Chapter 8: Fear Itself
At the camp of the rebel forces in Tentil forest, a meeting is held to discuss the results of the mission. Within the Meeting place are Yugi, Tea, and Lt. Volcano, gathered around a table with the stone box containing Exodia's Left Leg.
"So this is what many have died for," says Yugi.
"And many more still," says Lt. Volcano. "That is why we must find it first."
"Then what," says Tea. "You'll use the power for yourself?"
"That has not been confirmed yet," says Lt. Volcano. "What is known is that we can't do anything until all the pieces are found. From what our sources say the box cannot be destroyed or open until all the five pieces have been reunited again. So without the rest of the pieces it's useless. Now your next assignment comes from the Humtin Mountains, you are to retrieve another piece from the temple of Wind, until then it has been recommended that you are to hold the pieces with you until further notice. Travel with as much discreetness as possible, the enemy may not know you mission now, but there's no reason to draw attention. Is that understood?"
"Yes," says Yugi.
"Then I wish you the best of luck," says Lt. Volcano. "And may the Gods protect you."
Meanwhile, in a medical ward tent, a wounded Flame Champion is being healed by the mystic powers of the Mystical Elf. Outside, waiting for the status on there friend is Joey, while Tristan flirting with the rest of the medical ward help, until, the Mystical Elf exits to tell them about Flames condition.
"He's recovering just fine," says the Elf. "The wound is deep, but he should recover in a few days. You may go see him now."
Joey enters the tent, while Tristan waits outside a little discouraged by the rejection of the local nurses. Joey comes toward Flame Champion who rests on a bed with bandages wrapping his wounds.
"You look like a mummy," says Joey.
"You look pretty bad yourself," says Flame. "They say I won't be up for a while. I'll just consider this a mini vacation."
"We'll be leaving soon. Get better man, I still need to show you how Fire can really burn."
"I'll be sure to teach you a lesson or two, myself. Yet, until then I'd like you to have something."
Flame Champion let's out his hand to revile a spark of fire, that he hands over Joey. As Joey grabs the flame, it begins to take shape, until it becomes the Burning Spear.
"Use it in good health, but I expect it back when you're done with it."
"Alright," say Joey.
With that said Joey exit's the medical ward.
As the group of Yugi, Tea, Joey, and Tristan walk along the roads outside the Tentil forest, they leave with thoughts of what they leave, and what they will have to face. The sun begins to fade on the scene as the group nears the sight of an old crumbled structure.
"It will be dark soon," says Yugi. "Let's make camp near that ruined structure."
The group makes there way into the structure and examines there surrounds of collapsed roofs, broken walls, and empty paths. Tristan suddenly notices a strange symbol above of a broken alter. Only then does he realize where they are.
"I've heard of this place," he says. "This is the ruined temple of Dark Ones. The symbol of the eclipsed sun with the fiend's claw is a giveaway. Long ago, the fiends of the land worshiped a fiend of great power and might. They held dark ceremonies on this ground in the hopes of bringing eternal darkness to the land. Yet, consumed by vanity and greed the fiend declared himself a god. The blasphemers angered the Gods, so they struck down the temple, and the fiends never built it again."
"What of the powerful fiend," asked Tea?
"No one knows," says Tristan. "They say he probably was destroyed in the attack. Yet, they say there is still dark spirits roaming this place"
"And how do you know all this," says Joey.
"My grandma used to tell me the stories when I was a kid," says Tristan. "I never thought I'd be standing here though."
"Oh, what's the matter," says Joey. "Mr. I am a creature of the dark, but I'm scared of it."
"Watch it Joey," says Tristan. "You don't want to mess with me now."
"Oh really?" says Joey.
"Yeah," says Tristan.
"That's enough guys," says Yugi. "We'll make camp here and take turns keeping watch."
Night falls at the temple grounds, Yugi has just finished his watch shift and is now Tristan stands guard. Yet, the night serenity and just plain boredom catches up with Tristan causing him to fall asleep during his shift. No sooner had he drifted away, did a dark figure appear in the group's midst. The dark figure jumped from scene to scene, stone to stone, examining the camping area, until the clawed, dark blue fiend, peeks out from the shadow. It is a fiend of great power; know only as the Dark Necrofear.
"Ah, weary travelers, sleeping very peacefully," whispers Necrofear. "Yet, let's see what if I can't change that. Come, my Dark Spirit."
In the mist of the night emerges a specter that looks like a tattered snake with a human skull for a head.
