Journey Maker: Oh man, she was a witch, wasn't she? I know it seems like this story keeps dragging on and on, but I swear it'll get interesting soon! I'm hoping to explain a lot of things in this chapter(but first I have to try and figure out what the heck is going on myself before I can actually apply it to my actual story, lol) Thanks for the review!
AmePiper: Oh SWEET I'm still funny! Awesome! Wasn't sure if I was losing my touch or not, I've been so focused on trying to get my game back that I've neglected trying to keep up with the humor in my story, but at least you still get it! I kind of want them to be in their real bodies too, I hate feeling like this story is just dragging on and on without any real direction(I swear I have a plot, I promise to make this story go somewhere soon!) Missed the randomness, eh? Gosh, no one ever misses that! It's almost funny knowing it can be missed. I got depressed as well! Actually, I think it was more like mentally dead. I actually feel more bad for my friends than I do myself really, cause I'm pretty sure dealing with my half functioning brain every day at school was a pretty hard thing to deal with(actually dealing with my hyperactive self every day in general is probably a hard task anyway) But now I'm good, I'm out of school for the summer and I'm actually currently on vacation(but vacation doesn't mean I get to take a break from writing. Writing is like a 24 hour job for people like me) Anyhow, overall I am doing quick dandy, on vacation, trying to get some relaxation. I should probably conclude this thought, so thank you oh so very much for your review and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Sorry about the chapter title, Fanfiction wouldn't fit the whole thing. Anyhow, here's your chapter!
Chapter 10: The Truth is that The Truth Hurts
"…So why do you think that guy with the weird hair decided to kidnap us?" Steven asked out of the blue after a couple moments of silence as they had continued on their path down the hall. Shu shrugged.
"I'm still not sure myself… I think they need us for something, otherwise they would've killed us already by now."
"That's true I guess… although not a pleasant thought, but true." There was more silence. Steven spotted a doorway up ahead. "Looks like we might be getting out of here sooner than we thought."
"Or maybe we're thinking too soon." Steven placed his hand along the edges of the doorway that had been carved out. He looked down, he had a bad feeling about this all of the sudden. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Than again, what more of a choice did they have?
"Come on… let's go." Steven and Shu walked through the room at a slow pace, looking around at everything it contained. The room looked like something you would find in some sort of fantasy book; the furniture was very old fashioned and carved out of the best wood in the world. There were all sorts of items that you find in a regular household, the only difference was most of the ones Steven and Shu saw were made out of gold rather than the average items that they were usually built out of.
"This kind of reminds me of the Pharaoh's quarters back in Egypt," Shu stated, trying his best to hold back the urge to touch everything shiny and gold in sight. Steven walked over to one of the wooden desks in the corner of the room. It had gold carvings within its tiny designs of various snakes and serpents. Steven reached out and opened one of the drawers in the desk and found a large and beat up book within it.
"Hey, look over here," Steven held out the old book for Shu to gaze upon, "It looks like some sort of… scarp book. But from the olden times or something." Shu frowned as he looked at the book more closely.
"I don't know, Steven. Maybe we should leave now." But Steven was already proceeding to open up the cover of the book. Shu rolled his eyes and walked over beside him to get a better look from afar. Steven stared at the pictures within the book, it contained ancient documents regarding the city of Atlantis and it's king. Steven cocked his head to the side, there were lots of pictures of Dartz, but he was dressed differently and was wearing a crown on his head.
"Dartz? A king?" Steven flipped through a couple more pages, confused as to what this all meant. Shu's eyes widened.
"Hold on… let me see that last page again." Steven turned the page back once and revealed another picture of Dartz dressed strangely, but this picture was a bit closer up than some of the others. "That guy… what did you call him? Dartz? I think… I think I've seen him before." Steven twisted his head.
"What?"
"I think I've seen Dartz before… in the palace, only once or twice though. He only left his quarters during nightfall when no one was awake. I asked my father who he was and he told me that the Pharaoh had been giving him refuge to compensate for the death of his people."
"You mean…" Steven turned back towards the book and turned the page once more. The pages contained pictures of an old civilization lying in ruins, and beside it was a picture of a light green symbol of some sort. "This guy… was in Egypt?"
"He must have been… I remember him now!"
"But… I still don't get it. How does this involve me? It doesn't really tell us why he's even here or what he even wants with us." Shu placed his hand on the book and looked over at Steven.
"We should go before someone sees us." Steven shut the book.
"Agreed." Steven went to place the book back onto the desk. A photo slipped through the pages and fell onto the ground. Steven bent over and picked it up. It was yet another picture of ancient Dartz, but this time there were other people that stood behind him. A little girl in front of him while he had his arm around another beautiful tall woman standing right beside him. In the distant corner of the room was an old man staring off to the side. They were all smiling happily.
