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Chapter Text

Once upon a time in an age of fairytales, there lived a prince. The prince was brave and kind, strong and handsome. All of these traits were expected and proper when you were a prince in such times. 

It didn’t matter that his kingdom was largely barren, the vast majority of the meager population inhabiting a small city about an hour’s walk from the castle drawbridge. Nor did it matter that there was little wealth to speak of, evident in the prince’s older and incomplete armor piece and hand-me-down weapons.

The castle in which he lived sat near the edge of a steep cliff overlooking a treacherous sea, the waves constantly foaming and jumping at the hillside. No matter how high the waves spat, they never reached the crumbling old stones of the decaying castle. No balls were held there. No grand feasts were spoken of. No staff were in its employ. The only residents were the lonely royals that still claimed titles that most in their realm honored simply because it was too much of a bother to argue otherwise.

 
The prince, despite this, strived to fulfill his role. His name, Atem, was apparently based off of some far-off Sun God of old. While he knew of no such deity, he chose every day to harness the determination and strength such a namesake surely was meant to provide.

He would often be seen riding across the land, either hunting for a meal to bring back to the castle or to learn of recent news from travelers on their way through the kingdom. He’d hear their tales of rogues in the forest and witches with their traveling circuses. He’d hear word of other kingdoms, flourishing and expanding with each turning of the year. How the age of mankind was at its peak and progress into a bright future was on its way. 

These interested him, of course, but his ears would burn at any mention of monsters or beasts yet untamed by man. Shrieking harpies, laughing pixies, furred and scaled creatures of all manner of shape and size that seemed unfathomable to many within his own kingdom. 

As they should, he would think, considering it was his cousin the king who had made them as scarce as they were today. 

King Seto had taken the throne many years ago. Or not so long ago. It was troublesome to remember and most didn’t bother. All anyone knew was one day he was there, and no one cared to do anything about it. Seto had made it a point to seek out any and all of the mythical and legendary monsters that society both feared and revered. 

What he would do with them, no one ever knew. It certainly wasn’t a mystery how they were found however, for the king had a beloved monster of his own that heeded his every beck and call. A shining white dragon would periodically be seen flying around the castle, its loud roar strong enough to shake the very earth beneath your feet if you were within a few miles of it. 

It would most often do its own hunting at night, the light of the moon reflecting so brilliantly off of its scales and adding an eerie glow to large, empty, blue eyes. Villagers had spoken of seeing all manner of creatures being taken by the dragon, whether clutched in the dragon’s claws or mouth, or simply chased down the long road towards the castle. 

No matter the method, they were always alive when they made their way out of sight, so no one ever knew what became of them. Even Atem had never received an answer when he had pressed Seto about the fate of the monsters. 

“Never mind what happened to them,” the king would always say, his own blue eyes trained to the sea or the dragon circling above. “Now do your job and keep an eye and ear out for any news of more.”

That was often how their conversations went. Though they were cousins, Atem rarely felt any familial love from the older man who had taken him in as a very young child when his own parents had died. Often the prince’s only company was one of the castle cats and the tales found in the dusty books of the ancient library. It was from those stories that he learned how a prince was meant to behave.

How to be ready to fight for righteous causes. How to never cave to any pressure. How to be gracious and collected. All his self-study never seemed to matter though, as he rode over fields and through the woods to pass his days away. He had gone on a few quests in his time, but never anything more than seemed customary for his title, rather than anything of true merit. 

A princess locked in a tower here, a neighboring army in need of a commander there. All very grateful for his efforts, and he was happy to be of some service while he could. For Prince Atem knew upon his return to his own land with whatever reward, be it a purse of riches or some trinket reportedly mystical in nature, all of it would be pushed aside by his cousin for news of the monsters. 

So, there he was again. Walking through the dark wood not far from the castle grounds late at night, the White Dragon flying high above also on the lookout for any sense or sign of mythical life. He hadn’t heard of any new sightings or rumors of any unrecognizable beasts for a while, so he didn’t anticipate the dragon would find anything, but maybe he could catch a hare or even a deer for a future hearty supper.

The ground shook under his boots and he fell as the White Dragon suddenly shrieked. He looked up through the thinly leaved branches as her head snapped in a direction further into the woods. She dove, almost straight down at first, but then large wings pulled her up to fly quickly over the tops of the trees towards whatever had drawn her attention. 

Atem’s heart raced, nervous for whatever creature had caught the dragon’s eye. His few armor pieces shifted over his worn leather clothing as he stood up quickly and made to follow. Whatever beast or being was out there couldn’t be far, since he could hear as trees cracked and broke when the dragon burst through them in pursuit of her quarry. 

As he got closer his stomach dropped as he began to hear human voices shouting in what he had to assume was terror. He ran as fast as he could, and pushed himself to go faster when he saw bright blue fire shine through the tree line. The villagers had dubbed that particular ability ‘White Lightning’, and it was only used by the dragon when she was particularly perturbed that she hadn’t caught her prey yet. 

Maybe the humans were trying to help the poor creature? A foolish effort, though a noble one if Atem was being honest. As he neared the clearing the chase seemed to be confined to, he began to hear the voices slightly more clearly. A man was yelling at the dragon, and a woman was yelling at the man. 

“DO something!” Atem heard her shout. He didn’t hear if the man responded in any way, but he hoped he wasn’t fool hearty enough to try to fight the dragon. 

The prince collapsed again when the dragon roared once more, his ears rattling from the close proximity. As the roar stopped, he noticed the wind beginning to pick up, his thin and tattered cape beginning to billow. At first, he assumed the dragon was taking flight, but he could still see her only a few trees away, crouching over whatever she had found. The wind grew stronger and small twinkling lights grew in number, and began to swirl towards the dragon and whatever she had caught.

All at once the glow of the lights grew into a flash, forcing Atem to shut his eyes to avoid being blinded. When the shine behind his eyelids faded, he blinked them open to see what could have happened. He still saw the dragon looming on the forest floor, growling deeply but appearing unchanged and unharmed. 

He could still hear the man and woman speaking, or at least the man was speaking. The woman was shouting, though seemingly not with any regard for the monster still nearby. 

“Jonouchi, you idiot! What have you done?!” 

“What have I done?! Anzu, I’ve told you, I don’t control what the magic does.” 

When he finally made it into the clearing, Atem’s first priority was making sure the White Dragon was dealt with. He ran up in front of the dragon’s face, hearing the two other humans gasp behind him at his sudden appearance, but he would deal with them later. 

“Back to the castle with you, beast,” he called out. “There’s nothing for you here.” 

The dragon barred its teeth with another low grumble but pushed off straight into the air and flew away. The prince was careful to keep his eyes on its circling to make sure it actually left. Once he was sure they were free of it, he turned to inspect the dragon’s odd victims. 

He had been right that there was a man and woman. The man was tall and blond, and his blue and white robes seemed to be made of mismatched fabrics, almost giving the appearance of a court jester. He wore a sturdy satchel for traveling, and a blue pointed cap rested on his head which seemed to denote his role as a magician of some kind. 

The woman, a smaller brunette sitting on the ground by the man’s feet, was clothed much more simply. Her layers of stained cream and brown skirts showed signs of a rural hardworking life. Her lack of any foot wear spoke to her comfortability with outdoor terrain, the abject poverty she must have been used to enduring, or both. 

She also clutched a dark blue shawl, though it was what the shawl was covering that took the prince by surprise. 

Half pulled into the woman’s lap appeared to be another man, though he seemed to be unconscious. The man was as pale as the moonlight beams shining through the tree canopy. It was obvious he was nude, save for the woman’s shawl covering as much of his modesty and torso as she could while clutching him protectively. His limbs, exposed to the elements, seemed long and lithe. His hair, though dark and unkempt, looked as soft as the finest silk ever crafted. 

The prince could barely take his eyes off of the sleeping man. He had to assume this was what the dragon was after if his state of being was anything to go by, and he could almost understand why. He was positively beautiful in every physical way. It was only the woman shifting her grip that drew his gaze away from the man’s lax face back up to the two conscious bystanders. 

