Thank you beautiful people for your reviews Kisa Honda, BronwynSP06, SupGirl95, angiembabe, TheKingInBoots (XD I smiled very stupidly for a while at your review), Torni, Pheonix of Memphis, Anukis-san, Lotus, and Chibisimo.

Am I making another story after this?... I have no idea. I'll think about it.

On to the last chapter! More notes at the end.

Voices came first.

"...lucky. It could have been much worse."

"I'm not sure… too many of the young have died while the old like me live through another war."

She recognized one of them. Gruff with age and wear that had to be Shimon. Whose voice was the second? Isis groaned, doing her best to sit up as sensations returned.

A hand settled on her shoulder.

"Don't get up. Your wounds were pretty severe."

Another voice she recognized. This one surprised her so much her eyes shot open. Her vision swan, compelling her to keep her eyes closed, but she fought the impulse.

"Bakura," she said. "What are you doing here?"

Her vision eventually cleared showing her exactly what she suspected. The ex-spy's warry eyes scanned her. She returned the favor, noting the bloodied bandage around his arm and a nasty burn on his cheek. Both looked painful.

Her own pain reminded her of its existence. She hissed in pain. Her ribs felt as if someone had left hot coals on her skin. She raised a hand to examine the damage, remembering the sword that had pierced her. But as her fingers skimmed the frayed edges of her dress, she couldn't find any broken skin. Just blood and ash.

There was no wound.

Isis was stunned. How can this be? She remembered perfectly the sensation of getting stabbed. The audible cracks as her ribs had broken. How was she alive?

Her searching hand went to her throat by instinct, reaching for the millennium necklace. It would explain what had happened. It would tell her the past.

It wasn't there.

"They got it," said Bakura, his voice bringing her out of her shock. He had noticed her reach for the necklace. "As well as the rod from Shimon. I was barely able to save the two of you."

They. The Rare Hunters. It seemed that even with her sacrifice she had been unable to fulfill her part and keep the items safe. She had expected to feel outrage, frustration or maybe fear. But peace? Why did that wash over her so fully that she felt tension rush out of her body?

The past and future as now clouded to me. My burden is gone.

Isis pushed on her arms, struggling to sit up.

"I told you to stay still," said Bakura with a note of impatience. "You're very weak."

She ignored him, struggling until she had managed to sit up. The world swayed like a riverboat, but she gripped the stone beneath her and stayed upright.

"You came back," said Isis. "Why?"

She couldn't see his face, but she heard him grunt in answer. A very Bakura-like response.

"I think what Bakura is trying to say," said Shimon kindly. "Is that he couldn't abandon us, his friends."

"Or," said Bakura. "I realized that failure here means the end of human existence. But sure, you can chop it up to friendship if it helps you sleep at night old man."

Everything had finally stopped swaying. Isis blinked rapidly, trying to remove the fog from her vision. Then she realized it wasn't her sight. What she saw was reality.

The city had been completely annihilated. Every house, every temple had been destroyed or ruined in some fashion. Entire blocks had been gouged out of the earth, wounding the Egyptian soil as it bled ash and fire. Some areas had been flattened as if some enormous foot had descended from the heavens. She could see it all from her vantage point, which she only now realized was the top of a tall staircase. Isis looked behind her. What she saw stunned her.

It was the Cairo palace. It stood alone, almost completely devoid of damage. Protected. Lines of people were already headed for the inner walls, seeking refuge in the only standing building. They looked dirty, beaten, and bloodied, but also happy. How could they be happy?

"What has happened?" whispered Isis. "I don't understand."

It felt strange to admit it. With her necklace, she had been the first to know. First to understand. Now she felt blind, seeking answers instead of them coming to her.

She felt someone sit next to her. It was Shimon. The vizier looked energized despite the obvious fatigue under his eyes.

"It seems the pharaoh saved us," said Shimon. "He fought the great evil and rebuilt the realities. The corruption is gone forever. I assume he's also the one that healed your mortal wound."

Atem had done this? She still had her other injuries. Cuts and bruises that would heal with time. But the one that would have killed her was gone. Healed completely.

Isis stared at the city, seeing it with new eyes. Seeing what she felt around her.

Hope.

Something had changed. It was as if a darkness she hadn't known existed had been removed from her heart. It felt lighter. Full of hope and possibility. Her fingers skirted her collar, again feeling the absence of the necklace.

