Disclaimer:I don't own Yuugioh but I do own the poem at the end of this chapter so please... you may look but no touching.

Under Pressure

Recovery and Attack

Mahaado sat, his mouth agape, on the marble ground, clutching the dead body to his chest, staring at Nyx. Atemu's cold, pale skin glinted with the tears that Mahaado had shed, slipped down his cheeks, and landed on Atemu's face. His body was limp, his mouth slightly open, and his eyes were mercifully closed. Nyx stepped forward, or rather, she glided; it seemed as though her feet weren't even on the ground. She stopped in front of Mahaado but held her hand out to Neptune.

"Give me the bottle, dear Neptune." Nyx said, her voice like silk.

Neptune held out the crystal bottle, hearing the liquid splash against the sides of the container. He eyed Nyx suspiciously, but placed the bottle into her open palm. Her long, delicate fingers wrapped around the bottle and she knelt down to be level with Mahaado.

"Dark Magician Mahaado, give me the boy." Nyx said.

But Mahaado wasn't going to release his best friend so easily; he pulled away, his grip on Atemu's body strengthening. Nyx frowned and held out a hand to Mahaado, as if trying to coax a deer out of hiding. Only Mana's screaming "Mahaado, just let her see Atemu!" snapped Mahaado out of his frightened daze. He loosened his iron-clad grip on Atemu's body, but it was up to Tristan and Proteus to pry the body completely out of the magician's arms.

Nyx uncapped the bottle and poured its contents into Atemu's open mouth. Looking up and seeing confused and surprised looks, she explained, "We must heal the body before we try and reawaken Atemu. You see, because he was chosen to be a Guardian, his soul is to stay in his body a little longer after he dies to use the possibility of him being saved. And we don't want to reawaken Atemu's soul into an ill body, do we?"

Yuugi and Joey exchanged nervous glances. This Nyx woman had stated this as if were the simplest fact in the world so it seemed she knew what she was doing, but what if she failed to bring Atemu back? What would they do then?

Without waiting for an answer, Nyx turned back to Atemu, a mix of pity and determination on her pallid face. She traced an outline of a star on his forehead, her thin, white finger leaving a trail of shadows, the outline lingering.

"You are Lord Atemu, Shadow Guardian and Keeper of the Shadow Realm. I call upon you and your immense powers… be reawakened, Lord Atemu!" Nyx declared. She then bent down and kissed Atemu's forehead where she had left the mark, her pale lips barely touching his ice cold skin.. A violet shadow erupted from the kiss, engulfing both figures, Nyx's raven hair billowing everywhere.

The noise and winds created from this enormous shadow were tremendous. The shrieking noises and booms that reflected thunder shattered the vast stained-glass window that formed the ceiling, revealing the multiple moons hanging right above them. Triton grabbed his sisters, Typhoon, Tea, Mr. Mutou, and Mokuba with hardly any difficulty at all and flung them all under a bed, away from the shower of glass. Yuugi, Joey, Tristan, and Kaiba had hardly any time at all in which to leap under the couches and chairs and duck and cover. Neptune was thrown to the ground, after Proteus and Triton, who still was cradling the unconscious Mana, shoved him out of the way of the of a flying table, and was crawling on all fours to escape the glass.

As Nyx's power, her grace, her memories, her wisdom flowed into Atemu's body everyone heard a new noise… and this one was actually welcome. It was a heart beat… being magnified from the bowels of the dark… drowning out everything else… absorbing everyone. It was as Typhoon had heard the heart beat in her dream… only instead of signaling the expiration of Atemu… it was growing stronger… becoming louder… pounding rhythmically around the room.

Yuugi glanced up from under his chair to see Mahaado, lying limply against the wall, his wide eyes watching the scene with a dulled look in the back of his eyes. He looked like he was the one dead. Yuugi couldn't place his finger on what was going in Mahaado's eyes but before he could think about anymore the raging winds suddenly died and the noise ebbed. The only noise that was left after a while was the magnified sound of Atemu's heart and soon that began to die as well.

