Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Nick who does belong to Phoenix727. Here's chapter 13.
Chapter 13: A Traitor Among Friends!
I still hadn't been able to convince Artemis that she was not our enemy. What was worst now was the threat of her fusion of the Silver Phoenix Dragon and God Phoenix. When combined, her Ka became invincible.
The Millennium Guardians and I managed to get out of the temple and we realized that the Final Five's barrier was lifted. We had a look of defeat on our faces and the others didn't need to ask the outcome of our encounter with the Final Five.
"Don't tell me, the Final Five haven't been stopped," Nick replied.
"Of course not, Carlstrom!" Kaiba spat.
"We have to beware Artemis's fusion Ka," I warned.
"You mean you can fuse Ka?" Bakura bickered.
"How is that possible?" Tea gasped.
"It's a difficult move to activate and the person using it must have enough energy to do so." Yukai explained.
"Anyway, you guys lost me, and I'll be leaving to detect any suspicious activity," Matt said. "I'll alert you if the Final Five appears again."
With that, Matt walked away and his black cloak billowed as he moved. I glanced over at Pluto who was glaring at Nick. The other Millennium Guardians didn't seem to notice because they were busy telling everyone what had gone on.
"How do we know that the Guardians aren't telling us the truth?" Nick questioned.
"Nick, everything they're sayin' is true!" Joey argued.
"Wheeler's right," Kaiba stepped in. "I witnessed the whole thing for myself."
"But why didn't you two fall unconscious when you summoned Ammon?" Orpheus asked.
"We were working together," Joey explained.
"Like I would believe that in a million years!" Nick snorted.
"I ain't lyin'!"
"Joey, we know you wouldn't work with Kaiba, even if it were a life and death situation," Tea agreed.
I thought Tea was wary of Nick. Maybe she was trying to avoid having him suspicious of her. Joey and Kaiba were the only ones that were backing up the Guardians, and Pluto hadn't spoken a word once we came back.
"Kaiba, don't you have something to say?" Bakura mused.
"I must agree with the mutt," Kaiba responded. "We did work together, and that is our proof."
"The Guardians are messing with your minds," Nick protested. "They're making you believe all of this nonsense!"
"It's true that the Guardians may have done something to alter their memories…" Ryou pondered. "Atem, what do you say?"
"I must take the Guardians' side," Atem decided. "Partner and I trust them, and your accusations don't prove anything."
"Are you sure?" I asked him.
"Yugi, I know you wouldn't lie to us." Atem answered.
"Just as I suspected," Nick interrupted. "The descendants of the Phoenix Dragons always stick together, and I know you all are plotting something…"
The Millennium Guardians seemed speechless, but Pluto looked really angry. Even Yukai appeared upset.
"STOP THIS!" Pluto yelled, grasping his head.
"We don't want to be reminded of our past!" Yukai shouted.
"What past?" I queried.
Meanwhile in another part of Animus, the Final Five were given a huge lecture about how foolish they were when they were battling the Guardians by Seiryu who wasn't too thrilled with their last encounter.
Artemis was once again in Zephyrus' room and she was musing to herself about me. She was still confused and no matter what she tried to do to try to remember her memories, she came up blank. Artemis was startled, as Zephyrus was moving around in his bed.
He opened his green eyes and he looked at Artemis. Zephyrus arose from his bed and drew nearer to her. Artemis didn't move and she continued to stare at him. He took her in his arms, and he was surprised how cold her heart had become.
"You're finally awake…" Artemis whispered softly, resting her head on Zephyrus.
"What did happen to me?" Zephyrus asked.
"Yugi was about to attack me but you protected me and wound up in this deep slumber." Artemis explained.
Zephyrus released her and edged towards the window. The sun began setting and he sighed deeply. He turned to face Artemis and he realized how much she changed in the few days he wasn't around.
"Where are the others?"
"Seiryu is instructing them on how to become better fighters," she replied.
Zephyrus chuckled. "I take it we still haven't beat them."
"Yeah… Zephyrus, tell me why are they our enemies?"
"Well, I never thought of that before," Zephyrus said. "I'm supposed to be the Guardian of Justice but I sold my soul to darkness so I could become powerful, and it's basically the same with the others."
Artemis remained silent.
"I guess you can't remember your past,"
"No. It's all a blur and yet I feel as though I was going to be betrayed…" Artemis contemplated. "It's like someone replaced all of my memories and altered them…"
Zephyrus knew he had to tell her, but Seiryu would get mad and destroy him. He only joined the Final Five to gain power and his solemn duty was no more. He also wanted Artemis's powers but over time, he grew to love her and he no longer desired to take it.
"Great idea, Yukai!" Pluto scolded. "Tell everyone what gone on a year before, they won't mind!"
