Master Of PuppetZ

I will occupy

I will help you die

I will run though you

Now I rule you too

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN YGO! And the song is Metallica's…That surely explains why I am so stupid.

FAB: I want to thank my reviewers! Thank you very – very much! And I'm sorry it took me AGES to update this time! This chapter is longer just for you!

Master Of Puppets – Chapter 12 – A Bitter DownFall

It was all floating down.

He lay inside silky red clouds, wrapped tightly in them for warmth, his small hands grasping the rims of the heated up air. He was so small…So helpless…There was just nothing he could do to fight against Ra's decision. So small and defenseless, he hadn't even opened his eyes yet, but already too dangerous. Already cursed forever, already doomed to rust. He was already tainted.

He was lying motionlessly, his cramped chest raising lightly with every fresh breath he took into his fragile body. She stood there looking down at him, pity and gloom filling her divine heart. So little…And already too evil. She sent a smooth warm hand to touch him, touching his baby face, feeling out how soft and warm his skin was against her own, how frail he was…Yet it was obvious he was born to darkness. How could she do this to him? How could she get rid of her own little creation, her boy, her blood brother, the one that was born from her?

She had to do it. Ra forbad him to stay alive. He was unworthy. Dirty. Impure. And he had no future. He had to be cut out…And she had to be the one that killed him because he was her creation, the one that merged into the form of a little baby from her deep hidden hate. He moved a little in his sleep, but his eyes remained closed tightly. He wasn't able to move his body properly at that time. And though he couldn't do anything, still he knew something, and as the moments passed it became more and more clear to him. Something was wrong. He was in danger. And he couldn't do anything to escape.

Her hands gently turned him over, now he was lying his back up, breathing faster desperately, shivering once again when she touched them, his little immature wings. They were soft and thin, too weak to carry him up far into the upper sky, but an undeniable proof that he was born to be a little boundless being. "I'm sorry…" she whispered "I can't let you live. You were born to evil. I can't let you grow up and destroy the world. I can't…" a tear slid down her face…Her life made her go throughout million breaking points and crisis moments, but this one, however, was the hardest one.

She raised the silver crystal, and held it up, looking at his wings, at his back, at his pale skin. He shuddered, knowing what she was going to do even though he never saw her face. His little baby arm stretched forward as he was about to crawl away, save himself from his creator. But his arms were too thin and still too weak to enable moving. He couldn't even hold them up for long enough and they fell down on the silky surface. She gulped, watching his gawky attempts to get away. Ra's sacred voice was ringing in her ears (You have to end his existence. He is endangering us. Erase him. Do it, Isis…)

/What should I do? I can't leave him alive, Ra won't ever forgive me for disobeying. I can't do it. He's unworthy. He is an embodiment of my rage and my stress. I can't let him breathe more. I have to expel him…/ she raised the crystal in her hands, ready to plunge it right into the boy, when he used his voice for the first time of his short life to let out a little faint cry. It was like a scream of a prey, when it was tucked into the corner. She stopped, frozen on her spot, her heart beating madly in her ears, her body shaking violently, her eyes teary and the crystal held tightly in her hand above the poor being in front of her. She put it down.

/No…I can't…It's just another test. Ra has the power to test us all, to put impossible obstacles in our ways. And I hate you…/ she thought when she watched the boy twisting on his place, still trying to crawl away /You, the source of all evil, the world-damned monster…/ yet more tears filled her eyes when those words came into her mind. She wasn't sobbing, but she cried. She cried silently for what she was going to do /You are mine…I won't kill you. I can't help you to survive, but my hands won't grant you death, my boy. I'll…I'll let you go. I'll expel you away, down to the earth beneath us. And there…You have to make your choices. You won't last a long without a sacrifice, and you are too weak and too small to find one…/

He was silent now, already too tired to move. He laid limply, only his unsteady breathings indicating he was still alive. Two veins of black blood stood out on his smooth back from the effort, beating into his neck and head, making him almost gasp. His eyes were still closed tightly as she decided. /But I can't let you come back. I can't let anyone know you were mine. I'm sorry…/

She grabbed the silver crystal once again, this time knowing clearly what she needed to do. She took one of the frail wingz on the boy's back into her right warm hand, feeling how the tiny feathers and the FlEsH winced on it when she pulled the weapon in her left and cut. A little growl was heard when the boy lost his left wing. His body paled even more, black substance pouring out from the wound. She breathed hard, gulping the shame and guilt into her core when she raised the weapon once again.

Isis felt his little, seven days old heart beating furiously under the cover of his skin, sending shivers into his entire body. He fought, yes, he tried to twist away from her, but to no advantage. With a sharp movement he lost both wings, now unable to leave the ground he was going to hit. Isis' tears fell down to mix with his blood when he breathed angrily, she took him into her arms, stepping to hover in the air, never letting go.

