Tangled Fates

Chapter 18

They spend two more days in the Patties where they celebrate a small marriage ceremony in Etmu's Home Village making their marriage official, she took the chance to show Atem around where His mother grew up, He easily got popular with the people who considered him family, He even trained some of their warriors making the Kyoshies even more popular..
It was close to sundown as Atem and Etmu walk along the Nile shore enjoying each other's company when A Rider storms panting into the middle of the busy city, he leaves his horse as soon as he enters and runs towards Atem like his life depended on it throwing himself into his feet...
  "Your Majesty... Its... the Pharaoh.."
Atem's heart sinks upon hearing the news, his hearing fades and his eyes blur, he feels himself a 3 year old boy again weak, standing alone in dark space sinking deep.. He might not even get a chance to say farewell, he can't be losing his remaining parent.. it was just unthinkable.. He is the Great Pharaoh of Egypt.. He can't replace him.. He is not ready to rule.. to grieve.. not again.. He still had so much to ask, so much to tell.. to learn..
  He is pulled out of his speechless by Etmu holding him wiping his silent tears telling him It was alright and she was here, but he was too shocked to reply Only hoping they're not too late.. 

  It took them a full day none stop to reach the capital, As soon as they arrive Atem runs up to meet his father who sits his throne with a bloody napkin in his hand coughing his remaining strength out waiting for his son to return..
Akmankanen sighs deeply on seeing his son relaxing his tensed body ignoring the tears in his son's eyes and his breaking voice.. He removes the millennium puzzle and puts it around Atem's neck..
"Forgive me.. son, It was me who should have paid the price.. a long time ago.."
Akmankanen tears slip out of his eyes as he lets go of his son weakly..
"Father Please help me understand, What price? Why is mother dead? What gift of life?"
Atem yells through his confusion
"MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
Satanic laughter echoes through the Palace as the mysterious stranger from the visions finally appears surrounded by angry hissing spirits, he lifts his white sliver hair to show his scar..
"How Slow! I am not impressed Prince, Allow me to introduce myself.. I am Thief king Bakura and the soul survivor of the Kull-Elna massacre.. Now allow me to introduce my brothers and sisters in Their.. Most.. Powerful.. Form.." He says sarcastically laughing between his lines "Diabound, GO.. "
He ordered as a huge gray demon monster appears with a snake tail, terrifying face and a devil wings and begins to attack the officials and guards destroying the palace..
Atem wince protecting his father from the wreckage as Bakura's red eyes appear through the smoke..
"If you wish to learn the truth.. come where it all begun.." He whispers through the noise to reach only Atem, as he disappears from the palace along side his demon monster..
Atem eyes Aknaden who stares back at him with threatening eyes, then runs out following Bakura, hearing his father yelling "NOOOO!" In weak, cracking voice and stretched hand towards him but he has given up on getting any answers from either of them.. So be it.. He will learn the truth where it all begun..

   "We must follow the Prince Now.."
Mahad orders The rest of officials all getting on their horses and riding away.. but Seth was grabbed by A strong Firm hard and pulled back into the Palace..

-Kull Elna
  Atem walks into the deserted cold village leaving his horse to find Bakura waiting for him sitting on the roof of a destroyed building staring at him with those red flaming hatred and despise eyes...
"The truth Now!!" He yells through the village his voice echoes awakening its sleeping sprits, Bakura only scoffs and stands lazily..
"Once upon a time a desperate Pharaoh and his wicked brother's ambitions meet in a cursed Forbidden spell which requires the sacrifice of a 100 soul to be tortured for eternity, but Will grant the High Priest infinite power.. and The Pharaoh and his poor.. poor wife.. a child.."
  Bakura explains as he walks down to Atem whose eyes widen upon understanding Now  'The Gift Of Life'.. How could he have been so blind.. It was clear all along..
HE was THAT Life... surrounded by death and mystery only his life was the one to emerge.. His breath begins to break as his chest is filled with unbearable pain, He begins to feel his energies drained and the life sucked out of his still living flesh As Bakura holds a hand out squeezing..
"Our lives was such a small price compared to yours, We were slaughtered and our blood was used to make yours.. But Fate had other plans for you.. For I survived.."
Bakura clutched his held out hand squeezing harder it making Atem drop to his knees holding his chest spitting blood..
  "What.. are..you.. doing to..me!"
Atem whispers through his pain
"The moment you entered the village.. I had complete control over your very existence.. for you've returned to your true birth place"
Atem winces feeling his heart grabbed by a hand deep inside of his chest preventing the muscle from its natural movement..
Bakura Kneels down examining every inch of Atem's pained face with enjoying eyes showing him his now dripping with Red, Warm Blood hand and whispers in his ears..
"I'll let you on a little secret.. A Binding spell is only as strong as its caster.. and She was far too weak, leaving you..my dear Key completely unprotected.."
Atem starts to lose conscious due to the blood loss and lack of circulation after hearing Bakura's words..

