Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, but I own Ruia/Raya.
*READ PLEASE*
Anya: Hi everyone! This is just a quick explanation on how the prequel is going to work. This is not your typically story, rather it is going to look at key moments in both Yami (Yugioh) and Raya's (Ruia) lives. It was just easier that way. Also, if you are a new reader and haven't read Family History, don't worry. I tried to write this story in a way where it wouldn't be confusing for you. So in all practicality, you really don't have to read Family History to understand this one. And for everyone who has read Family History, don't worry, the events you read here will still follow what was set up in Family History, but with a spin. Hope you all enjoy!
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Sekhmet flipped through images of children with the flick of her wrist. She sighed as she found something wrong with each candidate; some weren't mentally strong enough, others were already too old, and some just wasn't well right for the realm she was granting. So far, not one person even came close to matching her standards. She sighed to herself, blowing a piece of her golden hair out her azure eyes and continued to search. She had been at this for weeks now with no results to show for it. Ra wasn't going to be pleased.
"Difficulties Sekhmet?" a voice behind her asked.
She whipped around and came face to face with the almighty sun god himself. "Ra," she gasped, dropping to her knees in respect. Sekhmet may have been a goddess herself, but you still showed respect to those more powerful, like Ra.
Ra smiled. "Arise child. I see that you still have not found a candidate for the ceremony."
Inwardly, Sekhmet flinched. Over two months ago, she had been given the task of finding a child worthy of the powers that she and Ra were going to grant at ceremony. It was a disgrace to have found no dependent yet. She turned back to the pictures she had been viewing. "No Ra, I have not. Not one child I have seen could ever begin to handle the powers that I would grant them."
"Maybe your standards are just too high. I have already found my chosen protégé for the Divine Ceremony. You need to find one soon Sekhmet, the ceremony is in two days." Ra gently scowled. He took a seat next to the goddess of war and protection. Ra watched as Sekhmet continued her search. Though he was upset that she hadn't found an heir yet, so to speak, he had to admire her dedication. Sekhmet really wanted to find the perfect choice; other goddesses would have just randomly picked someone. 'Which is why you decided that Sekhmet do the honors at this years ceremony. She would actually pick someone worthy of the honor. Which is why I didn't want let Tefnut choose again. I should have known better than let the goddess of destruction pick. Egypt barely survived last time. But I know my daughter will choose better.' Ra thought to himself.
"Oh have you? Care to inform your daughter on your choice? Maybe it would help me decided." Sekhmet replied, straightening her gown out.
"You know the rules Sem," calling the goddess by her pet name, "I can not reveal my decision till the party just like you can not reveal yours...that is, if you ever find one." Ra replied with a small smile.
Sekhmet threw her hands up in frustration. "That isn't funny Ra. You of all gods should know how important this ceremony is. The Divine Power is granted only once every millennium and if we make the wrong decision then the whole Egyptian culture will suffer greatly. Do I need to remind you what happened in Rome with their Divine Ceremony? One bad choice and their whole empire practically collapsed! Do we really want that type of a disaster to happen here?" Sekhmet stood and paced around the temple floor. She wasn't concerned that another god or goddess would over hear her concerns. It didn't matter that much.
"Of course not," Ra stated. "That is the last thing in the world that I want. But the ceremony needs two people to complete, not one. And until you find one Sem, we are in much distress. Egypt cannot afford to over look this ceremony again. Greece or Rome would surely take advantage our situation once again."
She sighed, expelling all the fears and doubts that had built upside in her. She placed a hand on her forehead and rubbed hard. "Then you understand why I hesitate in choosing someone. The powers we are granting are very strong, which means we need someone who is not only capable of handing them, but the responsibilities as well. After all, they will have to look over this whole country. Not to mention the third divinity."
"Agreed and I will admit it took me some time to find the one I sought as well." Ra confessed. He knew he could tell Sekhmet anything and not have to worry about her making a big deal of it. Though this ceremony certain was just that. "You are correct by saying that person we choose has to be strong both mentally and emotional. I will not lie, our protégés will be tempted by the darker forces many times in their lives and if they fall..."
"Then all of Egypt is lost, yes I am aware. This is why I haven't chosen a follower of mine. Most of my legions are believers in my side of war, not of protection...that is the main characteristic I am looking for. Someone who will not want to make war but rather protect."
"And you have found no one that fits this requirement?"
Sekhmet flicked her wrist again and the picture in front of her changed from a young teenage girl to a young girl. "No, however I refuse to give up, I know my protégé is out there somewhere. I just have to find her and soon."
Ra stood up, white robes brushing against the stone floor of Sekhmet's temple. "I will leave you to your work. Just remember Sem, you only have two days left. You may not find that perfect candidate. She may have flaws and we are just going to have to deal with that and hope for the best of the country."
"I understand Ra. I will have a decision by the time the ceremony begins. You have my word as a goddess on this."
Ra nodded and left the room. He had no doubts in his mind that Sekhmet would find someone; he just hoped it was someone who was worthy enough.
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Fire crackled around two small pits made of round gray stones. In the center of them, was a large golden altar, crested with the many symbols of Egyptian life. It glistened from rays of light from the moon. Khonsu grinned at the sight. He was one of the few gods that was associated with the beautiful sight that was the moon. He glanced around the field that was to host the ceremony. Many of his fellow Egyptian gods and goddesses had turned out for the Divine Ceremony. It was a special night for all. But at the same time, a most alarming one as well. Word had come from Greece that Chronos, the Greek god of Time, had foreseen that this Divinity period would bring much unneeded darkness and if the wrong candidates were chosen…Khonsu didn't even want to finish the thought. 'Nothing will happen. Ra and Sekhmet are choosing our light and dark. And I know that they will chose correctly. Our civilization won't fall.' His gaze settled on Sekhmet who was pacing off to the side of altar. Her shadows danced around the fire. Her husband Ptah tried to soothe the young goddess, but nothing would calm her raging soul. Khonsu had heard that Sekhmet had difficult choosing her protégé, only picking hers hours ago.
"Everything rides on this ceremony tonight. Our way of life and our sense of harmony."
Khonsu turned to sound of voice. At seeing Maat, he let out a small breathe. Many of the gods and goddess had been doubting Sekhmet's abilities in choosing a worthy protégé, but at least Maat as well as a few others gave the goddess of war a chance. Maat was only speaking truthfully, not judgmental. "This is fact. But we can not dismiss that Sekhmet is also the goddess of protection. She will make the right choice. We have nothing to fear."
Maat tossed her black hair over her shoulder. Her midnight black eyes widen with surprise. "We have everything to fear Khonsu. Yes Sekhmet is capable of making such an important decision, however that doesn't mean the danger is gone. It may not even come in her protégé's lifetime. We have a hundred years to worry about, not thirty or forty."
Khonsu didn't respond. He had not thought of that. "Then we need the third divinity more than ever then."
"Unfortunately, that is exactly what I think. And we both know what the requirements are for the third divinity to happen." Maat whispered as if not to draw more attention to the moon and harmony god and goddess.
"Right, which means Ra and Sekhmet had more to take into account than they thought."
Maat ran a hand through her hair in despair and anxiousness. "I spoke briefly to Clio, the historian of Greece, hoping that the young woman could provide us with some clues to what will happen."
"And what did she say?"
"Nothing more than that whatever was to happen was to happen."
Khonsu sighed. A gentle breeze blew his brown hair in front of his eyes, limiting his sight. 'Just like this ceremony is doing to all of us. Limiting our sight into our futures.'
Maat brushed his arm slightly. "Look." she whispered.
Khonsu followed her gaze to the altar. Ra had moved to the front, dressed in ceremonial white robes. Next to him, Sekhmet stood, dressed in regal ice blue. It was time for the ceremony to begin.
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Ra stepped up to the altar, light from the fire casting a light glow around the god. He motioned for Sekhmet to take her place beside him then waved for the other goddesses and gods to gather around.
Sekhmet took her place next to her father, trying to suppress the nervousness that she felt. 'Please let me be making the correct choice.' She had only found her protégé hours before the start of the ceremony, but her choice felt so right that she was confident that she had found her heir, but now, she was having her doubts. She could hear the other gods and goddesses question her decision-making skills and their uneasiness set her off. Sekhmet let out a small sigh. She didn't have time to doubt herself anymore; Ra was ready to begin. It was too late to change anything now. She was going to have to live with her choice, good or bad.
"Welcome fellow gods and goddess. We have gathered here tonight at the Edfu fields for the Divine Ceremony - the Light of Horus. This is a grave time indeed for Egypt and all of mankind alike. I am assuming that most of you have heard the alarming news that has come from Greece about how this millennium's ceremony is vital to our survival. That this ceremony will decided once and for all which is stronger, good or evil. It is apparent to me that we need the Divine Family more than ever." Ra spoke in a loud voice.
All the gods and goddesses present nodded in agreement.
"Having said this, let us begin. Thoth, bring the Divine Father forth."
Thoth came forward, carrying a small child in his arms. The baby couldn't have been more than a week old.
From the ground Khonsu watched as the child was carried forth to Ra. "Isn't that child's parents going to be concerned when they discover their son is missing?" Khonsu whispered to Maat.
"You've never attended this ceremony before have you?" Maat whispered back. Khonsu shook his head no. "We are at Edfu, a place dedicated to Horus here on the mortal world. However, since this is a godly ceremony, it moves in our time. In other words, this whole ceremony will take no more than a second in human standard of time while it very well may take an hour in ours. The parents will never know their children were missing. This is why the ceremony is performed at night. To ensure that we can perform the granting's without them knowing."
"I understand." Khonsu replied.
"Good, now watch, the best part of the ceremony is about to begin." Maat said, intrigued with whom Ra had chosen.
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Ra cradled the child in his arms for a moment before proceeding. Mortal babies always fascinated him. They were so pure, so innocent. The child yawned and blinked his purple eyes at Ra. The baby cooed in delight, as if he had recognized the sun god.
