And it's here.

I figure that since I've been gone for almost three months you guys deserve a long chapter to make up for having to wait on me haha ^^;;

Thanks again to everyone reviewing/following, whether you're anonymous or not. I really do appreciate the support you're all giving, as well as your reviews. I know I keep saying it, but I really do enjoy the reviews and I hope I can keep meeting your expectations!

Content warning: Unsavory behavior from a guard towards a lady, though no physical harm comes to her; a "mouse" gets in trouble later in this chapter and cornered; and while there's mind games involved, someone gets an not so friendly presence in theirs and They Are Not Nice About Taking Over.

Jou half rose to his feet, growling under his breath when his legs trembled violently beneath him. "Come on, already," he muttered, yelping as his knees buckled. "How long am I gonna have to wait before my legs stop giving out from under me?"

Fifteen minutes had passed since they had finished discussing the situation about the throne in Hermos. The very moment the conversation had ended Marik had seized both his siblings by their arms and had bodily dragged them to the base of the nearest treehouse, ordering them both to go up the ladder and sleep. He had noticed their exhaustion and despite their protests he was adamant that they rest. Knowing that Marik would not allow them to do anything else, the two siblings had agreed and had disappeared up into the treehouse; when Marik had gone up to check on them he had found them both sound asleep in the cots.

The older Ishtar siblings were not the only ones in need of rest. Alister himself looked far more tired than any one of them, and Ryou was nodding off when no one was watching him; Yugi still looked as if he would collapse at any moment. But Valon could not force Alister to sleep while the other man carried a bow and arrow, and Ryou and Yugi declined the offer to catch a quick nap. Neither Bakura nor Yami (who was now currently resting inside the Puzzle) approved, but not even Bakura could force Ryou to rest.

Jou, in the meantime, had been trying to force himself to walk. He had managed to get to the fireside with assistance earlier, but now he felt it was time to try on his own and without help—and so far, his success was limited.

When Jou stumbled and nearly faceplanted once again, Marik caught him by the upper arm and steadied him. "How about you stop before you fall into the fire?" he suggested wryly.

Jou shook his head, gently tugging his arm free. "I'll be all right. I've got to go home, shaky legs or not," he said firmly, taking a few hesitant steps forward. "I need to—"

There was another yelp as he toppled into Alister, who had been practicing using his bow and arrow. The other man, already unsteady on his feet to begin with, fell with Jou into the grass. The blond took a moment to recover before looking down and then grinned sheepishly at the now scowling Alister. "At least someone cushioned the fall."

Valon snorted. "Alister's a walkin' stick. You'd not get much cushionin' there, mate."

Valon gave a startled yell as Alister swung his bow to knock his legs out from under him, and the Aurosian sprawled into the grass with them. At the glower being leveled with him, Alister raised an eyebrow. "And now I'm not the only stick in the mud."

Alister ignored Valon's splutters and then shoved at Jou. "Prince or not, get off me."

Jou rolled off Alister's back and onto the grass, forcing himself back to his hands and knees before trying to rise again. Valon looked over at him with a small frown. "Don' you reckon you oughta sit for a bit? I'm not much f'r the mother hen approach, but you're as wobbly as a baby deer."

Ryou shot Jou a worried glance. "Valon's right," he admitted, though he quailed under Jou's scowl. "You need more recovery time. We also need to come up with some sort of plan. You can't just go rushing blindly into the castle, you've got to rest."

Jou shook his head and carefully pulled himself to his feet. "Can't. I'm going back today, and nothing's gonna stop me," he insisted, standing slowly upright. "There's too much to do in too little time."

"And how will you do that if you can't even keep your balance?" Téa retorted, rising to her feet. "You won't help anybody in your current condition."

Jou glared at her. When the woman did not budge, though, he slumped and leaned against a tree. "But I've got to go," he said softly, almost pleadingly. "My sister is the only family I have left. If I lose her…and then there's Mai and the other guards who're counting on me to come back."

Téa's severe expression softened, and she set a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You could at least rest a day—"

Jou shrugged away from her almost violently, nearly knocking himself off balance once again. "What if tomorrow is too late?" he nearly snarled, his eyes flashing and suddenly overbright. "Serena is dying. A day could be the difference between life and death for her! I can't lose my sister—I can't."

Bakura shifted in place, his eyes suddenly narrowing. Within Ryou's own mind a memory rose to the surface, one that was not his own. It was the image of a young Enterran boy with blond hair, his clothes soaked in blood. The little boy hardly seemed to care about the state of his outfit, he was pleading so desperately with them. The child's wide, tear-filled lavender eyes, coupled with his wavering voice, pleaded for them to go back, please go back, they're all I have, please…!

The memory was gone as suddenly as it had come. Bakura had suddenly remembered the link between their minds. Still, as Ryou looked up to the thief his eyes caught Marik's, who had been watching Jou silently—the other white-haired man was not the only one who remembered.

"Ryou," said Bakura gruffly, startling him, "you have a strengthening draught on hand, correct?"

Almost everyone in the clearing turned to Bakura with noticeable surprise, but Ryou turned away and began rummaging through his bag as he pulled out the bottles inside the satchel. "I do, give me a moment," he replied almost absently. He set the bottles on the grass as he began muttering to himself. "Let's see…burn salve, truth serum, blister and boil ointment, now that won't help…heavens, I don't even know what this is, I'll have to look it up later…I hardly need the leech draught…Ah! Found it!"

Ryou held a large flask filled with neon red fluid, already pulling out a small wooden cup and pouring a measured amount into the cup. As he watched to make sure that he administered the proper amount, he heard Valon say, "I didn' know you cared, Kura."

"Call me that again and I will make good on my threat to make you mute. And I don't care at all—I just don't want to listen to that idiot whine about his sister any longer than I have to."

Ryou barely stopped the smile from reaching his face. I doubt that, Bakura, he said through the link.

Oh, you think me merciful? Should I prove you wrong?

