Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sins Of The Pharaoh ❯ Little Warrior ( Chapter 18 )

 

Little Warrior

 

Aten sat beside Aria, wiping her hot head with a cool cloth. The eight-year-old sighed as he thought about the challenges he faced in the next day. Aria's body was still very hot, her body was covered in sweat. His bottom lip trembled as he thought about his best friend dying.

`Ravana and Hamadi are dead. I don't want to lose Aria, too. I don't want any more friends to die on me.'

“How is she, Aten?” Seth asked, sitting beside the boy.

Aten shook her head. “She's still asleep. That fever hasn't broken.” Aten sniffled as he wiped her hot arm down with the cool water. “Do you think she's going to die, High Priest Seth?”

Seth took Aria's hand in his own. “If Ra wishes her back, he will take her.”

“I don't want her to die. Ravana and Hamadi died already. They were my friends. Now Aria might die.”

Seth looked down at the little boy. “Part of being a soldier is watching your comrades die, Aten. People die in wars, they get ill, or they get old.”

Aten nodded. “I miss Ravana. Hamadi was a good friend. I wish he wasn't killed by Yami. He was too good to die like that.”

Seth sighed. “Yami is very dangerous, Aten. The closer he becomes to gathering those Items, the more dangerous he will become. Yami won't stop until he's achieved world domination through that Shadow Magic. Someone has to stop him, Aten.”

“I would do it if it meant Aria won't die. She's my best friend. Do you think I can win tomorrow's challenge?”

Seth leaned down and looked the child in the eyes. “You have to win or Aria will die for certain.”

“I'm….I'm afraid, High Priest Seth.”

“You must go in there confident, Aten. You have become very good with your fighting skills. I have seen you practice and you have come a long way since you were younger.”

Aten looked up at Seth. “I've worked hard to improve.”

“Then use those skills to win.”

Aten looked down at Aria. “I have to win for her. If I lose, I lose her forever. We both die.”

Seth nodded. “Don't lose.”

Aten sighed. “I'm going to go to sleep, sir. I'm tired.”

Seth reached out and cupped the child's cheek in his hand. He gave the child a smile and a kiss on the forehead. “Goodnight, little warrior.”

Aten laid beside Aria and put his arm around her. He cuddled against her and hugged her tightly. “Goodnight, Aria. I hope you feel better tomorrow.” Aten kissed her cheek and rested his head beside her shoulders.

The little boy fell asleep beside his friend.

**********************

Aten pulled the chainmail over his head. He strapped a worn, rusted breastplate to his body. It was the only armor that Anubis had left him. He looked at the weapons from which he could choose. He could only have two weapons.

The eight year old looked at the dagger, sword, spear, and net.

The child placed the dagger in the sheath by his hip and sheathed the sword on the other.

The door opened and the pharaoh entered with another elderly gentlemen.

“This is the boy.” Yami glared down at the child. “On your knees before royalty and the Head of the House of Ishtar!”

The child dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

The elderly man took his walking stick and touched under the child's chin. The man tilted Aten's head up to take a good look at the boy. “So this is the fruit of my son's loins….how disappointing.”

Yami grinned. “Yes, this is the boy your traitor son created before he was killed.”

The man narrowed his eyes at the child. “This child is a bastard and does not exist as far as I'm concerned. My son was a traitor to his heritage, his bloodline. This child is not an Ishtar. He is the seed of something worse than a dog- a peasant woman with a rotten womb.”

“Kaemwaset, I offer condolences for your son's demise, though I believe his death was well-deserved.”

Kaemwaset nodded. “My son, Marik Ishtar, has been dead to me for many years. His death did not tear my heart in two. His death was a relief. I want no part in this child's life.”

Aten narrowed his eyes. “My father loved me! If my mother had not been slaughtered by Yami's forces, I know she would have loved me, too!”

Kaemwaset brought the walking stick down hard on the child's skull. “You will speak when spoken to, you little filth! Your father was an embarrassment to everything the Ishtar name stood for! It is good that he is dead. The fact that you continue to survive worries me, Aten. You bear the Ishtar name and it is remained to be seen what extra humiliation you bring to the beloved name of Ishtar.”

