A/N: I do not own YGO.
Tea gaped at the King. He was a carbon copy of Sir Ryou, one of the Knights. They would have looked exactly alike if it weren't for his slanted evil eyes and the two points of his white hair that stood out like horns. He was dressed in a heavy black tunic and covering with black boots and of course, black leggings with a black fur overcoat. In fact, all of the Delyan army was dressed in similar clothing mostly because they had come from the North and, as most know, it can get quite cold in the North. The Princess wondered vaguely if they had experienced the warm weather in Relor yet. 'What? What am I thinking? This is no time to wonder if they've felt the change in weather!' Tea scolded herself as she stood her ground, an expression of defiance on her face. Somewhere else, Mai was being tied up with a gag in her mouth. Her body movements and expression showed that of fear but in her eyes a purple fire blazed with anger and she lashed out with her foot at one soldier, hitting him in the groin.
"Gah!" The soldier stumbled back, swearing at the young blonde maid. Mai smirked as best as anyone could when you have a gag in your mouth. 'Serves him right!' She thought, gleeful that she had managed to inflict pain on the soldier. But she knew she wouldn't be shown much mercy later on. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Serenity being hauled over, she too tied up and gagged. Their horses were nowhere in sight. Mai, as much as she despised the gentle beasts, hoped they had escaped towards the castle. If one of the Knights saw the horses returning without riders, they might suspect something was up and that was what gave her hope. Unless all of them were as slow as Joey. 'In that case, we're doomed!' She cringed.
"Maids! Of the castle no doubt." Bakura declared as he motioned for two soldiers to do the same to Tea. The King did not yet know she was the Princess. "What were you lovely ladies doing out this far from your nest?" He questioned arrogantly, smirking. Behind him, he could hear Mai's low unladylike snarl. 'Such feisty women. No matter; they too will share in the fate of their Kingdom.' At this point in time, he had settled on slavery, believing Relor's citizens might be of some use.
"None of your business, you snake!' Tea spat, struggling against the two men. She however was no match for the duo of strong soldiers. Within seconds she was bound and gagged. 'This is just great! Maybe I should have listened to my father...'
Bakura merely crossed his arms, not offended in the least. "Is that the best you could come up with? By now your pathetic King and his army should be at the fire." He chuckled softly to himself. "Relor is full of fools." He couldn't believe how easy it had been to deceive them. 'I'm so clever, I scare myself sometimes.'
Tea wriggled out of the soldiers' grip and tried to run away but not before coming face to face with even more servicemen. The Princess was proving to be a quite a challenge for the men to contain. Bakura, amused at her actions, drew out his sword and a muffled scream was heard just before he brought down the handle upon her head, causing her to black out. "There." He then gave orders for the three young women to be put away and hidden from view. 'They might come in handy in case there is more trouble ahead.'
At a short distance away, Marik watched the whole ordeal, feeling sympathetic towards the girls. They had been so bad at trying to sneak up on the army without making a noise but they still didn't deserve such treatment. Ishizhu also witnessed the whole thing and knew right away that the one with brown hair was the Princess, daughter of the Relorian King. The blonde one and the auburn colored one were most likely her maids or her friends. She wondered what they were doing out so far from safety. Unless the Princess was the kind to be swayed easily by friends or just general foolhardy and reckless. Whatever the case was, she shouldn't have been out here. She too, felt pity, like her brother.
While everyone was preoccupied with their hostages, the soldiers began to talk and whisper among themselves. Satisfied with the distraction, Marik brought his horse closer to Ishizhu and prepared to tell her of his plan. However, he didn't get his chance when he heard his sister's voice echoing inside his mind.
You have a plan, brother. To escape the nightmare and flee to the South in hopes of a better future.
Marik's eyes widened as he stared at her in shock. Sometimes he forgot she was capable of such power but her power did have some limits and was not completely invincible. He nodded numbly.
Ishizhu smiled. Marik...I will go.
An optimistic look came into his eyes. "Really?" He whispered.
Yes. But you must go first. The King will order you and I will join you soon after.
Marik was confused. "Uh..." Ishizhu often spoke in riddles or what seemed like riddles to him. "The King will order me?"
