Episode 7

Ancient Egypt

"Have courage, my son," the mighty pharaoh held out his arms towards the child who stumbled. His lips lifted into a soft smile when they began to cry, calling to him that he believed that the youth could reach him, and readily scooped up the teetering child when they finally reached him. The wild air upon his son's head tickled his nose as he comfortingly rubbed the toddler's back with one of his large hands. "everyone falls sometimes, but it is important to remember to stand back up." He blinked as a figure hurried towards them. "What has happened, Seto?"

The apprentice, who would become his son's right hand advisor and next in line for High Priest, looked up at him in distress. Though barely of fifteen summers the young man had proven to be knowledgeable in both skills of politics and those of the secret mage arts that were practiced amongst the few who were gifted. Even so, such an event would cause his cold outer shell to crack when it came to his beloved. "It is Kisara, my king, she has gone into labor!"

The child looked up at a chuckle came from the chest he was cradled against, laughing when a hand tousled his hair. "Then rejoice, your own child will soon be born."

"That is what I fear most, my king," the young nobleman's head hung as they began to walk back the way he had come. "As you know, Kisara is not as your people are; she is but a homunculus, a tool that was exploited for her magical strength and beauty. Not once had they been successful in their research of two generations yet they would not allow her the freedom to live as she chose. If I had not rescued her on that night, would that have saved our child from the fate that awaits them?"

The pharaoh's gaze rose to the clear sky, his hold tightening slightly upon his son when his large amethyst eyes glittered with interest as a bird flew overhead. "Nothing can change the present, that is something only the gods can perform. Even so," his weathered violets met sapphire. "Do not despair. She was able to do so only when you had happened upon their land, Seto, only you bestowed upon her the blessings she needed and you have given yourself the discovery that several a man has been driven mad while searching to find what you have. Most hunt for gold, treasures, slaves, power, and land; those are the true fools."

"My king," Seto bowed his head. "You honor me with your wisdom and kind words."

"Oh, do not thank me yet," he chuckled, struggling to keep a hold of his now wiggling son who reached for the nobleman. The prince was passed to the soon-to-be father who regarded the child with hesitant curiosity when they gave a toothless smile. "You have yet to discover another form of the happiness you are about to be bestowed."

One of the palace guards approached, earning both of their questioning gazes as they received a deep bow. "Forgive the interruption, my king, but the High Priest has a message for his apprentice." His back straightened while handing over a scroll. "There appears to be an individual upon the streets, one that has been stealing and causing commotions that have disturbed the people." Seto's brows furrowed as the perpetrator was described to have white hair, a rarity in their society, and his thoughts instantly went toward the solution that seemed most plausible: a homunculus was roaming about the city. "How will you respond?"

The pharaoh carefully watched as the young man's expression became conflicted. This was delicate matter, to leave the palace and possibly miss the birth of his first born child if the person responsible was not what he thought…but if it was another, like his beloved, then they could have a sensitive situation in dealing with those who were responsible for the illegal creation of life that were the homunculi. The members of the royal family and the court were all too familiar with the secret families of mages who waged war with the sorcerers of other nations over a rumored wish-granting-goblet, being as there has been participants in the past who had partaken in the so called "Holy Grail War". Imperial violet eyes glanced downward as Seto absentmindedly rubbed at the markings upon his left hand, the very markings that the cup within debate bestowed upon a mage it deemed worthy to partake in the battle soon to wage. That was how they had originally met, he and his place beloved. He had interrupted the summoning ceremony the mages were in the middle of and it resulted in him becoming the Master of the Rider Servant they had called forth, much to their displeasure, and were dealt with when the homunculus turned Demi-Servant was discovered within a room buried deep within their dwelling. The young man's shoulders rose and fell in a heavy sigh as his gaze hardened upon the messenger. "I will deal with this," his sapphire gaze briefly met his king's. "Once my child has entered this world."

"You will not have to wait." A soft voice came from behind them, earning a gasp from Seto as Kisara appeared, a bundle within her arms. He scolded her gently, saying that she should be resting, but there was no hint of anger within his tone as he looked down upon them. The pharaoh bowed his head towards her as he retrieved his son and commended her for the successful delivery. Her tired eyes were glittering as she carefully passed the infant to Seto. "She has eyes like yours," she whispered, trembling fingers pulling down the blanket far enough that all could see the wide cerulean gaze that gazed up at them. Skin tone similar to the sweet honey that they had been gifted when the pregnancy was first announced, the first few curls of hair that were similar to the cacao beans that had also been a gift; almost a perfect combination of the parents. It was surprising to see that not a strand of silver hair was to be seen, but then again there were certain characteristics that would surely be more pronounced due to Seto's own heritage. "What shall we call her?"

