Thank you for these characters and their stories, Kazuki Takahashi. Requiescat in pace.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Dria
The group split up and spent the next 20 minutes looking for Seto and Mokuba. The Pharaoh and I checked every inch inside the Duel Tower. I kept trying to convince myself that there wasn't even the slightest chance that Seto would let any harm come to Mokuba, but as our futile search continued, panic began to overtake my reason. Mokuba would do anything that his brother asked of him, even if it were overtly illogical and dangerous.
Don't worry. Kaiba might be foolish sometimes, but he wouldn't go that far.
I smiled as the Pharaoh's thoughts came through our Items and turned my gaze towards him. He extended his hand with a small smile, and I happily placed my hand in his. He briefly tightened his grasp as he pulled me towards him, leaving a lingering kiss on my knuckles. I felt a blush rise across my cheeks as I gazed into the promises clear in his eyes; he had intentions for more later, once we were out of the present danger.
We hurried back to the plane, hoping that someone had more luck than we did in locating the Kaibas. Unfortunately, nothing had changed except for the amount of time we had left. We were down to 13 minutes. Yugi was growing concerned about us even being able to escape from the island at this point. The upcoming explosion would likely be too large for me to handle on my own, even with Aristokles supporting my magic again. Managing the resulting destruction of Noah's empire had been difficult enough, and while I could be more prepared this time around and show myself a capable mage, the lives of my friends were at stake. I wasn't willing to risk them just to prove that I was indeed powerful, not even to myself. We had to leave before it was too late.
"Maybe the ship's engines are fixed."
"Hey!"
Duke and Bakura came running towards us from our ride home. Their expressions didn't offer any reassurances that transportation had been secured yet. If the engines were still down, it was unlikely that they could be fixed in the time we had remaining.
"Let me have a shot at these things."
"Joey! Since when can you fix an engine?"
"How hard can it be?"
Despite the severity of our situation, I couldn't stop the laughter that escaped my lips at Joey's pseudo-confidence in handling complicated machinery. Even with magic, I wouldn't be able to fix the engines. While I understood the general concept of how it worked, I knew nothing about the more intricate details required to fix the machine, which would render my skills useless since the magical current needed a guide. After sparing only one glance at the engines, Joey quickly retreated from the task and instead supported the idea of taking the helicopter instead.
As the others hurried inside the plane to retrieve the remaining passengers, I took one final glance around the island. Seto and Mokuba had to be somewhere safe, I believed that much. But not knowing for certain made me worry. Bending down to the ground, I placed my palms against the metal earth below and closed my eyes. Though I didn't know for certain if it would work, it was worth attempting one more spell before escaping from this wicked place. Expanding my magic down through the island itself and spreading it outwards as far as I could manage, I searched for any sign of Seto and Mokuba. There had to be another way off this island, and it had to be somewhere no one could accidentally find it. The current rushed through the open area beneath my feet, finding hidden passageways that led into various computer rooms. In my mind's eye, I came across a large screen stating the decreasing time remaining; Seto must have been there recently because otherwise the countdown wouldn't have ever started. Pushing the current further, I came upon an underground elevator, which descended even further into the island, as if attempting to reach Hades itself. Seto had to have left something down there, something that he could use to leave this place.
Just as I was about to enter a final room, my concentration was suddenly broken. As the Ishtars ran past me, Odion hoisted me up into his arms and carried me to the helicopter. Though I wished he hadn't interrupted my search, I might have missed the ride off the island before it was destroyed. He set me down gently onto the small seating bench along the side of the helicopter, quickly bowed, and then returned to Ishizu and Marik. Within a few moments, everyone was on board and ready to take off. Roland asked one final time about waiting for the Kaibas.
"No, we can't wait. Take off now."
The helicopter ascended as quickly as the pilots and the machinery could manage. Within the next 30 seconds, the explosions began beneath us. The island was torn apart into small pieces, and each section was quickly overtaken by the waves. Soon, the entire island would be gone, and the rest of Gozuburo's empire with it, never to be seen above the water again.
"This is awful."
I turned away from the destruction, unable to watch any further. While I understood why Seto had envisioned this plan long ago, I didn't agree with the method. The island should have been left to rot, as a reminder of what Gozuburo had done so it would never be repeated. But, as usual, Seto made his decision and he stuck to it like a stubborn mule. As this thought crossed my mind, Seto's Blue Eyes Jet appeared from beneath the island. They had been safe the entire time, as my magic had suggested. I smiled in relief, thankful that the two of them hadn't done something completely foolish.
