Note: In this chapter, there are references to Set and Seth. Seth is actually pronounced 'Set-h,' which is how they can tell the difference. Please also note that the magic words and powers used in this chapter are not examples of Ancient Egyptian magic. The spell is my own, and the powers are simply artistic licence.

Ficcu time!

The High Priest barely glanced up from the floor as the doors to the throne room burst open, a smirk crossing his lips as he coolly gazed the length of the massive hall.

"Set!"

"Impressive, Pharaoh," Set smugly replied, not even raising his head to face his foe. "Top marks for the dramatic entrance, I have to admit. Unfortunately, you score nothing for preparation. You have no idea what you're about to come up against."

"Silence!" Yami bellowed, marching into the room, Yugi striding swiftly by his side with Honda and Jou following close behind. "I know exactly what I am up against Set! The greatest heretic this land has ever known, and a man who has condemned himself to an eternity in Duat with Am-heh!" Yami's eyes burned a passionate, hateful glare into the figure sat on the throne before him. "You are a man with no future, with no hope of salvation and with nowhere left to run. Your time has come Set, and it shall be by my hand you fall, I swear it. Stand down now, and I may let you live. Fight me, and you shall find your death."

For the first time, Set stirred, shifting so he sat in an upright position, exaggerating the noble stance Yami would take when he sat on the throne as a way of mocking his challenger. "That's where you're wrong, Pharaoh," he answered coldly, arrogantly. "I think you'll soon find I'm much more than that."

Yami's eyes narrowed. He didn't know what Set meant, but he didn't intend to let it faze him. "I won't listen to your mind games, Set," he growled, stepping closer to the throne. "Stand down now, or you'll face my wrath."

Set glowered distastefully at Yami, a thin sneer crossing his lips. "Take once step closer, Pharaoh," – Set spat this word, as if it left a putrid taste in his mouth – "And you'll face more than just my wrath. You will face the wrath of the gods, a fury that even your pathetic little fuck-puppet couldn't dream of stopping."

"ENOUGH!" Yami roared, his anger flaring as Set referred to Yugi in such a derogatory manner. "I will hear no more from you, Set! Your time is now!"

Set smirked as Yami began to run at him, closing the distance rapidly. "I warned you," he stated flatly, before standing and raising his arms. "Now you shall feel my power."

For but the briefest of moments, Yami could have sworn he saw a huge black shape looming up behind Set. Before he could discern what it was, though, it disappeared as suddenly as it had arrived. The next instant, Yami froze mid-step, his eyes bulging in shock as a piercing whistling noise sliced through his head, grating at his sanity and blocking all his thoughts, his abdominal muscles all clenching and contracting and twisting at the same time. Unable to fight, Yami found himself doubled over in pain, dropping to the floor as he clutched at his head, writhing in agony as his muscles tightened even further.

"Pathetic," Set taunted, beginning to make his way down the steps from the throne. "That is the best you could do?" He continued on his way across the floor to Yami, his smirk widening. "It's such a shame that I should have to waste my power on one so weak."

"Enough, Seth!"

Set turned his attention irritably away from Yami, glaring at Yugi, who was moving swiftly to stand between his lover and the High Priest. "It's not fair that a mortal should fight a god, Seth!" Yugi cried out, blocking the path to the Pharaoh as best as he could. "I challenge you instead!"

Through his wall of pain, Yami caught but a glimpse of what Yugi said. "S... Seth?" he groaned feebly, grimacing as his muscles knotted even more fiercely. "S-so, that's..."

'So he knows...'Seth scowled, glowering at Yugi, his eyes raining hatred upon the smaller God. "Be silent, son-of-Horus," he spat, the dark aura rising behind him once more. "I will slay you as well, if I have to."

"You have no hope, Seth! If my father can defeat you, then I can too!" Yugi declared defiantly, fixing Seth with a determined look. "Good and light will always triumph over your darkness!"

"Wrong!" Seth growled, beginning to bear down on Yugi. "I should have defeated your father! I should be the one the Pharaohs descend from! I would be the ruler of the two lands, if it wasn't for my mother interfering!" (1)

"So that's what this is all about? You can't take your defeat like a man?" Yugi returned, standing his ground. "You lost out and can't take it?" Yugi snorted softly. "That's pathetic. You're making all these people suffer, and you're causing all this hurt, just over a fit of jealousy? What happened to the days when you'd protect Ra's ark from Apep? (2) What happened to the days when people would actually respect you?"

With a bellow of rage, Seth darting forward, striking Yugi across the temple sharply. The boy fell to the floor with a cry of pain, and at once Jou and Honda began to rush forward to his aid. A quick gesture from Seth, however, soon halted any rescue efforts, the two guards being flung backwards like straw in the wind. "I wouldn't get involved, if I were you," Seth growled, not even facing the two. "You've proved useful so far, and that has been what has kept you alive. Don't test me now." Soft groans were all that answered him, and he once more focussed his attention on the small boy before him. "You're even more pathetic than your father," he snorted softly, kicking Yugi harshly in the ribs, sending him rolling across the floor. "At least he put up a fight."