"T…" All eyes locked upon the future monarch of Egypt as his hand rested atop of her head, his amethyst eyes shinning brightly as his brows furrowed. "T…a…" His lips fell into a frustrated frown as he looked to his father. "T…e….a…."

Kisara giggled as the pharaoh's head tilted to the right. "Correct, young prince, that was the drink that I had craved during the pregnancy." Her eyes shone brightly as she looked to her beloved who was silently gazing down at his daughter when he whispered under his breath. "What a lovely name. I love it, Seto, 'Teanna' is perfect."

. . . .

Cerulean eyes narrowed, the person sitting across from her returning her cold glare despite the steaming food that was in front of them. She had woken from a near twelve hour sleep to find her own father attempting to break down her bedroom door. Honestly, she was far too exhausted to deal with his attitude so early in the morning. Her hands cupped the steaming mug of brown liquid and sipped from it as the man across the table did the same.

Rider shook his head as he watched the pair. The resemblance of his Master's daughter to his own was astounding but just the short interactions between the herself and her father were enough for him to see the shocking differences. This girl was more outspoken, straight forward, and strong willed that could be painfully seen within her father. He was a Servant, bound to his Master through the contract that was manifested as a dragon upon his skin, but even that could not force him to ignore what he saw. Her icy stare softened slightly when his hand rested atop of her shoulder. "You have saved my king, for that you have my gratitude. If you had not reformed the contract and provided him with the necessary mana he would surely have vanished from this plane by now."

The smallest of smiles tugged at her mouth as her hand rose and rested upon his own then turned her glare back towards her father. "See this? I bet he treated his own daughter much better than you have!"

"I acted in your best interest, yet here you sit pointing your finger and demanding that I change my ways." Sapphire narrowed from over his coffee cup's brim. "You of all people know that I am not the coddling type."

"Gentleness and kindness are not sins nor are they weaknesses," Rider's tone was stern, as though he was speaking to a child. "Kisara would not have wanted you to treat her so coldly."

Seto's eyes narrowed. "This is the twenty-first century. Fairy tales and storybook endings don't exist here." His gaze shifted towards Anzu, who had pushed away the now cold plate of toaster waffles. "We aren't done yet."

"Yes we are." She coldly glared at him from over her shoulder as she stood and turned away. "You haven't once thought of how little you actually know me. Do you know my favorite color, song, or even my favorite food?" Sadness swam within her cerulean eyes as he remained silent. "That's what I thought. You've provided for me, I'm grateful, but was it out of love or obligation?"

Rider bit his lower lip roughly as his master didn't answer, resulting in the young woman to sigh then disappear up the stairs. Their appearances were nearly identical, right down to the highlights within their hair, but they were so different it was painful. Anger flared within his eyes as he regarded his master. "What a cold mage you are, Master, to have abandoned your own daughter within a tower as if she were a precious artifact." His bangs fell to shadow his eyes. "I learned far too late of the mistake I foresee you committing."

. . . .

"Father, why must you be away? You just returned!" Teanna's eyes shone brightly with unshed tears as her hair was combed by her mother who sat behind her. "I do not want you to go!"

The mage smiled softly, resting a hand upon his beloved's shoulder when she too gave him a look that begged him to stay. "I wish, but the pharaoh has requested that I look into a series of strange happenings in the neighboring kingdom to the west. Many mages have been killed and the one responsible is matching the description of one who has been causing trouble for our own kingdom. I cannot ignore the summons." He knelt on one knee so that he could be eye level with his daughter when she pouted and swept her up into his arms when she refused to look his way. "Come now, Teanna, do not be so cruel to your father." A soft giggle came from the small girl when his fingers expertly tickled her armpits and she was soon howling with laughter as Kisara came up from behind to tickle the back of her neck. "Do you forgive your father?"

She squealed, writhing as their onslaught increased, but managed to slip from both of their grasps with a poof then reappear across the room, fixing her clothing with suppressed giggles. He breath had caught the second she had disappeared, dread filling him when he realized she had used a non-verbal spell to teleport across the room. Kisara must have noticed his suddenly downcast mood and asked Teanna how she came to know such an ability. "The prince's teacher taught me!" The child grinned, puffing out her chest with pride. "I have been learning the lost art along with the prince when he is not busy! I have learned many things faster than even him!"

"Is that so?" He stood and cross the room, picking her up once more. "Than how about your father tests you when he returns to see how much you have grown?" From the corner of his eye he could see Kisara blink in surprise at his words and ushered the small child towards the next room where her bed lie. He offered her a small smile. "I will not confine her nor will I restrain her abilities. We shall see what kind of mage she becomes."