“If Aten dies today, Kaemwaset, Marik's bloodline ceases to exist.”

“Then I pray it ends today, my pharaoh.”

Yami grinned. “Aten will face many difficult opponents today. It is guaranteed that he will not win.”

Aten swallowed nervously. “I won't give up easily, my pharaoh.”

Kaemwaset leaned over to the boy. “Give it up, boy. You're already dead to your family. It would be best if you were dead to the world, you imperfect little bastard-seed.”

Aten glared defiantly at Kaemwaset. “We shall see who gives up. It won't be me.”

The child watched Yami and Kaemwaset leave. He dropped to his knees and gazed at the floor, overwhelmed.

Why couldn't he just accept a beating or a night with Yami instead of risking his life? For the first time in a long time, the child felt alone. His father had been killed, his mother slaughtered before he first had a chance to suckle on her breast. Now, he was risking his life to prove a point that he was not weak….that he could defend his friend, Aria. Anubis was choosing opponents. Anubis would not choose weak opponents. He would choose difficult opponents to assure his defeat.

Aten shook his head. “There's no way I can win.”

“What kind of talk is that from a warrior?”

Aten saw Seth standing in the doorway and bowed his head. “High Priest, I don't know what to do. I'm afraid. This man told me not to even try.”

Seth approached the shaking, nervous child. “You must try. If you don't, Aria and you will die.”

“I don't want that to happen.”

“Then you must try your best and fight as if your life depended on it.”

Aten looked up at the priest with wide eyes. “Who are my opponents?”

“Yami would not tell me for fear of me telling you.”

“I'm going to try, High Priest Seth.”

Seth kneeled in front of the kneeling boy. He removed his necklace from his neck and tied it around Aten's neck. It was a circular silver disk with a yellow amber stone in the middle. “I want you to wear this.”

“What is it?”

Seth put his hands on the child's shoulders. “It is a magic necklace. It will keep you from harm. You just have to believe it will work. If you believe it will help you, there's no opponent in this world who can defeat you.”

Aten stared wide-eyed at Seth. “Put this on Aria! She won't get hurt then if I lose and I get killed.”

“No, Aten, it stays on you. Its magic will only work on you. Do you believe it will help you?”

The boy looked into Seth's eyes, searching for the truth of Seth's words. “I do,” he said, finally nodding. “I do believe it will help me.”

Seth smiled. “Then you wear it. It will keep you safe with its magic. You must do your part, too, Aten. You must fight with your heart and soul.”

Aten swallowed hard. “Okay, sir. I will do that.”

“Aten, should you win today's battles, I will personally appoint you my new bodyguard.”

Aten's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “You…will…what?!”

“You will be my personal bodyguard. You will go where Aria and I go. You will protect her and myself, should the need arise. You will never again have to be in the barracks of Anubis. You will officially able to remain in my harem to protect my wives and children. What do you say to that?”

Aten took a deep breath. “I'm just a kid, sir. How could I--?”

“If you win today, you will have proven yourself worthy. That necklace will be yours to keep, a physical symbol of your loyalty to myself.”

Aten nodded. “Okay, Seth. I will do whatever it takes.”

Seth smiled down and felt the boy shaking worse than ever in his hands. Seth shifted closer to the boy, still kneeling in front of him. “I believe in you, Aten. I wish you luck and may the gods smile upon you.”

The High Priest leaned down and kissed the child on the forehead gently.

The boy's body started to quake harder and Seth looked down. The boy was sobbing.

“Aten?”

Aten closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “Please….”

“What's wrong?”

The shaking erupted into a flood of tears and sobbing. “What do you want from me?”

“Nothing. Why would I want something from you?”

“You kissed me. Yami only kisses me when he….does bad things to me. Anubis did the same. He kissed me after he and Yami both did bad things. Kisses are bad. Do you want me to do something?”

Seth shook his head and wrapped his arms around the trembling boy. “I want nothing more than to see you victorious today, Aten. I will never hurt you like Anubis or Yami.” Seth cupped Aten's cheek in his hands. “You are a beautiful boy who shows a lot of promise. Fear me not. I won't harm you.”

