There was a loud sound of rushing air, almost like spreading fire. I heard faint crying sounds, like screams. Mahad's Millennium Ring began to glow intensely.
"What is it, Mahad?" Aknadin asked.
"The Millennium Ring," he said. "We are in the presence of pure evil."
Suddenly, a guard was struck down and a hooded man wearing a red robe and carrying a bag full of gold objects walked in. "Sorry to intrude, but apparently someone left me off the guest list," he said.
Who was this person? There was only one thing I knew for sure though. On account of all the gold he had with him and obviously not being dressed like a nobleman, he must've been a thief.
"Bakura," Pharaoh Atem growled. "What do you want?"
"You know what I came for," he said. How did he know this man's name? I had never seen him before. "I hope I didn't ruin your celebration," Bakura said.
"You'll be punished for mocking the Pharaoh," Seto said.
Bakura just laughed. "I live on the outskirts of your little kingdom, so your rules don't apply to me," he said. "Now, hand over your Millennium Items."
"What?!" all the priests exclaimed.
"I didn't mean for free," he said, throwing the gold objects to the ground. I may be just a lower priestess, but even I knew that those objects where those that were buried with the former Pharaoh Aknamkanon! This "Bakura" must mean serious business if he was going so far as to desecrate the sacred tomb of a Pharaoh.
I looked up and now saw him with his hood removed. He had unusually white, messy hair and violet eyes, the right one having three scars under it; one long one that went from his brow almost to the bottom of his face, and two smaller ones that crossed over the larger one. He had a muscular build with his upper torso left exposed by his robe. He was…admittedly, handsome. Oh, what are you thinking?! He's a bad man, you're not supposed to be thinking he's attractive, you twit!
"I've brought another token of my esteem," he said. He whistled and his horse galloped in, dragging in Pharaoh Aknamkanon's sarcophagus. It slid across the floor and Bakura stopped it by stepping on it with one foot. "Say hello to your previous king," he said. Ok, NOW he was crossing the line!
"You've gone too far, Bakura!" Pharaoh Atem yelled. "Your soul must be judged by the Millennium Items."
"Bring a sealing tablet at once," Seto ordered. "Let the Millennium Trial begin!"
"Your weak magic will never contain me," Bakura laughed.
"No mortal can resist the power of the sacred items," Shada said. "Hold on," Karim said. The Scales began tipping back and forth. "It's unable to find balance, that means the evil in his heart is immeasurable."
"Yes," Aknadin agreed. "His soul is a bottomless pit, in which thrives a terrifying creature."
"Millennium Key, reveal the beast that lurks within," Shada said. It began to glow and he started backing away. He gasped. "That's no ordinary beast," he said. "It's the most powerful being I've ever seen. That sealing tablet is far too small."
"That's ridiculous," Seto argued.
"Seto's right," Aknadin agreed. "We've never had any difficulty before."
Suddenly, a bright light formed behind Bakura followed by a burst of energy and a huge monstrous creature appeared. It had a grey body with the lower half being a snake, and two sets of white, feathered wings. It was terrifying, yet at the same time left me full of awe.
"It's unbelievable!" Aknadin exclaimed. "How can such a creature live in the heart of a petty thief?"
"Well, Diabound meet the Pharaoh, and Pharaoh meet the creature of your demise," Bakura said.
"I'm afraid you are mistaken," Seto said. He then used the Millennium Rod to seal Diabound within the stone tablet. "Just as I suspected," Seto said. "His soul has been cleansed."
"Thank you for saving my life, Seto," Bakura said in a softer voice. "That horrible creature was controlling my mind, and now I'm finally free." But was it really that simple? Immediately after he spoke those words, he said in an evil voice, "Free to annihilate you!"
"That's impossible!" Aknadin exclaimed. "It didn't work!"
Suddenly, the tablet began to crack and Diabound burst out. Bakura laughed and said, "I knew you'd be powerless against the dark energy of my Diabound."
"We must unite to conquer this adversary," Aknadin said. All the sacred guardians, including Princess Emana, took out their Diadiankhs and prepared for battle. Suki and I, not in possession of one but nevertheless obligated to protect our Pharaoh, had to use a different method to summon our ka. It was through prayer summoning that we called them forth. That downside for me…is that my ka was not fully developed. Despite being a priestess, my soul was not as strong as the High Priests, or even Suki's. But no matter, I had to defend my Pharaoh.
"We must combine our power," Aknadin said.
"I can defeat this thief on my own," Seto differed.
Was he crazy?! There was no way he could defeat Diabound single-handedly. "Seto, don't!" I warned. "You have no idea how strong he could be."
He ignored me and raised his Diadiankh. "I summon Garestgolath! Wage war with Bakura's Diabound!" I watched as the dragon-beast appeared in front of him. "No one who disrespects the Pharaoh shall go unpunished," Seto said. Garestgolath attacked Diabound, but was stopped when Bakura called forth another ka, Winged Sage Falcos. Falcos attacked and destroyed Garestgolath.
"Only those in the royal court can summon monsters," Emana protested.
"How did you summon that beast?" Mahad asked. "You do not possess a Diadiankh!"
"While I was paying my respects to the former king, I borrowed a few of his 'toys', like his Diadiankh" Bakura said, revealing Pharaoh Aknamkanon's Diadiankh on his arm.
"Can't you see that you are interfering with forces beyond your control?" Isis warned.
He continued to smile his wicked smile. "I'm in complete control of these forces, thanks to the former king and his personal collection of monsters."
"You dare disturb the great protectors of the sacred crypt of King Aknamkanon?" Seto said, outraged.
"Those creatures were placed there to guard the tomb of the Great Pharaoh," Aknadin protested.