   Aknaden uses the millennium eye to freeze time to give himself a chance to access the situation, now that he has his son in hand, there is no more use of these annoying officials or their ill Pharaoh, he takes the millennium rod and removes the cover that hides its dagger and stabs all the officials dead enjoying the sight of blood dripping from their frozen bodies as they are in for a shocking surprise, he heads to the Pharaoh next but notices the Kyoshies surrounding him for protection, he gets close to Etmu's frozen body and eyes her feeling her face realizing who she reminds him of and smirks leaving as their role have not ended quite yet.. neither did his brother's.. he lives.. for now

  "Father! I need to find his highness.."
Seth yells at Aknaden who keeps pulling him into places he never knew existed inside the palace to finally stand in Aknaden's private Library..
  "There is no time.. you must listen.. all that I have been preparing for these years.."
  He heads to the Metal candle holder and opening the secret door into these dungeons leading Seth inside who is both disgusted and horrified by the scene of death and torture..
"I have been preparing for this day since my damned brother's coronation.. for this Country needed a powerful leader.. but its never too late! You will be the next pharaoh"
  Aknaden shows his son around in creepy proud eyes that leads Seth to notice the blood on his hands as he Hands him Over the millennium rod realizing what must have come of the Pharaoh's officials..
"All this power my boy will be ours.. and we shall role under the great Dark Lord's Name who shall will rise again very soon putting us back where we belong!!!!"
  He yells making his voice echo through the dark dungeon waking its creatures..
"You casted an infertility spell.. forcing Akmankanen to agree to the spell.. making the only heir to the Egyptian throne the key to releasing the Dark Lord insuring his death"
Seth concludes in calm shocked eyes the extent of his father's deeds for he is blinded by greed and obsession with power..
  "Of course I have! I was not going to let you be a mere Priest for Edna's brat! I had to insure your future! That bandit Boy will do all the dirty work for us.. for he will release the Zorc and KILL ATEM!!!"
Aknaden yells absorbing the energies of all the prisoners into his own body with the power of the millennium eye doubling his height and size as he grows Longer darker hair and sharp nails turning him into a Masked Monster but is surprised by his son aiming the Rod at him sealing the continuation of his Power and knocking him unconscious, Seth breathes heavily unable to make up his mind for his choice is far too great, betray the Pharaoh and the sworn oath to protect his only cousin, Future Pharaoh and best friend or line with his Father against them and rule over all Egypt..
He steps back hesitating watching his father lay motionless on the ground with the prisoners howling around him, He leaves the library locking this damned door behind him..
There is no choice, if the only option of him ruling is under the dar lord's name and killing his own cousin of blood then he can't allow himself to even consider it...
"Atem!!" He runs out to ride his horse towards the Village his heart beating so fast as this could the last chance to save His cousin's life..

  Etmu watches all the officials suddenly drop dead to the ground lifeless with a single wound to the heart with no murderer or murder weapon in sight, she immediately steps back ready to guard the Pharaoh and notices he is the only one not harmed besides them selves.. 
"Your highness, are you alright?"
She helps him up as he leans on her weakly And smiles dearly do her..
"Its true what they say, you will marry a woman like your mother... and he sure did... you remind me of every bit of her, I am sorry you joined our family in such time...."
He coughs unable to continue speaking..
The rest of the Girls check on the Officials finding out Solomn is alive but heavily wounded carrying him to the palace ward
"Etmu..." Katrina calls with strong voice..
"The millennium rod is missing..."