Hope's Paradise II: End of Innocence
by Shayne Thames and Kathryn Shiver
Yu-Gi-Oh and related characters and indica © 1996 - 2005 Kazuki Takahashi
Fippy Darkpaw is © to Sony Online Entertainment
Author's Note: Been busy working on my comic, but I found some spare time to post Chapter 3. Enjoy!
Chapter 03: "Back to the Beginning"
Seto sat there in a chair, half-out of it as he heard the TV news on. Hours ago, he lost everything that identified himself in Joey's world. Though his little brother was safe and secure, himself, Joey, Yugi and Yami were all in trouble. And Joey was still holed up somewhere, unaware of ANYTHING of why these events were happening...
The brunette didn't know what to do anymore, he knew the others had to be in the building but if he tried to go to them either he would be hurt, or them.
He felt a tingling in his feet. He knew his ties to the human world were all but severed, and it was a matter of time before his ability to cross land as one would become only a temporary event once again.
Blue eyes narrowed slightly in concertration, not wanting to lose the ability yet, thinking of the remaining ties he had, Joey and Mokuba.
For the first time in years, he could hear something in his mind that he had not heard in years, the distant sound of the ocean, and the heart of the ocean itself... -Seto...?-
He blinked at the sound of his name, giving a mental nod
-What did they do, if I can hear you as a part of the ocean life once again...?-
-My ties were severed, the spell is weakening-
-...I'm sorry...I know you did it to help protect me and to be with...him...-
Seto couldn't help but sigh slightly. -Joey and Mokuba are the only ties left in the world of man-
-Perhaps...its time we realized that was must approach this from another way. You yourself were about Mokuba's age when all this started...-
Mentally he nodded, letting his eyes close sadly, he missed Mokuba already.
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All of this had started many years ago. He remembered he was a young merboy that was born into the Royal Atlantean Court, a world that was already dying. Atlantis had long been destroyed by a quake, and the merpeople of that world traveled in packs around the world with their leader. He was taught the seriousness of their situation, so even at a young age, he took his duties as a priest in training seriously. Just as sickness and preditors just about killed most of them off, a horrible accident with a ship sent those who were still alive out. The prince, the sole leader and eldest of all the sea, had ordered his people to help rescue the humans who were trapped inside the ship. That's when Seto, the young lad, actually had a first-hand experience to personally meet with the prince as he swam near him. "You, young lad, I need you with me. There are some human's trapped in a pocket of the ship with no way out."
Blue eyes blinked before nodding nervously, the bluish silver tail sending him after the prince easily.
They swam through a small passage before they came up to a small air pocket, with the way ahead blocked by debris. The prince started to pull at it. "Help me get this out of the way."
Still nervous, Seto swam up to the blockage and started to pull as well.
The prince sniffed the air. It smelled familair to him, but he knew the little one wouldn't know. "I don't like the air. We'd better hurry." Objects started to shift.
Confused, he continued to try to clear the debris.
As the passage cleared, he could hear the sound of coughing, the the sound of crackling. There was something bright and orange nearby producing a black cloud of something. A couple of children were huddled in a corner, scared. One of them was already unconcious, but the other, a human blond, looked up with frightened honey-brown eyes, looked at the two. "Help!" The prince, Yami, nodded and scooped the little unconmcious boy into his arms as the blond crawled his way to the water. Yami looked at Seto. "Can you help him out of the ship?"
Seto was staring at the blonde in surprise, having never seen a human upclose before and nodded quietly.
He nodded and proceeded to carry the little boy through the watery passage. The blonde started to swim as best as he could through the passage.
The young brunette stayed with the blonde, helping him swim faster.
Just as they got to the surface, they started to pull the two boys towards shore. "There's a beach near here that many humans use. Someone will find and help the boys from there."
Nodding quietly, he followed after them, keeping the one human's head above water.
Just as they got towards the shore, there was a deafening explosion behind them, causing Yami to turn back in horror.
Startled at the sound, the priest in training turned around.
The ship behind them had exploded, the fire inside had reached the gas tanks, leaving a huge fireball. "Oh gods, no!"
Remembering that the others were still at the ship the brunette paled.
Yami was quick to deposit the little one, and waiting for the fireball to die back before swimming back to check for any signs of survivors.
Knowing his healing ability would be needed, he left the blonde close to the beach to swim, darting after the prince.
What the two found wasn't pretty. Dead burnt bodies floated in the water, bleeding. Seto had never seen injuries like these in his life.
Seto's face went white in reaction to what greeted his eyes before darting away in blind panic. It terrified him.
