Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Coalescence ❯ The Exhibit ( Chapter 13 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

13) The Exhibit

Summary: Seto and Yami view the Egyptian exhibit at Domino Museum together and receive new Duel Monster cards from the future.

Author's Notes:
This scene below is *similiar* to Kaiba and Yami's separate visits to the Museum to see the large stone tablets that Isis Ishtahr brought to Domino City (episodes 52 and 54). As they're seeing the tablets together and the future has changed already, things are quite different. <g> I've added a number of new elements to this:
1) Closer relation of the God Cards directly to Egyptian mythology. In Egyptian mythology, Set and Osiris were brothers. Set was bent on destroying his brother, and managed to kill him, flinging his remains all over Egypt. Their sister, Isis, retrieved all the remains and used the lingering life energy of Osiris to become pregnant with his son, Horus, who became Pharoah and avenged his father's death by killing Set. This represents a cycle of death and rebirth to the ancient Egyptians, who used this to explain the supposedly immortality of the Pharoahs (i.e. each became infused with the immortal energy of Horus/Osiris upon achieving the throne). While this mythology might only be hinted at so far in the series, I'm using it now.
2) New Duel Monster cards - these will be used later for various things. In the anime, Seto received Obelisk at the museum, that's all.
3) Because of the revelation of the cards, I decided to defer for now Isis's explanation of the Rare Card Hunters and her request of Kaiba to start a new tournament to draw out the God Cards. Got stuff to do first!
4) Marik's "Millennium Rod", which is called that in the Japanese ("sennen rod"), is more properly a Scepter, just as Isis's "necklace" is actually a Torc. So I've renamed the Rod.
5) Okay, I've adjusted the names of the God Cards, too - from the names displayed on the cards in the JAPANESE version of the anime. It doesn't make sense to say "God of Ra" or "God of Osiris". You'll see what I've done.
6) I know that Yami's real name is supposed to be hidden, unknown. I had a reason for giving him one here, so bear with me. <wink>

I hope you get to see Episode 94 someday as it heavily influenced my plotline in this story. <g> At the end of this chapter, for those who love spoilers, I'm including a summary of the duel featured in that episode. If you don't want to read, you can stop reading at the end of the chapter.

Thanks, and now enjoy Chapter 13!
Yami Czarina


13)

By mutual agreement, Seto Kaiba and Yami entered Domino Museum with their "game" faces on, all business now, each prodigious mind focused ahead on what this visit would bring them. Though they walked side by side, they did not come close to touching. Not now. Not when Destiny breathed heavily down their necks.

When they reached the entrance to the Egyptian exhibit, they were met by the lovely young Egyptian woman whom they recognized as Isis Ishtahr. "Welcome, gentlemen," Isis greeted the two duelists. "I confess that I had not expected the opportunity to show this exhibit to both of you at once." She touched the Torc at her throat. "My Millennium Torc affords me a vision of the future. But very recently that future vision shifted, and I can now only see a short way ahead. The future - *your* future, my young friends - is very much in flux."

Seto felt a growing irritation within. "Do not speak so cryptically. I haven't all day. Do show us what you were so insistent on showing that you demanded our immediate presence."

Yami glanced up at his tall lover, recognizing well Kaiba's more characteristic impatience. He himself was very intrigued with the talk of an altered future. [I wonder what changed it? She seems to indicate that some event has shifted her vision of it...]

"Very well," Isis replied, bowing a little. "Follow me."

She led them to a large room down a flight of stairs. The area was obviously closed off to the public, and therefore not a part of the regular exhibition. "This is not for the public," Isis murmured to answer their unspoken questions. "This is for you to see..."

Isis indicated a large stone tablet with carvings of smaller tablets sprinkled over the ancient surface. "Those are Duel Monsters, aren't they?" Yami asked her with surprise, noting familiar figures: Curse of Dragon, Giant Soldier of Stone, and others.

"Yes," Isis breathed, relaxing a bit. "You view the origins of Duel Monsters, gentlemen." She went on to explain how Pegasus had discovered these ruins and developed the Industrial Illusions's Duel Monsters game from his findings. "These were part of an ancient Egyptian game which was not for mere sport, but for harnessing terrible magical forces and monsters for the purpose of gaining power to control the world!"

"Right," Seto muttered, sighing. He glanced down at Yami, who was gazing at the figures on the tablet thoughtfully. This whole business about the origin of Duel Monsters he found boring and hard to believe, but he could see Yami was intrigued by it.

