Chapter 86

'Yugi,' the Pharaoh said softly as he and Koyo made their way down the stairs, 'you must be prepared that we might not be welcomed.'

'I know,' the young man thought back. 'But I still need to see him, Pharaoh. He's my best friend.'

"Even their dungeons are nice," Koyo muttered to himself. "The Kaibas…"

Yugi didn't glance back, focused on making his way down the admittedly clean and rather bright stairway. It wasn't a long one, only about 7 steps honestly, but with the way his nerves were working overtime he was worried even that would be enough to send him tripping. It had been hard enough getting permission to do this he didn't want to give Kaiba any reason to revoke their allowance to enter.

The teen sighed. Kaiba had been rather blunt, even for him, about how stupid it was 'to go visit that violent thug when your so-called friend is still in a hospital bed' and how he guessed that 'Wheeler finally proved to everyone what I've always known him to be'. Yugi had wanted so badly to yell at Seto for that, to tell Kaiba that Joey was a great friend and that he would always have his back. But he'd held his tongue, knowing that doing so would have only given Kaiba all the more reason to rethink his decision.

"Thanks for coming with me, Koyo," Yugi said, needing to say something to fill the tense air as he began to lead the way down the long empty hallway. At the very end was a single guard and it all felt so strange and off-putting that Yugi knew if he didn't say SOMETHING he'd probably end up on the floor a quivering wreck.

"No problem," the other teen said. "I get why the others didn't want to come."

Yugi nodded. He and his friends had talked about it and while they all wanted to see Joey they knew that anyone but Yugi and Koyo going would lead to a fight. Tristan might not have been any more friendly with Edwin than the rest of them but he'd gone through Earth-2 with the older man and thus shared that with him. Edwin had helped him escape from being the King of Domino's puppet (and it still weirded out Yugi to think his Grnadpa in that world was the villain!). And there was the fact that with Tristan and Joey disagreements tended to burn rather hot and rather quick.

As for Tea… well, she had all that and Yuri. And she'd admitted to Yugi that her sister had come to see Edwin as the brother she'd never had. He had been for there when she was at her lowest and even though it had been only a week or so she would defend him, knowing that he would defend her. As such Tea would be caught between family and friendship.

Duke was… tricky. Yugi had tried to be as polite about it as possible but the fact was that Duke was everything Joey wasn't, at least in the blond's own mind (not that Joey would admit to that). He came from a loving home while Joey's dad was… well, Yugi knew he wasn't great, despite what Joey tried to do to hide it. Duke did well in school, being on the honor roll, while Joey struggled (though he had gotten better ever since Gramps had begun to mentor him… Joey was looking to bring himself up to a C average next year). Duke was successful and rich while Joey had been poor until he'd won that KaibaCorp drawing. Duke was able to chat with women and get them to hang on his every word and Joey…

Yugi winced.

'A woman is the reason he's down here,' he thought before his eyes had gone wide, startled by that comment and how sexist it could have seemed especially when 'the woman' in question was his friend.

Koyo was simply the best bet of their friends to visit Joey. Though they'd only met the day before Koyo was a nice guy and did seem to care for Joey quite a bit. He would help show Joey he wasn't alone.

'Assuming he's willing to see that,' Yugi thought to himself as they finally came to a stop in front of the guard.

"Kaiba said we could see our friend."

The guard considered them for a moment before nodding. Yugi had just reached for the door when he stated, "Don't tell Mr. Kaiba but I'm less guarding the kid and more protecting him from Mr. Volpe."

"That… might be a good idea," Yugi admitted as he stepped into the room.

It wasn't what he'd been expecting. When Kaiba had gotten his staff to drag Joey away Yugi had assumed he'd end up in some prison. Visions of an old western town's jail had flashed in his mind: the rusty metal bars, a hard bench to lie on, a bucket in the corner for his waste. But instead it was just a conference room with some padded chairs and a computer. There was even some food off to one side; donuts from the looks of them but they did look like they weren't fresh. Still, it was just a conference room.

And there, lying on one of the tables, was Joey.

"Hey Joey," Yugi said softly, walking up to his friend. Joey's good arm was slung over his eye and for a moment Yugi thought he might be asleep.

But then Joey's eyes snapped open and he twisted his head towards Yugi in shock and surprise.

"Yug?" he said before suddenly sitting up. "Yug!" he scooted towards his friend, staring at him with wide eyes. "Ed… how is Ed?"

He hadn't been expecting THAT question.

When he took too long to answer Joey grew pale. "Oh no… oh no oh no!" He swallowed. "Please… please tell me I didn't kill'im-"

"What?!" Yugi exclaimed. "NO! No Joey!" he waved his hands about wildly. "Edwin is fine! The doctors said he'll be up and about by morning!"

"Oh thank god!" Joey said, falling back onto the table with a thud. "I… I was so worried I'd-" He shook his head and fell silent, unable to complete the sentence.

And yet Yugi felt such a sense of relief that his friend had managed to break through his rage and understand that he'd made a mistake and was in the wrong. With Joey that tended to be the biggest issue when it came to his temper: if you couldn't get him to break out of it then he ended up entrenched, refusing to see that he was in the wrong. He would brood and claim that he was the wounded party and that everyone else was in the wrong. That he was able to worry about Edwin… it was a massive weight off his shoulders.

"Yug… be honest," Joey finally said softly, breaking Yugi from his thoughts, "I messed up big time, didn't I?"

"…yeah," Yugi said, even though every instinct screamed at him to let Joey off easy. To assure him that everything was fine and that he hadn't messed up at all. But that wouldn't help in the end. Joey needed to know that he had been in the wrong and that an apology wasn't going to fix things. 'Not this time,' he thought to himself. 'Normally when Joey gets angry and reacts without thinking he is targeting one of us and we are able to work it out pretty quickly. Make a joke, laugh it off, and later on Joey will apologize and that will be that. But this time… this time he went too far. Edwin forgave him for what he said about his mom but this? Joey could have killed him.'

