Marik clenched his fists, hearing Rishid's words. He knew that more than likely that was, indeed, Fafnir's thought. He would think that all his plans had come to fruition. The king of Juno had been forced to flee for his life. The Red Zealot was inflicting death in all the major villages. Fafnir had the kingdom's army under his control. Just about every stronghold left in the land had fallen. It all sounded bleak.
But Marik also knew that Yami Marik must be plotting something else dastardly himself. The madman was at least somewhat intelligent. He would know that he couldn't count Marik and the others out just yet. Yami Marik may not be part of Marik—not anymore—but they had known each other's thoughts and feelings for longer than Marik cared to remember. Each knew the other's strengths and weaknesses—what made them happy, what made them upset. . . . Of course Yami Marik really had no interests beyond destroying everything and everyone in the world until he was the only one left. Marik felt that the creature was very one-dimensional, encompassing only the most vile and the most treacherous emotions of mankind. "He's taunting me," he breathed low.
Rishid looked at him with a frown. "What do you mean?" Marik didn't have to speak the name of the one he was referring to. Rishid understood very well.
Marik glared out at the smoke. "He's telling me that whatever I do, he's always one step ahead, just like when he took Kade's mother. He says that he will win because he's stronger than I am." Always it had been this way. Yami Marik had always insisted that he was the stronger one, the better one, because of his hatred for all people everywhere. He never looked out for anyone but himself. People, he said, were foolish, weak beings who should be exterminated from the face of the earth. He liked loneliness and wanted to bask in it for all eternity. Marik, he had said scornfully, was weak as well because he cared about Ishizu and Rishid so much. Surprisingly, though, Rishid—not Marik—was probably the person Yami Marik hated the most. Or maybe not so surprising, since Rishid had always been the only one able to hold him back from emerging. "But I'm going to prove him wrong," the teenager said darkly. "I'm going to prove to him that I'm the stronger one. I created him, even though it wasn't intentional. Now I have to be the one to fight him."
Rishid glanced back at Adelpha, who was now stalking away from her scout and coming toward them. "She may not be receptive to the idea," he grunted. He knew how Adelpha wanted to fight her brother's killer herself. He understood how she felt. If Marik was purposely harmed, Rishid would want to take vengeance himself. He would want to be the one to inflict pain upon the one who had brutally assaulted the brother he treasured, not standing back and letting someone else do it. In Adelpha's case it was only worse because she didn't know all of the dark secrets about Yami Marik and most likely wouldn't believe them once Marik tried to tell her.
"She'd only be killed if she tried," Marik retorted, his eyes watching Adelpha's every move as she approached. Of course he knew as well as Rishid did that Adelpha wasn't going to understand that.
Adelpha's own eyes darted about, glaring at each Ishtar in turn. She wasn't pleased in the least with the news of this development. Every delay meant a longer time before she would get to enact her justice. But her scout had said the entire village had burned to the ground. The people, the ones that were still alive, would need a new place to come to. They would need to be led here, to this village. It was the nearest one to them, and most of it was still standing. Abruptly she turned back to her scout again. "Go see that the villagers are brought here," she directed. "I have other pressing matters to attend to."
The scout swallowed hard, but then nodded. "Very well," he said hesitantly, turning away. He had seen the look of fire in Adelpha's eyes. Whatever she was getting into, he was sure, was not going to be good. But he knew better than to disagree with her.
"Will he be journeying alone?" Ishizu asked as Adelpha faced her once more. Surely there were many injuries in the village. The one scout wouldn't be able to handle everything himself. Ishizu felt that what would be best for everyone would be to go to the village, help the people, and then see about confronting their enemies. But she knew it wasn't likely that Adelpha would agree to the plan.
"I'll send a few others with him," Adelpha said shortly. "But I myself must go elsewhere." She laid the sword flatly in her hand, running her fingers across it and carefully touching the blade. It was still sharp. Perfect to make the kill. She would enjoy seeing Paul's murderer's blood decorating the metal.
