Hello once more everyone. Well, things are still rolling along today. Thanks everyone that congratulated me on hitting chapter 100. I will tell you all for sure that I didn't write 150 chapters, so there's some good news, or is it bad? Shrugs Either way, the story is on it's downhill grade, heading for the end.
That reminds me. I need to thank my fiancé for helping in writing most of chapter 100, all of 101, and part of 102. I was going to originally write out their past story, but she decided to help me out and write them. Once she was done, I read over it and made a few changes (added in the scene in the stable, corrected some of her mistakes, lol, and added a few other scenes in this chapter). While writing those chapters, she got the idea to write The History of the Millennium Items. She'll work on it someday again, as soon as she gets some free time I'm sure.
And now, it's time to get to the reviews.
Ultimate Legendary Master: Thanks, and I'm glad to be back and updating. I missed doing it. Yeah, Yami didn't last long due that Illidan HAD to finish. After all, the man was about to pass out, so he just ended it all quickly as possible. Lol, my fiancé thought the same thing about Illidan finally being unconscious and it being Marie taking care of him. The next duel is the final ten way duel, so don't worry, it's coming.
Metal Overlord 2.0: I thought I'd throw Tyrant Dragon in due to a reason. Soon you'll see why it was so important to her. Actually, you'll find out more in my sequel, The Wolves Seal, and in my fiancé's story, The History of the Millennium Items. Both will explain, but this story does as well to a degree. I added the stable scene mostly to… I really can't remember now why I added it. Anyways, I added it to help define Illidan's past character I guess. Lol, and thanks for the piece of your mind.
Isis the Sphinx: Alright. I'll try to get on it soon. Between work and everything else this crazy week, I'm just busy. I might get an hour or 2 at night, but that even depends at times. LOL! You can't pronounce Illidan's name? Well, I'll sound it out for you. Ill-i-dan. Ill as in I'm feeling rather sickly or ill, i as in i, and dan as in dan the man! Lol, altogether, it spells out Illidan!
Tomb Robber Vicky: Yeah, he made it, but barely. I should have hooked him up to an IV with caffeine drip, lol. The way they met was my fiancé's idea, and she had fun with making it that way, hehe.
Strawberry Cake: NO! I couldn't have handled writing another 131! I barely managed to get this far originally, lol. Then all the freaking corrections I had to make, oh my gosh, that took so long! Smiles Legend… Breaks out into a song. Gather around children, to the hear the legend of Illidan the Half Demon! "…" Smacked in the back of the head by fiancé. Party pooper… Oh yeah, that's Ryou, and he's celebrating something. Picks up shovel and smacks him in the back of the head, instantly knocking him unconscious. Much better.
Brianna Ishtar: He'll be back up! Don't do that to him, or you may regret it! Watches Millennium Key glow. Uh oh…
Well, I'm glad I have so many reviews. I was just looking over my stats this morning, and realized I now have 294 reviews altogether from chapter 1-100. Thank you all for your reviews. I'm so happy to get them always, and I encourage anyone else who'd like to review to go ahead. Not as if I'll bite you if you do… maybe, lol. Smacked in the back of the head again by fiancé. I wasn't talking about biting them like that! Sheesh, I only do that with you, hehe. Gets patted on the head for being a good boy.
Anyways, thank you all for your reviews, and I look forward to future ones. Maybe today I'll hit 300, which would be so cool. At any rate, I'm posting 2 chapters due that I didn't post last night, so enjoy.
Chapter 101
On that day, she woke up from a vision of her first test. In it, she had seen all that had happened. Sitting in her bed, she began to wonder why the others hadn't told her she had knocked Illidan away like she had. Of course, she knew now after many three years as to why she was not tested as a child.
She had been tested, but the testing had been kept secret due that on that day when she was only a child, she had shown greater strength than even Yami had at the age of three. That had worried Pharaoh Raijin, Yami's father, and rather than keep her alive and to have her help protect Egypt, he attempted to have her life taken. Ironically, it was Illidan's father, Shando Stormrage, who was to execute her all those years ago.
