Chapter 13: The Difference Between Revenge and Justice

"Was there any trouble?" Heishin asked.

"None at all. It was simple." Runihura laughed.

Juliana awoke inside some kind of shrine it seemed like. She tried to move but found her arms and legs chained against a wall. She saw Heishin and Runihura and tried harder to break free of the binds. "You!"

Heishin looked at her and smirked. "And the little princess awakes."

"Let me go, murderer."

"Haha! I'm afraid I can't do that." He walked to a wall to the left of Juliana and leaned on it. "My associate Runihura would like to speak with you first."

"Heh." Runihura walked in front of Juliana and stood a few feet from her. "Now, how do we begin?"

"You could release me...so I can kill you..."

He laughed then smirked. "There we go. How do you feel right now?"

"I'm in the presence of two traitors of the Pharaoh as well as the murder of hundreds of people INCLUDING my parents...I feel the way any normal person would. I'm angry and you wouldn't like me angry..."

"On the contrary, we would. But the thing is, you are not normal, are you?"

Juliana stared at him, then looked over at Heishin. "It's clear who the smartest of this group is..."

"Brains and the brawn, darling. But answer the question." Heishin smiled.

"I don't have to tell you anything..."

"Ah, but whether you know it or not, you're telling us everything." Runihura put his hand under Juliana's chin and moved her head from side to side. "Like an open book. I said I would tell you what your eyes symbolized, did I not?" When she stayed silent, he continued, "You're right eye, blue. First of all, the right which would symbolize...good or...light. Blue for the white dragon that happens to have blue eyes as well. Then you're left eye...green. You've seen the female Dark Illusionist correct?"

She stared at nothing as she remembered the Dark Magician Girl. The one who had saved her from the murdering hands of Heishin and Runihura when she was born. The one that had watched over her as she grew old enough to wander on her own. That creature was the closest thing Juliana had to a mother.

"Her eyes are green as well," Runihura continued. "But her skill is in dark magic. Do you remember you're first encounter with the seven Millennium Items? The Millennium Scales measured you're ba as equal light and dark."

"How do you know about that?"

It was Heishin who answered this time. "Runihura has been patrolling the palace ever since our little disappearing act, watching you children."

"So it was you that Naru saw before..."

"The point is, Juliana, that the life you have lived so far has depended on the constant balance of both light and dark. But what happens when the balance is...tipped." Runihura snapped his fingers and backed away as Juliana's bonds disappeared.

Heishin stepped forward. "You and I are going to have a little duel."

Juliana reached to put a hand on her Millennium Sphere, but felt it missing from around her neck. She looked around frantically as Heishin laughed.

"Just one rule exists. No Millennium Items. You use only your natural or...unnatural skills. Heh heh."

"Hm...fine."

"Excellent. Seiyaryu, come to me!" A large, magenta colored dragon appeared behind Heishin. It screeched loudly and waved its razor sharp wings. "Attack." The dragon screeched again and flew at Juliana.

She jumped to the side to avoid the dragon, but was then met by a slash from a sword Heishin had unsheathed. She yelled in pain and glared at him. "You said this was a duel!"

"I also said no rules except no Millennium Items." Heishin laughed. "Now attack back!" He slashed at her again.

A long sword appeared in Juliana's hand and she blocked the attack. She then jumped back and ran at Heishin, slashing as hard and fast as she could.

Heishin laughed. "That's it, Juliana! Let your anger free! Release the darkness inside!"

The duel continued for an hour, but it wouldn't last much longer. Juliana was beginning to lose energy and felt something inside of her about to burst. She took one final swing at Heishin but was blasted back by a large dark energy shot. She slammed against a wall and was pinned down by the Seiyaryu.

Heishin walked over and sheathed his sword. "Heh heh...and now we finish it. It's time you faced your true destiny, Juilana! A princess of darkness! Destroy all who oppose you!" He knelt down, one of his hands glowing with dark energy.

"NO!" Juliana screamed in pain.

The Pharaoh and his court all stood in the center of the throne room, discussing their next course of action. Naru's eyes widened as a sharp pain struck the back of her head and a chill ran down her spine. "Did anyone else feel that...?"

"I did." Vash said quickly.

Atem nodded. "As did I. We must act quickly!" He looked over at Priest Mahado and Priest Seto. "How many men can we spare to start a search for her?"

"As many as needed, Pharaoh. It will just take time to gather them." Mahado answered.

"Time is something we do not have. Both of you gather any available guard and soldier and form an army as fast as you can."

"Pharaoh, is all this really necessary?" Priest Akunadin asked.

He looked at him. "You know as well as I do this is more than necessary. Everyone!" He turned and looked at all of the priests. "Prepare for another Dark War!"

