Bitter Rivalry

"Careful, Pharaoh," Shada groaned as he came to the bottom of the stairs. "Aknadin is a traitor." Ignoring his pain from his attacks, Shada approached Aknadin in an attempt to take back his Millennium Key. He grabbed him, but couldn't keep a grip.

"Release me," Aknadin demanded as he pushed him aside. "Anyone else?"

Jirachi approached Shada to aid him. "Aknadin, what is the meaning of this?" He firmly asked with the attitude of a prince. "Have you gone mad?"

"A new king shall soon rise," the old man softly announced.

Seto knew where his master was going with this. "Hold your tougne! How dare you utter such venomous words! And in the presence of the great pharaoh, no less!"

"Silence!" the old man demanded. Suddenly, everyone found themselves immobile. Standing behind them, Dusknoir was using Psychic to control their movements and keep them still. Feeling all the psychic energy around them, they groaned and felt like they were being crushed. "This should hold you for a while; long enough for me to complete what Bakura and Max couldn't."

"Why are you doing this?" Seto asked as his Millennium Rod was taken from him. "Do you dare betray Millennia? She lends you her power and you show your gratitude by using it for evil?"

The old man chuckled in an evil manner. "Betray Millennia?" he echoes as he seizes Isis' Millennium Necklace. "It was Millennia who betrayed us. For years, we have all served her, and for what? She showed us her appreciation for our servitude by letting us suffer under Cobalt's wrath," he said, although he knew it wasn't necessarily true. "But now we can take advantage of the matter; by giving ourselves to the Dark Lord and allowing him to fill the land with darkness. It's only fair for us after all that we had suffered because of that traitorous goddess." Then he began placing the Millennium Items in the Millennium Stone as he continued ranting about the fall of Atem's empire and starting over in a new age. The old man even removed his Millennium Eye; completing the process and opening the border between the world and the Realm of Shadows.

"Master Zorc, hear me," cried Aknadin, "I now offer you the seven treasures of the Great Goddess Millennia!"

Everyone was still frozen by the effects of Dusknoir's Psyichic, but they felt the pulse of evil below their feet and surrounding them as it was filling not only the shrine, but the rest of the land. Now that the border had been opened, the mighty beast born from the will of the Dark Lord had been released. But after being trapped in his world for so long, his power was still incomplete. He would not fully cross over into the human world until he had been fully restored. For now, all the Dark One could do was lend a little bit of his strength on his father's behalf.

Zorc's shadow appeared above the Stone and his voice was heard. "So the mortal responsible for creating the Millennium Items has returned. Now prove your loyalty to the shadows by denouncing your allegiance to Millennia. Do this and everything you desire shall be yours."

Aknadin swore his loyalty to the darkness and said his wish. "The only thing I wish is for a new pharaoh to be named. He shall be my own beloved son Seto!"

Seto couldn't believe what he had just heard. He didn't like the sound of Aknadin to try and make him replace Atem, but for his own master to be his long lost father? Seto was told by his mother that his father left him to take part in the wars and was lost. But after moving to the palace, Seto found his father and didn't realize it was him. The thought never even came to him when Aknadin insisted on taking Seto as his student.

"Very well," growled Zorc. "You are now a true follower of the Dark Lord. Now use your shadow powers to banish that son of Millennia to the darkness so that your son may take the throne." As shadows surrounded Aknadin, he took on a beasty form with red hair and dark clothes and became known as the Great Shadow Negas, one of Cobalt's knights.

The wicked knight cackled. "There's something else you should know, my son," he was telling Seto, "the former pharaoh, King Aknamkanon, was my brother. That means, should anything happen to the current pharaoh as well as his family, you must inherit the throne."

Jirachi was shocked as he was listening to the monster's words. Was this fiend going to kill Atem and his wife and daughter just so Seto could become king? Doesn't he realize that they're his family too? To Jirachi, it didn't sound right or fair. The princess was just brought into the world and it wouldn't be fair if she was removed from it so soon. Other than that, Jirachi remembered how much Aknadin spent most of his time guiding and training Mystery as well as the rest of her friends and how he was so kindhearted towards every one of them; even how loyal he was to the royal family. Why after all these years would he attack his own family? Jirachi wondered. Then he knew that for such a caring man to become a heartless monster, it had to be Cobalt's bidding. Bakura and Max must have unlocked the hidden jealousy Aknadin always felt towards his brother and the incredible guilt he must have harbored after giving up his family. Thinking about all of that made Jirachi feel great pity towards Aknadin, thinking how sad it must have been for the old man to leave what was precious to him for the loyalty of his king and country. But as much as he pitied Aknadin, Jirachi had to find a way to free himself and his friends before Aknadin could attack them. So he began using his own psychic powers to find something to blind Dusknoir.