Early sun rays traced her face, sunrise of the horizon, the eternal orbs of the almighty Ra. He shivered in the light, making miserably sound deep inside his throat when she held him over the chasm leading to the impact with the cursed earth. "I'm sorry…I never meant to…" she breathed deep "Hurt you, my boy. I have to let you die. I hope you forgive me…" a tear streamed down her bronze cheek "Maybe some day…" she vowed, slowly lowering the little body in her arm to drop him down, to the unforgiving ground million miles below.

And this was the minute when he opened his eyes. It was awful, just like looking right into the eyes of an angry devil. Red and Black mixed together in eternal venom of hate, his eyes were so deep Isis felt she could fall into them. They looked frightening. And their malice burnt a hole in her heart. )(I will get you back for that,)( she felt his thoughts )(I swear you'll pay…I swear I'll bring Hell on you…)(

/Ra was right. This creature can't stay alive. He is full of malevolence and hatred. I'm letting go of him. He'll die there, there's no hope for him. It was better for him to stay unborn./ she let go of him in the open air, watching how his form vanished down, when the darkness took over, turning him into bad spirit spreading among the withering corn in the blackfield, polluting a lake with deadly poison and falling down in drops of acid…Merging, changing…Till she couldn't see him anymore.

She turned her back, closing her eyes. /He won't survive…/ she thought as she made her way back into her celestial dwelling residence.

Yet she was wrong.

So wrong.

He survived.

Inside the body of an innocent snake, carrying him under the surface into the eternally shadowed halls of the tomb keepers. There, one night, he found his hikari, his victim, his puppet. He waited for the boy to come close enough to sank into his skin, smelling the blood pouring out, when the venom along with his weakened being flowed into his-body-to-be. He was saved.

The boy's name was Malik.

The room was dark and shady when she sat alone and watched the snow falling outside the window. No lamps, because lamps' light and money were always good friends. No festive meal on this Christmas Eve. Actually, there was absolutely nothing. In her hands, she held the photograph of Claira. Even since her body was found in the river, the life seemed so…Empty.

/We've just argued…She was so furious, I thought she would calm down a bit and come back. I never thought I hurt you so much, Claira…I never thought you were going to do such thing. And I keep asking why you did this. You weren't that type of girl./ she moved back and forth on her place, measuring the metallic frame of the photograph. Claira was 18 when the photo was taken, forever young and waving, it was during a riding contest. She looked so beautiful in her blue suit, she even had blue ribbon in her hair.

/What have I done to you, my love? How could you do such thing!…All I wish to say is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry that we had that fight. I even can't remember about what. Yet I love you, my dear, I love you so much. I was the one that deserved to die, not you. You had all your life in front of you…/ Claira's boyfriend never came again to visit her house. He tried and streamed again into the river of life. That was one thing that made her angry. The second thing was the breakup with Mike. He was such a jerk, leaving her alone at a time like this…

The road beneath the window was empty and slowly filling with frost and snow. /They said the impact with the ice in the river killed her…If there was water she could have been still alive today…/ she shifted in her place, feeling somehow uncomfortable. Her mouth was dry, and her green teary eyes were hazel and opaque. She closed them for a moment, when a millennium eye silently appeared on her forehead, gleaming in the dark. The next second her phone rang next to her, waking her up from the semi-trance she was in. she picked up the receiver mechanically, being used to do it for she worked as a secretary for many years.

She waited, listening to the silence on the other line.

"How are you?"

So it was him! Why wouldn't he leave her alone at last, that was what she thought. Yet she said quietly "I'm fine. Why are you calling, Mike?"

"I wanted to talk with you…I…Needed to hear you were fine."

"Why would you care?" she asked bitterly, trailing her hand on Claira's smiling face behind the glass "We are over, right? I thought you wanted it like this. Let's stop this conversation now," she asked, her mouth dry and a low headache making its way to her mind as another tear slid down her cheek.

"You have to stop this," he said "You have to move on an-"

"I don't need you, I'm perfectly fine without you, or your advices or anything! Now leave me alone!" she yelled at the receiver, slamming it down without second thought. A second later she regretted, but it was too late. The phone was quite and still like dried lake. Like frozen river. Like the thick frost Claira fall on and broke her body and life into pieces.

The fluttering in her head increased once again, the millennium eye again appearing briefly, disappearing and reappearing, this time for long moments. Suddenly the photo fell off her hand, shattering on the floor when her body lost all will, falling down to cut her arms on the broken glass. Her soul hovered above the room, drawn out to join a swarm of other souls. The loss of physical body was so strange to her, and the tears left on her face passed through her, becoming icy drops and falling down onto the road. She could neither think what was happening to her nor did she care. She just hoped to see Claira once again /I have to tell her I'm not angry with her…I have to tell her that I love her, I've never had the chance to say she meant so much to me. Even if she wasn't my blood sister. I love her./

He wanted to scream. Could he do it, he would have probably shouted and yelled on his place, when only the belt held him down, when he felt something drawing him out of his existence forcefully, tearing his soul apart and making it leave his body lifeless, lying belted on the seat.

