- Kaiba wins. it’s the most narratively compelling option; it proves Atem’s “we’re evenly matched, and you would have won at least half our duels if you weren’t spending so much energy on using me as some kind of weird hate-proxy for your dad” speech right; it’s been 20+ years and he deserves it tbqh
- which creates the perfect setup for a “got what you wanted but not what you need” scenario–finally achieving his goal throws into sharp relief that that isn’t his real desire
- whichsets up a juicy and dramatique exchange that goes something like this: “no, I’m not satisfied and I’m not leaving!” “Kaiba you are literally dying as we speak, go home”
- “well I’m not leaving without you so Guess I’ll Die!” (calling back to the Duelist Kingdom rooftop ultimatum)
- “[softening] Kaiba…you have a life to lead. And now that you’ve won–proven yourself–gotten your closure–you can move on with that life” (MW/Ceremonial Duel parallels abound–that’s what people need him for, right? To use him as a symbol, a protector, a rival, until his strength fails and they surpass him, take his torch, and carry on a better life without him?)
- but: “I didn’t come here to duel you!!!” it bursts out, unplanned. he looks almost as surprised as Atem does
- “then…why…?”
- o shit. it’s time to forget what he told Mokuba all those years ago and Let Them See Your Weakness. it’s time to Submit to the Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known. it’s time to pull out the biggest guns yugioh has. it’s time…………….for a Friendship Speech
- it’s impassioned! there’s big dramatic gestures! highly emotional yelling! his coat is swooshing wildly around! I don’t know exactly what he says, tbh, but some themes that definitely come up: 1) some kind of reference to Rishid’s “there is only light in life” speech; 2) “our road of battle doesn’t end here!”; 3) reference to the Battle City tag duel (“you taught me that I deserve to keep living even if I lose, and I am not letting you throw your chip of life away you fucking hypocrite”); 4) “…as a friend”; 5) “…for you.”
- Atem: “o…oh. ;~; ”
- after much soul-searching, angsting about how he has A Destiny and he’s not supposed to Want Things, and possibly a nudge from Mana/Mahad/Shimon, Atem finally takes Kaiba’s hand. in a beam of golden light, they warp to–
- –the spot where Kaiba was last. which was thousands of feet above sea level. they’re falling. Atem’s screaming. Kaiba’s not screaming because he passed out from the effort of Walking the Realm of the Dead. Atem has to tap into the last of his Pharonic Powers, one last time, (he forfeited them when he defied his destiny, although he still has some magic that was learned and not puzzle-granted/innate, i.e. the illusion magic and dark magic that Mahad taught him) to summon Slifer and ferry them down to earth
- those iguanas would like to know what a couple of random unconscious assholes are doing on their island
