Here I am again, with another installment of An Historic Discovery! I aim to please, as always!

I don't own anything but Bali, every other character that's obviously mine, and the plot stuff. Everything else either belongs to Takahashi's YGO! or to history!

FUN FACT: Syria was important to Egypt because that's basically where all of the wood came from. Not to mention the resin for mummification! Nubia was important as the supplier of all the gold! And as we all know, the Egyptians loved gold. Hey, it was seen as the skin of the gods, why not love it?

Anyways, I hope you enjoy!


Night has fallen across the great desert, and the empire of the Nile Delta was preparing to head to battle by morning. Leading this force would be the bearers of the Millennium Items, with their command coming straight from Atem. Atem wasn't Pharaoh yet, but Akhnemkhanen was too weak to lead the army himself.

Atem was in his room preparing his gear for war. His father was on his mind, and he couldn't help but remember the events of last night's dinner.

*FLASHBACK!*

"My son, I cannot go myself, and you shall lead Egypt's forces. Please… Take the Millennium Puzzle to guide and protect you." His father proclaimed, and the whole table gasped at the proposition. The passing of the puzzle meant that Atem was ready to take the throne, and should do so.

To everyone's surprise (Sarin-an-Munad especially), Atem shook his head.

"The Puzzle must stay with you, father. I wish it to protect you and the palace more than me. Bali is not here to bless this place, but perhaps the gods will keep safe the haven of the puzzle and the Pharaoh." He declined gracefully, and left the table for lack of hunger.

Everyone watched as the young prince walked out, mostly in awe. Atem had just given up the crown at present to try and keep his home safe in his absence. It was a noble thing to do, as most men would have jumped at the chance.

*FLASH-FORWARD!*

Atem knew he couldn't be king yet, and he didn't want to be. He had a dark feeling in the pit of his stomach that the Millennium Puzzle was the only thing really keeping his father alive. The country couldn't bear to go to war and lose their gracious king at the same time. Atem wrapped his cape around him and decided to just walk about the palace. He finally dressed as the prince he was, and with Bali far away, there was nothing to fear about her discovering his true identity.

"Bali, I wonder where you are now, and if you are safe. I promise that I'll help protect Egypt like you would want me to, regardless of my background and of what you say." He thought, thinking of his-

"Friend." Atem muttered, almost through gritted teeth. He couldn't understand why he kept doing that. He had come to terms with the fact that Bali was attractive and that he couldn't help thinking about her in dirty ways, but there had been other women who had brought that thought process besides her, and he hadn't loved any of them. So why should thinking about Bali like that mean he was in love with her? He put his train of thought to the side however when Mahad and Mana approached with small sad smiles on their faces.

"We're going to war tomorrow." Mahad pointed out, and Atem nodded slowly.

"I have to stay here, which is stupid. I mean, I've been working hard on my spells and I've been practicing! Can't I go Master?" Mana pleaded, standing by the side of her princely friend.

"No, you can't Mana. I don't want you to get hurt. I already let one person I care for go into the dangerous flames of war and I won't let another go who doesn't have to." Atem replied, and Mana, instead of being discouraged, only looked up in curiosity.

"Bali? She's going to Syria? Why did you let her go, she could get hurt!" Mana scolded, and Mahad put his hands on her shoulders to keep her from swinging her fists forward at Atem.

"I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen to anything I said. And I had to let her go," Atem explained quietly, looking to the sky almost as if in a trance. He thought of her confident and proud smile she had when she was explaining their tactic.

"And why not?" Mana asked impatiently, putting her hands on her hips with a pout. Never had she seen her friend act this way or let his will be overcome by anyone. This made her expression soften. Atem snapped out of his trance and blinked several times.

"She's just a force to be reckoned with when she's angry, that's all." He covered, and went to bid his two friends farewell. He wanted to be alone, to think about himself, Bali, and the war. Someone stopped him however with a frantic cry.

"Prince Atem, Mahad! Master Fasahj has been assassinated!" another of the newer members of the Pharaoh's court, Karim called out. He joined the group, gripping the Millennium Scale in sadness. Atem and Mahad followed him quickly and went to the quarters of the former holder of the Millennium Rod.

"Are you sure he was assassinated?" Atem asked, noticing that Mahad looked ill. Mahad was in charge of palace security, and something like this wasn't supposed to happen. Karim shook his head.

"We're not completely sure, but it sure does look like he was." Karim admitted, and they rounded the bend to come to the great hall that was surrounded by doorways to each of the noblemen's rooms. There was a crowd at one such door, and Atem could see that every other Millennium Item bearer was already there, along with Priest Seth, Shimon and a couple of guards. The crowd parted for Atem and Mahad. Mana was ordered to stay in the hall by Mahad, which she reluctantly did.

"Father, do you have any idea what happened here?" Atem asked, but it was Akhenaden who answered.

"I can see two beings... They're Syrian! But Mahad, how could Syrian assassins get into the palace so easily? And Isis, how could you not see this in your visions?" Akhenaden rounded on the two rookie Item holders, who looked to their toes in shame. Atem was surprised that his usually calm and collected uncle had blown up at them. It was Akhnemkhanen who deflected his anger however.

"My brother, it is not their fault. They are still getting accustomed to using their Items, and so have not fully harnessed their powers. In time and with more training, they will be as formidable as their predecessors." the king replied calmly, and Atem was amazed at the amount of control his father had of the situation, despite seeing one of his closest friends cursed with such a terrifying fate. Akhenaden nodded in understanding, and apologized quietly to his two young colleagues. Both stayed silent and still held looks of shame.

