Chapter Six: Sorrow

“Anybody else a little creeped out?” Joey asked as they looked around, rock piles everywhere.

“What was that?” Serenity asked as she heard a distant noise.

“A ghost!” Joey screamed as a flock of crows blind-sighted him as they flew off.

“You’re afraid of rocks and birds” Tea stated, wondering why she was friends with him some days.

“Hey, I had a bad experience with birds” he argued, recalling the giant flying chickens he’d been attacked by earlier on.

“You two lovebirds can argue later, we’ve got company!” Tristan yelled as corpses arose from the ground, their skeletal remains numerous in number.

“Launch capsule, Celtic Guardian!”

“Baby Dragon!”

“Thunder Kid!”

“Summon Skull!”

“St. Joan!”

“Tsukuyomi!”

Yami, Joey, Tristan, Gramps, Serenity and Keri called, releasing their monsters while Tea stuck with Serenity for protection.

“There’s too many of them, we need to release more monsters!” Yami shouted, just as Joey flipped over a corpse and released the Flamed Swordsman.

“Keri beneath you!” Tea yelled as a skeletal hand rose up and clenched itself around the younger girl’s ankle.

“Joey, do something!” Serenity told her brother as St. Joan protected her and Tea.

“Kinda busy at the moment!” he called back, both his monsters taking a beating from the corpses.

“Help me!” Keri cried as the hand began to pull her underground, Tsukuyomi preventing anymore from dog piling her.

“Keri!” Yami called, running towards her and tackling her out of the skeleton’s grip; their hands releasing two more monsters who’s capsules were side-by-side.

“It’s Korebo” Yami stated as they got up from the ground.

“Element Valkyrie” Keri awed, temporarily forgetting who saved her again.

“Now we have two more monsters to kick some kister” Gramps cheered as the two went to work, helping to destroy the last of the corpses.

“Let’s go, we haven’t got much time” Keri stated, running towards and up the stairs that led to the fortress as fast as she could.

“Slow down would ya!” Tristan called from behind her as the other six ran in a group.

‘I can’t; I knew the price of saving Yami but I didn’t know it would hurt so much’ she thought and picked up her pace until she reached the landing where she aloud herself to breathe.

“Have you…ever…thought about…competing…in a…triathlon?” Joey asked as the six crumpled at the top of the fortress landing.

‘Too busy saving the world’ she thought, making her way towards the entrance but was stopped by a stone wall rising up from the ground.

“This just isn’t fair” Tea said as the sky began to turn different colours, indicating that the sun would set soon.

“How are we supposed to get inside?” Serenity asked; no door or sign of visible entry present.

“The seven of us can easily push that wall down” Joey replied and Keri moved to watch them try.

“On three; ready and three” Tristan said and she waited, the only thing that happened was Gramps putting his back out.

“Why didn’t you help us?” Joey yelled, angry that Keri had just stood and watched.

“Maybe because I already know how to get inside. There are four statues, each with a glass orb attached to it. If you mimic the statues, the orbs will send a signal saying that you’ve solved the puzzle and to let whomever remains inside” she explained, indicating to the orbs for them to see.

‘That’s strange; it’s almost as though Keri’s already done this before’ Yugi suggested, Yami nodding in agreement of his Hikari’s suspicions.

“We’re not continuing any further until you explain yourself. How can you possibly know the inner workings of this game Keri?” he asked, everyone’s attention solely focused on her.

“I created it” she replied and they looked at her in shocked confusion; unsure if they’d heard her correctly.

“But how? This game’s almost as old as duel monsters” Gramps remarked, Alexander lived 400 years after Yami had.

“I’m not sure how; I just know. Not all of us are blessed with 5,000 years of life, some of us had to wait to be reborn so that we’d all be together” she snapped at them, the voices that had haunted her before had returned shortly after her fight with the Puppet Master and her thoughts were no longer straight.

“Hey! That was uncalled for! What’s wrong with ya?” Joey yelled, defending his best friend from her words.

“It’s alright Joey, I understand what’s going on and I’ll deal with it. But first, let’s get inside before time runs out” Yami interjected and they nodded, all but he and Keri going to mimic the statues; Serenity staying close to Joey.

