Alright I'm trying my hand at a Yu-Gi-Oh! fic and what's more shocking is it's a romance fic which is something I've never done. But that doesn't come into play until later on. Okay so these first few chapters are set back in Ancient Egypt when Yami's pharaoh. They may not make sense now but they will later on.
I own nothing from Yu-Gi-Oh!
The slam of the heavy wooden door officially adjourned the meeting, leaving Pharaoh Atem in solitude at last. Torchs' fire licked the limestone walls pushing shadows into the far corners of the room. The ruler sighed rubbing his temples trying to clear away the headache that had formed an hour ago, the gold circlet headpiece that kept his black, red, and gold hair in place not helping. This had a been a two hour long debate with him and his priests and priestesses about what to do about the tomb robber who was rightfully known as the Thief King that had been causing a great stir of trouble lately and more importantly the Shadow Games. He glanced about the dimly lit room enjoying the peace while it lasted.
He sighed again wearily, slumping slightly in his chair. Normally the pharaoh would try to stay as dignified as possible but why would the shadows care if he slouched or not? "You can come out now."
A figure in a floor length mottled black and gray cloak stepped out from one of the darkened front corners. They were of medium height, with the hood of the cloak masking their face as the broad shoulders shook with pent up laughter. "My, that was amusing, I thought that vein on Seth's forehead would surely rupture when he was yelling at Thutmos "
Atem shook his head, the large gold earrings clinking. "You have the strangest sense of humor, Kala."
"How true, Pharaoh. Only makes for a strange personality, wouldn't you agree?" The figure threw back the hood of the cloak to let her face into the torchlight. Her sandy blond hair streaked with sapphire blue was tied back with a strip of fabric as pink eyes sparked with mirth from under jagged bangs. When she moved to push down her hood you could see under the dark cloak she adorned black clothes as well. The top of her outfit stopped beneath her ribs and a black skirt that stopped just above her knees was tied around her waist with a gold sash. The only other color she wore besides gray or black. A sword strapped around her waist and a dagger to her thigh. The choker around her neck held a gold pendent carved with the Sa [1] and the gold bands around her upper arms engraved with the eye of Horus announced her rank as the leader of the pharaoh's Shadow Guards: the Dark Wolf. [2]
The Shadow Guards were a small group of six elite fighters each skilled in a different way of combat. The Guards were composed of men and women, which was quite unusual, who watched their pharaoh from the dark. Only a select few even knew about the existence of the Guards and if the ghost stories that circulated around the place mentioned a black clothed phantom lets just say it was one of the few times one of them had been spotted. The pharaohs themselves knew only a portion of the Guard's history. Only that they were created roughly one hundred and fifty years ago by the ruler during that era, his reasons were buried with him.
Atem knew that the Guards took in trainees as early as seven to start their transformation into a deadly warrior. It was just a matter of information and location that kept the Guards in such small numbers. That being the case, Guards usually had to watch and scout a new novice to train and learn their secrets to take over another Guards position incase one died or were killed. If a student showed special potential they were plucked out of their minor classes and into an advanced one where they were taught about taking control over the 'main' group of Guards when the time come. When it does the student is brought out and forced to prove that they earned their training by battling the current Wolf. Now this isn't a Duel Monster battle this is head on fight were anything goes. If the student lost they would be taken back to the training grounds to under go even more vigorous training to try again in a few years. But if the student won they would automatically become the new Dark Wolf.
That was all Atem knew that's the only thing the Pharaohs were aloud to know and trying to force a Guard to tell you something only ended in frustration and possible bodily injuries. Atem remembered being fifteen out in the middle of nowhere with his father the day Kala defeated the current Wolf and won her title at fifteen. She then was taken somewhere, his farther told him, where the gold Sa and the Millennium Bands would be transferred over to her making her title official.
And as leader she was the one who always had her eye closets on the pharaoh. It only made sense that they became friends since Kala was around him most of the day, though he wasn't always sure which way to talk when she was hidden. Once Atem had gone far enough to ask her if she knew why the Guards were formed. All the answer she gave him was that magic wouldn't always be able to protect the pharaohs.
*Flashback*
It had been a boring day at the place and everyone was off doing something except Atem.
He sighed he wandered around the palace. He saw a shadow black cover the torch's light before disappearing as if it had never been.
Atem sighed again annoyed, "I don't see why you insist on following me. If someone were actually lurking about the halls and tried to kill me I could just use magic to defeat them."
Laughter rang from nowhere. "Magic is a tricky thing Pharaoh. It must be precise any fumble could be deadly.
True if you knew a head of time you might have time to chant a spell or two. Or if you didn't know you could still a Penalty Game but what about when you're already too far gone to do anything?"