"Now my friend, work your magic," whispers Necrofear. "Find the one which we will control. With my mind linked to the Dark Spirit, thinks Necrofear. I'll be able to see what it sees and know what it knows, and once my spirit possesses one of them, I'll be able to control their mind through the power of fear. Sweet dreams for now, for soon I'll show you all your worse nightmares.
The Dark Spirit slithers through the ground around the camp until it comes in the presence of Tea. With great stealth and agility the spirit enter the mind of Tea and enters here dreams, provoking her hidden fears. In Tea's dream, she is at the funeral reception after the battle at Tentil. Everyone mourns on this rainy day, for the loss of friends and loved ones. Yet, no one is aware of the Dark Spirit that hovers over the atmosphere examining the scene, showing its master what it sees. Each mourner brings fourth a candle engraved with the name of there fallen one. Tea, places the candle for Randolph, who she had to sacrifice his life for her and her friends. All of a sudden Tea breaks down in sadness and the once private cries of her mind are now heard by the Dark Spirit.
Why did you have to go, she asks. Why must the people I care for suffer. I wish they didn't have to die, I wish I could save everyone, but I can't! I'm just not powerful enough. If only I was, I could help…
This one seems to have doubt in her heart, says Necrofear. Good, but maybe we can do better.
The Dark Spirit leaves the dreams of Tea and slithers across the ground, until it comes to Tristan. It enters his mind and enters his dreams in the same manner as it did Tea. In Tristan dream there is a scene of him fighting a figure of immeasurable power and struggling just to hold him at bay. The Dark Spirit watches as the Tristan strains every muscle he has try to overcome a behemoth of an opponent.
Give it up weakling, says the figure. You have no strength. You can never measure up to me.
No, says Tristan. I'll never give up; I'll destroy you with all I've got, even if it kills me. Yet, what if I can't?
This ones doubts is weaker than the girl's, says Necrofear. Even faced with impossible odds he tries to overcome his fears, but that's what scares him. Maybe I'll more luck at the next one.
The Dark Spirit leaves the dreams of Tristan and once again slithers across the ground, until enters the dreams of Joey in the same manners as the first two victims. Within his dream, Joey sits in a room where many people seek the healing power of a great healer of the people. A voice from an unknown figure begins to explain the situation.
Her eyes are getting weaker, says the unknown figure. If we don't heal her soon, you sister might never be able to see again. Yet, the operation will be considerably expensive.
I don't care, says Joey. I'll get the money some how? I don't care what I have to do.
Now Joey is alone I in a dark area where the spirit plays close attention to him.
Oh sis, says Joey I promised I'd help you gain you sight again, but I don't know if I can. I'm afraid I'll let you down and it will be my entire fault. I have to save you Serenity, what kind of big brother would I be if I didn't….
Oh this is sweet, says Necrofear. A brother trying to save his little sister, couldn't find the money so he searches for a quick way to get it. This is almost too good, but maybe there is a sweeter fear than this.
Finally, the Dark Spirit exit's the dreams of Joey and once again slithers across the ground and into the mind of Yugi. Inside the mind of Yugi lurks a dark fear that has haunted him for years, dating back to the time of the Omega Wars five years ago.
Yugi was seen fighting through hordes of enemy troops without any sign of fatigue or weakening, until he arrived in the great hall of Castle. Inside the hall lay the bodies of three unknown Magician's Apprentices lying on the group and an Dark figure sitting atop a throne of great power. The very sight of this one person struck fear into the heart of Yugi. What followed was a series of flash backs of fighting this foe, and being bested at every turn, until he was pinned to a rack, battered and beaten in the midst of roaring flames. As the flames began to consume him, Yugi began to let out screams of pain and sadness. No words were required for Necrofear to say what he said next.
This one is perfect, said Necrofear. Now, let the fun begin.
Back in the real word, Yugi wakes up with a scream, waking everyone in the camp. The gang awakes and questions him of his health, while he lays awake scream with his eyes closed as if some evil force is taking over his body. Tea gets up enough courage to tap Yugi on the shoulder, only to be pushed aside as he takes out his Magician's staff. Suddenly Yugi strains, but finally manages to start attacking his friend with dark magic attacks. His friends manage to dodge his attacks, but wonder why there friend is attacking them.
"Yugi," says Tea. "What's happening to you?"
"…Must…destroy…my enemy…" says Yugi. "You'll pay for what you have done to my friends."
"What are you talking about Yug," says Joey. "We're your friends."
"Yeah," says Tristan. "Snap out of it Yugi."
