Now Rebecca. They probably had some sort of delay. Let's not be hasty in judging their behavior," Professor Hawkins stated coolly, his refinement and sophistication taking over.
"I know grandpa. But they should be here by now!" Pouting, she took her seat by the balcony and crossed her arms.
"Rebecca's right Arthur. Perhaps they got into some trouble. With Aaron around, you can never know what to think," Sogoruko (Professor Motou) said, moving the computer mouse to its designated position. Clicking on a recently activated storm warning, he opened up the message.
"Hm, what's this?" he furrowed his eyebrows as he scanned the images brought to him.
000
A dim glow emitted from inside the giant stone tablet as Marik's eyes flickered to that spot. "What's this?" He reached out a hand to touch the radiating light beaming out from the carving of the eye of Horus.
"Ah!" He jerked his hand back and looked at his fingers to see settling burns becoming visible beneath the many wrinkles of his hands. "What's going on?" Odion and the assistant who called him before came up beside him and persistently asked him what's wrong. Soon their attention was draw to the fiercely shimmering eye of Horus and all stared in amazement.
"Master Marik! What's happening?" Odion cried out as his arm rose to block the bright light. Screams burst into the air as the lustrous light grew stronger and engulfed them in a radiant emptiness. All of a sudden, all three envisioned a glimpse of some unfathomable place, as their bodies disappeared from beneath them…
"General! They are approaching steadfast!"
"Quickly! We must not let them get to the capital!"
Lined up beside and behind the general were hundreds of thousands of soldiers, all clad in identical golden armor. The ones toward the back held giant bows and a plentiful supply of arrows strung behind their back.
The soldiers lining the front were equipped with spears and swords; the proud general sat on his muscle-knotted ebony horse facing the charging enemy. Beams of sunlight ricocheted off the shinning armor of the army of Egyptian soldiers, as the leader's eyes narrowed at the sound of the approaching enemy drawing ever closer.
"Prepare to fight! If you die, you die for Khamet!"
Khamet what ancient Egyptians called Egypt.
"Don't be afraid, men! If we win, Khamet is saved!" General prepared to raise his sword to signal the charge. Leisurely lifting up his heavy blade, sunlight flickered off the steel and the tremendous roar of soldiers rang throughout the Saharan terrain…
"Pharaoh! Report from the assistant general located in the Sahara!"
Pharaoh reached out his hand to grasp the small scroll of papyrus and wrapped his fingers around the dry parchment. Unfurling the winkled piece of papyrus, it revealed a short message hastily scratched in hieroglyphics.
Moments passed by as Pharaoh skimmed through the letter. In dignified shock, his free hand slowly released the golden Ankh of Life that resided within his grasp and it crashed to the ground with an ear-splitting clank!
"Pharaoh!" Immediately, the bureaucrat and Pharaoh's personal guards rushed to his side as the fan-bearers stopped the waving of the large ostrich feathered fans. Even the musicians stopped their music and laid down their flutes and harps. "Pharaoh! Are you all right?"
Pharaoh lifted his regal head, holding up a hand to silence his rambling official. Everyone in the throne room was silent as their Lord stood from his brilliant throne and stepped down the dais. Nearing the exit, his musicians and personal guards followed suit as the door soldiers held open the giant entranceway to the grand hall.
He stopped abruptly, referring to his still official.
"Prepare my chariot and gather the soldiers in training. We're going in for another all out assault."
The official's eyes widened and he stuttered, "My-My Lord! We will not possibly survive another at-"
"NOW!" Pharaoh's mysterious violet hues glowed dangerously as he turned to his trembling officer. "Do it." His words were small and simple, but enough to drive any man to his knees and the executive rushed to fulfill his command.
"I'll avenge you… Jono…"
Anzu's eyes snapped open as the proverbial figure loitered fresh in her mind. "Yuugi?" She cried out his nickname, the one they were so used to calling him. The noise and prospect of the festival at hand finally sunk back into her as she gripped her head to resist her pounding headache. What was that strange vision she just had?
"Lost?" She gasped and swirled around to come face to face with an eccentric hooded man that had suddenly appeared only a couple feet away from her. When he neared her, the movement in his robes caused her eye to catch something gold and burnished from underneath it.
"Um…" Anzu's gaze wavered from the spot to his face, which was half covered in shadows. Who was this guy? He seemed sketchy… nice, but sketchy. "Um, thank you. But, I'm fine," Anzu replied sheepishly. He was silent. Anzu was starting to get a little nervous, until he responded.
"All right. Just be careful around these parts. You never know who might be of danger to you."
"Thanks for the advice." Anzu smiled uncertainly but as her face neared the man, she noticed an unmistakable resemblance to someone…
"Hey! You're that Egyptian guy!" Now it was making sense to her! He was the same man who helped her earlier when she first got lost in Cairo!
"I never got to thank you for helping me! You don't know how I-"
He interrupted her abruptly as he moved closer to her and spoke. "Danger lurks closer. Beware milady. The past is colliding with the future. It was a mistake. A trap. Be careful, it approaches!"
In an instant, a scream irrupted among the mist of the celebrations as a fanatical woman came running down the streets, nearly tripping over her dress.
"Monsters! Monsters!"
000
"What's this?!"
"What's wrong, Sogoruko?" Professor Hawkins and Rebecca rushed to Mr. Motou's side, who was staring wide-eyed at the computer screen.
"I don't know what's going on! Cairo suddenly vanished from the maps! All sensors from space indicate that…" he trailed off, gazing at the beeping icon at the edge of the screen.
"That, what, Sogoruko?" Professor Hawkins asked quietly, almost afraid for the answer.
"It's transferred into another dimension…"
000
The radiance from the eye of Horus glowed even strongeras the three bodies of Marik, Odion and the assistant lay motionless on the floor…
000
Anzu stared along with the other people as more and more like the woman came running down the crowded streets in bigger and bigger swarms and eventually shouts were mixed in with the screams. As the cause of the bedlam finally started to come into view,
Anzu gasped at the sight. What seemed to be millions of hideous pitch-black creatures were crawling into the marketplace and everyone around her was driven into a frantic fury. Their eyes were crimson red and pointed treacherously whenever encountering a nearby human being.
She heard her friends scream in utter horror and rushed about with the rest of the crowds. When she looked beside her, the strange Egyptian man was already rushing down the street, blending in with the rest of the populace. "Hey, wait!" She immediately gave chase to the mystifying man.
Passing by Sarah, she couldn't stop the Asian guy Anzu had heard earlier grab her out of the way when a hysterical man almost crashed into her. "Sarah!" But she was gone. "Yukari! Susan! Mai!"
Where were all her friends? "Jou! Yuugi!" Finding no other way, she regained the chase to find that man. She had a feeling that he knew who was behind all this mayhem. Why else had he 'warned' her of what was going to come? How did he know about these monsters?
Pushing past Shizuka and Seto running from the crazy herd of people, she ignored Shizuka's consistent cries for her to stop. "Anzu! Anzu! Anzu!"
When she finally caught a glimpse of the cloaked man, he stopped in his tracks and appeared to be waiting for something. 'Now's my chance!' Sprinting up to him, the sound of rumbling hooves caused her to skid to a halt.
'What the-' An entire army of soldiers, all wearing golden armor and equipped with weapons, came marching down the streets. From their style of clothing, they seemed to be from Egypt! 'Like in my vision!' Anzu concluded.
They suddenly broke out into a run, pointing their spears and swords at the creatures rampaging all around the ruined marketplace. Anzu looked about fiercely for the hooded man and caught the sight of his cape disappearing into a building elevator.
'Oh no, you're not getting away until I get some answers!'