A/N: I have a Climatology test tomorrow morning and I'm fairly certain I bombed today's Italian 2001 test...epically. I haven't gone over this or the previous chapter to edit them yet due to those reasons and others. I plan on doing it tomorrow afternoon when things calm down. Otherwise, good night and enjoy.

Chapter summary: In which the sun is eclipsed and hope begins to waver.

Eclipse of Hope

The moment he woke, he knew something was off. He felt confused and disoriented and rolled over in his bed only to realize he was in a bed. He had been asleep and the sun was already up. This was not right. This was not the way things should be. Where was Seto? Why was he alone?

He fell. Helios fell with him. Seto was shot but coming after him. He knew that. He never doubted that. Seto would always come for him. That was an absolute Mokuba could believe in.

Today, Mokuba and Helios were going to meet this Strange person in New York City to hopefully get help finding Seto. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table and was relieved to see he still had two and a half hours until they were supposed to leave. But he was a bit confused why Helios had not woken him up.

He sat up in bed and looked around to see Helios sitting comfortably in a chair nearby reading. The Titan looked up when Mokuba moved and flashed a dim smile at the boy. "Sleep well?" he asked.

Mokuba groaned and Helios laughed. "I want Seto," Mokuba said softly and Helios's expression became sympathetic. "Do you think this Stranger person can help us find him?"

"From the way Charles speaks of him, I'm sure he's a good man," Helios said, looking out the bedroom window. "I believe he will try. Whether or not it will work is still unknown at this point."

Mokuba nodded slowly and got out of bed, pulling his pants and shoes on. He wanted to see his big brother again at any cost. He had just finished typing his shoes when the door to his room opened and Logan stepped in holding the door open for Charles. The bald man had a genial smile on his face as he rolled his wheelchair inside.

"Morning Mr. Charles," Mokuba chirped.

"Good morning Mokuba," the man replied kindly. "Helios," he added, nodding to the Titan. He clasped his hands in his lap and his smile faded somewhat. "I am sorry to say that our little excursion must be delayed somewhat."

"What?" Mokuba cried in dismay. "Why?"

"Because it is currently not safe there," Charles said, holding out a hand in a placating manner. "It is currently under siege by at least two supervillains, possibly three. The Avengers are handling it and my people have an understanding with the Avengers and SHIELD. We do not meddle in their affairs and they do not meddle in ours. If they need us, we will aid them. But to do so beforehand would be intruding and, for all we know, we may help make the situation worse."

Mokuba's shoulders drooped in depression. "You can't even drop us off at the edge of the city or something?" he pleaded. "We can walk or ride Euos there."

Charles sighed heavily. "I'm afraid not," he said. "There is, well quite honestly, there's a spell on the city right now that would make transporting you anywhere near you impossible, not to mention dangerous, no matter how amusing it is."

"Amusing?" Helios asked curiously.

Charles bit back an ironic smile. "Believe it or not, the spells is turning every transportation vehicle from strollers to tractor trailers into, well, ice cream," he said.

Mokuba's head popped up in shock. "Ice cream?" he exclaimed. "You mean, you can eat your car?"

Charles chuckled and even Logan cracked a small smile. "Yes, you could," he said. "Although, you can see how that could also pose a problem. Even if we did not take you by air, the vehicle carrying you would turn to ice cream and that could cause injury which I cannot allow."

"And if we took Euos?" Helios asked.

"That could be the best option," Charles admitted. "But I am a bit hesitant to send you out on your own even if you know your way and could get there safely. I am currently unable to contact Stephen and I will need to inform of your arrival."

"But we can still go?" Mokuba asked, eyes huge and watery focusing themselves on Charles and Logan. The burly man standing next to Charles quirked a smile at the adorable look and Charles lifted an eyebrow in amusement.

"Now, now, no need for those eyes," he said. "Of course we can still go. I keep my promises. However, I suggest we wait until the activity in New York settles down a little. If I have to, I'll contact Stephen now but I believe he is busy at the moment."

"Who cast the spell?" Helios asked.

"Loki," Logan answered.