Aten swallowed hard and rubbed his eyes. “Promise?”

“I am not twisted like them, Aten. I care a lot for you and I hope to see you victorious today.” The horn sounded nearby. “There's the horn. I have to go, Aten. Good Luck.”

Aten looked up at Seth. “Sir? Could I have…one more kiss?”

Seth leaned down and kissed the child's cheek. “Be a good boy.”

Aten watched the High Priest leave. “I get to be Seth's personal bodyguard….I'll be safe from Anubis. Ra, please protect me.”

**********************

Yami smiled proudly as he walked towards his seat of honor. Seth followed him, his eyes fixed on the arena below. Rayna walked behind Seth, worry plain on her face.

Anubis sat beside Yami and grinned. “They won't live, stepbrother.”

“Excellent, Anubis.”

Beside the Royal Box, Bakura was chained and bound to watch the battle below.

Kaemwaset walked into the Royal Box and saw Bakura chained, his arms bound by chains and a rope tied around his neck. The man walked up to Bakura and grabbed the prisoner's hair. “So, the great Pharaoh Yami has finally caught you I see.”

Bakura narrowed his eyes at the Noble. “You….”

Kaemwaset chuckled. “You gave me this scar on my cheek. You were with my son, weren't you?”

Bakura narrowed his eyes at the man. “Marik meant nothing to you. Your own son, your flesh and blood. He's dead and I bet you didn't even shed one solitary tear for him.”

“You're right about that, thief. Marik's death was a blessing and a relief. I should have killed him when he took his first cry after his birth. My life would have been better if I had not fathered Marik and placed him in his mother's womb.”

Bakura cleared his throat and spit on Kaemwaset. “How dare you call yourself a father!”

Kaemwaset punched the prisoner in the face. “You will have the pleasure of seeing your daughter die today, you scoundrel!”

Bakura's brown eyes locked on Rayna's. The thief lowered his head and breathed sharply. She walked up to Bakura and kneeled beside him. She reached out and touched his cheek, where blood had dried on his bruised skin. The thief looked pale and she could tell Yami had not fed him. Bakura's lips were dry.

She reached over and took a cup of water from a bowl. “Drink, my love.”

Bakura drank the cup of water quickly, savoring each drop. The thief pulled back, coughing and sputtering.

“Careful, you don't want to choke.”

Seth watched as Rayna cleaned off Bakura's face with part of her clothing and the water.

“You poor, poor boy,” Rayna whispered with pity at the starving, beaten figure before her.

“Rayna, do you think our daughter will die?”

Rayna shook her head. “I don't know.”

“Rayna, I…..I love you.”

The woman smiled. “I know you do,” she whispered to him. “I still love you, Bakura Osiris.” The woman leaned over and planted a gentle kiss on a large bruise covering Bakura's left cheek. “You look ill.”

Bakura closed his eyes and lowered his head. “I can't count the sunrises since I have eaten or tasted drink.”

“Rayna,” Yami said sternly. “Get away from the prisoner. He's going to enjoy this spectacle. I know I will.”

Rayna sat beside Seth. “Could you please see that Bakura gets food, Seth? I don't wish for him to starve.”

Seth leaned over to Rayna. “I will see what I can arrange after this.”

The second horn sounded and Aria was carried into the arena. She was still dressed in white, fine linen. Her skill still burned hot, indeed some of her skin was covered with red rashes. Aten walked onto the field and ran to Aria in the sand.

The boy held Aria's upper body in his arms. “Aria? Can you hear me?”

Aria's eyes opened slowly. “Aten...Bed.”

“I need for you to try to stand up. Can you try that? I need for you to move around a bit.”

Aria shook her head. “Dizzy…tired.”

Aten held her close to his body and trembled. “Please, Aria.”

Aria closed her eyes and her body went limp against Aten.

“This can't be good.”

Yami stood up. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are here to watch young Aten Ishtar prove that he is powerful enough to protect a lowly servant girl! These battles are to the death! Should Aten fall, the servant girl falls with him!”

Anubis stood up. “Aten's first opponent: Akiri Galiad.”