Ryou winced as a spike of pain shot through his temples. No need to do that, he replied wearily, rising to his feet with the cup in hand. He crossed the clearing and gave the cup to Jou, making eye contact with the other man. "Listen, Jou. This potion's effects will last for several hours and will make it seem as if you have fully rested. You haven't gained any energy back at all, however. Once the potion wears off, you will have to rest."

Jou gave Ryou a grateful glance. "Thank you," he said. He studied the potion, somewhat hesitant. "This isn't gonna have any weird side-effects, is it?"

Yugi cleared his throat to catch Jou's attention. "You have nothing to fear from Ryou's potions. He's a potion master—it's a rare instance where his potions go wrong."

Jou hesitated for a moment longer, then took a small sip from the cup. He waited to see if anything happened before he drank the rest. His expression brightened as he finished. "It's bubbly stuff, isn't it?" he asked curiously, looking almost as if he wanted more. "A little too sweet for my tastes, but it's not bad—hey! I can stand on my own now!"

Jou's whole countenance brightened as he hopped on one foot experimentally. When he didn't lose his balance, he grinned and pumped a fist into the air. "Now we're cookin'!" he exclaimed happily, doing a strange sort of dance to further test out the potion.

"So now what do we do, Master of Jigs?" Téa asked teasingly when Jou passed her.

Jou blinked, pausing almost comically in mid-motion before he sobered and turned to Yugi. "I suppose you're still going to tell me I can't try taking back the castle today," he remarked, resignation coloring his words.

Yugi's smile carried a heartfelt apology. "We need more than what we currently have, and we really can't go in blind."

Jou scratched the back of his head as a frown marred his features. "Well…okay then. If I can't go home today, then we need to start preparing to go back. First, we need more help, and to do that we gotta find the guards who got banished. Alister, did Jean Claude tell you where they got banished to?"

Alister shook his head. "I think it was because he didn't want us trying to find a way to get in contact with them, despite the gag spells. I'm certain they're outside of Chronas—I doubt he'd leave them inside the country."

"I can use a locating spell to find out where they've gone," Yugi instantly offered. "It won't take up too much energy to find them. The issue then becomes how to get the men from wherever they are to here."

Yugi glanced at the Puzzle briefly before he continued. "Yami's too worn out to generate any more Shadow paths, which means we'll have to rely on a different method of transportation for the men."

Téa folded her arms, turning to look at Ryou and Bakura. "Bakura can create Shadow paths, so maybe—" she said, but at the thief's venomous glare she instantly stopped talking.

Marik was also shaking his head. "To create a Shadow path Bakura has to use Ryou's own energy. Given how tired Ryou is and the distance that will need to be traveled, Bakura can't do that right now. Why is everyone looking at me like that?" he added, noticing the skeptical looks being directed at him. "I've been with these guys for years. You think I don't know them by now?"

"What about the strengthenin' potion? Couldn' Ryou 'ave some o' that?"

"It only gives the illusion that you're fully rested. It doesn't actually replenish lost energy," Ryou reminded them gently.

"So even if we find them, we won't have a way to get them back in time. Great," Jou sighed, looking visibly frustrated.

A pause followed this statement, and then after a few seconds the silence was broken. "We could ask Kaiba for help."

At the startled looks being given him, Yugi sighed. "The White Dragons are the fastest and most powerful of dragons. They could easily fly in and out of a country in less than a day. Depending on how it's done, we could easily get back the people who were banished. How many were sent away, Alister?"

Alister snorted. "Before you get your hopes up about this particular plan, let me remind you of just who we're depending on—this is Kaiba we're talking about. We'll be lucky if we can even get in touch with him, let alone convince him to help us."

Yugi raised an eyebrow. "You leave the details on how to get Kaiba here to me. I can be quite convincing when I have to be."

Valon grinned. "Yeah, you just use your big puppy dog eyes on 'im," he said with a laugh. "There's no one alive tha' can resist tha' look."

The magic caster flushed, but he ignored Valon as he pulled out a small pouch from his side and opened it. Yugi pulled out what appeared to be a small bundle of brown fur and simply said, "Animatio multiplicamini."

The fur instantly came alive, growing until it was roughly the size of a badger. Green scaled hands and feet grew from within the depths of the brown fur, while a pair of large, wide eyes opened and blinked at them several times.

"Yugi, wha' the 'eck is tha'?" Valon said, gawking at the little creature.

Yugi smiled fondly as the creature squeaked happily and the animal suddenly bounced surprisingly high. It nuzzled Yugi's cheek, and the shorter man caught it in his arms. "This is Kuriboh," he said happily, petting the creature. "This little guy is going to help us get Kaiba here."

"Right. The cute little furball will melt the Lord of Dragons cold heart and convince him to come to our aid." Marik could not hide the amused skepticism that colored his words. "Yugi, I have my doubts."

Yugi gently set Kuriboh down on the grass, crouching in front of it. "I need you to go get Kaiba," he instructed sternly, making certain he had eye contact. "It's very important that he comes back with you. Don't let up until he's in this clearing."

Kuriboh chirped once again affirmatively, and then with a squeal bounced away before anyone could stop it. The distance it traveled each time it hopped was unbelievably vast, and within seconds the little creature was out of sight of the clearing.

"You really think that little rodent has a chance of getting Kaiba here? I've seen cats hack up scarier hairballs," said Alister flatly.

"I do. Believe me, Kuriboh will get the job done," said Yugi evenly. "We can't do anything more about the banished men until Kaiba reaches out. What else do we need to do? Let's focus on that..."

Sivya halted the sheep with her staff as they reached the shadow of the castle. She was still hidden by the cover of the trees, but she still had one thing left to do before she started on the dangerous task ahead of her. First, however, she had to make certain that the sheep she had with her would not wander off while she made the preparations—she preferred herding goats rather than sheep, as the wooly animals were rather simple minded compared to goats.

After making sure that the animals could not wander away, Sivya reached into the small bag at her side and lifted out a small glass vial, studying the luminescent powder resting inside the vial; she reached inside and carefully pinched only a small amount between her fingers, forcing her eye to stay open as she carefully sprinkled the powder in her eye.

