Something I forgot to mention in my responses to the reviews. I didn't actually plan on people thinking that Jono going away was this big plot point. It really wasn't, it was just a thing so that Teana and Atemu could be alone, and so it would show how much being a Pharaoh can suck. But! You're reviews gave me ideas! So I'm in the works of writing a sequel. Yay, sequels!
This Chapter is really long, I hope that that doesn't turn people off of it...just take it in little chunks...last chapter! I hope the grammer's alright, I didn't have time to do a good proofreading, I apologize!
-
"Atemu, you look upset," Atemu's mother walked in through the entryway with a basket of crops, including corn and squash. She set them down quietly and walked over to Atemu, who was slouching as much as his belt would allow. It was almost comical, seeing the Pharaoh on his throne, his leg over one side of it, his head in his hands. But it wasn't, because he looked really upset.
"I went to see Teana again, today." He grumbled, bad attitude in full-force.
"How is she?" Atemu's mother asked, with no real knowledge as to who she was.
"She's okay, but Jono's moved to Rome…I didn't even get to say farewell…every time I turn around, its like I lose someone else…" Atemu moved his jaw to an upset-and-frustrated-at-the-same-time position.
His mother sighed. She might as well tell him now, "Atemu, the Priests have come to me with a problem…well, a demand." She hated those Priests…they wouldn't leave Atemu alone.
Atemu rolled his violet eyes and sat up, moving to an actual sitting position, "They want their taxes removed, their servants forced back, and me to be impeached." It sounded right, he knew that they did, but unfortunately, they had no choice in the matter.
"No, not quite." She smiled, "Actually, they want you to find a partner…and soon…" She averted her eyes at the last two words. She didn't want her son to get married, he was too emotionally unstable at the moment, and that could have dire consequences.
Atemu's mind jumped to Teana, "You're kidding." That didn't make any sense. If they wanted him dead, then why did they want to give him a chance to produce an heir?
"No, I'm no." She said, frowning. Then she almost smiled, "But you know who you want to marry, and they want it done within seven days, or you'll lose the title of Pharaoh."
"What!" He yelled, "Why so soon?"
"Well," She hesitantly started, "I was married to your father a week after he was crowned," She said the next bit rather fast, "Along with several others…" Her tone went back to normal, "And I barely knew him…and you were born soon after that…be grateful, son. They are giving you a chance to make your choice."
"Why wouldn't they just set me up with someone else?" Atemu asked, more as a way so that he could say horrible things about the Priests in his head.
"Atemu," His mother started, "They don't like your reforms…it's just an excuse…a weak one, yes…but all together, their power matches yours. Your father was wrong when he told you the Pharaoh had absolute authority…he just had the Priests on his side…"
"Why wouldn't they just take away the throne? If they could overpower me, then why give me a chance to make everything better?" Atemu still wasn't paying attention to what he was saying, the words were tumbling out of his mouth. Then it hit him, "Does this have something to do with my limit?"
His mother shook her head, "I don't know, Atemu…I just don't know." She wanted to give her son an answer, but she just didn't have one.
Atemu put a hand to his Millennium Puzzle, "I hate this thing. I hate it so much. Without it, things would just be easier…so much easier."
"Atemu, It'll be-"
"No," Atemu said, more to the floor than himself and his mother, "My life is going to end before it begins. I won't do that to Teana. The Priests should know I'm going to die. That's torturous."
"You don't know that," She whispered.
"I wouldn't have solved the Puzzle if it wasn't going to be used soon…" Atemu explained, "Unless something else is going to happen that I don't know about…"
"Atemu, the priests just want an heir…or the throne…"
Atemu wanted to explode, but he kept his thoughts to himself, "But I don't want one…it wouldn't be fair. The Priests would just mold him or her into something that they want…and Teana did promise that they wouldn't…but that would put her into danger…and the alternative is that Seto would rule…" He didn't know which one was worse. But out loud, he said, "Of course, I'll ask Teana tomorrow." It was a weak statement, Atemu knew, but what else could he say? "Maybe she'll understand…"
"Good luck, my son, "She said sadly, walking away. They all knew that Atemu didn't want or deserve this torturous choice. But life was never fair to Atemu…no matter how many times he made things better, they'd always get worse…but her son wouldn't let her down.
"Of course," Atemu's bitterness could have been acidic foam pouring out of his mouth. If it was, then he would have bottled it and put it in the Priest's water, saving the most for Seto, "Just as everything was getting just a little bit better…"
-
"Um, Teana?"
"Yes, Atemu?"