"Loki? From Asgard?"

"So he claims, yes," Charles said. He studied Helios closely. "You know him?"

Helios pressed several fingers to his temple and grimaced. "I would say yes, but I'm beginning to think this Loki is not the one I've met."

"Hm, you're probably right," Charles agreed. "I believe it would be best if we waited for the 'all clear' from SHIELD before leaving. But," he said, holding his hands out, "I will not stop you if you wish to leave."

Helios glanced at Mokuba. "I differ to you," he said.

Mokuba pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged them, thinking hard. He wanted to find his brother. That was all he could think about. Seto. He had to get back to Seto.

"Let's go," he said firmly.

Helios nodded and Charles sighed but nodded as well. "I understand," he said calmly. "I will attempt to contact Stephen to inform him you're coming. I suggest you don't leave until I've contacted him."

"We will wait," Helios said, standing from his seat. He watched Charles roll his chair back out through the door before Logan closed the door. "I will get Euos ready and wait for outside if you want," he said.

Mokuba nodded and Helios made his way out. When the Titan was gone, Mokuba looked out the window. For some reason, he felt uncomfortable, stifled. He had not slept well the night before and when he had, his dreams had been weird and disconcerting. He felt tired and unrested and disturbed. The need to find Seto had skyrocketed overnight.

Something told him his big brother needed him more than usual. He knew Seto always needed him and would die before he let anything happen to him, but this went deeper than that. It was foreboding that set the hair on his arms on end and made him hyperaware.

"Mokuba."

Mokuba jumped and whirled around to see Helios standing by the bedroom door watching him closely. Apparently, the Titan had not left. Mokuba briefly wondered how long it would have taken him to notice Helios's continued presence in his current mindset.

His thoughts twisted and tugged at him urgently, whispering to hi and Mokuba blinked in astonishment. Those were not his thoughts, they were his Shadows. His Shadows were what he had been feeling and what were now warning him about something. Mokuba felt a thrill of excitement. He may have been a central part of the Shadow Court but he had never been able to really utilize his Shadows much without Ra-Horahkty's direct help.

The time Mokuba had helped the blue trickster Kurt with the prank had been the first time he had really used them in a practical manner. And now they were tugging his consciousness and whispering to him. It sounded like gibberish to his ears but he knew the essence of what they were saying.

Go. Go now. Don't wait. Something is out there. Run. Now.

"Helios," Mokuba said softly. "I... I need to go. Now."

"I'll get Euos," the Titan said. "We'll be at the front entrance."

No!

Helios stopped abruptly and turned to face Mokuba with wide eyes. Mokuba blinked, confused by his friend's dumbstruck expression before realizing he had shouted the word that rang out in his mind as clearly as if someone had said it right by his ear. The Shadows; they were warning him again.

"Don't go," Mokuba said, repeating the words he heard in his head. "Something's out there."

Helios's eyes narrowed before darkening to a shade of gold that was more resembled dark amber than the brilliant sun gold they usually were. The sunlight streaming through the window suddenly seemed to grow in intensity forcing Mokuba to wince.

"Are you doing that?" he asked.

"No time. Come," Helios said curtly, grabbing Mokuba's shoulder and yanking him out of the room. "We need to get outside. My power is greatest in sunlight."

"What's going on?" Mokuba demanded, running with Helios's fast pace. They dodged students just heading for their first classes or, more likely, their breakfast. Several were knocked out of the way while others managed to duck out of their way. "Helios," Mokuba tried again, "what's going on? What's out there?"

"I do not know for sure, but I have my suspicions," the Titan replied. "Either way, it'll be easier if we face whoever it is outside."

"What about the others?" the young Keeper asked. "What about Mr. Charles and the man with the off hair?"

"Charles is a telepath," Helios answered, swerving around a corner. "A very powerful one. He probably already knows. As for Logan, it's likely he'll be the first to know after Charles."

Here!

They ran down the stairs, turning a corner only for Helios to stop abruptly forcing Mokuba to slam into him from behind. Confused, Mokuba backed up and and looked around Helios towards the bottom of the stairs and tensed, unable to believe his eyes.

