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Chapter Text

The clock at the center of town is starting to chime nine o'clock in the morning and everyone is starting doing their usual routine. Well, almost everyone....

Aknadin: Atem! (tapping his foot outside of the carriage) Atem come on! (yelling from the below the bedroom window of his nephew) It's time for us to get the Wong household! We are not allowed to be late!

Atem: (pops his head out of the window) Yes! I'm coming Uncle!

Atem pulls his head back in his room and closes the window and quickly puts on his tailored coat and quickly runs downstairs and out of the house. After the sudden and unexpected passing of his mother and father, Atem was raised by his Uncle Aknadin and his cousin, Seto. Despite there being a few years apart, Seto and Atem were close and very competitive when it came to games. That changed when Seto met and married a lovely young woman named Kisara and left the town to live their lives. As soon as Seto left town, Aknadin had been trying to marry Atem off to many different girls that were daughters of his fellow shopkeepers, but Atem's fiery spirit would scare them away the moment they would meet for courting. However, this time, regarding the Wong Family, Aknadin and Lord and Lady Wong made arrangements for Atem and their daughter, Vivian, to not meet until the day before their wedding, which is their wedding rehearsal. Atem enters the carriage with his uncle and they were starting to head up to the uphill road to the Wong Family Mansion.

Aknadin: You have nailed a Lady this time, so this will benefit our family!

Atem: Shouldn't Miss Vivian Wong be marrying a Lord or someone of higher status?

Aknadin: Nonsense! Even though we are Art merchants, we are wealthy enough to be on their level and with this union, our family status will go up.

Atem: I have never even met this Vivian!

Aknadin: At least we have that in our favor! Your bold and fiery nature has scared off the other girls in town!

Atem: I want to marry someone for love, like Seto did with Kisara and Mom and Dad....

Aknadin: Atem, love does not pay for food, clothes and the roof over your head; money does. Now, when we get there, you must behave yourself and no messing around during your wedding rehearsal! This must go according to our plan! Understand?!

Atem: (looks down) Yes, Uncle....

As the two men are heading up into the mansion, the Wong family are inside their home, looking out their window and watching the carriage approaching. Despite appearing to live in a mansion home and dressed in fine clothes, the Wong Family are actually penniless and are at risk in being put on the streets. The only way they would be able to stay in their home is to marry off their daughter to someone who has money. Although they would rather have their daughter marry a fellow lord, but that could accidentally reveal their true financial situation to their peers, so they were willing to marry her off to one of the working class families, who were close to being as wealthy as they once were.

Lady Wong: Art merchants...

Lord Wong: We don't have a choice, Dear... Do you really want our fellow lords to know that we don't have any money to our name and on the verge of being on the streets?! If those townspeople discover our secret, we would be the laughingstock in the world.

Lady Wong: Absolutely not! I refuse to have our family to be an embarrassment among our peers! However, that nephew of that Art merchant is known in the town for being very bold and fiery that scared every girl in the town...

Vivian: He may be known for that type of temperament, Mother, but he is also the most handsome man in the town. Don't I deserve the best-looking man in the world?

Lady Wong: Of course, Darling! Once you and that boy get married, we have access to his family's money and we will be able to be free of our debts!

Lord Wong: Also, since he would be your husband, you could do whatever you want with him!

Vivian: He will be my “love slave” and help me produce the most beautiful children in the world!

Soon, the carriage stops at the front steps of the mansion and the driver opens the doors, allowing Aknadin and Atem to exit and they start heading up to the doors. Inside the mansion, the Wong family's butler prepares to open the doors the moment Aknadin rings the doorbell. The doors open and at the entrance is Aknadin and Atem standing as straight and proper as he could. They soon entered the massive foyer and could see that there is barely any furniture and a long carpet that continues up the staircase. At the foot of the stairs are all three members of the Wong family and soon Aknadin and Atem approached within ten feet of the family.

Butler: Lord, Lady, and Miss Vivian Wong! (then gestures with his hand) Mr. Magus and Young Mr. Magus.

Lord Wong: Welcome to our home, Aknadin and Atem!

Aknadin: Thank you for inviting us!

Lady: Let us have some tea before we head off to the chapel for the wedding rehearsal of Vivian and Atem. (turns to her left) This way everyone!

The Wong family, Aknadin, Atem, and the butler head to the drawing room to have tea. As they each sat down and have their tea, each member of the two families are looking at the bride and groom. Vivian was dressed in a short, pale yellow dress that showed off her long legs and black hair in two buns held by pink hair nets, and brown eyes. Atem has spiky tri-colored hair with golden fringe and bangs, black base and crimson edges and has purple eyes with crimson tinges, dressed in fine navy blue tailored suit. Vivian was starting to flirt with him and tried to touch him, but he would avoid her hands and was trying to ignore her advances. Even though they don't like how Atem seems to ignore their daughter's advances, the Wongs are happy that he isn't unleashing his fiery temper at her and behaving himself. Aknadin was relieved that Atem seems to be behaving himself and thinks there may be a chance for the marriage between his nephew and Vivian and his dream of being part of the higher class may become a reality. Soon, the bells on the clock struck ten o'clock, letting the two families know that it was time to head to the chapel for the wedding rehearsal of Atem and Vivian.

Chapter Text

Atem: Seto?! You and Kisara are back!?

When Aknadin and Atem exited from their carriage at the chapel with the Wong family coming out of their carriage, the group were greeted by Aknadin's son and Atem's cousin, Seto and his wife, Kisara. Seto is a tall man with short brown hair and icy blue eyes and fair skin. His wife, Kisara, has white waist-length hair with tones of baby blue and sapphire blue eyes and fair skinned.

Seto: I heard that my cousin was getting married, so Kisara and I came to see the wedding.

Lord Wong: Well you and your wife came at a good time since Vivian and Atem are having their wedding rehearsal today and tomorrow is their big day.

Lady Wong: Time for all of us go inside and make sure that this rehearsal goes well!

All the members of two families go inside the chapel, where they were greeted by Pegasus, the Pastor of the chapel and who is going to preside over their wedding. While Atem and Vivian were rehearsing their vows, someone entered the chapel, making everyone stop and see who the sudden visitor was. The person who entered the chapel was a tall man with long straight pink hair, aqua eyes, and is dressed in a lavender suit.

Lord Wong: Who are you, Sir?

The Man: Oh, don't worry about me. I am Baron Zigfried von Schroeder and I happened to be passing by and heard about a wedding happening soon and was curious about the lucky couple.

Lord Wong: Word travels fast here in town. Well, since you are already here, you can stay and watch the rehearsal with the rest of us.

Zigfried: Very well then, I will!

He sits next to Lord Wong and the rehearsal continued on. Despite Atem's not wanting to say the vows, he was able to perform them flawlessly and Vivian was excited about after the exchanging of the rings. As soon as the rings were exchanged, Vivian went to kiss him, but Atem puts his hand in front of her lips.

Vivian: What? Aren't we suppose to kiss after the exchanging of rings?

Pegasus: At the actual wedding itself, you both will allowed to kiss each other, however, this is only the rehearsal, so it would be considered scandalous if the kiss happened now.

Lady Wong: Really?

Lord Wong: Pastor Pegasus speaks the truth and the last thing our family needs is a scandal happening, so don't worry Vivian, you can kiss him tomorrow at the wedding.

Vivian: (pouts, but composes) Okay, I will wait since it is only for one day...

After the end of the rehearsal, the two families and Baron Zigfried left the chapel and went back to the Wong Family mansion for evening tea and that Aknadin and Lord and Lady Wong discuss the final touches for tomorrow's wedding. Although they were discussing the wedding with Aknadin, the Wongs were also talking to Zigfried about who he is and his wealth. Zigfried would brag about his wealth and would flirt with Vivian and she would respond to him with interest and talk about how Atem would help her produce wonderful children when they get married. Atem, on the other hand, completely ignores Vivian and catches up with Seto and Kisara.

Seto: Looks like your bride seems to be interested in Baron von Schroeder, Atem?

Atem: Sure sounds that way and her parents don't seem to be bothered by it and might be considering having her marry the Baron, instead of me.

Kisara: You are not bothered by it?

Atem: Uncle Aknadin made the arrangements with Lord and Lady Wong without me. Today was the first time I actually met Miss Vivian.

Kisara: Just today you met her?

Seto: So Father set up an arrange marriage without your input?

Atem: I think he knew that I would oppose it.

Kisara: You may be right, considering what Seto has told me about his father. Still, how are you feeling about getting married to Miss Vivian?

Atem: I... I really don't want to marry her, but I don't have a choice unless Uncle Aknadin says so. He points out that love won't pay for housing, food, clothing... All he ever talked about when we were coming to mansion this morning was elevating our family's status.

Seto: That's Father all right. He allows me to marry the love of my life, Kisara here, but he is making you marry?

Atem: You are his son, Seto. He wants you to be happy, so he allowed your marriage to happen. I am just his nephew, so I don't get the same treatment as you.

Kisara: That is unfair for him to treat you like that...

Zigfried: You know, Lord and Lady Wong, wouldn't you like to have your daughter marry someone whose status is the same as yours or higher?

Lord Wong: The Magus family are very well off despite being Art merchants and my daughter wants the best-looking man to be her husband.

Zigfried: Yes, Atem Magus does appear to be handsome, but he is a fiery one, despite trying to keep his temper down for the sake of the family and this union.

Lady Wong: You think that you are better match for Vivian than Atem?

Zigfried: With my vast wealth, I can provide Vivian everything she could ever ask for and I would lavish her every night.

Aknadin: If you choose to change the groom, we would need to change various details in the plans, Lord Wong.

Lord Wong: Yes, we would need to do that... You know... I think we should change the groom from Atem to Zigfried!

Vivian: What!? Father, you promised me that I will have the best man as my husband!

Lord Wong: You are having the best man as your husband and it is going to be Baron Zigfried!

Vivian: No! I want Atem!

Lady Wong: What do you think, Aknadin?

Aknadin: Although, we made this agreement to have my nephew and your daughter get married, it is ultimately the parents and guardian's decision. I will still pay for the wedding to happen, even though my nephew may not be the groom.

Lord Wong: Very well then! Atem is no longer tomorrow's groom! It will be Baron Zigfried von Schroeder!

Atem: Very well then....

Zigfried: Sorry that I took your lady away, Young Magus. Better luck next time.

Soon, the Magus family left the mansion and returned to their home, much to Vivian's protests, but her parents made their decision and was sticking to it. However, when the family left and Zigfried went to the guestroom, Vivian is determined to have her “perfect groom” no matter what her parents said and when she enters her room and her parents going to bed, she quickly makes a plan to make it happen.

Chapter Text

The Magus family arrived in their home and the air was tense and Aknadin looked very disappointed.

Aknadin: Seto? Kisara? Do you know that Baron von Schroeder?

Kisara: He looked familiar, but I can't say where though...

Seto: I heard rumors that he travels around, looking for a bride, but seems to have a reputation as a Ladies Man.

Atem: A “Ladies Man”? You mean that he flirts with women all the time?

Seto: More like sleeps with them.

Aknadin: What?! You knew this and didn't say anything?!

Seto: Father, I said that I heard rumors about him. I don't know if they are true or not!

Aknadin: Well, if they are rumors, there must be a reason why...

Kisara: He is a Baron, Mr. Magus, a lot of people like to make rumors on the very wealthy people.

Aknadin: What do you mean, Kisara?

Seto: What Kisara means is that the townspeople where the Baron originally lived, don't like him and the other high class for their superior attitude and other reasons. They would say anything that would mess with their reputation and make others dislike them.

Aknadin: Oh, I see... (sighs) I still hoping that we would be able to elevate our family's status with this arrangement, but Lord and Lady Wong made their decision and I must abide by it. As I told them, I will still pay for the wedding, even with a different groom, since tomorrow is the wedding.

Atem: The Wong family are the wealthiest family in town and the ones with the most power. However, Vivian is very much against the change of groom and might do something about it.

Aknadin: (scoffs) She could try, but her parents will not change their minds about their decision, no matter how many tears she would shed. Still Atem, you were able to keep your fiery spirit in check today, so there may be a chance for a girl to be your wife without being frightened by you.

Atem: But Uncle...

Aknadin: I don't care if you want to marry for love! It is a fairy tale! Grow up!

Atem: Seto married Kisara for love, not for money and status...

