Disclaimer: I don't own YGX.

Author's Note: Well, it came down to either updating HELP or ENTERTWINED FATES and I was more in the mood to progress with this dear old story. Here's chapter number seven. Thanks to all you beloved reviewers and readers. Read and review on, please. It helps me so much. :)

Chapter Seven-Passage Forbidden

Johan gazed in awe at the sprawling desert that lay before them. The sand looked golden beneath the rays of the slowly approaching dawn and the wall of the kingdom behind them was gradually warming as the day drew closer. A dry, hot wind blew around them suddenly, and Johan coughed as he unwillingly inhaled spinning sand. Jim thumped him gently on the back, "You all right, mate?"

"I'm okay," Johan blinked dazedly, in awe at his surroundings. He had never seen such bare land. Where were the lush grasses, the dazzling flowers? "It's so lonely," he murmured, knowing that somewhere out there Judai was waiting for him, that they were alone until they were together again. He didn't fully understand the urgency deep within him to find his beloved friend, but he took a step forward anyway, then another and another until he was racing across the desert. Jim, startled at his sudden departure, followed suit, carrying Karen securely in a special harness on his back, "JOHAN!"

The blunette didn't slow, didn't hesitate even when he caught sight of the rock…the great stone in the shape of a sphinx. It seemed to glare down at him as he ran past, but although the sun gave it the appearance of life, it made no motion. And then, as Jim approached, there came a great groaning and the statue shrieked to life, bending down to confront the older boy. In shock at this action, Jim froze, "S-Statues can't move…"

"I am no statue," the sphinx's voice was like an earthquake, gravelly and deep, "I am Guardian of this desert. And I forbid any being from entering that can not pass my test."

"But my friend!" Jim protested, gesturing franticly at Johan, who even now was fading onto the horizon, "You let him by! I saw you stand as statues do, still and observing of him. Yet now you confront me!" The sphinx inclined its head curiously at the child, "Would you not let your master pass you as well without questioning?"

"M-master?" Jim choked on the words.

"Indeed, it is he who owns the Guardians, and the one who passed before that owns the Worldlies. All gifts are theirs, all powers must bow before the two who create and destroy at will," the sphinx rumbled, "And you, you see the future, do you not?" Jim felt a shiver race down his spine, "H-How do you know this? Who passed earlier? Was it the prince!? Was it Judai!?" The sphinx silenced his rush of questions with a roar that could have shaken the very heavens, "You are not permitted to know the secrets of this world. If humans knew how everything worked and how every chip would fall, what point would there be to living? If they knew who they would love and who they would hate, what point would there be to trying to change? Mystery, and curiosity of such mysteries, is what moves this world to action," it nodded sagely, "You shall not know the answers, human. Not this time."

"But I must help them!" Jim exclaimed in frustration. "I say you can not yet you choose to defy me," the great stone Guardian growled, "Foolish or brave are you?" it shook its grand head, "You would never be allowed to pass into this sacred desert…however you have impressed me. In ten year's time you may go forth to find your comrades." "TEN YEARS!?" Jim exploded, "That is far too long, Guardian! Nothing is stopping me from proceeding now!" he ran forward and was knocked back by a great stone paw. The sphinx glared condescendingly down at him, "Time flies by in a land where wind reigns. Wait ten years, human, and then you shall be granted passage into this sacred desert."

Jim sank to the sand, defeated, "And what would you have me do for a decade, Guardian?" he mumbled weakly, "I can not return…not to the palace. They would have me killed…" the boy hung his head sadly. "You shall tend me here," the sphinx said, its tone more gentle than before, "And I shall teach you the secrets of this place so your friends and yourself shall not perish when your time comes…"

END NOTE: Thanks all for hanging in there. Yes, it's short, but I felt it was a good place to leave off, I'm working on the next chapter as we speak. All of your comments are such an inspiration to me, so please please read then review! Don't kill me for getting rid of Jim, because he will be back! :D