Mystery's Wish
Mystery was ready to make her move. She places her hands close to her chest and releases the Millennium Star. Seto, Atem, and Joseph all gasp. "Mystery, no," Atem tells her. "If you use the Millennium Star, you'll die."
Seto agrees. "You've already pushed yourself past your limits."
Mystery shakes her head. "My life matters not with the fate of the world at stake."
Sensing a faint pulse from the Millennium Star, Zorc tells Mystery, "Heed the warning of your friends, Queen Mystery. You are on the brink of death and the Millennium Star will perish as you tap into its powers."
The queen starts panting. She knew everyone around her was telling the truth. Her wounds had not yet fully healed and even a simple spell would cost her the rest of her energy. I know I am about to die, she wonders, but if my sacrifice means saving my loved ones and the whole world, then nothing else matters. She steadies herself, but groans once more.
"Mystery, please," Atem begs, "I know how you feel and I know what you're thinking, but don't."
"It is no use trying to reason with your wife, Pharaoh. Clearly she has made up her mind and chosen the fate that will befall her. Even she knows there is no escaping her fate. But I assure you that once our worlds converge, you will join her."
Suddenly, a blast of lightning attacks Zorc followed by a blast of fire. Turning around, the royals see the Dark Magicians and the Dragons coming to their rescue. But how is this possible? None of them summoned those Shadow Creatures. Then Atem remembered that the Dark Magician came to his rescue without the need of being summoned.
"Fear not, Pharaoh," said Freya's voice. "We're here to protect you just like we promised we would."
"You saved us many times before," said Kisara's voice. "Now it's our turn to save all of you."
Mana climbs down off the White Dragon and carries the princess with her. "We never abandon one another no matter how grim things look. We're a team, a family, the Children of Millennia."
Joseph smiles. "Mana's right. We've been through everything together and there's no way any of us are backing out now. Just like how it's always been in the past. I didn't care how many times I had been laughed at, pushed away, or even walked on. I kept coming back proving I had so much to give. Sure, I admit I was stubborn and foolish, but I remained loyal. Because I learned that a true friend never leaves anybody they care about. Everyone needs someone to look out for them no matter how many times they say or think they don't. And look at us now. We still keep fighting with everything we have. So much is on the line and there are people who love and need us. I may be a coward and I may be weak, but I never let that stand in my way of fighting for my friends."
Seto removes his hat and speaks up. "We can't give up now. If we did, what would be the point of everything we put ourselves through? All of our adventures, everything we learned, all that we fought for and accomplished? Quitting now would just put it all in vain. Not just our efforts, but everyone else's." He pauses for a minute and smiles. "I always thought that new challenges would make us stronger and smarter. I even learned that sometimes, defeat is more important than victory because you can learn even more. But I had to embrace the fact that life isn't always a game and pain can really inflict itself on you. I had to learn that the hard way after confronting the demon that took over my long lost father and facing the reality of losing Kisara and Freya. But I wasn't the only one who had to face those tragedies. We all had similar experiences. But none of us had to face them alone. Despite our different points of view, we embrace the same feelings because it's the heart that matters more than the mind."
Mystery takes her turn and speaks up. "When I was little, I spent most of my time alone. I didn't have a lot of friends except for the members of Council Rock. And then I met my first love," she says as she turns to her husband. "I never thought I would get to meet someone as different as me. That was when I decided to embrace my differences and remember to be myself no matter what. That helped people to see what kind of person I was and because of that, I was able to make so many new friends. I also thought that after my parents died, I lost my family. But I found out that it takes more than blood and law to be a family. It also takes the love you share with those who mean so much to you. My mother once told me that there is a difference between lucky and blessed. I know what she meant. At first, I considered myself lucky to have so many wonderful friends, but I found mysef blessed to have such a wonderful family because I could never find another one like the one I have."
Finally, Atem makes his speech. "And that is what gives us strength and reminds us never to give up. It's all right to cry and release your feelings. But sometimes, crying doesn't always solve everything. When you know there's someone you love who needs you, you gather all of your courage and do everything in your power to help them. When someone you know, a friend or hero, has someone to protect, their power grows stronger and they refuse to let anything stop them. We rely on each other because that's what we do as a team and a family. And as long as we have someone to protect, there's nothing we can't do. That's why we can't, we won't give up."