Bakura sadly watched his sick daughter. `She's right there and I can't do anything for her.'

Aten watched the door open to the arena and another boy soldier walked near him. “Akiri!”

Akiri stood in front of Aten with a spear and a net. “To the death, Aten.”

Aten laid Aria back down in the sand and stood in front of her. He drew his dagger and held it in front of him. Akiri was not a skilled warrior at all. In fact, Akiri was younger than he and knew little of actual combat.

This boy was no challenge.

Anubis just wanted this boy slaughtered.

“Akiri? I can't kill you.”

The child trembled. “You won't have to….” The child swallowed nervously. “I'll kill you first!”

Akiri jabbed with his spear as Aten jumped out of the way. Akiri ran up to Aria, holding his spear high, ready to stab the sleeping girl.

Aten withdrew his dagger and blocked his strike with the blade. “Akiri, don't kill Aria!”

“I have to! Anubis will beat me if I don't!”

Aten kicked Akiri in the side, knocking the boy over. “I won't let you hurt Aria, Akiri!”

The smaller boy stood up and grabbed his net. He tossed the net, wrapping it around Aten's leg and pulled.

Aten fell onto his back as he saw the glimmer of Akiri's spear above him.

“Forgive me, Akiri.”

Aten plunged the dagger into Akiri's chest. The small boy stopped his spear and the net. He let out a gasp and fell to his knees. The boy's eyes were fixed on the blue, cloudless sky above him.

Tears fell from Aten's eyes. “I'm sorry, `Kiri.”

Aten pulled back, removing the dagger from the child's chest. The small boy fell over on his side, whimpering and gasping for breath. The boy let out a gentle sigh and his body lay motionless on the sand.

“Victor is Aten Ishtar!”

The crowd cheered and roared as Aten retreated to Aria.

“I didn't want to kill him!” Aten sobbed. “I had no choice! Don't cheer for me! Stop it! Aria, wake up!”

Two adult guards stepped into the arena and placed Akiri's body beside a wall.

“Aten's second opponent: Valen Krixin.”

An eight-year-old boy walked into the arena, armed with two swords. He walked confidently towards Aten and held up both of his swords.

“Fight me.”

Aten stood up and removed his sword from his side. Holding both swords in his hands, he narrowed his eyes at his opponent.

“I won't let you hurt Aria, Valen!”

The boy spun the swords in his hands as if they were weightless. “I won't hurt her, Aten, I promise. All I'll do is kill her!”

Yami leaned over to Anubis. “How good is this kid?”

Anubis grinned at Yami. “He's good at swordplay. I'm quite amazed with his skill. I've never seen anyone spin swords like this kid.”

Yami grinned. “Excellent. Let's see if Aten can hold his own against him.”

Valen spun the two swords in his hands and brought the blades down. Aten jumped to the side as the two blades kicked up sand. Aten swung his two blades to the left to attack Valen's back, but the boy blocked it with his sword in his left hand.

Valen turned to face his opponent and licked his dry lips. “You won't get me as easy as you got Akiri.”

“I didn't want to kill Akiri! I wanted to let him go, but I couldn't!”

Valen chuckled. “That makes you weak! Killing is what a soldier does, pure and simple!”

“There was no challenge there! Akiri was no challenge for me! His death was pointless!”

“As yours will be, Aten!”

Valen swung a sword towards his opponent to decapitate him, but his victim ducked. He swung his other sword low and cut Aten's upper arm.

Aten let out a wail of pain and jumped back, holding his arm.

Valen chuckled. “One of many to come.”

Aten lunged at Valen, but the other boy stepped aside. He turned and the two boys' swords clashed and clanged.

Valen was hitting Aten's swords with such fervor and harshness that sparks flew from his blade.

“Don't bother defending yourself, Aten!” Valen threatened, swinging his sword at Aten's injured arm.

Aten blocked the strike with his sword and stabbed Valen's shoulder with is dagger. “I won't let you hurt Aria!”

Valen cried out in agony as his shoulder gushed with red. “I'll kill you for that!”

Valen brought his sword up and slammed it against Aten's sword. Aten kicked his opponent back and lunged at him with his dagger again.

