I don't own Yugioh.
Chapter 49
Anzu woke up to screaming. She looked around, not realizing she had fallen asleep. For a moment, she forgot where she was, until everything hit her and she was suddenly wide awake. One of the creatures in the cages was being taken out, and it was some kind of woman crossed with a cat. Anzu glanced back at Sugoroku, who had woken her up.
"What's going on?" Anzu asked in a scared whisper.
"They're probably going to rape her," Sugoroku said grimly, "She was one of the ones that came with us. They've been getting the ones that haven't been hurt yet first."
Realization hit Anzu, "Then…they will…come for us…"
"Correct," Maya spoke as well, "Which is why you need to use your powers as soon as they take the woman out."
"Are you saying to sacrifice the woman to save ourselves?" Anzu glared even though Maya couldn't see.
"No, dear. I'm saying that we will be a sacrifice."
Anzu froze, "N…no…"
"They always take more then one," Maya stated.
"If I cause a distraction to get them to open up this cell," Sugoroku turned to Anzu, nodding, "Then you can summon a monster and get out of here."
"I can't…," Anzu wiped at tears, "What about all of you?"
"We can't all get away," Sugoroku shook his head sadly, "There is no way possible. Those of us who do have magical powers would have used them the second they were out of their cells to get away. And, without magical powers, there is no way to get out of here."
"But…," Anzu whispered. How will I be able to face Yugi if I get out and his grandfather doesn't? Say 'I'm sorry Yugi, but your grandpa has been captured again and he sacrificed himself so that I could escape'? I can't do that!
Sugoroku put his hands on her shoulders, "Listen to me, Anzu. More then just our lives are hanging in the balance. All the lives of the people of Gaia and Earth are. Without the Millennium Items to seal the gateway between the two, it's only a matter of time until the evil group here storms Earth. We are pressured for time. We can't wait. If you can escape and reach Yugi, you can tell him where the base is."
"But I don't know where…"
"You're in it," Maya spoke up, "We're in the dungeons of the base."
"But this doesn't seem to be the bottom level…," Anzu blinked.
"Who says the dungeons have to be on the bottom?" Sugoroku raised an eyebrow.
"They always are!" Anzu protested.
"Anzu, we don't have time for this," Maya reminded them.
"She is right," Sugoroku nodded, "You must get out. Don't you realize, Anzu? You're our only hope here."
Anzu stopped what she was going to say, staring at him with her eyes wide.
"The Hikari Senshi, the troops of Gaia," Maya explained, "Have been fighting the Kurayami group for some time, yet neither side knows where the other's base is. Until that happens, the fighting will go on forever. It's already been ten years, and we're all tired of fighting. There isn't much more we can do. It's up to you and your friends to turn the tide of the war."
"Us?" Anzu whispered, "But…but we're kids…"
"With amazing powers," Maya reminded her, "Don't doubt yourself now, Anzu. Don't doubt your friends now. That's the most dangerous thing. Magic responds to your hope. The stronger your feelings, the stronger your magic. Since you have the power to summon, then you will be able to summon stronger creatures before you tire."
"But…if I do summon…how will I know what to summon…?" Anzu sighed in defeat, knowing that there was no way to talk them out of this.
Sugoroku smiled, "Don't talk in that tone, Anzu. This isn't a loss. If the plan goes successfully, then it will be a small victory. Miracles don't happen on their own. We create them everyday. Now, it's your turn to create a miracle, Anzu."
Anzu was quiet, then took a deep breath and let it out.
"Are you ready, Anzu?" Maya asked, "We will begin when you are."
Anzu nodded, pulling out her deck, "I'm ready…but I don't know what to summon."
"Close your eyes and concentrate on your cards," Sugoroku smiled, "I think I have an idea of what element you will belong to, but let's make sure."
Anzu closed her eyes, and the cards started to glow green. She blinked and opened her eyes a moment later, not wanting to attract much attention. Already, some of the occupants that were sensitive to magic were looking up at her.
"Wind," Sugoroku nodded, "Just as I thought."
"You knew?" Anzu blinked.
"When I heard you singing to Yugi," Sugoroku smiled, "You sang like an enchantress. One who tames beasts by song. And songs are notes in the air…vibrations that are interpreted to our ears. I didn't know for sure then, but I know for a fact now. Any monster that you summon that is of the Wind element will respond very well. Better then others. For now, that's all you should be summoning. It will take less of your energy to summon them, too."
Anzu nodded, pulling out all the cards of the Wind type she had. Which wasn't much.
