Neftari‘s final moments~

“What are you doing here? Leave me alone! Just go away!”

“I can’t. My duty is to protect the Royal Family.”

“I need No protection! The Royal Family No longer Exist! I’m fine on my Own!”

“You know I can’t. The Pharaoh will have my head.”

“Humpth! The Pharaoh is gone. Stay away from me as possible! I will do what I should have done along time ago. To seal the Darkness. That is my destiny!”

“As you wish. I will not interfere. But I will protect your passing into the next world.”

“Fine. Do what you will. And.................thank-you.”

“You are welcome my Queen.”

The Queen entered the inner chamber of the temple and began to pray to Isis. Egypt was falling into darkness quickly. And the Pharaoh was losing himself to it. ’It’s now or never. Powerful as he may be, only the Sealers can seal the Darklings away. Hopefully, I can seal them all before he closes the Gate.’

The Queen looks up at the Statue of Ra, ‘Even if it takes my Life. I will save my pharaoh and my Egypt’ thought the Queen to herself. ‘My child is gone. And I lost my husband to the darkness. What else is there to live for? Maybe. In another time, another place, we’ll be together again. Forgive me my Love. But it has to be done. Good-bye. Until we meet again.’

The Queen is surrounded by a brilliant golden-white light as she prayed. “With my blood as the Last Sealer I ban you Darklings back into the Realm of Darkness. Leave this place and return back to your Eternal Resting Place, the World of Shadows!” With the last of her hopes incased with the dagger in her hands, she thrusts it deeply into her heart. Blood flows wildly like a broken dam, covering herself and the floor beneath her with her deep red liquid. “It is over. For now.” She looks up at the statue of Isis, “All I ever wanted was............Love. Was that to much to ............ ask?” As her heart beats it’s last final moment, she whispered to the air and herself, “All those I loved, who are no longer here . . . in my dreams, they live again . . .” Her last breath escapes her, and she falls limply to the floor. And is lost in an ethereal dreams of her making.

Egypt shakes and rumbles as it’s Queen gives up her life to save Her. A great golden gate opens in the heavens above and a grayish-black tornado seems to suck in all the darkness into it. After what seems like an eternity, the sun returns to Egypt, gracing Her with it’s warmth and returning life to the once dead land.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conflicts ~

In the shadows of the Shadow Realm. Many whispering noises, and the spirit of her sword wraps the unconsious girl.

[Because we have been so long with out the Sealer, there are many wandering Darklings . . . You must return them to the their Final Resting Place, To the world of Shadows, Our world . . . The Dark Realm.]

[You must seal all the Darklings away before the Pharaoh shuts the Gate Permanently.]

[You are what you are. A Sealer. Your . . . Your destiny . . . is to die, for others.]

“I want to Live. I want to Love. I want to Stay. With Yami, Yugi, and my Brothers.”

[Now that You are Awake, Your Blood will not allow you to live as a human . . . ]

“Why didn’t you kill me when you found me, Daemon!”

[I meant to seal your blood . . . I should have done it as soon as I found you . . . but . . . your pain . . . has touched me.]

“ . . . . . “

The girl wakes from her sleep. And looks around for her enemy. She spots no one at the moment and gets up to stand and look up in the sky. There is nothing there, only an empty black void. Tears falls from her face, as she remembered her death, from long ago.

“He will not let me go. He will prevent me from doing what I must. Why? Why am I denied the happiness I hunger for? All I want, was to be with the man I loved, and start over. Why do the Gods deny me that?”

[They brought you back. So you could be with him. But . . . . with your return . . . . so did some of the Darklings. They didn’t plan on this happening. They really didn’t.]

“I should have never been born.”

[Maybe . . . this time . . . things will be different.]

The girl shakes her head. “Like you said. I am what I am. I will do what destiny is required of me. To shed my blood and seal away the Darkness once more. I wish . . . I could have met Yami sooner. Then . . . at least . . . I . . . could die happy.”

[I am sorry Kalika. I never meant to hurt you.]

“What’s done is done Daemon. Forget it. Now let’s find Lucius.” She looks at her sword, Daemonsbane, the cursed sword, only death and destruction follows it’s wielder.

[I am ready to serve you Mistress.]

