Author's Note: I'm INCREDIBLY sorry this has taken so long! I was busy, and lost my inspiration for this, and plotting about/doing thing with my new rats, and writing for my thesis and other school things, and… lots of other stuff. I'll try to do better, but I can't promise, unfortunately. I did write a whole lot to make up for it, though.
In case you weren't sure, in the last chapter the Rod-spirit (high priest Seth, who you might remember was friends with Ankhkare) wouldn't attack Ankhkare, though he had no problems fighting with Senui. The goddess Isis, in the Tauk, simply knew the way things should be, so she's not going to go against destiny.
Everyone is more than welcome to use Ankhkare and Senui in their own stories, just let me know so I can read it!
It's a little annoying that I have to set things up for the way I wrote them in Three-In-One Combo, because I'd change a name or two and change a couple of minor spirits (like the Tauk's and the Eye's). But then, if I had known then what I know now, I'd have Shadah and Karimu in the Ankh and Scales. And I love them dearly, but I'm glad Ankhkare and Senui are around, too. And if, in my own mind, the Items have different spirits than I write about, well that doesn't really matter, does it?
Also, FF.N decided to delete all my asterisks and double slashes, so I had to change some things. Arg...
Ankhkare: (smiles) Indigo doesn't own anything but me and Senui. You wouldn't try to get her in legal trouble for writing this, would you?
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Shadi walked slowly back from his mother's house. He rubbed a bit at the turban he had taken to wearing, though his hair had grown back from the day it had been shaved. In the past year since his father died, he had visited her every day. He would usually eat dinner there, then either help his mother and grandparents with housework or just sit and talk or play games with them. He always left his Items at home. At first it had been hard to keep from breaking down in tears, telling her what had happened, and begging to stay with her. It wouldn't be hard. He knew his mother would take him in without any pleading.
But he couldn't. Every night he dreamed of his father, or sometimes past guardians. Every night it was the same, they told him he could not abandon his duties, must stay with the Items, could not escape this life he had been born and then initiated into. If he lived with his mother, she wouldn't let him take proper care of the Items. So as far as she knew, Shadi still lived with Shedsunefertum, he was just allowed more freedom. At first this seemed like a nightmare, but as time wore on Shadi grew numb to the pain, and he just kept pushing himself to go on.
The Ankh and Scale spirits were extremely helpful in this. Ankh was a wealth of sympathy and unconditional love, always there to listen and comfort Shadi when he needed it. On the other hand, Scale could always jolt him out of his self-pity, if only by making him so angry that he forgot to be sad. He came to almost think of them as friends (well, at least Ankh), or even older brothers. But it wasn't the same as having a father.
During the day Shadi tried to keep to his old routine as much as he could. He meditated, studied, went to his English lessons, and practiced using the Ankh and Scales. He would go out from time to time and do odd jobs for people in town, to make money for food and other such things. When he was feeling bored or depressed, he polished the Items. He tried to do that once a day. First was the Puzzle, which no longer hurt him, but still emanated an amazing power.
Next came the Tauk, in which he felt a strong, calm power. He had the feeling the power behind it was even stronger than the Puzzle's, but not all of that power was contained in the Tauk itself.
Then he would pick up the Eye. It had an insidious feel to it, and he didn't like it much.
After that Shadi polished the Rod. He could feel its strength, but it seemed to be pointedly ignoring him. It wasn't one of his favorites.
Then came the Ring. Shadi had felt some sort of shift in the balance of power one night, and the Ankh had led him to the Ring, gleaming in a smoldering pile of ashes in the desert. When he had tried to pick it up, it scalded his hand, so he had to scoop it into his unwrapped turban with his shoe. He always had to use a thick wool cloth to polish the Ring, and even then, he was always worried that it would hurt him like that again.
At this point the came to his own Items. He polished the Scales first, which would usually give him a small shock out of pure spitefulness. He told the spirit in them to stop, and got a short laugh, or at least the feeling of a smirk, in return.
Finally he would polish the Ankh, which positively radiated a gentle, friendly warmth. It left him feeling more positive about things.
Shadi had done all of this earlier in the day, and he was looking forward to just going to bed… if it weren't for those dreams. He didn't need people constantly interrupting his sleep, telling him that he had to do his job. He knew that already! He had passed the point where he would have abandoned his destiny, now couldn't they just leave him alone? Most of the time in these dreams he was held in a floating state where he couldn't move or speak, though.
Shadi brushed past some heavily-cloaked men (at least he assumed they were men) and entered his dark home. He had moved his bed around a few times, but finally put it next to the stairs in the Items' chamber. He tugged his turban off and tossed it on the small bed, and went over to the Items. He picked up the Ankh and Scales, putting the Ankh's rope over his neck, and went to the kitchen to get himself a drink.
))So you're finally back, eh lump? Wasted enough time out there today? ))
/Yes./ Shadi poured some milk into a glass and drank it slowly.
