Disclaimer: Haven't written this in a while—but no, don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
A/N: As promised, another chapter! Pro, right?
Ally: Yeah, yeah, now quit watching Doctor Who and get writing.
Tsuki: She's so distracted.
Anevay: It's an intense episode! Why did the obnoxious guy have to live and the awesome girl have to die? It's not fair!
Hikari: Life isn't fair, little duckling. And besides, she did pretty much save the world.
Anevay: Yeah…
Ally: Would you just write, already? She's dead. Deal with it.
Anevay: Ouch. Harsh.
Arriving at camp…
Grandpa pulled over at a trail head. Exiting the car, they chatted down the short trail to reach a meadow. It was huge, grassy, beautiful—dotted with wildflowers, with a low hill off in the distance. The grass was tall and soft. It was obvious why it would be a good camping spot. In fact, they were surprised no one else was camping there.
"Gramps, this is beautiful," Yugi breathed.
Joey and Tristan could only stare with wild eyes, mouths hanging open and fingers pointing excitedly. After a moment, they began to dance on the spot—and then they went around in a circle, arm in arm. Tea exhaled in annoyance: "Are you ladies done? We have to set up camp, you know."
The dancing pair seized the camping gear and began setting up the two tents: the bigger one for the boys and the smaller one for the girls. It only took five seconds for them to get effectively confused at the tent poles and begin scratching their heads, looking to Yugi.
Yugi gave them a pitying look before setting the tents straight. Afterwards, Joey ran into the woods. "Joey!" Yugi called, "Where are you going?" Joey, of course, couldn't answer—so naturally, Tristan ran after him. Yugi scratched his head. "Okay." He shrugged. I'm sure they'll be back, he thought to the Pharaoh.
"Yeah," the Pharaoh agreed, "Probably." He paused, "If they don't get in to trouble, anyway."
Yugi glanced back, hesitant. His mouth moved side to side, a little worried. He sighed. "Gramps, I'm going after Joey and Tristan!"
"Okay, Yugi, be careful!"
He forged his way through the close-packed trees, "Joey! Tristan! Where are you guys?" Stepping through patches of grass and spots of dirt, he ran into something with an 'oof!' and fell to the ground. "Joey? Are you guys getting firewood?"
Joey grinned and shook his head before changing it to a so-so gesture. He was holding a pile of sticks in his arms—for what reason, only he and Tristan knew, since Tristan was carrying a pile of sticks as well. Tristan waved. Yugi scratched his neck in confusion, "Uh, guys?" he implored. "I know you can't talk, but…" he sighed, thinking. "Never mind. Just be careful." Yugi shook his head and headed back to the campsite. "I never know."
"Does anyone?" the Pharaoh asked.
Back at camp, the tents had been set up. Serenity was moving sleeping bags and duffle's into the tents while Tea helped Grandpa prepare the kitchen area – he had even brought little trays for them, like tables. "Wow, Grandpa," Yugi admired, "You thought of everything!"
He grinned and winked, "I have to! It's my job."
"Anything you want me to do?" he wondered.
Before Grandpa Muto could answer, Joey and Tristan waltzed back into the area with their bundles of wood. They had a good amount by now. Tristan set one pile down beside one of the tents, and then he and Joey proceeded to pound the other ones in around their camping area in the ground with rocks. During the entire process, no one spoke; just watched. At the end, they looked at each other, put their hands to their chins, and thought.
"Uh-oh, they're thinking," Tea mocked, turning away. She knelt down beside one of the bags, and before Joey could run off for something else, she threw a thing of thin rope at him. "I saw it earlier," she shrugged, "And I figured they probably wouldn't last another trip to the forest alone. It was best not to risk it."
Yugi and the others laughed while Joey and Tristan merely stuck their noses in the air, but accepted the rope—and the mockery—nonetheless. It took them even longer to tie the rope around their make-shift fence than it did to put the tents up. It was nearly dark by the time they finished. They wiped their brows of sweat and looked at their work with satisfaction. It wasn't the best defense, or even the best fence, but they were proud of it like only a parent could be—no matter what the end result.
