Disclaimer: Even though you probably already know it, I don't own Yugioh… yet...
Author Request: When you're done reading my story, whether you finish or just get bored, please take a moment to leave me a review. Good or bad, just let me know you're reading, it would mean a lot to me. Please and thank you.
Ryu: Whelp, I said this one would be quick and so here it is. Did get a couple of reviews though so let's get that out of the way.
ANZU&ATEM FAN: First again, nice. I doubt my story is nearly good enough to that anyone would do nothing but wait around for it. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it. I thought I did pretty crappy… guess I'll wait and see what others think.
Me: Um… hi. Well worry not, Kura will appear in about… 20 chapters or so… Wow, this fic is gonna be long.
Ryu: Only two… oh well, I wanna post this now. Before we get under way though I have something to say that's bad news to me but will probably be good news to all of you. My fiancée and I are at an extremely volatile point in our relationship (and a week before our 2 year anniversary ironically enough) and is still not reading my book. So, once again, my motivation to complete it is kaput. So, when I'm not out failing to find a job, I'll have plenty of time to work on this story. Hell, if I really tried I could probably put out a chapter every 2 days and be done with the Emperor Arc before the end of the month (not likely). But I doubt you all want to hear me whine so I'll just get on with the story now.
Chapter 14: Kishido Spirit
"Now then, let's watch the show," the Lord of Dragons laughed, staring into his cauldron. The sight he saw was one that assumed him greatly.
Within the cauldron's strange looking liquid was the scene of his trusted Death Demon Dragon and an army of Wood Remains, following the puppet of the fallen Ancient One of the Deep Forest, staring own the group that was becoming a nuisance to him. They had locked themselves in a barrier but the barrage of attacks from the outside was quickly wearing it down.
"I guess we have no choice," the Bearer of the Black Pendant said, her hand on a silver necklace similar to the Lords. "We have to fight."
"Yes, fight," the Lord said, chuckling a little. "Show me your power."
Those on the battlefield were far less amused.
"Everyone, transform," Madoc ordered, his hand on his own locket. "I dedicate myself to light and darkness."
"I open the gates of chaos," Sebastian called.
Mahaado reached for his own locket. "I pull back the curtains of black magic."
"Give me strength, master," Mana asked of hers.
Kaiba rolled his eyes with annoyance as he reached for his necklace. "In the name of justice."
All of them became engulfed in white lights that changed them into their monster forms just as the barrier fell.
"Guess it wasn't so strong," Kaibaman smirked.
"Shut up Kaiba," the chaos mage yelled. "Your dragons are resting so you and Anzu try to stay out of things."
"All right Madoc," Anzu agreed.
"Mana, you'd better stay near them too," the Black Magician added.
"No Mahaado, I can fight," she whined.
"That's an order my love," the magician said before charging at a Wood Remain.
"Come on Mana," Anzu said.
The Black Magician Girl sighed but nodded. "Look out," she called to Anzu.
Anzu turned and barely managed to avoid being attacked by a Wood Remain that was heading for her from behind.
"Dark Burning," Mana yelled, firing a pink ray of light at the creature that caused it to disintegrate.
"Thanks Mana," Anzu said as the magician girl came to her.
"No problem."
"Come on you two," Kaiba interrupted them. The three began making their way toward one of the tents where there were few Wood Remains.
"I feel bad running," Mana said as they moved.
"Maybe but we have our orders," responded Kaiba disdainfully.
The three of them stood near one of the tents, making sure to stay on guard. They watched as the others managed to run through the monsters ease minimal difficulty. If it weren't for the numbers then thing could've easily been over by now but they just kept coming endlessly.
"This is ridiculous," Kaiba scoffed.
"Maybe but you have to stay here," Anzu reminded him.
"I'm not gonna baby sit you two, especially since you can both take care of yourselves," he replied flatly. "Stay here if you like, I'd rather fight." He leapt away before either could stop him, landing near a group of Wood Remains. His fists began to glow with a white light and he punched Wood Remain after Wood Remain, destroying them with ease.
