"You're not even paying attention are you?" Evo asked her. Serena looked
around confused then clutched her head in pain dropping down to the ground.
After a few seconds her head cleared and she felt Evo helping her to her
feet. She stared curiously at the empty streets.
"What is it?" asked Evo.
"The people," she replied. "Where are all the people?"
"You really weren't paying attention. The people are gone."
"That can't be true," she protested. "We were just walking through town. There were people everywhere. And children. Oh god, where are the children?" Her head began to frantically whip around.
Evo grabbed both her shoulders and spun her around so she was facing him, snapping her back to reality. "There are no children, no people at all. There hasn't been anyone here for seventy-five years. Egypt was a hot..."
"A hot-spot," she interrupted. "I know. One of seven across the planet where the turmoil of The End was the greatest. I remember you saying that." She paused. "But it wasn't like this," She continued pointed around at the barren ghost town. "We were walking down thse streets but there were people everywhere, and there was the blind man and...."
Evo cut her off. "Wehave been walking but there were no people. It was just the two of us." He looked around himself. "My Millennium Ring is sensing a strange energy though. It is definitely powerful. We may not be alone anymore. What do you remember?" She told him everything that she remembered about being in Egypt to that point, how she found the children and about her attacker who turned out to be herself.
"Whoever they are, they are becoming more dangerous every minute. It seems they are not content to allow until to compose ourselves. They've resorted to attacking your mind. We do not have more time to waste." They continued on without incident until they reached a large decorated building on the outskirts of the town. It looked like some kind of temple or shrine. They walked inside but the building was empty.
"There's nothing here," Serena said.
"On the contrary, there is a great deal here," Evo corrected. "But it cannot be seen with the untrained eye." The Millennium Ring around this week began to glow and like shattering glass the walls began to dissappear as the illusion of the empty temple faded away to reveal so much more. The walls were covered in ornate stone carvings. Images similar to the ones Serena had seen on the small stone tiles appeared accompanied by text and symbols that Serena couldn't understand.
"You have finally arrived," they heard Shadi say as he stepped forth from the shadows. "The timing could not be more critical. I am already aware on the attack on Serena's mind. It was an illusion of course. I believe that whoever is the cause of it was trying to eliminate her soul and use her body as a vessel in the same way that they used your housekeeper. Fortunately the attack failed, though I am not sure why just yet."
"What is this place?" Serena asked him.
"It is the sanctuary," Shadi explained. "The sanctuary of the Millennium Items."
"I thought that the Millennium items were from a tomb in the desert?"
"That is true. But after the tomb was attacked Fifty years ago it became nessesary to find a hiding place, one that could be protected."
"So you've been protecting this place all by yourself for fifty years?" she asked the Egyptian.
"I have not been alone. There is a group known as the Tomb-Keepers who were to be the guardians of the Pharaoh's tomb during his absence. they too have kept watch." He ponted behind Evo and Serena and they turned to see two young teenagers standing at the entrance of the temple.
They both had white hair and stern expressions on thier faces, though they were different genders they looked much alike and Serena guessed that they were twins.
Shadi spoke up again. "Allow me to introduce the last members of the Tomb- Keeper clan; Edam and Adora Ishtar."
"She has finally come," the twins said in unison. They stepped forward together, encircling Serena as they examined her.
"You've been expecting me?" Serena asked them.
They ignored her question and walked to an altar that was near the back wall of the temple. When they reached the altar a golden set of scales shimmered into view on top on it. The two sides of the scales were teetering back and forth as it sat there; not a great deal but the movement was enough that Serena could notice it from where she stood.
"The pieces are almost in position," Edam said.
"And the balance is nearly aligned," continued Adora still watching the swaying ornament. "The Millennium scales have nearly reached equillibrium. Good and Evil are coming into order." Serena walked over and stood beside Adora. "You have come for it," Adora said to her.
"She can't be ready," protested Edam.
"Maybe not," Evo said, speaking up. "But she will be."
Adora turned to face Evo. She walked up to him, staring him in the eyes. The contrast was obvious. Evo stood nearly a head taller then the teenage girl but their gazes were locked together on equal footing. "And why should we trust the Darkness?" she asked him.
