November 22nd part 1
“I’m guessing,” Aylth snorted as she covered the door and Hermione covered the window of the baby’s room, while Mana led the forces repelling the attacking forces, which consisted of Spellcasters who had betrayed the castle and the fiends they had let in, “That they under estimated how many of Mahado’s troops were still in the castle.”
“There aren’t actually that many of us.” Hermione replied, shaking her head as she watched Elise swoop past the window, blasting several sky borne fiends out of the skies, circling the palace grounds, preventing anyone invading from the skies, “It’s more that our side is stronger than theirs.”
This whole thing reminded Hermione of the insanity that had struck at Hogwarts not long before the final task, where they’d ended up split into two forces, Joey’s and Seto’s, and they’d ended up fighting a battle that had been fought over, as the tale they’d spun had told, the two members of Royalty that had been locked away in highest room of Dragon Tower by the evil vizer.
Never mind that the battle had mostly been about blowing off some steam, or that the reason Yugi and Yami had been in that room in the first place was because they hadn’t been eating or sleeping properly after three of the Millennium Items, the Rod, the Eye and the Necklace, had been stolen from them and they’d wanted the pair to get some peace and quiet.
This battle, however, was of a much more serious nature then the one that had erupted then. This was no student game gone wild and the end result wouldn’t be so easy to blow off.
It hadn’t been long after Mahado and the others had left the palace to go rescue Yugi and Harry from Medan’s clutches that the trouble had kicked off. A group of the red Magician’s supporters had infiltrated the palace and had been waiting for the right moment to seize control.
They’d acted almost the moment that Kisara had left the palace grounds for the second time, attempting to seize control of the palace and all its resources. Unfortunately for them, they’d under estimated those who had been left behind, either deliberately, or because they hadn’t been available to ask (or rather order) to go with the group and even before Aylth had bolstered the attack strength of the Spellcasters on their side using her powers, they’d had the advantage when it came to strength.
“What I don’t understand,” Hermione said, pausing as Aylth nearly blasted someone who was attempting to get through the door, only for it to prove to be one of the blue Dark Magicians, possibly Subhan, checking in on them before rushing past, “Is why they’d side with Medan. I thought…”
“It doesn’t matter how much of an ass he is, he’s learning how to manipulate the Graveyard.” Aylth spoke when Hermione trailed off, “The one place we all fear. Even the Shadow Realm is less dangerous for us, for we survive there much easier than humans do.”
“So people are following him out of fear?” Hermione jumped back from the window and cast a spell at the Whiptail Crow that was trying to fly in the window that caused the fiend to fall out of the air.
Alyth’s head turned towards her Duellist as she sensed Hermione’s guilt at the thought of the injuries a fall like that would cause. “Its self defence you know.” The Millennium Witch pointed out, “And we don’t stay gone, remember?”
“So all of this will kick off again when they Resummon?” Hermione scowled, guilt gone at the thought of having to do this all over again in twelve hours time.
“We’ll be much better prepared next time.” Aylth shrugged it off, semi-certain that Mana had sent them here both to shield her daughter and protect Hermione, since they’d seen little action, “As regards to your earlier question, it’s not just fear that compels them. What would you say to someone who could offer you a way to save yourself from the Grim Reaper?”
Hermione paused to think about it. She was thoroughly aware of the horrible things people had done in the pursuit of immortality, people like Voldemort.
“People fear death.” Aylth said, looking at the girl when Hermione didn’t answer, “It’s natural, no matter who or what you are. Living here gets boring, but it’s preferable to dying.”
“So we side with Medan.” Hermione and Aylth jumped as a Dark Red Enchanter stepped through the door, narrowly avoiding Aylth’s attack by darting around the room. “Easy, my name is Daniel, I want to talk to the human.” He told them, raising his hands, showing them he wasn’t holding a weapon, then turned to Hermione, “You’re on the wrong side.”
“Why should we listen to you?” Aylth asked, watching him warily. He looked like he had no weapon, but her wand was easy to hide, “Your master’s...”
“My Master is a good man!” Daniel snarled, interrupting her.