"Just wait till we land!"
"Sorry Joey, but we're not going back with you. We've got important Kaiba Corp. business to attend to."
"Don't worry. You geeks haven't seen the last of me, especially you, Yugi."
Though I didn't know what kind of response he'd give me, I knocked on the window beside me to get Seto and Mokuba's attention. The latter smiled and waved at me like a little brother, as he had become to me, and he promised that they'd visit me soon. The former, however, didn't say anything. His blue eyes only stared back at me, with a barely discernable expression across the rest of his face. I smiled at him as I waved, wanting him to understand that I wasn't upset with him and that he was still dear to me, no matter what words he'd spoken or actions he hadn't taken. His expression gentled, and a small but genuine smile appeared as he raised two fingers in a farewell gesture. I blinked once and it was gone. Moments later, Seto turned the jet around, and they disappeared beyond the horizon.
Turning back around, I found a comfortable spot in the helicopter and leaned my head against the side. It would be a few hours before we'd make it home since we were in a helicopter and not a high-speed jet. I felt a presence next to me and smiled as I caught the Pharaoh's gaze. He nodded towards his shoulder, offering a more pliable pillow for me to rest on. Placing my head on the offered spot, I closed my eyes and felt my entire body relax against him. He placed his hand on my knee and rested his head against mine. We stayed in that position nearly the entire trip home, with him only moving a few times to respond to someone asking him a question. The sun was nearly gone by the time we reached the port. The Kaiba Corp. helicopter took off again the moment all the passengers had disembarked.
"Pharoah, it is because of your bravery that my brother Marik was saved from the evil that once consumed his heart."
"How could I ever thank you? You saved me from myself. I hope in spite of all I've done, we can be friends."
"Goodbye, My King. I hope that we will meet again soon."
The Ishtars all politely bowed before the Pharaoh for the final time on this journey. They then turned towards me, and while they had no words, their respect was made more than clear. All 3 of them dropped to their right knees and placed their right hands on their chests. I responded in turn, lowering my head into a humble bow as I curtsied; only when my posture returned to normal did they stand once again. I then smiled brightly at the loyal family and waved farewell. The boat that had once carried such malice now departed toward the sunset in peace.
"I guess it's time for me to say goodbye now. I've got places to go, hearts to break, and dice to roll."
I snorted ungracefully at Duke's 'to-do' list; he had either forgotten to mention, or purposefully excluded, the expansion of his Dungeon Dice Monsters game. I hadn't spoken to Father in quite some time, but I knew it was high on his priority list to promote the game. I could only hope Duke was ready for the hurricane that was Maximillion Pegasus when it came to generating excitement over a new product.
Mai also left soon after, claiming that the open road was calling her to a new place once again. Serenity was saddened to watch her close friend depart, but they would see each other again in the future. I turned away, grasping my Pendant once more, as I thought of all the friends I'd said the final farewell to over the years. Though they were gone from this world, I knew something would bring us back together again one day. Holding back a few tears, I gazed into the fading sunset. It was one of a million that I had seen in my lifetime, and yet, it was beautiful every time. Turning from the natural sunset, eyes that mirrored it came into view, bringing a gentle, loving smile with them.
I extended my hand towards him, and he grasped it willingly, pulling my body toward his. I nestled my head just beneath his chin, the bridge of my nose fitting perfectly into the curve of his jawline. A nearly silent chuckle shook his chest as he kissed the top of my head and stroked my hair with his free hand.
"Let's go, lovebirds! It's time to go home!"
Our friends were right; it was finally time to return home. It felt like it had been so long since we'd started the Battle City Tournament. Grandpa's game shop was a sight for sore eyes, and I couldn't wait to return to the familiar abode. Yugi seemed equally excited, nearly bouncing up to the front door with my hand still firmly grasped in his. When he opened the door, high pitched squeals echoed in the store. A group of young girls grabbed his arms, yanked him away from me, and pleaded for an autograph, while the young men with them begged for the chance to see Yugi's new god cards. Everyone in town had already heard about the results of the tournament, so it was hardly a surprise that people were waiting to congratulate Yugi. Grandpa must have extended his working hours to allow this many people in the store at this hour. He wanted his grandson's accomplishments to be acknowledged and celebrated, as they should have been.