The next day, Atemu canceled everything that he had to do and decided to spend the day with Teana. They were walking through the town, fingers intwined. Atemu smiled, attempting to pass it off as a joke. I cruel, sick joke, yes, but a joke, "What would say if I told you that the Priests wanted me to get married within 7 days and have a kid soon after?" He inwardly flinched, hating himself for doing this to Teana.
Teana stopped dead in her tracks and Atemu walked out of her hand before stopping, "That's not funny, Atemu. Don't even joke about those things."
Atemu dropped the act and grabbed one of her hands in both of his, "I'm not joking…" He said seriously, no trace of happiness in his system, "They threatened me with the throne…"
"Since when do you care?" Teana asked. Last she checked, Atemu didn't want the throne. She didn't think about Atemu getting set up with someone, and that was for the best.
"Teana, I thought that you would understand. You know how much has changed in the past couple of weeks…" Atemu trailed off, completely thrown off. He should've known this was going to happen…
"Atemu, I said that I'd wait for you to straighten things out…but now…with Jono gone, it just seems like life is too short to play with…" She tore her eyes away from Atemu and glued them to a rock at her feet.
Atemu couldn't take it anymore. His eyes, as well as his heart, filled with salty tears. After all this, he blew the thing that was the most important to him?
"Atemu?" She asked, a rather high pitched voice coming from her lips. She didn't mean to snap at him, it just happened. She should have known that his emotions were still barely balanced, threatening to tip at any moment, and she tipped the scale. Everything was getting mixed, now.
Atemu dropped her hands and ran, he ran as fast as he could back to the palace. He ran to his room, not the one that he moved into when he was crowned, but the one with the window that he always used to jump out of. But not anymore…
He walked over to the window and sat on it, looking out at the river. There was laughing and yelling: Atemu put the smiles on those faces, but he knew that somewhere, there was someone probably crying by the river…
He looked at the ring on his finger. Was this what he wanted? No, it was his fate, anything but what he wanted. He had to do this…
This all happened because he told Teana his feelings. Well, it would've happened anyway, but maybe it wouldn't have hurt so much. Nothing could match the amount of pain he was feeling.
Someone came up behind him, "Atemu…"
Atemu jumped away from the window, wiping his eyes, "Seto, what are you doing here?" Atemu wanted to hurt him, he wanted to tear one eye out of his cousin's head and tear it apart, layer by layer, leaving the other one in so that Seto would have to watch it happen. -1- He hated his cousin that much, he was one of the people who ruined his life.
"You loved, her, didn't you?" Seto said, a smug look on his face, "Come on, now, Atemu. If you wanted, you could bring a princess from a distant land here, someone that was used to a life like yours. But you choose a peasant? How disappointing." He shook his head, his smirk growing larger by the second.
Atemu balled his fists and swore at his cousin, "You don't know how to love anyone, do you?" He yelled, louder than he thought that he was capable of, "Of course not, because no one would love you back!" He took a step forward, and punched Seto, as hard as he could, in the jaw, which, sadly said, was as far as Atemu could reach. But he still got his point across.
Seto's head flew back, and when he turned it towards Atemu, a mark where his diamond ring hit his jaw, there was no trace of cruel happiness, none at all. His eyes were full of fire, "Atemu, you are a naïve fool. You don't even know…"
"I don't even know what?" Atemu asked, not expecting to get an answer after he hit Seto. Actually, he was surprised that Seto didn't pick him up and throw him out the window. Of course, Seto didn't answer, he just turned and left, leaving behind a deep feeling of hatred and annoyance, as well as a certain taste for revenge.
Atemu didn't think on it, Seto's words were probably just used to upset him. Too bad that Atemu couldn't get any more depressed than he already was.
-
The night Atemu crawled into bed, tired from his long day of brooding and meetings. He was able to get in touch with everyone that he canceled, so now he was caught up. Plus, he did everything that he was supposed to do a week from now. So, Atemu had another week to think about everything that he'd lost. Bliss, yay. -2-
He really wanted to go talk to Teana, but he wouldn't, because he wasn't about to change his mind, and Teana wasn't about to change hers…there was no point…unless they wanted more tears…
"Atemu?" A female voice entered the chamber. It was familiar, but different…
Atemu thought he was dreaming, and thus pinched his leg. It hurt, a lot, so he ruled out dreaming, "Teana, what are you doing here? It's late…and if they found out…" 'They' meant the Priests, and they had a strict "No uninvited peasants" rule that even Atemu couldn't break. It was a society thing.
"I wanted to apologize," She said in that eerie voice. She sat next to Atemu, and touched his face with a finger, "I'm sorry, I was selfish…" She attached her lips to Atemu's and they kissed.