"Another Dark War..." The priests whispered. Most were only children during the first war, and trembled at the thought of the events that had happened. They had a few minutes to reminice when a guard ran through the large doors.

"My Pharaoh! Priestess Juliana is at the front gates! Shall I let her pass?"

"Juliana?" He said looking at the guard. Naru quickly ran toward the front gates, later followed by Vash. "Alright, get every available soldier and send them to the front gates just in case. Everyone stay on your guard." Atem and the remaining priests ran to follow Naru and Vash.

Naru arrived at the gates as they slowly opened and the soldiers stood to the sides, ready with their spears. When the gates opened far enough to see Juliana, Naru stopped and smiled. "Juliana! Thank goodness you're ok!"

Juliana said nothing and slowly walked forward. She wore a long black cloak with a large hood that covered her eyes and nose. The Millennium Sphere around her neck was glowing brightly.

"Juliana...?"

"Surrender all your Millennium Items and I shall spare your lives..." Juliana said. Her voice seemed colder and had a small echo to it.

"What...? What are you talking about?"

"This is your last warning...give me your Millennium Items."

"Since when does Juliana want the Millennium Items? You have one."

"Naru, look out!" Vash said as he came running behind her. He tackled Naru to the ground as Juliana shot a dark blast at her. The blast missed the two and struck a nearby tree, setting it on fire. "She's under Heishin's control! You can't just talk to her."

"But...it's still Juliana..."

"Not the one we grew up with. You stay here. I'll go see if I can break the control." Vash stood up and walked towards Juliana.

Juliana laughed evily. "Wouldn't it help if I was under some kind of control? If you think you are going to fight me, I suggest you reconsider. There's no way you can defeat me..."

"Yeah well...it's worth a try, right?" He unsheathed his sword from his side and looked at the Millennium Chain around his neck. "Millennium Chain...assist me in this battle. Help Juliana find the light within the darkness." His Chain and sword began to glow and he got into a fighting stance.

"Heh...you've made a large mistake." A large black sword appeared in her hand that had its own aura flowing around it. She smirked and ran at Vash as their swords clashed together.

The others arrived and watched the battle in shock and horror. Never before had a mage of the royal court gone evil. This was an epic battle between two high level mages with two newer and more advanced Millennium Items. It wasn't sure who would win this battle.

Vash jumped back, taking a slash across the chest from Juliana's sword. Griting his teeth from the pain, he looked at Naru, then at Atem and nodded. 'Hope this works...' He stood up straight and started walking toward her. "Juliana, listen to me. Don't let Heishin use you as a puppet. You have people here who care for you..."

Her eyes widened as she remembered what the man in her vision had said. She stood in one place, the hand gripping her sword shaking and her eyes flashing different colors. The sudden break left her open for attack. Vash ran up and slashed at her right arm. She yelled in pain as she gripped her arm.

"Naru, now!" Vash yelled.

A light blast appeared in Naru's hands. "I'm sorry, Juliana. It's for your own good..." She fired the blast at Juliana's feet and the blast shot up, surrounding her. She once again yelled in pain.

Pharaoh Atem then walked up, his Millennium Puzzle glowing around his neck. He held his hand out pointed toward Juliana. "MIND CRUSH!"

There was absolute silence, then Juliana fell to the ground, the sword disappearing. No one moved, but slowly began to relax knowing that she would be unconsious for a while. But everyone gasped and grabbed their weapons when Juliana began to twitch and yell, as if in extreme pain.

"How can she be awake after taking a head on mind crush spell from the Millennium Puzzle...?" Priest Karim asked.

"Because that spell works best on humans with weak minds." Priest Akunadin said, crossing his arms. "Juliana is neither weak minded or human." Everyone but Isis and Karim glared at Akunadin.

Vash looked back at Juliana, who's outfit had changed back into what she had worn to the banquet. She screamed in unbearable terror and pain. Vash looked at Juliana's face and could see pain as tears ran down her cheeks. He turned to Pharaoh Atem and Priest Akunadin. "What's happening to her! A spell from the Millennium Puzzle shouldn't be doing this."

"Perhaps it's an after-shock from the Dark Priest's magic...?" Isis asked.

"No, that's my doing." Akunadin said plainly.

Atem looked at Akunadin intensely. "What do you mean...?"

"In the beginning of our training, I put a spell on her. As a discipline act of course in case she tried to go against me."

Mahado spoke now. "And what exactly does this spell do...?"

"If she were to ever hurt someone innocent, someone she wasn't supposed to, she would feel their pain and then some. At least ten times the amount of pain of the victim. This is the first time it's happened, so I imagine she's feeling the pain of that person's entire life."

