Author's Notes: I could have updated this story in the last two days, but I had a struck of writer's block, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to start my Pokemon Colosseum story since I finished the game three months ago and my one-shot I'm Back!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Nick who belongs to Phoenix727.
Chapter 20: Pluto's Hatred and Yugi's Decision
We finally arrived at the castle, but all seemed too silent. Shouldn't Pluto have some way of preventing us from entering the castle? Maybe we took out all his underlings. The Millennium Guardians remained on guard as we stood by the huge doors. Lightning flashed and I sensed Pluto was near.
"Aren't we goin' in?" Joey asked.
"Patience," Artemis replied.
"That is what I don't' have!" Kaiba exclaimed.
"For someone who thinks he is all high and mighty, surely it couldn't hurt to wait." Orpheus said.
"Pluto has kidnapped my little brother, and I want the pleasure of hurting him, limb by limb!" Kaiba spat.
"Did anybody tell you that your excessive anger will only increase my powers?" Pluto's voice spoke out of nowhere.
"Where is he?" I questioned.
Suddenly appearing out of the shadows in chains were Serenity, Mokuba, Ryou and… another Ryou! This person looked almost like him. He had to be the evil spirit of the Millennium Ring.
"Bakura!" Artemis cried out.
"You know him?" Forseti asked.
"He's that tomb robber who brought Pharaoh Akunumkanon's sarcophagus into the royal palace, and he caused so much chaos!" she explained.
"Bakura dragged a dead body's coffin right in front of many people, that's sick!" Apollo yelled. He stared Bakura with a disgusted look.
"I have good reason to back that up!" Bakura shouted.
"Does that include reviving Zork by using the Millennium Items?" Pluto appeared beside them. I noticed he was wearing the Millennium Ring and held the puzzle in his hands.
"I thought as much you get back your item!" Yukai exclaimed.
"And unlike humans, only Guardians of royal blood can use the Millennium Items without winning them through a duel." Pluto explained. "Now if you hand me the Rod and Necklace I'll reconsider not hurting your friends."
"You've forgotten about the Millennium Eye, Key and Scales!" Apollo reminded.
"Actually I have the Millennium Eye," Pluto revealed the small, golden sphere with the Millennium symbol. "Bakura had it with him ever since Duelist Kingdom."
How did he know where each Millennium Item was? Could he had been receiving information from an outside source? The only person who could have given Pluto all the detail was… Artemis! There was no way! She was against him for centuries or was Artemis hiding her true motives like Atem said back at the mansion.
"Artemis, you've been giving information to Pluto the whole time!" I accused.
"What?" everyone shouted.
"Is this true?" Atem asked in disbelief.
Artemis hung her head low. No, she couldn't have betrayed us! I refused to believe this!
"No, you're wrong!" Yukai defended. "Luna is the blame! She was concealing the true objectives of Pluto!"
"Yukai's right!" Mokuba replied. "Pluto admitted to us before you came!"
"Don't you see, Pluto is trying to break you all apart!" Serenity cried.
"Why you pathetic mortals!" Pluto roared. He unsheathed his sword, pointing it towards Serenity's neck.
"Leave her out of this!" Joey pleaded.
"It seems I may have come across your weakness," Pluto said. "I usually don't spare a mortal's life but if you hand over Yugi, maybe I will."
"Why you sick psycho!" Nick yelled, knowing Pluto had gone too far. "I can't stand anyone I know dying again. I've seen too much chaos ever since Shadow Phoenix was free from my mind! Pluto has crossed the line!"
"Why do you want Yugi?" Atem demanded. He looked enraged as he stared at Pluto.
I noticed everyone seemed angry, but the Millennium Guardians were calm. Something was not right. They didn't express any negative feelings once Pluto appeared. What did Pluto want me for?
"You know your pitiful attempts of concealing your dark emotions aren't going to last long," Pluto taunted his siblings. "Now quit stalling and decide!"
Pluto continued pointing his sword towards Serenity's neck. The Millennium Guardians weren't intimidated at all, but Artemis watched in worry. Perhaps I should go with Pluto.
"Yugi, don't listen to him!" Artemis cried as she walked towards me. "He can't have Ra's power until he has you!"
"Everyone, please do not let hatred and anger control you!" Nidoki begged. "Pluto can feed off of the dark influences and transfer it as a source of his powers!"
"I don't believe you!" Kaiba protested.
"Must you deny the truth!" Artemis yelled out. "The same dark influences is what drawn Luna to me because I hated Yukai's father!"
"Why did you hate him?" I asked softly.
"I can't tell you yet," she answered. "Pluto, you wanted them to turn against me, like you did with Yukai and I. It's not going to work this time!"
"As the Servants of Ra, it's our duty to protect Ra and the Silver and Bronze Phoenix Dragons from the forces of evil!" Yukai began. "You have no idea who are the reincarnates of the Silver and Bronze Phoenix Dragons, do you?"
"You can't stop me! The reason I lured you all here is that the Galactic Dragon's soul was sealed within the Underworld, and the Phoenix Dragons sealed its body within the vast universe!" Pluto explained.
"You traitor! You have renounced your responsibility of defending our ancestors, and you desire to revive our enemy!" Forseti exclaimed.
"Pluto, please don't do this! You're not like your father, Apophis!" Artemis pleaded. "My father, Horus, and Yukai's father, Skyros, may have been brothers of Apophis but you can't follow in his footsteps!"
Pluto gazed furiously at her as he moved his sword away from Serenity. Maybe what Artemis said might have reminded him of something. "Artemis, you know you are a fool to think I will give up so easily." Pluto muttered. "I'm not my father, and I will never become him!"
I noticed a black aura surrounded Pluto's body, and I feared his hatred was fueling his powers. I should hand myself over to him before he began hurting my friends. Even if I had the power of Ra, I couldn't risk my friends' lives.
"Don't tell me he has decided to kill us instead," Nick replied. "We can't have him take Yugi!"
The air around us began to turn cold. The protection spell must be wearing off, but how? My whole body began to feel numb as my friends and I collapsed on the ground. Pluto could have broken the spell. I couldn't have the darkness claim my soul again!
"Pluto, stop this!" Yukai yelled.
Artemis rushed over to us, but a powerful barrier blocked her from coming near us. She watched on helplessly as the darkness was close to taking our souls. I had to save my friends before the darkness took them too. The only way was to willing give up to Pluto. I knew I would regret doing this, but it was the only way. I stood up and looked at Pluto. Ryou, Serenity, Bakura and Mokuba seemed fine, and maybe they wouldn't come to any harm.
"Pluto, I will go with you!" I shouted.
Pluto stared at me, and the darkness that shrouded him disappeared. My friends were free as the protection spell returned. I walked towards Pluto, but Artemis stopped me. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Yugi, I can't let you do this!" she cried.
"I have to." I said as I continued walking.
Pluto released Serenity, Mokuba, Ryou and Bakura, and they ran over to us before anything else could happen. I finally reached Pluto and took my last look at the others. The Millennium Guardians had fearful looks on their faces while my friends watched in disbelief.
Could my decision be a wrong one? Now Pluto would have what he wanted, but I could sense someone else nearby. It didn't feel familiar to me, and perhaps Pluto was being controlled! Why did this person want the power of Ra, unless it was the key to unlocking the Galactic Dragon! What should I do?