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YuGiOh: SANDS OF TIME Ch 2

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                                   Chapter 2
     The sun stretched its hand over the dusty desert horizon, flooding the land of early morning light. Shadi and his fellow holy men readied themselves for the pilgrimage that lay ahead them. Supplies and rations were packed, and by the time the sun had made it halfway up the skyline, the travelers were ready for their expedition. Four men together carried the Aqua Madoor tablet alone, and another four for the Flame Champion. Just getting the tablets down the stairs was an effort in itself. Jono and Zenei came to see the gathering off on their journey, Rishta once again giving a dramatic farewell speech,
     “I won’t be gone long, my darling Zenei! Fear not, for I shall rid this land of the temple monsters!”
     “I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Rishta! Best of luck!” She said to him.
     Good, he thought. ‘cause I’m terrified! At least someone has faith in me. I myself wonder why I agreed to go on this trip!
     “See you, Rishta! We’re counting on you,” Jono shook hands with him, and Rishta nodded.
     Nuvia arrived at the scene with a beautiful woman at his side, “Master!” He called. Shadi turned to him as he walked up. “Good luck on your journey, master. May the gods protect you.”
     “Thank you, Nuvia. And might I ask who this lady is?”
     The woman greeted the priest; “I am Eikia, Nuvia’s wife. I am pleased to meet you, sir High Priest.”
     “Ah, so you are the lovely Eikia whom Nuvia has told me about. I am pleased to meet you as well. Excuse me, but I must be leaving now,” Shadi told her. He then turned back to his procession, “Everyone ready? Move out!”
     The eight men picked up the two tablets and began to walk, six soldiers marching on either side of the procession. Rishta gave a last minute goodbye to Zenei, and hurried back into rank at the head of the group. They advanced through town, the townspeople watching in awe as they went. No one moved as the High Priest and his followers trekked down the road. But the reverence was shattered when a young man and a boy stepped into the streets in front of the procession. A few people gasped, others began to give displeased murmurs to one another. The two of them stopped as Shadi gave them an irritated stare,
     “Why do you dare to tread in the path of a holy pilgrimage? You’ve no remorse for your actions?”
     The young man in indigo returned the stare to the priest, his powerful blue eyes looking passed his chestnut colored hair; “I tread wherever I please, and no one says otherwise.”
     “And you do it even at the risk of suffering at the gods’ hands?”
     The young man scoffed, “Keh! You can’t scare me with you ‘holy’ nonsense. I have more important matters to attend to. Direct me to the palace.”
     “Not until you move from our path,” Shadi growled. The man tormented him further,
     “And who’s going to make me? The gods perhaps?”
     An angered shopkeeper stepped forward, “How dare you harass the gods in such a manner! Such an attitude will get you killed!”
     An evil smirk crossed his face, “Good idea,” He held out his golden staff towards the man, and suddenly a bolt of electricity came from it, striking the shopkeeper dead. The shopkeeper’s wife screamed in horror as she watched her husband fall to the ground, and several other bystanders jolted backwards in fright and shock. Shadi was appalled at this,
     “Why?! That man had caused no harm to you!”
     The sorcerer turned his evil glance to the priest; “He got in my way…”
     Shadi’s rage grew, but he did not let it control him. Instead, he walked over to the woman who cried next to the fallen man, and kneeled down to her, “Do not worry, madam.” Shadi looked down at the man, and laid his hand on his head. A long moment passed before anything happened; Shadi then pulled from his sleeve a feather, and placed it upon the man’s chest, and just as he did, the feather was carried away by a sudden wind. The prophecy done, the priest smiled at the woman, “You should be happy now. Your husband shall have eternal bliss in the afterlife.”
     The wife tried to nod to show her thanks, but it was no good. It didn’t matter to Shadi, for he knew she was grateful. As he stood up, his friendly expression quickly turned back into distrust and anger as he looked back to the sorcerer,
     “However, if you do not change your ways, you will only experience eternal suffering in your afterlife.”
