This story was done in collaboration between me and Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and we both own the OCs that are used in the story. Credit to author AaronCottrell97 for a few ideas and character suggestions (especially the duel layout for the story). Everything else belongs to their respective owners:

Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel

The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry

Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami

Song used in Intro and Outro (c) Unknown

WARNING: Again, the story is rated T (13-plus) for moments of violence, bloody moments, and some suggestive themes. Viewer discretion may be advised.


Opening up in the forest of flowers, Emily opened her eyes (which had returned to normal) fiercely. In addition, the dark aura around her body slowly died down until it was no more.

"W-What's happening?!" gasped Airknight Parshath.

Emily never said a word, but a confident smile soon crept onto her face. Yup, Emily had done it! Her darkness...was destroyed. The Court of Darkness member could not believe what he was seeing...

"I-Impossible!" exclaimed Airknight Parsath. "Y-Your darkness...! It's... it's... it's gone! ...but how?"

"You forced me to gaze inside my heart." explained Emily slowly. "Thinking that I would find only darkness. But you were wrong!"

"Then you had gazed into the wrong place!"

"Look, believe what you wish, but I know the truth. My heart is filled with the light of friendship. And no magic, darkness, or anger can take that away. No matter how strong it is." Emily retorted, continuing to give her passionate speech. "So... thank you, Parshath. You've reminded me that my friends are always with me! And we're going to win this fight, and take you down, together!"

Taking two cards from her hand, the dark green-haired girl slotted them both into her Duel Disk. On cue, two facedown cards materialized on the field!

"I place two cards facedown and end my turn!"

Airknight Parshath scowled. His plan to make Emily embrace her darkness had failed. And now, her darkness was completely gone. So even if he were to capture her, what use would the Court of Darkness have for someone with no darkness in their hearts? This turn-around enraged Airknight Parshath something fierce, and it might have had something to do with his ace monster (Darknight Parshath) being present on his side of the field.

"Damn you...!" The Court of Darkness member seethed in anger. "If you won't come with me willingly..." He pointed towards his opponent fiercely. "Then I will make absolute sure to take you with me... piece-by-piece!"

At that point, the face-up Sacred Arrow Trap card began to activate.

"Now that we're at the end phase, Sacred Arrow's effect activates once more! FINISH EMILY OFF, NOW!"

A bunch of large arrows shot forward to Emily, but the dark green-haired girl wasn't afraid of the arrows coming straight for her.

"From my hand, I'll activate the effect of Hanewata!" she cried, discading a card from her and to the graveyard. "By discarding it to the graveyard, I can protect myself from any effect damage you try and deal to me!"

An orange version of Watapon materialized onto Emily's side of the field. The poor thing was hit and destroyed by the arrows.

"I'm safe." said Emily proudly (LP: 25).

Airknight Parshath was shaking with anger. It was almost as if his own darkness was getting out of control...

"Curse you..." he hissed. Finally, the Court of Darkness member lost it... "I'LL KILL YOU!"

From there, an aura of darkness began to form all-around the infuriated centaur-like monster. Emily was outright shocked over what she was seeing...

"What?!" The dark green-haired girl winced. "Why are you... you..."

"You will pay for rejecting the darkness!" shouted Airknight Parshath. "Mark my words!"

Emily only stood in her dueling position without fear.


Title: The Angel Trapped in Darkness, Part 5


All was quiet for the next minute, but then...

"It's my turn!" announced Airknight Parshath, drawing a card. "Draw!"


Turn Ten: Airknight Parshath (LP: 3150)
Deck: 22
Current Hand (3): Miraculous Descent, Darklord Ukoback, and Darklord Trade(!)


His drawn card was a Spell card called Darklord Trade.

"Once more, Darklord Marie will grant me 200 life points!"

Airknight Parshath's life points went up (LP: 3350). Right around then...

"Facedown card, open!" shouted Emily, as one of her two set cards flipped face-up and revealed itself. "Celestial Transformation! By activating this Quick-Play Spell card, I can special summon one fairy-type monster from my hand to the field with half of its attack strength."