Standing at the foot of the stairs, blocking their path was a being that radiated power. He had close cut, curly blonde hair, tanned skin and, aside from his good looks and the power that vibrated the air around him, appeared average. His clothes were deceptively modern in style but for some reason they seemed...wrong. His crimson shirt and jeans were workable and obviously worn just to give the illusion of blending in.

Mokuba recognized him and hated him. This man, no... This god had driven the Shadows into a bloodthirsty frenzy to the point they possessed Seto and forced him to attack the Justice League in a twisted form of a Penalty Game. Mokuba would never forget this god's face. He filed it away with similar visages like Maximillion Pegasus and Dartz.

"Hello Helios," the god said in a deceptively calm manner.

"Ares," the Titan breathed, straightening his back and glaring down his nose at the Olympian. He shifted so his body was between Ares and Mokuba.

"You were hard to find, I admit," Ares said, scratching his neck casually. "When you up and vanished off the face of the earth, it through me off the trail. I had to get a little help tracking you down."

"Oh?"

Mokuba stepped back, feeling his Shadows pull him away from the situation. They tugged his mind and his clothes. He looked down and saw tentacles of darkness rise from his shadow on the floor cast by the windows above the stairs landing he and Helios stood on. They looped around his arms and legs, pinching his clothes and tugging like a child begging for attention. He listened to their warnings and backed up.

He felt power build up and lifted his head to see Helios glowing brighter than normal, or was that due to the sunlight coming through the window? The air around the Titan felt heavy and hot like a humid day in midsummer. Helios's eyes were hard and sharp as he stared unafraid at the god of war.

"Indeed," Ares replied with a slight smile. "We seemed to have a shared enemy, per say, and decided to work together for the time being."

"The bombing," Helios said calmly.

Ares nodded and Mokuba felt his skin grow cold. His Shadows tugged harder and he looked down to see the tendrils snake across the landing to the window. Sun, they said. Help comes.

Help? Charles?

A wall of wind blasted through the hallway knocking Ares back several steps. Lightning danced through the air, igniting it and creating earsplitting thunder. Both Ares and Helios tensed, reminded of another who wielded lightning. Helios, who had been aware of miss Ororo's power beforehand, recovered first and took advantage of Ares's distraction to turn to Mokuba.

"Stay here," he commanded. "Don't follow me!"

Then he ran down the stairs, forcing Ares back with a swift and powerful sideswipe and made for the front doors. His powers were at their fullest in the sunlight. He needed that extra boost now more than ever since his powers were not at their best in this world and with a sun that was not really his. He was at once relieved and distressed when Ares followed him. He would have to take care of this quickly.

The moment he burst out into the open, his powers leapt up within him. He ran further into the courtyard only to see a crowd of mutants, some whom he and Mokuba had met the other day, and some he did not know. They, like Ororo still unleashing her natural fury behind him and Ares, were ready to fight.

"Stand down!" he cried. "Do not give him the chance to possess you!" A blast of wind struck him from behind and he staggered at its ferocity. "Close your eyes and whatever you do, do not open them until this is over."

He saw the brief confusion on their faces before spinning around and drawing on his full power. His light blazed from his core, hot and heavy and energetic. He was death and life, hope and despair, he was a star and Ares was a god who dared try to extinguish his light.

"Stand down Ares," he commanded, blazing in fury. "Leave me be or burn."

"You're a member of a dead species," Ares hissed. "Zeus all but single handedly destroyed your kind."

"And yet I live," Helios said. "Did you ever wonder why that is, Ares? Or is your puny, war addled mind too pathetic to comprehend that?"

Ares seethed and his modern clothing burned away revealing the Olympian god of war in all his vicious glory. "If you come back willingly, Zeus may be merciful," Ares said. "I would prefer it if you fought. I love a good fight." He slung his large, round shield from his shoulder to block an explosion of flare and electromagnetic energy lashed out from the Helios's now blinding form. Ares laughed. "Like it, filthy Titan?"

"Hardly," Helios replied.