((Master Shadi… I thought I should tell you, neither of us were paying much attention at the time, but I thought I heard someone in here earlier…((
/What? Who was it? What happened? I should have been here to--/
))Ha, like you could've done any good if it had been a robber or attacker! Besides, that worthless fool is losing his touch… if he ever had it in the first place. It was some bird, and it flew away.))
((I'm not… Birds can be very intelligent, you know! They can have minds similar to very young humans! And it was muttering something! But… I guess it doesn't matter.((
/No, it probably doesn't. That's a relief. Thank you for keeping watch./
((I'll try to do better next time… How is your mother? And your grandparents?((
/Don't worry about it. They're all doing well. What did you two do today?/
))Hmph, not like we COULD do much!))
((I read a bit, and drew for a while.((
/That's good. What about your friend?/
))I am NOT his friend! I'm no one's friend, brat! Quit calling me that!))
The Ankh spirit laughed along with Shadi. ((He stood around, slammed some doors, yelled at me a bit… the usual!((
))Shut up, both of you! Can't I get any peace!?))
/I thought you were bored, and maybe wanted someone to talk to!/ Shadi grinned, washing his glass and putting it away.
))I said nothing of the sort, whelp! Don't assume such things!))
/Oh, okay. I'll ignore you from now on, then./
))Don't you dare ignore me! I won't be ignored!))
/Did you hear something, Ankh? It must have been the wind outside./
))ARG!!!))
Shadi laughed as he started brushing his teeth, while Scale raged and Ankh nearly rolled with laughter.
((…Do you think we should start sleeping in shifts or something? You know, just in case… someone really DID come in?((
/No, I don't think so. Don't worry about it, we've never had any problems with it before. Besides, I sleep lightly enough that I think I'll know if anyone comes in…/
((All right, if you're sure…((
/I'm sure, Ankh. Go to sleep./
Shadi woke up late the next day, feeling far more tired than usual. He hadn't gone to bed any later than usual. He didn't remember dreaming. He nestled deeper into his pillow for a few minutes, then groggily pulled himself into a sitting position. There was a heavy, sweet smell in the air. Something seemed wrong, somehow…
))YES something's wrong, soup-for-brains! Get over here NOW!))
Shadi blinked and slid out of bed, walking a little unsteadily. He couldn't seem to snap his brain or eyes into focus. Everything felt so fuzzy, except the hard, cold floor slamming into his feet. He just wanted to go back to sleep, just for a little while…
))You IDIOT! You've been robbed! Wake up, you worthless lump of spittle!))
The Scales sent a shock like a slap across Shadi's mind, and he drew back from the Items' tablet. It was then that he realized that the Items lay strewn on the floor, except for the Scales, which were still partially in their indentation. Suddenly Shadi started to get a headache. It was hard to breathe in the thick, too-sweet air.
((Oh Master Shadi, I'm so sorry, I should have been paying attention, I should have been watching, I was asleep, I'm so sorry! It's all my fault, please forgive me, I'll never sleep again, I--((
/ANKH! Stop it! It wasn't your fault, you couldn't know./ Shadi put one hand to his head while he started picking up the Items with his other, wishing Scale would give Ankh a shock too, which he promptly did. /…Now calm down. Let me put everything back… Do you know if anything's missing?/
He felt the spirit shiver as he picked the Ankh up. ((…The Ring… Whoever it was took the Ring…((
))Heh, they'll regret that.))
/Why…?/
))The Ring's known for being violent, to put it mildly.))
((…It's extremely temperamental… and can be dangerous…((
/We have to get it back…/ Shadi yawned and rubbed his eyes, coughing slightly at the thick air. /What's this smell?/
((From what I can tell, the robber blew some drugged smoke into the air… To make sure you didn't wake up. See, THAT'S why we should have--((
/Ankh, don't start that again. Please? It doesn't matter now, it's over. We'll… just have to deal with it now./ He placed the last Puzzle piece in its box, and then picked up the Ankh and put it around his neck. It was radiating fear and guilt, not to mention worry. /It will be all right. Breathe, Ankh./
))We don't breathe, fool. You might as well tell us to drop dead!)) Scale laughed nastily as Shadi slipped on his shoes and put on a belt. He stood and took the Scales, hooking them in his belt to carry them more easily, and walked up the stairs into the light of mid-morning. He blinked a few times, shaking his head to clear it as he breathed in the fresh air, and held the Ankh out in front of him.
/Ankh, can you point me in the right direction?/
((Yes… Of course, master…The Ankh glowed lightly, and gave a slight tug to the left.((
/Thank you. And you can still use my name, you know. I'm not mad at you. It really wasn't your fault./ Shadi followed the pull of the Ankh, walking quickly through the town's narrow streets.
((All right… If you say so…(( The Ankh's voice sounded meek and uncertain.
/I do. It's okay./
))That means shut up, you're being annoying.))
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Endnote: Please, PLEASE review! Please…? It would make me happy! Thank you!