For Marik and Rishid, getting in the palace wasn't easy. There were guards patrolling the area directly below, often glancing up at the skylight where the Egyptians and the others were situated.
"Oh joy," Marik muttered. He clenched his fists, wondering how on earth they were going to get in, especially with Kade there. His eyes darted about, looking for a way in that would bring as little danger as possible. Maybe, he thought after watching the guards for ten minutes, if they could pull up the skylight door quietly, one of them could sneak down and subdue the sentries. Then the others could come down as well.
Denva, who was with them—unfortunately, Marik thought—growled in irritation. "Let's just go down there and kill them all!" he said emphatically, waving his sword about.
Marik had to duck before his hair was clipped. "Watch it!" he snapped. "You're not in charge here. Rishid and I are." Carefully he outlined his plan to the others, knowing that Denva wouldn't like it but not caring.
Rishid sighed but nodded. Marik's plan was dangerous, but not near so much so—or as foolish—as Denva's. And Marik's idea involved no bloodshed. "We will do this," he said finally, "on the condition that I be the one to go down."
Marik immediately looked at him in protest. "But Rishid. . . ."
Rishid held up a hand for silence. "I am physically the strongest out of you and me," he replied, obviously not trusting any of Adelpha's crew to go down first. "And I ruled from inside this building for several weeks. I know the layout better than you do, Marik. I will be fine." He reassured the teenager with a smile.
Marik sighed, knowing Rishid had made some important points. "Go," he said finally, seeing Kade staring into the hole with fascination. He had to smile as he kept a firm arm around the child to keep him from descending into it.
Rishid squeezed Marik's shoulder gently before climbing into the opening and lowering himself onto a desk below. Naturally he wasn't able to land very softly, but that hadn't been his plan. When the guards came to see what the noise was, Rishid punched them both and then dragged their unconscious bodies into a closet after relieving them of their weapons.
"Wow," Kade breathed. "Your brother's really awesome, Mr. Marik!" He had never seen anyone so strong and fierce yet gentle. The only other people he'd seen who were vicious were always that way, never showing that they had a heart. But he could see that Rishid definitely did have a heart—and a great one. He loved Marik completely and unconditionally.
Marik smiled. "I know," he replied, slowly standing up. "Now . . . I need to get you down in there." He ruffled Kade's hair and reached for the child, lifting him up into his arms. "Hold on tight to me now," he instructed, preparing to leap down. Originally he had planned to gently lower Kade down and have Rishid catch him, but now he had decided that it would be safer to do it this way.
"Okay," Kade said agreeably, hugging Marik around the neck. In the next instant he felt as if he was flying and he giggled as Marik hit the desk on his feet. "Let's do it again," he grinned while the boy climbed down to the floor.
Marik chuckled softly. "We need to find your mother," he stated, hoping to deter Kade from such thoughts.
Kade jumped down from his friend's arms, freezing at these words. "Uh huh," he said softly, his eyes suddenly tearing up. "Mommy. . . ."
Marik took the child's hand gently, hearing the army coming in behind them. "Come," he instructed, walking to Rishid. As he did, he glanced about at the sprawling hallways. He hadn't ever been in this part of the palace before. At the top of the walls were golden lions and snakes painted in a long strip that went all the way around. The floors and walls were all still made of marble, as in the part Marik was familiar with. Crystal chandeliers hung from various fixtures up and down the corridors and Marik noticed an ornately decorated lamp on another desk.
Rishid smiled kindly at the boy. Indeed, he knew this area. And he had an idea where they should go to look for Kade's mother—the dungeons. There was a staircase not too far away leading all the way down there, as well as one going up to the roof. But they wouldn't have been able to get inside that way—it was locked from the inside.
They weren't prepared for what abruptly happened when they started walking toward the stairs. Without warning half the floor opened up underneath them, causing all of them to plunge downward!
Marik cried out in shock, grabbing onto the edge desperately with one hand, still trying to hold Kade as well. He couldn't comprehend why or how this was happening, but now his main thoughts were about getting back up and protecting his young charge—and finding out if the others were alright, of course. "Rishid!" he yelled, peering into the dark chasm below. There was no answer. Either Rishid was too far away to hear him, he was unconscious from the fall, or worse. . . .
