Disclaimer: I don't own these...duh.
The palace was even more magnificent up-close, the photograph hadn't done its beauty any justice. It was an exact replica of the stone temple Atem had called home so many centuries ago. The large atrium was supported by tall alabaster pillars decorated with designs of papyrus reeds, ibises, and lotus flowers. In the main courtyard there was a large cross-shaped aquamarine pool, lilies and lotuses floating on the surface lazily in the warm breeze. In the center stood a ten foot tall obelisk proclaiming the majesty and wonder of his father. A rather large sphinx sat regally at the base of the obelisk, his father's face handsome and determined. Atem and Bakura walked over to a mural that displayed the Pharaoh going hunting, his faithful son sitting at his feet, his wife in the canopy with her attendants.
"It's just like it was when I left," Bakura murmured quietly, basking in all the splendor around him. Back in Egypt, this was nothing far from normal; but in this day and age it was nothing short of fantastic and breathtaking. Atem nodded silently, reliving his moments in the palace one by one inside his head. The comfortable peace was broken by a excited squeal...two excited squeals.
"Oh my gosh, can you believe we're inside an Ancient Egyptian palace? And Atem's palace, no less?!" Anzu was ecstatic, clutching Jounouchi's jacket and jumping up and down.
"Oh, I know! Can you actually believe he LIVED here?! This place is huge! It's fit for a god!" Jounouchi was tittering away, taking in as much splendor as he could handle in one sitting. Atem and 'Kura returned to the giddy pair in the middle of the courtyard. The hanging plants from the balconies swayed lazily in the breeze releasing a lily and honey scented perfume all around the group. They all breathed deeply.
"Of course this place is fit for a god! The pharaoh was the son of Horus, the very first pharaoh! He was part god," Bakura said with some reverence and disdain.
"Excuse me, may I help you?" A small Egyptian servant girl appeared out of nowhere. She was around eleven years old with dark hair, skin; and bright blue eyes. The group turned to face her. The girl's expression was shocked, relieved and horrified at the same time. "Oh, Mighty Pharaoh Atem! I never thought I would see you again! You musn't let Yami Marik know you are here, Your Holiness! Oh, forgive me!" She fell to her knees and bowed before Atem.
"It is quite alright, little one. I'm no longer the pharaoh, just simply Atem. We are not here to see Marik, we are here to rescue a friend of ours." Atem lifted her off the ground and shot a glance at 'Kura.
"Oh, yes, of course! The white-haired boy! He seemed so frightened, I wanted to comfort him but Yami Marik used the Rod to hurt me. I can show you where he is being kept, if that is what you wish." She looked at Atem with a sort of worshipping stare.
"No, child. We are going to speak with Malik. He agreed to help us get Ryou. He doesn't agree with what Marik is doing and has agreed to assist us. We are meeting him in the Hanging Gardens."
"Oh, yes. I'm sure you remember all the secret passageways. May Ra watch over you, Your Grace." The little serving girl disappeared as though she were made of smoke.
Atem and Bakura led the group through the archway that led to a grand staircase and up to the antechamber temple room. Atem diverted down a hallway with more murals, these however depicting torture and other gruesome displays, finally ending with a heart being fed to a monster. Bakura reached past Atem's shoulder at the end of the hallway and pushed on the monster's eye. The wall opened and revealed a short passage before blinding light flashed through another doorway.
Out on the balcony the gardens were beautiful. Lush and green, profusions of blooms of every species hung in baskets, window boxes and resided in clumps and bushes on the stone floor below. At the center of the garden was another pool, this one had a young boy with tanned skin and sandy hair swimming amongst the lilies and lotuses.
The group went down to the pool's edge and waited for the boy to finish his swim. He climbed out with his back to them, revealing the Sacred Texts branded onto his back. A servant set down his ostrich fan and handed the boy a linen tunic. Once dressed the boy turned and walked toward the four.
"Hello Atem, Yami Bakura, Anzu, Jounouchi; I hope you didn't have any trouble finding the place." Malik chuckled quietly and bowed mockingly towards Atem. "And of course, where are my manners? Your Holiness, the Mighty Pharaoh Atem come home at last."
"Enough of the games, Malik. Are you going to help us release Ryou or what?" 'Kura broke the facade and balled his fists at his side. What he wouldn't give to give the little punk a good punch in the face.
"Of course. You understand I'm doing this for my own personal gain, I'm not exactly charitable. In truth, I suppose I'd ask the same for you in the event somebody I loved was taken away from me..." he trailed off.
"Where. Is. He?" Bakura spoke slowly, deliberately.
"He is in the main guest house, just through the temple antechamber. You passed it on your way in. Of course, you'll have to get past the guards, magic spells and of course Marik...he's with him all the time. He never leaves him unattended. Oh, you thought you could just walk in, take Ryou, and leave?!" Malik doubled over in raucous fits of maniacal laughter.
The group ignored this, turning and leaving through a large stone door carved with heiroglyphics. One of these carvings was clearly Atem, but the teen ignored it and kept walking.
"Good luck, Pharaoh! You're gonna need it!" Malik roared jovially behind him.
Atem lead the group back to the temple antechamber and pressed on a small indent in the stonework. A section of the wall moved aside, revealing a heavily armored guard. The guard saw the young pharaoh and stepped aside, despite the strict edict that Marik had given to ignore the pharaoh's presence. Atem led the group past trap after trap. It was as if he knew what was going to happen before it actually occured. Jounouchi and Anzu were twitching with fear and excitement, but 'Kura was quickly filling with doubt and dread.
A light shone at the end of the hallway, a soft pink haze. Inside was little Ryou lying on a luxurious bed being fanned by two Egyptian servants with ostrich fans. Atem knew this room. This was the room where his father died, his sickroom. He swallowed the vomit that rose up inside his throat.
Marik, you twisted evil monster.
"Hello, Pharaoh...I'm so glad you could make it. Now the festivities can really begin."
Yami Marik stood above Ryou's sleeping form, the Millennium Rod in hand; grinning like a sadistic murderer.
Will Atem and Bakura be able to save Ryou and stop Marik? Will this story ever be concluded? Should I write another chapter? Am I gonna stop asking questions? Lol R&R please!