Note: Hey Peeps! While I'm thinking up some plots to overcome the case of writer's block on Blue Eyes White Mermaid, I have decided to write another story in hopes that it would stimulate my brain. This story is somewhat based on a story called, "The Magican's Trap" by an author named Eileen Piper, and I've decided to add my own little twist and turns, like and Ancient Egyptian kind of setting. This is especially for both Yugi/Anzu fans AND Atem/Anzu fans, because Nimea (the one I'd like to call Yami Anzu) will be making her appearance in her first chapter story. So anyway, enjoy the first chapter of my new story.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh, and I do not own "The Magician's Trap" either. And you know what? I'M GLAD I DON'T!

The Dark Magician's Trap

Chapter 1: The Blind Prince

In the land of obelisks and pyramids, there was a certain pharaoh by the name of Setna. He had a magnificent kingdom that stretched from the desert to the delta where the river poured into the nearby sea. From within, farms prospered where the river flooded, and from upon the river and the seashores beyond, the fishermen happily gave praise to their gods as they brought in fish by the boatloads.

There is reason for this happiness. Pharaoh Setna was very wise, and known for his kindness. So it's no wonder that the gods themselves blessed him with two lovely daughters, both of which are his pride and joy. These two princesses were famous in their own right, for they were as bold as they were beautiful. Let one princess hear of a land that has yet to be explored and she will be off to see it. Let the other hear of a fierce and menacing beast that no one has the courage to capture, or of a treasure that no one could find, and she would not rest until she has dragged it home. Ah, yes. What stories they made.

But Pharaoh Setna was not entirely happy. He had just one sorrow… neither daughter has yet to find a husband. His firstborn, Princess Nimea, otherwise known as "The Daring Huntress", was especially picky when it comes to finding her true love. Specifically, her special someone not only must have a kind heart, he must also be just as daring as she is. And so far, most men have no such luck in matching her boldness. As for Nimea's little sister… well, she said she'll find love in her travels. As fate would have it, her latest destination was closer to an uncharted part of the desert. It is in this desert area that another kingdom peacefully rests, ruled by another wise pharaoh. And it is in that kingdom where our story begins…

The sun was overhead, and not a single cloud was in the sky. Upon the desert sands, two young men were growing weary. One had dirty blonde hair, and had an arrangement that could only be described as messy, and he wore an Egyptian style loincloth held up by an elegant belt. His hazel brown eyes gazed ahead of what seemed like endless dunes of golden sand. "Water…water…" he wailed, "I gotta have water!" Just when he took another step, he collapsed on his knees. "Augh, Honda, how long have we been in this desert?"

"I've already lost count since we came here Jonouchi!" The other young man, Honda, managed to croak out. He had brown hair that was shaped like a unicorn's horn at the front and his own eyes were more of a hazel color. An Egyptian-styled tunic covered his body, and the belt around his waist was simpler in design. He let out a sigh, and wiped some sweat off his brow. "It's so hot… we're out of water, and there's not an oasis in sight…"

The blonde, Jonouchi, started crying waterfall tears. "I've never felt so thirsty in my life! And I'm starving too!" and with a sniffle, he bawled out, "We're so far away from home… at this rate, we're both gonna die out in the desert!"

"We… better not… give up… just yet." Honda gasped out, "We gotta… keep going!" And soon, Honda started walking again.

Jonouchi slowly stood up, and walked behind his friend. They had barely gone another half mile when Jonouchi looked to the side of his shoulder. His eyes widened. "Hey, Honda!" he shouted, pointing to what he was seeing, "Look!" And Honda did look. There, right in front of them, was a large palace, decorated with fantastic wall paintings depicting the desert gods.

"Whoa…" Honda said, gawking, "This… this isn't a mirage, is it?"