"Mr. Marik!" Kade wailed, grabbing his friend's arm with both hands. He was dangling precariously over the blackness and he didn't like it one bit.
Marik gritted his teeth, trying to determine how he would ease his body back onto the solid floor with only the use of one hand. It seemed impossible! But he couldn't let himself plunge into the unknown, especially not with Kade to protect.
Suddenly a tanned hand shot out from above, snatching Marik's wrist. The boy found himself being hauled up and he blinked in surprise. Who was this? It didn't feel like Rishid's touch, warm and caring and concerned. Anyway, he had seen Rishid fall into the pit. But he had no time to ponder over this as he, with Kade in tow, was flung up and over the edge and skidded across the floor. Kade yelped in shock, hugging Marik tightly.
A throaty chuckle echoed down the hall. "Get up," the voice ordered as its owner stepped closer, cuffing at Marik with a foot. "You heard me, Hikari. Rise, so that we may bring our conflict to an end, once and for all!"
Marik blinked away the spots from his eyes, his blood going chill. It was Yami Marik who had pulled him up, but only because he wanted to kill Marik personally with his own hands and not let a fall into a pit do it for him. Marik and Kade were now in much more danger than before, and he still didn't know if Rishid was alright. Or Ishizu, for that matter.
Rishid opened his eyes slowly, at first not certain at all of what had happened. Upon seeing only odd shapes and vague outlines he closed his eyes again, recovering from the shock and attempting to draw memory forth from his mind. The last thing he remembered at all was Marik calling to him, sounding worried. But he had been too dazed to answer him.
He opened his eyes again, this time managing to make out the objects more clearly. Just ahead of him were many bars, like those of a dungeon cell, lined up neatly in order. All around him were Adelpha's men, regaining their bearings and looking as perplexed as Rishid. And . . . did he see someone watching them through the bars? It seemed as if he could vaguely make out two eyes glimmering in the darkness. Then he heard a voice calling to him. A female voice.
"You seem to be alright," it said softly. Rishid could hear the sound of a person shifting position. When he looked carefully, he saw the outline of a person behind the bars. "Do you know where my son is?" the woman continued, her voice now tinged with worry.
Rishid pulled himself into a sitting position, rubbing his hand over the tender spot on his head. "Who are you?" he growled, wondering how on earth he'd wound up in the dungeon. After all, he had been on the top level of the palace! He couldn't possibly have survived a fall all the way to the bottom level. And where was Marik? Rishid slowly felt a panic begin to arise as he looked around and saw no trace of his younger brother or Kade.
The woman smiled faintly. "Sapphire," she answered, continuing to watch Rishid as he slowly got up. The one who had taken her captive had told her that her son would be coming, but he had spoken in such a mocking tone that Sapphire feared harm had been done.
Rishid walked over closer to the bars. "Is Kade your son?" he asked, certain he already knew the answer. He could see a certain resemblance between her and the child—the same heart-shaped face, the same gleam in the eyes, and the same worried, almost innocent expression.
Sapphire brightened. This man did know her son! And she recognized those with him to be Adelpha's army—who she had often seen in the village—so the stranger must be a friend. Perhaps there was still hope, both for her and Kade and for the kingdom! "Yes!" she replied earnestly. "Where is he?"
Rishid frowned now, looking for a way to unlock the cell door. "I do not know," he said at last. "Hopefully he is still with my younger brother, who he idolizes." After glancing around the dark space a bit longer, he noticed an abandoned crowbar and picked it up. He would attempt to wrench the door open with it.
Sapphire looked at him with surprise. While Kade was friendly with everyone, he had been afraid to latch on to any one person since her husband—Kade's father—had been tragically killed. This "younger brother," she realized, must be someone very special and different. Perhaps he even reminded Kade of his father, or at least, what he knew of his father from what Sapphire had told him.
