Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Shadowy Links to the Past ❯ The Final Battle ( Chapter 18 )

Hmm…well, after writing the next planned part, I realized it was like a page and a half only. So I decided to continue on with the next planned chapter as well. Hence, long update. But here it is!

Calupe: Thanks, as always, for the review! Heh heh, I thought you might like that (the ad). You're very welcome!

Disclaimer: I think you all know by now that I don't own Yugioh. Oh, and the spells are from the internet, as usual.

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Chapter 18: The Final Battle

Gwydion's magick carried them to a far different world than Yugi was used to. It was still daylight when they arrived before a large stone temple, the blue flames dying around them. Yugi stared at the huge structure before him, his mouth hanging open slightly. Yami…this looks eerily familiar to me, like I've been here before. But I've never been to Egypt before.

It's the Temple of Kauket, Goddess of Darkness. Yami glanced at Yugi. Sound familiar now?

Yugi's eyes widened upon recognition. This is where you and Sekhmet sealed the Shadow magicks in the past! And as an afterthought, Wow, the building is still standing after all this time.

"Are you both done staring yet?" Gwydion asked impatiently. He was eager to see Yami gone once and for all. "Don't want to keep Marik waiting too long now. He's very impatient…"

"Lead the way then," Yami replied gruffly. He had the feeling that this would be the final battle between him and Marik…

They followed Gwydion into the temple, lighted inside by hundreds of flaming torches. But instead of going beneath the temple, like Yami and Sekhmet had once done, they continued on into the large alter room. There, they saw a large statue of the Goddess of Darkness. To her right, there was a large table with more candles and stuff on it. And to her left, Sekhmet sat chained to a stone chair, looking very pissed. Above her head, there was a vertically spinning disk of some sort, flashing a bluish-green color and humming loudly. Yami's eyes widened upon seeing this. A dark energy disk, a one way trip to the Shadow Realm if touched by it.

Yugi felt the other's anger starting to grow, and glanced anxiously around the spacious room. Since he had never seen Marik before, he had no idea what to look for. But he didn't see *anyone* else in the room.

Sekhmet looked at her beloved and his small look-alike. She knew that they would come for her, just as that maddened Marik had planned. She had awoken already chained to the chair, the chains filled with powerful dark magick. She could not break them. Their magicks were somehow blocking her own. Sekhmet let out a low growl of annoyance.

"I'm so glad that you could make it, Pharaoh," a voice called from behind Kauket's statue.

"Marik," Yami growled lowly. "You *will* pay for threatening my love. I guarantee it."

A sandy-blonde haired boy stepped out from behind the statue. He held the Millennium Rod is one hand, and glared angrily at Yami. "At last we meet in person, Pharaoh. And I see that you've brought little Yugi along with you as well. Though he and his Puzzle are no longer needed."

Wait…didn't Marik once say that he needed the Puzzle to get Yami's power? "What do you mean by that?" Yugi asked, confused.

Marik laughed. "I've found a sort of "loop hole" if you will within the ancient scriptures. All thanks to the recent turn of events regarding the Pharaoh's new body."

"Loop hole…"Yugi murmured to himself. "What could he mean by that?"

"You see," Marik continued, "now that the Pharaoh has his own body, I no longer need the Millennium Puzzle. I can take what is rightfully mine DIRECTLY from him now! And combined with the three Egyptian God cards that I already have, *I* will become the new Pharaoh!" He laughed madly.

"And who said that I am just going to give you my powers?" Yami asked. "Maybe we should play a game for them…a Shadow game."

Yugi's eyes widened at this. Shadow game? He shuddered at the memories of dueling in the Shadow Realm. He didn't like that place at all. He didn't know how he could possibly help Yami there.

Marik shook his head. "I don't have time for petty "games". I have more important things to do. Besides, you are in no position to negotiate." He glanced at Sekhmet. "At any moment I choose, I can make that dark energy disk drop, sending your precious sorceress to the Shadow Realm forever!" He grinned.

Yami gasped at this, and he turned his gaze to Sekhmet. She didn't look surprised at all, but was still glaring icily at Marik.