When all was said and done, they settled around the camp fire and ate before roasting marshmallows to chatting around the flames. That was when the Pharaoh, as ever, came up with another game.
Asking permission, he took control and looked around. In his deep voice, he said rather spookily: "Anyone up for a ghost story?" he smiled.
Joey and Tristan's hands flew in to the air. Tea waved a say-so, and Serenity snuggled closer to Joey, knowing there was no escape. Grandpa said nothing, waiting for the story to begin.
"Once upon a time, here in this very meadow," he began softly, "There was a girl."
Tristan gave him an incredulous look and Joey opened his mouth to speak, but Tea slapped a hand over it. "You don't wanna loose, Joey," he said blandly.
His eyes darted to her and then back to the Pharaoh. His head bobbed back and forth for a moment before he waved the Pharaoh on again. He continued.
"She was a lonely girl who loved the night, always sleeping. She had a dark soul," he whispered, "Left by her family, here, on accident—she was a middle child, and in her own eyes, unimportant. They had left her in the meadow. By midnight, she had given up all hope. That was when…" the Pharaoh looked around, "He came."
The others were wide-eyed with fear and sadness. They waited for him to keep going, and he did.
"He wasn't human," he said. "He was darkness. He surrounded her, making her both fear and love the night. It became too much. The darkness consumed her. Her flesh became the sky, her eyes the stars and her body the shadows—her arms were the trees and she could see all," he breathed, eyes intent on their faces. "The animals were her agents, following her every order in the name of darkness."
He paused for dramatic effect, looking around the darkening sky. "They say she still lingers," his voice grew soft, "Preying on the lonely and dark souls to join her, to empower them. But sometimes, when she gets a craving… she'll kill everyone. You see…" he trailed off, "The next night, her entire family died of fright. It was never explained. To this day, she searches for victims. After all," said the Pharaoh softly, "Her eyes are the stars."
The firelight reflected on the Pharaoh's face as he sat back, folding arms and legs, satisfied as he saw the terror on their faces. Joey and Tristan were embracing with Serenity in between them looking both uncomfortable and afraid—and oddly comforted. Even Yugi, seated transparent beside the Pharaoh, was wide-eyed and silent, curled in close.
Then, the Pharaoh ruined the story: "Then she woke up."
Joey's jaw dropped. He drew breath to shout, and Tristan got ready to jump for joy, when—
"No, Joey!" Serenity insisted, "You'll lose! Duel Monsters?"
Joey's mouth clamped shut.
He pointed at the Pharaoh very insistently. "Yes, Joey," the Pharaoh nodded, "My story is over. Very perceptive. But was it a dream?"
Joey pointed at him again, as if to say 'yeah, yeah! Was it?'
The Pharaoh shrugged. "I guess we'll never know. Well, goodnight," he smiled.
Yugi took over, grinning. "What did you think of the story?"
They all agreed that it was terrifying.
"Good," Yugi said, "The Pharaoh will be happy to know." He laughed, standing and stretching. "Joey, Tristan, Gramps? You coming to bed?"
Grandpa stood, "Yep."
Tristan nodded, hauling Joey to his feet, who still looked both scared and confused. Tristan patted him on the head. Joey swatted it away. He pointed at Tristan threateningly before marching off to the tent. Rolling their eyes, the boys followed while the girls headed to their tent.
Inside the Puzzle, the Pharaoh found that he was quite satisfied. "Goodnight," he said softly.
So… what did you think? Let me know! ^^ Review!
Ally: You should probably go to sleep now, child.
Anevay: Oh, so now it's child?
Tsuki: Oh, let it go, child.
Hikari: Child, child, go to bed.
Anevay: You are seriously annoying sometimes. All three of you. That's all for now, folks! Nighty, night for Anevay. Maybe.
-Anevay, Ally, Tsuki & Hikari