'Edwin might still forgive him,' the Pharaoh stated. 'For all his anger and his threats… I will be the first to admit that Edwin is a forgiving man. One only has to look at Pegasus to see that.'

'Edwin? Yes. Mai and Renard and Yuri?'

His partner mentally grimaced at that. 'Yes.' Edwin would forgive. As odd as it was think of the Guardian Devil couldn't help but forgive people. He reached out, offered hands of friendship. But Mai? Oh, she would hold a grudge. And as for Renard and Yuri it was Edwin's kind nature and his ability TO forgive that would, in turn, cause them to do the opposite and refuse to do so.

"Man… I have no idea how I ended up in this situation!" Joey finally looked at the two. "Yesterday I was in the Battle City finals and was feelin' real good… now I'm out and I am trapped in here and I must have gotten what Mai told me mixed up but that still don't explain why she was grindin' me like that."

Koyo grimaced at that before asked. "Was it… really that great, Joey?"

"Well, at the time it was," he admitted and Yugi saw the young man wince again and wondered what he was missing. "But lyin' here now it just… could I have dreamed it all?" Joey seemed so confused. "Mai ain't never acted like that… not even with Ed. When she was comin' on ta me I… I wasn't thinkin' straight already and then she just grab me and began claimin' all those things about Ed…" Joey trailed off, clutching his head in his hands.

Yugi frowned at that. 'That doesn't sound like Mai and it doesn't sound like Joey either. He doesn't make mistakes like that. He might get deluded about his ability to handle a situation but he's never thought someone was saying one thing when they meant another.'

'It is strange,' The Pharaoh admitted.

"It was like she was a completely different person!" Joey half wailed.

Yugi's eyes went wide.

"Selene."

"Who?" Koyo asked.

Yugi glanced over at the Ghostly form of the Pharaoh, who had appeared beside him looking just as shocked as him.

"I… I think I need to explain something about Mai," he managed to get out.

~MC~MC~MC~

'How?!' Marik thought in shock as his sister placed the card on her duel disc. The device, struggling to handle the power of the card now that it was back in the hand of an Egyptian that knew its true and grand power, began to shake and tremble before azure light exploded from it, so brilliant and bright that it forced Marik to shield his face with his arm, lest he be left blind. 'How did Ishizu managed to reclaim that card?! I thought her to have foolishly given it to Seto Kaiba! Was she truly cunning enough to find a way to allow him to use it without actually transferring control?'

Marik had struggled with that himself when it came to giving his puppet Strings the Egyptian God Card he'd used against Yugi and the Pharaoh. He'd burnt through several Rare Hunters trying to prepare them to hold its raw might and had only managed to get Strings to be able to use it by declaring that he was its new holder, transferring ownership over to him. It was why Marik had hollowed out the mime completely and utterly, leaving nothing of Strings; he would not risk someone else holding the power of the Egyptian God other than himself.

'And yet Ishizu found a way to get Kaiba to think he had become its master when in reality she still held control over it!' Marik seethed as the light rushed into the sky, causing the already darkening night's sky to become all the blacker as the energy began to shoot down around her. 'And now my sister controls the might of Obelisk the Tormentor!'

The blue Egyptian God appeared on the field, towered over Odion and his Gravekeepers, staring at the man with its small dark eyes. Godly energy crackled along its fists as it loomed over Marik and Ishizu's brother and suddenly Marik was struck with the urge to throw himself in front of Odion in order to protect him. He didn't know why… Odion was supposed to be HIS second. His protector. And he had betrayed Marik! He should be dead to him!

And yet…

Odion had already called off his attack, having known it was useless to try and attack Obelisk. After all, Marik himself had drilled it into his mind the power of the Egytpian God Cards were unbeatable. When they arrived on the field a duelist found their existence to no longer matter, The duel was done the cards, just didn't realize it yet.

"I… end my turn," Odion managed to get out, staring up at the form of Obelisk.

Which promptly shattered into thousands of shards.

"Heh," Kaiba said, folding his arms over his chest, his earlier anger leaving him and being replaced with utter smugness; the kind that made Marik want to deck him in the face as it was clear the man was thinking that he was better than them all. "I should have known that you didn't know how to properly control Obelisk the Tormentor. Your little spell card worked well to get him out of the field but if a god card isn't properly summoned to the field it will be destroyed at the end of the turn it was summoned. The Gods only obey the commands of those that have the strength to bring them about properly."

"If you believe that the Egyptian God Cards can be 'commanded' or 'controlled' then you never deserved Obelisk to begin with, Seto Kaiba," Ishizu told him, showing no signs of distress at the loss of Obelisk. "One prays to the gods to heed their wishes. One does not command them. That is why you were never the holder of Obelisk's card."

Marik scoffed at that. "Or perhaps you don't want to admit that you are too weak to truly use Obelisk, dear sister. The Egyptian God Cards are powerful… but the Pharaoh was once able to command them and he was but a man. No different than the rest of us. It takes a will to command them… something you lack."

"The Pharaoh is no man, brother," Ishizu said, her face screwed up in anger. "He is a god in mortal form and will return to the Heavens to dwell with the rest once we release his soul."

"I am quite happy to release it… but it won't be to the Heavens."

Kaiba cut in. "None of us are interested in your little debate about religion. Either continue the duel or get off my blimp."

Ishizu nodded and drew her next card. "Very well then, Kaiba… but be warned that what happens next is on your head. You and Odion if he does not see reason and surrender."

"I must defeat you, sister," Odion rumbled. "For all of our sakes."

"You will try. You will fail. Fate has determined that." She held up her card. "I summon Obelisk's Servant in defense mode."

On the field an Egyptian Priest appeared, wearing dark blue robes with a mask shaped like Obelisk's leering face hiding his own features. He had on heavy metal gauntlets and his robes were studded with gems befitting the servant of the God of the Temples.

"When I summon this card I am able to special summon from my deck two more of my Obelisk's Servants." There was a flash of light and two more of the priests appeared on the field. "I will also set this card face down on the field. And with that I end my turn."

Odion nodded at that. "You have laid a defense, Ishizu. One that I will break down."