     “I don’t care what you say,” The young man began to walk passed the procession towards the palace, the younger boy following him. Shadi didn’t move, only stood there with a stone-like expression on his face. “Unless you want to end up like him, I suggest not interfering with my affairs any longer.” The evil sorcerer continued onward. As soon as he was out of sight, Shadi sighed with worry, and then gave orders to the troops.
     “Let us continue. Move out!”
     He thought to himself, That man will cause pain to those he crosses. I hope the Pharaoh is safe from him…
                                                                 •
     In the main hall, Tanisha approached the Pharaoh, “Your highness?”
     “Yes Tanisha? What is it?” Ahtem asked her.
     “Sire, I’ve had a vision of the future to come,” Tanisha told him.
     “About the sorcerer?” He asked. She shook her head,
     “No. I saw another dark force, sir: not from outside the kingdom, but within. A shadow lurks near, bringing chaos and destruction to the world- a force so great, that they hold the power of the gods themselves. Three beings of the Shadow Realm, controlled by a menace, whose only intention is to banish you to the Shadow Realm yourself.”
     “And this Dark Force of which you speak, you do not know who is the menace controlling them?” The Pharaoh asked.
     “I have a feeling I know him, but the vision was very cryptic, and unclear. All I know is that a thief is the one pulling the strings with a force he cannot begin to comprehend. Such foolishness and misuse will lead to his defeat, but it will not undo the damage in which he has done.”
     The Pharaoh sat listening intently, thinking about this prophecy Tanisha laid before him, “…Is it possible to stop it before it happens?”
     “Well…I do not know, sire, but I believe it worth a try.”
     “Very well then,” Ahtem stood and called to his Captain, “Jono!”
     Jono came into the room a few moments later, “Yes your majesty?”
     “Take a platoon and scour the streets for every thief, bandit, and lowlife you can find. Lock them up and have them questioned about this matter. Tanisha, I leave the questioning up to you.”
     Both Jono and Tanisha bowed, “Yes sir,” and left to carry out their orders. Ahtem then sat back down on his throne and pondered.
     “…A Dark Force…destruction…what does it all mean?” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He placed his hands to his chin as he thought aloud, “…Why is this happening to me? …Are the gods testing me? …Do they think that I am not fit to be Pharaoh?” He sighed, “…Perhaps I am not…my people are suffering…and I have no way to help them…”
     “Nonsense.”
     Ahtem turned to see his Queen standing at his side.
     “You’re as fit to be king just as your fathers before you. You’ve the strength of many generations flowing through your veins, and you help our people by giving them someone to look up to when in need.”
     “And what happens when I have no way to help their needs?”
     “What are you talking about? You’re as powerful as the gods! If you say day is night, it shall be written. And if you say the flood will come, then it will. You say the Dark Force shall be defeated, then it shall! And if I say that you can accomplish anything, then you can.”
     Ahtem’s eyes softened, “Akeote…” He slowly stood and continued to look at her. “You are always there when I need you…you are truly a gift from the gods…” He gently placed his hand to her soft cheek and gazed into her tender hazel eyes, “…I could not be any prouder to have such a Queen by my side…”
     She placed her hand atop of his hand, “I am proud to be your Queen, my Pharaoh…”
                                                                 •
     In the bustling town-square, people shuffled back and forth from shop to shop, and in the center of the square stood a shallow, rounded water fountain of white stone. A small group of children stood around the wise elder, Hotehp, as he was sitting on a wooden bench next to the fountain. The children watched him for the longest time as he sat there snoozing with his eyes closed, until finally a girl wearing pigtails asked, “What’s he doing?”
     “He sleeping stupid!” A boy with a shaved head told her. Another little boy started waving his hand in front of the man’s face.
     “I wonder what old people dream about.”
     “I dunno…old people stuff I guess…”
     Suddenly, the old man’s eyes popped open and he shouted, “Boogaboogabooga!”
     The children gave shrieks of delight and laughter, “Aw! He was just faking!”
     “Ho ho!” Hotehp heartily chuckled. “What are you kids doing bothering an old man while he’s trying to relax?” He asked.
     A small little girl shuffled her foot to and fro; “We was just wondering what old peoples dream ‘bout, wise elder, sir.”
