Welcome back! I hope everybody who's in school is enjoying their winter break and those of you who have to work get some time to rest and be with family.

I have possibly the shortest chapter I've ever written here for you today, but don't worry, a longer one is coming soon ;). Enjoy!


Yami stood in front of his father and the other Item Bearers two days later, presenting a powerful image as his fellow Mages knelt behind him respectfully. Though they knelt in front of the Pharaoh, it was clear their deference was to Yami. The throne room was empty of everyone except these two groups. Considering only the Item Bearers could see them, Yami had insisted that nobody else should be present when he presented his secret court.

His friends had been less than amused by Yami's declaration that they were to appear in front of the Pharaoh, but after some convincing and some reassurances that the Millennium Items shouldn't work properly against them, they reluctantly agreed.

"So these are the ones you chose for your secret court?" Aknamkanon asked rhetorically, eyeing them carefully.

"Their minds are strong…" Akhenaden muttered.

While nothing in his posture gave it away, Yami could hear Bakura's teeth grinding together when Akhenaden spoke. He wasn't quite sure what Bakura's problem was with the man, but all attempts to find out over the past couple of days had been brushed aside and followed by a promise to be on his best behavior. In this case, however, it was likely that Akhenaden was trying to peer into his mind - something they were all adverse to.

"Their souls are unique," Kalim added, "One soul so completely opposite the Prince's, but yet oddly complimenting it."

Yugi stiffened behind him, but thanks to the cloak, it was nearly impossible to catch the action. Yami was only able to catch it because he had to forcefully stop himself from having the same reaction. He really should have expected that observation anyway considering what they had observed when he was thirteen.

"Their futures are tied to the Prince, but that's all I can see," Isis continued, frowning at her lack of clarity.

"Where on earth did you find these people?" Seto asked, brow furrowing in concentration as he tried using the Rod, but having as much luck as his comrades.

"I've known them for a while now," Yami answered truthfully, "For as long as I can remember."

The Pharaoh and the other Bearers all turned to look at Mahaddo expectantly. He had been the one who spent the most time with the prince growing up and as such would most likely know these people as well.

Mahaddo held up his hand in surrender, "I swear, I have never seen these people before and it concerns me greatly that they have been around our prince and I haven't noticed."

The attention turned back to Yami, suspicion rising in regards to the six kneeling figures behind him.

"They are very good at what I ask them to do," Yami replied to the unspoken questions and accusations.

"And what do you ask them to do?" Aknamkanon asked warily.

"To stay hidden and let no one know of their existence," Yami answered immediately. It wasn't too far off what they were doing anyway. "With your permission, they will start being my eyes and ears and bring me any news concerning the safety of Egypt: good and bad."

"Well they've certainly done a good job with the first part," Shada huffed annoyed. "How sure are you of their loyalty? The last thing we need is another spy getting close to the royal family."

"Their loyalty is unwavering," Yami assured patiently. He understood why the Priests were uncertain of letting his court have essentially free reign throughout the palace when they couldn't use their Items on them, but a little blind faith in their Prince would be nice.

"Yami, I have an idea," Malik muttered, taking everyone by surprise. Yami and his court because Malik hadn't run this 'idea' past any of them, and Aknamkanon and his court because Malik had just uttered a completely foreign language.

"An idea?" Yami questioned, keeping a careful eye on the reactions of the Item Bearers who seemed even more amazed and suspicious that he was now speaking the same unknown language. There was a strange light of understanding in Aknamkanon's eye that didn't make any sense. He'd have to ask him about it later if the opportunity arose.

"Will you back me up?" Malik asked, not elaborating.

"Do I have a choice?" Yami shot back, stepping aside and gesturing for him to go ahead. He trusted him enough to know that Malik wouldn't do anything that would put any of them in danger.

Malik stood up and carefully lowered his hood. Surprise rippled through everyone in the throne room. They all knew the circumstances of this meeting and for Malik to throw away a level of the protection he was offered was completely unexpected.

"I am Malik," he introduced himself clearly, sending a second round of surprise through the Priests, this time because Malik had spoken flawless Egyptian at the same level the scholars in the palace spoke, "I serve as the second line of defense for the Prince as well as the Keeper of Secrets."

