Pharaoh

The Final Chapter

Sakura couldn't take her eyes away from Tomoyo's lifeless form. She could barely even process what had just happened. She just stared, watching her friend's face, waiting for her to smile her kind and knowing smile and offer a comforting word. But now her eyes were glassy, gazing vacantly into the crowd. Sakura would never hear those words from her lips again. It felt like the world was crushing her, pressurizing the air all around her, squeezing her.

The sound of Eriol's wails pierced the air. He screamed her name, and Sakura heard the clinking of his chains as he yanked desperately against them, needing to go to Tomoyo, to cradle her. Sakura didn't dare look at him. She would absolutely fall apart if she did.

Daidouji let out a roar of such rage as Sakura had never heard before. There was no grief in his cry; only anger at the loss of his main source of magic. The disgusting knowledge solidified like a rock in Sakura's stomach, weighing her down. Tomoyo deserved so much better.

Sakura stumbled to her feet, forgetting her injuries. "You had one of the most precious things in the world in your life," she spat at him, "and you can't even recognize it."

Daidouji glared, his eyes dancing wildly. Sakura had never more felt that she'd been standing in front of a predator. The gleam in his stare was unmistakeably mad. "You're right," he retorted through grit teeth. "I did. I had years worth, a lifetime's worth, of power stored in that vessel. And now thanks to your petty brainwashing it's all been destroyed."

Blindly, blood boiling in her veins in hatred for this man, Sakura lunged for him, swinging cracked knuckles at his jaw. He caught her wrist and yanked her arm away, reaching for her hip and snatching her staff away. She gasped as it expanded in his hands. How was that possible?

"Of course you can't have thought I'd store all my power in one place," he said, his voice deceivingly level. Sakura, up close, could see the sharp downward tilt of his mouth, his displeasure showing like a second skin across his features, even the way he stood. "So let's see what your ridiculous little staff can do." His eyes began to spin in the way they had in that corridor, and he chanted in a low voice, using a language Sakura had never heard before. It sounded old and crumbling to her ears. Darkness began to spread across her wand, the pastel pink eaten away by the soil colour sprouting from Daidouji's fingers. She realized, with a deep ache in her chest, that there was now nothing stopping her from using her magic against him.

Her hand shot up, raising sand from all around them, and she felt the gritty heat of the substance within her as she barraged him with it. It sliced at his skin but he kept up his chanting until the staff was at last entirely black. Then he waved it and the sand was dispersed.

"Your staff is quite powerful," he announced. "I must admit I'm impressed. I misjudged you, I think, Master of the Clow. Let us see how Ma'at judges you in the afterlife."

He assaulted her with a flurry of blades, full sized swords swinging toward her. She envisioned a barrier around her and it was erected, the steel crashing into the shield and sticking there. With a jerk of her chin all of the swords crumbled to dust. She lunged at Daidouji, her chest surging as it produced an illusion—five Sakuras, all approaching Daidouji from different angles, wielding different magic, water, fire, arrows, rock. He looked truly startled, and swiped the staff through each illusion in turn until only the real Sakura remained, but the damage the false ones had done had been quite real too.

Daidouji raised the staff with effort and a greenish mist burst from the star head, sizzling as soon as it touched the air. He sent it at Sakura in a gust of wind. Some of it burned her forearms and singed her hair but she managed to blast it back at him. Confidence blossomed in her as she took a step toward him.

"You should feel lucky you're not facing me while I wield my staff at full power," she hissed as he covered his burning face with his hands. "But I do not need an instrument to be powerful."

He looked up at her with a scowl, the skin of his face bubbling and the whites of his eyes stark crimson. Sakura's breaths began to come in heaves, as she felt all of the weight of the loss of Tomoyo hit her, the weight of the loss of all of those people Daidouji had killed in his incessant quest for power. He had ruined her brother's and Yukito's lives for so many years, had planted untrue doubts in the people's faith in Syaoran, had done so many unspeakably evil actions.

No, she did not need the staff to use her magic. The Clow was buried deep within her, and she felt it pulsing through her now, coursing through her veins as though it were her lifeblood. The very goddess Nut had blessed Sakura with this power—it was not to be contained. She felt herself filling from top to bottom with the feeling of all of her grief and rage, all of her hope and happiness for the future she could have in this beautiful country she had come to love so much, each tugging in her chest as Nut's energy unfolded.

