A/N: Hello! Welcome to my second novel-length fanfic, one that I have actually the intention to complete – but then again, no one knows of that. Spoiler of Season 5, Dawn of the Duel: That means, it will be Season 5 alternate universe, where things happened totally different from the show. If you want, it may be what really happened the first time Atem defeated Zork. Set in Ancient Egypt, of course, and, despite some annoying facts about the ancient Egyptian culture, High Priest Seto has his hair and eyebrows just FINE, CHESTNUT, as we know it from the modern times! K?
Information about the Amazon's culture taken from Steven Pressfield's book, "The Last Amazons".
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh! Legend Of Amazons!
Chapter One: Fall of the Old King, Rise of a New One
How long had they been walking? How long did the sun burn their heads, made them sweat and suffocate under the multiple layers of their expensive clothing?
It didn't matter. They had just arrived.
Their Pharaoh, the one they had vowed to serve and obey till their very death, had died just the other day. A great man, a peaceful King, a remarkable monarch, had gone to meet his ancestors and let his soul rest in peace at last. Pharaoh Akunamukanon had, with no doubt, leave behind an Egypt on the top of its power. Egypt wasn't anymore a poor country consisted of random villages, but a powerful kingdom, wealthy and strong enough to crush every opponent who dared to defy it. They would make sure of that.
Who were they? The High Priests. The six loyal Guardians, ready to protect their Pharaoh and Egypt at every cost necessary. Six of them, each of them possessing a Millennium Item, countless power growing in their hands. The Seventh and most stunning, though, was now under their soon-to-be Pharaoh, Old Pharaoh's Akunamukanon only son.
His name, Atem.
Atem, guarding the Millennium Puzzle. He was going to be the Pharaoh of whole Egypt; the most powerful man in their world, only at his eighteen. But theoretically, he was considered an adult and ready to rule the Kingdom by his own. Loyal counselor though, Solomon, wouldn't leave his services soon. He had seen Atem growing up, he loved the boy. He would help him until Atem would wish him to go away.
Atem was sure about his High Priests, as well. He didn't believe that any of them could ever betray him. Mahado, guarding the Millennium Ring, also a magician, was his teacher and protector back from when Atem could remember himself. Karim, holding the Millennium Scale – his father used to have this duty before him. Shada, holder of the Millennium Key, faithful from his heart. Isis, the only woman Priestess, holding the Millennium Tauk. Akunadin, the eldest between them all, holding the Millennium Eye, had been at Pharaoh Akunamukanon's side since ever. And last, the youngest, Seto, holding the Millennium Rod. Seto was at Atem's age, but he would rather die than cause harm to the Pharaoh.
Atem's musing over his High Priests and friends was interrupted by Solomon's voice, reminding him: "It's time, my child." Atem sighed and looked to his father's tomb. It hurt. Seeing the Pyramid, he knew that in was no compare to his father's real value over Egypt.
I swear, father, I swear I'll be a worthy son to you! Atem made the vow with light tears in the corner of his eyes, as he signaled the workers to seal Pharaoh Akunamukanon forever and ever away.
SXIXSXIXSXIXSXI
Atem was furious.
"You can't be possibly serious!" He yelled at his High Priests, who were maintaining a straight face – miraculously.
Solomon interrupted kindly. "I'm afraid that this is how things work, my child. It's written in our laws. You can't be a Pharaoh unless you get married."
"But I don't want to get married with someone I don't even know!" What a nice way to start my kingship! Atem thought with sarcasm.
"Well… You'll learn in time, my Prince." Shada explained with his deep voice. "If you don't like the girl, you can take another one. But you do have to get married, soon. As long as you are a mere Prince, you can't make decisions about our land. Many wolves are conspiring to attack it."
"Fine, fine!" Atem was infuriated, and he tried to control his temper. "What girl?" Damn it, he wanted to get married whoever he wanted… but among the sacrifices of being a King that was also inside. He wasn't allowed to love… only in time.
"I shall find, right now." Karim said, turning around. "We must decide quickly. The Amazons attacked another village last night."
"It's not only last night!" Seto interrupted them, and they saw he was angry. Karim stopped at his tracks, as Seto continued: "It's every night! Every single damn night, those demons are attacking villages and slaughter whoever comes in their way! Men, women, children, it doesn't matter to them! They are taking their heads and torture the captives, only to please their Gods, they say! The truth is, it pleases themselves!"