She barely remembered that day. She was only three, but due to her Shadow Powers, she could clearly see into the past. That day, Shando and the High Priest of Egypt, Set's father, Furion, had visited her home. Furion had knocked her out with a blast of Shadow Magic, while her mother and father were killed by two other guards. Shando was left alone with the girl so he could do the evil deed for the pharaoh. Luckily for Marie, Shando couldn't take the life of a child that had done nothing wrong. Still, he had to obey the pharaoh, so he left her in the burning home of her parents, hoping the fire would claim her life instead. Marie had survived that day thanks to a Shadow Monster, which had taken her out of her home before the fire could consume her. After that, she was put into slavery, and spent her life that way till she was nine, which is when she met Yami and became his personal servant, and his best friend.
Stretching, Marie rose from bed and prepared for the day. Her mind kept thinking about the vision she had had that morning, the one of her first testing. She had passed it, and after three years of training, her final test was about to be given. Marie had amazed Illidan over three years time, and was rather strong for someone who had only trained for three years. That was what made Illidan seemingly proud of her, making her his top student.
On this day, many things would happen. If she passed her final test, Yami would free her from slavery and make her part of his personal court known as the Shadow Court. The group consisted of strong Shadow Duelists, which made sure they could help protect Egypt.
If she didn't pass the test though, Yami had promised to free her anyway, but she wouldn't become part of the court. Instead, she would become Yami's personal adviser. The only catch was she would be an adviser that was banned from using her Shadow Powers. That would place her in a bad position, and she had attempted to talk Yami out of it. Yami's enemies, some of whom could use the Shadow Powers, would pick her as a target to get at him. Yami countered her though, saying if she was free, Shadow Powers or not, she would be a target still because of her closeness to him. This was why Yami and the rest of the Shadow Court would protect her if she stayed with Yami.
She grumbled to herself at that thought. Marie hated being the one everyone had to protect, mostly due that she hated the whole damsel in distress situation. Marie was determined to become part of the Shadow Court, no matter what it took.
Yami wanted eight members on his court, and if Marie managed to pass her test, she would be the eighth, and the only female, but that was alright with Marie. She wanted to be the woman's voice in the discussion and decisions, not the "normal" person's voice within a court of strong people that was not even a real member of that court.
After finally readying herself for the day, she went down to the kitchen for the last time to get Yami's breakfast. While there, she decided to see some of the cooks.
"Good morning Marie. How is the Pharaoh's Golden Girl doing today? Are you ready to be free?" asked the head cook.
Marie laughed, and realized that for working in the palace with Yami, you really didn't feel like a slave. She smiled back at the woman and replied "I am good, Sandy. Thanks for asking."
Another girl, about Marie's age came over with a platter of food. She smiled and said "We'll miss you down here. Don't forget about us."
Marie lightly laughed and replied "Don't worry Sara, I will come back. I would miss you guys too much not to."
A voice from the other side of the kitchen yelled "Marie, I heard you are going to marry Pharaoh Yami. Is it true?"
Marie turned pink as the group began to sing "Marie and Yami sitting in a tree, K. I. S. S. I. N. G.!"
Of course, when Yami's name was said as a possible suitor, some other names came up as well. The two she picked out the most was Illidan and to her disgust, Gozaburo. Marie turned an even brighter shade of pink when the noise level grew because everyone began to argue who would be best for Marie.
One of the arguments was "Yami would be prefect for Marie. She would be queen and still get to have breakfast with him."
Another she heard was "Illidan and Marie have had all kinds of 'private' lessons together. I'm sure that there is something going on there."
The last one she heard was "Gozaburo is the strongest of the Shadow Court. Well physically the strongest. That has to count for something, right?"
Sighing, Marie yelled at the top of her lungs "If you are all done deciding who I'M going to marry, I have to get Yami his breakfast."
All the noise died away instantly at her outburst. Marie quickly picked up the platter of food for the two and left for Yami's quarters. As she left the kitchen area, she heard the singing start again. Shaking her head, Marie made her way on towards Yami's room.
When she arrived, she saw Yami already sitting at the table they normally ate at. He was seemingly writing something, so Marie was careful to sit the tray on the table to where nothing would spill on his papers. She then grabbed her usual seat and sat down across from him as normal.