Nyx smiled. She had chosen a Guardian at last. She could finally rest. Her smile widened and she felt free at last! She could smile! She was no longer held down by the shadows… they no longer kept her mind dark… they no longer shielded the light…

A pang of guilt hit her and she looked down at the pale young man who had just inherited her title… she knew that while she had granted him a great gift… she had also damned him to a life of misery. She knew that with the boy's past and current state of mind he would get off lucky if he merely suffered extreme depression. She knew that all of the horrible memories he had just seen were going to scar him worse than they normally would have… and… she knew that after seeing and reliving the part of his life where he had almost drowned, his hydrophobia would be intensely constricting.

But they would protect him… as they had protected her. They would hide the evil things that wanted to haunt him… and he could use his shadows to continue to protect the ones he held dear. Nyx knew that is what Atemu wanted to do… protect people… help people… but he had never before been handed a chance such as this. She knew he wanted only to have something to love. And she also knew that everything that Atemu had opened his heart to… everything he let down his barriers to… left him… and it killed a piece of him… every time. He had given up… grown to the thought that he was alone… that everyone was alone… and the only person one could count on was oneself. Now that Atemu was reacquainted with his memories… his past… that mindset would return.

But now he had people to protect. He had a reason to get back up and fight this time. The small boy… the boy with round eyes like amethysts… yes… he could help save Atemu. And the magician… maybe they could help mend Atemu.

But she was getting ahead of herself. She watched the new Guardian's chest rise and fall and she saw his eyes start to flicker, a sure sign that he was about to wake up. She smiled to herself. She looked around at all of the exhausted, tear-stained, bewildered faces that were pointed toward Nyx and Atemu. Mahaado jerked involuntarily, trying to force himself up, but his body was in shock, and would not allow him to move let alone climb to his feet. Nyx put a finger to her white lips and stepped forward and placed her hand on Mahaado's cheek.

"Please. Dark Magician Mahaado. I'm trusting you to protect Lord Atemu, just as his father did. There is no doubt in my mind that you will guard Lord Atemu like you always have. You are the only one for whom Atemu will be… happy. You are the closest thing to a brother he's ever had." Nyx kissed her fingers and touched Mahaado's lips. "Be safe."

Mahaado wasn't sure when Nyx pulled away… he saw her beautiful black eyes… and then black… everything was dark… and Mahaado let it absorb him… I will protect Lord Atemu. He vowed to himself, before he felt his drowsiness overwhelm him. Make no mistake about that!-

- - -

-

Mahaado heard distant voices. They were yelling… but it was… the happy yell that jerked Mahaado back to the world around him. The voices were talking about someone… even though he could hear them clearly, Mahaado's eyes weren't letting him see anything so he listened.

"Oh! We were so scared for you!" A female voice said cheerfully.

"You gave us all quite a shock when you wouldn't wake up, young man." This was an older voice, it sounded as if he were trying to hold back crying.

"Emperor and Shadow Guardian, eh? Well it seems like you're going to be busy from now on, huh?" This was a male's voice and it was sharper… it had an accent too. Mahaado registered this as Joey's voice.

There was silence… then…

"You honestly think I'm so selfish that I'd try and take away someone so important to all of you? Fat chance." Mahaado knew this voice easily. It was Empress Typhoon.

"Really, Typhoon? You mean it?" This was the voice of the boy that looked like Atemu… Yuugi.

"Of course I mean it!" Typhoon's voice said kindly. "At least, you all have to come back and visit me."

"We can go home now?" said the gruff voice of the icy-eyed Seto Kaiba.

"Yes, yes we'll open a portal back to your realm soon enough." Typhoon declared. "But first, we'll have a feast in your honor, Lord Atemu!"

"Thank you Typhoon. Thank you all. I don't know how I could ever repay all of you." Atemu's deep, smooth voice came next.

