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

Now to take a side trip to the mail box...

DDC Freak- I have every intention of seeing this one to the end lol... Sorry it took so long to update... Things have been busy as you know lol... Hope you like this chapter...


Humble Request

"He put himself in the way of Shadow to protect her," Chaos said thoughtfully as he and the others watched Atem and Lady Phoenix make their way back to the palace. They had sensed Shadow's presence and headed outside to find him. What they found was Atem pushing their friend behind him to face someone he knew nothing about. This fact had shocked Havoc into silence. Lady Star and Lady Fear smiled warmly at each other and Chaos could only watch wide-eyed in wonder. Not many had been able to ever push Shadow back in a fight. This was probably one of the first times he had seen it happen.

"I told you he was good for her, Bryant," Lady Fear told the sullen warrior beside her. "Are you still going to deny that he cares for her and could possibly be someone we can accept?" He closed his eyes with a sigh and without a word, walked away. He had a lot to think about. Mainly he had to learn to say good bye to his cousin. After that, he had to learn to accept the changes that would be made to the team while they remained on this planet.

"He will be ok with this eventually," Lady Star commented softly. "What about you, Dorian? You have not said much about the Pharaoh being so close to Aurora."

"I know," he answered. "I figure she is the only one who knows her heart. We saw the fire-like light that came from his room the night we left in search of Lord Theron and his men. Something happened up there. I do not know what. Even Aurora has not spoken of it to us. However if she has truly chosen him then I will accept him. Reno gave this Pharaoh his Powers for a reason. I have to assume he knew what he was doing. Seeing the Pharaoh put himself in harm's way for her proves he cares a great deal for our friend. That is all I can say right now." The women nodded in agreement. Without another word, they all turned and returned to their rooms. They had no idea what the day would bring, and they wanted to be prepared for anything.


Atem had remained in his bed staring at the ceiling in his room. He was not able to sleep that night at all as thoughts of his task for the day continued to run rampant through his mind. He still had no idea how to approach Chaos and Havoc regarding his proposal to Lady Phoenix. However, he knew he had to. He just was at a loss as to what to say to them.

"Pharaoh? May we speak with you a moment please." He was brought out of his thoughts by the knock at the door that came with those words. He raised an eyebrow and sat up in bed. He was still dressed in his outfit from the day before so he was not worried when he granted the visitors entrance to his room. The door opened revealing Lady Star and Lady Fear. Once inside, they closed the door behind them.

"What can I do for you?" he asked them.

"It is more what can we do for you, Pharaoh," Lady Star answered. At his confused look, Lady Fear cleared her throat.

"We saw what you did for Aurora last night. You have greatly earned our respect, and we wish show you in some way. Please, is there something you need assistance with?" Atem went still on his bed and just stared at the two women before him. Normally, a request like that was made by a "woman of the night" who was willing to do just about anything a man desired. But he knew that was not the case with these two. They had remained by the door, still and unmoving, whereas the other kind of woman would have moved forward and climbed on top of him by the time the request was made. The other reason he knew better was the bond these two shared with Aurora. He knew they would not propose something like that toward a man they knew was in their friend's heart.

"Is something wrong, Pharaoh?" Lady Star asked.

"No," he answered, shaking his head. "Just thinking. I have had a lot on my mind. One being a question I must ask your friends Chaos and Havoc." Understanding seemed to fill the eyes of both women, and they smiled.

"So you do wish to have her hand then. I thought so, and it is very honorable of you to seek Chaos and Havoc out for their blessing," Lady Star sighed happily. "What do you need to know before approaching the guys?" Atem again looked at them in shock. He could not believe that he was getting this kind of help. He was so used to having to make certain decisions on his own. He had no idea where to begin.

"I do feel tension from Havoc. I wish to know if there is a way I can break through that." Lady Star looked over at Lady Fear with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.

"Leave that to me, your highness," Lady Fear assured him with a smile. "I will have him ready for the question by the early afternoon," she promised with a wink. Nearly skipping with joy, she turned and left the room, leaving Lady Star alone with Atem.

"How should I approach Chaos? He does not seem to speak much around me. Is he uneasy as well?" Atem asked the female warrior before him.

"He, too saw what you did last night. He says that if Aurora accepts you, then he will as well. However, he will be watchful for a while just to be cautious."