     “Oh, you don’t have to call me elder. Makes me feel old! Ha ha! Just call me Hotehp.”
     “All right then, Hotehp,” the little bald-headed boy asked. “Tell us. Just what is an old man doing falling asleep in the middle of the town like that?”
     “Can’t a man do as he please? It’s not as though I broke the law or anything. Show some respect for your elders!”
     The little girl giggled, “But you just told us not to call you an elder! Hee hee hee!”
     “Oh! …I did, didn’t I?”
     Just then, a big gruff man ran passed them, swiping Hotehp’s coin purse from wise elder’s belt.
     “What the?! Come back here, you thief!” Hotehp began to run after him. The gruff man looked back and cackled.
     “Just try and catch me, you old coot! Hee hee hee hee…” The thief suddenly collided with someone. “Oof! Hey pal! Watch where the heck you’re going!”
     The man who collided with the thief spotted the purse; “Might I ask whose coin purse that is?”
     “What?” The thief looked down at his hand and put it behind his back, “What coin purse?”
     “Arrest him!” The man said.
     “What?! I’m innocent! I was framed!” The thief said as two soldiers dragged him, and the other man handed Hotehp his purse back.
      “Here you are sir.”
     “Oh, thank you. Good thing you were just around the corner. I might never have gotten this back.”
     Nuvia, with his eyepatch on, and Eikia, with a woven basket in her hand, walked through the marketplace, Eikia looking about her, “My goodness, there sure seems to be a lot of soldiers out here today, doesn’t it dear?”
     Nuvia nodded, “Wonder what’s going on…”
     “You think maybe an enemy kingdom is going to attack us?” She asked her husband. Nuvia chuckled.
     “What? Of course not, dear. Don’t worry yourself over such silly matters. Who in their right mind would dare to challenge the Pharaoh?”
     A man and a boy stepped in front of them, “I would.” Nuvia looked at the young man before him, clad in an indigo cape, and carrying a golden staff.
     “And might I ask who you are?” Nuvia inquired.
     “I am Seth! The Sorcerer! I suspect you are Nuvia the Shadow Maker. Judging from the stories, you fit the description: tall, purple-haired, and an eye patch over your left eye. You’re him, are you not?”
     “I am. What business do you have with me?”
     Seth put on a friendly act, giving Nuvia and his wife a false sense of security; “I’ve traveled far to come and challenge the Pharaoh to a simple Shadow Game, that’s all. I mean no harm. The only problem is a few of my Monster Tablets had the misfortune of being broken, and I need a replacement.”
     “But,” Eikia asked looking around. “If you’re a Shadow Duelist, then where are your Monster Tablets? The kings that I’ve seen come to challenge the Pharaoh before had whole armies of men just to carry them all. So where are yours?”
     “In here!” Mohkba said to them. He set the burlap bag he was carrying across his back down on the ground, and pulled out a large wooden box. Taking the lid off, revealed several tiny tablets, all of them with Shadow Monsters on them.
     Nuvia took one out of the box and looked it over, “How on Earth do you use these things? They’re so tiny, not even the tiniest monster could get through the Shadow Realm through this thing.”
     “I’ll show you,” Seth offered. He aimed his staff at the tiny tablet, making it float out of Nuvia’s hand and then mystically, its size multiplied by twenty fold. Nuvia and Eikia stared in amazement,
     “Incredible!” Eikia commented. “Absolutely astonishing!”
     “Well, I must say that reducing the size of the tablets must make it much easier for you to travel,” Nuvia said, “Especially since there’s only the two of you. Well if you need more monsters, I can give you some. This way,” Nuvia and Eikia began to walk to the temple, Seth and Mohkba following.
                                                            •
     Shadi and his holy procession continued their march to the Temple of the Skull, trying to forget about the evil sorcerer, Seth, yet his evil deed was still in the back of their minds. It was around high noon, and by this time the group had already passed by the Pharaoh’s tomb, and they were now in the driest parts of the desert. The Nile was two miles to the east of them, and what little moisture was left on its banks didn’t get swept this far by the winds. The harsh sun continued to ravage down upon the weary travelers, and with every step in the soft yet scorching sands, the large stone tablets seemed to get heavier and heavier by the moment. The worst part was that the group still had another day and a half until they were to reach their destination.