"I do not understand you, brother," Ishizu stated as his Gravekeepers attacked and destroyed two of her Servants. "Why do you continue to fight me? Clearly you have seen that our brother is in the wrong… if you merely joined with me together we could return him to the light."

"I do see that what Marik has done is wrong. His careless use of others… I can no longer in good faith stand by his side. I have come to see that all life is precious and that it is wrong of me to dismiss others just so I might have a more comfortable existence." Odion though shook his head. "But that does not mean you are in the right either, my sister."

"Of course it does!" Ishizu proclaimed. "Marik-"

"There is no single right answer. No single wrong. Life… it is far too complex! You see only the light and the dark. I see the gray. The shadows that are just as much the children of the light as they are of the dark. What you have done in the name of your 'justice' and 'protection of the world'? They are just as dark as what our brother has done!"

"You forget yourself, Odion," Ishizu said firmly. "Marik will lead our family again and I am still your elder."

"You have forgotten yourselves," Odion argued. "I remember who I am." He gestured as his scarred face. "I remember the promise I made. To protect you. To love you. To be there for you. I saw the pain you all were suffering from and as I carved into my own flesh I swore I would take that pain on for myself, to lighten your load." He shook his head. "But I will not allow you to continue on like this, Ishizu." He turned towards Marik, who stared at his brother in shock for he had never heard him talk so much in a single moment. "Nor you, brother. I will defeat you both. To protect the innocent. To protest you from yourselves."

"…then you do not understand just how far I am willing to go to save this world, Odion," Ishizu stated, holding up a card. "I use Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your Necrovalley and then activate my downface card: a second copy of Breaking Ruin God, which allows me to once more special summon Obelisk the Tormentor, this time from the graveyard!"

Marik had never held Obelisk the Tormentor. He had managed to claim Ra and Slifer from the First Bank of Cairo but his sister, clearly paranoid by the vision that he and his Rare Hunters would strike the bank, had placed Obelisk someplace else. He had been too focused on his trap for the Pharaoh to pay attention to the duel he'd had with Kaiba against Lumas and Umbra, so he didn't know what Obelisk had done to them. And all records of the strength of the Egyptian God Cards, though in the writings they were known as the Great Dragons of Gods (Winged Dragon of Ra, Sky Dragon of Osiris, and Stone Dragon of Anhur… curse Pegasus for mutilating their named; there was a reason why he felt a connection to the Winged Dragon of Ra), only mentioned their names, for the tombkeepers that were supposed to guard their secrets were long dead. All he knew was that the being forming on his sister's side of the field (who was admittedly rather humanoid but was still a dragon!) had power. Power he didn't understand.

Power he still tried to rapidly figure out as it formed to crush his brother.

'Obelisk's attack is 4000. With all the cards he has stacked on the field, as well as powerups, he can survive a hit and still be able to battle. And when Obelisk is destroyed this turn she will only have her Obelisk's Servant. That means that he just needs to summon another Gravekeeper and he can attack her directly, perhaps even for the win if its powerful enough!'

And yet… his sister's smile, for the first time in ages, frightened him.

"I now summon Kelbek the Ancient Vanguard to the field!" Ishizu thrust out her hand and an odd, robotic looking (yet at the same time far older than any could comprehend) monster appeared on the field. "And I will now sacrifice both Kelbek and Obelisk's Servant to my Egyptian God Card, granting Obelisk the Tormentor their strength so he might destroy everything on your side of the field and then attack you directly!" Ishizu locked eyes with Odion. "Surrender now, brother. There is nothing you can do to prevent your loss now."

"Would you continue down this path if I did?"

"My victory proves I am right."

"Your victory proves you beat me in a card game… nothing more." He shut his eyes and held out his arms. "Do what you must."

Marik waited for his sister to back down.

Waited for her to choose their family.

"You have no idea what I will do to serve my Pharaoh," Ishizu stated coldly. "Obelisk… attack with Fist of Fate."

Marik suddenly found himself moving, rushing towards the field to try and… he didn't know. He honestly didn't know.

What he did know was that Odion disappeared under the might of Obelisk's fist. (Odion-0000)

And when he did… Marik found himself unable to move anymore.

No… all he could do…

…was scream.

~MC~MC~MC~

"…a goddess?"

"Yes."

Koyo stared at Yugi, opened his mouth, only to shut it.

He took a moment to breathe.

"I… want to make sure I understand… all of this." Yugi had TRIED to explain things in as simple of terms as possible but as more and more information had come out he'd been forced to let slip more secrets, cluing Koyo into just how much madness he'd walked into. He first pointed at Yugi, the little ball of sunshine that was also the harbinger of insanity. "That puzzle around your neck houses the soul of a Pharaoh."

"Right."

"And that magic is how Edwin was able to kill the Rare Hunters. Because he holds a Key that can do things like that?"

Joey chimed in. "He calls it jailbreakin'."

"Like a phone," Koyo said numbly. "He jailbroke a mystical item."

"And used it to jailbreak his phone so it gained sentience," Joey added.

Koyo… really decided he didn't want to pick at that scab. "And Edwin isn't really Edwin. He's some guy named Kevin who is from another reality who got dumped in this world. And there are alternate versions of him running around the multiverse."

"As well as his father and brother," Yugi said.

"That one I didn't know," Joey admitted.

"And in one alternate reality Tea, Tristan, and Yuri were attacked by his alternate counterpart who is evil and he used the Millennium Rod… the one Marik, who is apparently a crime boss who was part of a family that served the Pharaoh you share bodies with… to fill their heads with dueling knowledge?"

"Yes but it was VERY unpleasant," Yugi said, as if Koyo was thinking that would be a neat way to increase his dueling skills. As if his Heroes would ever forgive him for taking that kind of shortcut.

"And Mai Valentine, Edwin's girlfriend, is in fact a Greek Moon Goddess who wants to… make Edwin a god and leave us all to die by her Egyptian God Brother who is some God of Evil. Oh, and the one your Pharaoh pal sealed away?" He stared hard at Yugi. "Did I miss anything?"

"No… I think that's it."