"Don't forget-" warned Airknight Parshath. "-your monster will also be destroyed at the end phase."

On cue, Kuribon materialized on the field in particles of light (Level: 1/ATK: 150).

"I summon Kuribon in attack mode!" announced Emily.

"Heh... Watch as I activate a Spell card - Darklord Trade." declared Airknight Parshath, shuffling the Darklord Ixchel monster card off the monster field slot on the Duel Disk and into his deck. "By returning one Darklord monster from my field to the deck, I can draw another card."

Darklord Ixchel turned to a ball of darkness and vanished into Airknight Parshath's deck, allowing the Court of Darkness member to draw another card. Just then, much to the dark green-haired girl's surprise, the sky started to darken with storm clouds... That had to mean something bad was about to happen, and Emily needed to be ready for it...

"This is the end for you, Emily Sterling..." declared Airknight Parshath, holding up a card in his right hand. "From my hand, I'll activate my final Spell card - Meteor of Destruction!"

"What?!" gasped Emily.

"Yes! At the cost of 500 life points-" explained the Court of Darkness member, taking a life point hit (LP: 2850). "-I can inflict 1000 points of damage to your life points!"

From the clouds was a falling meteor! ...and it was aimed straight for Emily...!

"AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" laughed Airknight Parshath. "It's game over for you, Emily!"

It looked as though things were truly over for Emily. But just before the meteor could strike the defenseless duelist...

"I'm not beaten yet." muttered Emily quietly.

"Huh?"

And so came...

"I activate my final Trap card!" announced Emily, as her last facedown card flipped up and revealed itself to be... "Wings of Misdirection!"

The activated Wings of Misdirection Trap card started to glow all white.

"What's going on?" demanded Airknight Parshath.

Before anything more could be said, the Meteor of Destruction Spell card's attack was caught before it could hit and finish Emily off.

"Hmm... Because I control one monster and no other Spell and Trap cards, my activated Trap card has saved me from defeat." said Emily. "First, it increases the attack power of my Kuribon by 800 points."

Kuribon grew stronger (ATK: 150 - 950).

"But that isn't all it does."

Airknight Parshath took a step back from shock. "W-What?!"

"The effects and activation of all your cards on the field are negated until the end phase of the turn!" added Emily.

Before long, the meteor fizzled out. Darknight Parshath also lost significant attack points (ATK: 2300 - 1400).

"Grrr...! You little-!" seethed Airknight Parshath. "My Spell card may have failed to defeat you, but my attacks will definitely do so!"

Darknight Parshath got ready to attack. Before long, the battle phase commenced...

"Darknight Parshath-" commanded Airknight Parshath. "-destroy Kuribon!"

Darknight Parshath obeyed the command and charged forth towards the defenseless female Kuriboh.

"You're finished! Your darkness may have been destroyed, but now you will feel the wrath of my OWN dark!"

"I don't think so!" exclaimed Emily ."I activate Kuribon's special ability!"

Darknight Parshath slashed Kuribon with his sword, splitting the poor monster in two before...it turned into particles of light?

"What the hell?!" gasped Airknight Parshath. "Your monster-?!"

"When Kuribon is attacked-" explained Emily (LP: 25). "-she returns to my hand instead, and I take no battle damage... Although, as a penalty for making this move, you gain life points equal to your monster's current attack points."

Airknight Parshath never said a word about this (LP: 4250). He then scoffed at his opponent's vain attempt to stop herself from losing.

"Your attempts to stop yourself from losing is nothing but a failure." sighed Airknight Parshath. "Sure, you've managed to stop Sacred Arrow from activating, but all it did was give me more life points and leave only one card left in your hand."

As the Court of Darkness spoke on, the dark aura around him was growing stronger than ever before. Emily could see this, and actually felt pity for him...

