Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-gi-oh.
My Notes: Sorry for the late update. School and real life interfered. And Halloween. A lot of candy will be eaten tonight. Anyways as I said before this is completely divorced from whatever happens later in the Yu-gi-oh series because I'm lazy and on dialup so I can't read all the manga that takes place after Battle city. I'm not sure if I'm going to use the Egyptian names, although it is a pain to keep referring to the High Priest as the High Priest. And I'm not entirely sure if all Millennium Items all come with their own Yamis. Pegasus didn't have one, and neither did Ishizu. Shadi is questionable. But we'll see if I make Kaiba get one of these spirit people or not. Currently I'm leaning towards not as I don't think Kaiba's open-minded enough to accept one. Anyways I hope this chapter makes up for my MIA period. I'll try to keep updating fairly regularly. (Reviews make me feel special and want to write. Reminds me that I'm not only doing this for myself, but for others too.)
Waking Revelation
Although Mokuba was not surprised by his brother's absence in the morning routine, he was expecting some sort of statement from him regarding the impromptu vacation that Seto insisted was coming up. Querying the staff turned up nothing of consequence either, only hearing that the elder Kaiba had come home very late and went to bed immediately afterwards. Mokuba figured that Seto would eventually draw up plans and reveal them to him after he returned from school. Leaving Patterson in charge of the mansion, Mokuba proceeded to be chauffeured to school in high hopes of spending quality time with his big brother.
White uniformed Patterson, knowing full well that the master Kaiba was resting, declared that entire wing of the mansion off-limits to every servant. Previously Seto, in one of his late night stupors, had been awaked by the activities of the cleaning staff and had sharply reprimanded Patterson on the need of his sleep. The incident had never been repeated. So no one could notice what was going on in the Master's bedchambers.
Even though Seto Kaiba slept and most of his mind was lulled into unconsciousness, parts of his consciousness were half-aware of what was going on within his dream. Like Shadi, these constructs could only record the data being received, but unlike the wandering intruder they could also manipulate the data to better fit the dream scenario. So in essence, Kaiba was remembering and forgetting his life as the High Priest as illusions and memories merged together.
So the unraveling continued...
"Your move, Pharaoh."
"By the gods of Egypt, I won't lose this match," the young ruler stated.
"The gods don't favor you, they favor me." There were some voices of assent.
"For your insolence, take this!" A clatter of sticks fell to the ground. "Aha!" The stunned silence spoke for all present as they watched the planned maneuver.
"That's not possible!" the High Priest uttered.
"I'm afraid it is. And I believe that's game!" The Pharaoh arose from the seated table and basked in the applause of the general public, having yet again won another game of Mehen. He then walked over and shook hands with his defeated foe, smiling all the while. The High Priest accepted it, still wondering how he could have lost yet another match.
"I still don't know how you do it," he told the pharaoh. "The serpent should have swallowed you whole."
"Oh it's not that hard to avoid. Just know when to make the right move." The two watched as the audience at the royal courtyard began to disperse. The sun was not yet overhead, but the two retired into the main hall. "Tell me my friend, what brings you all the way to the capital? I would have thought that the High Priest would have his own matters to attend to." A young servant brought the two men drinks as they made their way to the throne room.
Making sure no one was within listening distance, "The Prophetess was right," the High Priest stated.
The Pharaoh's eyes widened. "The Millennium Necklace does work... so there's no helping it."
"Not according to the gods, my liege." The two entered the throne room. They passed two tripods of standing torches which kept the room warm. An open oval skylight lay right in the center of the room causing an interchange of air to circulate inside. Beneath it, carved in the foundation, was a sacred circle with strange glyphs and writings revolving around it. The throne, however, was raised and seated behind the open expanse. A mural was hung behind it, depicting the three metamorphosis of absolute divinity: Ra the sun god high in the sky; the human pharaoh who ruled all mankind; and Osiris wrapped in white in the dark underworld.
Scribes were rushing to the Pharaoh, handing out various scrolls. "I didn't want to bring war to our people."