"Child, wait!" Yami swam after him.
He didn't stop till he got a large stone to block the view, curled up into a ball shaking.
Yami swam after him and was quick to pull him into his arms to hold and rock and try to comfort him.
The brunette cried his heart out at the loss of the remainer of their kind.
He held him for the longest time, running a hand through his brunette hair. "I know...its a horrible loss...I know..."
The youth was heartbroken, his parents were at the ship when it exploded.
He held him for as long as it would take for the child to calm down, just rocking and comforting him.
Slowly he did quiet tho he sniffled a few times.
"I know, we lot many friends and familily this day, little one. But take heart, for you are no alone in this world. We will find a way to live on, as long as we keep our loved ones in our hearts."
Seto only started crying again in reaction.
He started to rock him again.
It took a lot longer before he quieted down again, actually sound asleep this time.
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By morning, Seto had awoke to find he was curled up in Yami's arms as they travelled through the waters.
Blue eyes blinked slowly in confusion before looking upwards at the prince.
He looked down at Seto. "Ah, my young friend, you are finally awake."
"Where are we...?"
"We're headed for Seapaw Isle." Seapaw Isle, Seto knew of that place from his studies! It was home of the mystic Seapaw Gnolls, an ancient pack of dog-like creatures that made sacred vows to the merpeople of Atlantis many generations ago to be allies and to call upon them for help, should anything be seriously wrong. Yami's never had to really call upon them before, so it must be THAT serious.
The youth went quiet in reaction, if the explosion never happened they wouldn't of had to head there.
"What's your name, little one?"
"Seto..."
"Ah Seto. A noble name. What is your gift that you bear of skill?"
"Healing..."
"Ah. Don't you worry, Seto, you and I are going to be okay. You have to have faith in the gods, after all."
He lowered his eyes sadly, at the moment he didn't have much faith in them after the loss of his family.
They finally surface in the bright, crisp, cool air, the sound of seagulls calling as they saw the village on an island ahead, a busy fishing village with many different kinds of dog-like creatures going about, minding their own and working in the village heartily. "This is it."
Curious blue eyes peered at the village quietly. So thats what gnolls looked like.
As Yami came upon the village to swim down the stream, he let out a sudden noise Seto's never heard before, a howl.
Startled at the sound, the youth ducked back into the water.
The gnolls turned towards Yami, startled before they themselves let out a howl, calling upon the elders to arrive quickly to the river.
Seto was scared now, hiding at the river bottom, not wanting to be far from the prince.
Yami looked into the water. -Come on up, its alright.-
Scared, he nervously swam back up to him.
Yami held onto him assuringly as the gnolls elders approached them. "Ah. Prince Yami, we had not heard from you or your kind for generations."
Yami shook his head. "Far longer then it should of been, Elder one, but I come under dire circumstances."
Wide blue eyes stared at the gnolls in curiousity and unease.
"Ah. Come with us then, we shall discuss it." Yami nodded and looked at Seto. Stay here, my friend. Don't go anywhere."
A small whine of unease emerged from the youth, he didn't want to be left alone.
-You'll be okay, you're among friends now.-
-Don't want to be left alone!-
-I promise I won't be long, but I need to talk with the Elder one. Just sit tight, and talk to me if you must.-
Quietly, he nodded, sinking back down to the river bottom.
As Yami swam down the stream, the village went back to carrying on in their duties, so Seto was able to observe how gnolls work and live.
Slowly, his curiousity got the better of him again, swimming to the river's edge to get a better look.
He watched them as they fished and sold their wares in the little marketplace, and saw the children playing, He saw one female gnoll, looking about his age, walking on the dock and looking out towards the ocean, sighing wistfully.
Curious, he ducked underwater and surfaced again infront of the dock.
She gasped a little bit at the sudden appearence. "Oh...hello, you're with the prince, aren't you?"
Slowly the youth nodded, watching her quietly.
She smiled a bit before sitting on the dock to watch the ocean. She looked a bit sad.
"Whats wrong?"
"Oh...I just miss my brother. He left some time ago to live among the world of men, to learn more about them for our tribe to know. Once every 100 years, a member of our tribe goes out to live among them, so that they may come back to tell us about their world, and to share their stories with us."
"When he going to be back?"
"Not until he is considered full grown in the land of men. That will be many years from now, when he is of 21 summers."
Seto blinked in reaction. "How old is he now?"
"He is 12 summers now."
"That only nine more summers then."
Yes. He was 10 summers when he left. I cannot wait to see him again."
