The Power of the Nile written by Atlantis ( 2002

Hi all! No, no please don't throw vegetables. I know, I know, I'm a bad person and I haven't updated this fic in forever. Well, for your information, life does continue on outside the fanfic world and time doesn't always present itself on a silver platter. I do apologize for taking so long though. I didn't mean to. Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing, those things really can inspire and make me smile! *^_^*

Tara-hime: As to your questions, I didn't really model the angels after any other characters, they just came into my head and are just her guardians, protectors if you will. Seto's clothes are not exactly like what they are in the anime, but I do envision them as similar. I'll put in some more descriptions later on to help you understand better. And finally, there IS a reason why his dragon is not a blue eyes-white dragon, and is instead a blue dragon with white eyes. That will come in at a later time. It's actually a pretty cool idea.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or any of it's characters. However, I am having quite a fun time twisting them to serve my purposes in this fic.

Rating: PG-13 (a little scene that could be considered gruesome, depending on how squeamish you are)

*****************************************************************

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8&9

*****************************************************************

PART 2

The day of Pharaoh's Jubilee drew near and Téatani was confined to the palace, if only for her father's sanity. She was fitted and bathed and adorned with jewels and gold, wrapped in fine linens and drenched in perfumes that floated around her as if in a cloud. Her clothes were mainly white robes, ornate in their fashion, lightweight and soft, caressing her skin like the hands of a lover and displaying her young curves effectively. The clothes were all sleeveless at her insistence, leaving her creamy arms free to hang unhindered at her sides, while gold serpents wrapped around her upper arms and bracelets jangled at her wrists, the gold shining in any light.

It had been three moons since she had discovered she could call on her guardians and since that time, had called upon them numerous times to seek out those who meant to hurt others. And, she had discovered with surprise, there were other things she could call upon as well, creatures too magnificent to describe with words. Some were alike to the grand horses of the Greeks, but more fierce and beautiful with wings and horns and sharp hooves that threatened death to anyone who dared even think about harming their mistress; another was a flaming red bird of fire, a falcon that had called itself Phoenix... yes, it had spoken to her, nearly frightening the young woman into a faint; smaller creatures like golden hawks and swirling tornadoes of butterflies; and massive dogs that didn't seem to leave with the rest of the creatures when their duty was done.

The dogs, Baki and Memnoh, had become pets, and tended to lounge on her bed all day, taking up the entire mattress and even hanging off the edges with their immense bodies, while Téatani was in the palace. They were normal looking animals, excepting their size. The two canines had dark brown fur that rivaled the feel of satin when cleaned, long tails that whipped about when trying to convey a good mood (which usually ended up knocking over numerous valuables) and they had understanding, intelligent eyes that were colored like dark chocolate. Large, soft, floppy ears hung at the sides of their massive heads, always exaggerating every move they made. They were always looking for a hand to be stroked by, licking faces and leaving trails of warm slobber on skin, and had appetites that equaled that of ten men each. Téatani was fond of them the most of all her new protectors, but could not deny the thrill she felt when allowed to ride on the backs of her other even larger creatures when searching out the evil that had deemed a little boy's life expendable. Prahotep wouldn't be avenged until every dark heart was destroyed, she had vowed.

Since that time, Téatani had gained a maturity that stunned and awed the entire Lower Kingdom. Feeling like Prahotep's death was on her shoulders, she took life more seriously, dealing more in political events with her father and overseeing some of the more massive building projects. Her goal was to create a structure that would rival the Parthenon, to honor her father and his reign. In his younger days, he had been in more wars than could be counted and his competence on the battlefield had earned him higher and higher ranks until his father had felt that he had earned the right to become Pharaoh. Ever since her father had taken his position as the leader of the Lower Kingdom, no war had graced it's fertile lands. Of course, skirmishes did come up, but from the experience of his younger days, Pharaoh Kakoran had been able to negotiate peaceful solutions every time. Lately, he had been contemplating more, often seen sitting on his throne with his forehead leaning into a palm in frustration, completely quiet. His silence bothered Téatani. He had never been a quiet man.

After many long days with the master-builders, Téatani had finally decided on the design for her father's monument: it would be in the shape of what her builders called a 'pyramid', closed only on two sides and open on the other two, for inside, there would be a huge arena with stands for thousands of her father's subjects. It would be a place of celebration and parades and victory, with her father's stories, experiences, and records of his rule carved into the stone walls and ceiling for all of time, to look down on future generations. According to the measurements, it would be over six hundred feet high, larger than anything else on earth. That was what her father deserved, she only wished she could do more... put his story in the stars perhaps. But that wasn't possible, and so she was content with the massive building project. People would come from miles around, from other countries, to see it when it was completed, and all Téatani could think about was how happy it would make her father, since it was to be a surprise.