"The darkness is poisoning your mind." she thought to herself. "As much as I hate you for all that you've done to me, I can't help but feel that monster has been damaging your own heart."

"On my next turn-" continued Airknight Parshath. "-you'll be finished!"

"Oh no, I won't!" insisted Emily, drawing a card. "I will defeat you and free you from the darkness!"

"Free me? Heh! I guess the pressure must be getting to you."

Emily said nothing to that and only looked at her card.


Turn Ten: Emily Sterling (LP: 25)
Deck: 28
Current Hand (2): Kuribon and Pot of Greed


Her drawn card was the Pot of Greed Spell card. This was her last chance to turn things around... Otherwise, she would lose the duel and be captured for use by the Court of Darkness.

"I activate a Spell card - Pot of Greed!" announced Emily, just before holding her card out. "This allows me to draw two more cards."

Airknight Parshath folded is arms and snorted—yet said nothing. From there, Emily braced two fingers onto her deck.

"This is my last chance." The dark green-haired girl thought to herself. "Wingweaver... Guardian Eatos... Kuribon... Thomas... please grant me your power..."

With that said, she performed a Destiny Draw! ...but it was unlike any Destiny Draw she or anyone else had ever performed...! It... it...

"S-Such power...!" gasped Airknight Parshath.

Emily opened her eyes and looked at her newly drawn cards to see...her prayers had been answered. First, she added the two cards to her hand and took another.

"Alright, I summon Kuribon once more!" began Emily, placing her card onto a monster field slot on her Duel Disk. "Welcome back, my friend!"

Kuribon returned to the field (Level: 1/ATK: 300). On cue, the Swing of Memories Spell card materialized face-up on the field.

"Swing of Memories?" blinked Airknight Parshath. "Why play that card? You know the normal monster you summon with that will be destroyed at the end phase."

"It's all the time I'll need." insisted Emily. "So now... welcome back, Wingweaver!"

A swing appeared to the field, swaying casually, until slowly, but surely, the spirit of Wingweaver began to appear sitting on it.

"Wingweaver..." mumbled Airknight Parshath, but then something about the newly summoned monster disturbed him. "Huh?"

Wingweaver had a heartbroken look on her face. It was as if...this Wingweaver was deeply upset that Airknight Parshath had betrayed her and everyone at The Sanctuary in the Sky.

"Your Wingweaver...is looking sad..."

"Yes, she is." agreeded Emily. "And it's your own fault. She took you in, and saved you from death. She and everyone else at The Sanctuary in the Sky treated you like family... But then you decided to betray her and everyone else there for power and darkness."

On cue, the Heavenly Light - Type B Ritual Spell card materialized face-up on the field.

"And now, I'll activate Heavenly Light - Type B!"

"Oh no!" cried Airknight Parshath. "Not that card!"

"Oh, yes!" said Emily, drawing and discarding five cards. "With this, I send five light attribute monsters from my deck to the graveyard."

Airknight Parshath knew what was coming next...

"With the payment offered, I can ritual summon from my hand, deck, or graveyard the true angel of this land; Serapheem!"

The cloudly sky slow-but surely started to break away, while Emily performed a summon chant...

"Angel of the highest order, she who guards the Sanctuary in the Sky, I summon you to smite the wicked from this land!"

A familiar monster started to lower from the brightened sky.

"RITUAL SUMMON!" shouted Emily, raising her right hand into the sky. "Arise from the heavens - Serapheem!"

Continuing to lower onto the field, was the more powerful version of Wingweaver (Level: 12/ATK: 2900).

"Sera-pheem..." whispered Airknight Parshath.

"And-" continued Emily, just as a card slipped out of her graveyard before fading into oblivion. "-I'll activate one more effect of the Wings of Misdirection in my graveyard!"

"Another effect?!"

"By removing it from my graveyard-" explained Emily. "-and two additional cards on my side of the field, I can raise Serapheem's attack points by 800, and negate the activation and effects of all your cards on the field!"

Airknight Parshath got a look of pure horror on his face, but said absolutely nothing.