"Well, Pegasus used to have the Millennium Eye," Joey said.

What truly worried Koyo was the fact that he knew, deep in his gut, that there were still more secrets. More hidden things that would come bubbling up to the surface. If multiverses and magic and goddesses were the NORMAL secrets…

Joey's smile finally fell as he turned towards Yugi. "You… you honestly think it was that goddess. Selene?"

"I do," Yugi said. "Edwin told me that she's… obsessed with him."

"But why do that then?" Joey asked, confused. "If she wants him-"

"Because she wants him," Koyo said. "And wants no one else to have him. So what better way to drive him towards her than to turn you all against him and him against you?" He shook his head. "Classic gaslighting."

The entire blimp trembled.

"What was that?" Joey whispered just as there was a flare of golden light from Yugi's direction. When Koyo turned he stared in shock at the young man. Though he looked the same… he knew at once something had changed within Yugi. Or rather someone had changed within his form. It was startling to see because he saw that the signs had been there the day before but he'd just… missed them.

"I don't know," the Pharaoh stated, staring upward, "but I have the feeling… something very bad just happened."

~MC~MC~MC~

Brom Bones frowned as he suddenly set the chicken tender he'd been nibbling on down. He'd left the duel to get something to eat, knowing if he remained he would have begun interjecting his thoughts of the Ishtar family and that wasn't wanted. The blimp had trembled and then…

It took him several seconds to realize what it was. An old, familiar feeling. One he'd felt many times, even after his mid-existence crisis had led him to change careers.

'Death Bringers'

~MC~MC~MC~

"Hey guys!" Mokuba said, clearly trying to sound cheerful as he entered into the room, carrying a basket full of wrapped up pastries. "I thought you guys could use something to eat."

"Thank you Mokuba," Yuri said even as the boy came to a stop, staring at Edwin's unconscious form. "He's okay. You hear me? He's okay." She smiled and gently placed a hand on Mokuba's shoulder, guiding him to where the others were seated. "We've seen him go through worse, haven't we?"

"You mean when he was stabbed?" Mokuba asked with all the innocence and bluntness of a child.

"Yeah," Yuri said as she let Mokuba settle in her chair, sitting on the arm rest. She began to pass out the goodies, mostly to keep Mai and Renard focused as she could tell they were both shaken anew by the reminder of that Edwin had nearly died once before. The doctors had been amazing as he didn't even have a scar… but the fact reminded that Edwin had nearly died thanks to Yuri's own father. And she had held him as he had struggled with terror in those moments.

Even before she had joined his little found family… they had been connected.

It was Renard who finally spoke. "He's going to be okay. He's made it through worse, just like you said. And he has all of us now."

"Yeah," Mokuba said, swinging his legs back and forth. "Still scary."

It was.

"Is… is it okay to be mad at Joey but also not want to be mad at him?" Mokuba asked.

"…yeah," Renard said because honestly Yuri wasn't ready to forgive the blond for attacking the man who had, in such a short time, managed to wiggle his way into being her brother.

"Just… get he might have his reasons…"

"Edwin!" Mai exclaimed, Yuri blinking when she realized the whispered words had come from the man lying in front of them. Leaping out of her chair Yuri was right next to Mai, Renard and Mokuba joining them.

"Can't… answer you all at once," Edwin groaned, struggling to speak. "Ugh… what did they… give me?"

"Pain killers," Renard stated. "A lot of pain killers."

"You know… the only time I was ever supposed to be knocked out the dentist decided without telling my folks that they didn't need to. That… sucked."

"I think the pain would be worse," Mai said gently, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead.

"There is that,' Edwin mumbled, eyes growing heavy. "God, I just woke up, why am I sleepy?"

"Healing takes energy," Renard said.

"Yeah, I remember how Recovery Girl's quirk works." His brow furrowed. "Think there is a version of me at UA?"

"Let's chalk that up to the pain meds," Yuri teased lightly, stroking his hand. "Go to sleep, Edwin. Tomorrow is the next round and the doctors said you should be all better but you'll still need your rest."

"Next round?" he said, confused. "Round One is over?"

"About," Mokuba chirped. "Ishizu is taking on Odion right now."

Edwin's eyes snapped open, all traces of sleepiness gone.

"Get my pants," he said.

"Captain?" Renard asked. He grew only more concerned when Edwin struggled to get up, causing the heart monitor to blare when he disconnected it. "Captain!"

"Edwin, lay down!" Yuri ordered.

But Edwin refused and to their shock he suddenly reached into the drawer of the nightstand that was next to him, the Millennium Key appearing on his chest as he pulled out-

"Is that your morpher from your Halloween costume?" Renard asked dumbly.

"Not from my costume," Edwin said darkly before thrusting the golden device into the air. "Its Morphin Time!"

There was a flash of light and the others stared in shock as their friend was suddenly dressed in the Ranger outfit he'd worn during their first Halloween together. A variation of the Red Ranger uniform, he'd told them after that whole thing, only this version, with its cape and more regal design, was 100% his and his alone.

"Thank god that wasn't just filler bullshit!" Edwin said, suddenly sounding energized. "Fucking hell that is a nice kick in the ass!" He leapt to his feet and in his hand a double bladed staff appeared. "Alright, how do I get to the dueling arena?"

"Edwin!" Mai exclaimed, running around him and pressing her hands into his chest. "What is going on?"

"I have to stop that duel and morphing was the best way to heal myself up. Plus I'll probably need the power boost." He tried to get past her but once more Mai moved to prevent him from leaving.

"What. Is. Going. On." she said slowly.

Edwin stared at her and even with the helmet keeping her from seeing his face Yuri got the sense that his gaze had become dramatically sad.

"You have no idea what is coming."

~MC~MC~MC~

The Pharaoh burst out of the stairwell and onto the top of the blimp to find utter pandemonium.

He was vaguely aware of the adults on the blimp, who had clearly decided to watch the duel so that Odion and Ishizu weren't all by themselves for the final match of Round 1, left utterly still at the sight before them.

