The Rod and the Mage

Just to let you know, I'm sorry for the long wait. I've been busy with school and had a bit of a writer's block. The stone tablet is just something I think it would say. I don't claim that this is what it truly says. As for the mind duel between Bakura and Pegasus, that is also of my own doing. Sorry this is short, but I hope to have more up soon!

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It had been months since they started on finding the Egyptian God Monsters, and in their search, they only found one card and a stone tablet that depicted an ancient battle between a pharaoh and his high priest. Isis had tried to decipher the wall sized tablet, and Teajuana just scoffed. The younger of the two saw a very different explanation than the Egyptologist.

“Well, Teajuana, if you’re so smart, what does the tablet say?” Isis asked with her hands on her hips and looking rather irritated.

“Well, Isis, ‘a great and powerful king ruled these lands long ago. His high priest, who served Set and ironically was the priest’s name, was led to believe the pharaoh was not suited for the job. The king would play games all day and was eventually called the King of Games. Set was furious at this outcome and challenged the ruler to a game called the Shadow Games. The game turned into a battle as the stone tablets came to life and expelled power like none had ever seen before. The king’s favorite monster nearly lost the battle to the priest’s favorite monster had it not been the king’s brilliant strategy. The priest had lost and the pharaoh sealed the power within eight items in order to stop the world from abusing the power.’ Some good that did. The so called power was brought back anyway. And it’s being abused too,” Teajuana said, crossing her arms. Her eyes had
glowed slightly red when she was reading, as if she herself saw the “battle.”

“Wow. That is what the tablet says. I’m impressed, Bastet,” Isis said. She had noticed Teajuana’s eyes change color and was concerned. Never had anyone changed their eye color like that while reading a tablet or parchment. Isis decided that she would confront the young woman later.

“So should we take the tablet off?” Yoseph asked, still looking in awe at the massive rock.

“We should try. I’d like to take this to different museums,” Isis said after a moment.

Teajuana kept her arms crossed. “Is that wise? What is in Egypt should stay in Egypt.”

“But there are others who like to learn about Egypt even though they don’t live here. Others might want to just marvel at Egypt’s greatness,” the other female responded.

“If they want to know, they should come here,” the other said pointedly.

Both Egyptologists shook their heads and went to work on loosening the stone slab. Pictures were taken of the slab, and plans to remove it were made. Teajuana made it very clear that she disapproved and stayed away for most of the excavation. Instead, she and Yonnie rigged a small T. V. and satellite so they could see this Duelist Kingdom game. All they could really see were the finals, and Teajuana hadn’t liked the host at all. As the finals progressed, the young woman’s cards had explained a lot to her.

“The man you see in red is the creator of Duel Monsters,” they explained, “The reason why he acts the way he does is because he is trying to bring his wife back to life. So he’s bitter.”

“Bitter. I can relate to that. So, should I hate him? Or just understand him?” she asked out loud. Yonnie turned to look at her and questioned what she was talking about with his eyes. She merely shook her head and said, “Nothing. Don’t worry about it, little brother.”

Teajuana watched as the weak were weeded out, and a young boy stepped up to the platform to duel. His tri-colored hair defied everything, and he transformed. Teajuana seemed to be the only one who noticed. ::That’s not Yugi Moto! Sure, his hair style changed, but the way he acts and stands. . .it’s completely different. In fact, he looks just like the tablet carving! He’s the pharaoh! That’s the Millennium Puzzle, and the spirit is the unknown pharaoh, the guy Yoseph is trying to find!::

Forgetting all about the present duel since her cards would show her anyway, Teajuana raced to find Isis. “Isis! ISIS!”

Both Egyptologists lifted their heads and saw the young redhead run up to them. They had been trying to date the stone tablet and watched as Teajuana stopped, barely taking time to catch her breath.

“Isis, Yoseph, the pharaoh. . .on T.V. It’s him! I swear it!”

All three raced back to see the end of the duel. Isis studied Yugi and agreed that he could be the pharaoh’s descendant. All four, Yonnie was still there, watched as the incarnate won the duel. They cheered, and Yugi was named “King of Games.”

“Yu-gi-oh,” Teajuana translated.