Choking slightly, Yugi pushed himself up to his hands and knees. "You forget, Seth..." he gasped softly. "I have something with me that my father didn't have."

"Oh really?" the God incarnate scoffed. "And what would that be? Your precious Pharaoh? The palace guards?"

A small spark twinkled in Yugi's eye as he replied. "Not just them."

Right on cue, two white-tipped streaks cannoned into Seth, knocking the God sideways with a cry of surprise. The three figures tumbled to the floor in a heap, Seth crying out in pain this time as one of the two bit him, and the two new arrivals swiftly began to try to pin the god down. "I hope you've got a plan Yugi!" Bakura called from under the sleeve of Seth's robe as he grappled with his arm. "I ain't doing this for nothing!"

Climbing up to his feet, Yugi brushed the dirt off his hands, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, allowing his mind to drift into an open, calm state. Trying to ignore all else around him, he made a pyramid shape with his hands, and began quietly chanting.

"An corp lor!"

Seth's eyes flashed wide as he recognised the incantation. 'Banish the darkness!'

"In vas mani lor!"
'Bring forth the light!'

With a bellow of rage, Seth created a forceful aura about him, flinging it out and throwing Bakura and Malik off with it. He turned his attention to Yugi once more, intent on silencing the boy permanently. He hadn't had any idea that Yugi knew that spell.

"Ex vas corp! Rel vas jux-"

Yugi screamed in agony as a bolt of raw energy struck him in the chest, falling over backwards and landing heavily on the floor, gasping. Seth merely smirked, panting slightly from his brief scrap with the two thieves. "Amazing, these mortal bodies," he noted, staring at his hand in admiration. "They channel power so well." Smirking, Seth strode over to Yugi, grabbing his hair and hauling him up onto his knees. "I wonder how many times they can die before they don't come back..."

"You won't find out."

As Seth instinctively turned to see who'd spoken, he felt a fist land solidly on the underside of his chin, his head jerking back with the force before he too toppled roughly to the floor. Yami quickly knelt down and caught Yugi, laying the boy down gently. "Are you okay, my little one?"

Yugi's eyes opened weakly, and he forced a smile. "This is for you, Yami," he murmured, avoiding Yami's question. "I swore I'd show you how much I love you... This battle's for you."

Groaning, Yugi rolled over onto his front, climbing up onto his hands and knees to catch his breath back. Quickly checking the boy was able to take his own weight, Yami stood again, turning to face Seth, who was still on the ground.

"How...?" the god asked, stunned. "How did you escape my spell?"

This time, it was Yami's turn to smirk. "You lost your focus, Seth. Did Yugi scare you a bit too much?"

Seth scowled fiercely at Yami. How dare he mock him? How dare he suggest he'd been scared? Seth couldn't begin to put form to how angry he was, a loud growl emanating from his throat as his only means of venting his rage. "Silence!" he roared, a glow beginning to form round his hand. "I'll settle this now, once and for all!"

Yami's eyes grew wide as he saw Seth's hand coming up, almost as if in slow motion. He felt himself beginning to step back, as if to turn and move out of the way, but he wasn't in control of his body any more. His body was moving of its own will, and he was just a passenger. He felt like his legs were made of lead, and as if the whole world was moving slowly. As he felt his body beginning to turn, he couldn't take his eyes off Seth's hand, which was still slowly rising. He was a dead man. He knew it. Seth wouldn't miss, and he wouldn't be able to take the hit.

Yami felt himself falling.

The next thing Yami was consciously aware of, he was on the floor, his body on top of Yugi's as a shield, and Seth was cursing loudly and holding onto his hand. Looking round the room, Yami saw Bakura stood with his arm outstretched as if he'd just thrown something, looking rather pleased with himself. "Damn it Pharaoh," Bakura growled, a wide grin on his face. "You shouldn't give him chances like that. I might actually miss one day."

Turning his attention back to Seth, Yami stared in muted surprise at the dagger sticking through Seth's hand. How Bakura had managed to react that quickly, he'd never know.

"Yami..."

Yami looked down at Yugi, who he was still gently cradling. "What is it?"

"I have to finish my spell... keep him occupied as long as you all can..."

Studying Yugi's face for a moment, Yami nodded, clambering to his feet and darting straight toward the High Priest. He just prayed Yugi's spell wouldn't take too long.

Yugi pushed himself up so he was in a kneeling position, sat down on his heels, and made the pyramid shape with his hands once more, clearing his mind again and chanting quietly. "An corp lor! In vas mani lor!"

'Banish the darkness! Bring forth the light!'

Seth wrenched the dagger out of his hand, cursing loudly and flinging it aside. He had to stop Yugi at all costs.

"Ex vas corp!"
'Remove this evil!'

Yami charged into Seth, driving his shoulder into Seth's gut, winding the God. With a loud 'oof!' Seth fell back to the floor once more, Yami doing his best to keep him down by any means he could.

"Rel vas jux vas mani!"
'Bring us safety from danger!'

Growling loudly, Seth flooded dark energy through his body, charging it into his fist and ramming it into Yami's stomach. With a loud gasp, eyes bulging, Yami froze where he was, choking loudly, almost doubled up in pain once more. With an irritated growl, Seth shoved the Pharaoh off of him, where he lay choking on the floor, groaning. "Bakura... stop him..."