"That won't be necessary, Atem!" Yuugi's voice said.

"Yeah! You've saved our behinds so many times, we're still working to pay you back!" Joey's voice cried, happily.

"Be that as it may, the Water Sprites had no reason to aid me-" Atemu began but was cut across from a harsh voice Mahaado didn't recognize.

"Ah, don't say that Emperor. Our duty is to protect the monarch. You're part of the monarch… or you were…"

"Proteus is right." Calypso's voice said briskly.

"And Atemu?" came Typhoon, "I'd be careful about how you eat from now on. The physical part of the Tainted Shadow Virus is that it messes up your stomach."

"Oh… I don't eat that much anyway." Atemu said, sighing.

"Oh! Oh! Mister Atemu! Your friend, Mister Mahaado! He's waking up!" cried the voice of Seto Kaiba's younger brother, Mokuba.

Mahaado heard footsteps coming toward him hastily and he felt a presence next to him and he felt two fingers at his neck. The magician suddenly realized he was no longer on the ground but in a soft, cushiony bed on silky sheets. His eyes started to show him what was going on and there was a dark figure hovering right above him. The crimson eyes were the first features on the figure's face to come into focus… they were staring at him worryingly.

Then everything else came.

He saw the seven moons vanishing slightly, giving way to the dawn's first rays of light. The infirmary was in disarray, doctors and nurses bustling around trying to clean up the glass and overturned beds, desks, and other objects. The glass reflected the sunlight and the moonlight together and somehow… Mahaado could see the difference between the two types of light. The Sprites that had journeyed with them from Dimys's cavern were in the back of the room, staring at the figure draped over Mahaado with a mix of admiration and fear. Tea and Typhoon sat cross-legged on one of the beds, chatting animatedly with each other about anything and everything; Typhoon happy to have someone to talk to and Tea happy to be talking. The taller of the boys, Tristan, Joey, and Kaiba were sitting quietly in a corner, not really thinking about anything… just sitting. Yuugi was hanging on to the figure that was watching Mahaado as if afraid to let it go.

Mahaado made eye contact with the figure. At first, all Mahaado's eyes would show him where the dark crimson eyes, but soon Atemu's body came into view. Atemu's face was stern but calm, a frown placed upon his lips. He was worn and thin, his skin still terribly pale. His hair was matted and bedraggled, from his sweating and tossing violently. Atemu was dangerously thin; Mahaado could see his cheek bones clearly. They stared at each other, silently. Finally Mahaado broke the silence with a jest and a grin.

"You look horrible."

Atemu didn't react the way Mahaado thought he would. He didn't smile or retort, like he did when they were children. He didn't even blink or tilt his head to the side, like he did when he got older and didn't like to joke as much, to acknowledge that Mahaado had even said anything. Instead he watched Mahaado, even his eyes unreadable. This was a shock to Mahaado… even when Atemu kept his face emotionless, he, Mahaado, could always tell what was going through his head.

So… he waved Yuugi away, who left only because he wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, knowing they wouldn't say as much if he were there. Mahaado, stricken by his friend's indifference, was silent, his pure blue eyes watching Atemu find a chair close to Mahaado. Atemu rested his elbows on the arms of the chair, laced his slim, bony fingers, and placed his chin on his fingers. He continued to watch Mahaado intently.

"What are you doing?" Mahaado asked quietly.

"Trying to see what you see." Atemu replied simply.

"What?"

"I am trying to see what you see in me. I am trying to spot what it is that made you want to run half way around the world to find my antidote. Or what made you what made you want to stay right by my side when Nyx declared me Guardian." Atemu said irritably, as if Mahaado's questions where disrupting his train of thought.

Mahaado almost sighed impatiently, but knew it would entice Atemu's temper. Mahaado knew that when Atemu was thinking, he shouldn't do anything to disrupt him, not even sigh. Atemu's eyes narrowed and Mahaado winced. The Pharaoh notices everything about me! Mahaado thought to himself. He even notices the way I act when I am fighting a sigh!

