Yu-Gi-Oh Fanfic
"Forever is not the same as Eternity"
Chapter 4:
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. So if you try to sue me, I'll send Bakura and Malik on you!
Palace gardens:
Seto and Atem had just returned from the markets when a soldier's apprentice came running towards them. This boy was slender, almost as tall as Seto, and broad shouldered. He wore simple armor and bowed immediately before the two.
"My lords." He panted.
"Speak." Atem raised an eyebrow curiously.
"His eminence, the High priest Akunadin, has been searching for you both." His breathing calmed, "He says he has something important to discuss."
The two glanced at each other before bolting off towards the temple.
Akunadin paced about the temple in deep thought. 'Its brilliant! If normal people carry these powers within them, just think of what we could do to enhance the millennium items by extracting it. It is possible. If we could do it with people's souls, then who's to say we can't do it with the spirits that reside within them. I never would have guessed that a part of the shadow realm existed in this plane!'
"You wished to see us?" Seto and Atem entered the main temple hall.
Akunadin snapped back to reality. His mind had been drifting more and more lately, and not he even he could figure out why. He seemed to have aged almost over night, but the bright, crazed look in his eye never disappeared. He seemed to be a different person sometimes, as if there were two of him in the same body. It was never spoken of though; anyone who questioned him had to be prepared for horrifying consequences. His body grew colder and colder, as did his personality. He just died.
"Ah yes. Come here, little ones, let me tell you something I have discovered."
Atem and Seto followed him into a small chamber where they could speak openly with each other.
"Do you remember the ka extraction ability the shadow ritual can do?" he paused long enough for them to nod, "Those with certain ka can manipulate the shadow magic. Now, have you ever heard of the Mystics?" they nodded again, "The mystics are like shadow magic, only human. Through special abilities one can see that the magic summoned by mystics is actually and entity itself, a spiritual guardian, if you will. These 'creatures' are monsters and beings. They are the shadow creatures summoned to this plane without any mediums."
"How is that possible? I thought you needed ka to sacrifice." Atem tilted his head and leaned against a nearby table.
"The shadows exist within the person because the person is the very spirit of that creature."
This time Seto raised an eyebrow and eyed his adopted father carefully. Something wasn't right. Atem felt a twinge of uneasiness. He sensed something was wrong with his uncle, but the feeling seemed to be more extreme than normal.
"How does this help us?" Seto broke the ice, curious as to what he would say next.
"Normally, summoning is a gamble. The monster will serve you only when they feel like it. And they only serve once if at all. But if you harness a creature, bind it to you, you could begin to capture more monsters to follow you and create an all-powerful army. Those people are the key to exterminating the gamble. You would no longer need sacrifices for smaller monsters."
"And what of the stronger ones?" Seto continued.
"The will still need sacrifices, but not as many. Do you understand?"
"So how do we do this?" Atem changed position.
"The owner of the millennium ankh will be able to tell us. He can see into people's minds and souls, and he will be able to determine who has a monster within them. I have already tested this, and now one of our priests has control of a monster called the trap master."
"The trap master?"
Lahm watched Bakura stuff food into his mouth as if he were afraid it would disappear like a dream. He smiled in amusement before stopping Bakura's hand from grabbing more food. Bakura looked at him questioningly.
"Don't eat so fast, you will make yourself sick."
Bakura nodded and continued to eat slowly. Lahm watched him, smiling. He was always fond of the boy. Of course, why wouldn't he be? Bakura was smart, resourceful, resilient, and loved to learn new things. He was a little shy, and sweet, but had a wrath not to be messed with. A wrath like his mother's, but Bakura never could recall when he displayed such power. However, the thought of Abdu and Inet dead was unsettling for him. It did not seem possible. Abdu was too quick that he never was caught, and he could find his way out of any trap. Inet was a mystic; there was no way a normal person could defeat her. He wanted to ask Bakura, but he wasn't sure if he could handle it. He had to try though.
