Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or the Nick who belongs to Phoenix727.
Chapter 17: Battle 5 - Resurrection of Old Friends
The huge doors opened as we edged near them. The six Millennium Guardians seemed shaken up about Artemis's vision and they remained unspoken as we entered Pluto's chamber. The chamber was dark and the air around it felt cold. We didn't know that Pluto had other plans in mind.
Pluto was in a hidden room with two familiar figures. He grinned once he noticed that we had surpassed all of the obstacles in our way. "Hm, they don't suspect a thing." Pluto replied. "I hope you two give your 'former' friends a warm welcome when they see you!"
The two shadowed figures approached Pluto. It turns out they were Tea and Tristan, but they seemed to be under Pluto's control. Pluto brought them back evil, and made sure that they wouldn't remember us. His special ability was unlike Artemis's, and those that have been revived by Pluto were turned evil.
"Do you want us to eliminate them, master?" Tea asked, her blue eyes were dark and cold.
"Yes, all of them!" Pluto answered. "Leave no one standing!"
At that moment, Tea and Tristan disappeared into the shadows whilst Pluto watched us through a small vat. He looked confident that Tea and Tristan could destroy us.
Meanwhile the others and I explored around for any signs of Pluto. He was nowhere to be found at all. I noticed two dark figures appear from the shadows and walk towards us. My eyes widened in shock as I saw Tea and Tristan.
"I thought Shadow Phoenix killed Tristan?" Joey yelled.
"And I thought Yugi sent Tea to the Shadow Realm!" Nick said.
"I fear it was Pluto's ability of reviving lost souls, but they are under his command!" Yukai spoke.
Artemis stared deeply at Tea and Tristan and her expression turned to terror. Her eyes gazed up at them with defiance. "Seto! Watch Mokuba!" she warned.
Kaiba soon realized what Artemis meant as a black hole appeared underneath Mokuba. Kaiba tried to grab him, but it was too late.
"Seto!" Mokuba cried as Kaiba dropped to the floor.
"Where is he?" Kaiba growled.
"He's with Pluto." Tristan answered.
"You're not our friends!" I protested.
"Yugi, that is them!" Apollo said. "Pluto made them evil!"
"Damn him!" Joey roared in rage.
"I refuse to hurt Tea!" Nick cried out.
"We have no choice!" Atem said. "This is what Pluto wants. He knows that we would never hurt our friends!"
"That bastard thinks he can make all the rules!" Kaiba yelled. "What will he do to Mokuba?"
"He might be using him as bait." Forseti said. "Seems he's starting to pull all the stakes to get what he wants."
"Pluto hasn't changed one bit, has he?" Yukai pondered.
"But Pluto was turned good after you fought him!" Artemis bickered. "What has caused him to go back to his evil ways?"
Something deep in my mind told me that Pluto was being controlled by someone else. Pluto must be a pawn in our struggle, but who was actually behind the whole thing?
"Artemis!" I drawn her attention to me. "Maybe Pluto is being manipulated by someone that hasn't shown themselves!"
"There's a possibility he could be." Artemis replied.
"We can't let you leave!" Tea said as two monsters appeared behind her.
Even Tristan summoned a monster. Tea's first monster was grasping a sword in her hand and wearing metal-like armor. Her other monster was a magician-type wearing blue and purple robes and held a crescent blade staff similar to Artemis's. Tristan's monster was a machine-type warrior carrying a machine gun.
"How can they summon Ka?" Nidoki questioned.
"I believe Pluto gave them the ability!" Orpheus concluded.
"These are my Ka, St. Joan and Magician of Faith!" Tea replied.
"This is my Ka, Cyber Commander!" Tristan spoke.
The cloudy night sky loomed over the castle as rain began to fall. Lightning struck and St. Joan was the first to attack. The Ka aimed her sword at Joey, but a huge white claw deflected it.
"You okay?" Nidoki asked.
The monster that defended Joey happened to be Nidoki's Ka. It had a crystalline-like body and wings. The dragon shined like diamond as it roared.
"Nidoki's Ka is Hyozanryu!" Atem exclaimed.
"Do you think that impresses me?" Tea said.
"I will create a diversion for Tristan and I want Yugi, Atem and Nick to snap Tea out of Pluto's spell." Nidoki explained.
"I'll help you with Tristan!" Joey declared.
"But you don't have a Ka!" Orpheus replied.
"Tristan won't remember you!" Forseti said.
"He's my best friend! I know he won't hurt me!" Joey objected.
"Let him!" Yukai shouted.
Everyone stared at him. We couldn't believe he, the Guardian of the Sky whom we thought hated friendship because of Artemis's betrayal.
"I regret everything that I have done in the past, and I'm grateful that Artemis still considers me as her friend." Yukai explained. "You all are loyal to your friends and rely on each other's support. I always thought those who had friendship will be led to their downfall, and I guess I was wrong..."