"Hephaestus forged it for me," Ares continued, tossing the shield up and catching it expertly. "It's built to withstand even your flames Titan."

"My flames, perhaps," Helios said. "But was it forged to withstand my gravity and magnetism?"

Ares winced, suddenly struggling to keep his shield on his arm. The metal disk vibrated and all but dragged the war god towards Helios. He hissed and used all of his strength to pull the shield back, bracing himself against the Titan's magnetic pull and crushing gravity. After a moment, he gave in to the magnetic pull and tossed the heavy shield like a discuss at the Titan.

Helios, not expecting the move, just managed to redirect the shield momentum with a combination of his gravity and magnetic force so it circled him in an orbit. As the shield completed its orbit, Helios released his hold on the disk and slingshot it back at Ares accompanied by yet another flare and solar wind.

Unfortunately for Helios, Ares was a god of war and thus more durable than the average Olympian. He took the brunt of the wind, withstanding it through sheer strength and force of will, and managed to retrieve his shield in time to protect himself from Helios's blazing fury. The Titan could not help but be impressed.

At that moment, he noticed movement near Ares. Glancing at it, he was horrified to see Mokuba racing out of the mansion. It was only a split second, but that was all Ares needed to strike. He tossed his shield again and this time Helios did not react fast enough. The metal struck him in the chest, crushing his clavicle, arm, and several ribs with the impact.

Helios screamed and crashed to the ground, his glow dimmed dramatically to levels more tolerable to human eyes. Naturally, that was when the mutants decided to strike back at the assailant who dared start a battle on their home territory. A beam of red light blazed forth towards Ares who deflected it with his shield, a dark grin filling his face.

"Helios!"

The Titan cursed his thrice damned luck when he heard Mokuba's voice. "Stop!" he screamed. "Don't fight. If you do," he cough when his chest burned in agony as forced himself to stand, "you give him the opportunity to possess you."

"Like hell mate," he heard Logan snarl.

Helios knew the moment Ares moved to strike the human with his power and lashed out first. He forced his light to grow back to a blaze that drew pained cries from the humans present. It was not bright enough or prolonged enough to cause significant damage to their eyes, but it would pain them and disorient them and dear Gaia is drained him. But at least the mutants' desire to fight had been temporarily muted.

Ares fumed at the lost chance and leapt forward, charging into combat head on. A familiar whinny rang through the air and Helios felt his heart fill with hope.

:If you won't let us fight with you,: Charles' voice said in the Titan's mind, :then let us help in other ways.:

Helios found himself nodding to the silent message of his own just as Euos landed next to him and reared, kicking out at the Olympian aggressor. :No matter what happens, protect Mokuba,: Helios said. :He must come first.:

Ares had just enough time to raise his shield protecting himself from the potentially painful blows when Helios lashed out with another flare. In addition, he created a field of extreme gravity and attempted to crush Ares's prized shield. The metal groaned under the pressure and Ares's knees began to buckle.

It was beginning to take a turn for the better when Helios felt the weakness return. He knew its origin but had fervently hoped it would not affect him too badly. It appeared the lack of Nectar for the past year combined with the lack of a true home field advantage was decreasing his capability to fight back successfully.

Just when Helios was beginning to stagger, something flashed in his peripheral vision. But before he had the chance to fully comprehend what it was, three spikes of agony speared his chest from behind causing his already damaged lungs to seize. His magical onslaught halted abruptly as he staggered. Euos whinnied but could not attack Helios's assailant without further injuring his master.

Ares lowered his shield and shook his head, an amused smile on his face. "That was the best fun I've had in ages," he said mildly. "I should say thank you for the exercise but I'm afraid I'm in a hurry and my comrade has things to do here as well, so," he slung his shield back over his shoulder and strolled forward to the stunned Titan, "I'll be ending this now."

The knives withdrew swiftly, slicing through Helios's flesh. He staggered before collapsing limply to the ground at Ares's feet? Euos neighed pathetically before fading into the sunlight from whence he was first born, unable to hold his form without the aid of his currently incapacitated master. The god of war looked up and met the possessed mortal's eyes.