Kalika snorts and begins to wander in the darkness. Opening up her mind, sensing any presence nearby that resembles that of Lucius. She feels him nearby and grabs on tightly on Daemonsbane. “Come out Lucius! I feel you nearby! No use hiding. I’ll find you anyways!”

Lucius comes out from the shadows above her and sends down a rain of thunder-shaped arrows. Kalika manages to fling them away with her sword then jumps towards him. She raises Daemonsbane and slashes him in the arm. She falls back down and glares up at him. Lucius face darkens and let’s out an angry growl. “You will pay for that Sealer! I was going to spare your life. But now! I will give you to My Master Dead!” Kalika just smirks at him. “You’ll have to try and catch me first before you boast!” With that, Lucius plunges downward to Kalika, with Gram pointed straight at her heart. Anger and pain blinds him, he raises his sword high, ready to strike her. But that will prove a fatal mistake. For he left open a his weak spot.

Kalika times her movement right. As soon as Lucius was about to fall on her with his sword, she quickly jabbed her sword, straight into his heart and lets him fall deeper into it. Lucius screams in pain as he realize that she has struck him in the heart. He eyes her with menace in his eyes. “This isn’t over yet Sealer. There are others besides me.” “I know. But . . . by the time they get to me . . . it will be to late.” Lucius looks at her wide-eyed. “You plan to.....” Blood spurts from his mouth and he is chocking in it. “Exactly what I plan to do Lucius.” And with the twist of her wrist, she ruptures his heart open, killing him instantly. She let’s him slide off her blade to the floor. “I won’t return you the darkness Lucius. You will die . . . the real death.” With that, she summons the Fiery Spirit within her monster card, and sets aflame Lucius until he is only a pile of dust before her.

Suddenly Kalika’s Guardian appears behind her.

“I see you are awakening.” Said Sekmet.

“Yes. Almost.”

“When the Pharaoh regains his memories. The Seal to the Shadow Realm will be broken. Kalika, when that happens, the time of Judgment will be Soon.”

“I know Sekmet. I . . . already made up my mind.”

Sekmet is shocked by her Summoner’s reply, “You mean. You won’t even fight for the right to live? To be with your pharaoh?”

“What choice do I have? My destiny was already made up for me, before I was even born.”

“I see. Then I cannot make you change your mind.”

“My blood............is required to seal them. You know that.”

“There are other ways! Surely the pharaoh has a way to save you!”

“But they are not permanent. Sorry Sekmet. I accepted this destiny. So I will finish it. And . . . the pharaoh doesn‘t have his original powers no longer. He Is still Dead, in Our terms.”

Sekmet nods. “Then I shall accompany you till the end. And protect your passing into the next world.”

“Thank you. Funny. I felt like I’ve heard that line before.”

“Maybe you have. Long, long ago.”

“Maybe. Shall we? Go to Isis Temple then? Surely they should have reached it by now.”

The two woman fades from the Dark Realm and into the Realm of Light.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The gang has returned to the jet and is now on there way to Giza. Yami sits near the window gazing out, he hasn’t said a word since they left Thebes. On the opposite side of Yami, Seto also sits by the window just gazing out blankly staring into space. Many questions is forming in his mind, and none of them had the answers he wanted. ‘Is she alright? Will I find her again? What is this trial about? How will this save my sister?’ Frustrated, he shifts from his seat and grabs the cold water bottle in front of him.

Joey, Tristan, and Tea sat in the back watching the two young men in front of them. They want to break the silence, because it was making them very uncomfortable. But, they didn’t had the nerve to bother them.

“We should arrive at Giza in 15 min. Then we’ll rent some camels and gears. It’s at least a 2-3 day trip by camel, unless we push it well after night.” Said Jaleel as he comes out of the cockpit.

Seto nods and Yami still staring out at the window, ignoring him altogether. ‘Ra. Please protect her. Don’t let her die on me again. I’ll do anything. Just please. Keep her safe.’ An ancient and powerful voice fills Yami’s mind.

[You still love her? After all this time? She is not the same Neftari, you do know that.]

“I still care about her. Even if she is only her reincarnation. She has her spirit, she is........still my only love.”

[Will you risk everything to protect her?]

“With my life if needs be.”

[You’ve changed little pharaoh. Your light.......has changed you for the good.]

