Disclaimer: no, no, no, and no, I do not own Yugioh.
Author's note: Just thought I'd put out there that I usually update my stores 1-2 times between five o'clock and midnight... sooo anywhere in there and you'll find it updated, usually.
Hope you like this chap!
Ceremonies, protocol and friends...
Atem made a horse-like sound through his lips. Ceremonies. He'd forgotten how much he hated them.
He wore his usual outfit: white tunic, dark blue cape and gold adornments. What else he would ever wear, he wasn't sure, nor did he really care. Shrugging, he left the room, heading towards the balcony with Mahad at his side. Mahad barely ever left his side, and if it wasn't Mahad, it was Seto.
And if there wasn't a Guardian at his side, there was Shimon or Mana. Shimon tended to pester him about 'Kingly duties,' so he was quite sure he preferred Mana.
He was quite sure he preferred Mana to anyone. He always let his guard down around her.
Shimon and Seto were waiting for them at the balcony, where Atem could hear the cheers of all of Ancient Egypt. It was going to be a long day, he thought.
Mahad and Seto stood on either side of the balcony entrance. Seto to the right, Mahad to the left and Shimon behind him. They looked to him expectantly. He nodded and strode confidently through the curtain with Mahad and Seto not far behind and Shimon at the curtain to make see that no one intruded. Even in the Afterlife, he thought, they took his safety seriously.
Atem raised his hand high to the people of Ancient Egypt and they cheered wildly, chanting: "Pharaoh, Pharaoh, Pharaoh." Atem even saw cameras as they broadcasted it all around the Spirit World.
He put on a smile and held his arms wide, and an announcer's voice echoed everywhere, "Your King, Pharaoh Atem, has come home."
"Pharaoh, Pharaoh!" they cried. There were squeals and crying alike, mingled with the cheers. It was deafening.
"And now we let the welcome ceremony begin!" the announcer cried.
Atem waved one last time before turning to exit through the curtain, his Guardians at his tail. He retired to a new addition of the palace: the grand audience room.
It was vaster than a football field, he remarked thoughtfully, in real-world terms. There was room enough to hold — heck, he wasn't sure how many people it could hold. Almost as soon as he sat in the glittering gold throne at the head, kings and their families, royalty and practically anyone who was anyone began to file in.
It took several minutes for everyone to find a place to comfortably stand, and that was when Atem stood and held up his hand for quiet. There was quiet faster than he would have thought possible.
"Welcome, friends, to the palace of Ancient Egypt," he said, his voice carrying magically to every corner of the room. "You have been gathered here to celebrate my return, but I have yet to announce my rules and Court. My Court shall be announced today—however, the official rules have yet to be written. We have refreshments and dancing as everyone is introduced to one another, and in the next hour you shall hear my Court members." He paused to study the faces of everyone. "The rest of the evening is dedicated to introductions, dancing, and a wonderful entertainment program."
Atem gave a fractional bow of his head. "I thank you for coming. Please, enjoy our entertainment and mingle amongst yourselves."
Seto and Mahad hovered nearby, Shimon close at hand. They were the three that had guaranteed places in Atem's court—for though he already had six Guardians, Aknadin found himself unworthy to serve, and so stayed in the palace with his wife and Seto, who was often accompanied by Kisara.
Indeed, Kisara stood mingling nearby in a long white-blue dress. The other Guardians were present, though they stood farther off, secretly keeping an eye on things.
Atem, with Seto and Mahad in tow, greeted the kings who would become his Court of Kings in due time—a select group of rulers he felt he could trust. He met with Ironheart, Dartz and Kris, along with Dartz's wife, and Ironheart's.
"Pharaoh," Dartz greeted, holding out his hand.
Atem shook it, "Dartz, Ironheart, Kris, it's good to see you again."
"We're glad you have returned," Ironheart said in his turn to shake Atem's hand.
"I am as well," Atem said.
"Were you surprised?" Kris asked, smiling.
"At being High King?" Atem asked, and when she nodded, he did too, though a bit more vigorously, "Completely."
"You are the Chosen King," Dartz smiled. "It's only right."
"Well, thank you," Atem replied with a smile. "Have you met my Guardians?" he asked, indicating Seto and Mahad. "These are two of my friends, Mahad and Seto." They each bowed in their turn, and Mahad leaned down to whisper something in Atem's ear. "Oh! Thank you, Mahad," he said quickly. "Dartz, Ironheart, Kris, ladies—excuse me, but I've got to avoid that group of Princesses."
They chuckled and Atem dipped his head with a brief smile. Seto hissed to Ironheart, Dartz and Kris as they passed, "If they ask, he went the other way."
