I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters and plots.

However the following characters (their powers and such) used in this fan fiction ARE mine:

Lady Aurora Phoenix

Lady Natara Fear

Lady Sapphira Star

Blaze

Chaos

Havoc

Nothing in the mailbox this time but I do know there are people still enjoying it... Happy reading!


New Powers Awaken

Several weeks had passed since Lady Phoenix and her friends left in search of their enemy, and no one had heard anything from them. Atem found it rather odd that Bakura had not been attacking or raiding as often either. He seemed to have faded away. Isis had brought her concern of this to him by saying she felt he was just biding his time waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It was because of this reasoning that Priest Set and Priest Akunadin had requested an audience with him in the garden to work on a strategy.

"We need to find and seal stronger Ka in order to defeat this monster," Set was saying. Akunadin agreed. Atem listened intently as Akunadin outlined his plan to locate the stronger Ka's available and seal them in the stones in order to use them against Bakura. He nodded his agreement and left the two priests to their task. Next, he found Mana and Priest Mahado practicing their spells and tricks. He joined them even if only to keep himself busy. He needed something to keep his mind off Lady Phoenix which was turning into a greater issue than he had thought.

His mind kept going back to his room just before she left. A wonderful thing had happened. She had agreed to be his. She accepted him into her heart. He knew it was hard for her to do. Hard for her to open up the way she had. He pushed nothing after giving her the ring. He merely saw to it satchels were filled that could be placed on the horses she and her friends left with. Then he spoke briefly only to Mana and Mahado about the intended plans for when Lady Phoenix returned to the palace. Mana had been overjoyed and jumped up to hug him. Mahado nodded his approval and each swore vows of secrecy to Atem. They knew how much this meant to him. They had felt honored that he had told them.

"She will return soon, my Pharaoh," Mahado assured him when he saw Atem's faraway look.

"I just wish I knew if she was ok. Should I not feel something? I would ask Isis but then she would see more into it than what I want her to."

"She is strong, Pharaoh," Mana chimed in. "Mahado was just saying he had never seen such strength. It was as if..." She turned toward her teacher. "What was it you said?" Atem looked over at his friend.

"It was not just I who said this. Isis saw something with her necklace and shared it with me. Something hidden within Lady Aurora. Something that seemed to frighten Akunadin, even." Now Atem's curiosity was truly peaked.

"Just what did she see? What could possibly shake even Akunadin?" he asked.

"We all know that every living being has a Ka spirit. That includes Lady Aurora and her friends."

"Yes," Atem was trying not to let his irritability show.

"Apparently, Isis and Akunadin saw Lady Aurora's. It will be most difficult to beat, too if summoned. It is the form of a god Ka. The fire form of Ra. However, no one but your father has been able to summon any of the gods into battle before. Only chosen Pharaohs have that ability."

"If my father could, then would it not stand to reason that I would be able to as well?" Mahado shrugged.

"I am not sure, my Pharaoh. I am sure with time and practice it is possible."

"Then help me," Atem pleaded with his friend. "If I am to stand a chance at defeating Bakura, I will need to be able to call upon the strongest of Ka's for the battles." Mahado sighed, but he knew the young Pharaoh was right.

"Alright, then. Let us begin." That day began the first of many hard days for Atem. Mahado trained him hard and forced him to focus his attention on the strength and power it would take to call upon the powers of the gods. Of course having his mind occupied with his training the days went by faster. It was not long before the last members of the Striker clan had returned.

It was odd the morning they returned. Atem could feel her presence before he actually saw her. It was a white beacon that glimmered in the back of his mind. He was nearly knocked to his feet by Mana when he stopped short of his practice attack. Not seeing him pull back at the last minute, Mana had surged forward with her staff. Seeing the flicker of light out of the corner of his eye, Atem snapped back to attention and lifted his hand in defense. It shocked the both of them when a shield of fire blocked the light of Mana's attack.

"Pharaoh?" Mahado blinked in shock. "What was that?" he asked him. Atem stared at his hand in wonder.

"I am not sure," was all he could say. He turned his hand over in front of him, but saw nothing that gave him a clue as to what had brought about the fire. However, the mark on his right shoulder began to burn slightly. Is this the kind of Power, Aurora had mentioned? The Power of Blaze?


They were still several feet away from the palace grounds when Lady Phoenix sensed what she knew as the use of Blaze's fire shield. Shock made her tighten up on the reigns of her horse. The horse neighed in protest and came to a stop. The others looked up in confusion. They had sensed it as well. Fear filled Lady Phoenix's heart and with a quick kick, the horse reared and took off in a flash toward the palace. Her friends followed closely behind her.

Please be alright, she prayed as she raced forward. Her eyes drifted, only briefly, to the ring she knew was hidden under the white glove on her hand. When times were tough, she would look down at it and remember her reasons to keep going. They fought a few times against their foe and his men while they were gone. It did not take long for their strength to fade and over time, they knew they had to return, if only briefly, to rest. For her, to return would mean something much more, though. It would mean seeing him again. It would also mean telling her friends the secret she had been carrying for all those weeks. But right now she was only worried about his safety. She relied on pure instinct to lead her to where Atem was.

Nearing the garden, Lady Phoenix and her friends jumped off their horses and prepared for themselves for battle. They reached the opening to the garden and suddenly Lady Phoenix stopped short.

"What is it?" Lady Star asked.

"No sense of danger," was Lady Phoenix's response, her eyes narrowing in thought. "There is no darkness near by. He is not in danger."

"Then what was it we felt?" Lady Fear stood up straighter with a confused look on her face.

"I am not sure," Lady Phoenix answered as she relaxed her stance as well. "But I will find out." Slowly, she stepped inside the garden, not knowing what to expect. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to keep moving in the direction she heard voices coming from.


So what will everyone's reactions be to Lady Phoenix returning to the palace? How will they react to the news of the engagement? When will Bakura stirke next? I knw that some of my readers are looking forward to the beginning duels and fights (especially the ones in which Atem actually fights). They are coming here shortly... But being as I am focusing on his family and relationship behind the duel scenes, I may or may not go into duel detail. I am sorry if that is what you are waiting for... There will be some mentions of them don't get me wrong... But also remember this is a fantasy... So not all of it will be true to the manga or the anime. Most facts will be... but not all ( as you may have noticed with Atem's new demonstration of Power...

That is my note to the readers... Sorry if I disappointed anyone... But that does not mean the story will not be good... Just means not as many battle scenes... ...shrugs...