Atemu pulled away and looked into her eyes with an obvious concentration. They looked different, as if they were somewhere else… "Teana, are you feeling alright?"
She wrapped her arm around him and kissed his neck, "Of course. Now that I'm with you…" -3-
Atemu woke up the next morning, confused, among other things. "What happened last night?" He asked himself groggily. He blushed, knowing fully well what happened last night. He got out of bed and threw on his tunic. He woke up that morning alone, definitely not how he was when he went to sleep. -4-
It was still dark out, but Atemu didn't care. Teana was gone, and he had to see what happened, well, why it happened. He would've dismissed it as a dream, but it was too…real. Way too real.
He started walking towards the door, but stopped when something painfully punctured the top of his foot. He squinted in horror, trying to make it out, and saw a rather large snake attached to it. It was tan colored, with brown spots every here and there. Its job done, the snake let go and slithered out of the door, almost like it had a purpose…
But Atemu wasn't thinking about why the snake bit him, he was too busy trying not to pass out. His whole leg was numb, and the feeling was still spreading through him. Atemu didn't know off of the top of his head what type of snake it was, but it was obviously poisonous.
The corners of Atemu's eyes were going black, and he blinked furiously, trying to stay awake. Atemu felt himself falling backwards, then he didn't feel anything…
-
"How could you do that to me?" Teana asked while crying in the corner, her whole body shaking.
Atemu walked forward slowly, "But…you came to my home…isn't that what you wanted?" It was, she practically told him…
"No! I just wanted to apologize! Not…!" Teana broke off.
Atemu pace didn't slow, it didn't get quicker, either. He just approached Teana, and sat down next to her when he got there, "Why didn't you leave?"
Teana gulped for a minute before she continued, "I was weak, and I came to you in my moment of weakness," she whispered, "And then you took advantage of me!" He voice turned into a screech.
"Teana, no-" Atemu whispered, reaching out with his hand to touch her face, "Please-"
"No!" She pushed him aside, though Atemu barely moved, and jumped up, "I'm leaving, Atemu. Even though I should have a long time ago. Jono had the right idea…" She turned and left, without a second glance, or thought, of Atemu.
Atemu jumped up, too, "Teana, wait!" Something collided with his foot as he ran out. A scaly, sharp-toothed, poisonous thing. It's teeth sunk into him…
"No!" Atemu shouted, waking up from his dream…nightmare. But Atemu couldn't tell which was real, the first one, or the second…they both felt so real…why did everything have to feel so real all of the time?
There was a wet cloth on his forehead, and its drips mingled with the sweat on his face. He sat up slowly, and the cloth fell next to him. The back of his head ached, and he saw a large bandage wrapped several times around his foot. But it didn't explain anything. His head was fogged up, and he couldn't think straight. Atemu felt sick, and didn't dare get up.
Atemu's mother entered the room with a bowl of water, looking upset and distracted. She almost dropped it when she saw that her son was awake, but caught herself in time. She put the bowl by his bedside and hugged her son, "Atemu, you're alive!"
Atemu blinked, "How long was I unconscious for?" He figuratively crossed his fingers. If it was too long, depending on which scenario was real, then maybe he would have a chance of getting Teana back…
"Five days…" She confirmed, "We all thought that you were going to die…"
"Five days? Five days!" Atemu breathing intensified, and he got dizzy. The world started to spin slightly around him. It was probably too late either way now…Atemu started to cry unevenly into his hands, rocking back and forth. He still couldn't think straight, and he was confused, and scared.
Atemu's mother had no idea why he was so upset, so she asked him soothing questions, "Atemu, is your head all right? You've must've hit the lamp post extremely hard…"
Her gentle words sunk in, and Atemu lifted his head and dried his tears, "So you found me in my room?" So the one with Teana was just a dream. It was just a dream…
"Yes" She said, and understood, "You had a nightmare…it was just a nightmare…"
Atemu tried to stand up, thinking, "My life is a nightmare…" But his mother grabbed his arm and pulled him back down gently, shaking her head.
"You're still running a fever, and you look terrible. We're all surprised that you lived, because you shouldn't have…that bite was so bad…"
"But, Teana," Atemu babbled and pleaded, "I have to go see Teana…"
His mother knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "Teana…oh, yes, she stopped by here a few hours ago. She looked upset, not well at all…"
"I have to go see her," Atemu practically screamed, becoming hysterical. Then the priest's threats came into his head. His eyes widened, "I only have one day left!" And she won't marry me…what am I going to do?" The tears came gushing back. Even after last night, even though Teana apologized, he didn't think that she'd go through with it. After what she said to him, things would never be the same. They'd probably crown Seto, and Atemu knew what he was going to do to everyone…
Seto. At the thought of his cousin, Atemu remembered what he witnessed when Seto first got his Millennium Rod. There was this peasant-boy that Atemu didn't know very well, but he knew his basic personality. Seto used the power of the Rod to take over the boy's mind and make him het all of the pig's loose…but his eyes. They were there, but distant…and his voice…it was his, but different.
