A cloaked figure approached the magician. The dark of night hid their face with only a bag of coin in their hands.

The magician looked up from the ground, surrounded by magical objects for sale. The figure gave them a bag of gold and they took it.

"You will find a temple where boxes of magical jewelry are kept. It is a two days walk that way."

The figure followed the magician's finger in the direction of the palace. It's sandstone and painted walls towered above the rest of the city. They turned back to the magician, nodded, then turned around and walked away.

"Wait! I'd advise you to not take both the jewelry creation and destruction. It is too much power for one human." The magician reached out with their hand as if to pull them back.

The figure looked back and stared at the magician. When she didn't continue, they returned to wherever they called home.


The sun had begun to set and the deep blues of light seeped into the sky. She's been pacing across her room so much it had created dips on the floor with her footprints. She had no time to watch the stars burn to life in the sky or wave goodbye to the sun as it hid behind the horizon of sand. Octavian could attack while she sleeps, or even now. No one could determine when his forces would arrive, but she was sure they would.

She kept pacing. She passed the foot of her bed for the 400th time, then turning back past the hieroglyphs on her walls for the 401st time. The tapestry, the gowns, the bed, the gowns, the tapestry, the hieroglyphs, the table, gowns, bed, window, bed, gowns, tapestry. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Waiting, solving, anticipating, fearing, waiting, moving, thinking. Thinking? Planning. It's too bright, not bright enough. They'll see you in the moonlight, but there's less time with each step. You can wait. No, time is running out.

The large set of doors creaked open with a man walking through, making her forget about her worries for a moment.

"Is it not a good time to come in? I wanted to rest for the night."

Another risk.

"It is fine. I am only anxious."

The man walked towards her as he reassured her, "We have a whole army defending Egypt. Octavian is bringing many, but some soldiers would have to stay behind."

"Numbers aren't what determines a win, Antony."

He smiled, "Perhaps, but it does increase the chances of one. I will sleep early so I can rise earlier if that will help you relax."

No!

"Yes… But I might wake up even earlier." She looked into his loving eyes. She could see his worries for her and her well-being. His grip on her hands tightened with fear. Only she could tell when Antony felt anything but brave and powerful. It's how a soldier must always be; And a king.

Antony softly sighed, then said, "Very well, but please don't leave the palace's walls. It is a stressful time for both of us."

There were many better words to replace "stressful", but She had too many reasons to worry about correcting him.

"I'll stay up a little longer." She told him, turning away and staring out the window. The sun still hadn't fallen asleep, and she would watch it until it did.


The cloaked figure rode their horse in the direction the magician had given them. She had said a two days walk, but they would push for a night's gallop. Life had given the figure no time but instead kept taking it away.

They gripped tightly to its mane as the steed kicked up sand with its hooves. It's heavy breath expanded and retracted against the rider's calves. The palace had fallen under the horizon behind them, but the temple still could not be found. They kicked the horse hard enough to speed it up, but just like humans, animals could only run for so fast for so long.

So much time wasted on running, so much more on waiting and planning. Even breathing could take up so much time that they would die before the next day. Blinking, talking, looking, hearing. It seemed to all be so quick that it meant nothing, but then you add up the fractions of seconds they take throughout a lifetime and realize why you die feeling you've never truly accomplished anything.

The horse started to slow, its energy being left behind in the sand. Small amounts were left behind with each hoofprint being pulled from the ground. No amount of kicks or calls could force the animal to go longer. The figure had found its limit. Too limited. Not long enough. Not fast enough. Now they would have to find their own limit and break it to get to the temple.

They slid off of the horse, a simple gown seen underneath while the cloak dragged behind. Staring ahead; Still no temple to be seen. They couldn't give anymore to "Father Time". The man of greed had already stolen so much.

The figure took a knife from under their cloak and cut excess gown away until they could freely move their legs. They hid the knife once more before sprinting forwards, ignoring the dread of pain that would come from so much running.