Endless possibilities.

Shimon chuckled at her expression, though she had no idea what sort of face she was making. It all just felt incredible. They had won, and the realities had been saved.

"If you're wondering how I know this," said Shimon. "I was visited by a friend."

A Ka materialized before them. It was a male humanoid wearing a green armor. He gripped a long sword in one hand, twin purple marks extending beneath his eyes. Though severe, his expression also conveyed warmth and kindness.

"I do not recognize this Ka," said Isis.

"That's because it's my Ka," said Shimon. "His name is Celtic Guardian."

"Your Ka? But, I thought you never discovered how to summon him?" Shimon had been an enigma, a man without a Ka but strong enough to hold back the chains of Exodia The Forbidden One. It hadn't made sense.

The Ka spoke.

"That is because I was bound to Master Yugi when Master Shimon was reborn," he said. "In his previous life, Master Shimon took in and raised Master Yugi when he first became the Hikari. As a reward for his service, the gods sped up his reincarnation and he was reborn at a much earlier time. Unfortunately, my tie to the Hikari prevented me from returning to Master Shimon's side."

"You were with the Hikari," said Isis. "That is why Shimon was unable to summon you."

Celtic Guardian nodded.

Isis lowered her head into her hands. Her mind swam with everything. Changes. Hope. Death. Despair. Uncertainty. Where did she fit in all of this? Her family was gone. Her life's purpose, taken away by the hunters.

"The Pharaoh," said Isis, not speaking to anyone in particular. "He's alive. He saved us."

"Looks like it," said Bakura. "Hey, are you feeling sick?"

"I am well."

She raised her head, fingers laced beneath her chin as she looked out and took in the world.

"It's strange," she said. "But it's also beautiful. This time. This moment. I have lived so much of my life in the times past and possible futures I've forgotten how to take in the now. To seek each moment and its significance. What we see here now is a moment that should not be hurried over or quickly forgotten. It should be remembered. Celebrated with all its confusion and distress."

She rose, finding within her a sudden burning drive. A desire to live. She would see her family again. All had not been lost. In fact, it was the opposire. it had been saved.

She held out a hand to Shimon.

"Come," she said. "The present requires our attention. We will seek the future when the Pharaoh returns. For now, we have a duty to lead the people in his absence."

Shimon took her hand with an appraising look. He rose beside her.

"Thanks, but no thanks," said Bakura. "I'm done here. As far as I'm concerned I've paid my debt."

Isis smiled. She wasn't surprised.

"Thank you, Bakura, for saving our lives," she said.

Bakura didn't respond. He walked away, his back to them as he raised a hand in farewell. He disappeared into the shadows a moment later. Gone. But maybe not forever. He may return one day, he may not. The uncertainty felt good. Gave her hope.

She walked up the palace steps, Shimon following as they approached the throng of refugees.

The shaking had stopped some time ago. The blasts no longer rang in his ears as he expected death to take him at any moment. Everything was still save the steady drip of blood running down his arms.

Then something else changed. Blue-Eyes. Kisara. He felt her Ka within his soul strengthen. Her corruption vanished.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon surged into life around him. Her wings flung aside the rock and rubble that had trapped both Seto and Serenity. Seto staggered at the sudden release of pressure, crumbling as he slumped to the ground. His chest spasmed with each breath, but they were lessening slowly. The pain was easing. He was alive.

"Serenity?" he croaked. "Serenity!"

His hands fumbled in the rocks, pushing them aside as he fought his fatigue. He heard a cough. A groan. He'd found her.

Arms shaking from the strain, he gathered her in his arm, tugging her free of the death trap. He had to drag her, too weak to fully lift her. It was better than being crushed by the precarious pile they had been under.

Finally, he reached a secure patch of ground. He collapsed, sprawling out as he stared up at the sky.

It was clear.

Past the haze of dust, he could see it. The pale blue eyes of Egypt that gazed down upon them all. Her heart had been restored. He felt it now. Felt the purity of the reality they existed in. They had done it. Yugi and Atem. They had stopped that asshole and the Rare Hunters.

But at what cost?

Karim.

Seto growled, sitting up despite the desire to lay down and sleep. Blue-Eyes laid down beside him so that he could rest his back along her side. He took the moment to catch his breath. Remember all the promises he had made.