"Small one, I doubt highly that you understand fully what is going on. And yet, I can not help sense that you do realize how important of a day this is." Ra turned the child to face out towards the gathering. "See these people before you my son. Though they are more powerful that you know, one day you will be equal to them. But with this great power comes great responsibility. You must use your powers for good. Use these gifts that I beset to you to rule all of Egypt with wisdom, truth, and justice. Prince Yugioh, I raise you know before this crowd to let them see the newest Divine Father.
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A murmur of approval rippled through the gathering.
"Is that it?" Khonsu asked. "I thought there would be more to it that this."
Maat grinned. "Not even close. This is just the announcement part of the ceremony. Sekhmet still has to name her choice for the Divine Mother. Then we have the blessing from Isis, who is the Divine families mother. After that we have the Naming of the Realms, Guardian and mentor. That is the longest part of the ceremony since there are so many parts to it. Finally Horus will end the ceremony with his blessing. Afterwards, we will be able to approach the Divine family and offer our blessings if we want."
Khonsu nodded. He was beginning to understand why this ceremony was so revered. It was single handedly the honorable ceremony a mortal could undergo. It was giving mortals powers that equal and quite possibly rival the gods themselves. "Ra made a fine choice picking the new prince."
"Ai, he did. New let us hope that Sekhmet picks just as wisely. For if she didn't, then our world, our civilization will be lost forever."
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Sekhmet stared at her father in shock. 'He picked the Prince? The future Pharaoh? But…' She gulped. She could not back out on her decision now. She would just have to wait and hope her protégé would be able to complete the triad. But things were definitely stacked against her. She waved her hand, signaling Osiris to come forward. Slowly, the god of the underworld carried a small infant, no bigger than his forearm. Sekhmet found it ironic that he of all people was carrying new life in his hands.
Gently she accepted the small baby from Osiris. She peeled back the rustic red blanket to allow everyone to see the newborn child. Even though the infant was sleeping, she was still a sight to see.
"Little one, you are not yet even a day old and already I must place the fate of the world onto your shoulders. However, I know it is a task that you will be able to burden. I can sense that your soul thrives to help others. And I know that you will make me and the other gods and goddesses proud." She turned the child to her fellow deities, lifting the newborn girl into the air. "Ruia Motou, gaze at this gathering before you. Etch this night into your mind for today we proclaim you as our newest Divine Mother."
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Sekhmet braced herself as the comments about her choice came. She didn't have to wait long.
"Sekhmet, why? The child is a commoner." Anubis exclaimed. "She can't handle the powers of divinity. Why did you not pick someone with more royal of blood?"
"There is no guarantee that she will even live! Ka exclaimed. He was the god of life forces.
"ENOUGH!" Ra yelled, silencing the crowd. "Sekhmet has made her decision. There is nothing that any of us can do to change that. We are jus going to have to trust in her choice."
"But Ra, Ruia is the daughter of a commoner and Yugioh is royalty. Don't you see that their paths will never cross which means the Divine Son will never exist. Our civilization is lost!" cried Tefnut. Even though she was the goddess of destruction, she didn't want to see everything they had worked to achieve fall because of Sekhmet's poor choosing.
"That is not true" Shait broke in. The goddess of destiny was leaning up against a tree, off to the side of the ceremony. She stepped into the light, allowing the moon's light to cast a mystic look to her. Her golden hair flowed down her back, not quite reaching the ground. Her green eyes held an intense and painful look to them, for she held the knowledge of what everyone lives would be, well before they were ever born. "Their paths will cross many times in their young lives. Now if anything is to become of that, time will tell."
"Thank you Shait." Ra replied satisfied with Shait explanation. He trusted the words of Shait more than any other gods of goddesses. If she replied that the their was a chance at the completed divinity, than who was he to argue. "Shall we continue with the ceremony Sekhmet?"
Sekhmet nodded, not trusting her voice any longer.
"Isis, will you please come forward then?"
Isis moved to the front of the altar, black hair blowing in a non-existent breeze. "Place the children on the altar." She grasped one of Yugioh's hand and one of Raya's and held them gently in her own. "My children today is a great day, not only for you, but me as well. Today I receive another son and daughter into my family. Ones that I hope will lead with example. I pray that you will always know that you have I, your guardians, your mentors, Sekhmet, Ra, and the other sharers of your realm to turn to if you ever need guidance. Just call and we will come." She turned to Ra and Sekhmet. "Since both of you chose heirs that can not yet speak, you two should speak for them."
Ra and Sekhmet nodded, then together in one clear and loud voice spoke.
"I hail You and praise You,
Glorious Goddess,
At the end of this day which You granted me.
May my actions within its hours be judged to be justified,
And my words within its hours found to be true.
Drain from me all intent and action;
I offer to You all energy I have locked in unworthy action or reaction.
May tomorrow by Your grace find me wiser
and my joy in the universe still greater;
I ask Your welcome now in the Temple;
Accept me this night for rest, for study, and for worship;
Grant me dreams of meaning and the memory to recall them.
Hail to You, Goddess of the starry pathways;
Hail to You, Goddess of the Deep Black,
Hail to You, Goddess of the Shining Sun at Midnight,
May I partake of Your glory forever."
As they spoke, a soft golden glow radiated from the babies and Isis, enveloping their entire beings. When the prayer was over, the glow disappeared. Isis opened her midnight blue eyes open and smiled at her son and daughter. "Welcome to the family Prince Yugioh and Ruia."
Isis left the children's tiny hands go, gave each a small kiss on the forehead and walked back to where she and her son had been standing before. Ra and Sekhmet picked their heirs back up off the altar. Through this whole ceremony, the babies had taken all of this quite well, never crying once. If they could just last a little longer then the ceremony would be over and they would be back with their mortal families. Ra moved to speak first.
"Thoth, please step forward."
The god of wisdom did as Ra wished, and then accepted the Prince into his arms when Ra offered.
"Yugioh, as my protégé you will be expected to rule fair and honestly, with compassion and a level head. This will be no easy task I assure you. But as the Divine Father, I grant you something that may make this job just a little easier and a lot clearer. My son, I am giving you the role of the top triad, the mind. As sharer of my realm, you shall rule Egypt with the mind of a great leader. And if he will allow it, I ask Thoth to be your mentor. Thoth, do you agree to be Yugioh's mentor, realm sharer, and guidance when I can not be?"
"Of course Ra, it is a great honor."
"Than it has been decided. Yugioh, your powers will be that of wisdom of the mind. Together with Thoth you will have the ability to see things as they really are, whether in yourself or the ones around you. And though your powers are the darker half of the mind, I do not expect you to use them for evil. Though you will be tempted many times in your life. And because of this very fact, I feel that it is necessary for you to have a guardian in the mortal world as well since we can not be there. However, this guardian needs to be equally to you in the wisdom of the mind, which is why I have decided that the Dark Magician shall be this person. He is a strong, powerful, commanding, yet rules with his mind and heart, not with his actions." Ra slipped the card of the Dark Magician into Yugioh's royal green blanket. "He will be your greatest ally Yugioh, your constant companion. Guard this card with your life for he is guarding yours."
He turned from the prince and nodded at Sekhmet. "Osiris, please come forth."
The god of the dead came to stand in front of the goddess of war. He accepted the child when she placed the child called Ruia into his arms. The child blinked her large iris eyes at him and Osiris had to smile. She was cute even if she wasn't royalty.
"Ruia, as my protégé, a lot will be expected of you. As the goddess of war, most associate me with darkness, anger, and death. However, I am also the goddess of protection and that is the side I beset to you. Our souls are in intertwined with the urge to protect everyone we meet and it only seems fitting that would be your realm. I grant you Ruia, the third part of the trinity, the soul. With our need to protect, it is a fitting choice for you. However you will need someone to show you how to distinguish between the bad souls from the good so that you may not be swayed. Osiris, as the guardian of the souls, I am asking you to be that very person. Allow Raya to have your keen insight so that she may have the ability of knowing who is being truthful with her and who is not."
"It shall be done as you ask Sekhmet." Osiris replied.
"Thank you my friend." She allowed Ruia to grasp a finger of hers. "Small one, even though you appear to weak, I can tell that is not the case. Taking this into account, I have decided that the Mystical Elf will be your guardian here on the mortal world. Do not let appearances be deceiving Ruia. Though she may appear fragile and weak, that couldn't be farther from the truth. She will be your closest friend and greatest ally. You two are one in the same."
She moved back to Ra, signaling that she was finished.
"Horus, if you would please come forward."
Hours moved behind the altar, where the two babies now were laying. "Yugioh, Ruia today is a great day for all. You have been chosen from all Egyptians everywhere to be the Divine Mother and Divine Father. Take these powers and responsibilities wisely and with cation. For as much good they could do, they could just as easily destroy. However, there is another wonderful factor to your blessings, the Divine Son. If this occurs, who shall this child's guardians be?"
"It shall be us." Amon and Ptah replied.
"Step forward then and join the others." Horus replied.
A circle had now been formed around the infants.
"Each of you, state what you wish to present your protégés with."
"Wisdom." Thoth answered.
"Mind." Ra added.
"Guidance of the souls." Osiris explained
"Soul Protection." Sekhmet whispered.
"Insight." Ptah said.
"Leadership." Amon finished.
"Then it shall be done." Horus placed one palms on each of the children's forehead and spoke.
"Bless you for your Anger, for it is a sign of Rising Energy.
Direct it not at your family, waste not on your enemy.
Transform the energy into Versatility and it will bring you prosperity.
Bless you for the times you see evil.
Evil is energy mishandled and it feeds on your support.
Feed it not and it will self destruct. Shed light and it will cease to
be.
Bless you for your jealousy for it is a sign of empathy.
Direct it not at your family. Direct it not at your friends.
Transform the energy to Admiration, and what you admire will become a
part of your life.
Count your blessings everyday for they are your protection which stands
between you and what you wish not.
Count you curses and they will be a wall which stands between you and
what you wish"
When he was done speaking, Horus removed his hands and the eye of Horus glowed brightly on each of their foreheads. "It is done, the ceremony of light is now complete."
Ruia let out a wail, as if upset that the ceremony was over. To all the gods and goddesses amazement, Yugioh reached over with his tiny hand and laid it on Ruia's forearm, causing the child's whimpers to cease.