Aknadin: He is my son! You are nothing, but my nephew! Don't compare yourself to him!

Atem: (nearly explodes) Fine! I already knew that you hated me ever since I was born and I was only living with you and Seto because you were my only living relatives. (starts to shake) You're trying to get me married, so I would be out of your life for good!

Feeling that he can't keep his anger down any longer, Atem nearly ran out of the foyer to his bedroom.

Seto and Kisara: Atem!

Aknadin: Leave him be...

Seto: You are unbelievable, Father. I knew that you treated him differently than me, but making it clear that you never loved him after all those years...

Aknadin: I do love him, but his fiery boldness made it hard for anyone to approach him.

Kisara: Aknadin, those people would treat him like an oddball, because of his art and the girls that wanted him only desire his body.

Seto: Atem has talent and none of these people see that, not even you! He wanted to make you proud and now you made him feel that it was all a waste of time.

He leaves the room, along with Kisara to Atem's room, leaving Aknadin alone with his thoughts. As he let what his family told him sink in, Aknadin slumped down in his chair, regretting his actions.

Atem: Your father really knows how to rile me up, Seto.

Seto: The problem with my father is that he cares too much about his image and status.

Kisara: Despite with Aknadin said, we know that you will find your love someday.

Atem: Thank you both.

Seto: It has been a long day, let's get some sleep and talk more in the morning.

Atem: Fair enough. Good night, Seto. Good night Kisara.

Kisara: Sweet dreams, Atem.

Seto: Sleep well, Atem.

Atem: (gets up) I am going on a walk outside. Hopefully it would clear my head...

Seto: You sure that you want to do that when its late?

Atem: I'm sure, Seto. You and Kisara go ahead and sleep. I'll be fine.

Kisara: Just be careful, Atem.

Atem: I will.

Seto and Kisara reluctantly left the room and go to bed, while Atem went outside and started heading to the woods. Little did Atem know that Vivian was carefully climbing down her bedroom window and saw Atem walking toward the woods. Seeing that he was alone and she still desires him, Vivian secretly follows him, but at a distance, so he wouldn't notice.

As he was walking down the path, Atem is thinking about what he is to do about his life. As an artist, Atem knows that he is talented and can do his work as long that he has inspiration, but still wants to find someone to love him for who he is. As for that someone, Atem's thoughts went back to a memory from when he was boy and his parents were still alive:

He and his parents were living in a different town and there was a house next door that was massive and snake-themed and was owned by a powerful landowner who was rumored to be a sorcerer. Living with this landowner was a young lady that had lilac hair, pale skin and emerald green eyes, who was serving him as his young maid. Atem and the girl just happen to meet outside at a cherry tree that was at the center of the property line that divides the two different properties. During that time, they would hang out around the cherry tree whenever the girl was done with her chores and became very close. One day, Atem's parents suddenly lost their lives in an accident and he was due to leave his home and start living with his uncle and his family. On that day, he and the girl made a promise to see each other again and love each other forever on a rose that was growing at the base of the cherry tree.

Atem: I wish I could remember her name...

Voice: Darling!

Atem was startled and turned to see Vivian coming towards him.

Vivian: Darling! Let's run away together!

Atem: No way! I am never going to marry you! Besides, you are going to get married to someone who is actually your level! (turns and runs away) Go home, Vivian!

Vivian: (starts to run after him) But Darling! I was promised you, not some stupid Baron with funny-looking hair!

Atem ran further into the woods and was able to give Vivian the slip, while she tripped and was throwing a tantrum like a five year old child. When he felt that Vivian was no longer chasing him, Atem slowed down and looked around the part of the woods he was in. Atem can see that he seems to be in a clearing with a large maple tree and at the base of the tree, there seems to be something glowing on the ground. Upon closer inspection, Atem could see that the glow is coming from a silver rose with a translucent stem and leaves.

Atem: I never seen a rose like that before and yet... (reaches out towards the rose) It seems to be similar to the rose that my friend and I made a promise on...

He gently removes the rose from the ground and breathes in the fragrance of the rose. It was sweet like any other rose, but there was something else there, but couldn't pinpoint it.

Atem: I really wish I could remember her name... This rose is reminding me of her and... our promise...

Just as he said “promise,” the rose started to glow and it wrapped itself on his left arm and a petal came off and it transformed into a girl with wings. Atem was surprised at seeing the rose moving on its own and wrapped around his arm, but that a winged girl appeared before him from a petal. The winged girl had long lilac hair, dark green eyes and pale skin and her wings are blue translucent butterfly wings with silver rose pattern design.

Atem: It.. it cannot be...

Girl: You kept your promise, Atem! We promise that we would see each other again and we have!

Atem: You're...?

Girl: (blinks) Don't you remember me?

Atem: It has been so long that... I can't seem to remember your name... I do remember a girl that lived as a maid for a landowner who lived next door to where I used to live with my late parents... She looked exactly like you, but didn't have wings.

Girl: I was forced to conceal my wings from you, Atem... Even though I am sad that you can't remember my name, I am glad that you do remember me otherwise.

Atem: You were forced to conceal your wings, so you are really a fairy?

The girl nodded, but before she could say explain, the two of them suddenly heard something approaching them and it was Vivian.

Vivian: Who is that, Darling!? (glares at the fairy) Atem is mine, you winged freak!!

As Vivian ran towards them, the fairy took Atem's hands and they both disappeared, leaving Vivian crashing onto the ground and alone.

Vivian: Atem! Where did you go, Darling!?

Chapter Text

A great light appeared in the middle of a garden full of many flowers and when the light faded away, there was Atem and the fairy.

Atem: Where did you take us?

Fairy: This is the Fairy Realm and this was my family's garden years ago... I brought us here, so we can talk more and be away from that woman.

Atem: Your family's garden and Fairy realm? So, the fairy realm is real, like my parents once said.... (starts to remember more about his friend in front of him) Your name is Odette right?

Odette: (smiles widely) You remember my name now! (embraces him) I am so glad!

Atem: (hugs her back) Me too, Odette. I guess when I lost my parents, I nearly blocked my memories of anything or anyone before I went to live with my uncle and his family. I am glad to be away from Vivian.

Odette: (nods) I guess I can understand your memories being blocked by the pain of your loss. (hears the name of a different person) That crazy woman's name is Vivian?

Atem: Yes, her name is Vivian Wong, the only child of Lord and Lady Wong, the wealthiest family in the town I was currently living with my uncle.

Odette: (arches an eyebrow) Wealthiest family? They have no money...

Atem: What? How do you know?

Odette: Even though I was trapped in the rose, I can hear the voices of nature and she is never silent, even in winter time. Among the roots of plants and the gossip from animals, I have heard about the Wong family becoming penniless and had to sell their vast furniture to pay off some of their debts.

Atem: That would explain the lack of furniture around that house, especially in that foyer... How did they become in debt in the first place?

Odette: They were spending more than what their money can bring in. Most of the purchase were beauty products for the Wongs to maintain to their good looks. The only way they could pay off their debts, is to have their child marry someone with money.

Atem: That's why they approached my Uncle Aknadin before that Baron arrived! Even though we are Art merchants, we are well off financially and they figured that they could use our money to get them out of debt.

Odette: Yes. (then blinks when she heard the word "Baron") What Baron?

Atem: Baron Zigfried von Schroeder, he came to town and at first disrupted the wedding rehearsal of Vivian and I, but then later, he managed to convince Lord and Lady Wong that he was the better match for their daughter and they made arrangement to change the groom from me to him.

Odette: (eyes widened) Zigfried von Schroeder!? He is in your town?!

Atem: What is it? You know him?

Odette: He is part of the reason I am bound to this rose. (pointing to the rose on Atem's arm) Him and the landowner are the reason I haven't been able to see you until you came to the woods and found the rose.

Atem: The Landowner? I did remember that there were stories that he was a sorcerer...

Odette: That part of him being a sorcerer is true. His name is Dartz Doma and practices various dark magic and would perform curses or blessings to others, but for a steep price.

Atem: How were you a maid to him then?

Odette: He took my parents away from me and took me to have access to my fairy magic.

Atem: He murdered your parents and kidnapped you!?

Odette: Yes... I couldn't say or do anything against him as I was still young and my powers were still developing. When you left, Dartz had discovered that I have been seeing you and that I made a promise to you, so he kept me trapped in the house, preventing me from leaving.

Atem: (holds her in his arms) I am so sorry that you have to endure all that! How was Zigfried involved?

Odette: He became wealthy because of Dartz and he wanted Zigfried to pay for his services. At first, Zigfried tried to get me to marry him as a means to pay off his debt, but I refused. Dartz forced me into a wedding gown and tried to cast a love spell on me and have me marry Zigfried, but it was then he really learned about our promise to each other on the rose at the base of the cherry tree and the spell was repelled. Angered, Dartz then took that rose from its place at the cherry tree and cast a spell on me, binding me to the rose and I was forced to grant wishes to anyone who holds it. Ziegfried was carrying me, trapped within the rose, until recently, the rose fell out of his bag and it landed at the tree that you eventually arrived at.

Atem: How are you appearing before me now? I didn't make a wish.

Odette: There was a flaw in Dartz's spell on me. I would appear as myself to the one who made the promise to me.

Atem: So, is that why the rose has wrapped itself around me?

Odette: It recognizes you as the boy who made the promise with me.

Atem: You can grant wishes I would make too?

Odette: Yes, but I can't manipulate the hearts of others.

Atem: What about yourself?

Voice: She cannot...

The two of them then realize that they aren't alone and turned to see a man with ocher skin, blue eyes dressed with a turban on his head, white and cream robes, and golden ring earrings.

Odette: Shadi...

Atem: Shadi?

Odette: A sage who was friends with my late parents. He was able to help me regain some of my magic to enable me to do things outside the wish-granting spell, like bringing you here to the Fairy realm.

Shadi: Yes, but I cannot undo the spell that binds her to the rose. The only way she could be freed is someone wishes for her freedom and that the one who cast the curse becomes cursed himself.

Atem: So, if I wish for her freedom, only part of the conditions will be fulfilled?

Shadi: Yes, but it would only remove her wish-granting abilities, she will remain bound to the rose until Dartz becomes cursed himself.

Atem: How can that happen?

Shadi: I am afraid that even I don't know, Atem. However, I do know that you two together can stop Dartz.

Atem: But I haven't even met Dartz.

Shadi: Not yet, but he will come eventually to collect his debt from Zigfried.

Odette: (senses something) The morning will soon be arriving at your town, Atem. We have to go back to your home, before your family gets worried about you.

Atem: What's going to happen to you?

Odette: I will still be in the rose, Atem, but I won't be able to appear in front of others aside from you and the ones responsible for my curse. If you make a wish while holding me, I will grant it for you.

Atem: Okay, Odette. I promise you that I will help set you free!

Odette: I know you will! (disappears into the rose on Atem's arm)

Shadi: Now Atem, you must keep the rose hidden from Zigfried should he recognize it and possibly steal it back and you would lose Odette again.

Atem: I will Shadi, but how do I make sure the rose stays hidden?

As he was asking that question, the rose changed into a ring that resembled his late father's ring that he kept in his box.

Atem: Did the rose changed into a ring? It looks like the ring my father once wore that I kept in my jewelry box.

Shadi: With the rose looking like your late father's ring, it would take away some suspicions of you carrying a magic rose.

Atem: I have a couple times wore my father's ring, so people wouldn't think anything of it.

Shadi: Be careful, Atem and be on your guard for that sorcerer would arrive anytime to search for victims while collecting his debts.

Atem: I understand and thank you, Shadi.

Soon, Atem wished to return to his bedroom at his uncle's home and within moments he appears in his bedroom. Seeing that the sun is still not up yet, he quickly changes into his nightclothes, while keeping the ring on his finger and went to bed before anyone in his house wakes up. As he goes to sleep, Atem is thinking on how he could help his dear friend. After so many years, he sees Odette again, but under a curse by a mad sorcerer and that the Baron is involved in her plight. Knowing the truth about the Wong family's financial situation and Zigfried may not be aware of it, would be amusing to Atem, if it wasn't for the fact that Vivian is still obsessed with Atem and that Dartz would be coming to his town. If he is to save Odette and protect his family from the sorcerer, Atem needs to come up with a plan.

Chapter Text

Morning has arrived in the town and there was some chaos going on at the Wong family mansion. Vivian had returned from the woods a mess, covered in mud and was ranting about a strange winged woman taking her love slave away. However, neither of her parents believed her and when they contacted Aknadin, he responded that his nephew is alone in his bedroom asleep, not in the woods with an unknown young woman.