Yami was indeed studying the tablet intensely. "This all seems... familiar to me somehow. This explains why the Millennium Items seem connected to the game. But you had more to show us, Isis?"

"Yes, indeed," she murmured, inclining her head. "Gentlemen, what I am about to show you will change your lives forever. Brace yourselves for a new truth... and a sign of your potential future..." Isis stepped over to another large tablet and gestured...

Yami and Seto gaped at the bottom half of the tablet. "That... that's us," Yami whispered reverently after a moment.

Seto shook his head vehemently, though he was stunned to the core at the sight. The two figures clearly depicted himself and Yami in Egyptian dress, their favored monsters depicted directly over them: the Blue Eyes White Dragon and Dark Magician. "Can't be...!"

"They can and they are," Isis related firmly. "The figure on the right is the spirit which dwells in your Millennium Puzzle, Yugi. Or perhaps I should not call you Yugi at all - for you aren't Yugi, precisely, are you?" Her blue eyes were turned to Yami with a piercing gaze.

"Yugi is here, but I am called Yami, his darker half," Yami explained, his eyes never leaving the tablet. "We are blended at the moment."

Isis raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. Nevertheless, the person you see before you is yourself, the Hidden Pharoah of the 18th Dynasty, Tutmeryamun, the King Who is the Beloved of Amon the Creator. History does not record your name; it has been passed down in secret in my family all these three millennia. At the time, though the cult of Amon was becoming predominant, the Pharoah was still viewed as the Image of Horus and the successor of Osiris, the gods of rebirth and death."

The words passed through Yami with a hard shock, sending his mind spinning almost to the point where Yugi had to take over. The Pharoah! Instantly he understood the significance of this, for it was the Pharoah in that time who had sealed away the terrible Millennium Magic in the seven gold Items... and...

Himself.

/Yami... YAMI!/ Yugi cried to his dark half, alarmed by his strong reaction. /Are you all right? Yami!/

Seto, his eyes widened, glanced down at his companion, wondering at the expression on the other's face. "Yami?"

Yami covered his face with his hand for a brief moment as he worked to recover his composure. "I'm fine. It's just a shock to discover that I once ruled the known world. That it was me..." His voice trailed off.

Seto shot a glance at Isis. "You indicate that this other person on the tablet is me. But how could this be? I have no Millennium Item and I'm not a spirit!"

Isis inclined her head patiently. "No, Seto Kaiba, indeed you are not, but you are nevertheless the reincarnation of the Pharoah's chief high priest... and chief nemesis in the Shadow Games!" [And there is more, far more to it than that, Seto, but you do not need to know *that* just yet...]

"Nemesis!" Seto exclaimed, looking quickly and warily at Yami, but his lover did not appear upset by the appellation. "Well, certainly I have been that, I suppose. But as for the rest, I cannot believe..."

"Then I will have to show you!" Isis declared, and the Eye on her Millennium Torc began to glow.

"What... no...!" Seto shouted, then the world he knew disappeared.


Author's Note:
(Seto's visions are found in Episode 52, "The Past is Prologue" and will not be repeated here. Let me just say that Seto saw himself as High Priest fighting with Duel Monsters against an emissary of the Pharoah who watched the games.)



Fifteen minutes later, Seto was breathing heavily and trembling. Yami had a hold of his arms, helping to steady him, though he also looked back at Isis reproachfully. "Was all that really necessary?"

"He knows now that without a doubt he lived in Egypt over three thousand years ago," she murmured dryly, then narrowed her eyes at him. "You saw, didn't you?"

"Yes, not as he did, but yes," Yami replied, then turned back to Seto, who was already straightening and beginning to calm. Or so it appeared. "Seto..."

Seto abruptly brushed off his lover's hand, his countenance taking on the icy severity that he'd worn so often in the recent past. "Your visions of my supposed past mean nothing to me!" he snapped vehemently. "I will not be controlled by it, and if you think I'm doomed to repeat that history, you're wrong!"

Yami ached to touch him, soothe him, but clearly Seto was in no mood for tenderness. Biting his lip, he folded his arms behind his back. [Oh, Seto...]

/Is he okay?/ Yugi wanted to know anxiously.

//He's more angry than hurt,// Yami replied, sending reassurance to his aibou.