"I guess he can handle himself," Mana laughed.
Anzu giggled along. Then she noticed the bright green light growing behind the girl. "Look out!" she said, tackling Mana to the ground just as the blast was launched their way. However, it ran into something else before it even reached the girls.
They both looked up and gasped. A monster of some kind had blocked the attack. This one was covered with dark green and bright orange scales. It had long pointed ears and a large horn that jutted out of the back of his head, starting a series that ran all down its back and tail. It looked back at the two, it's eyes a bright red that looked both dangerous and yet… familiar. Something about them made Anzu feel safe.
"A Death Gremlin," Mana gasped. "Where did that come from?"
"Death Gremlin?" Anzu asked. Then it hit her. "Wait a minute… Yugi?"
The creature gave a deep growling noise that resembled a mew before charging at the Ancient One with his now sharpened claws raised.
"That was Yugi?" Mana asked as they got back to their feet. "But how?"
"I don't know but I'm not complaining," Anzu replied. "Now let's take down these things."
Mana nodded and the two of them stood back to back, their staffs raised and their eyes closed. The Black Pendant at Anzu's neck began to glow, infusing them both with its power.
"Dark Burning," Mana yelled, firing balls of pink magic at their attackers.
"Rainbow Blast," Anzu called, firing similar, rainbow colored attacks in the their direction.
The pendant's magic lifted them from the ground slightly while raising the power of their attacks. It spun them around, letting them strike foes on all sides.
The Lord of Dragon's raised a brow at the sight in the cauldron. "So it doesn't just strengthen its wearer," he though aloud.
Back on the battle field the group was doing the best they could to hold their own. As Kaiba had said, the Wood Remains were fairly weak but their numbers were great.
Madoc and Mahaado were currently fighting near one another, using their staffs as weapons to strike the creatures. They would vanish easily but every now and then on of the magician's would be forced to use a magical attack. Kaiba, on the other hand, wasn't having such an easy time. Without his dragons he was forced to fight bare handed against the strange monsters, meaning he had to get a lot closer to them and thus putting himself at risk to their numbers.
Sebastian seemed to be the only one enjoying the fight. He would slash his sword through a group of them, then leap high in the air and come down hard, releasing a shockwave of energy around himself that would take out another few. He turned to face another group; ready to wipe them out, when they all suddenly burst from an attack. His eyes followed the path the attack had taken until he caught a glimpse of Anzu and Mana in the air, blowing away everything they hit.
"That's interesting," he said to himself. He slashed through another few Wood Remains before jumping once again and landing near Mahaado. "Check out the girls," he grunted, launched a wave of golden light at a group of attackers.
"Bad time to perv Major General," the magician replied.
"Just look," the knight commanded.
Mahaado fired one more attack of Black Magic before turning his gaze to the women. His eyes went wide at the sight he saw. Mana and Anzu were floating off the ground, covered in a black aura, and launching attack after attack that were also growing darker in color. The pedant at Anzu's neck was glowing brightly, sending chills down his spine.
"Madoc," he gasped. "The Black Pendant's been activated."
Madoc struck another Wood Remain with his staff, vanquishing it, before turning to see the girls. He too stared on with shocked eyes, concern welling up inside him. "Mana! Anzu!" he called. None of them knew exactly what the pendant was capable of and he for one was scared to find out while it was around Anzu's neck.
Both the girls opened their eyes at hearing his voice. They hadn't realized what was happening until now but when they saw that nearly all the Wood Remains had been destroyed they gasped and set down, the darkness around them fading.
"What happened?" Mana asked, feeling somewhat dizzy.
"You blew most of them away," Kaiba said, bouncing back from an attack and landing near the two, his fists still glowing.
Anzu and Mana looked at one another, both astounded.