The moment the powder came into contact a strange, pleasant tingle shot through her eye and she blinked rapidly, caught off guard by the sensation. She waited until it had passed before she repeated the process to the other eye, resisting the urge to rub her eyes as the powder started taking effect.

Once she finished, she then ushered the sheep forward and into the open, heading into the road that led to the castle gates; she could already see the guards overlooking the gates moving, most likely alerting the other men of her approach. As she got closer, she saw one man move through a door at the side of the large oak doors.

Yami had been specific in giving instructions as to how to use the powder, she recalled as she continued forward.

"This is sight-share powder," Yami said as he held the vial up to her. "It will allow us to see what you do. You will not need much, only a small pinch of powder in each eye."

Yami reached into the vial, showing her the proper amount pinched between his fingers. "This is the maximum amount of powder you can put in without setting off any guardian spells the castle will have. Be careful that you do not give yourself any more than what I have shown you.

"Once you've arrived safely to your destination, and after you apply the powder, wait until you are at the gate before speaking out to activate its effects. You will see plenty of things, including any spell currently in effect, but you mustn't let on that you are able to see anything out of the ordinary. I myself will have the powder in my eyes—anything you see I will be able to broadcast to the others.

"When you have finished your task, return to the Shadow Path. It will take you to your brothers, wherever they may be. It will be safer for you if you do not return to this clearing."

"W-what do I say to activate this powder?" she asked hesitantly, wondering why she could not return.

Yami gave her a small, encouraging sort of smile. "Here is what you say…"

Sivya lifted her chin, taking a small and steadying breath. Then, she started forward.

"So explain why we can't go right now."

"Jou, we've been over this five times now."

"Right, and I have yet to hear any really valid reasons."

"Then let me tell you for the fifth time in ten minutes. You're only standing because of the effects of a potion, which will no doubt run out in a couple hours, we don't know what to expect at your castle, and we can't rush in blindly without knowing what we're getting into. Do you even have a plan?"

"Yeah—get in, rescue my sister and Mai, and then kick Jean Claude's sorry butt outta my home. Do I need any further planning than that?"

"Jou."

The blond rolled his eyes and set one hand on his chin. "Téa, you worry too much."

"And you're being too rash," she retorted. "Just because you're not cursed anymore doesn't mean you're invincible."

"No, but I can sure do a lot more now than I could while I was under Dartz's spell!" Jou said, shooting her an annoyed glance. He gave an impatient sigh when Téa scowled at him, glancing to Yugi. "How soon d'you think that Kuriboh thing will reach Kaiba?"

Yugi, who had been eating another bowl of stew, paused. "Any time now, if it hasn't already," he said simply, setting the bowl down. He pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly and Jou's expression softened.

"How're you holdin' up, Yug?" he asked, feeling slightly guilty for his impatience.

Yugi gave him a small smile at the nickname. "I'm better than I have been for the past few weeks. It's nothing to worry about. I'll be all right."

"You should take some of that strength potion too," said Jou, but Yugi smiled and shook his head.

"I can't afford to be unaware of how tired I truly am. My magical core is still weakened, I need to be able to know when I've used too much magic," he replied. "I appreciate your concern, though. It means a lot."

"So what're we waitin' for?" Valon said, sounding impatient. "Let's go already! Tha' Kuriboh thing c'n reach us on the go, can' it?"

Yugi looked over at Valon. "I know you're worried about Raphael and Elya," he said quietly. "I am too. But rushing in without having a plan would be too risky. We could end up making things worse for them if we go without knowing what we're up against. Please try to be patient a little longer, Valon."

"But I know how to get in the castle without any trouble!" Jou insisted.

"Yugi's right, Prince Jousef," Alister said unhappily. He did not look happy admitting this. "They changed the defenses while you were gone, and they may have changed it again since Jean Claude couldn't confirm that I died. He's arrogant, but he's not stupid."

"And that's to say nothing of the magical defenses the castle's got, thanks to my evil clone," Marik added, sounding bitter.

"Couldn't we get to the castle and see things for ourselves?" Téa asked, noticing Jou's crestfallen features. "Jou got in once before while he was cursed, remember? He wasn't a dragon then, so maybe things changed because the spell on him broke."

I suspect Ishtar may have allowed him to pass that night primarily to put both Princess Mai and Jousef in emotional distress. She was frightened of Jousef because of his involuntary attack on her—Princess Mai's actions did more damage to Jousef than any counter spell Ishtar may have conjured.

The group jumped as Yami's weary voice resonated through the clearing. They had nearly forgotten about the Enterran spirit currently resting in the Puzzle.

"Say what you will of the false prince, but this Ishtar's not some idiot," said Bakura as he came back into view. "I'd wager that if little Yugi set foot anywhere near that castle there'd be a curse hurled at him. He'd also be aware of any magical artifact that comes to the castle, and that includes our Shadow items."

"He'd definitely recognize me, and he's already made it plain he's aware of Valon and the rest of us. If he knows us, so does Jean Claude," said Alister, gesturing to the clearing around him. "Even if we tried sneaking in, there's no way we would get by. He's seen Valon and I, he knows about Jousef and Yugi—"

"—And Kura and Ryou are dead out too, as well as Téa and Marik," Valon added, ticking off the number on his fingers. "This Ishtar bloke even knows 'bout Rishid and Ishizu too, 'n' they 'aven't been 'ere tha' long."

"But that's to be expected," said Marik with an exasperated huff. "They're my brother and sister, of course Ishtar would know…"

But he trailed off as a sudden thought occurred to him, one that made him freeze and caused his heart to nearly stop.

There had been one other traveling with Ryou and his siblings when they had come to the clearing.

Before he could speak, however, Yugi suddenly gave a startled gasp as the Millennium Puzzle gleamed brightly. A small sphere of light was launched from the eye in the center of the Puzzle; as it reached the center of the clearing it abruptly expanded, taking up almost a quarter of the clearing. In the orb they could see blurred colors starting to form into shapes, pale gray transforming into tall stone spires and a large drawbridge formed. A smudge of peach and shiny silver became an armed guard.