Yet, no matter how his friends try Yugi's fear is too great to let go of. Snickering from behind a crumble wall is Dark Necrofear, enjoying the show of watching friend turn against friend. Yet, his snickering is loud enough to be heard by Tristan's ears that spy the figure behind the wall. Thinking quickly Tristan draws Yugi's attention and gets him to fire his dark magic at the wall where Necrofear hides behind. Necrofear is taken by surprise by this turn of events and is knocked out from behind the wall. Spotted by this chain of events, the team focuses on Necrofear. Not in the position to fight, Necrofear decides to feel and allow his mind slave to finish the job. Yet, Tea manages to stop Necrofear in his tracks with here magic spell.
"Swords of Revealing Light," she casts.
A field of swords made of pure light descends on the field and stop Dark Necrofear by trapping him in a field of swords that prevent him from moving. While Tristan and Tea begin to distract Yugi's fire, Joey comes close to Necrofear to set a little fire of his own.
"Alright talk," say Joey. "What did you do to my friend?"
"I'll never talk to the likes of you," says Necrofear.
"Then allow me to introduce you to my friend, Salamadra."
"Good luck trying to beat me for information. I'm tough as they come and I doubt you little lizard can break through my defenses.
"Yeah? Well maybe my other friend, Burning Spear, can assist with that problem?"
Joey's Salamandra wraps around and tip of his Burning spear and prepares to impale Necrofear, before he finally snaps under threat.
"Okay…I'll tell you. You friend is possessed by his own fears. The only way to stop him is for him to face them…Yet, there is nothing more powerful than fear."
"You're wrong," says Joey.
Joey joins the fight with Tristan and Tea, until he manages to draw Yugi's attention.
"Yugi," he says. "Don't give in to this clown. You're stronger than that. Whatever fears you have you can over come it."
Yugi prepares to assault Yugi at full force, but struggles to make his final action.
"Remember what you told me that day in the forest. You told me that there is a bond that ties friends together. That bond can never be broken, because a friend knows friendship means. Just like I know that you'll be able to snap out of this."
Joey throws down his sword to the field, leaving himself defenseless. Yugi prepares to strike, but still struggles to avoid destroying his friend. Finally, Yugi strikes with dark Magic attack, but does not hit his friend, but a broken wall instead. Then Yugi kneels to the ground and begins to weep for his actions. Until his friends comfort him from the circumstances that have take place.
"Thank you Joey," says Yugi. "For reminding me that fears may be great, but friendship can help conquer you fears."
"I guess old blue face was wrong then," says Joey. "…Wait a minute. Where'd is he?"
Joey examines the spot where the fiend once stood, but the spot is now empty.
"My spell can only last a short time," says Tea. "He must have escaped the minute it fell."
"We'll deal with him another day," says Joey.
Yugi finally stands up from the ground and looks at his friends with concern in his eye.
"It's time I told you the truth, of what happened to me five years ago in the Omega Wars long past," says Yugi.
His friends gather round to listen to what happened to him that faithful day.
"The war between the Allied Kingdoms and Dark Unity had been going on for seven years already, with no one showing any signs of giving in. Our Commander Densely the Dark Magician had sent us to investigate a possible saboteur in the Allied Kingdom. He had sent me and three Magician's Apprentices to check out a castle in the Eastern Region. It was all pretty standard, until I got separated from my troops. Then I found my way to the great hall, to find my troops had been slayed by the saboteur. It was Commander Densely himself; he had sold use out for higher profits in the Dark Unity. In anger I assaulted him and our battle raged into the late hours, until he managed to get the upper hand. There was so much carnage and death, but he did not destroy me, he found it much more maniacal to let me live in shame. So all I could do was watch as the place burned to the ground. When I awoke, I was in the emergency ward of a medical wing. I was given a bill of health some weeks later, but I never was the same. Something in me had changed, my spirit had been broken."
All his friends could only think about what they had heard, but no reaction could be seen.
"So now you know," he said. "I have caused so much pain, that I don't deserve your friendship."
"I never thought I'd say this," says Joey. "But…Wake up man."
"What," says Yugi?
"Yeah, what happened then was long ago," says Tristan.
"It's better to do something about it than to do nothing at all and let the fear eat away at you," says Joey.
"It's like I've been saying," says Tea. "Your fear does not control you, you control your fears. If it gets you down, you get back up."
"And even if you can't do it alone," adds Joey. "Your friends will be there to help you."
Yugi looks at his friends and feels as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
"Thanks guys," says Yugi. "…Now let us head toward the Humtin Mountains."
The group leaves the temple of fears and departs into new adventures, but on the way they realize they had not gotten enough sleep. So they rest for the rest of the night, but Yugi, stood watch the whole time, and the fear that had once plagued him every night making him lose his nerve, now had become a reason not to fail his friends and gave him strength.