"That's right! Your DNA Transplant has just been rendered USELESS! Now, all of my monster's attributes return to how they originally were... Beings of pure light!"

Wingweaver and Kuribon both turned into balls of light and joined the Wings of Misdirection Trap card in being banished. From the brighten sky, rays of light soon shined down to strike the field of all of Airknight Parshath's cards. The face-up DNA Transplant Trap card was hit and rendered useless, and Darknight Parshath got hit by a ray of light and had his effect nullified (ATK: 2300 - 1400). What's more, Serapheem got stronger as well (ATK: 2900 - 3700).

"And now, for Serapheem's effect!" Emily went on still. "She gains 600 attack points for every light monster in my graveyard. The five monsters I've discarded for the use of my Ritual Spell card also count for the effect!"

Nine cards emerged from the dark green-haired girl's graveyard, and she took hold and held them up.

"I possess nine light-attribute monsters, and that means one thing... 600 times 9 equals 5400 extra attack points!"

Serapheem's body glowed all gold as her strength went up to extremely high levels (ATK: 3700 - 9100).

"9-9100 attack points?!" winced Airknight Parshath. "This... this can't be happening!"

"Oh, but it is!" insisted Emily. Finally, she entered the battle phase... "Serapheem, destroy Darknight Parshath and cleanse Parshath of the darkness from his heart!"

Serapheem closed her eyes and raised her hands into the sky to gather power.

"As of now, there isn't anything you can do to stop our attack!"

Airknight Parshath could not believe it. He was about to lose to the one he was meant to capture!

"I-Impossible...!" The Court of Darrkness member murmured. "I... I have been...defeated?"

"HOLY RAYS OF THE GODDESS!" roared Emily.

With that command given, rays of light shot down from the heavens, striking Darknight Parshath. The dark being cried out in agony as he melted away as a sign of destruction. The rest of Airknight Parshath's cards were also shown being destroyed as well for dramatic effect.

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOO!" screamed Airknight Parshath, just as his life points finally dropped to zero (LP: 0).


DUEL RESULTS: Emily Sterling wins!


Airknight Parshath, as the light overwhelmed him, thought he was about to die. Just then, he saw a familiar face floating before him...

"W-Wingweaver?"

It was not Wingweaver... it was Serapheem.

"Your fall into darkness was your eventual downfall." said the goddess-like monster. "However, you're not to blame for it."

Airknight Parshath was silent.

"It was Diablon who caused this." continued Serapheem. "He has lied to you, and manipulated you into opening your heart to the darkness."

Still, Airknight Parshath said nothing.

"However, as of now, your heart shall be purified of the dark, Guardian Parshath!"

With that said, Serapheem held out her hands and made them glow. Airknight Parshath felt something being pulled out from him and thus began screaming in agonizing pain.

(elsewhere...)

Back in the forest of flowers, the light show soon ended...with Airknight Parshath standing still... just before finally collapsing. Emily, breathing hard, had fallen to a knee from the intensity of the duel.

"I've...done it..." she coughed and panted. "My darkness... It's finally gone."

Before too long, Airknight Parshath could be heard moaning.

"Rgh..."

Slowly, he began to stand. Emily stood nearby and watched it happen.

"Parshath..." The dark green-haired girl thought to herself. Just then... "Huh?"

She noticed a nearby tree...had turned to stone!

"What's going on, now?"

On cue, more and more plant life around the area was turning to stone!

"The whole forest is turning to stone!" thought Emily, becoming panicked. "I have to get out of here!"

Fortunately, some of the vines blocking her way had fallen, allowing Emily to slip out. Unfortunately, it was right then she realized she had left Airknight Parshath behind to die!

"Parshath is still back there!"

Without watching where she was going, Emily soon tripped over a turned-to-stone flower and fell down. While trying to get back up, the dark green-haired girl fell back down and saw she had badly scraped her knee.

"Ugh... my knee...!" Emily winced in pain.