As this thought reached Atemu, his first reaction was "That is sick…" Because it was. It disgusted Atemu more than anything…but enough about that…for now…
He had to get to Teana. He had to…
"Please, Mother," Atemu begged, "Let me go see her…"
His mother replaced the cloth on his forehead with fresh water, and looked at him with pity and sadness in her eyes, "I'm sorry, Atemu, you're still running a high fever, and you need to rest. You're still in danger…now lie down…"
Atemu listened to her, though reluctantly, and lied down on his back. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. He felt extremely worn and sick. Would he die like this? Because of a snake?
No.
He fingered the Millennium Puzzle around his neck. This wasn't how he was going to die, or how he was going to reach his limit. It wasn't going to happen.
"Close your eyes, Atemu, my son." She whispered.
Atemu did, with one thought in his head: Teana.
-
A few minutes, hours, or days later, Atemu woke up, feeling better, but still not 100. He groaned and shifted, causing him to notice a great pain in his foot. He flinched, then opened his eyes, and saw someone at the end of his bed: Teana.
"Atemu, you're awake!" She screamed. She looked happy to see him, but depressed about something else. As Atemu sat up, he realized that recently she was crying.
"Come here," he said, holding out his arms, and she shuffled down the bed and relaxed into his grip. He sat there for a minute, slowly running his fingers through her chestnut hair. Then he spoke, "Teana, why did you come back, after our fight?"
She buried her head into the crook of his neck. "Atemu, I was going to come back in the morning, but…" She stopped, "What happened that night?"
Atemu's mouth dropped, but he recovered, his suspicion's about Seto confirmed. That's really sick. "Well, I'm…um, me…and you…" He never thought that he'd have to explain this to her, it was horrible.
"Atemu," She interrupted, and took a deep breath, "I think I'm pregnant…" She started to cry into his neck, "But…it felt like a dream…like I wasn't there…"
"That's because," Atemu grip tightened on Teana, "It wasn't you…remember when I told you about Seto's Millennium Rod? He-he did this to you, to us." Atemu closed his eyes in anguish, he couldn't believe it. This wasn't supposed to happen…not like this…
"Atemu, I love you, and I'm not going to leave you, ever." Teana concluded, pulling her face out of his neck.
Atemu remembered something, or his lack of it, "What day is it?" Was it too late? Did Seto already take the throne?
"Atemu," She whispered, tears leaking out of her eyes once more, "I'm-I'm sorry…"
"It's too late…" Atemu was mortified. After everything he did, after all that's happened, he get kicked out because of a snake bite?
"Yes, Atemu, it's too late, and we're all very sorry. Very sorry indeed…"
"Seto!" Atemu, Teana still in his arms, glared at his so-called cousin. Right now, he wanted to kill him, no torture necessary. "You're not the Pharaoh yet!" It was an empty threat, Atemu knew, but he had to put his thoughts in order so he could yell at Seto.
"Actually," He said, staring at his right hand, "I am. Take a look at your finger."
Atemu looked at his hand. The diamond ring that proved his authority was gone, and he knew who the ring belonged to now. "Seto, how could you do this to me and Teana, all for some power!" He knew now that Seto sent in the snake to incapacitate him for a while. The snake looked too…purposeful. "You ruined our lives…and that was just sick!"
Seto grinned, "Atemu, I just planted your name in her head and sent her over here. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but whatever she did, she wanted it, and you wouldn't have gone with it unless you wanted it, too. You should be thanking me."
By the way that Teana stiffened in his arms, Atemu knew that Seto was right. However, that didn't stop Atemu from saying a few foul things at Seto, "I hate you, Seto. Why couldn't you just leave her out of this?"
Seto's blue eyes gleamed, "Cousin Atemu, you don't know what your limits are, do you?"
Limit, the one word that Atemu didn't want to hear today. "How is Teana my limit?" He hugged her closer to him. He wasn't about to let Seto take her away from him. Or his unknown child.
"Atemu, you always thought about the prophecy physically, but it's mentally…" He shrugged and grinned, "Don't you want to hear about my new proclamations?"
Atemu put on his most evil frown and stared daggers at Seto.
