Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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Once the procession reached outside, the servants had the horses already saddled for them. The lovely bay colored mare that Set was partial to was waiting next to the one that Mahaado and the Prince would be riding. The stallion that Mahaado rode was of a similar color to Sets' own mount. Only Mahaado never really focused on horse work beyond being able to simply ride a horse.
While Set was already being given instruction on battle techniques on horseback, meaning he spent more time bonding with Anat. His mare more for battle, while Mahas' was much more placid in personality. Suitable for someone who needed to be able to focus for their casting. Though just from the last time Set had been home in the palace it seemed a little overkill. Mahaado no longer even used words to cast the simple spells, just making the basket float had been simple. A wave of the hand with focused intent and Mahaado was done.
Though when Mahaado needed to cast battle magic was up in the air since Set had never seen them directly. Set had been used for subduing spells, note against his will, and rather mild chastising spells of flung pillows. But there 'had' to be a reason why the prince was fixated on Mahaado and his spell work. Surely the prince had seen something on a grander scale than what Mahaado could do?
Soon enough the Prince would be given a practice sword and shield, his education supplemented with battle practice. Then the religious training as well, and despite all of that the prince wanted to learn magic. One would think being Pharaoh would be exciting enough, but well, here was the Prince.
As the sun traveled across the sky, revealing all before them under its light. Once the signal was given from the front, Set put his foot in the stirrup, grabbed the saddle and pulled himself up. From his elevation he could see the the servants and soldiers surrounding them, the families that struggled to stay as close as they could to the tablet that held the soul of their child. The air sounded like a storm, with the steady chants of the priests punctuated with the sound of anguished and cries and pleas. They mingled with the soft sounds of horse hooves on sand and stone, a deceptive passive sound like rain.
With a blare of the horns, the procession began to move out. The sound grinding of the wheel against sand as they carried their precious cargo filled the air as well until it felt like a miracle that Set could hear any words at all. So he kept his eyes out for any potential threat, given the rise in criminal activity. Noting all the guards positions that he could see as they lined the wall both on the ground and top of wall levels. The soldiers among them as well as the priests, while the gates were slowly pulled open to allow the carts through. As they approached the gates Set could start seeing people in the town outside the palace walls again.
They were lining the streets, though they weren't enthusiastic rather properly subdued for the reason for this procession. Set pulled up next to Mahaado, while the Prince sat next to his father on their own royal litters. Set taking up the far right of the Pharaoh, Mahaado on his left, the prince on Mahaado's left then the Pharaoh himself. The princes' basket of toys were resting at the princes' feet as the servants carried the litters. But at least the prince wasn't making his basket have its own litter...
Through out the city, work came to a halt as the procession approached, those who did not attend the departure, rushed out of the street to give them room. Everyone dropped down on the sides of the road prostrated before their Living God and his son, their prince. And as Set rode he watched as the prince look around at first in excitement. But perhaps all the bowing annoyed him, as his lips twisted into a frown and he suddenly crossed his arms and sat back in a huff.
A pouty baby prince.
"Asim!" The Prince suddenly chirped out when they finally reached the outer wall of the city, his hands waving in excitement.
Set glancing at the Prince to see where he was looking at before turning his own gaze there. Which revealed Asim, in a saluted position given his rank, as the most likely to inherit the position of General-in-Training after Minkabhs' passing, didn't break the salute. He did give the prince an acknowledging smile which clearly cheered up the Prince.
So perhaps the Princes' issue about the bowing was that he wanted to be noticed, or, as Set thought on it... The Prince wanted friends. He seemed fixated on 'making friends' every time he met someone new, and certainly that was a fine thing to want. But he was the 'prince' of their land, above everyone in the kingdom.
"Don't fail us Set!"
Asim didn't shout it out loud, but he most certainly made it loud enough for Set to hear him. Causing Set to whip around on his saddle so he could glare at his personal rival, made all the worse that he could hear Mahaado chuckling.
"How Seth supposed to fail us?" The Prince pipped up, causing Set to turn and look at the little baby.
"Well so long as its not a sword fight... But worry not Lord Prince, this will be a safe journey and we'll be home once its done. Asim is merely teasing Seth for fun," Mahaado explained to the little prince calmly.
"Oh so you're siding with Asim are you?" Set snapped at Mahaado and watched as the magician turned to look at him.
"Well he 'is' training to be my fellow High Priest, but I dare say I apologize for hurting your feelings Seth." Mahaado apologized with a raised eyebrow visible to the teenager.
