Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Love of a Priestess ❯ Dragons and Earrings ( Chapter 41 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: HOLY GUACAMOLE!!! Yes, I am alive, and yes, I'm terribly sorry for worrying you. I know I haven't posted since June… bad authoress, bad. I don't really know what happened to me during the summer. I thought I would have more time, which I did, I just didn't spend it working on LP. I ended up starting a lot of other writing and personal projects, and then after Anime Expo I didn't write anything for about two and a half weeks… But enough of my apologies. The important thing is that you have a new chapter.

I'm sorry if the chapter is weird; it started out with me forcing myself to write something, anything, so the beginning is really like “EH?”

Thank you AMK and Jenny_Galaxie for your reviews and love!

Chapter 41: Dragons and Earrings

The next few weeks were probably the most trying in recent memory. I couldn't sleep, for fear of opening myself to visions. I couldn't Channel with Yami, for fear that he would find out what had happened with Mai. I should have told them, should have warned them, should have taken responsibility for what I had done. But I couldn't. How could I tell them that I had handed Mai to the darkness?

They say hindsight is 20/20. They weren't lying.

I tried to maintain a façade of normalcy. I was learning the art of impressions and walls from Kaiba—he was a master, and I his silent student. I watched him, carefully mimicking his actions and attitudes. Soon, I was able to keep up the pretense of the being the happy, energetic woman I had once been. But inside, I was a nervous wreck.

I couldn't hide it forever. And indeed, they were the ones who found out first. I hadn't been to see them in ages; I was confused and didn't know what to do or who to turn to. They were the ones who came to me, “dropping by” for a “casual visit” one day to the mansion as I paced its hallways. The butler called me into the room I had designated as my “study”—the room where I went when I needed to be alone, the room I had slowly begun to stock with books and music and paintings in order to make it more my own. They were seated beside each other in the plush armchairs across from the loveseat, all arranged around a low glass coffee table. I slowly eased myself down onto the couch and tried to avoid their eyes.

“Look at me,” she commanded, and I knew that as soon as I looked up they would know.

“Please,” he added. Sighing heavily, I looked up and met his eyes. I heard her gasp but did not turn to look. He studied me for a moment, then nodded and broke the gaze. Relieved, I looked back down.

“You can't let this worry you so much,” she began, more practically than tactfully.

“How can I not let this worry me?” I exploded angrily, head snapping up and body leaning instinctively towards them in confrontation. “And how do you know what I'm worried about anyway?” I demanded petulantly.

He leaned over and placed a hand over mind, rubbing the back of it comfortingly. “We already had some similar information, and after that it was just a matter of guesswork. When you looked at me, you opened yourself just enough to let me know what was wrong.” I nodded and forced myself to relax. He never seemed to irritate me; by contrast, he always seemed to know what to do or say that would make me feel better.

“The only way you can continue your training is if you don't allow what happened to Mai to interfere.”

“No,” he said darkly, eyes never leaving me. “I think it's better… that you remember what happened to her. Let that be why you train, why you become stronger, why you fight. This has never happened before, has it?” he asked softly. “In all the times you've tried to end this… she's never appeared, has she?”

“No,” I replied shakily. “Never. None of them have, actually. Just the three.” He nodded slowly, thoughtfully.

“It means this time is different,” she said, eyes closed slightly and Item glowing with power.

“How so?” I asked.

“I do not know… Perhaps we should take it as a good sign that there are new players?”

“It is all we can do,” he murmured. “I think we should consider it good that it has gone on this long.”

“But how much longer can it go?” I asked. My mind was fuzzy, foggy, refusing to let me see my own memories—memories I'd lived, memories I should have known. How had the cycles before this—all those failed ones—gone? How had the Pharaoh and the others appeared? I knew for certain that a character like Mai had never appeared—but what about the man she had joined, and his dark forces? Had they always been part of the process? And when did it usually end? When was the crucial point, where or what was the crux of the problem? When did I start making wrong decisions—and what had those wrong decisions been?

He sighed. “We don't really know. We were handed down these Items to be your guardians—the guardians of your power, of your past and future, and of the secrets passed down through the ages. We know very little. And from the confusion on your face, you remember very little as well.”

