Chapter Text
Judai really hated how things kept not going to plan.
Go into Lilia’s dream and wake him up quickly? Nope.
Pop in and grab Yusaku? Nope.
Not get traumatized by Epel’s and Rook’s dream? Double nope.
Grab Vil without forcing the guy to relive trauma? Nope.
Now grabbing Yugi without any sidequests?
Alas….nope.
And there were mummies…yep. He was not making that up. The darkness took the form of mummies.
“BEGONE, DEMONS!!!!” Sebek yelled as he fought.
“Rude…” Yubel huffed, “Any luck tracking down the others?”
“We were lucky to find Yuu and Grim so quickly…” Silver said as he fought off the horde, “All members of Pomefiore are still missing…”
“How did this become a nightmare?!” Grim cried out from the safety of Yuu’s head, “I thought these were supposed to be good dreams!”
“We’ve already seen how things can get messed up when we get involved…” Yuu was trying to climb the bizarre architecture to not deal with the mummies, “Maybe we triggered a nightmare by accident?”
“....Judai…how likely do you think this scenario is to trigger a bout of PTSD in Yugi?” Silver asked.
“Ummmmmm….it’s possible?” Judai answered. He didn’t know the exact details of what Yugi went through, but he wasn’t going to say no in this case. Honestly…he was not expecting Atem…the freaking PHAROAH…to be in this dream…and there was something odd about him too…But that was put on the backburner due to the aforementioned mummies.
“The dark creatures are one thing, but this…” Sebek gestured to the labyrinth around them, “This is another thing! What sort of imagination is this?!”
“Hey, Judai…didn’t Yugi once mention going inside of that Millennium Puzzle?” Yuu asked, “Said it was an endless labyrinth?”
“HE DID WHAT?!”
Judai ignored Sebek and slapped his forehead, that had been a passing conversation but it made sense! A place where he spent lots of time with Atem and the ultimate defensive measures that would make Yugi feel safe!
“We just need to figure out the path to Yugi…” Yubel scanned the pathways, “Hopefully everyone else thought the same thing and are making their own way there…”
“It’s the best shot we’ve got…” Silver said, “Anyone got a way to track them?”
“Leave it to me!” Ortho chirped, “I detect the presence of Rook and Epel somewhere below us!”
“Doesn’t Rook have that tracker spell?” Grim asked.
“I See You!” Yuu palmed his fist in excitement, “He must have used it on Yugi before things went sideways!”
“Find him…we find Yugi…” Yubel smirked, “Stalker is useful when you need him to be…”
Judai decided he wasn’t going to scold Yubel for the stalker remark as the group jumped down to use gravity as a shortcut, no need to look a gift horse in the mouth.
………………………
Epel was grateful that Rook had an iron grip or else he would be very lost right now.
“These next flights of stairs and then right….” Rook said as they followed his Unique Magic, “We are getting closer…”
“Where do you think we ended up?” Epel asked as they ran, “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Yugi is from a different world!”
“I wish I had questioned some of my previous suspicions regarding Monsieur Joueur’s background…” Rook admitted, “I had found it odd he did not speak of family or his hometown very much…and the fact that his public student record was missing a massive amount of information…”
Rook…not following through on researching someone? Now that was a red flag to Epel. But what could prevent Rook from doing what he does best? Then Epel remembered magic existed, perhaps there was some sort of charm to dissuade people from looking into things too much…but who?
“Just a few hundred meters left…” Rook reported as they took the turn to what was thankfully a straight hallway, Epel was getting tired of stairs.
“Yugi!” Epel called out, “Yugi, answer us! Let us know you’re okay!”
No answer, so Epel tried again.
“YUGI!!! ANSWER ME!!!”
“Who’s there?”
“Almost there!” Rook cried out as they reached the end of the hallway and made the final turn.
Before them was a scene that Epel knew wasn’t a good sight. Yugi stood surrounded by darkness taking the forms of his friends and family from before, no doubt trying to lure him back to sleep. But Yugi’s reaction was…odd. Rather than being taken in by their words, he seemed to be frightened by them.
“Come on…let’s go back to school…”
“We can play all the games you want…”
“We’re never going to separate…”
“I’ll stay…just like you wanted…”
“N-No…” Yugi tried to back away, “I…I…”
“HEY!” Epel yelled to get the copies attention, “Leave him alone! He doesn’t need you fakes!”
Said fakes turned to face Rook and Epel.
“He doesn’t need you…”
“You don’t truly understand him…”
“You’re just replacements until he goes home…”
“I’m afraid you share nothing but lies…” Rook gave them a glare, “We may have not known Monsieur Joueur long…but we know he treasures those he considers friends dearly…no matter how long or short their time together.”
“And you don’t get to decide that stuff for him!” Epel declared, “He’s gonna go with whoever and whenever he wants!”
Epel watched as Yugi stared at them with a confused look, but Epel knew they were slowly getting there with waking him up. Just what would it take to break the illusion?
“You are not needed…”
“THAT’S IT!!!” Epel charged forward, “Brace yerself, Yugi! Cause this ain’t gonna be pretty!”
To that which Epel was referring too…was him shoving his fist and magic pen into one of the dark clones and blowing it up with a fireball.
“Quite a violent display, but with the results I do not disagree…” Rook stepped forward with the bow and arrow that he kept from his dream, “If you do not wish to end up like your compadre…step aside…”
Clearly…the fakes weren’t going to comply. All but one rushed towards Rook and Epel while more began oozing out of the brick work. Epel could take care of the small fry…but the one that hung back with Yugi was going to be trouble.
“Come on, Yugi…” The being tugged at Yugi’s arm, “They mean us harm…we need to go.”