"Do you have something you'd like to say, Mahaado?" Atemu asked, his voice low and soft.

"No, Atemu." Mahaado answered quietly.

"Liar." Atemu sighed, his voice dripping with anger. Mahaado hated when Atemu acted like this! He hated it! It scared him how much someone could change… so much… from being a carefree, loving child to a strict, cold man. "Don't lie to me. You know I hate it when you lie to me." Atemu continued.

And it wasn't as if Atemu meant to be frightening. It was just who he was. Intimidation was all people understood when Atemu was Pharaoh. So Atemu had to strike fear into the hearts of those who dares defy him. It was foolish to think that Atemu could be kind to them. Mahaado understood that. He also came to the conclusion that it was a slightly a good thing, too, because Atemu didn't know how to be warm.

Mahaado let out the sigh he held back. "I protect you because we are friends, Pharaoh.

Atemu tilted his head to the side and blinked, his large eyes filled with admiration and love for the magician. But that wasn't the only emotion in Atemu's eyes. There was immense sadness hidden behind them as well. Mahaado frowned, and sat up in bed.

"Atemu, you look sad."

"I don't know why but I am." Atemu replied. "It's just a feeling in the background… but my heart hurts but I can't find a reason."

"Maybe it's the after effects of the virus." Mahaado suggested.

"Possibly. I hope that's all it is." Atemu looked down and said, in a slightly cheery voice, "Okay Yuugi, we're done, you can come out from under the bed and stop eavesdropping."

Not to Mahaado's surprise, Yuugi crawled out from under the bed with Mokuba trailing behind him. "You know me way too well, Atem."

Atemu observed Yuugi like an elder brother would his mischievous little brother, his eyes warmer than Mahaado had seen in a long time.

"Perhaps," Atemu said, a small smile playing on his lips, "or perhaps you just make yourself to obvious to read."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Yuugi cried, pretending to be offended.

"I could hear you breathing."

"No way!"

"Yes way. Are you sure you're not the one with asthma?"

"I bet that was the only give-away!"

"Not even."

"What were they then?"

"Do you want Mokuba's giggling or your hushing him or when you hit your head on the bottom of the bed as you crawled under it or-"

"Okay, okay I got it…"

Mahaado listened as Atemu and Yuugi continued to talk, feeling happy for Atemu and proud of Yuugi for getting Atemu to at least smile. Yuugi was getting roused up and laughing loudly as Mokuba started chiming in saying things like "Well… if you were deaf and blind you wouldn't have been able to tell we were under there!" and "So? We are the best sneakers in… what? No! I did not mean shoes, Smart Guy!" while Atemu sat calmly making comments like "But I am blind and deaf, Tea." and "Sneakers? I didn't know you were shoes. Are you the good kind that have those cool commercials where the big sports heroes say you're the best shoes they've ever had?"

As Yuugi roared with laughter, Mokuba swelled indignantly. Joey and Tristan eventually drifted over to see why Yuugi was laughing and, after hearing Mokuba and Atemu's conversation joined in, chuckling heartily. Soon the whole group of kids, adults, and Water Sprites had migrated over to hear the nonsense conversation, giggling. Atemu allowed Yuugi to continue his conversation for him which Yuugi did happily.

"For the last TIME! I. Am. Not. A. Shoe!"

"But Tea-"

"I'm NOT TEA!"

Yuugi gasped. "Oh my goodness!"

"What?"

"That shoe can talk!"

"Argh! I'M NOT A SHOE EITHER!"

"Did you dye your hair, Tea?"

Mahaado grinned, watching Atemu, who was still sitting calmly, his finger laced and placed neatly on his lap, his face still dull and emotionless… except he had a slight smile on his face.

Soon Mokuba grew tired of being called Tea and a shoe and went to find another source of entertainment, while the group split up again.