Time passed and their legs began to ache, their throat stung, and their body felt numb. Not enough. If they could keep running, the lack of feeling would take over and the pain would cease. Time. Time. Time, time, time. The word that echoed in the figure's head for weeks would finally leave its cave once they felt creation and destruction in each hand.

Pinks and oranges bled into the dark sky. Father Time had stolen more from them. The sun started to blind the night stars and began to scare the moon away. The crescent ran away with its twinkling army. If only they could command an army with so many soldiers. The moon offered so much. That power would be great, but they only needed two.

More running, more pained gulps of air and numb legs somehow still able to work. Finally, after the sun had reached out to greet the world and chased all the stars away, a temple could be seen approaching the figure. No, they were the ones approaching. The temple stood still, teasing them, mocking them. They worked for Father Time. The rage it gave to the figure made them want to scream, yell, cry out, but they couldn't. People could still be inside. People always were. Knowing what the temple stored, someone would stay to protect it.

The figure stopped at the bottom of the stairs. The temple looked out of place and unnatural. It could be it's the only structure for miles, or it could be the lively colors painted on the strange stone.

They didn't touch the burning stone as they walked up the steps. Their skeleton had eroded. Their throat was full of sand. They didn't have the strength to continue, but they would have to find it soon before the next sunset.

The figure entered the large temple doors with silence. Inside, the walls were decorated with jade green, deep reds, and gold. Somehow the building remained a comfortable temperature despite the sun nearly melting the figure. They walked, only the ruffling of their clothes and heavy breathing being any signs of life. They tried taking normal breaths to keep quiet.

One of the walls had glass on it. A door to a case. On the other side stored dark octagonal boxes with each a shelf of their own. Locked. Simply breaking the glass would alert any guardians…

They examined the glass, noticing extravagant designs engraved on it. The blade came from underneath the cloak, tapping on the glass to find the right box. All of them were identical to the other. The same red markings, the same shape and size. The figure chose one and started carving their way through the glass, careful not to make it screech. The thin line of an uneven circle had been carved through. They tapped it hard enough to be displaced and pushed it out, catching it before it fell and shattered. They gently placed it at the bottom of the case, then took the box from its shelf.

The wood felt smooth and polished. Whoever tended to the building had skill and time.

They opened the box, a variety of jewelry set in designated spots of a circle. More popped out of the side of the box. It didn't carry the power of creation or destruction, but one power caught their eye.

The pure white bracelet had five brilliant purple jewels on it. Looking at it, they held their arm out with curiosity.

"We were not expecting any visitors." A man's voice made the figure flinch. They pulled the box closer to their chest before they could drop it.

The broad man had height along with strength that dwarfed the figure. Their clothes weren't custom to the land, the same with the building and the magic. They saw the figure as merely a thief. A greedy person wanting cash or power, but that's not what they needed. They already had it.

"Return the miraculous or face a devastating outcome." The man spoke with a deep voice. He was trying to intimidate them. Maybe for a real thief, it would have worked.

"A devastating outcome would fall upon me either way." A woman's voice escaped the cloak. They kept their back turned to the man so her face wouldn't be revealed. "The only variable would be when that outcome arrived."

The man did nothing. The woman heard no movement for a few seconds, then the man's shadow stretched over her. She tensed, moving as little as possible as she reached into her cloak.

She whipped around with a yell and swung her arm to stab the man's side, but he caught her hand. She noticed a thin green bracelet around his wrist.

The woman struggled to escape the man's grip. He let go and she fell backward, the jewelry -the miraculouses- spilling out of the box and onto the floor. She lost her knife, but she saw the white bracelet close enough to her and snatched it. She hurried to her feet and kept cautious of the distance between her and the man. He noticed the bracelet.

"Even with the powers of a miraculous, you are not skilled enough to beat me."

