The Cat's out of the Bag

The royals returned to the palace and called the first meeting of the day into order. Seto is the first to speak up. "Due to Mahad's carelessness, those lunatics Bakura and Max are more dangerous than ever. For now, they are in possession of the Millennium Ring."

Karim faces him and tells him, "Now wait, that is yet to be confirmed. For all we know, both Bakura and Max were buried under rubble when the sacred sanctuary collapsed."

"Perhaps," said Shada. "However, my Key still senses both of their presences."

Mystery turns her attention to Isis and asks her, "What does Millennia tell you about this? Is she able to show you the future? What about Bakura's?"

Isis shakes her head. "Sadly, she is not." There really was no way for any of the sacred guardians to know what was certain. All Isis knew was for Millennia to be blind to the future, the Dark Lord was keeping her from seeking his two children. But there was no way of knowing if Max and Bakura had been killed the cave-in or if they had survived. Either way, nothing was certain for now.

Seto moves closer to Atem and Mystery. "On behalf of the sacred court, I apologize for these failures." Then he turns to his comrades. "Believe me; I speak for every one of us when I say we will not disappoint you again, Pharaoh and Queen."

Isis agrees and apologizes. "I am sorry, my king and queen."

Although Mystery apprecited their apologies, she told them, "Apologies are not necessary, Isis. What we need are solutions."

"Of course, Queen Mystery," said Isis. "I shall pray for the Great Goddess to break through the darkness that conceals Max and Bakura from her visions and show me the future."

"That is all we can ask," Atem told her. Isis sighs and lowers herself to bow.

But patience wasn't a luxury any of the royals could afford at this time. The night of the full moon was drawing near. It wouldn't be until tomorrow, but they couldn't afford to take their chances. For during that night, Mystery and her daughter would be most vulnerable to attack and the Millennium Star would be up for grabs. Just as the Cobalt Star gets its strength on the moonless night, the Millennium Star becomes most strong when the night is most bright. In this case, the night of the full moon. According to legend, on the night of the full moon, the one who holds the Millennium Star must open her heart to release it so that it may grant one wish. Everyone assumed that Bakura would take this as an opportunity to claim the Millennium Star and destroy it.

Since the Millennium Items allowed their wielders to borrow Millennia's power, Bakura had control over them. Why he wanted them was still unclear to the royal family and their sacred guardians. But they knew for certain that he could not get to the princess or seize the Millennium Star. To destroy one would destroy the other. The Stars are like parasites; living off another in order to survive. It becomes the heart and soul of the person holding it once a contract is made. If the Millennium Star were to be crushed or turned into dust, the princess would be killed or vice versa.

Realizing the situation, everyone knew that Bakura and Max would be coming back to the palace. Security forces had to be increased and the city had to be inspected. After all, Bakura did have friends in high places and he could have spies roaming about in the kingdom trying to carry out the Dark Lord's wishes.

Seto asked for permission to inspect the city and investigate its inhabitants. He wasn't willing to take his chances now that Bakura was stronger in power. This was the opportunity he needed to create an army of Shadow Creatures powerful enough to oppose Diabound and the Angel of Death. Seto wasn't going to explain all the details to Atem and Mystery, however. He instead told them that the kingdom's gateways had to be sealed to keep out any intruders and that they needed to seek out any spies.

Joseph agrees and tells the king and queen, "Until we have more information, everyone is a suspect."

Atem decides to grant Seto permission to carry out his task. "Very well, then. Proceed. So let it be written, so let it be done." After that, the meeting was adjourned and the sacred guardians were dismissed.

Kisara and Freya saw that Mana was still too upset about what had happened to Mahad and agreed to give her some time to pull herself together. She didn't want to practice magic or race with her friends. The cousins felt like their team was coming apart. It was one thing when everyone grew up and started their own paths, but now everyone had a battle on their hands. The cousins couldn't just stand by and do nothing. They had to help their friends.

After saying their prayers to their friend in the tablet sanctuary, Freya and Kisara went out to the desert to search for clues on where Bakura and Max could be. Freya figured that maybe they could get all the information they needed from Luna considering that she was their closest friend.

