Section II
Author's note: first of all, if you're reading this, thank you. Secondly, this isn't exactly a sequel--more like a continuation. The new section continues from the last one, but it's a whole new part of the story--like a new season or something. If the last section confused you because there were so many new characters and places, or because you don't know anything about Pokemon, don't worry--this section may be less confusing, or at least better explained (I hope!). Also, if the amount of deaths in the last section bothered you, don't worry--there are no deaths in this section, although I think some of the flashbacks are pretty creepy. If there's anything that's not well explained or confusing, please tell me so I can clarify. Also, Serafinamoon pointed out to me in the last section that the actual Japanese-version spelling of Yugi's last name isn't "Moto," it's "Mutou." At the time, I was undecided about which way I wanted to spell it (and I didn't feel like going back and reloading all of the chapters because it would have taken so long with my PC), but now, I've decided to go with the Japanese version. ^__^;; Also, to Serafinamoon: yes, their weapons would have been taken ordinarily, but the Clanners hadn't been searched--they were just captured right then. Also, Chaos rarely strips or searches their prisons with any level of consistency--too many of them aren't human enough to use weapons, and too many searchers don't need clothing, so they don't know about pockets. As to how Vice escaped, let's just say that the Last of Ancients isn't called that for nothing--he's among the most powerfully magical people in the Multiverse, although he doesn't like to use it too much. Thanks for the review! Thanks to everyone, and enjoy the new section!
Chapter 1--Nightmares
Everything is dark and silent on this night. This is not the darkness of former Akarana, now Dark World, whose dying stars and blood-covered streets are the silence of death. This not P'korum, more commonly the Pokemon World, whose nights are filled with trainers eager to train and capture nocturnal Pokemon. This is a World with no official name, a World that has no knowledge of other Worlds, and this night is filled only with commuters returning home late and sleeping children wishing they did not have to wake up early for school the next day. No one here knows that in other Worlds, the night is filled with danger or with joy. No one here knows that other Worlds exist.
Well, almost no one.
In one city of this World, there are other occupants of this night. These few know of those other twilights, filled with shadows and suspicion, or with quests and weary searchers. They know that they are not alone, that with only a Gating device there are other Worlds. They know that in the vastness of the Multiverse, there is both great evil and great good.
One of them is hunted by a great army, the most evil army in many life-times.
This one that the Overlord fears is also asleep, just like anyone else in this World. Nothing seems to be amiss here. Nothing seems to be wrong. This is a peaceful World; there is no terror here.
Far away, in a place that is not a World, something is stirring. Eyes are watching, far away. This place has neither night nor day; there is no darkness and no light. There are only whispers to fill this almost-place, whispers about this World, whispers about this one.
Master said--
This one?
Master watched.
Not this one?
That one? Sure?
She said--
Master SAID.
This one is?
This one...
One-Who-Is-Two.
Two?
Master said!
What is it?
See?
Master said that one--
Two?
Sure?
Yes! Master knows!
What's going on?
Looked into the Void--
Not hurt?
Because that one is special!
Only we can--
But then--
It's true! If this one looked--
But the Void is--
Are sure?
Sure!
If it's true--
If Master said, it must be...
Then, if the Void didn't hurt--
Then we--
But that's out there. We don't go out there.
Don't have to. Come HERE.
Can?
Can!
Sure?
True?
Sure! True! Master said!
Master said--must be true.
Then, sure.
So?
Think so too?
Don't know...guess so...
If sure--
Then yes. Let's go. We can, it's true!
....outside?
No outside. Nothing outside.
But this one--
Nothing important outside.
...then...
Yes. We can talk. Let's just look!
Look...
It won't hurt. If it's true--
Maybe we should--
Just look?
Yes!
Well...
Guess so...
Yes...
Maybe right...
Then let's!