Blue eyes lowered slightly. "Least you can see him again"
She looked at him. "What has happened in your world?"
"All gone..."
"Everyone? All of your pack?"
Sadly, he nodded at the question. "Only me and the prince are left..."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I wish there was something I could do to help you..."
"Can you be my friend...?"
She smiled. "Sure." She offered her paw. "What's your name?"
Swimming closer he shook the paw. "Seto"
"You can call me Serenity."
The youth smiled finally for the first time since the explosion.
They saw a bunch of gnoll pups run by suddenly. Two of them chasing a third and teasing him. Serenity groaned. "Oh not again."
Blinking in confusion he peered after them.
The two caught up with the other and pushed him. "Not so tough without your pal, eh Shrimpy?"
The little one that was picked one pushed back. "That's FIPPY, Gutternose, and my best friend WILL come back!"
Serenity put a paw to her forehead and groaned.
"He friend with your brother?"
"Yea. Best friends. Fippy's a strang pup with a big imagination and bigger want to explore stuff, so Gutternose and his goons like to pick on him. My brother used to watch over him before he left."
"Can't you do that now?"
"Yea, I better put an end to it, before-"
"Hey Shrimpy, time for a new expedition!"
Gutternose suddenly pushed Fippy over into the water. Serenity howled. "FIPPY!"
In a flash the brunette was underwater, swimming after the gnoll.
Fippy was trying to dogpaddle to the surface, Serienity running to the area where he was pushed in.
The bluish tail flipped slightly and he swam towards the gnoll, coming up from below to help him swim.
Fippy sputtered as he was pulled on shore by both Seto and Serenity. When Serenity was sure that Fippy was okay, she whirled on Gutternose, who tried to sneak away. "GUTTERNOSE SCARPAW, I'M TELLING YOUR MOTHER!"
Seto was angry, how dare they push someone into the water who couldn't swim! Darting to the river bottom, he snatched up a smooth rock and raced to the surface, flinging it in Gutternose's direction.
Gutternose let out a howl as he was hit in the head, running away to chase after Serenity, who was already marching off. Fippy looked at Seto with wide eyes. "Wow, thanks! You saved my life!"
"Not right what they did."
"Yea, those guys won't leave me alone. Are you a merboy?"
Slowly he nodded, helping the gnoll reach land.
He sat on the bank of the river before shaking his fur to dry. "Wow, you have a cool tail. Do you guys really travel all over the world? What's the sea like? Are the sharks really that mean? How big are the coral reefs? Can parrotfish fly?" The kid was just abuzz with questions, grinning the whole way, already willing to make a new friend.
Nervous at first he tried to answer the questions the best he could.
Fippy was happy. "WOW, that's so cool! Oh, I'm Fippy by the way, Fippy Darkpaw. What about you?"
"Seto."
"Wanna be friends?"
Smiling, he nodded quietly.
"Yea! That's good, that's really good! Have you ever met a human before?"
His smile vanished at the question, remembering what happened shortly after meeting one.
He frowned suddenly. "W-what's wrong, pal?"
"I met one... Only to lose everyone I cared about..."
"No...what happened?" He suddenly winced. "Sorry, I must be too nosey..."
Sad blue eyes looked upwards at the gnoll now before looking down again, it was way too soon to talk about it.
Yami finally came back. "Seto, I'm here."
Sniffling, he darted towards the prince and the comfort he knew would be there.
Yami held the little one in his arms. "Its okay...shhh..."
He quieted down easily, sniffling a bit. "I'm hungry..."
He nodded. "There's a school of shrimp that swim through here, want to catch some with me?"
Slowly he nodded at the thought of shrimp.
He nodded and he led Setop down to go shrimp hunting. "The Elders have offered to let us stay in their village until we feel ready to explore the ocean again."
Confusion showed in his eyes. "How will we stay in the village? Its on land."
"We can stay in the stream that runs through their village."
"Oh..."
"Seto, I promise you, we're going to be alright."
"But... We're the last..."
"I know. But somehow, some way, we will get through this. You have to trust me and yourself."
He remained quiet for awhile, focusing his mind on catching enough shrimp to fill his stomach.
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About a year passed since that day, and Yami and Seto had lived among the gnolls quite peacefully, recovering and even helping them in the rivers, moving supplies to other villages on the island, and helping them with their fishing. Seto continued to remain best friends with Serenity and Fippy, and was gaining more confidence about himself, coming to terms that he had a job to do to protect his prince, even if they were the last. They had to move on and continued their nomatic way of life, perhaps searching for help. It was Fippy who said it first one say. "Perhaps you should find friends in the world of men that can help you live in the open world again. I know you guys don't like being in one place for too long. You're like me, you're explorers!"