She felt as though she was becoming larger, and saw the sky overhead darkening rapidly despite the early hour. As she caught a glimpse of herself, she realized: this spell was inwardly contained magic, such as Syaoran had warned her against. She was becoming Nut, entirely embodying the goddess in all of her greatness, letting the power seep into her very essence. The night sky was beautiful above her, the stars winking, so large and so, so bright. They seemed to leap from above and join with her, enlivening her more and more.

And then she turned to Daidouji, the air around crackling and shimmering with the energy she exuded. She looked right into his eyes and reached out a large, translucent hand, black as the night and dotted with those celestial orbs she drew so much power from. His body seemed to be tugging against itself, trying to run as he gaped up at her in horror, but he was compelled to stay as her hand descended upon him. She wrapped her fingers around him and a column of darkness, opaque shadows, burst from him, burning darker and wider under he was entirely, absolutely burned away by the funnel of gloom, and then the shadows were obliterated in a blaze of starlight.

It was over. It was over. All that was left was a smear of opaque sand, with a twinkle reflecting every so often. But now . . . what?

Sakura felt herself rising, slowly, ascending to that night sky. She didn't know where she was, where her real body had been left. Was she still in it? She couldn't find it, didn't see the path back to herself. She was losing her grip. She had so thoroughly become Nut that now she was to truly join her in the blanket of the heavens and the stars.

Sakura closed her eyes, panic vanishing from her senses. He duty was done. Perhaps joining her goddess would not be such a bad thing.

And then . . . .

She heard the voice, so familiar to her, more so than her own. Daylight broke through the curtain of darkness hovering over her. Her ascension stopped. The sun enveloped the sky, until it was a brilliant blue, shining wonderfully over the city and right through Sakura.

A hand . . . there was a hand on her, an arm wrapping around her. It was even larger than her spectral body had become, and golden, and shone so brightly she could hardly look at it. She felt herself solidifying, saw her skin lose its translucency, return to a pale colour. Breath was torn from her lungs and her vision went black.

"Sakura."

Her eyes shot open and she gasped in a breath like she had never known air. Her hands clutched at something, at someone, at the owner of the arms that encircled her, of the voice that had guided her back here.

It was Ra.

It was Syaoran.

Her vision cleared and she was staring into his face, those amber eyes staring so fiercely back at her. She cupped his cheeks in her hands.

"You saved me," she whispered. "You brought me back."

The sun was shining so strongly above them, casting the Pharaoh in a halo of light, his chestnut hair glowing golden at the ends. He was beautiful. "I needed you here on Earth with me." His voice was gentle, despite the fire blazing in his eyes. "It's not our time to join the gods yet." And he kissed her, pressing his mouth so firmly against hers that she felt the fear he had experienced at the thought of losing her. It broke her heart for him and she held onto him tightly, hoping that she never had to let go of him again.

"Long live the Pharaoh!" a voice rang out. "Long live the Queen!"

A chorus broke out, repeating this chant, as the people cheered and pumped their arms for their rightful rulers. It could no longer be denied, could not even be doubted: they had been granted a display of the gods, working through their chosen ones. No matter that Sakura was Anatolian, that she was a concubine: Nut simply didn't choose wrongly. Sakura was meant to be Queen, as Syaoran was to be King.

A wave of gratitude washed over Sakura, and she stepped forward and retrieved her staff. At her touch, its original colour returned to it, and she thrust it above her head like a trophy. The crowd cheered for her. She didn't realize tears were coursing over her cheeks until Syaoran brushed them away.

Order was restored to the kingdom as swiftly as could be managed.

Daidouji's men were rounded up for questioning, testing how many were truly loyal to him and how many had only worked under him out of necessity. His home was raided and a hidden chamber was discovered beneath his rooms that held all of his ancient magic artifacts and spellbooks. A day of mourning was held for those lost in his attacks.

Though Sakura and Syaoran's magic had been revealed, after countless years of the god's magic being concealed, it was accepted and revered by the people; it seemed that the gods had blessed them at the right time, and really, that was not so wrong of a reading. Many monuments and drawings of Sakura had already been added to the collection of Egyptian deities for her part in vanquishing Daidouji.

Everything had been set right again—except for one glaring alteration in Sakura's life, in all of their lives.

Tomoyo.

