Author Notes: I really liked the ending of this chapter, so I didn't want to spoil it by putting the note at the end. ;)
So I finally caved this chapter and left a few little subtle hints at what will happen in Season Two, because I'm really looking forward to that. Between S1 and S2, though, I'm going to post a separate, side-story that will better explain how Seto ended up in his awful situation in chapter 1, so I hope you all look forward to that.
I feel like it's been awhile since I quoted Hamilton, and that makes me sad, but I did quote Night At the Museum in this chapter. See if you can spot the quote!
Please review and tell me how you like it so far! What was your favorite moment in this chapter? Tell me in your review!
At dinner, all of the finalists—Mai, Ryou, Joey, and Yugi—and their friends—Marik and Anzu—were present. Dinner could have been a more cheerful event, but as it was, some members of their group were still reeling from seeing Seto lose his soul to Pegasus. Marik's conversation with Seth had been brief, since speaking with the tomb-keeper was quite taxing on his limited resources. As the spirit had wished, Marik had told no one about their discussion or their plan.
At dinner, the matches were determined for tomorrow's duels: first, Yugi vs. Mai, then, Joey vs. Ryou.
Mai was looking forward to an honest, fair duel with Yugi, and she knew that she'd have to prepare her best deck yet if she was to beat him, especially since he'd seen her duel before. She spent a few hours after dinner laying out the cards of her deck and swapping some out with those in her side deck as she paired and tripled them in every strategic combination possible. Only once she was satisfied with her deck did she go to sleep, getting as much rest as she could so that she could be ready for her duel in the morning.
Yugi had faith in his grandfather's deck and went straight to bed, trying to sleep despite his concern for the souls at stake in tomorrow's duels. When he slept, he dreamed of his grandfather and the others whose souls had been stolen. Everyone called to him, begging to be saved. How could he save everyone, though, when he couldn't even trust the spirit who lived in the Millennium Puzzle? He was prepared to do anything to win against Seto, so he'd have to keep him in check and duel on his own.
Joey slept too, but more restlessly. He couldn't get over what had happened in front of the castle that day, how Seto had been willing to do anything to save his little brother, even risk his own life and his friendships. Any of them might have been terminated as a result of his actions. Joey himself was feeling awfully guilty for the things he'd said. He just hoped that he got a chance to apologize for the misunderstanding, that Seto wouldn't forever remember that as their last interaction as his soul wasted away in god-knows-where.
Marik snuck into Ryou's room that night to join him in bed, for three reasons. First, Marik didn't like sleeping alone. He never had. Second, Seth had instructed him to stay with Ryou at all times in order to keep the Spirit of the Ring in check. Third, he loved Ryou and simply didn't want to be away from him. He held Ryou as he slept, pleased to see him at peace when so many of his waking hours were fraught with fear.
Anzu slept as peacefully as she could. She was most concerned for the children. How could someone be so cruel as to kidnap and imprison young children, then steal their souls and use them as bargaining chips in a card-game? What did he even plan on doing with them?
"Let the duel begin!" Croquette exclaimed as Mai and Yugi faced off across the Duel Arena. Yugi struggled during the first few turns. Anzu, Ryou, Joey, and Marik cheered him on, trying to encourage him, but he was still struggling.
"I forgot something back in our room," Marik said suddenly. He gave Ryou's hand a squeeze before releasing it. "I'll be right back."
"Okay. Try to be back by the end of the duel." Ryou was nervous for his duel; he couldn't help it. The only duels he'd ever seen Joey fight were against Seto and Yugi, and those hadn't been excellently executed, but if Joey had qualified for the semi-finals, then he must have gotten much better.
"I will," Marik promised with a smile, then turned and left, going back to his room to fetch the Millennium Rod. He'd left it behind on purpose, but it was perfectly safe in its hiding place. Once out of sight, he jogged the rest of the way. He knelt and pulled the Rod out from under the bed and felt its power run through him as he gripped its shaft. "Off to find Seto."
Sneaking around wasn't Marik's strong suit, but since he was alone, there wasn't anyone to talk to, and he thought that talking would be the only way to get caught. He was wrong. He had to hide behind various drapes and suits of armor at least three times as guards walked past him, and each time, his breathing alone almost gave him away.
Seth was in the back of his mind the whole time, speaking as little as possible in order to preserve his limited energy resources. Marik had no need to use the Rod until he was checking behind the large portrait of a woman with and a pair of guards walked in on him. Marik froze, terrified, but Seth's voice in his mind urged him on.
Now, Marik! Use it now!
"In the name of the pharaoh!" he cried as he thrust the Rod towards the two guards, and they froze. The Eye of Ra appeared on their foreheads in glowing yellow, and a blank look overcame their expressions. It made Marik feel... powerful. "Take me to Seto, now," he ordered, and experienced a strange delight when they began to obey him. He followed them, keeping his eyes open for anyone else. They stopped in front of an unassuming door, and Marik stepped up to open it. It was locked.
"Unlock it."
"We don't have the keys," one of them answered in a monotone voice.
"Then get them!" he snapped irritably.
Patience, Marik, Seth cautioned, his voice firm, but the sound of it faint. Faint enough that it was easy to ignore.
"Nevermind, don't get them." He'd changed his mind. "You, go away. Remember none of this." He gestured to one of them with the Rod, and the man began to walk away. "You, take me to where I can get the keys." He followed the brainwashed guard to their destination, but he'd needed to activate a few trap-cards along the way to incapacitate the other grunts they encountered. He wasn't sure how long the bonds would hold, though, so he tried to move quickly.