With great effort, Yugi turned towards me, his eyes desperate. I laughed in response, confidently making my way through the chaos. The crowd of young adults soon parted before me, creating a pathway directly to Yugi. When I reached his side, I swiftly placed a kiss on his lips, leaving no doubt as for why I was with him. His face became bright red as a blush overtook his countenance and stole his speech away.
"Did you see that? They must be a couple!"
"Miss Pegasus, are you dating Yugi Muoto?"
"The King of Games is officially off the market!"
Various comments and questions came our way as we politely and firmly showed the customers to the door. The moment the final one was beyond the threshold, I closed the door and locked it tightly. Exhaling dramatically, I slid down against the door to the floor. Yugi chuckled, handing me a refreshing glass of water, having recovered from my earlier surprise. Grandpa appeared from behind the counter to hug his grandson, stating how proud he was of what Yugi had accomplished. An impromptu, private party followed, during most of which Grandpa nearly drooled over the god cards. It was only after the long explanation that I had given to Yugi with the help of Shadi that Grandpa was finally satisfied with my having kept such a secret from him and forgave me.
All 3 of us were exhausted by this point and bid each other goodnight. Though I'm sure he was aware, Grandpa didn't comment when Yugi and I headed into the same room as he entered his own bedroom. Master Shimon had also known about the evening interactions between the Prince and me prior to our marriage, but he only commented in times of great necessity. Otherwise, he'd left us alone, trusting that we weren't making completely foolish choices and yet preparing for the possibility.
As I laid down on Yugi's bed, my clothes changed back into the white button-down nightgown I'd worn the previous night. Yugi had disappeared to shower before bed, leaving me with a few moments to myself. I heard a soft growl before feeling a familiar snakeskin against my back. Though significantly smaller than his true body, Slifer made for a comfortable body pillow as he curled both in front of and behind me. I wrapped my arms around his squishy form, and his large head came to rest above mine. A soothing purr reverberated through him as he began to snore lightly. I settled further into the formerly terrifying creature and closed my eyes.
"Where exactly am I supposed to sleep?"
I cracked open one eye to smile at Yugi. He must have been getting used to seeing some of the monsters truly come to life around me because he showed no fear when Slifer lifted his head to stare back at him. Stretching out his long neck, the great creature slowly moved towards the young man until Yugi was in range of his tongues. A few gentle but rapid licks later, Slifer returned to his previous position. Yugi chuckled as he wiped the saliva from my dragon off his face and crawled into bed beside me. Slifer twisted his lower half around until his body comfortably surrounded the both of us.
It was before dawn when I felt Yugi wake and prepare to leave. I made no indication of being awake as well, instead choosing to feign sleep until I had an inkling of what he was planning. He shuffled the cards in his deck, searching for one in particular. I heard the Pharaoh's voice quietly chime in.
"We can't rest yet. We have one more task to complete."
"Joey's Red-Eyes?"
I had forgotten that Yugi had been holding onto Red-Eyes Black Dragon for Joey since he'd defeated the first Rare Hunter of Battle City. He must have promised his friend an opportunity to win the card back after the tournament ended, so he was heading out to fulfill that promise. As the Pharaoh pressed a kiss to my forehead, I felt a smile spread across my face. Turning towards him, I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him one more hug before he left.
"You'll come watch when you've fully woken up, won't you?"
I nodded in response, feeling my eyes droop back down again. I wanted to give the two of them a little space without intruding. While I intended to watch the duel, I would do so from a distance; it was their battle, not mine. Yugi softly closed the door behind him, and I heard Grandpa's voice asking where he was headed so early in the morning. The front door soon closed, as did Grandpa's bedroom door, and the house was quiet once again. I laid in bed for a few moments longer, enjoying the warmth beneath the blankets that Yugi had left behind. Slifer was still curled around me, completely asleep.
After giving Yugi a good head start, I rose from bed and changed clothes. Slifer wouldn't move, so I left him behind and instead asked another of my brothers to help me reach my destination. Since it wasn't yet daytime, Ra willingly volunteered to be my escort. I carefully climbed out Yugi's window and onto his back. I hugged his neck tightly, overjoyed that he was out of the hands of the evil Marik and safe once more. He twittered happily under my touch, extending his wings to full length before pushing himself into the sky with them. It didn't take long for Ra to find them on a deserted street just outside of the downtown area. We settled down on the roof of a building just close enough for me to watch, but far enough to stay out of view. My golden dragon slowly lowered his body to the ground so I could easily slip off.