She slid the miraculous over her wrist anyways. A shine of pure white light emanated from it and a little white animal flew out. It had the tail of a canine and large topaz eyes. It had the ability of flight and hovered right at the eye level of the woman.

"I will warn you a second time." The man said.

She turned to the animal and ordered, "Give me your powers."

It nodded and spoke with a higher-pitched female voice, "You must activate these powers with magical words."

"Lunna." The man said. The animal turned to him. He looked at it with commanding eyes. His wishes opposed the one who wore the jewelry. It was either the protector of the miraculouses or the one who held the power to wield it.

"Lunna," The woman called, "I am the bearer of your miraculous. You listen to me and me only."

The animal was conflicted. Looking at the man, then the woman. She ended on the woman. "You must say 'Lunna, Moon Rise.'"

"Lunna, Moon Rise."

"Sass, Scales Slither!" The man's bracelet glowed green. His little flying animal did the same as Lunna. Both were pulled into their respective miraculouses and the magic began to change the wearers' clothes.

The woman's torn gown and dark cloak were replaced with extravagant white fabric. Silk decorated her outfit and silver cuffs on her ankles and wrists kept everything together. She had silver earring cuffs that were sharp and pointed, making her ears somewhat wolflike. The white and silver mask of a wolf covered her face.

The man had a green and black outfit with jewelry on his arms and around his neck decorated to imitate scales. He wore makeup that matched his outfit's colors to protect his identity. In his hands, he held a lyre.

"You will now have to be defeated by my hands. I gave you two warnings, which should have been none."

"I am your Pharoah. You will obey me and let me take the miraculous of creation and destruction."

The man hissed, "I follow no one but the Order of the Guardians!"

The woman- The pharaoh's eyebrows furrowed. She showed her teeth in an infuriated scowl. "You choose horribly!"

She charged at him, pulling a pair of hook swords that were kept on her back and swinging them at her opponent's face. He caught her swords in the strings of his lyre, blocking her attack.

She jumped back and pulled at the hilt of her swords, taking the lyre too. It flew into the air and skidded several yards across the floor.

"Second chance!" The man shouted and did something to his bracelet. A flash and history repeated.

"You choose horribly!" The pharaoh shouted

She charged at him, pulling a pair of hook swords that were kept on her back and swinging them at her opponent's face. He caught her swords in the strings of his lyre, blocking her attack.

Before she could retreat again, he kicked her stomach and sent her skidding across the ground instead of his lyre. The hook swords clanked onto the ground. The man walked to her while being careful of the miraculouses scattered on the chilled floor.

The woman picked herself up. She needed to get another box. She could steal two if the gods gave her luck.

She looked up at the enemy, then at the glass case in the wall. She remained stone until he prepared for an attack. Then she sprinted and fell to her stomach, sliding past him. Once she started to slow down she jumped up and ran to the case. She snatched one of her swords from the ground and swung it across and into the glass. The shards sprinkled everywhere and crunched and scratched as she shifted her feet to take as many of the boxes available.

"Second Cha-!"

The woman had taken her second sword and threw it at the man before he finished. He dodged and the blade missed, however.

She took three boxes stacked on top of each other and bolted for the exit. A third person blocked her path. She had seen this person before. An elderly woman with a staff gripped in her hand. Shorter than the pharaoh yet much more experienced in magic. She was the magician who gave the directions of the temple.

"You betray your allies!" The pharaoh yelled, "Unless you were willing to bring me here to trap me!"

The magician only looked at her with amusement. Her eyes were saying, "Oh how young and stupid you are. You know little of anything."

But her voice said, "Only those worthy enough can claim the power of a miraculous. Your test of worthiness was your greed."

The pharaoh scowled again. How all of this made her want to howl. She left her weapons too far from reach. So instead, she dropped to the ground and swiped her feet to knock the magician over. The man then came after her, so she ran out of the temple and back to her kingdom.

The man dressed as a snake chased her. The magician didn't lag far behind. They worked for this "Order of the Guardians". They were a part of it.

