I'd like to apologize in advance – I'm sure all of you want to know exactly what Marik's up to, but I'm afraid to say we won't find out for a couple chapters. Right now Bakura's sort of comatose, so for the next few chapters we'll be following the other characters. Because hey, they're just as important!

So yeah. Don't worry, Marik and Bakura WILL be back, but just not right now

Also, some of readers have expressed slight disproval towards my choice on Pegasus being what he was. Simply stated...I didn't have a choice x: Yugioh is one of those shows that recycles villians; we have Bakura, Marik, Weevil, Rex, Mako, Bandit Keith and his three cronies, Pegasus, Dartz, and Kaiba. Bakura and Marik are main characters, Weevil, Rex, Mako, Bandit Keith and his cronies are more like, crooks then actual villians. Kaiba's a main character, and Dartz I'm saving for much later. So really, Pegasus was the only one I had. It kind of upset me as well, but I had no other options.

Disclaimer: Please see previous chapters


"By the moon…" Came the shaking vow, wide brown eyes sweeping over the clearing with open fear. The air was unbelievably humid, even more so then the rest of the world had been these last few days; even breathing was a struggle, simply because every inhale burned like boiling water. There was no actual 'scent' in the area – it smelt like heat, there was no other way to explain it.

"By the sun would be more correct." Yami murmured in response to the stars words, walking up beside Ryou with a contemplative expression on his face. As expected the pale one flinched at the sound of the Dusk's voice, glancing at the other with open fear which was politely overlooked.

Malik stepped closer to his friend, looking at Yami with the same look of unease – it wasn't often the two stood in the same presence as the other Entity, so it was only expected they'd be more uncomfortable around him then they were around the, currently missing, Moon. All of them had been in, generally, the same area - all enjoying the wash of the Rain's more then welcome blessing - when the eruption of fire had burst from the middle of the forest. Even as far away from it as they were they had all felt the sheering heat was it washed over the land, completely evaporating the rain before it even had time to touch the ground.

Naturally they, meaning the two stars as well as the Dusk and Dawn, had all ran towards the unexpected wave, as all four had come to the same conclusion - only one person in the world could cause such a thing, and there was only one reason he would ever do so.

Something had happened involving Marik and Bakura; what, they couldn't even begin to conceive.

When they had arrived there was, literally, no trace of either of the two entities except for the boiling air left behind by the sun's rage. No evidence was there of what had happened; trees and grass were simply gone from existence, all creatures who had the misfortune of being to close wiped out in an instant.

Yugi bit his lip as he pressed close to Yami, an arm instantly wrapping around his shoulder in a reassuring embrace. "What could have possibly caused this?" The Dawn whispered softly, and the only response he got was a shake of the head; the Dusk couldn't even begin to fathom..

Then Ryou gasped. "Tristan! Rebecca! Espa!" He exclaimed, both the entities jerking to watch as the star rushed across the clearing, dropping down beside - much to their amazement - three plants which had, somehow, been left completely unharmed while everything around them had been erased.

Yami frowned as he pulled away from his smaller self, trotting over to the star with a curious expression. "Tristan? Rebecca? Espa? You named bushes? And a dandelion?" He asked, wondering if perhaps the paler one had lost his sanity. After all he wasn't exactly close to the other, so it was very likely he was insane; it would explain why Bakura enjoyed his company so much.

Malik laughed weakly as he bounded over as well, bowing respectfully to the Dusk even as he answered the question. "No, Master Yami. Bakura named the shrub Tristan, the bush Rebecca, and the dandelion Espa. They're his...friends, of sorts." He murmured, and Yami looked thoughtful before leaning down to kneel beside Ryou - causing the star's eyes to widen and his head to duck down in a sign of deep respect - and gazed at the three plants thoughtfully.

"What happened here?" Yami finally asked sharply, and in response all three quivered and shrank away from him; Yugi tutted disapprovingly and breezed over, resting a hand on the Dusk's shoulder and smiling reassuringly.