"Guess there's only one way to find out." Jonouchi said. The two of them stepped toward the palace, and as they did, they could see for sure that it was becoming less and less like a mirage. Finally, they were close enough to confirm, to their joy, that the palace was real. That was when they noticed yet another fact as they collapsed on the ground: they're not alone. For close by, there was another young man, trying his very best to string a longbow. The two friends could tell that he was someone of high status, for he was dressed in an Egyptian style tunic that is a bright white, with a golden belt across his waist. He had golden bracelets and golden arm circlets worn on his upper arms close to his shoulders. Gold bands even decorated his lower legs and soft leather sandals adorned his feet. A long violet cloak draped over his shoulders, held in place by a large golden semi-circle shaped necklace. A pair of elaborate gold earrings hung from the lobes of his ears, and a simple circlet decorated with an eye in the center was worn upon his forehead. But it's not just the rich clothes that got their attention. The young man himself had a thin build, but by the look of how he was pulling the bow to string it, he was not as frail as he looks. His spiky hair was black and lined with crimson at the top, while his lightning shaped bangs were a golden color. As for his eyes, they were also a bright shade of crimson, seemingly wide with a hint of innocence. As Jonouchi and Honda watched, the young man finally put the string in its place on the bow. He smiled with pride, and was about to go back inside with the bow when he saw the two weary travelers before him. His eyes widened in astonishment and he quickly turned his head toward the entrance.

"Father!" he called out in a smooth tenor voice, "Father, come quick!"

"What is it Yugi?" asked another voice coming from the door, and an old dignified man, dressed in red and white robes, came out with two guards following behind him. Jonouchi and Honda looked at each other, and grew a bit worried. Are they going to be arrested? The old man looked at the two before them and his own eyes widened. He stepped forward to get a closer look and saw that they were indeed drenched in sweat from being under the desert sun for too long, and nearly malnourished. "Guards! Go and fetch some water, and quickly!" the old man ordered. The guards, seeing the condition of the lost travelers, rushed in immediately, and when they came back, they brought servants carrying large jugs of cold, life giving water.

"We're saved!" Jonouchi wearily rejoiced, and started drinking from one of the jugs right away.

The young man, Yugi, took another jug and brought it over to Honda. "Here you go." he said with a smile, "You guys must have been through a lot."

"Gee, thanks man!" Honda said as he took the jug and consumed its contents. The old man smiled.

"Ease yourselves, young travelers. For in the desert the sun shows no mercy. Come inside the palace where there is shade. We will even provide you each a room to spend the night if you like." He said, "Oh, but I ramble. I am Pharaoh Akunumkanon." Placing a hand on Yugi's shoulders he then said, "This young man here is my son, Yugi."

Jonouchi was truly astonished at what he heard, even as he finished gulping down some water. "Pharaoh? And a prince? Wow! I-I never met a royal family before! This is an honor! My name is Jonouchi."

Honda was equally in awe, and he paused from his drinking to bow down, "I-I'm Honda." He managed to say with a smile. "Thank you so much for your kindness!"

Yugi gave a small bow in return and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to our kingdom!" And so, the two lost travelers, their strength renewing, gladly stepped into the palace with the Prince and his father.

As it so happened, dinner was in the process of preparation, so Prince Yugi agreed to give his two guests a tour to the palace. "Come this way," Yugi said, "Since the palace is huge, newcomers are bound to get lost, so it's best if you stay by me."

"Uh, sure thing, Your Highness." Jonouchi said, trying his very best to be polite.

"Please, call me Yugi." The Prince replied with a friendly chuckle, "Royal titles are a bit too formal for my taste."

"Okay, Yugi." Jonouchi replied. "Lead the way." And so the tour began. The three men walked through the long hallway, with Yugi pointing out certain areas like the dining hall where they will eat, the living quarters of the High Priests, even the room where you could take a bath. Jonouchi and Honda were in awe of the sights of the palace. Everywhere they looked, there were towering pillars, and the wall paintings were nothing more than breathtaking. Finally, they stopped at a very large room leading outside.

"This is the game room." Yugi said with a sense of pride, "It's one of my favorite places. Here, you can play sports, board games, you name it!"

"Whoa!" Honda said, "This place is huge!"

"There must have been a ton of games you can play out there!" Jonouchi said.