"That's a fine set of weapons there," he said with a cheeky grin. "I might just consider using that idea myself. Who knows," he winked, "could be useful again one day."

He released the mortal from his power and savored the horrified revulsion on the dark haired man's face. Then he stepped forward, planted his foot directly on Helios's bloodied body, grinned, and vanished.

"Helios!"

"They're getting too close for comfort," Ryou said, taking a seat on one of the unearthed but dilapidated stone walls.

"Yes," Marik said, leaning back on the wall next to the Scribe watching the archaeologists struggle with the sand and dirt. "I'll give him this, Carter Hall pushes his people hard."

"How close are they?"

Marik did not answer right away, choosing instead to cross his arms and glare at the workers. After a moment, he dropped his eyes and heaved a sigh. "At this rate, they'll unearth the door in by tonight," he said soberly. "Ishizu and I have done what we can but..." He shrugged. "The powers that be have decided the unearthing of the tomb is worth more politically and financially than our words, especially since the diggers have begun to find solid proof of its existance."

"I was afraid of that," Ryou murmured, shoulders drooping. "What do we do? Nothing has been working."

Marik pressed his lips into a hard line as he watched the workers milling about the dig site. "You and Bakura keep misplacing things, that at least drives the tension level up which makes people act rashly. That can be useful. But other than that," he trailed off with a helpless shrug. "My clan has been casting spells of concealment and protection as best we can without actively killing anyone."

"Except for the person injured in the cave in, they've officially lost seven workers to illness within the past couple days," Ryou said. "But unofficially, another five more have been reporting headaches and stomachaches. They've been declared results of overheating and dehydration. Nothing else has happened."

"Our power has faded overtime due to our complacency," the Priest admitted reluctantly. "We are still formidable, but nowhere near as much as we were." He shook his head. "And still no word from the Pharaoh."

Ryou hung his head. "So we're failing."

"Not yet we aren't," Bakura said, boldly appeared between Ryou and Marik. "Rumors the tomb is haunted have filled the camp. Even people who don't believe in them are talking about them. Perhaps it's about time we start taking things more seriously."

"Are you implying we haven't been?" Marik growled.

"Yes," Bakura answer simply earning him a glare from the young Ishtar. "We haven't substantiated these rumors. We've simply been spreading them. How about we start summoning ghosts and a Monster or two."

"Bakura!" Ryou said. "We can't kill anyone."

"We don't have to," the Thief said. "But if people start seeing things, then they might start seriously second guessing their actions." His red eyes narrowed. "At the very least Mr. Hall will see the threat involved. It's either that or we stop working from the Shadows and start actively attacking them in a full on frontal assault."

"Let's hope that doesn't happen," a new voice said.

The group turned to see Ishizu staring out over the dig site with serious eyes and one hand idly fiddling with her collar bone where the Millennium Tauk used to rest. She heaved a sigh before speaking once more.

"I have been unable to contact the Regent but Jounouchi called," she said. "The King has been shot."

"What?!"

The Priestess was suddenly assaulted by demands from all three youths which she staunchly ignored. Instead, she crossed her arms across her breast, and watched them with a lifted eyebrow waiting for them to fall silent so she could continue. When silence finally fell, only then dis she speak.

"The Pharaoh's description of the King's shooter matches the Manhunter's description of the Regent's attacker," she said. "We still don't know the identity of the bomber, but the Justice League is taking care of that side of events currently. Yugi is expected to be fine," she said gently. "Once he's strong enough, he plans to heal himself with Jounouchi's help."

"I'm sure the Pharaoh's not taking this too well," Marik said darkly.

"Considering the circumstances I'm surprised he hasn't lashed out yet," Bakura said in agreement. "Although that does explain the sudden panic we felt from him. I take it he's not strong enough to hold Court yet?"

Ishizu shook her head. "He was able to but only with the Regent."

"They can hold Court across realities?" Ryou gasped.

"Apparently so," the Priestess said. "It is a stroke of luck."

"Ra knows we need that," Ryou murmured leaning back on his hands.