The gate rose to grant them passage once all four orbs recognized the code and sent it through. The two set off running up the stairs and inside the fortress, neither speaking to the other. Just as they reached the crypt, the floor swallowed the up and they fell into a giant pit and blacked out for a few minutes.

“Now how do we get out?” Yami rhetoricalized, not expecting his companion to answer in her current state. Suddenly, one of Yami’s capsules flashed as the wall started to close in on them; he launched and released the Korebo inside.

“There’s a capsule above, he knows it’ll help” Keri revealed, pointing above them on a ledge.

“What about you? I can’t leave you down here” he argued and she pointed to another capsule opposite the one Korebo flew around. Carefully, they waited until the wall was close enough to push off of before running in synchronization and leaping upwards. They caught the ledges but Yami’s grip loosened and he almost fell, but Korebo gave him a push and he touched the capsule; Keri wasn’t so lucky.

“Shit” she cursed as she swung her feet onto the opposing ledge just as the wall closed in. The capsule was out of her reach and the wall was starting to progress upwards; but now it was more lethal with spikes.

‘Ra, I can’t launch Firebird for help. Here goes nothing’ she thought and flipped her entire body upside-down onto the ledge and pressed her feet against the wall. Lifting her right hand, she touched the capsule before loosing her balance.

“Uh Keri, you can open your eyes now” someone told her and she opened her hazel eyes only to face intense violet ones. For a moment, she felt a cold feeling wash over her; a sense of loss. Then, the sight of her friends in danger replaced that feeling.

“Magical Cross-fire!” Yami and Keri ordered; his Dark Magician and her Magician’s Valkyria creating a cross road that destroyed the statutes that had come to life in their absence.

“Oh Ra, the crypt!” Keri cried as the sky’s hues began to darken as their Magician’s set them down and became capsules. Pushing their limits the duo ran inside and pushed the heavy lid to the crypt open just in time.

“Hey guys, are there supposed to be hieroglyphs on that?” Tea asked as they joined them inside the fortress as a gold armor plate and a gold belt with five purple cats eye spheres, one at the fasten and four hanging down, appeared from the crypt.

“Who cares about that, I wanna know what it says” Joey said, they never could go anywhere without anything happening; why break tradition.

“Champions in gold five tests you must face. Only then shall the power be given to the true warrior of light” Keri translated and suddenly gasped as the belt locked itself around her waist as the armor plate fastened itself to Yami.

‘I don’t want to be a champion, I want to go home’ she thought, trying to pry the belt off of her without any luck.

“Keri you’re going to hurt yourself doing that” Tristan remarked as they watched her fight with it in vain.

“Look you guys, it’s a doorway” Serenity interjected, pointing to the lit passageway out.

“Well then, lets get going” Gramps suggested and they walked through, Keri begrudgingly behind them.

“Great a desert and we’ve no water” she muttered bitterly, she knew from experience they wouldn’t last too long without it.

‘What in the world is wrong with her? It’s like someone else has taken over her personality or something’ Yugi remarked as the teens disembarked across the barren land.

‘Memories of her former life plague her Yugi. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the whispers of voices around her and that’s what causing this twist in persona’ Yami replied, glancing back at Keri, her eyes constantly moving side to side.

‘I’m afraid that’s not all of it; I’m pretty sure there’s more written on the crypt than she translated’ Yugi countered, remembering that her translation was shorter than the actual text.

‘You’re right, I can decipher the rest if you’ll just give me a moment to picture it. Champions in gold five tests you must face. Only then shall the power be given to the warrior of light. A word of caution to the cat’s eye barer- your five tests alone you must face for they are of a secret place. Sorrow my dear, will become your worst fear’ Yami interpreted, wondering what was possibly hurting Keri’s soul. No, her heart.

‘Her heart is aching because she loves someone she can never be with. My mistress cannot stop herself from loving him although logic dictates they will never be’ Valkyria supplied spontaneously, fading as quickly as she appeared.

“Look, it’s a village of some kind” Tea said, spotting white tents just up ahead of them.

“Who in da world would live in a desert?” Joey asked, forgetting that Keri was behind him.

