Disclaimer. Yu-Gi-Oh! does not belong to me. It belongs to Kazuki Takahashi and crew. Some characters will be made up by me. Please ask if you want to use them.

Prologue

Atem wandered through the courtyard, small sandals making quiet thumps on the brick ground. The ten year old shivered. It was late at night, and the warm desert wind in the day turned into harsh biting nips of cold air at night. Glancing around, he ducked behind a bush as two royal guards walked by, each carrying a spear.

The wooden spears with sharp pointed metal at the top glinted in the moonlight. Atem tensed, the skin on his knees scraping on the bricks. But they weren't looking for him. The air around them was carefree. The young prince could hear them chatting about how some poor guard got targeted by one of Mana's freeze spells. It took two days for her to figure out how to unfreeze him.

Atem smiled slightly, shaking his head. His soft spiky hair swaying with movement. Two yellow bangs perched on each side of his head. While the black red tipped hair stuck stubbornly upwards. One single pointed bang jutted upwards through his hair.

'Mana is still no good at spells I see. But she insists on becoming the greatest female magician ever. Hmm. With Mahado's help that could be possible. Seeing as how he's the greatest magician in the entire kingdom of Egypt. Possibly the world.'

He watched the two guards until they turned a corner and out of sight. Standing up, he was just about to continue his wandering when someone grabbed his arm.

Stiffening, he whipped around to face the newcomer, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw who it was. Mahado stared down sternly at him. A large gold ring with dangling pointers and an eye carved in the middle of a triangle inside the ring was strung to a cord and hung around his neck. The ten year old prince looked up at the taller, sixteen year old magician. "H-hi...guess you caught me. Do I have to go back now?"

Mahado sighed. "Why do you wander off like this?" He asked, ignoring Atem's question. "You cause your father much worry. He already has enough gray hairs. He doesn't need more from you."

Atem shuffled his sandals on the ground, lowering his crimson eyes in shame.

"Sorry."

The magician hummed in discontent. "That's fine and all, but we'll see what your father has to say about it. He's been asking for you, and I had to run around trying to find you." The prince mumbled something Mahado couldn't hear. "What was that?" Atem shook his head. "Nothing...let's go."

He started to walk then shivered. The magician tutted. "You'll catch a cold with what you're wearing." He took off his cape and draped it around Atem's shoulders.

The boy clutched the fabric gratefully. "Thank you."

Together they walked into the palace, down the long corridors into the throne room. Six priests stood by a large blue and gold throne, wearing or holding gold items like Mahado's ring. Sitting on the throne was a stern looking elderly man, with a graying beard. His sharp brown eyes were kind though. Caring. Strung on a cord around his neck was a golden upside down pyramid, with an eye carved in the middle. He was the Pharoah. His name was Aknamkanon.

Mahado led the young prince in, before taking his place beside the other priests. Atem stood there awkwardly, not particularly enjoying the questioning stares the six other priests threw his way. Fidgeting, he glanced up at his father, expecting a stern lecture. What he wasn't expecting though, was the stern, but understanding gaze in his father's eyes. A moment passed. Then, Aknamkanon spoke.

"Atem. Do not look so fearful. I am not upset. I understand that you want to go out more, explore, see the world. But, when you run off, weather it be during lessons, at random times, or at night without telling anyone, it makes me worry. Why do you choose to not tell someone that you are leaving?" Atem waited patiently until the Pharoah stopped speaking.

Then he spoke up. "Because father, if I told someone, they would follow me everywhere. I like my personal space. I like to wander without someone breathing down my neck." A flutter of robes caught the young prince's attention. It was one of the priests, an old man with one gold eye.

He whispered something, frowning at Atem. Atem caught the words.

"Insolent child..."

Another priest, a young woman with long black hair and a gold necklace with a carved eye in the middle around her neck, trodded on the old man's foot. What she said couldn't be heard, but Atem guessed she was scolding him.

Aknamkanon was silent, processing his son's words. He glanced at the old man beside him. He was short with gray hair similar to Atem's. The Pharoah whispered to him, the other man whispering back. Finally, Aknamkanon straightened, glancing once more down at his son.

"Shimon and I have decided that, while your reasons for running off are fair, that still does not excuse that you decided these reasons on your own. Therefor, tommorow, you will take extra lessons with Mahado. Your magic needs work. That is all."

Atem sighed, but nodded, turning away and trudging down the hall to his room. Climbing into bed, he fell asleep.

(A few hours later...)

Atem twitched, hearing something rustle in his room. He sat up, glancing around. A small girl was leaning against a wall, long brown hair unkempt. Her large brown eyes were tired, and saddened. Atem tilted his head.

"M-Mana? What's wrong?"

The magician in training looked at him, tears rolling down her face. Shocked, Atem leaped out of bed, running over to her and grabbing her shoulders gently. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Mana sniffled. "It's your father Prince Atem. Or...should I say Pharoah Atem."

The young 'prince's' blood froze. "What...what are you saying?" Mana hugged Atem, sobbing. "He's gone! He's gone! Stolen away by sickness! He's...he's..."

"Dead?"

Atem whispered.

Mana nodded, nearly crushing Atem in her hug. "I'm so sorry! I should have never told you! Are you mad at me?"

But Atem could not or would not hear her.

"Dead."

He repeated. "Dead.

He's gone.

Dead.

Dead.

No more loving father. Dead."

Mana shuffled away from him, unsettled by Atem's strange behaviour.

The 'prince' turned and ran, wailing, until guards grabbed him, gently holding him back as Atem witnessed the priests carrying his father's corpse away.

Atem's screams were heard throughout the palace, breaking the hearts of many.

End Of Prologue

See you in chapter one