Vash's hand quickly went to the wound on his chest. "Remove the spell from her then!"

"Can't. It's permanent."

"WHAT!" Vash ran over and grabbed Akunadin's robes, lifting him up. "What do you mean 'PERMANENT!' You mean you put a curse on her and you can't remove it!"

"I guess so, yes. But here's the thing..." He punched Vash hard in his chest.

Vash yelled at the jolt of pain, but Juliana yelled even louder. He took deep breaths, glaring at Akunadin. "What's the big idea! You're hurting Juliana!"

"So what! Think I care that she's of royal blood! Think I'm worried about you fools! Washed up amateurs that are lucky to have reached the rank of mage! HA!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Pharaoh Atem roared. He looked at Akunadin angrily, then at the guards. "Get Juliana out of here. Bring her to her room and take care of her wounds. The rest of you get to your normal spots. Priest Akunadin, I want you to come with me. You as well, Priest Seto. Only because your face tells me you want to say something."

Everyone began walking, Priest Akunadin and Seto following Atem to the throne room. Atem slammed the door and looked at the two. "Someone talk to me..."

Both priests were silent for a while, then Akunadin finally spoke. "Pharaoh, I don't understand why I'm standing here..."

"If I may speak," said Seto, looking at Akunadin. "I think you need to stay away from Juliana. I think the training incidents were enough but this is way too far."

"What training incidents?" Atem asked.

"My Pharaoh, Priest Akunadin has purposely abused Priestess Juliana every time they trained. The day she had fallen asleep was due to a blow to the head by Akunadin."

"What! Why was I not informed off this? Why wasn't my father? Juliana had the opportunity."

"Perhaps she was afraid she would be beaten worse."

"..." Atem looked at Akunadin, who showed no emotion. "Your training sessions with Juliana are hearby over. You will not come within twenty feet of her, do you understand?"

Akunadin shrugged and walked out. Normally Atem would have ordered him to come back, but he was too tired to make any more orders. "You may go, Seto. Thank you."

Seto bowed and walked out.

Vash and Naru walked up the stairway toward Juliana's room. Vash just wore his normal palace outfit, except he had no shirt on, which was replaced by bandages across his chest. They both walked down the hallway and saw two guards standing outside Juliana's room. They started walking to the door but the guards held them back. "Priestess Juliana wishes not to be disturbed." a guard said.

"But we're her friends. We just want to make sure she's ok." Naru said.

"I'm sorry. She said no one."

Vash shot both guards a deadly glare. "Let...us...through..."

Both guards blinked, then stepped away from the door. Vash and Naru walked through the door, and saw the entire room blackened and dark. Even the balcony was covered. Naru created a ball of light in her hand. "Juliana?"

"I said no visiters..." they heard from a corner of the room.

Naru lighted a few candles and both she and Vash walked over to the right corner on the other side of the room where Juliana sat. "Hey Juliana. How are you feeling?"

"Better than I should be..."

"What's that supposed to me?"

"I hurt my friends...I betrayed my Pharaoh...and I gave in to the powers of darkness...I deserve to still be in pain."

"That doesn't matter," Vash said. "I'm fine. Everyone's fine and so are you, so everything turned out ok."

"They were both in front of me," Juliana sighed. "I thought...I could bring justice for my parents' deaths..."

"Juliana..." Naru kneeled in front of her. "There's a difference between revenge and justice. Justice is when you fight for what you believe in, and no one gets hurt. A family who was robbed would know justice is served when the thief is caught and brought in for trial. Revenge is the darker path of one's intention of seeking justice. I think you know that by now..."

Juliana stayed silent only staring at the ground. Vash sighed and turned around. "Just know that we're still your friends, and we're here for you. Come find us when you're ready to make up for your mistakes." He started walking out the door and Naru soon followed.

When they both left, Juliana sighed. "I don't know what to do..."

"Listen to your friends. They seem to know what they're talking about." said a voice.

Juliana looked around, recognizing the voice as the one that was in Sethos' room the day she visited him. She looked at a corner opposite the room and saw a white feather in the light. "Were you here the whole time?"

"Yes. Look, I can't tell you what to do with your life, but there are always choice. Some good, some bad. The bad choices can be undone with time if you allow them."

"I don't know if I can..."

"Well, you never know if you can unless you try right? I've learned that the beauty of the human heart is that it's able to grow and learn from all experiences. Whatever your choice, make sure it's the one you want." There was a flutter of wings, and Juliana knew the figure was gone.

She put a hand on her chest where her heart was and closed her eyes. After a moment, she quickly stood and ran out the door after Vash and Naru. "I have to tell the Pharaoh!"