Silmeria: Emperor's Prophecy is considered my masterpiece and it is one of my highest reviews stories on the site, but I wanted to see it done better - bigger and here we are - Emperor's Prophecy - Reincarnation.
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership to Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter Two - First Impressions
The thought of meeting the Emperor sent a shiver of apprehension down Yuugi's spine and he fought to push it to the back of his mind when two men appeared at his door in the dead of the night wearing solemn expressions that wanted to make him vomit. The men were polite enough to introduce themselves as Seto Kaiba and Bakura Firimar - each of the men serving as a right and left hand to the Emperor.
"I should be honored that Emperor Faenor sent his best men to retrieve me, but as you can see, gentlemen, I am not in the best health at the moment." Yuugi's almost colorless lips spread into a thin smile. "Would you like something to drink?" Yuugi waved a shaking hand in the direction of two chairs. "Or, would you like to sit?"
"Neither," Seto responded, tone quiet as if he didn't wish to disturb the residents of the district - a good man, this one. "We have come to retrieve you, Seer Motou of Elysian."
"I assure you that it is not for the dungeons." Bakura put in with a grin that failed to reach his violet eyes. "That is reserved for the assassin that you were gracious enough to warn about, little one." Bakura bowed, a mocking one if Yuugi ever saw one, before rising and shooting Seto an unreadable look. "You believe this child to be a Seer? He looks small and sick." Bakura shot him a look of concern. "You have not caught the plague? If that is the case then I would put you out of your misery now rather than later."
Despite the insult, Yuugi's lips twitched. This Bakura was certainly an interesting character and Yuugi believed that if circumstances were different, they would have been friends. "I...appreciate the offer, Bakura - if I may call you that?"
"Of course." Bakura tilted his head in Seto's direction which was met with a mild frown. "I am not as delicate about titles and customs as this one."
"Once again, I appreciate the offer, Bakura, but I am suffering the side-effects of the vision. It will not take long for it to wear off - if I am given time to recuperate."
"Side-effects?" Seto pressed in a light tone that didn't fool Yuugi. Any and all information regarding his Seer abilities would be beneficial for the Emperor and Yuugi would indulge the curiosity if it meant saving his and grandfather's life.
"I have a tendency to grow faint and nauseated as the vision enters my mind," Yuugi responded. "It is a result of the constant flux of magic." Yuugi's cheeks flushed with shame at his next admission, but tonight, he would bear the shame with pride. "I am afraid that the Gods did not bless me with a vessel strong to withstand the influx."
The soft admission drew looks of sympathy from Bakura who was prideful enough to lower his head in a silent apology which did nothing but further Yuugi's shame.
"A Seer with the inability to withstand magic in a land that is known and prosperous for it," Seto uttered, "indeed, the Gods have made you their plaything, but you need not worry, Seer of Elysian, for our Emperor will be steadfast with your condition."
"And should he choose not to accompany you?" Sugoroku forced himself between his grandson and their guests. "What will happen?"
Seto nor Bakura moved at the challenge and it was a surprise to hear Yuugi's firm voice coming from behind the elder with just a touch of chiding.
"We have broken the law the moment I started to have visions, Grandfather." Yuugi rose from his seat, the paleness skin returning to its normal light tan tone. "We should be grateful that we are not headed to the executioner's block-"
"We are no longer in the business of executing Seers." Seto cut in with a vicious snarl that drew a flinch from Yuugi and Sugoroku. "We-" Seto drew a deep breath, slamming his eyes shut at the thought. "We mean you no harm, Seer of Elysian, but I ask that you refrain from such comments in front of the Emperor."
"O-of course." Yuugi shared a look with his Grandfather before his gaze landed back to Seto to see the man had his gaze pinned to the bookcase that was filled with the latest potion and herb collections. "I apologize if I offended-"
"You didn't offend us, little one." Bakura soothed, a solemn look etched on his rough features. "The History of the Seers is a long and bloody one and Emperor Atem is far from proud of it considering that it was his ancestors that wiped out your people."
"He has lived with this burden since he was but a child." Seto continued, a sad smile pulling at his lips, his gaze still on the bookcase as if the thought of staring at Yuugi was too painful. "He watched as his father, Emperor Aknamkanon worry himself into an early grave at the thought of the Seer being out there lost and alone when he could have done something to ease that person's pain." Seto pulled his gaze to Yuugi and Yuugi fought to not lower his own when he saw nothing but pain and regret laced into those blue eyes.
"As the ages marched on, the House of Faenor mourned the loss of the Seers and ached for atonement, but found none in the people nor the Gods and so dedicated their lives to the protection of the Seer that was described in the Prophecy of War. However, when they failed to appear, they began to lose hope until now." Seto's lips stretched into a small, relieved smile as his head bowed in what Yuugi could only describe as pure, unadulterated reverence.
"On the behalf of House Faenor, I thank you for saving him, Seer of Elysian. Without your intervention, our Empire would be in dire straits and vulnerable to outside interference."
"It was damn bold of you to expose your abilities knowing the consequences," Bakura added, shooting Yuugi an impressed look. "I am sorry that this will be the reward."
Yuugi said nothing, lowering his gaze in the resignation of the path that laid ahead. He knew the moment that Seto and Bakura stepped into his home that they would not be returning without him. Not because Elysian would soon be abuzz with speculation on who attempted to assassinate Emperor Faenor, but on further word that the Seer of Elysian had been found and the early stages of the Prophecy of War had begun.