Their voices are barely whispers; they are more excited than they have been in a long, long time. Few know that they exist; they certainly don't. They have no ability to care about anything; everything that there is, they are only mildly interested in. It is unusual for them to be so excited, but they have not heard something like this for as long as they can remember, although of course they cannot remember at all. They are watching the one that the Overlord hates so much, although they do not know it. This one that they are watching does not know either. No one but they would know that there is anything special about this one at a glance. A casual observer of this World might not give this one even a glance, but if they did, perhaps they would notice something unusual about him. Not special, exactly, but strange. Maybe they would first notice how short he was. Perhaps if they watched for long enough they would also notice that he talked to himself a lot--and had actual conversations, complete with pauses in which, one could only assume, he was waiting for himself to reply. At this point, most observers would write him off as crazy, and get away from him as fast as possible.
Luckily, not many people observe him that carefully.
This one is Yugi, and he is anything but ordinary. He has returned only recently from a quest in another World, and not his first. Only a very few people in his World know this; they are fellow members of the Sacred Trust, the secret that there are other Worlds. Yugi would consider them to be his friends; most of them would agree.
These others are not being watched.
Yugi is the only one of interest to them; they others are ordinary Outsiders, as they call them. And right now, this completely not-ordinary child, watched and searched for by so many people, is not thinking about the Overlord or the war he has been drawn into or the people he knows nothing about who observe him now. Right now, Yugi is having a very, very strange dream.
*dream sequence*
Everything was shadowy and vague; nothing was definite. This place bore an eerie resemblance to the Shadowrealm, although they were not connected in any way. Like most dreams, it was highly illogical, but this didn't bother the dreamer in question at all. In his dream, Yugi was standing in the middle of this bizarre, featureless land. Because it was a dream, this did not seem strange; what happened next did.
In front of him, a person walked out of the mist. Yugi recognized this new arrival as Farran-Dak, his Clanner friend from the Shadow War. Yugi stared at him as though seeing a ghost, probably because he thought he was.
Yugi had watched Farran get decapitated by a mounted enemy, who had then struck Yugi and ridden off. There was no way Farran could have lived; his body had been brought back to his parents in two pieces. It was only a dream, but of course Yugi could not know this. Farran watched him silently. After a time, he spoke.
"Yugi...don't you remember me?"
"But...you died. You're dead. You...you can't be here...this is impossible..."
Farran glared at him coldly.
"You're right, Yugi. It is impossible, but it didn't have to be, did it? Don't you remember what happened to me, Yugi? He was aiming for you, Yugi! I saved your life--I pushed you out of the way! I didn't have to die that day, Yugi; you killed me!"
And because it was a dream, Yugi did indeed remember that day, almost a year ago...
*flashback*
Everything was dark; the sun was fading, and it was shrouded even in day time. This was Dark World, where light and life is always scarce. People were yelling and screaming--metal rang on metal as the Darklings battled for their survival against the Shadow Master's armies. Yugi and his friends had been pulled into this World by Benjamin's need, and now they were fighting a war. Yugi didn't know where the others were; they had all been separated. He was traveling with Farran, one of the rare Clanners living in Dark World. Yugi had never been in a battle before; he didn't really understand this one. Farran was more experienced in the arts of war, but he was not invincible. Looking up, he saw the rider--or was it horse and man in one?--charge forward, bearing an axe. Farran didn't stop to think. He shoved Yugi out of the way, but the force of his push put him in the path of the blade.
Swish.
Yugi stared at Farran's body in shock. He had never seen anyone die before, and he had certainly never seen anyone's body lying in one place and their head in another. He didn't notice the rider raise a dart gun and fire at him. Struck by a poisoned arrow, Yugi collapsed and saw no more.
*end flashback*
Yugi looked at Farran, apparently returned from death, wretchedly.
"I never meant to kill you...I never wanted you to die..."
"I still died, Yugi! You should have been killed that day, not me! This is your fault; if you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have died! You killed me, Yugi--you!"
He faded into the shadows, but before Yugi had time to think about it, another familiar figure stepped forward. Yugi stared at him uncomprehendingly. The well-dressed man raised an eyebrow.
"What's this? Forgotten me all ready, Yugi? Goodness, I thought I made more of an impression on you than that."
Yugi shrank back in fear.
"Atrius..."
The man smiled.
"Ah, so you do remember! I'm quite glad; I wouldn't like to imagine that my death was wasted. Don't tell me you've forgotten that too? Come now, try to remember--it wasn't so long ago."
