I do not own Yu-gi-oh. Such a shame I know. But hey. But this fic is my own. So hands off.
Yami: hey what took you so long?
KITG: well sorry. My monitor decided to blow up, so I couldn't see what I was doing. Give me a break.
Yami: that's no excuse.
KITG: what do you mean that's no excuse? I'm not rich like Kaiba. This is a mate's spare monitor as it is. Which I am eternally grateful for btw Tony.
Yami: well…just make sure it doesn't happen again.
KITG: yes sir (salutes)
Yugi: so what this one?
KITG: it another ancient Egypt fic. And don't worry; I'll keep up with the others one the go.
Yugi: well that's ok then.
Accepting Ones fateThe stars of night blended into the hues of the day as Ra rose to greet his people. He shone his warmth and brilliance onto the palace of his son, the Pharaoh This golden, divine light illuminated another son. His hair was unto a star. Black blending to red tips. Blond bangs shot up to meld with the other colours like lighting, more blond bangs framed his exotic face. Making him have some mystery about him, for they hid the crimson eyes.
Upon his head was an especially made crown; no headdress would tame this wild hair. So this crown fit round it. In the centre was the eye of Ra. The gold shining in the sun, gold wings flowed back to join with the hair. To make it look as if the crown was part of him. Thus this was the new crown of Ra.
This son of Ra leaned over his balcony more and sighed heavily, his form showing his depressed mood. Nothing would bring him out of this darkness, this mood ingrained now too deep for a court jester to waver. He looked over this city that he was to command after his father. Felt the atmosphere of fear his Father had bred. The palm trees swayed in what places they could grow, knowing no different. He saw lines of slaves, bound by rope or chains, being led to the slave market. He saw more and more slaves every time he looked, and more rich advisers growing fatter off the trade. While the people were near to starving. His father said it quelled the rebellious spirit. They would be too busy queuing for food, than worrying about attacking the Pharaoh. The dust blew through the streets, kicked up by Camels, and a horse. Those horses were few and far between, only the rich would dare to own one. And so this son greeted the day as any other. With dread of what it would hold, for a new day meant more torture, not of the physical, but of the mental. His father the Pharaoh would enter soon, and begin to drum into him a life he did not want to lead. This pharaoh held the country with an iron fist, beatings, executions, anything to break the spirit of the people. But this Son of Ra did not want to rule that way; he wanted to help his people. His mother had been able to temper his Fathers spirit somewhat, but after her death he had grown worse that before. He wanted to escape this life, be anywhere but here.
"Atemu my son, have you risen?" came a deep voice from outside the teen chamber
"Yes father" Atemu sighed heavily again. Though he knew it would not be the last he did so. This would be Pharaoh turned from the view and walked to the large ornate doors. His personal slave came forward, bowing low to open the door for him. This slave had been with him for many years, he knew not to disturb Atemu when he was at the balcony, he also knew to act afraid of him in his father's presence. Made life easier for the both of them.
"Atemu, Follow me Now!" the voice commanded of his son, no quarter given. So Atemu broking no argument followed the form of his father. He found his gaze travelling to his father's crown. The head dress so big he wondered how he could keep his neck straight. In his hands he carried the crook and flail. All Pharaohs before and after would carry these; in the right hand was the crook, this gold and blue striped staff, made with acacia wood, bathed in gold. Then blue pained sequentially. This was shaped into a crook at the end. In the left was the flail the staff was the same, but instead of the crook, was a peace of fabric attached to the end the colour was also the same, gold silk wrapped in blue.
They continued to walk down the richly painted hallways. Gods were shown here and there on the painted mosaics. Atemu's heart became heavier the closer they came to the throne room, people shied away and bowed in fear at their passing, he was being painted by the same brush as his father, he hated this. Finally they came to the throne room, the richly decorated room failing to impress him, the red silks blending with gold and blue no longer making him fill with pride. The throne lost its lustre to his eyes, too steeped in blood. The statue of Horus seemed to cry out at the atrocities it had to bear witness to each day. If the scales of Ma'at stood before them, he knew the feather would be higher than his father's heart.