"So what will it be, Pharaoh?" Marik asked after a few silent moments had passed. "Your powers or your sorceress? Either way, YOU LOSE!"

Yami gulped, not sure what to do. If Marik got his powers, then the world would surely crumble under his evil reign. But if he didn't give him his powers, then his only love would be sent to the Shadow Realm.

"Yami."

Yami looked up at the familiar voice. It was Sekhmet. Crimson locked onto forest green.

"Choose the world." It was stated quietly, but echoed slightly in the large, silent room.

"I…can't…" Yami nearly whispered.

"You *must*. If you choose me, then who's to say that Marik won't kill me anyways with his new-found powers? You *know* what will happen if Marik gains your powers, and it is your destiny to stop him. No. Matter. What. The. Cost." She said the last part slowly, evenly, hoping her point would get through to Yami.

Marik was starting to get nervous. He had not expected for the sorceress to try and convince the Pharaoh to sacrifice her for the world. He had to do something, fast. "If you give me your powers, then I promise she won't be harmed. I'll even let little Yugi live as well."

Yami, you know he doesn't mean it. He *can't* be trusted! Yugi shouted via their Mind Link.

I know, Yugi, but… Yami was still uncertain as to what to do. There must be another way…

"Yami." Sekhmet's voice was strained, shaky even. "I once sacrificed you to save the world…Now it's *your* turn to sacrifice *me*. Choose the world," she repeated. "It's the only way." She looked at him pleadingly.

It was the look in her eyes that made Yami decided. He knew what he had to do. "Forgive me, my love…" he whispered hoarsely.

Sekhmet smiled slightly. "There's nothing to forgive, beloved. I will always love you, no matter what."

"And I will always love you." Yami looked at Marik, his gaze steady. "I choose the world," he stated clearly, determinedly, but with a hint of sadness.

Marik's eyes widened. "WHAT?! You're supposed to choose her!" His entire body trembled with anger, looking like it was about to burst. He glanced down at the floor, breathing deeply to calm himself. When he looked back up, his features had seemingly changed: his hair was pointier, wilder. His eyes and facial features were sharper. He glanced at the sorceress, then at Yami. "Very well then. You can watch as I send HER to the Shadow Realm!" He raised his arm to drop the dark energy disk spinning about Sekhmet's head.

"MARIK!!"

Everyone turned towards the voice. It was Gwydion, and he has fuming mad. "We had a deal! If I helped to get Yami here, then Sekhmet would be *mine*!" His eyes glistened dangerously, and he was breathing heavily.

"Sorry, but you should have known better than to trust me…" He chuckled evilly as he let his arm drop.

"NO!" Gwydion shouted wildly. "SEKHMET!" Then a spell came to him, and he shouted its words without hesitation: "With words of ancient old I call to you! By my will, I command thee, come! Power to power, dark to dark, so say I this spell is done!"

The dark energy disk spinning down towards Sekhmet's head veered off its intended course at these words, heading now for Gwydion. As the bluish-green disk raced towards him, Gwydion caught Sekhmet's startled eyes and mouthed the words, "I'm sorry. Please forgive me…" The disk hit its mark, and Gwydion screamed as his soul was shattered, his mind sent to the Shadow Realm. His body fell to the floor with a loud thump, his eyes dead and staring.

"IMPOSSIBLE!" shouted Marik in anger and frustration. Things were *not* going well at all.

As Marik fumed and rage on by himself, Yami and Yugi rushed over to Sekhmet. Yami called on his strongest magick, and tried to break the spell-bound chains, but was unsuccessful. Then he caught Sekhmet's gaze, and nodded, understanding immediately. The sorceress closed her eyes in concentration as Yami placed a hand over hers, and together with their combined powers, they were able at last to break the spell. Yami pulled Sekhmet onto her feet and into a tight embrace. Yugi smiled up at the two.

Meanwhile, Marik had calmed himself down, regained his self-control. "Pharaoh!" he shouted hoarsely, causing Yami and Sekhmet to jump apart. "You won't get away so easily! We'll finish this in the Shadow Realm!" Black clouds started to form around him.

Yugi hastily took the Millennium Puzzle off from around his neck and shoved it into Yami's hands. He would need it in the Shadow Realm. Yami took the Puzzle with a nod of thanks, then quickly shoved both Yugi and Sekhmet out of the way of the black-purplish clouds heading their way.