The snake man kept watch of these miraculouses while the old magician sought those who could take the role of a hero.

The pharaoh was a hero. She dressed as a wolf to protect her kingdom. She could have done better if those Order of the Guardians saw that.

She would have to make do with the wolf; A loyal flying animal that knew who the alpha was.

Behind her, she heard the sand being shifted from feet not her own. She heard the heavy breathing of a man. The snake. These heightened senses would be useful in defeating Octavian.

The shifted sand caught up to her and a shadow blocked the sun from her sweating face. The snake had leaped into the sky, falling back down to attack. The wolf jumped back and both landings sent waves of sand to ripple in the blistering ocean of gold.

The snake wouldn't listen. There was no point in persuading. She charged at him, swerving around at the last second and kicked her knee into his back. He fell forward. She rushed ahead, but he grabbed her ankle and she fell into the sand. He grabbed her wrist and took the bracelet. White light traveled down her body, taking away her wolf outfit and returning her old one.

The snake stood up. The magician somehow caught up to them. She examined the miraculous, giving it back to the snake when she deemed it to be in fine condition.

"Lunna; kwami of loyalty, you must learn to pick your alphas wisely." The magician told the little animal that hovered beside the pharaoh. A kwami. It's ears drooped with guilt.

The pharaoh picked herself up, dusting the sand off of her clothes and hair. She glared at the two members of The Order. The snake and the magician. Once Octavian was defeated, she would come back to execute them.

The magician raised her wrinkled finger at her, speaking, "Pharaoh of Egypt, you have done many wrongs in your lifetime. You protect your kingdom to protect your status and your life. You have no right to steal a miraculous and its powers."

She scoffed, "I paid you to tell me how to find your temple. You will take gold for any task. Greed is not my test but yours!"

The magician lowered her finger, casting her staff out in its place. The wind picked up. The pharaoh assumed a sand storm would come to claim all three humans and a kwami. Instead, something ominous grew behind her. Turning around, a hole in the air opened wide enough for a grown person to walk through. It howled with the wind echoing inside. Nothing could be seen but black.

She turned to the magician and snake. The old lady held his forearm to keep him in place. The kwami rested in her hands.

The hole pulled the pharaoh inside of it, but she resisted. She dug her feet into the sand, taking a terrifying step to the snake. She feared she would be eaten with each step.

Reaching out, she tried to take the bracelet. The snake saw this and stepped back. The pharaoh became impatient. She jumped forward and clutched the bracelet. Her feet left the ground. The sand no longer held onto her, so the hole pulled her in. It clawed at her and bared teeth to consume her.

The frantic magician pulled the snake back and the pharaoh lost her grip. She had the bracelet and the kwami, but the hole swallowed her. She fell into the dark pit and her old world became a frame within it. The hole closed, and everything shut up. She could only hear her breathing.

On the outside, still in the scorching sun, the snake and magician walked back to the temple.

"It looks like we will have to move the miracle boxes." The old magician spoke.

"If you had not taken the money, we would not have to move." The snake said as his bracelet beeped. He stopped it and a kwami who looks like a snake flew out of the jewelry.

"In all honesty, a part of me hoped she would pass, but I was wrong. Now Egypt will wonder where their pharaoh had vanished to…" The magician thought, "Ah! We will say the poison of Asp killed her."

"Won't I be seen as the villain, then?"

"Miraculous holders are not stuck with one name for eternity. I've always preferred 'Viperion' for the snake."

Student and teacher. They left behind their worries of the royal thief, but this thief still possessed the wolf miraculous. They still had the kwami. They only had to wait until life gave them the right opportunity. Only, it took longer than a lifetime.

The hole kept their spirit wandering in a void of silence for years. Nothing came to them and time passed while they stayed. Father Time still mocked them. Until, finally, they learned to control the void. And they found a city that hid the only thing to reclaim their kingdom.