"You don't even know anything about the one you want to face!" Marik burst out. "Do you think you can just fell him with your sword!" His lavender eyes burned with urgency as he tried to explain the truth about the vile being to Adelpha. He felt Kade clutching him again, most likely becoming nervous because of the anxious tones of Marik's voice.
Adelpha narrowed her eyes at him. "What do you know of this demon?" she demanded. "Do you believe he's infallible? No one is completely invincible, not even him."
Marik took a deep breath, silently willing himself to have the strength to say what he must now. "He isn't mortal," he finally replied quietly. Ishizu and Rishid came up next to him again and he drew courage from their presence. Adelpha, he was certain, would despise him if he told the full truth. Perhaps she would even think he had to die for justice to be served. But even so, Marik knew he must tell this. "He's a being of complete darkness, created by feelings of anger, confusion, and hatred. He loves no one and no one loves him. His sole purpose is to destroy humanity. That sword you're holding won't defeat him, especially not when its fuel is the same force of hatred that gave him birth."
Adelpha leaned forward, bringing the tip of her sword to Marik's throat. "You know, I've never killed with this weapon, though it's wounded many." She tickled the underside of the teen's chin with the sharp point, barely succeeding in not drawing blood.
Marik glared at her, holding very still. He knew that the slightest movement could jar the sword and plunge it into his flesh. There wasn't all that much of his neck that wasn't covered by the choker, but there was enough for it to be dangerous in this situation. But he somehow didn't think she was attempting to harm him. The desire was not in her eyes, though for a split-second Marik had thought his suspicions were being fulfilled.
Rishid and Ishizu, however, were both thunderstruck. "Release him!" Rishid rumbled as Ishizu ran forward. How could Adelpha be toying with their brother's life this way? She wouldn't stand for someone acting like this with Paul. And Rishid wouldn't stand for this.
Kade's eyes were wide in alarm at the sudden scene. "Please!" he begged. "Don't hurt Mr. Marik! Please don't! . . ." He tugged on Adelpha's tunic frantically, tears falling from his eyes. "He's my new friend! I don't want him to go, like . . . like. . . ." His lip trembled. "Like Mommy and Daddy both did."
Marik's heart was touched and shredded all the same moment. Many had said he was cruel and cold, a being who cared nothing for others. And, during Battle City, perhaps that was mostly true. But never had he laid a finger of harm to a child. He couldn't. He hated for Kade to be viewing the darker side of humanity at such a young age. Perhaps in some ways, he and Kade were similar. And his resolve hardened. He didn't want them to become any more similar, not in the darker points. Kade wouldn't suffer the way Marik had. Not if Marik had anything to say about it.
Then Adelpha drew the sword back, her eyes not changing. "Even now, I wouldn't shed innocent blood," was her solemn answer to the pleas and demands. She looked into Marik's eyes. "I wouldn't harm this boy. He's the same age as Paul was." Her voice became far and distant. She could see some of Paul in Marik's eyes—the kindness, the bravery, the boyishness. Carefully she again laid the weapon flat in her palm. "But I will shed guilty blood with my sword," she said darkly. "And the being that killed Paul, mortal or not, is guilty."
"Oh, he's guilty, of course," Marik said, recovering from the shock and embracing first Kade, as the child threw his arms around Marik's waist, and then Ishizu, as she reached him. He wouldn't admit that for a moment he'd doubted Adelpha's remaining sanity. Soon he had realized that she wasn't going to hurt him, though he wasn't entirely sure what her purposes really had been.
Rishid came over as well, relaxing, and laid a hand on Marik's shoulder. His heart had nearly ceased to beat when Adelpha had brought the blade to the boy's neck. Rishid hadn't known whether the woman would slit Marik's throat in her current state. But Marik, thank God, was safe. Adelpha hadn't completely lost her senses.
Marik continued. "But even though he's guilty, you won't be able to deliver the justice you so badly want. Don't you understand!" Well, of course she didn't. That was a foolish thing to say, Marik berated himself. "He can't be killed—not by mortal weapons! The only thing that could possibly vanquish him—or begin to—is a justice that comes without hatred and revenge as baggage. That's the only way I was ever able to overcome his power." He faced Adelpha, steely-eyed, ready to accept whatever judgements she placed upon him now.
