The Land of Egypt Redone
Get ready… this is a long chapter.
Who is Who: (It keeps growing and growing…)
Mamori: Herself.
Monta: A satyr. A half-goat, half-man creature. Or is he?
Sena: A dwarf who was friends with Shin only as a rivalry.
Eyeshield 21: A superhero who supposedly had an incident at the Drunken Dwarf. (He is also Sena.) Also saved our heroes from a volcanic eruption last chapter.
Kurita: A half-troll from Joka Machi and kinsmen of Otawara. A pacifist with the last name of Bonecrusher.
Ha Ha trio: A three-headed dragon with a fear of pictures.
Shin: The lead White Knight of Ojolot who had confronted Hiruma in a fiery duel atop Zokugaku Mountains. Has a strong dislike of the Demon Lord.
Sakuraba: The only survivor of an attack. He felt responsible for Shin's death. The only bow master and ranger of the White Knights. He has a large following of fangirls that could probably fill a stadium and then some.
Takami: The equivalent of Merlin. Very wise and can read minds. First to realize Mamori was from another dimension.
Otawara: A half-troll from Joka Machi and kinsmen of Kurita. A White Knight that loves a good quest and is a little absentminded. Last name is Skullsmasher.
Hiruma: A Demon Lord who disappeared five hundred years ago. People think he has escaped his prison and is now wrecking havoc again. He is now the demon servant of Mamori even if he really doesn't listen to her.
Habashira: A Bandit Lord located in the Zokugaku Mountains. He has a large band but they fled when they ran into Hiruma. He is now traveling with Mamori because he wants to figure out what they're doing.
The Help Fairy: A little fairy that helps Mamori. It looks much like the Cupid's mascot.
Agon: Two words… evil bastard.
-0-0-
The desert was silent as Hiruma's statement was taken by the wind. Mamori glanced at the others in confusion.
Shin and Sakuraba sat with dreaded looks on their faces at the name of their football rivals. Sena started to tremble and quake in fear and Monta stared wide-eyed at Hiruma.
Kurita had an alarmed look written across his face and almost dropped Rui who was still unconscious.
"It can't be! The Nagas were wiped out three centuries ago!" Sakuraba spluttered.
Hiruma smirked. "Nagas aren't that damn easy to kill, knight. They toppled the golden age of Ojolot, destroyed cities as far west as Deimon, and supposedly took Deimon's arch mage hostage. Do you think I could've done all of that even if I wanted too?"
"You took out half of Taiyo's great wall," Monta pointed out.
"That," Hiruma began with crossed arms, "Was because it was between me and Christmas Bowl. I will do anything to get there, even put a hole in a three billion-dollar wall."
"Um, excuse me, but what are the 'Nagas'?" Mamori asked, lost once again about what they were talking about.
"Nagas are horrible dragons that a long time ago ravaged the land; destroying anything in their path," Kurita explained as he pulled out two meat buns from out of his pack. "They can take human form and slip unnoticed into many cities to manipulate the government. Three centuries ago, they were wiped out by a combined effort of all the kingdoms."
"The same can be said for demons except when they're in their true form, nothing can stop them," Sakuraba added helpfully, sending a glare at the present Demon Lord. "Nagas are stopped by the true light that only Eyeshield 21 can use."
"So Nagas and demons pretend to be humans to hide their true forms and these Nagas are worst than demons?" Mamori asked, trying to sort everything all out in her head.
"No. It's just Nagas are notorious for trying to take over the world and demons only care about their own territory. They don't attack unless provoked so fewer incidents have happened," Sakaruba said, pulling out an intimidating arrow and tested the point. (It was most likely that he was taking precaution of Hiruma's presence.)
Mamori looked a Hiruma who stared back with a guarded expression. "So that isn't what you really look like?"
"No. I look a lot different when I want to be. But now I can only go to my true form with your fucking permission," he growled in obvious agitation.
