Hello all! Thank you so much for your reviews!
Big big thanks to Jedi Spiderfan, mava-hikari, cwthewolf, NeferNeferi, yami obsessor, Millenium, and especially Cassie.
mava-hikari: Thanks for your review. I just come up with my ideas. I just see something and think 'that'll be perfect'.
"Bast?" Atemu asked. He was standing behind the cat goddess, warily looking at a god in front of them.
"Yes kit? What is it?" Bast gently pushed Atemu in front of her. "I was just wondering; why does he look like his nose got stretched?"
Bast laughed. "This is Thoth, kit. He will give you your first task."
The ibis-headed god grunted and nodded at Atemu. "You'll be expected to pull your weight around here, boy."
"And how am I supposed to do that?" Atemu demanded. "I can't pull my own weight! I'd end up looking a lot like your nose."
Thoth turned to Bast. "Is he always this rude?" The goddess laughed. "Indeed, Thoth. He is a silly one, this kit."
"Stop calling me kit!" Atemu glared at the two deities. "Never mind, kit." Bast said, not taking any heed of Atemu.
"Now be a good kit and listen to Thoth. He'll tell you what you have to do."
"Aw, do I have to? Is it going to be hard?" Thoth rolled his eyes.
"How he ever became Pharaoh I have no idea." He muttered to Bast. Thoth looked sternly at Atemu.
"It will only be hard if you do not listen. Pay attention and you should complete it."
Bast watched, smiling, as a change came over Atemu. The fallen Pharaoh smirked determinedly.
"I can do it. It'll be a piece of cake. Mmm, I'm hungry. Got any cake?"
Bast rolled her eyes. "Silly kit. Now, I'll be back tomorrow to see how you are."
"Okay Bast. Say hi to the others for me." Bast nodded at Atemu. "Sure will, kit."
The cat goddess thanked Thoth and left. Thoth turned to Atemu.
"Now then, boy, how much work are you willing to do?" He asked sternly.
"As much as it needs to get the job done." Thoth smiled at Atemu. "That's a good attitude you have, boy."
The god lifted a cloth off a table and set it down. He brushed the dust away, revealing runes inscribed on the wood. "Right, lad, what do these say?"
Atemu looked carefully at the markings, reading slowly.
"Under sun where shadows lie, dark against the blood red sky, seek thy power held within, and bend all time to thy whim."
Atemu looked up at Thoth, confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm surprised you can read it. This script was used only by magicians during the old times. How do you know it?"
Atemu shrugged. "I had a friend who knew it. He'd teach me it. When he wasn't getting chased by his girlfriend, that is."
Thoth laughed. "Very well. This passage means that there is a magic that can bend the dimensions of time to its will, but you have to look for it first."
"And where do I find it?" Atemu looked round the room with interest. There were old dusty books, scrying crystals, instruments and lots of astronomy charts.
"You must look inside your own ka." Thoth said, in answer to Atemu's question.
"Look inside my own ka? What do you expect me to do – cut a hole in my belly and see if I can spot it?"
Thoth sighed. "No, kit, you must look with your mind."
"You want me to stick my head in my stomach!?" Atemu cried.
"No, young one, I don't." Thoth said, his patient wearing thin. "Though I do want you to close your eyes and reach deep into your mind."
"O-kay." Atemu closed his eyes and let his mind wander. 'I wonder what we're having for dinner...I hope its lamb and fish.'
"Stop wandering and get focusing!" Barked Thoth. Atemu sighed and tried to focus.
'My nose is itchy...' Atemu scratched his nose with his finger. Thoth slapped his hand away.
'This is boring...wait a minute! What's that?' Atemu felt a small plop inside his mind, like a drop of rain had hit him on the head.
The plops became more frequent, until they grew into a torrential downpour.
Jolting back to reality, Atemu opened his eyes. "What...was...that?" He asked Thoth, his face pale and drawn.
"That," The god said, "was your element magic." Atemu looked confused.