'Maybe I didn't pick poorly after all.' Sekhmet thought as she picked Ruia off the table, as Ra did with Yugioh. Together they walked through the crowds, allowing all the gods and goddess to see the newest Divine Mother and Divine Father.
At Maat, they stopped at the goddess insistence. She placed a hand on Yugioh's forehead, "As the goddess of truth, justice and harmony, I feel that it is necessary to give you something as well. To you prince, I give you the sense of justice that you will always fight for what you believe in, whether it be of a love or government."
They continued around the gathering until the Sekhmet reached Shait. "This child's life will not be easy. However, she will grow into a very strong willed individual because of that very fact. And since her realm is that of protection, I may have something that can help Ruia in her quest." She pulled a small pouch out of her robes and sprinkled a little silver dust on the baby. "To you Ruia, I give you the gift of prophetic dreams so that you may be able to better serve people."
A small gasp went up through the crowd. In all the years that Shait had attended the ceremonies, never had she given a person visions or any form of gifts for that matter. Why bless a commoner with such power? Did she know something that others did not? But no one dared voice his or her concerns. Shait always had a good reason for doing whatever she did. Plus everyone knew full well that she would never reveal what the child's future held.
Finally it was time to send the children home. Isis stepped forward taking Yugioh and Ruia into her arms. "Come little ones. It is time for you to return to your mortal parents and start fulfilling your destinies."
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A loud knock at the door jolted Pharaoh Khu from his slumber. Slipping out of his bed, he made his way over to his door, sword in hand. It was pitch black outside and who ever was at the door was either bringing news of war or of some problem. He felt no immediate threat for his life, what enemy would knock at his door if they meant to kill him? Khu just hoped that it wasn't more bad news. He really couldn't handle much more suffering this week, not after the death of his wife Cleo. It had been so sudden, so unnecessary.
"My King, are you awake?" A voice called through the door. Concern was etched into the tone.
Khu sighed. It was Qaa, his head High Priest. Rubbing the tiredness from his purple eyes, Khu tightened the sash on his tunic and opened the doors. "Qaa, do you have any idea what time it is?"
Qaa lowered his head, allowing his brown locks to fall in front of his face. "I am deeply sorry my Lord, but the midwife, she found something interesting with your son Yugioh."
At the mention of his son's name, Khu tensed. "Is something wrong with him? A complication from birth? Dear Ra, I can't lose him too!"
"My King, please calm down. The Prince is fine, healthy as can be. Sepi gave him a full medical examination earlier. He will be fine, I am just sorry he could not save Cleo."
Khu eyes watered over at the thought of his wife, his beautiful dead wife. She had passed away shortly after giving birth to his heir. Sepi had told him that there was a high risk that either Cleo or Yugioh could die but never did he expect it to happen. It had come as a shock when his wife held her child close, kissed her son's forehead, and the died right there in front of him. Oh how it hurt. "If my son is not physically sick then what is wrong? Did Zemti foresee something?" He and Qaa walked quickly to the west wing of the palace where his son's nursery was.
"No not even Zemti could have foreseen this my lord. It is nothing short of a miracle." Qaa replied, ushering his Pharaoh to the prince's room.
A small crowd had formed in the room, around the Prince's basinet. The nursemaid Shua, named after the sky goddess herself, was there, holding her child Athena, who was five in front of her. The two could have easily passed for sisters, though Shua was well into her late twenties. "My Pharaoh." Shua spoke as she bowed when Khu entered the room. Athena mimicked her mother's actions.
"Shua, what has happened with my baby boy?"
"Nothing short of a gift from the gods themselves Khu." Sepi replied. Sepi had know Khu since they were two and was one of the few people who could get away with calling the Pharaoh by his first name though at the moment he could not meet his friend's eyes. Sepi refused to look up at him. He had failed as the palace physician to save the Queen. Cleo had died because of him. Sure he did everything in his abilities to save Cleo, but in his mind he could have done something, anything different. Then maybe Cleo would still be alive to see her son grow into the powerful heir that he would become.
"Well don't leave me in suspense here. What happened to Yugioh?" Khu asked again, growing impatient. He moved over to his son's crib, relieved to see the infant fast asleep, as he should be. He couldn't see anything wrong with his son. Just a blanket and wild mess of blond, black, and red hair spike in certain areas. A combination of his own hair and Cleo's. Khu smiled at the memory. His wife had along blond hair, with hints of black in it. His was red and spiky and their sons combined all of that. Gently he lifted his son into his arms and held him close to his heart. 'One day, I shall tell you all about your mother so you to can know how wonderful of a woman she really was.'
"Khu, Ra was here." Zemti finally responded. He was the final member of Pharaoh's Court and also one of the newest members. He braced himself for the King's reaction.
"Ra was here? With my son? But why and how do you know this?" Khu's head spun. A god, the Head god nonetheless, had visited his son. It was a miracle if it was true.
"It is true my Lord. I found this tucked in the Prince's blanket." Shua replied, handing Khu the card of the Dark Magician. She tucked a piece of her purplish hair behind her ear.
"The Dark Magician?" Khu rotated the between his fingers. "A powerful ally indeed. But what does this have to do with my son and Ra?"
Sepi stepped forward. "The Dark Magician is considered a personal ally of Ra himself. And since no one here gave this card to the young prince, we can only conclude that Ra gave it to Yugioh himself."
"Which means that Yugioh was granted powers, doesn't it." Khu replied, understanding now why Qaa had awakened him. This was indeed a miracle. His first born, given the abilities of a god.
"We believe that to be the case my Lord." Qaa answered. He paused before continuing. He smiled when he saw the tiniest grin on the Pharaoh's face. At least his son could make Khu happy. After the lost of his wife, Khu had driven himself into a deep depression, locking himself into his bedchamber for hours on end. Only when he received word that his son needed his father would he come out. Or when the city of Memphis needed him. The only time Khu had been in the public eye this week was to announce the birth of Prince and the death of the Queen. But now there was a reason for the king to live again. "And if it does prove to be the case, that Yugioh has indeed been blessed with the powers of the gods, we are going to have to monitor him closely, train him, and make sure he uses his powers for good. And maybe with your son's abilities we can finally end the terrible confrontation with the Greeks."
Khu sighed. The Greeks. They had been on constant edge with them for the longest time and now things were escalating to a full out war between the two empires. One Khu really did not want to see happen. Death was a horrible situation. "Yugioh is barely a week ago, we can not put the pressure on him to be a great leader and a gifted magician so soon. Maybe when he is older, like seven or eight we can start training him, but not a moment sooner. It would not be safe."
Zemti sighed. "I don't think we can wait that long my lord." He shuffled his feet in discomfort. Zemti had the gift of prophecy, but at the age of 19, he was still a bit uncomfortable being around such powerful beings. "I think we need to train your son sooner. I can not foresee why, but my instinct tells me that Yugioh needs to be trained at once, maybe starting at the age of two."
Khu snapped his head up. "NO! That is far too soon. My son will not be able to handle such stress. I refuse to lose my son as I lost my wife."
Qaa placed a comforting hand on the King's shoulder. "I know it was hard to lose Cleo Khu, but we can't risk not training your son. If we don't, Yugioh could do serious harm to himself and the people of Egypt. Don't let the death of your wife cloud your judgment. We have all of Egypt to think of."
"I understand…" Khu took a deep breathe before continuing. "Then it shall be done. Yugioh will be trained as soon as Zemti deems him ready. Qaa, I expect you to still tutor my son, as will Sepi. Zemti, I am relying on you to keep my son, my only heir, safe."
"I will guard the Prince with my life my Lord. You have my word as a student of Shait."
Khu nodded. "Let us all return to our chambers then and try to get some sleep." He placed his son back into his basinet "Good night Yugioh." With that he left his son's room, with his High Priests closely behind.
"Momma, why didn't you tell them about the light on the baby's head?" Five-year-old Athena asked.
"Athena, listen to mommy carefully. We must act like we saw no light. It is safer for everyone."
"Why mommy? Is someone in trouble?"
Shua had no idea how to answer her daughter's question. She had seen the light of Horus on the young prince's forehead glowing vibrantly then dimming once the Prince realized that she was in the room. And according to all the legends she had heard as a child growing up in the village of Memphis, that symbol could mean only one thing…divinity. But divinity was just a legend, right? No one could wield that much power. It was not humanly possible. No one could survive it. But yet the prove was right in front of her eyes. The Prince clearly had received divinity. 'But the King can not learn of his son's great power, not just yet. Because with this great power, comes great threats. And if Greece were too learn of such a powerful enemy, they would not hesitate in eliminating the prince. No, it is better to keep this information to myself, until the day comes for Yugioh's training.' Shua looked down at her daughter finally having an answer for her child. "Sometimes sweetie, it is safer not to let people know the truth. Safer for you, them, and a whole nation."
Athena nodded. "Then I too will keep the secret mommy."
"Good girl, now why don't you go climb back into bed? I will be there soon to tuck you in again."
"Okay mommy" Athena bounced out of the room, purple locks bouncing the entire time.
Shua smiled as Athena exited the room. She moved over to the crib where the prince laid. 'Such great things are in stored for you, but I have to suppress my fears that you will fall to darkness. You are the son of Cleo and Khu, the two most nobilities and purist people I know. But why can't I shake the feeling that the darkness is looming just around the bend waiting for the day that it can consume you whole?' Shua grimaced, thinking of her own daughter. 'And if I am correct that you did indeed inherit divinity, I have to wonder, where is the other child? Divinity comes in pairs according to all the legends. So little one, where is your comrade? Is this other child the one who is going to cause the downfall of our civilization or are you?' Shua sighed. She wasn't going to get answers from the prince. There was no way for him to have these answers. She was just going to have to wait, just like everyone else. Wait and pray that the great destruction did not come to past like the legends had foretold.
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"WAH!"
Aristae awoke with a start. 'Right on time again.' she thought as she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her husband. As much as she loved her daughter, Aristae wish she would sleep a little long than an hour at a time. But at least her daughter had a schedule already. And for that Aristae was grateful.
