Author's Notes: The only thing cheering me up today is that the Duel Tower Saga will conclude this Saturday, and I have to wait 3 weeks for the Doma Saga to begin. Not much is given away about this season, and I have no idea if some changes are done, like names.
Anyway, disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or Nick who does belong to Phoenix727. Here's Chapter 2.
Chapter 2: The Dread of the Final Five!
All seemed silent in this calm and relaxing park. The trees were bathed in the blazing sun, and everything was peaceful. I looked around, and saw no signs of anything wrong. Artemis and the other Guardians watched cautiously for any deceiving activity, but my friends realized nothing was wrong.
There seemed to be nothing that could pose as a threat, but I why do I feel that someone is watching us? The wind began blowing, and Artemis was shaken by it. She scanned the area and her eyes shifted to a nearby tree. Could she have seen something?
Artemis took out her staff, and pointed it towards the tree. The other Guardians noticed what she was doing, and approached closer to her. Artemis edged closer to the tree, and then she sliced through the tree with the sharp part of the staff's blade.
"Did you have to do that?" an angered voice shouted.
Someone fell to the ground from the fallen tree, and faced us. His gray eyes were transfixed on Artemis's action as he brushed some leaves from his black hair. He appeared displeased as he glared at her.
"Uranus, what were you doing on that tree?" Artemis asked, crossing her arms.
"I thought it was one of the Final Five, not that I wasn't expecting you all to be here!" Uranus explained. He quickly took notice of the others with her.
Artemis pulled Uranus aside, and they talked in whisper. Uranus seemed baffled and he began arguing with her. They both fought speaking in a different language.
"What are they speaking?" Tea asked.
"It's Latin." Nick answered.
"How did you know?" Mercury replied.
"I was taught Latin along with a few other languages, like Japanese, Italian, Mandarin and Egyptian." Nick said.
"You two can stop arguing now!" Jupiter pleaded.
"Just because Pluto is not here," Artemis began. "Doesn't mean you can decide whether or not I should have brought the mortals here with us!
"You know how dangerous the Final Five are!" Uranus argued. He looked ready to tear her to pieces based on his infuriated expression. "They weren't called the Judges of Demise for nothing. They can and will potentially do everything in their power to harm the mortals."
"Do they ever fight like this?" I asked.
"And I thought Mars was the hot-headed Guardian," Nidoki said nervously. "I have only seen Uranus quarrel with Pluto. Those two don't seem to mix all that nicely."
"Just how did the conversation change subjects?" Atem questioned.
"I guess Uranus was the one who brought the new subject into play." Gaia concluded.
"Finish this now, or the Final Five will waltz in and take the power of Ra!" Luna interrupted as she appeared.
"All right! I'll end this argument!" Uranus yelled, throwing up his arms in defeat.
"Oh, no, you two may continue," a voice said out of nowhere.
I looked up to find whose voice it belonged to and I noticed someone in the treetops. A young girl stood on one of the branches of a tall tree, her green eyes glared at us whilst her sandy-brown hair waved in the breeze. The surrounding branches were moving as if she enchanted them to do her bidding. She jumped off the branch and walked towards us, the branches around her began following.
"The name's Stella, and unlike those pitiful Guardians with you, I don't use an alias name," Stella introduced. She cast her eyes towards Artemis. "Long time, no see, beloved princess. I'm just itching to play with your new toys!"
Artemis stepped back. She drew out her long staff in preparation of a fight.
"You all can't overpower me when I have the power of all the plant life here, and it's those mortals I have my eye on!" Stella replied.
Suddenly the branches began moving and they picked us up by our ankles. The Guardians saw this but they realized a wall of branches had blockaded them from helping us. I struggled to become free, but I was unable to break through. I noticed my friends were in trouble and then I felt something sting me.
I winced once I looked at my arm, and saw it was bleeding. The branches appeared razor-sharp and if we remain trap more longer, we will probably be sliced to death. I heard something cut through the branches around me and I fell down to the ground. I looked up and noticed it was Nick who managed to break through the branches with his sword. He freed the others and he cut down the wall that blocked the Guardians from us.
Stella was shocked once she saw us, and she looked angrily at the Guardians. They were fighting off the branches, and then I began to breath heavily. My friends were feeling the same way, and it seemed Stella was surprised by this change in the air.
"I... don't understand... what's wrong with me..." Joey complained as he panted uncontrollably.
Artemis and the other Guardians appeared fine. I realized the reason for the sudden change. It was Uranus who summoned his power. He reached an arm at the approaching branches which sprang to life by Stella's command. They froze instantly, and Stella looked displeased. Artemis was kept distracted by cutting down the branches with her staff as she was protecting Jupiter. Nidoki produced her staff and sliced through the countless branches.