Be patient. I am saddened by the fact that we cannot rescue those girls ourselves before they endure anymore pain...but I have foreseen their liberation.
"What..." Mokuba continued to stare at Ryou in shock. "How-why are you down here? Shouldn't you be out there...fighting or something?" The child demanded, startled at the sight of one of the most trusted and gallant Knights sitting like a beggar in the dungeons. "Did you do something bad?"
"Worse." Ryou answered dully. "I lost my honor and trust as a Knight. I...I made a confession to the King...that I was the twin brother of the King of Delyan." His voice lowered to a whisper.
Mokuba gasped. "Really?" He pressed. "Are you really his...twin brother?" The child stepped closer to the cell and leaned against the bars, his hands clinging to them.
Ryou looked up at him with a saddened appearance. "Yes. I was given up by my parents." A hardened look. "I was only three years old and that was the hardest thing I ever had to endure. I cried for hours, for days! A man, I remember him being forty-one years old at the time, took me in when he found me in a house full of children who were adopted. I didn't like it there so I was happy to go. He was very kind to me and I called him my father even though I knew who my real father was." Ryou began to explain his life's story. "As it turns out, he lived in a small village in the far out country of Relor. There, he raised me as if I was his own. When I was older, I was interested in Knights and Swords and the whole thing. My father, not my real one, had been a Knight but had retired to farming because he had a greater desire for that. He had been serving the King and the King's Father for many years."
Mokuba listened closely as Ryou continued, lost in another world. "I was ten at the time, a little older than you, and he began to teach me how to use a sword properly. The years went by and I became better at it. I was thirteen when I met the other Knights. And fourteen when I became one in training, then at sixteen I became one, a very young age for a Knight. But I wasn't the youngest to become one. Seto was, having been a Knight-in-training since he was twelve and he became a Knight at fifteen. The others had become Knights at seventeen years old." A small smile crept into his face.
"Kinda makes you feel special, huh?" Mokuba observed, giving the seventeen-year-old a warm smile. He definitely understood how Ryou must've felt even if he wasn't given up for adoption. He only had experienced that lonely feeling for a month!
The Knight looked up at him, grateful for the smile. "Yeah it does. Anyway, my father is still alive. I hope he'll be all right when the Delyan Army does actually arrive."
"I'm sure he knows how to defend himself." Mokuba said. "I want to be Knight someday." He added as an afterthought. Then he was brought back to reality as he remembered Ryou's words. "Delyan army! I forgot they were coming!" He exclaimed.
Ryou sweatdropped. "How, pray tell, were you able to forget something as important as that?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. This young boy was a strange one.
"Well," Mokuba began, remembering wise words. "Seto told me not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. To enjoy life to the fullest." Even so, Mokuba was still very worried about the coming of the Delyan Military. "Anyway, you shouldn't be in here. They should trust you! You should be out there fighting for Relor." Mokuba said.
Ryou looked down at the dungeon floor. "I wish. But I have to regain my honor and trust first...somehow." He responded. "Then maybe the King will permit me to fight and defend for him."
Mokuba was silent for a moment and then his face lit up. "I know! Why don't you help me find Seto?" He suggested. "If we bring Seto back, the Dragons will follow." He felt the excitement growing within him. He would see Seto again! Not only that, he loved the thought of going on an adventure.
The Knight of white hair just stared at him, blinking. Then, "Huh? You want to go after Sir Seto?" He stood up from his sitting position. "But...he's gone by now! I think...what makes you believe he will listen to us? All of the people...we've been so cruel to him." Ryou grimaced, remembering the night of the ball. "Besides, didn't the Dragons start the fire?
Mokuba sighed as he turned around, looking for the keys. "Seto will listen to me. I know he will." He paused. "He has to...and I don't believe that they started the fire. I know they didn't."
Suddenly the two heard a door open and more voices. The guards were coming back. Mokuba spun around to face Ryou who had a panicked look on his face. "I'm coming for you tonight!" He whispered and then looked for a place to hide. He decided to hide by the door in the darkened corner. Once the guards stepped in, he would sneak past them, behind them, and head back to his room, after eating dinner. Then he would go back for Ryou.