Moving over to the crib, Aristae lifted her child into her arms and carried her to a chair in the next room so not to wake the father. Taking a seat, Aristae rocked Ruia; humming softly to her hoping to ease the child of whatever distress she was in.
"Ishpi slept through the nights after he was born, why can't she?" Sugoroku asked, walking into the room.
Aristae scrunched her face in pain as she thought of her first born, Ishpi who died three years after he was born. He had contracted a disease, one that no one could cure. Healers came as far as Rome, but none had ever seen what Ishpi had contracted. He would have been sixteen this year. Aristae mentally scolded herself. 'It has been 13 years, I need to move on. The gods have bless me with another child to finally help me heal. No sense dwelling in the past when I have a little girl here who wants my undivided attention.' "No, she just wants to make sure that we haven't forgotten her presence."
Sugoroku chuckled. "She's going to take after her mother alright, stubborn and determined. I fear for when she gets older."
"She's not going to be a problem Sugoroku," Aristae frowned, brushing a small lock of Ruia's hair out of her face. "You'll see, she'll be a wonderful child. She is your daughter."
"As she is yours, which worries me." He replied with a yawn. "If she takes after you…"
"I know, I know the world is doomed." Aristae replied with a soft laugh, careful not to wake Ruia who was dozing off to sleep.
"Well I was thinking that the world would be a pretty lucky place, but doomed works just as well." Sugoroku walked over and lifted his daughter into the air, gazing at his little girl. "She's perfect Aristae. Absolutely perfect."
"That she is. Why don't you go back to bed? I'll stay with her till she settles down again."
"Are you sure Aristae? You look awfully tired. I could take care of her if you want."
"No, I would like to spend time with her, you never know what tomorrow might bring."
Sugoroku's face clouded over. "Aristae, did you have a vision? Is something wrong with you or Ruia?"
"No Sugoroku, I am fine as is Ruia. I am planning on staying with the two of you for a long time." She kissed her husband on the cheek. "Now off to bed with you. You have work in the morning."
She watched as her husband stroll back to the bedroom. She moved back to the chair rocking Ruia in her arms all the while. 'Only two years. That is all I get with you small one and then, it is gone, forever.' She hadn't been honest with her husband at all when she told him that everything was alright. In fact, that statement couldn't have been farther form the truth. She was dying and she knew it. 'That dream was so vivid, so lifelike I know it is a vision.' Ishpi had appeared to her, pointing at her then at him. Then he held up two fingers and nod as if to confirm what his mother was already suspecting. His blue eyes held a hint of despair to them, knowing that she was going to die soon and that his mother was going to have to leave her child behind. Aristae hadn't known that she was pregnant yet. She learned that four days later. While she was ecstatic, Ishpi warning came back to her. Two years was all she had with Ruia before she came to the same fate as Ishpi, succumbing to the very same disease that he had.
"Oh Ruia, there was so many things I wanted to show you, teach you, but now I am just not sure how I am going to do it. I know your father will do a fine job of raising you, but you need more than just a father, you need a mother too. If only there was a way…" Aristae stated, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "What am I going to do?"
Ruia cooed softly, small hand reaching over her mother's heart. Ruia blinked her large iris eyes once, light from the candle Aristae had lit giving her eyes an even more mysterious appearance to them.
"Love each other huh?" Aristae responded, placing her own hand on her child's heart, just as Ruia had done to she. "You know Ruia, if I didn't know any better, I swear you actually knew what you where doing. But that is impossible, you are barely a day old. There is no way you can fully understand me."
Ruia squirmed in her mother's arms, shaking her head as if she really did understand what Aristae was saying. 'Could Ruia really understand what I am saying to her? That can't be true, she is too little to understand human communication. I know they say a mother and daughter bond is strong, but can they be strong enough to hurdle the communication boundaries? Or is there something else…' "Okay Ruia Ana, you win. If this is any indication of how your teen years are going to be, I pity your father…and you."
Gurgling, Ruia gave a small laugh, mocking her mother as if. Aristae stared in amazement. "You are definitely one special child Ruia." She raised her daughter to her eye level, smiling at her daughter's joy that was written on her face. Ruia definitely looked like her, but the bond the two shared already had was something else. "2 years, that is all I am allowed to have. I would just feel better if I knew that Ruia would be looked after. I know Sugoroku will do a fine job of raising you, but nothing can replace a female influence. If only there was something…" Aristae moved her hand to adjust Ruia's blanket. It was then she felt the card that was tucked away.
"The Mystical Elf? But how, where did this card come from?" Aristae looked down at Ruia, confusion etched into her features. "How?" she asked again, as if she expected Ruia to really answer her.
Of course nothing came. Aristae looked up to see the morning light rising in the horizon. She may not have the answers, but someone had too. Quickly, she gathered up Ruia into her arms, making sure the child was warm enough and left a message for Sugoroku that she and Ruia had gone to the temple. Someone there would surly have the answered she desired.
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"What do you think this means?" Aristae asked, holding Ruia on her hip.
"I am not overly sure. It could mean several different things." Ay, the Temple Priest answered honestly. "This card could hold several meanings, each more complex and dangerous than the previous one."
Aristae clutched Ruia closer to her. "Dangerous? How? It is nothing more than a card."
Ay sighed. "I have read in the Book of Secret Arts of a ceremony that grants certain individuals with magically powers. This ceremony is key to all civilizations everywhere and happens only once every thousand years."
"The Book of Secret Arts? Isn't that one of the cards people use when playing the Shadow Games?" Aristae asked, confused.
"It is, but it is based off a real book. And to be honest, this card you found with your daughter is another one they use in those games." Ay handed the Mystical Elf back to Aristae.
"But how did Ruia get it? She doesn't know anything about the games and no one that has come to see her would have any contact with the Shadow Games at all." She pulled back Ruia's hand, which was trying to grab a piece of Aye's black braid.
"There can be only one answer then, your daughter has been chosen."
"Chosen? For what?"
"Divinity. Aristae, your daughter has been chosen to save all of Egypt. That is what this card represents. She was granted the powers of the gods. Now as to what those powers might be, I haven't the faintest. But this card, the Mystical Elf, holds that key. She was given to Ruia as a guardian, as an ally, but most of all, as a friend. Which ever goddess took your daughter under her wing, gave this very card to Ruia, to cherish and use in times of need."
Aristae felt faint. Her daughter, a goddess practically? That couldn't be, she was only two days old. Quickly, Ay lead her over to a bench.
"Aristae, are you alright?"
"Maybe, I am not sure Ay. I never expected you to tell me that my daughter might have inherited the powers of a goddess." She took a deep breath. "Is there any way to tell what goddess blessed Ruia Ana like this?"
"Not yet, it is still too early to tell. But as Ruia ages, her powers will become more developed, especially if she is trained right. But Aristae, there is something else you need to know."
"What is that Ay?"
"Divinity comes in two. Another child, a boy, had to receive powers as well, a gift from the gods. Ruia and this other child are to save all of Egypt. This is why they were given the gifts. However, legends say that one day, either the Divine Mother or the Divine Father will fall to the darkness."
Ay and Aristae looked down at Ruia, who was playing on the stone floor, happily. "You mean to tell me that my daughter may turn to evil? No I refuse to believe it Ay. That simply won't happen."
"You can't change the will of the gods and goddesses Aristae, no matter how hard you try."
"Then I will never tell Ruia of her powers. If she doesn't know that she is the Divine Mother, than there is no way for her to fall to the darkness."
Ay jumped up in alarm. "Aristae, you can not do that. Our civilization needs the Divine Family. We need Ruia to know who she is."
Aristae stood, shaking. "No Ay, you listen to me. I will not risk my daughter's life over something like this. We are not even sure that she is the Divine Mother at all. It is all just speculation. I refuse to let you treat her any differently than any other child. I will not let the darkness claim her as one of their pawns."
"You may not have a choice in the matter Aristae. Ruia will do what she wants and there is nothing you or Sugoroku can do about it. Ruia will have all the spirit of Fennec Fox. She will not be dangerous, just free spirited. Sugoroku will have a difficult time raising her on his own won't he?" Ay asked, raising an eye brow at the woman across from him.
Aristae gasped. "How do you know that I am dying Ay?"
Ay chuckled, his piercing hazel eyes glisten with amusement. "How soon you forget Aristae, I am a student of Shait too."
"I hadn't forgotten Ay, I just thought you didn't know." Aristae replied, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"And even if I didn't get the vision, I would have known anyway. Aristae, you're my sister and twin. I can sense when something is wrong with you." Ay replied, hugging his sister tightly.
"Oh Ay. I just wish things could be different. I mean I only have two years with my daughter and that is it. And now you are telling me that after I leave, there is a strong chance that Ruia will turn to the darkness, destroying everything our ancestors worked so hard to create and preserve. I just don't know what to do anymore." Aristae replied, letting her brother hold her close.
"Love her Aristae. Love her with all your heart so that she may never forget the feeling. Maybe then the darkness won't consume her for she will remember what true love really is."
"I will, Ra knows that I will."
Ay smiled, then frowned. "Two years sis, that is it? Have you told Sugoroku yet?"
"No and I don't plan too. It will be easier on him not to know."
"If you say so sister. But for now, I must go and prepare for today's services." Ay stood.
"Ay, thank you. I know this seems sudden, but I need you to promise me something."
"Anything Aristae, just name it."
Aristae bent down and lift Ruia into her arms. "After my death Ay, promise me that you will look after Ruia. Train her so that she will not fall to the darkness."
"Of course, you have my word."
Aristae nodded and heading for the exit. She had come in search of answers and while she had found them, she had also learned of great burdens that would lay on her child's shoulders. 'At least she will not be along in her journeys. While I may not be there to guide her, Sugoroku, Ay, the Mystical Elf, and her guardian goddess will all be there for her. Not to mention another child. Indeed, I was correct that my daughter was special. She was chosen to save all of Egypt. Can't get more special than that.'
Outside, the sun glistened. Aristae smiled as Ruia cooed at the sight clapping her hands at the new day. No, there was no doubt her mind that Ruia and who ever the Divine Father was could handle their duties. Egypt would surely prosper. But as Aristae walked home, she tried to ignore the dread that was building in the back of her subconscious.
