The Rod and the Mage

Ok, couple of things. One, Inot not sure if this is actually becoming part of the main story or not. I had originally wanted this to be a prologue, but it would seem that it's an actual story. We'll see what happens. Two, there's a point in this section that mentions 8 millenium items. The eighth item is Teajuana's dagger. I need reviews, people! Or would like them at any rate. In this part, we meet the Duel Monsters and Isis (Ishizu) Ishtar. So here we go!

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Months later, Teajuana had acquired all but one Duel Monster card, the Blue Eyes White Dragon. She actually had a chance to duel once every week and went to some tournaments where she was called champion. In fact, she won every duel she entered, receiving titles of the best duelist in Egypt. She had more encounters with that same magician in her dreams and during waking hours. It would seem that during one occasion, he appeared in a ghostly form.

“Bastet? Is there something I can help you with?” he asked, watching her pace the sands in front of an unearthed tomb.

“No, Magician of Black Chaos. I’m just thinking,” she replied, seeming a bit distracted.

“Would you care to talk about it?”

“You can read, right? I got this letter from a friend of mine from the academy, and he knows I can’t read.”

“It would be my pleasure to read it for you.” The Magician took the letter from her and began reading. “’Teajuana. I wish this was a letter of good cheer, but I must inform you of an impending danger within Egypt. A group of assassins have been reported to be based in Cairo, and they are extremely sneaky. Itveryvery possible that they are after you since you keep Egypt from danger. Please use caution. Yours truly, John.’”

“Assassins, huh? This will be fun. I’ll find them and break up the organization. I wonder if Takashino is part of it. He seems like someone who would. Hmm.” Teajuana continued to pace back and forth, the Magician watching. “What do you think, Magician of Black Chaos?”

“Perhaps you could investigate it. Bastet, if you do, I want you to be carefulou aou are very special to the rest s,” s,” he placed his arms around her, even though she couldn’t quite feel it. “We need you, young Bastet.”

“No one’s really ever needed me before.”

“We do, child. All of us need you. I want to show you something,” he said as he took her hand and took her mind to thedow dow Realm. It wasn’t dark, but instead, it was bright and sunny, just for her. She was able to feel the warm sunshine and ticklish grass beneath her feet. Teajuana’s eyes saw all of her cards there in peaceful bliss.

“What is this place?” she asked.

“Just for you, this is a special area we created for you, Teajuana. Outside this area is the Shadow Realm, where evil can exist. But for you, this is your safe haven. You can talk to us here and be happy,” he answered.

“I’m not sure if I can ever be happy,” the young woman said as she wrapped her arms around herself.

One of her other cards came up to her and placed gentle hands on the young woman’s shoulders. “Dear child, don’t ever give up hope,” the Mystic Elf said softly and melodiously, “You will find happiness one day.”

“How? I received a letter saying assassins were in Egypt, the only place I’ve ever felt at home. I can’t let them stay. I refuse it!” Teajuana nearly shook with rage.

“Bastet, we will be here for you,” said the soft tenor voice of her Dark Magician, “We will always be here.”

A colossal dragon with sparkling coal-diamond scales and ruby eyes landed next to the red head and nuzzled her. “All you have to do is call on us,” he said, the dragon’s voice raspy like wind blowing through leaves on a fall day.

“You guys mean a lot to me, all of you. I had never really had friends like you. Besides you, Yonnie’s just about the only one who I care about. If anything were to happen to him. . .”

“You mustn’t think that way, young one,” the Dark Magician said. He turned to Magician of Black Chaos, “You haven’t told her, have you?”

“Told me what?” she asked, looking up with curious eyes.

Mystic Elf replied, “Dark Magician, this isn’t the time or place for such a trivial thing.”

“But, Mystic Elf, danger comes on swift wings!” he exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air.

“Dark Magician!” the other three, present cards exclaimed.

“Magician of Black Chaos, what kind of danger is coming? Tell me!” Teajuana exclaimed, “I need to know!”

The Magician sighed and then glared at the other magician who shrank back, “Bastet, a tomb keeper who is supposed to guard a pharaoh’s tomb has decided that he will no longer guard. He denies his responsibility, and he has grown a darker side.”

“It’s been said that the pharaoh of the tomb the keeper is guarding will return one day,” Mystic Elf explained, “However, the darker side of the keeper refuses and plans to become pharaoh himself.”

Magician of Black Chaos nodded, “And his cards are the most powerful ever. He will control one of three Egyptian God Monster Cards. His sister will hold another, and third hasn’t been found just yet.”

