AN: This chapter took me quite a while.

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Chapter 5

Destiny's Chosen

Marik shook his head. "I just commanded the magic to take us elsewhere. I have no idea where we are."

"You what!" Bakura yelled. "You mean we're lost in the middle of nowhere cause you botched one lousy spell?"

"I didn't botch it," he snapped back, growing irritated. "And if you insist on thinking such, keep your opinions to yourself."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll feed you to my dragons."

"As if you could."

"Care to try me?"

"Excuse me?" Ryou's polite voice cut in.

They both turned to look at him.

"There's a town over there. Maybe we can ask for directions and get a bite to eat . . ." his voice trailed off, hoping that had canceled the argument.

"Hmm." Yami peered into the distance. "I do believe you are right, Ryou. It might be faster if we-Yugi? What are you doing?"

Yugi glanced toward them and grinned, holding up the thing he had been bent over. Two round eyes blinked at them from a ball of fur, four clawed paws just visible.

"Kuribo?" Yami stared.

The monster chuckled, bouncing over to its master when the small lookalike had put him down. "Message from Dark! Message, message, message!"

"What is it?"

"Monsters! Scary, ugly monsters searching for master! Dark says to be careful! Do not dally! Too close here, too close!"

Errand delivered, it hopped back and faded in a wisp of shadow.

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The town, they learned, was a minor settlement that sat not far from the border of the kingdom, the very same border that edged the Forbidden Lands. This was good news for it was where they were headed to begin with, but they needed supplies and the townsfolk were poorly stocked as it was. They could not spare the provisions.

To complicate matters, Marik had disappeared sometime after they had arrived. There was no doubt that the assassin could look out for himself, but they needed to leave and soon.

"Figures Bakura grumbled. "He would choose to be gone when it's most critical for him to be around."

Just then shouts broke out near the door of a low building with barred windows: the prison Yami guessed. The commotion was focused around a sun- tanned figure with bleached blonde hair and ferocious violet eyes.

"Unhand me this instant or I swear I'll make you pay!"

"Ye won't when ye're dead."

The four exchanged frowns. "Marik?"

His captors wrenched at the ropes that bound his wrists but the youth dug his heels into the dry earth. A burly man wearing the clothes of a blacksmith took hold of the ropes and yanked, dragging him forward by main force.

Yami tensed. He had no wish to offend the people here but there was no way he was going to let him hang-he could see the gallows being readied. He caught the Tomb Robber's eye and the thief smirked. His fingers counted one, two . . . three and they ran.

Bakura rammed a fist into a man's stomach and he dropped the rope, falling to the ground doubled over. Yami landed a solid kick another person's face and sliced the ropes with a long, thin sword he had produced from thin air. While Bakura held off the angry crowds, the Pharaoh seized the youth's arm and made for Yugi and Ryou.

"Go!" he hissed. None of them needed any further urging. As they left the town Bakura came running up with Marik carrying their supplies. The assassin blinked at the other who could have passed for his twin.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Name's Malik," the stranger said, bowing with a grin on his face. "Who are you?"

Night found them seated around a campfire on the edge of the woods. The newest member of their group sat cross-legged next to the assassin staring thoughtfully into the flames.

"So, you're racing about the middle of nowhere with a bunch of Shadow mages and warriors on your tails after some mythical powers you don't really know exist?" He smirked. "Sounds good to me. Mind if I join you?"

"The help would be appreciated," Yami agreed. "What were you doing back in the town?"

Malik shrugged. "Nothing much really. I'm a rogue-or wanderer if you like. I'm a Shadow Master and I wield a fair bit of Shadow magic. They just got a bit ticked when I borrowed a few items."

Yami sighed inwardly. It looked like somehow they'd picked up another thief. At least this one appeared better humored than the Tomb Robber.

"Has it ever occurred to you," Malik ventured, chewing on a biscuit, "that only particular people can open the seals that are supposed to contain these-creatures?"

"What makes you say that?" Ryou asked curiously.

He shrugged. "I've heard tales, myths that tell of such things."

They waited for him to continue.

"I think one of the bindings requires one of royal blood, but you have that covered. The rest," he shrugged again, "I have no idea."

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Yugi said cheerfully. "Right now, all we have to worry about is finding the places and staying alive meantime."

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Seto glared daggers at the men blocking his way. He had exchanged his priest's robes for plainer garments. Blood trickled from a cut on the side of his face. He had neglected to bring a sword; the common folk did not carry such weapons normally.

What had times come to when a High Priest had to sneak into his own temples. Seto had made the decision not to use his magic so as not to give himself away, but he had to get there, and it had to be now.

"Ready to give up?" the lead ruffian growled, brandishing his axe.

Seto smirked. "Fools."

"What did you-!" the man began, outraged.

The priest raised his hand and tendrils of dark smoke began curling up from the ground. His smirk widened at the fear that abruptly filled their confused faces.

"For assaulting the High Priest, you will all spend eternity in imprisonment in the Shadow Realm."

Their yells were cut short and the shadows swallowed them. Seto paid them no more thought. He had had a dream, a vision of sorts, and he needed a safe place to think and check on the young pharaoh's progress.

In the dream, he had spoken to a falcon that told him of a prophecy. Every word was burned into his mind, but his thoughts were too chaotic at the moment. There was one phrase that worried him, and he could not erase them. Something about destiny's chosen.

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"I always thought I'd leave this crumbling kingdom one day," Malik said, donning his pack. "Though I hadn't expected it to be over this border into the Forbidden Lands."

"There has to be some reason it's forbidden, right?" Ryou asked anxiously.

"Sure," Malik answered, winking. "It's got everything from monsters to magical traps and mutations. Quite a neighborhood of fascinating, life- threatening, things."

Ryou paled as Bakura clapped a hand over his shoulder. "We'll have fun, wait and see."

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AN: I'm afraid this wasn't the most eventful chapter. I hope you liked it. Thanks for reading and please review.