Kisara knew where her cousin was going with this. "Please, Freya, don't continue to harbor bitter feelings for Luna."

Freya sighs of frustration. "This time, I know I'm right about her. I mean, you've got to embrace the facts, Kisara. She's not one of us. If she was, she would be fighting to help us. She may have been raised to be one of us, but she still chose the path of darkness."

Kisara sighs and turns around to face her cousin. "I'm sure Luna has her reasons for being who she is. But she'd never sell the royals to the Dark Lord." Kisara had been trying to think like a follower of Millennia and keep her enemies close. She still didn't know Luna as well as the queen did, but she still believed in her as a friend did.

Freya still had a hard time putting herself in Luna's place. Luna did have dark secrets like her, but she was keeping them safe for her own protection and not her friends'. No matter how hard Freya tried to find things she and Luna had in common, she was still able to tell the difference between Luna and herself. But how could she prove herself right without any evidence? All she and her cousin could do in the meantime was search the desert sands. If they would find Luna, they would interrogate her about Max and Bakura's objectives. But knowing Luna, she would keep silent and not share anything with the cousins. Other than that, even if they found the Millennium Ring, they would have to win it back in a Shadow Game. That was too risky for the cousins right now, so they kept cautious as they soared over the desert.

Everything at the palace was set in order for Seto's mission. Joined by Joseph and Shada and a team of soldiers, he passed through the palace gates and began passing through the city.

Joseph faces his superior and asks him, "Master Seto, do you believe that Bakura and Max still walk amongst us?"

"Of course," answered Seto. "They each control a beast with powers equal to an Egyptian God." He faces his comrades and asks, "You saw that for yourselves, did you not?" Recalling what happened at the palace, Shada and Joseph answer in a surprised expression. Seto looks away and tells them, "Mahad was a fool to face Bakura alone and that is why his spirit is now sealed. Now it is time we planned for our next battle."

"What should we do?" Shada asked.

"We must strengthen our own army of Shadow Creatures and take down those rogues. We shall accomplish this by extracting these beasts of darkness from the souls of the Egyptian people at once."

Shada couldn't believe what he just heard him say. "Seto, are you suggesting we punish the innocent? What would the pharaoh and queen say about that?"

"Shada, the very reason I am doing all this is to protect the royal family and the citizens of Egypt," he reasoned. Even though Shada and Joseph saw his amulet glow, they still didn't understand his reasons, but they couldn't bring themselves to argue with him. Still, was it wisdom or a selfish lust for power? What did Millennia see in him that they didn't? After telling the guards to halt, Seto faces Shada and remarks, "And no, I am not targeting the innocent. It is the souls of potential criminals that I shall be seeking out and punishing." Finally, he issues his order. "Guards, here is your mission. You are all to scour the kingdom. Any villager you deem suspicious of criminal activity is to be brought before me."

Meanwhile, Kisara and Freya decided that they had enough and couldn't find any leads on the thieves, so they went back to the city. Kirara was too exhausted and dehydrated from flying around so much to carry her friends back to the palace, so the cousins stopped to get some water for themselves and their guardian beasts. One of the merchants mistook Kisara for the queen and immediately gave her a bowl full of water. Freya paid the merchant and tried to explain that Kisara wasn't the queen, but soon a crowd formed around them. Everyone was asking Kisara what was going on and if they would still be safe from Cobalt's wrath. The cousins tried to escape, but people continued to surround and question them.

Seto and his team were several miles away from where the cousins were. It was actually hard to get around the city with a new suspicious figure being brought to them every few minutes. Two soldiers came back with a man with his hands tied behind him. "Go on," one soldier says, shoving the man towards Seto. "We overheard this vagrant disrespecting the royal family, sir."

"Well, that was certainly foolish of you," said Seto. He faces Shada and tells him to see into his spirit.

He holds up the Millennium Key and whispers, "Please, Great Goddess Millennia, show me what lies within this man's heart." Then it starts shining and reveals a jester of a monster. "I sense an evil spark beginning to grow."

"What damage will this one bring?" Joseph asks.

"Well, it appears harmless now, but it most certainly shows potential for greater evil."

