Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction / Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Perfect World ❯ Chapter 7

No witty comments this time. Please see an earlier chapter for the disclaimer. Chapter 7               Once upon a time, there was a prince. The Prince was young, but he was dying, dying of a disease that no human could cure, and no human could survive for long. So the Prince’s loyal friend sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a magic potion to save the Prince’s life, and save his life it did, but what of his soul?             Did it matter anymore?              ;  He sat quietly while the Pharaoh and his Priests discussed, and the lesser councilors put in their words…           &n bsp; But be as it may, it was highly debatable that Prince Yami could take the duty of Pharaoh in this state…           &n bsp; And who would want him now?             &nb sp; Mahaado was silent as the proceedings rolled on, but as Pharaoh proposed to marry his son off to Lady Anzu, there was a skitter, a movement, a blaze of shadow…           & nbsp; Mahaado blinked and found the Prince hiding behind his chair. “Yami…”         & nbsp;   Yami hissed.             “Hm.” Seto said. “So Prince Yami seems to have stated his opinion quite clearly.” No one missed the sarcasm.             Mahaado flushed, looking downwards. It wasn’t his fault…           &n bsp; Akunumkanon made a quick decision. If Yami stayed with Mahaado, he’d have someone to rule, Mahaado was already an elected Priest after all and Yami seemed to trust him. Plus, it would keep the affair quite internal…            ;  “Very well. Mahaado, you shall be our son’s consort.”            ;  Mahaado paled, but gave no other sign of his discomfort and bowed his head politely. The other lords shut up when they got the death glare of the other Millennium Item holders.             How interesting…           & nbsp;   “My sympathies.” Karim said, managing to get Mahaado away from the Prince for a rare moment. It seemed the boy – yes, Karim was well aware of his age but his looks belied his true age – had some fanatical attachment to the Priest.             Not that Karim minded. Mahaado was loyal and truly performed the duty to the best of his ability. Admittedly, his power was far from impressive, but what of it?             At least he could be trusted, unlike Seto, the treacherous snake…            & nbsp;  “Sympathies?” Mahaado gave a small smile. “I am honored by his trust in me.”           &nbs p; “Tis not that, Mahaado…Tis not that I trust you not, my friend. I know you care for the Prince, and you will fulfill your duty…” Here he hesitated, how to phrase it delicately that the Prince would be unfit to rule except as a puppet monarch? “But I fear for you just the same.”           &n bsp; Mahaado’s eyes glittered with some internal humor Karim knew not of why. “I do not fear, Karim.”           & nbsp; “Nevertheless, I shall pray for Thoth’s guidance…”          &nb sp;    Karim nodded, sensing that the conversation was over, and withdrew.             ; Mahaado found Mana waiting for him in his workroom. “My dear apprentice; how goes the arts?”           &n bsp; “As well as can be expected.” Mana answered, bubbly cheerfulness sliding away like oil on water. True face revealed sharp angles and wicked smiles, much like his.             Sloth shrugged as she dissolved into smoke for a second, feeling annoyed. “There are meant to be seven…”          & nbsp;  “And seven there shall be, for when the time comes, the Items and the holders will join as one and keep Egypt’s glory alive.”           & nbsp; She knew what this meant, and already, her fingers itched for the golden glory her master held. “I understand.”          &n bsp;  Mahaado’s ring pulsed in agreement. “As do I, my dear apprentice. Do not fear for the future, for we see what Aishizu cannot. Soon, very soon…”           & nbsp;   Akunumkanon watched his son with a wary eye. The boy had a scrap of fabric in his hand and was teasing one of the royal cats with it, watching as the black-furred beast made a swipe with claws.             Was he… fit for this duty?             Oh Isis and Osiris, Ra and Horus, protect his son, and may Wadjet guard him, and may Hathor bless their union…           &n bsp; Yami kept his inner thoughts tightly hidden; even Akunadin’s Eye would not pry them out of his mind. Shifting smoke and mirrors and sharp glass obscured his true mind, leaving a tapestry of destruction in its stead.             The perfect image of a broken child…           &n bsp; Akunumkanon felt guilty. Perhaps if he had had a choice, he would not have pushed Atemu into marriage so soon, but it was truly the only way left.             They could not afford to show any weakness to their enemies. Atemu must be Crown Prince. His health was failing and he needed an heir.             Much as he new Seto was his nephew, he did not wholly trust him. The Priest of the Rod was cunning, too much so for his own good, and he had secrets.             Akunadin was envious of his position as Pharaoh. That was to be expected. But at least the father served with a true heart, even if the son did not...             There was one other he needed to speak with.             He beckoned a servant over. “Fetch High Priest Mahaado for me.”           &nbs p; “Yes, Pharaoh, life, health, strength to you for ten thousand years!”                Within moments, the boy returned, quarry in tow. High Priest Mahaado sank to his knees respectfully, and if there was any disloyalty, it was not here…           &nb sp; The Pharaoh must not apologize, because to do so is to show weakness, and that cannot be for Horus on Earth. Akunumkanon hid a frown and coughed, collecting his scattered thoughts.             ; “You honor me with your presence, my Pharaoh.” Mahaado said formally, keeping his eyes down.             Akunumkanon released a breath, feeling suddenly old and weary. “Protect my son for me, Mahaado.”            ;  “Yes, my Pharaoh.”            ;  “This is a great honor.”           & nbsp; Mahaado murmured the proper words of thanks, his mind not focused on the broken man. Worthless.           &nbs p; Soon, Yami would be Pharaoh and all would be well…            &n bsp;  “Mahaado…for much time I have sensed an evil stirring here. I wish you to find the answer. This is a sacred duty.”           &n bsp; The opportunity? He made a quick calculation, a brush of shadow, even as he murmured a proper reply.             < It is time. Tell him. >             “The Ring allowed me to glimpse how the Items were created… the evil could not hide its secrets so easily…”              They destroyed ninety-nine lives for Egypt. Was this a fair trade? Perfectly fair, unless you were one of the ones sacrificed…           &n bsp;   Akunumkanon was looking drawn and ill as Mahaado related a few sentences that would break a heart, and even as he left and heard Akunumkanon call frantically for High Priestess Aishizu, he knew that the time had come.             Mana met him at the gate with a smile in her eyes.             “It’s time.”           &n bsp; End Chapter Completed 10/8/05 Whee! All right, so far we have 3 homunculi and there will probably be more, hai? Mahaado: You are an immoral author Phantomness: I’m a darkfic authoress, what do you expect? Yami: …                            & nbsp;             &n bsp;             &nb sp;