“Your Master is a kidnapper and a thief!” Aylth snapped back, “Or haven’t you heard that he’s holding the Light Pharaoh and his friend hostage?”
“The Light Pharaoh?” Daniel let out a bark of mocking laughter, “Don’t tell me you, a light beast with only the ties of deck binding you to the Dark Palace, have been taken in by the propaganda too.” He smirked slightly, “You realise why Medan hates the ‘Pharaoh of Light’ so much, right?” He asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head, figuring it was something to do with the Shadow Games or something like that.
“My Master willingly admits that the Dark Pharaoh is a King and a powerful soul, there’s no denying that. Pharaoh Atem of Ancient Egypt deserves everything he’s worked so hard to gain.” Hermione was surprised at the respect in Daniel’s tone, “But the ‘Pharaoh of Light’,” And there was zero respect in his tone there, “Is nothing except the vessel that the Dark Pharaoh was supposed to use to complete his destiny. He’s no King. He might be the reincarnation of one, but he is no King himself. He’s a shell, a weak soul in a body that has to be strong to support the spirit it’s meant to hold.”
“Don’t you...” Hermione glowered, angry that anyone would talk of Yugi like that.
“Let me finish.” Daniel snapped at her, “It isn’t Mahado’s servitude to the likes of Yugi,” And the last was said like a swear word, “That angers Medan so much. If the Lord of the Dark Kingdom wants to bow his head to a worthless avatar, it’s no business of ours as long as it doesn’t affect this world, but when that same vessel causes a war in our world, it becomes our business.”
“Yugi would never...”
“Medan was working on a way to save us all and Soraya betrayed her Master because of Yugi.”
“Soraya informed Mahado of Medan’s plans years before Soraya and Yugi ever met face to face.” Aylth disagreed, “He couldn’t have been the cause.”
“When Medan was expelled from the palace, Soraya swore her loyalty to Yugi and only Yugi.” Daniel informed them, “Not to Mahado, who’s Lord of this land, or to another Dark Magician, but to Yugi, a human. Soraya showed no signs of telling anyone anything about her Master’s work before her card was added to his deck. It has to be his fault.”
Aylth snorted, “Medan only blames Yugi because he cannot accept that Soraya might have realised what a bad idea messing with the Graveyard is and that she decided to tell on him because she didn’t want him to die and that she might possibly have pledged allegiance to Yugi and only Yugi because it would have been traitorous to her former master to side with Mahado but at the same time she didn’t want to be expelled from the palace because she wouldn’t side with someone that Mahado knew and trusted.”
Daniel gave her a dismissive look, “I should have known that one who is deck partners with the Lady of the Dark Kingdom wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe you should try talking to Soraya before you believe Medan’s lies.” Hermione said calmly, having managed to control her temper while Aylth had been losing hers, “I’ve known Yugi for years; I can assure you that he had no idea that there was all of this going on here.”
Daniel snorted, ill amused but able to see that he wasn’t going to change her mind on that matter, “Do you know what happens to a Duel Monster who becomes a victim of the Reaper of the Cards?” He asked, deliberately moving further away from Aylth, towards Hermione and noting that the girl was keeping herself between him and the crib which held Nakia.
“It’s the only way for a Duel Monster to die.” Hermione nodded, wand in hand but not pointing at him, yet.
“Not the only way.” Daniel shook his head, “We can vanish into the Shadow Realm as well, but since it’s rare that we travel there and we aren’t ripped apart by the Shadows as quickly as you mortals...” He shrugged, “The Graveyard is a much bigger threat.”
Aylth watched as Hermione bit her lower lip, a thought passing through her mind that she didn’t like and knew that her friends wouldn’t be fond of either, “You mean every time we duel, you could...”
“Not every time. If you’re just playing with the cards, then we’re not in any danger, but every time you summon us to fight for you via holograms, spells or in the Shadow Realm, we could die.”
“Oh...” Hermione looked at Aylth, well aware that she had summoned Aylth many times using magic since she’d gotten her card. “Why didn’t you...?”
“Most Duel Monsters feel the risk is worth it.” Daniel informed her, “I assume that your partner is the same. After all a lot of Duellists who are able to actually summon their creatures via magic believe in... what does Mahado say the Pharaoh calls it, the ‘Heart of the Cards’?”