"This is the result of sight sharing powder," Ryou said, breaking the silence that had fallen. "I didn't know you had such a thing, Yugi. It's exceedingly rare."

"Well, yeah, but what're we lookin' at?" Valon asked, shooting Yugi a confused look. "I mean, who's on the other end of this?"

But Marik already knew whose perspective they were seeing, and when he spoke his voice trembled. "Yami, where did you say Sivya was going?"

A pause followed this statement, during which Yugi looked down at the Puzzle with a look of dawning horror. "Yami, you didn't."

I made it exceptionally plain that she could refuse. The girl volunteered to go to the castle of her own accord.

"The same way Ryou did when you 'asked' him to go to Hermos?" Marik spat bitterly.

Watch your tone. A threatening note entered Yami's words. I did not enjoy asking such a thing from her. I am very much aware of the danger she would be placed in, and this is likely something she is not familiar with. But we are short on time, and we must take a risk. Of all who are present in this clearing, she is the only one who stands half a chance of getting into the castle and of gathering the information we so desperately need. Jean Claude has not yet seen her, and there is a chance that Ishtar does not know of her.

"Besides, Marik, if Yami hadn't done it I would have made her go," drawled Bakura, earning an irate gaze from the Enterran. "I hate to agree with Yami on anything, but he made the right call. Now shut up," said Bakura irritably, silencing Marik with another glare. "The girl is at the gates."

"I have arrived," Sivya whispered as she reached the gates.

The strange tingling in both of her eyes increased, forcing a startled gasp to escape her. While the intensity decreased, a faint pressure behind her eyes remained as her vision refocused.

She knew the powder was at work now. The world had suddenly become sharper, the colors were bolder, more vivid than anything she'd seen before; as her eyes landed on the castle, her gaze focused on a strange, iridescent bubble that surrounded it. The bubble was barely visible against the stone walls, and for a moment she stared at it in some confusion before she realized she was looking at some form of magic. Yami had told her she would be able to see magic while using the powder.

As she approached, she saw one man exit from a door set into the side of the gate and he barred her path, his hands on his hips. His shirt was not tucked in and he was unshaven, and as she drew close she caught the tell-tale scent of ale that rose in a choking wave from his clothing.

"What do you want, little girl?" came the gruff question as she drew even with him.

"I need to speak to His Royal Majesty. There is a matter I must bring to his attention." Sivya's voice was nervous but even when she replied.

The other man seemed to size her up before he smirked. "And if you can't see him right now?"

Sivya gestured to the sheep that were standing beside her. "Then I take these animals with me and make them my own. This is the fifth time I've had to cull my flock of the prince's livestock, and I tire of constantly chasing them away."

"That's a crime, sweetheart," replied the man, his smirk widening. He leaned forward, putting himself into her space. Sivya backed up a step, resisting the temptation to smack him away with her staff.

"I see no other method of reaching the prince. I either speak to him today or I keep his livestock in my care," she said coldly. "I can't let them starve."

There was movement from behind the man and a bearded guard stepped forward. Around his neck shone a faint collar of light, tinted green. Sivya fought not to stare at it, but she could not help noticing the strange band of green light that rose into the sky above him, disappearing to some point behind the wall that she could not yet see.

"Keith, let the girl pass. Can't you see she's a shepherdess? Her livelihood depends on her flock. If the prince's sheep are somehow escaping the royal shepherd, it must be brought to his attention," said the newcomer, sounding exasperated.

Keith grunted, sneering at Sivya before standing aside. "Fine, old man, whatever. You take her then. I've got other things to be doing."

Like getting drunk, she thought distastefully as she maneuvered the sheep past him. She followed the older man as the drawbridge lowered. As she passed, the disheveled man leered at her, his expression one that made her skin crawl. She hurried closer to the second guard, eager to leave the man behind.

"You've chosen the wrong time to visit our castle, young woman," said the older man as she caught up to him. "Much is going on at the moment."

"If I had my way, I would not have come at all. I do not wish to be accused of stealing the prince's livestock, however, and it's getting to be a problem," she replied as they crossed into the courtyard.

The courtyard was bustling with activity. Servants were coming and going across the grounds, carrying silk banners, armfuls of flowers, and golden decorations that gleamed in the sunlight; like the guard escorting her, every person she saw had that strange green collar around their necks. Each of them also had what appeared to be a leash rising from the back of their necks; when she followed their path, she found they seemed to focus to a point over a castle tower.

"Young lady?"

"I'm sorry," she said, suddenly remembering her surroundings. "I've never been inside a castle before. It's beautiful," she continued, sounding earnest. It was true, after all—she had never set foot in a castle, and despite her situation she could not help but admire the beautiful grounds.

The older man relaxed, offering her a tired smile. "I am pleased we could earn such a reaction from you. If you would like, we can stop by the stables to board the sheep inside them before I take you to the throne room."

Sivya allowed the man to lead her toward what was obviously the stables. As they walked, her eyes were drawn to the red ring surrounding one building and she stopped once again; it was almost like a strange sort of halo, though there was something sinister about the light.

"That's the guardhouse, young miss," said the other man, noticing that she had stopped. "Come."

Sivya reluctantly looked away and followed him. They took time to board the sheep in the stable, herding them into a stall. As they came out, she noticed one more green line rising from the base of the castle, joining the others that hung in the sky above her. She nearly stopped again before realizing the action would only draw more suspicion to herself. Hopefully Yami would be able to make something of that one solitary line.

A sharp, commanding voice startled her out of her thoughts. "Jethro, what are you doing with that girl?"

The man escorting her—Jethro—turned to the man standing in the stable's entrance. This one had a receding hairline and a glass circle over one of his eyes. As she watched, the newcomer folded his arms.

"Forgive me, Captain Gurimo," replied Jethro, gesturing to Sivya. "The young woman comes bearing a complaint, and I feel that Prince Jean Claude should hear her out. Some of the sheep from the royal flocks have kept ending up in her own."

