DISCLAIMER -I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the creatures, cards or characters that may appear in my story.
"Pharaoh, this is the girl I spoke of
"Pharaoh, this is the girl I spoke of." An old man said as he led Mana into the throne room. Mana looked around the large echoing hall fearfully and felt even more afraid when she saw the grand man sitting on the throne. Mana was five; the same age as the Pharaoh's son, Atem, who stood beside his father's throne curiously, "She has almost as much power as my own student, Mahado. If she can be trained to harness that power she may be a powerful magician." The man continued,
"Where is she from?" the Pharaoh asked curiously as he looked down at the small peasant girl, who wore a short white dress and a veil on her brown haired head to block the sunlight,
"I found her wandering the streets. Her parents were killed in a fire a week ago and she has been surviving alone on the streets." He replied, gently pushing Mana forward so that she stood alone before the Pharaoh, who looked down at her kindly,
"What is your name child?" he asked gently as he leaned forward. Mana opened her mouth to answer, but found herself unable to speak, "It's alright, no one will hurt you here." He assured her,
"Mana…they called me Mana." She replied quietly as she looked at the floor, "Do you know where my parents are? I can't find them…I want to go home!" she cried as tears began to fall in rivers down her cheeks. Mana felt herself lifted from the ground and was then sitting on someone's lap. As she opened her eyes she saw that it was the Pharaoh,
"Mana. Your parents aren't coming back, they died in an accident a week ago, but you're here now and we'll look after you." He assured her as she dried her eyes.
"Pharaoh, as you know Mahado, though young, is a very promising student, in fact I know that he will one day replace me as keeper of the millennium ring, but already I believe that he is ready for a student and this girl needs stability. I will retire in a few years, but Mahado will still be strong and able. Allow Mahado to teach the girl, I believe there will be positive results from such a pairing." The old man added as he looked at Mana, who looked back curiously.
"Very well, take her to Mahado. She will live inside the palace until she is old enough to live alone outside the walls." The Pharaoh decided as he placed Mana on her feet by the throne. The grey old man held his hand out to her and Mana took it, looking back curiously at Atem, who looked at her in an equally curious manner. Mana found herself being led through large echoing corridors, heading down into the dungeon levels of the palace where the magicians practised novice spells, the expert spells were cast outside on a training ground away from the city because they were so powerful.
"Mahado. This is Mana, I want you to teach her well." The old man said as they walked into a darkened room lit by just two candles. At the small wooden table a twelve-year-old boy looked up from his scroll attentively, his long brown hair, a couple of shades lighter than Mana's, went straight down to his shoulders and he looked at her with piercing blue eyes,
"Are you certain Master? She has a power much like my own, perhaps you would be a better teacher." Mahado argued gently,
"Do you question me Mahado?" the old man demanded,
"No Master, I merely do not think myself qualified to teach such a powerful student effectively." He replied, receiving an admiring look from his master,
"Mahado, you are wise beyond your years. I know many students who would not dare argue with their masters, but you have a spirit and intelligence beyond all of them." The old man complimented, "Still, it is my belief that you are ready and this girl needs a permanent master." He added, at which the young boy rose from the table with a look of anguish,
"Master! Are you ill?" he asked worriedly, but the old man laughed and shook his head,
"No, not at all, but you are to be both my last student and my successor Mahado and by the time you succeed me, Mana will not have finished her training. She needs a permanent master, and that is you. Why don't you spend some time together? I must see to state affairs and there is still a long time before your next lesson." The old man said as he bowed out of the room and closed the door. Mana looked back at the door fearfully and turned back to the boy, who was staring at her thoughtfully.
"Alright Mana, what do you know about magic?" he asked as he stood up from the chair at the table and came to stand with her, towering over her and seeming almost twice her height. She backed away slightly and hit the wall,
"Um-I-uh," she stuttered hopelessly, but the boy just laughed kindly,
"Don't look so scared, I'm not going to hurt you…do you know anything about magic? Have you ever used your power?" he asked, but Mana shook her head, "Has anything ever happened when you were around? Something odd? Or did you ever see a strange monster close to you?" he asked, at which Mana nodded, "Can you tell me?" he asked,
"It was a week ago. Mummy and Daddy were shouting; they were so angry, so loud, they were angry with me…I didn't mean to smash the vase! It just fell and I couldn't stop it!" she cried, "They were so loud…I just wanted them to stop…I didn't mean to do it, I couldn't help it!" she cried as she slid to the floor and buried her face between her knees. Mahado gave her a pitying look and knelt beside her, putting his arms round her comfortingly,
"It's alright, hey, don't cry…what happened?" he prompted as he stroked her head gently,
"I killed them! The house was on fire! I did it! They were so loud and angry! I just wanted them to stop!" she cried into Mahado's shoulder, feeling his arms holding her gently.
"It wasn't your fault Mana. You didn't know about your power, you mustn't blame yourself. Your body just reacted in a defensive manner to the situation. You were trying to protect yourself and the fire killed your parents by accident." He said firmly as he wiped away her tears with the sleeve of his white magician robes. Mana sniffed and rubbed her eyes,
"Really?" she asked hopefully,
"Really…now, I have some time before my next lesson so I'll tell you about the shadow creatures." He decided,
"Yes sir." She said,
"Call me Master Mahado in public, but when we're alone you may call me Mahado." He said, "Now, let's see. There are many shadow creatures in the kingdom, in fact everyone has one, but some are stronger than others and not everyone can harness their power. The seven keepers of the millennium items have many of these monsters, but each will have one that they favour, which is probably the one that they started with. These creatures are made up of the evil in a person's heart, but the creatures are only as evil as the person who controls them, remember that! Just because you have a strong shadow creature it doesn't mean that you are an evil person." He instructed to Mana, now sitting cross-legged and looking at him intently. "These creatures reside in the shadow realm and are connected to this world by stone tablets, which depict the monster, and they come forth when called." He explained.
"Called? How?" Mana asked, tilting her head quizzically,
"Well, to summon a monster you have one of these." Mahado said as he held up a gold item that looked like a wing attached to a bracelet. "These monsters fight in shadow games to protect their master's life. When your life is gone you are sent to the shadow realm, but it has been said that some people become their monster." He added as he allowed Mana to hold the gold item.
"How do you know if you have a monster or not?" she asked as she ran her hand over the smooth gold plating,
"Well, as I said, everyone has a monster, you just need to have the power to bring it out, and you do have that power. I can see a great power in you, one that feels very much like my own." He replied as she handed him the item and he put it aside. "But the monsters aren't the only magical things. There are many spells that must be mastered. Spells for healing, spells for shielding, spells for attacking, there are spells for just about anything." He continued, "Let me show you one." He added as he walked to the bench and tipped a small amount of light blue powder into the palm of his hand, "Omar." He said as he threw the powder and as she watched Mana saw the powder mould together until there was a blue butterfly fluttering around the room. Mana held out her hands as it flew near her and the butterfly landed in her hands,
"It's beautiful." She sighed as she looked at the plain blue wings,
"It's my signature animal. It was the first thing I ever learned to do with magic." He said as the butterfly fluttered to him and landed on his shoulder. "If I want someone to find me then I send the butterfly to guide them. So far no one has figured out this method of communication except for my Master." He explained.