Odion lay crumbled on the ground, body twisted in angles that came not from rest but from being so quickly knocked unconscious that the body couldn't even fall in a safe and gentle way. And on either side of him, one on the platform and other to the side, were the Ishtar Siblings.

Screaming.

Not in rage. Not in hatred. Not in… well, honestly from the ways their faces were twisting he supposed one could consider them to be in pain but the cries didn't sound like ones of agony. The Pharaoh didn't know how to classify it other than the screams were those of a soul being torn apart even as it tried to stitch itself back together. Something primal. Something ancient. And yet also something so very, very WRONG.

There was movement behind him but he could only dart his eyes to his right and his left, spotting his friends joining him. He'd known that Joey and Koyo were following him but now Tristan and Tea were moving to back him up. Duke as well, looking at the scene before him with ever growing eyes. There was a flash of red and suddenly there was Edwin, wearing the costume he had donned during that horrible Halloween where Yugi had been twisted into something cruel and the Pharaoh had been left trapped in the puzzle, unable to stop his partner from resorting to violence.

There was a flash to his left and Edwin turned his helmeted head, clearly surprised that Duke was now wearing a black suit similar to his own, though more militaristic while Edwin's was regal.

"After two Halloweens?" Duke said, patting his belt and the strange device that hung on it. "I never go anywhere without this puppy."

"Good," Edwin said before focusing on the screaming Ishtar siblings. "Two of them?" he whispered.

"Edwin?" Mai asked.

"It was supposed to be just Marik," he said, his voice shaking slightly as golden energy began to radiate around the two Ishtars. Both Marik and Ishizu were clutching their head, screaming out wildly as they were enveloped by the light that was coming from their Millennium Items. Edwin took a step forward, hand held out before there was a sudden was great surge of power and he thrust out his double-bladed staff, the weapon glowing with the same golden light.

'The Millennium Key,' the Pharaoh thought as his own puzzle pulsed and sent out its own light, joining with Edwin's to shield them all from the blast. The rest of the gathered duelists and witnesses were flung back by the unleashed power. 'Edwin's staff is… acting as a medium for the Millennium Key!'

Normally he would have questioned that. Just like he would have focused on the fact that Mai was so close to them and he wanted to know if she understood just how much trouble the goddess that she could become had caused for them all.

But none of that mattered as the energy released by the Millennium Rod and the Millennium Necklace suddenly stopped and Marik… began to chuckle.

"You know, just when I thought this day couldn't get any more weird," Joey muttered, moving to stand in front of Mai, Yuri, and Tea and it was a testament to what was happening that none of them said a word.

"Captain?" Renard hissed. "What has happened?"

"Marik isn't here anymore," Edwin whispered.

"Oh, but I am, Guardian Devil," Marik said, his voice… odd. Distorted, like more than one person was talking. Deeper too, far more guttural than Marik's higher pitched tones that the Pharaoh had become used it. Not quite like when Marik had taken over the minds of others but… similar. "Or rather… I am Marik unrestrained by that weakling Odion."

He rolled his head forward and the Pharaoh heard several of his friends gasp.

Marik's features had changed. His hair was now far more wildly, forming wild sharp points as if every strand was trying to escape his head. His features looked sharper, like they had been replaced with razor blades. He seemed leaner, his bones almost bursting from his skin which now appeared far too tight for his frame. His eyes were framed with darkness and his smile cold and cruel. Most shocking of all was the symbol of the Millennium Items, the forever open golden eye, blazing upon his forehead.

"I should warn you Pharaoh that I am not the Marik you had come to know. I am far more cruel than him. And soon I will finish what he started and rip your puzzle and all the powers that it provides from little Yugi's corpse. Oh yes… before hand I was willing to let him live, unharmed save for the knowledge that he had failed. But now with Odion no longer around to bind my hatred and my rage I find myself far more motive to make you suffer! I will let you watch as I make him curse your name! Same as with all the rest of your so-called friends."

Suddenly it was as if someone had grabbed onto Marik's face and TUGGED at it, causing it to stretch in an unnatural way from his skull before it snapped back into place.

"For I deserve all I desire… and I desire you to suffer."

"I'd like to see you try!" Tea shouted.

"Oh, are you volunteering?" Marik asked, lifting up the Millennium Rod and pointing it at her. "I wonder… what will you plead for as I tear your mind to shreds? Let's find out, shall we?"

But then… nothing happened.

"Aw," Edwin said, stepping forward, "don't worry Marik, having your rod putter out happens to all men when they get older."

"You… I should have guessed you did this, Devil. You have interfered with much already, haven't you? Meddled with things you do not understand. I wonder how many have suffered because you have stuck your nose where it didn't belong."

But before Edwin could say a word… another voice chimed in, declaring, "You are one to talk, brother."

They had forgotten about Ishizu.

"You had a part to play in this… and I tried to help you return to it. But… I was wrong. I see that now. Yes, the Pharaoh needs the carvings upon your back…"

She slowly lifted her head, a cruel smirk playing on her lips.

"…but you don't need to be BREATHING."

Where Marik's hair had shot out in all directions Ishizu's had also come loose but instead fell down her shoulders before suddenly jutting back up like fish hooks. She'd tossed away her veil, revealing more of her face, allowing them to see her sharp cold eyes as they stared at her brother. She seemed taller but perhaps that was because she held herself with no regrets, the last of her remorse driven away and replaced with the wicked need to do as she pleased. The golden eye blazed on her forehead as she stepped forward, long slender figures reaching down and easily tearing away stripes of fabric so that her dress became far less constrictive. She yanked off the golden adornments of her garment, allowing for the curves of her breasts and the flaring of her hips to be put on full display. She looked at the jewelry with distain, tossing them over the edge and into the night without a second thought. The headband she wore was thrown away as well and she shook her head, the claw-like ends of her mane waving wildly as she did so before she snapped her head back to stare at them all.