“Are you all alright?” he offered with a sincere frown. “I’m sorry. I have no idea why the dragon would come after you like that.” 

“We-we’re alright. I think,” the taller man, Jonouchi the prince remembered, replied. “Forgive us, my Lord, but you wouldn’t happen to be Prince Atem, would you? Charge of King Seto, student of the arts of chivalry and all princely duties?” 

Atem couldn’t help but chuckle at the grandeur of the titles the magician bestowed upon him. He bowed at the waist in greeting but kept his smile at the formality. “The one and the same. But please, may I know the names of the strangers that trapse through the dark woods of my cousin’s realm?”

The blond took off his pointed cap and bowed himself, one arm outstretched like he was receiving applause from a performance. “I am Jonouchi the Magician! This fine lady is my assistant, Anzu. We have traveled long and far to your cousin the king’s lands in search of adventure and employment, whichever opportunity may come our way first.”

Atem nodded at the woman, who still looked shaken but she nodded back mumbling a quiet, “Your Highness.” 

Atem’s eyes once again locked on to the pale and perfect face of the man in her arms. On closer inspection he also appeared to have some form of birthmark on the center of his forehead, only just visible through the opening of his bangs. The light but rosy mark blew out in a starburst shape, and even this apparent abrasion only managed to enhance his entrancing appearance. 

“And this is?” Atem asked quietly, hand gesturing towards the sleeping man. “Is he alright?” 

“Uh, yes,” Anzu started. “Forgive us, Your Highness, this is uh, my cousin…Yugi… He was already ill when we were overtaken by the dragon and he could not keep his footing as he ran. I’m-I’m sure he’ll wake soon. Right?” She looked up and directed her question to Jonouchi, who tugged at his robes and shuffled his feet. 

Before anyone could answer, the sleeping man’s face scrunched and he shifted as his eyes began to open. And what magnificent eyes to behold! The loveliest shade of purple Atem had ever seen, somehow shining like the brightest jewels while seeming like a portal to another world with how deep they were. 

The man didn’t speak, even in surprise or embarrassment at his nudity. He only looked around as if in a daze. When those eyes landed on Atem, the prince was shocked how they appeared to look not at him as he physically was, but through him and into the very core of his soul. He was breathless from it. 

“He appears to be waking now,” he managed. “Are you well?” 

Yugi looked from him down to his own form, shaking hands raising as he twisted them to look them over. Other than having a few flecks of dirt, they also appeared as flawless as the rest of him. Even the short well-kept nails appeared to be clean. 

All at once the man rolled off of Anzu’s lap and attempted to stand, but he was too unsteady and was quickly appearing to fall again. Atem rushed forward to try to catch him, but Jonouchi and Anzu beat him to it and helped to keep him standing.

They whispered to the disoriented man, too quietly for Atem to make out, but apparently with enough urgency to get through to his mind. Jonouchi took off his larger outer robe and laid it across Yugi’s shoulders. It was long enough to almost reach his knees as he clutched it closed, eyes staring at the ground in what looked like a combination of wonderment and fear. 

“You all need rest,” the prince finally decided, drawing all of their attention. “And he is in obvious need proper care. Come with me back to the castle, as repayment for the trouble caused this evening.” 

“Oh, my Lord, you are kind,” Jonouchi replied, glancing at Anzu with a worried expression. “But I’m not sure we should…” 

“I insist!” the prince said. “It would be my honor to host you. I can also speak to my cousin about allowing you all to stay as some form of staff, so you are able to sustain yourselves longer term.” 

“We don’t have much choice,” Yugi replied softly, surprising them all. Those magical eyes looked up at the prince once again and his breath caught as they appeared to finally take him in for the first time. “We thank you, your Highness, for your help.” 

Atem nodded, his heartbeat once again affected by the gentle voice. To Atem’s ears it sounded as though this Yugi was both young with the fruit of life, and yet wiser than all the mystics of this age. How was such a creature possible? 

In his studies of courtly practices and traditions, he had come across tales of love at first sight. To think he would have the chance to experience it himself was a dream he had never thought to give any hope to before.

Not allowing himself to become fully distracted with such musings, the prince was determined to see his next mission through. He slowly led the ragtag group through the woods and back to the main road. The three behind him were slow, helping Yugi along and murmuring encouragements with every step. 

As they approached the crumbling castle walls, walking through the dark open gates, Atem turned back to make sure they were all still close enough to follow as he weaved through the winding halls. Yugi was walking unassisted at this point, though his eyes were not on the prince. 

His focus seemed everywhere and nowhere all at once. His eyes, almost black in the darkness of the unlit castle, seemed nearly too large for his face. With such a bewildered expression, he seemed far too new to the world, assuming Atem had gauged his age correctly at his own 20-odd years. 

“Be careful on the steps,” he warned gently, offering a hand to Yugi as they approached the cracked steps to the tall wooden doors of the throne room. Yugi looked down at his darker, more calloused hand as if confused, but then gently took it as his other hand kept the robe that covered him closed and they began their assent. 

Atem would be sure to remember to raid the old store rooms for any finer fabrics and clothes that would be worthy of the vision now on his arm. 

Their every step echoed as they walked through the massive throne room. Its empty derelict walls bore no tapestries, and no candle sticks nor fireplaces were lit to add any warmth. The only light was that of the cold moon through the large and chipped windows, their frames almost reaching to the edge of the ceiling all along the wall. 

When the group made it to the far end of the room, they met the king lounging in his throne. Despite his relaxed lean against the arm of the stone chair and crossed legs, he gave the solemn appearance of pure and abject boredom. 

“Atem,” he barked. “Who is this motely crew you’ve brought before me at so late an hour?” 

“Your Majesty,” the price greeted, bowing formaly and prompting the rest of the group to bow or curtsy as well. “I found these weary travelers in the dark wood. They have done no wrong, but were accosted by the White Dragon and given quite the scare. I promised them shelter and care to make amends, as the dragon is of our keeping.”

The king huffed and stood to move closer to inspect the travelers. He started with Anzu and Jonouchi, walking around them as one may inspect a new plow for defects. It was clear to the prince that Anzu was not happy with the inspection, but she did not voice her displeasure. 

The king did speak to the magician, though his voice remained as cold and cruel as the sea air sneaking through the cracked windows of the hall. 

“I take it from your choice of garb that you fancy yourself something of a wizard, do you?”

“Uh, a magician, Your Majesty,” Jonouchi offered awkwardly. “We are… honored to be in your presence, and hope we may be of some service to you and your cousin, the noble price, who came to us in our hour of need.” 

“Hmm. I’ve had highly trained servants and the finest court wizards at my command in the past, and even they never proved much use to me. What use would a scullery maid, a third-rate trickster, and…” the king trailed off as he turned back to the man still presented on Atem’s arm. He moved back to stand in front of them both, towering over Yugi with almost a glare and brows furrowed as if in frustration. 

Atem looked to Yugi nervously, but noted with awe that he didn’t seem intimidated. He met King Seto’s gaze with the same far-away stare that he had met Atem’s, though while the prince had been entranced, the king appeared more confused with every passing moment that no words were spoken. 

“What on earth is wrong with your eyes?” the king finally demanded. “They are like deep chasms where no light could ever hope to reflect.” 

“Sire,” Anzu chimed in when Yugi did not immediately respond. “Yugi is my distant cousin. I took charge of him when his parents could not afford maintaining his weaker health.”

The king’s sudden laughter made everyone jump from how it filled the desolate room and rang in their ears. “You expect me to believe that? That he is frail and weak, I have no doubt. That he has been cared for solely by you two wanderers? You must think me a fool.” 

“Cousin,” Atem finally spoke, hoping to break even some of the tension. “Does it truly matter who they are? They are here now, and I intend to have them stay in our employ. You may sate your curiosity of them as time passes.” He gripped Yugi’s hand a bit tighter, and pulled the lovely gaze back on him. The prince offered a small smile and nod that he hoped was comforting as they awaited the king’s answer. 

King Seto turned back to his throne and threw himself upon it with a huff. “Very well. Perhaps you are right. If the world’s finest entertainment and staff could not please me, let us see what a mere jester, a cook, and an invalid can do.” 