The day before her father's celebration, he took her aside and told her that he wanted to spend the day with her and speak with her on a few matters. Téatani had merely nodded and followed him through the cool, stone hallways silently. For the entire day, they dodged servants and remained alone, together, talking of life in the court and foreign ambassadors and relations with the Upper Kingdom. Pharaoh made sure to keep his daughter shielded from the rumors that were everywhere about his daughter and the wild, dark blue-eyed prince of the south, but he was sure she would find out soon. Rumors were all that they were, he had convinced himself. He would not see his daughter join into an alliance with, let alone wed the son of his enemy. Though war had long-since been in the past, tension still resided on the borders between the two kingdoms and he refused to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of peace. Perhaps he was being greedy and possessive, but his child was still so young. He couldn't stand the thought of already moving on in life, to have a family and tend to a husband's needs and desires. No, she would not see that day for some time, he vowed blindly.

"Téa," he said softly, shortening her name to the nickname he used affectionately for her, "do you enjoy interacting with the subjects? Or is it always just a way to escape from unwanted suitors?" he questioned her as they walked through the palace gardens quietly. The gardens were an oasis in the midst of all the sand that lay out and away from the ever-fertile and powerful Nile, lush and green and flowering all year long. A visiting royal had once said that it almost resembled a rainforest. With all of the large leaves that were used as comfortable shade during the long summer months, a slight tinge of humidity in the air, and the bright flowers of all kinds surrounding the gardens on all sides, even creeping up the high stone walls of the sanctuary on thick vines, it was certainly reminiscent of one. However, the annoying insects that constantly inhabited the thick vegetation of rainforests were not present and the only animals that walked the thick heather and grasses were peacocks and various types of cats, held sacred and allowed into the green sanctuary. Téatani sighed.

"I truly do enjoy being with them, father. Seeing them live their lives and how they deal with what the Powers give to them intrigues me, and I enjoy seeing them smile when I can ease some of their burdens or aid them in some way. The fact that they are also a safe-haven for me from those ravenous suitors that never cease is merely an added benefit," she replied quietly, stopping to gaze at a particularly large, pink flower that hung above her head. Her fingers gently touched the rim of the petals, almost longingly, before moving away and resting at her side again. She looked at her father and smiled. Pharaoh nodded.

"Child, I sense some emptiness in you. What is it that troubles your heart?" he asked as he sat on one of the marble benches the Greeks had sent as a gift. After patting the space next to him, Téatani hesitantly took her place on the bench as well and looked into her lap, twisting her hands together. Today, she was wearing another long white robe with sandals that wound up and around her legs to her knees beneath the material. She hated the sandals, she would rather have her solid leather boots with the tough soles and the slight heel because the sandals made her feel every stone she tread upon and tended to flop on her feet occasionally. Her arms were oiled and perfumed, soft as silk, and a cobra, the family emblem, wound its way around her left arm while a decorated band rested on her right arm and bracelets hung at her wrists. Tomorrow she would have to wear rings as well. There was a simply gold chain about her neck, glittering in the sunlight, but for the ceremony, she would wear a gold neck-piece that was covered in large jewels of all colors, which was quite heavy. Her face would be made up to, covered in a light powder to match her skin, with the dark blues and charcoal liner around her eyes to emphasize the color, with a small amount of rouge and soft, red paint on her lips. She was also sure that there were to be large hoop earrings, but she hoped not. They always tended to get caught in her hair and then pull painfully on her earlobes. Téatani would be the most beautiful person in attendance, and yet she would feel empty and unfulfilled. A touch on her arm shook her from her silent ponderings.

"Téa?" her father asked, unsure.

"I am sorry father, my mind was wondering to other worlds," the young woman apologized as she blushed, embarrassed. She did not know how to answer his question from just a few moments before. "Well," she began, "I'm not entirely sure what it is that bothers me. I am not sick and I am happy, and yet..." she trailed off. "I feel as if something is missing, something crucial, and I'll die without it. I know it sounds foolish. I should not have answered, I think it is just my imagination running away with me again," Téatani said, trying to convince both her father and herself of the truth of her words.