It felt as though he blinked and she was a young woman celebrating her coming of age, suitable for marriage now and was receiving several proposals each day. He could not contain the pride he held when she had been made the apprentice of the palace guard's lead practitioner shortly after he had been bestowed the title of High Priest. She had grown to be just as beautiful as her mother, which had earned the seemingly unwanted attention that Teanna shied away from when it presented itself. He had been summoned and given various missions during the last decade, limiting his time spent with his family when not within the palace serving the pharaoh.

During that time, Kisara had steadily grown ill from unknown reasons and then had been claimed by the Holy Grail itself when the blood soaked ceremony had been completed, causing him immense pain and sorrow as he was force to continue along the path called "life" with the only reminder of her existence being their daughter that he could only watch from afar. Teanna had taken the news hard, weeping for several days as he held her in a failed attempt to console them both, but with time they both had slowly healed from their wounded hearts. Even after the war the victor had remained a mystery but there was a rumor that whoever had been successful and had their wish granted was one with dark skin littered with scars and had white hair. It was because of them that his beloved had been taken away, that his daughter would be forced to grow up without a mother, that his life would forever be darkened.

He ensured that Teanna's Coming of Age celebration was elaborate with several gifts and even a feast while in the company of the pharaoh himself. Their ties with the royal line were close, both the young prince and his daughter forming a quick friendship that had comforted her during his absence. Sapphire met cerulean as she twirled before him, showcasing the special gown that he had commissioned. She had welcomed him home with open arms, as she always did, but today he could tell there was something heavy weighing upon her mind. No matter how he pressed though she gave no answer. It wasn't until later that night that he had a suspicion of what it could possibly be when he spotted her with a white haired individual before she had hurried to the palace where he was awaiting her.

"Teanna?" She startled, as if he had jumped out at her in the form of a prank, but the look in her eye was what caused anger to fill his chest. He quickly ushered her through the palace gates and behind one of the pillars. "Why do your eyes show fear? What has happened?" His hands rose to cup her face as she shook her head. "Why can you not tell me?"

Her being trembled as she stepped forward and rested her head against his chest. "Father, I do not understand something and yet I cannot find the words to describe it." She sniffled softly as his hand gently combed through her chocolate locks, patiently waiting and casting a shake of his head towards the guard who approached in silent warning to stay back. "A friend, a dear friend, has become someone I do not recognize," she finally said. "He…he confessed his love for me, the one you released from slavery of that driver from the east side of the city."

Now his interest was piqued. "It has been so long since then, I am surprised that he has returned." She explained that like himself, her friend would disappear for weeks if not months at a time, and was also exceedingly secret about what he was up to. Knowing that she had made a friend outside of the palace had originally made him relieved but then he recalled the white hair. "What was his name, this friend of yours?"

She looked up at him. "Bakura."

. . . .

The bedroom door slammed closed behind her as she cast a quick spell meant to prevent eavesdroppers as she sighed heavily. She bounced slightly while falling onto the bed, her body already trembling from exhaustion of walking up the stairs and facing off against her own father. "I bet you got along swimmingly with yours," she muttered, her fingers adjusting the blanket so that it was in its original position before her motions had caused it to slide downward. "Lucky." Her cerulean eyes softened when the slumbering figure's fingers twitched, the tanned fingers entwining with her own when they met. A flare of pain caused her free hand to clutch her head, the room growing hazy as heat gathered within her core. She fiercely bit into her lower lip to stifle a soft cry as the pain increased, burying her face in one of the pillows as her body stiffened in response to the white hot pain that made itself known along her spine. It lasted for several seconds, possibly minutes, and fell to the bed with large tears trickling down her cheeks as she fought to regain a regular breathing rate. "P-Pharaoh," she whimpered, bringing their still joined hands to rest against her chest as darkness closed in on her. "Please wake up…"

. . . .

They both startled as the prince called from his place upon one of the balconies. His fingers briefly cupped her chin. "The future pharaoh awaits you. I shall be along momentarily, I must first find the current king." The High Priest's eyes trailed after the retreating form of his daughter until she was out of sight then allowed the anger within his chest to show upon his face as he swiftly called for several soldiers. "There is one with white hair within the city limits. Do not approach him, he may be dangerous, but I want you to watch him closely for the rest of this night." They nodded and hurried from the palace to follow his orders as he made his way towards the throne room. As if waiting for him, King Aknnamkanon was halfway across the room and wore a tense expression upon his features by the time he had entered the room. "My king, a moment please."