“No!” Yugi broke away, “How do I know you’re real!?”
“Aibou…” Yugi relaxed a bit upon hearing the nickname, “I’m just watching out for you…I’ll keep you safe.”
Epel was about to interject with the fact that Yugi was very much not safe right now and he shouldn’t trust them, but his intervention was not needed when another magical attack rained down, forcing the fake away from Yugi.
“Roi du Poison!” Rook cried out in relief.
Epel looked up and saw Vil on the upper ledge and…..why in tarnation was he with that Atem character?!
………………………………………
“Nice shot.” Atem complimented.
“Thanks…” Vil smirked, “What now, though? It looks like the darkness has taken on your appearance…”
Atem scowled, “You won’t believe how many times I shoved that thing into a closet…it doesn’t want to stay down.”
“Then let’s put it out of its misery…” Vil jumped down with Atem following, using wind magic to cushion their fall.
“Vil!” Epel cried in alarm, “He…”
“He’s the real thing…” Vil reassured Epel and Rook, ignoring their confused looks for now.
“You…” The dark clone scowled, “You are nothing but a reminder of what he lost…”
Atem just let out a huff, “And you are content in drawing him into dreams and falsehoods…are you okay, Yugi?”
Yugi just looked at everyone in confusion, “Just what is going on!?”
“This should clear up some of the confusion…and deal with the rabble…” Atem reached into one of the compartments on his belt and pulled out a card, “Come! My most faithful servant!!!”
Light emerged from the card and wind started to blow around them at intense speeds. The card floated out of Atem’s hand and began growing in size and changing shape until it resembled a person.
“The one who transcended time to fulfill his oath and paragon of loyalty…Dark Magician!!!”
In a brilliant flash of light, whoever Atem had just summoned became clear. A man dressed in purple armor, wielding a long staff with what Vil assumed to be a mage crystal embedded at the top.
“Alright!!!” Judai’s voice came from above, deciding with the help of Yubel with the others right behind him, “Now we’re talking! Is that really you, Atem?”
Atem smiled, “Good to see you again, Judai.”
“Ready to get Yugi back?” Judai asked with a smirk.
Atem returned the smirk, “Gladly…Dark Magician!”
His servant needed no further commands, magic bolts shot out blasting the darkness away and twirls of the staff bashed away those that escaped the first strike.
“Yugi!” Vil called out, “I still don’t understand much about your past, but it’s time to stop dwelling in it! You told me that I am a hero in your story, so are you a hero ready to start your own adventure? Or a tragic hero who refuses to move on!?”
“I…” Yugi looked around him. From Judai and Yubel, to Ortho, Silver and Sebek, to Yuu and Grim, to Epel and Rook, and finally Vil and Atem, “I know….something is missing…I know you…I know I did something that was hard….I know I had to say goodbye…by why can’t I remember it!?”
“Then let me remind you of what I said before I left…” Atem said, “A champion doesn’t belong on his knees…”
The dam broke, Yugi screamed in such a way that chilled Vil to the bone, the dream twisted and distorted, but for some reason refused to break.
“YUGI!” Atem drew another card and threw it to Yugi, “Summon it!”
As if on instinct, Yugi caught the card and held it aloft, “Come! Gandora Dragon of Destruction!”
Vil didn’t have time to question things as a black dragon appeared behind Yugi and the red gems that decorated its body began glowing. Then everything exploded and turned white.
…………………………
Yugi felt a migraine coming on. Just what happened in the past few hours? He remembered going to Lilia’s farewell party…but then Malleus arrived and did something…things were a bit of a blur after that.
Sitting up, he felt the comforting silk robes of his dorm uniform on his arms, but looking around he saw he was in his living room….back home.
“Did I…”
“Yugi!!!!!”
All air left his lungs as he felt Epel, Rook, and Vil tackle him and squeeze him tightly.
“G-Guys?!” Yugi struggled for air, “W-why are you…in my house?”
“Sorry…not real…” Judai sadly said, “Ortho can explain things better…”
“Ortho?” Freeing himself from his friends’ grip, Yugi was able to take stock of who was present. He certainly noticed Ortho, and Silver and Sebek were here as well. Yuu and Grim were standing next to Judai and Yubel…and there was one more…
“Atem…” Yugi whispered, not sure if he was dreaming this, “Is…is that you?”
Atem smiled, “It’s good to see you again…”
“ATEM!!!” Yugi charged forward and tackled Atem in a hug. He couldn't believe it, he was seeing Atem again…and they had time to talk! When Atem saved him from Diva…they only had time for a wordless exchange but now…he had so much he wanted to say…
“Is anybody confused about what just happened or is it just me?” Grim asked the group.
“I’ll admit…even with Judai’s explanation…I feel a little lost.” Silver admitted.
“But…Judai said that a Pharaoh is a king…right?” Sebek asked Silver, “What’s the proper protocol here? Do I bow? Arrange diplomacy talks?”
“You do remember that guy is a spirit, right?” Yuu pointed out, “He’s haunting our dreams.”
“Yeah…how are you here?” Judai asked, “Was there some sort of magic loophole you took advantage of?”
“You’re actually right about that…” Atem said as he untangled Yugi from himself but kept his hands on his shoulders, “Due to sharing a body for so long…our souls are connected so I can come assist…ONLY if Yugi is in incredible danger.”
“So I guess being put into an eternal sleep was close enough to count?” Epel asked.
“Oh beauté!” Rook began waxing poetic, “Never before have I seen such a display of a bond that can transcend the bonds of death!”
“Wait…eternal sleep?” Yugi was still confused, “What exactly is going on?”
“This is my time to shine!” Ortho cheered, “Please watch this video…”