"Seth has feelings?" the Prince promptly followed up in amusement, the type that heavily implied that Mahaado had already gotten to the child.
"Yes I have feelings!" Set retorted in a growing huff as the Prince exchanged an unsure expression with Mahaado.
"Really, than Asim 'did' hurt your feelings," Mahaado replied, at least not pointing out before the royal family that Set had not been able to beat Asim in swordsmanship.
"If the Pharaoh was not here..." Set began seething glaring daggers at Mahaado who sat blithely disinterested in Set's reaction.
"Oh don't let my presence stop you," the Pharaoh, himself, answered settling back comfortably on his own litter. He sat as tall and proud as ever, his eyes keenly observing the landscape before him unfazed by the prattling of those around him. Supposedly.
Set dropped his gaze down from the Pharaoh and found himself looking at the Prince who was nowhere near that still or serene in personality of behavior. Instead he apparently summoned the little Kurr back out and was playing. Which wouldn't be so bad if not for the fact that no one else could see the Kurr.
"Little Prince, you shouldn't play with Kurr in public," Set pointed out as the Prince reached out and grabbed his little friend, pulling the spirit close protectively.
"Why?!" The prince huffed defensively, his amethyst eyes peering out over the fluff of the Kurr's head.
"Not everyone can see the little Spirit, you look like you're playing with the air and that isn't advisable. People will think there is something wrong with you," Set pointed out, for which the Prince gave a soft thoughtful look. Until he looked at Mahaado...
"Maha! Maha make people see Kurr!" The prince ordered in a childishly tone that one could tell was used to get the Princes' way... again...
"Well, Seth has a point," Mahaado began for which the prince looked so deflated and crushed that his Maha was turning on him so. "Also I can not make people just 'see' Kurr, however; I can do this much."
For which Mahaado created an illusion that looked exactly like Kurr and let it sheath the spirit exactly. Thus allowing people to see exactly what the Prince was playing with, and allowing the Prince to have his new playmate. The prince gave a cheer and Set nearly planted his face into the back of Anats head that the Prince was 'still' getting pampered...
The sun traveled over head with a bright vivid blue sky and a pleasant wind when the Prince broke into a fit of giggles. So much so that Set found himself and Mahaado both turning to look at the prince. Which now the object of being stared at the Prince tried to smoother his giggling with his hands and hunker down in his litter.
"Lord Prince, what have you found that amuses you so?" Mahaado inquired politely while Set looked about the distance thinking maybe something had caught the princes' eye.
"Well, I was wondering why I can't ride a horse... Or carried like Maha used to. Since I thought maybe the litter can be boring and tiring, then I was going to ask Father... But when I thought about one of them carrying Father like Maha carries me..." And then Prince broke into another fit of giggling. "It looks silly."
The Pharaohs' eyebrows went up in thoughtful surprise before a smile began creeping on his own lips. While for the pair they could see a few smiles on the faces of the litter bearers, though protocol forbade them from talking out loud.
"Ahh its not so bad for you, you're small and light to carry and undoubtedly so is your litter, Lord Prince," Mahaado pointed out and while the veil hid his mouth the good humor showed in his eyes.
"Besides there's nothing wrong with exercise, like working with weapons or anything else. Its just physical training in the end. By the time we get to the temple and back they'll be even more physically stronger than when we left," Set added with a nod. The princes' generous heart was on full display again, even if his methods of expression such kindness came with a little of childishly added thought patterns.
"Hmmm like picking up a baby donkey?" The prince asked his head cocked to the side as he tried to process this on his own. "Like if you picked up a baby donkey every day eventually the baby becomes an adult and you're strong enough to lift one?"
"Exactly," Mahaado answered nodding and his approval was clear in his voice as the prince straightened up on his litter.
"That's what Minkabh said he and Asim do... Minkabh said that Asim started off by picking up baby animals when he was a kid... Sounded like a good idea..." The prince went on to explain cheerfully.
And while Set had become friends with Asim; Minkabh, the original heir to the Sennen Rod, had died of fever before they ever met. Something Isis had managed to foretell, leaving Asim and he in a fierce, though friendly, rivalry over the position of General. Though the idea had merit, just... Set wasn't interested in becoming a hugely muscular man. His interests tended towards the strengthening of the mind mostly. Though self defense was a fun enough way to keep his body active.
