Kalika now rest in her bed for awhile. She has just remembered who Seto was from her past. How ironic. My best friend, Could have been lover, is now my brother. Weird! She tosses over. Something in her is still bothering her. I wonder, could the Dragon Orb still be in him? Naah! It couldn’t be! He had no heir when he died. So the Dragon Orb should have disappeared along with him. But . . . if it still does, it would explain why the portal to the Shadow Realm is opening into this world. She sighs deeply, I think, I know what my trial is going to Be. Oh, I pray Not! I hate going into their World! I can stand the Dragons and the Light Elves, and maybe the Beasts. But the Dark Elves! And those Damn Giants! Uck! There about The most Stubborn Ignorant Single-Minded Fools I‘ve ever seen, and to reason with them is simply impossible! And the Undead! The Zombie Master there will be more than glad to see me Dead than Alive! She groans in discomfort, Please Goddess, anything but that! Kalika heads for the showers, hoping to wash away the thought from her mind.

Meanwhile in Seto’s room = = =

Seto is pacing back and forth in front of the mirror and looking at his chest. She did put it in there, I wonder, after all this time, is it, still in me? She did say as long as it was in me, No harm will ever come to me, for it was A Very Precious Item. She was right about that, he has been almost been killed many times back then, but just when they were about to do their final blow, his chest would glow. And his would be attackers will hiss at him and leave him, he couldn’t figure out why, he never did asked her. All he remembered was her saying, “The Millennium items are for the Humans, as The Sacred items are for the Shadow Dwellers.” The Millennium items gave it’s wearer unimaginable power and the ability to enter the Shadow Realm, does the Sacred items do the opposite, brings them to our world? Seto’s mind raced, with his recent memory, and his desire to know everything is becoming overwhelming. I guess, I had better ask her. Then something comes up! He remembered his love for her! But she denied him straight out! Saying because he was a Priest, it is forbidden for him to take a wife, and she a princess and can only marry someone of high status than her. Now he knows why he despises Yami so much, That and the fact he defeated him Twice already! He had took Everything that meant so dear to him. Anger builds within him, but what can he do now, he slumps on an easy chair ignoring the burning rage in him.

Old memories return = = =

Kalika now rest in her warm bath tub waiting for breakfast, and Seto is slumping over an easy chair. Both tries to think of nothing, but old memories starts to reawaken.

Neftari and Sia rturns to the Real World and both now lays on the soft grass of the palace garden. Sia touches his chest, it seems to radiate a soft warm almost magical feeling. He sighs and looks at her, “So, no one will do me harm as long as this stays in me?” “That’s the general idea. I cannot protect you from Your enemies, for you Are a Part of the Shadow Realm as well. And my duty is to return All strays back to their world. But since you are half human, I cannot Harm You. Nuri and Nuria is bound to their plane of existence. So as long as you do not remove it, no one can harm you. The Dragon‘s Orb is to precious an item to destroy.” Sia ponders for a moment, “What does it do exactly?” Neftari turns her head towards him, “It grants it’s master his every desire. Power, wealth, even immortality. But That comes with a huge price, a never-ending loneliness that can drive even the strongest of souls mad.”

Sia asks again, “The dragon cubs, I heard them say only the King can use it? Then why would anyone want to steal it?” Neftari glances back at the sky and sighs deeply. “True. Only the King and his Heir can wield the power of the Orb. But, if someone has within his hands the other remaining artifacts, one could be able to utilize it’s power. Though requiring it may prove to be . . . hazardous.”

“There are more?” Sia exclaimed. “Yes. Six in total, one for each kingdom. The dragons, light and dark elves, giants, beasts, and the undead.” “Do you know what they are? Or what they do?” Neftari gives him a questioning look, I guess he has the right to know the truth she thought to herself. He is after all, the Heir to the Dragon King’s Lair, Head of the Inner Circle.

Neftari begins to explain, “The Dragons, your clan, has the Dragon Orb, I already explained it’s ability. The Light Elves has the Ethereal Sword, a holy sword, able to slay even the Darkest of Creatures. The Dark Elves has the Demon Sword “Levantine”, a Demonic sword that posses it’s wielder with dark energy. The Giants has the spear Gungnir, it never misses it’s target, which comes in handy for them, seeing that they have a brain the size of a pea! Then the Beast, they have the Astral Gauntlet, it will take any shape to protect it’s wearer from any physical or magical harm. And last but not least, the Undead, they have the Wand of Apocalypse, and that brings certain doom for it’s targets. These items are heavily protected from outsiders, the last time I heard, the Dark Elves hid theirs within the stomach of a Great Dragon who’s slumbering in a volcano somewhere.”

