A/N: Behold, chapter one! I have succeeded. I shall continue to find a balance of updates between this fic and it's sequel Shadow Justice which is still a work in progress on this site. Both fics can and do stand on their own, so don't worry if you haven't read one before the other.

Shadow Beginnings

The Shadows and the Rod

He counted the steps as he walked up to the throne room. His face revealed none of the intense, whirling emotions inside of him. Up until now, he had only glimpsed the young Pharaoh from a distance while studying for the exams. Now that he had passed, he was given the opportunity to be a candidate for one of the seven High Priests. He had not turned down the opportunity despite his initial misgivings. And now here he was, walking to the throne room to be presented to the crown and take part in the first official Court.

It was a lot of stress and anxiety to handle, but it was nothing like what he used to deal with as a child on the streets. Or at least, that was what he continued to tell himself. It still took a conscious effort to keep his hands from shaking. This was the Pharaoh after all. With one word, he could authorize someone's death.

More importantly, the seven High Priests wielded the seven Millennium Items. It was said the Items brought death to anyone other than seven chosen High Priests unfortunate enough to try to control them. It was said they died painfully. He knew his chances of seeing another day were slim, but he was driven. He would not back down from his goal, not now, not ever. He wanted to learn, to have power, to study as much as he could. He wanted to be able to protect what he held dear, no matter what the price.

He was so deep in thought, he barely noticed when his guide pushed open the great doors to the large, airy throne room. He did notice when the heavy scent of incense invaded his nose and made him slightly light headed. He lifted his head, careful to keep his eyes cast down in respect, and straightened his posture. One step at a time.

When his guide knelt, so did he.

"Greetings, Great Pharaoh, revered Shadow Court," his guide announced. "I bring a young man whose scores on the exams were exemplary for his age group, far exceeding any we have ever seen to date. If it pleases the Pharaoh and the Shadow Court, I am proud to present Set, our candidate for High Priest."

Set felt his stomach flutter like reeds in a breeze but deliberately did not swallow or take a deep breathe. Instead, he forced his anxiety down, continued to breathe normally, and raised his head. He boldly stared the Pharaoh directly in the eyes.

He heard the gasps from the members of the Court, shocked by his disrespect. But he had to know, he had to see if the rumors were true. His few glimpses of the Pharaoh were always from a distance, always too far to see his eyes. The rumors said the Pharaoh's eyes were violet, the shade of the sunset just before the full veil of night covered the sky. He wanted to know he was not the only one with odd eyes. He wanted to know he was not alone.

The rumors were true.

The Pharaoh's eyes were indeed violet. They gleamed with an inner light that was unearthly and beautiful. They stared back at him wide in surprise, but there was a flicker of something else deep inside them. The Pharaoh was impressed. He held up his hand, silencing his Court.

"Set," the Pharaoh said, his voice carrying easily through the great hall held no anger, merely mild interest. "Why do you show such disrespect?"

Set did not lower his eyes. Instead, he stood and strode forward, aware of the disapproving eyes watching him. He felt a fierce wave of protectiveness hit him hard from the left as well as wariness, distrust, and shock from all directions. Surprisingly, the Pharaoh was the easiest to read. Set felt shock and wariness, but also curiosity coming from the young man sitting regally on the throne.

The wave of protectiveness increased the closer Set came to the Pharaoh. He stopped at the foot of the dais and just stared silently. He finally spoke when the wave of protectiveness became a solid wall that felt like it was trying to physically push him aside.

"If you would call off your guard dog, I would much appreciate it," he said.

The Pharaoh blinked in confusion. "Guard dog?"

Set tilted his head. "The holder of the Ring seems intent on pushing me back. It is most annoying and if you do not stop him, I will."

The Pharaoh leaned forward, violet eyes studying Set closely. "You can feel him?" he asked with interest.

Set raised an eyebrow. "Yes. It is hard to miss."

Violet eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What does he feel like?"

Set was taken aback by the question. So much so, he looked away from the violet and into the rich brown eyes of the person behind the wall of protectiveness. The man was tall, well built, and practically vibrated with magic. The wall pressed harder against him, pushing Set back. Annoyed, Set sneered and lashed out with his feelings, snapping at the man like a whip.

The man visibly flinched and stepped back, clutching his head with a cry. Set tilted his head, surprised by the reaction. He turned to face the man fully. Cautiously, Set reached out with his feelings once more, this time catching the man's emotions and tugging them towards him. The man staggered and Set hesitantly loosened his hold in favor of simply brushing the other man's emotions.

Fear, shock, and pain.

Intrigued, Set withdrew and looked back to the Pharaoh who was staring at him with avid interest. Set refused to lean away from the hungry violet gaze, choosing to match it with his own. After a moment, the Pharaoh smiled.

"You must tell me where you learned to do that," the Pharaoh said.

Set's brows pulled together in confusion. "Do what?"

"Lash out with your Shadows like that," the Pharaoh said, leaning back in his throne.

Set narrowed his eyes in thought. "Shadows?" he asked. "You mean this?" He reached out and caught one of the tendrils of dark emotion surrounding the Pharaoh and tugged as gently as he could.

Violet eyes widened. "Yes," he said softly, "that."

Set shook his head. "I taught myself," Set said. "You learn what you must to survive on the streets. It is either that or die."

The Pharaoh winced.

"Do not speak so casually and disrespectfully to the Pharaoh, boy," one of the High Priests, Karim if Set remembered correctly from his studies, said.

Again the Pharaoh held out his hand, silencing the other man, violet eyes never leaving Set's. "Your eyes," he said. "They are an unusual color."

Set stiffened, eyebrows drawing low in discontent. "As are yours," he said, defensively.