"Bakura, "He paused for the boy's attention, "What happened? How did they—?"
Bakura stared into space for a moment before looking to Lahm.
"I—I don't really know."
"What do you remember?"
"We were attacked by the pharaoh's army. Papa, mama, and me were running to the horses, and then the high priest stopped us. He did some kinda magic and killed papa while we ran away. Then me and mama hid the grass by the river, and mama told me to escape and that she loved me. The high priest found mama when I was running away, and got her too. I remember... because I heard mama scream." Bakura sniffed. Lahm stared astonished. 'The high priest? Was it Akunadin? This is very unusual. Why would he...and how could he, he was no mystic.' Lahm pulled Bakura into his lap. 'I guess this means Bakura is mine until he can care for himself now.'
"Don't worry. I will destroy the high priest and the army." Bakura sniffed and rubbed his eyes on his sleeve. Lahm looked down at the white- haired child in his lap.
"What?" he mumbled.
"...And the pharaoh himself too. They will pay for this." Bakura sat quietly and clenched his fists. "I will make them all suffer."
Lahm stayed silent. 'I don't think I can stop him, or change his mind. I guess all I can do is help him as much as I can. It'd be a shame if he dies too soon. Inet would never forgive. She always wanted him to reach his full potential. '
"Well, "Lahm started, "you won't be able to do it if you don't eat. And you'll need to practice everything you've learned. I'll teach you a few things about value, and until you are ready, you can stay with me as long as you like. You will always have a place here, and if you like I can teach you the trade, in case, after you've had your revenge you wish to become a merchant with me."
"I would like to learn, thank you. And thank you for letting me stay."
"Of course."
"But I will become a legend. I will be the greatest thief in the world. I will steal the most precious treasures from the world and the pharaoh."
"Very good, but first thing is first. Eat, and then go rest."
Bakura climbed down Lahm's lap to his chair and engulfed the rest of his food.
"Father, may I speak with you?" Atem confronted Akunanhaten in his bedchamber.
"What ails you?" he motioned for Atem to sit with him.
"I am worried about uncle."
"I know, he hasn't been resting."
"It's not just that. Uncle is not himself anymore; I sense something else within his soul. Its like he has died."
"I am afraid I do not follow what you mean, Atem." Akunanhaten placed his arm on his son's shoulders.
"When I look into his eyes it is not Akunadin I see. Its someone else, like when I see some of the creatures of the shadow realm. I sense a certain unsettling aura about them. Unstable."
"You think he is possessed?"
"No, its like something like the shadows has destroyed him and have stolen his image. Like the man we see is nothing but a mirage. You see it in his eyes and actions, in his demeanor and thoughts. I don't understand him anymore. Seto feels the same way, so we thought to tell you."
"Indeed. What do you think we can do with this imposter?"
"I don't know."
"We shall call the other priests about this matter, perhaps we can save him with our strength. With the millennium items we can bring him away from the shadows." The pharaoh placed a hand on the millennium puzzle. "Until then, go now and rest."
Atem stood and turned to leave. "I saw Jono and Anzu today. They are doing as well as slaves can be." He spoke softly. He often spoke of his friends to his father, and how he wanted to help them, but being only prince he could not interfere with the politics of freedom. The pharaoh only smiled at his son. He knew Atem cared for them deeply, which he understood. He also loved the common world when he was a boy.
"Father, when will we begin this search for these spirits within people?" Seto tried to get as much information out of his adopted father as possible.
"In a few days. There will be a tournament where warriors will fight the lesser monsters of the shadow realm. If they have a spirit within them they will use it, or we will at least sense it. Once we know we can use it. Thanks to the millennium ankh we can now control the monsters of the shadow realm. Soon, my son, soon we will have all the power of the shadows!"
Ezurate's Master: You'd better appreciate this ending! The last sentence took me a whole 30 minutes to write.
Ezurate: Master, you are pathetic.
Faith: It's about freakin' time too! My gods!