He waved them away and they all bowed again before taking their leave of the king. As the heavy doors to the throne room closed behind them once more, Atem couldn’t stop the sigh of relief that came rushing out of him. 

“I hope you can forgive my cousin. He is… often preoccupied with his own desires, though I’m told that the kingdom has rather enjoyed the hands-off approach in some regard,” he offered with a small laugh. Jonouchi and Anzu nodded and smiled with understanding before Atem led them to the first available rooms that he knew were furnished and the least dusty. Not exactly standard for servants’ quarters, but they were more guests in his mind, so he felt it only proper. 

After making sure they all had access to their new lodging and Anzu made ready to assist Yugi in procuring suitable clothing for him from the few pieces they could find across the guest rooms, Atem couldn’t stop his mouth once more.

 
“Meeting you all has been a surprise, but a joyous one in a fairly lonely life. Your friendship would be most desired.” He turned specifically to Yugi. “I hope to know you better, dear Yugi.” 

Yugi still did not speak, but as the prince bowed once more to kiss his pale hand before taking his leave, he noticed Yugi’s eyebrows raised in genuine surprise. 

Those beautiful purple eyes stayed locked with his own eyes as he left, though he hated to sever their connection now that he had it. He walked backwards from the room, slowly so as to not trip over any uneven stones and break the spell that he hoped he’d finally reciprocated. As he finally left the room, only then did he turn and make his way to his own chambers.

The prince swore to himself, as he felt a surge of energy he couldn’t recall feeling before, that he would endeavor to only strengthen his hold on Yugi’s attentions. 

He swore, as he broke into boyish giggles and a light run down the quiet halls of his home, that he would make his new but powerful affections known to the mysterious boy that had appeared like a miracle. 

He swore, as he passed another line of open windows letting in the sounds of the restless seas beneath them, that he would earn Yugi’s affections in return, no matter what trials he would be required to face in order to succeed. 

The prince fell asleep that night, so comforted and excited by his unknowably lofty dreams, that even the dull roar of the White Dragon in its caverns below the castle never woke him. 

Chapter Text

Daily life in the castle remained much the same in the following weeks. It was still remarkably quiet day in and day out, save for the periodic rumble and grumble of the White Dragon. The castle was still largely cold and dark, the king not seeing a point in lighting the fireplaces of many of the empty halls and barren rooms. 

But the prince was happy. His days, once filled with mindless wandering or escaping into the realm of fiction, were now occupied with visits and conversation with new friends. 

Jonouchi spent most of his time either practicing or performing for the grumpy King Seto. To the magician’s chagrin, his mistakes often caused more of a smile to appear on the royal’s face than his successes, so he was usually tasked with crafting more and more ridiculous tricks to attempt. 

Atem would try to catch his shows of juggling, card tricks, and other simple illusions or glamour magic. He thought his cousin quite rude indeed to not applaud even once throughout any of the presentations, but Jou was quick to console him in private. 

“Don’t worry about me,” he’d said for who knew the number of times as they lounged in the study the magician had transformed into a workshop of sorts. “I can handle a grouch like His Majesty. Believe it or not, he’s not even the worst person I’ve ever worked for. Avoid becoming indebted to swindlers is all I’ll say,” he advised with wise nod.

 
Atem furrowed his brow and shifted in his seat at the thought of someone worse to be employed by than his cousin. “Well, I’m grateful you’re away from that, at least. I wish I was able to do more to improve his mood, if only for your benefit. How many times did he make you try that last juggling act yesterday? The one with twelve balls and a fish?”

Jou slumped further down in his own seat and groaned. “Fifteen times. I think he only let me stop because he had laughed himself silly watching the damn fish tail smack me in the face so much.” 

Both men couldn’t help their own laughter at the memory, failure tasting better when it could be shared with good and supportive company.

If he wasn’t with the magician, Atem could also be found down in the kitchen with Anzu. She had easily taken control of the once frankly disgusting kitchen, and turned it into a smoothly operating workspace. The large fireplace always had a comfortable blaze roaring within it, and the largest cauldron in the castle had been ruthlessly scrubbed of all dirt and rust in order to be used for a constant supply of hot water for any potential use. 

Atem had managed to have a hot bath for the first time in recent memory, a luxury he rarely bothered to provide himself but Anzu had insisted after a particularly rough day of riding. She’d even made him drag a spare basin, large enough to fully submerge himself, directly into the warm kitchen so that she could fill it up and have him soak right there like a child as she worked.

The prince supposed he should have been outraged, or at least embarrassed at the treatment. Instead, he found her no-nonsense care surprisingly soothing and welcome. So, he wordlessly followed her instructions to disrobe and get in the bath already after she’d turned around to busy herself with other chores. 

“Why Seto thinks you need to go all over the kingdom day in and day out, I’ll never know,” she ranted on his behalf as she quickly peeled some root vegetables for that night’s dinner. “But the idea that you should have to suffer through it without a regular decent meal? A soothing bath? Honestly...” 

She grumbled under her breath some more, her hands working faster but no less efficiently as her temper spiked slightly. Atem’s eyes stayed locked on her hands as he rested his head on the edge of the tub, mesmerized by her quick work with the knife.

“Since he doesn’t go out himself, I guess I’m his only real way of getting any news about the world. Though, it doesn’t seem like he’s actually interested in anything other than the creatures he has the dragon bring back.” 

At the mention of the monsters, Anzu’s hands paused for a small, almost imperceptible moment before starting up again. “Why does he have the dragon do that, anyway? And where does the dragon even take them?”

Atem shrugged, comfortable after years of sitting with those same questions and never receiving an answer. “I’m not sure. Maybe Seto doesn’t even know any more.” 

Anzu tossed her vegetables into a pot on the stove. “He better know. How else is he going to control that dragon from doing whatever it likes?”

Her annoyance at the lack information was obvious, but it was clearly not directed at the prince. Atem assumed her run in with the White Dragon was still something of a sore spot, and he couldn’t blame her for that. That night had surely traumatized every member of the small traveling party, even if some of them showed it more than others. 

Some, such as the ever-constant keeper of the prince’s attention, Yugi. 

The young man was of very few words, moving almost silently throughout the castle. As the days passed, he seemed to regain some physical strength compared to when Atem had first met him. He no longer faltered or stumbled with his steps. Rather, he seemed to almost glide as if on thin air as he walked up and down any stairs and walkways of the castle that were available to him. 

Though what he searched for, Atem could never discern.

Yugi’s voice, when he did speak, was gentle and soft. He rarely joined in any conversation, even with Jou and Anzu, seeming to prefer listening unless specifically asked a question. Any other time, it seemed as though his mind would continue his wandering for him, even if his feet could not. 

Oh, but Atem did so crave to hear that voice. He would often attempt to pull Yugi’s attention from whatever or wherever it was occupied by with mundane lines of questioning. Anything was worth it for the chance to know him better and hopefully discover the key to the other’s heart along the way. 

“Do you approve of the clothes Anzu and I were able to find for you?” he asked one day, as he joined Yugi on a walk down what should have been an art gallery. From the prince’s perspective, the lilac and silver fabrics they’d managed to procure suited Yugi perfectly. 

“Oh. Yes, they’ll do,” Yugi replied simply, like it was the first time he had considered the subject. One pale hand briefly ran across his waist where his tunic was tucked into well-fitting trousers. His used but well-maintained leather boots, an offering from the prince’s own collection, were soft enough that even walking next to him Atem could barely make out the sound of his steps. 

“I can always look for other colors or materials, if there’s anything else you’d prefer.” 

“No, thank you, your Highness,” Yugi rejected with a polite nod. “I’m simply not… used to clothes like this still. The color is not a problem.” Lovely purple eyes met the prince’s own darker eyes with a small but sweet smile. Atem smiled back instantly and they continued to walk in silence until duties called Atem away.  

