Episode 42: Dark Path Part 1

Oblivion is sitting on his throne in a dark room. A figure appears in front of him, kneeling. The figure, who is actually Scourge, says, "You requested my presence my Lord?"

Oblivion says, "Yes my servant. It is time that we make our move."

Scourge questions, "You mean with Seto?"

"Yes. He has been deprived of his brother for long enough. I believe that he is ripe for the picking. You will trap him and bring him here."

"Of course my Lord. But are you sure that he is the one we want?"

"Yes. I am absolutely sure. He would do anything for his brother, he has darkness in his heart, and he has a dislike of our of our enemy, Yuni Oha, or in this case, Yugi Muto. Not to mention, he is an heir of Yugoha. I know Seto better than he even knows himself. He shall join us. Whether he wants to or not. Move out now Scourge."

"Yes sir."

Seto is walking through the city. Suddenly overhead storm clouds roll in, thunder sound, and lightening strikes. He thinks, Curious. There were no mentions of a storm in the weather forecast. In the illumination of a bolt of lightening, Seto sees a giant serpentine figure. Is that what I think it is? Seto starts to run towards it. Upon getting closer to it he sees Yugi dueling Tyrant and Chronos entering the old apartment building. That monster…its power, it's just like my Quantus! It would appear that I'm not the only one with one of this Yugohan Lords. Yuni's been holding out on me. Seto turns around and starts to walk away. I don't have time to worry about this. I have to figure out were that scum bag who took my brother is.

Seto taps his KC emblem on his chest and says aloud, "This Kaiba Ossius, requesting status update on the search for the duelist registered as Scourge."

After a couple seconds, a hesitant voice answers, "Greetings, sir. I am sorry to inform you that no information has been uncovered."

Seto looks angry. He says, "Please tell me, how is it possible that every single Duel Gauntlet in the entire world is linked through the Kaiba Corp. mainframe, and yet you can't track down one measly duelist?"

After a couple seconds, the person answers, "Well sir…um…it's just that…he doesn't show up on our trackers."

Seto says with anger, "Well than, maybe you should be trying to fix that! I do not tolerate failure. And you are failing me right now. There is no way that someone can use a Duel Gauntlet system without being tracked. So why don't you get into the system and figure out what's wrong!"

The voice says again, this time confused, "Um…sir?"

"What?"

"A duelist registered as Scourge has just appeared on our scanners!"

"What! Were is he!? Tell me!?"

"He's…across the street from you."

Seto looks up, and sure enough, across the street, he sees a cloaked figure. The figure raises his hand and beckons, as if to call Seto over. Seto says, "I'm going to pursue the target! Do not cut communications, do not lose target on tracker! That is an order! This is a priority one target!"

"Yes sir!"

Scourge runs behind an building. Seto runs across the street in pursuit. He also turns and runs behind the building. Seto demands, "Give me verbal instructions! If that guy ever leaves my line of sight, tell me where he is!"

The person says, "Sir, he made a left at the building straight ahead!" Seto turns left. "Now he cut into the alleyway to your immediate right." Seto banks right. He exit's the alley and enters into an almost deserted plaza. Scourge is nowhere to be seen.

Seto demands, "Quickly, where is he!?"

The response is regretful, "I'm sorry sir…he vanished from our radar. He's gone."

"He's gone!? He's gone!? People don't just disappear! He's somewhere, and I suggest you figure out where!" Seto frantically looks around. There is only one other person in the plaza. It is a girl wearing a white gown with a hood. It's the same girl that Yuni bumped into before he had his vision of Yugoha. The girl appears to be nervously looking for something. Seto walks up to her and begins to place his hand on her shoulder. He says, "Excuse me ma'am, have you seen someone wearing a black cloak run through-" As he makes contact with her shoulder, there is a flash of light.

Seto is standing in some sort of elegant room. Standing in front of him is Prince Seto of Yugoha, and Celestia, the girl from Yuni's last vision. Seto demands, "What is this? Why am I here?" The two show no response, as if he wasn't there. Seto says angrily, "I refuse to be ignored, I am Seto Ossius!" Still no response. Seto tries to tap Prince Seto on the shoulder, but his hand goes right through him, as if he wasn't there. Seto says, "I must be hallucinating again. Wonderful, this is just what I need."

Prince Seto says, "Enough standing around. Why have you come here Celestia? I am busy running a nation at war."