Seto was so concentrated on trying to control the car and not ending up crushing down the roadside that he never noticed something was trying to take over him /I have to save Mokuba./ that was all he was capable to think about, fighting furiously to make the car brake (He would have fired the car agency and the garage employers). Finally, managing to stop in the middle of the road (It made no difference since it was Christmas Eve) he leant back into his seat, sweat streaming down his forehead, and gasped in annoyance at a low headache that was spreading among his thoughts of saving Crystal and getting to her apartment. He shot a glance to his side, checking what was with Mokuba. The boy lay motionlessly in his seat, his arms limp and his long hair covering his face. He looked…Too still…Too quiet…

Seto closed his eyes for a moment, when the millennium eye appeared on his forehead, gaining control over half of his soul. When Seto opened his eyes once again, he was able to see through his right eye only, when his soul struggled to not be pulled out. He groaned lightly at the dull pain in his head. It was like…Well, it was like something deep within his body was trying to depart from its master. He never believed in such things.

He tiredly sent his hand to reach Mokuba's form near him, and was surprised to find out what effort it demanded. And again that pain…Hell, they needed to find Crystal…Mokuba said…Well, he guessed that she was in her apartment right now…And he was driving...His thoughts slipped away and swirled stubbornly in his head when he discovered Mokuba was lying too far…And his sight was so blurred.

Too much adrenalin still pumped inside his veins, not letting him calm down enough to enable the deprivation of his soul. The result was…Double suffering when it finally happened.

A storm crossed the Shadow Realm, scaring the shadowy creatures of the darkness away. They let go of their preys and ran away to deep corners inside the walls of doom. Hell had been opened, and demanded its victims. It sent sleazy hands to wrap around every living creature, building in instant, growing long black arms to grab the sinful into its core. And then it stormed down on the earth. Many sinful beings…So many of them…

It's in the blood, you know. The sin. It's engraved too deep to erase it. And even the most sincere prayer can't wipe it away. It can't be erased by the fervent holding into the cross, or blood-letting. It's written gravely into the FlEsH, penetrating the soul into the BoNeZ. No. Just no salvation this way.

Seto let out a gasp when the power of Hell regained its furious attack on his soul. Here was a battle he couldn't win; human's will can never overcome the spiritual one. And he felt something so bitter deep within, when his soul was torn away, like he harmfully disappointed someone…He let someone down…/I have to…/ were the last words in his head when he groaned again, fighting to control his soul. Getting suddenly too deep into his mind, he found out that many things were just too obvious to him. It was obvious that Mokuba was always somewhere around, and it became a routine to work hard till he couldn't stand it any longer…And Cris…The thoughts of her filled now so much of his memory, the intense glow in her caramel locks, and the brightness of her grey eyes…Her smile…Her laughs with Mokuba, rolling over when they sat together watching TV… And then…

No, he couldn't give up now, he couldn't let that heinous feeling take these things away from him…They were what kept him alive, they were what made him the unique person he was that day…They were him. There's a little something from us in everyone else. And Seto fought for his almost torn away soul as if he was fighting for Crystal's or Mokuba's one.

Hell raged over him, swallowing the souls above into its infinite core. It pulled him harder, Seto felt sick feeling rotting down his throat as he closed his eyes, still wrestling on his place to free himself from the blinding grasp. /Mokuba…Crystal…Have to…/ he breathed hard when Hell bit dipper, silencing him on his spot. He fell back into the seat, the falling snow on the front window blurring and melting in front of his eyes when he was gone.

Her voice was dead in her throat when she fell down into the chasm of black doom. She wanted to scream, Marik's sudden leave of her mind was painful almost as much as his taking over. And it seemed to her that she was falling forever, so deep and so underneath. Isis watched her in horror, Marik's psychotic laugh getting into her ears like he was standing way away from her. She shot her spiritual body down, fighting the gas resistance around her to get as close to Crystal as she could. The girl's shocked state was a blessing at that moment, because it made the taking over of her mind a simple thing for Isis to do than it would have been if Crystal had been tensed in the hands of Marik. She got into her mind as fast as she could, pushing Crystal painfully aside, replacing the shock and the stillness with determination and bravery.

Crystal's arms shot to her front, grabbing the wall of damnation, stopping her lethal fall just mere meters above the calamitous lava. She slid down a little before she steadied herself completely, holding tightly into the cold black stone. )(Crystal, listen to me…You have to stay calm now, I'll never let you fall, remember this…)( whispered Isis rapidly )(Yes…)( thought Crystal back )(I…Trust you.)(

)(Now, you have to get yourself up, do you understand me?)( the goddess said )(You have to get out of here before they…)( but an awful distant laugh had disturbed them, when Isis lifted Crystal's head to look at Marik who stood on the edge of the abyss. He held something in his hand, yet Isis couldn't figure out what it was for the fog was so thick down there. He moved his hands, or did something like waving, and then his form disappeared once again.