If he had learned anything from his studies of what a prince should do, Atem knew that a prince in love was duty bound to perform feats of strength, trials of the mind, and adventures of the heart in order to impress and earn the affections of whomever had captured his soul so completely. For every journey he had gone on before, he did is best to outdo himself. Dark Knights terrorizing peaceful crossroads met their end at his hand. Unsolvable riddles revealed their secrets thanks to his quick thinking and wits. He’d even traveled for days into far off mountains where a dragon was said to still be living, far enough from his own kingdom that the White Dragon had not sought it out under Seto’s orders. 

He never managed to find it, though he couldn’t say if it was due to the dragon being lost to whatever the king’s true desires were, or to time itself. 

No matter the task completed, however, Yugi never seemed any more interested in the spoils, tokens, and favors Atem offered to him than the king ever had been. Oh, he was kinder, to be sure. Never dismissive of the difficulty or grandeur of any risk Atem had taken. 

And yet when it came to the part where, in all the stories Atem had read, the object of his affections was meant to swoon and fall into his arms, Yugi never did. If anything, the ethereal man would go as silent as the shadows when any offer of further attention was offered his way. The prince would not over stay his welcome in Yugi’s space once the conversation turned so, but he would leave more determined than ever to uncover what the secret to pleasing Yugi was.  

He certainly had not kept his affections a secret from his new friends, considering their connection to Yugi. Atem would often try to ask either Jonouchi or Anzu for advice on the best methods to woo him, but never received much help. 

“Well, you see,” Jou had answered one afternoon after Yugi had refused a decorative sword Atem had brought back a gift. “Yugi has no experience with pastimes like sword fighting or archery. In a lot of ways he, uh, doesn’t care for most material goods you may think of as standard for courtship.” 

Atem hopped up to sit on Jou’s desk, where the magician was trying to sort out some kind of plan for a new spell, scattered papers with runes and notes covering the surface. “As humble and within his means as he may be used to living, all men have their hobbies and vices alike. Are you sure there’s nothing he desires or covets that could earn me more than just a passing kind eye or smile?” 

The magician pursed his lips together and groaned to himself. He scribbled a new rune or two out on a sheet of parchment, but quickly scratched it out with a huff before leaning back in his seat at the desk and meeting the prince’s eye once again. 

“I’m not sure what else I can say. He is a solitary being, and I’ve only ever known him to be content with whatever he already has. If Yugi has any other interests then they’re as much a mystery to me as they are to you.” 

Anzu was also of little help. When he had initially told her of his interest in pursuing Yugi romantically, she had gasped with a smile and jumped like an excited child. She had gushed at the romanticism of it all and he had been grateful for her enthusiasm and someone to share in his excitement at the prospect. 

Soon though, she was as stand-offish as Jou was when it came to providing any kind of advice that would help Atem win the heart of her cousin. 

“He’s an enigma, Anzu! I’ve tried everything I can to get his attentions but he never grants it for long.” They sat in the kitchen, Atem on the floor and petting the castle cat as it napped by the fire. Anzu sighed and leaned on the counter with her arms crossed. 

“That is very Yugi,” Anzu conceded. “More preoccupied with his own thoughts than anything else you or I may care about.”

“You talk with him though. You and Jou,” the prince huffed, not enjoying how he could feel a petulant pout making its way across his face from the jealousy. 

Anzu waved her hand dismissively. “We mostly talk about… the past. Our childhood. Nothing that would actually help you.” The prince sighed, trying to soothe himself with the feeling of soft fur between his fingers. It seemed that he had no other lead to follow, so he would do his own seeking.

Atem knew the three travelers he had befriended would often meet in their rooms after dark. Perhaps those conferences held the answer to his questions.

He had no real interest in spying. The idea of invading his friends’ – invading Yugi’s privacy sent a shiver of repulsion down his back. Still, after the notion of there being more going on he did not know entered his mind, he found himself taking the long way to his own rooms in the evenings so he may better pass one of the others' chambers. 

If he did hear them talking, he never stayed long enough to discern much detail. But occasionally, snippets of insight would be granted to a much more tired and emotional Yugi that he had never seen with his own eye. 

“Are you sure you won’t speak to him more?” he heard Anzu ask through the door one night. “Even if you don’t return his feelings, he only wants you to think kindly of him.”

“I couldn’t possibly give him hope. We… Atem deserves to have someone worthy of him. Someone who can reciprocate the love he has bestowed on me for some unknowable reason. No, no I can’t respond.”

Initially, the prince had considered bursting in then and there, declaring that there was no one else in the world possibly more worthy and deserving of his attention than Yugi. He didn’t thanks to his sense of politeness, but it was a close call. 

Since he had not heard confirmation that his feelings were not returned, however, he made no effort to cease any forms of affection he could reasonably display. If great acts or gifts would not do, then perhaps creations from his own mind would suffice. 

Atem took to spending what hours he could in his room, nearly tearing his hair out as he pieced rough poetry and sonnets together to deliver to Yugi. He attempted to force the feelings in his heart out on to the page, but never blamed Yugi for not responding to his ill-experienced ramblings. 

While pacing the halls one night, trying to conjure some new rhyme or rhythm to try for his latest poem, he found himself once more outside Yugi’s door. He barely needed to stand close thanks to how raised the voices coming from the other side were, which gave him quite a shock. 

“You can’t give up, Yugi!” he heard Jonouchi yell. “We came here for a reason. Don’t tell me you forgot!” Jou had never sounded so determined nor so frazzled.

 
“Can’t you understand??” Yugi cried out in desperation. “I can feel this body dying and yet I am expected to pretend as though nothing is the matter! Continue on like it’s the early days of our journey, before YOU-” 

Yugi cried out again and broke out into sobs. 

“Hey. We’ll keep searching, Yugi,” the prince heard Jou say, his voice now quiet and filled with regret Atem couldn’t understand. Atem’s heart lurched as he heard Yugi’s muffled cries, obviously buried deep within the magician’s robes as he was held. “Aw, come on now. Don’t cry. Someone like you can’t cry, remember?” 

“…I don’t know what I am anymore, Jou.”

Atem didn’t know what to make of that. What could Yugi possibly mean? Was he more disabled or ill than he had previously seemed when they had first met? Were these perceived as flaws that were holding him back from forming any lasting connections outside of his small group? 

And what about what Jonouchi had said? He had told the prince when they first met that they had been journeying for work. Yugi, in all his time at the castle, had never been asked to participate in any of the daily cleaning or entertainment that had been asked of the other two. Perhaps he was unable to, and he viewed this as a failing. 

This would not stand. No matter what struggles Yugi was dealing with, or any misgivings he may have about himself because of them, Atem would see to it that he was freed of such negative self-talk. 

The next morning, finally, Atem found Yugi walking through the palace gardens. A garden may have been too polite a word for what the dry paths and unmaintained bushes had become over the years, but Atem remained hopeful it would one day be bright and beautiful again. 

He watched as Yugi walked down the paths, and the leaves and grasses already appeared to glisten despite their lack of good water and care. The patches of weeds that had sprouted small blooms seemed to bend towards him as he walked by, no matter what direction the breeze the nearby sea provided was headed.

 
The prince’s feet carried him to follow Yugi before he had given them the command. Yugi did not startle when he rushed to walk beside him, instead only looked towards him and nodded in greeting without stopping his slow steady pace. 

“Good morning,” he said in greeting as he brushed his fingertips across what plants he could. “Will the king be sending you out again today?” 

“He tried. Though I thought a break was due, given how often I’ve been out and about these last few weeks,” the prince replied. They walked in silence for a ways, taking in the fresh air while Atem fought for some of his courage. It would seem that in matters of the heart, even the mightiest warriors were likely to cower at the threat of rejection. “May I ask you something?” he finally forced out. 

“Of course, your Highness,” Yugi responded, with a curious raise of his brow. 

“Please, you may call me Atem,” he said with a chuckle. The constant formality had frustrated Atem initially, but at this point it had become like a game to him as he strived to make Yugi drop the title. “I don’t want to overstep, or make you uncomfortable, but are you… happy here?” 

Yugi stopped walking, confusion now clear on his face. “Am I happy?” 

“I see you, every day, walking the empty halls like they might change and become something new. I see how your mind wanders to realms far beyond the castle grounds. How your eyes look through air rather than at any one thing, as though you can see ghosts that hold the answers to whatever it is you seek.”