"I know, I know…" Atem rubbed his forehead, deeply troubled. This issue had occupied him and before. "I never really thought Amazons would be a problem. There are far too few in Egypt, but they keep causing misery and pain…"
"The Amazons brutality is known from long times." Akunadin almost whispered. "Excellent horsewomen, they never show mercy, not even to themselves. They are calling themselves the Tal Kyrti. The Free Women."
Seto chuckled sardonically. "Free women? Free to die, maybe, but not in anything else."
"The Amazon's are not be taken lightly, neither to laugh at them!" Isis eyes were shining. "They are a strong nation, completely independent and proud. The nation of Amazons goes to Syria, Greece, even above the Black Sea." Isis lowered her eyes. "The truth is, if we let them here, we are in serious danger."
"Then we shall not." Mahado placed his hand over Isis shoulders. "We must defeat them now."
"No!" Atem shouted, and all the High Priests looked at him. "My father didn't want battles! If we do this, we'll shed blood and tears for nothing!"
"I don't mean to upset you, my Pharaoh, but as we're talking the Amazons now may do exactly what you're saying." Akunadin stated calmly.
Atem let himself fall on the throne his impulse had dragged him from. "No fights." He just said.
"Then how?" Karim asked. "How should we stop an enemy if we don't fight him?"
"When you're coming face to face with a snake, Karim, do you try to burn it all to annihilate it?" Seto's mocking voice made Karim to turn and face him with narrowed eyes. "What do you do to prevent it from biting you?"
"What do you mean?" Was Karim's answer. "Say it yourself."
"I mean that you're cutting its head." Seto turned to Atem. "The body's still shaking, but sometime, it ceases. My Prince, if you want to kill two birds with one stone…" Seto's blue, stunning eyes locked with Atem velvet ones. "Marry the Amazon Queen."
The silence that followed for some moments was heavier than the palace itself. "Nice try." Isis commented afterwards, breaking it. "An Amazon Queen would never accept something like that."
"Who said she had a choice!" Seto's smirk when he turned to face Isis was almost scary. "Where would be the meaning if she came free will? This is my plan."
Shada was ready to ask 'What plan' when Atem raised his hand and waved at Seto to continue explaining.
"We must abduct the Amazon's Queen." Seto's eyes were dark. "If we do that, we will make them freeze. You're marrying her; you shatter their claiming about 'Free Women'. Amazons will be angry. But they won't be able to make a step, gather army or move towards Thebes to get their Queen back, otherwise we'll threaten we'll kill her."
"So you're suggesting taking a hostage." Karim concluded.
Seto nodded. "In the meanwhile, we'll make sure they can't communicate with the rest of their nations. They may cause us a lot of trouble, but in reality, they are consisting only from a small settlement in the few woods to the North. You see, they refuse building houses to protect themselves, and that would be their disadvantage. We won't make any appearances, just cut their messages. They will think they are free… in reality; they will be frozen, unable to hurt any more people."
"The Amazons have two queens. One of the War, another of the Peace." Akunadin stated for another time.
"Then imagine what will happen when we take away from them the War Queen!" Seto smirked again. "We take her, they won't know what to do."
"Seto's plan does make sense." Shada admitted.
"Yes, it seems like if we don't want any blood to fall, we should try it." Mahado agreed as well.
"Very well, in that case…" Atem stood up from the throne. "Set your plan on work, Seto."
"I will, my Prince." Seto bowed and turned away to find the yeoman to whom he would task the mission.
SXIXSXIXSXIXSXI
The man seemed pretty excited with himself. A mission versus the Amazons! Yeah, those bitches deserved every part of it! It was time to show them who was the boss in here! Free women, ph! They wouldn't be so free after this! And High Priest Seto had set him on the lead! What an honor was this!
"Come here."
The yeoman jumped and dragged his sword out. "Who is it?" He shouted. "Tell me who you are!"
The figure stepped out the shadows. "Do I need to?"
"Oh, Priest Akunadin, excuse me!" The yeoman got his sword back and he kneeled in front of the High Priest. "I just have to be always alarmed, you understand."
"Of course I do. Get up." The man obeyed. "You are the yeoman High Priest Seto trusted with the task of kidnapping the Queen and cut off the Amazons from the rest?"
"Yeah, that would be me, sir." The man nodded hurryingly.
"Well…" Akunadin lowered his eyes a bit, before looking at the man once again. "I'll have to inform you that the plans have been changed."
A/N: And here I stop it, that's enough for a prologue! smiles I promise to make the next chapters bigger! If you want to know what's going to happen from now on… READ AND REVIEW! Ok, I suppose for seeing this, you've already read it, so review! Constructive criticism is welcomed, but flames are not. If you didn't like it, flames would be a waste of your and my time. So no flames. But REVIEW!