Isis folded his arms over her chest and regarded the tall teenager benignly. "I have said nothing about anyone repeating history, Seto. In fact, I have stated already that the future which I have foreseen by way of my Millennium Torc has changed. A short while ago my plan was to meet with you two individually to show you this artifact and steer you toward the course which appears to have been set for you... but that course no longer exists. So instead I have come to give you tools by which you may forge your own destiny... and it seems that's exactly what you want anyway."

Seto grimaced at the easy way this woman called him so casually by his given name; only Mokuba, Yami, and a very few trusted advisors called him "Seto". Naturally, he realized, she was ignorant of Japanese custom and instead called him by his given name because of his youth. That did not endear him towards her, and despite her words just now, he still felt animosity toward her.

"Very well, you've come with tools - the rare cards you spoke of, perhaps? I could possibly be interested..." Then Seto realized Yami had been standing aside, listening to his ranting. He sighed. "I'm not much of a history buff, I confess..."

Isis looked at him, still with that mild expression. "In a moment. I have more to show you. If you will observe the top half of the tablet now..."

There were three rectangles on the top half, all with monsters depicted within, much like the "cards" on the first tablet. "More cards?" Yami inquired, intrigued.

"Yes," Isis replied, sighing. "The prophecy states that when all seven Millennium Items are gathered as well as these three God cards, they will unlock the Pharoah's memory and he will then be able to seal away again the dangerous magic that is threatening to be unleashed upon the world in this time."

Yami gave a start. "I will recover my memory? Where are these God cards now? Are these the cards you mean to give us?"

Isis sighed again, more deeply. "Yes, you will recover your memory, my Pharoah, if all the items and the proper cards can be brought together. Two of the God Cards are in the possession of a group of Rare Card Hunters." She glanced at Seto. "I will explain about them a little later. But except for the other God card, the cards I will be giving you... are from the future... the new future. But what they are for and how they may be used you'll have to discover on your own." [And though I have a fairly good idea what they are for, I will not share my speculations with these young men,] she added silently to herself. [It's too soon...]

"How can you have cards from the future?" Seto asked, frowning, his logical, practical mind still unhappy with this sort of talk.

Now it was Yami's turn to speak up. He laid a hand firmly on Seto's arm to forestall any further complaints and addressed their host. "What is the price for accepting these cards from you, Miss Ishtahr? I sense there is more here than you're telling us."

Isis smiled faintly. "Indeed, Yami, there is much more, but I feel certain things must be allowed to unfold naturally. As much of what I believe will happen is speculation, I will not share that with you. As for their price... well, let me just say that the end result of sealing away the magic for all time is price to pay enough... that and the salvation of two souls from the dark spirits which have possessed their bodies."

Her words poked at something in Yugi's memory. /Bakura?/

Yami inquired, "Would one of those be Yugi's classmate, Ryou Bakura?"

She inclined her head. "The other I will not mention to you at this time. But, yes, Ryou Bakura is one." Then she looked from one teenager to the other, thinking. "I'm curious about something, Yami. The last I'd heard, you and Seto Kaiba had been fierce rivals... yet now I do not sense that rivalry, that tension. It seems you and Seto have become friends after all?"

Yami smiled his tight, little enigmatic smile. "You could say that. I daresay we both have changed since the Duelist Kingdom."

Seto managed a smirk, but did not comment, though he did exchange a knowing glance with the diminutive Gamesmaster.

"I see," Isis murmured cryptically. "Well, no matter. Now, about the God Cards..."

Yami and Seto both sharpened their attention. Then they gazed at the images on the stone tablet above their heads as she explained.

"First there is Obelisk the Tormentor, which does not specifically go by the name of an Egyptian god, but was known to be favored by the god Set, the nemesis and rival of His brother Osiris. The myth says that Set killed His brother Osiris who gained immortality by being reborn through His son, Horus. This began an unending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that was a chief component of the cult of the Egyptian gods millennia ago. So Obelisk represents the Power of the God Set."

[Set... SET...] The similarity to his own name stunned Seto. But he did not comment, though he saw Yami beside him tense at the mention as well. There was more to learn here...

"The second God Card," Isis was smoothly continuing, "is Saint Dragon, the Power of the God Osiris. Named for He Who is Forever Immortal, for He is reborn through Horus, who was represented by the Pharoah." She nodded toward Yami.

[I suppose the third God card represents the power of Horus,] Yami was contemplating, stunned as Seto was by this tie-in to Egyptian mythological gods. [I can only imagine their immense powers...]