Once they finish, they all find their amulets glowing brighter than they had ever done before. "Look at this," gasped Joseph. "My amulet never glowed this brightly before."
"Nor mine," said Seto.
"I have seen this before," said Mahad. After everyone asks him what he means, he explains, "This happened to me before my Shadow Game with Bakura. I remembered my devotion to the royal family and how much I cared about my friends. Remembering all that I've learned and achieved with the help of all of you, my amulet glowed as brightly as all of yours are doing now."
Kisara nods. "The same thing happened to us back at the temple. We were somehow able to tap into the full power of our amulets."
"It was because we had open hearts and the weights of our souls were tremendous," said Mana. "Our personal strengths unlocked our full powers. Now the same thing can happen to you."
Thinking back, Atem had to agree with Mana. All those years ago, everyone combined their powers and helped Mystery to release Rainbow Dragon. It was because of Mahad's devotion to the royals and how he felt responsible for the safety of his friends that he became the Dark Magician. For Mana to remain optimistic and pray that good things would come everybody's way, it gave her the strength to want to help her friends and that helped her to find the Shadow Creature of her soul. Her methods, whether to bring happiness and laughter or to just make her friends smile and feel good, she still helped the people she cared about and that was the real magic inside her. Then there was Kisara and Freya. Thanks to the battle at the temple, they finally managed to will their Dragons despite no longer wielding them. Their hope and light gave them strength and as frail as they are, they continue to sustain their life forces. Now the remaining Children of Millennia were realizing the weights of their own souls after witnessing the bright glow of their amulets.
Then Mystery heard a voice in her head. "Unite the power of four souls and use the Millennium Star."
Four souls, Mystery wondered. Then she remembered what Bakura said after Max was engulfed by the shadows. Only the chosen Children of Millennia could stop Zorc. Now she knew that she and her friends were the ones he was talking about. Just like how their combined strength unleashed Rainbow Dragon, perhaps it was the key to stopping Zorc. She stands up straight once again. "Everyone, I know what needs to be done, but I cannot do it alone. Please, one last time, give me your strength." She raises the Milennium Star and cries out, "Millennium power!"
Hearing that, Seto, Joseph, and Atem stand next to Mystery and place their hands around hers. Sensing the combined power of four souls tapping into the Millennium Star, Zorc finally reacts in fear. "What is this? It can't be!" he cries, feeling the light surrounding him. The Dragons and the Dark Magicians join in and launch their own attacks.
They manage to hold on for a few seconds, but Atem is the first to notice that the Millennium Star is starting to become dim. He feared that if they kept this up, more than one would be sacrificed. Zorc was weakening, but it would take a lot more energy to destroy him. Atem didn't want to risk losing himself and his family, so he pushed them all aside and raised his Millennium Puzzle in the air.
"What are you doing?" Mystery screams.
He smiles and answers, "I'll take it from here now."
"Atem, no!" They all cry. But it's too late. He already performs the spell and all the light and shadows from the fight start to be taken in by the Millennium Puzzle. Afterwards, the Millennium Puzzle is taken apart and Atem falls back. They all hear his voice in their heads saying, "Farewell, my friends."
The forces finally subside and everyone finds themselves on the ground. Even the Shadow Creatures are gone. "Is it over?" asked Mana.
The queen nods. "We did it."
"I don't get it," Joseph says, looking around. "What just happened?"
Seto approaches Atem and tries to revive him. "Pharaoh! Pharaoh, wake up! We did it. We defeated Zorc!"
"I'm afraid he won't wake," Mystery said weakly, lying on her back. As the others ask her what she means, she opens her left hand, revealing the Millennium Star.
Mana and the boys gasp, seeing that it's about to become dim. "Of course," said Mana. "That's why you were so determined to end the fight."
The queen nods. "Even he understood. That was why he pushed us aside. He knew that if we didn't let up, not only would we have sacrificed ourselves, but we would have destroyed our own baby as well. My husband didn't want that to happen. So he locked the darkness away."