"Who are those people?"
"I don't know…" Steven said, "But if I didn't know any better, I'd think those people were his… family."
"But… bad guys aren't supposed to have complex back stories!"
"Well, this guy is the king of Atlantis isn't he? That should pretty much be a guarantee that he'll have a back-story." Shu moaned with annoyance.
"Lookie here, if it isn't the look-a-like runaways." A tall man dressed properly in a red suit stood before them in the only doorway of the room. He had long silver hair that came down to his shoulders. One of his long bangs covered his right eye, only making him appear more mysterious. Steven and Shu were motionless as the man stepped forward. Shu quickly slipped the picture into his back pocket.
"Oh come now, little Kaiba, I'm sure you're father has told you all about me." Steven's heart froze.
"How do you know my last name?"
"Why wouldn't I know your name? After all, you are the son of my part time friend but full time foe, Seto Kaiba," said the man, "My name is Pegasus."
"Pegasus? As in… Maximillion Pegasus? President of Industrial Illusions?"
"The creator of duel monsters himself," Pegasus switched into a flashy pose, flipping out a rose from his back pocket, "It's good to hear that your father has given you some sort of history lesson or two about your roots."
"What do you have to do with my father?" Steven yelled, becoming worked up with the emotion of anger. Pegasus lifted one eyebrow.
"Oh? He hasn't told you of our various clashes in the past? Of the times I thrashed him at the vary game he once held the title of 'champion'?"
"Get to the point Pegasus!" Steven held out his fist in the air. Shu looked over at Steven and put his hand on Steven's shoulder.
"Hey, is everything-" Steven slapped away Shu's hand. He held out his index finger in Pegasus's direction.
"TELL ME." Pegasus crossed his arms and observed Steven's position. The look on his face almost looked exactly like Seto had when he had come to rescue Mokuba from Pegasus's imprisonment and Mokuba's soul had been taken. Oh yes, that look of anger and revenge was certainly a trait that would never leave the Kaiba family. It was almost amusing in a way, Pegasus started to chuckle.
Steven, on the other hand, was started to fume with rage. How dare this oddly dressed man dare to hold back the information Steven sought. When Pegasus had finished laughing, he spoke once more, "You know, it's almost adorable how much of Kaiba-boy you have become. It almost makes me feel bad for having to take you back to Dartz." Shu gasped.
"No! Don't take us back to him!" Pegasus pretended to be surprised.
"Oh, but I must! A deal's a deal, after all." Pegasus began walking towards the two boys. Shu turned towards Steven once again, searching for guidance.
"Steven, what are we going to do?" Steven took in a deep breath and put his anger aside.
"The only thing we can do," he said quietly, "RUN!" Steven and Shu lunged forward together and quickly darted around Pegasus and right for the doorway. Pegasus swung his arms around and grasped both Shu and Steven by the backs of their shirts, causing them to both fall on their backs onto the ground. Pegasus smirked as he looked down at them.
"You didn't actually think you'd be able to get away that easily, did you? I have had experience in the past with keeping kidnapped children imprisoned." Steven growled. Although he was unsure as to what Pegasus was referring to, somehow he could feel that it related to his father in some way. But it was anger and confusion that would have to wait in Steven's case.
Steven and Shu looked into one another's eyes, almost accepting their inability to break free of Pegasus's hold on them. But instead they nodded all together and, all at once, kicked both their legs at each of Pegasus's feet and forcing him onto the ground just as they had fallen. They were instantly back on their feet and heading towards freedom.
Just as they were about to reach the doorway, another man in a black suit was blocking their way. He wore large black sunglasses and his hair shot out like some sort of large needle. Steven and Shu skidded to a stop as they looked up into his face.
"Oh Kimo, there you are," Pegasus was already back on his feet and brushing off the dust from his pants, "I was almost afraid I'd have to do this alone." Kimo took up his hands and reached for Steven. Steven jumped back, but Kimo grabbed Shu instead and twisted his arms back. Before Steven could make another attempt to escape, Pegasus came up from behind him and did the same.
"I don't think you'll be going anywhere anytime soon." Steven gritted his teeth.
"You won't get away with this!" Steven barked.
"Yeah! Just wait until my father gets here!" Kimo and Pegasus ignored him and started walking back down the long hallway. Shu and Steven didn't try to break free; they felt that it would be a useless attempt and a waste of energy. They simply fell limp in their captors' grip and let them lead them to their leader.
Dartz stood to his feet when Pegasus and Kimo entered the room with both the boys. "What are you doing with them?" Dartz asked, eyeing Pegasus and Kimo.