Valen jumped aside and elbowed Aten in the back of the head.

Aten fell to the sand, holding the back of his head from the force of the blow.

The sun disappeared from his view and Aten looked up. Valen was standing above him with his sword raised.

“Say hello to Ra for me!”

Valen brought the blade of his sword down and it hit the sand as Aten rolled away. “Get back here!”

Aten saw Valen rushing for him and kicked the boy's knees. Valen stumbled forward and fell forwards onto the blade of Aten's sword.

Valen's eyes widened and his mouth hung open. A trickle of blood flowed from the corners of his mouth as he slid all the way down onto Aten's blade towards the hilt.

Aten watched Valen gasp for breath, his eyes opened, his lungs struggling for breath. The dying boy's body began to twitch and sputter.

“I'm sorry, Valen.”

The eight-year-old boy gave a quiet sigh and laid still.

Aten kicked Valen on his side and removed his dagger from his peer. He ran back to Aria, who had opened her eyes.

“Aria, are you okay?”

“Where are we?” Aria looked at Aten's wounded left arm. Aten's blade was dripping with fresh blood.

Aten hugged her tightly. “We're in the arena.”

“Why are you hurt?”

Aten watched as two guards picked up Valen's body. “Yami ordered that I fight for you.”

“What?”

“I have to fight in these battles and keep you alive. If I die in the battle, you die, too.”

Aria took a deep, congested breath. “I can't breathe, Aten. It's hot.”

“I know. When I'm done fighting, I can get you something to drink. Right now, I can't do anything.”

Yami stood up. “The victor again is Aten Ishtar.” The pharaoh turned to Anubis. “I thought you chose difficult opponents for him to face! He's already passed two!”

Anubis grinned. “Wait and watch, sire. Aten's next opponent: Akil Desani.”

Yami raised an eyebrow. “Your son?”

“My boy is very good. He is five years older than Aten and much stronger. Aten won't stand a chance.”

Seth watched as a thirteen-year-old boy stepped into the arena. He was covered in chainmail armor with metal plates. His shield was made of heavy wood. His helmet shined gold in the afternoon sun. Akil was armed with swords, a bow and quiver, an axe, and a dagger.

Aten's eyes widened as he saw the boy step onto the field. The imposing teenager smiled as he confronted the poorly-armed boy in the arena.

“Well, Aten, again we meet.”

Aten released Aria and stood in front of her. “I won't let you harm her.”

Seth turned to Yami. “My king, Aten is hardly armed! He won't be able to compete with such armaments!”

Yami grinned. “That's the point, my dear Seth. Aten and Aria have proven themselves to be quite the threat. I don't need to eliminate my threats. I'll let others do that for me. Aten and Aria will die. Enjoying the show, Bakura?”

“Let my daughter go, you monster,” Bakura spoke hoarsely.

“Don't tell me you're not enjoying the suspense and drama, Itemri! This is the best part!”

Akil withdrew his sword. Aten backed away, searching for a weak spot in his enemy's defenses. The shield covered all of Akil's vital areas. His sword or his dagger would not be able to penetrate the wood. Akil's sword glimmered in the light. All of Akil's metal was blinding him.

“Go on, Ishtar! What's the matter? Do I scare you?”

Aten swallowed hard. “I….I won't let you hurt Aria or myself!”

Akil laughed and stabbed the ground by Aria's leg. Aria moved her leg away to dodge the blow.

Aten charged for Akil and the boy kicked Aten away. Akil turned to Aria again and stabbed the ground by her chest.

“Aria!” Aten cried out as the girl moved sluggishly.

“Back against the wall!”

Aria rolled out of the way of Akil's sword. Aten stood up and picked up his dagger. With the clanging of his armor, Akil didn't hear Aten sneaking up behind him.

Aria leaned against the wooden wall of the arena. She looked up at the boy smiling down at her.

“Time to die, you peasant bitch!”

Akil stabbed, aiming for Aria's head, when the girl ducked. The sword buried itself in the wood. Akil growled and screamed in fury as his sword became stuck in the wood.

“SON, BEHIND YOU!” Anubis called out.

