Chapter Eleven-The Unlikely Heroes
Victoria didn't stop running until she felt a stitch in her side. She collapsed on the curb outside a park,and buried her face in her hands. She was cold, and hungry, and now had a headache to add to the problem. How could I have let the yami win again! Why didn't I fight harder?! Now Marik's dead,and it's all my fault. Shadi must be so disappointed in me! Victoria buried her face in her knees,and sobbed uncontrollably. She barely noticed the three figures that approached her.
"V-victoria?" A somewhat familiar voice called out to her, as a hand touched her shoulder. "Victoria? Are you all right? What's going on?" It was Mokuba. "Mokuba...." Victoria whispered to herself, before turning to face him with a tear-stained face.
"Victoria, what's going on? Where is Marik?" Mokuba asked, as he studied the girl's sad face.
"H-he...I......" She began to cry even more. "He's gone, Mokuba, and it's all my fault. I'm so sorry.."
"GONE?! What do you mean, gone?!" Mokuba demanded.
"H-his yami.......it took control of me, and forced me to kill him." She held on to her knees, rocking back and forth in tears.
Another, unexpected voice interrupted Mokuba before the young boy could question her further. "If the yami took over, then you didn't do it." A young boy about Victoria's height, maybe taller, appeared beside Mokuba. He smiled kindly at Victoria. "I'm Christien....er...Chris..Roba."
"Christien!" Another voice admonished. "We're not supposed to talk to her..."
"Amp down, Jonathan. Espa doesn't have to know." Chris held out a hand to Victoria. "That's Jonathan. He's my brother....." He thought for a minute. "You're the girl who was following Espa..aren't you?"
"Y-yeah..sorry about that...I was curious..." She smiled a little, thinking about how silly she'd been, as Christien pulled her to her feet. "It's good to finally meet you Robas.." She said softly.
Christien smiled brightly. "The pleasure is all mine." He looked at Jonathan. "Jon?"
"This is hardly the time to be making friends. Marik is gone, and it appears that she is culprit." Jonathan replied stonily.
"B-but....." Victoria gazed at the older brother. "I...I didn't mean to.."
"Of course you didn't. But you did it anyway. How do we know you're not under this yami's influence now?"
"She's not." Christien replied crisply. "Can't you see she's suffering enough without you criticizing her?" Christien smiled kindly. "Maybe you only wounded him though..."
"I d-don't know, actually..." Victoria admitted. "I fled as soon as he released me." She looked down, sadly. "It would be a miracle if he is still alive,considering he was weak."
"Oh..." Christien was silent in thought. "Maybe you should go back to them..." He said slowly after a minute. "If you were truly being controlled, then I'm sure the Ishtars can't blame you for that being's actions."
"I'm going to see them right now." Mokuba spoke up suddenly. "Come on, Victoria. You'll have to show me where they were staying."
"We have to get home anyway. I have to talk to my brother." Jon piped up. "Let's go Christien." He threw an icy glare in Victoria's direction. "I'll see you later, Mo."
"Right...." Mokuba nodded absently, as he pulled Victoria down the crosswalk to go back to the hospital.
"I'll see you around, I'm sure!" Christien called out to Victoria, flashing his winning smile again.
Had the situation been right, Victoria decided she would've melted. There was something spectacular about Christien Roba's personality, and that smile melted her to the core. However, she could hardly think about things like that at a time like this! She scolded herself silently, before leading Mokuba into the hospital.
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"Victoria! Thank God you're all right!" Johanna hugged her best friend tightly. "I thought Yami Marik went after you."
"Marik!" Mokuba raced to his motionless friend's side. "Oh Marik.....you can't be gone!"
"He's not gone,yet." Ishizu spoke up quietly from her chair. "He is just barely here, however."
"Ish-ishizu.....I am so very s-sorry...please forgive me."
"This was not your doing,Child." Rishid's kind voice replied, before his sister could. He was settled in a chair on Marik's right, looking stricken with worry. "As far as Marik will be concerned, it is the yami who fired the Rod, not you." He continued as if to reassure the girl.
"It is good to see you are all right,Rishid." Victoria replied. "I'm sorry you had to awaken to this."
"As I said, neither Ishizu or I blame you for this tragedy." Rishid repeated.
Victoria blinked back tears, and made her way over to Marik's side. "M-marik...." She took his hand from Mokuba, and caressed it gently. "I'm s- sorry,Marik...I got so messed up again."
~ Isn't that touching. No,Victoria my dear. You did what you always wanted to do, and that was to please me.~ Yami Marik's vile voice filled Victoria's head, and she cried out.
"No!"
