Dartz Reveals Everything

It was time for Emily to make a move. She had 19200 points thanks to her Pikeru, but no matter how much Curran would try to take Dartz's, he would still be in the game and he had 9100 life points. Yami and Joey both still had 4000 life points and Kaiba had 1600. Emily couldn't hurt her friends and Dartz's Chtora would absorb damage from all attacks. Joey ended his turn without playing a card once again as well.

Then everyone heard voices. "Hey, guys!" Tristan cried out.

"Sorry we're late," said Téa.

"Guys, you're here!" Joey cried.

"How did you find us?" Emily asked.

"Rafael found us and brought us here," said Duke.

Rafael faces his former employer and notices his displeased expression. "You don't look happy to see me. And after all we've been through. Where's the love?" He approaches the arena and decides, "Don't answer that. I've heard enough lies from you. The princess and her father opened me up to the truth."

"Really?" Dartz asked.

"Yeah, really." The blonde repeated. "Thanks to the pharaoh, I was able to escape the Seal of Orichalcos with my soul intact. Unlike everyone else you used. Now set them free before you end up on that wall."

Dartz found his words amusing. "Your soul may be spared, but it looks like the Orichalcos took what was left of your brain. Do you honestly think the darkness that once controlled you is gone?"

"Like I said, the pharaoh saved me," Rafael tells him. "And so did his daughter. Princess Emily showed me that there is still good in this world and in the people too. Now I know why you warned me not to fall in love with her. You said I would only get my heart broken. At first, I thought you meant by the pharaoh because he would be coming to take his daughter back. But when I heard you mention your plot to kill the princess, I knew it would be because of you. Well, too bad. I love Emily and I would rather die than allow the girl I love to be killed by someone like you."

Emily's eyes shine as she listens to his words. I knew Rafael had feelings for me, but I never realized how strong they were.

Dartz was still amused. "Is that so? Well, look around. Everyone you see here gave in to their dark side and was taken by the Orichalcos. They're evil, just like all humans. You're no different. You can't just walk away from the darkness. It's part of who you are. That's why I hired you. Your rage made you the perfect candidate for you to carry out my plan."

"Yeah, well, I'm through being angry with the world," said Rafael. "The pharaoh and his friends showed me what loyalty and trust are all about. Princess Emily showed me that there is still hope and light in this world. And the more I put my trust in her, the more I began to love her. I didn't fall in love with Emily because she was a princess or because she was the chosen one or even because I wanted to make love with her. I fell in love with Emily for who she was. And I was also able to see the kinds of people her friends were. That made me believe that people really do have goodness in their hearts." He turns his attention to Yami and tells him, "Pharaoh, you're very lucky to have Emily for your daughter."

Unable to take any more, Dartz raises his head and begins laughing.

"Now what's so funny?" Emily asked.

"All of this nonsense," he answers. "Rafael, the princess bewitched you. All the Orichalcos did was expose you for what you are on the inside: a corrupt human being full of anger just like everyone else here."

"What does that make you?" Emily asked Dartz.

"Well, you might say I'm a pioneer chosen by the Orichalcos to create a new world. And my task is nearly done. Soon I'll have enough power to awaken the Leviathan and rebuild civilization. For ten thousand years, I've been gathering the spirits of mankind to harness enough energy to regenerate the Great Beast. But time was running out and I needed help."

"So you found us," said Rafael.

"I required three subordinates to carry out my plan. They needed to be filled with enough anger in order to tap into the full power of the Orichalcos. They also needed a reason to hate the people of the world as much as I do. Max was suitable for her own knowledge of the princess and sharing the same goal of wanting to destroy her. And since Max was a follower of the Dark Lord, I knew that the evil inside of her would be very useful to me."

"You bastard!" Joey shouted. He could have even sworn Max could hear him because he saw her shed a tear.

"You can believe whatever you want about me, but my plan to use her was brilliant. And as soon as I encountered Rafael, Alister, and Valon, I knew I found exactly what I had been searching for. Of course, it was necessary to influence certain events in their lives."

"What do you mean, 'influence'?" Rafael asked.

Dartz decides to explain by starting with Alister. He convinced the redhead that his family was captured by Gozaboro's tanks when his hometown was under attack. "Of course, what Alister doesn't know is Kaiba's father didn't do a thing. That honor belongs to me." Everyone gasps hearing him say that. Dartz continues on by saying he was the reason Valon was sent to live in a detention center at a young age. He framed the Australian for a crime he didn't commit. "We can't forget about you, can we, Rafael? Ah, that stormy night."

The blonde knew where he was going. "Not that! You couldn't have!" But he did. Dartz was the one who led the cruise ship into that tidal wave. "No! But why?"

Dartz shakes his head. "You're going to have to start paying attention one of these days. You mastered the game of Duel Monsters at a young age, but I needed to unlock your inner fury. It was the only way to make sure you were strong enough. After all, I had the chosen one and the Legendary Dragons to contend with. And quite frankly, your life was a bit too perfect. So I made some, shall we say, adjustments."

"Everything is your fault," Rafael muttered. "You took me from my family." Unable to control his anger, he lets out a mighty roar. "YOU RUINED MY LIFE!" He yelled. "YOU MONSTER!" Sensing his rage, the Seal of Orichalcos surrounds itself around Rafael. Guardian Eatos appears to protect him, but she becomes overwhelmed by the Seal's magic.

"Rafael, control your anger," Yami cried. "You can stop the Seal!"

Dartz disagrees. "Wrong, Pharaoh. The Orichalcos lives within him and can never be extinguished. Its glow burns in his heart and I'm afraid there's no turning back. His soul belongs to me now."

The light finally subsides and Rafael's cries soften. "No, not that!" Emily cries, releasing her tears. "My friend." Hearing Dartz laugh, she shudders and turns around to face him. "You disgust me," she growls.

"Don't worry, my child. It will be over soon. The Seal of Orichalcos is about to become stronger now. It's time to experience the third level of darkness." Dartz adds another layer to the seal by activating the magic card Orichalcos Tritos.