Apart from Mr. Mutou demanding Atemu snack on something, Atemu didn't move from the seat until Typhoon said it was time for the banquet, the sunless sky bright and cloudy. Typhoon led the group (for they had all forgotten where the dining room was) as Joey, Tristan, and Mokuba were right at her heels, excited about being able to eat in the palace and not be black mail or prisoners. Mr. Mutou was next, looking excited about being to eat something as well. Tea, Mana, Calypso, and Leucothea walked, arm in arm, having become good friends and talking about what their favorite foods were. The three male Sprites walked behind the girls with Kaiba, all of who were silent except for Proteus. The cheerful, caring Sprite who was used to Neptune and Triton not talking very much and had grown to be the only talker in their conversations, chatted on merrily about everything that popped into his mined. Neptune, Kaiba, and Triton listened politely, of course, but they never talked back. Mahaado and Atemu pulled up the rear, the two silent, and watching the rest of the party.

Atemu decided he liked Proteus because the Sprite reminded him of Yuugi and was a bit like him as well, listening to Proteus ramble on about how much he thought Mokuba was the cutest little thing he'd ever seen and say how proud he was of Atemu's friends.

They all sat around the large crystal, sapphire-studded table and looked hungrily at the number of foods that now weighed down the enormous table. There were meats such as beef, chicken, and pork for the teen s and elderly man who weren't used to eating the others types of meat that were also on the table. There were fruits, breads, sandwiches, soups, and vegetables, in many different combinations like salads, vegetables that were cooked, fried, and boiled, every sort of bread imaginable, both warm and cold, and the sandwiches and soups were all devoid of any meat at all… and everyone wondered why there was so much of it until Atemu tried to eat a small piece of chicken. He discovered that his stomach would no longer allow him to eat meats. Everyone wondered how Atemu would react to his diet being so dictated, but Atemu merely shrugged, claiming he wasn't that fond of meats anyway, helping himself to some fruit salad.

Lunch was a peaceful affair and after everyone were done eating, they entertained themselves watching Joey and Tristan eat. Atemu wasn't pale at all anymore, his regular bronze skin returned. He wasn't as thin anymore either, seeing as how Mana, Typhoon, and Mr. Mutou forced food into Atemu's mouth long after he was full. They contented themselves with the fact that Atemu had eaten his way through most of the soups and fruits. Atemu thanked Mahaado graciously, for Mahaado was the one who had scared away Typhoon, Mana, and Solomon, while leaning back against his chair rubbing his stomach tenderly. Mana and Leucothea sat next to each other and talked.

"So what do you do?" Mana asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"I'm the Adviser to the Empress." Leucothea answered smiling. "That's why I don't know how to fight like my siblings."

"Then why were you at the cavern."

Leucothea shrugged. "It was my day off and I went to go visit my brothers and sister."

"Why didn't you choose to do what their doing?" Mana said, helping herself to another serving of fruit salad.

"I've never had the heart for fighting. And Empress Typhoon chose me personally for my intelligence." Leucothea added, smiling modestly. Mana smiled at her cheerfully.

After Joey and Tristan declared they were finished (and after they received a standing ovation), everyone was suddenly hungry again when the servants brought out desserts. Even Atemu managed to find room to eat a small helping of vanilla pudding. As everyone ate happily Typhoon turned to Mahaado and Mana, both of who had positioned themselves on either side of Atemu, and Atemu, himself and watched the three of them for a moment. Mahaado kept glancing around the room, as if out of habit, to make sure everything was all well. Mana on the other hand glanced at Atemu every now and then to make sure he was doing well. Atemu took to checking on everyone else around the table, just as Mana was watching him, to make sure they were just fine. It felt as if they were the three guards of the room, not the five Sprites.

"Mahaado? Mana?" Typhoon asked finally. "Do you intend to go back to Atemu's realm when the rest of them do?"