Atem felt the cool metal of a dagger against his throat.
"You have no time to utter a word before your throat would be slit." The girl hissed into his ear.
The pharaoh stiffened as the dagger was pressed deeper into his flesh his heart beat hitting the metal quickly. He blinked swiftly and the weapon was gone. As was Kala, already back into the darkness she used as protection.
"So is that the reason as to why the Shadow Guards were created?" He asked hoping that she might shed some light on the mysterious six.
A servant passed giving him an odd look which Atem could understand since it appeared he was talking to his self.
"Magic can't protect you from everything." The Wolf spoke cryptically
"You say that yet you wear two Millennium Items." Why does she have to be so frustrating? He thought
"True again, I wear two but the Dark Wolf must as they were given to the Guards for us to protect them, Atem.
How often do I actually use them, anyway?
*End Flashback*
Now here he and his friends sat four years later, he now pharaoh and she still unchallenged and undefeated, planning on how to strike down these Shadow Games. In the end they knew what would come about, that they would end up being locked away but they accepted it knowing it was for the good of the people and that they would not be doing it alone. It was the only chance they had, the Games need to be locked away and never reopened, and the thief they were after was going to help them. Whether the robber liked it or not.
"Have any of your scouts been able to track this thief?" Atem asked.
"No, but they will, don't worry." The sweet voice would fool anyone into thinking she was harmless.
Atem began to speak again until he noticed Kala stiffen. She hastily threw her hood back on and melted silently back into the darkness behind the Pharaohs chair. He said nothing as he stared at the spot she had previously occupied. This was standard procedure she must have heard or sensed something he did not after all her cover couldn't be blown to just anyone.
As expected the heavy wooden door creaked back open to reveal Mana, the top spell caster's apprentice. She shut the door quietly and turned back to the pharaoh. Her white dress fluttered about as she tried to fix the cloth tied over her blond head. Atem smiled at another of his old friends watching as her attention came back on him. Mana squeaked as she spotted the pink eyes glowing through the darkness just beside the pharaoh's head. Quickly though the apprentice's initial shock wore off, her surprised expression was replaced by a frown and the tight grip she had gained on her blue and pink staff loosened.
"Kalahari!" The singsong voice yelled.
"Yes?" came the amused voice. The Shadow Guards did not even try hiding from the chief Mage and his apprentice, it was futile, and the mages were an interesting pair to talk to.
Mana muttered something under her breath before addressing Atem. "Mahaado sent me, he says you are needed in the throne room."
"Let us go then. Kala? Kalahari?" Atem looked around.
Mana scanned the room but it was obvious it was only she and the pharaoh that occupied it now. "It is creepy how she does that."
Atem chuckled at his friend and rose from his chair, his white cape fluttering about and stopping where his kilt did at his knees. "She isn't the Dark Wolf for nothing."
They left the meeting chamber meeting Kala at the door.
"There you are." Mana said.
"Of course," Kala nodded, "An ambush could be waiting anywhere."
"You're paranoid." Atem chuckled. Kala found no humor in the statement though.
"No, I have a responsibility, and that's to make sure you and the other nobles are safe."
Atem rolled his eyes, "Where are the other Guards?"
"Watching over the others right now. Probably causing some tomfoolery in the process." She sighed.
They entered the throne room to find the priestesses and priests directing pages about. Mahaado smiled as the two visible teenagers entered the room. His brown eyes scanned the area about them obviously trying to sense the third addition to the group. The sorcerer reached out with his magic locating the girl in a corner of the lavish room along with the other Guards. Each corner of the room was occupied with a combatant and two were up above each holding onto a support beam.
"Atem," He bowed, "The preparations are coming along nicely for the party."
"Good." Atem nodded.
"What party?" Mana asked the men.
"We are celebrating the fruitful year the gods have blessed us with." Mahaado explained. "Nobles from all over have been invited. But, Atem, if you will come with me I think the decorators would like your opinion on some things." Mahaado used his purple and green staff to indicate the women bickering over which tapestries to hang.
Mana giggled at her friend's pained expression but took him by the arm to the women. With a shake of his lavender head Mahaado followed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Kala slipped past the guards that lined each side of the room into another corner. This one held Peter, her best concealed weapon fighter.
"Round the others up. Tell them to meet in our rooms."
With a wordless nod Peter slipped away to alert the others.
The magician's apprentice had just released Atem into the clutches of the decorators when she heard the rustle of fabric behind her.
"Get Mahaado to keep an eye on the pharaoh." She heard Kalahari's voice whisper.
Not that the regular guards or the priests were unreliable but Kala would rather have Mahaado put a protection ward around Atem while her Guards were not around.
"Where are you going?" Mana whispered never looking back.
