Outside the front of the palace were two camels, one for us each. Seth’s was considerably more elaborate, such as a golden bridle instead of a leather one, but that was to be expected. Two other servants were there to join us as well. I didn’t know who they were. Not yet, anyway.

 “I’m going to miss you so much!” Hikari said, giving me a hug.

“I’ll miss you too,” I replied, returning her hug. “But I’ll be back soon.”

“You better be.”

Yami shook his friend’s hand. “We look forward to your return, Seth,” he said.

“Just don’t do anything important without me,” he replied.

Yami chuckled. “Of course not.”

Seth and I went to our camels and started off, waving back to our friends.

“I believe we will be passing by your home village on our way,” the high priest told me.

“Oh? I hadn’t realized that,” I replied. “Although I don’t think anyone would recognize me as I am now.”

“If they saw the beauty within you, they will,” he said.

“That’s kind of you, but I really do doubt it.”

“Well, know that if you do see your family, you are welcome to stop.”

I smiled. “Thank you.”

I did begin to recognize things as we kept traveling. As night began to fall, I could see my village in the distance. It must have shown on my face.

“That’s where you’re from, isn’t it?” Seth asked me.

“Yes,” I replied.

“You’re welcome to go, if you wish. We will camp here for the night.”

“Thank you. I believe I will.”

I took off my jewelry and tried to downplay my appearance as much as I could, then continued on to the village. I was so scared. Would they even recognize me? And if they did, would they treat me any differently? I hoped not. I was still their headstrong daughter, whether they liked it or not.

I circled around the village, entering it from behind my family’s house. Mother was out in front, calling for my brother. I got down from the camel unnoticed.

“Ankh! Ankh! Get over here right now, young man!” my mother continued to call. Little Ankh loves to get in trouble, hence why he was named Ankh. I suppose my parents thought naming him for the life symbol would bring him some much-needed luck in his life.

I walked closer to my mother. She looked tired. No doubt she and Father had spent the day working. I could smell dinner from out here.

“Perhaps you should wait until he can smell dinner,” I said. “Then he’ll come running back.”

“My mother looked in my direction. “Setsuna? Is it really…?”

I smiled happily, nodded, and we ran to each other’s arms. She seemed as happy to see me as I was to see her.

“I was so afraid you wouldn’t recognize me,” I said.

“How cold I not recognize you? You’re my daughter. And look at you! Looking as fine as the pharaoh himself! Did you speak the truth when you said you were a servant, Child?”

“Yes,” I replied. “I most often attend the high priest.”

“Well, if I can ever get Ankh here, you can tell /all/ of us about it.”

“Tell us all about what?” I heard my brother say.

“Ankh, look,” our mother said. “Look who’s come to visit us”

“Hiya, Squirt,” I greeted him.

“Big sister!” he exclaimed, and ran into my arms. “You look like a girl now.”

“As opposed to when I didn’t?” I asked.

“Well, yeah.” The fact that’s he’s only 12 is beginning to show. That’s when he starts to irritate me.

“Where is father?” I asked.

“He should be back any-“

“Setsuna! Daughter!” I ran to my father’s strong, safe embrace. “To what do we owe this honor?” he asked me.

“I am traveling with Priest Seth. He knew I’m from around here, so he said I could visit if I wanted.”

“The high priest?!?!” Ankh said in awe. “He’s here?”

“We made camp just outside the village.”

“Why doesn’t he come in too?”

“Because he has things to do, Squirt. And I don’t think he wanted to intrude.”

“Nonsense!” my mother exclaimed. “Should you ever be in this situation again, he is to come get a hot meal as well.”

“Yes mam,” I said.

“Now, come inside, the lot of you. You can stay for awhile, can’t you Setsuna?”

“Oh, yes,” I replied. “I have many things to tell you about.”

I stayed with my family until late into the night, even after Ankh went to bed. But all too soon, it was time for me to say good bye and good night.

After giving kisses and hugs to all, I remounted my camel and headed back to the camp. I saw there was a fire was still going. Who was still awake?

As I drew closer, I got my answer. Seth was sitting by the fire. “And just what do think you’re doing?” I asked. “You should have your royal butt in bed.”

“I was waiting for you, my lady,” he replied. “I wanted to make sure you got back here safely.”

“That’s very sweet,” I replied.

“Setsuna!” I heard my brother’s voice. “You didn’t tell us he was your /boyfriend/!”

“Ankh!” I yelped. “Where did /you/ come from?”

“I followed you.”

“Get back home right now. Mom’ll be worried if she checks on you and you’re not there.”

“I put pillows under my blanket. It still looks like I’m there.”

I held my head in my hands. Our parents were going to kill me.

“So this is your brother,” Seth said.

“Pleased to meet you sir,” he said, giving a small bow. It /was/ and adorable sight.

“And you, little one,” he replied.

“I’m sorry Seth, I have to bring him back,” I said.

“Ohhh,” Ankh whined.

“Just a moment,” Seth said. “I have something for you, child.”

“You do?” We asked together. He went into his tent and cam out with a small, gold bracelet. It looked as if it would fit him perfectly.

“Hold onto this for me, would you?” Seth asked Ankh, putting it in the boy’s hands.