~Yes. And now, we have one last order of business, in the form of a portal. Come. Meet me by Duke Devlin's game shop, and bring Johanna.~
"NO!" Victoria's voice was shrill, and shaky, as she clung to Marik's hand. "I refuse to help you! Do you understand that?!"
"Is he trying to take over her again?" Mokuba wanted to know, as he watched Victoria, with wide eyes.
"I believe he is." Ishizu replied, reaching to take the young girl's free hand. "Do not listen to him, Victoria. I know you don't want to."
"That is right. You have to be stronger than he is, or he'll win every time." Rishid added.
"Think about something else to block him out." Mokuba suggested.
~Fools! You're mine, Victoria. Now,do as I tell you. Bring that Johanna girl down to Duke's. Yami Bakura is expecting her. We will finish the portal.~
Victoria released Ishizu and Marik's hands, and turned to look at Jo. "We have to go."
"I know." Jo held out a hand, and looked at the Ishtars. "
I wil l bring her back safely. You have my word." Without another word, the girls left the hospital, and headed downtown to East Domino.
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Christien was sitting on a park bench when he heard screaming from over the deep hill. He jumped up,at first frightened by it, then curious. He ran to the source of the screaming, and stop dead. It was that girl Victoria from before. His eyes narrowed, as he silently scaled a tree to get a better view.
"Do it, now!" Yami Marik ordered, sending sharp energy waves through her body.
"N-no! I-I won't!!" She yelled, before crumbling to her knees.
"Tori!!" Jo headed to her side, but Yami Bakura held her back. "Let me go! He'll kill her!" Jo's eyes were full of tears.
"Nonsense." Yami Bakura shoved her back, then grabbed Yami Marik. "This was not a part of our bargin ."
"If you don't want to lose your so-called apprentice, I'd suggest you let me do as I please." Yami Marik growled, tearing away from him. He grabbed Victoria up by the shirt, and shook her until her teeth rattled. "This is your last chance, Girl! Do as I say!" The Rod in his hand began to glow vibrantly. "I will use this if I h ave to." He pushed her down now, kicking h er. "Say the words,NOW!"
Christien felt sick in his stomach, watching the violent yami with his new friend. He climbed down from the tree, and turned to run, realizing he'd probably need Espa's help if he wanted to save her.
"Christien! There you are!" Jonathan ran to his brother, looking anxious. "I felt your fear. I thought you were in trouble!"
"I'm not, but..." Christien pointed a shaky finger to where Victoria was.
"It's the yami !" Jon gasped. "We have to tell the Ishtars,right??!"
"Shh!" Christien pulled Jon to a hidden view. "We can't tell them. They've got so much going on right now. We should do this ourselves."
"How?!"
"I don't know yet.." Chris was about to add more, when he heard another shrill scream.
"VICTORIA!!" Johanna's anguished cry sent both Robas to their viewing spots again.
"What's happening to her?!" Jonathan asked, his brown eyes wide.
"He took over her mind. That's it! Follow me!" Christien and Jon both managed to make it to the other side of the portal being opened by the entranced Victoria. "We can use our own mind games to free her." Christien explained.
"Are you mad?! Espa will be furious!" Jon protested.
"Well, Victoria will die if we don't." Christien spat. "And I for one, do not want to lose a potential best friend. You've got Mokuba, and I've got no one yet." He turned his attention to Victoria now, who seemed farther gone than before. Or potential girlfriend...she's adorable. He thought,as he furrowed his brow in thought. "I'm going to help." He began focusing his mind on Victoria's hoping to break her away from the yami's power. ~Victoria...can you hear me..feel me? It's Christien....come back. You have to fight him. Don't let him win!~ He watched, ignoring the headache that was coming from not using her powers on a regular basis. I don't care if I have a migraine for a week, as long as I save her! That's all I want to do!
~~ Christien. Let me take some of the concentration. You'll faint!~ ~Jonathan smiled at Christien's startled look. "Mokuba likes her. I better get used to her." He smirked slyly. So,the two Robas worked tirelessly to bring Victoria back to her senses.
Three voices....there are three voices in my head.... Victoria was on her knees, finishing up the exhausting final ritual. One is the yami ...his is the loudest, but, did one of them say they were Christien?! She tried to follow the two quieter voices. Christien and Jonathan...
~ That's it, Victoria. Listen to us. Jonathan and I want to help you, but you have to let go of the yami ... ~ Victoria was astounded. Psychic?! The Robas are ALL psychic? This did the trick. Her mind had to let go of someone to focus on this new idea, and it chose the yami . Shortly after that, she fainted. Everything around her fell into a cal m state, as the Robas came to her aid.
Victoria didn't stop running until she felt a stitch in her side. She collapsed on the curb outside a park,and buried her face in her hands. She was cold, and hungry, and now had a headache to add to the problem. How could I have let the yami win again! Why didn't I fight harder?! Now Marik's dead,and it's all my fault. Shadi must be so disappointed in me! Victoria buried her face in her knees,and sobbed uncontrollably. She barely noticed the three figures that approached her.
"V-victoria?" A somewhat familiar voice called out to her, as a hand touched her shoulder. "Victoria? Are you all right? What's going on?" It was Mokuba. "Mokuba...." Victoria whispered to herself, before turning to face him with a tear-stained face.
"Victoria, what's going on? Where is Marik?" Mokuba asked, as he studied the girl's sad face.
"H-he...I......" She began to cry even more. "He's gone, Mokuba, and it's all my fault. I'm so sorry.."
"GONE?! What do you mean, gone?!" Mokuba demanded.
"H-his yami.......it took control of me, and forced me to kill him." She held on to her knees, rocking back and forth in tears.
Another, unexpected voice interrupted Mokuba before the young boy could question her further. "If the yami took over, then you didn't do it." A young boy about Victoria's height, maybe taller, appeared beside Mokuba. He smiled kindly at Victoria. "I'm Christien....er...Chris..Roba."
"Christien!" Another voice admonished. "We're not supposed to talk to her..."
"Amp down, Jonathan. Espa doesn't have to know." Chris held out a hand to Victoria. "That's Jonathan. He's my brother....." He thought for a minute. "You're the girl who was following Espa..aren't you?"
"Y-yeah..sorry about that...I was curious..." She smiled a little, thinking about how silly she'd been, as Christien pulled her to her feet. "It's good to finally meet you Robas.." She said softly.
Christien smiled brightly. "The pleasure is all mine." He looked at Jonathan. "Jon?"
"This is hardly the time to be making friends. Marik is gone, and it appears that she is culprit." Jonathan replied stonily.
"B-but....." Victoria gazed at the older brother. "I...I didn't mean to.."
"Of course you didn't. But you did it anyway. How do we know you're not under this yami's influence now?"
"She's not." Christien replied crisply. "Can't you see she's suffering enough without you criticizing her?" Christien smiled kindly. "Maybe you only wounded him though..."
"I d-don't know, actually..." Victoria admitted. "I fled as soon as he released me." She looked down, sadly. "It would be a miracle if he is still alive,considering he was weak."
"Oh..." Christien was silent in thought. "Maybe you should go back to them..." He said slowly after a minute. "If you were truly being controlled, then I'm sure the Ishtars can't blame you for that being's actions."
"I'm going to see them right now." Mokuba spoke up suddenly. "Come on, Victoria. You'll have to show me where they were staying."
"We have to get home anyway. I have to talk to my brother." Jon piped up. "Let's go Christien." He threw an icy glare in Victoria's direction. "I'll see you later, Mo."
"Right...." Mokuba nodded absently, as he pulled Victoria down the crosswalk to go back to the hospital.
"I'll see you around, I'm sure!" Christien called out to Victoria, flashing his winning smile again.
Had the situation been right, Victoria decided she would've melted. There was something spectacular about Christien Roba's personality, and that smile melted her to the core. However, she could hardly think about things like that at a time like this! She scolded herself silently, before leading Mokuba into the hospital.
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"Victoria! Thank God you're all right!" Johanna hugged her best friend tightly. "I thought Yami Marik went after you."
"Marik!" Mokuba raced to his motionless friend's side. "Oh Marik.....you can't be gone!"
"He's not gone,yet." Ishizu spoke up quietly from her chair. "He is just barely here, however."
"Ish-ishizu.....I am so very s-sorry...please forgive me."
"This was not your doing,Child." Rishid's kind voice replied, before his sister could. He was settled in a chair on Marik's right, looking stricken with worry. "As far as Marik will be concerned, it is the yami who fired the Rod, not you." He continued as if to reassure the girl.
"It is good to see you are all right,Rishid." Victoria replied. "I'm sorry you had to awaken to this."
"As I said, neither Ishizu or I blame you for this tragedy." Rishid repeated.
Victoria blinked back tears, and made her way over to Marik's side. "M-marik...." She took his hand from Mokuba, and caressed it gently. "I'm s- sorry,Marik...I got so messed up again."
~ Isn't that touching. No,Victoria my dear. You did what you always wanted to do, and that was to please me.~ Yami Marik's vile voice filled Victoria's head, and she cried out.
"No!"
~Yes. And now, we have one last order of business, in the form of a portal. Come. Meet me by Duke Devlin's game shop, and bring Johanna.~
"NO!" Victoria's voice was shrill, and shaky, as she clung to Marik's hand. "I refuse to help you! Do you understand that?!"
"Is he trying to take over her again?" Mokuba wanted to know, as he watched Victoria, with wide eyes.
"I believe he is." Ishizu replied, reaching to take the young girl's free hand. "Do not listen to him, Victoria. I know you don't want to."
"That is right. You have to be stronger than he is, or he'll win every time." Rishid added.
"Think about something else to block him out." Mokuba suggested.
~Fools! You're mine, Victoria. Now,do as I tell you. Bring that Johanna girl down to Duke's. Yami Bakura is expecting her. We will finish the portal.~
Victoria released Ishizu and Marik's hands, and turned to look at Jo. "We have to go."
"I know." Jo held out a hand, and looked at the Ishtars. "
I wil l bring her back safely. You have my word." Without another word, the girls left the hospital, and headed downtown to East Domino.
*****************************************************
Christien was sitting on a park bench when he heard screaming from over the deep hill. He jumped up,at first frightened by it, then curious. He ran to the source of the screaming, and stop dead. It was that girl Victoria from before. His eyes narrowed, as he silently scaled a tree to get a better view.
"Do it, now!" Yami Marik ordered, sending sharp energy waves through her body.
"N-no! I-I won't!!" She yelled, before crumbling to her knees.
"Tori!!" Jo headed to her side, but Yami Bakura held her back. "Let me go! He'll kill her!" Jo's eyes were full of tears.
"Nonsense." Yami Bakura shoved her back, then grabbed Yami Marik. "This was not a part of our bargin ."
"If you don't want to lose your so-called apprentice, I'd suggest you let me do as I please." Yami Marik growled, tearing away from him. He grabbed Victoria up by the shirt, and shook her until her teeth rattled. "This is your last chance, Girl! Do as I say!" The Rod in his hand began to glow vibrantly. "I will use this if I h ave to." He pushed her down now, kicking h er. "Say the words,NOW!"
Christien felt sick in his stomach, watching the violent yami with his new friend. He climbed down from the tree, and turned to run, realizing he'd probably need Espa's help if he wanted to save her.
"Christien! There you are!" Jonathan ran to his brother, looking anxious. "I felt your fear. I thought you were in trouble!"
"I'm not, but..." Christien pointed a shaky finger to where Victoria was.
"It's the yami !" Jon gasped. "We have to tell the Ishtars,right??!"
"Shh!" Christien pulled Jon to a hidden view. "We can't tell them. They've got so much going on right now. We should do this ourselves."
"How?!"
"I don't know yet.." Chris was about to add more, when he heard another shrill scream.
"VICTORIA!!" Johanna's anguished cry sent both Robas to their viewing spots again.
"What's happening to her?!" Jonathan asked, his brown eyes wide.
"He took over her mind. That's it! Follow me!" Christien and Jon both managed to make it to the other side of the portal being opened by the entranced Victoria. "We can use our own mind games to free her." Christien explained.
"Are you mad?! Espa will be furious!" Jon protested.
"Well, Victoria will die if we don't." Christien spat. "And I for one, do not want to lose a potential best friend. You've got Mokuba, and I've got no one yet." He turned his attention to Victoria now, who seemed farther gone than before. Or potential girlfriend...she's adorable. He thought,as he furrowed his brow in thought. "I'm going to help." He began focusing his mind on Victoria's hoping to break her away from the yami's power. ~Victoria...can you hear me..feel me? It's Christien....come back. You have to fight him. Don't let him win!~ He watched, ignoring the headache that was coming from not using her powers on a regular basis. I don't care if I have a migraine for a week, as long as I save her! That's all I want to do!
~~ Christien. Let me take some of the concentration. You'll faint!~ ~Jonathan smiled at Christien's startled look. "Mokuba likes her. I better get used to her." He smirked slyly. So,the two Robas worked tirelessly to bring Victoria back to her senses.
Three voices....there are three voices in my head.... Victoria was on her knees, finishing up the exhausting final ritual. One is the yami ...his is the loudest, but, did one of them say they were Christien?! She tried to follow the two quieter voices. Christien and Jonathan...
~ That's it, Victoria. Listen to us. Jonathan and I want to help you, but you have to let go of the yami ... ~ Victoria was astounded. Psychic?! The Robas are ALL psychic? This did the trick. Her mind had to let go of someone to focus on this new idea, and it chose the yami . Shortly after that, she fainted. Everything around her fell into a cal m state, as the Robas came to her aid.