"Because you have no choice," he replied. "The time of indecision is passed. The bearers of the Millennium Items are needed together right now. It is meant for her."
"But it is not hers yet," Edam added.
Evo looked at Edam intensely. "Destiny is not something to be played around with boy."
"My brother does not mena to go against the will of fate," Adora said. "But as you pointed out, time is running out. He is merely offering a means with which to determine whether or not she is truly the one for the item."
"If she wishes to claim the item," Edam continued. "Then she must duel for it."
It was at that moment that Serena turned away from the metronomical movement of the the Millennium Scales. Her expression was fierce as she stared at her four onlookers. "You want to duel me? To prove some mystical magical destiny thing? I'm game. So whose going to duel me?" she asked as she turned to Edam. "Is it going to be you? Or your sister?"
The twins locked eyes with Serena, their expressions matching her own. "Both of us," they answered together.
"Both of you?" Evo said. he laughed as he shook his head. "Just like an Ishtar to take whatever advantage that they can. You are your grandfather's children."
"We are aware of our grandfather's dealings with the spirit of the Millennium Ring. We will deal with you when the matters at hand are over."
Evo smiled. "I look forward to it young ones. I too have a score to settle. But for now don't you think that two aginst one is a little unfair? I will duel at Serena's side."
"No you will not. To prove herself she must defeat the two of us. We are of one mind, one spirit, one family and one Millennium item," they continued to say together.
"That's it isn't it?" Evo asked. "The desire for greater power is not something I am unfamiliar with. One Millennium Item isn't enough for the twins of the tomb is it? I tell you Serena will not duel alone."
"It's alrihgt Evo," Serena said, holding up her hand. "I can handle these two."
"We will see," Edam and Adora said to her. The twins then walked behind the altar and each produced a Duel Disk strapped to their arm, a deck in place. Simultaneously they activated the Discs, locking them into position.
Serena reached into the pouch on her belt, pulled out her deck, slapped it into her Duel Disk and activated it all with the fluid precision of a professional. "So how's this going to work?" she asked them.
"My brohter and I will share a playing field and Life Points," Adora explained.
"And will alternate turns," Edam added.
"You will defeat us as one," Adora finished.
"That's all I need to know then," Serena said. "Let's dance."
Serena: 4000, Edam & Adora: 4000.
"What is it?" asked Evo.
"The people," she replied. "Where are all the people?"
"You really weren't paying attention. The people are gone."
"That can't be true," she protested. "We were just walking through town. There were people everywhere. And children. Oh god, where are the children?" Her head began to frantically whip around.
Evo grabbed both her shoulders and spun her around so she was facing him, snapping her back to reality. "There are no children, no people at all. There hasn't been anyone here for seventy-five years. Egypt was a hot..."
"A hot-spot," she interrupted. "I know. One of seven across the planet where the turmoil of The End was the greatest. I remember you saying that." She paused. "But it wasn't like this," She continued pointed around at the barren ghost town. "We were walking down thse streets but there were people everywhere, and there was the blind man and...."
Evo cut her off. "Wehave been walking but there were no people. It was just the two of us." He looked around himself. "My Millennium Ring is sensing a strange energy though. It is definitely powerful. We may not be alone anymore. What do you remember?" She told him everything that she remembered about being in Egypt to that point, how she found the children and about her attacker who turned out to be herself.
"Whoever they are, they are becoming more dangerous every minute. It seems they are not content to allow until to compose ourselves. They've resorted to attacking your mind. We do not have more time to waste." They continued on without incident until they reached a large decorated building on the outskirts of the town. It looked like some kind of temple or shrine. They walked inside but the building was empty.
"There's nothing here," Serena said.
"On the contrary, there is a great deal here," Evo corrected. "But it cannot be seen with the untrained eye." The Millennium Ring around this week began to glow and like shattering glass the walls began to dissappear as the illusion of the empty temple faded away to reveal so much more. The walls were covered in ornate stone carvings. Images similar to the ones Serena had seen on the small stone tiles appeared accompanied by text and symbols that Serena couldn't understand.
"You have finally arrived," they heard Shadi say as he stepped forth from the shadows. "The timing could not be more critical. I am already aware on the attack on Serena's mind. It was an illusion of course. I believe that whoever is the cause of it was trying to eliminate her soul and use her body as a vessel in the same way that they used your housekeeper. Fortunately the attack failed, though I am not sure why just yet."