"That is the way it should always be too," Shin stated firmly, hardening his expression at the demon.
Hiruma scowled. "So how did you get loose? I heard from the fucking bandit over there that he caught you."
"We been finding him in their hideout. Twas an easy little task since all the bandits were fleeing as if their very lives depended on it," Sena clarified for the demon.
"Their lives probably did depend on it the way Hiruma was carrying on," muttered Mamori.
Hiruma threw her a smirk and shrugged. "I can't afford to be nice or else I'd have to work twice as hard to intimidate everyone."
"Anyway, we found Sir Shin and freed him. That's when one of the bandits told us about a demon and a young woman attacking them to the north," Monta interrupted. "Shin took off and we had to give maxi-effort to keep up."
"Then the volcano erupted and Eyeshield 21 appeared," finished Kurita.
Silenced filled the air as the group attended to whatever activities they were doing. Mamori sighed and glanced at the stars. They were exactly the same as they were back at home.
-0-0-
Mamori awoke when she heard someone moving around the perimeter of the camp. She lifted her head slightly and looked out into the dunes. Nothing.
"Must have been my imagination," she sighed in relief.
"What are you mumbling about, damn girl?" Hiurma asked from on top his perch.
"I thought I saw something out in the dunes," she huffed in indignation.
Hiruma looked out at the dunes with narrowed eyes. "It was a giant sand beetle."
"How can you even see out there? It's pitch black."
"Magic," the demon simply replied.
Mamori bit her lip and directed her attention at the demon. "Um… how do you do magic?"
Hiruma rolled his eyes. "You are so damn stupid sometimes," he mocked, making the girl internally scowl at him. "But since you are from another world, I guess I could give you a crash course in magic."
Mamori breathed a sigh of relief. She nodded and sat watching the demon expectantly.
"The first thing about magic is to know what your own element is," Hiruma began in a bored voice.
"'Your element'?" Mamori repeated in bewilderment.
"Of course your damn element! My element is fire, Kurita's is earth, and Sakuraba's is light!" he snapped in irritation. "If you don't know that then you can't wield any magic!"
"Sorry! I don't always have to know what you're talking about!" she retorted.
Hiruma was about to say something but looked up over the dunes. "Damn… Taiyo's coming. Well, I have to split. See you in Taiyo!" he cackled.
In a burst of flames he was gone, leaving not even a hair behind. Mamori turned in the direction he had looked. She could see dust clouds rising on the horizon over the dunes telling her of the approach of many people.
She ran to Shin and gave him a shake. "Sir Shin! Someone's coming!" she said in a loud whisper.
Shin's eyes flew open and he reached for his lance. He sat up and examined the dust cloud. "Seems like they're sending in the chariots to inspect us. Wake the others," he ordered as he reached for his armor.
Mamori nodded and rushed to everyone's side telling them exactly what the lead White Knight had said to her.
Sena knelt next to Shin with a grim look on his face. "Be they friendly or not?"
"Not sure. Hiruma has already bolted which won't cause any confrontations with Taiyo's most hated enemy. We'll just have to see how it works out," Shin replied. His hand tightened on the hilt of his lance.
Sakuraba strung up his bow and sat up on the rock Hiruma had been standing on earlier. "Just tell me when, Shin. I got a clear aim from up here."
Shin nodded, signaling he had gotten the message but his eyes remain glued on the horizon where the sun had just begun to rise. The dust clouds were getting larger and closer as the chariots approached with frightening speed.
Rui's tongue rolled out and he glanced around at everyone. "Um… bad time to ask but do you know how I ended up with you guys here?"
"We rescued you from an erupting volcano when you were in shock," Mamori hastily explained as she looked through Kurita's bag for some sort of weapon to use.
"Oh… thanks, I guess."
A loud thundering began and the earth began to tremble. "They must have a lot of chariots coming to cause such a rumble!" she exclaimed to Monta.