He sat done on his throne beside his father as was expected. He saw the people coming in, they begged for food, shelter, and mercy. But they found none from his father. He sat sentencing many to death, for nearly nothing. For daring to beg, or waste a gods time. All Atemu could do was watch, his face a mask of impassiveness. But inside he was breaking, crying, how could he rule like this? But then there was part of him, the seed of uncertainty his father had planted too deep to be ignored. "What if his father was right? What if the people deserved this?"
"Atemu" He was snapped from his thoughts by his fathers voice. "You sentence this one" Atemu looked down to the small child. Crying before him.
"What is the charge?"
"Obstructing the Carriage of Min'ta," the guard replied, pointing to the fat official.
"Is that all" Atemu asked shocked
"Atemu, sentence him"
"To what father? He might have just tripped, it was probably an accident." Atemu looked to his father. And saw the great displeasure in his eyes. And the anger.
"Atemu my son…. you disappoint me. Death, with the rest of the scum"
"Father you can't. He's just a boy"
"The Pharaoh has spoken, you would do well to remember that" With that his father rose and walked from the room, his concubines following him. Atemu held no illusion to what he would be doing the rest of the day. He looked to the boy, screaming. Pleading as he was dragged away. Atemu looked to the gods, asking for release from this. He had enough. Hi eyes locked with the sapphire blue of his only friend. Seth. He inclined his head, showing the priest he needed to talk, and then he strode from the Throne room and back to his chambers.
Atemu looked up when he heard a knock on the door, he nodded to his slave to let the knocker enter. He knew who it would be. In strode the high priest Seth, most of his form was hidden in the robes he had to wear, but if he did not have his head dress on, you would have seen his mousy brown hair, he body well shaped as all in Egypt was, the desert crafting the body. Seth came in and walked straight over to Atemu, he sat beside him. They were like brothers. So he knew he could tell Seth.
"What is wrong my prince?"
"I have had enough Seth, I can't do this anymore. I…I just wanted to say good-bye"
"Good-bye? What do you mean?" Seth looked at him straight in the eye.
"I'm leaving Seth. I have too." He lowered his crimson eyes; he did not want to leave his only friend. But he could not take this anymore. He had to see what his people were truly like. He told Seth as much. The priest knew he would not be able to dissuade his Prince.
"Go were the gods tell you my prince. But I urge you to take care." Seth replied, placing a hand on the prince's shoulder.
"I will Seth, now you had better go. I leave tonight. I don't want you drawn into my troubles" Atemu hurried the priest out of the room. Then turned to a wait the night.
Night soon came. Atemu had taken a long robe from his slave, so he could blend in. he left all behind, his crown, everything. The only thing to show him for who he was, was one his hair, which he hid in the hood, and two was the birthmark on his arm. It took form in the eye of Ra, it was said Every Pharaoh was graced with this. And to be true his father had one also. Though it had begun to fade of late. Perhaps Ra was abandoning him. Atemu followed his slave to the outer wall, and with his help got out of the palace grounds. He bid farewell to this loyal slave, he need time, so his slave would have to cover for him. Thus it was the Prince of Egypt stole into the dead of night to escape his fate.
He travelled the dark streets, everyone long since taken to their homes. He looked through windows to see his people starving, babies crying for the food that was just not there. He found a small ally, and awaited the dawn of Ra. He found himself wondering if this was right. If the people were like his father said, cruel backstabbing assassins, which deserved their place. He needed to know. All too soon the streets became alive with the sound of people as dawn broke the horizon. This prince dusted himself off and began to mingle. He saw the people walk desolate, their spirits beaten so low, that is resided below the sand on which he now walked. They shuffled here and there. Looking for any food. As soon as a car vender opened with some bread, he was nearly knocked to the floor by the stampede of people rushing to buy it. He saw a small girl buy some food, and then a big fellow grabbed her taking the bread from the starving child. Atemu would not stand for this. He rushed forward, knocking the man to the ground, and retrieving the bread gave it to the child. She cowered behind him as shadows loomed. The man had not been alone. He gasped when he felt the searing pain in his right arm. He looked to see a man holding a blood stained Knife. His blood. They were going to kill him. It was a fine mess he had gotten himself into. He felt the blood flowing down his arm. The man stepped forward to strike. But then a blur of ebony and red blocked his view.