Seto was uneasy at the idea of looking for friends among the humans, he still remembered how after meeting some the rest of their kingdom died.
Serenity added her two cents. "Fippy's got a point, humans are the most adaptable species in the world, they can live just about anywhere! Perhaps you can try what my brother did, maybe live among them! I hear humans with great riches are like gods, and can do what they want! Perhaps you can help your prince that way if you find how to make human wealth."
"But we live in the water!"
"And we're gnolls, but that doesn't stop us from being able to send one out to hide among the humans to learn about them..."
"I'll talk to the prince about it..."
They nodded. At that moment, Yami was coming in helping to push a raft to the dock, full of supplies.
Ducking under the water, he swam over to help, relaying the suggestion at the same time.
Yami nodded as they worked. "An interesting notion, but would you be willing to put in the effort? The road of a human is tough, and to achieve status in their world is even tougher."
"I could do it..."
"If you're sure about this, then I will talk to the Elders and see if they are willing to help us."
Slowly he nodded, he may not like humans much from what happened last year, but he was willing to try.
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Days later, they met with the elders. They gave Seto a bottle and gave him specific instructions. "You will find a human's land and beach yourself. Drink this potion and let yourself dry out for 24 hours. After being dry for 24 hours, you will gain human legs. But to keep them, you must be able to fit into the human culture with a human idenity. Without your human identity, your ties to the human realm will be severed, and you will be merboy once again."
The brunette listened to them carefully, holding the bottle.
After he was done, he sent Seto on his way, with Yami following.
The boy was quiet, swimming slowly as he pondered over what he was doing.
They came upon a beach finally, and Yami helped to beach himself along with Seto. "You ready?"
Blue eyes showed that he was scared but he nodded slowly anyways.
He nodded and sat there.
Steadying himself, he opened the bottle and drank the contents quickly.
They layed there for a long time. They were barely into their 8th hour when a net was thrown over Yami, who let out a sudden cry of distress. A scientist came out. "Yes, I finally caught one!"
Seto was startled, rolling over to see who through the net.
Yami twisted his way out of the net and tried franticly to help Seto out of the net.
Squirming, he tried to get free, shouting for the prince to escape.
He did all he could before he reluctantly nodded. "Stay safe, my friend!"
The brunette relaxed within the net, hoping they wouldn't put him into any water before the potion goes to work.
Yami slipped away before the others arrived, one scientist ordering another to follow the one escaping.
Blue eyes watched sadly as the other escaped, but as long as the prince was safe, he would be alright.
Seto was picked up in the net and carried to a truck, dumped into a tank of water. Great, now he'd have to start drying out all over again, but at least he could breathe easier again.
Grumbling he sank to the bottom, he hoped that the potion would still work after the dunking.
He was carried somewhere where he was dumped into a larger tank. FOr days, he saw the uglier side of human nature from being tortured and studied, but on the times he was left alone, he was able to watch the TV in the lab and watch the human plays they put on. Humans were like many creatures it seem, many were good, some were bad, some get depressed, some were heroic. It was just his luck he fell in with the 'evil scientists'.
The brunette stopped eating after awhile, the dead fish they provided were tearing his stomach up, having lived for years catching his own food.
His chance for escape finally came one day when the scientists had left him out of the tank for extensive study. He had dried out and been out of the water for over 24 hours when he first felt the tingling of his tail.
Squirming slightly he struggled to sit up.
His tail finally split as he gained legs of his own.
He relaxed finally, at least the potion worked.
His next plot was for escape, and to find his way into the human world somehow.
Moving carefully, he managed to sit up. They had never tried to strap him down before so he was able to move around.
He didn't know how he pulled it out, but after learning how to walk, he managed to stumble and sneak his way out of the lab. He managed to make it down a street when he heard a noise from behind him. A car, and it looked to be a police car from what he remembered seeing on TV. Police were good humans that usually act like guards and helped people.
Having stolen a lab coat, the youth waved at the car, blue eyes wide.
They stopped. "Son, are you out here all by yourself?"
Slowly he nodded to the question, shivering slightly as he was cold.
"Where are your parents? Where do you live?"
He blinked at the questions, instead he lowered his eyes like he always did when asked about his parents.
They looked at each other before they looked at Seto. "Come on, son, get into the car. We'll take you down to the station and get you some help."