Lady Wong: What were you doing outside in the woods anyway?! You know that you are going to get married to Baron von Schroeder today!

Vivian: I saw Atem taking a walk in the woods, so I followed him! You two promised me that he was to be mine!

Lord Wong: That was when he was engaged to you! That is no longer the case! You should be happy that we are having you marry someone who of the same status as us and not some working class family!

Vivian: But the Baron is nowhere near as perfect and handsome as Atem!

Lady Wong: That's enough! We will not have you embarrass us even more with your ranting! You are going to marry the Baron as according to plan!

Vivian: But-!

Lord Wong: That is final, Vivian!

Vivian just stomped her foot, like the spoiled brat she is, and stomped into her room, where their maids were prepared to get her dressed into her wedding gown. Hearing the commotion and finished dressing into his lavender wedding suit, Zigfried exited the guestroom.

Zigfried: What was all that racket?

Lord Wong: Nothing, Baron. Our daughter was just having pre-wedding jitters and was spouting nonsense.

Zigfried: Very well, Lord Wong. I will be waiting for your family at the chapel.

Lady Wong: We will be there as soon as Vivian gets dressed!

Zigfried nods and heads out to the wedding chapel with an annoyed look on his face. When he was looking into his bag earlier in his guestroom, he notices that the magical rose that he got from his benefactor, Dartz, is missing and can't seem to figure out where it went. Through his door, Zigfried heard Vivian ranting about that Magus boy and an unknown girl, which made him curious. However, since the boy's guardian had told the Wongs that the boy is home and not somewhere else, he is inclined to believe that Vivian was being delusional as well and was prepared to teach her how to be proper lady. As he approached the chapel, he notices a familiar figure in a white and blue robes with wisps of turquoise hair, sticking out of the hood.

Zigfried: Dartz? What are you doing here?

Dartz: You know very well why I am here, Baron... You still have a debt to pay to me.

Zigfried: I am about to get married to the wealthiest family in this town and I am willing to let you have them as the payment.

Dartz: Oh? You are willing to let me have your soon-to-be wife as the means to pay me?

Zigfried: The girl is delusional and she needs to be taught a lesson. I would ask you to wait until our wedding ceremony and reception before doing anything or else there might suspicions about you and I.

Dartz: Fair enough, I will wait until tonight, but I know that you no longer have the rose, bearing my fairy.

Zigfried: (surprised) How did-?

Dartz: I am practitioner of many forms of magic and I can sense that the rose is not in your possession as of recently.

Zigfried: I don't know how the rose disappeared, I just discovered it being missing this morning...

Dartz: That means that the rose can be anywhere by now. However, we will deal with that later, right now, you have a wedding to attend.

Zigfried: I know, but you can't come to my wedding looking like that. The townspeople will find you immediately suspicious.

Dartz: Indeed, they will. (snaps his fingers and in an instant, his robes changes into periwinkle suit with white shoes) Better?

Zigfried: Much better. They will think that you are a fellow socialite of mine.

Dartz: Shall we go?

Both men entered the chapel with Zigfried standing at his place at the altar with Pastor Pegasus, while Dartz sat down on the groom side of the pews.

At the Magus house, everyone was getting up and dressed to attend the wedding with the rest of the townspeople, although Aknadin was already at the chapel, informing Pegasus about the change of groom and making the payments to the wedding coordinator. As the rest of the Magus family were heading to the chapel, Seto and Kisara were asking Atem what happened last night. Not wanting to endanger his family or risking Zigfried knowing about the rose being in his possession, Atem told them that he was walking in the woods when he discovered that Vivian was following him so he was running to avoid getting into some kind of scandalous act and was able to give her the slip.

Seto: Apparently Vivian came back to her home and told her father some ridiculous story about you disappearing with a winged woman.

Atem: Vivian didn't like the fact that I wasn't going to be her husband and was trying to come up with a story that would garner her any sympathy.

Seto: (scoffs) Like that was going to happen. When Lord Wong asked Father if you were home, he quietly opened your door and saw that you were asleep in your bed, proving that she was making up stories again.

Atem: Making up stories again? Come to think it... when we were growing up, I did remember Vivian would always tell the girls here in town about places that she and her family went to on holidays... The girls would always gossip about wanting to go to those places.

Seto: Yep, many of them were either made up places or exaggerated.

Kisara: Were you able to clear your thoughts while you were on your walk, Atem?

Atem: Yes and in fact, it made me remember someone from when I was a kid before I moved here to live with Seto and Uncle.

Seto: Oh? A childhood friend?

Atem: Someone I made a promise to and that I indeed to keep.

Kisara: Was that promise a promise of love?

Atem: You could say that, Kisara.

Seto: Well, I hope we could meet her someday.

Atem: Hope so too.

The three of them entered the chapel and sat next to Aknadin and it was then they noticed someone that they never seen before in a periwinkle suit, long turquoise hair and heterochromic eyes (one gold, one green), sitting in the groom section.

Kisara: Who is that?

Aknadin: A fellow socialite of Baron von Schroeder no doubt. I saw him walking in with the Baron, so I assume that they know each other.

Atem's nearly widened at what Aknadin just said and immediately suspect that the man was the landowner and sorcerer responsible for Odette's plight. Carefully laying his left hand over the ring on his right ring finger, which was the rose disguised as his late father's ring, hoping that the sorcerer does not find out.

The wedding ceremony is about to start and the Wong family are still not at the chapel and people are beginning to gossip about the bride. However, they heard the sounds of three sets of different sounding footsteps that slowed down as they arrived at the doors. Moments later, the doors open and Lord and Lady Wong entered the chapel with Vivian dressed in a poofy wedding gown and her hair in her usual style with a veil. She looked very deflated and went down the aisle without any complaint and stood next to Zigfried. Soon, the ceremony began and the vows were exchanged without a hitch and when Zigfried placed the ring on Vivian's finger, she merely sighs and then slowly placed the ring on Zigfried's finger. As soon as Pegasus declared them husband and wife, Vivian nearly broke down as Zigfried moved the veil from Vivian's face and kissed her. As they were walking on the aisle, Vivian saw Atem and began to come alive again.

Vivian: Darling! (tries to run towards Atem, but is blocked by her father) Tell them that I am not crazy!

Atem: What do you mean and don't call me Darling! You should be calling your new husband, Darling!

Vivian: Zigfried is not my Darling!

Zigfried: I am your husband and you will not embarrass me with any more of your foolishness today! (pulls her along as they continue down the aisle and out of the chapel to the wedding reception) We will discuss about your behavior tonight!

The townspeople were starting to laugh, seeing that Vivian is making a fool of herself and her parents looked so embarrassed. As everyone was heading to the wedding reception, they could see that the Wong family and the Baron are at the bank, talking with who appears to be the bailiff, holding some paperwork. Since the family was inside the bank, no one outside could hear their conservation, but could tell that there was some yelling going on in there. Most of the people got bored of looking through the windows and headed to the wedding reception. Dartz was still standing there amused of what was happening, but notices the Magus family walking towards the reception. As he was watching the family walk by, Dartz realizes that the younger Magus boy looks very familiar to him. He recalls that a small family lived next door to his home until the parents tragically died, making their only child leave the home and to his only living relatives. Recalling that his fairy maid was seeing someone during that period and wonders if that boy is the younger Magus. He would need to find out, but first, he needs to collect his payment and find the rose containing his fairy.

At the wedding reception, everyone was sitting at their assigned spots and soon, the newlyweds have finally entered the room and took their places at the head table with Lord and Lady Wong and Dartz sitting next to them. The newlyweds looked like they were fighting and their faces were red by either embarrassment, anger or a mix of both. After some brief toasts, everyone start dining on the food provided to them for the reception, but the atmosphere seem more like a dinner party than a wedding reception. There was gossip of what happened at the bank and there were questions as to why they were at the bank at the first place instead of heading immediately to the reception.

Lord Wong: (quietly) This wedding has become a joke...

Zigfried: (hisses quietly) Be grateful that your daughter is married to me, despite her actions last night! Still you were lucky that I still have plenty of money despite your ridiculous debt! Who would have thought that you were the verge on losing your house and needing that Art merchant to pay for the entire wedding!

Some of the guests at the nearest tables overheard Lord Wong and Zigfried mentioning about the Wong family's financial situation. Among them were the Magus family and most of them were surprised to hear that except Atem because of Odette told him last night when they were in the Fairy Realm.

Aknadin: So that's why Lord Wong was so adamant of having me pay for the wedding originally and for the changes! They were flat out broke and were just planning to use us to get them out of whatever hole they dug themselves into!

Atem: Sounds like our family managed to dodge a bullet in not merging our two families together.

Aknadin: Yes and I am so sorry for treating you so horribly, Atem. I know I said such horrible things to you, but you are all I have to remember my dear brother by. I hope one day that you would forgive me and that you would find the one you love to marry.

Atem: Thank you, Uncle and I know I will find her. (touches his ring, thinking) I have found you, but I need to help set you free, Odette.

After so many awkward hours of dining and drinking wine, the so-called wedding reception ended and everyone went home, thanking the Wong family, but some of them were holding back their laughter when they were thanking them for their generosity. Noticing the jokes that some of the townspeople were making about them, made Lord Wong realize that they overheard him mentioning the family debt and the reason why Aknadin was paying for the entire wedding, despite his nephew was no longer the groom of the wedding.

When they returned to the Wong family mansion, Vivian and Zigfried went into her bedroom and consummated their marriage, but it was clear that she was disinterested in making love with Zigfried. After they finished, they got into their nightclothes and just looked at each other.

Zigfried: You rather have that Atem to be making love with you than me, Vivian.

Vivian: He was meant to be mine! Father promised me!

Zigfried: Really? Then why you were responding to me flirting with you with such interest then?

Vivian: Flirting is one thing, but being married to you is another thing!

Zigfried: What were you really doing last night, Vivian?

Vivian: I was trying to get Atem to be my love slave, but then some woman with wings took him away!

Zigfried: That nonsense again with the winged woman. The Magus boy was found sleeping in his room alone. His guardian checked and told your father that!

Vivian: Maybe she transported him home before I got home! I know what I saw.

Zigfried: You know that your father had to find a way to stop people from spreading scandalous rumors about you and your rantings. You embarrassed your entire family!

Vivian: Our family is already now a joke because they decided to change the groom long after the wedding rehearsal!

Dartz: (enters the room) Enough! You both are loud enough that nearly woke up the entire household, but I already dealt with them.

Vivian: (backs away, but is restrained by Zigfried) That guy from the ceremony and reception.

Zigfried: This is Dartz Doma, a landowner from another county. He came to collect payment for his services.

Vivian: Services?

Dartz: I am a practitioner of magic, Vivian and I can grant blessings and/or curses to others, but for a price. Zigfried here wanted unlimited wealth, but his price is a soul or a child from his wife. He originally planned to use my fairy maid as his wife and produce a child for me from her, but that fell through, so he ended up searching for a bride or someone whose soul can satisfy the payment.

Vivian: You are planning to take my soul?!

Dartz: I already took the souls of your parents and they are now mindless/soulless slaves. Now, I need answers from you about that Magus boy named Atem! (raises his hand) Powers of the Orichalcos, reveal to me the memories within this fool's mind!

Vivian tried to flee, but Zigfried kept her restrained as the magical Seal of Orichalcos appeared beneath the newlyweds and the symbol appears on Vivian's forehead. Within moments, an image projected above them, revealing the events of last night, including her plans for Atem.

Zigfried: So, you were planning to have sex with Atem the moment you would catch him from that chase in the woods in hopes of becoming pregnant with his child, forcing him to marry you. You really are very naughty, Vivian!

Vivian: (trying to fight over the influence) I don't care! Atem is mine!

Soon, Dartz, Zigfried, and Vivian saw the moment when she saw Atem with the winged woman and then their subsequent disappearance.

Zigfried: That was Odette, but how can she appear before him?

Dartz: Atem is indeed that boy that use to live next door to me! He was the one who made that promise to my fairy!

Zigfried: That would mean that the rose is in that boy's possession!

Dartz: We need to retrieve that rose from that boy!

Vivian: Okay, you looked within my mind, now would you release me?

Dartz: No, my dear. Your soul is part of the payment along with your parents.