Karim, Kisara, Serenity. He really had stuck a bunch of responsivities on himself. He would have felt annoyed- should, in fact, be bothered by the burdens. Maybe something was wrong with him. He was probably so relieved to be alive that duties like taking care of someone else's family didn't seem like such a terrible thing.

It wasn't like he had any blood family anyway. His one recently discovered relative was dead, good riddance. His family had always been made up of other bonds. Other ties that kept him going.

Seto raised a hand to Blue-Eyes patting the great beast's head.

"The corruption is gone," he said. "I can feel that the ties that kept you to this world are no longer present. You could return to your master. Do you wish to go?"

The Ka's feeling poured into him, filling him with her acceptance and desires. He smiled at the thoughts.

"Then we will greet Kisara together when I pass into the afterlife."

The girl beside him stirred.

Seto watched closely as Serenity woke. Her tumble of chestnut hair swayed as she steadied herself against Blue-Eyes. A hand went to her head.

"Careful," said Seto. "Take your time. There is no hurry. The battle is over."

"I can't see," she said. Her hand tugged the strands of hair away from her face. Wide and fearful, her eyes danced around the landscape, not seeing any of it. "I can't see. My eyes… What happened to them?"

Her body trembled. Each shake threatened to send her tumbling back to the ground.

That wouldn't do.

Seto reached out, steadying her against Blue-Eyes. Serenity jumped at his contact, remaining tense under his hands.

"Do not worry," said Seto. "You are not alone. Your sight may return with time."

"But what if it doesn't?" she licked her lips, spitting out the dirt that had rested there. She whipped her mouth with the back of a hand. "What can a blind person accomplish? How can I make up for what I have done? I'll never see Joey again."

Seto's grip on her shoulder tightened. It quelled her fidgeting, which had started to annoy him.

"Stop," said Seto. "Give it time."

"But—"

"Even without your vision, you may learn to see things in a different way. And besides, you have a new family to help you out."

Serenity stopped. Her hand fell limp into her lap as she turned in his general direction, mouth open.

"What are you- are you saying that I..?" she trailed off.

"I think after today, there has been enough death and divine punishment," he said. "The amount of time and manpower it's going to take to rebuild everything will be enormous. The healers will find a use for you."

"But I'll be helpless without you," she said, "Completely dependent. How can that be helpful?"

"For starters, it means you won't get into trouble with another radical group."

Her lips twitched in amusement. Her disbelief was morphing into something new. Something else.

"You're unbelievable," she whispered. Her eyes lowered to her hands as they picked at dirt under her nails. "I wish... I'd found you before all this had happened."

"I don't."

Seto reached up, placing a hand on Blue-Eye's side. "You'd have found a priest too self-important to deal with the problems of a poor stranger. I'd still be a selfish man were it not for the kindness of another soul. If it hadn't been for her. She changed me. Made me into something better."

Serenity smiled. Really smiled. She shifted against Blue-Eyes, getting comfortable about the warm scales. Her cheek rested upon her knee as she peered at him with those newly sightless eyes.

"Can you tell me about her?" said Serenity. "About this woman who changed your life?"

"Maybe another time," said Seto. "There's going to be a lot to do. You're going to be very busy."

"Right."

Seto stood, taking Serenity with him. Despite holding both her hands, she still fumbled from a stray rock. She tightened her grip to stay balanced, browns bunched in concentration.

"Don't let go," said Seto. "It's a long walk to the palace."

"I can manage," said Serenity, chin high in defiance against the challenge. "Lead the way, Priest. I will follow until I can see with my own eyes again."

Slowly, the two of them picked their way through the destruction. Blue-Eyes White Dragon followed their every stumble back to the palace.

Atem stepped out of the portal and onto the earth's soil. He'd been sent back by Anubis in the same space he had left. He recognized the destruction around him, a haze of ash still settling among the ruin. Yugi's soul was light within Atem's hands, still dormant, but not for much longer.

Atem lifted the soul. It shivered and then sparked a thousand flickering lights. They condensed into an outline of a young boy right before him. Yugi. His semi-transparent eyes flickered, a haze lifting as he awoke. The violet in his iris's had dimmed, but they were still vibrant as they focused on him.