She watched as Rishid wrestled with the door, at last succeeding in getting it open. "What is your brother like?" she asked. "And . . . who are you?" He seemed like an intelligent, strong man, capable of accomplishing much. As she stepped out into the hall, she couldn't help but notice the tattoos so meticulously carved into the left side of his face. How had he gotten those? And why? The symbols were unlike anything there was in Juno. Suddenly she wondered if this was Odion, the one she had heard about who had taken control of the throne. But this man seemed too kind and good to fit the description she had heard of the king.
Rishid grunted, now looking for the way out of the corridor. "Your son couldn't be with any boy more honorable than Marik," he stated. "And as for my identity, I am Rishid Ishtar." He didn't hesitate for one moment while he said it. Because of Marik, he had rediscovered who he was. And he would never forget again.
Sapphire nodded slowly. "I see," she said slowly, choosing her words with care. "Then you are not Lord Odion, the one whom I thought you might be."
Rishid froze. "I have been called by that name," he responded at last, "but that is not what I choose to be called." He didn't want to go into all the details, especially not here, but he wasn't about to lie to the woman either. And, as Marik had told him, "Odion" was actually his middle name.
Now Sapphire was stunned. "You don't seem anything like the Lord Odion I have heard tales about," she remarked. He was reputed to be cruel and cold, though now the woman recalled another story told of him, in which he was thought to be kind, unlike the previous kings. She didn't know exactly what Fafnir had in mind by selecting the rulers he did—especially instead of simply claiming the throne himself—but she did know that the man often had a secret agenda completely unknown to anyone save himself.
"No," Rishid agreed, "I am certain I do not."
A footfall brought everyone to attention before the conversation could continue. "Well, isn't this quaint," a dark, cold voice remarked. From out of the shadows stepped a man who Rishid had never seen in person, but whose identity as Fafnir was instantly obvious. The calculating face, devoid of emotion, completely resembled the statues all through the palace and Juno. Flashing eyes took in the scene, not seeming surprise by the sight of Sapphire freed—or of Adelpha's army of rebels.
"I expected you to release the queen, Odion—or should I say, Rishid Ishtar." Fafnir came down the stone steps he had been standing atop of, his long hair spilling over his back. He was dressed in what almost seemed to be a uniform, including a floor-length cape. "It's all according to plan."
But Rishid was reeling in shock from the announcement. "Queen!" he repeated, looking at Sapphire and demanding either confirmation or denial.
Sapphire gazed back, never wavering. "Yes," she admitted, revealing the long-lost secret, "I am the true ruler of Juno. Kade is a prince." But Kade didn't remember it. He had been too young to remember the night when they had been forced to flee the palace and go into hiding within the small village. Always Sapphire had been planning how she would retake the throne from those who had risen up in rebellion—Fafnir being the main one, of course, though rarely anyone knew the truth. But because of fear for Kade's safety she had never made her move.
Now everything was happening at once and she knew she could put her destiny off no longer. Juno was being destroyed. So many people had died needlessly because of Fafnir and his Red Zealot. Sapphire could only pray that she would still be able to utilize the powers she had as queen and that Kade would be safe in the meantime. It was time to let all the truth be known.
She looked at Fafnir with quiet rage. "You are celebrated in Juno for supposedly saving the kingdom, more than once," the woman began. "But we both know what truly happened that night when I was involved. I can never forget. That was the night when you killed my husband and forced Kade and myself to run for our lives! You told everyone in the kingdom that you had discovered our 'plots' to use Geates' Talisman for evil and that you had stopped us—permanently." She clenched her fists tightly, drawing blood that dripped to the floor. "You took my husband away from me. My son will never grow up with his father because of you." Tears started to gather in her eyes, though she fiercely tried to hold them back. "And I imagine that, years before that, when you first were hailed as a hero, there were many dark secrets behind it that no one but you knows about!"
Rishid watched her with narrowed eyes. This twist was still hard to comprehend. The child with Marik was a royal prince? And his mother, who had been living as a peasant in the village, was the current rightful heir to the kingdom? He raised his gaze to Fafnir, feeling fury rising at the immense wickedness that this man had caused all in the name of greediness and power. Countless families had been torn apart and endless lies had been told! His own dear family had been separated and nearly torn apart.