"If you are sure it is nothing," Kakoran replied, searching in his daughter's eyes for some kind of clue as to what she was feeling. She nodded as he pulled back and leaned against the bench, closing his eyes as he took in a deep breath. He was a handsome man, ever more so at times like this when he did not have to wear his head-piece and the atrocious eye makeup. Now, he looked at peace and his soft brown eyes were more friendly and less like those of a ruler, his hair soft and shining from constant and careful grooming on his part. His tunic covered his arms almost down to his elbows and was wrapped carefully around his body, a pristine white. It stopped just at his knees and a gold belt was wrapped around his middle to hold the robe and separate it if nothing else, to keep it from looking like a sleeping gown. His footwear was much simpler than Téatani's, winding only around his ankles and of a sturdier make than her flimsy, palace shoes.

Suddenly, the air was humming, seeming to vibrate in the very core of Téatani's soul. Her attentions focused solely on her father and as he let out a relaxed breath, she dove for him, pushing him from the bench, not able to say anything as her voice caught in her throat. He grunted and hissed sharply and Téatani froze when she looked up from where she had fallen and saw the arrow embedded deep in his right shoulder. It had meant to hit his heart. Flames danced in her eyes as she stood and looked around her, catching the shadow that leapt from the ledge of the wall into the crowded streets of the city below, bow in hand and a quiver at his back. He would not get far. But she would have to deal with him later.

Kneeling at her father's side, she pushed him back to the ground to lay on his back and tore the bottom of her robes to wrap the cloth around his wound and stop the bleeding. Tears grew in her eyes as she watched her father's body convulse in pain and his painful, yet muffled cries of agony. "Help!" she cried, screaming as loud as her voice would allow her, making her throat burn in the effort. Tens of people erupted from the doorway that led to the gardens and Téatani and her father were surrounded by fearful servants, some on their knees praying to the gods and others lamenting his forthcoming death.

Glaring harshly at those who presumed he would die, she shouted at them to leave and demanded they find the royal physicians or they would be executed. Needless to say, the physicians were present and attending her father within minutes, perhaps seconds since worry tends to expand time, and were extracting the arrow from his arm, wrapping and covering the wound with healing ointments, and carrying him inside carefully.

As Téatani watched them go, she fell to her knees when the last person had gone back inside. "Why must others continue to suffer and be harmed because of me?" she cried, tears falling into the grass beneath her as she curled up. "I feel so empty, and I know that I can help people more than I do now, but I don't know how. Part of me is missing and until I find that piece of me, I can't keep people from pain... can't keep my own family from being hurt." Her fingers gripped at the grass, pulling it up and ripping out the roots through her grip as she shakily got to her feet. As her eyes moved back up to the wall where the assassin had been, she snarled and with a simple though had changed into her hooded robe and battle gear, silently calling on one of her larger creatures and taking a strong hold on her sword. Phoenix alighted on the ground carefully, the flames singeing the leaves that were too close and yet not harming Téatani in any way, seeming more to be soft wisps of air instead. Climbing onto the back of the great falcon, they lifted into the air as she situated herself between the wings and gripped the bird's body with her legs.

*Find him. Find the one who did this,* Téatani said softly to her creature, asking it to hunt down the assassin. A feminine voice whispered back an affirmative and they circled over the city once before moving to the outskirts where the shadowy figure was trying to get away on a heavily- laden camel. Diving from the air at a pace that nearly pushed Téatani from Phoenix's back, they hovered in the air just before the assassin's path, the young princess wielding her sword and jumping to the ground, absorbing the impact by bending her knees. The camel came to an abrupt half as Téatani asked it to stop, being able to speak with the animal, and the shadow went flying, landing in the dust and rocks at Téatani's feet. Blood ran down his face and arms from scraping against the ground and as he looked up, his head was pulled back by the forceful grip on his hair, forcing him to stare into blazing blue depths. He swallowed as the blade of her sword pushed against his jugular, drawing a drop of blood and rolling down into the collar of his black robe.

"You should not have crossed me," she whispered threateningly as she pushed the sword closer, opening a small slash in his skin. He winced and clenched his teeth as she pulled his hair tighter. "Who sent you and why were you trying to kill my father?" His face hardened into a mask of practiced silence, emotionless as he stared at her.

"I think you know who: the one you say is evil and will stop at nothing to get you. But why? You'll have to ask the Master when you meet him," he spat at her. Téatani replied by pulling the sword up and slicing the skin from his neck, allowing the blood to flow more freely.

"You'll die soon if that bleeding doesn't stop. Tell me what I want to know and I may give you a chance to save yourself," she whispered, eyes unwavering and hand steady as she held her weapon.