"Anzu, Mana, are you all right?" Mahaado asked as he and Madoc came to join them.
"We're fine," Mana brushed off. "Why are you so worried?"
"Because the Black Pendant activated and it was affecting the two of you," Madoc told them. "Did you not notice?"
"No," Mana replied, stunned.
"Don't worry Madoc, we're find," Anzu assured him.
Madoc was uneasy but let it slide. Right now they had a battle to win, he questions would ha to wait. "All right. Now, let's take out the Ancient One."
Just as Madoc had said that Yugi came skidding toward them, rubbing his head and groaning deeply in his throat. They all looked up and saw Sebastian now fighting with the dead puppet amongst the few Wood Remains that still lived.
"Little help," he yelled. "I mean, if you guys aren't busy."
"Struggle all you like," growled the dragon that was watching over them. "But you'll never defeat my Death Puppet."
"He's right Sebastian," Mahaado yelled. "That Ancient One is already dead so we can't kill it."
The goat launched another ball of green energy at the knight. Sebastian managed to dodge before he was hit, jumping away from the goat and landing over by his friends.
"Then it's the dragon we'll have to take down," he spat, wiping sweat from his brow. "Unless you have some reason not to Mr. Knows-Everything," he added back at Mahaado.
"As far as I know we can just kill it," the Black Magician replied. "But then there's still his puppet. And don't be jealous of my superior intellect."
"Don't start you two," Madoc cut them off. "I have an idea. Kaiba, you protect Anzu. Mana, Mahaado, Sebastian, we'll use a two wave attack. You'll be up first Sebastian. Gremlin, take out the goat."
They all nodded, and readied. Anzu and Kaiba edged their way to the back of the group, Kaiba watching around and striking a few Wood Remains that attacked. Meanwhile Mana and Mahaado moved to either side of Madoc and Sebastian stood upright before them behind Yugi, his sword at the ready.
"Go," Madoc called and Yugi charged forward at the Ancient One, his claws ready to strike.
"All set up for me to knock down," came the dragon's deep, rumbling laughter at seeing their formation. "Ancient One of the Deep Forest attack; Deep Forest Surge!"
The air around the goat creature fluxed and shifted. Tiny green lights began seeping out from the trees and the grass and converged in the goat's mouth, growing brighter as they merged. The last of the Wood Remains still standing also became this light, all entering the Ancient One and strengthening it.
"Yugi, watch out," Anzu called to the Gremlin as it ran headlong toward the goat.
The Gremlin didn't stop though. Instead it crossed its arms in front of itself and continued, ready to become a shield for the others.
"Fire!" the dragon demanded.
The Ancient One had charged a ball of energy now that was twice the size of its own head. It reared itself back and was about to launch the attack when a cry cut through the air.
"Axe Slam!"
Everything seemed to freeze in that moment. Yugi came to a halt in his charging, surprised at the interruption. The light in the Ancient One's mouth seemed to weaken and eventually faded completely into nothing. All was still and the group watched as one of the dragon's arms fell to the ground. As the fell so did the Ancient One, looking as if the arm had pulled it with it. Blood dripped from the remaining stub, pouring to the ground around the severed limb.
"My… arm…" the dragon grunted. "How… dare you…"
Before the dragon crouched a man on the ground who rose quickly to his feet. He was clad only in a breast plate of red and gold, a violet loin clothe held at the waist by a band of gold, and a domed red helm, trimmed in golden spikes. His skin was tanned and he had long violet hair pulled back into a ponytail. Grasped between his hands was a golden battle-axe, now stained red with dragon blood.
"Leave this place dragon," the axe-wielding man demanded. "Unless you want to lose the rest of your arms."
The dragon's face shifted, going from furious to amused. "I am not so easily beaten," the beast sneered. The blood dripping from his arm seemed to become solid, wrapping around the lost piece and pulling it back into place.
"He has power over death," Mahaado mused. "Even if his arm is dead he can regenerate it."