“Moron, where do you think I was born” she growled, knocking the back of his blond head with her fist.

“We’ve been waiting for you. The Elder wishes to see you” a child said as she approached them, a pentagram shaped necklace around her neck.

‘Never a good thing if the Village Elder summons you’ Keri thought, remembering once that the Elder had summoned her after Valon had killed her parents to question her.

As they walked towards the edge of the village, Tea noticed that her spiky haired companion had a troubled expression and every so often, kept glancing over at the Egyptian teen near him. She had a feeling the Pharaoh was slowly becoming attached to Keri and in her heart she knew, Keri would feel the same. In fact, she’d bet her deck that she already did.

“The Elder wants you to have this” the girl said, breaking Tea from her thoughts as Yami was handed a piece of parchment.

“Translation?” Joey asked as he tried to read the hieroglyphs; rolling her eyes, Keri plucked it from his fingers.

“The first of five tests is about to begin, you must destroy the voice that whispers in the wind. The sands of time the voice control, vanquish the evil and remember to duck and roll” she read, quickly glancing at the second half meant foe her alone. ‘Shadows inside the hourglass, turn back each minute passed. Face the night of pain, before onyx sand buries you this day’

“Ha ha ha, turn back Pharaoh” a cold bitter voice laughed as wind blew throughout the tent.

“That must be the voice that whispers in the wind. Lets go” Yami said and they ran outside; but a small hand stopped Keri from following.

“This necklace will help you both” she said and hooked in under Keri’s long hair, letting her depart into a sandstorm.

“Guys where are you?” Serenity called out as they dodged attacks from sand worms and each other.

“Everyone hold your fire! Follow the sounds of someone’s voice and stay together!” Yami ordered, he could barely see his hands, never mind the others.

“But who’s voice do we go to?” Tristan asked as the wind whipped around them, blowing sand everywhere.

“Keri’s, she can sing so her voice is strong enough to carry over the storm!” Serenity called, remembering that during the time they’d spent outside the game, that they’d been idly entertaining themselves.

“Keri do you think you can do it?” Joey yelled over the tornado of wind.

“It’s true, we’re all a little insane…”

1997…

“Valon, son, we don’t want you hanging out with those bikers any longer” Mr. Tsunki said as he, his wife and daughter brought forth their concerns to him.

”But it’s so clear, now that I’m unchained…”

“You and what army pops? I can do whatever I want” Valon replied uncaring of his parent’s rules.

“Fear is only in our minds, taking over all the time…”

“Brother please, I miss having you around to talk to” she pleaded, trying to get through to him that these bikers weren’t good for him.

“Fear is only in our minds, but it’s taking over all the time…”

“I’m sick of you lot trying to control me life. If you must know what I’ve been up to, just watch the news each night Mum” he laughed, activating his duel system and pulling a card from his deck.

“You poor sweet innocent thing, dry your eyes and testify…”

“Keri, run to the neighbors, go now! Mr. Tsunki yelled and she ran, but she a brilliant green flash stopped her from going any further.

“You know you live to break me, don’t deny sweet sacrifice…”

“Mum, Dad!” she called and ran back into the room, her brother gone.

“One day I’m gonna find your name…”

Screaming, she laid paralyzed until she and her parents were discovered the next day.

2000…

“Fear is only in our minds, it’s taking over all the time. Dry your eyes and testify” she sang, the others around her meaning only Yami was left alone in the storm.

“This is crazy. How’s he supposed to fight if nobody can see?” Tea complained as they tried to spot their spiky haired friend through the blowing sand.

“By flying above the storm! Storm cells expand hundreds of feet in the air, yet above the cells are calm skies!” Keri explained, pointing to the swirling vortex on the land that was attached to a giant super cell of cumulus clouds.

“That’s all well and good, but I don’t think we’ll be able to sprout wings and fly anytime soon” Tristan retorted, doubting that this new information would be any help at all.

“What about Yugi’s weird armor? Do you think maybe it could help?” Serenity asked, but Joey and Tristan shook their heads doubtfully; it was just armor after all.

“Hey wait, where’s Keri go?” Gramps asked as he noticed only four teens instead of five.