"Element magic?" He echoed. "Yes. Your element seems to be water, which I have no doubt will please Shu greatly."
"But what does my element magic do?" Atemu asked.
"Your element can aid you with things. You can call upon it at any time, anywhere. If you wanted to drink when you were thirsty, then your element magic could help you."
"Okay..." Atemu said slowly, understanding a bit better. "But why did you want me to find my element?"
"To complete my challenge you must cross the dimensions of time to enter the upper world."
Thoth frowned as Atemu poked one of the scrying crystals.
"To do that, you must first harness your own energy. If you don't, the results could be catastrophic."
"Huh?" Atemu looked up. "And how do I cross these dimensions of time?"
"In our world, time is nothing. Six centuries could pass in a mere minute. It means nothing to us."
"Does that mean you don't grow old? 'Cause if you don't mind me saying so, you certainly look like you do."
Thoth grunted. "Enough of that, kit. Even gods age. We don't die of old age, but we age nonetheless."
"So how do you die?" Atemu asked curiously. Thoth sighed.
"We are not immortal, as you may of thought. We can die, but only by a weapon made by another immortal."
The god shook his head. "This is getting off on a tangent. Back to your question, you can –"
Thoth broke off. Atemu had found an old scepter and was twirling it around in the air.
Odd sparks shot out of the end, blasting anything they happened to touch.
"Now – now don't touch that, boy. Just put it down." Thoth tried to get the scepter out of Atemu's hands.
"Why?" Atemu asked, chucking the staff in the air and then catching it again.
"Because it's a very valuable artifact, boy! It dates back to the 2nd dynasty!"
Atemu twirled it round and then put the scepter back on the shelf. "Sorry. I didn't know it was valuable."
"Yes, well..." Thoth shook his head, muttering.
"Now then lad, let's get down to business. You can create portals leading to the upper world. It's a mind thing, you must think very carefully on where you want to go and what you want to do."
"How do I create them?" Atemu asked.
"Here. Take this." Thoth handed Atemu a long, hedj-colored thread. It was milky, swirling with different colors.
"What is it?" Atemu asked, twirling the beautiful fiber between his hands.
"It is a thread of time. Millions of these make up the dimensions between our world and the upper world."
Atemu ran the thread through his fingers. "So how do I create the portals?"
"Take the time thread and break it. It must be a clean break, no frayed ends. Concentrate on where you want to go and when."
Atemu nodded, barely listening. He already knew exactly where he was going.
"Though I doubt you'll be able to tear a portal on the first try. It takes an accomplished sorcerer to do..."
Thoth trailed off. Atemu had snapped the thread in half, the broken ends glowing faint silver.
A wavering hole had appeared in front of him, its smoky edges burning a brilliant hedj.
Thoth stared, his mouth open. "That – that is amazing, kit. This is a perfect portal."
"Really? Cool. So, do I just step into it or what?" Atemu smiled happily.
Thoth closed his mouth and regained his composure. "Yes. It is that simple. You have two hours to do what you what. By then you must come back."
"How do I get back?" Atemu asked, poking the portal.
"You must press the ends of the thread together. Then the portal will- reopen." Thoth patted Atemu's back. "Now go on, kit, have fun."
"Thanks, Thoth." Atemu smiled. "I will." A buzzing hum filled the air.
Atemu slipped the pieces of the thread of time into his pocket and stepped into the portal.
Atemu lifted his head and smiled. Above him, Jou and Shizuka were eating dinner.
They were sitting on a balcony outside Jou's chambers, talking and smiling. Both were still dressed in kem.
Atemu climbed up and sat on the railing, waiting for them to notice him. They didn't.
"Jou? Shizuka? Hell-o?" Atemu said confusedly. Jou blinked, his blonde hair waving in the breeze.
"Sis? Did you just hear that?" Jou looked around. "What is it Jou?" Shizuka asked.
"I could have sworn I heard Atemu's voice." Jou shook his head. "Nah. Couldn't be."