     Rishta scanned the horizon for a good place to stop and take a rest, but no oasis of any sort appeared, so they would just have to stop wherever possible. The oxen at the back of the line carried all provisions, and neither the weight nor the heat seemed to bother them.
     “Man!” One of the other soldiers said to Rishta. “I wish it was that easy for us to be happy. I’m tired!”
     “Yeah?” Rishta said. “That’s because oxen are too dumb to know when they’re tired.”
     “So Rishta,” A sergeant queried him. “Are you ever going to purpose to Captain Jono’s sister?”
     “Say what?!” Rishta was taken aback by this, and began to blush.
     “You know, Zenei! You seem to really like her a lot,” He winked and nodded his head, “A whole lot!”
     Rishta looked up at the sky, a broad smile spanning his hopeful face; “Do you think she’d say yes to me?”
     “And why not?” A private threw in. “You’re co-Captain of the Guard! Why wouldn’t she say yes?”
     “Yeah! She’d be crazy not to!” Another added.
     “Just don’t let Jono find out! You know how protective he is of his little sister!” The sergeant chuckled. The group of soldiers carried on as though forgetting the men carrying the tablets as though they too were just oxen. But as suddenly as the laughter started, Shadi came to a halt. Rishta looked at him, wondering,
     “Hey Shadi! What’s the problem?”
     Shadi said nothing, did nothing, just stood completely still. Rishta waited for an answer, but nothing came from the priest’s mouth. The captain tried to move toward him but Shadi quickly put up his hand and said,
     “Do not move!” At this, Rishta stopped. Shadi slowly put his hand back down. “Stay quiet…we are passing through a treacherous area…we must not move too fast…or speak too loudly…in fact…just do not speak at all as we cross this place…”
     Rishta didn’t understand what was making Shadi so nervous, “But what’s…”
     “Sshh!” Was all that came from the priest; He then slowly began to shift his feet across the sand. After about five paces, he turned to Rishta and the others and waved for them to follow. The soldiers imitated Shadi’s movements of shifting feet and moving like turtles. Tension was mounting…what was so dangerous in the desert aside from the heat that they had to be so cautious?
     One of the soldiers held his breath…he felt as though the slightest thing could set this unknown evil off; like flint to tender, this merciless peril would send the entire caravan into flames…he gulped in nervousness.
     Rishta’s eyes darted back and forth across the sands, searching for any danger that might decide to show its face. The oxen starting braying uncontrollably, beating their heavy hoofs into the sand. Whatever was here, they could feel it. Shadi turned to the sergeant and whispered in an angry voice.
     “Settle them down! They will give us away!”
     The sergeant waved an order to a private, and the private held onto the reins of the oxen. Rishta thought to himself, What’s got them so riled?
     …Suddenly from out of the amber sands, an enormous beast came shooting from the earth, devouring the private and the two oxen. The others were horrified by this, and after a couple of seconds, realized that what they were looking at was real: a gigantic Sand Worm, its black eyes staring out of a repulsive spear-shaped head. The surprised troops took a hold onto their sharp spears, and were now throwing them at the hideous creature. The long weapons bounced off of its rock-hard scales without causing the worm harm- only angering the beast to further extent. The Sand Worm gave a horrendous roar of rage, its tremendous fangs flashing in the sunlight, a thirst for blood showing in its eyes, and it set out to kill them all.
     “It’s no good!” Rishta said as his soldiers threw more spears. “No matter what we throw at this thing, it just keeps coming back for more! We’re going to have to run for it!”
     “No!” Shadi shouted. “I advise against it. You will startle the entire nest that way!”
     “What?! You mean there’s more of these things?!” Rishta’s question was cut off as the SandWorm came barreling down upon him, knocking him to the ground. Shaken up, Rishta had little time to think as the monster’s jaws were drawing rapidly closer to his throat. The captain abruptly drew a sword from the sheath at his side and slashed the monstrous creature across its nostrils. It shrieked in pain, a screech so high-pitched, that the sound was driving the men crazy. Rishta covered his aching ears and fell to his knees, “Ahh! That sound! I feel like my head’s being split in half!”