Ezurate's Master: ::cries::
"Forever is not the same as Eternity"
Chapter 4:
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. So if you try to sue me, I'll send Bakura and Malik on you!
Palace gardens:
Seto and Atem had just returned from the markets when a soldier's apprentice came running towards them. This boy was slender, almost as tall as Seto, and broad shouldered. He wore simple armor and bowed immediately before the two.
"My lords." He panted.
"Speak." Atem raised an eyebrow curiously.
"His eminence, the High priest Akunadin, has been searching for you both." His breathing calmed, "He says he has something important to discuss."
The two glanced at each other before bolting off towards the temple.
Akunadin paced about the temple in deep thought. 'Its brilliant! If normal people carry these powers within them, just think of what we could do to enhance the millennium items by extracting it. It is possible. If we could do it with people's souls, then who's to say we can't do it with the spirits that reside within them. I never would have guessed that a part of the shadow realm existed in this plane!'
"You wished to see us?" Seto and Atem entered the main temple hall.
Akunadin snapped back to reality. His mind had been drifting more and more lately, and not he even he could figure out why. He seemed to have aged almost over night, but the bright, crazed look in his eye never disappeared. He seemed to be a different person sometimes, as if there were two of him in the same body. It was never spoken of though; anyone who questioned him had to be prepared for horrifying consequences. His body grew colder and colder, as did his personality. He just died.
"Ah yes. Come here, little ones, let me tell you something I have discovered."
Atem and Seto followed him into a small chamber where they could speak openly with each other.
"Do you remember the ka extraction ability the shadow ritual can do?" he paused long enough for them to nod, "Those with certain ka can manipulate the shadow magic. Now, have you ever heard of the Mystics?" they nodded again, "The mystics are like shadow magic, only human. Through special abilities one can see that the magic summoned by mystics is actually and entity itself, a spiritual guardian, if you will. These 'creatures' are monsters and beings. They are the shadow creatures summoned to this plane without any mediums."
"How is that possible? I thought you needed ka to sacrifice." Atem tilted his head and leaned against a nearby table.
"The shadows exist within the person because the person is the very spirit of that creature."
This time Seto raised an eyebrow and eyed his adopted father carefully. Something wasn't right. Atem felt a twinge of uneasiness. He sensed something was wrong with his uncle, but the feeling seemed to be more extreme than normal.
"How does this help us?" Seto broke the ice, curious as to what he would say next.
"Normally, summoning is a gamble. The monster will serve you only when they feel like it. And they only serve once if at all. But if you harness a creature, bind it to you, you could begin to capture more monsters to follow you and create an all-powerful army. Those people are the key to exterminating the gamble. You would no longer need sacrifices for smaller monsters."
"And what of the stronger ones?" Seto continued.
"The will still need sacrifices, but not as many. Do you understand?"
"So how do we do this?" Atem changed position.
"The owner of the millennium ankh will be able to tell us. He can see into people's minds and souls, and he will be able to determine who has a monster within them. I have already tested this, and now one of our priests has control of a monster called the trap master."
"The trap master?"
Lahm watched Bakura stuff food into his mouth as if he were afraid it would disappear like a dream. He smiled in amusement before stopping Bakura's hand from grabbing more food. Bakura looked at him questioningly.
"Don't eat so fast, you will make yourself sick."
Bakura nodded and continued to eat slowly. Lahm watched him, smiling. He was always fond of the boy. Of course, why wouldn't he be? Bakura was smart, resourceful, resilient, and loved to learn new things. He was a little shy, and sweet, but had a wrath not to be messed with. A wrath like his mother's, but Bakura never could recall when he displayed such power. However, the thought of Abdu and Inet dead was unsettling for him. It did not seem possible. Abdu was too quick that he never was caught, and he could find his way out of any trap. Inet was a mystic; there was no way a normal person could defeat her. He wanted to ask Bakura, but he wasn't sure if he could handle it. He had to try though.
