Author's Note: I own nothing except my original ideas and concepts. I actually don't own Andro, considering that he's based off a real person and is therefore their property. I guess.
Chapter 22- Entering
Nessert inhaled deeply. She had left the doll-body back in the Gates, preferring the 'real' body this world gave her back.
"Ah, home."
"I could say the same thing."
The black-haired giant stepped through the portal and stretched. True, they were in a world of Memory, yet considering where they had been before this illusionary place they had decided that leaving one's body behind was a bad idea. A living, empty body was very good bait for all sorts of nasty spirits. For good measure they had resealed the door and stuck a sealing talisman on Ryou's head, just in case.
Nicole looked back at her friend. Unlike most of the reincarnations she had met, Andro's ancient self did not exist as a separate entity; he himself was the soul of the king who had died so many years ago in Egypt.
Behind them the others entered the realm, Laura sniffing the air.
"Have you got a trace on them?"
The wolf-girl nodded.
"Yeah! The trail's still fresh!"
"Where were they headed?"
The were sniffed again.
"Into the desert!"
Nessert looked where she had pointed.
"They're headed towards the Keep!"
"Can you get us there quickly?"
The thief nodded, grinning. Her bared teeth lengthened and sharpened as her human face became the blunt muzzle of a lioness, but a lioness of great size.
The great cat roared.
"Come on!"
Her light hopped onto her back and they took off, followed by a great winged demon, a sprinting wolf, an ibis, and a strange, half-feline, half-canine beast with blood red fur. The beasts charged into the desert, far faster then Sau-Sekhmet had traveled earlier.
Meanwhile, at an archaeological dig in the Valley of the Kings, a pair of scientists were knee deep in discovery. They were also knee-deep in sand.
"Look here! I think we've actually found something!"
Holly Bakura, wife of Arthur Bakura, looked over to where her husband crouched, carefully removing dust from what looked like part of the cliff face. A few more brush-strokes revealed carved hieroglyphs and a strange, stylized Wadjet.
"See these glyphs here? They're the name of a king."
"But not a Pharaoh."
"Are you sure?"
"Just based off the location of the tomb I'd have to say it's far too young to be of a dynasty we haven't discovered yet. And besides, the only Egyptian Apepi was older then this."
"You've been studying."
"Nah, just been paying attention. My daughter has a chart of all the dynasties and the kings in them."
"Well, I'll bet I know of one dynasty that isn't on that chart."
"I'd like to see."
"When we're done. First we have to finish this."
"Agreed."