"It is so interesting to be able to see at long last," she said. Just like her brother her voice was deeper but where his was a sinister rumble her's was a wicked purr. "I hadn't realized what Odion had done… I doubt very much he had either. His bastardization of my family's ritual created a siphon, pulling away much of the negative emotions I and my brother had been feeling. Preventing us from truly feeling. But now…" she shut her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair, not even noticing (or, perhaps, caring) that the strands were cutting her fingers and palms, sending small droplets of crimson t the ground around her. "Mmmm… I am finally free."

"Glorious, isn't it sister," Marik said only for Ishizu to instantly twist in his direction, her smile gone.

"You think we are now one and the same, brother?" she asked. "No… I serve my Pharaoh. I will help him break you like the mongrel you are. I was wrong to believe I needed you to lead our family… I will do what you and father and all the rest before me could not: I will see our Lord rule again with me at his side." She chuckled, eyes half shut. "You teased me about longing for him… Odion's scarring prevented me from accepting my destiny." She twisted and stared right at the Pharaoh. "You and I will rule side by side, my Pharaoh. You through your blood and birthright, and me by my POWER!"

She thrust out her hands and shadow magic blasted from the cuts on her hands.

"Aw fuck now we have two insane women with god delusions!" Edwin complained. "Let's not double date, Pharaoh."

"Agreed," the Pharaoh stated before stepping forward. "If I am truly your Pharaoh then you will obey me, correct?"

Ishizu though laughed at that. "I serve my Pharaoh and see to his success… but many times that will mean stopping you from harming yourself."

"So much for that," Joey muttered.

"Hmmm… then I suppose we will see which of us is destined to create the world they desire," Marik said. "For neither of us will be happy with the existence the other craves."

"On that we agree, brother," Ishizu said.

Their declarations made… the two walked away.

"…what have I done?" Edwin whispered.

~MC~MC~MC~

Chaosverse Omake 1

"… okay, that about wraps it up. Do you have any questions, Klee?"

The little girl said nothing, brow creased in deep thought and red eyes wet. Miss Jean always scolded her for the trouble she caused, but now she realized why. "Mr. Ed… am I a bad girl?" she croaked out past the lump in her throat. "I didn't know that… that..."

The bespectacled man knelt down from where he was tapping a chalkboard filled with writing and drawings of explosions and skulls. "I know you didn't mean any harm, Klee. I know you're a sweet and kind person. And I won't stop you from becoming stronger." His gaze became serious. "But you can't just throw bombs around willy-nilly. It doesn't just hurt and kill the people you're protecting, but it destroys other people's homes and hurts the land."

Tears dripped from Klee's eyes as she tried to sniff back up the growing mucus in her nose. "I… I just wanted to be like mama..."

The blond man's jaw clenched with barely restrained anger at the mention of Alice. He was disgusted at how wrapped around her finger everyone was, bending over backwards to explain why a mother could not even grace her daughter with a simple "hello" when she was so powerful. But he also knew that Jean, Diluc and Kaeya's familial situations were as messed up and didn't understand or fully grasp how harmful this state of affairs was.

Oh, but he was going to give that woman the tongue-lashing of a lifetime when he would finally met her.

"Sometimes parents can do things that are wrong. The important thing is that you know you shouldn't throw your bombs with so little care."

He clapped his hands and two stone golems arrived, each carrying a crate of safety gear. "And now you're going to learn how to properly handle explosives."

Klee wiped her eyes and nodded determinedly. "Yes Mr. Ed!"

Favonius Knight's PR Manager (and designated Klee Babysiter) and Geo Vision Holder, Edward Kaos

(Thanks to Miki-13 for Guest Writing this Omake!)

~MC~MC~MC~

Chaosverse Omake 2

(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE AND INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE.)

Okay, let's do this one more time.

My name is Chris Chase. Or at least… it is now.

Thanks to a freak accident by a scientist at DaVinciCorp I was brought to Earth 252525. This is a world where time travel is the norm and those lost to history have been given a second chance. Been to London? My Earth has three. There is Modern London, with the newest advances and tech but none of the future stuff other cities have. Steam London is for those that dream of new-yet-old adventures in Merry Ol' England. And of course Classic London, where Jack the Ripper pops up half the time, detectives are all like Sherlock Holmes, and pretty much the entire economy is based around the tourists. Cairo has a thriving Ancient Egypt vibe and Athens still worships the Greek Gods and scientists are coming up with new mutant animals to fulfill your dreams. Amelia Earhart is running for relection and the lost princes of the Tower of London just opened their latest night club.

Me though? I live in New Chaos City, an experimental city where all these different time periods and cultures have been smashed together. Get a slice of pizza from a 500 year old pizzeria and then turn the corner and enjoy a 1920s Broadway play then top it off with a massage in the Little Norway district. Of course having all these different places pressed together means that we get all sorts of strange villains, from the Norse Warrior Ock with his spells that have given him extra octopus tentacles to the flying Aztec Warrior The Vulture to KR4\/3N the Huntroid.

That's where I come in. Because when I'm not working at the New Chaos City Historical Society trying to handle the normal bickering that comes from millions of people who come from thousands of different time periods I protect New Chaos City as the one and only Spider-Chaos.

And right now? Well… I'm dealing with a different kind of asshole.

"Kids?" I called out, looking to the five youths who were staring at me with wide eyes. My boys and girls. "Why don't you go see if Sally has some cookies you can steal, okay?" I pressed my foot down on the neck of the twitching and snarling figure who had just burst in and scared my kids. "Miles G?"

"Yeah, sure thing," Miles G said, taking the hand of five year old Gwen T. while Peter L. lifted up Miles Y, since he was far too little keep up with them, having only recently begun to walk. Ben R. merely nodded to me, the 12 year old shooting a dark glare at my foe before the kids headed out.

"Now then," I said as I looked over the figure, "what kind of Spider are you?"

"You are getting brought in and those kids are going back to their worlds!"