Isis moved Crystal's hand to grab the wall, making her climb a bit. Then another bit. And another bit. It was like crawling up the wall, her arms sweaty and painful on its rough surface. )(Crystal, you have to believe…I know how to win over Marik, but first I'm going to help you…I won't let you down, my host…)( Isis said when she pushed Crystal's body up.

The wall was all red and black, deep scars of years and ancient battles notched its surface until it was dead and cold. Pieces of millennium old dust fell off it on Crystal's desperate path up to the life again. She felt the hot winds rushing beneath her, pushing sleazy outbursts of fire up into the air to grab something light that was falling down on the way. It was another bunch of Duel Monsters cards. They were consumed to their end, Marik's poor victims. )(You have to hurry up, Crystal, we have only few more minutes.)(

Crystal nodded, blood streaming from her closed eyelids )(Sure,)( she said, shaking her head, renewing her nightmarish way up to the edge. Soon the intense heat was left far behind her as she continued, not stopping on her way despite the new pains in her arms and the blood on her face. Isis helped her as much as she could, yet no one could save Crystal now. Only she could do it.

(Remember that you are the only one who can save your life, Cris…) her teacher told her once when she was in troubles. She needed his support and compassion back then, but instead she heard this firm statement. How right he was! And what truth these words carried! Now she was utterly alone, one leg in Hell, and no one was there to pull her back up. Not even Seto. Only the thought of him, the worry about Mokuba and her conscience became the strongest will ever. She knew she could do anything right now although her broken state, her blind eyes, the pain…She wasn't going to give up! Never!

A sudden loud noise broke this train of thoughts when Crystal raised her head obediently so Isis could see for her what was going on up there. Something shining was clouding the red sky above the open Gates Of Hell. Crystal couldn't guess what these glowing masses were, yet she felt something was definitely wrong with them. Isis became really nervous and worried in her mind. She spoke slowly though, trying to calm Crystal down )(I have to go now, I have to save them before Hell takes them away…Crystal, no matter what happens, you mustn't stop, alright? Don't forget I won't ever leave you, not after all you did for me even without knowing. Just…Don't stop…)( Crystal felt her other essence departing, like something stretched her soul outside the borders, sick sensation sliding down when her core shrankto contain herself again.

A minute later, however, it turned out to be a very bad idea to split up again. Crystal's human body was way too weak to carry her up without the aid of the goddess, and soon she felt she was slithering down two bits in every bit up she made. And what worse – her eyes were completely dark when the goddess wasn't in her head, so she had to find her way up without even knowing where 'up' was.

Crystal gripped the wall stronger /I promised I wouldn't give up. I have to climb on this damned wall, and I'll do it! I have no other choices!.../ holding onto the solid basalt she was fully aware of the height she was on, slowly she began her way again, feeling out the wall before she climbed. Drops of blood fell from her cheeks, staining her almost naked body, since Marik got her clothes off when he devoured her blood. Beads of sweat mixed into the red substance from the heat and the effort all together…And the wall…It just had no end…

Isis flew up as fast as he could /I never thought Marik will use Crystal to increase the power in his grasp…I thought he wouldn't need her anymore, and I wasted precious time trying to save her like this…Although I was the one who created her, I can't do anything for her right now. I gave her a will to save herself, and she is the one who needs to test her power. And I have to save those poor souls Hell drew into this realm….Ah, Marik, I swear I'll make Hell run through you! We'll see who is the one in power here!.../ stretching both her arms forward, she made a defense shield to block the passage into Hell's core, hovering in front of Marik behind it.

"Get out of the way, Isis…" he said with a smirk "You are disturbing me. Don't make me hurt you even more than I've planned. Get away. Now." he roared diabolically, his eyes mixture of hatred and disgust. She watched him with equal dreadfulness, eyeing the mass of souls from the corner of her eyes "Haven't you done enough to these people? Let them go, Marik…"

His smirk only widened "They are my puppetz, Isis, only worthless wretched marionettes. You've denied me. You've expelled me. And so have they. They hate me, you see, they hate me for who I am, for who I was born to be…Or shall I say they hate me for what you made me be. Now step aside. I want them to pay for all of their sins…And then I make you pay for what you have done to me…"

A little noise was heard somewhere near them, and a hand grasped the edge of the black hole of Hell. Crystal hung her body on the edge, resting for a minute. Isis' heart widened with semi relief when she saw her )(Only a little more…)( she said immediately, lighting the soul of her host with hope. And hope was all Crystal needed at that moment.

Marik chuckled, getting closer to see "Already back from the dead?" he passed Isis' shield through "I think you haven't enjoyed enough time there, dear," he said softly and threateningly, before getting closer to her. Crystal heard his voice, and her breathing increased with fear, when she felt something heavy placing above her hand on the rim of the Shadow Realm, on her only pick out. She yelped in pain when Marik stamped on her left hand "Why are you crying? I am your master, and I sent you down there. Some disturbing little creature you are," he hissed, knowing she could hear him.

