1Koh was restless. None had approached his lair in quite a while so as was wanton to happen he wandered. The Spirit World was vast and expansive so he had a great deal to explore. But then sometimes the world could offer something a spirit so rarely got...a change. So when he saw a whole slew of souls waiting about he couldn't help himself.
Surrounding the people was a sigil that sang of power. Ah a challenge. He hadn't had a challenge in quite a while ever since Kuruk had started chasing him. He changed faces to smile. The spirits didn't even notice his approach in fact...they were frozen. Well now that took the fun out of it...Oh ho. One was moving.
He lunged forward overpowering the sigil and lunging towards the movement. Before it could react Koh had snatched the spirit from the sigil and was about to devour his quite frankly startled face until he felt something slam into him. He looked up to see a serpentine entity hissing at him.
"Well," Koh said smiling still in the face of the angry entity. "If you don't want me to steal them then don't keep them where I can see them. Bad manners you know putting a feast before someone who's hungry and then deny them food."
The being roared angrily and lunged towards Koh in retaliation. He dodged easily making the creature miss. Amusing. He'd play along for now.
He kept up the charade up for a bit dancing in and out of the entity's reach frustrating it more and more. Eventually Koh lost interest since the entity couldn't land an attack upon him. Since he couldn't steal the other spirits faces and therefore having no reason to stay after another dodge he left the entity alone with its sigil. The creature roared with triumph as it settled back into watching its...well what ever it was. Koh didn't care now about that the entity which now roared with anger for some reason. Whatever it wasn't his concern anymore. Now he was bored again. Oh well he'd find another there was always more.
Koh smiled as he journeyed on his quest to find both entertainment and food...
Yūgi in spirit mode ran or more precisely floated away from the had been a weird day. First was that odd deal with the guy...whose name now escaped him. Sacrificing himself so the spirit wouldn't be taken which he didn't regret in the slightest. Then that weird thing that had grabbed him away from the other souls... Okay that wasn't what I expected at all. Since when was there a giant centipede with multiple faces monster here? He shook his head. Never because I don't remember seeing that when we got Timaeus...Wait a second where am I? Now he looked around and saw that he was in what looked like a wood ish area. Continuing his examination he saw what looked like mangrove trees he'd seen in a textbook with glowing lights that looked like fireflies drifting gently around as if there was a light breeze about. Although he could feel no wind in his admittedly big hair or it whispering among the trees.
"Alright where am I?" He said as he continued to gaze around to see if he could find something, well anything he could use to find his way out of the mess. He wasn't under the seal of Orichalos anymore so maybe he could get back to the Pharaoh. He cautiously stepped forward...Only to jump back when he spotted a monkey the branches above.
"Oh come on, get a hold of yourself," Yūgi smacked himself even as he chided himself. "Other Me wouldn't be jumping at shadows like that...of course he commanded Shadow Games so...and now I'm talking to my-SELF!" He yelped the final bit as he saw the monkey turn it's head and saw that the said monkey didn't have a face...like at all. There was a blank slate instead of facial features. It was faceless and still moving around...what was this place?!
"Hm that's interesting observation to make young one, but you're not supposed to be here," a voice commented making the boy jump. Turning towards the voice he saw...another monkey only this one was a white furred monkey with a mahogany tone skin standing upright and annoyingly taller then him. It or rather he was wearing and orange monk robe (a monk monkey?) with prayer beads going across his chest his hands in a prayer position. Okay seriously what was this!?
"Your cycle hasn't been completed," the monkey sighed looking sad. "I shall assist you in getting back on track. Try to be more careful next time. You might not be as lucky next time."
Eh?! What?! Before Yūgi could protest or even speak the monkey breathed upon him and gently touched the his forehead with his fingers. As soon as that happened he felt everything he was being carefully and gently stripped away from him. Oddly he didn't panic or protest because...it felt like it was supposed to be... His name was the first to go, then family's name and memories accompanying them then his...Wait did he even have friends? Who was he? Why was he here? What was here? What? He soon felt himself go to a warm place and settle into it. After what felt like an eternity he without thinking about soon fell asleep in the place feeling comfortable and safe now...