*READ PLEASE*
Anya: Hi everyone! This is just a quick explanation on how the prequel is going to work. This is not your typically story, rather it is going to look at key moments in both Yami (Yugioh) and Raya's (Ruia) lives. It was just easier that way. Also, if you are a new reader and haven't read Family History, don't worry. I tried to write this story in a way where it wouldn't be confusing for you. So in all practicality, you really don't have to read Family History to understand this one. And for everyone who has read Family History, don't worry, the events you read here will still follow what was set up in Family History, but with a spin. Hope you all enjoy!
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Sekhmet flipped through images of children with the flick of her wrist. She sighed as she found something wrong with each candidate; some weren't mentally strong enough, others were already too old, and some just wasn't well right for the realm she was granting. So far, not one person even came close to matching her standards. She sighed to herself, blowing a piece of her golden hair out her azure eyes and continued to search. She had been at this for weeks now with no results to show for it. Ra wasn't going to be pleased.
"Difficulties Sekhmet?" a voice behind her asked.
She whipped around and came face to face with the almighty sun god himself. "Ra," she gasped, dropping to her knees in respect. Sekhmet may have been a goddess herself, but you still showed respect to those more powerful, like Ra.
Ra smiled. "Arise child. I see that you still have not found a candidate for the ceremony."
Inwardly, Sekhmet flinched. Over two months ago, she had been given the task of finding a child worthy of the powers that she and Ra were going to grant at ceremony. It was a disgrace to have found no dependent yet. She turned back to the pictures she had been viewing. "No Ra, I have not. Not one child I have seen could ever begin to handle the powers that I would grant them."
"Maybe your standards are just too high. I have already found my chosen protégé for the Divine Ceremony. You need to find one soon Sekhmet, the ceremony is in two days." Ra gently scowled. He took a seat next to the goddess of war and protection. Ra watched as Sekhmet continued her search. Though he was upset that she hadn't found an heir yet, so to speak, he had to admire her dedication. Sekhmet really wanted to find the perfect choice; other goddesses would have just randomly picked someone. 'Which is why you decided that Sekhmet do the honors at this years ceremony. She would actually pick someone worthy of the honor. Which is why I didn't want let Tefnut choose again. I should have known better than let the goddess of destruction pick. Egypt barely survived last time. But I know my daughter will choose better.' Ra thought to himself.
"Oh have you? Care to inform your daughter on your choice? Maybe it would help me decided." Sekhmet replied, straightening her gown out.
"You know the rules Sem," calling the goddess by her pet name, "I can not reveal my decision till the party just like you can not reveal yours...that is, if you ever find one." Ra replied with a small smile.
Sekhmet threw her hands up in frustration. "That isn't funny Ra. You of all gods should know how important this ceremony is. The Divine Power is granted only once every millennium and if we make the wrong decision then the whole Egyptian culture will suffer greatly. Do I need to remind you what happened in Rome with their Divine Ceremony? One bad choice and their whole empire practically collapsed! Do we really want that type of a disaster to happen here?" Sekhmet stood and paced around the temple floor. She wasn't concerned that another god or goddess would over hear her concerns. It didn't matter that much.
"Of course not," Ra stated. "That is the last thing in the world that I want. But the ceremony needs two people to complete, not one. And until you find one Sem, we are in much distress. Egypt cannot afford to over look this ceremony again. Greece or Rome would surely take advantage our situation once again."
She sighed, expelling all the fears and doubts that had built upside in her. She placed a hand on her forehead and rubbed hard. "Then you understand why I hesitate in choosing someone. The powers we are granting are very strong, which means we need someone who is not only capable of handing them, but the responsibilities as well. After all, they will have to look over this whole country. Not to mention the third divinity."
"Agreed and I will admit it took me some time to find the one I sought as well." Ra confessed. He knew he could tell Sekhmet anything and not have to worry about her making a big deal of it. Though this ceremony certain was just that. "You are correct by saying that person we choose has to be strong both mentally and emotional. I will not lie, our protégés will be tempted by the darker forces many times in their lives and if they fall..."
"Then all of Egypt is lost, yes I am aware. This is why I haven't chosen a follower of mine. Most of my legions are believers in my side of war, not of protection...that is the main characteristic I am looking for. Someone who will not want to make war but rather protect."
"And you have found no one that fits this requirement?"
Sekhmet flicked her wrist again and the picture in front of her changed from a young teenage girl to a young girl. "No, however I refuse to give up, I know my protégé is out there somewhere. I just have to find her and soon."
Ra stood up, white robes brushing against the stone floor of Sekhmet's temple. "I will leave you to your work. Just remember Sem, you only have two days left. You may not find that perfect candidate. She may have flaws and we are just going to have to deal with that and hope for the best of the country."
"I understand Ra. I will have a decision by the time the ceremony begins. You have my word as a goddess on this."
Ra nodded and left the room. He had no doubts in his mind that Sekhmet would find someone; he just hoped it was someone who was worthy enough.
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Fire crackled around two small pits made of round gray stones. In the center of them, was a large golden altar, crested with the many symbols of Egyptian life. It glistened from rays of light from the moon. Khonsu grinned at the sight. He was one of the few gods that was associated with the beautiful sight that was the moon. He glanced around the field that was to host the ceremony. Many of his fellow Egyptian gods and goddesses had turned out for the Divine Ceremony. It was a special night for all. But at the same time, a most alarming one as well. Word had come from Greece that Chronos, the Greek god of Time, had foreseen that this Divinity period would bring much unneeded darkness and if the wrong candidates were chosen…Khonsu didn't even want to finish the thought. 'Nothing will happen. Ra and Sekhmet are choosing our light and dark. And I know that they will chose correctly. Our civilization won't fall.' His gaze settled on Sekhmet who was pacing off to the side of altar. Her shadows danced around the fire. Her husband Ptah tried to soothe the young goddess, but nothing would calm her raging soul. Khonsu had heard that Sekhmet had difficult choosing her protégé, only picking hers hours ago.
"Everything rides on this ceremony tonight. Our way of life and our sense of harmony."
Khonsu turned to sound of voice. At seeing Maat, he let out a small breathe. Many of the gods and goddess had been doubting Sekhmet's abilities in choosing a worthy protégé, but at least Maat as well as a few others gave the goddess of war a chance. Maat was only speaking truthfully, not judgmental. "This is fact. But we can not dismiss that Sekhmet is also the goddess of protection. She will make the right choice. We have nothing to fear."
Maat tossed her black hair over her shoulder. Her midnight black eyes widen with surprise. "We have everything to fear Khonsu. Yes Sekhmet is capable of making such an important decision, however that doesn't mean the danger is gone. It may not even come in her protégé's lifetime. We have a hundred years to worry about, not thirty or forty."
Khonsu didn't respond. He had not thought of that. "Then we need the third divinity more than ever then."
"Unfortunately, that is exactly what I think. And we both know what the requirements are for the third divinity to happen." Maat whispered as if not to draw more attention to the moon and harmony god and goddess.
"Right, which means Ra and Sekhmet had more to take into account than they thought."
Maat ran a hand through her hair in despair and anxiousness. "I spoke briefly to Clio, the historian of Greece, hoping that the young woman could provide us with some clues to what will happen."
"And what did she say?"
"Nothing more than that whatever was to happen was to happen."
Khonsu sighed. A gentle breeze blew his brown hair in front of his eyes, limiting his sight. 'Just like this ceremony is doing to all of us. Limiting our sight into our futures.'
Maat brushed his arm slightly. "Look." she whispered.
Khonsu followed her gaze to the altar. Ra had moved to the front, dressed in ceremonial white robes. Next to him, Sekhmet stood, dressed in regal ice blue. It was time for the ceremony to begin.
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Ra stepped up to the altar, light from the fire casting a light glow around the god. He motioned for Sekhmet to take her place beside him then waved for the other goddesses and gods to gather around.
Sekhmet took her place next to her father, trying to suppress the nervousness that she felt. 'Please let me be making the correct choice.' She had only found her protégé hours before the start of the ceremony, but her choice felt so right that she was confident that she had found her heir, but now, she was having her doubts. She could hear the other gods and goddesses question her decision-making skills and their uneasiness set her off. Sekhmet let out a small sigh. She didn't have time to doubt herself anymore; Ra was ready to begin. It was too late to change anything now. She was going to have to live with her choice, good or bad.
"Welcome fellow gods and goddess. We have gathered here tonight at the Edfu fields for the Divine Ceremony - the Light of Horus. This is a grave time indeed for Egypt and all of mankind alike. I am assuming that most of you have heard the alarming news that has come from Greece about how this millennium's ceremony is vital to our survival. That this ceremony will decided once and for all which is stronger, good or evil. It is apparent to me that we need the Divine Family more than ever." Ra spoke in a loud voice.
All the gods and goddesses present nodded in agreement.
"Having said this, let us begin. Thoth, bring the Divine Father forth."
Thoth came forward, carrying a small child in his arms. The baby couldn't have been more than a week old.
From the ground Khonsu watched as the child was carried forth to Ra. "Isn't that child's parents going to be concerned when they discover their son is missing?" Khonsu whispered to Maat.
"You've never attended this ceremony before have you?" Maat whispered back. Khonsu shook his head no. "We are at Edfu, a place dedicated to Horus here on the mortal world. However, since this is a godly ceremony, it moves in our time. In other words, this whole ceremony will take no more than a second in human standard of time while it very well may take an hour in ours. The parents will never know their children were missing. This is why the ceremony is performed at night. To ensure that we can perform the granting's without them knowing."
"I understand." Khonsu replied.
"Good, now watch, the best part of the ceremony is about to begin." Maat said, intrigued with whom Ra had chosen.
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Ra cradled the child in his arms for a moment before proceeding. Mortal babies always fascinated him. They were so pure, so innocent. The child yawned and blinked his purple eyes at Ra. The baby cooed in delight, as if he had recognized the sun god.