“Yonnie looked up. “Yugioh? So Yugi’s name means ‘King of Games?’”

“Apparently so, Yonnie. Isis, what do you think?” Teajuana asked.

“I think so. I think I’ll start a small tour of our arti. . .”

Teajuana didn’t hear the rest of Isis’s explanation as the young redhead was sent to the Shadow Realm. There, she witnessed two beings, each with white hair, dueling rather quickly. One she recognized as Pegasus, the Duel Monster game creator. The other had wild hair and chocolate colored eyes. Around this being’s neck rested the Millennium Ring. Inside the young girl’s mind, she heard the cards cry out for the duel to stop, particularly the cards from the Ring holder’s deck.

“Stop.” The word was soft, almost a whisper from Teajuana’s mouth. “Stop,” she said much louder, “You’re hurting them!”

Both stopped for a split moment. “They don’t hurt. In fact, they aren’t real,” replied the Ring holder.

“If they are not real, the how can the Shadow Realm be a dangerous place?” she argued.

Pegasus replied, “These cards are just ink on cardstock.”

Teajuana shook her head rapidly. “You’re wrong! End this duel now! Or you will face the consequences!”

The duel began again, and Teajuana closed her eyes. The cries were stronger, louder, and the redhead would no longer stand for it. Pulling forth one card from her deck, her eyes flared opened and glared at the two duelists.

“You refused my warning. Your duel ends now! Magician of Black Chaos, I call you forth to save your brothers and sisters! As my friend, I call upon you!”

The cards in the male duelists’ hands ceased their current actions and began to tremble. It wasn’t the Chaos Magician of which they were afraid; it was Teajuana’s magic that made them quake with fear. The two males looked toward the woman who was surrounded by red magic.

“You abused the cards, your friends! Magician of Black Chaos, together we shall banish them both from this realm.”

“I live in shadows,” the Ring holder stated, “You will never banish me.”

“If I can’t banish you, then I will throw you out!” In a flash of light, both males and decks were gone.

“Thank you, Bastet. Their cards appreciate it,” the Magician commented.

“I know, but that won’t stop them from abusing their cards. I only gave temporary relief. I want to go home.” Teajuana left that darkened place, hoping not to return unless it was her safe haven.


“Bastet, why are you leaving?” Yonnie whined. It had been weeks since the unearthing of the stone tablet, and Teajuana planned on baiting her assassins. They had gotten worse and begun targeting civilians.

“Yonnie, I have to go. I must try to lure the assassins away,” she replied.

“Why can’t I go with you?”

“Because you’ll be safer with Yoseph.”

“But I wanna go with you, sis,” the boy whined and pouted.

“Yonnie, I can’t risk loosing you. It would kill me if anything were to happen to you. And you know that’s a lot coming from me.” She took his chin and held it firmly. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. You will come back, ne? Onegai, come back.”

“I will come back. Don’t you worry about it. In the meantime, I want you to help Yoseph.”

“I will.” Yonnie gave his sister a big hug, not wanting to let go. He feared something would happen to her while she was away, and he feared Egypt would be in bad shape when she returned.

“My little brother, I will always be with you as you will be with me. I will never leave you unless I have to, and you know it,” Teajuana assured gently. She ruffled his hair and headed toward the airport.

“I’ll miss you!” the boy called after her. She turned and nodded, giving him a wave. Yonnie walked back to the waiting car and climbed in, knowing Teajuana would keep her word.

::I’ll miss you, Yonnie.::

Teajuana traveled to various countries and learned a little bit of each language. The young woman would help kids and sometimes businesses, but she didn’t stay long. Every three weeks or so, she would leave when the assassins began to show themselves. Teajuana’s travels lead her to Iran, Turkey, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and within a year, stopped in Japan. As always, she notified Yoseph where she was and how she was doing.

::Here is where I’ll make my stand. I’m thousands of miles away from Egypt, and so, no one will get hurt. It’s just Suzaku and me.:: The young woman looked out the window attached to her rental home. She watched as children were playing with Duel Monster cards and smiled in her mind. ::Battle City. Otherwise known as Domino City. I wonder what kind of duelists are here.:: Making up her mind, she decided a walk was in order.