Chapter 18

'Can we please stop?' Joey groaned. 'I really need to sit down.'

'Again?' Tristan rolled his eyes. 'You know, we're not going to get anywhere if you keep needing to take a break every ten minutes.'

'Well I'm sorry,' he folded his arms stubbornly, 'but how would you like to suddenly wake up seven months pregnant?'

'Is there really any point in arguing about this again guys?' Duke shook his head. 'Look, there's a bunch of pink rocks up ahead,' he pointed towards a stone structure not too far away from them, 'how about we rest when we get there?'

'Sounds good to me,' without hesitation Tristan began pushing Joey forward.

'But… but… but… that's miles away,' Joey's voice whined.

'Don't exaggerate Mr Mum, it's not that far.'

'That's easy for you to say, you're not the one walking for two.'

'Walking for two? Never heard that expression before.'

'Shut up Tristan.'

As the two of them pushed their slow way ahead, Yugi gave a heavy sigh.

'Are you okay?' Duke turned his attention towards him.

'I'm just worried about Téa,' Yugi lowered his gaze, 'what if she wakes up whilst I'm here? She'll think that I really hate her then. I don't care if she hates me, I just don't want her to think that I hate her, when I don't.'

'I'm sure we'll get out of here before she wakes up. I mean, she has been asleep for over three months now. Although…' he hesitated.

'Although what?'

'It doesn't matter,' Duke shook his head, 'I'm sure you'll get back before she wakes. And anyway, didn't you give her your puzzle, surely that'll let her know you care.'

'Yeah I guess,' Yugi sighed again and lowered his head. 'Do you think I'm evil Duke?'

'I think evil possessed you for a while, but I don't think you're evil now,' his face pulled with a sympathetic smile.

'But how can you possibly forgive me after everything I did?'

'That wasn't really you. Just like it wasn't really Jay, or Ahna,' Duke shrugged. 'If there's one thing I've learnt from being in this group, it's that things aren't always black and white. There's a lot of grey and you attacking Téa was just one of those grey things.'

'I wish I could believe that.'

'So do I, you've been way too hard on yourself about all this.'

'Why does everybody keep telling me that?'

'Because it's true,' Duke placed a hand on his shoulder. 'Look, maybe you should talk to the others about how you're feeling. I mean, Ahna, Jay and Catilin all probably know what you're going through.'

'Maybe…' he pulled a face. 'I don't know. I guess I just don't know myself anymore.'

As he was saying this, the four of them arrived at the structure they'd been heading towards. Duke allowed his eyes to scan around the unusual stone formation as he tried to work out if it was partially natural or completely manmade.

'Is it just me or is there something creepy about pink stones,' Tristan shuddered.

'Who cares,' Joey shrugged, 'so long as I can get off my feet it doesn't really bother me.'

Leaning his weight against one of the large, upright stones holding up the roof of a semi-sheltered area, he carefully lowered himself to the ground and gave a heavy, relieved sigh.

'You know this place would make a good camp for the night,' Duke slowly made his way around the area, assessing just how stable the structure was. 'I mean, its going to start getting dark soon and I'm not sure how much further Joey's really going to be able to walk today.'

'Couldn't we just leave him here and come back for him later or something?' Tristan smirked. 'I mean, we'd be able to travel a lot faster without him.'

'We can't leave him here Tristan,' Yugi shot him a disapproving look, 'not when he's powerless to defend himself.'

'I know, all I'm saying is…'

'I can hear you,' Joey sharply cut him off, 'I'm pregnant, not deaf, you know.'

'Sorry,' Tristan rolled his eyes and folded his arms, 'but you've got to admit we'd move a lot faster without you.'

'So what, I'm just a burden to you now?'

'I didn't say that.'

'No, but you implied it.'

'Look,' Duke interjected, 'we're all going to stay here at least until morning, got it?'

'And just who put you in charge?' Joey cocked an eyebrow at him.

'No one, but somebody has to be.'

'Fine,' he waved his hand dismissively, 'so what's the plan?'

'Well I think me and Tristan should look for some food or firewood or something,' Duke tilted his head in thought. 'You and Yugi can wait here till we get back.'

'That sounds good to me,' Joey gave an exhausted sounding sigh.

'Of course it sounds good to you,' Tristan rolled his eyes again, 'you don't have to move.'

'I'd stop complaining if I were you Tristan,' Joey glared at him, 'unless you want to be the one carrying this child of course.'

'Are the challengers ready yet?'

'They're just waiting for you to send them in.'

'Good,' she nodded slowly, 'so do you think our players are ready for them yet?'

'You tell me,' the redhead wrapped her arms around her waist and rested her head on her shoulder.

'I'm not sure they are. Then again I'm not sure I care.'

'So you would send the challengers in before they're ready for them?' The redhead smirked.

'Is that allowed?'

'You're the one the Master has left in control, remember? It's up to you to decide things like that.'

'I know, but you were the one designed to play this role, so tell me, is it permitted to send the challengers in before the players are ready?'

'There's nothing to stop you from doing so, except your own conscience of course. Would you feel right sending the challengers in before the players were ready?'

'I think it would be... entertaining,' her lips twitched into a darkly amused smile.

'The Master would definitely agree with that.'

'So then it's decided,' her voice was as cool as her emotions towards the whole situation, 'it's time to send the challengers in.'

He wasn't sure when he'd started tossing the large, smooth pebble around, hoping and jumping towards it back and forth across the little cave he was in, but he did know it made waiting a little less boring. Somewhere in his head he knew he was playing a very crude version of an actually game, but he couldn't remember the rules or the name so he guessed it didn't really matter. Still he was starting to feel more than a little bored not and he just wished his important person would hurry up and find him already.

'Are you okay?' The sound of the deep, unfamiliar and almost taunting voice made him jump. 'Not lost are we?'

'Maybe just a little,' he pulled a face as he turned to face the new arrival.

His heart nearly stopped dead when he saw the guy. The monster stood at nearly seven foot two and was dressed in silver armour which shimmered slightly pink in the light. His face was framed by curly, ash grey hair and his mud brown eyes appeared to disappear into the fearsome darkness of his smile. In his right hand he held a very sharp, very dangerous and very deadly looking sword.

Fear skated through him. Instinct told him this guy was dangerous and he wasn't about to hang around and find out exactly how dangerous. Turning sharply, he fled. Running as fast as his legs would carry him, he didn't even bother to glance round and see if he was being chased. He didn't care. All he wanted to do was get as far away from the monstrous man as he could. He didn't know where he was running or how long he'd been running for, when he spotted them on the path ahead of him.

Joy filtered through him as he realised he recognised one of them. Just when he'd needed him most his important person had appeared. That must be why he could remember him, because his important person always knew when he was in trouble and always came to save him when he was. There were no consequences, no doubts and no hesitations as he threw himself into his arms. Why should there be? Being with him meant he was safe and protected from the man with the big pointy sword; so why should anything else matter?