. . . .

A soft cry left her lips as the cracks in her skin grew. They had started appearing a few hours ago, revealing dark violet swirling with crimson underneath. She was growing colder by the second, despite the hot shower she had taken when they first appeared and the multiple layers she wore. Nothing was keeping her warm. Her being wracked with a shiver as a soft knock came from the door. "Not now, Rider, I'm a little busy." Anzu's chest flared with pain as the crack near her collarbone widened a few centimeters.

"Allow me entrance this once, I swear that I only want to help." She sighed when he assured her that it was just himself, slowly rising to her feet and crossing the room with slow steps until her hand grasped the doorknob. No sooner had the spell dissipated had the door opened and she teetered as Rider quickly entered the room, his arms wrapping around her as she lost her balance. "It is worse than I feared." He quickly placed her upon the bed and instructed her to stay still as his eyes found each visible crack that gushed with magic energy. The High Priest of the White Dragon's sapphire eyes held her gaze for a moment as he asked her for permission, and with a snap of his fingers her many layers disappeared until she was clad only in her pajama tee and shorts. The cracks were worse the closer to her torso they got but the worse one was across her collarbone. "It is worse than I feared." He inhaled through his nose deeply as a possible solution entered his mind and steeled himself. "I will teach you a spell but you will have to put everything you have behind it if you are to survive this."

She nodded and carefully watched at his lips formed the words as well as intently listened to the way he pronounced each syllable. Anzu didn't even flinch when a loud bang came from the door. Blocking out her father's voice was second nature now and hardly noticed as she remained focused upon the Servant in front of her. Her head bobbed in understanding and closed her eyes. "Chikara no Ryūdō Ansuz!" Her head fell back as the power that had been swirling within her began gushing from the cracks within her skin. "Is this supposed to happen?!" Alarm filled her when no answer came and she strained to raise her head enough so that she could squint over the swirling fireball that was growing inches from her being to spot Rider's expression tight with concentration as his hands forced the flames to shrink and heat to pulsate from its cluster. A force suddenly threw her across the room to collide with the wall next to the door and she slipped into unconsciousness as the light engulfed her.

. . . .

"The pharaoh was fine just two moons ago, what do you mean that he has fallen ill?! You dare to tell me that none of the medical physicians in the kingdom have a cure?!" The High Priest roared, his cold eyes causing the guards to flinch before his rage. "Who is the culprit?!" His heart froze when one of them mentioned that his own daughter was one of the last ones to be within the mighty pharaoh's presence, along with his son the prince. For the first time in his life, his heart clenched with fear. Never had he felt so powerless! His jaw was locked but he was capable of dismissing them through clenched teeth, that they were to leave the matter to him personally, and felt his blood grow cold when they informed him that several soldiers had already been dispatched towards his family's residence not only to retrieve her, to bring her before the Millennium Court, but that a platinum haired individual had been spotted near it. "Fetch my horse!"

The palace staff and servants scattered to get away from his horse's thundering hooves as he sped through the gates, his gaze locked upon a house in the distance. It was true, the place was crawling with soldiers in armor but they parted as he slid to a halt and jumped from the saddle to land in the dust. He could only watch with a heavy heart as Teanna was lead from the dwelling's interior, tight ropes keeping her arms pinned to her sides as the soldier in front of her passed the second rope to the one behind. There were dark shadows under her eyes and dried tear tracks down her cheeks as they lead her away. "Teanna!"

She didn't glance his way as he cried her name, causing his heart to crack. "Apologies, father, I wish I had known sooner." Her voice was so weak and heavy with emotion that his heart gave a painful squeeze. There was so much sadness within her tone that it made his own eyes feel as though they could start to weep. "It was not I, this I swear, but I cannot bring myself to say who is."

"You know who did?" Her head bent as if a heavy weight had settled upon her shoulders. He didn't care of the consequences, he shoved the soldiers obscuring his path to stand before her. "Tell me!" Realization filled him as she refused to meet his gaze. The anger returned but it had morphed into fury as he locked his gaze upon the captain. "The platinum haired individual known as Bakura, the King of Thieves, is in the city limits! Do not allow any to enter or exit the town no matter what!"

. . . .