"Atem?" he whispered. "What… how are you—"

Shock stunted his words. His hands flew to his chest, peering inward at what lay inside. Without the powers of the Yami, Atem could no longer sense Yugi's emotions. But the overwhelming feelings flowing from Yugi were evident in his every movement. His every action.

He was feeling what it was like to be whole again.

Yugi opened his mouth several times, each instance failing to produce sound. His eyes shone with a vulnerability fragile as glass. So strange that pure light would stun him so. No, not strange. Sad. Because he had always been a being of light but had been forced to take on darkness. What should have sustained him threatened destruction with each crumbling emotion. Lifted of the burdens he had always carried, his soul was overwhelmed, worn out despite its perfect nature.

Eventually, he succeeded in speaking.

"I remember," he said, voice barely a whisper. "My past. My soul. This… this can not be. This has to be a trick of the shadows."

"It's not," said Atem.

Yugi's head jerked toward Atem as if only now remembering he was there. He looked to Atem with a desperation to be proven right. That what he saw and felt was not a dream.

"I went to the Hall of Two Truths and asked the gods to tell me your ruling," said Atem. "When they told me you'd been sent to the darkness, I couldn't accept it. I journeyed into Ammut's mouth and brought you back out to be weighted again against the Scales of Ma'at. This time, your soul weighted true."

"You followed?" said Yugi. A hint of anger peaked through his awe. "How could you do something so foolish? You could have been trapped there. Forever."

The lad was trying to work himself up but he was failing. The light around him shook, but not in rage. With something else. The same peace that still overwhelmed him. His voice trailed away with each word.

"If you'd been stuck because of me... I didn't deserve the risk. I wasn't worth…"

Words finally failed as emotions took over.

"You are worth every risk," said Atem. He'd do it all again even if the result had been different. To save Yugi's soul from endless mystery, Atem was willing to risk his own eternal damnation. Because Yugi had done the same for everyone else.

Yugi swallowed, shaking his head. Then he laughed. It was a breathless, chocked with emotions guffaw but it was also pure. Full of life and brightness of heart. He wiped an arm across his eyes, scrubbing away each line of worry until he revealed a beaming grin. The sight of it… Gods Atem had feared for a time that he'd never see it again.

"I don't believe it," croaked Yugi. "You kept your promise to Heba. To me. You did everything in your power to save me, and you succeeded. I didn't think it could be done."

He rose up slightly in the air, turning in a small circle as he regarded the land. Despite the scenery, an undeniable change had occurred in Egypt. A good one. Though the people would mourn this day in history, they would also acknowledge that a great evil had been removed. And it was all possible because of one soul.

"It's beautiful," said Yugi. "Gods, I wish I could sense it all like I used to. Sorry I left you such a mess."

"It's no more than what you had to endure."

Yugi floated back to the ground, feet causing small tufts of sand to kick up with the little energy his soul put out.

"You know," he said casually. "If you need some help I'm sure the gods could give us a little extra power. Let me stay and help out."

Atem shook his head.

"I didn't bring you back here to use you," said Atem. "I brought you to show you what you've accomplished. To see our success. To set you free from guilt. You've done more than enough for us and I believe it's time you're allowed rest."

He hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. Not for fear of hurting Yugi, but because he wanted Yugi to understand exactly what he was saying.

"This facade… it's not the real you," he said. "Your soul has been healed, but there are pieces of yourself you will now need to reconcile. I had to do the same with myself. I had to find peace before I could save you. Now, it's your turn. To come to terms with what has transpired and find forgiveness within yourself. To rediscover who you are after all that has been done. Afterall, it can't be easy living with only yourself when you're used to thousands sharing your soul."

"It does seem a lot quieter," muttered Yugi. He closed his eyes, head tilted as if he were listening to the wind pass through his hair. "I've heard their voices for so long I'm not sure how I'll handle the silence."

"Who says there has to be silence?"

A seam of light appeared before them. It grew into the outline of double doors. They opened to a space beyond. Atem squinted at the entrance to the afterlife. Just beyond the threshold, he could distinguish different forms. Different faces. He saw thousands of Ka and humans stretching beyond where he could see. At the front, he recognized many of them.

Mahad. Karim. Mana. They were there, smiling silently at Atem as they convened their feelings without words. Atem's heart filled upon seeing their content faces. He'd been afraid of their possible rebuke. Of any blame felt on their part. But their smiles showed no hate.