Mahaado glanced to Atemu before answering. "I don't see any reason why we can't. I mean, while technically we're not people anymore, we're not even human… we don't have multiple heads and scales."

"You guys should come back with us!" Yuugi said, excitedly. "That would be cool! And I bet Atemu wants you two to come too."

"Do you Pharaoh?" Mana asked, looking to Atemu with a hopeful look in her eyes.

"Of course." Atemu said promptly, taking a sip of his drink. Mahaado smiled.

"Alright!" Mokuba cried. "Did you hear that Seto? Mana is coming back with us!"

Kaiba blushed and said, "And Mahaado, Mokuba."

"I know Mahaado is coming, but you like to stare at Mana." Mokuba replied, shoving cake into his mouth. Atemu choked on his drink, the liquid spattered everywhere as he coughed and laughed at the same time. Mana and Kaiba turned a deep shade of scarlet, but not to Atemu's surprise, Mahaado did too, but not for the same reason. Atemu thought it would be a good idea to intervene before someone got hurt.

"Uh… Kaiba? I do believe that Mahaado and Mana are… together." Atemu said, chuckling. Kaiba looked as if he would like nothing more than to disappear. The room echoed the roaring laughter of Joey, Tristan, and Proteus. Tea looked a bit disgruntled as well. Typhoon put her hand over her mouth, grinning. Even Mana giggled slightly.

The doors to the dining room burst open to reveal a young servant, her bright pink hair shining against the chandelier's light. She saw Typhoon and Atemu sitting at the end of the table and bowed deeply.

"Imperial Highness," she breathed acknowledging Typhoon. She turned to Atemu. "Lord Guardian."

"She knows I'm the Guardian?" Atemu muttered to Typhoon.

"Yes, the whole kingdom knows," Typhoon murmured back. She turned to the girl. "Yes? What is it Imo?" Typhoon said, frowning.

"Your sisters!" Imo cried. "They're coming from all sides! With an enormous army of wild creatures I've never seen before!"

"What? Prepare our warriors for battle!" Typhoon shouted.

"Highness, they have the Water Sprites that went with Generals Calypso and Neptune and Captains Triton and Proteus had stationed at Death Cavern!" Imo said, looking faint.

Calypso stood up angrily. "We must save them!"

"We will." Atemu said quietly. "Mahaado and Mana will come with Typhoon and myself to prepare for assault. Calypso go prepare whatever troops you have here and get ready to meet back in the front of the palace. Neptune, Triton, and Proteus will create wall to around the palace with their troops, understand?"

While the people who Atemu had named nodded and ran to fulfill their orders, the people who weren't looked disdainful.

"But Atem, what about us?" Joey asked, confused.

"Yes, what do we do?" Leucothea said.

Atemu looked worriedly at Joey and the others. "Joseph, and everyone else will find somewhere safe and stay there."

"WHAT!"

"Listen, it's not safe for you to go-" Atemu began.

"But you let Calypso and Mahaado go!" Tristan snapped.

"They've had training." Atemu said, coldly, hearing the disrespectful tone and becoming angry. "You are a bunch of kids with no idea what they want to get themselves into." He added cruelly. His eyes became softer and he looked at Leucothea, who looked not at all surprised she was being told to stay behind.

"Leucothea?"

"Yes, Lord Guardian?"

"I'm counting on you to keep my friends safe, alright?"

"Of course Lord Guardian." Leucothea said, smiling at having been given a job.

Atemu sprinted out of the room, Typhoon, Mahaado, and Mana at his heels.

"Now what?" Mr. Mutou asked, solemnly.

"We follow the Lord Guardian's orders." Leucothea said sharply. "Now as ordered we will find a safe place and stay."

Joey and Tristan moaned and followed Leucothea and Yuugi glared at them.

"I think Atemu was right to say we had to stay here!" Yuugi snapped. "We have no earthly idea how to fight and we'll be safer inside the palace."