The Final Days of Elysian were upon them.
"What will happen to me?" Yuugi demanded of the two men who were intent on changing his future and what little control he had over his life. "What does the Emperor intend to do with me?"
"Emperor Faenor wants no harm to come to you or your family," Seto responded. "Although, he is within full rights to punish your grandfather considering that he is at fault for hiding your abilities, but said abilities saved the Emperor's life and thus the incident will be swept under the rug."
"In return for your full cooperation." Bakura continued firmly. "The Prophecy of War is awash with riddles and its author left behind a treasure trove of information that has been locked away from prying eyes of all expect his people."
"So, you intend to use me to solve the riddle of my people?"
"If you want us to be honest? Yes, that is one of our intentions with you, but our main objective is to keep you safe from prying eyes. The entire world knows of the Prophecy of War and its dangers, Yuugi, so, what do you think will happen when the world finds out that you're just wandering around without a care in the world? There are people who want to profit from your visions and will use any means necessary to force you them out of you. The world is a cruel place and the magic that it carries makes it even more so." Seto stepped forward, passed his grandfather and bent down on one knee, reaching out to grasp Yuugi's hands within his own. "You might not realize now, Seer of Elysian, but we are not trying to strip you of your freedom, but to ensure that it is not taken from you or our land as a whole."
"We wish to save our land and to evade the Prophecy of War and we can't do it without you, Yuugi." Bakura approached him, sitting opposite of Seto. "I wish that there was another way for you to live in peace, but there isn't, not now nor will there will be in the foreseeable future."
Yuugi swallowed the lump in his throat, internally frightened at the comfort of words that were being thrown at him. Did they really think it would be so simple to pack up and leave all that he had known? To never see his grandfather and friends just on a whim?
Yuugi snatched his hands away and rose from his chair, his heart hammering against his chest. He couldn't breathe-he couldn't hold back the sorrow or the anger that fought to swallow him whole-
"Yuugi-!"
Yuugi closed his eyes as the familiar sliver of pain pierced the back of his mind and a sob escaped his mouth as images invaded his mind:
A man with long silver hair and a single reddish-brown eye shared an impish grin with a man whose hair color reminded Yuugi of the sea and eyes had the color of a setting sun.
Behind them, stood three knights bearing solemn expressions as if the task ahead of him was filled with nothing but sin and would tear the world asunder with its results.
"An Empire of Might and Magic." the man with silver hair echoed. "And now a land where the Seer resides. I wonder what will become of it?"
"It matters not." his companion murmured, a manic smile spreading about his lips. "After all, who cares for an Empire that will be razed to the ground?"
"Yuugi!"
His grandfather's desperate screams brought Yuugi out of his vision and to his knees and vaguely, he heard Bakura release a loud curse as a pair of arms wrapped around him and lifted him up.
"What the hell?" Bakura burst out, angry, as he turned to Seto with a look of rage. "You didn't tell me that the visions caused seizures!"
"I didn't know." Seto snarled in return, staring at Yuugi's limp form with a look akin to fear. He turned to Sugoroku and moved to ask what they should do when the older man spoke, his void of emotion.
"Take him."
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"You must take him now," Sugoroku ordered, approaching Yuugi, and placing a palm on his sweating forehead. "The vision he experienced was due to stress which means that the magic his body absorbed caused an abnormal strain to his brain and magical system and nothing short of a mage of royal caliber can save him now." Sugoroku looked into Bakura's eyes and a sad smile pulled at his lips. "If you don't take him then he will die."
"But-"
"In time, I am sure that he will forgive his dear old man, but I am more concerned about his well-being." Sugoroku urged him towards the door, making sure to grab the cloak to wrap his limp grandson within it. "You will return with word of his well-being?"
"The moment he opens his eyes," Seto swore, watching as Bakura pulled out a transportation scroll. "You will not come with us? You are more than welcome."
"No." Sugoroku murmured, surprising them both. "You don't have the time to worry about the whims of an old man. I am more concerned with my grandson. Go."
Sugoroku watched with trepidation as the portal to the palace opened and with his grandson tucked away, Seto and Bakura stepped in, vanishing in a burst of white light. He stepped away from the door, shutting it quietly behind him before sliding down the wood and burying his hands into his graying hair, a shuddering breath escaping his throat as flashes of his seizing grandson appeared his mind before he roughly pushed it away. Never did he see such a violent burst of magic emerge from Yuugi's visions and it worried him down to his bones.
It forced him to make a painful decision and he didn't have the heart to face Yuugi when he would wake up in unfamiliar surroundings. But, he didn't have a choice, he had to do what was best for Yuugi and the future of Elysian, even if he never earned his grandson's forgiveness for such an act. If it meant that his grandson was safe and whole then it wouldn't matter.
Sugoroku lowered his arms, huffing in muted frustration when a familiar rune danced across his skin, reminding him of the color of the sunset. In the moment of panic, he had forgotten his own death sentence - his own ticking clock. He reached over and pulled his sleeve over the rune as if it could erase his own fate, but he was no fool in thinking that placing a bandage over a bleeding wound would fix a problem, but it didn't matter. What mattered was the life of his grandson. He would see to it that boy lived and prospered in a world that wanted nothing more than to keep him in a gilded cage to save themselves from a fate they brought upon themselves. He would see to it that Yuugi was happy and proud of his heritage and celebrated it with a wide smile and bright eyes in a safe world.
Even if he never lived to see it.