Yugi looked down and fidgeted with his fingers. “I’m sorry, I-”

“None of that bothers me, though,” Atem interrupted, not trusting himself to continue speaking his mind as he was should he be stopped. “I’m far more concerned with the root of it all. If you are unhappy and if there is anything I can do to help, I desperately desire to know what it is that can be done.”

Yugi looked back up at him then, his confusion having morphed into a sadness so plain that he looked more like an innocent child than Atem had ever seen him.

 
“I don’t know what I’m looking for anymore,” Yugi finally whispered. “Did you know, I even wander while in my dreams? I never stop. I once dreamt I walked all the way up to the highest tower of the castle, only to find nothing but an endless view of the sea. I was about to walk right over the edge and into it when I was jolted awake, still in my bed.”

 
Yugi covered his face at the memory of the nightmare, and Atem took a step forward to comfort him. Before he could, Yugi took a deep breath and started moving away, back to the exit of the gardens. 

“Forgive me, your Highness. I won’t trouble you-” 

“Trouble me, please!” Atem shouted, giving up all decorum he’d tried to maintain up until this point. 

Yugi stopped. He turned back to face the prince. “What?” 

“I’m sorry. I’ve wanted to be as traditional and… I don’t know, proper about this as I could be. But it seems I must be simpler and to the point.” Atem took one of Yugi’s hands in both of his and brought it to his chest. “In all the stories of love that I’ve read, I’ve never found words that could describe how I feel about you. From the moment I first saw you my soul cried out to know you. I don’t love you for your beauty or your grace, nor in spite of any perceived failings you may think you have.” 

Yugi shook his head, but did not pull away or resist the hold Atem had on him. “But you don’t really know me. How can you be so sure I’m what you want?” 

Atem stepped closer and slowly leaned in until the pink birthmark on Yugi’s forehead pressed to his brow and Yugi gasped quietly. “I love you,” Atem declared, “and that’s all I care to know.” 

Yugi’s eyes shined with tears as he looked into Atem’s eyes, but a smile grew across his face. With a quiet laugh, he pulled his hand from the prince’s gentle grasp only to wrap both arms around his neck and pull them into a kiss. Atem’s arms wrapped around Yugi’s waist, head light and heart as full as it could be. 

When they pulled away briefly, Yugi began to laugh again, tears now falling freely. As Atem looked at him, it seemed as though his love was overcome with all kinds of emotion, but especially relief. His expression and demeanor were like he had been carrying a heavy burden, which was now finally set down for good. 

A joy brought on from a great release, though for a split second the prince couldn’t help but wonder what it was exactly that Yugi had given up. 

“Oh, Atem,” Yugi cried, bringing the prince back from his own thoughts instantly. “You’re right! How could I ever deny your love? You are kind and brave and everything a man should be.”

“Then you return my feelings? You’ll allow me to court you, as properly as I can?” Atem asked, his own smile excited but his grip on Yugi’s waist betraying his nerves. 

“Yes! Of course!” Without another word, Yugi fell back into Atem’s arms for another kiss. 

They stayed in the garden all morning, sharing quiet kisses and words of endearment. When they did need to part ways, Atem brought one of Yugi’s soft hands up for a reverent kiss before swearing to see him again before supper that evening. 

“You have made me the happiest prince in all the world, sweet Yugi,” Atem promised. “I only hope you feel even half as strongly about me as I do for you.” 

Yugi smiled broadly, the happiness reaching his eyes in a way Atem had never seen before. They shined so clearly, unburdened or clouded by unknowable visions or worries. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me, Atem,” Yugi replied. “Thank you.” 

Atem couldn’t help but laugh. “No thanks are needed. Just kiss me again before I must leave you.” And Yugi did so. 

Their love now revealed, the prince saw a new side of Yugi begin to grow and flourish. Where once he was quiet, he now spoke up in conversation easily. He often asked to accompany Atem throughout the castle, even if it was only to join him in the library to join him in reading. Yugi now acknowledged each person or thing that was in front of him right away, rather than needing to be prompted to recognize he was being called for.  

Atem wasn’t the only one to notice the change in demeanor, though the others did not appear to feel as optimistic about the change as he did. Jonouchi and Anzu were certainly respectful and congratulatory when they announced their courtship, but the prince couldn’t help noticing how their smiles would drop as they watched Yugi grow more and more expressive with his emotions. 

Whenever they asked if he would like company in his rooms for the evening to discuss anything as they used to, Yugi would reject the offer in favor of reading with Atem, or requesting solitude. Jou and Anzu’s concerned glances to each other wormed their way into his mind, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything to them. 

Seto, on the other hand, had become much more attentive to the prince and his guest after learning of the development. Feeling it only right, the prince had been quick to announce his formal courtship of Yugi to his cousin. 

At first, the king did not seem to have much reaction to the news. He kept his eyes glued to the rolling waves out of the throne room window, leaning on the sill to get as close as possible to the foggy panes. 

Atem looked out as best he could to see if there was anything that he could see from his vantage point, but nothing seemed different or amiss. “Your Majesty? …Cousin, is everything alright?” 

All at once, Seto pushed himself away from the window and turned to face him. “You may court him if you wish. Perhaps this will keep you busy since there have been no recent monster sightings elsewhere in the kingdom.” 

The prince bowed and made to leave, but paused, “I hope you take the time to get to know him as I have,” he said before he could think better of it. “Yugi is very special to me, and it would bring me great happiness to see you included in our joy.” 

The king moved to sit in his throne, but kept his steely gaze turned to the sea. “He is special, indeed,” Atem heard Seto say before being waved away. 

Chapter Text

How quickly weeks go by when one’s heart is lighter than air. To Atem, the days had begun to bleed seamlessly into one other, allowing for an almost never-ending feeling of contentment and joy. To live each day knowing your heart’s deepest desire desired you in return brought a light to the prince’s life he had not known was possible.

Riding back from his most recent quest in a neighboring kingdom, he sighed dreamily as the castle came into view. Yugi awaited him there. Nothing made the otherwise dark castle feel more like a warm home than that thought. He spurred his horse on, bidding it gain speed to be reunited with his love all the sooner.

Crossing over the old draw bridge and into the courtyard, he looked up and saw Yugi on a high tower balcony. He made to wave but saw the king standing beside the shorter man and taking his attention. It wasn’t necessarily odd to see his cousin out and about, but it was supremely curious to see him conversing with one of their guests on his own accord. Interest piqued, Atem stabled his horse as quickly as possible before making his way towards the tower stairs.

Living in a castle did wonders for the growth childhood imagination. Doubly so when the castle in question harbored a few secret passages; remnants of old sieges and strategies not seen on those lands for generations. Atem had found this tower’s “back” stairwell when he had been only nine years old, and had had a good laugh about the stress he’d caused his nursemaid when he couldn’t be found for hours. Seto had chided him ruthlessly for it, but never demanded to see where he had hidden, so Atem never felt the need to reveal the location of the stairs.

As he neared the top, he could see the concealed corner that would open on the opposite side of the balcony from the main stairway. The voices of Yugi and Seto became clearer as he leaned against the hidden opening, not wanting to interrupt whatever the strange interaction just yet.

“You must be proud of him,” he heard Yugi say to the king. “Atem is a true honor to your kingdom.”

“Hmm. He has not brought me shame, I can say that much. Though he has not brought the joy I had thought he would when I agreed to take him in.” An awkward silence followed and Atem grit his teeth to keep still. He had long believed it impossible to fully please his cousin, but to hear it from Seto’s own lips was no less of a sting.

Yugi, perhaps in an attempt to save himself from the unease smothering him, asked “What does bring you joy, Your Majesty?”

The king did not answer right away. When he did speak, his voice was softer than Atem could ever remember hearing it. Like Seto had been whisked away from the castle and into a beautiful yet bygone past.

“The creatures and beasts of myth. Only they have ever brought me any kind of real joy. Why do you think the library my cousin has wasted so many of his days in has all of the knowledge it does?