“Oh, really,” she said as Teajuana crossed her arms, “And when were you going to tell me?!”

“We were hoping this wouldn’t happen,” he replied.

Teajuana took a good long look at him. “How do you know about this anyway?”

Mystic Elf decided to answer this one. “We talked to his cards, child. Any card can talk to another so long as we are in the Shadow Realm. We are linked together.”

“Oh, but you wouldn’t ever tell me what in another Duelist’s deck if I were dueling them, would you? That wouldn’t be fair,” the young girl said.

“No, we wouldn’t.”

Teajuana became pensive as she struggled with the idea of two evils in Egypt. Was she supposed to find this new danger or would it flee Egypt in search of the Pharaoh? Either way, she would have to be careful and watchful.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” the Dark Magician asked, using the nickname they had given her.

“Just thinking. I do have a few questions. How long have you guys been around? Are you real or just my imagination?” she asked, still looking rather pensive.

“Bastet,” the Magician of Black Chaos began, “We are very much real. We have been round for thousands upon thousands of years, well before humankind even knew about us. We used to roam the earth until people came about. For quite sometime, humans and Duel Monsters lived in peace. Then, human nature took over, and violence began. Humans asked for our assistance, and we agreed, bringing more and more destruction. We were forced to choose sides and fought against ourselves. And then, all Duel Monsters stopped. We realized that the human race had turned us against each other even though, by our basic nature, we were peaceful. This is how the Shadow Realm came along. We began hiding here and defended ourselves from humans. Eventually, we closed ourselves off, believing we were safe. Humans found a way to break through our boundaries and continued to use us in battles, but they mostly used our power. Finally, one brave Pharaoh, at the cost of his own life, sealed the power within eight* items. When these items come together, our power will be unleashed, and we won’t be able to stop it. For thousands of years, Duel monsters remained dormant until someone decided to make a game of it. He reached into the Shadow Realm, using the Millennium Eye, and brought forth the game of Duel Monsters. The rest you know from personal experience.”

“So this game creator believes that’s all you are? That you’re just a game?” she asked in near disbelief. The four Duel Monsters just nodded. “But he’s wrong!”

“That is true,” said a Duel Monster that she had never seen before. He was far more colossal than her Red Eyes Black Dragon and had burnish red scales that shined brightly. He had two mouths, and one was closed. His pupiless golden eyes closed as the other four took up defense positions around Teajuana. “You four will be in danger if the gods find out what you’ve done,” he said in a deep voice.

“The gods allowed us to create a safe haven for this human, Slifer,” the Magician of Black Chaos countered.

“Oh, really? We Duel Monsters have kept this place a sanctuary for thousands of years. And now you do something like this?!”

Mystic Elf stepped in. “She is different than the others. She can hear and talk to us. This girl can understand us where none other can!”

“How is she different? It matters not that she can hear us and talk to us. She could not possibly understand us.” Slifer glared at the four Duel Monsters and then at Teajuana.

“How can you be this way when per your nature you are peaceful?” Teajuana asked, stepping from behind her friends, “You should know of the devastation that humans do to one another. I am living proof of that. In fact, I should have died a long time ago.”

“You know nothing,” the dragon scoffed.

“At the age of five, I knew what the world was like, and I hate it just as much as you!” she countered.

“At age five?” Slifer echoed in sheer shock. “At such a tender age, you understood?”

“She is a mage, Slifer,” the Red Eyes stated.

“A mage makes all the more difference. I am sorry, young mage. I should have known. You see, only a select few have even been allowed into the Shadow Realm and some have come regardless. For you to be here, you must be pretty special,” he said as he lowered himself to the ground.

“I wouldn’t say special,” the young woman replied softly.

“Young mage, you have a power that no one else can truly have. Only those who have this power can become the most influential people. You are called Bastet, are you not?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“Bastet Nefertiti was one of the most influential people of her time. She guarded Egypt and people with lifelife. You seem to be a lot like her. I am truly sorry for assuming that you were like every other human out there,” he said as he lowered his eyes to her.

“I’m used to it. So. . .you’re an Egyptian God Monster?” she asked as she approached Slifer.

“Yes, I am. I am one of three. I assume they told you. I will belong to a young duelist who wants to rule the world.”

“Oh. I see. I should watch out for him then?”

“Yes. I must return. I hope to see you again, young one.” Slifer took off, disappearing into the shadows.