Seto raised an eyebrow. "Well, I thought that I'd send out my tax collectors to gain back some of the Empire's wealth."
"You just want to fill your own pockets," Teana sneered, "Just like every other Pharaoh, except for Atemu. Because he actually cares."
Seto's gaze moved to Teana, and he continued, "But not everyone could pay. Do you want to know what happened to those who couldn't pay, peasant? Like your family? I burned their houses to the ground, whether they were in them or not." Seto frowned, but he wasn't upset. Not in the least. "It's a pity," He looked back to Atemu, "They couldn't get out…"
Atemu felt Teana go limp from shock in his grasp. "How many, Seto? How many people did you hurt?" Atemu was finding it hard to keep his voice straight. He was so scared, and his Millennium Puzzle started to heat up.
"Come and see for yourself," Seto offered, turning around.
Atemu's arm slid down Teana's and he took her hand, "Let's go," He whispered.
They stood up, but Atemu lost his balance and fell. He hasn't been up in so long, and his foot was throbbing slightly.
Seto looked back, "Would you like me to carry you?" He cruelly teased.
Atemu glared at him, "No." He stood up again, and Teana caught him before he fell. He put his arm around her shoulder and she helped him walk to the entrance of the palace.
Atemu's mouth dropped with terror, and Teana buried her arm in his shoulder with grief and fear. Over half the city was up in flames, and screams filled the starry sky, "Seto, what have you done?" He asked him weakly.
"Rebuilding the empire," He said cooly, "Rebuilding my empire. Atemu, these words will be your limit: You lost your Empire because you loved it. You felt compassion for the people who thought of you as a God, and they loved you back. That's your curse, that's your limit, and you couldn't even figure it out. How sad…" He smiled, knowing that it was about to begin.
As if on cue, the Millennium Puzzle started coursing magical energy through Atemu; dark magical energy. It surprised him, he didn't know it would feel like this, and it was horrible.
He started shaking uncontrollably, and fell to his knees, out of Teana's support, in pain, holding it in. He thought that he was going to explode, but for some reason, he couldn't let the energy out. He grabbed his head to stop the shaking, but it didn't work.
Teana bent down in alarm, "Atemu, what's-"
"Teana, it's happening!" Atemu screamed, interrupting her, oblivious to Seto's excited stare, "My limit!" He scrunched his face together, it hurt so bad, and he knew that tonight was the end for him; and possibly Seto. He had to get Teana away, because something big was going to happen, "Teana, run away, please! Go!"
She put her hands over his in a comforting way, crying for all of the people that she lost today, and would lose, "Atemu, but-"
"No! Teana, please go!" Atemu was scared, more scared than he ever was in his entire life. He was in pain, too, which also topped his list, and he was incredibly angry with Seto, to put it lightly. He didn't want Teana to leave his side, especially now. But he and Seto had to fight their Shadow Game alone. "Please, trust me! You know the prophecy!" He couldn't help but yell, even though Teana was right next to him, but it hurt so bad. He opened his eyes as much as possible without knocking himself out and saw that Teana was inches from his face.
She started whispering, and Atemu ignored the excruciating pain inside of him to listen carefully, "Atemu, I said I'd wait for you forever…before I said that I wouldn't, but now…I'll wait until the end, whether the end's tonight, or many years from now." She leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips, almost as if she was afraid that she'd hurt him.
Atemu, at the moment, only had the breath for one more sentence, "I'll come back, you won't have to wait forever…now go…"
Teana stood up, and with one last stare of contempt at Seto, ran off somewhere inside of the palace; she couldn't go outside alone, not with all of the chaos.
Atemu was back to concentrating on the pain. The Puzzle's pulse quickened an alarming amount in a such a short span of time, and the Puzzle's pulse was the same as his hearts, like always. The blood pumping through his body was most likely gushing out of the snake bite on his foot…if his heart went on much longer like this, then it would die out…and so would he.
"Atemu!" Seto shouted, obviously happy, ignoring his and Teana's previous sap-session, "Let it out! Let the rage out, let out the shadows!"
Atemu didn't know what to do otherwise, so he screamed louder, and tried to relax, instead of holding it back in and trying to control the pain he was feeling. His eyes were closed, but he felt some sort of great energy flying out of every pore in his body, almost like every single one would explode.
His eyes flew open wide from the experience he was feeling, and he saw an orb of black energy exploding from his body, speeding in all directions. As Atemu stood up, he realized that they were in the orb, or the orb was covering the whole room, Atemu couldn't tell. The pain in his foot and head was gone, though there was a puddle of blood under it…
Atemu looked around, recalling what he memorized only three weeks ago. It felt like such a long time, "A Shadow Game is played in the Shadow Realm…makes sense," He thought.