"Then we won't sever his arm," Madoc said. "Sebastian, Yugi, out of the way."
Sebastian leapt to the back of the group by Anzu. "I'll protect you Miss Mazaki."
Anzu blushed a little until the Death Gremlin appeared between them, growling protectively.
"You'd better move too, whoever you are," Mana called the golden-clad man as her, Madoc, and Mahaado crossed their staffs. "Ready big brother, Mahaado?"
"Ready," the boys replied.
The three pointed their crossed staffs at the dragon just as the axe-wielder leapt to the side. "Triple Black Magic!" they called; Mahaado's staff releasing a ray of black energy, Madoc's blue, and Mana's pink. The three attacks twisted together before striking the dragon, sending it skidding back into the forest.
"And now the final blow," Sebastian cried. "Pardon me a moment Miss Mazaki." He leapt from his spot and landed first on Madoc's leather shoulders, then raised his sword as he jumped into the air again and brought the blade down to the ground. "Chaos Sword!" A blade of golden light raced across the ground at the dragon, slicing it down the middle in two.
"It's… not… possible…" the creature managed to say before falling in two pieces to the sides. For a moment they all waited, in case the creature brought itself back. But sure enough it needed to be alive to control death and so it did not move again.
"We did it," Anzu and Mana cheered, accompanied by a resounding mew from the once again cute and furry Yugi.
"But not alone," Madoc said as the group reverted back to their normal selves.
They were all silent as the armored man who'd interfered in the fight approached them, his golden axe slung over his shoulder. He came to stop before Madoc, who'd moved to the front.
"Who are you and why are you in these woods?" the man asked. His voice was deep and he had an accent that sounded like it would've been Italian in Anzu's world. Now that he was close they could tell that he was a big as Hunter, as well as make out his eyes under his helm, which were such a deep green they may as well be black and were cold and sharp. Resting upon his chest was a silver locket like the ones they all wore.
Madoc, however, would not be intimidated. "I am Colonel Madoc Powlyn," he said formally. "We travel representing King Pegasus of the Lilose Kingdom. Our mission is defeat the Basslewhin Brothers that have claimed the King's land for their own as self-proclaimed Emperors. We have already defeated Mobius and Zaborg and now travel to the land of Thes to confront Thestalos. We stop in these woods only to rest for the day."
"Yappy thing, aren't you?" the armored man asked.
Anzu couldn't help but stifle a giggle, earning a hard look from Madoc.
"And who are you?" Kaiba asked, bored of things already.
"My name is Duke," the man said. "But I'm better known as the Axe Raider. I've made it my life's mission to protect Hamongrog Forest. Of course that'll only get more troublesome now that the Ancient One is slain."
"Well, we wish you luck with that," Sebastian said casually, walking by the big man, patting him on the shoulder on his way to his tent.
"Sebastian stay where you are," Anzu ordered, coming forward. "I'm Sergeant Anzu Mazaki, leader of this operation. I would like to thank you for assisting us and invite you to rest at our campsite." In her head she was hoping that she was at least close to sounding like she belonged in this world. Each day she spent here felt more and more right and it was getting to the point that she could just speak without thinking and not have anyone suspect she was from somewhere else.
"Well that's very kind of you," Duke said, "But I'm afraid I won't be able to. I have another battle to attend to."
"Oh?" Mahaado asked. "If that's the case we'd be more than happy to offer our assistance to you."
"We would?" Kaiba and Sebastian asked together, annoyed.
"Yes, we would," was Anzu's stern reply.
"It's very kind of you to offer," the big man said. "But I don't think you'll want to help me in this fight. You will, however, be involved."
"Come again?" Madoc asked.
Duke just smiled, looking up at the trees. "I love these woods," he said. "But people are always turning it into a battleground and it's the forest that suffers; it sickens me. So I have to eliminate anyone that would bring harm to this place." He looked back at the group, becoming more serious. "Including soldiers of the King."