"Small one, I doubt highly that you understand fully what is going on. And yet, I can not help sense that you do realize how important of a day this is." Ra turned the child to face out towards the gathering. "See these people before you my son. Though they are more powerful that you know, one day you will be equal to them. But with this great power comes great responsibility. You must use your powers for good. Use these gifts that I beset to you to rule all of Egypt with wisdom, truth, and justice. Prince Yugioh, I raise you know before this crowd to let them see the newest Divine Father.
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A murmur of approval rippled through the gathering.
"Is that it?" Khonsu asked. "I thought there would be more to it that this."
Maat grinned. "Not even close. This is just the announcement part of the ceremony. Sekhmet still has to name her choice for the Divine Mother. Then we have the blessing from Isis, who is the Divine families mother. After that we have the Naming of the Realms, Guardian and mentor. That is the longest part of the ceremony since there are so many parts to it. Finally Horus will end the ceremony with his blessing. Afterwards, we will be able to approach the Divine family and offer our blessings if we want."
Khonsu nodded. He was beginning to understand why this ceremony was so revered. It was single handedly the honorable ceremony a mortal could undergo. It was giving mortals powers that equal and quite possibly rival the gods themselves. "Ra made a fine choice picking the new prince."
"Ai, he did. New let us hope that Sekhmet picks just as wisely. For if she didn't, then our world, our civilization will be lost forever."
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Sekhmet stared at her father in shock. 'He picked the Prince? The future Pharaoh? But…' She gulped. She could not back out on her decision now. She would just have to wait and hope her protégé would be able to complete the triad. But things were definitely stacked against her. She waved her hand, signaling Osiris to come forward. Slowly, the god of the underworld carried a small infant, no bigger than his forearm. Sekhmet found it ironic that he of all people was carrying new life in his hands.
Gently she accepted the small baby from Osiris. She peeled back the rustic red blanket to allow everyone to see the newborn child. Even though the infant was sleeping, she was still a sight to see.
"Little one, you are not yet even a day old and already I must place the fate of the world onto your shoulders. However, I know it is a task that you will be able to burden. I can sense that your soul thrives to help others. And I know that you will make me and the other gods and goddesses proud." She turned the child to her fellow deities, lifting the newborn girl into the air. "Ruia Motou, gaze at this gathering before you. Etch this night into your mind for today we proclaim you as our newest Divine Mother."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sekhmet braced herself as the comments about her choice came. She didn't have to wait long.
"Sekhmet, why? The child is a commoner." Anubis exclaimed. "She can't handle the powers of divinity. Why did you not pick someone with more royal of blood?"
"There is no guarantee that she will even live! Ka exclaimed. He was the god of life forces.
"ENOUGH!" Ra yelled, silencing the crowd. "Sekhmet has made her decision. There is nothing that any of us can do to change that. We are jus going to have to trust in her choice."
"But Ra, Ruia is the daughter of a commoner and Yugioh is royalty. Don't you see that their paths will never cross which means the Divine Son will never exist. Our civilization is lost!" cried Tefnut. Even though she was the goddess of destruction, she didn't want to see everything they had worked to achieve fall because of Sekhmet's poor choosing.
"That is not true" Shait broke in. The goddess of destiny was leaning up against a tree, off to the side of the ceremony. She stepped into the light, allowing the moon's light to cast a mystic look to her. Her golden hair flowed down her back, not quite reaching the ground. Her green eyes held an intense and painful look to them, for she held the knowledge of what everyone lives would be, well before they were ever born. "Their paths will cross many times in their young lives. Now if anything is to become of that, time will tell."
"Thank you Shait." Ra replied satisfied with Shait explanation. He trusted the words of Shait more than any other gods of goddesses. If she replied that the their was a chance at the completed divinity, than who was he to argue. "Shall we continue with the ceremony Sekhmet?"
Sekhmet nodded, not trusting her voice any longer.
"Isis, will you please come forward then?"
Isis moved to the front of the altar, black hair blowing in a non-existent breeze. "Place the children on the altar." She grasped one of Yugioh's hand and one of Raya's and held them gently in her own. "My children today is a great day, not only for you, but me as well. Today I receive another son and daughter into my family. Ones that I hope will lead with example. I pray that you will always know that you have I, your guardians, your mentors, Sekhmet, Ra, and the other sharers of your realm to turn to if you ever need guidance. Just call and we will come." She turned to Ra and Sekhmet. "Since both of you chose heirs that can not yet speak, you two should speak for them."
Ra and Sekhmet nodded, then together in one clear and loud voice spoke.
"I hail You and praise You,
Glorious Goddess,
At the end of this day which You granted me.
May my actions within its hours be judged to be justified,
And my words within its hours found to be true.
Drain from me all intent and action;
I offer to You all energy I have locked in unworthy action or reaction.
May tomorrow by Your grace find me wiser
and my joy in the universe still greater;
I ask Your welcome now in the Temple;
Accept me this night for rest, for study, and for worship;
Grant me dreams of meaning and the memory to recall them.
Hail to You, Goddess of the starry pathways;
Hail to You, Goddess of the Deep Black,
Hail to You, Goddess of the Shining Sun at Midnight,
May I partake of Your glory forever."
As they spoke, a soft golden glow radiated from the babies and Isis, enveloping their entire beings. When the prayer was over, the glow disappeared. Isis opened her midnight blue eyes open and smiled at her son and daughter. "Welcome to the family Prince Yugioh and Ruia."
Isis left the children's tiny hands go, gave each a small kiss on the forehead and walked back to where she and her son had been standing before. Ra and Sekhmet picked their heirs back up off the altar. Through this whole ceremony, the babies had taken all of this quite well, never crying once. If they could just last a little longer then the ceremony would be over and they would be back with their mortal families. Ra moved to speak first.
"Thoth, please step forward."
The god of wisdom did as Ra wished, and then accepted the Prince into his arms when Ra offered.
"Yugioh, as my protégé you will be expected to rule fair and honestly, with compassion and a level head. This will be no easy task I assure you. But as the Divine Father, I grant you something that may make this job just a little easier and a lot clearer. My son, I am giving you the role of the top triad, the mind. As sharer of my realm, you shall rule Egypt with the mind of a great leader. And if he will allow it, I ask Thoth to be your mentor. Thoth, do you agree to be Yugioh's mentor, realm sharer, and guidance when I can not be?"
"Of course Ra, it is a great honor."
"Than it has been decided. Yugioh, your powers will be that of wisdom of the mind. Together with Thoth you will have the ability to see things as they really are, whether in yourself or the ones around you. And though your powers are the darker half of the mind, I do not expect you to use them for evil. Though you will be tempted many times in your life. And because of this very fact, I feel that it is necessary for you to have a guardian in the mortal world as well since we can not be there. However, this guardian needs to be equally to you in the wisdom of the mind, which is why I have decided that the Dark Magician shall be this person. He is a strong, powerful, commanding, yet rules with his mind and heart, not with his actions." Ra slipped the card of the Dark Magician into Yugioh's royal green blanket. "He will be your greatest ally Yugioh, your constant companion. Guard this card with your life for he is guarding yours."
He turned from the prince and nodded at Sekhmet. "Osiris, please come forth."
The god of the dead came to stand in front of the goddess of war. He accepted the child when she placed the child called Ruia into his arms. The child blinked her large iris eyes at him and Osiris had to smile. She was cute even if she wasn't royalty.
"Ruia, as my protégé, a lot will be expected of you. As the goddess of war, most associate me with darkness, anger, and death. However, I am also the goddess of protection and that is the side I beset to you. Our souls are in intertwined with the urge to protect everyone we meet and it only seems fitting that would be your realm. I grant you Ruia, the third part of the trinity, the soul. With our need to protect, it is a fitting choice for you. However you will need someone to show you how to distinguish between the bad souls from the good so that you may not be swayed. Osiris, as the guardian of the souls, I am asking you to be that very person. Allow Raya to have your keen insight so that she may have the ability of knowing who is being truthful with her and who is not."
"It shall be done as you ask Sekhmet." Osiris replied.
"Thank you my friend." She allowed Ruia to grasp a finger of hers. "Small one, even though you appear to weak, I can tell that is not the case. Taking this into account, I have decided that the Mystical Elf will be your guardian here on the mortal world. Do not let appearances be deceiving Ruia. Though she may appear fragile and weak, that couldn't be farther from the truth. She will be your closest friend and greatest ally. You two are one in the same."
She moved back to Ra, signaling that she was finished.
"Horus, if you would please come forward."
Hours moved behind the altar, where the two babies now were laying. "Yugioh, Ruia today is a great day for all. You have been chosen from all Egyptians everywhere to be the Divine Mother and Divine Father. Take these powers and responsibilities wisely and with cation. For as much good they could do, they could just as easily destroy. However, there is another wonderful factor to your blessings, the Divine Son. If this occurs, who shall this child's guardians be?"
"It shall be us." Amon and Ptah replied.
"Step forward then and join the others." Horus replied.
A circle had now been formed around the infants.
"Each of you, state what you wish to present your protégés with."
"Wisdom." Thoth answered.
"Mind." Ra added.
"Guidance of the souls." Osiris explained
"Soul Protection." Sekhmet whispered.
"Insight." Ptah said.
"Leadership." Amon finished.
"Then it shall be done." Horus placed one palms on each of the children's forehead and spoke.
"Bless you for your Anger, for it is a sign of Rising Energy.
Direct it not at your family, waste not on your enemy.
Transform the energy into Versatility and it will bring you prosperity.
Bless you for the times you see evil.
Evil is energy mishandled and it feeds on your support.
Feed it not and it will self destruct. Shed light and it will cease to
be.
Bless you for your jealousy for it is a sign of empathy.
Direct it not at your family. Direct it not at your friends.
Transform the energy to Admiration, and what you admire will become a
part of your life.
Count your blessings everyday for they are your protection which stands
between you and what you wish not.
Count you curses and they will be a wall which stands between you and
what you wish"
When he was done speaking, Horus removed his hands and the eye of Horus glowed brightly on each of their foreheads. "It is done, the ceremony of light is now complete."
Ruia let out a wail, as if upset that the ceremony was over. To all the gods and goddesses amazement, Yugioh reached over with his tiny hand and laid it on Ruia's forearm, causing the child's whimpers to cease.