Gurimo studied her suspiciously before tipping his head to the door. "Go to the guardhouse, Jethro, and remain there with the others. I will take over here," he said coolly.

Jethro's features darkened but he obeyed; he stopped long enough to bid Sivya farewell before he left them. The other man had not even left yet, however, when Gurimo stepped forward almost impatiently.

"Let's go, girl. There's not enough time to deal with you, as we're all terribly busy," he said waspishly. Sivya bristled under the brusque demeanor but followed him, knowing that it was vitally important that she make it inside the castle.

They crossed the courtyard once again, though it was at a far faster pace than before and Sivya nearly had to jog to keep up with Gurimo as he strode forward. Within minutes, they reached the interior of the castle. Sivya paused in the entrance, looking around curiously.

It was odd, she noted as her gaze traveled around the hall. She had seen plenty of guards outside on the walls and in the courtyard, but aside from Gurimo there seemed to be no men guarding the interior of the castle. A part of her wondered why that was the case, because if something happened inside there would not be—

"Wait here, girl. I'll go to the prince and see if he will have an audience with you," ordered Gurimo sharply, startling her out of her thoughts. "In the meantime, do not get in the way."

On that note, the man turned and strode out of sight, leaving Sivya by herself in the hall.

"Well," said Yugi once Sivya had stopped in the castle, "it's about what I expected. An anti-magic barrier around the castle, as well as the gag spell on the guards. The spell on that one building was unexpected, though."

"That was the guardhouse, and from what it sounds like that's where Prince Jousef's men are," said Alister grimly. "Gurimo said to join the others, so it stands to reason that they're all in there."

Yugi's lips instantly thinned. "And that's where they're going to stay. That's another barrier, but it's designed to keep people or items in a certain place. If anything steps out of that building, they'll be incinerated on the spot."

"But why concentrate all of his guards on the walls or outside the castle?" Ryou asked. "That seems a bit risky, because if something goes wrong inside there isn't anyone to respond."

"I believe Ishtar is the reason behind that," said Alister flatly. "He's a one-man army. You won't need guards as long as he's in the building."

"Yeah, but still…it's almost like he's expecting something to happen outside the castle," said Jou with a frown. "He probably thinks I'm still a dragon and that I'm going to try something…or am I wrong on that?"

"I'd say you'd be right," confirmed Yugi. "The question becomes why he'd expect such a thing. Unless I'm much mistaken, I don't think he knows you're free from the curse yet. It's only a matter of time before he becomes aware, though."

Téa, however, had noticed something while they had been watching Sivya's progress. "It seems like they're preparing for some sort of gathering, aren't they?" she said, frowning.

"Wonder why they'd be 'avin' a party, though," said Valon with a thoughtful frown. "I like parties as much as the next guy, but tha' seems kinda strange."

Alister snorted. "Yeah, well, he's fond of throwing parties. The flowers are new, however."

"And what about those strange green lines?" asked Téa then.

"Those were linked to the gag spells, if I'm not much mistaken, and judging by the way they seemed to concentrate on that one tower I'd be willing to bet that's where Jean Claude is keeping both Princess Serena and Elya," Marik replied grimly. "I'm wondering about that one line coming from the ground, though."

"The dungeon's under the castle," said Jou promptly. "I wouldn't be surprised if Jean Claude tossed a few people in there. Maybe one of them has the gag spell too."

"I'm more worried about the barrier surrounding the castle, to be honest," Yugi admitted, frowning deeply. "It doesn't allow anything with any trace of magic to pass. Sivya seemed to get by without setting off the alarm, and that was because she had only the barest of traces of magic on her—sight-share powder in small doses is designed to go undetected."

"When you said anything carrying magic could set off the alarm, does that mean the Millennium Items count as well?" asked Jou, glancing at Ryou and Yugi.

"It does," Ryou replied, looking troubled. "They're chock full of magic. I don't think even Bakura can get by, as he uses Shadow magic to form his body."

The thief grunted, but a strange smirk lit his face. "Please. Yugi's not the only one in possession of rare magical items. That won't be the first anti-magic barrier I've had to get through."

Marik had barely spoken the entire time Sivya had been inside the castle. His jaw and fists were clenched, and he found it very hard to keep his temper in check. He could not deny that he was angry that Yami had once again used someone else to do his own bidding, but he also knew that both Bakura and Yami were right. Sivya had been about the only one who Ishtar had not noticed, so it made sense to ask her. It also made sense to leave Marik in the dark about what she was doing. Marik would have not allowed Sivya to put herself in harm's way had he known in advance where she was going.

Still, however, he could not shake the distinct feeling of unease that had settled on him as he had watched events unfold inside the floating orb, and his unease only intensified when he saw Sivya start to move out of the main hall and into a side passage. "What is she doing?" he asked rather sharply, catching the attention of those around him.

Yugi frowned as well. "I don't know," he admitted, looking worried. "I can't communicate with her at all right now, so I'm afraid we'll have to wait and see what she's up to."

Sivya was certain that what she was doing was a very, very, very bad idea, but while she had been waiting it had occurred to her that there might be more to the interior defenses of the castle than what she could see. It would not help anyone if there was some hidden defense located inside, and after a very intense internal debate she had decided to wander through the interior of the castle. If nothing else, she could claim she had gotten lost.

Her eyes took in the lavish surroundings almost curiously, though she kept her eyes open for any sign of spellwork or of guards who would hinder her progress. It was hard to believe that Jou lived in this place, as he seemed to be a simple sort of man that didn't need all this décor—but if she remembered right, Jou had not lived inside the castle until recently. Perhaps on his return he would redecorate.

As she passed down the quiet passage it occurred to her that there was no sign of anything out of the ordinary, both magical and physical. It was strange, alarming, and disturbing, especially since at times she felt as if she was being watched. The hairs on the back of her neck and on her arms started tingling unpleasantly and the feeling only intensified as she continued.