"It appears as though your guards weren't doing a very good job watching your prisoners." Valon and Rafael entered the room, out of breath and tired.
"Master…! The prisoners are…" Valon spotted Shu and Steven, already captured. "Oh…" Dartz glared at both of them as they knelt down before him. "We are so sorry, Master. We…"
"I'd rather not hear your pathetic excuses, right now!" Dartz put his hands behind his back and walked over to where Pegasus and Kimo were standing with Shu and Steven at hand, "Besides… it's almost time to fulfill the prophecy. And once I do… well, let's just say these two brats won't be much of a problem anymore."
"Wait!" Shu called. All attention fell on Shu now, his eyes were pleading for mercy. "Please… don't do this. We're just kids! What have we done to deserve this?" Dartz's eyes narrowed.
"It is not what you have done, you are merely a symbol of what your father's have done. You suffer because of them." Shu didn't know what he was talking about, but the statement seemed to affect Steven more than Shu.
"What are you talking about? Tell us why we're here!" Dartz was now eyeing Steven.
"Oh? And are you sure you are ready for the truth? After all… it could prove to be quite… painful." Steven growled.
"I'm tired of the lies! I'm tired of the excuses! I'm tired of people hiding things from me just because they think I'll get hurt! I just want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"So help you God?"
"Just tell me why we're here!" Dartz sighed, seeing no point in keeping it a secret from them any longer. It didn't really matter in the end, for they were both going to die anyway. Dartz looked away.
"When the Leviathan had been defeated, I was almost certain there was no way of revival. I wandered the earth hopelessly, wishing I had just one more chance to recreate the great city of Atlantis that I had once ruled…" Dartz paused, "And then I came across a prophecy… one that told of a boy, a son to be precise, one who could be used to reborn the great beast that had been laid to rest."
"Prophecy also included the foretelling of a man, one whom held the status of sacred guardian, would turn his back on his vows and his country for the opportunity of power," Dartz turned slightly and looked at Shu out of the corner of his eye, "That man was Seth."
"W… What?" Dartz began pacing back and forth.
"Although Seth was a loyal and passionate man, but there had always been evil that lay deep, deep within his heart. An evil that could be summoned easily if given the chance to be brought about," Dartz stopped and turned towards Shu, "That's where you come in."
"…Me? What… what are you talking about?"
"When I discovered that he was the one, I made a promise… well, more like proposed a deal…" Dartz unfolded his hands, "In exchange for you, I promised him the ability to become the pharaoh of Egypt." Shu was speechless, his lower lip quivered with the realization and pain that was beginning to overcome him. Was it true? How could he possibly know if it was true?
"…No… you're lying!" Dartz bent over and tilted Shu's head up by his chin.
"Oh… if only that were true, my child. But alas… it is not. I promised your father power, and he accepted without so much as a second to think about you. Face it, Shu. He never really cared about you."
Steven stared at Shu, guilt and worry was building up. 'Poor Shu…' Steven thought. A kid like him didn't deserve to be treated like that, especially a boy that had looked up to his father so much. Steven glared at Dartz; why would anyone make such a deal? How could he just rip apart Shu's relationship with his father? But at the same time… it didn't really explain what Steven had anything to do with this.
"Wait… I still don't understand why I'm here! If he's the boy you needed, what do I have to do with it??" Dartz now turned his attention back to Steven.
"Once I had obtained Shu as well as the rest of the souls needed, I attempted to resurrect the great Leviathan just as the prophecy had said could be risen. But… it didn't exactly work. It seemed that there was still one last thing missing. That not just one boy, two were needed in this process. One that was a simple 5000 years into the present reincarnation to be exact." Steven's eyes widened.
"Reincarnation?" Steven gazed over at Shu. Shu was staring blankly at the ground; he was in too much of shock by the news of his father's abandonment to be following what was being said. Steven gulped and looked back over at Dartz. "But I still don't understand why you would need me… the prophecy… it told of a man who was evil, deep down inside, right? Well, Otousan isn't evil! And he would've never made such a deal with you! In fact, you're the one that kidnapped me! He didn't hand me over, therefore you made a mistake."
Dartz moved over to Steven so that he stood right in front of him, his face right in front of Steven's. He gave a low chuckle. "You still don't get it do you?" Dartz said, "Even though Seto didn't 'technically' hand you over, it still would've happened anyway sometime in the near future. It might not have happened now, but just as he had lied to you, he would've given you up too." Steven shook his head violently.
"No! Shut up! My Otousan would never EVER do that to me! HE LOVES ME!"
"How can you possibly say that about him when you barely know who he is, hmm? How do you know he truly loves you, when he's lied to you so many times before in the past? How can you truly say you know a man, or a father, you know nothing about?"