Yami continued to work on his papers for several minutes longer as Marie began her breakfast. Her face was still slightly red from the teasing from the girls of the kitchen.
When Yami was cleaning his brush he'd been writing with, he noticed her face and stopped writing. He looked at her with concern and said "You don't look so good. Are you alright? Maybe we should postpone the test."
Sighing, Marie then darkly muttered "Postponing won't help. Firing the whole kitchen staff might."
"Oh, problems with them? Once again the gossiping kitchen crew strikes again I take it. What was it this time? Trying help you decide on whom to marry?" Yami asked, with a smile playing on his lips.
When Marie turned a shade of crimson once again, he laughed and said "The head cook told me the other day that I should be one of your suitors."
Marie suddenly turned an even deeper color crimson and was seemingly frozen, making Yami laugh again. He stopped for a moment and said "I told her that I would take it under advisement."
After hearing this, her heart became even more worried. True, she did love the Pharaoh, but like a brother. She could never love him like a wife, but how could she turn down the Pharaoh. She didn't want him to do anything he felt obligated to do, and most of all, she didn't want to ruin the friendship they had.
Yami saw the look on her face, but continued on like nothing was wrong. "That did get me to thinking though. There are several that want to be your suitor, and I'm afraid that I will make that problem worse today."
Marie realized what he was saying suddenly, and asked "Pharaoh, you don't want to be my suitor?"
Sighing, Yami replied "Would you please call me Yami, and that is right. Marie, you are like a sister to me. Our friendship is too valuable to me to waste on forcing something that most likely you don't want. True, I love you, but as a sister, not as a person I want to marry. Still, I do want to help you with this. I have been reading on the law for this matter, and it seems, as I am sure you know, that you need a 'guardian' of sorts in order to be suited. I would be happy to play the role as your brother if you'd like."
Marie smiled and looked down at the table, sweetly saying "Thank you, Yami."
Marie looked up after a moment with amusement on her face, saying "I'm just glad that I won't have to turn you down."
Smirking, Yami said "So you do have someone in mind then?"
Marie blushed slightly and mumbled "Yes."
Smiling with mischief, Yami asked "Well?"
Blushing even more deeply, Marie muttered something that was just below a whisper. Yami put his hand up to his ear and said "I can't hear you."
She blushed till she looked like a tomato and muttered in a whisper "Illidan."
Smiling, as if he seemed to be hiding something. He then stroked his chin scholarly and said "Ah, yes, your teacher, a fine young man."
Lightly laughing, Marie replied "Yami, you two are the same age."
Smirking, Yami said "True, but now on to something more important than my age. As I said, I'm going to make it harder for you to find the right suitor. Today after I free you, I will announce that you, and whomever you marry, will be my official Tomb Keepers."
Marie looked at Yami as if he gained another head, and said in shock "You can't be serious! That is an important post and will make me part of your family by the rules set out by the first pharaoh."
She then realized what she had just said and asked "You're going to make me an official part of your family?"
Nodding, Yami replied "Right you are, Marie. We have known each other since we were young children. We've played together and grew up together, and I can't think of anyone better to be my sister. And Illidan will make a fine brother too. We're already best friends, and I feel like his brother as is, so why not make him it officially."
Marie looked down again, her eyes full of uncertainty. She slowly said "But I don't know if Illidan feels the same way about me..."
Sighing, Yami took her hand and patted it, saying kindly "It will work itself out in the end. Now for my last order to you as a master to his slave. Go get ready for your test."
With that said, Yami went back to his paper work. Marie stood and took their tray back to the kitchen and went to her room and prepared for her final test.
Later on that day, Marie walked slowly into the room where the Shadow Court regularly met. It was a rather dark and damp room, filled with the cold that Marie came to understand as the manifestation of the Shadow Realm in this world. Marie took her place in the challenger spot of the room, facing a pit in front of her. Her long brown hair was now in a single tight braid to keep it out of her way during the match. She was wearing a simple white dress with gold trim.
Marie looked up and to the left at the grim faces of the Shadow Court. There were seven men looking back down at her. Yami sat in the middle with three people on each side. To Yami's left sat Set, Pegasus and Gozaburo. To his right sat Illidan, Bakura and Shadi.