She halted when she saw that there were two paths to take. One seemed to lead down further into the interior, with more rooms and doors down the hall that almost begged to be explored. The other led into a winding staircase that seemed to weave its way to the upper levels.

Sivya was still trying to decide which path she should take when the sound of a woman's laughter filtered down the stairs and she heard footsteps start down the stone steps. Sivya froze, her eyes darting wildly to find some sort of hiding place before she was seen, but she did not get the chance to move. Two figures came into view as they rounded a curve on the staircase, a man and a woman, and as the woman caught her gaze Sivya realized she recognized her.

"Princess?" she asked before she could stop herself.

Jou's whole face seemed to slacken as his eyes rounded in horror, stiffening at the sight of the woman that was nearly clinging to the man's arm.

"Mai," he breathed, his voice barely audible.

"That must mean the man next to her is Jean Claude," Ryou deduced, gaining confirmation from the way Alister's features darkened in recognition.

"So tha's the git who's got Raph 'n' Elya locked up somewhere, 'n' 'e's the bloke who nearly killed Alister," Valon said, his accent thickening as his features darkened. "I could take 'im easy."

"Looks are deceiving," said Alister coldly. "I'd call him a snake, but that's insulting to the snake."

Jou, however, was not focusing on Jean Claude. Instead, his eyes had settled on Mai's surprised face as he searched for some sign that would tell him if she was under another spell. What was she doing hanging on Jean Claude's arm? Was she acting? She had to be, there was no way on earth that Mai would ever settle for that arrogant farce of a man.

But the doubt was there, poisoning his thoughts, and his uncertainty only intensified when Mai turned to Jean Claude and spoke.

"Do we know her, honey?" she asked, sounding confused and curious.

Honey. She had called Jean Claude honey.

Jou violently spasmed, feeling as if someone was twisting his heart like a dishrag. "Memory spell," he said gruffly, sounding almost desperate. "Tell me she's under a memory spell, Yugi."

Yugi looked completely sympathetic as he replied. "I don't know. While the powder allows me to see magic, some spells require a more concentrated exposure to the powder. Sivya's only got enough to see the major spells, but there's not enough for me to see something as subtle as a memory spell."

Jean Claude was already focusing on Sivya with a small frown. "I must admit, my love, that I don't rightly know who this young girl is. I know she isn't one of my servants…how did you get inside the castle?" he asked then, sounding suspicious.

Jou waited for Mai to protest being called "my love." She'd never liked it and would not allow anyone to call her that; she had never even allowed Jou to teasingly address her as such. When Mai only continued looking at Sivya, he felt as if his insides were twisting uncomfortably.

Marik's own attention was on Sivya, who seemed to have frozen in place at the presence of the royals. "Sivya, say something," he growled, eyes lighting with alarm. "For the sake of the gods, Sivya, don't just stand there."

Sivya seemed at a lost and was starting to stammer an explanation when a girl's voice came from somewhere behind her. "Oh, there you are!"

Sivya turned, allowing the group to see the purple-haired maid hurrying down the hall to them. The girl's eyes lit with relief when she saw Sivya. "I'm so sorry, my lord! This girl is here to see you and I said I'd escort her, but I moved too fast and I lost her. Miho is so sorry!" she exclaimed, bowing to the royals and wringing her hands nervously.

Jou marginally relaxed. "Miho's a friend," he explained. "She'll help Sivya."

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "Hm. Interesting that she made up that story so quickly despite never seeing the mouse before," he said flatly, suspicion coloring his voice.

"Given how finicky Jean Claude is, Miho's probably trying to make sure Sivya doesn't get herself banished or worse," said Alister, though he too looked skeptical.

Bakura did not look convinced. "If you say so."

Sivya seemed to recover at Miho's presence. When Jean Claude looked at Sivya once again, she spoke out. "Forgive me as well for wandering the halls. It is my first time inside any such place, you see, and I'm glad that it's in such a beautiful castle. I should have been paying attention to my guide."

Jean Claude instantly brightened at the praise. "Oh why thank you, my dear," he said cordially. "No harm was done by your wandering. I do have to ask, though, as to why you've come. You certainly don't look as if you are from these parts."

Marik snorted. Oh, you don't say?

Sivya gave her explanation about the sheep ending up in her flock, and Jean Claude laughed when she finished. "Shepherds seem to be idiots half the time, don't they? I mean, one sheep looks like all the rest to them, and they can't be bothered to keep the beasts where they belong."

Even though no one could tell, Marik knew Sivya was bristling at the insult.

"I'll have a talk with my shepherds so that it doesn't happen again. Is there anything else that you came for, my dear?"

Sivya cleared her throat. "Well, actually…I couldn't help but notice, my lord, that your servants seemed to be preparing for some sort of celebration. May I ask what's the occasion?"

Mai giggled. "Don't tell me you haven't heard?" she asked, sounding almost playful. "Prince Jean Claude and I are getting married tomorrow."

Jou's legs threatened to give out beneath him, the color leaving his face as his ears started to ring. "No…no…"

"That soon?" said Ryou, flabbergasted. "It hasn't even been a day since her letter reached us!"

"Jean Claude certainly doesn't waste time. He's probably moving fast to avoid any further interruptions in his plan," remarked Bakura idly.

"Oh, you are? Congratulations to you both," replied Sivya warmly, though she also seemed as surprised as those watching her. "I was wondering, then, if you would humor a humble shepherdess's request."

"Name it, my dear. You have nothing to be afraid of."

"Well…you see, I have a friend who's in a dancing troupe and they've fallen on hard times. I know they would be thrilled for a chance to perform in front of such an esteemed audience, especially given the occasion."

Bakura's eyes lit up as he realized what Sivya was up to. "You clever mouse," he said. "You're giving us an opening to get inside the castle."

Yugi had realized this as well and was already turning to Téa. "How fast can you get to your troupe?"

"If I run, I'll be there in a few hours. By horseback, though, I can make it in less than two hours," she replied firmly.