They stood silently watching the people toil away at the sandy hoping to find the tomb. Ever since the museum in Cairo attempted to halt the dig the English museum's representative had arrived and offered not only financial backing the group desperately needed but more man power as well. It galled Ryou that the representative was his father. The fact the man had not once spoken to his son since his arrival even though Ryou had been in plain sight hurt. Even after all these years of living with an absentee parent, it still hurt not to be acknowledged.

A hand squeezed his knee and Ryou looked up to see Bakura gazing at him significantly. The Scribe felt his lips quirk upward in a hesitant smile before lips covered them and gave something else to do.

:You're an idiot.:

Ryou chuckled. That was so typical of Bakura. His words insulted but his emotions currently flooding Ryou's senses and his actions currently distracting the Scribe spoke much louder.

"When you two are done," Marik said, "I think it's high time we decide what we're going to do from here." The Priest crossed his arms and shared a look with his sister. "Without Shaadi we can't go to the Pharaoh and he can't get here quickly. Even if the King manages to heal within the hour it would still take hours for them to get here by plane. We need to hold these idiots back for another day at least."

"That may not be possible," Ishizu said softly.

Marik turned to her and stiffened. "Ishizu? Sister?"

Bakura and Ryou ceased they movements and followed their comrade's gaze to the Priestess. She stood still, unmoving. Her dark eyes stared directly ahead, the pupils blown wide almost obliterating the irises as a thin film of smokey white swirled over them.

"What's going on?" Bakura demanded, reaching out to grab her shoulder.

"Don't!" Marik said catching Bakura's hand stopping him from touching her. "She's having a vision. You could be affected if you touch her. It's happened to me a time or two and believe me when I say it's never pleasant. Just wait it out."

Thankfully, they did not have long to wait. After a minute or so, Ishizu blinked and the film over her eyes vanished. She heaved a sigh and placed a hand delicately on her temple to stave off a headache. She flicked her eyes on her close audience of three briefly before dismissing them.

"Sister," Marik said gently drawing her gaze to him. "What did you see?"

Ishizu said nothing, she simply looked away and stared straight at the archaeologists. Marik narrowed his eyes but followed her gaze as did Bakura and Ryou. There was a deep rumble before rocks, sand, and dirt fell away revealing what could only be a dilapidated staircase leading to the entrance of the tomb. A cheer spread through the crowd unfelt by the four observers.

"They found it," she said.

"It would appear so," Marik said after a moment. "What's the plan?"

"This is too much too soon," Ryou said. "The Regent is still gone and the with the King and Pharaoh disabled..."

"Perhaps a visit from an old lover could slow things down a bit," Bakura said.

"Old lover?" Marik asked in confused suspicion.

"Yes. Carter Hall is the reincarnation of the false godking Katar Hol," Bakura said. "Perhaps it's time Shayera payed him a visit."

"I will attempt to speak with the Inner Court," Ishizu said. "If possible, I'll convinve them to hold a full Court to discuss our options."

"And if that doesn't work?" Marik asked.

"We could discuss this with Mr. Hall in person," Marik said. "Fat lot of good that did last time though."

Ryou heaved a sigh. "We may have to reveal ourselves," he said. The others stared at him in shock but he shook his head. "I don't like it either, but it's likely that may be our only choice."

"Let's leave that as a last resort," Bakura said, turning back to the celebrations. "In the meantime, I think I'll stop being nice and start taking things more seriously. A Monster or two after dark should give at least a few of those assholes pause."

"Indeed," Marik agreed with a sly grin. "Thankfully, they still have to get past the gate and inner chambers before reaching Set's final resting place." He hesitated and snorted. "I say 'final,'" he added sarcastically.

He glanced back at his sister who had yet to make a move and noticed the sadness in her eyes. He reached out a took her hand startling her. She met his eyes briefly before dropping them. "I will try to call the King," she said and turned away, walking through the sand and dirt back to her designated tent.

Marik watched her leave with trepidation. He could not remember the last time he saw his sister, Ishizu Ishtar, the Priestess of the Balance, cry.