Chapter Twelve
The Autumn of Man
Author's Note: Because I have finished my last year of school I no longer have access to Microsoft Word and therefore, my updates are going to become all unsophisticated like before. No italic's, bolding probably won't show up, and several other things will become standard. You'll know what I'm talking about as you read. Sorry for the sloppy inconvenience, this sucks for me too.
Marik sat contentfully in his oak armchair, watching a small television screen located a foot or two away from him. It rested on top of a clawed nightstand and was having obvious difficulties picking up reception despite that Marik and his Rare Hunter operation was less than a mile from Battle City. The picture flickered and wavered like the air of a hot desert afternoon but its lone viewer didn't seem bothered by it.
Almost like he was technology illiterate, Marik tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrests and leaned in closer, trying to get a better understanding of the events he was watching. That boy, the bearer of the Millennium Balance, had just won a tremendous victory over a world-renowned duelist champion. The images were quite humorous, actually. The reporter on the scene had already attempted to interview Griff Terrace about his loss and was promptly told away, only in a more vulgar fashion. Deirdre simply ignored the reporter but his young female friend was more than happy to illustrate the events.
"This is rather amusing," Marik mumbled to himself. Then a slight, almost inaudible noise came from behind him. It was like the clank of an iron pot falling. Nonetheless, he didn't need to turn around to see the source of the disturbance; he adjusted his shimmering Millennium Rod and after a quiet moment, smiled warmly. "Why, hello my dear sister. This is a pleasant surprise indeed."
Ishizu stepped out of the shadows and came up behind his chair, placing her delicate hands on his wide, angular shoulders. "I came to tell you something important, brother."
"I'm sure," he laughed and rose to his feet. He pointed his deadly artifact directly in line with her eyes and grinned wider. "You have made a costly mistake infiltrating my storehouse. Flesh and blood or not, you're a dangerous foe too me now. I'll make sure you not leave here alive, or at least not with that item still around your neck."
He tapped his Rod on the Millennium Necklace hanging still on Ishizu's cleavage, causing a bright spark of conflicting energies. Ishizu sighed, almost painfully, and gazed into the mad eyes of her brother. "I so wish these events hadn't taken place. I wish things could go back to the way they used to be before you became a power-hungry despot."
Marik shrugged. "Alas, we cannot all have what we desire. Now, care to explain your presence here before I simply crush your mind?"
A torn, very unbecoming frown marred Ishizu's face and she nodded agreeably. "I came to try to persuade you out of these events. I know what you're intending to do, brother. I have glimpsed into the future and I have seen the events unfolding."
Marik stood still but becoming somewhat vexed. He crossed his arms as if expecting this to go somewhere.
"I know you've never held much stock in my predictions but listen to me now. Know that little you can do will alter the course of events. Some will happen no matter what changes you make and it will end up as a downfall not only for you but for countless others. Innocents, Marik! Innocent lives that don't deserve the agony that is to come!"
Marik let out a breathless sigh, but it wasn't one of irritation but rather one of understanding. Still, the enraged visage never left. "I've thought about this more than you could possibly imagine, sister. I've weighed the consequences and I am willing to accept them." He smiled again, looking up into her large beautiful eyes. "You know I am doing this for all of us? I am seeking revenge for all the time we gave the pharaoh, protecting his tomb from nonexistent foes, awaiting his return. If you truly believe that he ever once cared for our family then I think he would have done something to encourage our faith! Not once did he 'bless' us with a visit, ensuring us that what we were doing was right! He abandoned us, sister!"
Marik seethed, thrashing around his arms in vibrant displays of emotion. "We did so much for him! We gave our souls to him willingly and dozens of our clan sacrificed themselves in his name! I never once saw anything that would have made me think of him as anything more than a myth! A name that people threw around as happenstance to a curse! It was an illness that plagued our family exclusively and I'm sick of it!"
Marik let out a shout of pure rage, bashing his fist into his chair and knocking it squarely to the ground. Ishizu watched it fall and a moment later met her brother's gaze again, tears stinging her eyes.
"I feel betrayed, Ishizu! And because of that betrayal I am going too make the all-mighty pharaoh pay for his displeasure in us with blood and misery and sacrifice of all other 'innocents' as you call them!" He leaned forward and grabbed her harshly by the forearms, causing a pained gasp from Ishizu. "My plans will go on without a hitch, and maybe I will bring about the end of my life, but at least others will go with me and the pharaoh will then realize so strongly that what he did was wrong!"
"This isn't right, Marik!" Ishizu pleaded. "Your anger shouldn't be filtered onto virtuous lives. It should be dealt with personally! I'll help you if I must but you need to ask!"
Marik shook his head and waved off her offer like it was a bothersome fly. "But I won't ask and I will still not stop my destiny. The prophecy will be fulfilled and I will take the power which is so rightfully mine!" He took a calming breath and grinned anew. "You know what is coming, correct?"
Ishizu wiped away the tears trickling down her face and nodded solemnly. "You are going to issue the challenges for the final duel. The Autumn of Man."
Marik nodded and smiled brightly. "It will be a battle for the ages, my beloved sister. A time of darkness and evil so absolute that it will be discussed among future generations vividly. It will be written about in textbooks and I, whether alive or otherwise, will go down in history as the most influential figure of the millennium! I will be feared not only in this time but in others as well! Now, you can either join me or perish like so many others."
"Not only will I not join you," Ishizu stated firmly, "but I will fight against your tyranny."
Marik nodded, accepting her words. "As you wish. And I've changed my mind as well. You are free to leave, with your Millennium Item and all. Just know that I'll be taking it eventually so cherish what little time you have with it left."
Ishizu gave him a piercing stare with her large opal eyes and turned about on her heel, marching towards a shadow in the back of the room. She stopped just before taking a final step the shadow and turned her head to glance at him over her shoulder. "May the gods have mercy on your soul." And with that final cryptic note, she entered the dark corner and vanished into the inky blackness.
Marik stood in silence for several minutes afterward, staring blankly into that corner, and after enough time of frustrating solitude, he let out a thunderous scream and spun around like a top, smashing the side of the television with his Millennium Rod, breaking it into dozens of sparking shards and scattered electrical wires. The twisted remains clattered to the ground and Marik idly dropped his powerful artifact to the ground, as if he had a moment of clarity against the evil coursing through his veins.
Panting hard, almost winded, Marik stooped down and retrieved his Millennium Rod. "This is a liberation for all, whether Ishizu realizes it or not." He then waded through the mess, his chair and the pieces of his television, and exited the room.
