60 Chapters? Wow, thank you so much for reading and letting this story get this far. You're all awesome.
Disclaimer. This part of the fifth season has EXTREM changes. Watching this season I was not satisfying by their explanations for what happened, and because my OC characters already changed so much it gave me an opportunity to change things. Maybe I made things more confusing. But I hope it's at least enjoyable to read. Please let me know if this works out.
House keeping. I don't own yugioh. Only Airi and other OC characters. Thanks to batousaigirl16 for reading and editing.
Chapter 60
5000 years ago.
Nameless Pharaoh. Mana tried to get use to thinking of her friend that way. The few days after Zorc was defeated seemed like entirety ago. She sat in the window sill overlooking the garden pool. So many happy memories now tainted by the terrors which had happened only days before. She tried to think of some pleasant memories before she left the palace forever, but she couldn't. The only memory flitting over and over at the front of her mind was the last time she had seen the now nameless pharaoh.
She had taken refuge after the battles at the pool staying out of the way of all the priests and embalmers. The pharaoh had disappeared somewhere else in the palace, and no one dared disturb him as he mourned his wife and child. The country was in a state of mourning. Mana had shed her tears in private, crying for her lost friends and the cruelty of her survival. Her eyes burned like she had been in the sand all day. She placed a hand damp with water from the pool over her eyes in an attempt to sooth them.
A hand rested on her shoulder and she looked up to see Geb, her love and the Pharaoh's personal slave, standing over her. His violet eyes also seemed as red as she felt. She leaned into his touch. Neither of them spoke for a long while there weren't any words to describe what they felt or the connections founded though all the pain and destruction.
"Have you eaten?" Geb asked.
She shook her head. "Not hungry."
"It's been a few days. You need food."
She didn't protest as he gently helped her up and lead her towards the kitchens. The stone halls felt like tombs. Their sandals echoed against the walls.
"Aren't you supposed to be with the Pharaoh?" she asked.
"I've done all I can do. He wants to be alone."
"Will he be alright?"
Geb shrugged. "Only the gods and time know."
Loud arguing caught their attention. Mana and Geb rounded the corner to see Seth and Isis having a heated argument.
"I can not deny what I saw."
"You must have been mistaken." Seth said.
"I am not mistaken. It was my clearest vision."
Seth turned away and began passing. "We can not tell the pharaoh."
The sound of footsteps coming down the hall made priests and observers jumped. No one had noticed the Pharaoh appear behind them. Mana hadn't seen her friend in the last few day and he looked horrible. Hair disheveled and bags under his eyes, he looked about ready to be mummified. The bandages around most of his limbs helped to solidify the illusion.
"Not tell me what?"
"Nothing my pharaoh," Seth said. "Isis saw a vision, but it is not serious."
"It involves the Darkness, does it not?"
Geb and Mana looked at each other. Seth should have known better than to keep things from the pharaoh.
"It does, my pharaoh." Isis admitted.
"Tell me what you saw." The pharaoh said.
Isis closed her eyes and began to speak in an even tone.
"The Darkness is not vanquished. Fragment lives on. Inside the Ring, he will wait until he is strong enough to rise again. Zorc will rise again."
Mana gripped the wall to keep herself standing. Zorc wasn't gone. He was infected her Master Mahad's ring and was coming back.
Isis continued. "But when he rises, but there is hope. A hero of the shadow realm. With the three gods he will battle this fragment of soul. A Yugioh. King of Games."
"This has nothing to do with us." Seth said. "It will happen years, maybe thousands of years in the future. This other hero, yugioh guy, will be able to fight this fragment and move on."
"Pharaoh?" Isis was watching the pharaoh, concerned.
The pharaoh leaned against the wall and Mana could see the fear in his eyes and the pain.
"Thank you for telling me." the pharaoh turned and disappeared down the hall.
"I told you know you shouldn't have told him." Seth said.
Mana and Geb slipped away and out of the palace. The majority the city's dead were collected in the courtyard and the mummification priests had been working through the day and night to prepare people for the after life. The two of them made their way to the part of the yard reserved for the nobility.
