Chapter 9- Power of a Pharaoh,
Symbol of a Queen
Saio stepped forward, the Paladin moving with her. Sakura was a bit behind her, ready for any sudden surprises. The priests looked to Atem in confusion. Seto noticed he was slightly pale.
"You alright?"
Atem was trying to fight off the slight nausea and nodded.
"Let's see what she will do."
Seto looked at him.
"You're kidding. Your precious Saio? You're letting your baby fight by herself?"
Atem raised a hand to silence him, feeling suddenly very fatigued. The puzzle had returned to him, but it now felt very heavy. He looked up at the wall. Several giant cracks surrounded a good chunk of it.
Saio worked quickly, her and Sakura both dancing energy waves around the soldier, it effectively blocking each one. It laughed.
"Did your father teach you nothing? This is mere child's play!"
A wave of energy surrounded him, momentarily knocking Saio and Sakura off balance. Atem had had enough. The puzzle glowed, his body turning white, Horuacti appearing near him, looking slightly hesitant, but then fusing with him. Saio gasped at the sight. So that's what that light was before. Sakura spread the barrier further, but Atem simply canceled it out, signaling there was no need. The soldier just stood there.
"How...is that possible...twice?"
Atem just smirked. "It isn't."
He raised a hand, and the same ray of light spread over them. It hit the soldier in every orifice. Light entering and then exiting at the speed of sound. The soldier screamed and then slowly started laughing.
"At least let me give you a parting gift!"
With one last punch the Wall shattered.
Silence fell over them. Seto had never imagined it. Of course he had said it, predicted it, but Atem was more than capable of keeping it up. He'd just done it for too long. All that was left of the soldier was a smoldering Akunaten who was just laughing. The light disappeared and Atem stumbled, barely conscious, looking furious. Saio gasped. It was just like she saw in her dream. "No...no...no no...I won't let that happen…!"
She raced to him as Seto did, but stopped as he weakly held a hand up.
"...stay back..."
Seto wasn't having it.
"Atem for Ra's sake! You have to stop right now-"
"I SAID... GET...BACK..." His tone was final.
Saio slowly backed to the side, not taking her eyes off him. Seto reluctantly stood behind him. Atem merely stood there, glaring at Akunaten.
Akunaten just laughed.
"You've lost, Pharaoh. Your precious wall is no more. The shadows will be coming soon."
Atem's look was menacing.
"You really think that's what I'm mad about?"
Akunaten smiled.
"Well then please...bestow upon me your great wisdom."
"You hurt many people. Especially my High Priest. I will never forgive you for that. Perhaps Anubis will be more open minded, but I doubt it." Akunaten just laughed.
"You won't kill me. You don't have the mindset for it, nor the strength. After all, you're barely standing."
He threw a piece of rubble, which just bounced off Atem's shoulder.
Atem's eyes just narrowed, as shadows surrounded Akunaten. He laughed.
"Really? Shadows? I am a shadow you fool!"
The crown glowed, covering the eye of Horus. Atem said nothing, just opened a fist and closed it. Akunaten suddenly realized what this was. He looked at Atem in disbelief, then began begging. "No. No way. No wait please. Seto! You will save your father! One day I know it! Seto! Seto!" Akunaten glanced at Seto in panic. Atem gritted his teeth and opened and closed his fist again, Akunaten's cries gone. He sighed slowly. No one spoke. But Seto moved first and caught Atem as he passed out. He cursed as he looked Atem over, and called for Isis and Sakura. Saio was next to him, her eyes filled with tears. Atem's face was pale and exhausted. There was a rumble of noise and then silence as one by one shadows emerged all the over the palace. They overtook the priests in no time at all. Seto quickly took Atem, motioning for Saio and Sakura to follow, since the barrier was still active. Sakura moved her barrier up with the wall, attempting to seal it. Seto looked at her in disbelief.
"What do you think you're doing? You're not nearly strong enough to build a new wall!"
Sakura ignored him. "That's not what I'm trying to do..."
Saio's bracelet glowed and the barrier at least temporarily was a makeshift version of the Wall. Sakura exhaled slowly, knowing she wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.
"Seto. You go. Help everyone else. I will stay here with Saio and the Pharaoh."
Seto didn't have much choice, that much he knew, but he wasn't about to submit.
"You don't give orders. I do."
Saio took a breath. "Actually, I do."
Seto looked at her.
"In a few years, maybe."