With a wave of his hand, the seal shrinks and completely surrounds Vivian and a pillar of light encloses her and she drops to the floor.

Dartz: Your wife is now your mindless/soulless slave to do as you wish, Zigfried. We are even regarding payment, but now we need to claim what is mine again.

Zigfried: That Atem can't free Odette through a wish, right?

Dartz: Even if he wished for her freedom, she will still be bound to the rose until either my life ends or I become cursed in some way. She just won't be able to grant wishes anymore if he makes that wish.

Zigfried: I doubt that boy could do anything to you, even with Odette's wish-granting powers.

Dartz: Indeed, but I can't take those chances. We need to get that boy and take back the rose, but let's rest for now and in the morning, we will come up with a plan to do it without drawing suspicions from these townspeople.

Zigfried: Agreed.

Dartz then leaves the room and settles down into his bed in the guestroom while Zigfried has his now mindless wife come into bed and sleep until morning.

Chapter Text

Meanwhile at the Magus home, the family were talking about the entire wedding day and after the reception.

Seto: What a reception, it became more like a glorified dinner party as the night went on.

Atem: Not to mention that everyone now knows that the Wong family were basically penniless until Vivian's marriage to the Baron, who paid off whatever debts they had.

Seto: Still surprised that she was so all over the place in regards to getting married to Zigfried. She was responding to his flirting yesterday after the wedding rehearsal, but then when it was announced that the groom was being changed, she got upset.

Atem: She wants me to be her “love slave” and wants to have my children, not his.

Seto: Sounds like she wants to have a lover on the side, along with a husband.

Aknadin: Disgusting! Doesn't she know that it would indeed create a scandal for her family?

Kisara: It doesn't seem to matter anymore, since the family's reputation seems to be already going down due to Vivian's ranting and behavior at the wedding today and the truth about their wealth.

Seto: Who knows if they are going to be showing their faces among the town again?

Atem: We will have to wait and see.

Aknadin: Anyway, that man with Zigfried... I heard that he introduced himself as Dartz Doma.

Atem: (eyes widened) Dartz Doma?

Seto: You know that name?

Atem: He was the landowner that my parents and I lived next door to when they were still alive.

Aknadin: I thought that name sounded familiar. I remembered your father telling me about this landowner living next door to him and that it he seems to keep to himself.

Atem: I think I have seen him only once before and that was at a distance from the gates, so I didn't recognize him at first.

Kisara: Speaking of that man, when we were walking to the reception and he was standing outside the bank and watching the Wong family inside, he was watching us.

Aknadin: He was?

Kisara: Yes and his expression was in surprise when his gaze went to Atem.

Atem: I wondered that if it meant that he recognized me as his former neighbor all grown up?

Seto: Could be...

Aknadin: Atem, do you know why Dartz kept to himself? Your father couldn't give me a reason.

Atem: No one really knows, but most of them don't bother approaching him, due to the rumors surrounding him and his house was scary-looking.

Seto: What rumors?

Aknadin: Scary-looking?

Atem: Well, I heard some of the former workers on his land say that he is a sorcerer. His house was huge, but it had this snake or serpent-like motif to it, making people very uneasy.

Aknadin: A sorcerer?! That's absurd.

Seto: It does sound absurd, but there has to be a reason why everyone avoids him aside from his status as a landowner and his house looking the way it did.

Atem: Who knows what was going through Dartz's mind when he saw me?

Aknadin: Maybe surprised of seeing a neighbor that he probably got along well with...

Atem: (skeptical) Perhaps, but not even my parents could approach him. Something about his presence made everyone steer clear of him in the town that we were living at the time...

Aknadin: Hmm. Who could say...?

Seto: It's getting much late in the night and its time for bed.

Aknadin: We will talk more in the morning.

Everyone bid each other good night and went into their respective bedrooms to sleep. As he was settling down in his bed, Atem is looking at his ring, turning back into a rose and wrapped around his arm. Still not wanting to put his family at risk and not have Dartz discover the rose, Atem carefully cover the rose over his arm with his room and went to sleep.

As he was dreaming, the rose began to glow and he finds himself back in the Fairy realm.

Atem: How did I get back here?

Odette: You are and aren't here, Atem.

Atem: Huh? (turns and sees Odette next to him) Odette? What do you mean?

Odette: Your body is still in your bed, but your mind is here in the Fairy realm.

Atem: You mean that I can enter the Fairy realm in my dreams?

Shadi: In a sense, Atem, but only through my magic through the rose. I figured that you two can be able to speak to one another without anyone outside this realm eavesdropping.

Atem: That's a good idea, Shadi, considering that Dartz is in town and is currently at the Wong family mansion.

Shadi: He must have tracked down where Zigfried was located and proceeded to no doubt meet Zigfried and collect his payment.

Atem: Unfortunately, they did meet up and I have no doubt that Dartz recognized me when I was with my family on our way to the reception.

Shadi: I feared as much, it will be matter of time before he realizes that you have the rose in your possession, Atem.

Atem: I am worried for my family, Shadi. They don't know anything about this, because they don't really believe in magic, well Uncle and Seto don't, but Kisara does believe in some tales.

Odette: We need to keep your family safe, Atem. Dartz might go after them in order to get to you and me.

Shadi: Perhaps, but I doubt that he would stoop that low as to hurt them, Odette. He might use them to get information about Atem that he could use against him.

Odette: Still, we need to make a plan. Do you plan on going into the town tomorrow?

Atem: No, I normally stay home and do some art. My uncle usually runs the shop on his own, because he insists on doing it himself. With Seto still here, maybe he would be at the shop with his father. As for Kisara, I don't know if she is going to stay home or go with Seto.

Odette: We will find out in the morning. Staying in your room could keep Dartz from coming near you, unless someone lets him into the house....

Shadi: I fear that there is more going on tonight. I sensed Dartz's magic being used at the house that he is staying in...

Odette: He must have collected the souls of the Wong family as Zigfried's means of paying him back for his services!

Atem: What does that mean for the family?

Shadi: Their empty shells will act as puppets for Dartz and maybe for Zigfried. Be vigilant, the both of you...

Shadi then vanishes, leaving Odette and Atem alone in the garden of the Fairy realm.

Atem: Where did Shadi go?

Odette: He left to check up on the human world and try to see what Dartz's next move would be.

Atem: (tries to stroke Odette's face, but his hand went through) What the-?

Odette: Your mind is here, not your body, so you are not able to touch me in your dreams since I am only a projection here as well.

Atem: Your body is still trapped in the rose...

Odette: Yes...

Atem: I don't know how I can help you. Wishing for your freedom won't unbind you from the rose.

Odette: It will however, free me from granting wishes to anyone who holds my rose.

Atem: Which would include me, but I have no desire to use you like that.

Odette: Yes, but Zigfried and Dartz won't be able to make me grant wishes either if you make that wish.

Atem: Maybe I should make that wish.

Odette: You can only make that wish when you are conscious, Atem.

Atem: I understand, Odette. As soon as I wake up in my body, I will make that wish. We still however, need to figure out how to have Dartz become cursed.

Odette: That is what is eluding me and Shadi here.... (moves closer to him) No matter what happens, I will always be by your side.

Atem: I made promise to see you again and love you forever as a child and even as an adult, the promise is still in my heart and will forever be.

Even though they couldn't touch each other due to them being dream projections of themselves, they really want to kiss each other. Soon, Atem could feel his mind being pulled back into the waking world and then he and Odette faded away from the Fairy realm and back into their respective bodies as the morning sun rises into the sky.

Chapter Text

Dartz and Zigfried got up in their respective beds and using their new puppets, they had them make breakfast and soon the two men come up with a plan.

Zigfried: So do you plan on using Atem's family to trap him and reclaim the rose?

Dartz: Yes, I have an idea that includes using those fools.

Zigfried: Are you planning to take their souls and make their mindless selves break Atem?

Dartz: No! That would be too obvious, Zigfried and their souls are not worth it! That boy on the other hand, his soul is strong. There is a strong power within him, but it has yet to come to the surface.

Zigfried: So how then?

Dartz: (conjures a blue vial in his hand) This potion will do the trick...

Zigfried: What does it do?

Dartz: I just need to lace either food or drink meant for Atem and it would weaken him.

Zigfried: I have a feeling that Atem wouldn't be wanting to see us if we go into town.

Dartz: (holding out his index finger) That! Is where his family comes in....

Meanwhile, the Magus family got up and were having breakfast and discussing about plans for the day.

Aknadin: Since we spent the last two days on both a wedding rehearsal and the actual wedding, I need to make up time in the shop. (turns to Atem) Don't you have some paintings that need to be completed before they could be sold?

Atem: A few, but I was planning to finish them up today, so I will be in my art room today.

Aknadin: Good, you already knew what I was going to ask you to do. (turns to his son) Seto? Are you and Kisara planning to go home today?

Seto: Not today, since we haven't seen you two in a while, so we figured that we could stay here and spend time with the family for at least a couple weeks.

Kisara: I can help with the house, since it looks like the laundry needs to be done, but the house itself is pretty clean.

Atem: Thank you, I try to do what I can to keep the house clean, while Uncle runs the shop, since he insists on running it by himself since you both left home...

Seto: Father, you know that you could've had Atem help around the shop. You are not getting any younger, you know.

Aknadin: I know, but I am very particular on certain details regarding the shop.

Seto: Well, I am going to help you in the shop and help you learn to let go and allow others to help you.

Kisara: (giggles) Funny that you say that, Dear, but you don't always let me help with things at home.

Seto: (blushes) Kisara... You can call it a pride thing, but I am getting better...

Kisara: Yes, but you still have a long way to go, Dear.

Aknadin: (chuckles) Anyway, since we are each finished eating, let's get going and get to work.

Everyone else: Okay!

They soon cleared the table and Kisara immediately started doing to the dishes while Atem went into his art room, to begin finishing the paintings that he was working on earlier before the wedding rehearsal and subsequent wedding. Soon, Seto and Aknadin left to work at their store in town and told Kisara and Atem that they will be back for lunch. As Kisara finished the dishes and started to work on doing the laundry, she heard a knock on the door. After putting down the basket of dirty clothes, Kisara went to the door and saw two bottles of milk. Atem comes down after hearing the door open and sees what Kisara is holding in her hands.

Kisara: The milk delivery finally arrived. Odd that it was late. (shrugs) Must have been because of yesterday's wedding that everything seems to be running late.

Atem: Yeah, I suspect the food deliveries are going to be late too.

Kisara: Well, after I finish with the laundry, I can go into town and get our food delivery as well.

Atem: Maybe you can give Uncle and Seto a call to let them know that you would be in town later in case they come home before you do.

Kisara: Sure thing, Atem.

She takes the bottles into the house and after putting the bottles into the icebox, she continues to work on the laundry and makes a call to the family art shop. Atem goes back into his art room and looks out the windows and notices how some of the townspeople are either rushing around or moving slowly in doing whatever job they were doing. The rose ring glowed and Odette appeared.

Odette: I guess that wedding really caused quite a disturbance.

Atem: Yes, some of the people must have drank too much and were sleeping it off, resulting in them getting up late. I already suspected that our milk delivery was already going to be late before we were having breakfast and there is the chance the food delivery is also going to be late.

Odette: Still, Atem... Are you sure that it is okay for your uncle and cousin to go to the shop? What happens if they bump into either Zigfried or Dartz?

Atem: They are two stubborn men and very tough. They can handle themselves, regarding in talking to the men. I seriously doubt Dartz would use any magic on them when there are people around and the shop is usually quite busy, so it is not like they are going to alone.

Odette: True, but...

Atem: (touches her face) Don't worry. We will stop Dartz. Which reminds me...

Odette: Atem, are you going to...?

Atem: (holds out the ring that changed back into its true rose form) Odette, I wish for your freedom!

Soon, a light emitted from the rose and Odette felt something change in her and suddenly two silver shackles suddenly appeared on her wrists, came off.

Odette: My powers...! I can feel them again!

Atem: (looks around) Do you think anyone heard you?

Odette: No, since I am still bound to the rose, no one could hear me, except you, the one who made the promise with me, and the two men responsible for my cursed state.

Atem: People could still hear me talk, so I would need to keep it down.

Odette: Fair point.

Atem: Still... your powers are back?

Odette: They are no longer blocked by the spell, but not even they could unbound me to the rose. Having my powers back means I can do more now than I did when restricted to only granting wishes.