“I can see if I can answer some of your questions,” she offered, eyes still closed and gold magic still pulsing faintly around her.

“Okay,” I agreed, and took a deep breath. Where to start… “When does the cycle usually end?”

She paused. “Soon. Very soon. When they engage each other in heated battle with all things on the line, when they both possess their Items and are wielding them at full power, if not full knowledge.”

“Who usually is part of the cycle?”

“You. The Pharaoh. The High Priest. The Pharaoh's friend. A few enemies of minor importance.” Me. Yami. Kaiba. Joey. Minor enemies… did that mean the man that had taken Mai was only a minor enemy, or was he part of what was different?

“The man… who took Mai… is he one of these minor enemies?”

“No. This is his first reincarnation since the beginning.” She was speaking now as if in a trance, and I suspected that if I startled her she would not remember what she had been saying.

“So is he a major enemy?”

“It is the first time he has seen fit to cross over and live again. It is significant.”

“How many times have I failed?”

The question hung between us for several seconds before she answered. “Too many.”

“What,” I asked quietly, dropping my voice to nothing more than a whisper, “have I done wrong?”

“You have not been true,” she answered just as quietly.

“What's that supposed to mean?” I asked, frowning. “Hey, wait!” I cried as the gold light began to fade and her eyes refocused. Within seconds she was looking back at me with those dark, clear eyes, and I knew that she could no more answer my question than I could fly. I sighed heavily and sat back. He looked over at me sympathetically, silently trying to reassure me that the time for my questions to be answered would be soon.

“Did I answer your questions?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Most of them. The most important one, no. But it doesn't surprise me. After all,” I added with a forced laugh, “what fun would it be if I had all the answers?” Neither of them knew how to respond, so they remained silent.

“Where's your brother?” I asked her suddenly.

“At home. The next time you come, we'll begin your training again.”

“All right,” I murmured, noncommittally. I wasn't going to go back for a while… Not until I understood what was going on. Not until I had some idea where to go from here, and some clue as to what had happened in the past.

He seemed to understand my reluctance, because he stood and gestured to her. “We should be going now. You have things to take care of. Just remember,” he said as we walked past me, “Nobody ever said you have to have all the answers before you even start on the question.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you don't need to know everything. Sometimes it's better to just start and find out where you end up. That's all.”

The door clicked shut behind them.

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I rubbed my eyes tiredly, the pads of my fingers working slow circles over the sensitive tissue. I was so tired. I just wanted answers… Despite what he'd said on his way out, what I really craved was the answer to my predicament. A nice roadmap that I could follow out of the forest. That's all. Was that too much to ask of Destiny? It had to be easier than reincarnating me every hundred years or so, however long it was, and watching me stumble and fall and fail again. Surely the gods had had enough of this sick, sadistic joke.

I need you.

You're not a roadmap… I mentally mumbled, cursing my bad luck.

Huh?

I was hoping for a roadmap. I'm tired, and I want to know where I'm going.

Oh. Well… she brightened noticeably. Think of me as a cup of coffee! I can't tell you where to go, but I can keep you awake until you figure it out!

I laughed. Out loud. Worry and fear and frustration had made me hysterical. When I was done and the hysterics had passed, I turned my attention back to the chipper magician.

All right. Where to?

Come with me.

When I opened my eyes, we were in the same chamber as before, where the two other dragons waited patiently for their masters. I drifted down to touch one of them, stroking the crystalline surface along its jaw.

His name is Crineas. His master should be arriving soon. Are you ready to fuse with me?

Within moments, the fusion was complete and Kaiba had arrived to summon Crineas' power.

When he and Mokuba finally returned to the mansion, neither offered any explanation of where they had been or what they had been doing. I didn't ask for one either.

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A few days later I was sitting at the desk in my study reading when the phone rang. When no one answered it after three rings, I reluctantly put my book down and picked up the receiver perched in front of me.

“Hello?”

“I thought you should know… Joey and Mai are Dueling right now.”

I gasped, hands beginning to tremble. “Is she…?”

“She is using the power of the Orichalcos. She has no intention of losing, and Joey seems to have no intention of defeating her.”