"Hold on," Madoc shouted. "King Pegasus only fights to defend himself; he wishes for a peaceful world."
"He only fights to defend?" Duke repeated. "Then why does he send troops to defeat the Emperors instead of waiting for the Emperors to come to him?"
"Because if we did that then we'd be crushed by their numbers," Madoc said.
"So instead you take the fight to them," the raider said. "You seek peace through violence but that'll never be." He looked up at his axe. "Each time I use this axe it pains me, and I don't doubt I'll one day pay for it. But it's worth it to keep people like you, your King, or the Emperors from further poisoning this world." He looked back down at them. "I'm terribly sorry but I must send all of you to the Gods." He raised his axe off his shoulder then and swung down hard.
"Look out Madoc," Anzu yelled, pushing her secret love out of the way. In doing so she put the Black Pendant in the path of the attack, causing the axe to strike it. A powerful black light shone from the charm, sending both Anzu and Duke flying back, Yugi falling from the girl's shoulder.
"Anzu!" Madoc and the others called, all running to her.
Madoc took her in his arms and helped her to sit up. "Anzu, are you all right? Anzu!"
The girl barely raised her eyes, looking into the deep red ones she saw. "I'm okay Madoc," she said with half a smile.
"That's quite a trinket you got there," Duke said, getting back to his feet, leaning on his axe. In his hand appeared a vial of red liquid, which he drank quickly. Suddenly he was well again, standing upright. "I'll be sure to watch out for it," he declared, charging at them with his axe raised.
"Not so fast," Sebastian cut in while running toward the assailant, drawing his sword and swinging it in time to meet with the axe.
The Axe Rider just smirked, swinging his leg and landing a hard kick to Sebastian's abdomen. "Cocky bastard," he spat, raising his axe. "You'll be first."
"That's enough!" Mana suddenly yelled.
The Axe Raider froze and turned to the girl, as did everyone else. He hadn't truly noticed her before but looking now he could see that she was quite a beauty. He could see in her eyes that she truly loved peace and he decided in an instant… he wanted her.
"Mana, what's wrong?" Mahaado asked.
Mana didn't reply, only turned on Duke. "How dare you try to hurt my friends and family?" she yelled. "If you want to kill us then you'll have to get through me." She reached up to her silver necklace and drew her deck from it. "But instead of a fight why don't you duel me."
"Mana, don't," Mahaado said. "You'll get hurt."
"I have to Mahaado," she told him, her eyes still locked on the Axe Raider. "I know that none of you will ever admit it but I'm not much of a soldier. The truth is I hate it; I don't like to fight. I don't know what came over Anzu and me but I feel so bad about it. And that dragon, it's dead and I helped kill it." A few tear appeared in her eyes. "I am a soldier, even though I hate it. I gave up the simple life of a woman to fight so I could keep and eye on my brother and my love. Because of that I can never be like the women in the court who look down on me, even though deep in my heart I would like nothing more. But even still, I can't change who I am. And who I am is First Lieutenant Mana Powlyn, and I'll be damned if I let you kill my friends. For them, fighting is worth it. For them, I'll gladly become a soldier. So if you want to fight then fight with me! I stake my honor a soldier, a woman, and a friend that I can beat you!"
No one spoke. It was so strange for Mana to act this way. She was always happy-go-lucky and cheerful. Sure it made sense that she didn't like to fight but to outburst like this was so unusual. No one really knew just how much she would've liked to be simple. She gave that up to protect the ones she loved.
'Mana…' Anzu thought, 'You may be the strongest one among us.'
"It's the Black Pendant," Mahaado said under his breath, thinking back to when it had lent its power to Anzu and Mana. 'Apparently it had done more than just make them stronger.'
Duke lowered his axe and smiled. "A duel you say? It's certainly been a while." He placed the axe in a holster at his side and then reached up to his necklace and made his own deck appear. "All right, I'll take you on, but not here. If you want to then live follow me… all of you." He turned then and started into the woods.