"Uh, have you forgotten Charon and I were there during that time...?" Forseti replied weakly.
"Pluto, don't tell them!" Uranus pleaded.
"I remember why," Neptune said. "I was helping Yukai and his friends, and Mars here was destroyed by a mortal!"
Mars glared at him. "That was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me."
Okay, I was officially lost and confused. What were they talking about?
"Do you all mind explaining to us what happened? Your babbling is nothing but nonsense." Kaiba yelled.
"Pluto, why not tell them what Misty was saying to you?" Yukai suggested.
The Guardian gave Yukai a grimaced look and he cleared his throat. Yukai crossed his arms on his chest as if expecting him to talk.
"Fine but this may sound a bit similar to what the Pharaoh was telling me before when we were in the Underworld," Pluto complied. "The conversation took place in my temple where you all were before, and I used the same tactics, like I did with Yukai and his friends…"
A girl with red hair was lying on the cold floor as she awoken to find herself in Pluto's chamber. Her blue eyes wandered around, searching for a way to escape, but she suddenly felt the air grow bitter. She looked up to only see that Pluto had appeared beside her. His cold, blue eyes were locked on her, and she noticed a sword was tied to his waist.
"You must be the one called Misty," Pluto replied, his voice sent chills down the girl's spine.
"I am." Misty said. "If you're trying to lure Yukai out, it won't work!"
Pluto laughed. "Of course, he will! He has had the thirst to kill me for a very long time!"
"Okay then, exactly what do you plan to do to him, anyway?" Misty asked.
"He must be destroyed." Pluto answered. "Yukai has never sided with me, so therefore he must be eliminated!"
"I always knew you wanted to destroy all things that reside in nature!"
"What do you mean?" Pluto shouted. His eyes widened in shock.
"Is there something you see in humans?" Misty continued. "Just look at yourself, Pluto! Have you no desire to destroy yourself?"
"You have to come up with those responses yourself!" He blurted.
"Then answer me this," Misty said calmly. "Why do you look like a human?"
He didn't reply. Pluto kept staring at her and he backed way. It seemed like he didn't know the correct answer to Misty's question.
"I don't know…" Pluto whispered.
"It does sound like what I said to Pluto before," Atem mused.
"Yeah but it still doesn't explain how come Pluto changed." Nick inferred.
"Misty may have been somewhat mean to me but she knows what's the right thing to say to someone like Pluto," Yukai replied. "She somehow was able to convince Pluto to change but his dark side still took over, and that was when you mortals arrived to quell that evil spirit."
"I'm still not persuaded." Nick said. "It's more likely that Pluto will go back to being evil, and I don't trust you either, Yukai."
"Fine, don't believe me." Yukai responded angrily. "Even I have a change of heart because I have a dark side too, and you don't want to tempt me to luring it out, do I make myself clear?"
I stared at Yukai. His auburn eyes burned with fiery anger, as was Pluto's. I didn't like the way they were acting at all… How could Yukai have a dark side? We have never seen it before.
"Listen," I begged. "Let's just put all this behind us and I know no one is going to betray us."
"I doubt it," Nick said. "Then why don't we decide whose allegiance we all stand under?"
"We cannot separate!" Nidoki warned. "If we do, the Final Five will be able to vanquish us!"
"Like I'll listen to you!" Nick spat. "I'm getting on to you Guardians, and I won't force anyone to choose sides. You decide that for yourselves."
He broke away from us. Tea, Bakura and Ryou followed him and Joey, Atem and Kaiba stayed with us. Pluto and Yukai didn't seem to care and they turned away. I only watched in despair as we were being separated.
The warp tunnel began to open and we all dived in. We came back home, and Nick, Tea, Ryou and Bakura left on their own. I noticed Tea was looking back and it seemed she wanted to stay close to Nick to make sure he didn't do anything that could harm them. The Guardians headed their own way, but Atem, Joey and Kaiba remained with me.
The wind was blowing, and I shivered from the cold the wind brought. Now what was going to happen to us? If Nick was right that a traitor was amidst us, then who could it be? Pluto and Yukai appeared to fit that description perfectly, but I had this feeling that Nick might be the one I was looking for. When we stand together, we're strong, but when we're separated, we're weak. The Final Five will have an advantage over us if we don't prevail together. We mustn't stand alone or evil will win!
Author's Notes: The flashback was taken from an old fanfic I never posted on this site.
Now the gang has been divided, and what will happen if the Final Five strikes again? Hey, what's wrong with Yukai? He isn't acting as his usual self, and what is his dark side? Wait, even Pluto is acting strange, and now Artemis and Zephyrus are joining in the dark war! Yugi, you must watch out for the traitor and he may be closer than you think! Next time on Dark Crisis – Chapter 14: A Dark Past! The Other Yukai!