Atem: Right. I have mentioned you to my family in regarding to having someone to love, but I haven't told them your name or even that you were a maid to Dartz.

Odette: Eventually you would need to tell them everything, Atem.

Atem: Yes, but they won't believe me unless they can see you...

Odette: If Dartz tries to use any magic, you will have to come clean to them about what you really know...

Atem: I will when that time comes...

The two start to talk to each other about their time together when they were children. When she wasn't working on the house chores, Odette was climbing the cherry tree with Atem and would occasionally share some of the ripe cherries from the branches with him. As they were reminiscing their joint childhood, Atem continued to work on the unfinished paintings and was planning to make a new one, inspired by the two of them and their bond with Odette watching him work with interest.

Back in town, Aknadin and Seto were at the shop, selling some of Atem's earlier pieces and some of Seto's early sculptures. A moment ago, they received a call from Kisara that the milk delivery had finally arrived and the food delivery still hasn't arrived, so she may be coming into town to pick up their food delivery, which they appreciate the heads up and ended the call. As they were continuing to sell their wares, Aknadin and Seto heard some commotion come from outside. The two of them head outside and they saw the other town girls mocking Vivian, who seems to be acting very odd. She seemed zoned out in her expression and her motions are very stiff.

Aknadin: What seems to be going on with Vivian?

Zigfried: (arrives to grab his wife) She had a little too much champagne and we were little rough last night.

Seto: Really? You should have kept her home.

Zigfried: Yes, well, she wanted to get something in town to help her with both hangover and aches.

Aknadin: She still should have been in bed.

Zigfried: Don't worry, I am taking her home.

Zigfried then proceeds to grab his wife and take her home with some of the townspeople still laughing at Vivian's odd behavior. Little did anyone notice that Dartz was at the food stand and putting a few drops of something in the juice bottles within the Magus family food delivery box and quickly left. At their art shop, Aknadin and Seto resumed their work and cleaning the counters, talking about the strange commotion.

Seto: Vivian definitely acted strange just now....

Aknadin: I wondered if all that champagne and those lectures that she may have received from her father and her new husband finally got to her and broke her spirit.

Seto: Well, it was overdue for her to be held accountable for her behavior.

Aknadin: I wonder if Atem will ever find someone to love...

Seto: Kisara and I were talking to him yesterday about his walk in the woods on the night of the wedding rehearsal. He said that as he was clearing his thoughts, he was remembering a childhood friend that lived in the county he used to live in with Uncle Aky and Aunt Safiya.

Aknadin: A childhood friend of his? Who?

Seto: He didn't say exactly who, but he said that he was remembering someone and making a promise to that person.

Aknadin: Why didn't he mention anything about this person before?

Seto: Well, he did lose his parents in a very tragic accident as a kid, Father. He might have blocked any memories prior to the accident that led to him being moved to our home.

Aknadin: People do subconsciously block away painful memories, which would inadvertently block any good memories too, so that would makes sense.

Seto: Well, hopefully we would one day meet this friend of his. Just by the way he was mentioning her, she was someone quite close to him.

Aknadin: Hmm....

Seto: What?

Aknadin: My brother mentioned that the landowner that had several workers, one of the them was a young girl that was around Atem's age at that time. I wonder if that is the friend that he was remembering and mentioning to you.

Seto: You may be on to something...

Aknadin: Maybe I should ask Dartz since he was the landowner and would remember his workers. I am not letting his strange reputation deter me from asking him.

Seto: Well, if you see Dartz, you can ask him, but we still need to finish some things before going home for lunch.

Aknadin: Very well.

They continued to work until it was time to head home for lunch and they saw Kisara picking up their food delivery as they were closing the shop for the lunchtime hour. Seeing that she was starting to struggle in carrying all of the bags, Seto helped relieve her of some of the larger bags.

Kisara: Oh! Thank you, Love! These are heavy!

Seto: No problem, my Love. I am guessing that these are from the last two days and today's delivery.

Aknadin: Yeah, Bobasa and his boys have been busy working on the wedding and reception, so orders were already delayed. At least the food we are getting here are fresh.

Seto: I agree.

The family returned to the house and with Atem's help, they were all able to put most of the groceries away while some of the food is being used to make lunch. Little did anyone know that Dartz is watching the family taking their food delivery home and with the potion in one of the items, he knows that it is only going to be a matter of time when Atem tastes the infected item and feel it's effect. If one of the other family members taste the item instead of Atem, they too would be affected, but he is not that concerned, since he knows through the town's gossip of what Atem likes, which is pomegranate juice, and that was what he placed the potion in, so there should be no issue. The moment he senses the potion doing its job, Dartz will make his next move on the plan.

Chapter Text

As the Magus family were making and soon eating lunch, they were talking about what happened in town and the progress of Atem's paintings.

Atem: Vivian looked vacant and stiff?

Kisara: She definitely should have stayed home instead of going into town like that.

Seto: That was what we were saying to Zigfried when he came to take her back home.

Aknadin: Anyway, Atem are you done with your paintings?

Atem: Yes, all of them are done and I am currently starting on a new one.

Aknadin: Already starting on a new one? I am really impressed with your progress! What is the subject of your new painting?

Atem: I haven't mentioned it to you, Uncle, but it is inspired by a promise I made to a friend of mine years ago.

Aknadin: Seto told me that you told him about that you were remembering a friend while you were walking in the woods, but that was all he was able to tell me.

Atem: I was still remembering at the time and I was still mad at you.

Aknadin: I know. My attitude towards you two days ago was appalling. Speaking of your friend, do you recall her name and where you met her?

Atem: Her name is Odette and she was working as a maid for the landowner, which I now remember is Dartz Doma.

Aknadin: Your father was right...

Atem: (confused) What?

Aknadin: Your father mentioned to me about one of the workers on the landowner's property being a girl around your age at that time, and didn't think anything of it until now.

Atem: I see...

Aknadin: She must be an adult and on her own by now, so maybe we should ask Dartz if he knows where she is.

Atem: I don't know if he could help... (suddenly started to feel odd and blinks) Huh...?

Aknadin: Why wouldn't he able to help?

Seto: Well Father, if Dartz has multiple workers and it has been years, so who knows if remembers a maid named Odette....

Atem: That and he has own reason to not tell us about her... (puts his hand on his forehead) This is strange...

Kisara: (notices that Atem was starting to look pale) Are you okay, Atem?

Atem: I... I am not sure... (looking at his drink, which was pomegranate juice) But, this juice has a strange aftertaste....

Seto: (takes Atem's glass and sniffs it) The juice must have went bad...

Aknadin: That shouldn't make anyone sick this quickly though...

Atem: I... I think I need to lay down... (tries to get up, but falls over)

Aknadin, Seto, Kisara: (all of them stand up) Atem!

Seto helped Atem up and carried him to his room and put him in bed. Then soon he went downstairs to discuss with his father and wife on what to do.

Aknadin: Looks like I need to go the food stand and discuss with Bobasa about their pomegranate juice because it should have been fresh.

Seto: While you are at it, I can run our shop, while Kisara can watch over Atem and see if he gets better as he rests.

Kisara: It's strange that it is only the juice that seems to have gone bad, everything else seems to be okay...

Aknadin: I am going to check with Bobasa anyway and hear what he has to say about the juice and whether or not it really was freshly made and if the other food items are still good, since it has been two days since the last delivery so who knows the produce are still good or not..

Seto: Produce should still be good even after two days. Something is not adding up.

Aknadin: I will find out when I get to the food stand.

Kisara: I will make sure that Atem doesn't get worse. That was still so sudden for that to happen...

Seto: I would agree.

Kisara went up to Atem's room and sat down in a chair beside his bed, while Aknadin and Seto returned to town. Dartz watched from around the corner and noticing that only Aknadin and Seto left the house, meaning that only Atem and Kisara are going to be alone in the house. Even though he would rather have Atem be alone in the house, he is still willing to handle dealing with the boy's cousin-in-law as long as Seto and Aknadin are still in town and starts walking towards the house.

As he was sleeping in his bed, trying to recover the mysterious ailment that had overtaken him, Atem's mind went into the Fairy Realm again. However, even in his dream form, he was struggling to stay standing, so he ended up sitting down, while Odette appeared next to him and Shadi appeared quite alarmed at what was happening to Atem.

Odette: You were telling your family about me and no doubt were going to warn them about Dartz when this happened!

Atem: I know what you mean, Odette. The timing was too coincidental for this ailment to happen.

Shadi: This ailment was caused by a potion made by Dartz.

Atem: A potion?

Odette: Kisara got the food from your family's delivery box at the food stand, didn't she?

Atem: Yes and Seto was helping her carrying some of the food since it was about three days worth of groceries.

Shadi: Dartz must have slipped in the potion within the groceries before Kisara could pick them up.

Odette: Can't you do anything to help him, Shadi?

Shadi: I wish I could, Odette, but my magic is limited in the human world and its only at its strongest here in the Fairy realm. Also, Dartz's power is getting stronger with every soul he collects. The stronger the will, the more valuable the soul.

Atem: (realizes something) You mean...!

Shadi: Yes, he is not only planning to reclaim the rose that contains Odette, he is also after you, Atem.

Atem: Why me? Is it because of the promise?

Shadi: No, he sensed your lifeforce and it was quite strong. There is also magic within you, but it has yet to surface...

Atem: I have magic within me?

Shadi: Yes, you do. Your family are descendants of the Solar Fae.

Atem: Solar Fae? Come to think it... Father mentioned about Grandpa being able to manipulate light and fire, but Uncle Aknadin dismissed them as stage tricks.

Shadi: Your grandfather was indeed a Solar Fae that became a human in order to live with the human woman to he loved. Although your grandfather was no longer a fairy, his powers still lived within his blood and was passed down to his two sons, your father and Aknadin, and it was then passed down to you and Seto.

Atem: So Seto has this power too?!

Shadi: Yes, but it may be completely dormant, since he does not believe in magic. Your cousin's will is strong, but not as strong as yours, so Dartz would only go after him after taking your soul.

Atem: I won't let that happen!

Shadi: I know that, but you need to find a way to awaken the power within you, Atem. They may be the key to help you stop Dartz.

Atem: If he knew about me before when I was a child, why didn't he go after me then?

Shadi: I-

Before he could explain, Odette suddenly disappears from the Fairy realm and then Atem senses something wrong with his body and his dream form was immediately being returned to his body, leaving Shadi alone in the Fairy Realm in shock. Atem wakes up in the human world, but suddenly realizes that he couldn't move and then saw a snake coiling tightly around him and the rose missing! Before he could say anything, the snake finishes its coiling by covering his mouth, rendering him silent. Atem began to thrash around, but the snake coils remained tightly firm around him and tried to shout through the scaled coils, but only muffled sounds are heard. He stopped thrashing around when he heard a dark chuckle that sent shivers down his spine from above him. Looking up, Atem could see that Dartz is standing next to him, with the silver rose clipped on his lapel!

Dartz: (mockingly) Enjoyed my little addition to your pomegranate juice, Atem?

Atem began to thrash again, but the snake still won't budge. Dartz grabbed Atem's face, but then he felt a burning sensation on his hand and released him.

Dartz: (shaking his burning hand) Looks like your powers may have started to awaken, dear boy, but that doesn't matter! I will still take your soul without the interference of your family! (picks up Atem by his snake bindings and puts him over his shoulder) You and Odette are coming with me back to my house! You would remember it Atem, since you once lived next door to it years ago. (touching the rose on his lapel, sensing the change of energy around the rose) Your magic is no longer restrained, eh Odette? Looks like I need to put a new restraining spell on you again. Oh well, I do have other means to return home.

As Dartz was walking out of the bedroom with Atem over his shoulder and the rose still clipped onto his lapel, Atem was still thrashing around and then stopped when he saw Kisara unconscious at the foot of the stairs.

Dartz: Don't worry about her, Atem. Kisara still has her soul within her, but I used chloroform to knock her out, so she wouldn't get in my way to your room.

He then continued to carry Atem out of the house and after closing the door, Dartz then held out his free hand and a green flame appeared. Within moments, Dartz transported himself and his two prisoners from the Magus house to his home, where he could take Atem's soul without interference from his family and put Odette back under his power.

Chapter Text

Aknadin: What do you mean that pomegranate juice was freshly made?! According to my nephew, it had a strange aftertaste and then he got seriously sick!