Yugi didn't need to try for his memory to be clear--he hadn't forgotten that day yet...
*flashback*
Yugi stepped backward. He hadn't known that there were no humans in Dark World; he had seen no reason to suspect Atrius, the kindly old man wandering the plains with his band of nomads. They had seemed so trustworthy, but now...
"Give up, you human worm. It is hopeless to resist. You've accompanied us all this time, thinking we were kind, generous humans traveling Dark World and helping poor, lost travelers like yourself--you idiot." Atrius' voice was cold and harsh. He sneered, gesturing to his band. Their appearances changed subtly; they were no humans. Fearfully, Yugi drew his small knife, wondering what he could possibly do against such powerful and numerous foes. He was alone and outnumbered; there was no hope.
"Hah hah hah hah...so you'd rather die fighting? Very well, very well...I would be happy to oblige!"
Atrius leaped forward, his curved scimitar ringing as he whipped it from its sheath. His face and body changed horribly until he resembled some hideous monster, with glowing eyes and long, yellowed fangs, a scream of battle fury ripping from his throat as he attacked. At this moment, however, unexpected help arrived. Vice and Yugi's friends, having tracked him down through a dream from one of the more magically empathetic of their number, had come to help him. Vice drew two knives, a tornado of attacks in warrior form. Even for him, however, the numbers were very great. While he was distracted, Atrius rushed toward Yugi, blade raised. Yugi threw up his hands to protect himself, not knowing that he still held his only weapon. Atrius, grown overconfident, tripped suddenly. Stumbling forward, he fell on Yugi's upraised blade. Blood spewed from his open mouth as he pulled back shrieking, yanking Yugi's knife from his hands. The blade was thrust deep into his chest, but as he gasped his final breaths, he hacked, "You...will not...live!" and, with a final mighty effort, slashed his blade across Yugi's throat. Yugi, unable to breath, collapsed as in the battle where Farran had died, and knew not how he survived with only a scar on his throat to bear witness.
*end flashback*
Atrius grinned wickedly at him, and just as in their last battle, his face changed hideously, until he became a demonic beast screaming his fury at Yugi.
"You see what you did to me? YOU SEE!? I didn't have to die that day! I should have lived and you should have died! I as good as killed you, but you survived! You cheated me--made my death pointless! You think I am monster? You are the beast, not me!"
"But--I never wanted to kill you! I didn't mean to kill you--I didn't mean for you to die!"
But Atrius too faded into the mist of this eerie place, and one last figure appeared. It was Shi-kai-dek, Aria, former Chieftenn of the Highwind Clann, who died fighting the Lieutenant to save Yugi.
"We meet again, Yugi. Are you so surprised to see me? We Clanners are an honorable people--you betrayed us. You murdered me and my Clann. We were once prosperous, and though we had diminished, still we survived, until you came. My Clann is dying now; those who are left. We aided you, and you brought us only death. I know that you remember, Yugi. Think back..."
*flashback*
...the Lieutenant of Chaos had finally arrived. Knowing of his target, he attacked Yugi ferociously. Unable to match Lieutenant Gash's swordplay, he was knocked backwards, his dagger torn from his grasp. Yugi closed his eyes. This was the end. The Lieutenant's cry of pain and surprise brought him back to reality. Shi-kai-dek, brave Clanner Chieftenn, had come to Yugi's rescue...