Isis raised her hands once again )(Crystal, I'm continuing my plan, I have to. Please hold on for a minute!)( the goddess warned before wondrous power seethed through the shield she built, scaring the lost souls away from Hell, and a mumbling burst into Crystal's ears. The pain in her hand was more blinding than her opaque eyes, it shot into her arm, pressing on the cuts of her physical body, drawing blood to stream down into the large pit she was almost in again. Yet she never left the rim she was grasping. /I can't. I promised to hold on. I am not weakling. I have the powers to…/ yet Marik raised the millennium Rod, and his essence was malevolently plunged into her mind, painting a millennium eye over her forehead as he was forcing her to open her hand and fall down once more )(Get out of my mind!)( she groaned )(Go away!)( something red flashed inside her eyelids as Marik was trying to control over her )(I'll make Isis fall…But I have to get you down now, dear!)( he whispered )(Before she does whatever is in her mind. Sorry, my little puppet, it isn't personal…)(

Tears and blood streamed down on her face now, she clenched her teeth, biting the scream into her soul, when she finally became aware of little rustling beneath the dangerous position of her, hanging on the very edge…Something was waking deep down Hell's eye, some mysterious ancient powers…She heard a deep hoarse roar…In her head, in a corner that had eternally belonged to Isis, she suddenly saw the sights of long forgotten battles…It was so hot down there, stone tablets moving under the earth, carrying the power of almighty creatures, the ones who were sealed so deep into the stone, pawns in the hands of great magicians…Waiting there to arise and take over the world once again…

For ages they had been sealed so deep within the depths of Egyptian pyramids, lost in their own time and waiting for the day when the sunrays would cast warmth upon them once more. They were never understood, so admirable and awe-inspiring at the same time, when a man, an artist, finally saw them with his expert eyes (Let's just say he had an open mind to such things). He knew he had found a treasure. They knew the salvation came. The name of the man was Maximillian Pegasus. He brought them to life…Well, in some way or another. Now sealed within the cards Marik destroyed some minutes ago, they sought the revenge on him, because of what he had done to them. They were his cards, his loyal puppetz. He used them to play and win over every battle in his life, they stood by his side, helping him though they had never received anything in return. It was enough for them to be placed in his hands, feeling his power bringing them back to life. But he never cared about them. They were Malik's once, but it was too long ago to remember the childish hands upon them. Ever since Marik had taken over, they were his. They were the stones in his road to the Pharaoh's crown. They were little paper windows to the future. And after all the things they have done for him, he betrayed them. His last mistake.

That was the thing Marik could never understand. Puppetz wanted their precious freedom back. No one wants to be controlled, watched over, pushed around. 'A puppet' is not an honorary degree. They wanted out. He failed to see they were not just mere objects. They were alive, carrying pieces of his rotten soul in each of them. And now they came to life once again, raged for being sacrificed in vain, furious for being always pawns. Marik must have heard something because he lifted his weight from Crystal's palm to glance down. Isis stood there, her black hair waving around her, still holding the shield so none of the human souls that hovered up above would be dragged down into Hell, and she was watching. She knew what was going to be next. And in a hidden corner of her heart, pain and regret were spreading bitter taste on the up coming victory.

Come crawling faster

Obey your Master

Your life burns faster

Obey your Master

Master

Their shadowed forms flew up towards Marik, recognizing him. He watched them with amazement, the monsters on his cards, getting closer, closer enough to look at him, to swallow his wretched form in their angry eyes…Thousands of eyes gleamed with hatred at him, ready to kill…Million hands and clawed limbs were sent to get him…"Leave me alone! I am your master, and I command you to leave me alone this instant!" he yelled, but his voice wasn't glorious anymore. It wasn't full of self confidence. His voice was slightly frightened, amazed…Lost…

They didn't obey, pulling him forward, to the edges of the chasm "What are you doing?" he hissed, looking up at Isis "What are you doing?" he repeated when she closed her eyes, avoiding his burning ones.

"My hands won't bring you death, Marik," she said "But they want it so badly. You made them go through living Hell before you sacrificed them to the real one. You never respected them, because you never respected anyone. And I am not accusing you. I was responsible for you, but I chose to throw you down away, I wanted to dispose of my anger, of my hate, of you. I tore your thread, and instead of making you my puppet…I almost made you my master…By giving you an indirect chance to live…"

We can't kill our anger, or our hate…But we can hold them down. Life is an eternal battle between us and our dark sides. Our yamis…And all together, we are the strongest Hikari of the sky…Even Brighter Than The Sun…

"You!" yelled Marik, fighting wildly against the hold of his monsters "Everything is your fault! Tell them to leave me alone now! I never let anyone control me! You won't control me Isis!" he screamed, being dragged down the chasm by his owns monsters "Let go of me!" his voice was of the one who had been always the dominator and now turned to be nothing more than a poor victim himself.