More and more plants and such were turning to stone. If Emily didn't get herself out of the forest of flowers, she would suffer the same fate.

"I have to get out of here!" cried Emily, slowly getting back to her feet. But suddenly collapsed once more in pain. "Ngh... no!"

Just then, before it was too late...

"I'll save you!" came a familiar voice (male), picking up the injured girl.

"Parshath?" gasped Emily in surprise.

Yes, it was Airknight Parshath. With a mad dash, the reformed centaur-like monster helped Emily escape from the forest of flowers.

(elsewhere...)

Before long, the forest of flowers was completely petrified. Airknight Parshath was breathing hard from the run, while Emily, now sitting on a rock while nursing her knee, was looking up at her former enemy.

"Parshath... you've saved my life."

"It was the least I could do." said Airknight Parshath coolly. "After all, you saved me from myself."

Emily looked back towards the ground. "And here you wanted to kill me earlier..."

Airknight Parshath sighed in shame. He knew that his opponent would not forgive him so easily.

"It was the darkness clouding my mind." The centaur-like monster said. "I know you must hate me for all that I've done, but also know that you have every right to be mad at me."

Emily said nothing in response.

"I was blinded by the idea of avenging the deaths of my two closest friends-" went on Airknight Parshath "-which caused Diablon to manipulate and turn me towards the side of darkness."

A flashback ensured.


FLASHBACK

Flashback Airknight Parshath was meeting with a shadowed Diablon and his loyal minions; the Court of Darkness.

"Besides..." spoke one of the Duel Monsters (Vampire Lord). "By joining forces with the Court of Darkness, you can achieve many great things."

"Really?" asked Flashback Airknight Parshath, looking at the Court of Darkness member. "L-Like what?"

"The chance to learn how to revive the dead." said Flashback Diablon, still shadowed.

Flashback Airknight Parshath was shocked. "Revive...the dead?"

"Indeed. Then, you could bring your two closest friends back to you."

The centaur-like monster didn't know what to do. Diablon, sensing the monster's doubts, decided to try something else...

"If you don't trust my words, then try searching your deepest of desires." he suggested.

And so, Flashback Airknight Parshath did. He searched in his mind for his deepest desires.
-Bring his friends back from the dead.
-Make the killers of his friends pay.

"I..."

"Yes?" Flashback Diablon pressed on.

"I will join you." said Flashback Airknight Parshath quietly.

"Wonderful!" praised another of the monsters (Darkbishop Archfiend). "We all knew you had it in you."

"But!" interrupted another member of the band of monsters (The Earl of Demise). "First, we want to make certain you'll serve Lord Diablon well."

"Make certain?" blinked Flashback Airknight Parshath.

"Yes." agreed another of the monsters (Vampire Lady), ending her sentence with a hiss. "Will you accept allowing the darkness into your heart?"

"It'll grant you limitless power!" added one of the last monsters (Witty Phantom). "Just like we all have."

"Limitless power?" asked Flashback Airknight Parshath. "But aren't I powerful enough?"

"Our decks were designed to be unbeatable." said Flashback Diablon, taking a deck of Duel Monsters card out of his pocket. "If you do not believe us, then allow one of us to show you."

"In a duel." finished Flashback Vampire Lord, holding up his own deck.

Flashback Airknight Parshath, curious as to whether or not it was true, took out his own deck.

"Fine... which of you will be my opponent?"

"How about...me?" Flashback Diablon offered, as a creepy smile appeared on his face.

Flashback Airknight Parshath nodded. "Very well..."

The two duelists walked over and handed each other their respective decks to shuffle. Once they were done, Flashback Airknight Parshath flt something about his opponent's cards.

"It feels as though something powerful lurks inside." he thought to himself. "But what could it be?"

Once everything was ready...

"DUEL!" Flashback Diablon and Flashback Airknight Parshath both exclaimed at once (LP: 4000) x2.

(new scene...)

The duel soon shifted to much later on, with Flashback Diablon now commanding three extremely powerful monsters. They were shown to be...