Yami did his best to appear that this wasn't new information to him. As for the others, he could almost feel the murderous glares they were shooting Malik from under their hoods. To be fair, Malik was the only one without a doppelganger in this world and therefore the safest to have his identity exposed.

"I will allow you," Malik pointed at Shada, "To enter my mind for exactly 30 seconds before I kick you back out. That should give you sufficient time to see that my comrades and I mean no harm to the Pharaoh, the Prince, or to Egypt."

Shada stepped forward cautiously; Malik's confidence was slightly unnerving to someone who had no idea of his abilities. "You are so sure you will be able to remove me forcibly from your mind?"

Malik flashed a wicked grin, "Do you want to test it to find out?"

"Don't do anything foolish," Yami warned.

"You may be their prince, but you're our Pharaoh. Forgive me for wanting the trust to go both ways here."

Shada sent Yami an uncertain glace at Malik's behavior and the foreign words. None of the Bearers were used to people standing up to them so boldly.

"You may proceed," Yami offered, "He will be on his best behavior, but I don't recommend testing him on the time limit. Most of you remember what happened when you forced yourselves uninvited into my mind. I was promised that there wouldn't be a repeat of that."

With that final warning, Shada placed the tip of the Key on Malik's forehead and turned it. Both sets of eyes went blank as Shada entered Malik's mind. The throne room was silent, both sides waiting with anticipation. Yami had started counting the seconds the moment the Key turned and he was sure his father was doing the same.

Shada was one of the two current Item Bearers who didn't actually know what happened. Mahaddo hadn't been there, but he certainly knew what had happened because he had dealt with the aftermath.

"What happened?" Yugi whispered under his breath.

"Later," Yami promised with barely a murmur. He didn't want to explain it to his hikari here in front of the Priests. Besides, Shada's time was just about up.

Thirty-one seconds later, Shada jerked away from Malik as though he'd be physically struck.

"I wasn't done!" Shada protested angrily, glaring at the man.

"And I told you no more than thirty seconds," Malik crossed his arms, "I know what you saw, so you should be able to answer: Are we a threat to the Prince?"

"No."

"You've proven your point, now back down," Yami commanded quietly. He didn't need a full argument to break out.

Malik bowed slightly and returned to his kneeling position, his eyes never leaving Shada's. He didn't bother pulling his hood back up now that his face was now known.

"Well," Aknamkanon cleared his throat, "I think it's evident that you definitely have control over them. They obey you rather than my own Court."

"And I am loyal to you," Yami stressed, "They will not betray me, you, or Egypt."

"It is not proper," Seto protested, "Their loyalty should be to the Pharaoh above all else!"

"And when my son sits on the throne, that is exactly where their loyalty will be," Aknamkanon said calmly, still watching the small crowd behind Yami, "It is rare to find this level of loyalty even among the closest of friends. They don't follow him simply because he's their Prince and leader, but he is their leader because they follow him. Surely you all sense it as well?"

General mutterings of affirmation greeted Aknamkanon's question. The Priests weren't quite sure how to handle this kind of situation; everything seemed outside their control and the Millennium Items did not work properly against them.

Yami was a little startled at his father's statement, but could not refute it. It was true that he was named "Pharaoh" even before everything started, but he would have nothing to lead or command if his friends hadn't stuck around. The revelation came with some sense of relief: nobody had stuck around because they had to and he wasn't forcing any of them to follow him against their will.

He suddenly felt the eyes of the Mages on him, almost as if they were saying, 'If you didn't already know that, we'll knock you over the head until it sinks in.'

"I believe you have chosen your allies wisely," Aknamkanon addressed Yami, "You have my permission to form this "Secret Court" under the conditions we set two days ago. Let everyone in this room take this secret to their graves, on pain of death."

"Thank you for trusting me with this," Yami knelt respectfully, "We will not let you down."


Like I said, it's a very short chapter, but I had to end it here. The chapter after this was supposed to be a part of this one, but it just kept going, so I had to split it up. The next chapter will be out soon, I promise.

I'm not quite sure, but there will probably be at least 2 or 3 more chapters before Yami is crowned as Pharaoh and things really start to move. When I started this arc, I really had no idea just how long it was going to take me to get through it, but thanks for sticking with me through this adventure!

Happy Holidays everyone! Stay safe and please review :)