"To discuss a few things with the other Guards."
"All right." Mana agreed but Kala was already gone.
Mana tugged on Mahaado's sleeve to his purple robe and whispered something in his ear. Her teacher nodded and began to chant silently.
Kalahari maneuvered down the hall that led to the servant's quarters stopping at one of the older murals that covered the walls. The painting depicted three shadow tablets, the most powerful ones, two dragons along with a giant: Obelisk the Tormenter, Slifer the Sky Dragon, and the Winged Dragon of Ra. Kala admired the painting; there had been a reason that those tablets had been sealed away. The teachers at the training grounds tell the story to every new Guard trainee. They were too powerful and a menace when used, as it seems the monsters never wanted to return to their Binding Stones the mages trapped them in. That particular pharaoh, the trainers would not give out a name, hadn't listened to his mages warning and it cost him dearly. Oh, yes, he won the Shadow Duel but at the cost of the destruction of half his kingdom and his own life.
The Guard moved to the edge of Slifer's image, she put her weight into the painted door trying to get the thing to open. Finally the old door released and Kala entered the Guards chambers. Just like everything else about them the room was unknown except to the pharaoh that had it designed and had the door painted over with a picture no one wanted to go near.
The main area was spacious with a make shift kitchen area in the back. Pillows littered the floor and a table was pushed into a small alcove. One the right a door led to the female's rooms and left a door to the male's. Hieroglyphics covered the walls; these were the records of other Guards passed. Pigeonholes were carved into the wall scrolls were packed against each other but one very important scroll that sat away from the others the Guards best kept secret.
That particular scroll held everything that had to do with the Shadow Guards and their origins. That paper the Guards protect more then the pharaoh himself.
"Daydreaming again, Kala?" A male voice sighed.
Kala jumped before growling lowly at herself. She hated it, and it was a large draw back for a Guard, but she was startled so easily the others couldn't help but jest about it at times. She spun around to find the same floor length black and gray cloaks all Guards wore filing in from the door. "No. I was not, Lukas."
The man took off his hood revealing a scarred face with green eyes partially covered by curly brown hair. Her best hand to hand Guard. He wore a black kilt under his robe synched with a white belt. His chest was bare and the only weaponry was short sword at his side, even though it was barely out of its sheath,
The two youngest fighters plopped down onto a few of the pillows and shook off their hoods as well. Twins, their dark skin a pretty shade of mocha, Dezih the oldest, a green-eyed black-haired sword mistress chatted with her sister. Dezih was educated in a few healing spells for major and minor wounds, handy to know incase any of her comrades were hurt. Her long dark top linked to her skirt by the two swords strapped to either side of her waist. Azis's blue eyes sparkled as she laughed at a comment her sister made and tucked a strand of her own dark hair behind her ear. Azis was young but a brilliant strategist and dangerous when armed with her bow. Her weapon lay across her lap, it and the quiver of arrows blending in with the gray dress.
"I am guessing it was you two on the beams." Kala smirked.
The sisters turned to grin at her; "Yeah!" they answered in unison and returned to their conversation.
The last of their group, Markus, rolled his eyes. He was the oldest of them still in his mid twenties with a bush of black hair covering his head and mischievous silver eyes. He is a worthy opponent as an expert in Desert Fighting.
Kalahari grimaced she hated Desert Fighting it was a special attack only some mastered at the Grounds (A/N the authoress did not want to have to keep writing training grounds), manipulating the sand with a little magic to use it as a camouflage before striking then returning to concealment. Markus was always itching to use his attack and the sand colored pants her wore wouldn't help his opponent at all in trying to locate him.
"So," Peter spoke, "What did you call us in here for Kala?" His white pants cut off at the knee, the built in sheath disguised flawlessly. Unlike the other two male Guards he wore a shirt, only to hide weapons in, he claims.
Conversation stopped as the others turned toward him.
"Strategy for the party." She replied coolly.
"What about it?" Azis asked. "What could happen?"
"You and Dezih said this new thief knew Shadow Control, right? And that he stole from Atem's father's tomb?" Kala raised a blond brow.
"Yeah," Dezih frowned. "What about him?"
"You think he would crash the celebration?" Markus pulled out a chair from the table and took a seat.
"It wouldn't surprise me." Lukas said leaning again the symbol-covered wall. "It's obvious he has something against the old pharaoh, so why wouldn't his grudge fall to Atem?"
Peter's gray eyes widened as he ran a hand through his green hair in frustration, "If he does we're in trouble but maybe…?" He glanced at the silent Wolf.
She fingered the hilt of her sword. "I will if it comes to that."
All the other Guards went rigid.
"Are you sure, Kalahari?" Markus gave her a stern look.