Fafnir listened to Sapphire's accusations coldly, not caring as she reminded him of these truths. Yes, it had all been for power. He felt nothing for the people he had destroyed through the years. Once he had Geates' Talisman, Juno would be his. The three gems that combined to make the Talisman were all in the palace—he knew it. After this disturbance was taken care of, he would go retrieve them. "Are you finished?" he asked dryly. The palace guards appeared behind him, weapons bared.
It was then that Rishid finally realized where they were. They had not fallen into the basement. Instead they were in a more recently made, cleaner dungeon right below the top level. Rishid remembered exploring the area now. It had been made to hold extremely dangerous prisoners. And he remembered another way out, a secret way that the guards used. If he could get Sapphire to leave with him, they could go find Marik and Kade. They might hopefully find Ishizu and Adelpha as well. The problem was, Sapphire looked like she intended to battle Fafnir. Rishid didn't know if he could get her to come.
Indeed, the woman closed her eyes, her hair flowing in all directions as a soft breeze went through the room. A light glowed about her, enabling Rishid to finally see her clearly. Her hair was a deep, beautiful blue, naturally curled and wavy, and obviously contributing to her name. Her eyes were blue as well, albeit a much lighter shade, as Rishid could see when she opened them again. Righteous indignation gleamed within them as she hovered in the air, bringing her hands together.
Everyone, including Rishid and especially Fafnir, were baffled as to what she was doing.
"What is this!" Fafnir thundered, shielding his eyes from the light. The gentle breeze turned into a harsh wind, blowing his cape and hair about—as well as everyone else's. The woman in front of him was now chanting low, almost in a prayer-like manner.
When she was done she gazed at him icily. "The three pendants are reunited at last," she declared. "I'm using the power within me, that was bestowed upon the rightful leaders of Juno, to bring them here!"
Ishizu slowly recovered from the explosion that had sent her to the floor. Blearily she looked up at the space where the three pendants had met. Now there were only extreme glows in hues of blue, green, and red. No one, it seemed, could see through to what was happening inside the lights.
Adelpha rubbed her eyes, looking up as well. "They're merging," she stated darkly. The question was, What would happen when they did? She and Ishizu had to be ready to make a grab for the completed Talisman when the lights dimmed down. Colchis would be preparing to claim the necklace as his own, and under no circumstances could they let him get it.
But there was also the question of whether the Talisman would let anyone "get it." Individually the pendants seemed to object to some people even so much as touching them. Perhaps the Talisman would behave the same way, only more so.
Ishizu got to her feet, reaching her hand into the lights as they lowered to soft glows. In the middle, visible to everyone now, was a brilliant, multicolored gem that sparkled and shined, catching the lights overhead and everyone in the room. Geates' Talisman was completed once again and ready for battle. And it must be claimed by the side of righteousness or Juno would be doomed!
Both Adelpha and Colchis also reached out. Their hands all interlocked with Ishizu's, but before any one of them could take hold of the Talisman, another bright light encircled them all. Then it seemed as if they were transported through time and space, the Talisman always just out of their reach. Though it only lasted for several seconds, it seemed an eternity. All three were wondering the same thing: Was the Talisman responsible for this! That seemed to be the most likely explanation. What else could be causing it?
Suddenly Ishizu gave a gasp, her Millennium Tauk revealing a brief vision to her. "There is a woman," she remarked as they traveled through a brilliantly sparkling tunnel of lights, all multicolored as the Talisman was. "She is praying for the Talisman to be brought to her!"
Adelpha gave a gasp, realizing the truth of the matter. But before she could explain it, their strange trip was ended and they all landed down gently on their feet in the same chamber where Rishid and the others were. The Talisman gave light to the entire dungeon room, bathing everyone in its glow. It hovered near the ceiling, out of everyone's reach—much to both Fafnir's and Colchis's consternation.
Rishid was startled, to say the least, but when he realized what had happened he looked about for Ishizu. She smiled when their eyes locked. "My brother," she said softly, moving over to where he was standing. "I have the feeling that our adventure is about to come to a close." It seemed strange to realize this, but it must be true. Soon, perhaps, they would return to the Domino City Marik had spoken of. When they left, hopefully Juno would be restored to its former glory. Of course, they would not leave until they had defeated their enemies.