"And the third is the Sun Dragon, the Power of the God Ra," Isis finished.

"What?" Yami blurted, surprised. "Not Horus?"

She shrugged, but both Seto and Yami thought she was feigning unconcern. "That is what they are - Divine Monsters which represent the Powers of the Gods Set, Osiris, Ra. All three are necessary for the Pharoah to unlock his memories... along with the seven Millennium Items. Then it is hoped the danger to the world may be sealed again, hopefully for all eternity this time."

"You are giving us one of these cards?" Seto asked, frowning. "What of the others?"

Isis regarded him, weighing her options, then she sighed and brought out an envelope from which she withdrew what appeared to be Duel Monster cards. "These four are given to you, Seto Kaiba... for the fulfillment of your destiny and your hopes. Not that your destiny is settled, but these may enlighten your path and strengthen you nevertheless." She handed him four cards.

Seto took them, giving her a short bow of acknowledgment, then looked at the four cards in his hand. "Obelisk the Tormentor - you're giving me this card?"

"Yes, as that was indicated by the original future I had foreseen," Isis explained smoothly. "I have no reason to believe that I should not still give it to you."

Seto thought the obvious questions: [Why not give it to Yami? Why does the God Card come to me? Not that I mind, for a card like this would make me nearly invincible as a duelist! I cannot turn away from such an offer of power... Still, if this card represents the power of the god Set, then that explains her choice... I suppose. I don't like the business of Set opposing Osiris - the Pharoah. I am through being at odds with him. I...]

He looked at the other cards. "Strange name," he murmured. "Bond of the Protectors, a Ritual Magic card... but these other two are blank: a Fusion Monster card, and another Ritual Magic card..."

Isis frowned. "I do not understand that either. It may be that the cards will reveal themselves to you more clearly in the future."

She handed four more cards to Yami, who spread them out in his hand, looking them over. "Bond of the Gods," he murmured, "a Ritual Magic card... Protectors of the Scepter, a Continuous Magic card... and two more blank ones, a strange white monster card and another Continuous Magic card... How can there be a white card?" (Note: normal monster card backgrounds are gold, effect monsters are orange, magic cards are green, trap cards are mauve.)

Isis glanced away, looking as if seeing something far away. "I believe it to be a God card as yet unknown to us."

"Another God card?" Seto asked abruptly. "Perhaps it is Horus after all?"

"No..." Her voice trailed off, then she took a deep breath and looked back at them again. "Something new and possibly wonderful will be taking place. I sense this, but have no information on it. Something to do with God cards... and strange new rituals that will arise. New Ritual Magic which has come to us from another reality."

"Another reality?" Yami breathed almost in the same breath as Seto did. They exchanged meaningful glances. Seto of course was finding all of this very hard to believe, and even Yami, believing strongly in the power of destiny, was not sure about this talk about new rituals and realities. He added, "So we are to believe that the cards will reveal themselves in time?"

"That is my understanding," Isis said softly.

"They're no use to me now," Seto muttered, frustrated. [Blank rare cards! What next? How can I believe this?]

"Seto..." Yami murmured under his breath. To the woman he inquired, "Is there any more you can tell us about these new cards right now? What about these Bond cards?"

Isis glanced at the ones in his hand. "I don't know anything about those. I trust that their usefulness, too, will become revealed."

Yami held up the green Continuous Magic card, Protectors of the Scepter. The picture on the card showed two robed, hooded figures holding a golden rod between them. The rod, obviously the "scepter", held what looked like Pegasus's Millennium Eye on a globe at the top flanked by curved blades like those of a double-headed axe. "What is this Scepter?"

Isis looked at the card and visibly winced as if seeing it for the first time. "That..." Her eyes widened and her nostrils flared as if she felt some strong emotion suddenly. "That is the Millennium Scepter. My family has been charged over the millennia with guarding the Scepter and the Torc. I have no idea who the Protectors are or what they have to do with the Scepter, however. This aspect of the future is unknown to me. The Torc will tell me nothing of the Scepter... not any longer."

"Where is this Scepter?" Yami asked a bit insistently.

She had to lower her gaze as if the thought caused her pain. "In my brother's possession. And on that matter, I will not speak any more at this time." She took a step away from them. "I have said enough. I must go. Good day, gentlemen." Turning on her heel abruptly, she strode away. [Later... another time I will tell them about Marik and invite Seto to start up a new tournament to draw out the Rare Card Hunters, but not right now... the changes are too unsettling... and I do not understand the meaning of these new cards...]