Yes, I complied it. The monsters of this and all lands fascinated me. Their power, their magic, their seemingly immovable place in the world. Once, when I was young and fancied myself a knight, I went out into the forest to try to catch one. It didn’t matter what I found, so long as I found anything.”

A new pause filled the air until Yugi bid the king continue. “What did you see?”

“…A unicorn,” Seto answered, voice regaining strength and passion. “A single unicorn revealed itself to me and it was like my soul took flight. I had never seen anything as beautiful as that creature, and knew as soon as I lost sight of it again I never would again. I couldn’t stand the thought. I vowed from that day on I would do anything and everything in my power to ensure I would never have them out of my sight again.”

Atem heard Yugi gasp and leaned to peak from around the corner he was behind. Seto stood behind Yugi, both of them facing out to the ocean. The king pointed down towards where Atem could hear the crashes of the waves.

“The sea traps more than victims of shipwrecks and storms. With the power of ancient magics and my control of the White Dragon, I keep them there. Every one of the great monsters of legend I have the dragon drive into the sea! With every crash of wave and billow of wind I can see them again. I look out at them from my bedside and will watch all of them swim and jump and dance for me forever!”

The king spun Yugi around and the two locked eyes. Frightful of what the king may do in his emotional state, Atem still did not reveal himself even as shocked as Yugi looked.

“…My Lord,” Yugi said only just loud enough to be heard, “why do you look at me so confused?”

Fully returned to the stairwell and kneeling to avoid being seen, Atem could not see Seto’s expression, but could clearly picture the frustrated furrow to his brow he normally wore when anything didn’t go as expected.

“You think me as blind as my cousin? Love may have kept him from noticing, but not I. I know what you are, unicorn, and no mannish form you wear can keep you hidden any longer.”

“Y-your Majesty, I-”

“Silence! Do not take me for a fool. I’ve seen more of your kind than most have seen in their wildest dreams. I know what you are and I’ll catch you just as I have the others.” With that last ominous threat, the king stomped down the main staircase away from Yugi.

In the next few moments, Atem heard Yugi collapse to the hard stone of the balcony floor, scared gasps and tears escaping.

“He is mad! Oh, what can I do,” Yugi whispered to himself through his tears.

The prince, for his part, was immensely confused to say nothing of his concern that his cousin was as mad as Yugi protested. Atem could hear Yugi’s nervous breathing even from his hiding place. He rose to standing to make his way to comfort his lover, but suddenly heard Jonouchi approach from the main staircase.

“Oh, Yugi. Come on, you can’t keep crying like this. If you’re really human enough to cry so sorrowfully then no magic in the world will ever change you back.” The muffled crying changed to sniffing as Yugi pulled back from the hug he had been pulled into.

“Change me… back?”

“You haven’t lost hope that we can, have you?”

“No… it’s only…” he trailed off and stayed silent, leaving room for more angst to fill the air.

“Well, don’t worry,” Jou attempted to console. “I came to find you to tell you Anzu and I think we found an entrance to the White Dragon’s cavern. We can find where Seto’s keeping the other unicorns and set them free.”

“I don’t know, Jou,…” Yugi’s voice trailed off, and if he said more then it was lost to the prince as the pair of friends made their way back down the staircase.

The White Dragon?

Unicorns?

Change Yugi back?

Atem considered himself an intelligent man. Not the most widely studied, perhaps, but always open to new wisdom from others. While the ways of magic eluded and perplexed him, he was no stranger to its powers over the world and knew better than to question the might of the users who wielded word or wand as fiercely as he would wield a sword.

The idea that a creature such as a unicorn could be transformed into the shape of a man wasn’t a concept he had considered possible. Not for lack of powerful magic, but rather the conflicting facts of what he knew of unicorns themselves – Quiet, pure, solitary creatures, who were more likely to walk calmly towards a raging dragon than opt to walk among human beings.

Now forced to consider the possibility, he couldn’t help but recall Yugi’s first days at the castle. How the small, fragile man had gazed through, not upon, everything and everyone his large soulful eyes landed on. How each step and touch seemed to be the first of its kind to him. How Yugi’s mere existence day to day filled everyone with equal parts shock and amazement, including Yugi himself.

The prince, though entranced by the newness of his demeanor, had simply been happy to see Yugi brighten and seemingly become more alive after confessing their feelings. The perfect peace now ruling the prince’s heart was due almost entirely to the cheerful smiles, lively conversation, and gentle and oh-so-sweet kisses shared between Yugi and he. 

However, mad as his cousin may have truly been, Atem knew he wasn’t a fool to suspect what he did. And having heard the evidence from Jonouchi’s mouth himself…

He could see now how these small be meaningful changes in habit were imperfect mortal feelings overtaking Yugi’s natural state of being. He understood now why Anzu and Jou had looked on concerned, while he had rejoiced in Yugi’s apparent blossoming. No matter how powerful and real the love between them was, was it really right for Atem to keep Yugi from assisting and returning to the open world with the rest of his magical kinfolk?

The prince was many things. A strong fighter, he trained to be. A studious reader, he had striven to remain. A devoted ruler, he hoped to become.

All of these traits, hard fought and studied for, now helped steel his weary heart against the pang of despair at what he knew he must do. The unicorns must be freed from their prison, and Yugi with them. 

That night, Atem did not sleep. He had barely spoken a word at supper, no matter how Yugi had tried to spur him with conversation. It had been difficult not responding as he normally would, but he knew he had to keep his focus. He had bid his company good evening earlier than customary offering the excuse that he was exhausted from his long journey home.

When he judged it late enough, he snuck back out and found a wall in the main hallway to lean on as he rested his eyes. He would wait for a sign of the trio of friends, and follow wherever they went. He didn’t need to wait long. The small group, ill-practiced as he was in stealth, barely whispered as they made their way together through the echo-prone halls.

“What do you mean it’s behind a clock? I’ve never heard such a ridiculous thing,” Anzu chided.

“Ridiculous or not, that’s the truth! The passage down to the dragon’s keep is behind the large clock by the library. Now come on, before we’re spotted.”

“Jou, are you certain?” Yugi asked.

“Yes, yes, of course. I walked down a couple of flights and could feel the air getting cooler –”

“No. I mean… do you think I…”

A sigh escaped not just the magician, but Anzu as well.

“Yugi,” the prince heard Anzu say. “I can’t imagine how you must be feeling, but if your whole mission was to find the other unicorns…”

Yugi did not answer, but Atem assumed their friends took his silence as acceptance as they moved past the hall where he stood. Mindful of his steps, the prince carefully followed the group to the library, and down the winding flights of crumbling stairs deep into the caves beneath the castle.

As he heard the group begin contemplating confronting the White Dragon themselves, his concern for their safety prompted him to reveal himself.

“You’ll need a seasoned monster fighter if you mean to escape this passageway,” the prince proclaimed loud enough to be noticed. He stepped from his hiding spot and walked closer to meet the shocked eyes of his friends and lover.

“Atem! What are you doing here?” Yugi asked, face almost terrified. The prince immediately hated that look on him.

“Is it not obvious?” Atem replied gently, not able to hold back a small smile to try to soothe Yugi’s unease. “I saw where you went and I followed. You expect me to do less when you know I love you so fiercely?”

“Even… even knowing what he is?” Anzu asked. Atem knew as well as any of them that Anzu was the most direct of all of them. She knew that there was no way Atem could be in the White Dragon’s cave that night without knowing why they were as well. “You still love him?”

“My heart was made up at first glance. No matter what end awaits us, I will see to it that you and your people are free from my cousin’s hold and returned back to where you belong.”

“No!” Yugi shouted, deep bell-like echoes bellowing throughout the cavern.

The pale man ran forward to desperately grip Atem’s shoulders. From this close, and with a more knowledgeable mind, Atem could now see the inhuman curves of his face and the almost ghostly lightness of his steps as he moved. The remnants of a wholly immortal soul shone within his wide violet eyes, and had Atem’s heart not already been besotted, he imagined his body may have instinctively recoiled at the intensity of the gaze.

Yugi’s continued pleas however, flawed and mortal, drew the prince back from this fresh examination of his love. “Can’t you see? I’m human! The White Dragon, the king – they have no need for me anymore. Why can’t we simply leave this retched place and find a happily ever after for ourselves elsewhere?”

