Puzzleshipping

"I... I'm too weak... You were my hero... My goal... I wanted to be strong... Like you... That's all..."

- Yugi crying to Yami (Atem) after their final battle.

"You're not weak... You've always had a power that no one else could beat... Partner... The power of kindness... That's what I learned from you."

- Yami comforting Yugi in response.

Puzzleshipping is the slash ship between Atem and Yugi Mutou from the Yu-Gi-Oh! fandom.

General
It is revealed through flashbacks that Yugi came to receive the Millennium Puzzle through his grandfather, Sugoroku Muto (Soloman in the translated anime), from a trip in Egypt. Yugi solves the Millennium Puzzle in his room one evening and he is blessed with the luck of the Millennium Puzzle and the resting spirit that resides within it, Pharaoh Atem's soul, in the form of Yami Yugi. Initially in the anime, Yugi and Yami do not appear to understand eachother's presence and both refer to eachother as the same person. This is evident when Yami appears to duel in place of Yugi to rescue Yugi's grandfather, from Seto Kaiba's capture. Yami assumes Yugi's place as his alter-ego for the very earliest part of the series and Yami continues referring to Yugi's deck, friends, family, and even goals, as his own. Though Yami's condition of causes him to forget his name and past, he shares a deep and close relationship with Yugi. Yami tries his best to protect Yugi whenever they encounter a dangerous threat; taking over Yugi's body to battle his foes. Even when Yugi did not know of his existence at the beginning of the series, Yami strove to rescue Yugi's grandfather from Seto Kaiba and then Maximillion Pegasus whom he also deems as his grandfather, and would save Yugi's friends should they were in danger. After Yugi became aware of Yami's existence, the two began working together in either protecting the world from evil, or finding Yami's lost memories, all which further developed Yami's connection with Yugi more. Yami has even said he cherishes Yugi more than his own life.

After finding out about the spirit, Yugi was afraid of him, but eventually grew to accept this revelation as well as Yami himself. As Yugi began to grow, becoming stronger he still remained in Yami's shadow. After the warehouse fire, Yugi is shown to be afraid of losing Yami. When he found out Yami was looking for his lost memories, Yugi decided to help, even though it meant they would one day be separated. Yugi was heartbroken as he watched Yami using the Seal of the Orichalcos, but when he lost and was about to lose his soul, Yugi sacrificed himself to save his closest friend who for the 1st time seen in the series cried.

Amongst his complete obedience to Yugi, Yami would sometimes risk his link with him over the duels that he is on verge of loss. As while Yami strongly refuses to put Yugi's life at risk and always believes in his decisions, Yami's pride and refusal of losing would sometimes ricochet him from listening to Yugi, as seen in his duel against Kaiba for the second time in "Duelist Kingdom" arc, and against Rafael in "Waking the Dragons" arc, where he would go to any scale to avoid losing the duel. In the latter duel, however, Yami showed a great grief for losing Yugi because of his arrogance, and was vastly influenced by the loss of his partner to the point of losing faith in himself. When Weevil Underwood joked that he ripped the card containing Yugi's soul in his duel against Yami, Yami became very angry about that, and used his "Berserker Soul" magic card to launch continuous attacks at him until he draws a magic or trap card. Although Yami won the duel, he continued to attack Weevil mercilessly until Téa stopped him.

When Yami encountered Yugi in the Stone Wilderness, he explained to Yugi how sorry he was for his actions that lead to seal him. But Yugi, who was trying to pull Yami together, told him that he (Yami) only cares about himself so he does not care what happens to him as long as he has the power, and forced him into a duel. Although Yami refused to attack Yugi at first, fearing that losing the duel would mean that he would never be able to rescue Yugi and stop Doma, he reluctantly countered Yugi's final attack in order to win. The outcome of the fight against Yugi affected Yami very emotionally to the point of fainting, but he promised him that he would save him no matter what it takes.