They found the pharaoh near the back of the yard. He sat there between two of the embalming tables, one with a small body, the other adult sized.
"Master?" Geb said.
The Pharaoh didn't turn, but continue to stare into nothing.
"We heard Isis's prophesy." Mana said.
"All this for nothing." the pharaoh said. "I give up everything, and I wasn't able to banish all of Zorc."
Mana didn't know what to say that could help. Geb attempted to find a bright side.
"Maybe Seth is right. This Yugioh will be able to finish the job."
The pharaoh turned, his eyes flashing with anger. "I fail and another has to suffer. How much of his world will be destroyed? Who will have to die to get him to the end of his destiny? What could I have done to prevents more deaths?" he covered his face in his hands.
Neither friends knew what to say.
The pharaoh suddenly stood. Mana stepped back. She'd never seen that much furry and determinations before he'd faced the darkness.
"If he has a fragment of his soul I'll make sure I send a piece of me into the future."
"You can't do that." Geb said. "So many things could go wrong."
"I'm sending the boy help."
"How is that going to work." Mana found her voice. "The power to send yourself to the future would kill you. How would you make sure he got there."
"I will find a way. It will happen."
For days Mana didn't see any of the pharaoh. The pharaoh was in continuous meeting with Isis, Seth, and Shada in his chambers. The only news she heard was from Geb, and he wasn't allowed to listen in to the meetings. Mana tried to distract herself by helping with the rebuilding in the city. Her magic, still not the most powerful, was helpful with building repairs.
She returned to the palace to find Geb running out to find her.
"The Pharaoh wants to see you."
The procession went out to the pharaoh's tomb. Mana followed behind the pharaoh head spinning as she went through her instructions. The pharaoh was going to split his spirit and send part of it into the future to assist the Yugioh take on the darkness. He couldn't risk the way he defeated the darkness to be revealed so he would wipe the spirit's memory. The spell was so complex it would take so much power it would kill the pharaoh to complete the spell. He himself would remain in the tomb until the time was needed, where he would reveal the secret spell to completely vanquish the darkness from threatening the world again.
Mana was given an important task. As part of the spell, the millennium puzzle would be broken and the pharaoh had requested her to gather up the pieces and place them in a special part of his tomb.
"I trust you the most." the pharaoh had said when she asked. "you are my oldest friend. I will need your strength to carry out the final spell."
Many carried the golden box in her arms he had told her would fit the puzzle after it was broken. Geb had offered to carry it but she wanted to hold it. Prideful yes, but she wanted to show the other priest and magicians she was capable of carrying out a task. Even so, she wished she could be walking with Geb instead of him walking back with the lesser priests because of his status.
They finally arrived in a deserted canyon in the desert. Lesser priests, acting under the orders of Isis, Shada, and Seth waited for orders.
The Pharaoh first came up to Seth. he presented him with his crown, making the transition of power official. Mana held back, hoping for the first time in her life the stuffy official stuff would go on for a long time and prolonged the time before she had to enter the tomb. She felt a presence next to her and looked back to see Geb hanging back a few feet away. She wanted to reach back and hold his hand. She needed support, but knew it wouldn't be allowed.
She turned to face forwards again and almost jumped to see the pharaoh had approached them without her noticing.
He motioned for Geb to step forward. The slave approached and knelt down before the pharaoh waiting for final instructions.
"I have heard from Shada that you wish to joint the priests who have offered their lives to become guardians of my tomb until my return."
"Yes, master."
"I do not want you to become part of the tomb keepers."
Geb rose up, clearly shocked. "Please, I want to serve. Give my ownership to Isis or the others so I die serving your cause."
"No." the pharaoh's voice was firm. He knelt down and unfastened the marked cuffs on Geb's wrists. "I release you from my service."
Mana gasped. The pharaoh tossed the bracelets into the sand. Geb looked down at his bare wrists. They stood out pale compared to the rest of his skin.