"But..."

"Let her go, Yami," Seto muttered, turning back to look up at the stone tablet with the images of the God cards, the High Priest, and the Pharoah. "I don't know about the history she refers to, but if some sort of destined path for us has dissolved, that's all well and good to me. I prefer to make my own path." [And that will be with you, hopefully,] he added to himself.

"I think that's what this all means... what these strange new cards mean, Seto," Yami replied quietly. "I believe we already have begun to make our own path."

Seto reached and took Yami's hand in his. For a long moment, they stood looking into one another's eyes as if communing on some deep, inner level. A hundred feet away, Isis had poked her head back around a corner to look again at the two teenagers. Seeing them holding hands, she suppressed a gasp. [So that is what has changed! Seto Kaiba and the Pharoah, lovers! Who could have imagined this?]

At her shoulder, Shadi appeared. "It is unforeseen, true," he whispered. "But it seems that Fate is not changing in a random fashion, but purposely. Their relationship is needed for what is to come."

"And what is to come?" Isis whispered back.

Shadi looked thoughtfully, gazing beyond her to the two rival duelists, now lovers. "As occurred in Ancient Egypt, so shall occur again, it seems." He looked at her solemnly. "Coalescence."

"Let's go, Yami," Seto murmured finally, squeezing the fingers in his hand before releasing it.


(to be continued)

SCROLL DOWN TO READ SUMMARY OF EPS. 93-94










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Summary of Episode 93-4: Seto Kaiba and the 8th Duelist / A Strike to Change the Future

This is the final round of the opening duels in the Battleship competition, the finals after Battle City. Only Seto and the mysterious woman who hasn't shown herself are left to duel before the semi-finals. When the duel is to begin, the woman shows up and it's Isis Ishtahr! She is set on battling Kaiba in order to win back Obelisk. She wants to use it to try to defeat Yami Marik to free her brother Marik's mind, suppressed by Yami Marik. (Yami Marik only was able to come out because Marik's servant, his "adopted older brother" Rishid, was unconscious after the mishap with the Fake God Card of Ra. And you thought *Marik* was bad! Yami Marik is evil, evil, evil!)

Because her Millennium Necklace allows her to see the future, she tells Kaiba that she already knows everything about how the duel will turn out... and it proceeds accordingly, to his supreme frustration. Kaiba is furious that his destiny is apparently set in stone, and he wants to break free of that, but cannot. His plan, of course, is to bring out Obelisk the Tormentor to finish off Isis. BUT... just as he's in the middle of ordering the attack, Yami Marik's Millennium Rod - just as he's about to walk out because he's bored with the duel - starts to glow! Kaiba freezes... and the Rod sends him a flashback of memory that shows Kaiba as the High Priest kneeling - holding what looks like an unconscious girl - before the great stone tablet of Blue Eyes White Dragon! Okay, to my eye, either the girl was like his sick or dead wife or something <grumble> or she was some sort of sacrifice <snicker>. Anyway, the appearance of Blue Eyes shocks Kaiba enough and he does the unthinkable - draws BACK the attack and instead sacrifices OBELISK and another monster on the field to summon Blue Eyes White Dragon! Oh, it's a magnificent moment as he calls Blue Eyes "my pride and my soul". <shiver> (If they take that wording out of the English dub, I'll cry!)

Isis is shocked - she did NOT foresee this! So he beats her, yada yada. But it's because the Millennium Rod stopped him from falling into the trap she'd set for him (Obelisk had some sort of bomb on it, thanks to her trap card). Yami Marik, of course, is pissed that the Rod was glowing for no apparent reason - heh. The IMPLICATION is that the Rod, of course, was originally the High Priest's! And in fact in the large stone tablet Kaiba first sees in Ep. 52, the High Priest is holding a staff like the Rod. <snicker> That explains hugely why Kaiba can control the God card at all, because as Yami Marik likes to say, only the "chosen ones" can control God Cards, and Kaiba himself has already figured out that the God Cards "choose" their User. Heh.

Because this episode directly connects Kaiba with a Millennium Item and does the future changing thing, it inspired me to proceed as I have with this story. <G> NOW, I actually believe the series is proceeding toward the original Set vs. Osiris thing from the mythology, but I'm using another, later part of Egyptian mythology to replace that... and that spoiler I'm not sharing. <G>