At the entrance of the maze, the six guardians and two humans stood in bewilderment. The nightmares had transfigured the roots and barks of trees distorting the plants into a giant castle door. Flowers not of the human world scattered the outer edge walls and to Marik, it was a trap.
Marik gave Hiroto a look; no matter what, the Princess had to make it to the center.
Let's go.
Doors opened to reveal more of the disfiguration of the trees and alien plants. Kaiba kept close to Yugi, to Marik's outrage. He let it go figuring the jerk needed a protector if they failed. Inside laid four passage ways, all leading to a light at the end.
"Guys," said Ryou, his pupils narrowed from worry, "where do we go?"
"I think we should go straight," said Shizuka.
Ishizu disagreed, "No, we have to split up, to cover more ground and distract the nightmares. Straight is not always the best way."
"She's right," said Hiroto.
"Are you guys serious?"
They glared at the CEO.
"It's a trap-"
We know.
"-so the best course of action is to let a decoy go first-"
"No," said Mana.
"-and," Kaiba was getting annoyed, "see how they fare in the maze without sending all of us to get caught. Ryou-"
"Yes."
"-stop interrupting, is the best because he has no powers we need."
Listen, you arrogant jerk, we are not sacrificing one of our own for this-
"Shut it! I have to find Mokuba, and you're wasting time arguing-"
"Ryou," said Mana, "is our family, if anyone should be the patsy that's you!"
As the group argued, Yugi, who was pale and had Ryou support himself on, stared at the maze passages. The light in them flickered and bounced in the same pattern as he watched.
"Quiet."
Everyone went silent except Kaiba until he saw no one else respond.
"Ishizu's right and Shizuka too; we need to split up and go straight through the passages."
Yugi…
"Don't worry; I know we'll be okay. Now Ryou and I will go down the one in front, Shizuka you go with Mana to the one on the right, Marik and Hiroto go in the far left and the last passage go Ishizu and Kaiba."
The group nodded; leaving on the paths, Yugi waited last making sure everyone went. Then he and Ryou left.
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From the top of the door, an elf like man smiled and texted his girlfriend in the maze; he jumped off and landed on the ground heading into the trees to spy more on the Angel and his posse.
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The passages were the same, roots, leaves, and vines. Lighting came from the marigolds that glowed in the dark. Kaiba and Ishizu came out first. The young Healer smiled widely, the passages all led to a giant fire that was set up with one entrance to the maze. The others followed quickly with Yugi half walking and dragging his feet.
No one understood, the boy seemed fine at the house, but as he got closer to the maze his condition worsened.
"Yugi, maybe you and Ryou stay here."
Yugi gave Ishizu a worn out smile, "N-no, you…need me."
"He's right, me lass."
The group turned. At the entrance stood Bloo; she held a white flag with her and waved it.
"No need to fight now. I'm just here to guide you through the first part."
Marik and Hiroto aimed their swords at Bloo, but she remained undeterred. The girls crowded around Yugi, swords out too. Kaiba stared at the monster in front of him.
Bloo smiled, "If you think you can fight then I take two opponents."
Hiroto, I want you and Mana to get her. I have to stay with Yugi for as long as possible.
Fine with me. Mana-
Wait!
What Shizuka?
Marik, let me fight her.
No, Shizuka-
Hiroto, quiet. She can't fly so she won't have much shots at us if we both stay in the air.
Marik bit his lip, but said, Watch for her gun, she uses it as a club and sword, also, she can't fly but she can jump high, use the shadows to your advantage.
Got it.
Got it.
Shizuka and Hiroto went straight for Bloo who blocked them easily. The nightmare did not shoot, however she swung her gun and threw darts at the two. During this brawl the others crept into the maze, Marik last to see the two flyers take to the night sky and Bloo using her strength to jump up to them.
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The maze was no different than the entrances; the traps that were set were thwarted before they could activate, like the giant Venus fly traps, which ate flesh too, and the whipping rose vines.
Mana was proud that her magic training was in use and Ishizu's healing got rid of any cuts or bruises. Marik kept his sword at the ready, while Yugi solved some of the riddles that opened short cuts in the maze.
Ryou held him as the group stopped at a blocked path.
There was a plaque that read in golden calligraphy, "When one does not know what it is, then it is something; but when one knows what it is, then it is nothing."
What do you think it means, Yugi?
The boy stared at the riddle. He found it odd that the answers were coming easier as they went and the puzzles were modern. The very first one was old and cryptic, unlike this; Yugi did not like it.
"I-i-it-'s a r-r-rid-dle."
"What?" asked Mana.
"He said the answer is a riddle, and if you tried you'd see the questions are getting easier," said Kaiba, who to Marik seemed flustered.
Ryou suddenly growled, despite his worried demeanor. The path was no longer blocked, but at the end stood a trickster in a white and red pantsuit. He wore a straw skimmer hat with a red ribbon on the base. He held a cane made of cherry wood.