Valon had left the very moment Sivya had started talking about the dancing troupe, and when the others turned it was to find the Aurosian leading one of the horses forward. "Bet you all 'ad forgotten 'bout them," he said with a grin, gesturing to the horse. "I don' reckon there's any time to tack 'im, though—"

Téa crossed the clearing in only three strides and easily hopped onto the horse's bare back. "I grew up on a farm with no saddles," she said with a smile. "I can go without."

Yugi waved his staff, murmuring a spell under his breath, and a light pink aura settled on Téa. When the girl shot him a startled glance, Yugi flushed. "A spell for protection. We don't know if Ishtar is watching—I'd feel better knowing that you're safe."

"I'll be fine, Yugi," she assured him, though her eyes softened. "You be careful while I'm gone, okay?"

"Enough with the lovey dovey crap. Go already!" snarled Bakura sharply.

After shooting an embarrassed scowl at him, Téa dug her heels into the horse's sides and took off into the forest.

When Téa had gone, their attention returned to the orb where Sivya was still talking. "…so if it would not be too much trouble, Your Majesty, might they come to perform at your wedding?"

"Please say yes, darling!" Mai said almost ecstatically. "Dancing caravans always have the most gorgeous of dresses, and who knows? Maybe I might be able to get one of them as a wedding present."

"Then consider it done, my love," said Jean Claude fondly. He looked to Sivya and said, "Please inform your friend that their presence is required at the wedding tomorrow. Do be quick about it. Miho, be a gem and escort this young girl to the gates. We don't want her ending up lost again."

"I'll go as quickly as I can," Sivya vowed earnestly, curtsying to the prince. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Miho motioned for Sivya to follow her, and Mai and Jean Claude turned down the other hallway as Sivya turned. Within seconds the couple were out of sight, rounding around the corner; their voices carried down the hall, laughter reaching their ears.

Jou let out a strangled sort of whine and reached for Mai, even though he knew he couldn't touch her. "It's an act," he said miserably, trying to reassure himself. "Mai's just actin'. She's gotta be."

"I don't know," said Ryou doubtfully. "If she is acting, that's one of the best jobs I've ever seen. I really don't think she's pretending, Jou—as much as I hate to admit it, I think she's either under a spell or she's genuine about her affections."

Jou's fists clenched helplessly and he grit his teeth. "Mai…Mai, you weren't supposed to…dammit."

"At least Sivya's gonna get out okay now," said Valon, gesturing to the floating orb. "See, Marik, nothin' to worry about."

"Thank you for helping me," said Sivya gratefully to Miho, catching their attention once more. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't arrived."

Miho turned, a pleasant smile on her face. "It was not any trouble. I was wondering at first what you were doing wandering the hallways, but then it occurred to me that there might be something you were up to…am I right, little mouse?"

Ryou was the first one to see the flicker of dark purple that lined Miho's body, and too late he realized what it meant. "Oh no—!"

But it was too late. Dark tendrils of Shadows launched themselves at Sivya, pinioning her hands over her head and pinning her to the wall. A startled gasp sounded as Sivya hit the wall, her staff clattering to the floor uselessly.

Marik started forward, his face paling in fear. "Sivya!"

Miho's body blurred inside the cloud of dark smoke that had risen, and a dark chuckle sounded from inside it. "My my, little mouse, I nearly hadn't recognized you at first. I felt the barest hint of magic, however, and I came to see what was going on…and look what I find."

The smoke dissipated as it formed into a body, pale blond hair and tan skin replacing Miho's features. A pair of cold lavender eyes bored into Sivya's, and an eerie smile spread across his features. "So, then, little mouse, tell me: what are you doing in this castle?"

The air left Marik's lungs as he stared at the man, completely paralyzed by the cold gaze peering at them through the orb. He was essentially looking in a mirror, at himself…had he really created such a terrifying being?

Was this what he truly was on the inside?

No one could speak in the clearing, all eyes now watching the proceedings tensely. Yugi's hands kept rising and falling, clearly trying to think of a way to help the trapped Enterran girl, and Jou was bristling in place. Bakura was watching with narrowed eyes, while Alister looked both angry and haunted all at once.

"It doesn't matter. The fear on your face is answer enough for me. You're doing something you're not supposed to be doing. I don't know or care what it is, and frankly I'm bored. What would you say to playing a little game?"

Ishtar then pulled out a strange golden rod from behind his back, and Bakura tensed even further; no one could see Yami, but they all knew that he too was stiffening as he recognized the item Ishtar was holding.

"This is the Millennium Rod, my dear little mouse," he said with manic cheerfulness. "I won't bother using Shadow magic on you, but there's a handy little dagger inside it that I wouldn't mind using instead."

Marik had enough. He was not going to let Ishtar do this, not while he was watching and not while he could still do something about it. Ishtar had attacked Valon, he'd forced Jou into harming Mai, he had even mortally wounded a helpless dragon kit, and Marik would not allow Ishtar to harm anyone else if he could help it.

But how? How could he stop this from happening? He racked his brain desperately for ideas as his eyes wandered the clearing. "Do something, Marik," he muttered to himself, his eyes never leaving Ishtar's as the man advanced on Sivya. "Come on, think."

And then his eyes fell on both Yugi and Ryou.

He knew what he had to do.

He forced his eyes shut, mentally reaching out and focusing every thought he had on Ishtar. Ryou had told him once about how mind links worked. Back then, he had scoffed at the notion of two minds being connected—but he still remembered what Ryou had told him, and he was going to use that knowledge now.

At first there was nothing there, no change at all in Marik's mind. He didn't know what he was looking for in his thoughts. Was it a door he was supposed to find? A rope, a chain? What was he supposed to picture?

He forced himself to search deeper, slowing his breathing and forcing himself to clear his mind. He tuned everything else out, his focus solely on finding a presence in his mind. All thoughts were pushed out as he felt his thoughts quiet.

Come on… I know you're in here somewhere…I made you, I should know how to find you…

And then he felt an answering pulse spike through his thoughts, a pressure that resisted his reach. Marik smirked in triumph, pushing back harder against the resistance. There you are.