Yugi just smiled. "Go ahead guys! Feel free to test you skills!"

"Really?" Jonouchi said in excitement. "Are you sure?"

"Yep!" Yugi said, "Knock yourselves off!"

"All right!" Jonouchi and Honda both exclaimed, and they both eagerly rushed into the game room. Immediately, they took out some sticks and started hitting a ball back and forth in a mock game of ground hockey. And boy, they were having a great time. Suddenly, Jonouchi struck the ball really hard, and it flew right passed Honda and fell behind a large dividing wall.

"I'll get it!" Jonouchi said and he rushed toward the wall. Nimbly, he went through the narrow opening and went over to retrieve the ball. He had just picked it up when he saw a seemingly familiar figure ahead of him. He was lying with his back against the wall, his head lowered and eyes closed in slumber. "Huh?" Jonouchi said in confusion, "Yugi? How'd you manage to get over here?"

"What are you talking about Jonouchi? I'm right over here!" Yugi said as he came up from behind the blonde, with Honda close by. Jonouchi jerked in surprise when he looked behind him.

"Gyaa! Yugi, you scared me!" he said, but then his eyes grew more wide, "W-wait a minute! If you're Yugi, who's that guy over there?"

Both Yugi and Honda looked in the direction where the blonde was pointing. When he saw the sleeping figure before him, Honda gasped in astonishment. "Dude! Y-Yugi… that young man over there… he looks exactly like you!" The Prince stared blankly at first, but then he started to chuckle.

"Of course he looks like me! He's my older brother!"

"Wha--older brother?" Jonouchi said in shock, "But, but that must mean you're twins, right?"

"That's right!" Yugi said happily.

"Egad," said Honda in amazement, "The Pharaoh never said anything about having another son!"

"You didn't ask." Yugi simply replied, "In any case, would you like to meet him?"

"S-sure. It would be a honor." Jonouchi said, calming down a bit. Honda, on the other hand, simply nodded in agreement.

"Okay, stay right here. I'm gonna go wake him up." Yugi said as he walked toward his brother. It was at that moment that the two travelers got a closer look at the young man who was Yugi's twin brother. The resemblance to Yugi was remarkable, but they could now see the subtle differences. Although he also had a thin build, the young man had slightly more muscle, as evidenced in his arms and legs. Like his younger brother, he had spiky hair that was black and rimmed with a rich crimson at the top, and lightning shaped bangs of shining bright gold. What set him apart was that some of those bangs literally stood on end, streaking his hair overall. His features were slightly more sharper, including his closed eyes, making him seem like a more intense, mature version of Yugi. And although he wore clothes similar to that of his brother, his crown had a pair of stylized wings on the sides, and an upside down golden pyramid hung from around his neck like a pendant. Yugi slowly and quietly made his approach, wanting to make sure that there are no rude awakenings. Once right in front of his brother, he bent down on one knee. "Atem?" he whispered, as he reached out just as slowly to touch the young man's chin. "Atem?" The Prince gently lifted his brother's chin so that they were face to face. It was then that the young man's eyes slowly began to open. The irises were a deep crimson just like his brother's, but as Jonouchi and Honda took notice, there was something amiss. Where is the shine?

The young man, Atem, blinked once before he straightened up. "Oh, hello Yugi." He said in a rich baritone voice before he stretched and let out a yawn.

"Sorry if I disturbed your nap." Yugi said, standing up as he did so.

"No, that's all right." Atem replied, "You woke me at the right moment."

"Well, in any case, we've got some unexpected guests in the palace today." Yugi said as Atem rose to his feet.

"Guests, you say?" Atem questioned, growing interested.

"Yeah," Yugi said, "Father and I met up with some travelers who got lost in the desert. It's their first time here, and they're staying with us for a while."

"Ah, so they're newcomers!" Atem mused with a smirk. "Where are they at the moment? I would like to meet those travelers."

"I thought you'd never ask." Yugi replied cheerfully, "They're right in front of us, so let me guide you to them. You don't mind, do you?"