“I know. It feels weird to care about someone again.”

[You have always cared. You just don’t show it well.]

Yami snorts at that remark. And the presence makes a sighing sensation in the back of his mind.

[You might not be able to save her. She is what she is little pharaoh. Her destiny can‘t be faltered. To do that, will cause . . . *long silence* just let her go.]

“What do you mean by That!”

[You will find out for yourself. The hard way.] And the presence fades from Yami’s mind.

Yami, frustrated, shifts in his seat and switches place with his light.

/Yami? Are you okay?/

//I’m fine aibo. Just need some rest.//

/Okay. Sleep well./

//Thanks.//

/Oh and Yami. Don’t worry. We’ll find her again. I know we will./

//................//

Yugi takes over and drinks the bottle of water before him before staring back out in the window. He was worried for both Kalika and Yami. They finally found each other, and now, they are parted again. He wanted so much for Yami to feel happy again, and for his sake, he promised, he will do whatever it takes to get those two together.

15 minutes has passed and the plane finally arrived at Giza. After a brief moment at the customs section, they were finally ready to leave. But first, they had to get their gears ready so they rested at a nearby inn while Jaleel went out to find some fine camels and a gear that should last them at least a week.

“Yami? What’s the temple like?” Asked Tea.

Yami manifested next to Yugi and sat down on the sofa, his eyes half closed as he tried to remember. “It’s like any ordinary temple I guess. But you only know those of Japan. Think of it as something out of the Roman Empire, but decorated in hieroglyphs, with Egyptian Gods and Goddess all around it. You’ll just have to see it for yourself. It’s really hard to explain. I ....... really don’t remember what it looks like really. But I’ll know it once I see it.”

“I see.” Tea said humbly. Knowing when she is not needed she heads for her room for a shower.

“Yami. I think you hurt her feelings.” Yugi told Yami.

“Did I?” Replied Yami, unemotionally. “Sorry Yugi. I have a lot in my mind right now.”

“Care to share your problems with me? It’s not healthy to keep it to yourself. You know. What effects you, effects me as well. So you might as well spill it out.” Yugi said eyeing him with a ‘You better tell me or else’ look on his face.

Yami chuckled at the look his light made. No matter how hard he tried to look hard, it just made him look all the more cuter.

“I was just wondering what the trials were going to be like. That’s all.”

“Oh. But Suzama said you were going to see something of your past. That shouldn’t be bad. You’ll regain you memories, right?”

“I guess. But she said the truth will hurt. The truth is what..........I’m afraid of seeing. Some memories are worth not remembering.” Yami sighs, then shakes his head, “But. I have to remember. It’s the only clue I have to save Kalika, and myself. Besides. I feel there is also something else, that I have to remember, to ...... do something I never really finished in my past.”

“Oh.” Yugi simply said.

In the background the radio plays, and Yami seems absorbed in the lyrics of the song. It‘s words sung some truth in it for him, ‘Neftari, where are you? I miss you, please, come back to me.’ he said to his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To Isis Temple ~

Early the next morning the gangs started to pack up their gear for a long journey. Jaleel managed to get six good healthy camels for their trip. He, Yami, and Seto had their own camels. Yugi and Joey shared a camel as did Tristan and Tea. The sixth one was used as the burden, carrying the other essential needs, namely food, equipment, and shelter from the sun.

The trip was long and tiring, the hot sun of Egypt was pounding it’s hot rays upon the sensitive backs of the foreigners. Only Jaleel and Yami seemed unbothered by the hot sun. Jaleel looked back and talked to Yami.

“It’s almost high noon. We should set camp up for them. We could leave again once it cools down enough for them.”

Yami looked back at them and shrugged. “Very well. We’ll camp here then. But I want to make up with lost time during the night.”

“Very well. I am eager to get there myself. I am worried for my Lady.”

“As do I. Something doesn’t feel right. It’s like the air has become ........ heavier then usual. Like were being watched.”

“Yes. I’ve noticed. I’ll keep watch while you rest.”

Yami nodds and turns his camel back to the rest of the gangs. “We will camp here till the sun starts to set.” He told them.

“Thanks.” All said wearily.

“Is it always this hot?” Joey mumbled wiping the sweat off his face.

Yami smiks, “It’s not even Summer yet.”