"Seto, my boy, no longer shall we live in the shadow of my brother," said Aknadin. "The time has come for us to rise up and take our rightful place on the throne of Egypt." Then he began creating dark magic, but before he could launch the attack, Jirachi lifted a small rock and used it to blind Dusknoir, freeing everyone from his Psychic and allowing them to dodge Aknadin's attack. Mana grabbed Jirachi to hug him in gratitude and Isis held on to Karim, who was still feeling weak from the Shadow Game with Bakura and Max. Seto and Atem also told Jirachi how grateful they were to him for saving them.

"This has to stop now, Aknadin," says Jirachi. He frees himself from Mana's grip and approaches the wicked knight. "I can't stand that the kind old man my friends and I knew would give himself to the Dark Lord and attack his friends and even his own family. What good will come from fulfilling your selfish ambitions of making Seto king? And if you are his father, you should be helping him to fulfill his own wishes instead of making him carry out your own. And if you are the brother of our former leader, then understand that his children are your family also; including the princess and queen."

"Queen?" asked Aknadin. "There is no queen!" he roared. "Mystery was never deserving of being queen. She is nothing more than a daughter of a traitorous goddess who wanted nothing more than power. As I understand, her little daughter is destined to follow in her mother's footsteps and fulfill Millennia's wishes, but I refuse to allow that child to bring more pain and suffering on her behalf. That is why I want my son to take the throne and return Egypt to its glory as we begin a new age."

Frustrated, Jirachi finds that he's not going to break through to the old man. He sighs and turns his attention to Seto. "Seto, I can't help but find Aknadin's words about being your father true. But he has surrendered himself to the Dark Lord. So I'm afraid that the kindhearted man we all once knew no longer exists. The monster standing in front of us is no longer your father, but a puppet of Cobalt."

"I know, Jirachi," said Seto. Not even he could believe that this wicked knight was his father. Seto knew that his father was a follower of Millennia and would never betray her or her family. He had even already made it clear to Aknadin that he vowed to protect Atem and the rest of his family. But although Seto knew his place and wanted to stand by his word, Aknadin wouldn't stop convincing him to take his word.

At the same time, Atem, who had a close friendship with Seto and now finally realizing that the two were cousins, was trying to keep Seto from drifting away. Agreeing with Jirachi, he tells Seto the same thing. "Don't make the same mistake as your father and drift into the shadows. Fight by my side so that we may restore peace to Egypt."

"Like father, like son," the Great Shadow Negas growled. "I heard my brother utter the very same words when he was pharaoh."

"Perhaps you should have listened to him," Atem growled back.

"My brother didn't understand the first thing about leading this kingdom. In fact, his idealistic vision nearly destroyed Egypt." As Aknadin explains his story, his memories start coming into mind. He remembered that he was responsible for the safety of the citizens while his brother was responsible for managing the country. That was why he was so determined to fight back as the enemy started drawing near into the kingdom.

But King Aknamkanon refused to let Aknadin have his way. "For the last time, Egypt will only fight as a last resort."

But Aknadin had already positioned many soldiers to attack. Even their friends, the members of Council Rock, were fighting to protect their land. "It's the only way to defend ourselves from invasion. If we don't act now, they'll destroy us."

"That's enough," his brother scolded. "You've overstepped your bounds." Aknadin said nothing. He instead sighed. Sensing his brother's frustration, the king explained calmy, "Aknadin, please understand, I want what's best for the people of Egypt, but I will not accept violence as the answer. There must be a peaceful solution to dealing with our neighbors." This time, he sighs and shares his personal ideal. "Call me naïve and old-fashioned, but I believe that one day, Millennia's wishes will be fulfilled and we will forever live in harmony. And I need you to help me to fulfill her wishes."

Even though Aknadin promised that he would help, he still trusted his own instincts and decided to fight back. He knew that the only way to save the country their Great Goddess called home was by calling on her for help. And he found the answer: her spells and secrets. Knowing that he and his friends lacked the strength and will necessary to use the Millennium Star, they found that the only way to save their kingdom was by borrowing her power through her sacred treasures. But the Millennium Items had to be built first, so the ritual was performed in the outskirts and the royals were ready to save their beloved kingdom. But Aknadin still became bitter because he was not recognized for his efforts and his brother alone received the credit for their victory. He felt as though Millennia's light was not shining down on him and that was when he decided that one day, he would serve the Dark Lord and get back at Millennia for abandoning him.