He returned to his seat. Frowning, Atemu drifted over to stand behind Jou.
'Why can't they see me?' He thought. Then he realized that if he was dead, then he probably wouldn't be able to be seen at all.
Closing his eyes, Atemu inhaled deeply and focused all his attention on becoming visible.
When he opened his eyes, Shizuka let out a scream. Atemu looked down at himself.
He was hazy, partly visible but transparent, giving him the effect of a ghost.
"J-Jou," Shizuka gasped. "What is it Shizuka?" Jou's sister went pale. "L- look behind you."
"Huh?" Jou said, turning around. "Whoa!" He drew back, staring at Atemu. "A- Atemu? Is that really you?"
Atemu nodded happily. "It is, Jou. Did you miss me?"
"Like crazy!" Jou leapt up and went to hug his friend. He went right through him.
"Ah!" Jou moved away. Atemu shrugged apologetically. "Sorry. I'm kind of semi-here. I guess I just don't have a physical body yet."
Jou shook his head. "Doesn't matter. Man, Atemu, where ya been? We've all missed you."
Atemu grinned. "I've been in the underworld, stupid. I've seen gods and goddesses, I met Osiris."
Jou's eyes widened. "You did? Tell me, is he really the color of asparagus?"
"Yep! He's the most asparagus-looking god you'll ever meet."
"Cool!" Jou said excitedly. Somehow the idea that Osiris was the color of asparagus pleased him immensely.
Atemu, Jou and Shizuka talked for a long time. Anzu and Honda were called and were overjoyed to see him.
"I think I'll go see my cousin now." Atemu said after a long silence. "Is that ok with you guys?"
"Of course Atemu." Anzu said reassuringly. "We're just so glad you're back."
Atemu nodded and left for Seto's chambers. Gliding lazily over the polished stone floors, Atemu stopped just outside Seto's room when he talking.
Isis was arguing loudly with Seto, convinced that he was pushing the workers too hard.
"You can't push them like this. They have their limits Seto. You know that."
"I understand Isis, but this project is important. I need the statue to be completed as soon as possible as memory for my cousin."
Seto's voice was sad. Atemu blinked, watching the scene before him.
A statue made of entirely of gold was only half completed. Staring at the huge structure, Atem recognized with a start that he was looking at himself.
Slipping into the room as quietly as he could, Atemu spoke.
"It looks like you guys have a problem. I didn't know I was that loved."
Isis and Seto turned to stare at him. Atemu selected one of the charts on a shelf and placed it on the table.
He spread it out before them. The amount of workers and the time they worked was laid out on a graph.
"See this?" Atemu said. "You only have less than half the population of peasants working on this."
Isis and Seto continued staring at him. "W-what are you doing here?" Seto stammered.
"Well that's not a very nice welcome!" Atemu grumbled. "I know you're Pharaoh and all now Seto, but it doesn't mean you have to be rude."
Atemu turned to look into their shocked faces. "What!?" He demanded. "Never seen a dead person before?"
"I – I," Seto continued gaping at Atemu. Isis dropped on one knee and bowed her head.
"My Pharaoh," She said, fighting back tears. "You have returned to us."
"Hey, hey, back up there Isis. I'm not Pharaoh anymore, remember?"
Isis lifted her head to look at him. "Your rule is endless, Atemu. May you live long and happy."
Too late she realized what she had said. "Think it's a bit late for that now isn't it?" Atemu said dryly.
Isis bent her head. "No disrespect intended, Pharaoh."
Atemu sighed. "No matter. So Seto, you miss me?" His cousin nodded.
"A lot, Atemu. You don't know how much. What are you doing here?"
"I just thought I'd pop in and say hello." Atemu said seriously. "No really, I just wanted to see you."
Atemu turned back to the chart. "Anyway, what you need to do is double the amount of workers and halve the time spent constructing the statue."
"How do you know that?" Seto asked curiously. It wasn't like his cousin to be knowledgeable about these sorts of things.