Adelpha clenched the fist that was not holding the sword. "You had to overcome his power?" she said pointedly. "What sort of hold did he have over you?" Her eyes darted from Marik to Kade to Ishizu and Rishid, demanding an explanation for Marik's cryptic statements.
"He had my body," Marik replied quietly. "I was the one who breathed life into him." He looked at Adelpha, watching her sharp intake of breath. Her eyes shrank to tiny pinpricks as she simply stared at him. Never did she speak, but for an agonizing five minutes she gazed at the teenage boy, unable to believe or comprehend what she was hearing. She clutched at the sword, starting to lift it, and then lowered it again. This repeated several times.
At last Marik spoke again. "You said you wouldn't shed innocent blood," he remarked. "If you now consider my blood guilty, then slay me. But. . . ." He paused as Kade gripped him tighter, the poor child's body shaking in fear of what was to become of his dear friend. Ishizu and Rishid both gasped and Ishizu called out to him. "If you do this," Marik continued, "know that you will be leaving my brother and sister as heartbroken as you are now. Not to mention the child you see here." He laid a hand gently on Kade's curly head. "I made a promise to him to help him find his mother. Will you cause this promise to be broken? And do you truly want to fell someone in front of his guileless eyes?" Perhaps he was taking a chance, but he thought not. He knew Adelpha's heart was breaking, but if any part of her sanity was still intact, she would not use her sword on him.
And then Adelpha let out the breath she was holding. "No," she hissed, stabbing the ground with her sword.
For the second time in five minutes everyone visibly relaxed in relief. Marik smiled faintly, having stayed calm throughout the incident. "I never wanted that creature to be born," he told Adelpha now. "I suffered with his presence for six years. When I finally banished him from my body I thought he was gone for good. But because of what he truly is, he could not and did not die."
Adelpha was silent for another long time. "A justice without hatred and revenge, huh?" she muttered, pulling her sword back out of the earth and studying it. Marik was right. Even if she was fighting a mortal, Adelpha couldn't let her hatred drive her. That would actually only make her weaker, not stronger, and it would dishonor Paul and their mother. She couldn't allow that.
Ishizu smiled quietly. "Let us go stop Fafnir and that evil being now," she declared. She had a feeling things would be alright. At least, she was certain Adelpha wouldn't do anything rash. It seemed that Marik had finally gotten through to her. But there was still the lingering fear of her brothers' fate. It was horrible, knowing that one would perish. Ishizu closed her eyes tightly now, willing the feeling to go away. Wasn't it possible . . . couldn't it be possible . . . that it wouldn't really happen? The future could be changed! . . .
Now where had that come from? she wondered in confusion. Someone had taught it to her, during a time when she had been extremely grief-stricken, but she couldn't remember who it had been or why she had been upset. But if the future could be changed now, Ishizu didn't know how to do it.
She looked back at her brothers. Perhaps . . . if the future could be changed, she had to tell them of her premonition. If they knew, and then perhaps could take greater cautions, there was a chance that no one would die.
Adelpha was again gathering her rebels—all that remained after sending those others to the burned village—when another reddish-orange gleam, coming from the direction of the palace, caught her eye. She turned to look at the flames, wondering in concern if the palace itself was on fire. It could be, she supposed, but what would be more likely would be if it was the. . . .
"What in Heaven's name is going on!" Marik's odd voice exclaimed suddenly. Adelpha turned to see what he was referring to and found him gazing up at the sky. When she followed his gaze, she saw many of the winged forest creatures flying frantically through the air, having come from the direction of the palace. And she knew then that her suspicion was right. This time Yami Marik had set the forest on fire! The animals were obviously trying to escape from there before they were all consumed.
"He's destroying Juno, piece by piece!" Marik burst out now. He narrowed his eyes darkly, wishing that this would all stop. But he knew it would not, not until they battled their enemies and won. Fafnir and Yami Marik were cruel, heartless opponents who stopped at nothing. Now, with Kade's mother still missing and what was left of Juno being massacred and burned, it was a race against time to stop them.