"If only my thunder attacks could work on these nuisances!" Jupiter cried loudly.
"I just wish Mars were here!" Artemis yelled. "We really need his fire attacks!"
"We should have alerted Mars!" Nidoki complained as she swiped a branch away that was close to piercing her skin.
"They're… going … to need… help!" Tea said shakily.
"It appears that the mortals will likely freeze to death if you continue attacking, Guardian of the Void!" Stella taunted Uranus.
"Stella's right!" Mercury said to Uranus. He stood by Gaia and directed her where to shoot her attacks.
"That's correct," Stella continued. "You can't risk the mortals' lives, and you have two useless Guardians with you as well."
"You know… she's… getting on… my nerves!" Nick yelled out.
"Unless… you… have a… better… plan, Carlstrom!" Kaiba spat.
"Uranus, what will we do?" Nidoki asked.
"I have to stop my attacks!" Uranus decided. "As a Genesis, it's still my duty to protect them!"
He stopped his attacks as Stella smirked at him. Uranus looked as though he were defeated, and the other Guardians sustained their attacks on Stella's persistent strikes. She was staring at me carefully, and Artemis turned around, her eyes widened in fear.
"Too bad the runt has no one to protect him," Stella replied as she directed one the branches to attack me
Everyone realized what was going on, and I couldn't move for some reason. That's when I noticed the trees' roots had prevented me from escaping. I tried to break the roots, but my hands were numb, and I could barely move them. The incoming branch became sharp as a needle and I closed my eyes to avoid the pain, but I didn't feel anything.
I opened my eyes and Artemis was in my way. The branch struck the right side of her body and she cringed from the agony she felt. Blood began flowing from her wound, and she slowly got up. Artemis clutched her gash as she removed the branch painfully. Her eyes were half-shut and she limped her way to the Guardians. Jupiter was already in tears as she ran to Artemis and helped her walk.
"Damn you…" Artemis said weakly to Stella.
"No! Esto no puede suceder! This can't be happening!" Jupiter cried.
"We have no choice but to retreat!" Uranus decided.
"I don't think so!" Stella shouted as more branches began forming, and they were poised to attack.
"That's it!" Nick yelled out.
"Nick, be careful!" Tea whispered. "Stella will hear you!"
"You look familiar," Stella pondered. "Oh, yes, now I remember! You helped Artemis defeat that lunatic what's his name… Shadow Phoenix back in the Animus."
"How does every Guardian know?" Joey asked.
"News spreads quickly throughout the Animus," Gaia answered.
"Let me take care of this freak, and you all can escape!" Nick said.
"No, I'm not leaving you!" Tea protested.
"Tea, you have to go," Nick began. "I don't want you to get hurt, and besides, Artemis is injured."
"We have to trust what he says," Mercury replied as a warp-tunnel suddenly formed.
Luna appeared in spirit form, and she looked depressed as she saw Jupiter drag Artemis's body through the warp-tunnel. She was still bleeding and her eyes were nearly shut from the loss of blood. Atem followed them, and he too was saddened by the whole event. I came over to Tea, putting my hand on her shoulder.
"We must go…" I said sadly as tears formed in my eyes.
She looked at me and she turned back to Nick. He had his sword drawn, and he urged her to go. Tea's eyes were filled with tears as we walked to the warp-tunnel. Stella watched as we left and the warp-tunnel closed. The only one left was Nick and he was ready to fight her. She smirked and ordered the trees to attack.
We came back to the Guardian's home, and Jupiter rushed Artemis to the fourth building. Mercury assured us that Jupiter was taking Artemis to the infirmary, and I couldn't help but wonder if Nick could beat Stella. Tea was still crying as she went inside the building we were at before when we met the other Guardians. Nidoki looked at Uranus and she noticed he still had the look of defeat on his face. Gaia and Mercury made their way to the other building beside the one Tea entered.
Nidoki directed us to follow them, and we did. I couldn't believe what has just happened, and now Artemis was in critical condition. I hoped she would be alright, or I didn't know what would become of me. It was like I have known her my whole life, but that was not possible. I met her when I entered high school, and that was before the Millennium Puzzle was solved.
Whatever the Final Five planned to use the Millennium Puzzle for, I wouldn't allow them to revive the Galactic Dragon! The whole universe would be destroyed once its summoned back, and I was the only one to prevent that from happening!
Author's Notes: Does anyone wonder what happened to Pluto, Yukai, Apollo, Forseti and Orpheus? Just stay tuned and you'll find out for yourself, and as for Nick, you'll see what happened in the next chapter. Don't forget to review!