Celestia says, "I am sorry my prince. I have been journeying across the Yugohan Empire for several weeks now. Everywhere I go it's the same. Your people are tired of war. We've been at war for over five years now. Please, can you not see that you are destroying the Empire?"

Prince Seto looks away. "No Celestia. It is not I who destroy Yugoha. It is the wretched Yu-Gi-Oh. I am the rightful heir to the throne. My brother is too shortsighted to see that. He is weak! He can not rule this empire. You know that I care for you Celestia, and your advice means the galaxy to me, but I can not end this war anymore than you could."

Celestia looks down. She says, "Please, Seto. You and your brother where both picked for the throne. When Chronos stated his reasons for choosing your brother, it was for his honor, leadership, compassion, and skill. Quantus claimed to choose you for your chivalry, loyalty, ingenuity, and strength. You both have the skills to rule! There is a reason you where both chosen. Think about it! Apart you each have great abilities, but together, you would make the perfect Emperor! Maybe you weren't both picked because you where meant to battle. Maybe you were both picked so that you could both rule. Please sir…please Seto, I beg you with all my heart. End this war. I just talked to Prince Yu-Gi-Oh, and-"

Prince Seto, sounding outraged, says, "What!? You spoke Yu-Gi-Oh!? What is this treachery!? How dare you go behind my back!? This is treason! Get out of my sight!"

Celestia cowers, "But…sir-"

"Get out!"

Celestia starts to cry. "But Seto…I love you…I would never try to harm you."

"And I thought that I loved you, but you are a traitor. No loyal citizen of Yugoha would conspire with Yu-Gi-Oh! Leave this place! And know this, it is only because of our…history that I don't punish you further. Get out before I change my mind."

Celestia continues to cry and slowly walks out. As she exits, she says, "I meant no harm. I only do what is best for the Empire…and what is best for you."

After she leaves a single tear falls from Prince Seto's eye.

There is another flash of light and Seto is back were he was before the vision, still placing his hand on the mysterious woman's shoulder. As if no time has passed since Seto's vision started, she reacts to his tap and turns around. Only her mouth can be seen under her hood, and it opens in shock as she gasps. She frantically looks to the left and than to the right. She runs off out of sight. Seto, just starting to get his bearings back, says "Wait, no! Come back!" But it is too late. He says to himself, "What was that? Am I going crazy?"

A voice behind Seto says, "I'm sure you would like to know the answer to both of those questions. I'm sorry I can't help you with the second, but I think I can answer the first."

Seto turns around quickly, and standing there behind him is Scourge. He shouts, "You! Give me back my brother!"

Scourge says in a playful voice, "Don't worry Seto. I come as a friend."

"That's what you said after you kidnapped my brother! Tell me where he is!"

Scourge shakes his head back and forth. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Calm down Seto. In fact," Scourge raises his arm and places his hand over Seto's forehead, "sleep." Seto's body goes limp and he falls to the ground. Scourge says jokingly, "I'm so glad that you're finally listening to me Seto. This partnership may work out after all."

Seto reawakens and finds himself lying on the floor of a dark room. He squints, in order to see in the darkness and after his eyes adjust he notices two people, one sitting in a throne-like chair, and the other standing beside him. Seto demands, "What is this place!? Why have you brought me here!?"

The standing figure, who is actually Scourge, steps towards Seto and says, "I brought you here to help you Seto. Please, do not be angry."

"Why wouldn't I be angry!? First you kidnapped my brother, and now you kidnap me! You're insane!"

Scourge makes a bashful pose. "Why Seto, thank you. That means so much to me."

Seto looks towards the figure on the throne and asks, "And who are you, the lord of the maniacs?"

The figure says, "I am Oblivion, the Dark Lord. You shall not mock me."

"Why am I here?"

Scourge says, "You're the one who asked what that vision you saw was."
Seto looks shocked. "You knew that I had a vision?"

Oblivion says, "We know all."

"So then why did you bring me here?"

Oblivion answers, "Ask us anything you'd like. I'd hope that any kindness that we show you, would be…reciprocated."

Seto looks suspicious. "Maybe it will. If you gave me my brother back."

Scourge says with offense, "How dare you make a demand of Lord Oblivion!"

Oblivion says to Scourge, "Settle down my servant. Seto has the right to make such a demand." He turns back towards Seto. "If you are kind to the Disciples of Darkness, the Disciples of Darkness will be kind to you. Now please, I'm sure that you have many questions."