"No, Father signed a decree. If anything were to happen to him, I am to take over. He seemed to figure if the Wall was down he would be too." "He's not dead, Saio, and until then-"
"You will address me as Your Highness, and I know he's not, but the decree stands. Feel free to read it for yourself. It's not what I want to do, but I will do it for him and our Kingdom. Now do as you're told. Go."
Seto hesitated only a second, looking down at Atem. He sighed.
"Take care of him."
"Of course we will."
As soon as Seto was gone, Saio looked at Sakura. "The wall...it was his ba, wasn't it?"
Sakura slowly nodded.
"It would seem so."
"What do you think?"
Sakura very gently laid her hands over him, they glowed lightly.
"He barely has any ba left...if he's found..."
"Then let's move him. Do you know a place?" Sakura nodded.
"Servants quarters. Under the floor."
The Paladin took Atem and they settled in under a small room literally under the throne room. Saio laid Atem's head in her lap, gently moving pieces of hair out of his face. Sakura's hands glowed again. After a while, she sighed.
"All we can do now is let him rest, see if he wakes up on his own."
Saio nodded, feeling a pang of nervousness and regret. She never did tell him her feelings. They stayed down there for a while, Sakura eventually standing.
"I need to go help them."
"What? No, you're staying with me."
Sakura smiled slowly.
"The Priests are our only line of defense. I need to keep them strong. I'll be back. I promise."
She touched Saio's hand.
"I'll come back."
Saio watched her leave, looking down at Atem again. Once again, she felt helpless. Could she do nothing?
Sakura arrived back in the throne room to absolute chaos. All over the palace priests were lain everywhere, only Seto and her Father were standing. Mahado saw her and shook his head. "Get out of here!"
"I'm here to help!"
"You can help us by staying with our Pharaoh and the Princess! If all is lost then-"
Sakura's barrier stopped an attack meant for Mahado. He just looked at her.
Seto shrugged.
"Alright then, you two. Let's dance."
The three of them raced forward into the plethora of shadows.
Atem groaned. Everything hurt. Opening his eyes took effort. And it was cold. Why was it cold? He could hear someone whispering to him, their cool hands caressing his hair. Mother? Sasuki? Was he dead already? Where was Anubis? A soft light blurred into view. He could feel the touch more now. He struggled to open his eyes more, but closed them again. He was so tired. He wished he had Saio next to him. Wait, Saio? Where was she? In a slight panic, adrenaline caused his eyes to flutter open, searching for Saio.
"Sshh, sshh. I'm right here, Father."
Her voice was quiet. Why? He finally got a clearer view. She was above him, looking tired and worried. He slowly blinked, but no words came. His body relaxed against her, and his eyes closed again. Saio smiled sadly, and pulled another small blanket around him to keep him warm.
Saio tried to sleep through the night but it was nearly impossible. Sakura hadn't yet come back, and she couldn't stop the thoughts. She shouldn't be down here. She should be protecting her court. But she couldn't leave him. She guessed this is it how it must have been for him with her mother. A little baby couldn't fend for itself, so he had no choice but to stay and protect it. Now it was her turn to return the favor.
Sakura realized quickly the reason the priests were no match was because the items weren't working. Seto seemed able to read her mind because he nodded.
"Without our Pharaoh the items won't work. And he is far too weak to sustain them. So it's bare hands or nothing. Except you, of course."
Sakura wasn't sure about that. She was still supporting the barrier for Atem, and her power only went so far.
A full day had passed now. Saio yawned and stretched. She had gotten some sleep and there was food down here at least, but Atem never stirred. She again moved a piece of hair out of his face, and gasped slightly when he moved. His movements were slow, his eyes opening and closing again and then staying closed. She sighed sadly. How much longer?
Saio awoke to silence. The entire palace was silent. How long had she been asleep? She checked Atem, he looked a little better. Slight color had returned to his face. Good. But what time was it? Where was Sakura? She stared off into space for a while, her mind wandering.
"...such a worried face doesn't suit you."
Atem's low husky voice startled her. She looked down at him.
"Hi...how are you feeling?"
He closed his eyes a minute and then slowly opened them again.
"Not quite proud of myself."
He made no move to sit up.
"You should rest a bit longer. Until you regain your strength."
"There isn't time for that..." he glanced at her bracelet. Of course. Why didn't she think of that?
He stopped her with his gaze.
"A little at a time..."
