Yu-Gi-Oh: A Past and Future Pharaoh

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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Three mighty Gods still loomed above them as the mighty Gods they were, but at least the Prince was mildly aware of his surroundings... Mahaado, he was aware of Mahaado. There really was no two ways about it, the Prince was an incredibly loyal little prince. And a royal brat. But who knew he carried such divine might within his tiny frame?

"I'm glad to see you didn't get injured," Mahaado noted a casually amid trying to convince the Prince to recall his Kas. Not an easy prospective when talking to a small child who didn't understand their own Ka. The Prince was able to summon Ka from a Tablet, and that was amazing in and of itself. However; how to deal with ones' own Ka was proving difficult, because he appeared more in a dream like trance. And as much as the Prince adored Mahaado there were limits when it came to communication.

Earning him a stunned expression from Set. Immediately he stuck his arms out in defiance to Mahaado's statement. His unamused gaze dropping to his arms taking in the stains of blood, the streaks of sweat that came from the intense battle under Ra. Silently showing how... smooth his arms were? Set found him bringing his arms back in and running his palms over his arms. He 'had' been wounded repeatedly, he 'distinctly' recalled the numerous wounds he had amassed...

In mild alarm he undid his belt and pulled off his clothes to check for where the other injuries should have been. He 'remembered' those injuries, only while his clothes told a tale of battle showing cuts in the fabric and soaked in sweat and blood. His flesh was smooth of any injury with not even a scab to show for it. "You took an arrow to the side, is that healed?"

Mahaado blinked before dropping his left hand down to check his side, noting the torn fabric of his robe and the stiffness as to indicate blood had seeped in. Yet his flesh felt firm with no pain, giving Set's surprise more weight to Mahaado. "I believe so, incredibly enough the Prince manifested three..."

"One." Set cut in, recalling that towering form that first appeared and watched as Mahaado's expression turned into disbelief.

"But there are three..." Mahaado began and went so far as to look back around and count the great Ka that surrounded them still.

"I saw one, it reached down for us only it broke up as it did so. As great as the Princes' power may be, he's still young. I would guess that he couldn't keep it in one form." Set theorized as he began pulling his clothes back on. Leaving Mahaado to sit there looking down at the prince with a completely lost expression on his face.

"This exceeds anything I've been taught. Ka can evolve and change in the process of a person's growth, even come in a duo, or a trio. But these exceed anything that has been recorded of note, one alone is a rarity from one so young!" Mahaado pointed out as he sat there clearly thinking. "And with this much power how can the prince possibly call them back?"

Yet his argument, more a self direction conversation rather than an argument, made Set pause and grow thoughtful about the mage. Because the whispers in the palace, by all accounts, suggested that any one of these God like Ka were on par with the fragmentation that Mahaado originally was exposed to as a small child. The Magician of Illusion that he had now was just a continuation of growth that would have, by Mahas' own words attained. Making his original Ka be all the stronger if they had not been severed.

Reality was starting to close in on them though, night was coming, they were without mounts or any supplies. Expecting the kids to trek to the nearest village in the dark with nothing in their stomachs was going to be impossible. If someone was out looking for them though, would they even be able to reach the small group with these powerful beings watching over them? What if that one red dragon opened one of its mouths and incinerated a poor scout who wanted nothing more than to find them?

"Sleepy hungry," the Princes' moan was certainly understandable as he began curling up in Mahaado's lap. The prince still sounded distracted with every word, given that he was sustaining three Gods without aid it made sense to Set. Though he found himself at a loss for what would happen if the prince couldn't recall the Gods the way Mahaado could recall his own Ka. Extraction was the only thing he knew of, and that would break the Prince the way it, rumors told, broke Mahaado.

While Set grabbed Mana and held her close since she would emulate the prince anyways. Distracting her for the thing that would clearly bother her as well.

"Mama..."

Or start to cry for her mother, she could do that to. While Set and Mahaado had gotten reasonably good at handling the prince, a baby girl crying for her mother was another thing entirely.

"Its ok Mana, don't worry," Set crooned tucking her head under his chin. He watched as Mahaado did something with his hand, an action that caused the very air to visibly move as though disturbed by the actions and reveal something completely different.

"I'll see if anyone is near us, I would expect the gods about us will be enough to get their attention. Hopefully they'll realize that these Gods are a sign of the Prince, though said signs not attacking however..."