They nodded in agreement and Atem, with Mahad before and Seto after, hurried away, expertly avoiding the giggling group of hung-up Princesses.
"Which way did he go?" they hissed.
Kris, now a grown and beautiful young lady, tried to discreetly jerk her head in the opposite direction the Pharaoh had gone. The girls grinned excitedly and went the indicated direction. Kris grinned. Bunch of suckers.
Atem greeted almost every king with a limited amount of time—in an hour, he had met most of them, and was now escorted back to his throne. Deliberately, the audience was hushed and Atem rose again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you my Court."
"As my vizier, secretary: Shimon Muran," Atem called, and Shimon stood just behind the Pharaoh.
"As my Guardians," he announced, gesturing toward the tall Magician adorned in white and deep purple, who stepped forward to take his place, bowing to his king. "Mahad: Master Magician, Guardian and my left hand." As Mahad stood erect and the crowd applauded, Atem gestured to the tall, blue-robed figure.
"Seto: scribe, cousin, Guardian and my right hand," Seto, too, bowed to Atem before standing at his right. More applauding from the crowd, and Atem, looking to the crowd, called another name: "Isis: Seer and Guardian." Isis moved to stand at Mahad's side, bowing to Atem and beaming at him with pride.
"Karim: protector and Guardian."
Karim took his place to Seto's side, bowing deeply to Atem. As each Guardian was announced, each bowed and each was applauded with a good amount of enthusiasm.
"Shada: soldier and Guardian."
Shada too, took his place, standing beside Karim. Now there was only one more Guardian left. Atem waited for silence before announcing his final Guardian and member of his Court.
"Mana: Magician, friend and now Guardian," Atem announced, shocking everyone, "Ladies and gentlemen! My new Guardian."
Everyone looked to where he indicated, just off to the side. From a side curtain emerged a short woman with long brown locks covered by a partial white and gold cap, wearing a semi-long white dress adorned with ruby-centered gold belt and necklace.
She looked much the same as before, except for the fact that she wore pure white now instead of a creamy off-white — her dress length was longer and not quite as flared, and she held herself more erect than she had before. The sleeves were longer, not quite hanging off the shoulders completely, and she looked somehow, older, more mature.
Atem was the first one to begin the clapping, then Mahad and the rest of the Guardians, and soon, everyone else. Everyone had assumed it would be Aknadin. Now, however, there was a new Guardian and Court member of the Pharaoh.
Mana approached Atem, taking her place at Isis' side, where she went down on one knee to bow to her Pharaoh, head down. When she stood, Mahad beamed at her with pride, his eyes sparkling. She was performing excellently.
Atem held his hands out, "Now that you have been introduced to my Guardians, I invite you to mingle and enjoy the performances!"
With that it broke up, and Mana looked around at Mahad with a gleam of hope in her eyes.
"Well done, Mana," Mahad approved. "You did it perfectly."
Mana beamed, "Thanks, Mahad!" She looked to Atem, who was smiling proudly at her. "A — " she quickly caught herself, "Pharaoh, I'm honored to be one of your Guardians."
"And I'm honored to have you as one," Atem said, his smile widening. "Now come, we have a long day of protocol ahead of us. We might as well enjoy ourselves while we can." Without further invitation, Atem took Mana's arm, linking his with hers. Mahad and Seto hurried to catch up, alarmed at the swiftness with which he had gone.
Shimon was quick to follow, a few words of reprove about showing affections in public ready to be delivered with an iron tongue.
When the dancing came, Atem was quick to take Mana into a dance – not only to avoid dancing with every Princess imaginable after him, but because he wanted to. He liked spending time with Mana. No, not liked – loved. He enjoyed it.
They had been avoiding Shimon the entire length of the performances. And now, unable to interfere for fear that he would embarrass his king, Shimon stood off to the side, arms folded and looking very grumpy. He stared very pointedly at Atem, even though he pretended Shimon wasn't there.
Mana laughed. "Shimon's never going to give up!"
"Has he ever?" Atem replied, shaking his head with slight amusement, "All about the protocol."
"Protocol, shmotocol," Mana scoffed, grinning, and Atem laughed.
"You were wonderful with the protocol earlier," he complimented. "I don't think I've ever seen you so focused."
Mana shrugged somewhat modestly. "I have my moments." When Atem smiled, Mana continued, "I guess I just didn't want to let you and Mahad down."
"Well thank you," Atem said.
"For what?" she asked curiously.
"Being you."
Yes, no? I say YES, but that's me. R&R, ConCrit... any OOCness? Please comment, people!
-Anevay