“I’ll treasure it forever and ever,” my brother promised.

“Come on now, Ankh,” I said.

I was correct. Well, halfway. Mother had just checked on her son and had found him missing, but wasn’t worried. Just angry. Apparently, he was pulling this escape more and more often. He got pulled by the ear back to his room. Eventually, I again left and found Seth still waiting for me.

“Seth,” I sighed. “You should really be sleeping.”

“So should you,” he retorted.

“Fine, then. Let’s go to bed?”

“Keep you warm tonight?”

I arched an eyebrow. “That all depends on /how/ you intend to do so.”

He stood up and walked toward me until he was barely an inch from me, then held me in his arms. “Like this,” he whispered.

I could only return the embrace, snuggling my head close to his chest. “Okay.”

He responded by picking me up and carrying me into his tent. He laid me down on his spread and took his place beside me.

My heart was pounding. I wondered if he could hear it. I could hear his, but my head was also right next to it. His hand ran its way through my hair which was very calming, in fact, it was making me more and more drowsy.

During the rest of our journey, dark clouds began to hover. They seemed to be headed North, towards the palace. This continued for two days, then a messenger arrived from Yami, riding in great haste. I had never seen a camel move so quickly.

“High Priest Seth!” the messenger called.

“You have my attention,” Seth replied.

“Pharaoh Yami is in great need of your aid.”

“Say no more. Everyone pack and make way for the palace. Make haste!” Everyone did as told. All the supplies and such were packed at lighting speed.

The closer we got to the palace, the darker the clouds became. And the fouler Seth’s mood became. Something was obviously irritating him, other than Yami needing his help. Almost as if he knew what was going on.

No, that couldn’t be it. He and Yami were friends. Unless this was a foe they were both familiar with. Yes, that was most likely the reason.

We traveled all day and night to arrive at the palace late in the afternoon of the next day. Not that you could tell. The clouds had turned the sky black, allowing illumination only for cracks of lightning. There were no signs of life anywhere. We ran inside as soon as we arrived.

Yami stood in the main court, a few feet from the man he was facing, someone I had never seen before. Seth’s face became full of hatred once /he/ saw him, though. ‘I knew it,’ I thought. ‘He’s a common enemy, someone they’ve faced before.’  I then saw Hikari, terrified, a few feet behind the pharaoh. I ran to my friend’s aid.

“Hikari, are you alright?” I asked her.

“I am fine,” she said. “But… Yami…”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Before she could answer, the man spoke. “Greetings, Priest Seth. I see your tastes are also leading you towards the more common. No wonder you wanted me to do your dirty work.”

“Seth?!?” Yami demanded.

“I told you to stop this,” Seth replied.

“Why?” the man asked. “Because you have a girlfriend now? You don’t want her to get hurt? Being an all-powerful pharaoh isn’t important anymore?”

Yami looked at Seth, the betrayal he surely felt clear on his face.

“Seth… why…?”

Seth looked quite ashamed, but then something came over him. We all heard the sound of the Millennium Rod being activated. “No,” he said, seemingly possessed. “I must be pharaoh.”

“Yes,” the man said. “And what must you do to do so?”

“Must duel Yami,” Seth replied. The man ran off, laughing. Yami tried to follow, but there seemed to be a barrier of magic up. He could not leave the courtyard. “No, Pharaoh,” Seth said. “/I/ am your opponent.”

“No, Seth,” Yami replied. “I’m not. That man is controlling you with your own Millennium Item!!!”

“You’ve fallen so far. You kingdom is but a crypt,” Seth said. “Now face my Blue Eyes White Dragon /and/ your defeat!!!”

Yami had no choice. He summoned his own monster, the fabled Dark Magician. I held Hikari close while she clung to me.

“Attack!” the two men yelled together. As the monsters clashed, a brilliant light filled the courtyard. We had to look away. Once it had dissipated, we looked back at the two men. Seth stood, but hung his head, looking at Yami, who had fallen to the ground. We ran to him.

“Yami, Yami, speak to me please!” Hikari begged.

“Hikari,” he weakly replied. “Anubis is coming for me.”

“No, don’t say that.”

“Hikari, love, denying it won’t make it any less true.”

I saw Seth approach us. “Yami,” he said in disbelief.

“Hold yourself in no blame,” the mighty pharaoh told him. “It was not your will that was acted upon. It will be you who will take my place after I am gone.”

“Yami-“ Seth was in a new disbelief.

“Hikari, bury the Items with me and hide my tomb well,” Yami told his love.

“Of course, precious,” she replied.

“I am sorry I could not make you a queen,” he said. “You deserve no less.”

“You don’t deserve death. Not now,” she sobbed.

He turned toward me. “Setsuna, watch over my love, will you? Caring for her is the same as caring fro my heart.”

“Of course, my pharaoh.”

“Hey,” he said, even weaker. “What… did I tell you?”

“Yes, Yami.”

He looked back at Hikari. “My love,” he whispered. Then the life left him. The Puzzle around his neck glowed for a bit, then returned to normal.

I stood and looked outside, unable to watch Hikari cry any longer. The land was returned to it’s former glory, the Nile rushing, the plants about it growing… I wiped the tears flowing from my own eyes.

The immeasurable kindness of a pharaoh.