"Yes," Rishid said quietly, relieved that she was safe. "I only pray that Marik remains safe, wherever he is." He clenched his fists, angry that they had been separated. And the thought went through his mind, Had it been deliberate? Of course the answer was Yes, though Rishid didn't realize it.
Ishizu gasped, taking note that their younger brother wasn't there. "Rishid, what happened to him!" she cried in alarm. Now the events surrounding the Talisman were all but forgotten. Marik's well-being was now top priority in Ishizu's mind.
Before Rishid could explain about the floor opening up, an angry yell from Colchis brought the two siblings back to attention. Sapphire was still hovering in the air, a protective barrier neutralizing the attacks from the palace guards, and from Fafnir and Colchis when they attempted to get her themselves. But it was no use. The rightful queen of Juno had had enough. And now, no matter how her enemies tried, they could not get through to her or up to the Talisman. When she spoke again, it was with a commanding voice, different from the calm, quiet tones she had used previously.
"Geates' Talisman has been revived again!" she declared, raising her hands up to the ceiling. "And this time it shall be used for its original purpose—to fight evil, instead of encouraging it! For too long I have stood by, too afraid to attempt reclaiming the kingdom that is rightfully mine. That ends now!" The Talisman, as if responding to her, slowly floated down around her neck.
Fafnir let out a low curse. It was all over now. The Talisman, when specially summoned in such a way, only allowed the summoner to use it. His plans were foiled. But that didn't mean he would go down without a fight. And his Red Zealot was still somewhere in the palace, fighting that troublesome teenager. Fafnir wasn't going to give up yet. There was still a way. . . .
And Adelpha saw this. "Men, prepare to fight!" she yelled, looking around and only finding the half of her army who had come with Rishid and Marik. Those that had been with her and Ishizu were probably still on the other floor, wondering what on earth had just happened. She prayed that they would arrive soon.
Rishid laid a hand on Ishizu's shoulder protectively. This was most likely going to be a great and terrible battle, even with the Talisman now formed. They weren't out of the woods yet. And there was still Marik to worry about.
Kade glared at Yami Marik as he and Marik both got up. "You were the mean man in the village!" he accused, pointing a little forefinger at the wildly grinning creature in front of him. "And you took my mommy, didn't you!" Tears stubbornly came to his eyes. He remembered all too well seeing Yami Marik hurting and killing the villagers yesterday. The horrible memories were ingrained in his mind, but he ignored them as much as he could, especially with Marik there and his mother to find.
Marik started to step out in front of the little boy. He knew his Yami had no mercy at all and wouldn't even spare a child from his wrath. But as he moved forward, the monster he had created shoved him back again. "Let the boy speak, Hikari," Yami Marik sneered. "He's foolish, confronting me, but it amuses me greatly."
Marik growled in reply. "We both know you wouldn't hesitate to hurt him," he retorted, reaching for the Rod hooked in his belt.
Yami Marik cackled in his infamous way. "You're right, of course, but right now I'm more interested in killing you." From a nearby suit of armor he took hold of a vicious weapon and brought it to point at Marik with lightning speed. "We'll do battle on the roof. I took the liberty of unlocking the door leading up there."
Kade cried out in horror, seeing his beloved adopted father under attack. "No!" he screamed. "Don't hurt Mr. Marik! I won't let you!" He ran forward, intending to beat his little fists into Yami Marik's stomach, but Marik managed to duck under the spear and grab the child in time. They rolled across the floor, coming to a halt several feet away from where Yami Marik still stood, watching with interest.
Marik uncurled himself and knelt beside Kade, who was already up and staring at his dear friend with the tears freely flowing from his eyes. He laid his hands on the child's shoulders, touched as he looked into the heartbroken orbs. Kade was aware that something was going very wrong and it wrenched Marik's own heart to not be able to assure him completely that everything would be alright. He knew his Yami wouldn't give up until he, Marik, was dead. "Kade," he said softly, "I need you to do something for me."
The small boy sniffled, wiping his eyes. "W-what's that, Mr. Marik?" he asked, obviously willing to please.
