I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters and plots.

However the following characters (their powers and such) used in this fan fiction ARE mine:

Lady Aurora Phoenix

Lady Natara Fear

Lady Sapphira Star

Blaze

Chaos

Havoc

Well if you read this far then thank you. If not... well then I guess I am just doing this for my own sake and no one else's... But it is all good either way... Now to continue...


A Group Decision

Lady Phoenix slowly made her way along the halls to see her friends safely to their room before heading back to her own. Isis and Mahado kept a short distance between them and her so if she collapsed, they would be there to help her. Atem watched her, but knew to keep his distance at this time. He worried what things would be like now that she had all her friends with her. He also knew she would have more questions about what had happened to Chaos. It was one of the only things that had never been discussed in all the times they had talked. Priest Set approached him with a cautious look in his eyes. He had left the search party before Atem and the others ran into Lady Phoenix and her friends, so he had not known about the attack on Chaos, or even the fact that Chaos had been found.

"What happened, my Pharaoh? No one has said anything since returning."

"As you know, the raid had only been more damage to my ancestors' tombs. Apparently, what we learned after you left us was that Bakura was not finished and he returned this afternoon. We were leaving one of the tombs when we saw colored lights coming from a short distance away. Seems he found the last two members of Lady Aurora's team before she did inside another of the tombs he was attempting to raid. By the time we got there to see what was going on, Chaos," Atem paused and nodded into a room Lady Phoenix and Havoc were leaving. It was obvious by their hushed voices that they were deep into a disagreement. With an angry sigh, she shook her head and left them all as she headed in the direction of her room. Lady Star and Lady Fear remained with their sleeping friend. He sighed before continuing. "Chaos had faced the Thief King and lost his battle. His soul had been sent to the shadow realm." Set's eyes widened in shock.

"Were you able to bring it back?"

"Yes, I did. He is only sleeping now."

"How is Lady Aurora dealing with this new information?" Atem sighed again.

"I am not sure. She has not said anything to me since I brought him back. Isis has spoken with her though. They seem to be on better terms."

"Odd," Set commented quietly. He watched as Havoc leaned against the wall outside Chaos' room. Lady Fear appeared and leaned into him to give him a hug and gentle kiss as Mana entered the room with a bowl of water and a cloth.

"It is good to see you again, Bryant," they heard her soft voice say. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and closed his eyes with a sigh.

"Yes, Natara. I have missed you. It is good to know you made it. I was worried about you."

"I know. I was worried about you as well. It made me fight that much harder to revive so I could find you." Havoc pulled back.

"What happened in there, Natara? Who was that? Why did he attack you and Chaos?" Lady Fear shook her head and shrugged.

"I do not know. I was still going in and out of consciousness when I heard a battle near by. When I opened my eyes, I saw Chaos locked in combat with this... this... I do not even know what it was. Some creature. I watched in shock as they fought, not sure what was going on. Then I saw him fall. I thought he was dead. I called upon my mist to cover us long enough for me to pull him out of the way so I can make sure he was okay. Then you guys showed up. I do not know who the man was that monster obeyed. I do not know even what he was doing there."

"What did Aurora get us into?" Havoc asked looking up to the ceiling and shaking his head.

"Only one way to find out," Lady Fear answered. "We need only to ask her." Havoc nodded and stood away from the wall. Set and Atem glanced at each other as Lady Fear reentered Chaos' room. They heard her ask Mana for the room Lady Phoenix was staying in.

"I will take you," Mana responded lightly with her eyes cast down to the floor.

"I will stay here with Dorian," Lady Star said. "I will get the gist of the story when you all return."

"Or we can tell you now." The warriors jumped and looked toward the door where Seto and Atem stood, waiting to hear their response.

"There are some things that Lady Aurora has yet to learn," Atem replied.

"Such as..." Havoc prompted. The two stepped inside.

"What happened earlier to your friend. His soul being taken. We had never really explained the consequences of losing a duel." At the warriors' blank look, Set and Atem began to explain everything to them. From the duels, to the Thief King, and their fears for the Pharaoh's people.

"It is your choice if you wish to stay and help," a quiet voice offered from the doorway when the explanation was finished. Everyone turned to see Lady Phoenix and Isis standing just inside the doorway. The tired look in her eyes gave away how much she still suffered from the attack.

"What do you mean, Aurora?" Lady Fear asked her. She swallowed and took a breath.

"I already gave my word to help them. I do not have anything thing else to do here," she added quickly as Havoc began to open his mouth in protest. "Until I know for sure if Lord Theron is actually here, I might as well keep my skills refreshed somehow. I am learning the ways here. I know what I can and cannot do in the duels. I can help them. Back home, our duty was to protect the king and his family. The Pharaoh and his people have been kind and good to me since I arrived here. I make my duty yet again to be to protect the royals of this land. We all have been given permission to stay here as long as we wish to. But I will not force this on you, my friends. Lord Theron is our enemy. No matter who else we may come up against."

The room was silent for a moment. Lady Phoenix could feel Atem's eyes on her. She chanced looking up at him. She could tell how badly he wanted to reach out to her. Secretly, she wished she could be in his arms as well. Her friends, she felt may not understand. Havoc especially. He was Blaze's best friend. Blaze was only recently taken from them. She was unsure as to how Havoc would take it if she told him there were feelings between the Pharaoh and herself.

It will have to wait for another time, she thought sadly. She tried to manage a small smile for him. She sensed his appreciation; and his concern.

"So your primary focus is still Lord Theron, right?" Lady Fear asked. Lady Phoenix nodded.

"He is always first and foremost. But if there is an attack by anyone I will be here to defend."

"Then I will be there with you," Lady Star said calmly. Chaos coughed from the bed, his eyes finally open.

"Count me in as well, Aurora," he said weakly. "At least after I have rested you can count me in." Lady Phoenix gave him a grateful smile.

"We are a team," Lady Fear started. "We seem to do everything together. I will stay and protect these people as well." Everyone turned to look at Havoc. He merely shrugged.

"Like Aurora said, it is not like we have anything else to really do here. Might as well leap into another war." An odd look was cast his way by Lady Phoenix, but even though her frustration was evident, she said nothing to him.

"Very well then." She turned to face Atem. "There would not by any chance be a way to get something small to eat, would there? To help regain our strength?" He nodded.

"Of course," he answered. "Dinner will be served in the main hall shortly. I can be sure to have a tray brought in here for Chaos if that will help." Chaos struggled to sit up.

"That will not be necessary, Pharaoh. I shall be ready by then."

"Are you sure?" Lady Phoenix asked her friend.

"Yes. I have been asleep for too long. I need to get up. I will rest again after dinner."

"All right then. I will see you all there." With that settled, she headed for her room to prepare. Set nodded in her direction at Atem. He looked around briefly and upon seeing everyone else was still preoccupied, he followed after her.