"We're going to be safe but you're willing to let your best friend, who, might I add, just recovered from the Tainted Shadow Virus go face off against… whatever the hell it is attacking the palace?" Kaiba snarled.

"Hush, Seto!" Mr. Mutou grunted. "Atemu can take care of himself. Don't you try guilt trips, Young Man, because we might end up doing something rash and even if we all make it out alive, we'd have to face Atemu's temper. Do you want that?" Solomon watched Kaiba grudgingly shake his head "no" and continued. "And this might be a good way to test out his new Shadow Powers."

"I hope Mana and Mahaado's going to be okay." Mokuba said, quietly.

"Why just Mahaado and Mana?" Tea asked.

"Well, I want everyone to be okay, but I know Atemu and Typhoon can handle themselves. But I don't know if Mahaado and Mana are going to be okay and I really like them. And they make Atemu happy. I've never seen Atemu as happy as he was today." Mokuba answered.

Everyone was silent. What Mokuba said was true.

"They'll be fine Kiddo." Kaiba said reassuringly.

-

- - -

-

"Oh my…" Mana sighed. She, Mahaado, Typhoon, and Atemu were standing on the highest balcony of the palace watching the scene below.

The village around the palace was in complete disarray. The citizens were completely terrified and riots were breaking out and people were packing their things and running out of town. Looters and thieves started appearing everywhere. There were hopeful subjects collecting around the palace walls shouting things like "Save us Empress!" and "Lord Guardian send the beasts away!" and Atemu felt Mahaado move uneasily behind him. Atemu glanced at Typhoon and then to Mahaado.

"Mahaado, I want you to go down there and allow those people in. Lead them to the Servants Quarters and add some guards down there as well. While you're down there spread the word that I want everyone in the palace in the Servants Quarters and then tell them to arm themselves and barricade the doors… anything to protect themselves." Atemu ordered. "Then meet me in the front hall on the bottom floor."

Mahaado nodded and said, "The Servants Quarters is our makeshift safe house?"

"Yes, because it's the largest area in the palace." Atemu replied. Mahaado nodded again and left.

"Here they come." Mana whispered.

On the horizon of every direction, what looked like a black film was starting to appear and take over.

"Beast Sprites." Typhoon breathed.

"Good Lord," Atemu muttered, "I didn't know there were that many…"

"And here we come." Typhoon said, pointing downward. The troops were beginning to form around the palace, as Atemu commanded. The wall they made became thinker and thicker until they reached out and completely covered the village. As they continued growing, the group of hopeful villagers began to file into the palace, giving cheers and crying out in happiness saying "Thank the Empress! Thank the Empress!" and "Praise be to Lord Guardian! Thank goodness for Lord Guardian.!" as Mahaado let them inside the palace.

"I think they've begun the charge," Mana said, squinting because the moons were starting to come up but not quite up completely, meaning the sky was very dark.

"Which means we begin our descent." Atemu said, turning around and heading for the stairs that led down. "It should take them quite a while to get here."

Down they went, and even though they were inside the palace, they could hear the thunderous pounding of the oncoming Sprites.

Atemu's heart was pounding against his ribs. He sensed something bad was going to happen… and there would be nothing he could do to stop it. He shook his head. No. No he couldn't think like that.

Then… Atemu heard it… his mother's voice… singing the haunting melody she had sung when she thought Atemu couldn't hear her… the song that terrified Atemu even as he grew… for it was the last song he had ever heard his mother sing.

-

- - -

-

Wait, wait little darling…

Judgment Day is drawing nigh

Hate, hate little darling

Hear the thunder come from high.

-

Fear, fear little darling

Smell the blood, smell the death

Hear, hear little darling

The innocent's last breath

-

Fight, fight little darling

Face the demons and the night

Spite, spite little darling

Kill them with your frightening might

-

Cry, cry little darling

No matter what you dispatch

Die, die little darling

For you… are no match