I bit my lip, trying to fight the pain building in my chest. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. “No…” I whispered. “This is my fault…”

“Your fault or not, you're the only one who can stop them. Mai is new to the power of the Orichalcos stone; therefore, her Seal is the weakest. You may be able to break it with the power you have now. I should warn you, though, that there are two others with Mai. They have not interfered with the Duel yet, but I cannot say how much longer that will hold.”

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. “Thank you. Where are they?”

--------------

I raced to the building he'd sent me to, driving rather recklessly and praying that the Kaiba Corp. logo printed on the side of the car would protect me. I would've prayed to the gods, but all things indicated that Kaiba Corp. was more reliable. When I reached the tall building I leapt out and ran for the glowing green windows—the green magic was a sure sign of the Orichalcos stone at work.

Two boys had their faces pressed to the window, watching the Duel from the outside. Beyond them I could see Yugi, Tea, and Tristan anxiously watching Joey's Duel from the sidelines. I didn't dare look directly at Joey or Mai, one intent on destroying the other. Instead, I looked for Mai's two companions—Valon and a big man I didn't recognize. They were lurking on a balcony overhead, Valon curious and the other man disinterested. Good. As long as they weren't paying attention to me.

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to calm every nerve in my body. When I felt relaxed and prepared, I closed my eyes and reached for my magic. The gold light flowed easily from its tiny chamber through my body, concentrating itself in the tips of my outstretched fingers. I focused on the source of the green magic coming from Mai, finding it in the tiny green crystal shard at her neck. I was about to whisper to my magic to destroy the Seal when a familiar figure appeared before me.

Don't, she said, placing her hands over my glowing fingers.

Why not? I demanded angrily. If I can break it, I can save Mai and Joey.

Maybe this once. But that doesn't mean Mai will come back, or that she and Joey won't continue to seek each other out. Let me save them this time. Help me? she asked, holding her hand out.

Grudgingly, I let my magic filter back into its chamber, sealing it away until the next time. I reached for her hand and let our fingers interlock, our sign to start the fusion.

Joey took the last dragon, Hermos, from the glass hall. Valon broke the Seal to save Mai, who was in danger of losing to Joey.

They'd been saved this once without my help, but how much longer could others continue to fight for me?

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“I'm going to be busy in the next few weeks,” Kaiba murmured over my shoulder that night in bed. “Okay?”

If I had had food in my mouth—or better yet, liquid—I would've spit it out. Choked and jerked and spit it out all over the place and gotten some up my nose to top it off. Had I just heard Seto Kaiba ask for my permission? Kaiba was becoming less and less like the Kaiba I knew as time went on. It was verging on scary.

“Well, it's your business. I'm not going to stop you if it's important.” Good. A diplomatic answer that didn't reflect my shock. He nodded and snuggled (snuggled! Good gods!) against me. Within minutes, his breathing had evened out and I knew he was sleeping.

I shifted my weight, trying to not wake him but trying to become more comfortable. Just as I'd found my comfortable spot and begun to drift off to sleep…

Come with me.

You're starting to outstay your welcome, like old relatives and in-laws.

I think there's something you want to see. Her face was serious, drawn, tight. Her eyes lacked the usual spark and sparkles, and her body was slumped and relaxed. She wasn't even smiling.

Is something wrong?

No. But… I think you might find some answers. I held out my hand to her, and she took it as my eyes closed. When I opened them, I was back in the hall that had once housed the dragons. Over there. She pointed to one end of it, where a pedestal stood. I'll wait for you here. She stepped aside and turned her back, trying to give me some privacy.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped over to the pedestal and looked down on the items lying atop the pale marble. I gasped as I recognized them: a mismatched pair of earrings, one a ruby drop, the other a shard of pale crystal. She'd been wearing them in my memory, the priestess. What were they doing here? I reached out to touch them, pausing and allowing my hand to hover over them for just a moment. Then, with a moment to strengthen my resolve, I reached down and picked up the jewelry.

The earrings began to glow faintly with power, each one taking on a weak golden glow. The color and intensity strengthened as the moments ticked by, until their light was so bright it was blinding. I instinctively closed my eyes and turned away from the brilliant light. When the light had faded and I was able to open my eyes again, the hall had faded away and left the faded images of memory behind.