Crystal breathed hard, pulling her body up by her left arm, steadying herself enough to finally climb on safe ground, few steps away from the Hell. Shakily making her way up to her feet, she heard Marik's footsteps echoing somewhere near her, he was cursing and shouting random threats to no one in particular when the monsters pulled him along with them…Down…

He knew it was lost. It was lost from the initial start. He looked over at Isis, swallowing her calm blank expression, gazing into her quiet blue eyes. His eyes were again red and black, and not Malik's tranquil violet ones. He pushed back, trying to get away, and his black cloak was torn into pieces, revealing Malik's burned back, the sacred ancient words painted with black on it. But there was something more. Two deep furrowed scars, on both sides of his back, the only remains of his torn out wingz.

With one last scream, Marik's monsters grabbed his ankles pulling him down into the opened Hell. His eyes were engraved deeply into Isis' memory, as his voice hissed "I'm not done with you, Isis…Remember this…I'll make my revenge on you the most painful thing I can imagine…" then his body was swallowed in the darkness of the fire-well.

Souls were hovering out via the passage Isis had created for them, Crystal felt the well-known and well-despised feeling of being transformed back into her real body, into her real world. Pain and blood shot through various parts of her body, and she gasped as her body was stretched once again by the ropes Marik put on her. Gasping and whimpering, she waited when the feeling stopped. Then, slowly and painfully, she opened her eyes. Her sight was blurred and slightly red from the blood, yet she was able to see the darkness in the room around her. Needless to say that the black sight brought her no relax "Isis…" she said in fear and pain.

"I am here…I'm here, don't worry…" a ghostly woman appeared in front of her eyes. She was tall and graceful, her black hair waving around her like insensible wind was blowing in the room, her eyes two bright sapphires shining and her voice music of the soul. She was looking at Crystal with pity and concern "Are you alright, my host?" she asked, sitting herself down beside her "Now I have to obey the rules of your world. I do not have physical body, so I can do little to free you. But you have to wait…I'm sure they'll find you…"

Crystal bit her bottom lip, deep in thought. Then she spoke "Isis…Is he gone…Forever?" Isis closed her eyes and let her mind wander for a minute. Then she said "I don't know. But he can't come back. Not in this time. Not in your life."

"Who was he?" gasped Crystal faintly "And why did he hate me? I never…"

"He didn't hate just you. He hated me, and his hate was turned towards you since you were the one that hosted my soul in your body. Crystal…" Isis said suddenly "Haven't this made you wonder? You never knew anything about your past."

Crystal moved a little, trying to find a position where her right arm would hurt as less as possible "You were born with my curse, I was supposed to use your body when the time was right." Isis said wonderingly.

"I've thought many times about my past," Crystal admitted "But it was to no advantage. I knew nothing, and I didn't know even where to start searching. So after some time…Well, I told myself to stop wasting time and get more serious about studying and working. I remember nothing but the fire…"

"You are my creation, just like Marik was. I asked some reliable people to take care of you until you were old enough to understand. But those people were murdered by their opponents, their antagonists. Religion can be very cruel, sometimes…It can bring faith and cure as well as hate and anger…They were dead, and their house was set on fire. I couldn't reach you without them, and on this earth I can't really do whatever I want. Actually, I can't do more than Ra allows me. But you were saved, thanks to my protection. You were found and brought to the orphanage, there you grew up, a young beautiful girl…" considering the fact that at that exact minute Crystal's right arm was badly hurt, her body (And especially her arms) full of various cuts and blood was still streaming on her face from her eyes the comment wasn't really accepted. Isis continued her story, her pleasant voice filling Crystal's ears

"…I helped you as much as I could, trying to encourage you when you were in troubles…I've reminded myself that after all it was your own life, so all the decisions were made only by you…However, few of them were not. Your body is the host of a goddess, so you had to keep it pure for me…That's the reason why you just can't eat meat. It is forbidden for the priests, and for you too…"

"You saved me in school, and you helped when I was starving…" Crystal said quietly, feeling the sick sensation in her stomach when the thought about ever eating anything again came into her mind.

"Yes I did. I have to admit you made it out perfectly fine without me, still I couldn't take the risk. Everything happened just like it was meant to happen. Yet I never wanted to put you in such danger. I tried to follow Marik before he gets to you, and use your body just to vanish him away. But he was much clever than me. He knew how to hide, he was feeding on human's blood and then on his own blood when he couldn't get another. All the murders in Domino…They were his fault. But I am the responsible for these, I had to know he would find the way to survive…" Isis made a pause, thinking. Than she said

"It happened about 20 years ago, when Marik was born from my hidden hatred deep within. Ra commanded me to kill him, but I couldn't do that to him. He was just a little baby, he couldn't fight against me. I vowed I wouldn't bring death on him and I threw him away, cutting his wingz forever, and when I realized what mistake I did it was too late."