"Be-Because…" Steven was beginning to hyperventilate as he tried to hold back hot tears forming at the edges of his eyes, "Because he's my father!"
"Just because he's your father, doesn't mean he has to love you. After all, you are his mistake." Those last few words lingered in the air just as slowly as they echoed through Steven's mind, hitting him like a pile of bricks. Suddenly it felt like everything had finally clicked in his head, but in a way that he had never imagined it before. Dartz was right; Steven was nothing more than a mistake, an accident. How could Seto love something he hadn't even intended to happen in the first place? It was like realizing every single thing you ever thought you knew was wrong, and finding this horrid truth to be the only right.
"Otou… Otousan…" Steven said softly, it was true. It had been true. Steven didn't know why or how, but something he could feel that it was true. Shu looked one with a grave face, now Steven was the one fighting the internal battle, trying to fend off the looming denial that his mind would subconsciously try to run away to. And what did Dartz have to say for himself? Nothing. He simply stood there, watching them both cave into themselves.
"Now that that is settled with, shall we continue with the ritual?" Dartz suggested after a few more moments of silence. Shu's head shot up. He had to keep his mind focused on the now, he had no time to ponder his father's past actions. Steven and Shu still needed to get out of there if they wanted to get out alive.
Shu then remembered what he had in his pocket and shifted his body as he tried to reach into his pocket. Kimo became more alert and strengthen his hold on Shu. "Hey! Stop that!" He yelled, trying to keep Shu from moving. But Shu managed to slip his hand far enough into his pocket to pull put the picture he had taken from the book.
"Wait!" He called, " Don't kill us yet! What about your family? You have a child too!" Shu tried to hold out the picture to Dartz, but was unable to due to his current state. Dartz took a couple steps forward and took the picture from his hand, staring at it briefly before looking back up at Shu, unsatisfied.
"And what is this picture supposed to do?" Shu's one last spark of hope disappeared from his face.
"B-But they're your family! They love you! What would they think of you now if they saw what you were doing?"
"My family is dead," Dartz said, "I killed them." Dartz proceeded to rip the picture in half and let the two pieces fall to the ground.
"How… how could you kill your own family?! How can you turn us against our own fathers when you're the one who killed his entire family!" Dartz only looked as though he were enjoying what pain and confusion both Steven and Shu were going through as a result of Dartz brutal psychological attacks.
"I killed them for the good of Atlantis… where as your fathers gave you up for the desire for power. I am fighting for a good cause, and what are your disgraceful fathers fighting for? They're status, and titles, and power. All they care about is themselves, I care about saving the world and turning it good again."
"You're crazy!" Dartz turned away from the two boys and over at Alister, Valon, and Rafael whom were standing in a row on the opposite side of the room, awaiting orders.
"The time has come." Alister, Valon, and Rafael loosened their posture.
"You mean… you're ready to summon… the Leviathan?" Dartz nodded.
"I think we have waited long enough, and surely we have enough souls to offer. Besides, we wouldn't want to give the boys another opportunity for escape." All three of them nodded in unison.
"Pegasus, Kimo… why don't you hand over the children to my three associates? I think we've got it from here." Pegasus eyed Dartz suspiciously.
"Not so fast, Dartz. What about our end of the bargain?" Valon looked a little surprised to hear of this.
"Bargain?" Dartz had never told any of them that a bargain had been made. How many things was Dartz promising?
"Ah yes… you wanted me to revive your wife, correct?"
"And possibly another eye if you could. It's kind of creepy just having an empty socket."
"Right… right… well, all your desires will be endowed to you once the Leviathan is summoned once more I can grant no wishes until that moment," Dartz held out his hand, "So if you wish for that in which you desire, I advise you hand the children over to me." Kimo looked over at Pegasus for approving. Pegasus nodded. When the children had been exchanged everyone had left the room. Dartz stood in front of the serpent statue with a grin on his face.
"Soon the great Leviathan will be summoned… and soon the world will be mine." Dartz was unaware of the other presence of the room; a man that was lurking in the shadows, with a grin on his face and a plan of his own.
A/N: Hey guys! It's me again! I bet you weren't expecting an update this soon to come out! Well, here you go. I hope this chapter sort of explained some things in the story(although this plot is so twisting and complex, I'm not sure if I even explained everythingx.x And I am not saying that in a complimentary way, let me assure you. Having an uber complicated plot is hard to keep up with!) Hopefully the next chapter will be up just as quickly as this one had come up, although I do find it hard to write when I'm stuck with 7 boys, all whom want to bother me or hang out with me(god knows why) Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and are looking forward to the next one!