"I just do. That way, you'll get more done, and give your workers more time to spend off. They'll be a lot more willing to work."
Seto smiled. "Thank you, cousin." Atemu nodded thoughtfully. "No problem. It would also relieve some of the stress of working in this heat."
Atemu looked out at the arid desert. The land was in desperate need of water.
Everywhere he looked there were animal carcasses lying about. Flies had gotten into some of the flesh, but hyenas got the best of the meat.
"Why is it so dry here?" Atemu asked. "When I was alive the rainy season had just ended. It shouldn't have been this dry."
Isis nodded. "After your death we had nothing but rain for several days. Shu was mourning the loss of you."
Atemu flushed. "I feel so loved. Then what happened?"
"After about a week the rain stopped. It became unbearably hot. The water dried up quickly. Now people are saying Shu has gotten angry and decided not to give rain."
Seto nodded despondently. "We're in dire need of water here. If we don't get rain soon, our people will most probably die."
Atemu tapped his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I think I can help." His thoughts drifted back to what Thoth had said.
'Your element can aid you with things. You can call upon it at any time, anywhere. If you wanted to drink when you were thirsty, then your element magic could help you.'
"How?" Seto asked suspiciously. "We've tried praying. None of the priests could make Shu hear us."
"I have a better idea." Atemu said, grinning. "I have element magic. Thoth told me that my element is water."
Both Seto and Isis looked shocked. "You have element magic?" Isis asked.
"Yes." Atemu answered, confused. "I thought everyone did."
Seto shook his head in wonder. "Only the most elite of sorcerers can harness it."
"Oh. Anyway, I can give Egypt water." Seto's eyes widened. "You can?" He asked incredulously."
"Uh-huh. It wouldn't run out, since my element magic is, well, magic." Atemu explained.
Isis wiped her eyes, smiling. "Thank you, Pharaoh. You are truly great."
"Yeah right. There are loads of people greater than me." Atemu shrugged the comment off.
Drifting down to the bank of the Nile, Atemu stepped into the water. It was cool, but only reached his knees.
'This really has gone down a lot.' Atemu thought to himself. 'Normally it would be just over my head.'
Closing his eyes, Atemu delved deep into his mind. Isis and Seto watched from the embankment.
Atemu sought out the slight trickle of water inside his mind. The trickle became a creek, then a stream, then a river; wide and smooth, coursing with strength.
He thought of the Nile, how it curved, how it flowed. He thought of the river filling up with water, rushing along in a steady current.
The roaring of water reached Atemu's ears. He could feel the dirt under his feet tremble as the mass of water came toward him.
His instinct was to run, to get away from the oncoming tide.
'I'm not finished yet.' Atemu told himself sternly. He forced himself to stay still until he felt the clouds start to swell.
They were here, up high in the sky, empty of every drop of moisture.
He fed the clouds, filling them up with water until they became bloated and damp.
Atemu let them go, watching the clouds happily let out their water. Slipping out of the river, Atemu climbed the bank to stand beside Seto just as the water surged on.
Rain soaked the ground and everything above it; the Nile flowed at a steady pace, her banks swollen.
Atemu's mind told him that his two hours were up. Sighing, he took the pieces of the time thread from his pocket.
Pressing the ends together, Atemu waited until he heard the familiar hum before placing the thread back inside his robes.
Isis knelt before him. "My Pharaoh, you have done us another great deed. I thank you with all my heart."
Atemu took her hand and pulled her gently up. "No problem, Isis. What are friends for?"
Grinning, Seto hugged his cousin. "Thanks Atemu. Couldn't of done it without you."
Atemu rolled his eyes. "You couldn't have done it without me at all."
Seto sighed. "Conceited." He muttered to Isis. "I heard that!" Atemu said sharply.
Seto laughed and waved his cousin off. "See you later, cousin."
"You too," Atemu called back. He disappeared inside the portal, glad in the knowledge that he had completed his first task.