"Not at all." Atem said. Taking hold of his twin's hand, Yugi once again stepped forward to the blonde and his friend. As Atem came closer, Jonouchi and Honda could see his eyes more clearly. The pupils of both eyes were more gray than black, and the crimson irises were dark and dull, barely visible under swirls of… white. Come to think of it, both of Atem's eyes were completely covered with a milky white veil.

"Jonouchi, Honda," Yugi said, "this is my brother, Atem."

Jonouchi, feeling the brush of greatness before him, was genuinely nervous, but nevertheless, he gave a small polite bow and stuttered, "Oh, uh, i-i-it's a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I'm Jonouchi."

"The pleasure is mine, Jonouchi." Atem replied with a smile. "And please, you can call me by my name if you want. Like Yugi, I consider royal titles too formal for my taste."

"All right Your Highne—I mean, Atem. My name is Honda, by the way." Honda said with a smile, but then within a slight pause, it faded into a look of concern, "I don't want to be disrespectful to you, but… what's up with your eyes?"

It was then that Atem's own smile faded, briefly showing a tinge of sorrow and… is it… shame? "So you've noticed my condition." He said. Jonouchi became concerned as well. Atem lifted his head, and continued, "Every day of my life, I hear the sounds of songbirds, musicians, and the voices of loved ones. I feel the warmth of the sun, and the chill of the night. Here in the palace, the air is filled with the scent of lotus blossoms, and as I consume the fresh figs and the juices of grapes from the vineyard, I savor their taste." There was a pause, before he let out a sigh. "But alas, all I ever see is a thick, black sheet of darkness… and nothing more."

Jonouchi and Honda gasped, finally figuring out what was wrong. "You're blind…!" Jonouchi said in a hushed tone.

"Yes Jonouchi, I am blind." Atem said, "I've been this way ever since I was born."

"That's awful." Jonouchi said, and he stepped closer, "I understand exactly what you're going through. I have a younger sister, and she almost went blind herself. So you're not alone, Atem." This made Atem smile again.

"But wait a sec." Honda said to the blonde, "Atem and Yugi are twins. How come Yugi isn't blind as well?"

Luckily Yugi stepped forward. "Well, the reason for Atem's blindness is rather complicated. Father can explain when dinner starts." Now the two travelers are curious. What exactly was the reason that only Atem was born blind? The answer would have to wait, for Atem spoke up again.

"In the meantime, do you mind if I touch your face? It's nothing too personal, I just wanted to know what you look like."

"N-no, I don't mind at all." Jonouchi replied, and immediately he closed his eyes. Atem reached out his hand, and soon his fingers began to guide it over the surface of the blonde's handsome facial features. Jonouchi did his very best to stay still so the older Prince's hand could feel every detail without difficulty. Once Atem started feeling Jonouchi's hair, the latter opened his eyes again, just in time to see the former beginning to smirk in satisfaction before he withdrew his hand.

"All right Honda, it's your turn." Atem said. Honda quietly stepped forward, and again, Atem reached out. His fingers nimbly navigated the surface of Honda's face, and even felt the unicorn point of Honda's hair upon the forehead. Once he was finished, Atem once again withdrew in satisfaction.

"So… do you like what you, uuuh, feel?" Honda asked.

"No doubt you two will attract some ladies." Atem teased playfully, earning a blush from both men.

"I guess we'll take that as a yes." Jonouchi muttered with a sheepish grin.

"Your Highnesses," called out a voice which belonged to a female servant, "The food is ready!"

"Thank you." Yugi responded, "We'll be right over." Then he turned to the duo. "C'mon you guys, lets get you something to eat."

"Yeah!" rejoiced Jonouchi and Honda, and together with Yugi, they rushed forward to the dining room. Atem smiled, and quickly followed them, without any need of a walking stick.

Note: Hmmm, it seems like Atem has a kind of sixth sense to help make up for his lost sight... So how did he wind up blind at birth? The answer lies in the next chapter of this story. Until next time!