"Uria, Lord of Searing Flames, Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder, and "Raviel, Lord of Phantasms, the time has finally come..." commanded Flashback Diablon. "Attack Airknight Parshath directly, and end the duel!"

The three Sacred Beasts obeyed, striking down Flashback Airknight Parshath. The centaur-like monster screamed in pain as the rest of his life points dropped to zero (LP: 0).


DUEL RESULTS: Diablon wins!


The holograms all faded away rather quickly.

"Hmm..." mused Flashback Diablon thoughtfully. "Your deck isn't powerful enough."

Flashback Airknight Parshath, still weakened from the duel, slowly returned to his feet.

"What? What do you mean by that?"

Flashback Diablon never answered; he instead snapped his fingers and Flashback Vampire Lord stepped forth.

"Your deck is filled with far too much light." explained Flashback Vampire Lord, taking a deck out of his coat pocket. "If you're ever to become more powerful, you will need to embrace the darkness."

He handed Flashback Airknight Parshath the deck.

"I think this should be suitable for someone like you."

Flashback Airknight Parshath looked through his new deck. Before long one of the cards he stopped at started glowing all black/puple-like.

"What!?" gasped the centaur-like monster, just before he fell to his front knees while feeling something in his chest. "What's-?!"

"The darkness is accepting you." grinned Flashback Diablon. "Welcome to the Court of Darkness, Airknight Parshath!"

Flashback Airknight Parshath screamed in agonizing pain as the newly unlocked darkness within him continued to consume his heart. Clutching his head, he brought it down to his torso due to being unable to do anything to stop the excruciating pain.

(new scene...)

Flashback Wingweaver, watching from a balcony outside her bed chambers, could only watch in horror as The Sanctuary in the Sky burned all-around her. The war had commenced, and Flashback Airknight Parshath was leading an attack on the once beautiful shrine.

"Parshath..." she whispered, as tears fell from her eyes. "Why would you do this to us? I... I... I loved you..."

(elsewhere...)

Down in the middle of a garden, various evil monsters were tearing the place apart or killing various humans and friendly monsters. Flashback Airknight Parshath, showing no remorse or regret in his actions, continued to laugh wickedly at the destruction.

END FLASHBACK


The flashback ended, as Airknight Parshath closed his eyes with shame.

"I still can't believe I abandoned all of my friends for the sake of power and revenge." he mourned. "And I also betrayed my one, true love..."

"HUH?!" gawked Emily. "Did you say 'love'?"

"Yes." confirmed Airknight Parshath. "Wingweaver... As I continued to train to become a Guardian of the shrine, we started to spend lots of time together... And eventually, we fell in-love."

"Parshath..." whispered Emily. She then looked very sad. "I know what betraying your loved ones from falling into darkness feels like..."

"You do?" asked Airknight Parshath, looking towards his former enemy.

"Yes..." confirmed Emily. "Six years ago, back when I was only 10-years old and a new student at Sodor Middle School, I was a victim of relentless bullying by two of my current friends. But instead of doing the right thing and telling someone about it, I made the big mistake of changing my personality, attempting to toughen up so that those two guys would finally leave me alone. But, in the process, I ended up becoming a bully myself, treating all of my friends like dirt and driving nearly all of them away from me. They said that I was a monster with no hope for redemption. The only one who didn't lose faith in me was Thomas. He gave me the courage to reveal my troubles to the principal. If it hadn't been for him, chances are I would have eventually committed suicide."

"That's..." Airknight Parshath whispered, feeling more and more terrible. "That's awful..."

"And now, those painful memories of my past have resurfaced... The Court of Darkness is currently hunting me down, because of the traces of darkness I once had inside my heart."

"Yes... and I nearly did you in during our duel..." sighed Airknight Parshath. "At this point, however, your darkness is now gone forever. Unfortunately... even if my own darkness is now gone, I know my old home will never forgive me for my actions..."