Much time later, Yugi woke up. Everything was frighteningly still and silent. Death rode on the wind, and all around, bodies lay, their faces in the grotesque mask of death. Stumbling through the carnage, Yugi found Shi-kai-dek. Facing the far more powerful Lieutenant, Shi-kai-dek had not been afraid to meet her death for another's sake. Now, she took her last breaths. Smiling faintly, she spoke in a halting whisper. "So...they didn't...find you...Yugi.... they're still...looking. You...have to run. If they find you...all of us...in trouble...hurry...get out of here...." Kneeling, Yugi said, "Why did you do it? You knew that Gash would win...he was much stronger than you..." Shi-kai-dek tried and failed to sit up. Coughing blood, she stammered, "Had to...you were...in trouble. Clanners...very honorable. Always...help a friend. Yugi...this is the end for me. Do not forget us...any of us. We...fought as best as we could. The Clanners...will remember this battle...if...any survive." The dying Chieftenn of the Highwind Clann struggled to keep breathing. "Shi-kai-dek, you can't die...you have to hang on..." Shi-kai-dek turned her head slightly. "Yugi...you humans...always trying to escape the inevitable. Nothing...we can do now. Save your tears...Yugi...we died with honor. More than some...can say..." Yugi was silent. Shi-kai-dek's eyes grew dim. "Yugi...my name...not Shi-kai-dek. My Truename...it is....Aria................." Shi-kai-dek, Aria, the leader of the Clann of the Spirit of the Falcon, closed her eyes for the last time. A cold, bitter wind shrieked past on that lonely mountain plateau as, all alone among the dead, Yugi Mutou cried.
This was how Chaos found him some time later, after the massacre of Nightmare Clann. Yugi offered no resistance as they bound his hands and Gated out.
*end flashback*
Yugi remembered this battle most clearly--it was the only one of the three in which he had not been knocked out at the end. It was also the most recent; his frightening visitors had come in chronological order of their deaths. Shi-kai-dek gazed coolly at him.
"You see? We did not need to help you. You came to us for help; we did not need to aid you. You murdered us. The Overlord attacked us only because of you. It was your fault. You are nothing but a killer, Yugi. People whose names you do not even know have died for you, for the sake of your life. You are as evil as the Overlord, your enemy. Who are you to advocate non-violence? You bring death with you wherever you go. You are a murderer, and you deserve to die."
"But....I never wanted anyone to die...I didn't mean to kill them! I didn't want them to die!"
Farran and Atrius came again, standing with Shi-kai-dek.
"You killed us, Yugi! And not just us; you have killed countless people, and you will only kill more! You cannot avoid it; you are a shadow of death for all those you meet."
"You are in the wrong here, you know. You killed me, and them, and who knows how many others? Why did we deserve to die, Yugi? Bit judgmental, don't you think?" Here his form changed to demonic proportions. "You murderer! You killed me--I was supposed to go far! I was going to live, you don't deserve all these lucky escapes!"
"You killed us all, Yugi. You brought death down on many who would otherwise have avoided its eye for one more day. You are the guilty one!"
Yugi completely lost it at this point, as would almost anyone dreaming about dead people accusing them of murder.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to kill you! I'm sorry!"
*end dream sequence*
At this point, Yugi's not-quite-cat, Alleybones, sensed that something was wrong with her human friend. Padding over, she jumped on Yugi's stomach, causing him to cough and sit up. Sitting in the darkness, the memory of his chilling dream fresh in his mind, he took a deep breath.
"Just a dream. Just a dream..."
Just a dream, Yugi thought--but was it? Far away, other eyes were watching; who knew if they were friend or foe?
Author's note: I think that's sort of a cliff-hanger, right? Oh, and before anyone asks why Yami isn't in here and/or didn't notice any of this even though Yugi's cat (well, not exactly a cat) did, I can only say--even spirits have to sleep, or at least rest, at some point! Also before anyone asks: yes, I know that none of this is clearly explained. It's supposed to be sort of mysterious; who are the unknown watchers, why is Yugi dreaming about dead people, etc.? However, to clarify one point--the Farran/Atrius things (the original events, not the flashbacks) aren't in this fanfic. Remember how I said in the Preface that a whole bunch of the early stuff is unrecorded, but may be alluded to? Well, this is where one of the references is. Another one is the Chaos Oracle and everyone else's continual references to a certain past betrayal (which I'm sure you're sick of hearing about, but it's important!). And yes, I know I said no deaths, but these technically aren't deaths--all of these people are already dead. These are just memories. Also, I know two author's notes in one chapter is pretty rare for me, but it is a new section. One last thing: updates may be irregular for a while--we just got DSL and I can barely make it work at all, let alone upload. Sorry if anything is late! Well, that's really all you need to know for this. I hoped you liked the chapter! ^____^
~Subieko