His gaze connected with Mana. Her expression softened, a distant laugh evident on her lips. Sad, yet proud. Their talk would have to wait.

I will see you all again one day my friends. Wait for me. I have much still left to do here before joining you.

His eyes lingered for a moment on her before focusing on a different form. It was Silent Magician. She stood beside the soul of a young woman with eclectic red hair. Beside her was a young boy holding the happily purring form of Kuriboh. They were smiling.

Waiting for Yugi.

Atem glanced at Yugi. The lad was staring at the entrance once again shocked into disbelief.

"They're waiting for you," said Atem. "To welcome you home."

He didn't respond immediately. Then Yugi did something he'd never done before. He threw his arms around Atem's neck, squeezing him with all the might his little soul could muster. The sensation was so sudden and warm that it took a moment for Atem to respond. He returned the gesture, feeling the light brush of life beneath his hands.

"Thank you, Atem," said Yugi. "For being what this world needed. For being what I needed. It was short, but I'll never forget you or the bond we had. I finally felt whole after I found you. Thank you for making the last part of my life so full."

He pulled away, giving a light laugh when he spotted Atem's face. His thumb brushed Atem's cheek tenderly. Though unable to truly touch, the contact left a trail of warmth.

"No need to cry my king, today is a good day," he lightly teased. "The best day of my existence."

Atem ignored the barb, letting tears stream freely. He cupped Yugi's hand firmly between his two. He wished to seal the feeling of that light into his soul.

"No matter how far apart we become, we will always be connected," said Atem. "In this life or the next ones to come."

"In this life or the next ones to come," echoed Yugi. He placed his other hand atop Atem's, sealing their connection with his own promise. "Then, I'll be waiting for that time."

With a final smile, Yugi walked toward the brilliant light. With each step, his form solidified until he was as tangible as the living. Those that waited were impatient for him to come. Their hands starched and greeted, bursting with joy as Yugi finally arrived and they pulled him into their loving embrace. After centuries of separation, Yugi was finally reunited with his family and those he had helped save.

That happy scene was what Atem last beheld as the doors to the afterlife closed. It disappeared into the sunlight as light peaked out from the clouds.

Atem raised his eyes heavenward.

Nothing was over. The reconstruction of Egypt would take time as much had been lost. The next years would be full of strife as everyone struggled with the changes. But Atem's soul was full, content with the promises of the future. Wounds would heal. Life would flourish. He had hope for all that was to come. Their separation would not last forever.

Atem smiled, basking in the light of the sun.

"Until we meet again, Partner."

The End

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this story.

I would like to give a big thank you to all of those that took the time to review throughout the process. It served as both inspiration and motivation for me to continue and finish. Thank you again for reading.

WARNING: I plan to one day rewrite this story as an original and attempt to publish it. When I do that, I will take down this version. So grab it if you liked it can because it probably won't be up here forever.

Also, last chance to leave a review! If you liked it or if it made you yell, or cry or laugh or anything, please leave a comment! I just hope that you have come to love the characters and story as much as I have.

Here are some author notes about the story and my thought process if you're interested. :)

This story was initially inspired by the songs: Weight by Hands Like Houses, and Crush (for the fight scenes) by The Eden Project.

I wanted an ending reminiscent of the bittersweet farewell Yugi and Atem had at the end of the original series, only with their roles reversed. It was Yugi who finally got to rest after sacrificing himself to protect the world. It was Atem that had to defeat Yugi in order to set him free.

"The victor shouldn't be on his knees."

I had those last three chapters outlined in rock before I even started writing the first one. Yugi was always meant to die and Atem was always meant to save him from the shadows and eternal torment.

I also loved the idea of Yugi and Atem having a relationship where one knew the other in two separate identities. One that he trusted, and another that he didn't. There have been a few fics on this site that play with this dynamic and I wanted to try my hand at it. I have also stated several times that I wanted a close friendship that hit some of the same beats of a romance without romantic feelings. Basically, a bromance. Like their relationship in the anime.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me or leave it in the reviews! I hope you'll go back and reread this story, hopefully enjoying it with fresh eyes now that you know the end and Yugi's motivation through the whole thing. The conversation between Yugi and Atem in 27 will always kill me.

Kay, I think that's more than enough thoughts. Thanks again so much for reading and if you bothered to read my rambling. I'll see you later!

Epic music makes all the feels feel better.

-King of Doors