'Maybe I didn't pick poorly after all.' Sekhmet thought as she picked Ruia off the table, as Ra did with Yugioh. Together they walked through the crowds, allowing all the gods and goddess to see the newest Divine Mother and Divine Father.
At Maat, they stopped at the goddess insistence. She placed a hand on Yugioh's forehead, "As the goddess of truth, justice and harmony, I feel that it is necessary to give you something as well. To you prince, I give you the sense of justice that you will always fight for what you believe in, whether it be of a love or government."
They continued around the gathering until the Sekhmet reached Shait. "This child's life will not be easy. However, she will grow into a very strong willed individual because of that very fact. And since her realm is that of protection, I may have something that can help Ruia in her quest." She pulled a small pouch out of her robes and sprinkled a little silver dust on the baby. "To you Ruia, I give you the gift of prophetic dreams so that you may be able to better serve people."
A small gasp went up through the crowd. In all the years that Shait had attended the ceremonies, never had she given a person visions or any form of gifts for that matter. Why bless a commoner with such power? Did she know something that others did not? But no one dared voice his or her concerns. Shait always had a good reason for doing whatever she did. Plus everyone knew full well that she would never reveal what the child's future held.
Finally it was time to send the children home. Isis stepped forward taking Yugioh and Ruia into her arms. "Come little ones. It is time for you to return to your mortal parents and start fulfilling your destinies."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A loud knock at the door jolted Pharaoh Khu from his slumber. Slipping out of his bed, he made his way over to his door, sword in hand. It was pitch black outside and who ever was at the door was either bringing news of war or of some problem. He felt no immediate threat for his life, what enemy would knock at his door if they meant to kill him? Khu just hoped that it wasn't more bad news. He really couldn't handle much more suffering this week, not after the death of his wife Cleo. It had been so sudden, so unnecessary.
"My King, are you awake?" A voice called through the door. Concern was etched into the tone.
Khu sighed. It was Qaa, his head High Priest. Rubbing the tiredness from his purple eyes, Khu tightened the sash on his tunic and opened the doors. "Qaa, do you have any idea what time it is?"
Qaa lowered his head, allowing his brown locks to fall in front of his face. "I am deeply sorry my Lord, but the midwife, she found something interesting with your son Yugioh."
At the mention of his son's name, Khu tensed. "Is something wrong with him? A complication from birth? Dear Ra, I can't lose him too!"
"My King, please calm down. The Prince is fine, healthy as can be. Sepi gave him a full medical examination earlier. He will be fine, I am just sorry he could not save Cleo."
Khu eyes watered over at the thought of his wife, his beautiful dead wife. She had passed away shortly after giving birth to his heir. Sepi had told him that there was a high risk that either Cleo or Yugioh could die but never did he expect it to happen. It had come as a shock when his wife held her child close, kissed her son's forehead, and the died right there in front of him. Oh how it hurt. "If my son is not physically sick then what is wrong? Did Zemti foresee something?" He and Qaa walked quickly to the west wing of the palace where his son's nursery was.
"No not even Zemti could have foreseen this my lord. It is nothing short of a miracle." Qaa replied, ushering his Pharaoh to the prince's room.
A small crowd had formed in the room, around the Prince's basinet. The nursemaid Shua, named after the sky goddess herself, was there, holding her child Athena, who was five in front of her. The two could have easily passed for sisters, though Shua was well into her late twenties. "My Pharaoh." Shua spoke as she bowed when Khu entered the room. Athena mimicked her mother's actions.
"Shua, what has happened with my baby boy?"
"Nothing short of a gift from the gods themselves Khu." Sepi replied. Sepi had know Khu since they were two and was one of the few people who could get away with calling the Pharaoh by his first name though at the moment he could not meet his friend's eyes. Sepi refused to look up at him. He had failed as the palace physician to save the Queen. Cleo had died because of him. Sure he did everything in his abilities to save Cleo, but in his mind he could have done something, anything different. Then maybe Cleo would still be alive to see her son grow into the powerful heir that he would become.
"Well don't leave me in suspense here. What happened to Yugioh?" Khu asked again, growing impatient. He moved over to his son's crib, relieved to see the infant fast asleep, as he should be. He couldn't see anything wrong with his son. Just a blanket and wild mess of blond, black, and red hair spike in certain areas. A combination of his own hair and Cleo's. Khu smiled at the memory. His wife had along blond hair, with hints of black in it. His was red and spiky and their sons combined all of that. Gently he lifted his son into his arms and held him close to his heart. 'One day, I shall tell you all about your mother so you to can know how wonderful of a woman she really was.'
"Khu, Ra was here." Zemti finally responded. He was the final member of Pharaoh's Court and also one of the newest members. He braced himself for the King's reaction.
"Ra was here? With my son? But why and how do you know this?" Khu's head spun. A god, the Head god nonetheless, had visited his son. It was a miracle if it was true.
"It is true my Lord. I found this tucked in the Prince's blanket." Shua replied, handing Khu the card of the Dark Magician. She tucked a piece of her purplish hair behind her ear.
"The Dark Magician?" Khu rotated the between his fingers. "A powerful ally indeed. But what does this have to do with my son and Ra?"
Sepi stepped forward. "The Dark Magician is considered a personal ally of Ra himself. And since no one here gave this card to the young prince, we can only conclude that Ra gave it to Yugioh himself."
"Which means that Yugioh was granted powers, doesn't it." Khu replied, understanding now why Qaa had awakened him. This was indeed a miracle. His first born, given the abilities of a god.
"We believe that to be the case my Lord." Qaa answered. He paused before continuing. He smiled when he saw the tiniest grin on the Pharaoh's face. At least his son could make Khu happy. After the lost of his wife, Khu had driven himself into a deep depression, locking himself into his bedchamber for hours on end. Only when he received word that his son needed his father would he come out. Or when the city of Memphis needed him. The only time Khu had been in the public eye this week was to announce the birth of Prince and the death of the Queen. But now there was a reason for the king to live again. "And if it does prove to be the case, that Yugioh has indeed been blessed with the powers of the gods, we are going to have to monitor him closely, train him, and make sure he uses his powers for good. And maybe with your son's abilities we can finally end the terrible confrontation with the Greeks."
Khu sighed. The Greeks. They had been on constant edge with them for the longest time and now things were escalating to a full out war between the two empires. One Khu really did not want to see happen. Death was a horrible situation. "Yugioh is barely a week ago, we can not put the pressure on him to be a great leader and a gifted magician so soon. Maybe when he is older, like seven or eight we can start training him, but not a moment sooner. It would not be safe."
Zemti sighed. "I don't think we can wait that long my lord." He shuffled his feet in discomfort. Zemti had the gift of prophecy, but at the age of 19, he was still a bit uncomfortable being around such powerful beings. "I think we need to train your son sooner. I can not foresee why, but my instinct tells me that Yugioh needs to be trained at once, maybe starting at the age of two."
Khu snapped his head up. "NO! That is far too soon. My son will not be able to handle such stress. I refuse to lose my son as I lost my wife."
Qaa placed a comforting hand on the King's shoulder. "I know it was hard to lose Cleo Khu, but we can't risk not training your son. If we don't, Yugioh could do serious harm to himself and the people of Egypt. Don't let the death of your wife cloud your judgment. We have all of Egypt to think of."
"I understand…" Khu took a deep breathe before continuing. "Then it shall be done. Yugioh will be trained as soon as Zemti deems him ready. Qaa, I expect you to still tutor my son, as will Sepi. Zemti, I am relying on you to keep my son, my only heir, safe."
"I will guard the Prince with my life my Lord. You have my word as a student of Shait."
Khu nodded. "Let us all return to our chambers then and try to get some sleep." He placed his son back into his basinet "Good night Yugioh." With that he left his son's room, with his High Priests closely behind.
"Momma, why didn't you tell them about the light on the baby's head?" Five-year-old Athena asked.
"Athena, listen to mommy carefully. We must act like we saw no light. It is safer for everyone."
"Why mommy? Is someone in trouble?"
Shua had no idea how to answer her daughter's question. She had seen the light of Horus on the young prince's forehead glowing vibrantly then dimming once the Prince realized that she was in the room. And according to all the legends she had heard as a child growing up in the village of Memphis, that symbol could mean only one thing…divinity. But divinity was just a legend, right? No one could wield that much power. It was not humanly possible. No one could survive it. But yet the prove was right in front of her eyes. The Prince clearly had received divinity. 'But the King can not learn of his son's great power, not just yet. Because with this great power, comes great threats. And if Greece were too learn of such a powerful enemy, they would not hesitate in eliminating the prince. No, it is better to keep this information to myself, until the day comes for Yugioh's training.' Shua looked down at her daughter finally having an answer for her child. "Sometimes sweetie, it is safer not to let people know the truth. Safer for you, them, and a whole nation."
Athena nodded. "Then I too will keep the secret mommy."
"Good girl, now why don't you go climb back into bed? I will be there soon to tuck you in again."
"Okay mommy" Athena bounced out of the room, purple locks bouncing the entire time.
Shua smiled as Athena exited the room. She moved over to the crib where the prince laid. 'Such great things are in stored for you, but I have to suppress my fears that you will fall to darkness. You are the son of Cleo and Khu, the two most nobilities and purist people I know. But why can't I shake the feeling that the darkness is looming just around the bend waiting for the day that it can consume you whole?' Shua grimaced, thinking of her own daughter. 'And if I am correct that you did indeed inherit divinity, I have to wonder, where is the other child? Divinity comes in pairs according to all the legends. So little one, where is your comrade? Is this other child the one who is going to cause the downfall of our civilization or are you?' Shua sighed. She wasn't going to get answers from the prince. There was no way for him to have these answers. She was just going to have to wait, just like everyone else. Wait and pray that the great destruction did not come to past like the legends had foretold.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"WAH!"
Aristae awoke with a start. 'Right on time again.' she thought as she slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her husband. As much as she loved her daughter, Aristae wish she would sleep a little long than an hour at a time. But at least her daughter had a schedule already. And for that Aristae was grateful.