The group all looked from one to the other uneasily. True they had him outnumbered and could easily beat him in a fight but that was just more meaningless killing. On top of that Mana had laid down this challenge on her honor, interfering would be wrong. So they all agreed and followed, Mana in the lead with Mahaado and Sebastian following.
"Kaiba," Madoc said, helping Anzu up, "You and Yugi stay here to guard the campsite. If we get into trouble I'll send up a signal. I trust you'll know what to do."
Kaiba just nodded in his bored, cold way.
Yugi crawled up on the boy and mewed after them as Anzu and Madoc went after the others.
"Such a bothersome day," Kaiba scoffed, going to make some new food.
"Is Mana all right?" Anzu asked Madoc as they walked.
"I don't know," Madoc said. "I certainly hope so. It's certainly not like my dear little sister to go off like that. I think the Black Pendant must have had some affect on her when it was empowering you two."
"It's weird," said Anzu. "I don't remember anything from while it was active."
"And that frightens me," the magician said in dark tone.
"Madoc…"
"Yes?"
Anzu bit her lip nervously. She looked ahead, made sure none of the others were looking, and then placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "I love you," she whispered.
Madoc blushed at her boldness. "Did the pendant have some perverse affect on you as well?"
"Can I not show you my love of my own will?"
"I suppose," he said, returning the kiss to her forehead. "But we should be more careful. Right now isn't exactly the best of times for our secret to come out."
"As you wish, my Lord," she mocked, pulling away from him and walking ahead, proudly and unassisted.
Madoc only chuckled and hurried to catch her and the others. Soon the two emerged in a clearing where everyone else was standing.
"This is where we'll duel?" Mana was asking.
"Not here," Duke replied, pointing above him. "There."
They all looked up to see two tall trees with hollowed out areas standing over them. They appeared to about as far apart as a dueling field and the bark had been peeled off the front of each.
"Your friends can watch from there," Duke said, indicating a third tree behind them that was much bigger than the other two, also with a hollowed area. "Say, where are the other one and the Gremlin?"
"Never you mind," Mana stated. "Let's get this duel started."
Duke only shrugged and walked to her. They bowed, then exchanged and shuffled one another's deck while Mana's friends headed for the watching place.
"How do we get up?" Anzu asked.
The tree reached down a limb to them, as if to answer her. They all climbed on and let he tree lift them up to the hollowed area where they all climbed in. However, as soon as they entered vines crept out of nowhere and wrapped around their ankles.
"What is this?" Sebastian asked, pulling against the restraint.
"Just a little something to make sure you don't go anywhere until it's over," Duke explained. "Or ever, depending on the outcome."
"I wont lose my friends," Mana said with a fierce determination, handing his deck back over and scowling.
Duke only smiled while returning her deck to her. They turned and walked toward the dueling posts where the trees reached down and lifted them up. The part of the tree without bark swung open and they stepped in. It closed behind them and into that space their LPs were suddenly carved. Each set down their deck on the dueling surface and drew five cards.
"I'm going to enjoy this," Duke said. "I think I'll only kill your friends after I win and keep you for myself.
"You disgust me," Mana replied, stifling a gag. "I'm not going to lose."
"Duel," they said together.
Ryu: There you go. I tried to go back through and add a little body to it so it didn't seem so rushed so hopefully it'll be a little better than the last. And I realize that first I left you hanging with the fight and now I have with the duel but then I have to have some fun too and what better way than to torture you readers. Don't worry though, I started the duel as part of the super chapter and so it's already underway. And as I said previously my book has, once again, been put on indefinite hold so I'll have plenty of time to work on this, just gotta look out for that pesky laziness.
But for now I take my leave and you all leave me lots of good reviews. And don't forget that you can also reach me in my C-box via the link in my profile. Until next time, R&R plz.