Hermione smiled appreciatively having heard her friends from Japan (except Seto of course because he would never believe in such a thing ever) mention the Heart of the Cards many times, then she realised what she was doing and schooled her expression, hiding it away, “And why would that be important?”
“It means that they’re less likely to be abusive to the creatures they summon.” Daniel told her, speaking as if it should be obvious. “And in return the creatures in their deck feel the need to protect them. Between that urge and the fact that a fight between two Duellists often breaks up the monotony of what is going on in the Monster World, which, normally isn’t very much, most of us do not mind being called into battle.”
The Dark Red Enchanted moved towards the window and looked out, watching a pair of humans far below being backed up by a Lord of D. as a Blue Eyes White Dragon kept the skies relatively clear, “But no one likes being sent to the graveyard, especially if our Duellist loses. It’s very rare that a beast who works with a winning Duellist dies in the Graveyard.”
He sounded a little bitter and Hermione looked concerned as he continued, “Mahado could never understand why Medan started studying the Reaper.”
“Why did he?” Aylth asked, having never heard why herself.
“Medan never used to be the only red Dark Magician.” Daniel answered her, “Medan had two... well they considered each other to be like brothers, who all suffered under the same Duellist. They weren’t happy, but they survived well. At least until their Duellist had a run in with Yugi.”
Hermione’s eyes widened, she knew the story of the match with Arkana. That had been the first time Yugi had called Mana, the Dark Magician Girl, to his side.
“One of the red Dark Magicians, Julius his name was, was killed by the Reaper of the Cards after being sent there by Yugi, and another, Regul, left the palace and never returned. No one’s heard from him since.” Hermione looked stunned, now wondering how many other monsters had been killed by the Reaper of the Cards over Yugi’s long Duelling career, “That’s why Medan started studying the Reaper the moment that Mahado’s back was turned.”
“He was trying to bring back a friend.” Hermione whispered.
“Wouldn’t you do anything for your friends?” Daniel asked her.
“Stop poisoning her mind.” Aylth growled, catching their attention. “No matter why Medan started studying the Reaper, it doesn’t give him the right to kidnap people. If he hates Yugi so much, why did he bring him here?”
“Bait.” Daniel shrugged, “Possibly an experiment into how long a human can last in our world. Target practise.” Aylth moved towards her partner as she realised that Daniel had been edging towards Hermione the entire time he’d been talking, but Daniel was faster, darting behind the teenage witch and twisting her wand arm behind her back, causing her to drop her wand, wrapping one arm around her throat. “To use as a hostage, maybe?”
Hermione wasn’t having any of it. Joey had taught her many things over the last year, including how to escape from such a hold and she stamped on his foot, causing him to yelp and let go.
Hermione grabbed her wand and darted across to the crib, picking up Nakia and darting with her behind Aylth who fired an attack off at the Dark Red Enchanter who exploded.
“Bastard.” Aylth growled, more aggravated at herself for letting him distract her with his words then annoyed that he’d attacked Hermione, considering that she’d gotten out of his hold easily.
“Is it true?” Hermione asked Aylth, concerned about what Daniel had said about the Graveyard.
“We can be killed as a result of a duel, yes.” Aylth nodded with a sigh, well aware that Hermione was the only Duellist that she knew who had been informed of this. “And when that happens the card for the monster tends to stop coming out for the Duellist it belonged to until they take it out. However,” She looked Hermione in the eye, “I would rather take that risk and fight at your side, then be damned to spend all of eternity doing nothing interesting here. Do not stop Duelling because of this.”
“But...” Hermione wouldn’t protest that she hadn’t been thinking about giving up the game, Aylth knew her mind far too well for that, but she didn’t think it was right or fair for her to endanger the beasts of her deck in a card game.
“If I have to I will get all of those who are in your deck to tell you the same thing.” Aylth snapped at her.
“Do Yugi and the others know about this?”
“No one ever told us.” Seto sounded grim as he and Mokuba stepped into the room, having been herded up here by some of Mana’s supporters and having heard the trail end of the conversation between the Dark Red Enchanter and the two women. “I don’t think they ever wanted to.”