I merely ignored him, studying his suit. I reached down and touched it, instantly getting a mental download of his world and culture. "Ah… cyberpunk. That's always a fun one. Luckily taking down the Glitch Goblin has taught me ALL about dealing with the likes of you. Boop." I fired out a small nanostinger and at once the Spider-Man on the ground began to tremble and shake as his suit painfully resized itself to be far too tight and restrictive. "Alright, let's see here…" The eyes on my mask changed color as I brought up holos, telling me everything the nanostinger was learning about my intruding friend. "Oh. Oh oh oh. I've heard about you." I removed my foot, knowing that there was no need for that. I waved my hand and his suit's mask disappeared, the entire thing now a slave to my own suit; this was why I made sure to mix different tech together and keep them isolated. Not as streamlined but it had its purpose, ensuring if I did get hacked I could simply shut down one part and run with others. And all that conflicting tech did so suit my whole theme, if the garish gold and blue of my outfit wasn't a clue. "Miguel O'Hara."

Spider-Man 2099 glared at me. "You aren't going to get away with this."

"Webby, what does that make the count?"

A small spider droid skittered along the ceiling before lowering itself down. It was bright pink with a black LED screen for a face . "Oh!" she said in a chirper little voice. "That is 299 times this year!"

"Damn, would have been so much more neat if it was an even 300. Knew I should have let Baron Mysterio talk but you know how it is when you are dealing with Nazis…" I tilted my head. "What am I saying, of course you do! After all…" I patted him on the cheek, "you are doing so well becoming one."

"What are you-" he was cut off, his words turning into growls of pain as I told his suit to clench around his balls.

"Now then, let's just make sure I only have to do this once, shall we?" I smirked as I began to dig into his tech. "A one, two, three-"

Webby suddenly fired off a datastream and I turned to see a digital woman in a fur coat cry out as she fell to the ground.

"Naughty naughty!" I exclaimed before grabbing Miguel by the hair and slamming him face down into the floor. Luckily we were at the Historical Society's main office so the cleaning drones could take care of the blood. "Now then, you lie there and squirm like a good little AI while I… ah, there we go." I stood up and smirked as I activated the Holoscanners the HS had set up all over; normally they were used just for giving tours and demonstrations but they could also send out images.

I wondered how much Miguel's little Spider Society was shitting themselves when a 200 foot tall version of myself appeared before them.

"Greetings Spider People!" I called out as the scanners generated a basic layout of the Spider Society's headquarters and yeah, sure enough, there were spiders who were preparing for battle at the sight of me. "I am Spider-Chaos! Now, it seems your fearless leader Miguel O'Hara decided to drop in unannounced during story time and frighten my kids so we get to be all dramatic! He claims I committed a crime… I think he is a fascist asshat. So… let's have a trial, shall we?" I grabbed Miguel by the hair and forced his face up, pleased I hadn't broken his nose as that might make it hard for him to speak. "Okay Miguel… lay it out for everyone what I did that was so terrible. Here is your moment, "Hero", make it count."

I had to give the man credit… he was able to muster up some righteous fury even being tied up and at my mercy. "You are wanted for the kidnapping of five Spiders and the destruction of two universes."

"Ooooo," I said in mock horror. "Now that sounds VERY evil, doesn't it? And let me guess… all of you Spider Folks heard that and didn't bother to ask another question about it because, hey, glorious leader said it so it must be true, right? Well… let's start with the first bit first and swing back to the second. Peter L and Ben R were rescued from their parents who were trying turn them into male versions of the Black Widow through torture. I'm not even going to go INTO the amount of therapy they need, both physical and mental. Miles G was a clone who was going to fall apart if I hadn't brought him here and stabilized him; I tried to take him back but that Miles claimed he was just a monster that deserved to die. Miles Y did see his home destroyed… by a version of Galactus who had been fused with Thanos. He was the only one I was able to get out and that's only because his parents begged me to even as they died from their injuries. Even though he should be in his own room by this point he has separation anxiety and if me or one of his siblings aren't around he won't stop crying." I glared at Miguel. "If my kid as nightmares tonight I am going to make what happens next look like a love tap. Now, Gwen T?"

I narrowed my eyes and looked at Miguel.

"Tell them." When he stubbornly kept his mouth shut I said, "NOT a Spider. Not yet… she'll get the tech and upgrades if she wants. But see Spider-Tot, a spider-man who is only 5 years old, said that Gwen here was his bestest best friend. Miguel here decided that meant she had to die and allowed a pedophile to go after her."

"Canon eve-"

I clenched my fist and his suit tightened around his throat. I let his suffocate for a few moments before releasing him.

"As for the other world I destroyed THAT only happened because this idiot sent Spider-Zilla after me while I was trying to help a Jessica Drew. She died from the explosion that beast caused in the planet core, along with 7.98 Billion people." I glared at the holographic Spiders. "You will NOT pin those lives on me, you fucking cowards."

The little holographic Spiders all stilled at that, some already moving to check what I was saying against the records. Bastards… I tell the truth and they doubt. Miguel says jump and they ask 'before or after your blowjob?'

In a much more pleasant voice I declared, "So, if we add in the truth to your delusions we get reality: I am actively saving children from danger and providing them a loving home on an Earth that is used to confliction… something the rest of you are supposed to be doing before you decided to become a bunch of jackboot despots who decide who lives and who dies. God, it's the Council of Fucking Ricks-"

"We're protecting the multiverse!" Miguel roared. "Canon events need to happen! When you interfere you risk destroying entire universes!"

"…wow," I said with faked shock. "Everything you just said… was completely wrong." I waved my hand and his mask came up so that it covered the lower half of his face; the others couldn't see it also burst into his mouth, forcing his jaw open so he couldn't say a word. "Let's be honest with ourselves, children: most of you had horrible things happen to you. And the only way you can justify it in your heads is by deciding that it HAD to happen. You didn't fail to save your uncle or your mentor or your loved ones… it HAD to happen so your guilt is absolved! You are free from your burden. Your pain! Don't feel sad, this is SUPPOSED to happen. They were doomed to die! And that allows you to watch as others suffer and pat yourselves on the back, proud that you did nothing." I let out a huff. "Uncle Ben would be SO proud of you."

I saw several spiders wince at that and knew I'd hit a mark.