“What! It gets hotter than this!” Tristan said as Joey’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Yami just nods then looks at his aibo, “Aibo? You all right? You looking red there.”

“I’m . . . . fine Yami. Just hot and tired.” Yugi looks like he’s ready to faint from the heat. “And you use to rule here. How did you ever manage to do your duties and not die from the heat?”

“I work in the early mornings and late afternoons. And there is always the Nile to cool off. That’s If your fast enough to swim away from the gators.”

“Gators!” Yugi moaned. “I want to cool off. But Not that much!”

Yami just smiles at his light, then gets off the camel to help Jaleel set the tents up.

“My lord. There is no need for you to do this.” Replied Jaleel.

“Yami. Just call me Yami. And I am not pharaoh anymore. Just a normal person, a spirit from the past. So there is no need to be formal anymore.”

Jaleel nods in reply. “Very well then.......Yami. Can you set those legs up?”

Yami does so, and after a couple of minutes the tent is done. And all of them settles under it while the hot Egyptian sun blares it’s hot heat on everything it touches.

Once the sun seemed to lessen up on it’s heat rage the gang packed and kept on goin. They traveled early morning till noon to rest, then continued when the sun began to set in the horizon. Two days has passed and by tomorrow morning they would reach their final destination, Isis Temple. They had pushed well past sun fall and made it to the edge of the outer skirts where the temple should be.

“We will set camp here. By morning you should be able to see the temple. You do have the key don’t you? With out it you can’t get into it.”

Yugi digs in his backpack and raises up a spherical orb with the Eye of Ra in floating in the middle of it.

“You just need to shine the first rays of light through it and we will be able to enter the temple.” Exclaimed Jaleel. “It’s been a long travel. Rest. Tomorrow will be the start of a big day for you all. But let’s get dinner ready, eh?”

“Yeah! I’m starved!” Yelled out Joey, Tristan, and Yugi.

“I would love some shaved iced cones right now. Strawberry flavor.” Sighed Tea.

“Well we don’t have those. But food is food. I’ll have it ready in an hour. Feel free to walk around. Just don’t go to far. Though, there really isn’t anything to see but sands.”

They all went out for a stroll to shake out their tired legs from the long camel ride. Yami stayed behind glazing at the flame Jaleel had started with a flint. Time passed and they had their dinner, soon sleepiness starts to take them until something jumped out of the fire startling them all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stranger in the Night.

Out of the fire jumped a figure dressed in a long cloak, hiding everything, from head to toe, even way passed that. His face cannot be seen, but his red glowing eyes flashes and flickers under it’s hood. It stays in front of the gang, not moving, and not saying anything, it just stands there, waiting for something to happen almost. Then from under it’s cloaked something moved.

Jaleel quickly stands up and grabs his sword, ready to pounce on the creature.

“Wait. I don’t think it wants to hurt us!” Yelled out Yugi, who grabbed on to Jaleel’s sleeves.

“How can you tell?” Hissed Jaleel, eyes on the creature still.

“If it wants us dead, we would already have been.” Was Yugi’s reply.

“ . . . . but.”

“He is right Jaleel. Let’s wait for it to speak.” Yami said and looks at the creature.

The creature slitters closer to Yami, “Are you pharaoh? Pharaoh Khalfani?” It spoke or more like hissed and whispered at the same time.

“Khalfani? I have forgotten that. I was called that . . . once, wasn’t I?” Yami said to himself loudly.

“Yami?” Yugi looked at his darker half.

“Oh. That is my true name. Though it has been long forgotten with time. Not many knows of it, only those of Royal heritage knows my true name and are allowed to speak it.” Yami seemed to be reliving some of his past in his mind, then snapped. “How do you know my name!”

“Because I told him.” Whispered a tiny voice.

Suddenly from under the cloak of the creature a little girl came out of it. Hair of black ebony, eyes a deep crimson, and her tan, like the sands of Egypt. A little smile was upon her face, she looked angelic almost, but her eyes were dark and ancient, like it had seen the whole centuries go by in hours. And she wore ancient clothing of high stature, and many gold bracelets and anklets were adorned on her little arms and legs.

All eyes were on the little girl, especially Jaleel. He knew who she could be, the similarity was so obvious. But then, he remembered and they didn’t, so he kept to himself. And then noticed the girl bowed down a little towards him, as if she had understood his actions.