Discreetly watching Yugi from above with Ra, I gazed out over the sleeping city of Domino. It was peaceful in the early hours of the morning, and though I knew trouble was simply waiting in the shadows to emerge once more, I felt happy at the current course of my life. There were many things that I missed from the ages that had passed, but I had come to learn that because time moved on regardless of whether I was ready or not, it was always better to appreciate what I had while I had it. Ra pushed his head into my shoulder, rubbing against me to beg for some attention. Though his body was mostly made of gold, he still loved it when I stroked his head. Shrinking down to the size of a sparrow, Ra then perched himself on my shoulder, leaning contentedly against my neck. I leaned against the railing, settling in as the sun continued to rise. Though I had intended to watch the duel, I felt the Pendent activate once more, whisking me away to another time and place.
Two years had passed since the day I had been exiled from the palace, separated from those whom I loved. It was a windy and dry afternoon in early fall, and the capital city was bustling with excitement. One of the generals in the Pharaoh's army had been found a traitor to his kingdom, having taken a bribe from the southern bandits to allow them into the city without going through the proper channels. They had the intention of causing chaos within the kingdom, first by killing citizens at random, then by assassinating the Prince. A vision of the impending attack had come to me in the middle of the previous night. I had barely been able to gather the information and materials necessary to interfere with the plan and expose the general. Covered in a cloak, I watched from the darkness of the nearest alleyway as the truth was revealed before the people.
"General Kheti, you are hereby placed under arrest, stripped of your rank, and sentenced to death for your betrayal of our great kingdom."
"I have done nothing against this land! I demand you produce the evidence you have against me!"
Pharaoh Aknamkanon turned towards Master Shimon, who brought forth a document detailing the payment of money in exchange for smuggling bandits into the city. Kheti's eyes widened in disbelief as the contents of the document were read aloud, including the specific mention of his name and his role in the scheme.
"That document is a counterfeit! Surely you, Pharaoh, are wise enough to see how this cannot possibly be true! Someone is attempting to frame me, likely for the very reasons stated in that document. If you believe this forgery, then our kingdom will be put into grave danger!"
The Pharaoh lifted his hand, signaling toward the large group standing behind him. Within a few moments, one of the soldiers stepped forward, pulling a prisoner bound in rope behind him. The linens covering the man's body were torn and dirty, but it hadn't been from being tortured or held in prison. He was one of the bandits, a scout sent ahead of the larger group to find the most suitable routes through the city. I smirked as the confidence across Kheti's face melted away.
The scout had just so happened to get into trouble in front of the Pharaoh's soldiers. When they took him into custody, they discovered that he had been carrying the incriminating document now in the hands of the Pharaoh. It wouldn't take much now for Kheti's betrayal to become clear. Tightening the folds of the cloak around my face so I wouldn't be recognized, I quietly stepped back, intending to return to my lonely palace. Egypt and the Prince were safe once again.
Another body stepped in front of me, preventing my retreat from downtown. I nearly crashed into the man as I tried to leave; he had slipped beneath my notice. Strong hands firmly gripped my shoulders, making it nearly impossible for me to escape unnoticed. I kept my head down to keep my identity safe. Hopefully, the man had only been surprised by my presence and would let me go momentarily.
"It's good to see you again, Ramila. The Prince misses you and asks every day when you'll return."
I froze as a familiar, deep voice entered my ears. Mahad had been promoted to the Guardian of the Millennium Ring, meaning that he was no longer the personal guard of the Prince. That was how he'd snuck up behind me, by concealing himself with his magic. I hadn't considered that he would have come into town with the Pharaoh, so I didn't bother with my own magical barrier. Though I was equally glad to see him, I knew the impact being seen with me would have upon his credibility, so I gently pushed off his hands and lowered my head before him.
"I am glad to see you are well, Master Mahad. Thank you for guarding the Prince and Pharaoh so faithfully. I'm sure this incident was revealed due to your diligence and the clever use of your Item. Now, I must be going before it's too late."