To the end of the series, Yami and Yugi continued to support each other with all the strength they got, sharing their both sad and happy moments together. When Yugi won the Ceremonial Duel against Yami, Yugi proclaimed that he was still not ready and strong to leave Yami. Yami, however, said otherwise, and remarked that while he is leaving Yugi for good, the gift of kindness Yugi has given him, and the gift of courage he has given to Yugi will bind them together. After winning the Ceremonial Battle, Yugi was upset to see him go, claiming that he was weak and wasn't ready. Yami, proud of him, tells him otherwise, and as he steps through the door to the afterlife, Yugi gives him a thumbs up, now ready to go on his own.

Ceremonial Battle
After the party has hold of seven of the Millennium items and Yami's true name, it was decided that the Yami, now known as Pharaoh Atem, return to his world. Yami must now be defeated in a duel to prove he is worthy of returning to the afterlife, and he shall be dueled by none other than Yugi.

Joey and Kaiba both volunteer to face Yami in the battle, but Yugi insists that he shall battle Yami. Kaiba was skeptical of this, since he thought that Yugi would just be Dueling himself. He even grabbed Yugi by the throat and started yelling at him in a dramatic act of anger, but eventually stopped upon Yugi's determination. Yami leaves Yugi to think in private, as he constructs a Deck for the battle. Yugi does the same for Yami.

The party arrives at the Eye of Wdjat. Yami Yugi and Yugi split into two separate physical bodies and begin to Duel, with neither player holding back.

As the Duel continued, Yami's will was so strong and powerful he had actually influenced fate itself to draw exactly the card he needed at the right time. After a few turns, Yami Summons "Dark Magician", who Mahad takes on the form of to defend Yami. Because Yugi knows Yami so well, he deduced that Yami would attempt to ressurect one of his God Cards next. Yami tries to end the Duel, by reviving "Slifer the Sky Dragon" with "Monster Reborn", but Yugi predicted the move earlier and revealed the card he hid within "Gold Sarcophagus" was also "Monster Reborn", negating its effect.

Yami ends his turn, ready to admit defeat. Yugi hesitates to make his last attack, as he does not want Yami to leave. Yugi weeps and orders "Silent Magician" to directly attack Yami, bringing Yami's life points to zero and winning the duel.

Yugi realizes what winning the duel meant, and he falls on his knees and sobs in front of Yami. Yugi calls himself weak and said that he had always followed Yami, wanting to be as strong as him, crying over the fact that he can no longer follow in Yami's footsteps. However Yami says that Yugi has the strength of tenderness, which Yugi has also taught him. Yugi called Atem "the other me", but Atem said that he is no longer another Yugi and Yugi Muto is now himself and nobody else.

In the 4Kids 2004 dub, as Yugi wept, he said that he had been so focused on the Duel, he forgot what winning meant. However Atem said that Yugi has opened the door for him, so he can finally be at rest where he belongs and that they have fulfilled their destiny. Yugi says that he was going to miss Yami, but Yami says that they will never be truly apart as the gift of kindness Yugi has given him and the courage he has given Yugi will bind them forever.

The Eye of Wdjat glows on the wall. Yami tells it his true name, Atem, in order to open the gate to the afterlife. Yugi and the rest of his friends try to talk Yami out of leaving at first, but come to accept that he must go. Yami then says his farewells and enters the afterlife to join his ancient Egyptian friends, where he can finally rest in peace. Yugi said that he will never forget Atem. In the dub 4Kids 2004 dub, Yugi says, "It's like they always say: It's your move!" Referencing an iconic line that Yami often says during some of his duels against their formidable opponents.

Fanon
On AO3, Puzzleshipping is the most written ship for both Yugi and Atem. It also the second most written ship in the Yu-Gi-Oh - All Media Types tag.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION

Trivia

 * The name "Puzzleshipping" is derived from the object of interest, the Millennium Puzzle, that connects Yami Yugi and Yugi Muto's souls together.