"But still," Joseph was saying, "why didn't you tell us?"
"We had to stop Zorc and save the world," she answers. "Besides, this is my fate. My purpose as guardian of the Millennium Star has been served. Now I can sustain its life by sealing my spirit within it."
Tears started to fill Seto's eyes. "But what will happen to your child? She needs her parents. And this kingdom needs their leaders." Even though Seto promised Atem that he would raise the princess if anything happened to him and Mystery, he didn't want to lose either of them.
"Don't worry," Mystery promised. "I will always be with her; watching over her and protecting her from within. Besides, neither of us can stay here anymore." She was right. The kingdom was in ruin and so many had lost their lives as well as their souls. Even though those who had been sent to the Shadow Realm would return, they wouldn't be able to stay. That was why the queen figured, "I think it is best for all of us to start over and live new lives."
This time, Mana starts crying and asks, "Wh-Wh-What are you saying?"
Mystery raises her hand and lifts the Millennium Star. "As a mother, I want what every mother wants for her child: to live in happiness. I want my baby to live a long and happy life away from all of these dangers and tragedies. Even if that means sending her to a new place or even a new time." She weakly turns her head and faces her motionless husband. "There will come a time when the world will need the Children of Millennia again. At the same time, the magic of the Shadow Games will be unleashed. I want my daughter to live in happiness, but I also know there will be no escaping her destiny. But I suppose it can be both ways."
Joseph sobs and asks, "But how?"
The queen smiles and answers, "Like I said, I want all of us to start over again and live better lives. Everything here will be no more than a dream or a memory, but the future Children of Millennia will learn of the events that occurred here and why fate brought them together just like how we all learned why fate brought us together. And who knows? This could be the beginning of the end of the Battle of the Gods."
Seto and Joseph nod and release the tears in their eyes. "We understand."
Mystery turns her attention to Mana and requests her presence. "Please come here, Mana. Bring my baby here so I can say 'goodbye' and make my wish." Mana nods and slowly walks towards the queen. She kneels beside her and holds out the child for her to see. Mystery smiles and takes her child to hold her for one last time. "Emily," she softly says. "My dear, sweet, little angel. Please forgive me. I was never much of a mother to you. But I couldn't have asked for a better daughter. I know I wasn't a parent for long, but I'm grateful to have been able to experience the joys of being one. But I can save your life and watch over you as you live in happiness. I know you will never remember me, but we will meet again." Mystery plants one last kiss on her child's forehead and makes her last wish. "Please, Great Goddess Millennia, send my child to a place where she can live in happiness. I want the same thing for the rest of our friends and family as well. I know the world will need the Children of the Gods again to end this fight once and for all. That is why I want this for everybody."
The Millennium Star starts regaining its light as it draws in the queen's spirit. She releases the tears in her eyes and loses her grip on the Star. "Queen Mystery!" Seto and Joseph gasp. Lights surround their outlines and they curl up like they're back in the womb. The same thing happens to many other humans and monsters, friends and family members. The lights carrying everyone's spirits are taken to the sky as they begin their journeys to their new lives. After that, the Millennium Star splits into two fragments. One seals itself inside the princess while the other disappears into the desert.
Mystery's voice rings through everyone's ears as she sings Millennia's lullaby one last time.
When daytime turns to night, when the moon shines bright
When you're tucked in tight, when everything's all right
Slip softly to that place where secret thoughts run free
And there come face-to-face with who you want to be
So swim across the ocean blue
Fly all the way to the moon
You can change your life
Or you can change the world
Take a chance, don't be afraid
Life is yours to live
Take a chance and then the best is yet to come
Make a wish, it's up to you
Find the strength inside, then watch your dreams come true
You don't need a shooting star
The magic's right there in your heart
Close your eyes, believe, and make a wish
She repeated the song in Egyptian, paused for a few short seconds, then sang, I've always hoped for happiness and finally fulfilled my wish because I just need to see you smile
Make a wish, it's up to you
Find the strength inside, then watch your dreams come true
You don't need a shooting star
The magic's right there in your heart
Close your eyes, believe, and make a wish
The queen's voice hums once again and she finally finishes by whispering, "Make a wish."