The day started out the same for most of the Northern Water Tribe. Everyone woke up, got their meal and went out to work at their various jobs to keep the Tribe going. In the hut of Atka it was a tense time. His wife had gone into labor and was giving birth to his second child. It had been a tumultuous period given what had happened during this pregnancy and this was her first too...
"Atka," the healer called to him as he paced outside the birthing room well it actually was his and his wife's bedroom repurposed for the task needed now. "Everything is ready and your wife needs you."
He swallowed his fear and nodded to himself as he answered: "Yes I'm coming." He'd promised that come the Fire Nation or the end of the earth itself he'd stand beside her no matter what. It was that assurance that he knew had kept his beloved from despairing for herself and for the sake of their child.
He walked in to see the healer standing at the ready with his Nuniq sweating and looking exhausted but happy to see him. He walked over to her and embraced her hard his love enveloping her.
"He's coming," she whispered happily to him. She was convinced that the child was going to be a boy. "Where is Kanut?"
"She said she'd be here as soon as she grabs her husband," Atka answered. "You know she's busy as a weaver and Amaruq is constantly hunting for the bigger catch."
"I don't want them to miss the birth of her little nephew with his cousin Tuktu to see his new cousin. He'd probably like someone to play with now," Nuniq protested weakly. Please Tui and La preserve her. She's been through enough. Please.
"I'm here!" Kanut said briskly as she all but ran into the hut. Behind her came the rest of the family who wisely stayed in the other room so as not to get into the way. Kanut on the other hand ran to her sister and grabbed her other hand cradling it between her own. Atka relaxed as she turned towards her sister. His sister-in-law was a calming presence sorely needed here. "Don't worry little sister, you've got this. We're here for you."
"Tha-AH!" she wailed as labor pains began in earnest. The healer encouraged her to push as the final stretch began. "Atka," she said looking at him in earnest. "I know you've said this before but once more please for my sanity..."
"He or she is my child," Atka said immediately giving her a firm look. This was statement that had been reported over and over for the past nine months and every time he meant every word of it. "I don't care for how they came to be in this world but they will be loved and accepted by me. They are a part of our family."
"Same here you dummy," Kanut said equally firmly. "I and the rest stand by you."
"Thank you," she hissed the last word as the labor pains became worse. "Thank you both."
"Glad we've gotten that out of the the way now push," the healer said somewhat impatiently. The next several minutes consisted of the healer's instructions and Nuniq yelling and grunting as she pushed the little babe out into the world. Once the baby was out the healer cleaned them and checked their health with her healing arts. She then nodded her approval and passed them to Kanut. "It's a boy," she said joyfully looking at her sister. "Nuniq it's a boy."
"A son," Atka whispered reverently. He'd had a son...he felt his heart release that it was all over now and he had a son. This was wonderful to him and to his family.
"May I?" He held out his hands. Kanut smiled as she gave him over to him. He looked down at his son whose eyes opened. Rather then being a shade of blue they were amethyst. Odd but that was fine. This was his son.
"Yuka," he whispered his new son's name. "Welcome to the family my son."
Dartz looked at the tablet that was supposed to contain a soul but instead had shattered much to his surprise. The king of Atlantis had never had that happen before. Never before had the seal lost a spirit in it's keeping. Something had happened...but what?
"My lord Dartz," Raphael said bowing to him practically groveling before him for the perceived failure. There was none it was clearly circumstances beyond anyone's control. No sense in eliminating allies when it was out of their hands. "I failed to get..."
"You've shaken them," he said brushing off his curiosity and focusing on his soldier of a new age. "That's enough for now. We'll proceed with our plans soon. Now go with the others."
"Yes sir," Raphael replied backing away and walking towards the others. Dartz instead turned as his gaze back to the tablet. What had happened? And more to the point. Why?
No matter. Dartz brushed it off. It's one soul out of millions that Leviathan will consume perhaps he got impatient? Well either case that threat is now shaken. Now I can proceed and break down the so-called three knights and bring order to this world.
With that a chain was snapped and a destiny was rewritten. A cycle started anew and in a different place...but balance would be found and soon light and shadow would meet again. Soon the Inferno would have it's shadow.