Sugoroku pointed to a couple. "Skull Red Bird will help. It's larger then anything…you can make a getaway once you get out of this place. Wyvern is a nice attack monster, so is Hawk. Petit Dragon isn't strong, but it's fast. Use it if you have to get through something quickly. Sonic Bird may work well…and for human power, Princess of Tsurugi uses some good weapons. You may be able to summon Lady of the Harp, but I would use that as a last resort since it isn't a Wind element."
Anzu nodded.
"We should get this plan going," Sugoroku stated, "It's up to your jugement, Anzu."
"Just concentrate," Maya spoke up, "And connect with the energy of the monster card you are holding. Call to it. It'll come."
Anzu gulped, "Okay."
"Ready?" Sugoroku asked, standing up.
Anzu nodded.
"As soon as the cell opens," Sugoroku turned to her, "Use the Petit Dragon. It's not strong, but it will move around enough to cause a great distraction."
"The door is right across from us, diagonal a bit and to the right," Maya stated, "The guards always leave it open when they come to take victims. Just run right through it, and head up. Get to the roof and use the Skull Red Bird to get away. Once you're a safe distance, land and let the creature go back to the card. You will need to stay inconspicuous and save strength. Hopefully, you won't need to fight more then you already do."
Anzu nodded, holding onto the Petit Dragon card, "Okay."
A few minutes later, the door opened and the bruised woman from before was put back in her cell. The guards snickered as they inspected the others in the cages for someone to take in.
"Hey!" Sugoroku shouted through the bars, "Do you have guts or don't you!?"
The guards turned to him.
"Doing that to innocent people! You all should be ashamed of yourselves!" Sugoroku pointed to them, "What, don't have enough guts to try an old man? I'll take you both on!"
Anzu looked at him in shock. What is he getting himself into…?
The guards came over and one fit the key into the hole, pulling the door open.
Maya spoke just then, diverting some of their attention and putting on the most seductive voice Anzu had ever heard, "Oh, guards…? I suppose you wouldn't want to…hmm…waste your choice on a middle aged woman like myself? I would get such a kick out of it, I suppose…"
Anzu's eyes were wide. NO! They'll hurt the both of you!
The guards were grinning, and, forgetting to lock the door to Sugoroku and Anzu's cell, went over to Maya's.
"Now," Sugoroku whispered, yanking the door open.
Anzu concentrated, holding up the Petit Dragon. Please…help us! She glowed with a green energy, and so did the card. In a flash of greenish-white, the little dragon was out, flying around the room and screeching. The guards dove for cover as it flew over their heads as a streak. They didn't know what it was yet. The other prisoners started to make a lot of noise to add to the distraction as if they were in it all along. As long as one of them got out, they had hope. That was the general agreement between them.
"Go, Anzu!" Sugoroku shouted.
Anzu dashed out of the cell, and sprinted for the door. Now I'm glad I took track in school…
She skidded through the door, and ran down the hall, running out of breath fast as her feet slammed down harshly on the stone floor as she ran. She called the Dragon back, and the card reappeared in her hand as she ran. She had felt the drain on her energy, and was hoping she had enough left in her to make it out.
She ran down the halls as something let out a howl. Suddenly, she heard footsteps. "Well, that would probably be their alarm system," Anzu stated warily to herself, running up the stairs she found on her left. When she reached the top, she collided with two people in soldier gear for the Kurayami. All three fell down.
Anzu rubbed her head, and the guards were getting to their feet. Anzu was afraid, there was no doubt about that. She gave a startled scream as one of them swung his sword down, and she rolled out of the way just to get nicked in the shoulder down to her elbow by the other one. Pain seared through her arm, and she held a hand over the oozing wound, standing up and stumbling into the wall, her back to it. She remembered how she got out, and pulled out a card.
"I don't know you are, but please help!" Anzu shouted. She knew it was one of the Wind elemental creatures, but didn't know which one.
As the Sonic Bird shot out faster then the guards could lift their swords and wounded them severely, Anzu gasped for breath. She called the creature back, hearing more footsteps coming. She dashed into the nearest room, and behind a column. She stood there, breathing hard but trying to be quiet, as the footsteps passed.
"That way! That way! She must have gone down the hall!" one said.
"Follow!" another shouted, and soon, the footsteps faded.
Anzu felt her legs go out, and put a hand over her rapidly beating heart as she gasped for breath. Not only did summoning take a toll on her energy, but she was terrified. She was worried about Sugoroku and Maya, and for her own safety, of course. She looked up, startled, when she heard a groan. There were three prison cells there, but it looked a little different then the ones she had been in. There didn't seem to be any guards except for a sleeping one by the far door. Anzu snuck over to the middle cell where she had heard the noise and gasped.
"Ryou!?"
The white-haired boy painfully lifted his body up a bit when he heard a familiar voice, opening a half-swollen eye. The other one was swollen completely shut. He tried to sit up farther, but collapsed back down, wincing.