Bobasa: I don't know why the juice was like that. We sold some from the same batch and no one else got sick.

Aknadin: Huh? Has anyone else been near the food before we picked it up today?

Bobasa: Come to think of it...one of my delivery boys said that when everyone else was watching that Vivian girl acting all weird, he thought he saw someone in a white and blue cloak near the boxes of delivery...

Aknadin: Whoever that was, may have put something in that juice! Why didn't that delivery boy check to the boxes?

Bobasa: The delivery boy did check, but didn't see that any of the items were tampered with...

Aknadin: That individual was pretty clever.

Seto: Father!

Aknadin quickly turns and sees Seto running towards him and Bobasa.

Aknadin: What is it, Seto?

Seto: One of our customers just saw someone in a white and blue cloak entering into our house! I tried to call Kisara on our house phone, but no answer!

Aknadin: (shocked) Bobasa had just told me that someone in a white and blue cloak was seen near the food boxes when Vivian was acting all strangely in town!

Seto: That person must have done something to the juice then and went to the house to see if whatever they did worked!

Aknadin: We need to get to the house now!

Both of the men left the food stand and ran straight to their home. When they opened and closed the door behind them, both men were immediately alarmed at seeing Kisara still unconscious at the foot of the stairs.

Seto: (rushes to his wife) Kisara!

Aknadin reaches into the nearest hall cabinet and takes out the smelling salts in the hopes of waking Kisara up. He waves the smelling salts under her nose and soon Kisara starts waking up. As Seto carefully moves Kisara, Aknadin heads upstairs to Atem's room to check on him. Immediately upon entering the room, Aknadin notices that Atem is not in his bed and that the chair was knocked over and the covers appeared to have been thrown off the bed.

Aknadin: (yelling from upstairs) Atem is gone!

Seto: What?! What do you mean that he is gone?!

Aknadin: (comes down the stairs towards Seto and Kisara) He is not in his room and it looks like things were thrown around in there!

Seto: (realizes something) Whoever this intruder was, they took Atem!

Kisara: (tiredly) It was Dartz...

Both Aknadin and Seto looked at Kisara as she was starting to fully wake up and she was able to sit up in Seto's arms.

Aknadin: Dartz? What do you mean, Kisara? What happened?

Kisara: I was sitting in the chair beside Atem as he was sleeping when I heard a knock on the door. I assumed that it was the mailman, since it was going to be around that time they would arrive, and went downstairs and opened the door. Instead of the mailman, it was Dartz, dressed in a white and blue robe with a hood over his head, and was holding a piece of cloth in his hand. Before I could do anything, he pushes that piece of cloth over my mouth and it was wet and there was a strong smell to it and I suddenly felt tired and blacked out.

Seto: Dartz must have drugged you with chloroform to keep you from calling for help!

Aknadin: He must have taken Atem, but why?

Voice: He desires his soul...

The three members of the Magus family jumped at the sound of a voice they never heard before. Turning to the source of the voice near them, they could see a man with a turban on his head, white and cream robes, and golden ring earrings.

Seto: Who are you and how did you get into this house?

Shadi: My name is Shadi and I am family friend of Odette and her family.

Aknadin: Odette? Wait, you really know her?

Shadi: (nods) I have known her family for years and when she was a child. I used my magic to transport me here.

Seto: Magic? There is no such thing!

Shadi: I am afraid that is where you are mistaken, Seto. How else do you think I got here from far away?

Seto: You know my name?

Shadi: I have known your family as well, Seto. Your late grandfather used to live in the Fairy Realm before meeting and marrying your late grandmother who was human.

Seto: You are spouting nonsense about a Fairy Realm.

Aknadin: Wait, are you saying that those stories about Father used to tell me and Aknamkanon were true?

Seto: You mean the fairy tales that Grandpa used to tell me and Atem when we were much younger children were really about his life as a Solar Fae?

Shadi: Exactly, you both are catching on.

Kisara: Does that mean that you both actually have magic within you?

Aknadin: My late brother and I never conjured any magic...

Shadi: Your powers lie dormant within you, since you didn't really believe in magic. I do not know if your late brother ever awakened his magic. I sense that Seto indeed has powers, but are dormant due to his lack of belief, but it is slowly awakening as he coming to believe...

Kisara: Wait, you said that Dartz desires Atem's soul?

Shadi: (nods) Atem's soul is very strong and so are his powers. They have started to awaken as he has been spending time with Odette and learning about her plight.

Aknadin: Spending time with Odette? Her plight?

Shadi: Atem was going to explain to you all about Dartz and what he has done to Odette when he got sick from the potion that Dartz put in his juice today.

Aknadin: What?

Kisara: He did look like he was going to say something, but that was when he was starting to become pale...

Shadi: The potion within the juice that Atem drank activated when Dartz's named was mentioned as it was made to do by Dartz himself. Anyway, here is what happened to Odette for all these years apart from your Atem...

As Shadi tells the three Magus family members about Odette and her plight and the truth about Dartz, outside the house, Zigfried is approaching the home with the Wong family. Dartz had informed Zigfried that he has captured Atem and reclaimed the rose containing Odette and have them both locked up in his home. Realizing that Odette and Atem have been in contact with the Fairy Sage Shadi, both in the Fairy Realm and in Atem's dreams, Dartz knew that he had to act fast. Also knowing that Shadi is no doubt alerting Atem's family about Atem's kidnapping and how dangerous he really is, Dartz needs Zigfried to help him prevent the family from finding a way to his house and rescue Atem and Odette.

Chapter Text

Dartz appeared in his home with his two prisoners and proceeded to carry Atem to a large room that had a pit at the center. He hovered down to the pit and set Atem down and then placed Odette's rose on a stone snake pedestal. Within moments, Odette appeared from the rose and Atem's snake-like restraints disappeared, but Dartz disappeared and reappeared on top of the pit's edge.

Dartz: So, I was right... Somehow, your promise to each other enables Odette to appear as herself. Until you, Atem, only Zigfried and I were the only ones that Odette would only appear to when someone is holding the rose.

Atem: (although he was freed from the restraints, he was still weak from the potion and forced to sit down) Why did you bring us here?

Dartz: Like I said before, I planned to take away your soul without the interference from your family.

Odette: You really think that Atem's family isn't going to find out about you kidnapping him in their own home!?

Dartz: I am no fool, Odette. I know that Shadi would no doubt go to the Magus family home and alert them about me and the truth about the family.

Atem: You know about Shadi?

Dartz: It took me several years, but I discovered that someone was helping Odette in regaining her powers despite my restriction spell. However, her more powerful abilities were still locked away by the spell until you made that wish earlier today, Atem.

Atem: So you discovered that someone was Shadi then! What are you planning to do to him?

Dartz: I will deal with that Fairy Sage should he come here, but I doubt that is going to be the case.

Odette: What do you mean?

Dartz: I already have Zigfried heading to the family home with our new puppets.

Atem: New puppets? You mean when Seto and Uncle saw Vivian acting strange...!

Dartz: (laughs) Yes, Atem! On Zigfried and Vivian's wedding night, I took away her soul, along with her family's, making them simply puppets for our amusement.

Atem: So you did take their souls as Zigfried's payment of your services!

Dartz: Indeed! I helped him obtain his greater wealth when his family's company went bankrupt and went to me for help, despite being skeptical of magic. The price was simple: the soul of either his wife or one of his children, which depended on who was going to be the wife.

Odette: You would take the soul of a child?!

Dartz: No, I would have raised that child as my own, but at a certain age, if they don't take care of me, then yes I would take their soul.

Odette: You tried to force me to marry that bastard, but ultimately failed because I was protected by the promise.

Dartz: With your case, Odette, I was going to take away your child.

Odette: Like you took me away from my family....

Atem: You're disgusting!

Dartz: (scoffs) Fortunately for Odette, the promise prevented that plan from happening, but Zigfried still owed me a soul, so I needed him to look for someone or else I would have taken his instead.

Odette: Still, you and Zigfried had to use me to help him find a wife!

Dartz: In the end, Zigfried did find a wife and I have received my payment, but I discovered that there was a strong soul in that town that I haven't sensed since the little next door neighbor boy left the county.

Atem: Me...

Dartz: Your father's magic was also strong, but the accident took his life, along with your mother's, so I wasn't able to claim them.

Atem: The accident...

Dartz: Before you would say anything else, I have nothing to do with that event. I was just as shocked as everyone else in the county that knew your parents. That incident with those multiple carriages was something no one saw coming.

Atem: I will agree with that.

Dartz: As for you, Atem, I had planned to take your soul after I took your parents' souls, but the accident made that impossible and you were taken away to your uncle, whom I did not know where he resided.

Atem: That was why you didn't take my soul away then?

Dartz: First it was originally your parents keeping you away from the property, because they heard of the stories of about my magical dealings. Second, after that tragic accident, you were taken to your uncle's home and no one exactly knew where your Uncle Aknadin and his family lived. However, I was being distracted by the fools that came to my door and ask for my help all the while trying to maintain control of a young fairy whose powers were growing.

Odette: My growing powers were making it harder for you to keep it restrained...

Dartz: It was difficult for me, especially since Atem's soul was quite valuable and was out of reach, but I am a patient man and I was willing to wait until I can find him again. Thanks to you and Zigfried, Odette, I was able to find Atem and have my chance again.

Atem: You will never have my soul!

Dartz: (laughs) We'll see Atem! (holds out his hand and a barrier with the seal of Orichalcos appeared over the pit) This barrier will keep you both in there, so even if you can fly with Odette, neither of you will escape. As I am preparing for the ritual, you both can entertain yourselves with this (an orb appears in front of Atem and Odette) You can watch your family and Shadi be overwhelmed by Zigfried and our puppets!

Atem: (sees his family and Shadi being greeted at their door by Zigfried) Uncle! Seto! Kisara!

Odette: Shadi!

Dartz then leaves, laughing as he is heading into his chambers where he looking into making the final preparations of the ritual. What Dartz did not tell Atem or Odette was that he plans to do more than take away Atem's soul; he plans to transform Atem's body into a beast that would serve only him and Odette would become the very rose that she is currently bound to forever.

Meanwhile at the Magus family home, Shadi had just finished explaining Odette's story when Zigfried kicks open the door and comes in with the Wong Family in tow.

Aknadin: Zigfried! (looking at the symbol on the foreheads of the Wong family) You are in league with Dartz!

Zigfried: Took you fools long enough! Dartz had alerted me that the Fairy Sage Shadi was coming to see you three and reveal the truth about what's been going on.

Seto: What Shadi told us was indeed the truth then! Your family were bankrupt and in order to keep your lifestyle, you went to Dartz for his services!

Zigfried: As much as I hate to admit it, my family's business wasn't doing as well as our competitors and we had fallen on hard times. Dartz was able to make me rich again by removing the competition, however, I still had to pay him with either the soul of my wife or taking my child.

Kisara: Your child?

Seto: Dartz would have been doing the child a favor in taking them away from you. You would have been a terrible father.

Zigfried: (his eyebrow twitched in irritation) Despite my wealth and good looks, I was having a hard time finding a wife. You were no doubt told about Odette being my original choice, but the promise she had made with Atem prevented Dartz from forcing her to love me. Using her wish-granting powers and my wealth, I was traveling from town to town at supernatural speeds, until one day, without realizing it, the rose that Odette is trapped in, fell out of my bag, but by then I was already entering this town and learned about the wedding between Atem and Vivian. When I saw the Wong family and their home, I knew that I found what I was looking for.

Aknadin: Not only that, Dartz learned about your wedding and then saw Atem, finally located him after so many years.

Shadi: Dartz plans to do more than take away Atem's soul, isn't he?

Zigfried: That's for Dartz to reveal, but my puppets and I have no intention of allowing either of you to go to Dartz's home.

Seto: We will see about that!

Zigfried: Oh we will indeed!

The Wong family and Zigfried came towards the Magus family and Shadi, but they could come any closer, a bright blue light surrounded Kisara and a white dragon with blue eyes appeared.

Zigfried: What's this?!

Seto: Kisara?

Kisara: I possess the spirit of a dragon, which only appears in times of great need.... The Blue Eyes White Dragon...

Zigfried: No matter! Dartz had already made some changes with my puppets...

Within moments, the Wong family were changing into various creatures like Vivian became a Dragon Lady, and her parents became a Sky Dragon and a Soul Tiger.

Aknadin: You turned them into monsters?