“Yugi…” Atem sighed and took hold of Yugi’s thin hands. “A quest cannot be abandoned simply because it is hard or your motivations have changed. While I only learned of the fates of unicorns and the other monsters of legends today, my mission is now clear. I will see the quest to free them completed… and see you rejoin them as well.”

“But –”

“No more words,” Atem interrupted with a stern whisper. “If we are able to speak more later, I would want for nothing more. For now, we must not delay a moment further.”

Keeping a firm grip on one of Yugi’s hands, the prince began to lead the group silently through the dark caverns. He kept a trained ear out for any sense or sign of the White Dragon. The beast was not known for its stealth, however there was no telling how it would stalk intruders in its own home

Soon enough, they began to hear the ocean from the exit of the cave. As they neared it, the moonlight shining brightly through the large opening, the dragon’s piercing cry shook the walls around them.

“Run!” Jonouchi yelled, right as the dragon could be heard coming closer from a side tunnel. They all dashed on to the beach, unclear what to do next other than run. Atem turned his head to see how close the dragon was and nearly tripped due to the surprise at what he saw.

His cousin, laughing wildly, rode the dragon as it pursued them down the water line.

“You see now, Unicorn? You have no escape!” the king shouted over the rumble of every step the dragon took. The dragon reared its head as he let out another maniacal laugh and fired a White Lightning blast towards the group, separating Jou and Anzu from Yugi and Atem, who still ran with hands linked.  

“I thought the dragon had no interest in people. Why does it listen to Seto?” Anzu asked, desperation straining her voice.

“It’s not chasing us. It’s chasing Yugi!” Jou gasped with horror. “Seto must have told the dragon what he really is.”

Atem growled in frustration as Yugi and he continued to be herded like sheep closer to the edge of the sea. Taking the only action he knew he could, he pushed Yugi to side and drew his sword to face the beast.

“Back! You’ll not have him!”

“Atem! No!” Yugi cried from where he’d been pushed to the sand.

“Jonouchi! Anzu! Get Yugi out of here!” the prince yelled as he charged forward. The dragon was surprised enough by the attack that Atem’s sword was able to make contact with the beast’s head, though not hard enough to pierce the hard scales lethally.

“Enough of this!” the king shouted from his perch. “End this!” Suddenly, the dragon swung its head and knocked the prince back into some fallen cliff rocks. The hard contact stunned him instantly, and a loud crack was heard throughout his whole body as he slid to the sandy ground. Barely conscious, the prince almost didn’t notice when Anzu rushed over to him yelling and began to press a cloth to the back of his head. He could only assume he must be bleeding, though he began to only feel a numbness taking over.  

He could hear more shouting, and but could not tell from whom it came. He prayed to all the Gods he knew of that Jonouchi was able to get Yugi away. Yugi was all that mattered.

The wind from the sea picked up strength, the chill keeping the prince in his state of semi-consciousness more than Anzu’s desperate prompting. The sky went dark and all at once a bright light, not unlike that of the dragon’s White Lightning, began to glow from further down the beach. But there was no explosion. No yelling from his friends. Were they safe after all?

A loud bleat, almost like that of a horse’s neigh but higher pitched and slightly grating to the ears rang out through the air. Atem cracked his eyes open and was able to make out a blurred white creature standing off against Seto and the dragon. From its forehead, a glowing purple aura was shining and the creature – a unicorn he realizes – began swiping its horn and kicking violently against the dragon.

With each kick, the dragon was driven further back up towards the sea edge itself, despite Seto’s yelling and protests.

“Idiot dragon! You would succumb to a unicorn?? What use are you, beast?”

The dragon roared and reared back as a large wave appeared behind it. Atem heard Anzu gasp as the dragon continued to move backwards, until it flailed as it was nearly fully submerged in the ocean, and the great creature and tormented king were quickly overtaken by the wave.

As the water finally met the shore, and the sea foam and water particles sparkled in the rising sun, a new wave began to crest over the horizon. It grew and grew, and when it too hit the shore, unicorns, hundreds upon hundreds of them made their way out of the ocean and on to land. Among them, other creatures and beasts of all manner of myth and legend began to emerge from the waves. Sphinxes and manticores. Harpies and phoenixes. Fairies and dragons and satyrs, and all manner of other creatures in all shapes and size and story appeared.

The pieces of the unimaginable menagerie shrieked and howled and roared as they ran or flew at full speed back out into the world, paying no mind to the cowering humans all huddled by the rocks on the beach. The ruckus had the prince’s head spinning all the more, and despite his best efforts, he could no longer fight the pull of darkness dragging him down to unconsciousness.

Atem had not imagined he’d awake, but when he did finally come to, it was to the touch of the softest fur he could possibly fathom at his temple. He leaned into it with a groan but the touch pulled away silently. He took a while to take mental stock of himself, but the prince was shocked to realize that while still sore and tired, he did not feel any pain. He blinked his eyes open and saw Jonouchi and Anzu tearfully smiling at him in delight.

“Atem! Thank goodness!” Anzu cheered as Jou patted his shoulder.

“Are you feeling alright?” Jou asked as he helped Atem sit up from the sand. A quick touch to the back of his head proved that he no longer had any injuries to speak of so he nodded.

“I think so.” He looked out towards the sea in front of him, and wondered for a moment if everything that had transpired that day was some wild dream. Even though he’d lived it, he’d believe that just as easily. “Has my cousin…”

The question was left there and Anzu and Jou’s smiles both turned to somber frowns.

“Neither the White Dragon nor the king have returned from the ocean,” the magician replied. Atem was instantly filled with empathy and grief for the loss of his cousin. No matter the origin of Seto’s desires, they had been each other’s only family.

But now, as the prince looked up to the castle that was now his and his alone, he knew that he could return the land to what it should have been all along. No more would the kingdom be neglected in pursuit of wild and desperate dreams of the noble in charge. No more would mortal man nor mythical beast be subjected to an uncaring ruler’s whims.

Atem looked back out to the sea and then around the empty beach where the humans sat alone.

“And… Yugi?”

Anzu’s tears started again briefly but she wiped them away. “He left. He used his magic to make sure you were alright, but didn’t stay long enough to see you wake.”

It pained Atem to know Yugi had fled without saying good-bye, after all they had said and been through. Still, he could not be angry. He never would be, he knew. His heart had no room for anger when he knew his love was safe and had ensured his own safety in return. Not many could claim to have seen a unicorn, let alone have been healed and loved by one, so he would take that as the blessing it was with thanks.

The following day he bid Anzu and Jou farewell. They were to begin a new journey, learning what they could in different kingdoms and sharing what they could in return.

“I wish you both all the best, though I will miss you. I’ve never… Well, I never had real friends before,” Atem said as they packed a small cart with their belongings. When there was nothing left to keep them, he pulled both of them close for a tight group hug. “Please don’t be strangers. Travel back this way whenever you can.”

Jonouchi offered a wide smile and nod. “You can be sure we will! You’ll have to pay us to keep us away haha!”

“I had hoped to say anything meaningful in farewell to Yugi as well,” Atem admitted with a forlorn look down the road away from the castle.

Jou sighed and his smile and eyes softened in sympathy. “He knows your heart and will keep it safe within his own forever.”

Not long after the pair had left, Atem decided to take a ride through the woods on his own to clear his mind. Even with the knowledge that there were far more unknowable living things within the wood than there had been the last several years, the energy and magic surrounding him felt lively and safe. Perhaps the returned creatures were too busy celebrating their newfound freedom to concern themselves with hunting a lonesome royal that day.

His horse suddenly paused, unbidden. Atem looked around to see what had caused the animal’s distraction, and his eyes came to rest on the unmistakable form of a unicorn, seemingly having appeared all at once in his path.

Atem held his breath but when the creature made no movement to flee upon being spotted, he slowly got off his horse and made his way closer. The unicorn took one silent step back, seemingly on instinct, but then shook its long slender neck and its cloven hooves left no prints as it moved forward to meet the king apparent.