     A trembling came from beneath them as three more SandWorms popped their ugly heads from the sand dunes. They came charging at the group, and the men carrying the tablets dropped them and began to run. Shadi instead, ran towards the tablets, and using his spiritual powers, called forth from the Shadow Realm,
     “I summon the Flame Champion! Destroy the Sand Worms!”
     Sitting itself upright, the tablet cast sparkles of light, and stepping forward from the Shadow Realm, a warrior wielding a shining sword, her green hair falling past her armored shoulders, was holding in her hand a flaming shield protecting her. Charging at the Sand Worms, the Flame Champion let forth a battle cry as she went running for the beasts. The grotesque creatures made chomps at her, biting here and there, but only receiving a mouthful of desert sand. Hither and dither the mighty warrior slashed her weapon across the sands, slicing a worm across its throat, its horrible black blood rushing from its wound. Splitting another one’s eye in two, the Flame Champion made a dash for the carriers of the tablets and held out her shield just as another worm tried to devour them. The worm pushed its weight upon the flaming shield, pressing the swordsman’s feet deep into the sand, and suddenly another worm shot itself out from under the Flame Champion’s feet. The creature opened its mouth, ready to swallow her up, but the champion drove her sword into the roof of the worm’s mouth. The last worm angered by the death of its horde, charged the swordsman with a furious rage. And the Flame Champion with all her might hurled the shield at the monster, hitting it in its face, and while it was dazed, she jumped through the air, soaring downward, and sliced the monster in half.
      …The soldiers stood watching in amazement at the power and skill of the warrior before them.
     Well! Rishta thought. That must be why they call her Champion…
     “Well done, Flame Champion,” Shadi told the swordsman. “Thank you for your help. You may return to the Shadow Realm now.”
     The Flame Champion nodded and started walking to her tablet. Within a flash of light, the champion had come and gone…the caravan was once again safe…for the time being, for they still had a long way to travel until they reached their destination of the Temple of the Skull…
                                                            •
     Just about every thief, bandit, and crook in the entire city was in the prison today by the Pharaoh’s order. The law enforcers were really cracking down on every robber, swindler, and mugger that was in their books, and then some.  Pirates from the Nile and Red Sea, pickpockets and looters off the streets, forgers, hijackers, brigands, chiselers, you name it, they got it! Each of them was being taken in for questioning by Jono and Tanisha, due to Tanisha’s recent vision of a thief overthrowing the Pharaoh.
     Currently, the bandit who had stolen Hotehp’s coin purse was being questioned:
     Jono looked over a few records, “…hmm…Bandit Makaitoh, correct? You know why you were brought here today?”
     “Yeah, ‘cause I stole some old guy’s money. Big deal! Give me a beating and get it over with,” Makaitoh said, his dirty blonde hair covering his dark eyebrows above his dull blue eyes.
     “It seems you have a history of crimes: Theft, breaking and entering of both private and public property… last year you stole a cask of wine from a wealthy man’s larder…should I go on?”
     “I know what I’ve done! No need to tell me! What’s the point of this?”
     “We suspect someone in the underground is plotting against his highness, and we want to know if you know anything about it. Any ideas?”
     “What? A revolt? No, I ain’t heard nothing about any revolutions, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell you!”
     “How about this,” Jono offered. “If you give us information, we’ll clear you of any and all charges made against you in the past-but that can’t guarantee anything you do in the future.”
     “I like the sound of that, but unfortunately, I said I don’t know anything…”
     “Then how about this!” the captain yelled. “Either you tell us, or I have you gutted like a kipper and left for the buzzards!…”
     “Stop,” Tanisha told Jono. He looked over his shoulder at the seer. “Let him go. He tells the truth- he is not the one I saw in my vision.”
     The captain sighed with disappointment, “Fine. But we’re still keeping you overnight for stealing the wise elder’s money.”
     “Whatever…” Makaitoh sneered.
