Mahad had gone from horse back to being on foot. Diadhunk active with two monsters spirits. A Magician with no face and lizard with a sword. Mahad had been trying to keep Mana close during the raid to capture this group of the Brotherhood cult when he somehow got separated from her.

So while keeping a close ranged beast to fight with him, he tried to find to find Mana. He was worried about her though knew she is resourceful, but this chaos was making worry for his close friend and Apprentice.

It is when he finds Mana that she was being held captive and at blade point. "MANA!" He raced to her but was far from. Where he was.

Seth had turned at what he heard to Mahad's cry as he quickly scanned the battlefield to find Mana being help captive. He turned and rushed over to help her. With a different lizard warrior at his side, it was faster and got behind the cloaked figure and used the blunt of its axe to whack the figure upside the head to they would not bring anymore harm to Mana.

By the time Mahad had to them both, Seth was assisting Mana.

Mana gasped and fell into Seth’s arms, shaking with tears in her eyes. A trail of blood on her neck as she looked up and saw them both. “Master…priest Seth…” she tried to calm down and said “thank you both…I couldn’t reach my staff…on my back…I know I shouldn’t have put it up but I was running…it’s Zahra” she looked at them both again, remembering her mission.

“It’s Zhara. She’s facing the Cult Leader but something is wrong…do you know where the Pharaoh is?”

Seth tries to calm her down, understanding the reality of the situation Mana had been put under. Mahad had kneeled infront of them with relief on his face. He looks to Priest Seth who nods to him and Mahad mimics the gesture in mute thanks and understanding.

Listening to her and what was happening, Seth looks around to find any sign of the Pharaoh. When he did he pointed him out. "Just at the border of the village making sure that the other villagers are safe."

The Pharaoh was atop of his horse with some of the guards who were escorting the villagers to safety and with a warrior spirit to aid him. Saving the Egyptian god beasts for when he needed them.

Mana looked to where they were pointing and said “we need to escort him to where the fight was breaking out. I’m worried that” there was suddenly a blast of shadows and red light and screams of monsters.

Mana turned towards the light and said “That’s where I left Zhara!”

Zhara was in a full on battle with a man in black, blades locked as both had monsters fighting each other. Zhara had the gold armor on, her eyes glowing silver as she fought back.

The two looked up at the sound of the blast seeing shadow and red light. Mahad gets up while helping Mana to her feet as Seth gets up. "I'll go get the Pharaoh while you both go assist Zhara." Seth says as he runs to go get the Pharaoh.

Mana nodded and grabbed Mahads hand and pulled him onto her staff and said “no time for walking!” She flew using her staff like a broom and took off towards the fighting.

Zhara was matching blast to blast with the cultist, blood covering them both. Zhara panted as she moved to summon a new monster; her eyes bright. “I will protect my king…no matter the cost!” She cried out and a fresh wave of shadows burst out, her own growing in size and taking shape of a huge wolf.

Mahad didn't argue with his Apprentice as he did as she wanted. When they got to the battle was when Mahad slid off and watched the fight between the Pharaoh's shadow and the member of the Brotherhood.

The Pharaoh came later with Priest Seth on the same horse behind him. There was shock and awe in Atem's eyes.

Mana landed just a few yards back and said “this was what I was afraid off! Her power is getting out of hand! It’s like she has somehow lost control over her skills and going all out here. This could kill her mahad!”

Zhara was fighting full on now, covered in wounds and bleeding badly as her shadow wolf was tearing apart the monsters the cultist was throwing at it. The wolf was the size of the gods of the pharaoh now, its power matching them as the shadows gathered around to watch their master at work.

Mahad was had noticed the Pharaoh's horse as they had arrived. Both himself and Mana worried for Zhara. Atem could feel the power that was being emitted and it was worrying since she had never let out this much power before. Which meant that Atem needed to intervene. "Come forth all mighty one, Slifer the Sky Dragon!!"

Lightning and thunder being summoned as the mighty sky dragon, Slifer descended from the heavens. The god being above the Pharaoh and the Priests as it charges a blast at the hooded figure that Zhara was up against and fired the blast at their monster.