"It cannot be helped. There is no alternative."
"There is always an alternative!" His voice echoed in the room, causing glances from the guards and servants. "Forgive me my friend. I just do not know whether...nevermind. Egypt cannot stand divided." The Pharaoh took his throne and set his drink down, upon which he was being fanned by followers.
"My liege, there is also another matter..."
"Something else?"
"Sire..., it is the right of succession. You have yet to produce an heir and with this upstart claiming to be your half-brother...,"
"A claim that has yet to be verified..."
"...The rite of Pharaoh would be endangered. The dynasty dies if you fall in combat."
"Then I will have to make sure that simply doesn't happen." He noticed the scowl on the priest's face. "Have faith my friend. You'll see." He began skimming some of the scrolls, mouthing the words.
The High Priest stood upright. "I have enough faith." He took a mouthful from his drink. "There is one more issue to bring up."
The Pharaoh didn't bother to look up. "Regarding?"
"There are reports along the desert of sorcerers wielding forbidden magic."
"Has anyone seen these...sorcerers? Or their monsters?"
The High Priest hesitated. "I've seen the bodies."
The Pharaoh stopped looking at his scroll and was silent. The High Priest could only fathom what was going on in his mind. "This is too suspicious, too convenient. It's almost as if it were planned...No. I must deal with the immediate threat first. If I allow myself to become distracted with phantoms." He turned to look the High Priest in the eyes. "You must investigate. I authorize you to use whatever force you deem necessary. Seek out these rogue wizards and make sure they do not trouble us again. You may take three scrolls worth of the holy codex, if you wish."
"The scrolls crafted from animal hide?"
"Certainly. You'll have access to our best preserved secrets. As old as Egypt itself. I know you won't let them out of your hands," the Pharaoh said as he cast his friend an inquisitive look.
"Of course, my liege." The High Priest however did not move, merely taking another drink of water.
"Is that all?"
Should I tell him about the slave girl? He looked at the Pharaoh. I cannot. I will have to deal with the matter myself. "That is all."
The ruler nodded. "You are dismissed."
To summon fiends from the realm of shadows is one thing, the High Priest thought, but to let them loose upon the innocent? What would these wizards want? He marched with two guards accompanying him. Though the temple archives were full of various spells and evocations for calling various denizens from the other world, the rarest and highly prized were secured within the household of the Pharaohs. Passing clearance, a young scribe gave the High Priest three large scrolls; they were the length of his upper body alone. The parchment was hard, durable. Which animal was sacrificed to create this?
One of the guards took down a lit torch and led the way into the earth. The air was colder as the trio walked single file down flights of stairs. At the bottom, a sentry unlocked the barred door. Ye Gods! This is going to take forever...
The High Priest stared out into a sea of monsters carvings. Each creature had been depicted in stunning detail, as if they had been posing in real life. A faint layer of cold sweat bathed his body, as the High Priest approached one of the tablets. Big lips with a mouth full of daggers of teeth were the first noticeable feature of this monster. Eyes that were off-set from the face of the monster stared down. It was plump and undersized and had antennae; an altogether strange combination of features that did not appear remotely natural. Below the picture were written instructions on how to summon this 'Electric Lizard' and how to bind it as a familiar creature and call it forth.
Paging through his three scrolls, The High Priest realized that there would be enough room to inscribe five, six monsters at most. It will have to do. I'll have to locate the strongest of monsters if I'm to beat these rebels. I better get started.
After hours of searching and browsing and recording, one creature stood out from all the rest. Why do I keep coming back to this creature? An image of a large noble dragon was engraved on the stone tablet before him. Although the High Priest had never seen such a creature before, he felt an affinity towards it, as if the two were bonded together. He reached out and traced the beast's profile with his hands: the great head, its long neck, wings to both sides, and clawed feet emerging from a massive body. A quiet deadly dignity surrounded it, as if beckoning any and all challenges. As the High Priest watched on, he was totally oblivious of the golden glow coming from his object of office: the Millennium Rod.