“Who are you? And why do you know my name? And why are you with this creature in the middle of the night in the middle of the desert?” Yami asked the little tot, but used his most gentle voice as not to scare her off. Yugi was shocked that his other half was able to keep a gentle tone and smiled to himself.

The little girl laughed. And she did sound like an angel. Instead of hearing the usual laughter one would expect, hers were like tiny little bells ringing by the breeze. “I’ve come to give you something. Something you will need later on. To save your loved ones.” She walked up to him, standing on her little toes and looked like she was floating instead of walking. “Here. I believe this is yours?” She handed him a little golden box with the Eye of Horus on the lid and hierologic writings on the sides.

Yami opened the box and his eyes grew wide. “This is........this is my old deck! How did you......wait a minute! I ......... I buried this with my ..........” He looks at her. “Neela?”

The little girl nods and looks up at Yami. “Hello father.”

Yami burst into tears as he dropped his old deck and grabbed the girl close to him. “I am sorry! So sorry! It was because of me ........ that you had to .............die. Will you ever forgive me! I’m so sorry Neela.”

Neela hugged her father. “Father. What happened to me wasn’t your fault. It’s nobody fault. You need to let my death go. You have tortured yourself long enough. I don’t blame you. Neither does Mother.”

Yami breaks his embrace with her and looks at her. “But why are you hear now? Why didn’t you show up before?”

“I tried to. But. I was forbidden to do so until now.”

“Forbidden? From who?”

“Our Father, Father.”

“Ra?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“You will understand soon Father. Isis will show you everything. I cannot tell you. It’s not my place to do so.”

Just then the creature slitters closer to the girl and the girl waves her hand as to if to say one more minute.

“I have to go now Father. Keep the cards with you always. Your going to need it soon. Mother may be the Sealer, but she isn’t all powerful.”

“You now where your Mother is? Wait! Neela! Don’t go! I have so many things to ask you!”

After that, the creature and the girl disappeared back into the flames.

“Neela.” Yami sighs to himself sadly. But deep inside a little flame of hope burn brightly inside him.

“Yami? Are you all right?” Yugi looks at Yami intently.

“Huh? Oh yes. I’m fine aibou. Just. Shocked that’s all. It’s not everyday the spirit of your daughter comes to you.”

“She looks a lot like you. But better looking, like her mother.” Yugi giggled and dodge a tackle from Yami. Then he picked up Yami’s old deck. “So? How is this suppose to help?” And handed it over to Yami.

“This is my original deck. With it I can call forth my monster to this realm, and it will be under my control only.” Yami shuffles through his decks and had it all accounted for.

Seto finally comes out of his hiding. “So. There is to be a fight soon?” He watched to whole thing from the back. And was surprised to know that the little girl was his sister’s and his rival’s daughter from their past. The girl did had Yami’s features, but had her mother’s grace and air.

Yami twirled to face Seto. “I guess it would. But let’s wait till after we see Isis before we jump into conclusions.”

After awhile of chattering and explaining all decided it was time to sleep. They had to wake up early before the sun comes up to get into the temple.

While the rest slept. Yami keep thinking about his daughter and his past wife. He had a bad feeling deep inside and didn’t want to worry anyone with it, not until he knew for sure what was really happening. Though, he had a feeling it all points back at him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning Sunshine ~

The gang woke up before the sun rises with the help of Jaleel.

“It’s time! Wake up! Or we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to enter the temple!”

Yugi got the orb out of his back pack and stood on top of a little hill Jaleel showed him and raised the orb up high as the sun began to rise from the horizon. As the first rays came it out, it shined through the orb and down to basin below. There is a bright light at first then like a mirage a great temple began to manifest out of thin air below them.

From where they stood it looked like a golden temple with a tall walls enclosing it. And only inside it could the see greenery and a little blue clear pond on either sides of it. White cloaked figures were coming in and out of the temple, priest and priestess no doubt.

“We better hurry. The temple only comes out as the sun rises.” Jaleel said as he began to trot downward.

Soon all were following closely behind him. With uncertainties in their minds, and doubts about their futures.

{Their trail awaits. And only those with a strong heart will come out . . . alive.}

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