Zigfried: More like Dartz utilized their inner selves, since the bodies are empty shells without their souls. Let's see how strong your dragon is compared to these three.

The three monsters came towards the Blue Eyes White Dragon, but unfortunately for them, the dragon released a large ball of lightning and it nearly obliterated them in a bright light. When the light faded away, the three monsters were gone, but on the ground were the Wong family members.

Seto: So much for your “army” Zigfried!

Zigfried: I am not finished yet! (raising his hands in the air and starts to change form) Along with getting my wealth back, I was granted powers too!

The family and Shadi stepped back as Zigfried changes into a gryphon and he then pounces on Kisara's Blue Eyes White Dragon and bites its shoulder, hurting it and Kisara.

Kisara: (feels the pain in her shoulder) Ahhh!

Seto: (shocked) Kisara! (then glares at Zigfried, not realizing that blue lightning was forming his hand) Get off of my wife and her dragon! (shot his hand out and the blue lightning came out and it struck Zigfried in the back) Shining Burst!

The lightning from Seto's hand continued to zap Zigfried until he got off of Kisara's Blue Eyes White Dragon. Seto looked at his hands in surprise and then looked at his wife. Zigfried then released a ball of fire at then, but Shadi conjures a shield, deflecting his attack.

Shadi: Looks like your powers have awakened, Seto!

Kisara: Good timing too! (sighs as she is rubbing her shoulder) That attack really hurt!

Zigfried: You think you can stop me!?

Seto: You are going to regret hurting my wife, but more importantly, aligning yourself with a madman to hurt my family! (channels his rage into his hands, creating a big blue ball of lightning) Shining Burst!

Zigfried unleashed another fireball and it clashed against Seto's lightning attack. It was at a stalemate until the lightning overpowered the fireball and it knocked Zigfried into one of the walls, changing him back into his human form. As Zigfried struggles to get up, Shadi conjures a cord around Zigfried's legs, dragging him back to Shadi and the family. Seto then steps forward and grabs Zigfried by his cerise jabot and lifts him up to his face.

Seto: Where does Dartz live?

Zigfried: The same county that your cousin used to live in...

Aknadin: That's several towns away from this place....

Zigfried: You will never stop him!

Voice: What's going on here!?

Everyone in the house nearly jumped and saw several townspeople coming through the front door, which was still damaged from when Zigfried kicked it down.

Aknadin: The Wong family and their new son-in-law decided to attack my family.

Bobasa: Why would they attack you?

Seto: Zigfried's associate that came at their wedding kidnapped Atem and apparently asked Zigfried to keep us from going after them.

Hawkins: You are associated with a kidnapper, Zigfried and got your new family involved as well? Our town does not tolerate that sort of behavior.

Pegasus: (sees Shadi) Who is that man?

Aknadin: A friend of a friend. My nephew had met someone in his childhood who is unfortunately in trouble as well and this man is a family friend of hers.

Téa: Hers? You mean that Atem had met a girl as a child.

Rebecca: That would explain why he wasn't interested in any girl here....

Miho: What's going to happen to Zigfried and the Wongs?

Hawkins: These four are going to be locked up at the police station for a while.

Several of the bigger townspeople dragged Zigfried and the Wong family to the holding cells in the police station. After seeing that the Magus family and Shadi are relatively unharmed and were assured that they will go after Atem, the rest of the townspeople left the house.

Aknadin: How are we going to save Atem and Odette in time?

Shadi: I can transport all of us to Dartz's home at least to his door, but getting inside will be a challenge, since Dartz's powers are creating a barrier that prevents any magic from coming in.

Kisara: It will have to do! We need to get to them before Dartz takes Atem's soul.

Seto: Do what you can, Shadi!

Shadi nods and concentrates his magic and then he and the Magus family were surrounded by light and disappeared from their home and on their way Dartz's home to rescue Atem and Odette and help them put a stop to Dartz's plan once and for all.

Chapter Text

Atem: Seto awakened his powers!

Odette: He sure did and who would have thought that his wife was carrying the soul of a dragon within her all along.

Atem: They say “watch out for the quiet ones” for a reason....

Odette: With Zigfried and the Wong family being held in the town's police station, it is only going to be Dartz here, unless he has the workers doing something.

Atem: Shadi used his magic to bring my family here.

Odette: Yes, but if what he said is true about Dartz's magic creating a barrier around the house, they would appear outside, not inside.

Atem: That's not the only thing that's concerning me.

Odette: I know what you mean, Atem. The ritual that Dartz mentioned. I know that he just usually takes a soul, which does not require a fancy ritual to do.

Atem: Zigfried even hinted that Dartz has a bigger plan for me aside from taking my soul.

Odette: I fear that I might know what he is really planning...

Atem: What do you mean?

Odette: Seeing what he had Zigfried do to the Wong family, made me realize that Dartz could be planning to turn your body into a more complicated puppet for him!

Dartz: (enters the room in his blue and white robe with padded shoulders, cuffed wrists, and a raised collar) I see that you both figured part of it out, but I will make my desires a reality!

Atem: (glares up at Dartz) Part of it?

Dartz: I have thought about it for years about when I got you here, Atem. At first, I had thought of just taking your soul and have it be part of my collection of souls. However, the power within your soul can rival that of gods, so I thought of a different plan. My ritual will transform your body into a beast who would be loyal only to me with your soul under my control. (looks at Odette) As for you, my little fairy, I plan to make you into a more permanent rose.

Odette: Permanent rose?!

Dartz: Yes, a beautiful rose creature that would actually be obedient, unlike your defiant self.

Atem: That's never going to happen! Not to me nor to Odette!

Dartz: Want to try me? (lifts the barrier that kept Odette and Atem in the pit) See if you two can handle them!

Atem and Odette: (look at each other) “Them”?

Within moments, several doors open around Atem and Odette and three reptilian-looking men, with the the Orichalcos symbol on their foreheads, came out and headed towards the two of them. As the trio approach them, Atem is able to stand up on his own with the effects of the potion wearing off and gets in front of Odette. With the lizardmen approaching, Odette noticed that they seem familiar to her for some reason. One of them was large and bulky with blond hair and pale blue eyes. The second was tall and thin with a mop of red hair and dark gray eyes and the third one was slightly tanned with chocolate brown hair and blue eyes.

Odette: (eyes widened) It can't be....!

Atem: You recognized them, Odette?

Odette: They were workers in the fields on this estate when I was still a house maid. The blond one is Rafael, the red head is Alister and the brunette is Valon, but all three of them were human.

Dartz: Yes, they were human and they had planned to leave my employment for their own lives until I decided to use them as enforcers on my land.

Atem: Enforcers?

Dartz: I have some workers working on the fields here and they would sometimes need motivation so I use these three to scare them into working harder by having the enforcers being lizardmen!

Odette: You're a monster! It is bad enough that you took the lives of my parents and stole me away, but to rob others of their lives too for your own convenience! That's unforgivable!

Dartz: Enforcers! Subdue Atem and Odette!

Rafael, Alister, and Valon start to approach Atem and Odette, preparing to follow their master's orders. They each take out ropes and attempt to lasso them, but Atem puts his hand out and fire came out, burning the ropes.

Atem: (surprised) My powers...!

Dartz: Your powers are awake, but no matter! Subdue them, you fools!

The enforcers start to charge at them again, but then they were stuck to the floor due to their feet and tails trapped in ice.

Atem: Ice?

Odette: I am a snow fairy, so I can create snow and ice at will. I don't want to hurt them, but I don't them to hurt us either, so I thought using my ice will keep them at bay.

Atem: That's amazing Odette.

Dartz: Figures that Odette's powers are free for the most part, but I will not be deterred!

He then snaps his fingers and a massive serpent comes out one of the openings. It starts to charge at Atem, but Odette grabs him and takes flight into the air, narrowly avoiding the serpent's fangs. Atem then uses his newly awakened fire power to attack the serpent with as Odette conjures icicles to fire at the serpent like arrows.

Dartz: (chuckles) Yes, fight with all you can muster. You both will go down eventually...

As Odette and Atem continued to avoid and attack the serpent with their respective powers, Dartz levitates down to the pit and uses his powers to conjure a magic circle in preparation of the ritual. Soon, there was a loud booming noise from somewhere within the house and it is heading towards the snake pit.

Atem: Could that be my family?

Odette: Shadi was able to get himself and your family inside!

Dartz: That can't be possible! My barrier is still up!

Within moments the doors to the room were blasted open and coming through was indeed Shadi, Seto, Kisara, and Aknadin.

Shadi: It was still up, but since you have been concentrating on something else, the barrier had began to weaken, allowing us to enter without problem.

Seto: Your defenses were also being neglected and they were no problem for us! (charging a lightning ball in his hand) We will only tell you once! Release Atem and Odette now!

Dartz: I guess my ritual required more of my focus than I thought... No matter! I will never release them, even if you threaten me with your powers!

Kisara: (conjures her Blue Eyes White Dragon) Then we will stop you.

Shadi: Be careful! There is a magic circle in this room and it could interfere with our magic.

Odette: (freezes the serpent into a ice figure) Let's get rid of this serpent first! Then we can deal with Dartz together!

Atem: I'm with you! (concentrates his fire into a bird-like form) Firebird Strike!

The firebird attack struck the frozen serpent and it disintegrated into splatters of water. Atem and Odette touched down on the ground as Atem's family and Shadi hovered down and all of them now faced Dartz down, ready to make their attack.

Dartz: Your powers are as amazing as I sensed they were, Atem! You would make an excellent beast to serve me! (looks at Odette) Your ice powers would need to go away when I turn you into a rose creature.

Odette: Never! (releases a wave of ice) Your plan will fail, Dartz!

Kisara: (points at Dartz, commanding the Blue Eyes White Dragon) White Lightning!

Seto: (unleashes a ball of lightning) Shining Burst!

Dartz remains in the magic circle which blocked the attacks and launches several waves of green flames at the group. Several of them were able to deflect them with their own attacks, but one of the attacks hit Odette's rose on the pedestal and she reels back in pain.

Odette: Ah! (groans) The rose!

Dartz: (chuckles) Yes, since you are bound to it, you can feel anything that attacks the rose. Don't worry, you will be that rose.

Atem: Odette...! (his anger grew at Dartz) You may have taken her family away, but we will not let you take her away her life and her freewill!

Dartz: You both will not defy me! (raises his hands with blue-green energy concentrating between them) You will be my beast to command and she will be my rose to entertain!

Atem was realizing what Dartz was about to do and remembered what Shadi said before on how Odette can be freed from her bindings on the rose. He knows that he needs to get Dartz to use the ritual's magic against him. Atem then conjures up his flames and light into a bird, while Odette forms ice on the ground around Dartz's feet, freezing them in place.

Atem: There is only one person that's going to be transformed and that is going to be you! (thrusts his hand forward) Phoenix Blaze!!

Dartz saw that Atem's attack was not being affected by the magic circle and was still trying to use his spell, but then notices that his feet were frozen in place and couldn't move. As he was distracted by trying to get his feet free, Dartz was hit by the light phoenix and his own spell went down from his hands and onto him.

Dartz: No!!! I was so close!!!

Within those moments, Dartz started to transform into a snake-like being with his mind becoming vacant. The magic circle faded away and the rose stopped glowing and appeared to look like an ordinary silver rose again. As for the three lizardmen, they were turned back into humans and soon multiple lights are flying out of the house and heading out to other parts of the world.

Aknadin: Those lights...

Shadi: Those are the souls of Dartz's victims and with his defeat, they are free and are now returning to their bodies.

Seto: That would mean...

Shadi: Yes, that would include the Wong family.

Odette: (picks up the rose and notices that she no longer senses the magic within it) The rose... the magic within it is gone...!

Atem: By having Dartz place the transformation curse on himself, it fulfilled the final condition of your freedom of the cursed rose!

Odette: I'm free...(gets more excited) I'm free! (flies into Atem's arms and kind of have both of them hover in the air) We did it Atem!

Atem: (chuckles) We sure did and our friends and family helped make it happen.

As Shadi and Atem's family walk up to Atem and Odette, the newly transformed Dartz was slithering away like an ordinary snake, but was caught by Rafael, Valon, and Alister.

Alister: You are not getting away this time, Dartz.

Dartz just looked at him with a vacant expression, not even responding to being caught.

Odette: As part of his curse, Dartz is now a mindless being.

Valon: Mindless being? Means he can't mess with anyone anymore, eh Odette?