Seto asks, "Alright. What was that vision…and all of my other visions about? What was I being shown?"

Scourge mocks, "Oh, how original. You can ask anything you want, and you ask the obvious."

Oblivion commands, "Quiet Scourge. Seto is our guest. I shall answer anything he asks." He looks back at Seto. "What you were seeing was visions of the ancient star empire known as Yugoha. They were a vast empire that covered much of the galaxy."

Seto looks skeptical. "Wait a second. Are you talking about aliens? In case you didn't know, we've been exploring space for 5,000 years now, and we have never seen any evidence that supports the theory of alien life."

"How closed minded you are Seto. This empire was bigger than anything you could ever imagine. It was also further from this planet than any human space mission has ever traveled."

Seto says, "Alright, fine. Let's assume that there is some sort of super-ancient alien empire. Why do I keep on seeing someone who looks like me from this empire?"

Scourge says, "Is it not obvious?"

Oblivion glares at him and then answers Seto, "That Seto, is your past life. You are seeing Prince Seto, one of the two warring princes of Yugoha. It was his war against his brother Yu-Gi-Oh that finally ended the once grand empire. Now Seto, if I may ask you a question."

"What?"

"Join us. Become a Disciple of Darkness. Not only will you get your brother back, but you will gain great power. You will be unstoppable. With your dueling skill, and my power, you could do anything."

Seto considers. "You'll give me my brother back?"

"That and more. So much more."

Seto thinks, This seems awfully sketchy, but they do have my brother. Seto's thoughts begin to sound angry and distorted. Not only that, but they can give me the power to destroy that punk Yuni. He thinks that he can beat me and get away with it. I may have beat him last time we dueled, but that wasn't enough to teach him a lesson. I've seen what Scourge can do with his power. Imagine what I could do. Seto looks up at Oblivion. "Alright. You have a-"

Before Seto can finish, a flash of light emanates from the deck box on Seto's waist. As if by its own accord, the deck box opens and a glowing card floats out. It floats up and in front of Seto's face. The card is Quantus, the Spatial Lord. There is another flash of light, and suddenly Seto is floating in a void of light. In front of him is the massive monster Quantus. A deep, booming voice, apparently that of Quantus, says, "No Seto!"

Seto demands, "What is this!?"

Quantus booms, "You can not join with the Disciples of Darkness!"

"Why not?"

"You are a heir of Yugoha! You are a force of Balance! You can not serve the Darkness! It shall destroy all!"

"What does that matter to me! All that matters is that I destroy Yuni Oha!"

"These thoughts are not your own! You are being manipulated by darkness! Remember what matters!"

Seto thinks, What matters!? Destroying Yuni is what matters! Suddenly in Seto's mind, and image of his brother flashes. No! that is not what matters! My brother does! I must save my brother! He shouts aloud, "I must save my brother!"

"And the Disciples of Darkness shall not return your brother to you! They shall keep him as leverage over you! Do not believe a follower of Darkness!"

There is another flash of light and Seto is back in the dark room. Oblivion demands, "So? Will you become one of us?"

Seto looks up at Oblivion and says, "No! I will not fall for your trickery! I shall never join you!"

Oblivion says in outrage, "What!? What is this madness!?"

Scourge says, "Please Seto, reconsider. Think about your brother!"

Seto says in anger, "You wouldn't give me my brother back even if I joined you! You're just trying to manipulate me! Well guess what, no one can control Seto Ossius!"

Scourge says with anger, "You shall regret this decision Seto! You could have been all powerful."

Seto turns around and starts to walk off. As he walks, he says, "I already am."

Oblivion looks at Scourge and says, "Stop him at once. He will become one of us."

Scourge replies, "Yes sir." Scourge sinks into the ground as a shadow, and dashes in front of Seto. After moving there, he emerges from the ground. He says, "Stop right there. You're not going anywhere. Without a duel that is." Scourge raises his arm with his Duel Gauntlet.

Seto sighs. "Must we really duel again? We both know that it will turn out the same way that it did last time. But fine, we shall duel, if only to get you off my back."

Both activate their Duel Gauntlets. The Duel Computer says, "Official World of Duel Tournament duel now commencing. Seto Ossius: 5,021 points vs. Scourge: 162 points. Scanning decks…decks accepted. Commence dueling."

Seto and Scourge stare at each other with hatred.