The satyr shook his head. "No. Sakuraba said there are only three. The rumble is because the people of Taiyo are giants."
"Giants?" she gasped.
She quickly turned her head to the direction of the chariots and saw huge mountains looming down on them. Monta was not kidding when he called them giants. Each one stood as tall as the Tokyo Tower and were extremely muscular.
"Greetings small travelers from the White Kingdom," the middle giant began, his voice booming overhead. "I am Banba, leader of the Pyramid wall guards."
Shin stood and gave a stiff necked bow to the giant. "Greetings and well met, Banba. I'm Sir Seijuro Shin of the White Knights."
The tension seemed to clear out of the air instantly as everyone began making introductions around.
"Hi, I'm Monta and this is Sena and that is a maxi-cool chariot!" the satyr exclaimed to the giant to the left of Banba.
"I know! I, Ken Kamaguruma, know how to pick out the best chariot for bumping. I'm telling you, Taiyo is the place for battle vehicles!" the giant bragged.
"Battle vehicles? Like rams and ballistae?" Monta asked, befuddled.
"No! Chariots!" Ken yelled, taping his chariot's side and causing a large thunderous sound.
"Hahahaha! These little people do not pose as much as a threat as you thought, Banba! Shall we escort them to the Pharaoh?" the giant on the right grinned.
Banba examined them all closely before nodding. "Yes, Kasamatsu. We will escort them to the capital to meet his majesty."
Banba extended his massive palm downwards toward them, laying it flat against the sand. "Climb on," he commanded.
The group scurried onto his hand and found comfortable spots to sit. Mamori sat against his thumb and craned her neck upwards. "It gets really hot around here doesn't it?"
Sena took a seat next to her and sighed. "It be brutally hot out here. It be making me sweat a waterfall!"
Mamori giggled a bit and sat back to watch the scenery pass by in an instant of endless dunes broken sometimes by a large rock or oasis.
"Boring scenery, eh?" Rui commented, seeming to speak what everyone was thinking. "Yet easy to blend in with, I guess."
Mamori shut her eyes as the rolling of the chariot and the heat of the day descended upon her like a blanket of sleep.
"We be here lass! Wake up!" Sena whispered, gently shaking Mamori awake.
Her eyes snapped open and she glanced around, taking in the cool stone décor that reminded her of ancient Egypt. She stood as Sena and Monta leapt off the hand and onto stone floor, chatting back and forth.
Mamori yawned as she walked off the giant's palm. "Hey Sakuraba? Did we just enter Taiyo or is this a rest stop?"
"Nope! We're standing on the Great Wall of Taiyo or at least a part of it," he answered with a smile.
"Part of it?" she wondered out loud, following Sakuraba out onto the balcony.
The view was fantastic. A city that made Ojolot look like a small village stretched out before them; built entirely out of a giant pyramid, surrounded by the thickest walls she had ever seen. The wall was made from smooth, yellow stone and was as long as the entire city of Tokyo.
"Wow… that is a huge wall!" she gasped in awe.
"The largest wall in the world. It's nicknamed the 'Pyramid Wall' in most parts," the bow-master stated, leaning on the banister. "Yet, I'm getting this - I don't know - uneasiness somehow... As if something evil is lurking just beneath the surface."
Mamori glanced to the side at the knight as he looked down on the city with a troubled gaze. The wind picked up and Mamori could smell the spices blowing in the city. She sighed unhappily.
"This place kind of reminds me of home. I really miss it," she said gloomily to Sakuraba.
"Don't worry," he assured her with a supporting pat on her back. "After Taiyo, we will cross the Texas Planes and head on to the ocean and catch a ship with the Poseidon. Then Christmas Bowl will be a hop, skip, and a jump if all goes well."
"Excuse me for interrupting, but the giant Banba wants us to meet the Pharaoh right away," Kurita announced, apologetically.
Mamori smiled and followed him back into the building that resembled a pyramid with Sakuraba. Even if she was a bit homesick, she still had some great friends with her.