"Wait, Mokuba-" Ryou became silent as the guards drew nearer. 'What have I gotten myself into now?'
The majestic-looking Blue Eyes White Dragon flew through the muggy air, away from Relor. It was time to move on and find a new place to dwell. But Seto would miss Relor as much as he tried to deny it. He took a glance at behind him and searched the other Dragons' faces. They were unreadable. He wasn't surprised though. Seto was certain though that their true feelings were concealed about what they really thought of the Relorian people. After all, he wasn't the only one who had to tolerate hurtful remarks.
Seto let out a cry of a different kind of tone and settled himself down in an old forest far from his former home. He was hungry and he recalled not eating much before he left. The grand ball was only last night. Seto sniffed the air, his keen senses picking up on prey. His kindred followed suit, landing on the soft earth and they too began to search for food.
They spread out and Seto had already found and caught a meal. More wolverines. 'I never thought I'd say this, or think this, but wolverines sure make a darn tasty meal.' Seto thought, licking his lips. In a morbid strange way, it reminded him of stew. Stew, Relor, Mokuba...misery overcame him and he sought out the Elder of the Dragons would be his Grandfather. His parents were long gone.
Seto allowed a low non-hostile growl. The Elder looked up from his meal, sensing the approach of his...grandson. The Elder swooped down again and finished his prey quickly and then looked up. The Elder was a beautiful Dragon with red eyes, black scales and wings tipped with gold. Together, they began to communicate telepathically.
Grandfather.Grandson. We've long awaited your leadership.
Yes I know. I...I have a question. You were a leader once...
Only a temporary leader, yes. You are our true one. The immortal. You will remain for many years to come.
Hmm. I understand but I want to know...why was I human for the first years of my life?
...Grandson...you were human for those long years because you needed to understand something else. You had great qualities within you to become a great leader. Courage, Strength, Power, Loyalty, Knowledge, Fairness, Nobility, and Honor.
Those had been the exact words Seto had recited to Mokuba when they had been discussing Knights. How strange. Seto didn't believe he had loyalty in him now. In a way, he had betrayed Relor. But he was loyal to his kin, wasn't he? He had returned to them. The Elder went on.
But you lacked two other emotions, which were necessary for you to attain true leadership: Love and Friendship. Through these you will also gain the very last attribute: Wisdom. You have learned these feelings already.
Yes but...I've left my friends and Mokuba, my adopted little brother. Will I still become a great leader?
That is not for me to decide. I am happy to be leaving but my heart is also saddened because Relor was a beautiful land to live in.
Seto inwardly grimaced and looked towards the West where the sun was slowly setting, never to be seen again till dawn. Little did he know the night of terror was only beginning.
Yami quietly walked up a few stairs until he entered the long hallway where Princess Tea dwelt. She still hadn't come out of her room and frankly, he was becoming very worried. Her father and the army hadn't returned yet and the air smelt of smoke and ash and no matter how hard he tried, he could not ignore the feeling of dread growing in the pit of his stomach. Something was indeed wrong and the city and outer surroundings were too still.
He reached her door and gently knocked upon it. "Your highness? Dinner has already been served." He called and waited for a few moments. No answer, no sound, no reply whatsoever. The Knight debated on the pros and cons of opening the door to her room. If he opened it, he would feel better seeing her in person or even hearing it. But if he didn't and she never appeared later on, he could be responsible for losing her or worse, especially since she had been the jewel the Knights were supposed to defend and keep safe. She was Relor's next monarch.
Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Not wanting to delay any longer, Yami gave in to his instinct and turned the doorknob and peered inside. "Your majesty? Forgive me but-" He stopped short when he noticed an empty bed, bathroom, and overall, an empty room. The Princess was gone.
"Princess!" Yami stepped inside and frantically searched the room. "Your highness? Tea?" He ran to the balcony where the doors had been left open. No sign of a rope or anything. Of course if she had escaped through her balcony, many would have seen her. The only other explanation...
Yami frowned. "But...how-" He spun around and dashed out the room. There was no time to lose.
The Princess had to be found before the enemy moved in.