Mahad raised an eyebrow at my statement and made no motion to move. Squeezing past his much larger form, I began my trek back home. Everyone was safe and a terrible plot had been prevented. Even if this was all I could do for the Prince now, it was a more than acceptable way to spend my life. I would keep him safe at any personal cost. If loneliness was what I had to endure for him, I would bear it with a grateful heart. There was only one more thing to do before I could consider this episode complete.
Ra had begun his descent by the time I reached home. My little abode sat just off the Nile, far enough to not be swept away in the flood, but close enough for easy access to water. Dropping my cloak inside, I ventured down for a short bath. The creatures of the river left me alone, having learned that I would not be an easy meal. Instead, they kept to themselves, floating just beneath the surface. As I finished washing off and re-dressing, the sound of rapid hoofbeats echoed across the desert. The other southern bandits had come at last. The leader dismounted from his horse and stepped toward me.
"Baahir said that we should find a young girl living alone outside of the city if anything should happen to him. Are you the one that he spoke of?"
I smiled genially in response, extending my arms outward as I bowed before him. "Welcome, my lord. Yes, I am she whom you seek. Although, there seems to have been a slight misunderstanding from when I spoke with Baahir."
The man's body tensed at my words. He slowly placed his hand on the weapon currently resting at his waist, though he didn't yet draw it. "What do you mean by that? Are you not able to smuggle us into the city undetected?"
I shrugged, "It's not a matter of 'if' I could do it, but rather 'will' I do it. Unfortunately for you, since your plan involves harming the one person who means more to me than my own life, my answer is no. Your plan will end here instead."
He drew his sword and, in a rapid movement, placed the tip at my throat. Rage burned in his eyes at my deception. "You're the reason he was captured. You tricked him, placed the documents on him, and led him straight to the Pharaoh's guards. You also caused Kheti's arrest, exposing him as our ally."
As my silence affirmed his thoughts, I could see the confusion in his eyes grow as I remained completely calm and unaffected by the sharp implement at my neck. He had expected to see fear in my eyes, or perhaps that I would beg for my life in return. The moments passed by slowly, and the other bandits made no move to flee or push forward. At last, the leader could wait no longer. Drawing back the sword slightly, he drove it forward in one quick motion. My eyes remained trained on him the entire time as the weapon approached my neck; though I knew I wouldn't, I wasn't afraid to die.
"Illusion Magician, protect Princess Dria!"
A magical barrier appeared where the sword would have pierced through my neck, and arms wrapped around my waist, carrying me up into the air and away from the bandits. Glancing back, the familiar face of my beloved magician came into view. But how had he gotten here? I hadn't asked for his help. My question was soon answered as a voice rang out across the desert.
"I won't let you harm our young Lady. Without her, our kingdom would be nothing."
Illusion Magician slowly drifted back down to the ground, setting me on my feet once more. Mahad had brought a contingent of soldiers to my small piece of land, and the bandits surrendered when they realized there was no escape. Moments later, the soldiers were leading them to the prisons. It was finally over. I sighed in relief as my legs at last collapsed underneath me, but my knees didn't hit the sand as I'd anticipated. Instead, I found myself in a tight grasp against a familiar body. The owner shuddered as a few tears fell down his face.
"My daughter, it's time for you to come home at last."
I smiled as the memory released me back into the present day. Someone had moved me from the railing to the side of the building. Glancing to my left, I saw the gentle smile of the Pharaoh beside me. How he'd gotten up here or even known I was here, I wasn't completely sure. Ra was suspiciously missing from my shoulder, so I imagined he'd had something to do with it. The Pharaoh leaned forward to kiss me before speaking.
"You missed a great duel. Joey has improved dramatically."
"Oh? Does that mean he beat you, mighty King of Games?" I teased.
He laughed loudly in response, neither confirming nor denying my question. After he quieted down, I leaned my head against his shoulder again and we watched the remainder of the sunrise together. Battle City was finally over, and it was time to move on to the next adventure. Before he could stop me, I turned around and straddled his lap, placing my arms around his neck. His body shivered slightly beneath me and his grip around my waist tightened as I engaged him in another kiss, this one much more intense than the last. Only when we were nearly out of breath did I release him and sit back, proudly smiling at the dazed look on his face.
"As the winner of Battle City, I believe I owe you an entire day's worth of my time, Pharaoh. What shall we do?"