" The Final Judgement "
By JessieHeart
*
Bakura awoke in a place he felt sure was the Realm of the Dead. Behind him lay a vast sea of rosy pink clouds, and in front of him a wall. The wall, he realized, was a gate, with over-sized stone doors that towered high above.
Without warning, a strong female voice spoke to him.
"You, Spirit, have not been mummified."
Bakura turned and saw the owner of the voice. He recognized the woman from Egyptian legend, the goddess Ma'at, Ruler of all Truth. She held herself with a pose that commanded respect, and wore white cloth with gold lining. Round earrings hung down to her shoulders. Feathers grew among her waist-long raven hair. She looked over Bakura with golden, all-knowing eyes then spoke again.
"Nor has the 'Opening of the Mouth' ritual been performed. How can you expect to pass into the afterlife without such necessities?"
Bakura blinked. His fists clenched and unclenched, annoyed. He hated explaining himself, even to a god.
"I shared a body with a young boy who still exists on the physical plane. I only have a soul to pass into the Realm of the Dead, and no body to mummify."
Ma'at nodded once, slowly. "Very well, Spirit. Behind you are doors that lead to my Realm, the Hall of Two Truths. There you will meet the many demons of human sin. You will confront each one, and if you have not committed the sin, you will be allowed to pass. But if you are guilty, it will attack." Ma'at paused for him to absorb the information. "Are you ready, Spirit?"
Bakura sneered. He thought of all the sins he'd committed in his life; an unthinkable number of crimes. He knew that his next experience would not be a pleasant one.
"When you are willing, push the doors of Truth open and enter the Hall. Opening the doors will be difficult, but I can not help you. Once inside you will face the demons, and you will likewise have to carry the burden of your sins alone."
Bakura turned back to the massive doors and pushed against them savagely. They didn't budge.
He pressed him shoulder against the cold stone and threw his weight into it. The gate scraped an inch across the ground. He pushed again, but once more the doors would not move.
Bakura backed away from the door and a bead of sweat trickled down his face. Ma'at watched him, unblinking.
Bakura worked on the door for hours, but all he accomplished was a small space he could fit his foot through. His arms ached and his shoulders were sore. He tried unsuccessfully to ignore Ma'at's cold gaze.
Why am I laboring so hard just to be tortured by demons? Bakura thought. What do I have to look forward to in the afterlife?
Then Bakura remembered, the Egyptian resting place was a realm where one could do all they did when they were alive, and see anyone they wanted to see…
I can be with Ryou! he thought. My Aibou…
Bakura stumbled forward as the doors suddenly swung open without effort, revealing only an abyss cloaked in shadow. Uncertain, Bakura glanced over his shoulder. Ma'at had vanished. There was nothing left to do now but go forward.
With his first step, the Hall was filled with dim light, thought the source could not be seen. Statues of marble lined the left wall, each only a few feet taller that Bakura. He looked towards the ceiling and found it domed and majestic. He walked down the hallway until he came to the first statue, a twin-headed snake with the body of a man. On its pedestal was a single word.
ADULTERY
Bakura read the word and studied the beast, but nothing happened. He continued.
The next statue was a fat, horse-headed woman with gold jewels around her body. The pedestal read,
GREED
The moment Bakura stepped into its presence, the demon sprung to life and struck him across the head, sending him crashing to the floor. For a long while he lay sprawled there, head spinning with white-hot pain.
At last he opened his eyes timidly. The Greed demon was a statue once more.
Bakura stood and took a few more steps, skull pounding. The next demon was a man holding a sword, labeled,
VIOLENCE
Bakura groaned and stepped into the statue's path. Instantly, stone turned into flesh and the sword was raised to attack…
*
By JessieHeart
*
Bakura awoke in a place he felt sure was the Realm of the Dead. Behind him lay a vast sea of rosy pink clouds, and in front of him a wall. The wall, he realized, was a gate, with over-sized stone doors that towered high above.
Without warning, a strong female voice spoke to him.
"You, Spirit, have not been mummified."
Bakura turned and saw the owner of the voice. He recognized the woman from Egyptian legend, the goddess Ma'at, Ruler of all Truth. She held herself with a pose that commanded respect, and wore white cloth with gold lining. Round earrings hung down to her shoulders. Feathers grew among her waist-long raven hair. She looked over Bakura with golden, all-knowing eyes then spoke again.
"Nor has the 'Opening of the Mouth' ritual been performed. How can you expect to pass into the afterlife without such necessities?"
Bakura blinked. His fists clenched and unclenched, annoyed. He hated explaining himself, even to a god.
"I shared a body with a young boy who still exists on the physical plane. I only have a soul to pass into the Realm of the Dead, and no body to mummify."
Ma'at nodded once, slowly. "Very well, Spirit. Behind you are doors that lead to my Realm, the Hall of Two Truths. There you will meet the many demons of human sin. You will confront each one, and if you have not committed the sin, you will be allowed to pass. But if you are guilty, it will attack." Ma'at paused for him to absorb the information. "Are you ready, Spirit?"
Bakura sneered. He thought of all the sins he'd committed in his life; an unthinkable number of crimes. He knew that his next experience would not be a pleasant one.
"When you are willing, push the doors of Truth open and enter the Hall. Opening the doors will be difficult, but I can not help you. Once inside you will face the demons, and you will likewise have to carry the burden of your sins alone."
Bakura turned back to the massive doors and pushed against them savagely. They didn't budge.
He pressed him shoulder against the cold stone and threw his weight into it. The gate scraped an inch across the ground. He pushed again, but once more the doors would not move.
Bakura backed away from the door and a bead of sweat trickled down his face. Ma'at watched him, unblinking.
Bakura worked on the door for hours, but all he accomplished was a small space he could fit his foot through. His arms ached and his shoulders were sore. He tried unsuccessfully to ignore Ma'at's cold gaze.
Why am I laboring so hard just to be tortured by demons? Bakura thought. What do I have to look forward to in the afterlife?
Then Bakura remembered, the Egyptian resting place was a realm where one could do all they did when they were alive, and see anyone they wanted to see…
I can be with Ryou! he thought. My Aibou…
Bakura stumbled forward as the doors suddenly swung open without effort, revealing only an abyss cloaked in shadow. Uncertain, Bakura glanced over his shoulder. Ma'at had vanished. There was nothing left to do now but go forward.
With his first step, the Hall was filled with dim light, thought the source could not be seen. Statues of marble lined the left wall, each only a few feet taller that Bakura. He looked towards the ceiling and found it domed and majestic. He walked down the hallway until he came to the first statue, a twin-headed snake with the body of a man. On its pedestal was a single word.
ADULTERY
Bakura read the word and studied the beast, but nothing happened. He continued.
The next statue was a fat, horse-headed woman with gold jewels around her body. The pedestal read,
GREED
The moment Bakura stepped into its presence, the demon sprung to life and struck him across the head, sending him crashing to the floor. For a long while he lay sprawled there, head spinning with white-hot pain.
At last he opened his eyes timidly. The Greed demon was a statue once more.
Bakura stood and took a few more steps, skull pounding. The next demon was a man holding a sword, labeled,
VIOLENCE
Bakura groaned and stepped into the statue's path. Instantly, stone turned into flesh and the sword was raised to attack…
*