Dark Secrets Discovered

After gathering information from Barasuishou, the twins finally made it to the outskirts and reached the village of Kul Elna. It was silent and eerie for them and they assumed that Bakura and Max were still on their way. Suiseiseki shuddered. "This place is a lot creepier than Barasuishou described."

Her twin sister rolled her eyes and began walking. "Oh, please."

She lies and says, "I'm not scared, all right?" But she yelps of fear feeling an ominous presence. She catches up with Souseiseki and tells her, "I just don't see why we have to be here, that's all. I mean, I know why, but why here of all places? I can see that it's creepy and it's haunted and it's the kind of place you'd expect Bakura to live in, but- oh, what am I saying?" But her frustration quickly turns back into fear as she feels the same presence. Suiseiseki grabs her sister and whimpers, "Don't worry, I'll protect you. All right?"

But Souseiseki isn't fooled by her sister's bold act. She releases herself from her grip and tells her to stay close. Suiseiseki always tried fooling all of her sisters, especially Souseiseki, into believing she wasn't really scared. Of course, none of them were convinced. They knew their sister too well and never fell for any of her acts. Despite her games and deceitful tactics, she was very shy-natured and easy to frighten.

Souseiseki feels the same presence and know something's not right. "Keep quiet and don't attract any unwanted attention. I thought we were alone, but we're not."

"But Bakura and Max aren't here," Suiseiseki told her. "And it's good that we got here before they did. We'll surprise them, rescue the princess, and escape from this place."

"Assuming that whatever's here doesn't ambush us first," said Souseiseki. "Barasuishou said that these ruins are haunted by the spirits of the villagers who lost their lives to the village's destruction. But I don't think it's the spirits I'm sensing. Something else is here, but I can't tell what it is yet." Even Lempicka and Jade Dream could sense the ominous force and were restless. But they stayed close to their human companions to protect them.

Suiseiseki speaks up and asks, "Didn't Barasuishou also mention that a dangerous monster was sealed here and that Bakura is trying to release it?"

Her sister nods. The twins were able to hear the story of what happened from Barasuishou, but not the whole truth. All the twins knew was that a terrifying monster lived in these ruins and Bakura wanted to summon it and use it to attack the city.

A voice spoke up and asked in an eerie manner, "Who goes there?" The girls get closer together and hold each other. The ominous force they were sensing appears before them as a shadow. It becomes clear and is revealed as Darkrai. Darkrai speaks to the twins and asks them, "Would you happen to be sisters of Barasuishou?"

Hearing that, Souseiseki wonders if Darkrai can help them. She gathers her courage and takes a step closer towards him. "Yes, we are. Forgive us for trespassing. I know we have no business here, but maybe you can help us."

"Help you," Darkrai softly growled.

The younger twin nods. "The royal family is in trouble. Bakura has been attacking them and trying to steal Millennia's power. We think he wants that power to open the border to the Shadow Realm like he did when the Millennium Items were created."

"That's a lie," Darkrai roared. "Bakura had nothing to do with the creation of the Millennium Items."

"Then you're not the monster," said Souseiseki.

Darkrai calms down and explains, "No, the monster was born from the will of the Dark Lord. I was bequeathed to Bakura as an egg from a village elder."

Suiseiseki hears the sound of something softly treading on the ground and looks around to see what it is. Hearing growling, she whimpers and tries to alert her sister.

But Souseiseki tells her to calm down. She refocuses her attention on Darkrai and asks him, "But if you're not the monster, what was it that tried to cross over into our world eighteen years ago?"

"I cannot reveal that to followers of Millennia such as yourselves," Darkrai told her.

The images become clear to Suiseiseki and she sees that they're Bakura's dogs. "Souseiseki," she whimpers again.

She finally gives her elder sister her attention. "What?" She asks, annoyed. In answer, Suiseiseki refocuses her attention on the dogs. They slowly approach the girls with their teeth bared. Souseiseki faces Darkrai once again. "Well, thank you anyway. We'll just go now."

"Go?" asked Darkrai. "I think not. I have orders from my master not to harm Barasuishou. But I cannot deny my comrades fresh meat when in wanders so willingly into our domain. Even if you are Barasuishou's sisters." He chuckles and sinks below the ground.

With nothing but their Magical Creatures, the twins were unable to defend themselves. Being a water attribute monster, Jade Dream's attacks could weaken Houndoom and Arcanine and Lempicka's bug-type attacks could easily overwhelm Mightyena. But the dogs were fully evolved beasts and could defeat the twins' guardians in a single move. Nonetheless, they fought with everything they had and helped the girls to escape.