"What made you rethink about friendship?" Artemis asked.
"Remember when we were young that we would always watch each other's back, and no matter what, we would stand strong!" Yukai continued. "After all I have just witnessed, friendship is the strongest force I have ever seen beyond my years."
"Oh, Yukai!" Artemis embraced him as I couldn't help but smile.
Yukai has changed a lot since we first met him, but why do I feel I have encountered him and the other Millennium Guardians before?
"Well, what are we waitin' for?" Joey yelled excitably.
"I'll allow Red-Eyes to protect you." Forseti offered as the black dragon appeared.
"How ironic that the Red-Eyes was what Yugi used to help Joey free himself from Marik's control." Atem reminded.
"Hopefully, Tristan will remember it." Artemis said, placing a hand on Joey."Okay, Nick, Yugi, Atem, come with me!" We followed her to face Tea.
"Seto, you are coming with us!" Nidoki replied.
"You want me to help the mutt?" Kaiba opposed.
"You're helping and that's final!" Apollo shouted harshly. Kaiba seemed taken aback by Apollo's response. He followed reluctantly with the others.
"How are we to free Tea from Pluto's control?" Atem asked.
"I won't hurt her!" Nick protested. "I love her too dearly, and I will risk my life to save her!"
"We don't want you to perish again, Nick!" I cried out.
"Uh, guys," Artemis interrupted. "We might not want to harm Tea but I think she rather harm us!"
Tea ordered St. Joan and Magician of Faith to attack while we were arguing. The Ka's combined attacks were fired, and we stared in horror as it approached us. The forces collided and a devastating explosion took place.
"Yugi, Atem, Nick, Artemis!" Joey turned his attention towards us.
The others couldn't believe what they saw, but once the smoke cleared. Standing before us was the familiar Dark Magician. Who summoned him?
"Glad to see that you still got it!" Artemis said happily to a bemused Atem.
"You mean he called for the Dark Magician?" I was bewildered.
"Isn't it obvious?" she responded. "Did you think that only the Millennium Guardians can summon Ka? In Ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh and priests used Ka to protect themselves."
"So you do know of Atem's past," I raised an eyebrow.
"Let's deal with Tea, and talk later!"
I wonder if I, myself have a Ka. What could it be? I just hope it will be helpful, and one I can control.
"Yugi, we have to be on our guard!" Nick warned.
"Dark Magician, attack Magician of Faith!" Atem ordered. His Ka directed his attack at Magician of Faith. His staff was raised high, and the attack did major damage. Magician of Faith was destroyed, but St. Joan was still around.
"None of your Ka can defeat St. Joan!" I said.
"Or so you think, Yugi." Artemis replied. "Apollo, Orpheus, come over here!" Her two brothers rushed towards us. They had confused looks, and Artemis whispered to them her plan. They broke apart as Orpheus summoned his Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"What are you doing?" Atem asked them.
Suddenly two more Blue-Eyes appeared behind Lo and Artemis. The three dragons roared as they descended towards Orpheus, Artemis and Apollo.
"Now it's time to fuse our dragons!" Artemis shouted. "The three will become the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"
The dragons combined and formed into one creature with three heads. Tea stood back in fear as the Ultimate Dragon attacked St. Joan. The blast knocked her to the ground, and Nick ran over to her.
"Tea, please be okay!" Nick pleaded.
Kaiba, Nidoki and Forseti came over while Joey followed, carrying an unconscious Tristan. Probably Joey must have punched him out. Just like him to do such a thing.
"I hope she's fine." Artemis said sadly.
Tea's eyes began to open. Her beautiful, blue eyes glanced at us with surprise and confusion. She seems alright.
"Thank goodness that you're okay!" Atem cried happily.
"What happened?" Tea questioned. "I remember that Yugi's forehead was glowing, and all I saw was this strange light. Then the horrible part was I couldn't get out of my worst nightmares! Nick, I thought you were dead?"
"Artemis brought me back." Nick explained as he held Tea closely in his arms. "I don't want to lose you again..."
"We have to find Mokuba!" Kaiba broke their happy moment.
"That's right! Pluto might have another plan!" Yukai replied as the rain poured heavily and lightning flashed.
Kaiba fled from the chamber, followed by Nidoki, Forseti, Apollo and Orpheus. Nick helped Tea get to her feet as Atem assisted Joey with Tristan's body. Artemis and I were the only ones to remain.
"Yugi," Artemis said softly.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I wanted to tell you this for a long time..." Her eyes softened as she neared me. "I love you."
My eyes widened. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Suddenly as if something deep within compelled me to say these exact words.
"I love you too." I replied.
"Oh, Yugi!" Artemis held onto to me, never letting go. "I always knew that you loved me."
It was hard for me to tell her this, but was my heart in the right place? I'm glad Tea and Tristan are back, and what else does Pluto have plan for us? As Yukai said we have to stay strong. When we work together, nothing can stop us, not even Pluto!