The pressure in his mind mounted. The more he pushed, the higher the presence resisted. Soon, Marik realized he had no choice but to keep pushing—if he stopped, he wouldn't get another chance like this. He felt the fabric of his pants balling under his grip, his jaws clenched so hard that he felt his teeth grinding. He thought he heard voices calling his name in alarm, the sound muffled and muted, but he did not stop.

Let…me…IN!

And without any sort of warning the pressure gave way beneath Marik's reach, and he was falling and—

—and he's no longer in a forest clearing. He's standing in a corridor lined by stone, a girl pinned to the wall across from him. He's only inches from her, towering over the frightened girl with the dagger poised dangerously close to her throat…

…With an effort he forces the dagger down, making himself back away until he hits the wall behind him. The shadows fall and release the girl. She falls to her knees and stares with wide eyes at him. With a tremendous amount of effort, he forces his own jaws to move…

"Sivya…go…run now…run, do you hear me…!"

The girl starts at being addressed, honey-hued eyes widening even further as she realizes what's happening. "M-Marik?"

Pain lights between his eyes as something feral and dark begins to claw at his mind, furiously fighting his presence.

"SIVYA, RUN!" he roars.

The girl regains her feet in seconds, stopping only to grab her staff before practically flying down the passage…but he doesn't watch her go, he can't—

—he's fighting against the presence he overshadowed, and he's losing—

GET OUT YOU LITTLE FOOL.

He feels a sharp ripping sensation, as if he's being torn in half, and Marik feels as if hands are bodily shoving him backwards as he falls away—

"Marik! MARIK!"

His eyes snapped open and his head shot upright with a sharp gasp. He was lying on the grass, staring up at those surrounding him; he must have collapsed after reaching Ishtar. Everyone—even Alister and Bakura—were giving him mingled looks of fear and alarm. He slowly sat up, his breathing harsh and frightened.

Bakura recovered first, his features darkening in fury, and the moment Marik looked at him he promptly punched the Enterran. "Are you completely mad?" he roared, mahogany eyes flashing.

Marik fell back again, pain igniting in his jaw. Ryou steadied him, his voice sharp in rebuke. "Bakura you can't just—!"

"You know what he did, Ryou! I can't ignore it!"

Marik glowered at the thief, ignoring the pounding headache that had settled in his temples as he staggered to his feet. "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing!" he snapped hotly. He felt weak and his legs shook. The pain in his head was increasing by the second. "Ishtar's done enough damage as it is! I won't let him hurt anyone else—I'm responsible for his actions!"

"But you opened the link, Marik!" snarled Bakura furiously. "What, do you believe it's a one-way avenue? No, didn't even stop to think about that, did you?"

"He could have overwhelmed you," Ryou said faintly. "He could have easily overwhelmed you and wiped out your existence if you had done something wrong. Marik—"

"He's not taking over. Stop worrying," Marik said flatly, rubbing his jaw gingerly. He noticed that the sight-sharing orb had dissipated, and he looked over to Yugi. "She got away?" he asked.

The shorter man nodded slowly. "Sivya had just cleared the castle and was in the forest when the powder expired. With any luck she'll reach the Shadow path. She'll be out of Ishtar's reach soon enough," he said.

Marik relaxed. He had successfully stopped Ishtar from claiming another victim, and he'd managed to overshadow his other personality on his very first try. That was a victory in his book.

He was still reveling in this fact when the first stab of white-hot agony shot through his temples.

The pain ignited at a point between his eyes and spread to the base of his skull, traveling like fire through his body. His jaws unwillingly clamped shut and he stiffened in place with a muffled moan, his hands rising helplessly to grab at his head in a futile attempt to stop the pain rolling through him.

I DID NOT APPRECIATE YOUR ATTEMPT TO STOP ME, BOY.

The voice thundered painfully through his mind, and he tried to move, tried to fall to his knees or to run or do something…please, please, make it stop, let it end, please please PLEASE…!

Yugi saw the way the Enterran had frozen and the way he was doubling over, and he hurried forward with a fair amount of concern. "Marik!" he cried in alarm, hand outstretched to grab his shoulder.

"Don't touch him!"

Two voices roared the command in tandem as the light in the clearing dimmed, and Yugi felt a wave of Shadow magic rise from the Puzzle. He was forced backwards, almost out of the clearing altogether, and Yami rematerialized in front of him. His body was mostly dark shadows and he was barely visible, but the golden Eye shone on his forehead as shadows spread defensively across the grass.

Bakura also moved in front of Ryou and Valon, using the Shadows to bodily toss both behind him. His eyes shone with a crimson light as the Ring gleamed on his chest, the mahogany orbs shifting into a blood red hue. Jou and Alister were seized by another wave of Shadow magic and the two of them were hauled into the bushes altogether, a barrier forming around them both and trapping both inside it to hide them.

Marik did not see any of this happen. He was trapped in a world of agony. His vision was dark, bright explosions of color blinding him as the pain mercilessly washed through him, and he felt that at any moment he would come apart.

You honestly believed you could make me submit to you? You, who spent years remaining unaware of my existence? You made me, and I am you. If you would not submit, neither would I, you silly fool.

There is a price to pay for your arrogance, you little wretch—and I intend to make you pay it in full.

And Marik was bodily shoved into a corner of his own mind, unable to fight against the overwhelming presence that was overshadowing him, and though he was screaming in his own mind not one sound physically escaped him.

Against his will he felt his jaws move, a throaty chuckle leaving him as the light in the clearing dimmed. A new wave of agony blinded him, and inside his mind he fell to his knees. He started desperately curling in on himself as he succumbed to the pain, wishing only that it would end…make it stop, make it stop…SOMEONE HELP ME!

Another new wave of pain washed through him as his body unwillingly moved to face Bakura and Yami. An insane grin that was not his own started to spread across his features as he surveyed the people watching him.

"Ahh, the Nameless King and the Thief King. Majesties, it seems we've finally been given the opportunity to meet in person. Allow me to introduce myself," he said with a mocking bow, smiling up at them savagely. "I am Ishtar."