The battle wasn't working well in their favor, however. As the twins feared, the dogs defeated their Magical Creatures. The dogs weren't even tired and could still fight. The girls were completely unprotected now. They were unskilled in magic and had no weapons in possession. They also knew for certain that no one was coming to rescue them.

But just when the dogs were about to pounce on the girls and turn them into a late night snack, they were all pushed back. The twins opened their eyes and saw what looked like a swordsman and a magician standing in front of them. They didn't know how or why, but they had succeeded in summoning their own Shadow Creatures. They were small and cautious, just like the twins, but they had secret powers that helped them to become strong. Just like the twins needed to gather their own courage, their Shadow Creatures could grow strong in the same way.

Suiseiseki's monster, Silent Magician, launched a wave of blue magic at the dogs and Souseiseki's monster, Silent Swordsman, raised his halberd and waved it not to attack, but to drive the three canines away. With the dogs running back to Kul Elna, the twins were free to head back to the palace and tell everyone what they found out.

The fight wasn't over yet, however. The twins had another opponent to face. To their surprise, it was Suiguintoh. Instead of warmly welcoming her sisters or showing concern for them, she scowls at them. "Don't you two know better than to wander the desert at night?" She asks with mock concern.

They face her in shock. "Suiguintoh?" gasped Suiseiseki. "Get out of here and save yourself or the dogs will attack you too!"

Suiguintoh just chuckles. "You two should be more concerned about yourselves."

"What's the matter with you?" asked Suiseiseki. "Don't you realize that you're in danger too?"

But only Souseiseki saw through that devilish smile. "Wait. Don't tell me. You serve Bakura?"

Suiguintoh smiles again. "Well, it looks like my secret's been found out. You know, I wish I could let you two go. You're my sisters, after all. But knowing you, you're too loyal and can't keep any secrets. I'm afraid you've found out too much and for that, I'll have to severely punish you."

The twins hold each other and gaze at their eldest sister in fear. "But why?"

A red violet light surrounds Suiguntoh and her eyes glow also. "It's not my fault. I'm just carrying out my master's orders. I can't let any eavesdroppers or spies go free and let any unwanted information get out. So now, I must condemn you both to the Shadow Realm on my master's behalf." Her soft chuckle turns into a sinister laugh as her own Shadow Creature, Black Rose Dragon, emerges and roars. This creature was born out of Suiguintoh's jealousy towards her sisters and wanting of her father's affection. Ever since she could remember, all Suiguintoh ever wanted was to be embraced by her father and for him to recognize her. But she had not received the same affection the rest of her sisters received from him until his death. Suiguintoh swore on her father's deathbed not to let disaster or tragedy befall her sisters. But her servitude for Bakura meant going back on her promise. The twins knew just as much, which was why they kept trying to reason with their eldest sister.

Silent Swordsman and Silent Magician kept defending themselves and avoiding Black Rose Dragon's attacks. Even the sisters started fighting amongst themselves. Souseiseki pushes her twin aside, making Suiguintoh come for her instead. "Why are you doing this," Souseiseki asked as her sister jumped on her.

"I told you," Suiguintoh groaned, "I don't have a choice."

Sensing a tone of remorse in her response, Souseiseki tries again. "You don't have to live like this, Suiguintoh. Come back to the palace with us and we can be a family again."

Suiguintoh looks at her sister with that same sense of regret. She didn't want to go back on her promise, but she couldn't disobey her master either. Would it even matter? Her father was gone and she would never see him again or ever gain the affection she craved from him. She wouldn't even be scolded. She wouldn't be ignored either. But that didn't change the way Suiguintoh felt towards him. She releases the tears in her eyes and whispers her apologies. She also gets down and kisses her sister's forehead. Black Rose Dragon attacks again and defeats the Silent Swordsman; sending Souseiseki to the Shadow Realm. Suiseiseki is in so much shock; she doesn't realize that her Silent Magician is in striking range until Black Rose Dragon begins to attack again. Instead of calling her Magician back to save herself, Suiseiseki lets the Dragon attack her; allowing her to join her sister in the Realm of Shadows.

Suiguintoh felt great remorse sending her sisters to the Shadow Realm. But how could she convince herself that there had to be another way? If Bakura found out she had betrayed him, he would send her to the Shadow Realm. But would it be possible for her to rescue her sisters? If there was a way and until she could do it, she had to keep following her master's orders. So she called back her Dragon and took Lempicka and Jade Dream back with her to Kul Elna.