"Hey!" Sekhmet cried out, startled.

"I'm sorry, love. But I don't want you to get hurt…This is my battle alone." Then the dark clouds devoured him, taking him and Marik to the Shadow Realm.

Sekhmet stared at the dark mass in front of her. No, Yami was wrong. This battle was not his alone. Ishizu had said only that the true Pharaoh could stop Marik, but she never had mentioned anything about getting some "help". Sekhmet just needed to figure out how to reach Yami while he was in the Shadow Realm…

Yugi too was thinking of how to help. Then he slapped himself on the forehead, shouting, "Of course!"

"What?" Sekhmet asked, confused by his sudden outburst.

"I can be so stupid sometimes. Back at Duelist Kingdom, when Yami and I were trapped in the Shadow Realm in our duel with Pegasus, my friends were still able to reach and help us. Their bonds of friendship were strong enough to even surpass the barriers of the Shadow Realm. Now I think *our* bonds with Yami should be strong enough to reach him, just as my friends had reached us. It's worth a try!"

Sekhmet nodded, understanding. "Yes. And if I'm not mistaken, then Yami and Marik are having a battle of magickal energies. To see whose magick is strongest." [A/N: Kinda like the battle of Pegasus and Bakura, when Pegasus lost his Eye.]

"So how can we help Yami then?"

"By sending our strength to him."

Yugi looked at her skeptically. "But I don't have any magick powers of my own."

Sekhmet smiled. "You have your own kind of magick, Yugi. And it is very powerful indeed. I can sense it quite clearly."

Yugi smiled. "Really? Okay then, if you say so. I'm ready to help Yami!"

The sorceress took Yugi's hand in her own, and they both closed their eyes. Focusing their energies towards Yami, Sekhmet chanted these words: "By the power of the stars, channel our strength to Yami. Give Yami the strength he needs. If we are weak, then let Yami be strong. Give Yami our strength."

She repeated these words over and over, and soon, Yugi joined in as well, saying them with her. As they continued chanting softly, both began to feel the effects of the spell on them. Soon, they were forced onto their knees from the weakness. The spell not only lent Yami their magickal energies, but their life energies as well. But still they kept chanting, determined to keep helping Yami.

After what seemed like an eternity, at last Sekhmet and Yugi felt a change from within the Shadow Realm. Within minutes, the dark mass before them started to fade away, revealing two figures. One was kneeling on the ground, the other standing with his hands on his knees, bent over. Both were breathing hard. Sekhmet and Yugi stopped their chanting, both tired from the spell's effects. They stared at the figure still standing, his back towards them. "Yami?" Sekhmet whispered as she struggled to get to her feet.

The black clouds at last departed completely, and the figure stood straight and turned towards them, a tired smile on his face. Sekhmet smiled back as she rushed over to embrace him. He had won! The world was once again safe.

"Yami!" came a happy cry from behind them. They both turned as Yugi scrambled to his feet and ran over to them. Sekhmet stepped back a little so that Yugi could give Yami a hug as well. "You did it, Yami!" he shouted happily. "You beat Marik and saved the world!"

"No, Yugi. *WE* saved the world. The three of us. Together."

A low groan interrupted their happy reunion. Sekhmet gazed at the boy kneeling on the floor, his head buried in his hands. "How can it be?" he was murmuring softly, mostly to himself. But in the quiet of the room, all could hear him. "*I* should be Pharaoh! I deserve it! I should rule the world!" He paused, sighing heavily. "But I've lost. *He* was more powerful than I. All the work, all the planning, all for nothing! I've failed in my quest!"

Though she wasn't sure why, Sekhmet was beginning to feel…pity for the boy. So much hatred, anger, and hurt in him. No one should have to live like that. No one *deserved* to live like that. It was time for the suffering to end. Having made up her mind, Sekhmet began to walk slowly towards Marik. His battle with Yami must have weakened him greatly, but still she was cautious.

"Sekhmet, what are you doing?" asked Yugi curiously.