Marik smiled tenderly. "Go find Rishid and the others," he instructed. He did not want Kade to witness the fight. And since as far as he knew Kade wasn't wanted by any of their enemies, maybe he would be safe enough traveling through the palace. At any rate, Marik felt it was preferable over him watching the battle between him and his Yami. That was something no child should have to watch. Kade had seen enough bloodshed in his short life already. And there would be much in this battle, Marik was certain.
Kade bit his lip, not wanting to leave Marik but wanting to do as asked. "Will you come back and find us too?" he demanded.
Marik smiled sadly, ruffling the child's hair. He had promised Ishizu that they would meet again, though he had known that not all promises could be kept. But he would do his best to ensure that that one would be. "Yes," he said finally. "Of course!"
Kade sniffled again, flying into Marik's arms and hugging him tightly around the neck. "You've gotta really do it," he ordered, the tears continuing to fall.
Marik hugged back firmly. "I will," he said softly.
They were both startled by the spear flying out at them. It crashed into the floor mere inches away, followed by an annoyed growl from Yami Marik. "Let him go now, Hikari," the deep voice hissed, "unless you want to run the risk of him being hit."
Marik's eyes narrowed in rage. "You'd be sprawled on the floor, bleeding, before you could attempt it," he threatened, standing up reluctantly and setting Kade down on his feet. He hated leaving the boy, but that was exactly what he had to do now.
"Remember, you promised, Mr. Marik!" Kade said desperately, tugging on the teen's hand. He couldn't lose Marik.
"Don't worry," Marik told him. "I'll be back. Now go find the others, quickly!" Out of the corner of his eye he could see his Yami coming closer. Panic was rising within him. Kade had to get out of here!
And the child ran, not looking back, though he wanted to. Marik had promised him now. He couldn't break the promise. And Kade had made a promise of his own. He would do exactly as Marik wanted and then Marik would be proud of him when he did come back. He fled around the nearest corner.
Yami Marik laughed, pulling the spear out of the floor. "Touching," he said sarcastically, gripping Marik's shoulder tightly. Without warning they were both on the roof. He had used his teleportation powers to send them there.
Marik looked around, frowning. "I should have known you'd do something like that," he muttered, gripping the Rod tighter.
Yami Marik sneered, shoving him forward. "Let our mortal combat begin," he pronounced, lunging with the spear without even giving Marik time to recover. The teenager barely managed to dodge, rolling away as the weapon slammed into the roof.
And so, as the last rays of the sun shone upon them, their battle commenced. Time could not say how long it lasted, but Marik became quite weary after it had been going on for a good while. His Yami, on the other hand, never seemed to tire. While Marik chose to blast with the Rod, knowing that the dagger wouldn't do much good unless he got extremely close, Yami Marik attacked continually with the spear, sometimes wounding the boy. At one point he jabbed the blunt end into Marik's stomach harshly. The teen fell back, doubling over in pain. Then Yami Marik clubbed him again, on the shoulders, making him fall to the floor of the roof. Both of their weapons fell as well.
Yami Marik circled around his prey, his eyes glimmering maliciously. "It's almost over, you know," he sneered, picking up the fallen Millennium Rod and unsheathing the dagger. This was the weapon he had really wanted all along. "It's a shame, really. Once you're dead, I can't have any more fun with you." He watched as Marik gasped for breath, unsteadily getting to his feet and glaring at the monstrosity he had once created.
Wordlessly the boy picked up the fallen spear as his new weapon, his eyes cold. "Let's finish this," he growled. "I'm not dead yet."
"But you soon will be," the Darkness retorted, lunging with the Rod. Marik sidestepped him swiftly, managing to stab into his arm with the spear. It was the first time he had actually been able to wound his enemy during the fight. He had been able to land some good blasts with the Rod, but those hadn't seemed to faze the creature at all.
Marik didn't know what he was expecting to see now, but an inky black blood was certainly not it. His eyes widened in stunned shock as he pulled the weapon away, staring at the sticky substance on the blade. It looked so strange, Marik just wasn't sure what to make of it.