Yami stood and said in a voice to fill the hall "Marie, my slave, why have you come here this day?"
Marie looked over at each man before answering with "I have come to be tested, for I wish to join the Shadow Court."
Yami looked back at the others behind him and asked "Does any here wish to stop Marie from being tested?"
A few moments went by, and no one spoke up. Marie held her breath, hoping against all things that no one stopped her now. If any of them wished for her not to join, now was the time. After those long moments was up, no one said a word, but Marie noticed Illidan's eyes were no longer staring at her like the others. He seemed to be gazing away, like he was refusing to look at her. This made her wonder why, but she chose to ignore it.
Yami finally said "No one has spoken, so if you have any problems with Marie being on the court, you must hold your tongue forever more."
Turning towards Illidan, Yami said "Now Illidan, as Marie's teacher, you have the choice of who will test her. Who will it be?"
Seemingly returning his gaze towards Marie, he stood and said "I will test her myself."
Nodding, Yami replied "So be it. A Shadow Test, between Illidan and Marie. Illidan, name your terms and type of test."
Not seemingly stop to think, Illidan replied "A match with three monsters. The first to lose all their monsters loses the game."
Marie was shocked at this bold challenge, for Illidan knew full well that she was horrible at monster battles. Still, if she didn't win the duel, she couldn't get on the court. She growled, knowing Illidan had just made it that much harder for her to do join. She stared at him, trying to sense his feelings, but he avoided eye contact, seemingly on purpose, as if he couldn't look her in the eyes. "I don't know why he's doing this, but this is so not like him. Why is he doing this to me now!"
One fact did stand out in Marie's mind. She had never been able to beat Illidan in a game of monster battles.
With what Illidan said, the others mumbled to one another, so uncertain of why Illidan would chose this game. Each knew Illidan was second only to Yami in this type of game, and few had ever beaten him. Besides that fact, Marie was known to not be the best monster duelist. Each of the court members wanted Marie to win her place on the counsel, but for Illidan to make her earn it this way seemed rather unfair.
Yami was shocked at Illidan's terms and glanced at him. Illidan was not looking Marie in the eyes any longer, seemingly hiding them from her so she couldn't get a feel for his emotions. Yami realized now what his friend was doing after their talk from the day before, but he knew he couldn't stop Illidan from making this challenge. It was his right to choose the game and terms, but still, it was so unfair for him to make it this difficult.
Sighing, Yami finally said "So be it. It shall be a monster match between Illidan and Marie. You have five minutes to think about what monsters you want to use. You may ask of one counselor to help you decide. Marie, since you are the challenger, you may choose first."
Marie looked at the five remaining members and attempted to find one that could help her. Her first and second choices were out already, who were Illidan and Yami. Illidan due that he was her opponent, and Yami due that he had to be impartial by council rules.
After a moment of debating, Marie finally said "I choose Bakura."
Without even thinking about it, Illidan said "I choose no one."
Marie glared at Illidan, saying in her mind "Of course he don't want help. After Yami, he IS the best at this."
Marie was still glaring over at Illidan as Bakura came to her side and said apologetically "Sorry about what Illidan is doing. I talked with him before the match today, and he doesn't want you on the court for some reason, but he didn't want to stop you from trying. I guess this is what he came up with to stop you."
Shocked to hear this, Marie turned to Bakura with tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She said with anger in her voice "I thought he might do something like this when I first walked in. He is always trying to protect me. He doesn't understand that I can PROTECT myself! I know I am strong enough to be on the court, and so does everyone else. Why is he trying to stop me?"
Bakura looked at Marie sadly and replied "Like you said, he is trying to protect you. Now we need to think of a strategy to beat him. I think you should start with a weak monster with a strong affect, like Man-Eater Bug or Spirit Reaper. Have you ever summoned either?"
Nodding, Marie said "Sprit Reaper, he is a weak monster but it can't be destroyed by attacking it. It can only be destroyed by another effect monster. That would be a good start. It will give me the chance I might need if he decides to summon a strong monster to begin with. It should keep him at bay for a bit. Good idea, for the second choice, I was thinking Fairy Lily. It is another weak monster but if I put more power into it after she is summoned, she gets stronger, but it wouldn't take as much strength as summoning a monster that strong to begin with."
Bakura nodded and said "Good choices. This battle, for you, is going to be summoning weaker monsters that have stronger effects. Maybe you should consider summoning Man-Eater Bug as well."
Sighing for a moment, she replied "I don't know. I have to have one really strong monster. I can't win by summoning just weak ones. Illidan likes a monster called Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. It could easily wipe out all those monsters. And then there is his Dark Magician of Chaos, another one of his favorites, which isn't a weakling either. I have been working on summoning..."
Before she could finish, Yami chimed in "Times up."
With a pat on her back, Bakura said "Good luck and I hope you win."
Marie and Illidan then took their places respectfully on the field where their battle would take place. Once in position, Yami called out "Illidan, you get to go first, so summon your monster and begin."
Illidan closed his eyes and began drawing on his Shadow Powers as soon as Yami made his statement. Marie watched nervously as a monster began to take from in front of him. It was a monster that Marie hadn't seen before. A woman with blonde hair, grey and black armor with a sword hanging from her side.
Opening his eyes, Illidan said "D.D. Warrior Lady, come forth and help me."
Marie looked at the monster, and was surprised that Illidan would start with a weaker monster. She pondered if possibly he was trying to make the duel easier on her by summoning a weaker monster, but she put the thought to rest quickly with another. "No, he wouldn't make it this easy. He must be trying to get me to summon something stronger to drain my energy quickly. I am going to go with my original plan still."
Closing her eyes, she drew on her power and a monster form began to appear. A monster with purple robes and looked much like the grim reaper itself then formed on the field. She called out "Sprit Reaper, come forth and protect me."
Illidan smiled as if he had already won the battle. With that smile still plastered on his face, he said "Next I call forth Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning."
Marie began to fell Illidan building up his power once again, but this one was stronger than the last time. Slowly, the form of a soldier wearing black armor from head to toe appeared. He held a powerful sword and a shield as well.
She then realized why Illidan was making this move. It hit her that he knew one of her weaknesses when she dueled. "He knows that I can't summon two monsters at once. Just as I thought, he has some kind of plan to try and take out my monster, but what?"
Her thoughts were interrupted as Illidan called out "Now I use the DD Warrior Lady to attack your Sprit Reaper and use her effect to remove both monsters from this realm."
To Marie's horror, the female warrior charged across the field and clashed her sword against the scythe of the grim reaper creature. The warrior then grabbed hold of the creature and a multicolored rift in the sky opened up. Slowly, the two monsters were lifted into the air, seemingly being sucked into the rift. Finally the two were sucked into it, and the rift disappeared, leaving Marie wide open for an assault.
Illidan then said "Soldier, attack Marie directly."
Marie tried not to look afraid as the monster came running at her. The monster slammed his shield hard into her body, knocking her to the ground. She groaned as pain washed over her body, making her ache mostly where she was hit.
She then heard Illidan call out "Ready to give up yet, Marie?"
Looking up at him, she could tell his voice had been full of concern, and that he had hope that she'd quit. Slightly furious that he expected her to give up, she forced herself to stand back up, letting fire flash from her eyes.
She angrily spat back "Not in this life time Illidan! I know of a monster that will take your monster down."
Reaching deep within herself for power, she gathered up energy and called out "I call forth Man-Eater Bug. Come and kill Illidan's Soldier!"
Illidan seemed shocked by Marie's choice of a second monster. He watched as a brown bug with menacing pincers appeared. It then lunged forward and wrapped it's arms around the soldier, and in an instant, exploded. The bug then leapt back from the explosion, whereas the soldier had vanished.
The loss of his monster seemed to not affect Illidan at all. After all, he was much stronger and had a better handle on his Shadow Powers, thus making the strain of losing a monster less painful. Still, Marie noticed that Illidan would not look her in the eye yet.
After a moment, he said with a smile on his face "Good move Marie, but now you have a very weak monster on the field with nothing to protect it. And it is my turn to summon something. So here it comes. Dark Magician of Chaos, come and win this duel for me."