Moving over to the crib, Aristae lifted her child into her arms and carried her to a chair in the next room so not to wake the father. Taking a seat, Aristae rocked Ruia; humming softly to her hoping to ease the child of whatever distress she was in.
"Ishpi slept through the nights after he was born, why can't she?" Sugoroku asked, walking into the room.
Aristae scrunched her face in pain as she thought of her first born, Ishpi who died three years after he was born. He had contracted a disease, one that no one could cure. Healers came as far as Rome, but none had ever seen what Ishpi had contracted. He would have been sixteen this year. Aristae mentally scolded herself. 'It has been 13 years, I need to move on. The gods have bless me with another child to finally help me heal. No sense dwelling in the past when I have a little girl here who wants my undivided attention.' "No, she just wants to make sure that we haven't forgotten her presence."
Sugoroku chuckled. "She's going to take after her mother alright, stubborn and determined. I fear for when she gets older."
"She's not going to be a problem Sugoroku," Aristae frowned, brushing a small lock of Ruia's hair out of her face. "You'll see, she'll be a wonderful child. She is your daughter."
"As she is yours, which worries me." He replied with a yawn. "If she takes after you…"
"I know, I know the world is doomed." Aristae replied with a soft laugh, careful not to wake Ruia who was dozing off to sleep.
"Well I was thinking that the world would be a pretty lucky place, but doomed works just as well." Sugoroku walked over and lifted his daughter into the air, gazing at his little girl. "She's perfect Aristae. Absolutely perfect."
"That she is. Why don't you go back to bed? I'll stay with her till she settles down again."
"Are you sure Aristae? You look awfully tired. I could take care of her if you want."
"No, I would like to spend time with her, you never know what tomorrow might bring."
Sugoroku's face clouded over. "Aristae, did you have a vision? Is something wrong with you or Ruia?"
"No Sugoroku, I am fine as is Ruia. I am planning on staying with the two of you for a long time." She kissed her husband on the cheek. "Now off to bed with you. You have work in the morning."
She watched as her husband stroll back to the bedroom. She moved back to the chair rocking Ruia in her arms all the while. 'Only two years. That is all I get with you small one and then, it is gone, forever.' She hadn't been honest with her husband at all when she told him that everything was alright. In fact, that statement couldn't have been farther form the truth. She was dying and she knew it. 'That dream was so vivid, so lifelike I know it is a vision.' Ishpi had appeared to her, pointing at her then at him. Then he held up two fingers and nod as if to confirm what his mother was already suspecting. His blue eyes held a hint of despair to them, knowing that she was going to die soon and that his mother was going to have to leave her child behind. Aristae hadn't known that she was pregnant yet. She learned that four days later. While she was ecstatic, Ishpi warning came back to her. Two years was all she had with Ruia before she came to the same fate as Ishpi, succumbing to the very same disease that he had.
"Oh Ruia, there was so many things I wanted to show you, teach you, but now I am just not sure how I am going to do it. I know your father will do a fine job of raising you, but you need more than just a father, you need a mother too. If only there was a way…" Aristae stated, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "What am I going to do?"
Ruia cooed softly, small hand reaching over her mother's heart. Ruia blinked her large iris eyes once, light from the candle Aristae had lit giving her eyes an even more mysterious appearance to them.
"Love each other huh?" Aristae responded, placing her own hand on her child's heart, just as Ruia had done to she. "You know Ruia, if I didn't know any better, I swear you actually knew what you where doing. But that is impossible, you are barely a day old. There is no way you can fully understand me."
Ruia squirmed in her mother's arms, shaking her head as if she really did understand what Aristae was saying. 'Could Ruia really understand what I am saying to her? That can't be true, she is too little to understand human communication. I know they say a mother and daughter bond is strong, but can they be strong enough to hurdle the communication boundaries? Or is there something else…' "Okay Ruia Ana, you win. If this is any indication of how your teen years are going to be, I pity your father…and you."
Gurgling, Ruia gave a small laugh, mocking her mother as if. Aristae stared in amazement. "You are definitely one special child Ruia." She raised her daughter to her eye level, smiling at her daughter's joy that was written on her face. Ruia definitely looked like her, but the bond the two shared already had was something else. "2 years, that is all I am allowed to have. I would just feel better if I knew that Ruia would be looked after. I know Sugoroku will do a fine job of raising you, but nothing can replace a female influence. If only there was something…" Aristae moved her hand to adjust Ruia's blanket. It was then she felt the card that was tucked away.
"The Mystical Elf? But how, where did this card come from?" Aristae looked down at Ruia, confusion etched into her features. "How?" she asked again, as if she expected Ruia to really answer her.
Of course nothing came. Aristae looked up to see the morning light rising in the horizon. She may not have the answers, but someone had too. Quickly, she gathered up Ruia into her arms, making sure the child was warm enough and left a message for Sugoroku that she and Ruia had gone to the temple. Someone there would surly have the answered she desired.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What do you think this means?" Aristae asked, holding Ruia on her hip.
"I am not overly sure. It could mean several different things." Ay, the Temple Priest answered honestly. "This card could hold several meanings, each more complex and dangerous than the previous one."
Aristae clutched Ruia closer to her. "Dangerous? How? It is nothing more than a card."
Ay sighed. "I have read in the Book of Secret Arts of a ceremony that grants certain individuals with magically powers. This ceremony is key to all civilizations everywhere and happens only once every thousand years."
"The Book of Secret Arts? Isn't that one of the cards people use when playing the Shadow Games?" Aristae asked, confused.
"It is, but it is based off a real book. And to be honest, this card you found with your daughter is another one they use in those games." Ay handed the Mystical Elf back to Aristae.
"But how did Ruia get it? She doesn't know anything about the games and no one that has come to see her would have any contact with the Shadow Games at all." She pulled back Ruia's hand, which was trying to grab a piece of Aye's black braid.
"There can be only one answer then, your daughter has been chosen."
"Chosen? For what?"
"Divinity. Aristae, your daughter has been chosen to save all of Egypt. That is what this card represents. She was granted the powers of the gods. Now as to what those powers might be, I haven't the faintest. But this card, the Mystical Elf, holds that key. She was given to Ruia as a guardian, as an ally, but most of all, as a friend. Which ever goddess took your daughter under her wing, gave this very card to Ruia, to cherish and use in times of need."
Aristae felt faint. Her daughter, a goddess practically? That couldn't be, she was only two days old. Quickly, Ay lead her over to a bench.
"Aristae, are you alright?"
"Maybe, I am not sure Ay. I never expected you to tell me that my daughter might have inherited the powers of a goddess." She took a deep breath. "Is there any way to tell what goddess blessed Ruia Ana like this?"
"Not yet, it is still too early to tell. But as Ruia ages, her powers will become more developed, especially if she is trained right. But Aristae, there is something else you need to know."
"What is that Ay?"
"Divinity comes in two. Another child, a boy, had to receive powers as well, a gift from the gods. Ruia and this other child are to save all of Egypt. This is why they were given the gifts. However, legends say that one day, either the Divine Mother or the Divine Father will fall to the darkness."
Ay and Aristae looked down at Ruia, who was playing on the stone floor, happily. "You mean to tell me that my daughter may turn to evil? No I refuse to believe it Ay. That simply won't happen."
"You can't change the will of the gods and goddesses Aristae, no matter how hard you try."
"Then I will never tell Ruia of her powers. If she doesn't know that she is the Divine Mother, than there is no way for her to fall to the darkness."
Ay jumped up in alarm. "Aristae, you can not do that. Our civilization needs the Divine Family. We need Ruia to know who she is."
Aristae stood, shaking. "No Ay, you listen to me. I will not risk my daughter's life over something like this. We are not even sure that she is the Divine Mother at all. It is all just speculation. I refuse to let you treat her any differently than any other child. I will not let the darkness claim her as one of their pawns."
"You may not have a choice in the matter Aristae. Ruia will do what she wants and there is nothing you or Sugoroku can do about it. Ruia will have all the spirit of Fennec Fox. She will not be dangerous, just free spirited. Sugoroku will have a difficult time raising her on his own won't he?" Ay asked, raising an eye brow at the woman across from him.
Aristae gasped. "How do you know that I am dying Ay?"
Ay chuckled, his piercing hazel eyes glisten with amusement. "How soon you forget Aristae, I am a student of Shait too."
"I hadn't forgotten Ay, I just thought you didn't know." Aristae replied, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
"And even if I didn't get the vision, I would have known anyway. Aristae, you're my sister and twin. I can sense when something is wrong with you." Ay replied, hugging his sister tightly.
"Oh Ay. I just wish things could be different. I mean I only have two years with my daughter and that is it. And now you are telling me that after I leave, there is a strong chance that Ruia will turn to the darkness, destroying everything our ancestors worked so hard to create and preserve. I just don't know what to do anymore." Aristae replied, letting her brother hold her close.
"Love her Aristae. Love her with all your heart so that she may never forget the feeling. Maybe then the darkness won't consume her for she will remember what true love really is."
"I will, Ra knows that I will."
Ay smiled, then frowned. "Two years sis, that is it? Have you told Sugoroku yet?"
"No and I don't plan too. It will be easier on him not to know."
"If you say so sister. But for now, I must go and prepare for today's services." Ay stood.
"Ay, thank you. I know this seems sudden, but I need you to promise me something."
"Anything Aristae, just name it."
Aristae bent down and lift Ruia into her arms. "After my death Ay, promise me that you will look after Ruia. Train her so that she will not fall to the darkness."
"Of course, you have my word."
Aristae nodded and heading for the exit. She had come in search of answers and while she had found them, she had also learned of great burdens that would lay on her child's shoulders. 'At least she will not be along in her journeys. While I may not be there to guide her, Sugoroku, Ay, the Mystical Elf, and her guardian goddess will all be there for her. Not to mention another child. Indeed, I was correct that my daughter was special. She was chosen to save all of Egypt. Can't get more special than that.'
Outside, the sun glistened. Aristae smiled as Ruia cooed at the sight clapping her hands at the new day. No, there was no doubt her mind that Ruia and who ever the Divine Father was could handle their duties. Egypt would surely prosper. But as Aristae walked home, she tried to ignore the dread that was building in the back of her subconscious.