"What is this place?" Serena asked him.
"It is the sanctuary," Shadi explained. "The sanctuary of the Millennium Items."
"I thought that the Millennium items were from a tomb in the desert?"
"That is true. But after the tomb was attacked Fifty years ago it became nessesary to find a hiding place, one that could be protected."
"So you've been protecting this place all by yourself for fifty years?" she asked the Egyptian.
"I have not been alone. There is a group known as the Tomb-Keepers who were to be the guardians of the Pharaoh's tomb during his absence. they too have kept watch." He ponted behind Evo and Serena and they turned to see two young teenagers standing at the entrance of the temple.
They both had white hair and stern expressions on thier faces, though they were different genders they looked much alike and Serena guessed that they were twins.
Shadi spoke up again. "Allow me to introduce the last members of the Tomb- Keeper clan; Edam and Adora Ishtar."
"She has finally come," the twins said in unison. They stepped forward together, encircling Serena as they examined her.
"You've been expecting me?" Serena asked them.
They ignored her question and walked to an altar that was near the back wall of the temple. When they reached the altar a golden set of scales shimmered into view on top on it. The two sides of the scales were teetering back and forth as it sat there; not a great deal but the movement was enough that Serena could notice it from where she stood.
"The pieces are almost in position," Edam said.
"And the balance is nearly aligned," continued Adora still watching the swaying ornament. "The Millennium scales have nearly reached equillibrium. Good and Evil are coming into order." Serena walked over and stood beside Adora. "You have come for it," Adora said to her.
"She can't be ready," protested Edam.
"Maybe not," Evo said, speaking up. "But she will be."
Adora turned to face Evo. She walked up to him, staring him in the eyes. The contrast was obvious. Evo stood nearly a head taller then the teenage girl but their gazes were locked together on equal footing. "And why should we trust the Darkness?" she asked him.
"Because you have no choice," he replied. "The time of indecision is passed. The bearers of the Millennium Items are needed together right now. It is meant for her."
"But it is not hers yet," Edam added.
Evo looked at Edam intensely. "Destiny is not something to be played around with boy."
"My brother does not mena to go against the will of fate," Adora said. "But as you pointed out, time is running out. He is merely offering a means with which to determine whether or not she is truly the one for the item."
"If she wishes to claim the item," Edam continued. "Then she must duel for it."
It was at that moment that Serena turned away from the metronomical movement of the the Millennium Scales. Her expression was fierce as she stared at her four onlookers. "You want to duel me? To prove some mystical magical destiny thing? I'm game. So whose going to duel me?" she asked as she turned to Edam. "Is it going to be you? Or your sister?"
The twins locked eyes with Serena, their expressions matching her own. "Both of us," they answered together.
"Both of you?" Evo said. he laughed as he shook his head. "Just like an Ishtar to take whatever advantage that they can. You are your grandfather's children."
"We are aware of our grandfather's dealings with the spirit of the Millennium Ring. We will deal with you when the matters at hand are over."
Evo smiled. "I look forward to it young ones. I too have a score to settle. But for now don't you think that two aginst one is a little unfair? I will duel at Serena's side."
"No you will not. To prove herself she must defeat the two of us. We are of one mind, one spirit, one family and one Millennium item," they continued to say together.
"That's it isn't it?" Evo asked. "The desire for greater power is not something I am unfamiliar with. One Millennium Item isn't enough for the twins of the tomb is it? I tell you Serena will not duel alone."
"It's alrihgt Evo," Serena said, holding up her hand. "I can handle these two."
"We will see," Edam and Adora said to her. The twins then walked behind the altar and each produced a Duel Disk strapped to their arm, a deck in place. Simultaneously they activated the Discs, locking them into position.
Serena reached into the pouch on her belt, pulled out her deck, slapped it into her Duel Disk and activated it all with the fluid precision of a professional. "So how's this going to work?" she asked them.
"My brohter and I will share a playing field and Life Points," Adora explained.
"And will alternate turns," Edam added.
"You will defeat us as one," Adora finished.
"That's all I need to know then," Serena said. "Let's dance."
Serena: 4000, Edam & Adora: 4000.