“She probably went after the Pharaoh or something. She hasn’t really been herself lately” Tea replied, wondering what was going on with the younger girl.

“When has she ever been herself? I’m not even sure why we hang out with her” Joey remarked and winced as Tea belted him one.

“Joey! She’s our friend, why are you being so mean?” Serenity chastised her brother; he could be so dense some days.

Besides both Yugi and the Pharaoh trust her, what more proof do you need” Gramps interjected, his grandson and his dueling partner had excellent judgement.

Meanwhile…

Keri tried to cover the majority of her face as she tried to find Yami in the storm. She suddenly tripped over something and fell into the sand. Turning, she discovered that it was Yami that she had tripped and fallen over, lying face down in the sand. Swiftly, she rolled him onto his back and pressed her ear to his chest, making sure that he was still breathing.

“You can wake up anytime now” she muttered after assessing that he appeared to be fine, just unconscious for some reason.

“Turn back servant, turn back. The Pharaoh is already lost to the darkness” the voice taunted, laughing as it faded from her ears.

“Liar! You promised me! You’re just as bad as them!” she screamed, pounding her fist onto his chest violently in rage. Even when someone griped her wrists to stop her, she blindly fought them out of anger.

“Keri stop! Bruising me isn’t going to help us any. As soon as this test is over, I want you to tell me what’s going on but first, we need to beat the voice that whispers in the wind” Yami told her, worried at the sight of the pain etched into her eyes.

“If the voice is a monster, they’ll likely be located at the eye of the storm. However, walking inside won’t be easy” she said, avoiding his piercing violet eyes as she tried to help.

“Except we aren’t walking. Someone spoke to me while you were busy trying to beat me up and told me a secret to the armor” he replied, getting up while pulling her with him, “Come forth Dark Magician! Now, Duel Armor!” he called and she watched in amazement as Yami and the Dark Magician fused together, the Magician’s armor and weapon adorning Yami so that he looked like a valiant knight about to ride into battle. Again she felt the cold feeling of loss sweep over her as she gazed at him in this new form.

‘I wonder if I could do that, would I look more beautiful in his eyes?’ she thought, momentarily forgetting that they could never be.

‘Keri your beauty has always been the same; he sees you for who you are. As to the Pharaoh’s ability to use Duel Armor, yours is called Duel Souls’ Dark Magician’s voice called out to her through the darkness, letting her go back into the light.

“Ready?” Yami asked and she grinned and called forth Magician’s Valkyria.

“Activate Duel Souls!” she ordered and all five cats eyes lit up as she and Magician’s Valkyria merged as one. Yami couldn’t help but stare as blue armor adorned the girl in front of him, her long brown hair cascading down her back as her Millennium Flower became part of her headdress that sat a top her head. Semi-transparent blue wings nestled themselves between her shoulder blades as knee-high boots appeared to leave only the skin between them and the mid-thigh length skirt exposed along with her midriff, neckline and the space between her shoulder guards and elbow length gloves.

“Now I’m ready” she replied and the duo flew towards the swirling mass of sand ahead of them.

Elsewhere…

Cold blue eyes opened suddenly as the owner awoke with a start. Seto Kaiba stared into the inky black room, his mind spinning from what he’d seen despite his non-belief in it. Even so, he knew he felt a strong attachment to Keri and it was becoming something that he could no longer ignore. He needed to find her, needed to see for himself that she was safe and the only way to do that, was to go to India in person.

Game…

“Look Yami, it’s the bitch trying to scare us away. Must be related to the Wicked Witch of the West with that skin colour” Keri remarked as they broke through to the eye of the storm where a witch sat on a broomstick.

“Alright voice of the whispering winds your days are numbered” Yami said, trying to ignore Keri’s acute way with words.

“Behind you!” she called, pulling Yami with her as she moved to the right as a sand worm fired at them. They were quickly surrounded by the Witch’s sand worms and almost as quickly as they appeared, the duo destroyed them.

“Now I will silence your voice and stop your evil ways!” Yami declared, destroying the witch.

As the storm diminished, the duo grinned to each other as Joey, Tea, Tristan, Serenity and Gramps came running over to them.