"I'm free?" Geb's voice threatened to break.
"You are free." the pharaoh said.
Mana dropped the box in the sand. Ignoring the disapproving looks, she knelt next to Geb and wrapped her arms around him. More whispers erupted at these actions. Mana didn't care if the priests were murmuring. Geb was a free man ans she could show she cared for him. If they didn't like it, they could go eat sand for all she cared.
The pharaoh held up a hand and Geb accepted it. Mana rose too, still holding on to him.
"Mana." The pharaoh said gently. "It is time."
"May I come with you?" Geb asked.
The pharaoh looked between Mana and Geb. "You may accompany us."
Geb picked up the fallen box, dusted it off, and handed it back to Mana. she gripped it, determined not to drop it again. It was reassuring to have Geb walk beside her as they followed the pharaoh into the tomb.
It was dark, only lit by a lamp. The pharaoh led the way while Mana followed close behind. He led the way to the back.
They passed a doorway and he paused.
"Put the box here when it's done." he said. "There's a ledge in there. The priest have instructions for it's protection.
She nodded. They continued on until the back of the tomb. From the carved box in the floor she realized they were in the burial chamber. She had to put the box on the ground before she dropped it. Both she and Geb waited as the pharaoh walked to the stone tomb in the center of the room and put a hand on it.
Maybe he would reconsider and not go through with this. But he turned and she could tell by his expression he was still resolved.
"Do not interrupt me, under any circumstance." he told both of them. "When it is finished, tell the priests, they will finish the final preparations."
Mana nodded, her throat tight.
The pharaoh put a hand on Geb's shoulder. "Live your life, Geb. do this for me." he leaned in and whispered something in his ear.
Geb stiffened, but nodded. "Thank you, my pharaoh."
The Pharaoh turned to Mana. He gave her a sad smile.
"This is the end, my friend. Thank you."
Mana hugged him, trying to say everything her voice failed to express. She held on, as if trying to convince him there was another way. They finally separated.
He turned away and entered the room. He took the millennium puzzle from his neck and held it up. She couldn't hear the words he spoke. Light began emanated from his hands and the puzzle. Shadows flashed across the walls. Mana had to squint to focus on the scene in front of her.
There were now two pharaohs. She must be seeing things but blinking didn't clear her vision. The second one was translucent. He was splitting himself. This was his plan? She still couldn't hear what he was telling his spirit fragment.
The spirit disappeared and the puzzle glowed brighter. The Pharaoh lifted the puzzle up. In a quick motion threw it onto the ground. The puzzle shattered with the sound of a thunder clap. Gold scattered, flashing in the lamp light. The Pharaoh's body slid to the floor and lay motionless.
Mana rushed to him, almost slipping on a piece of the floor. Kneeling next to him she rolled him over to show his empty eyes staring into nothing. He was dead. She covered her eyes.
Geb laid the body out in a more fitting position for a pharaoh. Trying to hold on to her emotions she collected the pieces and placed them in the box. Geb tried to help, but she gently told him this was her task. She walked the room several times to make sure she hadn't missed any pieces. Looking back one more time at her childhood friend, she left the burial chamber, Geb close behind. Walking back the way she came she found the room the pharaoh had told her to place the chest. She couldn't get out of there fast enough. The feeling of death was threatening to suffocate her.
In the main hall way to the tomb entrance she found Seth and Isis waiting.
"It's done." Mana told Isis.
Seth turned to the priests behind them. "Close the doors. Prepare for the closing of the tomb."
Mana walked a distance from the activity as priest began the ceremony. She didn't get far before she stumbled. Geb caught her. She'd forgotten he was there. Their eyes met and she could no longer hold on to her emotions. The two held on to each other and the tears came. They stood alone admit the rushing of embalmers and priests.