"Rider! Open this door!" Seto Kaiba banged his fist against the wood. The explosion of mana was so tremendous that the whole mansion had quaked in response and it felt as though it was going to collapse if the pressure hadn't disappeared when it had. He should have known that the blasted Servant of his was behind it but why was he in his daughter's room? His shoulder impacted the door, managing to break the lock, and felt himself stiffen in surprise when he spotted Anzu's unconscious form on the opposite side of the room that was emitting a mana current that was being condensed between the hands of his Rider Class Servant. Comprehension filled him and he cursed under his breath as he knocked the Servant back with a shove, taking his place while chanting several spells that quickly stabilized the fireball. "You must have a death wish," he growled as sweat beaded across his body. "There was no way you alone were going to contain the power of the Holy Grail." His eyes blazed brightly for several seconds as his chanting caused ribbons of runes to wrap around the power and condense it further. Both collapsed in heaps as it suddenly disappeared, nearly plunging the room into darkness if not for the alexandrite stone that slowly fell to the floor. It was encased within a silver pendant that was the shape of a harp that hung from a delicate silver chain.

"It was the only way that I could surmise that would allow her to continue living," Rider scoffed, rising and quickly crossing the room to check on the unconscious girl. The cracks were gone and she was sleeping soundly as he carefully returned her to the bed. "It was successful though."

Seto's eyes narrowed in a glare. "Hardly. It's only a matter of time before it cracks."

Their attention shifted to the stone as it levitated and settled itself within her partially open palm, snuggling into her skin as if it were a living creature in search of a mother's warmth. It no longer emitted a hostile energy nor did it feel as threatening as when she was struggling to contain it. If they had left it alone, she would be no better off than a ticking time bomb. This, however, gave her the opportunity to learn to harness the grail's power since she was now its vessel. The solution though temporary would prepare her for what was to come. The fast she had masterfully executed the spell Rider had taught her within minutes was enough to fill him with hope. "I have faith that she will succeed."

. . . .

He fell to his knees as she staggered through the city's northern entrance, quickly catching and holding onto her carefully as she clung to him. She had disappeared shortly after news of the pharaoh's prince embarking on the journey that would take him across the desert towards the sacred chamber where previous pharaoh's would speak to the Ancient Gods. "Teanna," his voice cracked. She looked as though she had been burned alive; her luscious hair was now matted and several chunks were missing, clothing barely containing her dignity, skin nearly completely blackened and sizzled slightly where it touched his being, large black chunks of completely burnt flesh crumbling as she cried into his chest. "My precious daughter, who did this to you?"

A shadow fell over them, diverting his attention towards the mighty pharaoh who knelt. He had recovered as the kingdom received blessings from the gods and the poison that had entered his system was purged as a bolt of lightning forked across the sky until it reached the golden posts of his bed. The weathered ruler rested a hand against her forehead as she sobbed that she had tried her best to protect the prince from Bakura's wrath, that she had used everything she had to lure him away from the chamber so that the prince to continue his prayers uninterrupted, and all who had gathered gasped as a tear slipped from their mighty ruler's eye as he turned his focus upon the lone rider who was quickly approaching the gates. "Mighty Gods of Egypt, as Pharaoh I command you to smite the one who threatens our kingdom!" A unified cry rose from the people as the God's Soldier Obelisk appeared between the gates and the rider. "Fist of Fury!" The earth quaked as the ethereal being's clenched fist collided with the individual, large crevices appearing in the once thirsty ground as the Egyptian God roared loudly in victory.

. . . .

Rider bowed his head as the figure upon the bed stirred and cast a glance over his shoulder when the young Mutuo mage appeared within the doorway, the still miniature toon version of his own Castor Servant sitting atop of his head, and shook his head when the boy made to question the state of the room. Seto Kaiba moved to sit on the edge of the bed as her eyes fluttered open. "I could not save my own precious child," the High Priest of the White Dragon raised his head. "It was the least I could do to assist in saving my Master's."

Her eyes rose to briefly meet her father's gaze. Underneath the cold exterior and guarded eyes, she could see that he had been worried and offered him a smile. "Thanks, dad, I appreciate it."

He cleared his throat with a huff, gaze rising to the ceiling. "Don't expect me to do it again. I wasted too much mana in helping you."

A tick mark appeared upon her brow but she swallowed her anger and turned her attention to the object within her hand. It was a necklace unlike any she had seen before and she quickly slipped the chain around her neck. Her lips lifted into a smile as it glittered subtly and hung just shy of the midpoint between her collarbone and the tops of her breasts. A calmness fell upon the room as she closed her eyes and rested a hand upon the chest of the Servant next to her. "It's time to wake up, sleepy head." A golden glow grew beneath her hand, earning a surprised gasp from all as one his hands rose to rest upon hers. She retreated as he sat up, the glow disappearing as she ceased the spell, and smiled as the Nameless Pharaoh's amethyst eyes met her own. "Looks like we made it."

See you next time!