"Stop now K'van" he watched as the man scowled and stopped.
"And what you going to do runt?"
" I might not do anything, but my grandfather would. Now leave, you should be tending to the camels anyway." This little one spoke with defiance. But the prince as still locked on the hair so like his own. The man growled at the small on, face close.
"Very well Yugi, but your grandfather can not protect you forever, you will pay for this"
"Until then, get back to your work"
The man sheathed his blade and stomped off, the others in tow. The small one Yugi looked to Atemu.
"Are you ok?" Atemu gasped at the boy, it was like looking at a pure innocent version of himself. The only things different were he was missing he lightning streaks in his hair, and his eyes were amethyst not crimson.
"Yes Thank you little one"
"My names Yugi…oh you're bleeding" the last was a gasp as the boy took Atemu's arm in his gentle hands. Examining the wound.
"It's deep, we had better clean it up, come on. Follow me" Yugi lead the way, dragging Atemu along with him.
They walked for a while until they were on the outer rim of the city; there was a small home, fences all around. Here and there were random poles. To some of them Camels were securely tied. The lounged on the floor, grunting now and then.
"What is this?"
"This is were the caravan leaves for the next town, my grandfather is a trader, he looks after the Camels. The men you saw lead the caravan here and back. Were just the hired carriers, everyone uses my grandfathers camels as they are the strongest."
" I see"
Yugi lead him into the cool home. And sat him on a chair. It was modestly furnished, the Statues of gods here and there. Most of them were dominated by Horus. Yugi came back with a clean cloth and some water. Also a pot of ointment. He rolled up the robe and began to clean it. Atemu was too busy looking around to notice his birthmark was exposed. Yugi saw it and looked to the boy before him, this was the mark of the Pharaohs. He cleaned and bandaged the wound. Then rose.
"You must be hot in that, why not take it of, I'll get you something to eat and drink."
Atemu again took off the robe without thinking, exposing the tri-coloured hair. But the gasp from Yugi roused him and he swore at himself. How could he be lulled into such and easy sense of security, so much so that he had shown himself.
"Wow, you have hair like mine" well that was not what Atemu had expected, he was expecting " you're the prince" but he did not know that Yugi had never seen him, not many had in truth, Yugi had seen the Pharaoh, seasons ago. So Atemu was safe for now.
"Yeah, weird huh?"
"So what's your name" Yugi asked placing some fruit and bread before Atemu, also with a cup of water. He thought for a moment, he could not give his true name.
"My names…. Yami"
"Well it's nice to meet you Yami, what were you doing in town?"
"Um, I was, escaping the palace, I was a slave, and was badly treated."
"Oh" Yugi looked sad at this " well you can stay here for as long as you like, but I think we had better hide your hair when you're out and about. It pretty hard to miss. If the see me it no bother. I am well known by the palace guards. So they won't bother me" Yugi turned and came back with a long piece of cloth, h wound it round Yami's head like a turban, hiding the hair.
"There, that will do"
Atemu, now Yami sat with this young boy, enjoying his company. He decided he would take the boys offer and stay, when the boy's grandfather had come home; he was glade that Yugi had found another friend. As night came they retired to Yugi's room. The boy had made Yami another cot so he could sleep. And Yami had his first restful sleep, not worrying about what tomorrow would bring for a long time.
The Pharaoh walked to his sons room, he was going to have words with that boy he pushed open the doors wide, not caring if the boy was asleep, but found. That the Prince of Egypt was not where he should be.
"ROUSE THE GUARD, THE PRINCE HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED!"
KITG; well another story to add to the collection
Yami: hey I ran away and found Yugi YAY
KITG: calm down
Yami: Yugi, Yugi, Yugi, Yugi (jumps around with Yugi in his arms)
Yugi: Yami, can you put me down now…I feel sick.
KITG: uh oh……..read and review please.