The books on unicorns he had in his library did not often speak on how men were meant to interact with the creatures. The authors usually only spoke of how to help a youthful maiden lure one out for her own enjoyment. No notes were provided on what to do to please a unicorn that had come upon you naturally, or at least show it you meant no harm. Without any other instruction to go by, Atem resorted to polite and humble speech.

“Peace, lovely unicorn. I mean you no ill.” When the unicorn only tilted its head slightly, as if in wonder, the prince was nearly concerned it couldn’t understand him. Better to be safe than sorry though, he felt. “Do you show yourself as some sign of thanks for freeing you and your kind? I can assure you I deserve no such thanks. I played very little part in the end.”

“You should not discredit yourself so.” To Atem’s shock, the unicorn spoke, and it was the soft beautiful voice he would know and love for the rest of his life.

“Yugi? Could it really be you?” Atem asked desperately.

The unicorn nodded, the white mane shining like diamond even in the shadow of the trees. “Yes. I had hoped to find you here. Jonouchi and Anzu said you wouldn’t stay in the castle for long.”

“You saw them, then. I’m glad to hear it.” Atem had known they also wished to bid a formal farewell to their dear friend.

“Atem,” Yugi started, taking one more step forward but long neck lowering as if in shame. “I must apologize for my deception. While it was necessary I wish it hadn’t been.”

“Please, Yugi. Do not apologize for anything, I beg you.” Atem raised a hand to place a comforting palm on the creature before him, but thought better of it. Despite their history, he could not bring himself to touch a unicorn uninvited.

Yugi though, seeing his raised hand, lifted his head to press the long bridge of his nose up into the touch. Dark purple eyes with no remnant of mortal fragility shut upon the contact and Atem sighed in both awe and reverence.

“While deception may have been the start of our story,” Yugi continued quietly, “you must know that the love I feel for you remains real and true. In all my doubtful wary days as a mortal, I never doubted that.”

Atem nodded and inhaled deeply to hold back his growing tears. “I know. I felt your love and knew it matched my own. I was prepared to spend all of my mortal days with you, not knowing or caring of the subject or manner of your birth nor the details of your mysterious past. None of it mattered.”

A long moment of silence fell between the pair. The chorus of the forest around them reminded them that life continued, as it should so before too long both unicorn and man pulled away at the same time.

“I must thank you, Good King Atem,” Yugi said, “for the part you did indeed play as savior. Not only of my kind, but many many others.”

“Only if you allow me to thank you, for the part you played in teaching me what all the stories and plays meant when discussing True Love.” A laugh like a gust of spring wind escaped the unicorn and if it were possible for a blush to be visible through the thick white fur, Atem thought he may have seen it. The unicorn nodded and began to turn to leave.

“Farewell, Atem. I pray your rule is a long one.”

“Farewell, beloved Yugi.”

Before the name was fully from his lips, the Unicorn had disappeared into the forest in a blink. Viscerally aware of how alone he now was, Atem placed the hand that had touched the unicorn to his eyes and allowed a few silent tears to escape.

His emotional release could not last long though. There would be more time to grieve, a lifetime in fact. In the meantime, he had work to begin. The kingdom would not remake itself and reach new heights of prosperity simply by receiving a new king. While his heart may never fully heal, Atem understood the places he and his love took in this story – he in his role as hero and King, and the Unicorn in nature and the myths of men. And he would be content.

5 years later

At the news of King Seto’s passing, details undisclosed, staff and courtiers had flocked to join the new court of the beloved King Atem. The then-prince had long been an anticipated successor to his cousin, and even if the circumstances would have otherwise spurred folk to gossip and hypothesize nefarious plots, no one cared to do so.

The castle had been largely reconstructed. There would be still be work to be done for the next decade or so, patching all of the holes in walls, restrengthening supports beams, and even fully demolishing towers and rooms that were ruined from disrepair to be worth the time and cost it would take to mend them.

The kingdom continued to the thrive under the new king’s steadfast and committed direction. On the anniversary of his coronation, there was a large feast being held, and a flood of traveling showmen and troupes were hired to enter the bustling castle walls to entertain the court. As the king mingled with the crowd in the bustling great hall, he caught sight of a familiar patchwork blue outfit and fluffy brown hair and quickly made his way over.

“Jonouchi! Anzu!” he called. The friends embraced and smiled widely.

“Thank you for inviting us, your Majesty,” Anzu greeted with a curtsy and a wink.

“Nonsense! You are both most welcome, on any day and any time. It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you both. You must stay after the festivities so I can hear of all your travels and see you show off all the new tricks you’ve learned.”

“Ah. There is something you should know,” the wizard admitted with a mischievous smirk. Atem raised an eyebrow and only then noticed a simply dressed and cloaked figure that had been standing behind his friends. Anzu moved behind them to give an encouraging push forward.

Atem nodded with a smile. “Greetings, traveler. Any friend of these two is a friend to me. Show your face,” the king requested kindly.

The figure stepped forward and raised pale hands to remove the cloak’s hood, violet eyes shining like gems in the light of the sun making its way through the colorful windows of the hall.

Yugi. It was Yugi, as Atem had known him as a human. The unicorn, now man once again, smiled hopefully at the king’s shock before bowing in greeting. “Your Majesty.”

Blessings from all the Gods, his voice was just as soft and perfect as the king’s memory had maintained. With no words, Atem rushed forward and drew his beloved into a passionate kiss, which was quickly returned. The two lovers pulled away only to laugh joyfully as Atem picked Yugi up and spun him around. The court around them murmured with confusion but apparent delight at their king’s newly revealed lover. Neither paid the crowd any mind.

“How can this be so? Am I dreaming? Have I died?” Atem whispered.

“Knowing a magician that is more powerful than he seems has its benefits,” Yugi explained with a kind glance to Jou, who coughed and rubbed the back of his head with a shrug.

“And he shall forever have a king in his debt for bringing you back to me,” Atem declared before pulling Yugi back in for a new kiss, this time to thunderous cheers from the fascinated audience, all eager to learn more of the mysterious arrival.

That night, after many rushed and redacted introductions to the members of the court, the two lovers walked arm and arm through the castle gardens where they had first declared their love for each other. Compared to that far off day, the plants and flowers were now all in bloom and well cared for. Yugi still brushed his fingertips across the leaves and petals, and they still seemed to lean into his touch. Atem could understand their desire to be closer to the ethereal being gracing his presence.

“I can’t bring myself to jinx the blessing I’ve been granted by questioning how you’ve returned to me,” Atem admitted, “but I must admit the temptation to do so is ravaging my thoughts.”

Yugi chuckled but nodded in understanding. “After I left you in the wood, I returned to my birthplace. It’s an ancient forest very far away. On my journey back I saw how magic was already returning to the world. Not to be used or seen by most of mankind, but in the air and the water and the earth. A balance that had been lost for years was returning.”

Atem led them to an iron bench to sit while Yugi continued his tale.

“We Unicorns are solitary creatures, though I did reconnect with others over the months and years. It was through them I realized how my time as a human had changed me. Where they are eternal in their purity of thought, I now had the fear of death and ache of regret within my soul that no unicorn before or after me ever shall feel.”

Atem knelt at Yugi’s feet, gripping his hand in his own and pressing it to his forehead.  Had any member of the current court been there to see him, they would surely gasp at such a sign of reverence from a king to another, no matter how much the royal cared for them.

“Forgive me. I have played a part in the evil done to a being such as yourself, and there is nothing I can do to atone for such a mistake.”

Yugi shook his head and fell to his knees as well to meet Atem’s eyes. “No, my love, no. The regret I felt was never of the choices you, or our friends made. It was only the bitter regret of leaving you as I did. I sought out Jonouchi and Anzu all across the lands as they traveled in order to beg him to beseech the powers that be to transform me back to this mortal form once and for all.”

“But… your forest. Your immortality.”

“Unicorns are in the world again. Others will care for my forest as I have. I will be content with what years I am granted, so long as they are spent with you at my side.”

The lovers smiled at each other as tears of joy filled their eyes. As they shared a new kiss in the garden, the sound of ocean waves lapping calmly at the shoreline filled the night air.