Despair had hung around Sakura like a shawl since her friend's death. She made sure to hint at artists and storytellers that without Tomoyo's sacrifice, absolutely none of what she and Syaoran had accomplished could have happened. She would not let Tomoyo's name or her story be forgotten.

One early morning, just as the sun was rising, Eriol appeared at Sakura's door, looking very grave. Without an explanation, he said, "Follow me. It's important."

She believed him. Eriol was not the type to exaggerate. She dressed quickly and set off with him, ending up at the Clow temple.

"Eriol? Why are we here?" She kept her voice soft as she glanced around.

He swallowed uneasily, which Sakura did not take to be a good sign.

"I've been doing a lot of research," he said slowly, avoiding her gaze, "since Tomoyo . . . ."

Sakura nodded. "And?"

Meiling and Reed appeared at the temple doorway. They always moved so soundlessly. Meiling beckoned for the two of them to come inside.

It was dark, as it always seemed to be, and a strong incense of a calming scent that Sakura couldn't quite place was burning. From one corner came the sound of running water. Small candles lit the walls at various intervals, showing gods carved into the stone, and Clow symbols. Sakura even murmured a quick prayer, thinking of her first encounter with Reed, when she had been so unsettled by his presence and his talk of the Egyptian temple. Things had changed since then. Everything had changed.

Meiling flicked her wrist and two large torches lit, bringing the room into proper view. A table was between them, and Sakura nearly fainted at what was on it. Eriol gripped her arm to keep her from falling, and she was grateful for his support.

It was Tomoyo.

Her body was laid out on the slab, dressed in fine white linen, her hair spread out around her, a severe contrast to the pale marble and her pale skin. Sweat dewed on Sakura's neck.

"What's going on here?" she asked weakly, feeling vaguely sick.

"It's not what you think," Eriol said hurriedly. "It's nothing dark."

Meiling looked levelly at her, her raven-like expression cool as always, even in the presence of a corpse. "The Clow allows a ritual," she explained, "in the presence of a priest, a priestess, and a Master—"

"And there hasn't been a Master in hundreds of years, Sakura, this was just meant to be," Eriol interrupted agitatedly.

Meiling cast him a glance and raised a dark eyebrow. Sakura could see the relation to Syaoran in the sharp look. "Yes, thank you, Eriol." She returned her full, piercing bronze gaze to Sakura, who was listening attentively. "If a willing Keeper wants to give up their power to restore the energy to another Keeper's body—it can be done. But neither Keeper will ever be a Keeper again."

Sakura looked at Eriol. "Your magic . . . ."

"Doesn't mean a thing to me if Tomoyo is dead," Eriol finished for her. Determination blazed in his eyes.

She nodded, but found her hands were trembling. "But Tomoyo, she wasn't even a Keeper of the Clow," Sakura pointed out. "Will this even work?"

"She had magic," Meiling said, tilting her head. "And she gave her life in sacrifice. We just have to hope the gods recognize it."

Sakura gave her assent to the ritual. If Meiling approved, Sakura did too. Meiling, she knew, was someone who would never do what the Clow did not want her to. Still, as the priest and priestess set up incense and retrieved the proper prayer books, Sakura sent a prayer of her own to Nut. Please. Please let her come back.

"We can begin," Meiling announced. She nodded to Eriol. "Please place your wielding item on the altar."

Eriol slid a ring off his finger and placed it before Meiling. Sakura had never even considered what Eriol might wield his magic through; she had just kind of assumed he was so practiced he didn't need one.

The priestess launched into the spell. The incense burned hotter, sending light plumes of fragrant smoke through the temple, and the torches burned brighter, casting all of their shadows very sharply against the walls, mingling them with the gods. Sakura clutched her staff. The room was becoming so hot—sweat trickled down her back in rivulets. Meiling spoke more swiftly, while Reed stood by in silent, devoted prayer. Something cracked—it was Eriol's ring. He let out an exclamation and Sakura could sense something leave his body in a rush of wind. Smoke swirled around the table, gently lifting strands of Tomoyo's hair and rustling her dress. The fog stilled suddenly, and Meiling's chant ceased, and the smoke seemed to seep into Tomoyo. Eriol gripped the edge of the altar, his knuckles white.

Tomoyo's eyes fluttered open.

Eriol cried out and rushed to her side. She sat up jaggedly, looking confused, but when she saw Eriol her arms reached out to him, and he held her, coming together in that magnetic way they had.

"You're back," Eriol was saying softly. "You're back."