"But Miguel says it so it MUST be true! He has so much tech and tech guys with egos NEVER lie!" I rolled my eyes, not that the Spiders could see me doing that. "So you put your blind faith in this man… I'm sure it started simple enough. He, after all, made you no longer feel guilty. 'It's not your fault your spouse died, it's a canon events!' So you listen to him… and then he begins coming up with new rules. 'Oh, a Captain must die!' or 'It never works out when you date this person'. All based on his "research" which is little more than his own shitty day."

Miguel was roaring something but his voice was too muffled for me to understand.

"And I wonder… what's next? Some of you must have children… what would you have done if Miguel declared Spiders can't have kids because 'Waaa, my daughter died!'? Would you have drowned them? Strangled them? Would you have cried as you smothered them in their cribs? All in the name of your 'Great Responsibility'?"

Now more of them were shifting, others protesting though I couldn't hear a word they were saying.

"'But Miguel is a hero! We can trust him!' Yes… the hero who abandoned his world, found another one where a version of himself actually opened his heart and was brave enough to have a family… and dear Miguel here stole them. He pretended to be a woman's dead husband." I looked down at him. "Do you know what we call on this earth someone who sleeps with a person through deceit? A rapist." I gave a mocking clap. "Three cheers for your champion, Spider-Rapist!" I shot him a disgusted look. "You lied to that little girl… to that woman… to all of that dead man's friends and family. All because you were fucking selfish. And then, when something tragic happened you decided it must be a punishment for your sins because you KNEW you were a vile raping monster." I leaned down when Miguel turned his head, forcing him to look at me. "No… no you don't get to avoid this. You allowed countless innocents to die because you decided that it wasn't enough for you to be punished… everyone else had to be too. You WANTED your grief to become their's because you knew in reality you were a fraud."

I leaned in close.

"She was never your daughter, you sick fuck."

I slammed his head down hard into the ground, this time making sure I shattered his nose.

"Allow me to make clear what is going to happen. I have realm-leaping tech, so I'm going to dump Miguel someplace you can never find him. He'll live… but it won't be pleasant." I was thinking of one reality I'd found where Loki was the ruler of Asgard… he was doing a damn good job but he did have a cave with a snake dripping venom that wasn't being used. "You have one week to renounce him and your disgusting Society. Return to your home worlds. Try and make up for your sins. For the friends you betrayed through your silence."

I paused.

"And for those that don't… Webby has been downloading all of Miguel's files. Every mission he sent you on. All the good people you let die. In one week I will be releasing this information to your friends and loved ones. All your allies. All your spouses. They will know what vile, disgusting, villainous people you truly are. How you let their sons and daughters die because it was easier to do nothing. All your J Jonahs will know. All your Avengers. Everyone is going to know just who you are and how you FAILED to live up to the cardinal rule."

I smirked behind my mask.

"And if you think about coming after me… well, my Avengers know exactly what I am doing, love my kids to pieces… and will NOT take kindly to you invading our world. So, in a word? Fuck off."

And with that I killed the transmission before looking down at Miguel, who stared at me with hateful eyes… but also a bit of fear.

Fear… that I was right.

"With Great Power… Comes Great Responsibility," I muttered before leaving to go hug my kids.

INTRODUCING SPIDER-CHAOS

The Chaos of Earth 252525

~MC~MC~MC~

The Avengers of the Earth 252525

Chris Chase, Spider-Chaos. Bitten by a spider that traveled through the time stream Chase gained not only the basic spider powers but the immunity from all time travel/paradox issues as well as to instantly understand any culture/tech just by handling a single piece from that world/era. In his day job he works for the Historical Society, a community services group who help mediate issues and problems for the many different groups living in New Chaos City. His costume is blue with yellow highlights and his spider symbol is on his mask rather than his chest.

Aria, Corrosion. A young mutant with the ability to degrade metals, Aria was mocked and treated like an outcast until she ran away from home to Shogun City… and stumbled upon a symbiote. The two bonded and her partner came up with the idea of blaming her mutant powers on it; while it knew that no one would blame her for her abilities if she were a hero Aria was too scared to use them until the Symbiote came up with the plan. Symbiote takes the form of black samurai armor, forming into her many swords to help her fight.

Cassie Strange, The Sorceress Supreme. Discovered as a baby by a group of fae Cassie was raised to understand her unique magic and, upon learning of the lost title of Sorcerer Supreme, declared herself to be the Sorceress Supreme. Except… Cassie isn't magical. She is a Skrull Queen, sent to earth as a baby to prepare it for conquest. But the fae believed the sleeper agent programming to be a spell and wiped it from her. Despite what others, such as the Doctor Strange of Earth 616, try and tell her, Cassie does not believe she is an alien. This came into play when she met other Skrulls and her pure conviction caused them to believe THEY must be magical too. They now live with the Fae in her Sanctum… and ALL chose the name 'Wong' as their preferred name.

Alec, Timepool. The scientist working on a new method of time travel for DaVinciCorp, Alec found himself yanked into the timestream during the same accident that brought Chase to Earth 252525. What he saw drove him insane… and also gave him a limited temporal field around his body that constantly rewinds him back every 10 seconds, granting him advanced healing powers.

Ser Martin of the Nova Corps. A Nova Corp member selected from earth during the times of King Arthur, Ser Martin was shunted to the present day where he looks upon the modern Nova Corp and goes… 'nay'. Rather he seeks to reestablish HIS Nova Corp, one of honor and justice. Of course he tends to knight anyone who looks to be halfway decent… in fact every dog he sees gets knighted.

Nathaniel Asgard. After a time traveler let Loki know just how he would end up being portrayed in all his myths and legends the God of Lies decided 'Screw it, I retire'. Leaving for Midgard he decided to become every famous magician their ever was, with his current guise being Nathaniel Asgard, Roarin' District's best magician and stage presence. Also one of the best dressed heroes you've ever met.

Cloak and Dagger. Just like the normal Cloak and Dagger. Honest. Totally. Okay, so MAYBE they are from Woodstock Forever, a Hippie Commune and thus are so lazy they just hang out on the Avengers' couch. They are only kept around because if they DO muster up the will to fight they destroy all evil in their path.