A Tomb-Keeper's Lot, Chapter 12

"I win."

Fathi stared at him, but his expression wasn't nearly as bitter or angry as Marik would have expected.

It unnerved him.

"Well?"

Marik stiffened, not expecting such a response. "Well what? I've won. You have to leave."

Fathi shrugged nonchalantly, saying "Oh I can leave, but, like I said earlier, there's no way you can keep me from talking. You're going to have to kill me."

"No."

Fathi's eyes widened at Marik's exclamation, and even Marik was surprised at how intensely he was protesting.

But he simply couldn't respond any other way, because the truth was… he wanted this man dead.

And a small part of him wanted to be the one to kill him.

Marik had already ruled that option out.

"There's no way you can stay here, and if I can't guarantee your silence… I'm just going to have to take that chance."

There was a murmur around the room as the other Tomb Keeper's reacted to Marik's pronouncement, and many sounded upset.

But Marik wasn't giving in. It wasn't up for debate.

Very loudly and clearly Marik said to the room, though directed at Fathi, "I'm not going to kill you."

With one final look at the former Chief, Marik turned and began to walk back to his family, masking his relief.

Behind his back a wicked, gloating smirk was growing on Fathi's face, and Marik missed his whispered "Wrong decision boy", as well as the hand reaching into a fold of his robe.

But someone else saw it.

"Marik! Look out!"

Marik had barely turned around when suddenly he heard a loud bang, and at the same time was knocked over by a large, sturdy figure which pushed him to the ground and lay holding him protectively.

He opened his eyes quickly, looking around to piece together what had happened, and brought a hand to rub at the back of his head where it had impacted with the ground.

Looking next to him, he was met with the face of his brother who had pushed him, and noticed Odion's face scrunched up in excruciating pain.

Time stopped as Marik struggled to understand what had just occurred.

"Odion… what – "

There was a gasp across the room, and Ishizu ran over to the two, kneeling next to Odion and pulling him towards her, resting his head on her lap while she looked him over.

What she found made her cry out in anguish.

There was a small, dark hole on Odion's left side, from which a constant flow of dark red blood oozed.

Ishizu quickly removed her shawl and pressed it to the wound, causing Odion to gasp in pain, but the blood flow did not stop.

Marik stared at his brother in shock, unable to comprehend what was happening, and a wicked laugh drew his attention back to Fathi.

The man was still on the ground, but he now held a small gun in his hand, the barrel still smoking slightly as he held it up; looking past the gun Marik saw a sick grin on the man's face as he said "That shot was meant to hit you, not your brother, but I suppose this is better than nothing."

The throbbing in his head was returning as Marik's vision grew red, but just as he tried to stand he felt a gentle pressure on his arm, and looked down to see Odion's pain-filled eyes gazing into his.

"Please, brother…" he wheezed out, cringing as he took a breath, "don't seek revenge."

"But Odion, you can't expect me to – "

"I – I chose to do this. There is no purpose to hurting him when it is my own fault I am lying here. But… I wouldn't have it any other way."

Marik grasped Odion's hand, gripping it tightly – too tightly – as he gazed helplessly into his brother's golden eyes.

"Odion…" he whispered, disbelief in his voice, "You don't have to keep doing this! You don't have to keep suffering for me… I don't want that!"

Odion shook his head slightly, even though it was obvious the motion hurt him, "Marik… it is my duty."

"You're not a servant anymore!" Marik shouted, with more anger in his voice than he meant to show.

But Odion merely smiled serenely, and gripped Marik's hand even tighter, saying "No… but I am your brother. And that's what brothers do."

Tears were falling freely from Marik's eyes now, falling onto their joined hands, and suddenly Marik was hit with a distant memory he had not been able to fully recall before; of lying on a hard cold bed while his body burned with fever from a snake bite, of glimpsing his brother approaching with a hateful expression that he had never before seen directed at him. He remembered apologizing for getting Odion in trouble, and then he called him 'brother', and Odion had grasped his small and shaking hand and fell to his knees, bathing their hands in his tears as he promised to always protect the little boy.

He surfaced from these memories with a start, and his eyes once again focused on Odion, whose own eyes were now closed.

And he looked deathly still.

"Odion!" Marik shouted with a raw voice, leaning over the man and grasping his shoulders, "Odion! Wake up! Please Odion, don't leave me!"

He shook Odion's shoulders harshly, not even noticing the tears pouring down his face or the gasping sobs escaping his throat.

When a hand was placed on his shoulder from behind he whirled around quickly with a murderous glare, ready to strike out at whoever dared disturb his time with his brother.

But the concerned and slightly fearful face of Monifa was all that met his eyes, and he recoiled in shame a bit at the fury he had directed at the innocent girl.

Despite his violent attitude she knelt beside him, carefully removing his hands from Odion's shoulders and taking Ishizu's shawl off of the wound.