“Seto? Mokuba? What are you doing here?” Hermione yelped.
“Blame Wheeler.”
“There aren’t actually that many of us.” Hermione replied, shaking her head as she watched Elise swoop past the window, blasting several sky borne fiends out of the skies, circling the palace grounds, preventing anyone invading from the skies, “It’s more that our side is stronger than theirs.”
This whole thing reminded Hermione of the insanity that had struck at Hogwarts not long before the final task, where they’d ended up split into two forces, Joey’s and Seto’s, and they’d ended up fighting a battle that had been fought over, as the tale they’d spun had told, the two members of Royalty that had been locked away in highest room of Dragon Tower by the evil vizer.
Never mind that the battle had mostly been about blowing off some steam, or that the reason Yugi and Yami had been in that room in the first place was because they hadn’t been eating or sleeping properly after three of the Millennium Items, the Rod, the Eye and the Necklace, had been stolen from them and they’d wanted the pair to get some peace and quiet.
This battle, however, was of a much more serious nature then the one that had erupted then. This was no student game gone wild and the end result wouldn’t be so easy to blow off.
It hadn’t been long after Mahado and the others had left the palace to go rescue Yugi and Harry from Medan’s clutches that the trouble had kicked off. A group of the red Magician’s supporters had infiltrated the palace and had been waiting for the right moment to seize control.
They’d acted almost the moment that Kisara had left the palace grounds for the second time, attempting to seize control of the palace and all its resources. Unfortunately for them, they’d under estimated those who had been left behind, either deliberately, or because they hadn’t been available to ask (or rather order) to go with the group and even before Aylth had bolstered the attack strength of the Spellcasters on their side using her powers, they’d had the advantage when it came to strength.
“What I don’t understand,” Hermione said, pausing as Aylth nearly blasted someone who was attempting to get through the door, only for it to prove to be one of the blue Dark Magicians, possibly Subhan, checking in on them before rushing past, “Is why they’d side with Medan. I thought…”
“It doesn’t matter how much of an ass he is, he’s learning how to manipulate the Graveyard.” Aylth spoke when Hermione trailed off, “The one place we all fear. Even the Shadow Realm is less dangerous for us, for we survive there much easier than humans do.”
“So people are following him out of fear?” Hermione jumped back from the window and cast a spell at the Whiptail Crow that was trying to fly in the window that caused the fiend to fall out of the air.
Alyth’s head turned towards her Duellist as she sensed Hermione’s guilt at the thought of the injuries a fall like that would cause. “Its self defence you know.” The Millennium Witch pointed out, “And we don’t stay gone, remember?”
“So all of this will kick off again when they Resummon?” Hermione scowled, guilt gone at the thought of having to do this all over again in twelve hours time.
“We’ll be much better prepared next time.” Aylth shrugged it off, semi-certain that Mana had sent them here both to shield her daughter and protect Hermione, since they’d seen little action, “As regards to your earlier question, it’s not just fear that compels them. What would you say to someone who could offer you a way to save yourself from the Grim Reaper?”
Hermione paused to think about it. She was thoroughly aware of the horrible things people had done in the pursuit of immortality, people like Voldemort.
“People fear death.” Aylth said, looking at the girl when Hermione didn’t answer, “It’s natural, no matter who or what you are. Living here gets boring, but it’s preferable to dying.”
“So we side with Medan.” Hermione and Aylth jumped as a Dark Red Enchanter stepped through the door, narrowly avoiding Aylth’s attack by darting around the room. “Easy, my name is Daniel, I want to talk to the human.” He told them, raising his hands, showing them he wasn’t holding a weapon, then turned to Hermione, “You’re on the wrong side.”
“Why should we listen to you?” Aylth asked, watching him warily. He looked like he had no weapon, but her wand was easy to hide, “Your master’s...”
“My Master is a good man!” Daniel snarled, interrupting her.
“Your Master is a kidnapper and a thief!” Aylth snapped back, “Or haven’t you heard that he’s holding the Light Pharaoh and his friend hostage?”