“Dude, what’s with the weird get up?” Tristan teased as the five surveyed the purple armor Yami wore, not really noting Keri’s blue armor since she was too busy trying to locate the village a few feet away.

“I think it suits him Tristan and besides, he’s not the only one. It’s a matching set” Serenity pointed out, seeing the blue armor Keri had on from her perpetual vision.

“What ya lookin’ for over there anyway?” Joey asked as both their armor vanished back into the belt and plate.

“The village, it’s gone” she replied, staring out into vast desert sands where the village had been.

“Hey, one of the blue gems on the necklace just turned red” Tea announced as a door suddenly appeared behind Keri; rising from the sand.

“One down, four to go” she replied, ushering them through the open door to the next level. As they passed through to the other side of the doorway, blinding light filled their vision.

Shielding her eyes, Keri noted the clouds around them and immediately determined they they were thousands of feet above the ground. A sharp pang in her chest caused her to redirect her attention towards Yami who had collapsed from exhaustion.

“Let’s get him in the shade you guys” Tea instructed, allowing Joey and Tristan to carry him inside a nearby cavern.

“Hey you guys, another parchment” Serenity pointed out and the guys quickly snatched it up to try and read it.

“Aw man, we just can’t catch a break” Tristan whined and tossed it to Keri to decipher.

“The challenge of light and shadow begins inside the valley of light. Be wary of the high sun for it gives untold power. Defeat the obelisk to earn your wings” she read in the light of the sun where she could better see the hieroglyphs.

“Let’s go guys, this is one fight we can do for Yugi while he gets some rest” Joey cheered and all but Keri ran after him and Tristan.

“You’re worried about the Pharaoh aren’t you?” Tea remarked as she lingered outside the cavern entrance.

“You’re not mad are you?” she asked, not sure which personality Tea actually liked.

“Not at all. In fact, I’d say you two were meant for each other” Tea replied with a grin and left, hurrying after the others.

“Once long ago maybe, but I know it’ll never be” she whispered and tore off a piece of her top, soaking it within the cool water before folding it and laying it over Yugi’s forehead. She considered Yami and him lucky enough to sleep through his fight; her’s had yet to begin and her body ached with exhaustion.

‘Cat’s eye barer, search your darkened soul until you find the light within. Let it shine through your desolate heart and fill you with grace’ Closing her eyes as she sat against the wall nearby, she drifted into a meditative state and let her subconscious self search her soul.

If I were a bird than I’d be free, free to leave this misery. Now that I know that you’re around, I’ll slip away without a sound

‘Centuries ago, a young Pharaoh sealed away an ancient evil within his own soul thus restoring peace to Egypt. In the process, he sacrificed the memories of his life, his name, and his love’

Silence sits within my soul, nothing left, nothing left to make it whole. To try again and start anew, to make the change to help me though

‘Many souls where lost during the fight to save Egypt from destruction. The priest Mahad was locked inside his Ka of the Dark Magician while the priest Shada was cursed to forever wait for the Pharaoh’s return. Priest Set’s wife, Kisara, had her Ka stripped from her, killing her and leaving only the Blue-eyes White Dragon behind’

And as the rain begins to fall, casting shadows in the wall. I close my eyes and dare the thunder, break the spell that I’ve been under

‘The soul of the Pharaoh’s love however, was cursed to forever remain alone. Killed during the destruction and being only days away from union, it was reborn during the time of the Pharaoh’s return’

Escape a world they cannot see, all that’s empty lies in me. To try again and start anew, and make the change to help me though

‘Kahara, daughter of Micinea, born in the City of Delphi on the Island of Greece, was destined to become Queen of Egypt and now her cursed soul will never find love’

Makes me want to fly away, no reasons left to make me stay. To quit before I even start, to leave this darkness in my heart

“Her cursed soul is my soul where only darkness lies. The only thing in the world that ever gave her hope was the Pharaoh and even now, 5,000 years later, it’s still Yami” she announced to herself, admitting what she’d know all along. But somehow she felt her challenge wasn’t over; if this was the shadow, where was the light?