"Welcome," Seto ushered, "To your limits. You're going to die here, because of your limits."
"I'll push them, dear cousin," Atemu sneered, managing to find some lost bravery in him, "And break them, as well as you."
"Hmm," Seto cruelly laughed, "We'll see…"
Atemu thought of something and stalled, "Where are the other priests?" He needed to gain energy.
"Outside, of course," Seto looked a bit miffed, "You know as well as I do that they didn't like you, but I guess that hurting the peasants didn't bode well with them. They heard of my plan, and went to help everyone…like that was going to do anything.
"You're sick." Atemu said angrily, "And all alone." It was true. Atemu's love for the peasants, his desire to help them, might have been his limit, especially after they started to get hurt, but Seto's ignorance for them, that was his weakness. And weaknesses were just as easy to defeat as limits, maybe easier.
"So I've heard," Seto replied distractedly, "But enough stalling. Even alone I have more power than you, who, might I point out, is also alone."
Atemu grabbed his silver chain instinctively. He felt so weak, standing there barefoot and in his nightclothes, his foot bandaged, his eyes tired and red, while Seto was dressed in a costume that made him look like the powerful Pharaoh that he wanted to be. He remembered the words that were told to him only weeks ago:
"But can I be both a peasant and a Pharaoh?"
"You've managed to be a peasant and a price, haven't you?"
It didn't matter what Atemu looked like, he reasoned with himself. Atemu grabbed the common knowledge from the back of his mind, knowledge that he never should have forgotten. It's what one does with their power.
"Now, let's begin," Seto said calmly, as if he and Atemu were about to play a friendly game of checkers. His blue eyes were flashing, making Atemu shutter inwardly. His Millennium Rod started to light up, sending a glow under his face, making him look more eerie than Atemu bargained for. Then he began to chant, "Shadow creatures of this twilight hour, accept my soul and grant me power." He repeated this chant over and over, the Rod glowing more and more by the second, making Atemu's eyes water. But he wouldn't close them, he was too fascinated.
Before Seto appeared a large white dragon, almost blue because of the blue eyes, which were cold like Seto's, emanating from its head. It was a stunning creature, beautifully sculpted by whichever god created it, and when it roared, probably sending out a war-cry, it made Atemu's skin crawl. This monster had power, and Atemu knew that Seto wouldn't hesitate to use it all.
But behind Atemu's gaze of appreciation for this gorgeous beast, was horror. Atemu knew that he didn't have the power to summon something that strong, his mind was still weak from being poisoned, and his soul was torn from the emotional stress that he was forced to endure almost every day. He froze, staring at the cold blue eyes of what would surely destroy him.
Seto laughed loudly, "Summon your monster, Atemu!" Seto would never admit to it, but he looked terribly drained from his summoning. His soul was strong, but he had his weaknesses, like everyone else. "If you can summon a monster stronger than my Blue-Eyes White Dragon, then you win, and my soul will die, letting you take control of…what used to be, your precious Kingdom…but, " He smiled, and dragged on his next words, "If you can't, then I win, and I get to keep Egypt all to myself, and no one will be able to stop me."
"I know how it works!" Atemu yelled angrily. Even if he summoned the strongest monster that he knew, then he would surely die from the stress, and it still might not have been enough…but he had to try. He still owed everyone in Egypt, now more than ever.
"Once its task is accomplished, the Puzzle will trap the soul of its user and shatter, until fate must intervene again…"
This was his destiny. Seto might've taken away his crown and his people, but he wouldn't take his Fate, even if Atemu didn't want it, even if he was terrified of it…
It was now Atemu's turn to chant. He concentrated all of his energy on the Millennium Puzzle, and started to speak, "In this realm of hurt and pain, appear to me and we shall reign." -5- He said it slowly, putting more of his concentration into every syllable he uttered. He said it a couple of more times than Seto, a sure sign that Seto was stronger than he was, because his monster was weaker than the Ultimate Machine of Destruction that Seto controlled.
The Puzzle lit up in Atemu's will, and a monster materialized in front of him, "I summon the Dark Magician!" It was the monster from the scriptures that caught Atemu's eye the most, he had to peel his eyes away from it after a while, it fascinated him so much. Atemu could only see the back of him, as he was facing his adversary, but he knew what he looked like. The Dark Magician had dark violet eyes, much like Atemu's, that looked sad, distant, like he had a torturous past. Atemu could connect with this monster, and that's why he summoned it that night.