Adelpha didn't answer, concentrating on watching the frightened creatures. She was looking for one in particular. When she saw it, the woman cried with a loud voice, commanding the elegant winged horse to land. That Pegasus had been her friend from years before. Adelpha needed her assistance now. "Laidly! Come here!" she yelled again when the animal only looked down but didn't cease her flight.
Kade blinked at the majestic creature in awe. "Is the horsie coming down, Mr. Marik?" he asked, fascinated.
Marik watched as it drew nigh at last, hearing Adelpha's voice. "It seems to be," he realized. He started to understand what Adelpha wanted from the creature. Most likely she wanted it to take them to the palace. But . . . just one of the animals wouldn't be able to take all of Adelpha's army. It would take all of the Pegasus horses to carry every one of them.
Ishizu smiled a bit in a mysterious way. "A Kioli," she declared, remembering from her research. "A flying unicorn." She had found the creatures very intriguing and had studied everything she could about them. They were strong and intelligent, she remembered, rumored to understand human speech. Indeed, as the animal landed and as Adelpha spoke to it, it whinnied and looked back at the sky. In a moment the other Kioli also landed, surrounding the army and spreading their wings. They were larger and longer than regular horses, appearing to be able to hold three or four people.
Kade looked delighted. "They're big horsies, Mr. Marik!" he said, running to the one Adelpha had called down and reaching out to pet it. It blinked at him, not moving and seeming to be gentle.
Marik smiled, enjoying again seeing the child's happiness. He only prayed he could keep his promise and reunite Kade with his mother. If he could not, he would have to consider perhaps even the possibility of taking Kade back with him and his siblings. But he really didn't want to do that. Kade belonged here, not in Domino City. He wouldn't be familiar with such an extremely modern world. True, Juno wasn't completely primitive. The palace had plumbing and electricity. But in the little villages it was like stepping back in time to perhaps a sixth-century Welsh community. Marik had a feeling Fafnir was responsible a good deal for that. He was certain that the man had all the conveniences he wanted in his own home, while keeping them from everyone whom he considered inferior.
Rishid came up next to him, laying a hand on his shoulder. He knew that Adelpha intended for them to ride the Kioli. Now that all the beasts were here, he could see it was a wise decision. There would be enough for all of them. And coming in from the sky might enable them to give a bit of a surprise entrance. "Let us go," he said softly. Maybe then this would all end. Rishid wanted to defeat their enemies. He wanted to get all his memories back. And he just wanted to know that his siblings could be safe.
Marik nodded. "Yes," he agreed, starting to step forward.
"Wait, brothers," Ishizu said quietly, coming in front of them. She looked into each pair of eyes, her heart sinking again at the thought that one of the two might close their eyes, never to open them again. Agony tore at her soul, but she forced herself to stay calm. That had always been her specialty—remaining calm through the deep disasters and tragedies of their lives. She remembered that.
Marik tilted his head to the side. "What is it, sister?" he asked. He had seen for some time that she was upset about something, but he still couldn't understand what, exactly, it was. He knew that they needed to go, but right now he was concerned to know what Ishizu wanted.
The woman sighed sadly, clasping her hands. "Brothers," she began finally, knowing she had to start somewhere, "last night I had a premonition. It was right after Paul passed on. . . ." She bit her lip, tears coming to her eyes as she told them of how she had felt that she would lose one of them today. It had been a very strong impression and Ishizu knew that it hadn't come from her own mind. Gently she reached out, taking their strong hands for comfort. "Perhaps," she said softly, "we may be able to change this future if we take caution."
And her brothers both hugged her close, reassuring her that they would. They would do everything that they could to make certain their family wasn't divided again, especially after they'd come through all this.
"There's the palace."
Adelpha came alongside the Kioli that the Ishtars were riding. She was atop her own special one of the creatures, pointing ahead at the too-familiar building. Her eyes narrowed. This was it. The final battle, in which she would avenge Paul's death and the current destruction of the land they both had loved.