"Marik's been gone an awful long time," Ryou commented nervously, his hands gripping the railing of the observation area a little too tightly. "Do you think I should go and find him?"
"No way, man. You gotta stay put for our duel," Joey answered, shaking his head. He placed a hand on Ryou's shoulder and tried to comfort him by saying, "Don't worry about 'im. He'll be back in no time, don't you worry!"
Ryou swallowed and nodded, but still felt anxious. Joey's words hadn't reassured him, but he was grateful that he'd made the effort.
Let them go, Marik, Seth ordered sternly. Send them away and free their minds.
Marik was struggling to listen, though, as he stood again in front of the locked door. He knew that he should make the guards go away and release his influence over them, but he didn't feel safe doing so. What if they were still caught? What if his soul was stolen too?
Trust me.
The Egyptian bit his lip and breathed deeply for a moment. His hand shook as he finally overcame his own inclinations and obeyed his pharaoh. Seth said no more, but he didn't need to. As the guards quickly spread themselves to the farthest corners of the castle, Marik shakily unlocked the door with the pilfered keys.
He recognized Seto's body on the bed, but he didn't know who lay beside him with his hands cuffed to the foot of the bed. Seto was unbound, however, and Marik rushed forward to place the Millennium Rod in the brunette's limp hand.
Cold. All Seto could feel was the frigid darkness in which his soul was imprisoned. Whatever kept him here also kept him paralyzed.
There was no air here, no sound, no light. Just a crushing, savage, hateful darkness that asphyxiated him without giving him the peace of unconsciousness or the ability to escape in death.
He tried to scream for help, but no sound came out, and nobody would have heard him anyways.
Then something changed.
The absolutely freezing darkness softened into a forgiving, warm grey. Still no air, no sound, no true light, but he could feel someone else there. He couldn't touch his mind or tap his heart, but he knew Seth was there. If he could have spoken, he would have screamed for help, begged for freedom.
All he could do was reassure himself with the fact that Seth had not forsaken him.
Seth's eyes opened as he found himself embodied once more. He delved into his mind to find Seto, but his memories, emotions, and knowledge were all locked away with his soul. There was just enough of Seto's soul left in his body that would keep it alive, but just barely. It had no consciousness as far as Seth could tell.
I will save you, Seto. And Mokuba and all the others. I swear.
He stood and stretched to ease the stiffness from his arms, and noticed after a moment that Marik had fallen to his knees before him, bowing with his face to the floor as he'd done the night before.
"I am so sorry," the lavender-eyed teen murmured. "I shouldn't have gotten carried away like that. I should have obeyed you without hesitation. I should have—"
"Marik, I knew it would happen." Seth knelt on one knee before the other teen who lifted his eyes to the brunette in surprise. "People who use the Millennium Items without truly owning them lose themselves to the power sooner or later. Even good people like you." His tone was understanding and his eyes were kind, endearing Marik to him and easing his sense of guilt. "You withstood the influence longer than most people could. You did your best, and I couldn't have asked for more than that." He stood and extended his arm downwards, saying, "Take the hand, son."
Marik relaxed and clasped Seth's hand, rising from the floor with his help. The instant he was standing, though, Seth released his hand and bowed at the waist to the tomb-keeper, who was promptly shocked by the honor.
"If anyone should be apologizing, it is I," Seth said reverently as he stared at the floor. "Your ancestors, your family, your siblings, and you were never meant to suffer as you have done. The interpretations of our instructions changed over time in ways that we could not foresee. Nevertheless, I and the others are to blame for it."
He straightened up and was a bit dismayed when he saw Marik's eyes tearing up. He hadn't meant to upset him.
"I'm sorry, Marik," he repeated as he pulled the other teen into an embrace.
They held each other tightly, two Egyptians commiserating over the suffering of their people. Seth knew it all much better than Marik, though: he'd watched generation after generation of Marik's ancestors live and die in endless cycles for the past three thousand years. He knew it all better than anyone alive. It had been necessary, in a way, but that didn't make it any less awful.
"You and your siblings did not deserve what was done to you," Seth whispered. "None of that was sanctioned. Especially..." His voice broke, and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Especially what was done to your sister."
Marik nodded silently and closed his eyes as he let his emotions settle once more. If he was to be helpful, he needed to be calm. "I can't wait to see them again," he whispered with a faint smile.
"I am sure you'll see them again soon." Seth gave Marik a final squeeze before they released each other. "Ryou's father is a good man. You can trust him to bring them home as quickly as possible."
Marik nodded again and, smiling, agreed, "Yes, he is. A good man and a good father."
With that matter now settled between them, Seth turned and looked down at Duke with regret. "I wish that I could at least free him for now, but I don't know how to pick a lock. Seto does, but..." He gently brushed a lock of dark hair off of Duke's face, let his hand drop from the pale skin, sighed, and shrugged. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for him until his soul is released."
"Then we should rejoin the others. Ryou's duel should be starting soon."
Marik was right, and Seth knew it, but as he stepped away from the bed where Duke was restrained, a mirror on the opposite wall caught his eye. Out of vain curiosity, he walked over to it, Marik following him like a loyal hound. He carefully studied his own features—Seto's features, really—trying to see just how different he was from his life in Egypt. Something looked wrong, though, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Only when he looked at Marik's reflection did he realize what was bothering him.
"Marik, may I borrow your kohl?"
"Of course," Marik answered promptly, reaching into his pocket and handing the pharaoh his eyeliner.