This is the part of the series I remember best, I think. All the suspense building, it's hard not to.
Especially liked the part where Sara found out about Kisara's history - and their similarities. I really loved the dream references in the earlier parts, too, and this conclusion, it's just so understandable, who would believe someone when they tell you that you're reincarnation of their past life's lover? So sue all feelings and go back to what you did before - even if you're still confused and stuff.
Oh, I liked how you slowly revealed Ramesses identity (I forgot to include that in my ranting about the Identity title last review, sry) and how they tried to get Sara into safety and it all crumbled in itself and then the panik, Yugi's understandable inclination not to use the God Cards...
I just kinda wished the series had a bit more Marik/Ryou fluff (I just loved that part in the epilogue!), though I understand that Marik had to have minimal contact for everything to work. The shock that Marik was the enemy... I really hoped he was not because, poor Ryou!, and all and was so relieved that it was all a trick. However you came up with their past connection, it was genius. I never thought about Orichalchos having any lasting connections or some even before the Doma Arc, even though it was older then the MItems, but then again, I never took that Arc seriously... because it doesn't happen in the manga and is not quite agreeable with the story.
So much makes sense after the Main Phase. *grins* Good job well done!

mfG Lolchen

man, RIGHT before you mentioned julius, i had a disjointed thought that monarch was brittish, and sara was brittish, and...
and i didn't have time to finish the thought, cause you brought out the plot twist that NOBODY expected. though, honestly, i should have seen that coming, especially after evan...

HA! saw that coming!

yes. they were each half a soul until they found each other, and made each other whole.

that was beautiful. you are just... incredible. i cried, i really did.

oh, so i WAS right... kinda... halfway. but this is awesome! this is going to be fun!

again with the evilness! you're supposed to think that it's yugi monarch's targeting, but it was really joey!

ya know, i'm supposed to think that marik is a bad guy, but i bet he's not. he better not be anyway...

see, again, you're evil. you go and say something, and people make an assumption, then you go and twist it around like that in a way NOBODY expected... grr.

;D

about bloody TIME!! how did they not notice this until now?

Alright - two points here (and I'm having to remember from having read the end of this fic in the bath last night (printed out - not on the computer - obviously!)). First, The humour from Marik is just fantastic, you make him someone with such a different humour to anyone else in the show and seeing Yugi's reaction to it is just brilliant. Talking of Yugi (and this is point 1b), I really liked how markedly different he is following the Shadow Game with Yami. You make the two personalities very distinct and that works really well.

Second point: I think it's a genius idea to include the complications with Professor Hawkins. It's sad but I do think it introduces a new element to the battle and avoids the complacency of the knowledge that everyone will be fine once the battle's won.

Looking forward to the Battle Phase.

Jen

Oh my God! This is SO well thought out I love it! I mean, talk about planning ahead, it all fits into place! It's perfect! I was sitting reading this with hubby in the room and he had to tell me to stop making stupid gasping noises! Heh heh. All I can say is: SQUE I LUV YR STUFF!

I'm sure I originally had a lot of things to say about this part, but Malik totally stole the show and now I don't remember all of it. I was so happy when it turned out that despite of being used by Ramesses he was actually -scheming-. :) And I think the scene in which "Téa" kisses Bakura has to be my favourite part of the whole story (because I'm swallow and silly like that. But seriously, whee! *g*). And Yugi commenting on how he thought *his* relationship was complicated...
Also, I'm glad that Yami Bakura might show up after all. Kind of. Not really. It's true that if anyone knows how insane Ramesses' whole plan, and his whining about the shadow realms and the items being lost is, it's the Thief King.

Maybe I shouldn't comment on the Yami-Yugi relationship again until I finish this, but I love how it's been resolved; I didn't really realise how much of the wrongness that seemed to still linger was due to Yugi still not entirely having come to terms with the situation himself, because he seemed to think he has. It's nice that he's really -whole- this time, rather than shifting from Yugi-mode to pharaoh-mode and back. Also, so glad he got to meet Atem. That part was so very cute. (Doesn't his plan mean they'll have to mummify Yugi when -he- dies? Because that would be weird... Looking forward to seeing what Seto will do about the High Priest.)

And Kaiba is coming to save Sara! And he says he doesn't have a hero-complex :D From that point of view, maybe it was a good thing she got kidnapped, because else it would have taken more work to get him to help...

The one I'm really worried for is Rebecca.

No! Dr. Hawkins? So that’s what he was trying to tell her. Oh. Man. That’s really sad. Oh. It is almost odd how something so, I guess, normal in comparison to what has been happening to the group is so much more devastating that getting sent to the shadow realm. Even magic probably won’t be able to turn that around. Guess I’m going to have to start preparing myself that the ending could very not be all kittens and rainbows. Dr. Hawkins isn’t the only one they could lose and it would still fit very well in the story.

It *was* him! Julius and Paradias. Oh that devious, devious man.

Goodness, can this plot get any thicker? (I mean that in the best way possible ^^I really like how it keeps me guessing) My mind is still boggling over Atem's conversation with Yugi, orichalcos stones in the Tombkeepers crypt, Marik trying to get Bakura to accept his own power.

Glad you added that part about Bakura b/c I've been thinking about him what with everyone else re-experiencing events from Battle City. I thought he and Marik had a shadow game, but for the life of me I can't remember what happened. Wonder how that will come into play...

*cue heart beat music* And now things really begin to heat up. I can't wait for the next part, your writing has an addictive quality to it. Keep writing!