Having seen how people get into the cars on tv, he nervously opened the car door and got inside.
They drove him down to the station, where they got him some proper clothing, and after filling out some paperwork, they got him setup with an orphanage in Japan that had offered to take in the orphaned kids in this area about a year ago. He was set up on an airplane and sent across the world to the orphanage, where he met Mokuba, who became his best friend and soon his little bother when he found a way to get a well-kown company CEO to adopt them.
The young brunette put his past life behind him now, concertrating on the here and now.
When Seto was sent to school, that's when he found other children from the accident a few years ago, including the blond and his friend.
Seto didn't like the two at all, seeing them brought back the pain of losing his family.
Joey did his best to try and be friends with Seto anyway. He was persistant like an annoying gnoll pup!
The blue eyed teen started calling the blond a mutt in reaction.
Joey growled in response, but wasn't about to give up. It was one day at lunch, that Joey's friend Yugi came in to find the blond twirling at his spagetti, depressed.
Large amythest eyes blinked in confusion at his friend. "Whats wrong Joey?"
"I'm an idiot, that's what's wrong."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I can't stop thinking about him, yet he hates me."
"Maybe he reminds you of someone in the past?"
"Probably. I just wish he didn't hate me."
The small youth went quiet, eating his lunch for a few minutes. "Tried making friends with him?"
"Yup."
"How about you leave him alone for awhile then? He could be the type that needs his space and you really hadn't been giving him any."
"Yea...i guesso."
Yugi smiled slightly. "Want to duel after lunch?"
He smiled slightly. "Sure."
Smiling happily he returned to his lunch.
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Over the next few days, Seto had found that the blonde had not once popped up to bother him, not once! In fact he had been nowhere to be seen.
Confused, the brunette realized he was starting to miss the mutt!
It was one afternoon that he had been walking along the beach when he found Joey perched on a rock, watching the ocean, hugging his knees.
Frowning slightly at the sight, he walked towards the blonde. "What brings you out here mutt?"
He frowned. "Thinking, reflecting. Longing."
"Oh? About what?"
"Family, friends. Missing them. Lonely."
He blinked in reaction. "What about them?"
"Wish I could see them again."
Understanding showed on his face. "Seems we have something in common then."
He looked at him for a moment. "You know what its like...?"
"I lost my parents to an explosion."
He looked sad. "Sorry..." He looked out towards the ocean again, and subconciously started rocking himself.
"Lost them out at sea?"
"Sort of...we were...seperated..."
Slight intrest showed on his face. "How?"
"I had to leave. I couldn't be with them, I was sent here. They're out there...somewhere. I used to know the way...but...I forgotten. Its been so long."
"Do you remember the name of the place they are staying?"
He shook his head. "Not anymore. Everything's become fuzzy. Names...faces..."
Confused, he frowned. "How long ago?"
"Years ago, not sure how long."
He knew what had happened, the only survivers of that ship were Joey and his friend.
He finally broke down and started to cry.
Sighing slightly, he rested a hand on the blonde's shoulder.
He looked up at Seto sadly.
"Your family are always with you in your memories."
"Yea...I guess you're right." He suddenly hugged him without thinking.
He stiffened slightly before slowly returning the hug.
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It was soon after he had finally become friends with Yugi and Joey that Seto got in touch with Yami at last, when he flagged him down on the beach. "Seto, my friend!"
Relief showed in his eyes at the sight of the prince, returning the wave.
He looked at him from where he perched on a rock. "My, you grown up a lot!"
"And you have not changed a bit, my Prince."
He chuckled. "Such as it is the way I am."
"I have found the two humans we had rescued."
"Really? How fate has driven us together. I have heard of your many sucesses from seeing the human television programs." This suprised Seto, since the last he knew, Yami had been living with the gnolls.
"I thought you still lived with the gnolls."
"Not for the present. I have finally chosen to leave out into the world again. I have found an island with villages of humans that work a lot like our gnoll friends do, its a place called Paradise Island. I have bound my life energy there for now. I have recieved a word from one of the Elder Mystics."
Intrest showed on his face at that. "Oh?"
He nodded. "There is a chance for our kind to reflourish, if I find a human I wish to mate with."
A faint smile appeared on his face. "That is good to hear."
He nodded. "So now I await for the day when my soulmate shall find me."
"You will. Paradise Island huh? I'll try to vist it one day."
He smiled. "I await that day, my friend. I am glad you are doing well, and I hope to see you again soon."
Seto couldn't help but smile. "And you as well."
And the rest from that day on was history.