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She stood before an altar built of stone, lit lamps casting an eerie glow on the walls. She dropped something onto the altar, then knelt before it to pray. After a few moments she stood and turned around, holding her hand out. It was a stance that resembled the one I used when I called my power to break the Seal. Power began to glow at her fingertips, illuminating them like miniature lamps.

Whispers began to fill the room, her voice and many others, chanting and speaking and singing softly. The power in her hand increased, until a ball of gold power rested in her palm. Then, she carefully turned her hand over, so that her palm with its precious cargo was facing outward. With a barley perceptible flick, she released the magic in her hand. It floated away from her, stopping a few meters from her. Then the light began to increase, shining brighter and brighter until its light filled the room. The soft whispering voices increased in volume as well, reaching a peak as the light did.

Then the light and voices died down again, revealing the creation. A huge dragon, towering over her, head reared and mouth open in a silent roar. He glowed faintly with her magic, a protective gold coating over his sea-green scales. His jaws closed and his head lowered, hovering before her. Without fear she reached out and placed her palm, the very same one from which she'd created the dragon, on his muzzle. He quieted, gazing down into her eyes.

“Serve me well, Timeas.” The dragon spread its wings in acquiescence, then lifted its head again. It stood still, waiting for the next command from the priestess.

She repeated the process until she had three dragons facing her. “Fly true, Crineas,” and “Be strong, Hermos,” she murmured, blessing each of their creations. When they sat before her, tall, powerful, glowing with her magic, she turned back to the altar and whispered her final prayers. Then the magic and whispers faded, leaving her standing unsteadily on the altar steps. The process had tired her; sweat stood out on her brow, and her hands trembled. She'd never used so much magic before…

But there was no time, no time at all. I couldn't dally here anymore. I spread my arms to the dragons and they responded with their keening battle cries.

“Come, my dragons!” I cried. “Use my power to defeat the evil that has befallen this land!” I stepped out towards them, and Timeas lowered his head. I stepped up onto his muzzle, making my way to the back of his neck. I sat there, feeling the comforting, realwarmth of his body beneath mine, his heart beating with mine, my magic pulsing through his veins. Timeas spread his wings and beat them, lifting us off the ground. The other dragons followed suit, stirring the ancient dust of the temple floor. He folded his wings against his body as he raced skyward, straight towards the stone ceiling. A shield appeared before him, helping him break through the age-old stone and protect us from the falling rubble. A look behind told me that the other dragons were mimicking his actions.

We burst through the floor of the now deserted Hall of Kings, careened through the old Temple hallways. Timeas and I were of one mind; he needed no prompting on my part to know where to find his prey. He cried out, and the other dragons responded. They split up, flying in three separate directions. We continued to fly straight ahead, straight into the heart of the darkness surrounding the Palace. As we drew near a bright ball of power formed between his jaws. He released it, breaking through the dark cloud and exposing the ruin below. The pounding behind my temples increased, and I could feel the cold sweat on the back of my neck.

Helooked up at us, pale eyes bright with stolen power and magic. Timeas screeched, and for a moment I felt my own voice join his. The sound from my throat was cut short, though, as I felt a wave of weariness overtake me. No… not yet…

“So, you've come, have you? And I see you've brought friends… But really, did you think that your measly power could defeat me?” His smooth laughter echoed through the darkness, booming through the air so that all could hear him.

I laughed. A high, screaming laugh that held pain and power, love and loss, strength and sadness. I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time—my victory was so close, and yet it was ultimately a defeat… “My power… is enough to crush you,” I cried, and through the evil aura I could sense the light of the dragons. My breath was coming shorter now… I could hardly hold onto Timeas…

“Go, my dragons!” I commanded, summoning the last of my strength, pointing down at him. “Destroy the traitor!”

Three balls of glowing, pulsing, living light glimmered in the dark. They grew stronger and larger… By a silent, unspoken, unbidden cue the dragons released their attacks together, devouring the darkened Palace with their light. Before the cloud of dust could clear I felt myself falling… I had lost the strength to stay upright on Timeas' back. I heard him cry, heard the rush of air as he plummeted to catch me, heard the other dragons beating their wings frantically to find me.

