Silver Moon Phoenix doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Nick who is owned by Phoenix727.
Chapter 19: Danger Lurks Everywhere!
I knew that the Underworld was plagued by the darkness, and it devoured all happiness and hope from those that enter it. It felt so cold and lonely like my heart once was. Artemis and the Millennium Guardians kept their guard up to avoid any surprise attacks.
I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself to keep warm. Perhaps wearing a sleeveless shirt wasn't something to wear in the cold darkness. I noticed the others also had the same problem. Our breaths could be seen as we exhaled, but the air felt bitter. I looked over at Artemis, and she appeared to not shiver at all.
"Aren't you cold?" I walked over to her, rubbing my arms.
"No," she simply replied. "Guardians are impervious to the heat and cold but in our human state, we are vulnerable in these conditions."
"It feels like the Arctic to me!" Joey whined, his voice seemed shaky.
"The darkness in this world is trying to lure you all into its grasp," Nidoki warned. "And it is one of the dangers of the Underworld besides the demons."
"We haven't… seen… any… demons at all." Nick stuttered from the cold. He seemed to have given his black trench coat to Tea to keep her warm.
"At this rate they'll freeze to death!" Apollo said.
"Yukai, what can we do?" Orpheus asked.
"A protection spell may work." Yukai pondered. "Artemis, Nidoki, can you two conjure one?"
"In order to do so, everyone must be together." Artemis said.
We all gathered around Artemis and Nidoki as they began chanting in a strange language. Swirls of white light surrounded us as the air became warm. Artemis and Nidoki continued chanting, their eyes were closed and the Millennium symbol appeared on their foreheads. The warm light felt inviting as the chanting died away. I realized I no longer shivered.
"This spell is very powerful so it shouldn't wear off, and the darkness is unable to claw its way through it." Artemis explained.
"Shouldn't the spell make you feel tired?" Atem questioned.
"We are experienced so there is no need to worry." Nidoki assured. "Artemis was once a sorceress before she was promoted to become Guardian of Wind."
"I still can't believe that my little sister had surpassed all of the obstacles that stood in her way," Orpheus replied. "She trained in the Underworld to prove herself worthy to Yukai's father."
Artemis blushed. "Orpheus, you said enough! Let's continue finding Pluto!" She pushed him away.
We proceeded walking until we came across piles of huge rocks that seemed perfectly aligned. Forseti stopped us and he flew over the strange sight. His ruby eyes glazed at them and he quickly came back.
"We must dread cautiously." Forseti advised.
"They look like ordinary rocks to me." Joey said as he sat on one of them.
"You fool!" Artemis shouted. "Those are not boulders, they're rock demons!"
Suddenly the rocks shifted and it turns out they were really demons. The Millennium Guardians braced themselves as the rock demons formed. They resembled human-like rocks and they launched their vicious attacks on us.
"Everyone, clear out the way!" Yukai yelled out.
We evaded the oncoming attacks as the Millennium Guardians fought back. Yukai drawn his sword and its blade slashed at the numerous rock demons. Artemis materialized her staff and used it to cut down the monstrosities. Nidoki and Apollo defended us and they created a barrier around us. Forseti and Orpheus summoned their Ka to attack.
"These rock demons keep coming back!" Yukai replied as he swung his sword at a rock demon.
"You're telling me! They always put themselves back together!" Artemis cried.
"Can't they defeat those creatures?" Tea asked worriedly.
I realized that some rock demons were trying to break through Nidoki and Apollo's barrier. They both concentrated to maintain the shield long enough, but they couldn't hold on forever. Yukai, Artemis, Forseti and Orpheus continued bringing down the rock demons, but they keep rebuilding themselves.
"These things have gotten on my last nerves!" Forseti muttered angrily as Red-Eyes blasted at the rock demons.
"Quit complaining!" Orpheus replied. "We have to find a weakness!"
What is their weakness? I thought.
"Isn't there a way to help them?" Nick asked.
"We can't have you face those rock demons!" Apollo spoke. "You aren't experienced at this!"
"Wait, that's it!" Artemis shouted suddenly. She quickly dodged an attack and safely flew over to us. Artemis walked through the barrier and came towards Apollo.
"Shouldn't you be helping the others?" Apollo replied.
"I need your deck." Artemis said as Apollo handed her the deck. She searched through it carefully. The others and I were bewildered as I walked over. She smiled and took out one card. I didn't get a good glimpse of it, but it seemed Artemis had a plan. Artemis rushed out and helped the now-exhausted Millennium Guardians. "I need for you guys to lure those fiends over to me." Artemis ordered.
Yukai, Forseti and Orpheus stared at her with baffled looks. They drew the rock demons' attention and Artemis became their target.
"I trust she knows what's she doing." I said.
We watched the rock demons coming after Artemis, and she didn't move from her spot. She glared with determination in her eyes as they approached her. She held out the card as it was activated. The Millennium symbol appeared once again on her forehead and the card's light turned all the rock demons into dust, finally destroying them.
"Artemis did it!" I cried joyfully as the barrier dissipated. I ran over to Artemis as I hugged her affectionately. My friends watched with confused looks, not realizing what was going on.
"Yugi," Artemis whispered.
"What is it?"
She cleared her throat as she pointed towards everyone. I guess it was time to tell them. I released my hold on Artemis as we walked towards them.
"What's with the huggin', Yugi?" Joey asked.
"The mutt has a point." Kaiba replied, receiving a glare from Joey.
"Partner, have you grown fond of Artemis?" Atem questioned.
"It is easy to tell that they both love each other!" Nidoki giggled.
"In all my years, I never thought to see the day you'd fall for someone!" Yukai replied in a rather surprised tone.
"Why is that?" Tristan asked.
"You see, Artemis was never really interested in having a boyfriend," Orpheus explained. "She'd much rather do her studies than worrying about love."
"Must have soften up when she met Atem, right?" Forseti joked as his Ka disappeared.
"Don't tempt me, Forseti!" Artemis yelled angrily, slightly blushing.
"I think it's sweet you found someone that appreciates you, Yugi." Tea smiled.
"I hate to interrupt this love talk but what did you use to defeat those rock demons?" Nick questioned.
"The Breath of Light card," Artemis answered as she held out the card. "I was trying to remember how to destroy the rock demons that I read from one of my texts but I forgotten what it was, and I decided to use this card instead."
"And you call yourself a sorceress!" Forseti replied.
"Former sorceress!" Artemis corrected.
"Clever ploy to vanquish the rock demons," Atem said. "This magic card can eliminate rock-types, and it was just what we needed."
"I see something in the distance!" Tea pointed out.
"What is it?" Nick asked.
I looked up and noticed another Gothic style castle peering over the horizon. That must be where Pluto was.
"Maybe we should have let those rock demons chase us all the way to the castle, Artemis," Yukai nudged her. "Would have saved a lot of walking."
"Always wanting to take the easy route. You haven't changed one bit, especially as I recall you were lazy in your training." Artemis said.
I didn't understand what Yukai and Artemis were talking about, and the others seemed perplexed as well. I guess they both must be reminiscing about their past before Artemis met my friends and I.
"I hate breaking up your momentous memories but everyone is leaving without you." I said as the others walked away.
"Hey, no one ignores me!" Yukai yelled. "Me and Artemis had a lot of fun during our childhood!" He ran after them, steaming mad.
Artemis sighed. "Now there's the Yukai I use to have fun with!"
For once, it felt like no danger was upon us, and it seemed to cheer all of us. We may have forgotten about Pluto, but we can't disregard our objectives. Mokuba, Ryou and Serenity must be rescued before any harm comes to them. We're coming for you, Pluto!