The city was a maze of passages and it was worst when you were only ten inches tall compared to everyone around you. Luckily the Taiyo people had built walkways on the side of the passages that ran about eye level with the giants making it seem not all that bad.
"So who is the Pharaoh of Taiyo's name?" She asked Banba politely.
"His name is Harao but please call him Pharaoh. It is the custom of our people," the giant rumbled back.
Mamori nodded and glanced to the side. She saw a man standing in another walkway, carefully watching her through black shades. His stare was making her skin crawl and his face was so familiar that it was practically screaming to be remembered.
"Is there something wrong, Mamori?" Kurita inquired. "You seem to have a worried look on your face."
"No, it's just that man over there looks …" she pointed to the spot the man had stood but saw nothing.
Kuirta gave her a confused look. "What man?"
Mamori shook her head. "Never mind. Nothing was there."
Yet, in her mind a name came to the surface that she had almost forgotten. "Agon?"
-0-0-
The chamber door loomed ahead, decorated in gold, opal, and diamond that were molded into various gods and hieroglyphs.
It proved just how wealthy the Taiyo Pharaoh was and the power he commanded as a constant stream of giants and other various people and species filled in to request favors or to have a problem fixed.
"How many people does he deal with a day?" Monta gaped as the line continued to grow longer and longer.
"Um… I think about a thousand a day," Ken guessed, shrugging. "What do you think, Kasamatsu?"
"Na! He sees four thousand a day!" the giant boasted.
"Maybe a million!" Ken retorted, excitedly.
"No! A trillion!"
"Jeez… I'm sorry I asked," Monta muttered to Sena who tried to, but failed, to hold in a chuckle.
Mamori smiled as Banba waded through the crowd of giants hollering: "Make way! We have some special guests for the Pharaoh!"
"Special guests? Are any of us really that special!" Rui asked in confusion.
Shin rolled his eyes. "Wherever Sakuraba goes the fanfares and parades follow."
"Is it just me or did you actually crack a joke?" Sakuraba smirked as every female in the area except Mamori gaped at him.
"No. I was just telling the truth," he muttered under his breath.
"You know it would be really weird if the Pharaoh is actually a fan or something. I mean it would mean Sakuraba had enough power in the world to rule on kingdoms based on his good looks," Rui snickered.
Sakuraba shrugged. "It's the price for being beautiful," he said giving a fake sigh of defeat.
Everyone shared a laugh at this and entered the richly decorated hall of the Pharaoh Harao. He sat on high on a chair made of solid gold, decorated with diamonds and other precious gems, with large velvet pillows thrown on it to give the pharaoh maximum comfort.
He looked just like he had back in her world excluding the fancy crown he was currently wearing and had just as large a harem. The women sat around the throne chatting and throwing flirtish looks at their Pharaoh and some even stood by holding food and drink in case Harao ever felt hungry or thirsty.
"Quite a set up he's got there…" Rui said, giving a low whistle.
Harao held up a hand and fixed the group with a hard stare. The room silenced immediately to a low whisper as everyone eyed the newcomers with interest.
"What brings you to Taiyo, White Knights of Ojolot?" the pharaoh boomed in a commanding tone.
"We are accompanying Mamori Anezaki arch mage of Deimon on a quest across the Sea of Kyoshin to the lands beyond the Devil Dog Range," Shin answered formally.
Harao studied the White Knight hard before taking a look at the others present. "I see you have amassed a decent sized party to tackle this task. Tomorrow my men will escort you to the Texan Fields. I must warn you though, reports of flying saucers abducting travelers has become quite common."
"Flying… Saucers?" Mamori perked an eyebrow at that.
"Thank you Pharaoh. We appreciate any help we can get for this mission," Shin praised with a bow.
Yet even with the Pharaoh giving his word he would aid the group, Mamori couldn't shake the unsettling feeling growing in the pit of her stomach.