"I meant no offense," the Pharaoh said calmly. "I simply have never seen eyes of such an unusual and bright color before."

"Nor have I yours," Set replied.

The two stared at each other unblinking. Then the Pharaoh grinned and closed his eyes. "I like your eyes," he said. "I have heard of your prowess at games of strategy."

Set blinked at the non sequitur. "I...I beg your pardon?"

The Pharaoh stood, and Set was surprised by the Pharaoh's height, or lack thereof. He stepped back so his left foot remained forward and watched the man who could order his death on a whim turn his back to him and stride over to the side and pick up a slender scepter of pure gold. The handle was long and unadorned but at the top sat a golden orb emblazoned with the Eye of Ra. Twin wicked blades protruded on either side of the orb at the head of the scepter like wings half open in flight.

The Pharaoh turned back to Set and held out the scepter. "I believe you will find this to your liking, Set," the Pharaoh said.

"My Pharaoh," the protective Priest who wore the Millennium Ring said. "I must protest."

"Calm yourself Mahaad," the Pharaoh said, eyes never straying from Set who continued to stare at the golden scepter hungrily. "We will know in a moment whether he is the Rod's chosen or not."

The Rod, Set thought. Then this must be the Millennium Rod, the only unclaimed Item left. Set could not tear his eyes away from the smooth golden surface no matter how hard he tried. It sang to him like nothing ever had before. He reached out tentatively with his emotions and felt answering emotions curl around him welcomingly, lulling him with their powerful but soothing touch. Were these the Shadows the Pharaoh spoke of?

Without realizing what he was doing, Set extended his hand and wrapped his fingers around the slender handle. It was just as smooth as it looked, and warm to the touch. He could feel power pulsing through it like a heartbeat. He calmed himself and stared with his mystic sight and saw tendrils of darkness radiating out from the Rod and curling around his hand and arm like vines or snakes. They felt warm and welcoming, like the arms of his mother had felt so many years ago.

The darkness beckoned to him and Set hesitated only a moment before lowering his hard built barriers and was flooded with emotions both his own and not. The emotions spoke to him like nothing he had ever felt before. They sang to him, whispered to him, and conversed with him like a mother, father, brother, sister, friend, and lover. They promised to hold him close forever, to never let him go. They claimed him as theirs, declaring it to the world, and Set could not find the strength nor desire to deny them.

He was theirs, but they were his. Just as they laid claim to him, he laid claim to them. They embraced him in a cocoon of tingling warmth that bordered on cold, but Set encircled them with his own emotions that burned low and hot like a metalsmith's fire. He yanked them close to him, anchoring them deep within himself, filling a gap, a hole he never knew he had.

They filled him to the brim and beyond. It began to burn be he did not stop them. They wanted this and so did he. He felt something crack deep within him and felt his chest begin to ache. His eyes closed instinctively against the sudden pain and saw a great beast he somehow knew was his. It growled deep in its throat and Set held out his hand to the beast unafraid of its monstrous appearance. The beast knelt before him, willing submitting to him.

Set tilted his head and spoke for the first time since the dark emotions -Shadows they corrected him with a hunger that left a flush in his cheeks and a dizzy head. It was one word, but it was absolute and binding.

"Duos."

The beast Duos roared. It now had a name and was eternally bound to Set until they were split apart forever in death. There was a loud crack and Set gasped in pained shock. It felt like his soul had been ripped in half like an eggshell. The pain was quick and intense, but disappeared no sooner than it had arrived replaced by euphoria. The shattered pieces of his soul were wrenched back to their rightful places and held together firmly by the Shadows.

It felt so good Set never knew he had fallen to his knees gasping and clutching the Rod to his chest possessively. All he could feel were the Shadows filling him and whirling around him. He felt their warmth and glee at having a wielder of their Rod, now Set's Rod. They loved Set, adored him, worshipped him, and he returned their affections with a fierceness that was uniquely his.

He distantly felt something touch his shoulder and grabbed it with his Shadows. It felt familiar and powerful; but it was not his so why was it here in his inner self? He jerked the strange presence closer and studied it. He had definitely felt it before, but it still felt new to him. He projected his curiosity to the strange presence.

The presence responded by gently soothing him, brushing his Shadows in a way that had Set's hackles rising. He felt pride radiating from the presence, pride for him. The presence felt proud of Set. That encouraged him, but it did not ease his trust of the strange presence. He lashed out at the presence viciously.

"Mine," he distantly heard himself hiss.

He felt shock emanate from the presence, then amusement followed by affirmation. It agreed the Shadows were Set's and withdrew slightly in respect. It tugged him gently back to...somewhere. He was somewhere? Where?

The Shadows pulled him back, not wanting him to leave them just yet. Set agreed with them. He did not want to leave his Shadows' embrace. They welcomed him, they did not ridicule him or shun him. They adored him.

The presence pulled him more insistently and Set reluctantly followed. His Shadows clung to him, refusing to fully release him from their embrace. They would always be with him, never leaving him alone. This they swore.

For some reason, that was enough for Set and he blinked, the world around him suddenly coming into focus. He blinked to moisten his dry eyes, then blinked again, mouth falling open in a small 'oh' when he saw several ropes of Shadow looping around his ankle and one swirling around his wrist and arm like a bracelet. The sight and feel of them warmed his heart and he smiled.

The pressure on his shoulder he did not notice until now tightened and Set raised his eyes. Since when had he fallen to his knees? The Pharaoh knelt before him, violet eyes gazing into his own uncanny blue with a warmth Set had not seen directed at him since his mother's death. His Shadows welled up inside him, reminding him of their oath to never leave him and he soothed them with his relief and gratitude.

The Pharaoh smiled and said simply, "Welcome to my Shadow Court, Set, holder of the Millennium Rod," he said.