Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ At The End ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

At the End

By Evil Windstar

Summary: After Jou leaves Kaiba, he finds love in Yami's arms. But is it really worth it when he kisses him, flashes of another life appear before his eyes, one he shared with Kaiba? Or is there some other dark sinister force trying to control him? J/S. J/Y

Pairings: Jou/Seto. Jou/Yami. Anubis/Set

Note: This is will make sense in the second chapter I swear! Don't worry.

Disclaimer: Don't own Yu-gi-oh!...... Seriously.

And it's all in how you mix the two
And it starts just where the light exists
It's a feeling that you cannot miss
And it burns a hole through everyone that feels it

~ "Blue and Yellow", The Used

Prologue

The Golden Lotus of the Nile Resurrects

August 31, 2003

Cairo, Egypt- After years of toiling under the inferno heat of the Black Land, archaeologists finally find a prize that explains the founding of the rising popular game called "Duel Monsters"...

Not even this game is far-off of being original.

Under an insignificant pyramid that was located by the ancient ruins of Thebes, there were numerous tablets (see picture 1A) that described monsters of terrible power that rampaged against the world. There were also walls painted (see picture 2A), telling a tale of lost. There was no mummy found in the chamber of the pyramid, it is believed that tomb robbers stole the body. There were no obvious displays of wealth inside, only a curious eye with intricate designs inside of it carved on the ceiling (See picture 1B). Ancient lords of Egypt played in games called the "Shadow Games" where things at stake were not trivial life points but souls. Though it is not yet understood how they played with their "monsters", it is assumed that the loser would forfeit his life and the winner would gain immense power, over what is not yet known.

The tablet was ridden with age and eroded against the passing of time, but considering it has been over 5000 years since this tablet was last viewed, it is in quite good condition. But curiously, at the bottom of this tablet (see picture 2A) it seems that someone deliberately chiseled off an outcome of a battle between the pharaoh Atemu and his brother the High Priest Set. As seen, there are two monsters above of each opponent's head. Remarkably, they look almost exactly like a sorcerer and a dragon of the game of "Duel Monsters". Above the pharaoh's head is the ultimate spellcaster "Dark Magician" and above the High Priest is the legendary "Blue Eyes White Dragon".

It is generally believed that the two brothers were fighting for the throne of Egypt, though it is not known why. By default, the oldest should have the throne because it was the custom of Ancient Egypt. But it seems that Set the High Priest was a bastard, born out of wedlock, and was considered dangerous by his father's advisors. Four years later, Set's mother was murdered by the orders of the pharaoh and by that time, his brother was born. Set and Atemu were half-brothers of their mother. The brothers got along quite well for having separate fathers, what made them become such fierce enemies is to be revealed later. Also the brothers were given two gifts after their father mysteriously died in a painful manner, some suspicion fell onto Set for avenging his mother's unnecessary and painful death. Set was given a rod of pure gold that could unsheathed a fine blade and Atemu given a golden, puzzle shaped like an upside-down pyramid. Both of these items had that "Sennen Eye" carved on them, like the one carved on the chamber of pyramid. Whoever inscribed these tablets believed that these gifts prolonged life and gave bountiful youth like immortality. Reports of those who lived during the reign of Pharaoh Atemu say that he had to be younger than twenty though he had been on the throne for over thirty years! Pharaoh Atemu was dubbed the "boy-king" when he came to power at the age of twelve.

Set was always at the right-hand side of his brother whenever Atemu sat at the throne as depicted on one of the tablets found (see picture 4C). What caused the rift between the two brothers, who had such a strong connection to each other? As told in unknown account:

"It was clear as day that the pharaoh's two sons loved each other. The eldest always protected his brother by keeping one of his faithful dragons at his side until his brother was able to acquire the amethyst magician as his monster. Both of the brothers dueled against each other in a mock Shadow Game to improve each other's abilities. Much to Set's delight and chagrined, Atemu proved to be the best in the Shadow Games. - Shadi, Keeper of the Sennen Items, 3435 ."

Let's turn away from the tablets and read from the inscribing of the walls.

It tells of a tale of a love lost and woe for the world. Listen to the tale of Anubis, the Golden Lotus of the Nile. You would believe by the title alone that the Golden Lotus of the Nile was a woman beyond imaginable beauty, would you not?

It is not so. The Golden Lotus of the Nile was a man, a man that possessed a power that many coveted to have and to control. For whoever had this power in their hands would be able to turn the world into Armageddon. Anubis had the blessing, the curse of firestarting. Able to turn anything into flames in a second, for having this gift, Anubis had eyes as red as fire, and blood, the sign of evil in the eyes of ancient Egyptians.