"Its a shame there's nothing to build a fire or make camp near by... And I do not want to make our way into the Valley below and see if the Great Queens would mind if we napped among them." Set commented over Mana's crying. "Its ok Mana, you're a brave girl, and the scary stuff is over now."

Now that the threat was over, all the energy that was keeping Set moving was leaving him spent. Had they been in the palace he would have just dropped to the floor and went to sleep. Let the servants or guards take him back to his bed, for all he cared.

And he was hungry, too.

"That's true, there 'is' a small oasis however; it is a walk to be sure and we're in no condition... I suppose we could just curl up here and take a brief nap?" Mahaado offered his own voice heavy with fatigue.

"Great idea," Set replied before eagerly struggling to his feet so he could lay next to Mahaado. Granted the great serpent God had encircled the quartet and that 'should' imply they were safe, however; the prince was clever. Best to assume the usual sleeping positions in an effort for consistency for the kids who undoubtedly needed it right now. "Oh... do either of you need to relieve yourselves?"

"Of 'what'? They haven't really had anything to purge this whole," Mahaado began his tone flat and ever unamused.

"Fine, fine, go to sleep Maha." Set grumbled as he dropped onto his left so that he could face the Magician.

"Yes, mother," Mahaado retorted though he also oblige and laid down, tucking the prince in with Mana.

"Mama!"

"Gods I hate you and every generation of your blood line," Set snarled at Mahaado as he glared while the kids sleepily crooned out 'mama'.

"Get in line."

"I 'am' the line."

"Sweep!" the prince chirped almost sounding fussy between them.

"Close, prince." Set retorted but he did close his eyes, "We survived by literally the grace of the Gods via the prince. Just a little nap..." Set closed his eyes, and cursed his luck that now that he was ready to sleep... he couldn't.

Opening his eyes he looked up at the sky and saw nothing but the dark shadow cast by the dragon wing. The deep blue sky and stars were blocked by the presence of the dragon, giving the small group protection from any potential storm brave enough to face these Gods. Even with the Gods fading some at the Princes' attempt to rein in his own power, they were still visible enough to block out the stars.

He really didn't know much about Ka's, he had been more invested in studying strategy and combat. But Mahaado certainly took the situation as a sign to be alarmed and concerned, which by proxy alarmed Set. After all, Mahaado was essentially their only present expert on the matter and if it bothered him, well it might as well bother Set.

Even if 'expert' was used loosely.

Mana was already asleep, curled up to the Prince and allowing Set to lay on his back properly so he could look up at the bottom side of a dragon wing. He stretched his legs out, taking in the freedom of movement unhampered by injury. Even now he didn't know who it was that came after them, they were clearly prepared to deal with Mahaado. If not for the Prince, and it was shameful to realize that their charge had to save them. They would just be smears down the Valley of Queens at that moment. Finding himself, once again, saved from death by a power that far exceeded his own.

Power really was the only deciding factor in the world.

Strategic planning was something clearly the enemy had used to its fullest potential keeping the pressure built on the royal party. Then fixating when they cut the prince off from the rest of the forces, if they even bothered to continue to go after the Pharaoh.

Though High Priest Shimon was both the wielder of the mighty Exodia 'and' the grandfather of the Prince through the Great Queen. While the Pharaoh himself didn't seem to bear any great power himself. So it stood to reason that the Prince was showing the power of his mothers' line. Which meant that Set would be best served if he mastered planning and strategy. It was a disgrace to think the young prince should be expected to do everything himself.

But if that was the case Mana would have been home in the Capital rather than here with them. Because then the Prince wouldn't have been smart enough to sneak the girl out of the Palace via his toy basket. Even going so far as to keep up the ruse when he fed her and provided for her needs, despite... being a small child. The idea that the prince could be so brilliant and powerful at the same time was soul crushingly humbling. 'I was fine with being just a soldier under the Pharaoh. How am I here? I don't deserve to serve under an actual God. But if he chose me then...'

How could anyone handle dealing with such an incredible child like the prince was? How were people not broken at the scope at having to protect a divine child? The thought made him look at Mahaado in the darkness and he found himself curious if the mages' parents would have been proud of their son? Not just for his position, or rank, but that he was so strong in the magic arts. Would his master be allowed to beat Mahaado as much as he did if the guy had parents?

Once again he found himself wondering what it was like to be without parents or a home, after all Set knew where he came from and his mother. Mahaado didn't even know if he came from Kemet, and could have easily been from some outlining village in the end.