Sia stares out in the sky also and suddenly blurted out, “What happens if someone Has all Six items?” Kalika darkens, “Then the world as we know it, will cease to exist.” That’s all she said and said no more. Sia had lots of questions to ask her, but decided to leave her alone, for now.

Neftari is happy about the quietness, now that Sia stopped asking questions. She thinks to herself and becomes even more depressed. I am the Last remaining Sealer. What can I do Alone, when others before me failed? Sure, returning the Strays to the Shadow Realm is easy. But to prevent both worlds from falling into Chaos! THAT was Not part of My job description! Where were the Gods when you need them! I tell you what they did! They created someone else to do their dirty job! If they had done it Right in the First Place, none of her ancestor would have died off, leaving Her all alone, to do Their battle. A silent tear falls from Neftari’s face, I didn’t ask for this kind of life, what did I do to deserve this? Is being alive a crime? She shakes her head, showing weakness will lead to your death. She raises form the ground and sticks a hand out for Sia. “Come it’s almost dinner. We should go wash ourselves out first.” Sia takes her hand, and they leave for the wash room.

Dream ends = = =

Kalika and Seto exists their room and heads downstairs for breakfast. They meet and blush furiously. “Um . . . Good morning Big Brother.” “Good morning Kalika.” They both look away seeming quite uncomfortable. They went in the living room waiting for breakfast to be ready, but both were still flushed. Well at least Yami doesn’t remember his past. Or else these two will be at it, Again. What he doesn’t know, can’t hurt him, right? Kalika thought. Seto has a smug look on his face now, and glares at Yami, Ha Ha! I know something You don’t Know! Ha Ha! So there! Yami stares at the smug Seto, and finds it, unnerving. And Kalika seems flustered about something, what happened to those two? He’ll find out sooner or later, he Always does.

A maid enters and breaks the silence in the room. And informs them that breakfast is ready.

“Great! I’m hungry!” Cried out Joey, who dashes out of the room.

“You’re always hungry!” Said Tristan, who happens to be right behind him.

Tea sighs, “They’ll never grow up.”

Yami returns to his Soul Room so Yugi can have his breakfast.

And Kalika and Seto walks slowly towards the breakfast room avoiding each other.

Yugi notices this and asks them what’s wrong.

“Nothing! Nothings wrong! Why do you ask!” Both almost shouted out loud, together.

“I smell something fishy. Are you two hiding something?” Yugi eyes them both suspiciously.

Kalika laughs it off, “There is nothing to hide (for now). Let’s go eat, it will be a while for us to eat fresh food.” And she heads of the kitchen room in a hurry.

Yugi now eyes Seto, who just shrug, “Women, go figure?” And he leaves too.

Those two know something, and aren’t telling me! //I get that same feeling too, aibo.// I wonder what it is? Is it about you? Or the past, maybe? //I don’t know. But I Do not Like That Smug Face on Seto!// Yugi clears his head and also heads for the breakfast room.

Just then Jaleel corners Kalika. “My lady. There is something going on in the outskirts of Thebes. There are reports of large moving shadows there. I’ve sent my men already to investigate, but none has reported anything to me yet. I am very concerned about this. May I have permission to leave for Thebes?” Kalika eyes him, “Has the portal moved?” “It seems that it have, but why Thebes?” “It is the ancient grounds of our former kingdom and where everything started. The Darkness is returning, I will go with you also, and Do not Argue with me!” “Yes My Lady, but what of your Quest to Isis temple?” “It can wait! If the portal opens now, there will be no Temple to go to!” “I’ll tell the pilot of our new destination then.” “Very well. And Jaleel, it is my fight as well as yours. Do not keep such information from me because you want to protect me, understand?” “Yes, I’ll keep nothing from you no more My Lady.” “Good. We’ll leave after breakfast then.”

Yugi and Seto spots the now darken mood of Kalika. “What’s wrong?” Yugi asked. “There is trouble in Thebes. I have to go there. I’ll drop you at Giza first and you can begin your quest to Isis Temple. I’ll leave a Guide with you, okay.” Seto glares at her, “I Am not leaving without You! I’m going too!” “But it’s dangerous!” “I don’t care! I Am not leaving without You! Period! End of Story!” Seto crosses his arms, proving his point. Yami manifest besides Yugi, “And I agree with him! I will not let You out of My sight! Never Again!” Yami also crosses his arms to prove his point. Yugi stared at the two men, then at Kalika, “I too agree with them. We promised to stay together, remember. Let us help you, please.” Yugi stared at her wide eyes. Kalika sighs, “You Two were Always stubborn then, guess you won’t change now, huh? Okay, but I warn you, It will Be dangerous. So don’t do no Heroic acts okay? I have to do this by myself. It is My Duty to Seal the Strays to back where they came from. And it a rule that I Cannot accept any outside help. Someone . . . dear to me . . . paid an awful price . . . I won‘t let that happen to you two hmm three?”