Meanwhile…

Violet eyes carefully scanned the hieroglyphs written on the piece of parchment. He came to the same conclusion Keri’s subconscious had moments ago; Joey and the others were only doing a challenge of light while she was only doing a challenge of shadow. Where was their other halves? An idea suddenly struck him and he moved inside the darken cavern and watched as the hieroglyphs changes.

Now a new problem presented itself; who needed help first? Glancing over at Keri’s meditative state, he knew it would not be easy to reach inside her mind even with the Millennium Puzzle and decided to help her first. Joey and the others had each other, Keri had no one to guide her. Clasping her hands in his, he closed his eyes and sought her subconscious form.

“Keri if you can hear me, then follow the sound of my voice” he called through the mist that clouded her mind from his. As things came into view, he felt the loneliness she possessed within her. The pyramids representing her home stood enshrouded in darkness reminding him of her past. Then, he saw something that appeared as though it did not belong within her mind.

A temple, not of Egyptian origins, lit by torches with a statue centered inside it. Compelled by curiosity, he walked forwards and up the steps inside only to find himself gazing up at his own image. No name however, was inscribed anywhere to tell him who he was. Why was the statue inside her mind?

“Yami?” a small voice said and he turned to face the girl he’s been looking for. Fear reflected in her eyes as she noticed he was standing inside something that was supposed to be a secret.

“Keri, the rest of your challenge could only be read in the darkness. It said…”

“I don’t want to know what it said, I’m sick of this game” she interjected, stopping him from telling her the rest.

“How do you expect to get out of this game if you don’t beat the level?” he asked, puzzled by her sudden decision to stop fighting.

“It’s only the second level and already I’ve been torn apart inside with enough pain to last me decades. I can’t do this; your tests are based on strength and skill but mine…I just can’t do them” she replied, words failing her as she tied to explain what was wrong.

“Keri, I know what the inscription on the crypt says; what is the secret place it talks about?” he inquired, trying to understand why someone so strong couldn’t fight when she needed to.

“My heart” she whispered, her simple answer shedding light on her complex situation. Suddenly, she felt herself violently thrown back into her body as she was expelled from her subconscious. Warmth flooded through her fingers as Yami tightened his hold on them.

“You see, you can make it through these tests” he said and she blinked up at him.

“But how?” she asked, unsure of how she had managed to make it through the test.

“By revealing part of your burden to someone. Keri, you’ve been keeping so many things secret, that they’re starting to eat away at you. You needed to tell someone at least one of them” he explained, hoping she’d tell him about the temple.

“The others!” she exclaimed and stood suddenly, half dragging Yami up with her. She knew he wanted to know more about the things he’d seen while inside her mind, but she wasn’t up to feeling more pain at the moment.

“They’re in the Valley of Light and Joey doesn’t know about the other half of the inscription” Yami replied and they took off running from the cave towards the Valley of Light.

“What’s the missing half that Joey doesn’t know?” she asked as they ran, intent on keeping Yami distracted from anything dealing with her.

“Once he destroys the obelisk, another creature will appear. He mustn’t attack or else we lse the challenge” he explained, fully aware of what she was trying to do.

“Too late” she remarked, indicating to Joey’s order to destroy the monster that had just appeared from the obelisk.

“Come forth, Dark Magician! Activate Duel Armor!” he ordered and merged with the Dark Magician, “Joey, stop!” he called and blocked the Swordsman of Landstar’s attack from the creature that had appeared.

“What gives Yuge?” Joey whinned, he’d hoped to do this without Yugi’s help for once.

“You’ve already won. The last part of the inscription needed to be read in shadow and it stated that: Once the obelisk is destroyed, there’s no need to fight anymore. Strike no against the guardian, show compassion instead” he told them, the armor fading as a chest behind the obelisk opened to reveal seven sets of white wings. Puling them on, the doorway to the third challenge appeared in the clouds.

“Are you positive this is safe” Tea asked, trying not to look down; not that she’d see anything since they were so high up.

“Tea, give me some credit. If it wasn’t safe to do, I wouldn’t have put it in the game” Keri replied, causing confusion and forgotten questions to resurface.

“Then let’s go!” Joey yelled and took off, Tea, Tristan, Gramps and Serenity right behind him, with Keri and Yugi bringing up the rear.