As Seth stood and looked up, he found himself being pounced on by Bakura and Malik once again.

"Kal nox xen an..."
'Be gone, poisonous beast...'

Crying out in desperation and rage, knowing Yugi didn't have very long to go, Seth tried to fling Bakura and Malik off him. Instead, he found them both clinging to an arm each, their legs wrapped around his, trying to hold him down. "Fools!" he bellowed, charging his body again. "I'll show you!"

"I don't think so!"

Stars swam before Seth's vision as Malik's forehead connected violently with his temple, causing him to crash to the floor again.

"Kal Seth an..."
'Be gone, Seth...'

With a roar of outright fury, Seth flooded and swiftly discharged his body again, causing both thieves to jerk abruptly off of him, their veins feeling as though fire were pumping through them. Clambering to his feet, staggering as he caught his balance, weakened by the amount of energy he was using, Seth glared at the small form knelt not ten cubits from him. "You're mine, Yugi!"

"Kal por mani ylem..."
'Return to your home...'

As Seth prepared to charge another bolt – the final bolt – two faces appeared in his field of vision, one with flaxen-blonde hair and the other with mud-brown hair, a look in their eyes that promised pain. "I don't think so," they both chorused in unison.

All Seth could do in the time he had was stare dumbfounded as two fists rushed simultaneously at his face.

"Ort sanct xen!"
'Trouble us no more!'

A soft white glow filled the space between Yugi's hands, and the boy slowly opened his eyes, the violet orbs sparkling brightly in the radiance as never before. A small smile crossed his lips, and he slowly spread his hands apart, shaping the light into a ball and standing, guiding it slowly up into the air. "It is done..."

Groaning softly, Yami pushed himself up from the floor, groggily lifting his head as he noticed the extra light in the room. His eyes slowly came into focus as he noticed the source. "Yugi..."

The addressed turned to face Yami, and walked carefully across to him, kneeling down beside him. "This is my destiny, Yami..." he whispered gently. "A sacrifice, that you may have your empire back."

Yami's eyes widened, and he sat up quickly, almost toppling back over in his haste, and clutched desperately at Yugi's ragged clothing. "Yugi, don't!"

Without a word, Yugi knelt down again and pressed his lips to Yami's one final, sweet time. "I'll always love you..."

The white glow between Yugi's hands began to spread, and soon filled the room. Unable to help himself, no matter how he fought it, Yami felt himself slowly dropping into a deep sleep.

The last thing he saw was a tear trickle down Yugi's face.

"Pharaoh! Pharaoh!"

Yami felt someone gently shaking him as he came to, blinking softly as the light assailed his eyes. Groaning, he lifted his head from the stone floor, pushing himself halfway up and blearily trying to remember what had happened. "Yugi..." he murmured softly.

Yugi! Yami suddenly pushed himself up, jumping to his feet and staring wildly round the room, looking for his lover. "Yugi! Where are you?" he cried out in a panic.

He felt a pair of hands grip his shoulders, and turned to see the bruised face of his High Priest studying him. "Are you okay, my lord?"

Yami nearly attacked Set there and then, but for the look in his eyes. He was genuinely concerned, and that haunting malice that had been there was gone. "Set...?" he enquired gently. "Is it really you?"

The High Priest nodded, bowing low. "Yugi freed me, my lord," he explained. "Seth possessed me at the execution, and made me watch all the wrongs he inflicted upon everyone ever since that day. I cannot begin to apologise enough for the suffering I have caused you and your people."

"Where is Yugi now?" Yami demanded, looking frantically about the room again. He had to be nearby. He had to be. He had-

"My lord..." Set began, averting his gaze. "...look outside..."

Frowning, Yami ran to the window Bakura and the others were stood by, staring outside in the hope of finding Yugi. Instead, he found a sight almost alien to him. "...rain? Rain in Egypt?"

"It's not rain, my lord..." Set replied regretfully. "Look at the sky."

Hesitantly, afraid of what he might find, Yami slowly looked up, gasping at what he saw. Spinning round, he turned to face Set again. "It rains, but there are no clouds! What's going on?" he demanded.

Again, Set averted his gaze, fumbling with the belt of his robes. "...that's not rain, my lord..." he repeated quietly. "Those are tears. The Gods themselves are crying, my lord."

Set swallowed thickly, his voice suddenly sounding hoarse as he spoke once more. "Yugi is with them again..."

1 – This is a direct reference to the Osiris legend. If you don't know it, go find it out – you'd be amazed at how badly most people misunderstand the Egyptian deities. Like that they aren't immortal or all-powerful, for one.

2 – In early Egyptian legends, Seth used to stand at the front of Ra's ark with a harpoon as it crossed the sky, protecting Ra from the serpent-god Apep. It was only later in the Egyptian reign (at least from the 20th dynasty onward) that Seth became an evil figure.

End

Watch out for part three, coming to a PC near you in the not-too-distant future! Add me to author alerts to get an email for that and all my other updates!

::hides from angry mob:: Please review?