After hearing the story, Atem and the others found themselves to finally be understanding of Aknadin's bitterness. But none of them coud find themselves to pity him or show any sense of the long-awaited gratitude they thought he was expecting of them. "Aknadin, I understand that if it hadn't been for you, the Millennium Items would not exist. But then neither would these tragedies. Don't you see? Although borrowing Millennia's power saved us from one enemy, performing her ritual came rise to an even greater enemy: releasing the mighty beast born from the will of the Dark Lord," said Atem.

"Exactly! And now he can finish what I began by letting a new king take the throne. You fools will never understand what I've been through. I devoted my life to my brother as well as Millennia and received nothing in return from either of them."

"No, you're wrong," Jirachi argued. But instead of explaining how he knew, he added, "but you're too blind to see it." Jirachi knew that Aknadin had received many things from his brother and the Egytian Gods, but found that there was no point in explaining it to a monster with so much evil and darkness inside of him.

But the wicked knight continued to debate. "Do you have any idea what I've given up all those years ago? My wife and my only son just so I could save this kingdom." He turns his attention to Seto and tells him directly, "And even though I abandoned you, Mystery herself found you and brought you back to me. Don't you see? It was your destiny to reenter the palace and rise to greatness."

Seto was no longer rendered immobile by Dusknoir's Psychic, but remained frozen as stone as he was hearing all that Aknadin was saying. When I first moved into the palace after Mystery helped me, I pledged my loyalty to the royal family and devoted my life as a follower of the Great Goddess Millennia. There were other orphans my age and five other sacred members of the royal court, but Aknadin spent most of his time training me and now I know why, Seto wondered as he began looking back on his first days of training under his master. Because secretly he knew I was his son. It was true. As Aknadin continued to look after Seto and train him to become one of the finest followers of Millennia, he knew that the boy he took as his student was the son he abandoned all those years ago. And deep down, Seto wondered if it was the same reason Aknadin took him as his student in the first place. He secretly wondered if he was his lost father.

"You were destined for greatness since the day you were born, my son," said Aknadin. "Which is precisely why your path keeps crossing with the White and Black Dragons. You were destined to wield their powers."

As Seto remained frozen, he began speaking like he was in a trance. "Perhaps he's right. I should rule as pharaoh and the White and Black Dragons will help me. It's all true." Seto had always been certain of what he desired just as he knew his place with the royals. But with so much pressure being put on him and all that he was hearing, the heart's darkest desires were strongest in the dark domain. Seto's lustful desires that he kept buried inside were beginning to be released.

Seeing Seto look so conflicted, Atem knew he had to help his best friend. At the same time, he knew of Seto's love for Kisara and knew he would never do anything to hurt her. Atem knew that Seto would never want to do anything to hurt Freya either. Knowing that the White and Black Dragons lived in their souls, sealing them away meant sending the girls to the shadows. "Listen to me," Atem tells Aknadin, "your false promises have gone too far. So stop lying to your son and set him free." But as Atem tries to bring Seto to his senses, Aknadin pushses him away with his dark magic.

Seto finally unfreezes as he sees the attack. "Tell me the truth! Why do you plan this, Father?"

The wicked knight answers him and tells him, "Because I want you to experience what I never had: power and respect. And when Zorc arrives, that's exactly what you'll receive. Once he arrives to envelop the land in shadows, you will reign in this kingdom."

As the pressure continued to build up on Seto, he slowly began to drift into the darkness and lose himself to his father's demands. "I shall reign," Seto said in a hypnotized manner. "I must join him."

"Yes, take your place beside me, my son," the wicked knight said as he appreciated Seto's obedience.

"Yes, Father." But before he could approach the Great Shadow Negas, Seto stopped and gasped as he heard the familiar cry of the White Dragon. He wondered if Kisara was in danger. But then he wondered something else entirely. Being the beast of Kisara's soul, it was able to guide her as well as protect her. Perhaps the White Dragon sensed that Kisara's friends were in danger and alerted her to help them. After all, Kisara always summoned the White Dragon to protect her loved ones.

Atem and the rest of the royals keep begging Seto to listen to them. "He's under the control of an evil force and if you join him, you'll lose yourself to the shadows as well. Stay with us."

"No, they're lying," Aknadin protested. "The pharaoh is threatened by your power and is trying to bring you down. Don't end up like I did when my brother took all the glory and left me in his shadow."