"Now, hold on!" interrupted Emily, managing to stand up, walk over, and touch her former enemy's arm in a kind gesture. "Just because you've performed countless evil actions before, doesn't mean you can't make up for your sins!"

"What do you mean I can 'make up for my sins'?"

"I was able to make up for what I had done in the past." Emily pointed out. "If my friends forgave me for what I had done as a bully, I'm sure your friends will forgive you, too..." She then finished her sentence with this... "I also think Wingweaver will forgive you... Especially her."

The dark green-haired girl then closed her eyes as a flashback began.


FLASHBACK

Inside the principal's office within Sodor Middle School, Mr. Arkwright was busy typing away on his computer before giving a heavy sigh. Just now, he had gotten a message from one of the teachers that Young Thomas and Young Emily both had not showed up for class.

"Where could those two be...?"

Just then, a knock on the door to the office came.

"Enter." said Mr. Arkwright simply, not looking up from his work.

The door opened and revealed the secretary, and she kepy a professional look on her face.

"Sir, two students are here to see you." The secretary reported.

Mr. Arkwright sighed unhappily. "Alright, send them inside, please."

With that said, Young Thomas and Young Emily, much to the principal's surprise, both came into the office.

"Thomas? Emily?" gasped Mr. Arkwright. He then became very stern sounding. "Where have you two been? It's almost 10:00 am, now!"

"We're so sorry for missing first period." apologized Young Thomas, before looking to his troubled friend. "But..."

"I have something to confess." finished Young Emily. "Something I should have done a long time ago..."

"Go on..." nodded Mr. Arkwright. "I'm listening."

And so, Young Emily finally told Mr. Arkwright all about Young Gordon and Young James's bullying. When she finished, the principal was shocked beyond words over all the cruel things that had been done and said to the young dark green-haired girl.

"Why didn't you come and tell me as soon as you could?"

"Because I was too scared." quivered Young Emily. "I... I..."

Mr. Arkwright raise a hand and silenced the young dark green-haired girl. From there, he went over to the microphone, picked it up, and said a few words...

"Attention, students... Could I please see Gordon and James in my office this instant? Thank you..."

Minutes later, the door to the office opened and Young Gordon and Young James both walked inside.

"Is there anything wrong, sir?" asked Young James, not realizing what was coming.

"Did we forget our-" Young Gordon began, but stopped speaking when he froze in fear over something up ahead. "Oh no..."

Standing next to Mr. Arkwright were both Young Thomas and Young Emily. All three of them looked very cross, indeed...

"Well?" The principal asked slowly.

Knowing that they were in very deep trouble, Young James pointed to his best friend to pin the blame on him.

"'HE' did it!"

"James Hughes and Gordon Gresley!" boomed Mr. Arkwright. "I am absolutely disgusted with the both of you!"

"But... but..." protested Young Gordon.

"If there is one thing I will never, EVER tolerate in THIS school, it's bullying. What did you hope to achieve by making Emily's life so miserable?"

"B-But we... we..." The two young boys spluttered.

"You both will now confess to your misdeeds to the whole school." continued Mr. Arkwright angrily. "In addition to that, you will ALSO personally apologize to Emily! Once that's done, you will come back here so I can decide your punishments. Am I clear?!"

"Y-Y-Yes, sir." whimpered Young James and Young Gordon both at once. They were cowering before the usually kind principal.

"You two jerks almost drove me to suicide!" hissed Young Emily.

"If she succeeded in killing herself-" put in Young Thomas. "-I would... I would...!"

He was so upset that he couldn't even finish his sentence, although Young Emily did manage to console him slightly.

"I will be informing your parents about what you have done, as well." added Mr. Arkwright. "And I can guarantee that they will not be happy with you once they hear of your misdeeds that occured for over two years." He then picked up the microphone again. "But first..."

And thus, he made the announcement...

(new scene...)

Later on inside the auditorium... As soon as they were given the 'go ahead' by Mr. Arkwright, Young Gordon and Young James both stepped forward towards the edge of the stage and spoke to the silent audience.