"Hey, I got lazy at the end, so I just put up some riddles I throw the kids off with," he bowed dramatically, "Name is Wally and I take one opponent. Oh, by the by, I don't fight little girls, so it's either you tough guy or the kitty cat."
The cat hissed fiercely, but Marik did not let him step forward. He had heard tricksters never have a fair fight and his sisters, although he loved them, were not the type to play dirty.
I'll fight you.
Wally grinned mischievously, "Knew it."
His cane extended, hitting Marik off guard. Marik countered by hiding in the shadows to pounce on the trickster.
The group had not left, wanting to keep Marik from fighting alone, until he yelled for them to leave. They did, except Ishizu. The remaining party hurried out, as an awful screech came from that direction.
"W-wha…" Yugi tried.
"It's Marik's power. He can project his voice to be a weapon," explained Mana.
They ran unaware of the direction, until Yugi pulled on Ryou to turn. The maze at this point had changed to a less deformed forest, into a garden maze. The bushes were high up and nasturtiums grew on them. Yugi's condition worsened too; Ryou was carrying him by the time they reached a breaking point.
They saw light and it led to a small meadow opening, with two unwanted guests.
In the meadow there were chairs and a table set up with tea and pastries. Sitting in one of the chairs was a woman that to Yugi and Kaiba looked like Harpy Lady, however her hair was in braids and her skin, though blue, had a pinkish tone to it. The most striking difference was the woman had no wings, except for a feathered tail.
Another shock was that Bloo sat next to her. The nightmare had scratches and her dress was torn, but she looked fine.
"Wh-e…"
"Shh, Yugi. I got this," Mana went up to them and crossed her arms, sword in one hand and staff in the other, "Where are our friends?"
No answer.
"You will show respect to the future Queen and his accompaniment, now where-"
"Quer um pouco de chá?"
"Just answer!"
"Calm yourself, lass. Coco here only speaks Protugese. Your friends are fine, a little beat up, but fine. Now, no more talk of fighting, I'm serious this time. Sit down and as Coco asked have some tea."
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Inside the center of the maze, Red drank another bottle of Jameson, trying in vain to block out the unwelcomed hostage.
"Prince, me son, I know your mad, but that doesn't mean you got to be screaming at me."
Noah kicked against the band that Red placed on him. "I don't care, you had no right to talk to Yugi like that and stealing Kaiba's little brother was comepletely uncalled for."
"I know, but Bloo decided that having the boy might up our chances of this going our way. And as beforementioned, we won't hurt anyone," he gestured to Hiroto and Shizuka, who were unconscious. Bloo avoided cutting any major blood vessels and leaving only good sized lumps on their heads.
Just then, Wally came in, dragging an unconscious Marik and struggling tied up Ishizu into the center.
"So, I'll ask this again. Why did you follow us?"
Noah stopped squirming for a moment. He looked at Mokuba, who was asleep in Sugoroku's arms, exhausted from yelling, and turned back quickly with a noticeable blush. Red caught the action.
"Oh, it seems you have a crush. Have you spoken to the boy yet?"
"A little, at the dance," Noah kept his eyes downcast, "he's nice."
Red nodded, "I see, me boy. You can tell he's one of you."
"I sense it."
"Don't fret, he and his brother are of your kind. I can tell."
The downcast eyes of Noah widened. He looked at Mokuba again. The boy was quite lovely and maybe this nightmare was not lying to him.
Red kept his view on Noah, but kept attention on how Wally put the tied up girl in the lion cage with the elder and boy. He had to take the prince out when he tried to escape and placed the band on him.
Wally finished placing a band on Ishizu and untied her. She was quiet as she sat next to Sugoroku. The man looked at her with sympathy and disappointment; his grandson as he knew Yugi, was out in that maze with monsters and the guardians were falling one by one. Ishizu hugged him and his sympathy grew; the guardians were only children themselves, he could not blame them for this. He held the girl close as he could feel her shaking.
The monster known as Red witnessed the exchanged.
He questioned his decision on this but let it pass. What is done had been done and there was no replay.
SR
"So, Noah was not kidnapped," Dartz gave Lydia's hand a squeeze.
"It appears that way, dear."
The Leaders of the Shadowrealm all sat at Umbra Palace viewing the happenings in the maze. Mahad had been outraged that his children were being forced to fight against the nightmares; Seth attempted to reassure him when he said they would not be harmed.
The viewing proved otherwise; though they were safe, the children still held scratches and bruises from the battles. These nightmares were known for being brutal in brawls. Mai had to hold Jono back when he saw Shizuka clubbed by Bloo. Also, Isis was in near hysterics when Marik was being tossed about by that trickster.
Atem had been silent the entire time. He kept staring at Yugi, his Little One, and how his condition kept depleting as they got closer to the center.