Meiling shot a rare, genuine smile at Sakura, and nodded at her, as if to say job well done. Sakura returned the gesture.

Tomoyo kissed Eriol so tenderly Sakura had to look away, feeling like she was involved in a moment too private for her to be involved in. Soon she felt Tomoyo's hand on her arm, and raised her head to see the Lady's clear amethyst eyes, that gaze she'd never thought she'd get to see again, that now held so much sorrow. Sakura pulled her into a hug, tears burning her eyes.

"You are the best person I know, the best person I'll ever know," Sakura told her hoarsely.

She felt Tomoyo shake her head. "I could never have found the courage to do what I did without you," she replied quietly.

Meiling cleared her throat. "Osiris and the Clow have granted the Lady Tomoyo a second opportunity at life. Join me in prayer to give our thanks."

The three of them kneeled at the altar, breathing in the scented smoke, and sent their eternal gratitude to those gods who now felt so close to all of them.

ONE YEAR LATER

"I wish I could sit with all of you like I used to," Sakura grumbled to Chiharu, Rika, and Naoko. "It's so much less fun to only be judgemental in my head."

Chiharu snorted, and Rika smiled. "Don't involve me in your rude games," she chided. "I've never said a bad word about any of them."

"Your facial expressions say enough, don't worry," Chiharu said.

Naoko sighed. "Yes, Sakura, it must be such trouble to be the Queen of Egypt."

Sakura grinned and flicked her finger, blowing a gust of wind at Naoko's face. "I don't need your sass."

"I must admit," Naoko went on, laughing, "that being your ladies-in-waiting is a much better gig than being concubines."

"You're welcome, then," Sakura said.

A voice from the door caught their attention. "Rika?" it whispered hastily. "Are you in there?"

All eyes went to Rika, whose face was slowly tinging pink.

"Come in, Terada, we're home," Sakura called.

The door opened to reveal a sheepish Terada, in ceremonial gear. He bowed. "Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesty. I just wanted to speak to Rika."

Sakura waved Rika off. "Chiharu can finish with my hair, don't worry."

Rika bowed, which Sakura still hated and knew she would never get used to, but Rika insisted on the formality. Then she practically skipped over to the door, beaming at Terada, and the three other girls leaned over to catch a glimpse of them. As the door shut behind them, Sakura caught a glimpse of their hands twining together, and Terada lowering his head to kiss her.

"What lovebirds!" Chiharu sighed. "I never thought anyone would be good enough for Rika."

"They're perfect together," Naoko added dreamily.

"I'll work on getting you two married off," Sakura said, laughing. "But for now, let's just make it through today's wedding." Chiharu fixed up her hair, before they set off to the main courtyard.

It was elaborately decorated for the occasion, flowers specially imported, new art added to the walls, hundreds of people awaiting the arrival of the intendeds, and a banquet set up for the feast following the ceremony. Sakura was reminded of her own wedding to Syaoran, all of the bright colours and sweet fragrances and excited guests. That had been a royal wedding, with no holds barred; this was the next best thing—the Queen's brother's wedding. He was now, technically, an Egyptian royal too, though the fact made Touya consistently uncomfortable and he preferred to be referred to only as General.

Sakura took her seat next to her husband, sliding her fingers into his. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as music began drifting over the crowd. Touya and Yukito entered the courtyard, standing at the front of the gathered guests, Reed before them, reading from a prayer book to join them in marriage. Sakura felt her eyes misting up as she studied Touya's unabashedly delighted face, his shining eyes, and the love that Yukito looked back at him with. Reed blessed the gods, and Touya tugged his husband into a kiss, and they were married.

As people began to mill about and take their seats for the meal, Sakura rushed over to her brother and hugged him fiercely, and Yukito shortly after. "I'm so happy for both of you! I feel like I could cry!"

"I think Touya's crying," Yukito said.

"I am not crying," Touya growled, but his eyes did look wet. Yukito chuckled and slung his arm around Touya's waist.

"Congratulations," said a voice from behind them.

The siblings turned with hardened faces to see their father. They both greeted him stiffly. He looked old, grey stubble lining his gaunt cheeks. Syaoran had convinced Sakura to invite him to their own wedding, but he had been in jail. Sakura hadn't cared to ask for what, and hadn't bothered to invite him now. She cast a cross glance at Syaoran, who was carefully avoiding her gaze.