He didn't finish. Saio knew. In his state he wouldn't be able to handle even her. She gently laid her arm on him, the bracelet glowing softly. Atem immediately winced.
"Too much, too much...dial it back..." the pain in his face alarmed her, and she stopped. Atem's breathing was short and fast.
"Father...I'm sorry...are you-"
"...wait...just…give me…a…moment..."
Saio waited, then ever so slowly the bracelet glowed again. After a while, the puzzle glowed as well. Atem sighed slowly, the color returning, he seemed to be getting stronger. He sat up slowly, Saio assisting him.
"...that's better."
He slowly stood.
"You're not going out there are you?"
"And you want to continue sitting here?"
"No, but you're in no condition to..."
He looked at her.
"I'll do what I have to. Will you help me?" He smiled at her.
She nodded.
"Yes. Of course I will."
Hand in hand, they left the small room behind.
Sakura could hear her breathing in her ears. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Seto and Mahado had fallen, and she was powerless. She could do nothing. All she could do was fight on. Now only one shadow remained, and she wasn't sure she could stand anymore. The shadow was half dead too, they both just stared each other down.
Atem looked up, surprised at a barrier where the Wall was.
"Sakura. She has to still be fighting," Saio said, worried. Atem continued into the throne room and then stopped, motioning for Saio to come behind him. There was rubble and bodies everywhere. Atem took in a breath but said nothing. Saio covered her mouth in shock. The throne room was silent. A rumbling shook the area. Saio looked at him.
"Let's go."
The shadow laughed at her.
"You may as well give up, Priestess. We both know who is the stronger one here."
Sakura said nothing, the shadow blurring every so often.
Atem and Saio came into the area, Saio's eyes widening but Atem shushing her. They listened.
"I am impressed though. I will admit. 3 days of this, watching your fellows get taken down. And yet you take down 4 of my brothers alone. Wasn't expecting that. But you can't protect everyone. You're on your last legs."
Saio smiled. She really was amazing. 3 days...but she took in Sakura's form, looking at Atem, worried. He motioned for her to wait.
Sakura recoiled with an attack to the shadow's face, part of it breaking off, the shadow screaming.
"YOU BITCH!"
He swung to hit her and missed, Sakura hitting him again. This time he grabbed her and sent her into a pillar, it cracking at the impact.
Saio heard her cry out and watched her fall, clenching her fists. Why was she sitting here? The shadow was very disoriented, moving to her very slowly, as it was half blind. Sakura lay dazed, fighting to keep herself conscious and standing. She smirked up at the shadow.
"Still on my last legs now?"
The shadow retorted with a wave of heavy energy that slammed Sakura again into the pillar.
She tried to push herself up, but her strength left her. She tried once more and collapsed again. The shadow just laughed.
"How about now? That's checkmate, honey."
Atem nodded to Saio and had appeared in front of the shadow, pushing him back. Saio caught Sakura as she had attempted to push herself up once more, hugging her to her. She looked down at her unconscious friend and glared back up at the shadow. She gently picked Sakura up and went over to Atem.
"Watch over her for me."
Atem looked at her.
Saio was final. "This is MY fight now. You mess with my Priestess, you mess with me next."
Her eyes glowed, she took a small necklace off, handing it to Atem.
"Put it on her. Quickly. She doesn't have much energy left."
Atem nodded.
"Be careful."
He went over to a safer spot, putting the necklace on Sakura.
Saio's body exploded with energy, the bracelet glowing in response. The shadow looked on, somewhat impressed, glancing at Atem.
"Bringing more girls to the table, Pharaoh?"
She smirked.
"Bet you weren't expecting me. I've got enough energy for two kingdoms. You wanna taste it? It's free!"
She lunged at the shadow, her speed nearly unseen to the eye. She smirked as she landed a blow, the shadow backing up.
"You know, credit where it's due. It takes a lot to bring down my Priestess. You guys must have been formidable. Can't say the same for you now though!"
She went all out, landing hit after hit, pieces of the shadow flying everywhere. After a while the bracelet pulsed in warning, but Saio ignored it. She was going to cross the limits. She might never rule as Pharaoh, but she certainly wouldn't go down easy. The shadow yelled in rage.
"You little girls, thinking you've won….you're too naïve!"
Suddenly the shadow slashed at her, slashing her middle, blood flying. She smirked.
"Not enough to bring me down!" The bracelet glowed red as she and the Paladin became one, slashing the staff down through, the shadow exploding into nothingness.