When the dust cleared I cracked open my tired eyes, gazing into Timeas'. I looked around me, grasping and leaning against his leg for support. The Palace had been destroyed by the dragons' blasts, taking every speck of evil with it. I could hardly sense hispresence here now…

You really did think you could get rid of me that easily, didn't you?he chuckled. I shot to attention, ignoring the pain it brought to my weary body. What? How could…

“I don't understand. I had enough power. I used the power yougave me… Why are you still here?”

Because I'm not. Not really. My physical form is gone, I grant you, but I am still here. And yes, I made some miscalculations with your… punishment. I gave you a great deal of power I did not intend to. But still… I had a great deal of fun. What a lovely game! All the pieces are in place, now. The fault is yours, my dear. You let it all go too far. His voice paused in a show of contemplation. I think I'll make one final adjustment to your new piece of jewelry.

“What are you talking about?”

Ah, don't worry, my dear. You'll understand… next time.

Before I could ask him more he'd disappeared completely, evil aura and all. He was nowhere I could sense him. But the heavy weight on my forehead told me he wasn't gone, either. He was still somewhere, laughing at me, laughing at my pathetic attempt to right my wrongs.

“She's in here! The Queen! She's killed the High Priest again! Kill her!” I turned sharply towards the sound, wincing at the soreness in my body. I was so tired… but his words echoed in my mind, and I wondered exactly what he meant.

“Timeas,” I ordered breathlessly, looking up at the beautiful dragon. “Take me… away…” my body felt suddenly heavy, and I slumped forward in unconsciousness.

What felt like moments later I was awakened by a pale light shrouding me. My eyelids fluttered as I tried to take in my surroundings. The dragons were standing protectively over me, shifting restlessly. Glass. We were surrounded by glass, in a glass chamber. Peering out, I saw that just beyond the translucent walls were the priests I had heard earlier. They knew I was in here. They were waiting for me.

I could barely drag my tired body off the ground. Groaning, I did so, and I beckoned for the dragons. They looked confused; they must have been the ones to have put up the barrier to protect me. They wanted to attack the men, but they needed my command. I shook my head at Timeas' questioning look.

“No. I need you… to stay here… for the `next time' he spoke of. Just wait here, for me…” I took a deep breath and called upon the last of my magic. I reached for mine, but I found the well dry. I'd already tapped into the other forbidden powers; I had only my earrings left. Sadly, I removed the last of the jewelry that marked me as Priestess and Queen. I held the jewels in my hand, fighting back the tears.

Wait… wait for me… please… I'm coming, I thought-whispered to them, clutching their gifts in my hand.

With a deep breath, I whispered the spells to unlock the power in the earrings. They glowed faintly, then I felt the magic surge into me. It cloaked me gently, pressing down on my shoulders. I was amazed I could still stand. Usually using forbidden powers sapped energy—energy I did not think I had. I allowed the power to pool in my hands, and then I stretched my fingers out to my creations.

“Wait for your masters here. Wait for those who are worthy to wield your power. When you are needed, awaken. And when I call for you, come to me. Come to your mistress.” Then I closed my eyes, and let the power flow over them. They cried, loud, painful, sad cries as the ice closed over them, freezing them into place. I cried as ice closed over them, silencing their protests, and the glass chamber faded away, taking the dragons with it, exposing me to my hunters.

The power that had kept me upright dissipated, and I slumped to the ground. I prayed that I had done everything I could as cold steel glinting in the light of torches descended upon me. I pleaded for them to wait for me as I felt my blood flow freely from my flesh. And as the darkness finally descended, I cried for all that I had done wrong in this life, promising to right everything in my next life.

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I'd asked for a revelation. I'd asked for something, anything, to tell me what to do next. I'd asked for the missing pieces to the giant puzzle of the past. I'd asked for a lot—I shouldn't have been surprised when nothing came. But they tell you to be careful what you wished for, because you might just get it.

I got it. And when it was over, they were right: I shouldn't ever have asked.

I closed my fingers around the earrings. I whispered a soft prayer and promise to the priestess of so many years ago. Then I turned my back to the pedestal and walked to the other end of the glass hall and the Dark Magician Girl.

Let's go home. She reached out to me, gently squeezing my fingers when they made contact.

The earrings dug into my palm, the smooth ruby and faceted crystal meshed together.