"I'm so glad I got to see you get married, Touya, Yukito," he said, and Touya let him grip his hand. "Thank you."

Touya stared at him, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, "I'm glad you got to see it, too."

Fujitaka nodded, his eyes turning red. "I'll go now. I just . . . wanted to see you both again." He gripped Touya's hand harder, and then hugged Sakura quickly. "Goodbye, my loves."

They didn't say anything as he turned and slipped out of the party. Sakura looked at her brother. "Are you?" she asked. "Glad, I mean. That he came."

Touya nodded. "I am." He took in a breath. "But I think that was the end."

"I agree," Sakura said, a bit sadly. But she could never forget what he had done to their family. "It felt like . . . closure."

Yukito clasped both of their hands, and kissed them.

Now Sakura's eyes alighted on a very welcome face: Tomoyo's, Eriol just behind her. Sakura yelled their names, and rushed over to them, running straight into her best friend's arms. They didn't see each other as much anymore, as the couple had moved to a more rural area. Tomoyo no longer enjoyed the life she had led before her father's betrayal; she found a simpler life, with Eriol, far more appealing now, and Sakura couldn't blame her in the least. She and Syaoran often made trips to stay at their estate, and she wrote to Tomoyo frequently. But still, each time she got to see her friends, Sakura's spirits never failed to brighten immensely.

"Sakura, we have wonderful news," Tomoyo told her, barely able to contain her grin. "We've adopted a child!"

Sakura gasped, and Eriol moved to reveal a little boy of about three clinging to his new father's fingers. He smiled shyly at Sakura, his large dark eyes crinkling.

"That's the Queen, Spinel," Eriol informed him.

Spinel shot a panicked look at Tomoyo, and then bowed at Sakura. The Queen laughed delightedly and scooped the child into her arms. "He's lovely," she said to Tomoyo, who was gazing upon the child with all of a mother's love. It had devastated her to learn she could never have children of her own after being resurrected.

"The poor thing was abandoned at the local temple," Tomoyo explained, caressing Spinel's dark cheek. "We knew we had to have him."

"I'm so happy for you," Sakura said, feeling a lump form in her throat. Every so often, she remembered those days when she thought she would never get to see Tomoyo again. Each time her friend smiled at her, Sakura was grateful all over again.

Spinel fidgeted in the Queen's grip, so she handed the boy over to his father. Tomoyo excused herself to give her congratulations to Yukito and Touya. Someone tapped on Sakura's shoulder. She turned around to see the Pharaoh, a lopsided grin on his face.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "And what's that look for?"

He offered his hand. "May I have this dance?"

She snorted, and let him lead her to the dance floor, amidst dozens of other smiling, twirling couples. Syaoran put his hands on her waist, and she rested hers on his lean shoulders.

"Remember when we met?" Sakura said suddenly.

Syaoran groaned. "Oh, do not start complaining about this again."

Sakura swatted him. "You have just a few manners as you did then, I'll have you know."

He grinned, his eyes bright. Sakura never got tired of seeing them light up like that. "What about it?"

She shrugged. "I was just thinking of how unlikely all this would have seemed, if you'd told us where we'd be now."

Syaoran looked thoughtful. "I suspect I would have cried," he mused. "Positively broken down."

Sakura rolled her eyes, and leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent. It never changed, the smell of clean linen, and it never failed to ground her when she needed it. "I have so much to thank Ra and Nut for," she murmured. "For allowing me so much happiness."

"I think you're forgetting you've quite earned said happiness," Syaoran pointed out.

"I never could have done it without Nut," Sakura said.

"I'm thankful that they brought you to me," Syaoran said simply. "You, and all that you're capable of."

Sakura pulled away to look at him, and he pressed his lips against hers. The feeling never got old, that electric pulse that buzzed between them, the way their bodies just fit together.

"My beautiful Queen," he whispered against her mouth.

It wasn't dark yet, but several stars glittered, dazzling, around the sun, still blazing gold in the sky.

WOOO! It's over! Thank you so much to everyone who has been along for this ride, and I'm sorry for how long it's taken me to complete this fic! I really hope you've enjoyed reading it, because I've enjoyed writing it. Some of you may think Tomoyo's resurrection was a cheap shot, but honestly, I just wanted to give everyone a happy ending, and Tomoyo totally didn't deserve to die. I hope you can all agree with that! Haha. Please leave me a review with your final thoughts! Thanks so much again!