"These words are for Emily Sterling." began Young Gordon. "Emily... James and I would like to say that we are really sorry for everything we've said and done to you ever since you first came to this Middle School."

"It was wrong of us to do." put in Young James. "VERY wrong."

"Then why ever did you both bully Emily in the first place?" demanded Mr. Arkwright.

"We..." Young James tried to speak. "We did it all because of silly reasons."

"VERY silly reasons, sir." added Young Gordon shamefully.

"This is most unacceptable." said the principal absolutely furiously. "You, Gordon and James, both know full well that bullying is not tolerated at this school, but this... THIS is just inexcusable! Do you realize AT ALL that your constant teasing and harrassing of Emily here nearly caused her to commit suicide?"

"No." replied Young Gordon, looking down to the ground. "And if we knew what would happen, we never would have started."

The audience remained absolutely silent as Mr. Arkwright continued to speak to both boys, but there was hints of glum and anger coming from many of the students. The ones who were the most angry with Young Gordon and Young James, however, were both Young Thomas and Young Emily.

"What they did was unforgivable!" shouted Young Thomas.

"Not only did I nearly lose all of my friends-" added Young Emily. "-but it made think of going and ending my own life! They should be expelled for everything they've said and done to-"

Mr. Arkwright merely raised a hand quietly, and the two kids settled down... but they still remained absolutely incensed.

"We'll do anything we can to make up for this." went on Young James. "I don't care how long it takes for us to do so, but we WILL make up for our misdeeds towards you, Emily."

"That is a serious promise." Young Gordon added.

Finally, Mr. Arkwright dismissed the two boys from the stage and spoke to the audience...

"Now, let that be a lesson for all of you." The principal said sternly. "None of you should ever be afraid to come speak to me if something or someone is troubling you. It's my job to ensure that peace is kept around this school. If it's being disrupted, then the ones behind it will not go unpunished!"

With that said, the students were dismissed to go back to class. Only Thomas, Emily, and several of their friends remained behind.

"Emily..." began Young Percy. "I just want to say... we're all so sorry."

"We should have been more understanding to you." added Young Toby.

"Agreed." agreed Young Henry. "If we had known the truth sooner, we wouldn't have turned turn against you; thinking you were an irredeemable monster."

"Thank goodness Thomas was able to reach out and help you." finished Young Edward, before adding a rather grim... "Before it was too late."

"Thank you, everyone." said Young Emily quietly. While she was very happy to have her friends back, the young dark green-haired couldn't help but feel ashamed for not telling anyone of her problems as soon as possible. "I should have just told you all sooner, but I was too afraid it would only make things worse."

Young Toby raised an eyebrow. "Then that's why you became a bully yourself...?"

"Yes. But I never actually intended to become a bully. I only want to act tougher so Gordon and James would leave me alone."

"But they didn't, and out of your own anger and despair..." began Young Edward.

"...I took it out on all of you." Young Emily finished, starting to cry. "I'm so sorry!"

Young Thomas, finding his heart hurting to see his friend cry like that, held the young dark green-haired girl close to him.

"Shhh." he comforted, stroking Emily's head. "It's alright now. Everything's going to be alright."

END FLASHBACK


The flashback ended, and tears were streaming down Emily's face.

"Even then..." she went on. "Trying to commit suicide was one of the absolute worst things I ever tried to do as a young girl."

"Emily..." whispered Airknight Parshath, feeling more and more sorry for his new ally.

"It was one of the worst memories I ever had." continued Emily, still struggling not to cry. "And now, because of the Court of Darkness, I was forced to relive it once more."

"Emily, I'm so sorry..." Airknight Parshath said softly. "I... I didn't know..."

"And now, you do know about it, Parshath..."

The reformed centaur-like monster had never felt so ashamed with himself in his life. But now comes the question... Where will his new-found life lead him to? That is a question where the answer will be unveiled! ...later on.