Her companion, best friend, maybe love. He wanted to be of help to her, she tried to tell him no, but it was to late, the curse had already set on him, locking his soul somewhere. A Sealer is fated to fight alone, the only help she is allowed to have are those who gave their life to the Gods, a priest warrior of sorts. To her, that is only Jaleel and his men, who by Isis grace have become immortal, until All Strays have been returned. A cursed life indeed, one denied of any happiness or joy, only pain and misery. She sighs it off, and looks at them. “Don’t worry about me. I already have a new Guardian.” And gives them a reassuring smile.

“Why can’t we be of any help?” It is Seto who speaks. “Curious as always, huh Sia?” //Sia?// “I want an answer Kalika.” Demanded Seto. “You will have to ask Isis for that. I can’t and I won’t tell you. It hurts to much to remember already.” Kalika looks down. If you knew the truth, I know you, you will take it upon yourself to keep me alive. I cannot bear to lose anyone that I love anymore, not because of me, no more, I will do this alone, I will finish what I’ve started, by myself. I have too. Kalika turns around hiding her tears and walks off. It’s starting all over again. Is this all to my life? Live to Fight and Die again, Repeatedly?

“Kalika?” Seto goes to grab her but is stopped by Yami. “Let it go Seto.” Yami said then let’s him go. Seto flings his arms from him. “It’s not fair! Why must she suffer? Why can’t we help her? It is just not fair!” Yami walks past him, “We Will get our answers from Isis, whether or not she wants to tell us.” Seto nods, “Guess I have no choice but to wait then. but I still hate it!” “You and I both.”

Kalika’s last fight? = = =

After a grueling three hour flight, our adventures finally arrives in Thebes.

Kalika scans around. “Jaleel, do you feel it? It’s all over. But where are the people?”

Jaleel scans around also. “I am not sure. Maybe because of the presence of a portal, they somehow are transported somewhere else, in time? Or simply disappeared, temporarily? It happened before, when Egypt was still new.”

Kalika closes her eyes, remembering, “Yes. I remember that. The Shadow Dwellers temporarily froze time to erase all man kind, when the war with the Shadow Realm started. Awareness and Existence creates Time. Without Time nothing Exists in any way that matters. A world that loses Time . . . loses all Meanings. The Shadow Realm thought that if they stop time, all life will simply cease to exist. But the Gods helped . . . in the end . . . though it Did cost, A lot.”

Joey, Tristan, and Tea could only listen. The meaning was too intense for them to understand, but one thing did go through. The world as they know it is in danger.

Yami and Seto looked around them, feeling a familiar presence.

“Whose there?” Cried out Yami. Seto looks furiously around. And Kalika and Jaleel are in fighting stances.

“Perceptive. I see your old ways are coming back to you. And as for you Sealer! It’s time to Duel!” A familiar dark cloaked man comes out of mid-air and lands in front of them, sneering and eyes glowing a dangerous red. “You’ve escaped me last time. Now you won’t be so lucky!”

“My Lady? That’s Lucius!” Exclaimed Jaleel.

“Lucius? The General Lucius? But why?” Kalika stares at the man who has now removed his cloak.

“I took you long enough to recognize me. But it’s to late now Sealer. For today is your Last Day on Earth. But don’t worry. I have orders to bring you Alive to My Master, somewhat. He Has plans for you.” Sneered the man.

Yami looked at Kalika, “Whose he?”

“Don’t you remember Yami? He’s the Second in Command to the Lord of The Shadow Realm, he’s the one who first brought you to the Shadow Realm when you became Pharaoh.” Replied Kalika.

Yami stared at the man, he looks familiar, but remembers nothing.

Kalika moves up forward, “Why are you opening a portal here? Are you planning to repeat the past?”

“I’ll tell you, once you defeat me that is. But what challenge are you without your Guardian!” The man starts to move towards Kalika. But she manages to slide around him.

“You think I’ve came unprepared? I’m no longer the same person you fought with earlier!” Kalika snarls back at Lucius.

“Your all talk! There are No Gods to help you no more! They’re nothing but cowards, sending a Human to do their fights!” He dashes towards her again.

“We’ll see about that!” Kalika moves back, and her whole body begins to glow.

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