Marik glared ahead, feeling the wind blowing his hair about. Yes, there it was. The palace—where this had all began. Now it would be where everything would end, for good or for ill. They would face their enemies in the final battle that would determine all their fates. And Marik could sense his Yami's presence as the Kioli drew nearer. The fiend was anxious for them to fight. Marik knew it would be a battle of life and death. One that he might not win. He knew that with a sad assurance. He knew he might die fighting his Yami. Ishizu had been afraid that he would. How could he make her fears founded? But he knew he wouldn't die if he could help it. Not that he would be able to.
"Now," Adelpha called darkly to Marik, "we're going to split up. I'll take half of my army and Ishizu and go after the third pendant. You go find the kid's mother." She wanted to get Kade out of the picture as soon as possible so she wouldn't have to worry about endangering the child. But she didn't know that Kade and his mother still had a critical part to play in the tale.
Ishizu swallowed hard, not pleased with this plan. If she was separated from her brothers, how would she be able to make sure that they would be safe? She had been clinging to the hope that she would be with her brothers and could watch over them. But she knew Adelpha most likely was right. Ishizu should go with her. She had the second pendant, after all. But still she hated the thought of Marik having to face his Yami without her there. And yet, Rishid would be there. He had always been there. Rishid wouldn't leave Marik to fight alone.
"Sister?"
Ishizu looked at Marik, who was in front of her on the Kioli and had turned to see her. She had her arms around his waist so she wouldn't fall. Rishid was behind her and Kade was on Marik's lap, currently oblivious to all danger. "Marik," she said quietly, still having her doubts about going as she looked into his expressive lavender lilac eyes.
But he smiled kindly in a melancholy way. "It's alright, sister," he told her. "You have your mission and I have mine. And when it's over, we'll meet again." His hair blew about in the wind as he gazed at her with the sad, yet determined orbs.
"That is right," Rishid smiled too, keeping a firm grip on his sister. "Do not fear, Ishizu. We will be safe. And you must stay safe as well." He and Marik wanted Ishizu to leave probably about as much as she wanted to leave. But Rishid was certain that Adelpha and her men would look after her. And Ishizu was capable of looking out for herself. She would, hopefully, be safe. "Your mission will be dangerous too."
Their Kioli descended onto the palace roof, followed by all the others. Kade looked up at Marik, grinning with delight at the experience. "When we save Mommy, Mr. Marik, can we bring her on the horsie?" He had been holding onto his "surrogate father's" arms during the flight and now clapped his hands in pleasure.
Marik smiled again, but still it was a sad smile. "Of course," he replied, helping the child get down. There was still the worry of whether his mother was, indeed, still alive. He didn't know how he'd bear to tell Kade if that were so. He stepped down to the crystal roof and reached out for Ishizu to assist her in coming down from the Kioli as well. She smiled, accepting the boy's help.
As their hands touched, Ishizu felt a jolt go through her body. This may be the last time you see him alive, a voice in her heart warned. She stared into Marik's eyes with alarm, not able to comprehend this. Since she had found Marik and Rishid in the palace, her life had been changed for the best. She understood that they had all loved each other before. Thinking of losing Marik now seemed too horrible, too unreal. Really, he was only a boy, even though his wisdom went far beyond his physical age. But in spite of all the wisdom, all the weariness, and all the ways he had proven he was a mature soul, there was still a tinge of impish boyishness in his being. Part of him just longed to be innocent and unknowledgeable of the evils of the world.
"Marik," Ishizu whispered when she was on the roof, reaching out and touching his cheek. The boy looked at her, surprised, and then pulled his elder sister close. He knew what she was afraid of. He was still concerned himself that it might come true. But he couldn't let it.
"We will meet again, sister," he vowed, smiling. "I promise."
Ishizu bit her lip, knowing that there were some things no one could always control, not even Marik. But she returned the hug gratefully before looking up at Rishid and silently pleading for him to watch over their younger brother. Ishizu was sure, now, that Marik's life was the one in danger, though she didn't rule out the possibility of Rishid being the one to die. He could end up gladly sacrificing his life for his brother's, as Ishizu was certain he had nearly done before. "Nearly," of course, because he was still alive.