“The Light Pharaoh?” Daniel let out a bark of mocking laughter, “Don’t tell me you, a light beast with only the ties of deck binding you to the Dark Palace, have been taken in by the propaganda too.” He smirked slightly, “You realise why Medan hates the ‘Pharaoh of Light’ so much, right?” He asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head, figuring it was something to do with the Shadow Games or something like that.
“My Master willingly admits that the Dark Pharaoh is a King and a powerful soul, there’s no denying that. Pharaoh Atem of Ancient Egypt deserves everything he’s worked so hard to gain.” Hermione was surprised at the respect in Daniel’s tone, “But the ‘Pharaoh of Light’,” And there was zero respect in his tone there, “Is nothing except the vessel that the Dark Pharaoh was supposed to use to complete his destiny. He’s no King. He might be the reincarnation of one, but he is no King himself. He’s a shell, a weak soul in a body that has to be strong to support the spirit it’s meant to hold.”
“Don’t you...” Hermione glowered, angry that anyone would talk of Yugi like that.
“Let me finish.” Daniel snapped at her, “It isn’t Mahado’s servitude to the likes of Yugi,” And the last was said like a swear word, “That angers Medan so much. If the Lord of the Dark Kingdom wants to bow his head to a worthless avatar, it’s no business of ours as long as it doesn’t affect this world, but when that same vessel causes a war in our world, it becomes our business.”
“Yugi would never...”
“Medan was working on a way to save us all and Soraya betrayed her Master because of Yugi.”
“Soraya informed Mahado of Medan’s plans years before Soraya and Yugi ever met face to face.” Aylth disagreed, “He couldn’t have been the cause.”
“When Medan was expelled from the palace, Soraya swore her loyalty to Yugi and only Yugi.” Daniel informed them, “Not to Mahado, who’s Lord of this land, or to another Dark Magician, but to Yugi, a human. Soraya showed no signs of telling anyone anything about her Master’s work before her card was added to his deck. It has to be his fault.”
Aylth snorted, “Medan only blames Yugi because he cannot accept that Soraya might have realised what a bad idea messing with the Graveyard is and that she decided to tell on him because she didn’t want him to die and that she might possibly have pledged allegiance to Yugi and only Yugi because it would have been traitorous to her former master to side with Mahado but at the same time she didn’t want to be expelled from the palace because she wouldn’t side with someone that Mahado knew and trusted.”
Daniel gave her a dismissive look, “I should have known that one who is deck partners with the Lady of the Dark Kingdom wouldn’t understand.”
“Maybe you should try talking to Soraya before you believe Medan’s lies.” Hermione said calmly, having managed to control her temper while Aylth had been losing hers, “I’ve known Yugi for years; I can assure you that he had no idea that there was all of this going on here.”
Daniel snorted, ill amused but able to see that he wasn’t going to change her mind on that matter, “Do you know what happens to a Duel Monster who becomes a victim of the Reaper of the Cards?” He asked, deliberately moving further away from Aylth, towards Hermione and noting that the girl was keeping herself between him and the crib which held Nakia.
“It’s the only way for a Duel Monster to die.” Hermione nodded, wand in hand but not pointing at him, yet.
“Not the only way.” Daniel shook his head, “We can vanish into the Shadow Realm as well, but since it’s rare that we travel there and we aren’t ripped apart by the Shadows as quickly as you mortals...” He shrugged, “The Graveyard is a much bigger threat.”
Aylth watched as Hermione bit her lower lip, a thought passing through her mind that she didn’t like and knew that her friends wouldn’t be fond of either, “You mean every time we duel, you could...”
“Not every time. If you’re just playing with the cards, then we’re not in any danger, but every time you summon us to fight for you via holograms, spells or in the Shadow Realm, we could die.”
“Oh...” Hermione looked at Aylth, well aware that she had summoned Aylth many times using magic since she’d gotten her card. “Why didn’t you...?”
“Most Duel Monsters feel the risk is worth it.” Daniel informed her, “I assume that your partner is the same. After all a lot of Duellists who are able to actually summon their creatures via magic believe in... what does Mahado say the Pharaoh calls it, the ‘Heart of the Cards’?”