"My life means nothing if I can serve my Master with my death. You shall not escape the Upper Kingdom's power!" he cried. His yell died in his throat as he gargled with his own blood as Téatani's sword slashed through his throat and removed his head from his body. She watched it drop and roll across the sand, small stoned sticking to the lips and blind eyes and blood. Without her grip, the body fell as well with a 'thump' on the ground, the blood staining the desert floor to a rusty iron even as it blew away with the wind. This body did not turn to ashes as all of the others had, which meant the minion had been human and evil's hands were stretching farther into the world. Growling under her breath, she knelt to the body and searched for any kind of insignia or pendant that might lead her to the source of her ever-continuing fight against evil. There was nothing. She rocked back on the balls of her feet and wiped the blood from her sword on the black tunic of the dead man.

As morbid as it was, she was not bothered with staring at the decapitated form of a man whose body continued to bleed into the ground. When her sword had been clean, she climbed back on the back of Phoenix and decided to leave, not wanting to be present when the flies and jackals and vultures arrived to pick and tear at their new meal. She was not aware of the dark eyes that watched her from the center of a distant sand storm and the sinister smile that flashed a deadly grin in her direction before disappearing with a breath of wind.

*Do you truly think the Upper Kingdom is behind this?* Téatani asked Phoenix as they soared back to the palace on a warm wind current. Phoenix was silent for a few moments.

*It is not for me to say, but it is very possible. The Lower Kingdom has not been on very good terms with the Upper Kingdom since your father won back control of the Delta and any act of war could set off a long- awaited clash between the two kingdoms. Perhaps they are looking for a chance to take back what they thought was theirs and more,* Phoenix pondered out loud.

*Yes, I see what you mean. I will send a messenger to the Pharaoh of the Upper Kingdom and discover if he means to start a war. I will not start a war based on suspicions alone, I will have proof behind my reasonings before I make a mistake that could bring about the deaths of many people.* Téatani leaned forward, wrapping her arms about Phoenix's neck, stroking the fiery feathers with her fingertips.

*Very good. Spoken like a true ruler,* Phoenix commented as she began to circle the palace with her descent. *I think that with your father's wound hindering him, you will be taking over control of the kingdom for a short while. It is good that you have an intelligent head on your shoulders, or else I may get worried.* Téatani nodded and giggled, even in the serious atmosphere, and jumped down from the falcon and smiled as she disappeared with a slow shimmer of white light. Changing back into her dreaded palace clothes, she made her way back inside after a last glance at the gardens and went searching for her father.

She found her father in his bed, her mother at his side and holding tight to his hand, a trail of dried tears on her cheeks. He was wearing only a loincloth around his waist and was covered with a thin cotton sheet, his chest bared and wrapped in medical gauze around his shoulder and across half of his torso. He made an attempt to get up but her mother pushed him back down and smiled at Téatani through the filmy purple curtain that separated the bed from the rest of the room, lending a little privacy to the occupants. She approached the bedside slowly and moved inside the curtain, looking down on her father with a hint of remorse. Her father saw her look and tried to reassure her.

"Little Téa, my girl, do not start to blame this on yourself. It should not have been you who was shot. I know you're thinking it. This is the type of reality that occurs in battle, and if you are to be a warrior for the Powers, you must learn to accept this. Besides, you saved your father's life. Is that not something to smile about? And the kingdom will be under your power for a while as I heal," he said, reaching out to take her hand with his free hand, as his wife still held tightly to the other. Squeezing her palm gently in his grasp, he watched his daughter smile and sigh.

"The priests won't like it," Téatani confided as she sat on the edge of the bed. "You know how they aren't fond of me in the first place and disagree with me taking the throne and ruling. What do you think they'll say if I take control even for this short amount of time?"

"That does not matter. I am Pharaoh, and for good reason. Their opinion of you doesn't make you less of a leader, or less capable to handle the position. I bestow upon you all of the rights and powers of Pharaoh and may the gods have mercy on you if you misuse this power," her father whispered as he placed both of his hands on Téatani's bowed head and passed on his reign. When his daughter's blue eyes met his, they were bright and shining with tears.

"I will not let you down. If you will now excuse me, I have to take care of a suspicion I have," Téatani said, ready to excuse herself.

"And what is that?" her mother asked, taking a hold on her husband's hand once more and rubbing his knuckles to comfort herself by touching him.