"Go to sleep..." Mahaado muttered sluggishly as he shifted a bit where he laid, startling Set into looking at the mage.

"You're awake?" he whispered rolling onto his side to face the magician.

"Someone needs to watch over the prince," Mahaado pointed out his fingers brushing against Set's face until they found his nose. And grabbed it.

"Funny."

"The Prince may relax into returning the Ka's into himself once he's deeply sleeping so if that happens... I need to be awake," Mahaado explained.

"Do you see any signs of the Royal Forces are getting close to our position?" Set asked, opting for some intel gathering before assigning sleeping schedules.

"Actually, there 'is' a small scout group that is within visual possibly," Mahaado agreed calmly. "But its late and they may not be able to see the Gods yet. When Ra returns however..."

"Then go to sleep, I can't sleep right now I'll watch over your slumber and when I finally 'can' go to sleep, I'll wake you up and we can switch duties." Set offered, pushing himself to sit up, when another thought came to him. "Maha how is your back? Do you still have those scars?" After all the injuries he had amassed during this day had disappeared by the touch of the gods... Maybe Maha's back was healed?

"Its not changed, I still can't stretch my back muscles." Mahaado's voice was more distant.

"I can make you stretch it again." Set replied, if he could cut open those scars and use the healing spells taught to him, that should help smooth out Mahaado's back. Right?

"Not in front of the kids..." Mahaado replied...

"Gods damn you I hate the fact that we know each other!" Set half snarled half shouted, seething as he glared at the spot where Mahaado was resting.

"Wahhhhhhhh..."

And promptly woke up the kids.

Well now Set really 'wasn't' going to sleep any time soon, he was too angry to bother...

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The Gods didn't disappear as Mahaado had hoped, instead staying with the small group cocooned in the protective coils of the Dragon God. As time ticked through the night and Ra fought his battles, Set was left in near total darkness with only the sound of breathing to keep him company. That was fine though, the sounds of the kids and Mahaado breathing was an assurance that they hadn't disappeared or been smothered in this darkness.

And smothering 'could' happen at any time he felt. For the might of the Gods that surrounded them was immense. The Blue Eyed dragon was nothing compared to this, he felt like he was a leaf on resting on a Nile at its mercy where he would end up. Not that it was directed at 'him' alone, he was pretty sure that this power was something that Mana had never experienced before. Only they slept so easily.

Was this what it felt to be an ant in the path of a person?

Yet ants never cared for the actions of the person studying them unless the person proved a threat. Was that what they were in the eyes of these Gods? Ants of no consequence? Well Mana and himself, because these Gods came from the Prince so his Maha would 'always' be of importance. Were Mahaado not here, would he and Mana been offed out of hand as another potential threat to the Prince?

And what of that Goddess he saw before?

Mahaado made what had happen sound impossible yet clearly it 'had' happened. Or maybe he saw an illusion brought on by blood loss, exhaustion and terror?

He wished that Mahaado was well enough to be awake and not tease Set so they could talk about it. The magician was used to physical torture and blood loss. Anyone else and Set would have assumed that they were just getting out of a night watch. How many times had Mahaado continued to perform his duties despite the physical pain he was put through?

Yet these would be kidnappers knew of him and his magics, stealthily sneaking into the encampment. Stabbing the mage while he slept and using magics to muffle Mahaado's own so that he couldn't fight back properly. The prince met Mahaado due to a would be royal kidnapping, and this group had been rather fixated on capturing the prince. Were they the same group? Or did they some how recognize the power the prince carried within himself and tried to get to the prince?

Clearly the defenses of the Palace was no longer weak enough to let them in, thus creating the distraction by slaughtering all those kids. Just to draw the royal pair out of the Palace. Set found himself pondering if High Priest Shimon would be willing to talk to Set about his family line. The passing of the Great Queen surely was long enough that the old priest would talk about his and his daughter's family line.

Could these would be kidnappers be from where the pair had come from?

His eyes grew sluggish as he sat there, causing him to lay back down as he gazed up at the underside of the dragon's wing. He could almost hear his own heart beat in this strangely made cave of protection. The pulse pounding in his ears...

Was it the heart of this mighty God Dragon? Or any of the three that came from their young Prince? As Set drifted off to sleep he offered a silent prayer of gratitude that he not only survived. But survived with those closest to him in one piece. Even Maha, though the magician in training was becoming rank number one in annoying Set beyond measure. 'But better to be annoyed than to be alone...'