And the wound hadn't seemed to affect his Yami at all. He grinned malevolently, especially when he saw Marik's utter bewilderment. "You don't understand, do you?" he hissed. "I'm not mortal. This body I have isn't like yours at all. I created it entirely from the darkness in the world. My blood isn't like a mortal's." He advanced on Marik with the Rod again, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. "But now if I spilled your blood, we know what it would look like, don't we? It would be a bright red, just like every other mortal fool's. Or maybe it would be white, to be the opposite of the black blood I possess." He seemed to find this thought quite entertaining and as Marik clanged the spear against the Rod's dagger to protect himself, Yami Marik laughed.
"I'm not a pure, perfect person," Marik growled. "No one on earth is. But even the most vile person is better than you." He advanced again, almost seeming to catch the being off guard. "Do you want to know why?" The sound of metal on metal screeched as each entity fighting struggled to keep from being wounded.
"I really don't care," Yami Marik retorted. "Not only am I the darkness, I like it." His eyes went bloodshot with madness as he abruptly struck out, knocking Marik back down to the roof and causing him to drop the spear. "I should really thank you for giving me life." He picked up the weapon and advanced quickly, tickling the boy's chest with the tip. "And I will thank you by taking yours!"
But Marik wasn't ready to give up yet. He barely dodged just as his Yami jabbed the spear into the roof again, but then the boy immediately whirled around and grabbed the weapon up again. "It's because even the most horrible person still has goodness," he uttered low, referring to the statement he had made a moment before. He lunged at his Yami, managing to catch him by surprise and stab him directly in the chest. "No mortal is all good . . . but there's also not one that's all bad. If only the same could be said of you." The creature shouted in pain as the weapon pierced his flesh, to Marik's astonishment, and then doubled over, black blood oozing through his fingers. Marik took a step back, watching, his eyes narrowed. He knew it could just be a trick.
Yami Marik staggered forward, the Millennium Rod still in his hand. When he got nearer to Marik he began to attempt to circle him, still keeping one hand clamped firmly over his wound. "Do you remember what I told you . . . near the end of Battle City?" he asked in a low tone. "It was during my duel with the Pharaoh, while you and young Yugi were fading into the shadows."
Marik tried to step away from him, getting an uncomfortable feeling. He clutched the spear tightly in his hands, on the defense, ready to attack again if necessary. His Yami was full of crafty tricks and plots. The being would stop at nothing to hurt Marik, whom he hated. But more so, Marik realized, Yami Marik wanted to hurt Rishid. He wanted to emotionally and mentally break the man down. And he knew that the perfect way to do that was to kill the brother Rishid adored.
"It still stands." Yami Marik straightened up in a split-second, having, indeed, been putting on an act. Mortal weapons couldn't hurt him. He lunged before Marik could do a thing, plunging the Millennium Rod's dagger into the boy's back. Red blood splattered in all directions and Marik gasped in agony, his lavender eyes widening. The spear fell from his grasp, falling over the edge and into the waters churning far below. He started to fall forward as well, losing his balance from the sudden shock and the pain that was coming over him. Ishizu had been right. Her premonition was so correct. . . . Marik was certain he was going to die. He wouldn't be able to keep any of the promises he had made.
And his Yami's voice echoed all around them both. "I'LL SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL!" The foul entity gave a final shove with the dagger before then promptly yanking it back. He watched with satisfaction as Marik tumbled over the side. Finally, the foolish boy would be dead. And Rishid's spirit would be crushed.
But a shaking tan-skinned hand reached up, catching the edge of the wall. Marik was not going to go down this way, defeated again by this being! If this was the end, then Marik wanted to make it count. He wouldn't allow Yami Marik to continue his reign of destruction here. It was over. "Remember what I told you?" he rasped, looking up with fire in his lavender eyes as he grabbed a handful of Yami Marik's cape. The creature froze, staring with a twisted expression of hatred and anger. "It still stands too." Marik felt dizziness coming over him from the loss of blood. The wound had been deep. If it didn't kill him, the fall into the water surely would. His grip on the wall failed completely and he wound up only gripping the fabric of his Yami's cape. "I'm taking you with me."
They both fell.