Hermione smiled appreciatively having heard her friends from Japan (except Seto of course because he would never believe in such a thing ever) mention the Heart of the Cards many times, then she realised what she was doing and schooled her expression, hiding it away, “And why would that be important?”
“It means that they’re less likely to be abusive to the creatures they summon.” Daniel told her, speaking as if it should be obvious. “And in return the creatures in their deck feel the need to protect them. Between that urge and the fact that a fight between two Duellists often breaks up the monotony of what is going on in the Monster World, which, normally isn’t very much, most of us do not mind being called into battle.”
The Dark Red Enchanted moved towards the window and looked out, watching a pair of humans far below being backed up by a Lord of D. as a Blue Eyes White Dragon kept the skies relatively clear, “But no one likes being sent to the graveyard, especially if our Duellist loses. It’s very rare that a beast who works with a winning Duellist dies in the Graveyard.”
He sounded a little bitter and Hermione looked concerned as he continued, “Mahado could never understand why Medan started studying the Reaper.”
“Why did he?” Aylth asked, having never heard why herself.
“Medan never used to be the only red Dark Magician.” Daniel answered her, “Medan had two... well they considered each other to be like brothers, who all suffered under the same Duellist. They weren’t happy, but they survived well. At least until their Duellist had a run in with Yugi.”
Hermione’s eyes widened, she knew the story of the match with Arkana. That had been the first time Yugi had called Mana, the Dark Magician Girl, to his side.
“One of the red Dark Magicians, Julius his name was, was killed by the Reaper of the Cards after being sent there by Yugi, and another, Regul, left the palace and never returned. No one’s heard from him since.” Hermione looked stunned, now wondering how many other monsters had been killed by the Reaper of the Cards over Yugi’s long Duelling career, “That’s why Medan started studying the Reaper the moment that Mahado’s back was turned.”
“He was trying to bring back a friend.” Hermione whispered.
“Wouldn’t you do anything for your friends?” Daniel asked her.
“Stop poisoning her mind.” Aylth growled, catching their attention. “No matter why Medan started studying the Reaper, it doesn’t give him the right to kidnap people. If he hates Yugi so much, why did he bring him here?”
“Bait.” Daniel shrugged, “Possibly an experiment into how long a human can last in our world. Target practise.” Aylth moved towards her partner as she realised that Daniel had been edging towards Hermione the entire time he’d been talking, but Daniel was faster, darting behind the teenage witch and twisting her wand arm behind her back, causing her to drop her wand, wrapping one arm around her throat. “To use as a hostage, maybe?”
Hermione wasn’t having any of it. Joey had taught her many things over the last year, including how to escape from such a hold and she stamped on his foot, causing him to yelp and let go.
Hermione grabbed her wand and darted across to the crib, picking up Nakia and darting with her behind Aylth who fired an attack off at the Dark Red Enchanter who exploded.
“Bastard.” Aylth growled, more aggravated at herself for letting him distract her with his words then annoyed that he’d attacked Hermione, considering that she’d gotten out of his hold easily.
“Is it true?” Hermione asked Aylth, concerned about what Daniel had said about the Graveyard.
“We can be killed as a result of a duel, yes.” Aylth nodded with a sigh, well aware that Hermione was the only Duellist that she knew who had been informed of this. “And when that happens the card for the monster tends to stop coming out for the Duellist it belonged to until they take it out. However,” She looked Hermione in the eye, “I would rather take that risk and fight at your side, then be damned to spend all of eternity doing nothing interesting here. Do not stop Duelling because of this.”
“But...” Hermione wouldn’t protest that she hadn’t been thinking about giving up the game, Aylth knew her mind far too well for that, but she didn’t think it was right or fair for her to endanger the beasts of her deck in a card game.
“If I have to I will get all of those who are in your deck to tell you the same thing.” Aylth snapped at her.
“Do Yugi and the others know about this?”
“No one ever told us.” Seto sounded grim as he and Mokuba stepped into the room, having been herded up here by some of Mana’s supporters and having heard the trail end of the conversation between the Dark Red Enchanter and the two women. “I don’t think they ever wanted to.”
“Seto? Mokuba? What are you doing here?” Hermione yelped.
“Blame Wheeler.”