Rishid gazed back at his dear sister and then laid a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. He smiled, recalling when he had first seen her in his quarters at the palace, completely drenched and sporting a badly torn dress—but still managing to stay dignified. He had been intrigued and drawn to her, happy to find a strong-willed woman who wasn't afraid at the least little things. Then he had learned from Marik that she was their sister. He had seen over the last few days just what a wonderful sister she was to them both.
"Ishizu," Adelpha called quietly, "my scouts found two ways in. Let's go." She hated to break up the family moment, especially if someone would wind up dead before the battle's end, but time was precious. They had to get in before they were seen. There was the possibility that Fafnir and his Red Zealot already knew they were on the roof and that they were both laying in wait to attack, but Adelpha knew they had to take their chances anyway. Actually, she was fairly certain that their arrival was expected. Getting the third pendant would most likely not be easy.
Ishizu sighed sadly, pulling away from her brothers. "We will meet again," she repeated Marik's words firmly before pulling her veil up and following Adelpha without looking back. If she looked back, she feared that she would change her mind and go running to them both. Walking away from them now was perhaps the hardest decision she had needed to make since discovering them here in Juno.
"Yes," Marik vowed, gazing after her, "yes, sister, we will." Then, with the rest of Adelpha's army in tow, he and Rishid set out with Kade to enter the palace from the other way and find the child's mother—and, most likely, Yami Marik. It was a meeting Marik was definitely not looking forward to.
Ishizu followed Adelpha down a long corridor once they were inside the palace. She had traveled this path many times and now was able to give directions on exactly where it led. If Colchis had the third pendant, and if he were in his room, this hall would lead right to him any moment now.
"Draw your swords," Adelpha instructed her men. One by one they all did, the metals glistening in the dimmed light. Of course, if and when Colchis began a battle with the pendants, swords would be of no use. Only the gems' magic would work then.
Ishizu looked at her. "What sorts of magic will our two pendants be capable of?" she wanted to know. Slowly she took hers out from inside her dress, startled as she saw the color now a determined red. In the past when it had gone red, it intended to attack and usually did. Now it seemed more like it was waiting for something. Upon noticing another red glow, Ishizu realized that Adelpha's was the same way.
Adelpha looked grim. "That's the interesting part," she replied. "Geates' Talisman was able to perform attacks originating from all of the main elements—fire, wind, and water—plus additional assaults of energy beams and such. Separately, each pendant should have a portion of the powers, but I don't know which ones have which powers. Mine never does anything except glow, change hues, and randomly blast people."
"Perhaps," Ishizu deduced, "there must be two or more present in order for the powers to work at all." But if such was true, she wondered, what would happen when the third piece appeared?
Abruptly the lights went on full-force, dazzling everyone there. A low chuckle echoed across the large corridors and bounced off the walls as Colchis walked out onto a balcony above them and sneered down at his intruders.
"What have we here?" he smiled sickeningly, turning his gaze to Ishizu. "It's been so long, Isis. You've found some new friends, I see." He looked at Adelpha and her renegades with interest, seeming to be taking everything in. "Why, you've brought wanted criminals into the palace. Is this a gift?" Adelpha and her band of rebels were well known throughout Juno, and since they were an annoyance to Fafnir and his plans, he had recently put out an order for their arrest. Since Rishid and his siblings had fled the palace, Colchis had claimed command and gladly had followed up on Fafnir's wishes, for they were his own as well.
Ishizu frowned coldly. "No," she responded, "it is an end to your evil ways." Then she watched in astonishment as her pendant, quickly followed by Adelpha's, broke free of their chains and rose into the air. They must have sensed the third piece! she realized.
Colchis, shocked at first, slowly smirked low. "It is indeed a gift," he proclaimed. "I've been searching everywhere for those. With them, I, not Fafnir, will have the power." But then a glow came from within his robes and the third pendant broke free, immediately floating the short distance to the other two.
Adelpha shielded her eyes. "They're going to merge!" she breathed.
Suddenly there came a tremendous burst of light, sending everyone backwards to the floor!