"That's enough!" cried a familiar voice. Feeling an ominous presence, everyone sees smoke surrounding the Millennium Stone. As it clears, Max and Bakura's shapes become visible. "Ah, it's good to be back in the game," said Bakura. "And it looks like we're just in time to witness the grand finale: the arrival of Zorc and the pharaoh's final performance."

Under the impression that everyone is wondering why the two thieves returned, Max decides to tell them, "After observing all that's been going on, it seems our new servant can't handle the competition. So we've stepped in to correct that."

"I just needed-"

Max interrupts Aknadin and wonders, "Let me guess, you just needed a little more time, is that it?"

"I was close!"

"Yes, close to being defeated," sneered Bakura. "Why don't you let us focus on the pharaoh? You have other things to do like convincing that son of yours to join you in serving the Dark Lord."

"You mustn't listen to them," begged Jirachi. "You're our friend and you belong with us, Seto."

"On the contrary," Max was saying, "When the age of shadows is ushered in, there will be a king needed to rule the darkness. Someone who possess a great power." She faces Seto and tells him directly that he's the one. "You have been chosen to wield a power that rivals that of the Egyptian Gods. The combined power of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" But Bakura and Max never had any intention of making Seto the ruler of the shadows. This was all just a scheme to break the spirits of him and his friends and grow in power.

Hearing what Max just said, Shada remembered what he found out yesterday. "She means Lady Kisara and Lady Freya!" he gasped.

Jirachi faces him and asks, "You knew about this?"

He nods and explains his story. "Just yesterday, Seto and Joseph and I saw the two cousins being attacked in the city. As we tried to help them, the Great Goddess showed me that they each possessed an incredible power like none I had ever seen. Kisara and Freya each possess a powerful gift - or perhaps a powerful curse. Either way, their powers mustn't fall into the wrong hands."

"Or else what?" Bakura wondered. "You might lose your control over the Egyptian people? Look, the fact is that although Zorc is weak, he will be granted full power and none of you can do a thing to stop it. Now, let's see if Seto is intelligent enough to take his father's advice and join the winning side."

The wicked knight agrees and tries once again to persuade Seto to join him. "Listen to reason. If you side with the pharaoh, you'll be throwing away your future. Don't you see? You were born to be a leader."

"You're right," Seto mumbled.

"Don't do this, Seto!" Jirachi begged.

"Silence!" barked Max. "You have bigger things to worry about now!" Then she and Bakura raise their left arms and activate their diadianks, calling Diabound and the Angel of Death. "As you can see, now that all seven treasures of the Great Goddess Millennia are in their resting place, their power flows through the course of our monsters' veins; making them stronger than ever!" That wasn't the only benefit they gained. Thanks to the limitless powers the two beasts possessed, tablets were no longer required to summon them. They were still bound to their humans, but no longer contained like many other Shadow Creatures.

Aknadin approaches Seto and softly growls, "Look into my eye and see your destiny. You shall be king."

"Don't listen to him," Isis begged. "Just as Jirachi said, you belong with us and you know it."

Shada agreed. "Seto, you're a follower of the Great Goddess Millennia. Don't you remember the vow that you made to protect the royal family?"

Jirachi tried again. "If you pledge your allegiance to the Dark Lord, you'll be making the same mistake your father made!"

But Seto wasn't responding to any of his friends' cries. Atem thought that maybe he could bring Seto to his senses just as he always had, so he took his chance and cried out to his friend. "Seto, wake up, my brother! You're being controlled!"

His eyes widened. "Brother?" It worked. The two became best friends immediately after they first met as children. Since then, they became closer together as more than just friends, but also brothers. Even today, now that they realized they truly were family, that was all the more reason Atem had to save Seto. But at the same time, that newfound secret didn't really seem to matter. No, what mattered most of all was the bond the two shared as friends. But they were still brothers to each other; sons of the same goddess. They were always helping each other in every challenge and working together to complete every task.

Aknadin growls once again. "I've had enough of your meddling!" Using his shadow magic, he creates a dark portal and takes Seto with him as he passes through. Atem tries to follow, but the cobra part of Diabound blocks his path, leaving the portal to close.

"Sorry, Pharaoh," said Max, "It's family only."

Bakura speaks up and says, "What we've done to Seto, it's time we did with the Millennium Stone. Get it out of your reach!" He snaps his fingers and the ground below begins to quake. The Millennium Stone also starts sinking below the ground and takes the seven Items with it. "Sorry, Pharaoh, but we can't take any more chances; not when Zorc's arrival is upon us!" Then he and Max tell their monsters to darken the room. The thieves weren't going to fight. They just wanted to continue to have fun torturing their victims.