"Bakura, "He paused for the boy's attention, "What happened? How did they—?"
Bakura stared into space for a moment before looking to Lahm.
"I—I don't really know."
"What do you remember?"
"We were attacked by the pharaoh's army. Papa, mama, and me were running to the horses, and then the high priest stopped us. He did some kinda magic and killed papa while we ran away. Then me and mama hid the grass by the river, and mama told me to escape and that she loved me. The high priest found mama when I was running away, and got her too. I remember... because I heard mama scream." Bakura sniffed. Lahm stared astonished. 'The high priest? Was it Akunadin? This is very unusual. Why would he...and how could he, he was no mystic.' Lahm pulled Bakura into his lap. 'I guess this means Bakura is mine until he can care for himself now.'
"Don't worry. I will destroy the high priest and the army." Bakura sniffed and rubbed his eyes on his sleeve. Lahm looked down at the white- haired child in his lap.
"What?" he mumbled.
"...And the pharaoh himself too. They will pay for this." Bakura sat quietly and clenched his fists. "I will make them all suffer."
Lahm stayed silent. 'I don't think I can stop him, or change his mind. I guess all I can do is help him as much as I can. It'd be a shame if he dies too soon. Inet would never forgive. She always wanted him to reach his full potential. '
"Well, "Lahm started, "you won't be able to do it if you don't eat. And you'll need to practice everything you've learned. I'll teach you a few things about value, and until you are ready, you can stay with me as long as you like. You will always have a place here, and if you like I can teach you the trade, in case, after you've had your revenge you wish to become a merchant with me."
"I would like to learn, thank you. And thank you for letting me stay."
"Of course."
"But I will become a legend. I will be the greatest thief in the world. I will steal the most precious treasures from the world and the pharaoh."
"Very good, but first thing is first. Eat, and then go rest."
Bakura climbed down Lahm's lap to his chair and engulfed the rest of his food.
"Father, may I speak with you?" Atem confronted Akunanhaten in his bedchamber.
"What ails you?" he motioned for Atem to sit with him.
"I am worried about uncle."
"I know, he hasn't been resting."
"It's not just that. Uncle is not himself anymore; I sense something else within his soul. Its like he has died."
"I am afraid I do not follow what you mean, Atem." Akunanhaten placed his arm on his son's shoulders.
"When I look into his eyes it is not Akunadin I see. Its someone else, like when I see some of the creatures of the shadow realm. I sense a certain unsettling aura about them. Unstable."
"You think he is possessed?"
"No, its like something like the shadows has destroyed him and have stolen his image. Like the man we see is nothing but a mirage. You see it in his eyes and actions, in his demeanor and thoughts. I don't understand him anymore. Seto feels the same way, so we thought to tell you."
"Indeed. What do you think we can do with this imposter?"
"I don't know."
"We shall call the other priests about this matter, perhaps we can save him with our strength. With the millennium items we can bring him away from the shadows." The pharaoh placed a hand on the millennium puzzle. "Until then, go now and rest."
Atem stood and turned to leave. "I saw Jono and Anzu today. They are doing as well as slaves can be." He spoke softly. He often spoke of his friends to his father, and how he wanted to help them, but being only prince he could not interfere with the politics of freedom. The pharaoh only smiled at his son. He knew Atem cared for them deeply, which he understood. He also loved the common world when he was a boy.
"Father, when will we begin this search for these spirits within people?" Seto tried to get as much information out of his adopted father as possible.
"In a few days. There will be a tournament where warriors will fight the lesser monsters of the shadow realm. If they have a spirit within them they will use it, or we will at least sense it. Once we know we can use it. Thanks to the millennium ankh we can now control the monsters of the shadow realm. Soon, my son, soon we will have all the power of the shadows!"
Ezurate's Master: You'd better appreciate this ending! The last sentence took me a whole 30 minutes to write.
Ezurate: Master, you are pathetic.
Faith: It's about freakin' time too! My gods!
Ezurate's Master: ::cries::