Ishizu Ishtar

Once I heard of Tea and Mokuba's condition, I knew that my brother's dark side had gone too far and needed to be stopped. So, in a manner of speaking, I stepped into the ring, hoping that I would be able to defeat this darkness taking refudge within my brother. And if I can't, hopefully I can weaken this evil. With everyone gone except Yami and myself, I figured that we must be close to winning. Cause good always triumphs over evil.

Lying in bed that night, I thought too much. And everyone knows that sometimes your thoughts can make you think of all the things that can go wrong. And that's exactly what happened to me. I pictured in my mind, my brother's evil towering over my limp body with blood everywhere. And another picture I saw myself wandering the Shadow Realm. The last one was the worst of all. I laid on the ground bathed in blood, much worse than the first one. Marik stood overme wearing his infamous saidistic grin, his dagger also covered in blood, my blood. I watched in horror as he slowly brought the dagger close to my throat, a little too close for comfort. He swiftly raised his arm and then plunged the dagger straight for my throat and everything went blank.

I forced myself to shake it off. Convinced myself that fear was playing tricks with my mind. And I tried desperately to sleep so I would have energy to take on Marik the next day. When I finally did sleep, images of my brother's sadistic grinn and the dagger danced through my dreams.

I woke up shaking and sweating the next morning with the pharaoh staring at me curiously. "Pharaoh?" I asked surprised.

"Ishizu, you were mumbling and tossing all over last night. You looked sick, so I came make sure you were okay," he answered compassionately.

"That's very nice of you, but I'm fine, really," I assured him.

"You weren't thinking on taking on Marik by any chance , were you?" He asked curiously.

"What would it matter if I am or not?" I asked, "I mean I'll have to confront him sooner or later."

Yami frowned, "Ishizu, you're no match for Marik without your Millennium Necklace. Here, take it back," he finished handing me the necklace.

"No," I refused, "If I am defeatyed while I hold to Millennium Necklace, than Marik will just take it for himself. Plus even if I had it, I still would loose cause Marik has three, rod, ring and eye."

"Fine, then," he said pocketing the Necklace again. "I have two words for you then: Good Luck."

"Thankyou," Ismiled, "Even if I win, you still will have to challenge Marik. You told him that you would the day Serenity was kidnapped. Marik never forgets what was said to him."

"That I know is correct," he said, "Well I must go then and plan my own tactics. Farewell, Ishizu and good luck."

"Thankyou," I said as he walked out. And then I knew that it was time. I could not prolong it any more. I had to find my brother.

As I strode down the long empty hallways, the image of Marik and his dagger flashed through my mind. I quickly tried to shake it off but I couldn't. I was truly consumed in fear now, but I wouldn't let that stop me.

I continued down the hall looking for Marik, but some reason I could not find him. Everyone else that went looking for him had no trouble at all. But I did. I didn't know why but I did. Maybe he didn't want me to find him. If he doesn't want to be found, he won't be. But why did he not want me to find him?

I turned a corner and saw a flash of gold. Marik, finally! I thought. I've found him. Yes I had found him becuase he wanted to be found. He was ready and so was I. I followed what I thought was Marik into a vacant room. And I was right it was Marik and he had his dagger ready. "Ready, to join everyone else?" he asked tauntingly.

"You mean everyone except the pharaoh and the girl you are holding captive. But yes I am ready to send you there," I responded.

"Who said anything about sending me there?" he asked me.

"Didn't you hear me?" I asked him, "I did."

"Have it your way then," he said charging at me with the dagger. I quickly ran to the other side of the room causing him to plow head first into the wall. "Clever, Ishizu," he breathed.

"Of course it was," I said confidently.

"Your utter confidence shall be your demise," he threatened.

"There you are wrong," I said knowing that I would loose not because of my confidence, but becuase I no longer had the Millennium Necklace.

"Maybe," he said simply charging at me again. But this time I was backed into a corner and he successfully stabbed me in the shoulder and I screeched with pain and fell to the ground.

"Go ahead, kill me," I said flatly showing no emotion.

"What?" he asked puzzled, "You want to die?"

"Maybe," I replied.

"I'm confused, why would you want to die?"

"What if I don't but know that I must?"

"Stop confusing me!" he yelled.

"I'm not trying," I said quickly swinging my leg so that it hit his and he fell to the ground.

"Ishizu, what are you doing? You know I shall win. So why are you condemning yourself to a more painful death?" he asked puzzled.

"Becuase, you cannot kill me, you will not kill me," I stated, "You are saving your urge to kill for the pharaoh."

"Have it your way then," he said. "I will not even banish you to the shadows myself."

"What? Then who will?" I asked now puzzled.

"Serenity," he spoke as the shadows surrounded me and Serenity rose from them.

"Serenity?" I asked her dazed.

"Who else would I be?" she said dryly. With that the Eye of Horus blazing on her forehead ignited and filled the room with a blinding light and before I knew it, I was banished.

GilandYani: I already have the order of the story planned out, so be patient, Malik's POV'll come soon enough