Marik watched in confusion and fear, gasping "Monifa, what are you – "

"I'm sorry Master Marik, but you mustn't disturb him so much, and I cannot help him if his wound is covered."

The confusion deepened on Marik's face, but he made no move to stop the girl as she placed both of her hands directly onto Odion's wound and closed her eyes, her voice drifting on the cold night air as she whispered in ancient Egyptian.

Listening closely, Marik could tell that Monifa was chanting an ancient prayer of healing, and as he continued to watch he saw a light gleaming from under her hands, as if it was shining in the wound itself.

From behind them he heard someone speaking, and vaguely registered it as Fathi's usual sarcastic tone.

"It's no use you fools. You don't have the means to treat a bullet wound – I doubt you even know what a bullet is anyways. You don't have the means to treat him here, so you might as well give up. Or better yet, leave and take him with you. As much as I enjoy watching you suffer, you're whining is starting to annoy me."

Marik's attention was focused on Odion, but he spared a withering glance at the man behind him, shouting testily to the other Tomb-Keepers "Someone bind him please, and gag him while you're at it. We don't have time for him."

A few of the larger Tomb-Keepers ran up eagerly, pulling lengths of rope from their belts as they wrestled with Fathi. They quickly disarmed him (though his gun seemed empty anyways) and bound his wrists, finishing by wrapping the rope around him to bind his arms as well.

"What – what do you think you're doing?! Unhand me! This won't change a thing you idiots! We're stronger than you! Guards! Do something!"

But the guards remained standing by the walls, squirming uncomfortably as they were stared down by the Tomb-Keepers they had been oppressing for so long.

Fathi stared in disbelief as they made no move to aide him, and he barely fought back as they tied a gag tightly over his mouth.

His eyes though continued to gleam with a burning hate at Marik, even as the Tomb-Keepers stood beside him, tall and imposing in the moonlight.

Marik couldn't care less about that man's hate however; his brother had not made a move for many long minutes, and his anxiety was deepening.

Suddenly Monifa's hands clenched over the wound, and Odion stirred with a cry, his eyes scrunching up in pain.

Ishizu laid a soft hand on his head to calm him and Marik turned curiously towards Monifa to see what had happened.

She lifted a hand and opened it toward him, and resting on her palm was a small bullet still covered in blood.

"I've removed the weapon, but his wound is still open. Please, keep him calm while I finish."

Marik nodded slowly and took Odion's hand again, holding it gently now in a calming gesture, but he kept his eyes on Monifa as she placed her hand back onto Odion's side.

There seemed to be blood everywhere, but Monifa was unfazed as she concentrated on the ancient recitation which streamed from her lips with a quiet power.

Odion twitched and grunted as she worked, and Marik hoped that it meant the spell was working.

But he had never seen healing magic used on such a large scale; usually the priests and priestesses of the tomb were only able to heal scrapes or sooth wounds, and even fight infections on occasion, but never had their magic been used to heal an injury like this.

He wondered how his young cousin held so much power.

Minutes passed, and nothing seemed to be happening save that Monifa was growing more and more exhausted. Sweat ran down her face and her eyes scrunched up as she pressed her hands more firmly against the opening.

Odion was not faring much better; he cried out in pain several times, convulsing wildly every so often. Marik placed his leather jacket under his brother's head to keep him from hitting it against the stone floor, and Ishizu rubbed his head soothingly, wiping away the sweat from his brow with her discarded shawl.

The rest of the Tomb-Keepers had gathered around the small group on the floor, watching in awe and bewilderment as the three worked to save the badly injured man, whom many of them had only ever considered a stranger.

Monifa's chanting rose in intensity, and Marik tore his gaze from his brother's face to watch as she opened her eyes slowly, still staring at the spot where her hands met, and in a triumphant shout she finished the ancient prayer as white light burst from the wound.

Odion gasped loudly in pain and shot up slightly, but then he lay back, breathing out slowly.

"Odion?" Marik called softly, his worried eyes searching his brother's face for any sign of comprehension; his relief was immeasurable as the older man stirred slightly, his eyes cracking open and looking from Marik to Ishizu, a small smile growing on his face.

Ishizu laughed happily through her tears and bent forward to hug her brother. He lifted his hand slowly and gently placed it on her shoulder as she cried in relief onto his chest.

Marik released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and went to embrace his brother as well, but movement next to him caught his attention, and he reacted just in time to catch Monifa about the shoulders as she slumped towards the floor.

He leaned her against his shoulder and noticed that she was breathing heavily. "Cousin… are you alright?"

She stirred slightly and lifted her head to look blearily at his face. "I… think so. At least… I will be. That was… a very deep wound. There were… injured organs, but… they've been taken care of… and… he has… regained much of his blood."