Odette: Not anymore, Valon.

Alister: Well, we can have him work his own fields since none of the workers are going to work with Dartz, looking the way he is now.

Aknadin: True, but who is going to own the land, since Dartz is no longer of sound mind?

Rafael: We can since he had taken us under his wing when each of us were children.

Aknadin: That's believable.

Valon: (looks at Odette) Still glad to see that you are going to be living your life, Odette.

Odette: What about you three? What about your lives?

Rafael: We will live our lives as we always have.

Alister: Yeah, you haven't been able to due to Dartz's curse on you.

Valon: (looks at Atem) You are the guy that made the promise to her years ago?

Atem: (nods) Yes, I am.

Valon: You kept your promise of seeing her again.

Rafael: Take care of her. We have considered Odette a little sister since we were all children.

Atem: (looks at Odette with a smile) I will.

Kisara: You knew about her being a fairy?

Alister: Of course, we know about her being a fairy since she was a little girl, but nobody would have believed us if we said it to anyone outside the estate and of course none of us wanted Odette to get hurt, so we kept her true identity a secret.

Odette: (hugs the three) Thank you three for being there for me when I was a child here.

After saying their goodbyes to Odette's foster brothers, Odette, Atem, his family, and Shadi left the estate and transported back to the Magus family home.

Chapter Text

By the time they returned to the family home, it was late at night, so everyone in town was asleep. Using his magic, Shadi was able to restore the door and the damaged wall from when Zigfried and the Wong family attacked earlier. Although it was late at night, the family made dinner in which they ate with Odette and Shadi. As the family ate, they could see the bond between Odette and Atem as they talk about their time together during their childhood in which Atem was living with his late parents in that county.

Aknadin: Looks like you have found your soulmate, Atem.

Atem: I certainly have, Uncle.

Kisara: Does that mean that you two are going to get married?

Atem: Well, I made a promise that I would see her again and I would love her forever, so if Odette wants to, then yes, I would love for us to get married.

Odette: I made that promise to you as well, Atem. The question is when and where to have the wedding and where would we live after marriage.

Shadi: You can get married here and possibly live in the Fairy Realm.

Atem: The Fairy Realm?

Shadi: I know that you have been there once in person and a couple times in your dreams, but you might want to try and see if it is a place for you.

Seto: I just noticed something...

Aknadin: What?

Seto: Atem has wings...

Atem: Huh? (looks over his shoulder and notices nearly transparent wings with crimson tips on the ends) Where did these wings come from?

Shadi: When your powers were fully awakened, it also woke up your fairy blood, bringing your wings to life.

Seto: How is he suppose to hide his wings?

Odette: How do you think my wings have been hidden all this time? I imagine my wings are hidden and they become invisible to the human eye.

Atem: Really? (imagines his wings hidden away and looks over his shoulder) Whoa! (sees that nothing is there) My wings?!

Kisara: I don't see them now.

Seto: Neither do I.

Odette: If you look into the eyes of the fairy, the illusion is lifted and you can see their true form.

Atem: So I can't let anyone look at me in the eyes then.

Shadi: Unless, I can give you a trinket that would maintain your illusion, like Odette has her teardrop choker necklace. Although, I could enchant one of your items with a maintain spell on it.

Atem: Like my father's ring?

Aknadin: Yeah, you have been wearing that or something like that pretty often.

Shadi: You have it, Atem?

Atem: (goes into his room and comes down with the ring on his finger) Yep!

Shadi then says a few words in an unknown language as he moves his hand over Atem's ring. Within moments there was a brief glow on the ring, then it looks normal.

Atem: Thank you, Shadi. I can feel the magic energy in the ring.

Seto: Now that part is settled, we would need to call it a night and maybe tomorrow we can start doing preparations for Atem and Odette's wedding.

Aknadin: However, before we do that, we would need to come up with an explanation for the townspeople to believe in regarding Dartz being no longer a threat. Especially since there is no doubt the Wong family have their souls back.

Seto: The townspeople already know that the Wong family has lied to them before and no doubt think they were making up stories again if they make any claims of having their souls taken away by Dartz.

Aknadin: The townspeople would also want to know about Odette, since it has been made known to them that Atem has met a girl in his childhood and was trapped by Dartz.

Odette: Well, there are parts of my story that can be told, but we would just need to omit the magic and fairy aspect in the story.

Kisara: Where are Shadi and Odette going to sleep?

Aknadin: We do have the guest room, but the bed could only fit one person.

Shadi: Don't worry about me, I can sleep on the couch. Odette can take the bed.

Odette: You sure, Shadi?

Shadi: It wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me if I had a lady not sleep on a bed, plus you haven't slept in a bed since before your cursed state.

Odette: Fair enough.

Aknadin: I have some of my late wife's nightgowns that you could borrow for the evening.

Odette: Thank you, Aknadin.

Everybody in the house cleared the table and went to retire for the night and went to sleep in their beds with Odette in the guestroom and Shadi on the couch.

As they each settle down in their respective beds/couch and fall asleep, Atem, Odette and Shadi find themselves in the Fairy Realm again. However, this time, they are inside of a house that was nicely decorated, but has been vacant for some years.

Atem: What is this place? Are we back in the Fairy Realm?

Shadi: We are, but we are in a place that I have been maintaining for some years now, waiting for the day that Odette could return home.

Odette: You mean that this is my old house, Shadi?

Shadi: (nods) The home that you once lived with your parents before their deaths at the hands of Dartz. I figured that you would one day return so I kept the home cleaned and ready until that day comes.

Atem: It's beautiful.

Odette: It looks like it used to be, but feels empty without Mom and Dad...

Shadi: (touches her shoulder) I miss my dearest friends too, Odette. The house may seem empty, but it can be made alive with their memories within you and new memories can be formed in this house as well.

Atem: (looks around the house and notices and a room that seems to have various painting supplies) Were your parents artists?

Odette: Yes, they were. You would have got along with them well, since you are a pretty talented artist as well.

Atem: With that garden that we went to when I first came here in person, I would have plenty of inspiration for my art....

Odette: Are you saying...?

Atem: (looks at Odette with love in his eyes) If you want, we could live here in your family's old house and give it life again with our memories together.

Odette: (smiles and hugs) I would love to live here again, but this time, with the man I love!

Shadi: (chuckles) Then that's settled then! (puts his arms around the shoulders of Atem and Odette) I am glad that I kept this home ready for you, Odette and I hope you when you both come in the real version of the Fairy Realm that you will truly love this place as your home, Atem.

Atem: (looks at Shadi and Odette) I know I will.

The morning arrive and by then, Odette, Shadi, and Atem's minds have already returned to their bodies in the human world. They woke up with everyone else in the household and were starting to make preparations for the wedding while Odette and Shadi went back to the Fairy Realm to get a change of clothes, but also retrieve her late mother's wedding dress in the dress bag for her own wedding to Atem and starting to move Atem's belongings to Odette's home.

Over the next few days, the town was buzzing with gossip as they see Odette and Atem walking together and helping Seto, Kisara, and Aknadin in the art shop. Most of the girls were skeptical at first about Atem actually meeting a girl before, but after seeing Odette and hearing about her story of her childhood with Atem through her and Atem's family, they believe that Atem has indeed found his soulmate. Vivian however, kept calling her “the winged freak,” even though her wings are not visible to any of the townspeople and was trying to take Atem back. Unfortunately for Vivian, since she is not only already married to Zigfried and that she and her family were exposed as liars and were involved in a kidnapping plot by a madman, no one believed her and were all taking Atem and Odette's side as she was being taken away from town. As for her husband, Zigfried, he was released from the station, but was told that he was to leave town and not come back, which he obliged and he took Vivian, since they are still married, and her family with him as well. He plans to make them work at his family's company as a means to make them pay him back for paying off their debts. With Zigfried and the Wong family gone, the town was becoming a more happier and peaceful place without the drama that the former rich family would drag along with them and were confident that Atem and Odette's wedding will go on without a hitch.

The day of Atem and Odette's wedding arrived and everyone in town was present to bear witness their most handsome art bachelor with his childhood sweetheart. Also present at the wedding was Shadi and Odette's foster brothers, Rafael, Alister, and Valon, who informed Odette and the Magus family that Dartz had been maintaining the fields and the county seems to be more relaxed with Dartz seemingly out of the picture. Atem is standing at the altar with Pegasus, dressed in a traditional tuxedo, but in dark navy blue, instead of black, eager to see Odette in her wedding gown. Soon, the doors open and walking down the aisle is Odette, dressed in a white and blue gown with tree and cherry blossom designs etched into the fabric with silver threads, crystal slippers and wore a veil with a rosette crown. Compared to the ridiculous puffy dress Vivian wore at her wedding, Odette looked like an elegant lady and nature's child. After the exchanging of vows and their rings, there was one more thing to before Odette and Atem would kiss. Shadi then stepped forward, holding a pillow with two vine bracelets, one silver, one gold, each with half a silver rose on the end. The newlyweds recognized the rose as the one that they made the promise on and the one that Odette was once bound to by Dartz.

Shadi: These two came together as children and made a promise on a rose that they would one day see each other and love each other forever. Now, as adults, this promise has been fulfilled and these bracelets will forever commemorate that special moment.

Atem then puts the silver bracelet on Odette's left arm, then Odette puts the gold one on Atem's left arm. With that exchange done, Pegasus and Shadi then declared Atem and Odette, husband and wife, and then they shared their first kiss as newlyweds.

At the wedding reception, which was nowhere near as fancy as Vivian and Zigfried's reception, but much more pleasant, it was a true reception. Each of Odette's foster brothers gave a speech on how Odette was a kind girl, despite being a young maid to a madman, and how she would listen to anyone who wanted to say something that needed to come out. Also, they had mentioned about the times they would help her be able to visit Atem, who was their former employer/kidnapper's next door neighbor, and be able to play like any other child. Seto and Kisara also gave speeches in which they talk about how Atem is such a talented artist and would find beauty in the most unexpected places. Aknadin also had since apologized for his prior treatment nephew and spent these recent times since the fiasco with Vivian and Zigfried to make up for his terrible attitude towards him, and Atem had long forgiven him. Shadi also gave a speech on how he was honored to know Odette's family and getting to know the boy who won her heart.

At the end of the reception, all the townspeople gave the newlyweds their congratulations and parted ways with smiles on their faces. Odette's foster brothers again congratulated their little sister and new brother-in-law and wish them happiness as they headed home and the newlyweds wishes them a safe journey home. Aknadin, Seto, Kisara hugged the newlyweds and headed back to their house as Shadi leads Atem and Odette to an area where they can transport to the Fairy Realm to their new home.

When they arrived in the forest, Shadi transported the three of them to the Fairy Realm, where the newlyweds dropped their illusions and their wings become visible and were greeted by the blooming of many spring flowers and cherry blossoms galore.

Atem: This is quite a welcoming sight, Shadi.

Shadi: Considered it my wedding gift to you both!

Odette: Thank you for everything, Shadi!

Shadi: (chuckles) Thank you Odette for not giving up on the hope of seeing your love again.

After embracing Shadi, both Atem and Odette went to Odette's family home and could see Atem's belongings intermingled with Odette and her late family's, looking that they were always there.

Atem: I feel so at home already.

Odette: This time, it is for real.

As they look around the house, Odette was reminiscing her brief time as a child here with her parents and Atem was excited in making memories with his love. As they entered what was once her parents' bedroom, the master bedroom, Odette could see that there was a new addition to the room on the main wall. It was the painting that Atem was starting to work on the day on his kidnapping by Dartz, but completed. The painting is a cherry tree with blossoms that are as white as snow and at the base was Atem and Odette themselves with their silver rose in their hands.

Odette: Wasn't that the painting you were making before?

Atem: Yes, I was able to work on it inbetween moving my belongings here and preparing for our wedding. I figured that it was too precious and personal for us to be sold, so I brought it here for us. To remind us and to show to our children, how we got to be here. How I found my Fairy Bride....

Odette: You captured our emotions perfectly in this painting, Atem. (looks into his eyes) I will cherish it forever.

Atem: (looks back into her eyes) As will I...

The two of them kissed and without breaking their kiss, Atem carried Odette to their bed and broke their kiss as they undress themselves and proceed to consummate their marriage. When they finish making love, they laid down with their wings wrapped around each other, ready for tomorrow to make more memories together and for the rest of their lives.