"Yami, no need to be mean. Tristan - are you Tristan? Yes? Alright, good. Tristan, could you please tell us what happened?" He asked softly, his voice - as always - soothing all present, coaxing the three terrified plants into relaxing.

There was a moment's silence - to all but the two Entities, of course - as the shrub began to tell the tale of what happened. Unable to hear foliage Malik and Ryou squirmed uneasily, wanting desperately to know what had occurred, terrified for their beloved Moon.

At the sharp inhale from the Dusk and Dawn the two stars flinched, eyes widening in fear. Yugi glanced at them, licking his lips before whispering softly, "The Lunar Eclipse."

A horrified silence settled over the four of them, then Ryou released a distressed wail. "How could we have forgotten!?" He cried, eyes closing tightly as realization swept in like a storm. "Master Bakura was all alone! We completely forgot and then we ignored him and he left and he's probably hurt somewhere or e-even d-d.." Suddenly his voice broke off sharply, giving way to bubbling sobs and Malik tugged his friend into a tight embrace, Ryou clinging to him desperately.

The Dawn watched the two stars sadly before refocusing his attention on the only witnesses they had, giving an encouraging sound for Tristan to continue. Yami's eyes narrowed as he did, teeth clenching tightly.

"Pegasus.." He swore violently, the sound only causing Ryou to shudder harder; everyone knew full well who Pegasus was, and the dawning horror that he had found Bakura in his most vulnerable state was the most terrifying thing the stars had ever heard.

Yugi's eyes widened and he released a small gasp. "Marik did what!?" He shrieked, his voice causing everyone - including Yami - to jerk and stare at him in slightly shock. Malik tightened his hold on Ryou, pulling him tightly against his chest.

"M-Master Marik...?" Malik stammered, worried about what the sun had to do with this. Naturally they all knew he was somehow involved simply by the boiling heat of the area, but the stars hadn't the slightest idea what. But the expression on the Dawn's face was certainly encouraging, especially when he released a low gasp of relief. "M-Master Y-Yugi? W-what..?"

"Marik saved him." The Dusk stated, and Ryou's head snapped up so fast it smacked against Malik's chin, earning a startled grunt from the star.

"M-Master Marik saved h-him!? S-So M-Master Bakura's s-safe?" He asked, voice almost desperate, forgetting the fear of the other two entities as the desire to know whether or not the moon was safe overwhelmed him. At Yugi's gentle nod and growing smile a relieved sob bubbled out Ryou's throat and he slumped against Malik, vague mutters of 'he's safe' coming from where his face was buried in the other's shirt.

Yami was silent for a moment longer before pushing himself to his feet with a tense sigh. "Marik removed Pegasus. Literally. Gone, like the trees and the grass. Then he took Bakura; unfortunately we have no idea where they went, but I think it's safe to assume that for the moment, the Moon's safe."

This statement earned himself a loud sob from Ryou and a relieved whine from Malik, neither of the star's raising from where they sat.

"Are you sure..?" Yugi whispered, lowering his voice so only Yami could hear, voice still a little uncertain. After all, nothing that had occurred as of late provided any evidence that Marik didn't just murder Bakura the second they were out of sight of the plants. The Dusk simply nodded, pressing a hand to the Dawn's shoulder.

"I'm sure." He murmured; his voice didn't give away any of the doubt he had knawing at the back of his mind.


This was a rather…dull chapter. Sorry guys! We need to calm back down from what happened. Next chapter will be a Dusk and Dawn chapter; doesn't that sound thrilling? No? Yeah I didn't think so…

And to my reviewer Silkuchu, don't worry about me not updating during the summer ;D I intend to continue to update regularily, as well as continue uploading One-Shots. So don't worry guys, I am not going to let this thing become one of those dead fanfics, nor will I only upload once every two weeks. Once a week at the LEAST! I promise! The only exception is if my computer dies; even then I'll probably snag my mom's

R&R nonetheless, sweeties~