She collapsed further against him, and he carefully draped his arm across her back to offer her more support. His free hand sought hers, which he vaguely noticed were no longer bloody, and he grasped her cold fingers in his, trying to transfer some warmth and life to them.

"Monifa… thank you. That was amazing, and brave… we are in your debt."

With a weary shake of her head she looked back into his eyes, her vitality returning as she said with a smile "Nonsense. We are family, and we protect each other. Isn't that right… Cousin?"

But she was not looking at Marik; her eyes were locked with Odion's, who stared unbelieving back.

No one in this place, save Marik and Ishizu and their deceased mother, had ever addressed him as family.

And it was only recently that he had even accepted his place as their sibling.

To hear it now, from another member of the clan, was something that Odion would never have dreamed could happen, but was what he had hoped for since childhood.

He sat up slowly, careful not to jar his newly healed injury, and stared at Monifa with shock and barely concealed joy.

Marik watched him, and it was as if he were seeing a younger Odion – one who had not had to experience the torture and servitude he had as a child; one who finally had the love and acceptance he had sought his entire life.

Lifting his eyes, Marik looked around the room at the other clan members, his expression hard as if daring them to recant Monifa's words.

But no one said a thing.

Instead they all watched in respectful silence, and many had smiles on their faces and relief in their eyes.

Even Paki, whom Marik was sure would have some sort of retort, said nothing; in fact as Marik watched him their eyes met, and the young man gazed at him, considering, before his lip quirked up and he offered Marik a sincere smile.

It wasn't until this moment that Marik felt he could actually love these people; that he could honestly and openly love the rest of his family.

They had indeed come a long way.

'Marik….'

Marik twitched as a voice sounded in his mind: Shadi's voice. He looked around fervently, but the spirit was nowhere to be found, and it didn't seem as if anyone else had heard him.

'Marik, you have done well. You have gained the respect of this people and can now take your place as their leader. You have proven yourself worthy in the eyes of the gods to help return the Pharaoh's soul to where it belongs. Now you can truly begin your preparations to guide him to that place.'

As he stood with Ishizu and helped the shaky Odion to his feet, Marik pondered Shadi's words.

Venturing a question, he concentrated hard and thought 'But do you really think I can lead? I've made so many mistakes….'

The answer came clearly to his mind 'And you have also learned much. No leader has all of the answers; those will come to you with time, and with the help and guidance of those around you. Your family will help you return order to this place, and you will lead them out of the dark into prosperity.'

Marik embraced Monifa tightly, whispering a heartfelt thank you into her ear before handing her off to her father who held her gently, a proud gleam in his eye.

He turned then and all but tackled Odion in a hug, hiding his eyes in his brother's shirt while the older man returned the embrace, resting his chin on his little brother's head.

Despite his joy, there was a nagging thought at the back of his mind, and he once again sent out a thought: 'Shadi, we need to get rid of Fathi and his men.'

'What would you have me do?' The spirit replied.

Marik was still for a moment, pondering the question, then thought 'If we remove them from this place, can you erase their memories? Perhaps give them some alternate ones so they don't get suspicious, but erase all knowledge of us and this place? I refuse to kill any of them, but we're not safe while they still know of us.'

There was silence for a moment in his mind, and then the answer came 'It is a good plan. Yes, I will make it so. They will be unconscious while I work with their minds, and you can take them a far distance from here during that time. I will make sure they do not return again.'

Marik smiled, glad that at the moment their hardships were over. 'Thank you.'

Behind him there was a chorus of thuds echoing in the room, and he looked to see that all of the guards, including Fathi, had fallen unconscious to the ground.

Fenuku watched, stunned, then turned to Marik saying "What do you suppose has happened?"

Marik smiled knowingly, saying "We've had some help from a friend." He turned his attention to the group of Tomb-Keepers, his family, and said strongly "Everyone, I'm going to need your assistance to get these trespassers out of our home."

...…..

Fathi awoke to blinding sunlight and a painful crick in his back.

Looking around, he found that he and a group of his treasure-hunting companions were all seated against an old building outside of a small village, apparently fallen asleep after their travels.

He struggled to remember where it was they had traveled from… they had been in the desert… there might have been some ruins… but then he remembered.

There was nothing out there.

Only a few old rocks that weren't worth a lick of salt.

For a moment he wondered where the rest of his troupe was, and realized that, since they were so near a town, the men had probably returned to their wives and families with whatever treasures they had found in their last raid.

So Fathi shrugged, rose to his feet, brushed the sand from his slacks, and headed into town to listen for clues to the next site of ancient treasure.

...…..

It was many hours before Marik was finally able to sleep, collapsing onto the woven mattress the other Tomb-Keeper's had set out for him and his siblings in an empty room.

He thought, though he couldn't be sure, that it was his old room they were now staying in.

