In The Dark of The Night

By Sailor Phoenix1997

It was late at night when the group stopped. All the rooms around them were bare save for a few paintings like the ones in Sara's book hanging on the walls. In one was a painting of the mermaid princess Kisara herself. Despite her objections Mokuba and Noah insisted that Sara and the ancient princess were exact twins. Mohad had taken the first watch but Mana and Sara sat up until the others were asleep. Mahad leaned against a wall as Mana leaned closer to Sara.

"Our step-father told us your little secret," Mana said quietly. Sara looked at her inquiringly. "You being a mermaid. And we can talk about it freely you know." Sara didn't respond to Mana. "I'm one too. Aparently my parents were both mer-folk. Mahad saw me change." Sara's eyes widened.

"Did Uncle Max tell you what that means?" Mana nodded. "And Mahad's fine with this?"

"Yep. We're not blood-related you know." Sara smiled and shook her head.

"So what're your powers Mana?"

"I've got light. Mahad's got shadows and that stuff. Step-Dad said that made us our own Yin and Yang. The other half of each other." Sara chuckled to herself.

"Sounds like something Uncle Max would say. Wait did you say Mahad's got powers too?"

"Yep. But I'm not a merman. I'm a sorcerer. That's all." Sara smiled at her godbrother.

"You're sure your fine with this?"

"Definately. I don't mind being married to Mana. Just like you with Kaiba. Anyway. You sure he's fit to-" Sara cut him off with a hand. She turned towards the four sleeping boys.

"I know you're awake Seto. Get over here." Seto sat up between Mokuba and Noah.

"How did you know?"

"I heard from one of your maids. When you pretend to sleep your right eye'll twitch." Seto placed a hand over his eye before getting up and taking a seat next to Sara.

"What's going on here?"

"Oh nothing. Nothing at all." Sara raised her hand. "Yea Sara?"

"Shhh." The light sound of scuffling like crabs on stones came from the hall from which they came. Sara snapped herself up as Mahad readied his Staff. "Millennium Summoner. Duel Mode!" The feathers extended and ripped through her arm sock leaving the blue scraps on the floor. Mana raised her Millennium Scepter.

"Let me shed some light on the situation." The end of her Scepter glowed bright pink as she directed it at the hallway. Sara growled as small black scorpions covered the walls and floor.

"THis is bad. Even if we manage to destroy a bunch of them a few could get right past us and hurt the others."

"Not if we burn them first." Mahad raised his Staff. "ARDOR!" A large bunch of them burst into flames. Sara's stomach churned as they curled up in the flames and disappeared into ash. She raised her right hand nonetheless and shot a bolt of lightning at the scorpions. Sara raised her Summoner.

"I Summon You! Illusion Magician!" The devolved form of Dark Magician appeared before them. "Mahad! I'm going to merge you and the Illusion Magician! Alright?" Mahad nodded. "Now! Millennium Scales!" THe Scales popped out of place and grew to full size. Sara grabbed them in midair and raised them towards Mahad. "Merge Mahad and the Illusion Magician!" Gold orbs of light encircled the both of them and came together as one. Once it dispersed the Dark Magician stood before them. Mana whistled through her teeth.

"You should dress like that more often."

"I'd rather not Mana."

"Can we save it for later? Mahad! THe Dark Magician requires your own magical power and energy to attack! I can't keep you in this form for long without you possibly going into a coma!" Sara shouted.

"Then why?"

"You alone set a lot of the scorpions on fire! I got a few more and the Dark Magician can probably hit more than us!"

"And what you don't hit will have to get by the Millennium Rod and myself," Seto said as he took off the bottom to reveal the sharp, pointed end. Mahad nodded. He pointed his Staff and took a deep breath.

"ARDOR!" More scorpions burst into flame.

"SUSPENDISSE CONSEQUAT!" Water rushed over the burning scorpions on the floor. THe only ones left were scaling the walls. Sara turned the Summoner back to normal mode and the effects of the Illusion Magician disappeared from Mahad. He landed shakily on his feet. Mana held him tightly as she helped him sit down. Blood-red irises glowed in the shadows. "Now that wasn't nice. My scorpions are defenseless. Much like you scorcerer over there." Mana hid Mahad's face with her hair. Sara growled under her breath.

"Olivander."

"Nice to see you remember me Seth," Olivander said with a sneer.

"Seto. There's an O not an H. Close though," Seto said as the Millennium Rod's Eye glowed. Olivander's sneer turned to a cruel smile.

"Speaking of spelling perhaps I should teach the spellcaster over there what happens when one messes with my pets."

"Like that'll happen!" Sara drew a bow with her left hand and snatched it out of the air. She drew an arrow from the end to her ear with her right hand. She let go of the arrow as quickly as she'd made it. Olivander grabbed it just inches from his chest and held it in his right hand.

"Nice try little sister," he said as he snapped it in two, "But my powers over the years have gotten far stronger than you can possibly imagine." Sara tapped her foot on the floor.

"I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what?"

"THis is always the part where the villian reveals his or her evil plan then lets the heros slip through their fingers." Olivander looked over at Seto.

"Is she always like this?" Seto shook his head.

"Only when she's irritated. And being awake all night tonight, your Duel last night, forcing her to use her powers and sleep on the hard ground and you threatening the people she cares about would do that."

"Enough talk! I've had enough of you and your freaks!" Mana screamed. She set Mahad against the wall and stood in front of him. She raised her Scepter and shot a burst of power at Olivander. Seto stabbed the wall and wiped some bits of scorpion shell off his Rod. Olivander raised his hand as the sphere of golden light came close. It froze just an inch from his hand. He narrowed his eyes and the sphere turned black. Sara bared her teeth with a snarl. She sounded so much like her dragon Seto was almost certain that it was standing behind him.

"Is that the best you can do little one?" Mana clenched her teeth. Seto backed away a little. He knew how much damage Sara could do when she was mad but two girls with magic powers was a little more than he could handle.

"How about you just go back to the skies? THat's the place where phycopathic freaks like you belong!" Sara said pointing the end of her bow at Olivander. A spark of lightning jumped from her hand and formed another arrow.

"Now that's just hurtful sis."

"That does it! I normally wwouldn't try to kill anyone but for you I'll make an exception!" She knocked her arrow and let it go. It sang as it split the air and sparked with power. Mana shot another blast of her power but Olivander split the arrow again and the sphere of light was absorbed into the dark one. OLivander looked directly at Mana with a cold look in his eyes that made Mana shiver with fear.

"I suppose I should thank you. Now that I've got enough power to... Let's say 'Take care of' these annoyances. How about we start with the one who took care of most of my scorpions?" The sphere turned to a bow and a quiver on Olivander's back with four arrows inside it. He took aim at Mahad, who was trying to get to his feet.

Olivander let go of the arrow. THe TWANG filled the hall. Mana screamed and the light in the hall stopped instantly. Sara heard Mana's name from Mahad and a cruel laugh from Olivander. Sara made another arrow and aimed it at Olivander. THe light from the bolt made enough that the whole group could be seen. Sara turned her attention to Mana and Mahad. Mana had thrown herself between Mahad and the arrow. She had her eyes clenched shut and she clung to Mahad like he was her lifeline. Sara slowly moved in front of Mana and Mahad.

"Just try that with me," she growled. Mana whimpered behind her. Olivander shrugged and walked back to where he came. "DOn't walk away from me!" Sara let go of her arrow and heard the snap of it breaking.

"Nice try little sister. But until next time I wish you the best of luck with your little friend." Sara snarled and muttered a stream of curses under her breath.