"Helping a tortured soul find some peace." Sekhmet reached Marik and knelt down beside him. "Marik?" she asked softly.

Cold, dull eyes stared out at her. "What do you want?" he asked, obviously irritated.

"If you wish, to help.

An eyebrow raised in surprise, but was quickly replaced by the dull glare. "No one can help me…" Marik muttered.

Sekhmet decided to try once more. "I'm picking up waves of discord, anger, hatred…I can help…suppress those feelings. Make them less present."

Marik just continued to staring at her. "Why would you want to help me? After all I've done to you and the Pharaoh?"

Sekhmet shrugged. "Does it matter my reasons? Or would you rather live the rest of your life miserable, in regret?" She was getting a bit tired of his stubbornness.

Marik frowned, considering her offer. "Fine," he said after a moment. "Go ahead then."

They sat cross-legged, facing each other. But before they could begin, Yami walked up and knelt beside Sekhmet. "Love, are you sure about this?"

Sekhmet smiled at his concern. "Yes. Don't worry. I'll be fine. I should have enough magick left."

The Pharaoh sighed, then stepped back several steps. Yugi came up beside him as Yami pondered this. Why she would *want* to help Marik, he had no idea. She was always wanting to do the "right" thing, and he guessed this was one of them.

The sorceress took a deep breath, then released it slowly. She closed her eyes. "Close your eyes and relax. Breathe deeply. With every breath out, release a negative emotion. With every breath in, take in white light, healing light, soothing and calming light. Feel it enter your fingers, your toes, settle in your stomach, reach up through the crown of your head." As she spoke, her voice became slower, more hypnotic.

This is dumb… Marik thought skeptically. It'll never work! But as they sat there breathing deeply, he began to feel some change…

"I release tension…" Sekhmet murmured under her breath.

Marik repeated it, though still a bit hesitant.

"I release fear and anger." As Marik repeated these words, he felt his body begin to slowly uncoil itself and relax. Is it…working?

"I release uncertainty." Marik could feel himself able to breathe more easily.

"I feel calm."

"Surprisingly…I do too," Marik said with some amazement.

"No, say it," Sekhmet prompted. She smiled slightly.

"Oh right. I feel calm."

"Open your eyes." They both did. "And draw this." Sekhmet drew a straight line, then a triangle at its top, like a small flag. Marik drew it without hesitation. "It's called Thurisaz, the rune for comfort." She re-drew the rune on Marik's forehead as she said, "I feel at peace."

Marik repeated after her, feeling the memories of the past several years slipping away into the distance.

"I am love. I am peace. I am strength."

Marik said these words, feeling well…*peaceful* at last. It had been a long time since he had felt like this. A very long time.

"Here's one more rune for you." She drew it on his forehead, a straight-edged "n" that slanted to one side. "The rune Uraz, for strength, used to create change."

Marik breathed deeply, letting Sekhmet's white magick flood over him. It felt amazing. The hatred he had long since felt for the Pharaoh was no longer there. The anger of being denied his "birthright" gone as well. He was truly at peace. He smiled genuinely for the first time in ages, it seemed. And it felt *good* too…

Sekhmet smiled with a short nod. She got up, though a bit shakily. Yami rushed over to her side to support her. She smiled her thanks at him, then looked back at Marik, who was still sitting looking rather dazed. "Take care of yourself. May the Gods bless you." They turned, ready to head out of the temple.

"Wait."

Yami and Sekhmet turned around and looked at Marik, who was now standing. "Th-Thank you. And…I'm sorry, Pharaoh. Truly sorry. You have my full allegiance now." He paused, thinking. "Please. Let me assist you in getting home." He smiled. "Gwydion taught me about portals."

Yami hesitated.

"You can trust him. He's good now. I can sense it," Sekhmet whispered softly into his ear.

Yami sighed and nodded. "Your help would be much appreciated." He looked at Yugi. "Time to go home, Yugi," he said with a smile.

Yugi smiled in return. "Home sounds great, Yami."

Home… thought Sekhmet as she gazed around the temple once more. I suppose it is "home" now…

Marik used what magick, magick used for good now, that he had left to open a portal to Yugi's living room. The three waved goodbye to Marik as they entered the portal and returned home at long last…

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