Apparently, Seto didn't see the symbolism. That, or he didn't care, because he laughed at it, "Atemu, your monster's too weak. Actually, it fits you quite well." He grinned, "It was a good try Atemu, I wasn't expecting you to actually summon a monster higher than a lowly imp. At least you proved me wrong…"
Atemu growled slightly, shaky, sweaty, and tired. This was the best he could do…but he would prove Seto wrong one more time. By defeating him.
"Atemu," Seto said in a mocking voice, "You put up a good fight, but really, its over…there's almost no point in continuing, except to see the look of defeat on your face before you depart…" He smiled, showing off all of his straight teeth, "Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack!"
Atemu felt the pressure of every person that ever gave him hope, and that pressure pushed his mind forward:
"I'll wait for you…"
"I'm proud of you, son…"
"I'm really proud of you…don't let anyone tell you otherwise…"
Atemu gathered the last of his strength out of his shaking, tired body, all of the strength from his friends and his mother, and gave it all to his Dark Magician…the thing that was most like him…to avenge his father, and all of his people that died because of Seto's heartless rage…he'd avenge them, because it was the last thing that he'd ever do…
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon attacked, sending a stream of While Light towards him and his Dark Magician. Even at a distance, Atemu could feel the attack's power running through him, threatening to destroy him…
The Dark Magician issued its counterattack, sending an even more powerful blast out of his green staff, threatening to knock Atemu and Seto off of their feet. The Blue-Eyes White Dragon, defeated, issued a loud screech of defeat, and dissolved in a haze of bluish-white smoke. Seto fell to his knees, his eyes losing focus.
"How? How did you win?" Seto asked, appalled and afraid. He wasn't looking at Atemu, he didn't have the ability too, as all was going dark in his world. He knew what was going to happen next…
Atemu fought to stay on his feet, he was so tired. He didn't want to give Atemu a speech, he knew that it would sound arrogant, but Seto deserved at least that. His cousin was blind to what he did wrong, and he deserved to know, "Seto, you are weak…" That sounded like a wonderful opener… "You could summon the monster with your power, but you couldn't fuel it, because you have no love in your heart. So it was you, my cousin, that was stopped by your limit, your inability to love…" -6-
"This isn't over, Atemu," Seto growled, fully aware that it was, for the moment, "This isn't over…" He looked around at the fading darkness. There was a look in his eyes that was all too familiar to Atemu, but wasn't familiar to him in Seto's eyes…was it fear?
Atemu watched, he couldn't do anything else, as his cousin fell to the stone floor, his soul shredded. As the darkness faded, Atemu knew that his strength, his will, was going with it. He would look at Seto any longer, so he looked away. As much as Seto deserved what he got, and even though Atemu would do it again in a heartbeat, he still felt awful about it…
There were still people screaming outside, though they were dying down a bit, but Atemu couldn't hear them, his hearing was dimming quickly; his vision was going blurry, but he could still see. He wasn't disappearing, though he should have, "What's going on?" He thought, though he would've said it if he had the strength to, "That was the task…why aren't I…gone?" Atemu felt so weak, like he was going to die, even the Millennium Puzzle was slowly growing cold…
But something was still warm around his neck: the silver chain that Atemu and Jono gave him…he promised he'd go back to her…he promised…
Atemu took what he thought was a deep breath, but in truth, it was barely a gasp, and, almost bent over double, started to drag himself away from Seto and towards the chamber where he was born, where his father died, and where he knew that Teana would be waiting for him…
His footsteps were heavy, each one make its own individual 'thump' as Atemu walked, and he thought that he would die right there, unable to make it to the chamber. But sure enough, he made it to the doorway, and inside were two blurry figures: one that smelled of vanilla, his mother, and Teana, it had to be.
He fell to his knees, unable to take it anymore, and went to fall on his face, he couldn't go on anymore, he was so tired, and he wanted it to end, but someone caught him. Atemu knew her touch well: it was Teana.
"Atemu!" She screamed, helping him up and practically dragging him over to 'the' stone tablet. Atemu had no will to do anything, all of his strength was leaving him. It was a wonder that his heart was still beating. She helped him sit down, and supported him so that he wouldn't fall over, "You won?" It was a foolish statement, but one that helped ease the tension, bringing at least a little satisfaction to this horrible situation.
"Yeah," Atemu gulped, leaning heavily on Teana, "But…why…why aren't I gone?" It hurt so much to say those words and to feel that pain, but he was beyond tears…there were no more that he could give.
The silver still burned at his neck, "Is it because of this?" He asked, remembering people, he couldn't remember who, that told him that silver had mystical qualities…but he never wanted to know what they were.
