Susan: I know I should apologize for how late this chapter is, but I really don't have the energy. The last two months have been terrible, and I've been way too stressed/sad/depressed/ill to even begin to think about writing. Anyway, this is the first chapter of the new year, so Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year is great! Thanks again to everyone who has read/reviewed/favorited/followed. It means a lot to me. Alara hasn't gotten to read this chapter yet, but I hope that it doesn't have too many mistakes. I do not own all things yu-gi-oh/yu-gi-oh GX related, and Alara owns her OC Alara.

Jim's POV

It was terrifying, facing off against D as she transformed into a monster. Shirley ran around the trees, avoiding the magician's magic while still drawing it away from me. I jumped back as one of Dark Magician Girl's attacks struck the ground directly in front of my feet.

"Dark Magician Girl! Come to yer senses!" My luck must've run out because the next attack ripped through my jacket and the skin of my arm beneath.

"You humans are poison! You have turned the spirits into nothing in your quest to become our masters!" The ink-like substance had covered her entire face, and it looked like the head of a shadow, nothing distinguishable.

"What've I done to yer people? How've I belittled the spirits? Explain it to me straight D." I tried to avoid another of her attacks as I spoke, but it still caught me across the face, cutting through the bandages hiding my stone eye. As the bandages began to unfurl, something about Dark Magician Girl's stance changed, and the shadows seemed to fade from her eyes momentarily before they rushed back.

"Perhaps you have not harmed the spirits yourself, but in the past-"

"Ya've got some strange, uncomprehensible idea that the past can be change by becomin' one of the monsters ya've fought! Take some resposability and face yerself and yer problems D!" The ink retracted again from her eyes, the green glowing through the lingering grey.

"Humans like you will always-" a choking cough cut off Dark Magician Girl's haunted voice, her shadows of hands clamping down around her through, the blackish grey pouring off of her.

"D!" I wasn't sure if I should rush forward to catch her as she began to fall to the ground, still appearing to be choking on something, or not with the shadows continuing to suck the life from the trees and vegetation. Shirley took the choice from my hands as she curled up on the ground directly below the female magician and the girl dropped directly onto my crocodile. I highly doubt that Shirley was comfortable to fall onto, but it had to be better than the lifeless ground that had awaited Dark Magician Girl. Keeping my distance, I tried to figure out what was happening, the transformation seeming to have stalled.

The shadows flaked off of D's face, fluttering to the dirt in strips that revealed her usually pale skin. It had taken on a grey tinge, which worried me. Some of the shadows on her hands hardened into talons, before they too fell to the ground, leaving claws behind. "Dark Magician Girl?" calling quietly, I took a step forward, my foot breaching the edge of the circle of dead vegetation.

D's green eyes opened, and she flexed her fingers, the claws clicking together as she shakily got up. Shirley stayed by her side as she approached, curiosity tilting her head. "You humans are strange. You knew I could kill you, yet you still stay. Why?"

"We don't abandon people, especially our friends. Are ya alright?" When Dark Magician Girl got real close, she reached out to touch my stone eye, completely captivated by it. I tried to not move, trying to keep her focused and not transforming.

"I am fine, Jim." She grinned, revealing sharp teeth that vaguely resembled a shark's. "Thank you for staying. I realized something by your actions."

"What?" Dark Magician girl seemed to be normal other than her newer features, and Shirley appeared to like this newer D more.

"I cannot run from my friends, no matter how frightened I am. And now, I've felt the pain and rage of the monsters. Perhaps we can speak to Blackwing Armor Master if we can suspend his pain." D murmured, almost speaking to herself.

"Then let's go. Red thinks he knows where Alara and Bastion are. We've got to get goin'." I kneeled, allowing Shirley to crawl into her harness. As I stood, I was stopped short by D. She put one talon on my shoulder, and the other on my right cheek, gently brushing the stone set where my right eye should have been.

The pressure on my lips shocked me even more, and I didn't move as she pulled back, leaving my gaping like a fish. She stood, turning away with a smile on her face.

Dark Magician Girl's POV

Once I'd turned my back to Jim, I pressed my claws to my lips, feeling the smile that was stretching across my face. I hadn't meant to kiss him, but it was like some voice told me to do it, and I couldn't find a reason not to. I could hear him just kneeling there for a few moments before he stood and followed me out of the woods. I didn't want to stay near the evidence of my almost transformation, the blackened trees and grass making me ill as I thought of the monsters I'd fought and slain in the past. They were brutish, cruel, and lacked all of the humanity they'd once had.

I wouldn't allow myself to transform again. I wouldn't become even more of a monster. The talons that were my hands and the grey that colored my skin, and the rasers that were now my teeth. All would be reminders of my weakness and the violent creatures I would once again have to fight. The thought made my blood burn, and I heard myself growl.

"Dark Magician Girl?" the confusion in Jim's voice made me pause, realizing I'd allowed my instincts to get away from myself again.

"It's instincts. Jim, that's it! The monsters all act on instinct, and because of the pain of transforming, they're enraged and attack anyone who they don't see feeling the same agony. It's all based on their instincts."

"Great. So how does that help us save Alara and Bastion?"

"The only way to beat the instincts of monsters is to have better ones." I explained, grinning at him.

"D, I don't think that's right."

"We don't have Bastion to think up some elaborate plan, and Red only plans enough to keep us from getting killed. He likes to leave it up to chance or fate or whatever you want to call it." I wasn't sure if I should laugh or be angry with Dark Red Enchanter about his lack of planning.

Jim must've made up his mind because he was currently swearing out the magician. "Damn arse. He said he had a plan. I'll kick his arse to the Human World and back again."

"You can do that after we get Alara and Bastion back." He nodded, though he still looked annoyed. "Where is Blackwing Armor Master?"

"One of the peaks near Harpy territory. At least, that's where we think he is."

Dark Red Enchanter's POV

Dark Magician wasn't happy when we got to the base of the peak. I could tell he didn't trust my judgement, and though I felt a bit offended, now wasn't the time to get into an argument. We could see the Harpy Ladies flying towards us, and they landed quietly, though the rush of air blew our hair back.

"Did you see him?" Dark asked worriedly, beginning to twirl his staff. It wasn't like those cheerleading baton twirls, but instead a furious motion that showed his agitation and readiness to fight.

"Yes. He was on the second ledge from the top. He's prepared for battle." The tallest Harpy told us, flapping her wings to steady herself.

"He's expecting you." Said another, and I saw Shura tremble. "You must strike quickly and with surprise on your side. Otherwise you won't make it through to your friends. Or if you somehow do, none of you will make it out.

"Then we'll just have to take him out before he can realize that we're here." I spun around to see that Dark Magician Girl had arrived with Jim, and was grinning wickedly. "Let's destroy him."

Susan: Thank you for reading, If you've got the time and would like to, please leave a review. I always enjoy reading them.