"I know the creatures lack tactness, but I did not think they could be this destructive."
The room turned, weapons at the ready to the unfamiliar voice.
"Sorry, I forget to introduce myself. I am Bathsheba, Second in Command of Limbo East. I'm here to tell you nice folks what's happening."
HW
After the pastries were devoured by Bloo she got up and announced, "Alright, Mana girl, you're gonna fight with Coco here or we keep you from the center."
She jumped up in the air and disappeared.
The woman in question stood up, straightened her dress, and swung her bola with the spikes out. Ryou and Kaiba swiftly avoided, and Mana held a shield over her head.
"Run! Dammit, run!"
"N-n-n," Yugi tried but he could not speak at this point.
The three ran to the only opening and followed the path. The sounds of the fight ended abruptly; Ryou hissed at the direction but continued.
The trio walked straight since all the corners and openings were gone, in fact the maze had transformed into bushes and trees like a garden. Ryou held Yugi tight. He felt so warm and yet he was shivering unctontrollably. Kaiba was worse for wear too, he had many enemies although none of them were this; monsters attacking freaks in a maze they could not escape.
A figure in the trees followed the three boys for ten minutes. He yawned, his worst folly.
Ryou handed Kaiba Yugi and jumped into the trees, catching the figure off guard. The man fell out, landing head first but got up when the cat came after him with a dagger and an enraged look in his eye.
"Wow," he said then dodged the dagger and punched Ryou in the stomach.
"Hold up kitty cat. I'm not here to fight you. Just keeping an eye."
The cat growled fiercely even with the pain. He was sick of this game, his friends had been hurt enough. He aimed for the man's leg but he dodged Ryou's attack again.
"You looking for trouble, then here we go."
He took out two arrows and jumped into the trees, Ryou following right behind him.
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Red, Bloo, Wally, and Coco groaned. Crackers was not supposed to fight the cat, just tranquilize him when Yugi and Kaiba got close to the maze center.
The two could not find it on their own.
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Seto was stunned for a few seconds. It all happened so fast, until he felt Yugi nuzzle him. Seto held a blush down and stared at the boy in his arms. Yugi was so small, it still baffled him as to how he won against Pegasus and handled the virtual world. Seto hugged him. He remembered he hardly hugged his little brother.
Yugi nuzzled closer, his teeth chattering. Seto held tighter and stroked Yugi's hair.
He closed his eyes and said, "Yugi, if...we can't get out of this then I want you to know I like you a lot. You ruined my life when you came in it and I don't hate you for that; I'll try to get you and Mokuba out, but just remember I like you and...I'm glad."
Seto picked up Yugi's hand and caressed it, staring at the silver gold band with the ruby.
SR
"Yugi Motou is a Half-Angel," Bathsheba said firmly to have it sink in, she was frustrated having to repeat herself. Atem was looking at the image of Seth's look-a-like holding Yugi delicately and grinding his teeth. He then turned to the tanned red headed Angel.
"I thought Half-Angels were rumors."
"Just because its a rumor does not mean it can't happen. Low and behold, Atem Damno, you are married to the first real Half-Angel."
The king along with the room stared at Bathsheba as if she had grown a second head. The Angel sighed and lifted her wings for take off.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"King Atem, I need to be there when Yugi gets a new heart," and she vanished.
The King screamed and threw his dais across the room. Everyone was silent holding in their own anger. They would wait for dawn to enter the human world and have a conversation with that Angel.
HW
It was a miracle, but Yugi directed Kaiba to the center of the maze. Inside they saw the guardians unconscious or locked up and the five monsters sitting around a bonfire. They all had a dumbfounded expression, except Red who merely stood up and walked over.
"Welcome, lads. Take a seat and have a load off."
Kaiba scowled, having enough of this game too, "Listen you overgrown rat, return my brother, Motou-sama, and those freaks and I won't have you pay dearly for the insult to me."
Red smirked and leaned down, whispering, "Now, lad, don't make me want to hurt you. Because if I do, then I will severely."
Yugi moaned and shuffled out of Kaiba's grip. He could talk later about what the supposed cold hearted boy had said to him earlier, now he needed to get his freinds and grandpa out of there.
"P-p-ple-a-s-se -let-t t-the-them g-go."
The nightmare bent down to look Yugi in the eye, he smiled kindly in a deranged way.
"Angel, I have no intention of keeping them, come here."
He picked Yugi and brought out an odd shaped pistol infused with his wild magic.
Screaming was heard in two worlds, a rage so pure struck the air meaning the King knew what Red was doing, and an old man pleaded for his grandson's life as a CEO struggled with Crackers to get to the boy about to be shot.
Red pulled the trigger, straight into Yugi's chest where his heart was located. The boy went limp as blood oozed rapidly out of him.
And then white.