"There has to be a different way…" Azis spoke quickly.
"Yeah you probably won't even have to use it." Dezih mimicked her sister.
"It's too risky. You have not even perfected it yet. " Lukas pushed off the wall.
"Enough!" The Guards fell silent at their leader's command.
Kala crossed her arms giving a severe stare to everyone of her Guards. "I only said I would use it if it came to that.
The thief might not even show up for all we know. This meeting is incase he does but I can assure you if it does come to that what happened last time won't happen again."
"You do not know that." Peter spoke softly fiddling with something in his cloak. Kala was pretty sure she didn't want to know what.
"No I do not know if it will get out of control again but last time we did not have a spell caster near. Now we have Mahaado and Mana and I am confident they can control the situation if it gets out of hand." Her gaze turned pleading, "Please. Trust me."
Dezih and Azis stared at each other before nodding like a silent agreement had been passed between them.
"Of course we trust you, Kala." Azis grinned. Her sister nodded smiling as well.
Lukas gave a dramatic sigh, "Well if they say they trust you then I guess I do as well."
"Thanks." The nineteen-year-old said sarcastically rolling her eyes.
"I suggested you use it so you know what I think." Peter nodded.
The team pinned their eyes on Markus who remained unspoken. Kala didn't blame him for not being able to trust her when she used that particular technique; he had been the one to take the most damage after all.
"Markus…?" Dezih tilted her head, the man looked away.
"It is all right," Kala spoke quietly, "I understand. Now then," She took charge of the situation again, "Positions."
"Right," Markus smiled slyly at Kala, "I suppose you will be watching the pharaoh?"
Kala blushed and smacked Markus upside the head, "Idiot, you know it's not like that. It's my job to watch him as is yours."
"I know. I know." Markus chuckled rubbing his head.
"Why do you irritate her if you know she could have you eating sand in minute?" Lukas shook his head.
"It's fun. And I could always just scare her later."
Kalahari pinched the bridge of her nose resisting the urge to tackle her team member out of his chair and pull out her dagger. "Markus you and Lukas stay in the crowd, act like you were invited. Azis there's a balcony at the end of the throne room, should be a perfect place for an archer. Peter you guard Atem; he should stay seated on the platform so if anyone comes behind him you pull out any weapon you need. Dezih and I will be at the doors incase anyone tries to leave with anything or tries to get away."
The others nodded and dispersed to return to the throne room to continue what they'd been trained for. Carrying out a few other tasks as the day drew on. And as the sun set shifting the bright hot desert into a cold black sea of sand Atem's palace came alive with the sounds of merriment.
Kala was helping Azis untangle her cloak from the arrows that had caught it in her quiver while Dezih beat on the men's door.
"Markus! Lukas! Get your butts out here the parties already started. How long does it take to throw a few pieces of jewelry on?"
"She's lucky the walls are thick." Azis muttered as Kala dislodged the last arrow.
"Move Dezih," Peter pushed her out of the way prior to kicking the door open and shutting it swiftly behind him before the females could see inside.
The three girls jumped as shouting and thrashing sounded from the room. Moments later Markus and Lukas were ushered out of the room by Peter who was brandishing a battle-ax. The men had darkened the kohl under their eyes and clipped on a few pieces of gold jewelry. They had changed into white kilts and tunics; they wore their swords on the outside since it wasn't strange for a man to bring a sword wherever he went.
Kala whistled which earned her two steely glares.
"Lets just go." Lukas growled, "I don't like wearing all his jewelry."
"We were waiting on you two." Peter chided. The battle-ax had disappeared to Ra knows where.
"Here are your invitations." Azis gave them the parchment she'd gained from Atem earlier that day.
Markus and Lukas snatched the invitations, surprisingly without ripping them, and trudged out the heavy door.
"I hope no one was in the hall at that time," Kala grumbled as the door slammed shut.
Peter rolled his eyes at his friends' annoyance clouding common sense. He moved one of the bricks out of its one to scout the halls. Nothing. "All clear." He said pulling the door back open.
"You three move that thing like its nothing," Kala whined, "It takes me a minute to even push it open."
"I know." Azis huffed. "Its not fair."
Peter chuckled as he tugged his hood on. The three girls followed his led and made their way silently to the gala.
1 & 2- are play on words. The Sa was worn in hopes of protection and the jackal was believed to protect tombs from grave robbers. Here I'm using the titles as the Guard Leader is the Pharaoh's protection not just a belief or hope.
Like it or not? Please tell me? I tried to explain the Guards the best I could but sorry if it's confusing. But if you want to know waht the 'it' is the Guards keep refering to stick with this 'till the next chapter.
Kala: Your hopeless Water.
Water: Hey!
Kala: Review!