Darkness Within

Note: I hope that you like this story so far, and I do promise to make this chapter much longer. Onward into the darkness, my friends. (also, the underlined font is not a flashback; it is her mind as she is in the Shadows.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh, or the Sevenwaters trilogy, from which I stole the wonderful name of Fiacha and its meaning.

Chapter Three: Darkness Approaches

Fiacha watched intently as the two boys dueled. The creatures were the same as those from the ancient shadow games, she was certain. And she knew also that this boy did have a bit of the pharaoh's attitude and cruelty rubbing off on him; he was efficient in this duel, to the point of recklessness. Indeed he would be a sad loss if she had to destroy the pharaoh completely.

"Fiacha, is that move legal?"

"Huh?"

"Nevuh mind."

She shrugged and smiled weakly at him. Something in her was not right when she was around him. It was like the old stories where magicians enchant young women and lure them out of their homes never to be seen again. She scooted away in fear.

"What is it? Did I forget to wear deodorant again?"

"Umm… I don't know…" She felt better already. No deodorant, no problem. If he smelled, then she knew that he wasn't any charmer. Only… he smelled kind of like… peaches. How strange…

"You win, Yuge," Joey declared in an undertone, looking thoughtfully (well, he looked thoughtful) at his Red Eyes.

"Good job, Joey. You almost won that one."

Fiacha rubbed her arm and stood up quickly. She was beginning to feel… odd. Like a fire was burning inside of her; like only killing the pharaoh could make everything okay again.

"Is somethin' wrong, Fiacha?"

She groaned and pushed the blonde aside, feeling her own shadows engulf her. She was losing it again, she couldn't control it.

"Fiacha?" He touched her shadow-ringed arm in worry.

Pain shot through her body at once. He was too… light… too pure. It hurt one of the shadows to be touched by one such as he.

"Stop… don't… I…"

But it was too late; she was falling into that world of shadows again. What if this time she could not return?

It's dark; I should feel at home among these shadows, but I'm scared. Oh, someone, anyone, help. I'm scared to be alone in here! What if I dissolve into the shadows? What if…

"Fiacha? I don' know what's goin' on, but I'm gonna try and help you. Just tell me what da problem is."

Joey? The enemy was not this boy, but his voice rang too brightly in her mind. It glowed out like a shining beacon against the darkness that was her patron.

"Stop! Too bright… too dark… too… too… help me."

"You're confusin' me. Is it too dark or too bright?"

"I don't know… but it's cold. Hold on… I think I see someone."

Welcome to the shadows, my dear.

Did he speak aloud or did the words come in her mind? She was too dazed to tell.

"Who are you?"

I am the only inhabitant of this lonely Shadow Realm, my dear, but the shadows are eager to welcome the first human who is so close to them. It would be well if you gave in to their wishes. Together, neither of us would be lonely, would we, little raven?

"Do not speak my nickname in that way! Only my brother can say such things."

But we of the shadow are closer than that bond. Closer than a blood relation.

"I seek only to destroy the pharaoh. I don't want anything to do with you or this… this… place."

But this place is beautiful, like you are. Come to me, and I will see that you are the queen of this place in no time. The pharaoh will crumble to such an alliance.

"I will not accept help! The task is mine and mine alone! Let me return so that it may be finished!"

What a testy woman. I like them that way.

His nasty hands reached towards me and I did the first thing that came to mind; I called the shadows for help, like always I had done when I was afraid.

He is one of us, we will not harm him.

I screamed in agony and kicked him where it should have hurt most.

The shadows feel no pain, and neither do I.

"Wanna bet?"

I forced my will at the shadows. They would keep me safe, I warned, or I would call the one who shone too brightly into this place.

And then I was back in the world I had so long called my home.

"Fiacha, what was dat?"

"That was… the most terrible place that exists."

"It looked like da Shadow Realm, but I didn't spend much time dere, so I don' really know."

"It… I think it was. Where is the- Yugi?"

"He went to find his Grandpa, but I think that'll take a long time. Now tell me what you saw."

"I saw… I saw… A terrible man… who was one with the shadows… he did not feel pain… he said… he told me that the shadows wanted to welcome me into their world. I was… scared. But enough of this foolishness. I am going to leave now, and you will not recall this."

She stared deep into his brown eyes, trying to get the shadows to engulf this memory in his mind and hide it from him. All she could find were donuts.

"Is that all you think about," she accidentally said aloud.

"What, donuts? Well… I don' know. I guess I don; really… Hey, don' try an' change da subject!"

"Alright, alright. Chill out, I was only asking. Now if you don't mind letting me up, I'm leaving."

When he should have hated her, his eyes were soft. Soft like the light she tried always to avoid. The light she longed for.

"Do you need somewhere to stay?"

"Yes, but it will certainly not-"

"Den you stay at my house. It's only da right thing ta do, since you freaked out like dat an' all."

"But… I… you… he…"

He put his finger to her lips and helped her up. Though he didn't know what it was, he felt something very different when he was around her. It was like a silent cry for help that was constantly hidden from most people. This girl was too far into the darkness, he could tell. But right now… time for a donut or two or three or…

End note: I think that one was a little longer. I ran out of ideas! That's pretty much a first for me… Oh dear… Review ASAP!