The Dragon's True Nature
disclaimer: You've probably heard it from me a thousand times, so here's disclaimer number one thousand and one! I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, Yugi, Yami, Shadi, Mokuba, Seto Kaiba, Priest Seth or any other YGO characters. But I do own Youth and the other Persona!
Chapter 7: Yin Or Yang
Icy cerulean eyes locked with even colder midnight blue eyes as Seto and Dark faced each other, neither speaking a word for some time. Seto crossed his arms over his chest, Dark imitating his every move exactly.
Why did you return, Dark? You must know you'll be banished soon enough. Seto asked, sneering at the black clad spirit.
Dark raised an thin eyebrow, Oh? Quite the contrary, my friend. You are the one to be banished.
Seto's eyes narrowed to slits, Is that a threat?
A humorless smile appeared on Dark's lips, No. It's a promise. Dark pointed to something just behind Seto.
Turning quickly on his heel, Seto came face to muzzle with a great jet black dragon. Corruption!
Corruption emitted a growl from deep within its throat, lashing out one enormous claw to pin Seto against the stone wall.
Seto struggled in vain against the dragon's immense strength, glaring daggers at Dark. Damn it...
Dark raised a hand to Seto's cheek, smiling sadly, Too bad that damned Priest turned you against me, you would have made a perfect ally, Seto. Sighing, the shadowy Persona turned away from Seto to face Corruption, Do not kill him, Corruption. Not yet...
Corruption nodded its great head in comprehension, focusing its soul-less blue eyes on Seto, who began to shiver violently from the dragon's icy touch. For the first time in his life, Seto Kaiba was completely helpless.
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Neko, seated regally on Priest's shoulder, suddenly stiffened, her ears perked forward and tail lashing violently. She hissed quietly, flexing her claws in anticipation.
Priest eyed the edgy cat curiously, What is it, Neko?
With an angry hiss, Neko leapt from Priest's shoulder, landing delicately on the ground before Wisdom's feet. Them.
Yugi looked up at Priest with confused violet eyes, Who?
Dark and Corruption. Wisdom replied, staring down the solid black corridor.
Neko mewed softly, following Wisdom's gaze, Seto is with them.
Youth, although frightened by the prospect of seeing his greatest fears returned, smiled, Seto! We finally found him!
Fear cowered close to Melancholy, clenching his robes tightly in his small fists, But, what if Dark and Corruption caught Seto? What if they... if they k-k-kil- A firm hand on his shoulder stopped Fear from completing his question. He turned frightened azure eyes to look into the fiery blue eyes of Anger, smiling reassuringly down at him.
Don't worry about Seto, Fear. He can take care of himself. Anger said, giving the small spirit a thumbs up.
Cheer and Melancholy nodded in unison, Of course he can.
Ice laughed quietly, clasping his arms behind his head in relative boredom, Sure, Seto can take care of himself, but he still needs us. He stood straight and important, So why the Hell are we standing around here? Let's go kick Dark and Corruption's sorry tails outta here!
The other Persona cheered in agreement, following Wisdom as he led the way down the heavily shadowed hall. Shadi remained farther back in the group with Yugi and Yami.
It truly is remarkable. Shadi whispered, eyes locked on the suddenly eager spirits walking ahead of him.
Yami turned to face the Egyptian, What is, Shadi?
Shadi smiled at the ex-Pharaoh, The fact that Persona so different in personality are able to get along so readily with one another. That is not common.
Yami blinked, glancing at the Persona. Shadi was right. Just feet away from him Anger was clapping Melancholy encouragingly on the shoulder, Ice was walking side-by-side with Priest and Cheer instead of remaining distant, Youth was laughing while carrying a purring Neko, and Wisdom held Fear's hand as they strode before the rest. When they had started out, Youth was the only Persona capable of speaking on friendly terms with any of the others. Smiling to himself, Yami picked up his pace, remaining at the side of his beloved Hikari.
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Dark turned to face the sound of approaching voices. Well, well, well, Seto. It seems your Persona truly do care for you.
Seto, numbed from the cold of Corruption's icy black claws, half opened hazy blue eyes.
Dark, placing a hand under Seto's chin and lifting his head so their eyes met, smiled coldly, It's a pity they won't be able to do anything to help you. You're half gone from this world already.
Corruption growled, focusing its dark pools of blue in the direction Dark had earlier faced. Dark stroked the smooth muzzle of the dragon. Quiet now, Corruption. We mustn't warn our little visitors too early. With a smirk, Dark disappeared into the shadows, leaving Seto alone with the merciless black dragon.
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Fear moved closer to Wisdom, wide blue eyes darting frantically over his surroundings, Is it just me, or is it getting darker?
Wisdom peered into the darkness that enveloped them like a blanket of shadow, It is not just you, Fear. It is getting darker.
Anger, eager for a fight, smirked as he surveyed the endless shadows, So we're getting closer to Dark and Corruption?
And Seto? Both Priest and Youth asked in unison.
Wisdom nodded, Yes, but that is not why it is getting darker. He sighed, Dark must be weakening Seto. That is why the chambers of his mind are blackening. And the more drained Seto becomes, the stronger Dark gets.
Cheer, unusually downtrodden, grimaced, Great.