"…Marik found the way to survive. His bad spirit got into the body of a snake, and he used the blood of that animal to survive. In his journeys on the cursed ground, he got into the caves of the tomb keepers, a clan which lived under the earth. Their mission was to guard the tomb of the Pharaoh, the ancient ruler…"

"Most of the tomb keepers were fine with their fate and their mission, they accepted the fact that they were going to spend their entire lives under the ground, never getting the opportunity to see the sun…Yet the tomb-keeper-to-be, a little boy named Malik never accepted it. He wanted out, and he was secretly ready for almost anything to fulfill his wish. Marik sensed the distress of the boy, and found his perfect puppet. Malik, in that state, was an easy target. Marik got into his body via the venom of the snake and poisoned his mind for long years. He used Malik's body to murder his father and tried to take over the world, but his plans failed when Malik regretted. Ever since then he locked the boy inside the Shadow Realm, feeding on his precious blood."

Isis sighed "Marik believed he could be the Master Of Puppetz…"

"What is it?" asked Crystal. Isis smiled sadly "It was a rare Duel Monsters card which Malik got on the last day of his life on this earth. It says that one chosen by the darkness can become the ultimate ruler of the people and the world. Even more powerful than the Pharaoh." Isis turned around, kneeling beside the bed. Crystal fought against the ropes to see what the goddess was doing there "I brought him with us. He deserves to be returned to his family," Isis said, while eyeing carefully a card that lay near the body on the floor. "Marik wanted to control the people on earth, to bend them to his needs…He chose to try and realign today for his cards guided him. He needed the world to be calm, and the people distracted. You can hardly find someone that is not calm and quiet happy on the New Year Eve."

"So…" Crystal struggled to get the tiredness away from her mind "So now you are the Master Of Puppetz? I mean, Marik almost was, and if you defeated him, then it must mean…" Isis shook her head gently "I have no desire to be the Master Of Puppetz. I just needed to make sure no one wished such thing. No one can be a Master of this earth…And I had to stop the one that tried."

"Marik was defeated because he had turned his back to his cards. He was never loyal to anybody. I believe that now, that he is gone, period of calm will come on the earth. There is no one else who tries to be the Master Of Puppetz. No one needs to be either. With your help Crystal, I had defeated Marik and saved the world. I have to thank you." said the goddess, leaning closer to the girl lying on the bed "You fought bravely." she added "The souls of the people are saved and…"

"Souls?" asked Crystal suddenly "You mean…Those glowing clouds…Were souls?"

"Yes. Marik tried to sacrifice them in order to increase his power. But he could never do such thing…" Isis leant back "I wouldn't let him. After all, he is still somehow like a child." A long silence fell between the young girl tied to the bed and the divine woman.

"Isis, when Marik…" started Crystal finally, but she never finished what she was about to say, because a squeak of an opening door was heard, then an agonizing, painful shout. Crystal froze, recognizing the voice. It was Mokuba.

Seto found himself in the middle of the road, and he couldn't exactly explain how the Hell they got there, yet Mokuba near him let out "Hurry up, Seto, we have to get to Crystal's apartment!" and the older one remembered instantly. /We have to continue. The time is getting late./ actually it was past midnight already, and they had to check Crystal's apartment. In the middle of his driving one of his cell phones rang, and Mokuba answered the call, only to hear there were still no news from the police.

They got to the right street, and Mokuba ran in front of Seto to show him the way, since he was at Crystal's before. They got into the building, and took the stairs up to the seventh floor. Mokuba approached the 13th door and waited for his brother. Seto stood there for few moments, listening carefully, feeling how Mokuba was shivering from both fear and anticipation. Finally he signaled Mokuba to move away "I'll kick down this door and we'll…" yet he stopped when he saw Mokuba sweatdropping "I thought I've already shown you the straight way was better, right?" the younger one mumbled out before pressing on the handle, and the door was opened.

The corridor was very regular, one of those which leaded right into the living room. Yet the Kaiba brothers could never guess what fatal mistake it would be to step in like this. And of course Mokuba was the one to try it.

He fell down with a scream, Seto hurrying to him "What is it, Mokuba?" he asked picking the boy up. Mokuba lay unconscious in his arms, not moving even an eyelid. Seto's breathed heavily, the mild shock getting into his heart /He couldn't bare the stress…/ he thought /He just was too tired. Maybe he fell on something. I can see nothing here, in the dark. Is Crystal indeed in here?.../ Seto wasn't paying attention that the boy in his arms wasn't breathing.

"Mokuba! Mokuba!" screamed a voice somewhere from within the flat. Seto stepped inside completely, taking Mokuba with him. He never sensed something was wrong with the child. Seto wasn't the one to believe, so he didn't even think the boy in his arms was dead. Marik's lethal trap took his life when the door was opened.

Seto pressed the lights on and made his way toward one of the rooms "Crystal?" he yelled, trying to see in the semi darkness of the hall "Seto! What is it with Mokuba?" her voice was coming from her bedroom, and Seto immediately found his way into the room, switching the light the minute he walked in.

He was never prepared for this: Crystal, lying tied on the bed, badly injured, and someone quite familiar lying on the floor, unmoving.