Aten had severed two of the four straps holding Akil's metal armor onto his body. Akil whipped around, slapping Aten across the face. The boy collapsed onto the ground, coughing and spitting up blood.

“How dare you!” Akil removed his axe from his belt. “I'm going to chop you in half, you traitor's spawn!”

Aria grabbed onto the metal and tried to pull down.

Akil turned his head and growled at the girl. “You little bitch!”

Akil kicked backwards, sending Aria back into the wall and falling on the ground unconscious.

Aten looked closely at his armor for another weakness.

Akil turned back to Aten. “Now, where were we?”

Akil swung his axe low and Aten jumped back. The axe moved down again, only to miss the dodging smaller boy.

“You are weak, Aten! You were never able to beat me during sparring! What makes you think you can win now?”

Aten gripped his dagger and his sword. “Because I'm keeping Aria safe and she's my friend!”

Akil laughed. “Isn't that just precious? You're fighting for your little girlfriend!”

“She's not my girlfriend!”

Akil grinned. “It doesn't matter anyway, Aten. You will never beat me and you deserve to die! I'm glad I have the honor of killing you, you little weakling!”

Aten dodged another axe and slammed his dagger against another strap holding Akil's armor. The strap did not break, but it became loose.

Akil whipped around and an arrow flew out of his quiver. He kicked and sent Aten flying backwards. He laid on the sand, his arm bleeding and his stomach burning from the kick.

Aria opened her eyes and saw Aten's opponent walking towards him. Aten was laying on the sand, reclining on one elbow. His face bore a countenance of pain.

She stood up on shaky legs and stumbled towards Aten, her forehead bleeding from the kick and her ribs aching.

As she stumbled forward, she noticed an arrow laying on the ground.

Akil reached down and grabbed Aten. The bow tumbled into the sand.

Akil grinned as he removed his dagger from its sheath. “Time to get rid of these nuisances.”

Akil cut Aten's breastplate off and removed his chainmail. “I would like to watch you bleed without your armor. It would delight me to see you bleed to death.”

The crowd roared with pleasure.

Aten swallowed hard as he saw the murderous eyes of the teenager.

Akil placed the dagger under Aten's chin and slowly pressed up, sending a trickle of blood down the blade.

“Oh, look at that! I think this blade would very much love to bury itself in your brain. What do you think?”

Aten kicked the teenager and began to struggle.

“Little bastard!” Akil screamed in pain, tossing Aten into the air. The boy landed on the ground, coughing and wheezing. Blood was coming down his chin.

Aria was approaching Akil, holding the arrow in her hand.

Akil smiled as he saw her approach. “What are you going to do with that, you daughter of a filthy street-rat?”

Aria held the arrow in front of her. “Leave….Aten….alone.”

Akil laughed and grabbed the bow from the sand. He pulled an arrow from his quiver and readied to fire the arrow.

Aria narrowed her eyes, standing on unsteady legs. The girl's vision became blurry and she wavered on her feet.

“It's no sport to kill an easy target like you! I'll save myself an arrow and just butcher you.”

Akil threw his bow on the ground and walked towards the girl. “Come to me, Aria. I'll make this quick.”

The audience began to cheer as he held his dagger, ready to kill the little girl.

Akil walked towards Aria and picked her up by her neck. He held her up and smiled at her. “I'll cut you up into little pieces.”

Aria coughed and gripped the arrow in her hand. With a quick thrust, she embedded the arrow into Akil's left eye.

The teenager dropped Aria and screamed as blood poured from the pierced eye.

Aria fell to the ground and saw Aten laying in the sand, twitching. She stood up and rushed to Aten.

“Aten, wake up! I stabbed Akil! You can get him now!”

Aten struggled to his feet, holding his right side. He took a step and winced from the pain. He grabbed his sword and stumbled towards Akil.

Akil turned and brought his dagger down. The strike missed and Aten slipped the sword into the tiny exposed area where the armor had fallen.

Akil let out a scream.

“AKIL!” Anubis screamed in panic. “MY SON!”

Akil fell to his knees, blood trickling from his eye, mouth, and side. His eyes went wide as Aten removed his dagger.