Neko, fur rising along her back, leapt out of Youth's arms, sending the small Persona tumbling backwards and into Priest's secure grasp. The daemon hissed viciously, a dark orange fire building around her, and as the fire grew, so did her size. In a matter of seconds, Neko had gone from the size of a house cat to a full grown lion. Massive canine fangs hung from her top jaw, giving her the look of a fiery saber-toothed tiger.
Roaring, Neko launched herself into the air, latching onto a shadow darker than the rest with fangs and claws. The shadow reared, materializing into a gigantic dragon greatly resembling a black Blue Eyes White Dragon. Whipping its sinuous neck in an attempt to loosen Neko's hold, the dragon crashed through the corridor wall. Neko used her smaller size to avoid the dragon's quick claws and razor-sharp fangs as she danced about from ground to dragon.
Youth stared wide-eyed at the dragon doing battle with the fiery cat, C-Corruption!
Heh, heh, heh. So the group's all here. A chilling voice said with wry amusement. The owner of the voice became visible as she stepped before the group. Dark, like all the other Persona, resembled Seto, except for the fact that she was female. Her chocolate brown hair was shoulder length, her eyes were narrowed as if she despised everything she say. Her outfit was not the traditional robes of the other Persona, she wore a rather revealing tight black leather top and short black skirt, knee high matching boots completed the ensemble.
Yugi stared at Dark with complete bewilderment on his face, Dark's a she...?
Dark focused her cold gaze on the spiky haired boy, Of course, idiot boy!
Priest, never taking his eyes off Dark, spoke quietly, Yes. Dark is the exact opposite of Seto, the Yang to his Yin. Everything about them is the opposite.
Wisdom, pushing Fear behind him, stood tall before Dark, Where is Seto, demon?
Dark smiled innocently, watching the battle between cat and dragon for a moment before returning her gaze to Wisdom, Somewhere in that battlefield. Before you arrived, Corruption was guarding him. He's probably buried under all that rubble. She sighed in mock imitation of sadness, If that foolish feline hadn't ambushed poor Corruption, he might possibly still be alive.
You wench! Melancholy yelled as he raced to the pile of shattered rock in hopes of finding Seto. He began digging frantically, taking no notice of the battle ensuing just feet away from him.
Dark scoffed at Melancholy's futile attempts, Pitiful fool! You expect to dig Seto out all by yourself? Her laughter was cut off as Ice and Anger forced their way past her to aid Melancholy. She stared at the three as they moved stones from their path, What is this? You're working together? Since when?
Priest, hands firmly placed on Youth's shoulders, smirked, Since you decided to try and tear us apart.
Wisdom nodded in his all-knowing way. When threatened by an outside enemy, even rivals can join forces.
Yami smiled, knowing all too well that Seto and he were perfect examples to that statement.
A joyful cry came from Melancholy as a pile of rubble shifted to reveal Seto, half-conscious but still wearing his ever defiant smirk.
What took you? Seto asked as Ice and Anger helped him to his feet.
Ice chuckled, Got a bit held up by your little counterpart over there. He gestured to Dark with a nod of his head.
Dark arched an elegant eyebrow at Seto, Damn, you're still alive?
Seto shrugged, smirking defiantly, I guess I'm not that easy to get rid- He was interrupted as Neko was sent crashing through the wall just above them.
Corruption roared victoriously, watching keenly as the daemon struggled to her paws. With an alarmed cry, Seto moved to aid Neko, halted by a hand from Wisdom.
Seto. Remember what I told you about the master and servant? It is time you figured out exactly what I meant. Wisdom said, looking Seto straight in the eye. We need Dragon.
Seto's eyes narrowed dangerously, Dragon betrayed us all by taking full Control, he deserves only to be banished from here. He forced his way past Wisdom, kneeling beside Neko as she collapsed back to the ground, returning to her smaller size with a weak meow. Seto scooped her into his arms, trying to wipe the blood from her soft fur.
Dark, one hand on Corruption's smooth ebony muzzle, laughed coldly. Fool! Dragon is your only chance, and you won't except him. That pitiful kitten is no match for Corruption. She continued to laugh as if it were the most amusing thing she had ever heard of. Seto narrowed his icy eyes at Dark, rage etching the lines throughout his body.
The black shadows seemed to creep closer with every laugh from Dark and vicious growl from Corruption. Youth was the only one who noticed the small spot of light approaching from the far end of the corridor, a deep, familiar growl growing with the light.
Tugging on Priest's arm, Youth pointed to the light, Priest...is it...?
Priest turned in the direction Youth gestured. His eyes grew wide with surprise. Seto...turn around.
Seto, barely noticing Priest's voice, felt the all too familiar presence as it approached. He turned to face it as the light became nearly impossible to bare.
Dark cursed, withdrawing into dark shadows. Corruption backing away with an angry hiss.
The light burned brightly for another moment, fading to reveal the towering silvery white form of Dragon, baring his long razor-edged fangs. Despite Dragon's immeasurable power, there was a noticeable restraint, like the control a master had on a trained German Shepard. And Seto was that master, he was the one keeping Dragon's awesome power under complete control. It would only take one command to unleash that immeasurable force.
KT: I know I stopped that at a weird spot, but there is a method to my madness.
Seto: No there isn't...
KT: Silence! I could have you killed in the last chapter.
Seto: ...you wouldn't do that to poor Mokuba...would you?
KT: Mu fu fu, you'll have to see.
Seto:...