"Mahad, you had better start redeeming yourself by truly securing this palace and smoking out any intruders we have already. Priest Seth!" Akhnemkhanen ordered, and Mahad went off to do his duty while Seth stepped forward. The pharaoh handed the priest the already recovered and cleaned Millennium Rod.

"Though it is with great sadness and with no ceremony, I welcome you to the court. The Millennium Rod was meant to be passed to you. You shall protect my son soon enough." Pharaoh stated, handing over the Item with great care. Priest Seth (for once) looked truly grateful and bowed his head in honest respect. He gripped the Millennium Rod and prayed for the rest of Master Fasahj in the afterlife.

"Prince Atem, I wish you luck in your conquests. I shall be leading a different set of troops in Master Fasahj's place." Seth explained, and Atem nodded curtly. Seth brushed past him after bowing and Atem watched as everyone began to leave to attend to their duties and to prepare for battle. Only the Pharaoh and his son were left, watching as the body was taken away carefully to be prepared for the afterlife. Akhnemkhanen beckoned for his son to walk with him. Atem obliged, and they wandered aimlessly, no one daring to bother the royal pair. The aura around them deemed that they wanted privacy.

"My son, I know that I am leaving for the afterlife soon, for Osiris has visited my dreams and told me so. I am pressed to say that I want you to marry, even if you are not Pharaoh yet. I want to make sure that your future is secure and that Egypt has a future before I leave. You will take the Millennium Puzzle and take my place as king. Now, I have noticed a bond between you and Bali grow strong. Yet she does not know of your true identity?" Akhnemkhanen asked curiously, and Atem looked away with a flushed face. His father had brought up that subject again. And Atem had to answer.

"No, she doesn't know. I have been planning out on how to tell her because I know that I can't keep the fact that I am Pharaoh hidden." Atem admitted, as much as he didn't want to. His father chuckled slightly.

"Have you thought about making her your bride? You seem very fond of each other." Akhnemkhanen pointed out, and Atem's face exploded red.

"Why does everyone think that? We're only friends, and besides that, there's Sarin-an-Munad! What is she supposed to do? She's the one in the family who's supposed to become the Great Royal Wife. You've drilled that into me well enough." Atem argued, the words seeming old and recycled. But the truth was the truth, no matter how tired he got of saying it.

"You can marry Sarin-an-Munad too."

"Not my point, father." Akhnemkhanen had a bold laugh at this, and despite his condition didn't go into a fit of coughs.

"I see your point. Bali does seem the type to want to keep the attention of her husband to herself."

"Still way off!" Atem defied, but his father's statement did seem true.

"Alright, I will drop the subject. However, you have my permission to marry her if you please. After all, she won't be tainting our family's godly blood because she is a 'goddess.'" Akhnemkhanen stated, and gave a sneaky smile and wink to his son before leaving him behind in confusion.

"The way he said that... Does he know Bali's secret?" Atem thought rapidly, his face still flushed in embarrassment.


Bali and Hutsat were getting set up for their second day in the desert. As it was too stressing for the horses to go on in the peak temperatures of the day, the two became nocturnal and slept in a tent during the day. It was spacious enough, but Bali and Hutsat kept to completely opposite sides. Hutsat had obliged to Bali's request of this arrangement, thinking it added to her cuteness.

"Bali, you fed Bit, right?" Hutsat reminded, and the teenage girl groaned from her bedroll. She sat up sleepily and stared at Hutsat warily.

"You seem awake enough and Bit likes you. Why don't you do it?"

"Ah, Mistress Bali , I have already done everything!" Abigail chirped from her side of the tent. It wasn't far from Bali, but Bali wanted her own space after having Abigail wrapped around her torso all night. Bali raised her hand and smiled slightly.

"See? No need to worry, it's all taken care of. The little girl is reliable." Bali stated, laying herself back down because she was exhausted. Hutsat grinned to himself. He realized why Bali put so much space between them.

"How cute. She doesn't want the little slave to be scarred for life if we happened to get a little wild. She could always just send the child out to sleep with the horses. Hmm, I should suggest that." Hutsat thought to himself amused. Of course, he wouldn't force himself on Bali. She was a goddess graced with the will of Ra. There was no way he would want to anger any of the gods. Not to mention that the mission would just be awkward from then on out. Hutsat went out of the tent to set up a ward to make the campsite invisible to passerby. If a message came from his people, the hawks and falcons were trained to see past the barrier.

Hutsat sat himself down and began the spell.

Bali, who strangely couldn't fall back asleep after Hutsat had woken her up, stood and stretched.

"Maybe if I walk around a little I'll get tired enough to fall back asleep. Boy, I miss having the palace to look at in times like this." Bali thought, a gaping yawn stretching her mouth wide. Just the yawn seemed to tire her out more, but Bali knew better than to believe a simple yawn would set her to the path of sleep.

Bali walked out into the blazing sun and shielded her eyes. She stood and watched Hutsat place the wards. She could tell when magic was around now, because she had been hanging around Atem, Mana and Mahad to get to know it. There was a strange buzz that always accompanied magic, and it was so slight at this moment that it almost seemed like a hallucination.

"Having fun?" Hutsat asked of a sudden, making Bali shake her head and pay attention.

"Not yet. How about you?"

"The same."

"Wow."

"..."

"..."

"Go back to sleep Bali."

"Okay."

And that was the end of that.


A lovely father-son moment in there. I wanted to make Seth's ascension to court a little different, so I did :3 Anyways, reviews are awesome and always welcome because I love them!

I hope everyone is enjoying so far and I hope that you shall keep enjoying it in the future!