When he wasn't chasing the prince down when the brat was running full tilt to some new fun 'adventure'. Though he had been gone long enough for the studying that he actually was curious about how life had adjusted for Mahaado. Now that he was having to deal with the Prince and Mana...
"I feel bad that upon my return I haven't had a chance to spend time with Mana. I realize she couldn't come with us, but it will be nice to spend time with her as well once more. I can only imagine what they've put you through on your own," Set noted aloud as the prince, turned to check on his toy basket and Mahaado shrugged slightly.
"They have been good during your absence mother, you need not worry over them so. Lord Prince has been introducing Mana to new and different foods." Mahaado reported duly while Set reached from Anats back for Mahaado's throat.
"I. Am. Not. The. Mother!" Set growled as he brought his horse closer to Mahaado's in an effort to get that blasted magician's neck.
"To be replaced in your childs' life at so early an age..." The Pharaoh answered giving a deep, melodramatic sigh as he rested his head in his hand, looking down at the kids.
"A lighthearted experience amid tragedy," High Priest Shimon noted as he tried to peek over the Litter of the Pharaoh and see what the little ones were up to. The older priest was in his own elaborate robes and honestly out of all the High Priests that Set had to deal with, both he and the General were probably the most honest, just people he had met.
Especially when compared to the ass riding along just behind High Priest Shimon, otherwise known as 'the bastard who teaches Maha magic'. But the grown ups were on one side of the Pharaoh and the kids were on the other. So it was a peaceful enough ride that lasted until the Pharaoh called for a break once they reached the oasis. The one that rested between the temple and the palace as the sun began to set.
The Litters were lowered and the Prince bounced to his toy basket taking a look inside before putting the lid back on. While Set took charge of the horses for the pair, leading them off for a drink and leaving Maha with the prince. The cool air drifting off the oasis was a blessing, making Set occasionally close his eyes out of enjoyment as it drifted across his heated skin. Before he pulled out the brushes and began brushing and rubbing down Anat and getting her comfortable.
"Its so good to have Mahaado with us, he already has the tents up and ready for us."
Set's ears' pricked up as he heard the comment as a couple of the attending servants came from the camp, pots and bowls in their hands.
"So true, leaves us with time to prepare the meals for everyone."
The second voice commented amicably before adding with an amused chuckle, "which is even better because the Lord Prince wants to feed his toys!"
"Really?" The first asked sounding surprised and curious.
"Yes, He approached me himself and said 'My toys want food and drink too! Make extra for them!'" The second voice answered mimicking the princes' voice by raising the pitch of his own voice.
Set stood there slowly beginning to bang his head against Anats' side, causing the mare to turn and look at him. But what did she know? She didn't have to talk to the prince.
"He'll be a great Pharaoh, the little prince even minds his toys like people, such a generous heart," the first servant commented with delight and warmth in her voice.
'He's an IDIOT!' Set wanted to scream. Not that the prince 'wasn't' a kind, thoughtful, stupidly smart child, Set wasn't going to deny that. But he was a 'brat' a cheeky one at that always looking at ways to get out of doing something or to get around to doing something he wasn't supposed to. His mind was sharper than any sword and so mischievous! It made looking after the child both a difficult trial and a challenge every single day!
Which Maha usually countered with 'isn't that what you wanted when you made anything he asked more difficult?'
Like there was something inherently wrong with making the prince verbalize his requests! Not just find non verbal methods of communication for the fun of it. But it wasn't like Set anticipated that the Prince would adapt and learn 'this' fast!
"Well I hope what we brought is enough for that little army of figures he keeps and plays with," the first servant commented amid the sound of pots being filled with water.
"I'm sure it will be fine, and its not like we'll be gone from the Palace too long... I just hope the criminals who defiled those poor helpless children get captured soon." The second servant replied while he also filled his pot with water. "I know of one being who will have a great feast of evil hearts to dine on, and the sooner the better." Set could see the pair walking along, their clothes white and wrapped about their bodies in a fashion he didn't recognize. A frown crossed his face that melted into alarm as the pair then continued walking along over the oasis water as ghosts. The water unbothered by their foot steps, and their irrationally pale skin that brought up some distant thought that something was wrong.
"Indeed, were it to happen to my own children I don't know how I would even function," the conversation carried on to other topics. The spirits drifting ever forward leaving Set alone to quietly turn his attention to the stallion that Mahaado rode and... Set rode a mare, Maha rode a stallion...
"MAHAADO!"