     “Take him away,” Jono ordered. Two other guards lead Bandit Makaitoh to the dungeons, and Jono turned to face Tanisha. “How long is this going to take? We’ve got every wrong-doer and street scum we can find.”
     “It takes patience, Captain,” Tanisha told Jono. “I do not remember the face of the thief, but I am sure once I see him, I will recognize him.”
     Jono sighed once more, “…Oh brother…”
                                                            •
     At the Sacred Temple of the Royal City, Nuvia lead Seth and his brother to his workshop where his monster tablets lay. The walls of the room were scattered with many different a monster, and upon bookshelves lied magic scrolls which could also be used in a Shadow Game. Seth paced up and down the hall as he looked over the several monsters around him in the workshop, and meanwhile Eikia stood admiring her husband’s work.
     “Oh Nuvia! This one here is absolutely adorable! What do you call this one?” She asked as she looked at a tablet containing four adorable looking lambs.
     “I call it Scapegoat.” He answered her. She put a finger to her chin and looked back at the tablet.
     “Hmm…not much of a name, but it’s still cute!” Eikia continued to look at the carvings of the little fluff-balls and then Nuvia turned her attention to a different tablet.
     “Take a look at this one, dear,” He pointed to a tablet with a tiny, round, winged creature on it. The little angel had a heart-shaped mark on its chest, and it stared back at Eikia with huge, kind eyes. Eikia gave a cheep of delight.
     “Oh my goodness! What is it? It’s precious!” She placed a hand on the carving as she looked it over.
     “I call that one the Happy Lover Card.” He responded, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
     “Oh! That’s so sweet of you, Nuvia!”
     Mohkba stood next to his brother watching the couple with a little kid’s disgust on the subject, “Yuck! Mushy stuff!” He turned to Seth, “Hey big brother, are we done yet? I want to get out of here.”
     “Just wait a little while, Mohkba. I want to make sure I don’t miss any good creatures,” Seth told him as he continued to examine the many monsters about the place. Nuvia glanced over to them and told Eikia,
     “Keep looking around if you want, dear. I need to help our customer over there.”
     “Sure. No problem, honey.”
     Nuvia walked over to the two brothers. “Perhaps you would like me to show you around?” Seth only gave him a chafed look, but Nuvia continued to point out monsters he thought were good choices; “Here we have an excellent monster: the Summoned Skull. This monster can use a lightning sort of attack, perfect for destroying enemies. I haven’t really thought of a good name for the attack, though, but imagine destroying your enemies with the power of the sky and clouds! Or perhaps you’re looking for something different, eh? Something more like the Magician of Faith is what you’d be interested in. This Shadow Monster is really reliable in battle, and a great buy…”
     “They’re worthless,” Seth cut him off. “They’re both feeble and weak. I want something strong! Something that can defeat anything with just a swipe of a hand.”
     “Uh…well there is that one over there in the corner…” Nuvia directed, and Seth began to walk towards it as Nuvia continued, “But I’m not so sure you want that one…”
     Seth looked upon the huge tablet with reverence: an enormous dragon, flashing eyes of doom, fierce snarling jaws of sharp fangs, wings that reached the sky, and powerful claws filled with might and dread. Seth gave an arrogant smirk, “This one…I’ll take it.”
     “What? Are you sure?” Nuvia asked the sorcerer. “That’s the Blue Eyes White Dragon. It’s not one of my bests…”
     “I disagree,” Seth told the Shadow Maker. “It’s a masterpiece-the monster that I need. I knew I would find an excellent monster from you.”
                                                            •
     Nightfall spread its darkness over the land, turning the sweltering heat of the sands into a cold sandy soil so that little creatures such as lizards and insects could come out and parade over this nighttime wonderland. Digging only a handful or two into the sand would expose trapped heat, making a warm bed for a little rabbit or leopard. The stars shone with the brilliance of a thousand years, each with its own story to tell as they looked down upon the sleeping world.