"I understand. Thank you. I do appreciate your help." Lady Star smiled warmly at him and nodded before excusing herself and leaving his room. Breathing a sigh of relief, Atem stood and stepped out onto his balcony. He looked over to see that Lady Phoenix was on hers as well. She seemed lost in thought.

Are you all right? He asked her. He saw her jump and look over at him. He watched as she sighed and smiled.

I am just tired, that is all. Waiting to see what this new day brings, was her soft response. He knew she meant that she was wondering if Shadow would return. Isis is looking for you, Atem. He looked quickly over at her and soon heard Isis at his door. Lady Phoenix was indeed correct.

"Pharaoh? Are you awake, your majesty?"

"Yes, Isis. I will join you shortly." He turned back to see Lady Phoenix leaving her balcony. Aurora?

Go, Atem. I will be fine. I am actually going to go down to the kitchen before meeting my friends in the garden to practice.

If you are sure...

I am, please go. Atem sighed and opened his bedroom door. He was at least certain of where he would find Chaos and Havoc later when he was ready to speak with them.


It was late afternoon before Atem could break away from his daily routine. Mahado and Mana stopped him on his way to the garden.

"So...?" Mana looked up at him with curious eyes.

"So, what, Mana?" Atem returned.

"Did you ask them yet?"

"I am on my way to see them now," he answered. Mahado placed a hand over Mana's mouth as she opened it again to ask another question.

"Come, Mana. We must leave the Pharaoh to his task." Atem smiled gratefully at his friend. Mahado smiled back. "Good luck, your highness." Then, with a bow, he whisked Mana away to continue her magical studies. Atem took a deep breath and stepped inside the garden gates. He noticed they were taking a break. Lady Fear was speaking with Havoc in hushed tones, while Lady Star and Chaos splashed each other with water from the fountain in an effort to cool down. Lady Phoenix had managed to find some shade and had leaned up against a stone pillar with her eyes closed in an effort to relax. He could tell that they had been training hard and it was taking quite a bit out of them. Suddenly, Lady Phoenix sat up with a start and turned to face him.

"Pharaoh!" she gasped. The others quickly spun to face him and then bowed out of respect. "I had not known you would be coming out this way," Lady Phoenix added softly.

"The prior engagements I had set for today were completed earlier than expected. I had decided to go for a quick walk in an effort to wake myself up." He was lying and the look in Lady Phoenix's eyes told him she knew. "However, since I am here." Atem swallowed before taking a deep breath and looking hard at Chaos and Havoc. "I was wondering if I might have a word with the two of you."

"Us?" Chaos asked. He sat up straight and returned Atem's gaze with a curious and cautious look of his own. Havoc glanced over at Lady Phoenix who had her gaze set on the ground.

"Yes, please, follow me if you will." Silently the three men left the fountain area of the garden and made their way farther down a path toward a gazebo. The more they walked the more nervous Atem became. He still had not worked out just what he wanted to say to them. He was just going to have to come up with something and hoped it worked.

"So what is it you wish of us, your highness?" Chaos asked as e leaned up against a wall of the gazebo. Havoc and perched himself on a step and just watched Atem as he struggled for words. After a moment of silence, Atem finally took a breath and looked at each of the warriors in turn.

"I humbly have a request," he began. Havoc raised an eyebrow at this, but remained silent. Chaos looked at the ground. They both knew what was coming. "I know you have noticed by now the attention I have given your friend Lady Aurora. I also know that I am not quite accepted to well by the two of you. This is why I sought you out. I wish to have her hand in marriage. But I also wish to have your blessing."

"Are you not going to demand a blessing out of us?" Havoc asked, the scorn evident in his voice. However, his eyes softened at Atem's answer.

"No, I will not. This is not something I take lightly, nor will I demand. I have far too much respect for you as her friends to do that. I also have too much respect for her to force he two of you to give your blessings. That is not the kind of Pharaoh I am." Havoc's eyes widened in shock. He had not expected this. Lady Fear had talked non-stop about the Pharaoh all morning about how good he was, but he barely listened to her. He could not believe a stranger could really be as good as she made him out to be.

Perhaps I have been wrong, he thought, shielding his thoughts from Chaos, not realizing that he was shielding them from Atem as well. He remembered how Atem had placed himself between Lady Phoenix and Shadow. He also remembered seeing his cousin's Powers coming from this Pharaoh. It had hit him hard to come face to face with the realization the Reno had truly moved on to the after life and had given another his sacred Powers.

"I admire your decision to speak with us about this," Chaos was saying when Havoc returned from his thoughts. "We all saw what you did for her last night."