“STOP THE BATTLE!” Anubis cried out.

Aten narrowed his eyes and pierced Akil's right eye. “THAT IS FOR MY FATHER!”

Akil fell over onto the ground, his body twitching.

Aten stabbed Akil's belly again with the sword. “THAT IS FOR MY MOTHER!”

Aten stabbed Akil's exposed neck, watching the blood flow from Akil's body in a steady stream. “THAT IS FOR BULLYING ME ALL THESE YEARS!”

Aten stabbed into Akil's open mouth, piercing the back of Akil's skull. “THAT IS FOR ARIA!”

He stabbed between Akil's eyes. “THAT IS FOR YOUR FATHER BEATING ME ALL THESE YEARS!”

Two guards came running towards Aten and the dead body.

Aten pulled off Akil's helmet and stabbed into Akil's brain. “THIS IS FOR MY PERSONAL PLEASURE!”

The two guards pulled Aten off of Akil's body and carried the dead teen out of the arena.

Aten fell to the sand. He kneeled in the sand, tears coming down his eyes.

Aria stood beside him and hugged him. “It's okay, Aten.”

Aten shook his head as tears came down his cheeks. “My mother and father are dead because of him and his family. They have done nothing but beat me, starve me, and humiliate me. I got so angry, Aria, I couldn't stop myself from stabbing him.”

Aria swayed on her feet and pet Aten's hair. “You might not have a family, Aten, but I always thought of you as my brother.”

“Really?”

Aria nodded. “Really.”

Aten hugged her back, but whimpered as the pain in his side burned.

Anubis left the Royal Box and down into the barracks to see his son. He pushed the men away as he looked at his son, stabbed beyond recognition. Akil was mutilated. His face barely shown facial features. Anubis brought his son's body into his arms and let out a painful wail.

“MY SON! MY ONLY SON! Aten will pay for this!”

Yami watched as Akil was removed from the arena. He narrowed his eyes angrily. “This child was not supposed to survive this long!”

Rayna and Bakura smiled.

The pharaoh grinned. “I have a plan that will not fail.”

Aria looked at Aten's side. “Can you stand up?”

Aten struggled to his feet and whimpered. “It hurts.” The boy kneeled on one knee and held his side. “It hurts to move.”

The girl helped him to his feet. “I'll try and help you.”

“You're sick. I don't want you to exert yourself.”

“It's not far away.”

The two children walked for the exit as the sound of heavy footsteps fell on the ground behind them. Aten and Aria stopped and turned their heads around to look behind them.

A tall being clad in armor with a large sword in his hands stood behind them. His ears were pointed and he wore green garb.

“What is this?” Aten whispered.

“I don't know,” Aria answered.

Yami stood up. “Aten next opponent: The Celtic Guardian from the isle of Ire!”

Aten held his side as Aria stood behind him. “I can't fight…..it hurts.”

“We have to do something!”

Aten grabbed his sword tightly. “Go for Akil's bow and arrow. Try to fire at him! Better yet, hit him!”

Aria ran from behind Aten as the elf chased her. The girl wheezed as her sickness threatened to overcome her. Her body was sweating and her vision was blurry from her fever.

Aten chased after the elf, the pain in his side throbbing. “Leave her alone!”

Aria raced for the bow and arrow, grabbing them both from the ground. The elf was still chasing her.

“Where did that thing come from?!” Aria gasped as she felt something whizzing by her back.

The elf was swinging his sword at her back, trying to hit her.

“Drop the bow and arrow!” Aten cried out. “Drop it!”

Aria dropped the weapons and continued to run. The elf reached down for it, but Aten caught him in the side with his sword.

The tip of the sword pierced the elf's skin, but the creature didn't flinch.

“That's….impossible!”

The elf turned his head towards Aten and narrowed its eyes.

“What kind of creature are you?” the boy whispered.

The creature raised its head and continued to chase Aria.

“I hit it! Why isn't he on the ground?!”

Aria jumped out of the way as the sword crashed around her.

Aten grabbed the bow and arrow and trained the arrow on the elf's back. “This should do it!”

Aten fired the arrow, which embedded itself into the elf's back. The creature was not affected.