"All right, this vagrant is useless to me. Lock him up," Seto demanded. Even if his Shadow Creature didn't have the potential Seto sought, the man was still a spy for Cobalt in his eyes and he wasn't going to let any small spark of darkness go free.

"You're making a mistake," the man cried. "Why would you waste your efforts on the likes of me? There's a much more serious threat among us, sir."

Seto understands him and tells him, "Believe me, we are all well aware of the heir of Cobalt and the Star itself and we've already taken actions to stop them."

But he was talking about something else. "I'm referring to the White and Black Dragons!"

Seto and Joseph couldn't believe what he just said. "Wh-White… and Black… Dragons?"

"It's all true! The White and Black Dragons stalk our town! They emerge by night and threaten us while we sleep!"

They can't help but assume that he's mad until they start wondering if he's talking about Reshiram and Zekrom. But as mighty and as powerful as those great dragons were, they wouldn't attack a human village. Then Seto and Joseph wonder if he's talking about the beasts of their lovers' souls. Ever since Max and Bakura's attack at the palace, the cousins had been leaving the palace every evening to search for the thieves. But they would never carelessly let their monsters loose and attack anybody unless they felt threatened or if their friends were in danger.

Finally, Seto spoke up and said, "I have heard enough. Take him away. Let's go."

"How can you lock me up and let the Dragons roam free?" the man asked as Seto turned and began walking. "You'll be sorry for this!"

Not far away, the crowd surrounding Kisara and Freya got out of hand and developed a negative atmosphere. They realized that Kisara wasn't Queen Mystery, but accused her of being an imposter. Freya tried to remind everyone that she and her cousin and their beasts were royalty, but they began jeering at her as well; calling her a witch and spreading rumors that her eyes would curse anyone who gazed into them. Unable to protect themselves any longer, the cousins lost consciousness from being beaten so much. Kirara took on the size of a big cat and tried to scare the crowd away, but they kept throwing stones and jeering.

Seto notices the crowd and asks, "What is this about?" Taking him as a true man of royalty, people move aside and show him the girls and their beasts. They don't silence themselves, however. Many of them demand for Seto to arrest and execute the cousins for their unusual appearances. Even the other Magical Creatures demand the same thing because they can sense a great power coming from the girls.

Joseph follows Seto and is distraught to see their lovers beaten like this. Seto stops him before he can set a bad example. He was just as upset as his friend, but he had to calm down and think about what to do.

"Master Seto? Joseph?" Shada asks as he approaches them. He recognizes Kisara and Freya, but before he gets down to help them, his Millennium Key starts shining again; only much brighter than before. "Wait, what's this? The powers within them, they're too strong!" Then he heard the cries of the White and Black Dragons. Shada steps back and gets down on his knees. "I've never felt such powerful spirits before. What has the Great Goddess just shown me?"

Now Seto and Joseph were concerned. They knew that sometimes their powers would get loose when the girls were unconscious. That was why the Millennium Key never sensed the Dragons until now. If this were to get out to the rest of the guardians, the girls would be in trouble. Seto and Joseph were aware of the White and Black Dragons and tried to help the cousins protect their gifts. That wouldn't change even after all that was happening now. All that mattered right now was taking care of their injuries. Seto raises his voice and makes his command. "Guards, these girls and their beasts come with us. Give them all the food and water they desire. We must hurry, men."

Now that Kisara and Freya were being taken care of, the crowd was next and Seto knew how to break it up. "And as for all of you, leave at once or we shall place every one of you in shackles." Hearing that, they all get scared and start running back to their houses.

Realizing the dangers of the cousins' secrets and knowing that they would be scolded for disobeying the queen, Seto and Joseph agree to keep quiet about what happened to them today. "Not a word about this to the pharaoh and queen," Joseph told the guards.

Seto agrees and adds, "We needn't concern them until we have a full understanding of what's going on here."

"Let us return to the palace now," they demand in unison. Kirara carries the cousins on her back and she and Sakuya follow the royals back home. Seto and Joseph were too worried about Kisara and Freya, so they decided to be the ones to look after them until they started feeling better.