Remembering that terrible day reminded Mana why they were leaving Egypt. Geb had received a small inheritance to start a new life as a free man. He also told Mana what the pharaoh had told him in the tomb. It was permission from the pharaoh for Geb to ask Mana to be his wife. More looks from the priests had accompanied the announcement of the apprentice magician and former slave being engaged, but no one had countered it and Isis had performed the ceremony for them. Pharaoh Seth had allowed them to live in the palace if they wanted, but she didn't want to stay there any more.
Now they were officially together, the newlyweds decided to leave Egypt. It was clear the Pharaoh's last wish was for them not to waste their lives waiting for his return and the landscape was tainted with memories of destruction and death. Geb suggested leaving the country and travel to the east and she agreed.
Birds flew over head reflected in the pool. They flew towards the east. Mana smiled. It was a sign. It was be alright.
Present Day
Airi signed the last form and handed it to the museum secretary.
"Anything else?" she asked.
The lady looked it over. "Everything seems in order. We'll contact you in a few days after the back ground check to let you know if you got the job."
"Thank you." Airi exited into the main lobby of the Domino Museum entrance hall. Flexing her fingers she looked around. Now she had to track down her brother in a museum. Then she smiled. Wait, this was Yugi. She headed towards the Egyptian wing of the museum.
Like she thought Yugi was sitting on the bench in front of the slab of stone. The nameplate finally had a name for the rock, calling it Tablet of Nameless Pharaoh. She looked at the top of the depicting the fight between the clones of Seto and Yami. She could see Yami's silhouette from the back sitting next to Yugi.
"Having fun?" Airi asked, coming up to them.
"Yep. how was the application process?" Yugi asked.
"I'm probably not going to be able to hold another pen for the rest of the day. So many questions and signatures."
"When will you know?" Yami said.
"Probably not until the end of the week."
"I'm sure you'll get it." Yugi said. "Having Pro. Hawkins and Grandpa being your references, they'll have to let you in."
"They don't have that many connections."
"You needed connections and didn't tell us?" a voice came from behind them. "I feel a bit hurt."
the three looked around. Nasira Karnak, Airi's friend from the American dig, stood next to an older girl who looked to be her sister. Airi and Nasira hugged, both exclaiming how much they'd missed each other.
"You were coming to Japan and didn't say anything?" Airi said. "We could have put you up."
"We're not staying that long." Nasira said. "Oh, before I forget, this is my sister Kelilia, holder of the millennium scales."
"Pleased to meet you." Yugi bowed in greeting.
Kelilia did the same. "Greeting, Yugioh."
"So, what are you doing here?" Airi asked.
"Are you here to transport the stone slab back?" Yugi said.
"Why would we do that?" Nasira looked confused.
"It's a fake." Kelilia said.
The Muto's and Yami looked back at the rock. It didn't look fake.
"Why would we send them an artifact from the Nameless Pharaoh's tomb?" Kelilia continued. "We have sworn to protect the tomb until the danger is over. Sending it overseas makes that job a little hard."
"I guess so." Airi said. "but then why are you here?"
"I'm planning on coming here to go to school." Nasira said.
She and Airi did a bunch of girlish squeals at the prospect of being near each other.
"But you live in Egypt." Yugi said. "Wouldn't it be better for you to go to school with all the history?"
"I already know all that." Nasira explained. "I want to specialize in Japanese history. We were here to look at schools to see which was a good fit."
"That was the original plan." Kelila said.
"Original plan?" Airi hadn't missed the tone in Kelilia's voice.
Nasira's excitement dimmed and she became as serious as her sister. "Well, we were in the area and Ishizu contacted us and told us to bring you back to Egypt with us."
Yami shot a look at Yugi, who voiced his question. "What has happened?"
The sisters looked at each other.
"The tomb keepers know the Spirit in the Millennium Ring is evil." Kelilia's voice was deadly serious. "We've been keeping track of it. It's been hard to locate. But we've finally had a lead. His host has been out of the country for a while. But he's finally coming home, but he's taking a detour. He's going to Egypt."
"The darkness is about to surface again." Nasira said. "We need the Pharaoh to return."
A/N: Sorry that was short, but i wanted to get it out. Please review. Thank you for reading and God bless.