Harao snapped his fingers and an attendant sprang forward, throwing a small bow to the Pharaoh. "Slave! Show our guests to their rooms please," he commanded.
The slave bowed and started down a nearby hall. "Please, good sirs, follow me."
Mamori cast one last look at Harao and knew he was hiding something. She could practically sense a lie in his promise. She shivered when she heard a cruel laugh spring up from the air and knew… that only she could hear it.
-0-0-
"Yes! Now this is what I'm talking about!" Monta yelled as he started jumping on the bed. "Come on, Sena! This bed is so huge it's like a giant trampoline!"
Sena smiled sheepishly before joining Monta on the bed, the two of them leaping about like jackrabbits.
"Wow! This be really fun!" Sena laughed as he completed a somersault. Sakuraba climbed on the giant-sized bed and also began to jump.
"You haven't seen anything yet!" he challenged, performing two somersaults in midair.
Mamori smiled at the threes' antiques but the same feeling of wrong seemed to follow her everywhere. "Excuse me… I'm going to take a walk," she said as she exited the room.
Shin nodded. "Don't stay out to long."
Mamori smiled but it never reached her eyes. "Yeah. I'll be back soon. Just need some fresh air."
The moon hung in the air like an anonymous watcher to some event about to happen. Mamori felt the odd feeling increase as she got farther and farther away from the others.
"It's just my imagination getting ahead of me. There isn't anything wrong. Nothing is wrong," Mamori whispered to herself. Yet it sounded as if someone was following her and it wasn't a friend.
Mamori pulled out the small dagger she Sena had given to her when they reached the room. "Just in case ye be needin it, which I hope you don't."
"Who's there? Show yourself!" she cried out to the empty corridor, hearing her voice echo faintly. She felt like she was in one of those horror movies where the monster was just waiting to jump out and kill her.
She almost screamed when a powerful hand clamped over her mouth and another one grabbed her around the waist. "Well, if it isn't little Mamori Anezaki from another dimension. A pleasure to finally meet you. It seems I've underestimated you quite a bit," a calm voice whispered in her ear, causing a chill to go down her spine.
The hand was removed from her mouth and her waist. The dagger was also wrenched out of her hand by her assailant. She literally leapt away spinning around to see the familiar face she had spied in the hall. "Agon…"
He smiled unpleasantly and removed his glasses. "It seems you know me. Good, I always hate introductions."
"What are you doing here and what do you mean 'underestimated me'?" Mamori demanded trying to save face.
"You avoided the Ha-ha Dragon and Devil Imps which are under my control. You made it out of Ojolot before I obliterated it, and allied yourself with some very powerful allies. You are quite resourceful, but you were always like that," The Naga explained, still in that eerily calm voice.
"But we just met! How could you know unless…" Mamori faltered and stood staring wide-eyed at Agon. "There is another me here too!"
"Yes and that you is trapped in your world at moment. You don't have to worry though. She is why you're in a coma. As you can guess this world is too easy to destroy so I was thinking: How about another world? A fresh world. Your world."
Mamori stood there stunned at what Agon had just told her. "So that means you caused that accident!"
Agon nodded and tilted his head to the side with a snide grin. "Does it surprise you that much? I did do it but it was the other me and that was by accident. Now the only thing is for you to reach Christmas Bowl and open the portal back home. That is when I, and the other Nagas, will destroy and rule your world."
Mamori stood trembling in fright and rage. All this time she thought it was pure incident that led her to this world and that it would have a happy ending. But no… Agon had just shattered that dream into a million pieces.
"You look distressed, my dear. Is it this city? Don't worry it will be gone by morning. It has always been a thorn in my side and it will save you from your execution tomorrow," Agon said taking a step forward.
Mamori backed away in increased surprise. "Huh?"