"Hang on, Ryou," Anzu whispered. She didn't know how he got in there, or what happened, but she was going to get him out.
"Not so fast."
Anzu spun around to come face to face with the guard that had been in the room. She fell over backwards, startled. Her eyes widened farther when a shuriken flew past her, cutting a bit into her leg and embedding itself in the wall. If she hadn't backed up, it would have been completely in her thy. Anzu winced, then glared up.
"Honda…what are you doing?!" Anzu shouted.
Honda pulled out a sword and pointed it at her, "Give up. Surrender. I don't want to have to hurt you."
Anzu backed up and hit the wall, fear on her face, "You…you've betrayed us. You've betrayed Yugi! How…how could you!?"
"I did it to save you!" Honda shouted angrily, "They threatened Ryou's life. I had no choice."
"They're going to…kill me…anyway," a weak voice spoke up from the cell.
Honda narrowed his eyes, "Enough! Now, give up, Anzu. Or I will have to hurt you."
Anzu felt tears run down her face, "I can't believe you…I can't believe you!"
Honda pressed the sword against her throat, and leered at her, "Do you believe me now, Anzu?"
Anzu gasped for breath, her shaky hand reaching down into her pocket where Honda couldn't see. She concentrated, and the card glowed greenish-white, then leapt onto Honda, knocking him back.
Anzu sunk to the ground, coughing a bit, tears running down her face as the Wyvern screeched and was trying to tear Honda limb from limb. He fought with the monster as Anzu ran back over to the cell, already feeling the drain of a monster actually having to struggle in a fight. She pulled at the bars, "Ryou!?"
Ryou leaned against the wall near the bars, his face pale except for angry marks and cuts, and his left arm hung limply at his side. He had bloodstains all over his outfit. He tried to smile, but winced.
"Hang on!" Anzu turned, and saw the key. Unfortunately, it was on the wall past the battle. Anzu gritted her teeth and, when there was an opening, dove. She rolled and came up, grabbed the key off the wall, and ran back as the Wyvern pushed Honda up to the opposite wall.
"Hold on…!" Honda shouted, trying to get over there, but the Wyvern prevented him, screeching.
Anzu could hear the footsteps of approaching guards, and quickly unlocked the cell with shaking hands. She ran over and knelt down next to Ryou, "Come on…we have to get out of here! Can you stand?"
Ryou leaned against the wall for support as he slowly and painfully pushed himself to his feet. Sweat ran down his face, and he squeezed his eyes shut, making small noises of suffering.
Anzu took his right arm and draped it over her shoulders, supporting him by placing her other hand around his back. She started off, and only stopped the summon of the Wyvern when she was out of the room, the door closed and barred by a large weapon she had knocked over on the other side. She could hear them pounding at it, and soon, the guards would start to use their weapons. As if on cue, she could hear the wooden door start to chip from the other side.
Ryou took a sharp gasp of pain from some of his injuries, but tried to hide it.
"Hang in there, Ryou," Anzu whispered, heading up the stairs that were there, "I'm sure we're almost out…" she stopped short when she saw guards coming down the stairs. She went back down the stairs as quickly as she could with Ryou, but the guards had almost broken through the door. Anzu gulped. It looked like there was no escape.
"Anzu…the…window…," Ryou whispered, coughing.
Anzu ran over to the window that was as large as a six foot tall person. She could see that they were in a castle, and the ground was a very long way down. There was darkness all around them, and permanent rain clouds hovered over, drizzling outside the gates.
The guards from the stairs reached the bottom, and the ones at the door finally broke through, Honda with them.
Anzu backed up.
The guards stepped forward, backing her up to the opening.
Anzu didn't know how much energy she had left. But given the option of death by the guards or death by falling, she chose the latter. Without a second thought, she clung to Ryou tighter and jumped out the window as the guards lunged. Some of them were falling down as well, screaming. Anzu tried to stay calm as they spun towards the ground, picking up speed at a dizzying rate.
"Hold onto my shoulder, Ryou!" Anzu shouted as she let go of his hand. He gripped her shoulder weakly, and Anzu pulled out the card. "Please…please help us!"
At first, nothing happened, and Anzu started to panic as the card started to float above them, not falling as fast as they were. Tears ran down her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut, putting all the energy into it she could muster. Ryou gasped as if startled, and she opened her eyes to see the Skull Red Bird, as large as a car, diving for them. It caught them on its back, and spread its wings, flying out as the guards fell helplessly to their deaths below.
As they flew out, there was a screech, and there were suddenly a swarm of insects flying after them.
