Note To Readers: Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. I had to study for my Health midterm. And some other crazy stuffed happened. Hi to all of you just tuning in! Hopefully, i've given plenty of time to play catch up. Thank you for being so patient and I hope to be writing a bunch of new chapters over the next few days with things slowing down a bit! So Ready set Chapter 81!
Chapter 81: The One Fate Chose...
The last thing Yugi saw was Kaiba as he passed through the portal. The bright light nearly blinded him as he walked through a white tunnel which seemed as if it would go on forever. Yugi let out a gasp as a whirlpool of color finally emerged causing him to misstep and fall flat on his face. Slowly lifting his head the scarlet-eyed male blinked a few times as he found himself laying on a marble floor only occupied by a small altar surrounded by crystals.
"Ow...ok...that hurt...ugh...Where are we...?" Yugi asked softly as Atem looked around. "I'm not sure..." the Pharoah responded softly. "...Well, one thing's for sure...this doesn't look like the place Raeger and Kenshin spoke of..." "...No, It certainly does not..." Atem confessed before Yugi and the Pharoah paused hearing footsteps nearby. "...Uh...oh..." Yugi swallowed hard as a voice echoed in the hallway. "...I think it came from over here..." a girl's voice came from outside. Slowly a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes with a black and blue dress wandered into the small room. Around her neck was a sun pendant with a green crystal embedded in it.
The girl was no taller than Yugi. Though upon walking into the room, the expression on her face said it all. Yugi's mind started to race and before the girl could scream he quickly struggled to his feet and clamped his hand over her mouth. "P-Please don't scream!" Yugi pleaded as the scarlet-eyed male looked at his other half. "A-Atem what do I do!?" Yugi cried as the girl tried to speak through his hand muffled. "Yugi Someone's comming..." the Pharoah warned as the young woman struggled more. The man with black hair wearing the robe whom met with the Wizards earlier ceased movement as he saw Yugi with the girl.
"YOU THERE! DON'T YOU DARE MOVE! WHAT IS IT YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" the male spat angrily as rage gathered in his eyes like a storm. The dark haired male came closer and closer. "I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE BUT I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON YOU'LL NOT SOON FORGET CHILD! NOW UNHAND THE YOUNG LADY...i'll count to three...one...two..." "W-WA-WAIT PLEASE!" Yugi cried but it was clear the man did not intend to listen to anything he had to say. The young woman managed to pry Yugi's hand from her mouth before she yelled as loud as she possibly could.
"TYBOLT WAIT!" "Three..." Tybolt spat before he stretched out his hand. On his hand appeared a magic seal which in turn was reflected below Yugi. Quickly Atem pushed his other half out of the way taking on the brunt of the blast. "ACK!""ATEM!" "GO YUGI!" "B-BUT, "I SAID GO!" the Pharoah yelled before the scarlet-eyed male ran as if his life depended on it. Tybolt followed after close behind chasing Yugi all throughout the corridors of the castle. He huffed as his face was bright red from barely dodging several of the dark haired male's attacks already. Just one after another barrage of spells.
Atem waited until Yugi was out of sight before he struggled to get up. Half of his body was burned from the direct impact of Tybolt's spell. "I need to...move...Yugi needs me..." the Pharoah huffed. "Oh this is all my fault!" the young woman exclaimed with a frown as she looked at Atem's condition. "...You can...see me...?" the Pharoah's eyes widened. "Mhm...I can...but...it's my fault that Tybolt's chasing your friend...he...he was only trying to protect me...I gotta make this right..." the girl frowned. "I need to get to Yugi...but I can barely move...that attack took a lot out of me...an attack from the astral plane..." Atem shuddered. "You stay here. I'll get help!" the young woman cried. "You can trust me." "...Alright...but please hurry..." Atem pleaded before the girl hurried out of the room.
The young woman gasp as she saw another explosion down below the stairs. "TYBOLT! PLEASE DON'T HURT HIM!" she cried out as loud as she could before the door next to her opened. Slowly Oritel emerged from within wearing different clothing than his usual attire. It was burgundy and gold silk. "Princess...? What's with all the yelling?" the lord of Sparks asked seeing her so shaken. "...K-King Oritel! I-I'm sorry but I heard something and I went to see what was causing the noise...and then this guy was there...he was trying to not get me to scream but I freaked out anyway...and Tybolt went after him! We have to stop him! Please will you help me!?" the princess cried. It wasn't long before another explosion echoed in the distance.
"Go to the throne room! Your father is expecting you i'll handle this!" King Oritel exclaimed and leaped off the stair rail and fell to the floor below. "WOW!" the young woman exclaimed as she looked at Oritel's incredible speed. The princess jumped as she turned around and saw a bright red glow. "THE GARDEN!" the young woman cried. "GOT IT!" Oritel called back and within a blink of eye headed out of the back gates sprinting into a rose garden maze. Poor Yugi was still running nearly out of breath only to find himself at a dead end. There was nowhere else to run.
"There's nowhere to run!" Yugi cried as he braced himself for the worst. From behind him a hand burst through the maze's green walls and reached out grabbing the scarlet-eyed male pulling him to the other side. Yugi gasped as he found himself on the edge of a fountain. "YUGI!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Oritel exclaimed. "T-THIS IS HARDLY THE TIME FOR...W-WOAH!" the scarlet-eyed male tried to retain his balance. "Don't move!" Oritel cried and hurried to catch Yugi. But it was no use both of them plunging into the chilly water with a huge splash. Both young men let out a groan before Yugi sneezed.
"There are you. I was wondering where you'd run off to..." a familiar voice echoed nearby as Lord LOric emerged from within the rose garden's maze. "And you're soaking wet...the both of you...I think perhaps a change of clothes is in order...wouldn't want you catching pneumonia..." the lord of Elixer chuckled before he escorted them back inside the castle. "Aw man and I just changed too..." Oritel frowned as he removed his wet clothes and placed on the dry ones.
Yugi looked at the clothes that Lord Loric had placed for him on the bed. They were black silk with a gold lining of a sun. Another sneeze soon convinced the scarlet-eyed male to exchange his wet clothes for the dry ones. Though he couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious as he looked at himself in the mirror with a tint of red on his cheeks. "Well Well, you don't look half bad." King Oritel teased. "Uh...thanks...I think..." Yugi squeaked. "He's right they suit you..." Atem's voice came from behind. Yugi gasped and turned around.
"Atem! I'm so glad you're ok! I was so worried!" Yugi cried before he hugged the Pharoah tightly. Atem offered a smile and hugged his other half in return. "As am I, I feared that you might be hurt by that man. Who was he anyway?" Yugi only shook his head. "I'm not sure...i'm STILL trying to figure out what happened..." "As long as you're alright that's all that matters. Besides...you look quite adorable in those clothes..." the Pharoah teased as Yugi turned three shades of red.
"Have you changed yet?" Lord Loric questioned as he opened the door and closed it behind him. "Y-Yes." Yugi squeaked. "Oh! It's you! The one who helped us find the location of the temple!" the scarlet-eyed male's eyes widened. "Indeed, we meet again." Lord Loric cracked a smile. "My name is Lord Loric I am the lord of this Realm." "Oh um! I'm Yugi! Yugi Moto Sir!" Yugi exclaimed before he bowed respectfully. "Um...is there any way you could tell me...if this is BriarBlood?" the scarlet-eyed male questioned as Yugi exchange a brief glance with Atem.
An amused chuckle escaped Lord Loric's lips. "No son. this is not Briar Blood, certainly not. This, my boy, is Elixer. My domain. I am rather curious however...why is it you'd want to ever step foot into that Phoenix Forsaken Kingdom? hmm?" Lord Loric raised his brow. Yugi frowned. "Bloom. My friend. Something is wrong with her and the only way we can fix it is by speaking to someone called The Lady Of The Flame...but...she's in Requiem...along with another one of our friends...and...we need the BriarBlood family's help...in order to get us inside..." Yugi told the Lord of Elixer as his voice trembled.
"You mean you learned what's wrong with my daughter?!" Oritel exclaimed. "...Mhmm...it's kind of complicated...but in order to heal Bloom we need a handful of the Phoenix's ashes so she can absorb them and relight her flame...but the only one whom knows of the temple's location is..." "Amber...The Lady Of The Flame..." Oritel finished with a heavy sigh.
"Well then, perhaps it is fate that brought you here...Oritel please show Mr. Moto to the dining room...I believe dinner should be prepared by now don't you think? Besides I have another guest that will be arriving any moment now..." "Of course Loric." King Oritel conceded before he led Yugi to the dining hall. Yugi gasped as he came upon a black marble table filled with all kind of delicious looking food. Stuffed quail with cranberry sauce with buttered rolls that looked tasty enough to die for. Even the silverware and dining ware seemed almost too expensive to place food on in the first place.
Natsume Lord Loric's handmaiden finished placing the last of the plates onto the table. The princess from earlier followed close behind as she helped Natsume with the placement of the rest of the silverware. Yugi swallowed hard. "This all looks so...extravagant..." he admitted. {Diffrent place, different cultures perhaps...} Atem followed. The young woman paused as she saw Yugi as he did her. "Do you know each other?" Oritel questioned.
"...Well sorta..." the princess laughed nervously. "We kinda had a bit of a run in..." Yugi sweatdropped. "You could say that yeah." the young woman giggled. "He's the boy I told you about, the one Tybolt was trying to blow up." "Yeah, I kind of figured." Oritel chuckled amusedly. "It's quite the pleasure seeing you all get along so well...I feared that more company might cause unwanted tension." Lord Loric mused with a hidden smile before Yugi froze hearing thundering footsteps. "That's putting it... mildly..." Tybolt muttered bitterly as he took his seat not taking his dark pitch black eyes off of the scarlet-eyed male. It was safe to say this Tybolt character didn't like him. Talk about lousy first impressions.
"Mr. Moto this is Lord Tybolt...he is my most trusted advisor...Oritel and you already know each other so I believe no introduction is needed...this is Natsume my hand maiden...she takes care of the chores and cleaning along with the care of my household." Natsume offered a smile. "It's very nice to meet you...please just as if you need anything at all." "...And this is my daughter...Katori...she is the princess of Elixer..." "P-PRINCESS!?" Yugi cried out in a surprised gasp. {Opps...I suppose I forgot to mention that...} Atem's voice trailed off. "GOT THAT RIGHT!" the scarlet-eyed cried mortified. No wonder Tybolt HATED him!
"O-Oh but please! You don't have to treat me special or anything! J-Just call me Katori...ok...?" Katori offered a sweet smile. Yugi couldn't help but blush slightly. "...S-Sure..." he murmured before he made a face as he felt someone pinch his hand. Tears rimmed from his eyes upon contact. "O-Ow!" he cried and looked towards Atem whom appeared to be displeased. "What was THAT for?!" the scarlet-eyed male pouted. {Hmph...} the Pharoah huffed annoyed. Was he jealous of Katori? The light-hearted atmosphere soon came to a halt as the door pried open. Entering the room was none other than Weldon BriarBlood himself. Yugi could feel the blood freezing in his veins as his heart pounded rapidly against his chest.
"So that's what Lord Loric meant..." Yugi barely uttered in a whisper. Atem nodded. { Then we must conclude that the reason we ended up being summoned to Elixer instead was that Weldon BriarBlood was here instead of back home...} the Pharoah surmised as Yugi nodded in agreement. Katori only narrowed her eyes angrily. "That's Weldon BriarBlood. He's one of the A.O.J's followers...he does whatever he tells him without a single question...that guy is the worst of the worst...he kills people in cold blood just for fun...if you don't pay tribute to the A.O.J then he takes what he wants by force...I hate guys like him..." the princess spat.
"Now Now! Don't contain YOUR excitement all at ONCE!" Weldon exclaimed sarcastically as Natsume pulled out a seat for the BriarBlood. "You're TOO kind." Weldon flashed a grin before he looked around the table. "WELL! WELL! Let's NOT keep everyone WAITING...everyone DIG in! Hmm?" the Briarblood let a chuckle escape from his lips as everyone began to partake of the generous bounty in front of them. "I BELIEVE I heard of where you can TASE the most DELICIOUS drink HERE...if i'm not mistaken..." Weldon began. "But of course Lord Weldon, i'd never think to deprive you of such a privilege as drinking wine from our vineyard." Lord Loric spoke of. "CERTAINLY not..." the BriarBlood smiled in return before Natsume picked up a bottle and began to pour the crimson elixir into each individual person's goblet.
"CHEERS! To the PROSPERITY...of Elixer's GRAND kingdom..." Weldon raised his goblet high before everyone else did the same. "So Lord Weldon, what do we owe the honor of your presence here this eve?" the Lord of Elixer questioned as he began to cut into the quail on his plate. "AH yes! there WAS that wasn't THERE!? You see I have COME to how you say...COLLECT...a variety of SPECIAL herbs that you just HAPPEN to grow in this MARVELOUS kingdom of yours! The A.O.J leader WAS rather INSISTANT upon it...thus he sent ME! Isn't that just DANDY!?" Weldon chuckled with a broad grin.
"I see...so that is what you desire...you should know that in order to fulfill such a request that i'll need time..." Lord Loric told the BriarBlood. "Oh! Oh YES of course! I don't EXPECT it right AWAY! Oh No! No! You have THREE days EXACTLY to gather up all the TINY things on THIS list! I've written it ALL down! JUST for you..." Weldon told Lord Loric and slid the list of items over to him. Lord Loric took a moment to look at it. Yugi looked at the BriarBlood and opened his mouth a few times. But no matter how hard he tried nothing seemed to come out. Though Weldon's eyes were drawn towards him none the less. A sadistic grin manifesting upon his face.
"Now aren't YOU interesting...I don't believe WE'VE met...I am RATHER curious...just where DID you find such a CUTE little thing Lord Loric?" the BriarBlood chuckled. "...I am rather curious about that myself..." Tybolt muttered for once in agreement with Weldon. {And here i'd hoped we could avoid the subject all together...but I wasn't expecting Weldon to just show up at the table here either...this isn't exactly the best setting to disscuss an alliance...though Lord Loric seemed to treat him as an ally while the other's detest is plain as day and night...} Atem mused. Yugi looked towards Katori for help before Katori offered a smile. As if she understood what he was saying without even saying it.
"A-Actually Lord Weldon. This is Yugi Moto. He's my new friend. We actually met just the other day. He snuck into my room the naughty boy. He was hiding cuz he stole some of the wine from the vineyard. I guess he REALLY wanted to try some. So I invited him to dinner so he could. Only legally." Katori giggled as she covered the scarlet-eyed male's tracks.
"AH YES! The wine here is SIMPLY to DIE FOR! My DEAR sister covets the grapes themselves...SAVORING their utter DESIGHTS! No NEED to hold BACK! DRINK! DRINK AND BE MERRY!" Weldon urged Yugi as he poured wine into his goblet that had been skipped. Yugi looked into the goblet as the BriarBlood placed it in front of him. Filled to the brim with a beautiful red glow. The scarlet eyed male swallowed hard as his nerves got the best of him with Weldon staring at him. No choice. Without any seconds thought allowed to cross his mind Yugi sipped the wine. "Hmm...this is actually pretty good..." Yugi admitted before he downed the entire goblet of wine. Weldon clapped feverishly in approval.
"OH YES! A WORTHY opponent! Here Drink! ONE glass for ME and one for YOU!" the Briarblood beamed. It continued back and forth until just Yugi and Weldon alone had gone through three bottles of Elixer's finest wine. "...This is getting utterly ridiculous..." Tybolt muttered. "NONSENSE! It's just a LITTLE fun! Is all! Anyways it IS getting RATHER late...my DEAR sister will be WONDERING where I AM! So SADLY I must take MY leave...I do HOPE that you'll let ME know...when you're READY for me to...COLLECT! Yes? TATA! and have a VERY pleasant rest...of THE evening!" the BriarBlood exclaimed taking a bottle to go before Lord Loric walked Weldon to the door.
"BYE BYE!" Yugi exclaimed as he waved giggling with his face as red as the wine. "Everything's spinnin round and round...why do ya guys all kee movin?" "...Uh, Daddy...Yugi doesn't look so good..." Katori squeaked as Lord Loric made his way back to the table. "Whatcha talkin bout...i'm juz...fyne..." Yugi slurred before he passed out. {WOAH!} Atem gasped as he quickly caught the scarlet-eyed male in his arms. "OH NO! YUGI!" Katori cried. "...Well, that's what happens when you drink three bottles of wine..." Oritel made a face.
"Katori why don't you take the poor lad up to your room..." Lord Loric suggest. "Kay. Um...other Yugi can you give me a hand?" the princess asked Atem. {That was my intention from the begining} the Pharoah told her before they took Yugi into Katori's room and laid him on her bed. Her room was big with a huge bed and lots of decorations with golden suns being painted on the wall with stars. Everything was black, blue and gold. On her dresser was a small music box that looked like it played beautiful music. Though it was certainly impressive it seemed almost lonely. Atem couldn't help but to look around and relate to his days as an only child.
RATE AND REVIEW! And maybe i'll write another Chapter ;D