“I should get back to guarding the tomb. I appreciate all you guys are doing for me. And I promise. I will find a way to bring your souls back from the shadows and into the real world where you can live peacefully. You don’t deserve to be here, even if you did create this place for you.”

Teajuana disappeared from the Shadow Realm and returned to the bright sand covered desert. She looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Yonnie was busy with his school work, and Yoseph was looking over some of the items he found within the tomb. When Teajuana actually stopped to think about it, life had gotten better for her. True, she was still putting herself in danger by trying to help others, but the benefits more than made up for it. She had faced a lot since she’d come to Egypt, and she wasn’t going to stop now.

“Those new dangers won’t know what they’re up against. They’ll have to deal with me,” she said as she fisted one hand.


::Oh, great. Now they’re packing heat. Well, they can’t shoot what they can’t see.:: Teajuana thought as she jumped onto a ladder. The two assassins followed her, momentarily putting their guns away. Teajuana climbed all the way and turned around to throw daggers at them. One got hit in the hand and fell, breaking his legs. The other managed to dodge his falling comrade and kept climbing. As soon as this assassin was at the top, Teajuana pulled him up and punched his lights out, causing him to go limp in her grasp.

“Stupid assassins. Put up a good fight though.” Teajuana just left them there for the cops to find. This had been the third attempt this week, and the week had just started. Teajuana had first saw the punks trying to “rob” a store, but as soon as they saw her, they went after Teajuana, trying to bump her off. Luckily for her, she’d been training ever since she got the letter, which was four months ago, and had gotten much faster. In fact, her bag had gotten much heavier and, when weighed, weighed over one hundred pounds. Teajuana hadn’t seemed to notice. But she could tell in her speed once the bag was gone. She was able to run about as fast as a car on the road in town.

Teajuana headed back to the grave they were currently at, ignoring her bleeding arm for now. Instead, a woman with shoulder length black hair with to gold pieces keeping some out of her face held her attention. The woman’s attire consisted of robes mostly, and she seemed polite. The woman turned, and Teajuana saw a necklace around the woman’s neck. On this necklace was an eye, very much like the one on Teajuana’s dagger. Teajuana approached with caution.

“Well, hello, Bastet,” the mysterious woman said without actually seeing Teajuana. The younger of the two remained silent.

Yoseph looked up and smiled. “Bastet, I’d like you to meet Isis Ishtar. She-”

“What is she doing here, Yoseph?” You know as much as I do that we don’t allow civilians here,” Teajuana said rather harshly.

“She’s here to help us, Bt. t. lledlled her. She will help me with some of the translations, just like you.”

“I don’t trust her,” Teajuana stated as she went off to her tent.

Isis looked stunned for a moment before speaking, “Is she always this way, Yoseph?”

The old man sighed, “Yes, she is. Just give her some time; she’ll come around.”

“We must find all three cards before my brother,” Teajuana overheard.

::Brother?:: the young woman thought. ::Slifer. Could this be the second danger?:: “I have a feeling we won’t be able to save you yet,” she said softly.

Just then, she was pulled into the Shadow Realm, Slifer waiting for her. Teajuana blinked and looked around her small safe haven.

“Slifer, why have you brought me here?” she asked, slightly confused.

“Her brother has acquired my card. There are two cards left, and the brother is on his way to find the Winged Dragon of Ra,” he announced sadly.

“And who is the third?”

“Obelisk the Tormentor.”

“Will the brother find Obelisk?”

“No. Bastet, you will help Isis find Obelisk. I have no doubt you will find him. Listen to the cards as you listen to the tombs. You will find the other cards.”

“Other cards?”

“The Egyptian Gods.”

“So, does that mean the God Monsters can be defeated by the Egyptian God Cards?”

“Yes, Bastet. These cards were made by the creator of the game, but they weren’t able to be found. In reality, the ancient Pharaoh had received small tablets of the Gods as a gift, and the cards found the tablets, fusing together and becoming one. So the cards are lost for now.”

Teajuana blinked to take in all the information and nodded. “I will find them and bring them back before they fall into the hands of evil.”

Teajuana was sent back to the real world and was greeted by Isis, who wondered why the other had spaced out. “Are you alright, Bastet?”

Jumping back and flailing her arms, Teajuana shouted, “What the bloody hell is wrong with you?! Don’t you fuckin’ know you should never sneak up on a person like that?!”

“Please, calm down, Bastet. I was only concerned about you,” Isis replied.

“I’m fine.” Teajuana began to walk away only to stop and turn around. “Oh, your brother has already found Slifer.”

“How do you know of this?”

“I just do.”