"Crap!" Anzu yelped, seeing it. She gripped onto the feathers of the bird as they sat on its back, trying to keep a hold on Ryou as well, who was holding on as best he could with his right hand, his left still hanging uselessly at his side.
A stinger shot out past them, and the bird dodged to the right to avoid it, nearly tipping Anzu and Ryou off. The two gave a startled yelp as the bird evened out, then leaned the other direction to avoid a ball of fire that spat out past them.
"They really don't want us to escape!" Anzu shouted, tears running down her face. She was terrified. She never wanted to do this again. But now, she had to. The rain splattered down on them as the passed over the gates, but the monsters in the air continued to pursue them.
"C-Curse of Dragon…," Ryou whispered hoarsely behind her.
Anzu spun around, looking over her shoulder, and saw the golden dragon streak into the sky, quickly gaining on them. The worst part was that she was already so weakened, she couldn't give the bird anymore of her energy for fear of passing out.
Anzu squeezed her eyes shut as the dragon was almost upon them, If I pass out, then we'll both die.
Suddenly, the Red Skull Bird screeched in pain as the Curse of Dragon sliced it with its tail. They were spinning dizzily towards the ground, and Anzu and Ryou had to do their best just to stay conscious and hold on.
The bird, damaged, spiraled towards a dead forest, and at the last minute, tried to pull up a bit to ease the crash of its passengers. Anzu and Ryou were thrown from its back and onto the ground, rolling a bit, while the bird became a card again and went back to Anzu's pocket.
The Curse of Dragon hovered above the lines of trees and, not seeing the bird, assumed they had been killed. It proceeded back to the castle to inform its masters of the good news.
Meanwhile, on the ground in the forest, Ryou was the first one to wake up. He moaned, and every inch of his body was aching now. He didn't think he had the strength to go anywhere. He heard another low moan, and forced an eye open as his bleary vision focused on Anzu, who was slowly picking herself up.
"You still alive, Ryou?" Anzu winced from the numerous scrapes. It was a miracle nothing was broken. Her leg throbbed painfully, but it didn't feel like a break. She sure hoped it wasn't, because if it was, they were in deep trouble. I don't have anymore energy to summon. I barely have enough left…I don't know how Yugi does it…Yugi. We've got to find him! She felt a cough well up in her chest, and brought her hand up, coughing until blood trickled down her fingers. She lay there, gasping, trying not to let the fatigue get to her.
"Somehow, yes, I'm alive," Ryou moaned, "Are you alright?"
"Somehow," Anzu repeated his response.
"It's not…raining," Ryou pointed out, "We landed…outside the castle area."
Anzu opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. It was gray, not the black and red it had been when they were being chased.
"Did we…escape?" Ryou's voice held some hope to it.
"I think so…," Anzu whispered, "But…we should get moving. We still may be in their territory. And if we are…they think we're dead. Better keep it that way."
Ryou nodded, wincing from the movement. He lay there as she got up and tested out her leg, watching her.
"Hmm…I think I've got a sprain," Anzu stated, wincing as she stepped on her right leg and then pulled it up, "But compared to you, that's nothing. Ryou, can you get up? We need to get out of here."
Ryou winced, trying to sit up, but didn't even make it a little bit. He lay there, breathing hard, and wincing from the pain throughout his body. Anzu came over.
Ryou looked at her, "S-sorry…you go on ahead…I'll just slow you down. I can't move, anyway."
"I didn't go through Honda's betrayal and all that trouble in the castle just so that I could leave without you," Anzu reprimanded him gently, pulling him to a sitting position and once again putting his right arm over her shoulders and gripping his wrist. Her other hand reached out around his waist, and she slowly stood him up.
Ryou leaned heavily on her as dizziness came over him. He felt her stagger a bit from his weight, and tried not to lean as much on her. Though, his entire body felt like it was on fire.
Anzu started off, very slowly. It seemed like an eternity before they came out of the forest, and into a field of open plains. The grass was yellow and brown, signs of death. The smell of carbon and decay still lingered in the air, and the soil felt strange under their feet.
Ryou was breathing in short gasps now, and Anzu was worried that something may be wrong with him internally.
"Ryou? Are you sure you can walk?" Anzu asked him. Even though she felt like she had just had the energy drained right out of her.
Ryou didn't respond, only winced and doubled over a bit, coughing.
Anzu's eyes widened as he coughed out blood. She knew that her coughing was due to the strain on her energy, but Ryou didn't summon anything. Something was very wrong in his body, and if he didn't get treatment soon, he could…
Anzu wouldn't let herself think that. "Let's go, Ryou. We have to find you some help."
Ryou moaned, breathing hard, and stumbled on, most of his weight once again on Anzu.
Anzu took another step forward, and was about to continue on again, when the ground under them collapsed, sending them into the darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED…