Disclaimer: I do not wown Yugiohor whatever lines I'm using in this.

Sorry Ihaven't updated in a while.

The Prince of Egypt

Rumor in St. Nekhen

Yugi, Joey, Tristan, and Dark Magician walked for miles across the desolate desert wasteland. Stopping from one small oasis to another to refill their water. But the food was growing dangerously low.

"Ok where exactly are we going?" Joey said frustratingly bashing a scorpion in his bag with a rock.

Dark Magician in his virtually oversized cloak studied angle of the sun and the surrounding landscape, "During the evacuation of the palace a special map was stolen form the royal library."

Yugi: "What kind of map?"
Dark Magician: "A very magical one. One that can identify where you are and approximately how far you are from your destination. After the last babe was left in a new location the map was placed somewhere near the mountains of Kerma. If luck is with us Dartz still doesn't know where it is."

Joey crushed the desert bug and starred at the wizard in shock, "Kerma! But that's even further south than Toshka. And we've been going north!"

Dark Magician: "We're heading toward Nekhen. From there we can board a trade ship up to Kerma easily."

"I don't care wherewe go as long has we get some food I'm starving." Tristan groaned rubbing his stomach to ease its growling.

They walked northward for another hour till they could see a large city complex just over the last dune.

"So that's it; Nekhen." Yugi said gazing at the city which shined like a pure diamond against the merciless sands of the desert.

Tristan: "Yep. One of the biggest cities in Egypt next to Men-nefer."

Joey: "Well be better get moving. If we want some food and a boat"

Yugi glanced over his shoulder to their new friend, who was sitting with his back up against a tree holding onto his chest tightly in pain. "Imhotep? Are you alright?" he asked walking toward him.

The lavender haired mage turned his head towards the smaller boy and smiled weakly, "Thank you for your concern. I'm fine. I'm afraid these travels have gotten the best of me."

The other two boys glanced back to them. "Not surprised. You haven't eaten of drank anything for days." Joey stated.

"Yeah man. Do you need me to carry you?" Tristan asked gazing down the steep slopes leading to the city.

Dark Magician shook his head, "No, I just need a little rest. You three proceed into Nekhen and replenish yourselves. I'll join you as soon as I can."

Joey: "Are you sure?"

The mage nodded.

Yugi lifted the strap to his water-skin over his head and emptied it into Dark's empty canteen. "If we don't see you down there we'll come back with a physician to help you." he said as he left his bag with what little food he had left next to the skin.

Imhopet's smile widened, "Thank you."

The blonde teen jumped in the air rising his fist (why guys do that I have no idea), "Alright last one in Nekhen is a rotten pomegranate!" he shouted racing down the dune slope.

Tristan: "Yeah but the first one has to eat it."

"No fair!" Yugi shouted following behind.

The three Egyptian boys raced down the sandy slope. The two tallest stopped just outside the open gates.

Joey: "He hee! I win!"

"Only because you tripped me." The taller boy said adjusting his ankle that nearly twisted around. "Hey where's Yug?"

As soon as he asked the final boy literally rolled the rest of the way down, landing hoard on his head. "Ow! That I didn't need."

"Yugi are you alright!" Joey shouted seeing his brother fall and rushed to his side.
The smaller boy rubbed his head, "I'm fine."

Joey: "You sure?"

Yugi grinned, "Of course. Geez you can be so pushy sometimes."

"I have to be." The blonde said hoisting Yugi onto his back and grabbed his legs for support. Yugi clasped his hands together around his brother's neck.

Joey: "Ready to go in?"

Yugi: (nods)

Tristan: "One small step for man, one giant leap for Egypt!"

The three boys pushed and shoved (actually two because Joey's carrying Yug) down the crowded roads of the city. Everywhere they looked hundreds of people were busily working or shopping for household supplies. However the attitude of the people was hardly what they expected.

(Or did I forget to mention that this is somewhat a musical fic?)

Water Carrier: "St. Nekhen is gloomy"

Bazaar customer: St Nekhen is bleak"

Badly sunburned man: "My underwear got burned standing here all week"

Crowd: "Oh since the revolution, our lives have been so grey,

Thank goodness for the gossip, that gets us through the day

Hey,

Have you heard

There's a rumor in St. Nekhen?

Have you heard

What they're saying on the street?"

Librarian:" Although pharaoh did not survive

The child maybe still alive"

Crowd: "The royal child of Egypt"

Librarian: "Oh please do not repeat"

Crowd: "It's a rumor, a legend, a mystery,

Something whispered in an alley

Maybe through a crack

It's a rumor, that's part of, our history!"

Priestess of Bast: "They his royal highness Dartz will pay a royal sum"

Crowd: "To someone who can bring the child back!"

The two taller teens walked around till they found the city trade center where the Storage Yard keepers desperately tried to sell their goods. Joey with Yugi on his back found one selling strange artwork.

Storage yard owner one: "A Deben for this painting

It's Egyptian I swear "

Immediately they covered each other's eyes when the owner showed a painting of several female royal dancers. (they always danced topless)

Storage yard owner two: "Tutkahuman's pajamas comrade buy the pair"

Storage yard owner three: (showing a leopard skin cape) "I got this from the palace; it's lined with real fur"

Storage yard owners: "It could be worth a fortune if it belonged to him"

Hearing the crowd all three boys raced behind an alley. Joey set Yugi down and thrust his fist to the wall.

Joey: "It's now a rumor, a legend, a mystery,

Can you believe that bastard Dartz has actually set a prize?

There'll be hundreds, out looking, for my brother!

We'll have some serious competition

While looking for the prince,

We maybe going over our heads,

But once we get the map this whole thing would be a synch.

Who else can pull it off but you and me?

For Egypt!"

Tristan: "For Egypt!"

Joey: "For Grandpa!"

Yugi: "For Grandpa!"

All three: "Unless we die

Then that would be a god darn shame!"

Crowd: "Ssh Have you heard

There's a rumor in St. Nekhen

Have you heard

What they're saying on the street?

HEY!

Have you heard

There's a rumor in St. Nekhen

Have you heard

Comrade what do you suppose?

A fascinating mystery"

Joey: "The biggest race in history!"

Crowd: "The lost child of Egypt!

Alive or dead?"

Stonemason: "Who knows. Ssh!"

Near the center of the city an albino boy was sitting on the last few steps of the city mansion. Lavish guardians surrounded the bright limestone palace with extravagant flowers ranging from milky red to ivory white water lilies. Elegant statues of various gods guarded the palace but that didn't stop the pale boy from entering.

"Hey Bakura!" shouted a cheery voice coming out of the palace.

The boy turned slightly toward the mansion then back to the ground under his feet, "Oh, hello Neverteri."

An energetic young girl in her teens jogged out of the palace gates and ran toward the boy. She wore a bright white linen dress with a gold belt and beautiful gemstone jewelry along with an elegant gold band around her black haired wig, "So, how was your job at the quarry today?"

Bakura just sighed not turning his eyes from the ground, "Fine."

Neverteri's joy instantly faded as she realized the tone in his voice was less than happy, "Oh no, not again?"

"It's the third job this week. The guy said I wasn't strong enough to handle working with the stones."

Neverteri: "Yeah. And with the unemployment still rising it's getting harder and harder to find a job."

"Can't you arrange a carrier with a decent pay for me?"

"Sorry I only work for the government, I don'trun it. But don't worry you're not going to be stuck working in the mines." Neverteri said boldly as she sat down next to Bakura.

The albino turned to his friend to notice that she too had the same gloomy look upon her face. "Ok you asked about my day, what wrong with yours?"

Neverteri: "I just heard that my fiancé has postponed our wedding again for another year. This is the third time he's done that."

Bakura smiled slightly and faced the opposite direction, "Maybe it would be best if you end it right now since he ticks you off so much.

Neverteri: "Easier said than done. We were betrothed to each other when we were little kids. But I'll try to talk to him about it."

Bakura tstood up from his seat and threw on his dirty tan cloak, "I might as well get going. Got to find something to trade for food tonight."

Neverteri: "Just be careful Bakura. The police are getting rather anxious lately."

Bakura: "I will. See yeah around Neverteri."

"How many times have I told you to call me Tea." she asked smiling up at him.

Bakura bowed slightly andgrinned, "At least once more."

(Meanwhile)

"Mmm mmm MMM!. This is great chow! (munch munch) what kind of meat is this?" Joey asked the bazaar owner still with food in his mouth.

"Water fowl. The finest birds in the land." answered the shop keeper.

Tristan dived up from his plate and took a big glug of water, "This is a lot better than the ostriches we were stuck eating back home!" (yes they did eat ostriches back then)

Yugi just starred down at his food.

"Hey Yug are you alright?" Joey asked noticing the gloomy look on his face.

"I just miss grandpa."

"Me too. But don't worry, we'll get him back somehow."

The 'little' boy nodded and smiled. Then began to eat along with his friends.

Tristan: (turning to the owner) "By the way man thanks for sparing this food for us. Sorry we can't pay yeah back."

Owner: "Don't worry son, I've got plenty to spare. Just don't plan of settling in here."

Joey: "Don't worry we're just passing through."

Suddenly a bended over stranger collided with each of the boys hastily making his way through the streets.

Tristan, Yugi, and Joey: "Hey. Ow. Watch it!"

The unexpected guest left as quickly as he came and disappeared into the crowd.

Joey: "Humph. Talk about friendly."

Tristan checked his travel bag and froze in shock, "My wallet's gone!"

"What!" immediately the blond teenaged checked his own bags, "Mine too!"

Yugi franticly searched through his shirt pockets. His eyes widened when he couldn't find his most beloved treasure, "The amulet's gone to!"

"Alright this had gone too far. Come back here you little thief!" Joey shouted as he chased the robed figure down the street with Yugi and Tristan not far behind.

Meanwhile two robed soldiers were hiding behind the dark shadows of an alleyway watching the boys closely.
"So that's one of them right?" asked one of the assassins.

"Yes. A potential child of the royal family."

"He's sure doesn't look like a prince."

"Of course not. If he was we would have found him ages ago! Time has not been so good toward him."

"Let get this over with."

"Indeed we'll get him before those drifters do."

Bakura heavily gasped for air after losing his chasers's pursuit. He laid his back to the wall to catch his breath as he held onto his loot tighter against his chest. "Phew that was close. Those guys almost had me. Well, at least my family won't starve tonight."

Suddenly two pairs of hands emerged from the shadow, ensnaring the albino thief in their clutches.
"Hey, stop it! Let me go. Help!"

On the street Yugi stoped when he heard a loud noise, "Did you hear that?"

"It sounds like it's coming from that a way." Joey said turning a sharp corner into an alley. He stopped immediately when he saw the young thief struggling to break free from two taller shrouded men. "Sheesh what's everyone wearing robes these days?" he charged toward the attackers punch the one in the face and elbowed the other on the gut. They toppled over releasing the boy to suppress their own pain. Bakura fell on his knees again to catch his breath, this time from fear. "Th… thank you."

"Forget that right now and run!" Joey shouted grabbing Bakura by the hand and ran back out of the alley.

Tristan: "Is that the guy?"

Joey: "Talk later now run."

Yugi: "What's going on Joey?"

Joey: "Let's just say you don't want those guys to get you either."

The other boys looked back to see two very angry man that did not look friendly. Tristan quickly picked up Yugi and ran with him under his arm, "Let's go Yug!"

Next Chapter Quotes

"What! What do you mean we can't get a boat!"

"Not so fast Princess!"

"Alester! What are you doing!"

"Excuse me Princess."

"You'll be soout of luck when we find the map!"

"You mean this?"

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