"Since Ojolot and Deimon are destroyed, Taiyo is going to try and establish itself as the super power of this side of the ocean so they are going to execute you all. Fantastic work except tonight I wipe them out and take you back to Christmas Bowl," Agon mocked, grabbing her hand.
"Let go! I'm not going with you if it means the destruction of my world!" she screamed, lashing out at him.
He laughed at her plight and tightened his grip. "Struggling is useless! You're coming with me whether you like it or not!"
"I don't she wants to go with a faggot like you," someone growled in a threatening tone.
Agon whirled around and glared hatefully at Hiruma. "So you're free again. I didn't think anyone could ever find that prison."
"Damn straight I got out! Now I'm going to rip you limb from limb for usurping my throne!" Hiruma snarled looking more and more like an enraged beast by the second.
Agon sneered and released hold of Mamori before turning to face the demon. "Really now? You seem to have lost some of your edge or is it that someone is finally holding your leash?" he taunted.
Hiruma growled angrily at the repeated comment he had heard earlier. "At least if I was destroying a city I would make sure the King was in it, dumb-ass!"
"What is that suppose to mean?" Agon drawled, twitching an eyebrow.
"King Shoji of Ojolot wasn't at Ojolot the day you took it out. Neither were half the White Knights. Soon everyone will know the Nagas have returned," Hiruma sneered.
Agon glared and held up a fist that began to radiate a dark blue energy. "Fine… I'll just have to finish the jump after wiping you from the face of the earth!"
The blue light flew towards Hiruma. The demon gave another growl before dodging the blue lances of energy. "That's all you've got? It seems you're the one who lost his edge."
Agon glanced at Mamori and smiled. "Oh, really? It seems your Master doesn't get the bond very well." He held his hand out and launched another volley of energy; this time aimed at Mamori.
She sat there unable to move and watched death approach in slow motion. "Damn it, Agon!" Hiruma hissed as he grabbed Mamori around the middle and pulled her out of harm's way.
The Naga grinned and replaced his glasses. "Too bad we can't continue this. I have a city to destroy and you have to get your Master and her friends to the Texan Planes. Until next time, Yoichi!"
With that Agon leapt out the window disappearing into the night. Hiruma dropped Mamori and rushed to the window and started yelling every swear word Mamori had ever heard and some in another language at the fleeing Naga.
"You damn coward! Next time I'll fucking rip your head off and use it as a fucking football and then burn your ass off! Then I'll make sure you never have any gay ass children!" he screamed in full blown rage.
Mamori sat backed and just stared in alarm as Hiruma continued his tirade. "Um, Hiruma … I think he gets the point."
The demon turned and glared angrily at her. "It's all your fault! Why didn't you run for it as soon as he was distracted!"
"I-" she began but was immediately cut off by Hiruma.
"Don't you understand that if anything happens you I get the brunt of it! Damn, you're a stupid idiot!" he yelled in outrage.
Mamori didn't know what to say for she had never seen Hiruma this angry before. She sat on the ground and looked away trying to hide the fact that she was getting all teary eyed over this. "I'm sorry..."
Hiruma gave an irritated sigh and gave one last glance out the window. "Come on, then! We have to get out of here before that bastard brings the place down on us."
"Oh, right. But why keep going towards Christmas Bowl if it only spells the end for my world?" she wondered out loud as she followed Hiruma back to the room.
"Have some damn faith will you?" he snarled banging down the door instead of opening like any normal person will do.
Mamori glanced up and stood amazed at what Hiruma had just said. Faith. Yes that was what everyone believed in during the football games, for better or worst.
She passed Hiruma and gave him a smile. "Thanks."
He grunted and leaned against the door frame fixing everyone with a glare. "Get ready to go. A Naga is about to wipe out Taiyo just like it did to Ojolot and believe me; barely anyone will be left to tell the tale."
-0-0-
Another cliffhanger except you know kind of what is about to happen. (Looks out window and seas Agon knocking over cardboard city.)
Yeah… that is pretty much it… so anyways please read and review!