The blast sent the cultist flying and into a building a few yards away. Zhara panted as she stood there, seeing her foe was missing. She looked around still powered up and she said “I will deal with those who go near by pharaoh…I shall destroy all who stand in his way…”

Mana covered her mouth as tears ran down her face. “Pharaoh please help her…this isn’t our Zhara…”

The two priests and Atem were surprised by how Zhara was acting. This wasn't the childhood friend and love he fell for. This was different. Feral almost.

Atem had dismount his horse as he cautiously walked up to his Shadow. It was Seth who grabbed his Pharaoh's arm out of uncertainty. Atem smiled to his Priest and placed an hand on his. "She is not herself. As my Shadow she is my responsibility, Seth. I will not let my Zhara lose herself." Atem explains.

Seth hesitated but let his king go. "What shall you have us do?" He asks.

"Secure the village and have everyone keep clear of here till I have helped Zhara. I will signal you all when it is safe." Atem explains.

Mahad nods. "Be careful my pharaoh." Mahad looks to Mana and places a hand on her shoulder as he grabs the reigns of the horse. "Get on. We'll keep his horse safe in the mean time."

Once the three were gone, Atem turned his attention to Zhara as Slifer seemed to be on standby. "Zhara! It's okay now. We've won!"

Mana nodded and said “please Zhara…don’t lose your soul to your own power…” she moved to help get people to safety. She jumped onto the horse and waited for Mahad.

Zhara heard his voice and turned to look at him, her body seeming to be steaming as she said “my pharaoh…is the threat handled? Are you safe?” The wolf behind her grumbled softly, looking around for his next snack or threat. He looked at the dragon and nodded to it.

Mahad had gotten on the horse and made their way into the village and make sure it was clear.

Atem could see the change that was transpiring. But hoping to talk her down. "I am safe. But something is wrong. You are not yourself Zhara." He explains to her.

Zhara blinked and looked down at her hands. “The shadows…taken over…have to…” she suddenly gasped and held her head, her pendent glowing brightly as she cried out in pain. She moved back from him as she fought to regain control.

The wolf howled and Atem for the first time heard the voice of the Bane. “She needs help resealing her powers my pharaoh!”

To hear a voice from the Wolf was a surprise in itself. He looks to the Shadow wolf with concern. "What must I do to help her!?" He asks.

The Bane lowered his head and said “use your power to help her seal hers back. Just how yours is sealed. Her lock is her feelings for you…show her you don’t need her to protect you at this moment”

Zhara moved back from Atem, crying out as she was wrapped in shadows and starting to lose control. She couldn’t stop the emotions tearing thru her mind and soul.

Atem looked back to Zhara, watching her back up. In fear. But was it for his protection? From herself? Atem shook his head vigorously. He would not back down. His friend. His lover right there and in pain, overwhelmed. It was his turn to protect her. As a friend. A king. And her love.

He made up his mind. Made his choice as he took his first step toward Zhara. Making his way toward her with determination. Some may call him brave while some may call him a fool. Atem would not care either way as long as Zhara was safe and tormented no more. He soon was about five feet away and still making no sign of backing down.

Zhara was crying out as she held her head, the shadows bursting around her now. Tears streaming down her face as well as the blood from her wounds. She looked like she was being swallowed by the shadows themselves. Then she opened her eyes and saw him closer to her and she said “no…my prince…please…I’m not safe…I can’t bare to hurt you…”

The wolf spirit moved behind Atem and said “let the god monsters aid you…their power can help secure her powers once more”

Atem nodded without looking to Bane. His attention on Zhara despite her warnings. He did not care if he was harmed. As long as Zhara was able to be herself and not fear when she may lose control again, so be it.

Slifer descended and became the barrier around them both, his head above Atem, ready to assist the pharaoh. When he got to Zhara he wrapped his arms around her. "You need not protect me Zhara. Let me bare this weight too. He pulls away from her as he looks to the pendant she wore, moving a hand to hold the small object in his open hand as he closed his eyes, drawing power from his puzzle.

Zhara get his arms around her and shook her head “no darling please…if I’m taken by the shadows let it just be me…the kingdom needs you…the world needs you! I can’t be selfish!” She cried out again as another wave hit. She gasped in pain as more cuts appeared on her skin.

But her pendent glowed in Atems hand, starting to take the power into it as he wanted. To be able to help her seal the shadows. Bane watched and smirked. “Seems I shouldn’t have worried…he knows what to do…”