"Never give up, and be confident in what you do. There may be tough times, but the difficulties which you face will make you more determined to achieve your objectives and to win against all the odds." -Marta
Cecelia was touched by the Pharaoh's determination to save his friend. It reminded her of her own relationship with Maximillion. Even so it was still a rather heartbreaking moment to watch. So much so that she pulled a silk handkerchief from her dress to dab at her eyes with. It was so beautiful. She watched as the Pharaoh got up shakily from the ground and stood on his own two feet. He looked exhausted- more so than she had thought at first- but she pushed it aside. He would be fine. All there was left to do was get back up the mountain.
"Seems like the pharaoh is in pretty bad shape down there." Said Tèa.
"Of course. There is a hole in his heart that has yet to be filled." Ironheart replied.
"Yugi... If it weren't for me you'd still be here." Said the pharaoh, dropping to his knees. "I'll never forgive myself. Mark my words: I won't rest until I get you back! It's not fair! I should be locked away- not you! I'm the one who played that evil card!"
"He's gotta snap out of this. If he keeps wallowing in the past we'll never find Yugi."
"Easier said than done, Tèa." Cecelia commented.
"Huh?"
"The Pharaoh did take a big step forward today, that's true, but being able to put the past in the past and stop blaming yourself is an entirely different animal. I was there when Max was taken, and if you think I stopped kicking myself for not intervening or stopping that duel you are sadly mistaken. I've had time to somewhat make peace with myself over it, but Yugi isn't nearly as lucky because this wound is still very fresh. This was his first step toward recovery, but changing his mindset of how he feels about this situation and himself is entirely up to him. As much as you want to, you cannot force him to move on. He must do it on his own time."
She nodded. "Hang in there." She whispered.
Suddenly, the sky was engulfed in darkness as lightning came down from the heavens and struck the earth. the earth beneath all of their feet began to quake and tremble.
"What's this?" Asked Yami.
"It's an earthquake!" Yelled Chris. Suddenly, a giant roar was heard.
No. I'm afraid it's much worse than that. Thought Ironheart.
"Show yourself!" The pharaoh demanded.
The earth split apart and darkness shot up from the ground like water from a spring.
"I thought so." Said Ironheart as the creature appeared.
"What is that thing?!" Asked Cecelia, recoiling in fear.
"Who are you? And what is this all about?!" Asked Yami. "Not much of a talker I see."
"Careful, pharaoh. This creature is more dangerous than you know!" Said Ironheart.
"You've seen this thing before?" Asked Tèa. Ghosts swirled around the pharaoh.
"Close your eyes and see the truth!" Their Disembodied voices called. Yami looked at them.
"Spirits! What is it you're trying to show me?!"
"The past." They hissed. Yami closed his eyes and saw the ancient war Rafael spoke of with his own eyes.
"What does this mean?" He asked himself.
"I once fought this very soldier and his army in the great battle to save Atlantis." Said Ironheart.
"Did you say Atlantis?" Tèa questioned. Ironheart nodded.
"This is the very spot where we made our last stand against the evil Lord Dartz. And now the battle continues."
"Be careful!" Yelled Tèa.
"What do you want?!" Cried Yami as the seal of Orichalcos came down from the sky. The soldier showed off his duel disk, and Yami was surprised. "He wants to duel."
The Orichalcos Guygus prepared to attack, but suddenly phantoms swirled around the Pharaoh.
"Fear not my pharaoh." They said, comfortingly.
"The lost spirits of Atlantis are here to protect you Pharoh! But they cannot act alone! Summon your monsters and the spirits will assist them!" Ironheart called.
"Very well then." Said Yami. And the duel began. "Together we'll take down this beast!"
"He's about to lose!" Cried Tèa.
"There is but one thing that can save him." Said Ironheart.
"The card he gave you?" Asked Chris. Ironheart nodded.
"The eye of Tamaeus. The creature that fought by my side so long ago." He said, then started down the mountain.
"Grandpa!" Chris cried.
Ironheart was already down the mountain when spirits came forth to challenge him.
"He'll never fight off those evil spirits alone!" Said Chris. "Come on, Skye!" She hopped onto the wolf and started to go after him.
"Chris, wait!" Called Tèa.
"I must protect the pharaoh or all is lost!" Said Ironheart. "Spirits be gone!" He yelled, tossing two cards at them. They transformed into monsters and beat the spirits.
"You know what to do Skye!" Said Chris, as they jumped through the spirits.
"Pharaoh, take this card!"
"Ironheart?!" He asked, shocked.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck him down in a flash of light.
"Grandfather!" Cried Chris.
"Please take this card from me. It's the only way to defeat that beast!" Ironheart said.
"I can't get out!" Yami yelled.
"Grandpa!" Said Chris, running to his side.
"It's up to you."
"What do you mean, gramps?"
"Take this and bring it to the pharaoh. Otherwise all hope is lost! Good luck!" With that, he disappeared into a thousand slivers of gold light.
"No, Grandpa!" Called Chris. "Come on, Skye!" She said, hopping on the wolf.
"No! Stay back!" Yami warned.
"Here I come!" She yelled. Suddenly the lightning that struck Ironheart down came back for a vengeance and took Chris too.
"Chris, are you alright?!" Yami yelled.
"Yeah, I think so!" Suddenly her wolf disappeared. "No! Skye's been captured!" Chris started running for Yami.
"No, Chris! Please turn back! It's far too dangerous!"
"Pharaoh! Grandpa wanted you to have this!" She yelled when suddenly she was struck down.
"No!"
"Pharaoh! Take this, please!" Asked Chris.
"What is it?"
"It's the only thing that can stop him. It saved us once and with your help it can save us again." She said, handing it to him.
"The eye of Tamaeus."
"I trust you, Pharaoh. Thank you." She said, before she disappeared.
"Hold on! Come back!"
He turned around and said a short prayer to Tamaeus before beginning his play.
"Now I sacrifice my Celtic Guardian in order to summon my Dark Magician Girl! And now I play the legendary eye of Tamaeus! Dark magician girl, fuse with Tamaeus, creating Dark Magician Girl The Dragon Knight! Next I'll enhance your strength with the Excalibur magic card! Attack! Destroy his creature of darkness!" And with a ball of light, they were gone. The light was so strong that Tristan and Joey were able to see it from far away, and they started running toward the light.
"Well done my creatures. He's gone now. Thanks to you two." Said Yami to his Dragon and Magician Girl. "But I feel this is just the beginning." He said as they dissipated into thin air.
"Wait, that's a carving of Ironheart, Chris, and Skye from ten thousand years ago?!" Asked Tèa.
"Yes."
"Wow." Said Cecelia, eyes wide.
"So you mean to tell me that those guys were just ghosts or something?"
"They're spirits who once fought a Great War. And now they've been captured by Dartz." Said the pharaoh, somberly. "This gives me three more reasons to hunt down this madman and bring peace to the world once again."