Aten growled, grabbing another arrow. He shot a second, a third, a fourth arrow at the elf and every shot hit.

The creature seemed content to try and stab the little girl in front of him.

“This thing isn't dying! There has to be something I can do!”

Seth watched Aten run up to the Celtic Guardian and jump onto his back. He watched as the blade of the boy's dagger plunged into the back of the guardian's neck.

The creature roared with fury and stood up. He reached behind him and grabbed Aten. He held the boy in front of him and glared at him.

“Aten!” Aria called out. “You let him go!”

Aria grabbed Aten's sword and slammed the blade against the back of the monster.

The elf remained unconcerned.

The creature held Aten in the air by his throat. The creature squeezed, making the little boy gasp for air and whimper as his air supply was cut.

Aria saw Aten's face turning blue. The boy started to gag and choke. His arms and legs began to slowly stop resisting.

His eyes rolled into the back of his head.

“Aten! Stop it! Let him go!”

Aten's tongue started emerging from his mouth as he was suffocated. His body began to twitch.

Bakura swallowed hard. “ATEN! LET HIM GO!”

“Please, my pharaoh, have mercy on that little boy!” Rayna pleaded.

Yami grinned. “There shall be no mercy. Death awaits him.”

“What manner of creature is this?” Seth asked.

“This, my dear Seth, is the power of Shadow Magic. This creature is not of this world. I have called him into existence.”

Seth's eyes widened. “Aten is dying, Pharaoh Yami! Stop this! The boy learned his lesson! The child can't breathe!”

“Good, my dear Seth, then he will die.”

Aria narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists tightly. “You won't kill Aten! I won't let you!”

“He will not die, little one,” a feminine voice said beside Aria.

Aria looked up and saw Ahmose standing beside her. She gasped, seeing the dead woman clad in a white robe, holding a sword.

“Ahmose?!”

The woman smiled. “I am the Loyal Servant to you, my dear Aria.”

“Loyal Servant, help Aten! Please! Attack him!”

The elf turned, sensing the Shadow presence behind him. The woman raised her sword and pierced it through the heart of the Celtic Guardian. The elf dropped Aten and screamed.

The elf creature shattered, perplexing the audience around them.

Aten coughed and struggled for air as he looked up at the woman in white. Aria kneeled beside Aten and wrapped her arms around him.

She looked up at the woman standing above her. “Why are you here? I thought you were dead.”

The woman smiled down at the two bleeding children. “The presence of Shadow Magic was all around here. The pharaoh had called that creature here, knowing that mortal weaponry cannot harm creatures from another plane. I had sensed that you were in danger and I came to offer my aid.”

Aten struggled to his knees. “Thank you,” he whimpered.

“I must leave you now, Aria.”

Aria watched the woman disappear. “Aten?”

The boy struggled to his feet and staggered towards the Royal box. “I….have…..survived…your……test. Aria….is….”

The boy fell to his knees and collapsed on the sand face-down.

“Aten!” Seth and Rayna ran out of the box and down into the arena floor.

When they arrived, Aria was shaking Aten, crying.

“Aten, wake up! Please!” Aria fell beside Aten, the world spinning around her, her mouth dry, her body sick with fever.

Seth watched as Aria fell beside Aten.

“ARIA! LET ME GO! MY DAUGHTER NEEDS ME!” Bakura growled from beside the pharaoh.

“Take him down to the dungeon!” Yami screamed to his guards. “Get him out of my sight!”

“ARIA!!!” Bakura cried out, pulling at the chains binding him.

Seth and Rayna arrived at the children. Rayna gathered Aria into her arms and cuddled her. “Seth, she's burning up worse than ever!”

Seth put his fingers against Aten's neck. The boy had a pulse, but had lost a lot of blood from the cut on his arm. He heard a crackling noise from the boy's side.

“Aten needs to be carefully carried. His rib might be broken. Rayna, tell the guards to help me with Aten.”

Seth waited beside Aten. The boy was breathing, but his body was badly damaged.

“Aten, you have proven yourself worthy of being my bodyguard. Congratulations.”

The pharaoh glared down at the two children. They had survived his game……for now.