     Yet all was not well, and all were not asleep: at the Pharaoh’s Tomb, Marik stood night watch this particular night. Duty switched every other week or so, like yesterday was his last day of standing day duty for the week and tonight he would guard from the nighttime burglars. Half asleep as well as half-interested in his job, Marik looked out over the horizon. It wasn’t as though he was actually waiting for anyone to come and rob the tomb; he just wanted to make sure no one even got up the front steps.
     As usual, Marik was mumbling to himself, complaining, griping, and all because of the Pharaoh: “Lousy, good for nothing Pharaoh! He sits in his lavish palace having fun and games, while I get to stand out here day and night with nothing to do but stand! Oh goody…” His sarcasm was filled to the brim with loathe and disgust. “…To think how he ever became Pharaoh is a mystery to me… ‘Embodiment of the gods!’ ‘All knowing, all powerful!’ ‘Hail the mighty Pharaoh!’ …feh!”
     Marik stopped for a second or two… thinking he heard a sound coming from behind him- a sort of scratching and clicking noise. Turning around, he began looking, yet there was no one to see; not even the door had been opened. He dismissed it as simple superstition, and turned, facing back to the horizon. But after about two seconds, he heard it again, and this time upon turning around, he found the door standing wide open with no one there.
     “What the…” Marik slowly walked to the doorway, taking a peek inside to see if anyone was in there. Behind him, someone jumped down from the wall of the tomb, and tried to attack from behind with a club. Marik heard him as he landed, and quickly spun around and held his hands out, catching the club in midair. The thief pulled out a knife and tried to stab Marik in the leg, but Marik moved to the side, and still holding onto the club, he jerked it out of the thief’s hand. Marik swung it at him, hitting the thief in the head, and knocking him to the ground. A bag, which the thief carried on his back, dropped to the ground and out of it fell golden treasures. The thief, clad in a long red robe, struggled to get up so he could run, but Marik was too busy looking at what lie on the ground beside him.
     “Those are the Pharaoh’s treasures! How did you get past me?! How did you get into the tomb?! Answer me!” Marik shouted. The tomb robber only smirked as his light purple hair fell before his two brown eyes.
     “Keh! That’s for me to know, and you to find out!” The robber retorted. Marik became overly impatient.
     “There’s no way you could have gotten past me without my knowing! Now how did you do it? …Huh…” Marik spied a papyrus scroll lying in front of the thief, obviously having fallen from the bag as well. On the scroll was a picture of a most unusual sort of device, holding many different instruments on it. “The Seven Tools of A Bandit. Impressive: that would explain your breaking into the tomb. Now how did such a wretch like you get your filthy hands on such magic scrolls? No doubt you’ve stolen those too.”
     “That I have,” the thief slowly tried to raise himself off the ground, wary not to make any sudden movements as Marik would knock him down again. “Isn’t that what a thief does? Everyone has to make a living. In fact you should be thanking me: If there were no thieves, then there would be no need for guards, and you’d be out of a job.”
     “If there were no thieves, I’d be much happier!” Marik blurted. “Then perhaps I could have something worth doing…”
     “So, you do not enjoy your work?” The thief tormented the guard.  He smirked again, a long scar on the side of his face showing as he moved back his purple hair. “What job would you prefer? Pharaoh perhaps?”
     “Hold your tongue, worthless creature!” Marik clubbed the thief across the back out of anger at this harassment. “Stealing from the Pharaoh’s tomb is punishable by death!”
     The thief took the blow, yet tried to continue his talking, “Why? It’s not like the Pharaoh’s going to need them when he dies, right? I say the living need it more than he’s going to. I’m sure if you were Pharaoh, you’d keep the treasures with you in your lavish palace, wouldn’t you…”
     “Enough!” Marik yelled. “Why must you continue to speak of such foolishness?! It will never happen!”
     “Oh, but it can…” The thief told as he began to lift himself off the ground once more. This time Marik allowed him to stand, wondering what the bandit meant. “Have you already forgotten that I posses magic?”
     “Stolen magic,” Marik reminded him. “Even then, it is no match for the Pharaoh’s abilities…”
     “Keh! Most of my magic I obtain without theft. My magic can be used for many things, even overthrowing the Pharaoh...if that is what you wish...”