"Crystal!" gasped Seto in surprise, brining Mokuba with him, placing him gently on the floor near the bed "What in the name of…"

"Mokuba!" she cried "What is it with Mokuba?" Seto glanced down at his brother "I don't know. It seems to me that he fainted from the stress and tiredness. I think he will be fine."

)(Yet I think…)( Isis said back in Crystal's mind )(Crystal, how could I forgot! I think the boy is…)(

"No!" Crystal yelled out loud, refusing to believe "No!"

Seto bent down to pick a pocket knife that was lying on the floor. It was covered by thick layer of blood. Seto glanced at the cuts on Crystal's arms. "Crystal…" he whispered angrily "Who did this to you? Was it that fellow on the floor?" Seto leant over to tear the rope on her right arm. When he touched it lightly she winced and cried from the pain "What is it with your arm?" he asked "Is it broken?" she panted, closing her eyes in pain. Seto leant to the other side to free her left arm. As soon as her both arms were free, she pushed Seto aside and tried to sit, her left hand barely reaching Mokuba "Seto," she whispered, terrified "Let me see him, please…"

Seto picked up his brother and laid him between them "Mokuba," he said quietly, gently shaking his brother "Wake up," he said "We've found Crystal…" but the boy was still and silent like a doll. Crystal's hand shot to his arm, and then to the boy's chest "What's wrong?" Seto asked as he watched her, taking one of Mokuba's hands into his one "Seto…" she whispered as tears slid down her cheeks "Seto…He isn't…"

)(Crystal…)( Isis started in her mind, yet Crystal never paid attention, already drown in shock and fear /I wish Marik will rot in Hell forever!…Mokuba, my little Mokuba, how could he…!...Mokuba…No!.../ "Mokuba…Wake up…Please wake up…Wake up…" she pleaded hoarsely, her voice broken. Seto suddenly got what was wrong with his younger brother…Pure panic run down his body as the meaning of this was poured into his thoughts…Mokuba wasn't…Breathing…

)(Crystal…)( Isis said, when the girl sobbed silently, her hand still on Mokuba's chest, begging his little heart to renew its beatings. )(Crystal…There's something I need to tell you…)(

)(Nothing else matters…)( Crystal thought, drawn into the depths of despair )(I should have died, and they should have never find me! Now Mokuba…)( she shivered, Seto still staring at his brother, shocked and motionless…

)(Crystal…)( the goddess whispered, the pity and concern washing over her heart )(I have to tell you something…You were my host for twenty long years, the years you lived in pain and in confusion. You were the one that helped me to destroy Marik. Being my host grants you something special…I have to give you something in return for all the things you've sacrificed for me…)( the goddess explained rapidly )(And I know what to grant you now. I am the Master of life and death. I am the goddess Isis…)(

)(Really? You can grant me a wish?)( the thoughts were coming from deep within Crystal's gloom )(Then please…I beg from you, the goddess…)(

Isis smiled lightly, her smile bringing a spark of hope into Crystal's heart. And hope was all needed to make her wish come true. Isis closed her eyes, her essence filling Crystal's one, she raised her divine hand inside the hand of the human girl, placing it over the heart of the child on the bed. She closed her eyes, feeling him out through his clothes…Concentrating, when something glowed under her hand, light filling the area she touched. The boy's soul found its way back into his body, into his heart…Beating once…And again…Slowly regaining its steady rhythm…

Mokuba coughed, choking slightly when he fought to open his eyes. Seto grabbed his hand helping him to sit on the bed, breathing deeply /He…He is fine…/ Crystal cried now in relief )(You don't know…How can I say that I'm…)(

)(I know,)( Isis said )(I know and I'm pleased. I'm sorry I've messed your life up like this…I placed you in a harsh world, you know…)(

)(Isis…I do not regret anything now that I know Mokuba is fine…I will never forget you…)(

The goddess smiled and shook her head lightly )(I have to leave you now, Crystal…Be careful, and take care of yourself…)( the words of the goddess echoed through Crystal's ears when she left, Crystal gasped in pain when her soul was almost stretched out of her body, they were split once again.

"Cris…" Mokuba's voice was full of fear and worry "What happened to you?" she threw her head back in pain, her eyes still closed. Seto at the same time knelt beside the bed and tugged the unconscious boy on the floor up to him "I know him…"

"It is…Malik Ishtar…" said Mokuba in amazement, seeing the body on the floor for the first time "And he is…He is…" the end of the sentence died in his throat, his dark blue eyes deeper than ever.

"It was him…" hissed Seto with rage "It was him again…"

"Leave him alone, Seto…" Crystal managed to let out "It wasn't him. It's was his yami…"

She fell her back on the bed, everything became blurred in her eyes once again. She gasped when her body was left without Isis' support…Now the pain was too much to bear, so sharp it felt just like Marik's knife was tearing her soul apart once again. In her mind she screamed…All that crossed her lips was a whimper.

Then the blackness took over everything…

FAB: Well…Here goes chapter 12! We're almost done! Next time I'll finish Master Of Puppetz! Are you ready to find out how everything ended up? Then REVIEW!

See you all next time!