Teana gasped a little, and started to cry, though Atemu couldn't see her face clearly. He summoned some strength out of nowhere and touched her wet cheek. He was blinking slowly, breathing unevenly, and the Puzzle's pulse was slowing down, "Did you…and Jono…save me with this?"
"They did," Atemu's mom spoke for the first time, holding back her tears, "Atemu…its like an amulet, it won't let magical energy in, or out, without a good fight. When you solved the Millennium Puzzle, you blacked out, didn't you? And you felt such pain when you reached your limit…" She knew what his limit was, Teana told her… "If you don't take off that chain, then your soul will be shredded, just like Seto's…it will be thrown away…"
"It's over," Atemu whispered, "The Empire is over…"
"No," Teana said softly, "Seto's plan failed, and you have an heir…its not over…" She heard Atemu's mother gasp, but didn't acknowledge it, as well as the fact that their child was not legitimate.
Atemu went to grab the silver, to try to take it off, but found that he couldn't move his limbs anymore. He wanted to stay forever with Teana, but he couldn't, because it wasn't what he was meant to do. If he did stay, he knew, for even a couple of minutes longer, then he would die... "Teana, I can't move, I can't take it off...please..." He couldn't believe that he was asking her this...
Teana slowly leaned forward and put her lips to Atemu's for one last kiss, which he could barely return. Teana wanted to give the man that she loved some of her strength, but she couldn't, there was nothing else that she could do, so then she made up her mind. He hands moved to the back of his neck and she grabbed the slasp of his chain, "Atemu, you came back, and I know that you love me...and now, I'll set you free." She undid the clasp, and let the chain fall away. It fell as if it was moving through water...and clattered when it hit the stone floor, but no one noticed.
Atemu's eyes slowly closed, never to open again in his body, "Thank you...take care..." He couldn't finish his sentence. With a slight rush of wind, the Millennium Puzzle shattered into its original puzzle form, and it fell to the ground next to the chain.
Teana stood up and silently laid Atemu on his back. Her hand brushed his face, it was still warm. She went to put her hand on his chest, but she stopped suddenly, inches away from it, and pulled away. She knew that there was no beat. She moved her hand and took the rope with the last piece of the Puzzle, and slid it over his head, miserable because his head was so much heavier than it was moments ago, even though nothing in it was working anymore. She put it with the others, in the golden box that his mother tearily put the other pieces in. Teana replaced the lid, and silently put it next to Atemu's lifeless body. She wanted to breath into him, to give him life...and to tell him that she loved him no matter what...but she held herself, saying that it wouldn't work.
Teana and the dead Pharaoh's mother looked at each other, each crying silently for their loss, and went to help the peasants in the town. They both knew that it was what Atemu would want, what he would do if he could. Teana gently put her hand to her stomach, and looked at her love, what she wished was her husband, but was her Pharaoh, her friend, her lover. Then she walked out with his mother, never to see him again.
The Sennen Eye gleamed for a minute, maybe it was Atemu, who knows? Then it went dark.
Until Fate must intervene again...
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-1- Wow, that was sadistic
-2- Hmm, that 'Bliss, yay,' was actually more sarcasm on my part. I had just managed to get this peaceful state of tranquility, not doing or thinking about anything (because I took a break from writing), when my mom came and started to pester me, ruining my happiness, and it wasn't the first time that it happened. No bliss, no yay.
-3- I'll bet that you can guess what comes next. Sorry, but no lemon/lime stuff from me. You can make your own fantasies about that one.
-4-You know what? Let's just come out and say it. They had sex. I'm sorry if this wasn't how you guys wanted the fic to turn out, and if you don't like this turn, I'm sorry…Anyway, no one actually comes out and says that they screwed each other because they were both almost ashamed of what they did. Okay?
-5- Corny? You betcha. I made that up myself…
-6- How Harry Potter-ish. Didn't realize it until now, though. Don't get me wrong, though, I do enjoy Harry Potter.
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Excuse me for a minute while I bawl over this...the ending was so sad! Okay, that's the end, and I really hoped that you liked it...waaah:(
Upcoming Projects that you may or may not care about: I thought that I'd make some kind of InuYasha, Yu-Gi-Oh! Crossover...my friend Haley gave me the idea, but I'm horrible at crossovers, and I have some one-shots too that are already written, that I'll put up soon...and then I may or may not make a sequel to this, I still need some time to plan it out...
Thank you guys/girls so much for reading, I really enjoyed all of your reviews, they made me feel fuzzy inside. And please review for this chapter, too. Tell me what you think!