"I promise you, last night will not be the only time I would be willing to step in to protect her. I know she can protect herself for the most part. I also know she is exhausted and worn. But even if she was at her strongest, I would step in. I care deeply for her and would sooner be killed than see harm come to her." Chaos sighed and his eyes softened. He could tell that Lady Phoenix meant a great deal to this Pharaoh. He also had seen his friend around him. He knew the Pharaoh meant a great deal to her. He was not about to stand in the way.

"I believe you," he said. Havoc looked over at his friend with hard eyes. "I can tell she cares deeply for you as well. If she agrees to your proposal, you have my blessing. Just be good to her. She has a tendency to act without thinking which can be dangerous. She needs someone in her life who can keep her grounded."

"I promise you, I will be more than good to her." Atem glanced over at Havoc who was shaking his head. It was obvious he was fighting something inside.

"Bryant," Chaos prompted with a raised eyebrow. "The Pharaoh still needs to hear from you. It was awfully brave to take us both on at the same time like this. But honorable, even I will admit that."

"Honorable, yes," Havoc agreed with a pause. "He could have just gone on and taken her, yet he thought enough to come to us. Yes, even I can respect that no matter what my feelings are about him." Atem watched nervously as Havoc spoke. Suddenly, Havoc turned to face him. "For the simple fact that you have shown such kindness, and bravery; the fact that you risked your life for her, and then sought us out to ask, not demand our blessing..." He paused again surprised he had given in so easily. "I, too, shall give my blessing, however I will warn you, she is not always this easy to live with. When she gets a thought in head, she goes forward regardless of the possible consequences. So along with my blessing, I wish you luck." He stood and offered his hand to the shocked Pharaoh.

Atem looked quickly up at the warrior whose hand was outstretched before him. Then he saw Chaos offer his hand as well. They had given their blessing even if they did not completely accept him as of yet. It was a start. A start he was glad to have. With a relieved smile, he shook their hands.


Silently they made their way back toward the fountain. The women had been talking quietly amongst themselves until Lady Fear noticed their return. She nudged Lady Star and nodded over at the approaching men. Silently, the women stood and faced them.

"Is everything all right?" Lady Star asked. Havoc nodded ad Chaos approached Lady Phoenix.

"My friend, you know I love you like a brother to a sister. We have been through so much together in the lifetime we have had. We have seen things we would not wish upon anyone. Yet, we have always remained a team. A family. It is because of the closeness we share that I tell you this." Lady Phoenix gave him an odd look as he took her hand in his. "Just now, the Pharaoh made a request of both Havoc and myself. He vowed to do everything he could to keep you protected and safe. He did not demand this of us, but merely as a man to another man, humbly asked our blessing." Chaos looked up and glanced over at Atem. "I gave it. He does seem to have a good heart, Aurora. I have seen the way he treats you, and looks at you. I will not stand between something so strong." Chaos hugged her tightly before taking her hand and walking over to Atem. Havoc said nothing, but did nod his approval before Chaos placed Lady Phoenix's hand in Atem's. "Again, Pharaoh, I only ask that you be good to her."

"I will, Chaos," Atem promised.

"You are one of us, Pharaoh. Call me Dorian."

"Then yes, Dorian. I will do all I can to be the best she deserves." Chaos nodded with a tired smile.

"Well then," Lady Star began happily. "Now that everything is in order, what's next?"

"Planning the royal wedding!" Lady Fear exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. Lady Phoenix laughed along with them. For the first time since having all her friends in one spot, she was finally able to relax and just be happy. Atem pulled her tightly against him and she felt his lips brush her cheek.

"I cannot believe it went over so easily," he whispered. "But I am glad for it."

"Me, too," she murmured softly as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against her shoulder. She was much to happy to give heed to the buzzing premonition at the edges of her mind. She would worry about that later. For now, she was just going to stay there in the comfort of his arms, surrounded by the love of her friends. Anyone who attempted to ruin that moment, would not even live to regret it.


Ok that is all for today... I am hoping not to have such a long break between up dates next time... Things just got very busy for me over the last couple of weeks and I am still adjusting. The next chapter will be soon and that will be the wedding... However... an evil man lurks in the shadows trying to call himself Lord of the Dead... This angers Osiris ... How will he help to get rid of this Evil Lord... (If you saw the movie, you know who I am talking about ...grins...)... Stay tuned as now the action really begins to kick up... lol...