     This statement puzzled Marik, “If you have the power you claim, then why have you not overthrown the Pharaoh and claim the throne yourself?”
     “I’m not one for politics, mind you. I admit, however, that I am greedy, and I only care about valuable items such as these treasured items before you.”
     “And why help me? What do I have to do in return?”
     “I help you become Pharaoh, and all you have to do is give me as much gold and jewels as I desire; that’s all I want. Let me have all the treasures in this tomb for an advanced payment, and then as soon as you are Pharaoh, you finish our deal and give me as much money as you see fit and I agree with. Is it a bargain?”
     Marik glared in suspicion and disbelief, “Have you any way to prove your claims? How do I know the moment you get the tomb treasures that you’ll just run off and never come back?”
     “You don’t know that. You’re a smart one; perfectly fit to be Pharaoh, I say. But I thought you were trustworthy, and you would treat me the same. As for the magic, I already broke into the tomb. Need more proof?” The thief pulled another scroll out of his bag, revealing a Spellbinding Circle. “Spellbinding Circle stops any Shadow Monsters from attacking for one full turn,” He then walked to the open door of the tomb. “If I’m correct, there’s a Shadow Tablet in here somewhere?”
     “Yes, your point being?” Marik began to follow the thief in, and pointed to a Shadow Tablet with the monster Muka Muka on the wall. The thief looked it over.
     “This will do fine for a demonstration. I summon Muka Muka!” The thief ordered. The huge bug-like creature emerged from the Shadow Tablet, pincers poised for attack to defend the Pharaoh’s tomb. The thief held up his scroll, “Go! Spellbinding Circle!” The circle surrounded the creature, and thief began to explain: “Now let’s say Muka Muka was my monster, and the opponent sends out a Spellbinding Circle to stop my monster. There’s the possibility that my monster will be destroyed before the turn is up. But with my powers, I can destroy any magic scrolls used during a Shadow Game. Observe,” The thief held out his hand at the Spellbinding Circle, and it shattered into a thousand pieces, leaving Muka Muka unharmed.
     “Amazing,” Marik said. “Now what do you do about the Monster you’ve released? It is to defend the Pharaoh’s tomb from robbers, and I believe you’re a robber.”
     Muka Muka gave a shriek of a war cry at the thief, threateningly raising its pincers in the air, red eyes flashing. The bandit merely chuckled, “That’s another specialty of mine: weak monsters of 1000 Attack Points or lower, such as this, I can destroy without using another Shadow Monster.” He once again held out his hand, and in a burst of light, the creature was gone. Now Marik was really interested in the thief’s power. The thief turn back to him, “A bargain then, is it?”
     “I should like to the name of the one I make a pact with,” Marik said.
     “But of course. Call me Bakura,” the tomb robber introduced himself as.
     “Very well then, Bakura,” Marik began to walk out of the tomb. “I am Marik. Take as many treasures as you wish from the tomb, but you must work quickly before the sun rises. I don’t want anyone knowing I’m doing this, especially my sister. For all we know, she already knows about this.”
     “Your sister is one of the Pharaoh’s advisors then; the famed seer of the future, Tanisha. Don’t worry, I’ll be gone by morning…and what you were saying about the Pharaoh’s abilities…I know exactly where and how to get you some extraordinarily strong Shadow Monsters.”
                                                                 •
Chapter 2! Yay me. I'm trying to put these up fast before the mania fades away and I get bored and move onto something else.

A couple things I'd like to say: Seto scares me.
Emo Ahtem is emo.
The romance scene is yucky. It's like Zuko and Mae - it's true but it burns us.
Um, anything else?

Oh yes, most if not all of the monsters mentioned are actual Duel Monsters, so if you want to know what they look like, Google 'em.

If you has any questions, just ask me.

Chapter 1: [link]

Chapter 3: [link]

Chapter 1 characters: Shadia, Nuvia, Hotehp: [link]
Ahtem, Jono, Akeote, the Vizier: [link]
Mohkba, Seth, Marik, Tanisha: [link]
Zenei, Imashi, Rishta: [link]
Chapter 2 charcters: [link]
© 2008 - 2024 whaddevah
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