Anubis already had blood in his hands in the deaths of his mother and sister. They perished in a fire that he created. He had no control over this newfound power that began appearing at the age of four. His father was shouting at him, screaming at the young child for having such a terrible power as firestarting and for having eyes of blood.

He was frightened, and to fend off his father's knife that had already sliced his left cheek called upon the fires to help him. As a result, the estate that his family owned burned down to the ground and everything that was precious to his father was lost, except for him. His father cursed him to eternal damnation and they moved to the slums of the bright city of Menfe, located along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

There Anubis found a new way of life when he was rescued from the whipping and the intoxication of his father by the infamous Harpy Lady. She was known for leading the men of her city to war whenever Egyptians wanted their city. She always won. She was given the title of Harpy Lady, for being just as dangerous and fierce as her two harpy birds. She was, technically, the queen of the city but she did not like being called that so the citizens of Menfe settled to calling her the Harpy Lady. The very name gave people awe and her victories were known as far off as Thebes, the bustling capital of the Egyptian Empire.

Sekhmet (the goddess of war) she was named. She put young Anubis in her prestigious academy of warriors and leaders. Whoever came out of that academy successfully was considered to be one of the best soldiers in the ancient world. She named Anubis as her heir and long-lost son, though this was not to be true. Anubis easily settled into the life of as a serviceman and earned a long-life friend Reshed.

Eleven years after Pharaoh ordered the attack of Menfe, now wished to have an allegiance with the city. Sekhmet complied, and to show she bore no ill will to Egypt she brought a hundred of her most precious horses. Her country was also known for breeding the most swiftest and powerful steeds in the world. The horses had blood of the Arabian horse, because of intense trading with the Arabian tribes. She went down the Nile River, bringing with her son Anubis and her bodyguards. They were brought before the pharaoh who dismissed them casually.

Sekhmet could no longer bear the Egyptian hospitably when she decided to go back home, without her son. Anubis was brought down to Thebes so he could stay and form a powerful allegiance with one of the court nobles by marriage. She left him with his own personal bodyguards because she did not trust the Egyptians to do their job to protect her precious son.

Anubis settled into the Egyptian life quite nicely, speaking Egyptian flawlessly since an early age, he rose to the pharaoh's court with his beauty and knowledge of sorcery. It was rumored he was a virgin, but nobody really believed this since many sought after him and when he was at the ripe age of nineteen. Daughters of nobles threw themselves at his feet, seeking any attention from him, even just a glance will do for them, and wealthy nobles were caught in his spell also. Nobody was immune to him, except his friends.

His mother was kind enough to release his best friend Reshed from her service and leave him with Anubis to provide protection and company. He also made a friend when the pharaoh provided him with a translator named Sokar, who was also a healer of sorts. With having Reshed and Sokar at his side, Anubis prospered quite fine as a young Egyptian lord. He had still not made that marriage of allegiance his mother bid him to do.

Meanwhile, Set had become as the High Priest of all of Egypt and become the second most powerful figure in Egypt, right after the pharaoh. He was known as the "Dragon Lord" for he sacrificed countless young virgins to the gods and his three beloved dragons. He struck more fear into the general public than the pharaoh. The public hated him, but being the pharaoh's brother gave Set protection. Fortunately, he did not need it because he was the most powerful sorcerer in the land of Egypt. And it was known he craved power beyond all else.

And this was to be his downfall in years to come; he sacrificed everything, even the love of two people to get the power he so desired to possess.

It is not known how Anubis and Set met each other but it is assumed that they most probably met each other during one of the many dances the pharaoh held. This is the type of marriage Anubis' mother wanted to have, who better to marry than the High Priest himself, the second-in-command in all of Egypt?...*

"Hmm, interesting. The two lovers doomed... Set and Anubis." A chilling laugh escaped his lips. "I will find you, my pretty Anubis. You had him in that life but now Set is -mine-. You will serve me well, all thanks to my powerful rod, which will bend your mind to my will. Soon my plans will be prepare and I shall go whenever you are, Anubis. You cannot hide from me. He is in my side now..." he smirked as the Sennen Eye appeared in his forehead.

And in the dark recesses of Malik Ishtar's mind as he continued to read the article, his yami Marik laughed.

~~~~~*~*~~~~~

*The article isn't done yet. I still have to figure out how much I want to reveal about the past lives of Anubis and Set in -this- fic.

A/N: Oh god! I'm finished with this chapter! This idea has been brewing in my head for months, and I do really mean months! The only problem was getting off my ass and typing it up.

So yea, this is my grand "masterpiece", hope you all liked it at least. ^-^; I mean if you read this far, you must have liked it right? Right? *nervous smile*

Love it? Hate it? Let me know and review! (Just let me know if it's worth continuing)