"Yugi."
The High Priest, who was not unaccustomed to hearing voices, for the spirit world spoke to him, did not find anyone remotely nearby. His escort was quietly chatting away with the lone sentry at the far end of the room. Dazed but not overly concerned, the official returned to the task at hand. He couldn't concentrate, however. He closed his eyes in an attempt to bring focus.
"...Prepare yourself for ultimate annihilation. Now I create a duel monster without peer with attack force so great that no monster can stand against it! I create the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon."
The High Priest clutched at his head. That voice! It sounds familiar. It sounds like my own! But where's it coming from. The voice echoed within his head.
"Attack now Ultimate Dragon. Neutron Blast!" The roar of a great beast was heard, thundering the silence like a fallen pottery.
"What is this?!" The High Priest raised his head to the carved bas-relief before him. He felt a burning sensation from his side. He turned, looking. The Millennium Rod was glowing, brighter than he had ever seen it done before. A sense of vertigo was starting to build up. "Guards! Guards!" His vision blurred.
A wall of brown spots appeared against the sky. A figure was standing behind them. He couldn't tell who it was, but it seemed familiar. "No I will not, cannot, be defeated!" That voice again. But who was it? Soon my Ultimate Dragon will be weak enough for Yugi to destroy outright. I've got to keep trying, it's my only hope. What thoughts are these?Who's thinking these thoughts? "Go Ultimate Dragon!"
The High Priest was starting to hyperventilate. He could hear his breathing, ragged, quick. Had he fallen? He couldn't feel his body. But there were a rush of footsteps. "Your eminence! Your eminence!" His eyes were starting to see something clearer.
"You should have never challenged me Kaiba." Could it be? Was that the Pharaoh? "This is it Kaiba, prepare to meet your demise!" Who's Kaiba? That hair. Those eyes. It is the Pharaoh. But what's he doing?
"Get him upstairs now!"
"We need a healer now!"
"Don't worry your eminence; you're going to be fine." Who was it that was speaking? There was some kind of deep grey, splotch, which was more melted than anything. The Pharaoh was standing behind some foreign warrior, wielding a sword.
The High Priest felt himself slipping. And the voices were merging, making it difficult between what was real, and what was false.
"It can't end this way...I can't let that happen...I'm going to force your hand."
"That's it; just try to keep a hold on my hand. The Pharaoh's best healers are coming. Don't worry about a thing. Just try to concentrate. We'll rescue you from this."
"I must win to rescue Mokuba. The difference is that I'm willing to risk anything to do it." There was determination in that voice. I feel like I'm staring at the Pharaoh with a powerful emotion. Anger. Jealousy, perhaps? "Which means I have the advantage over you, for in my case there is nothing holding me back."
"Don't hold back now. Just keep coughing. Don't try to keep it all inside. Remove his garb. Cut it off if you have to. Strike with..."
"Strike now if you dare, otherwise next turn I'll take you down...Surrender Yugi, that is unless you have the courage..."
"Courage, my Pharaoh. The High Priest is strong willed. It doesn't appear like he's going to go without a fight. There are a few things that need to be done..."
The Pharaoh's collapsed. Is that tears coming down his face? "...done what needed to be done...but he was too weak."
"What do you have Seto Kaiba? What do you have at the end of the day? Tell me. Tell me!" Who is this woman that's yelling at me? Why is she yelling at me?
"Just tell me. I don't care what it takes. I can't leave him like this. Just tell me what he needs."
"I have all that I need."
"I have all that I need," the High Priest echoed, before passing out. The Pharaoh and his onlookers were all stunned.
Seto Kaiba bolted upright in his bed. He was breathing heavily and his nightshirt clung to him damp with sweat. What's going on? What kind of dream was that? How long had I been sleeping? He heard something clatter to the ground. Turning to look, he saw the Millennium Rod staring right back at him, looking quite out of the ordinary. A loud primal cry of anger, frustration, and perplexity came boiling out of Kaiba's mouth which shook the very foundations of his house.