There was nothing homey about the place, nor even anything to set it apart from the other stone rooms or make it anything special, but Marik paused and looked around at it with almost reverent silence.

His life down here had been painful, hopeless, and dark; and though nothing had changed in this place physically since he had been small, it didn't feel the same anymore.

Because all of this blackness and pain had made him who he was, and though it had caused great suffering for him and his family, they were all so much stronger because of it.

Marik couldn't really say he would take any of it back; because without it, he wouldn't be here.

His brother had helped him see that he needed to be here.

And now… he actually wanted to be.

He looked to the side, seeing Odion and Ishizu already asleep in their beds near to his, and he smiled.

He had all that he needed in life: new friends who were willing to forgive his wrongs, his loving siblings by his side, a family to stand behind him – a home.

Marik didn't know how long they would stay here; there were still many things to prepare before the Pharaoh arrived. But he would remain with these people and help them regain their lives.

He would help them find happiness, because they had helped him redefine himself.

No longer did he worry about his place in the world, no longer did he hate the tunnels where he had been born, no longer did he curse his destiny and the paths it had presented him… no longer did he fear himself.

And though he still cringed a bit when all the lights went out, he knew that it would be alright.

He overcame his inner demons, and with his family beside him he would continue to be the victor.

Because the darkness was gone from him, and he would make sure it was gone from the Tomb-Keeper's forever.

It would take years – generations even – to bring the Tomb-Keeper's fully into the light, but they would see it.

And their children would live under the sun's rays and flourish and thrive, and never have to suffer as he had.

And for him, that was enough.

The End

*Author's Note:

It's finished! It's finally finished!

You have *NO* idea how much I agonized over this last chapter. It's been eating at me for weeks because I wanted to get it just right, but I just got stuck so many times. However, I finally worked out the kinks, and now it's done!

I'm so happy with this story – It's been a labor of love, and I'm really proud of it. I might go back someday and tweak some of the earlier chapters to fit better with the later ones (since I wrote those *considerably* earlier) but for now it is what it is, and I'm fine with that. I really do love the Ishtar's, and it was fun creating a world for them and sort of… filling in the blanks in their story as it were. They really are an amazing bunch of characters, and they've really inspired me – not only in writing, but in my personal life. I hope you readers can see that they really do mean a lot to me.

And I know that might sound kind of weird since they're just characters from a children's cartoon, but… seeing as how I just wrote 30,000 words about them, it's probably not news to you.

And if you actually took the time to read those 30,000 words, you must take them pretty seriously too.

Thank you so much to those who stuck with it to the end. Your words of encouragement really helped me get through this, and I'm so grateful!

And please, keep an eye out for more stories concerning the Ishtar's (and especially Marik) in the future!

***Extras:

In case any of you were wondering about some of the loose ends in this story (which were kind of on purpose cuz I mostly wanted to focus on Marik and his personal journey), here are some tasty tidbit extras regarding some of the minor characters that I didn't have time (or space) to include, as well as some of the personal head-canons I created going into this story:

Najja (The original Chief) had been heavily influenced by the outside world when he had gone up, and had unknowingly influenced many of the Tomb-Keepers; namely Marik's father. He had told him early on of some of the people out there, which is how Marik's father became aware of the name 'Malik' and its meaning of 'king' and 'power' and all that. Having… egotistically high hopes for his son, he named him this 'grand' name, though he changed it a bit to make it more suited to their Egyptian language.

Badru (who was the head guard and showed up at the beginning) was actually quite devoted to protecting the Tomb-Keeper's and took his position very seriously – he wasn't that bad of a guy, just misled, so Shadi didn't wipe his memories, and in fact let him stay in his position as head guard. This also occurred with several of the Arabic women (who knows exactly where they were from) that were wives or concubines against their will – they were allowed to stay with the Tomb-Keeper's if Shadi found the sincere desire to in their minds.

Fenuku took his position as Chief of the clan for a while, but later passed that responsibility to Sharifa (being the former Chief's eldest child – since the major cultural influence Fathi originally brought was now gone, the Tomb-Keeper's had a slight period of reform where they went back to more ancient Egyptian ideals, allowing a woman to be Chief. And Marik fully endorsed giving her that position, since he knew she was a strong leader and understood the clan and their needs better than most, so that also helped. Paki was a little miffed but didn't dare cross his sister, so he just waited till she grew old and passed the position to him – by that time the Tomb-Keeper's had settlements above ground, though he and many others still preferred to live in the tomb.)

While Marik was working to help rebuild the clan, he held a more powerful position than the Chief in terms of 'final word', but he was smart and referred to their judgment often. As he got older though, he kind of backed off and let them run themselves.

Monifa took up the highly respected role of the Tomb-Keeper's Healer and Priestess, and was never interested in the position of Chief.