"The former Pharaoh was a tyrant!" Bakura disagreed. "He destroyed my village when he tried to fashion the seven Millennium Items in a selfish attempt to further his own power."
What? Pharaoh Aknamkanon made the Millennium Items? And he destroyed an entire village to do so? No. It all had to be a lie. He was too kind and just to do such a terrible thing.
"You're lying!" Emana said. "My father, Aknamkanon, put an end to the war that ravaged our kingdom and brought peace and prosperity. He created the Millennium items to insure that harmony would reign forever."
"The Pharaoh then gave them to us in order to keep the peace and help rule this land with justice, as well as to thwart evildoers like you," Seto added.
"Evildoers? What do you think you are?!" Bakura said. "The Millennium Items were built to react with the inner darkness of the person that holds them. The fact that you wield them makes every one of you an evildoer, just like your so-called keeper of the peace, King Aknamkanon. Your king wanted power- that's why he devised a plan to use the Millennium Items to control the world. The secret lies in the village of Kul Elna."
"What you speak is treason!" Aknadin said.
"Deep beneath the sands of Kul Elna lies the Millennium Stone," Bakura continued. "Place the seven Items in this stone and ultimate power will be yours." I didn't know who to believe at this point. The priests or Bakura.
"Enough!" Seto said.
It was time to call upon our ka. Karim, Bastet; Isis, Spiria; Shada, Zelua; Aknadin, Gadius; Mahad, Illusion Magician; Seto, Battle Ox; Suki, Valkyria; Emana, Lady of Faith; and myself…Shining Friendship. Like I said, my ka was not fully developed. "Alea, what are you thinking?" Seto said. "That little thing will be crushed." "Sorry," I said, getting stressed. "My ka isn't the strongest."
(I won't explain too much of the battle, you know what happens)
He had completely overpowered us. Everyone's ka was gone or seriously injured. Mine included. "Alea, recall your ka! You'll be seriously injured if it's destroyed!" Seto ordered.
"R-Right!" I called it back and it disappeared from the battlefield.
"This isn't over," Mahad said.
"It will be soon," Bakura said. "One more attack and this palace will reduced to rubble!"
Just then, Pharaoh Atem stood up and walked in front of the priests.
"So, the Pharaoh has decided to come out and fight," Bakura said.
"Pharaoh, let us deal with this intruder," Seto implored
"Bakura! Is this the 'game' you spoke of?! Trespassing on sacred ground and tarnishing the name of my ancestors?! You're actions have always been despicable but now you've reached a new low!" he spout angrily. I had never seen him so fierce. It was indeed admirable.
"Ha! You don't even know the first thing about your ancestors," Bakura said retorted. "Maybe this will jar your memory."
Bakura kicked Pharaoh Aknamkanon's coffin towards Pharaoh Atem. Princess Emana rushed to Pharaoh Atem and knelt before the coffin. "Father," Emana cried quietly.
"You mustn't believe anything he says about your father," Shimon said. "He was kind and just."
Pharaoh Atem knelt down and touched his father's coffin. "We believe you," he said to Shimon.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your reunion with the former Pharaoh, but we're in the middle of a battle," Bakura said. "Do have any last words before I deal the final blow and seize your Millennium Items?...Good! Now Diabound, destroy them!"
"You've forgotten something, Bakura," Pharaoh Atem said, standing up and activating his Diadiankh. "I can summon the Egyptian gods!" Could it be? The legendary God monsters? Only the chosen king knew the names of these beings. "I summon Obelisk the Tormenter!" Pharaoh Atem shouted. Just then, a column of light formed in the throne room. Obelisk appeared, in all his glory. And in that moment…I felt something strange inside me. Like a sort of call…but what was it?
"Diabound!" Bakura commanded. "Attack with White Lightning!"
"Obelisk! Attack with Fists of Fury!" Pharaoh Atem ordered.
The two monsters clashed. But neither of them had any effect on the other. They were both thrown back. Their power was equal! Both men recalled their monsters.
"He withstood the assault of an Egyptian god," Seto said, shocked.
Bakura struggled to his feet. "This isn't over," he said. "And as for you, I believe it's Mahad? I wouldn't grow too fond of that Millennium Ring of yours. At one point it belonged to me."
"The Millennium Ring was created for the High Priests, like myself, so you lie!" Mahad retorted
"It's true," Bakura said. "In fact, all seven Millennium Items are fated to belong to me." He turned around and got on his horse and rode away.
"After him!" Aknadin ordered the guards.
I ran to my balcony and watched as Bakura and his men escaped. In their wake they left widespread destruction through the city. I could barely believe what all had just transpired. Never before had the kingdom been attacked by such a fierce force, let alone a single man.
Suki joined me on the balcony. "It's awful…unbelievable, really," she said.
"Yeah…it is," I replied. "Suki…can I ask you something?"
"Of course," she said.
"Do you ever…feel a strange force when summoning your ka…or when someone else summons a ka?" I asked.
"I…can't say I do," she said, obviously perplexed by my question.
"It's just…when the Pharaoh summoned the god Obelisk…I felt something strange…like a distant call…do you get what I'm trying to say?" I turned to her and she didn't even have to answer. Her expression told me she didn't have a clue what I was talking about. "N…Nevermind," I said.
"Perhaps you should get some rest," she said. "It's been a long day."
"I suppose you're right," I sighed. I entered my chambers and laid down on my bed. Not surprisingly I couldn't sleep. Too much was running through my head. Who was this Bakura? Why did he seem to know so much about the Millennium Items? And more importantly…what was that feeling I got when Obelisk was summoned? So many questions, but no answers in sight. Eventually, I fell asleep.