"I killed the man that tried to kill father, but before he died, he said that we could not escape the power of the Upper Kingdom. I wish to speak to the Pharaoh and find out if this is myth or truth. If myth, then I will suggest that we join forces and stamp out this evil," she explained carefully.

"And if it is the truth?" her father asked, searching for what her answer would be to judge her leadership capabilities.

"Then I will speak with you and consult our generals. We will not go into a battle unprepared. I must send a messenger before the sun gets too high in the sky, or else he shall not reach the Upper Kingdom's capital by nightfall. May I go?" she asked, looking for permission. Her father nodded and she left the room hurriedly.



Even as the messenger was leaving the palace of the Lower Kingdom, a cloaked figure entered the main hall of the capital palace of the Upper Kingdom where Seto-ra sat lazily in his cushioned seat beside his father's throne. He twirled a dagger on the arm of the chair, watching the torchlight reflect off of the gleaming metal surface and yawned, bored with the quiet night. Dressed only in a white cotton loincloth that fell to his knees, a practical pair of sandals, and a large gold neck piece, he was the ultimate picture of perfection in the male species. His dark blue eyes glared out into the dark room, glittering with unknown thoughts and a wry smile pulled across sensuous lips. The muscles in his chest and arm were toned and tanned a dark brown, glowing with a thin layer of sweat in the warm night air. He put the dagger into the sheath in his sandal when a dark figure entered the room.

As the figure bowed low before him and his father, Seto-ra felt a shiver crawl up his spine. He suddenly felt filthy with this man's presence in the room. His father sat up and looked down. "Rise," he said softly, but with power. The figure complied and pushed back his hood.

"My Pharaoh, I have just journeyed from the lands of the Lower Kingdom. My eyes have seen a terrible deed that cannot be overlooked," he said softly, a darkness seeming to tint his words. The Pharaoh glared at him.

"And what would this terrible deed be? If you have committed a crime, I cannot do anything for you," he replied.

"Pharaoh, one of your own has been murdered by a member of the royal palace of the Lower Kingdom." The man inwardly sneered as the Pharaoh stood, knocking away a small footstool.

"Is this true? What proof do you bring?" he asked, fists clenching rightly as his knuckled turned white. The stranger held out a round pendant on a silver chain, with three circles, one inside of the other with a piece of jade in the center. Pharaoh reached out to take it from him and held it wordlessly before narrowing his eyes. "And his body?"

"Left as food for the vultures. I could not retrieve it for fear of being seen and caught, and the head was severed. I felt that Pharaoh would not be pleased if he saw his own personal guard's head placed before him," the stranger stated. "They are also using black magic to control demons and it was the palace witch who killed him. She fights like a man and conjures up monsters to aid her in her dark quests."

"You saw her as well?" Seto-ra asked as he rose from his seat to stand by his father. The stranger nodded and Seto-ra turned to his father. "Let me take a troop of men and see about this witch. This cannot be permitted father. Your guard is dead and there is a witch in the palace of our enemies."

"This is different from anything I've ever had to deal with before in my lifetime. I do not know how to rule it. You will have to make this decision yourself, my son," Pharaoh said softly as he turned and moved back towards his throne, sinking down and placing his face in his hands. Seto-ra glared at the stranger.

"If this is a lie that you have fabricated, you will surely pay. I will personally make sure that your limbs are removed piece by piece and that you die a slow and bloody death. You will remain here until I return and we shall see if you speak the truth. There is a darkness about you that I feel, and if I were not so concerned about this talk of a witch, you would be under the closest examination of your life," he growled as he pushed the stranger out of the way and went to find his general to call up a troop of men and travel to the Lower Kingdom.

***

End of Chapter 2! I feel like I've been sort of neglecting Seto and his development, but have no fear, more will be coming in the future as I bring our two heroes together.

I have no idea when Chapter 3 will be out, but I am definitely thinking that it won't take nearly as long as it took to get this one out. I'm really trying, but I have this nasty habit of writing five or six stories at once, and so, the all go slowly and it can be a month or more *cringe* before updates. I am sorry it took so long getting this one out.

For those of you wondering about 'Riddles of the Heart', I AM still working on it, but it is going slow because of the other projects I am working on and school has been riding particularly hard these days. As a rule, I'm making sure that those chapters are at least ten pages or so per chappy, and so it may be a little while longer before I can update that one, but most definitely not another month. I Promise!

Keep up the reviews! They let me know if you're enjoying the fic or if you think something needs fixed.

Atlantis *^_^*

godscartungrrl@netscape.net