Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters.

AN: This is my version of events taking place during Ancient Egypt. Some things won't be accurate, but I'll try to stay as in character as possible. Thank you and enjoy.

Prologue

He was dreaming. He had to be dreaming. Nothing real could be like this. Darkness. All around him there was naught but deep, foreboding darkness. It seemed endless. Everywhere he looked, everywhere he turned, there was darkness. He felt cold, abandoned. He couldn't get out on his own. He needed help. He needed his other.

He needed someone to lead him from this darkness. He'd never been left to the darkness before. His other had always protected him from it.

His voice sounded hollow as he spoke his thoughts. "Speaking of...Where is my other? Where's Yami? Why hasn't he come for me yet?"

The sound of feminine laughter provided him with his only response.

Yuugi whirled around to face the new comer to his dark dream. She was tanned like Malik, which meant she was probably Egyptian. Her hair was long and flowing about her slender form. She was wearing a simple white robe, similar to what Ishizu had been wearing the last time he'd seen her. What caught and held his attention, though, was her uncanny resemblance to himself. She had his light violet eyes and his tri-colored hair. They were also the same height and had the same basic build.

All at once he found himself bathed in this bright white light. The woman floating across from him smiled sweetly and held her hand out to him. Yuugi shook his head at her offered hand then tried to figure everything out.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my dream? And where's the Pharaoh?"

The woman flinched at the mention of the spirit then said, "I am called Irisa. I am a magician from the days of ancient Egypt. I've come to show you the past you and many others have forgotten."

It was only then that the young duelist noticed the staff in his look-alike's hand. It was similar to the Dark Magician Girl's, except that it was all white with a bright gold orb at the end. Something occurred to him then as her words finally sunk in.

"You're from the spirit's past life, aren't you."

"Indeed I am, little Yuugi."

"You know my name too? Are you here to unlock the pharaoh's memories for him?"

A look of sadness passed over the young woman's features then. Her voice was very soft and pained as she said, "I am here for you, Yuugi Mouto. I am not the one who can unlock the power of the pharaoh."

"Why do you look so much like I do?"

"Ah, that, I can tell you. We look alike because, in another lifetime, I was you."

Yuugi fell flat on his rear end. There was no way that could be true! He and Yami had looked into the past many times and there had never been any proof that he had a past life with the spirit. But what reason could Miss Irisa have for lying to him about something like that?

"You don't believe me."

"Well, no."

"(Sigh) There is proof of my existence buried in your memories. The spirit of the puzzle has memories of me as well. Many do, but none have recovered these memories. Many aspects of our past lives are still unknown."

"So, you're telling me that I was a girl in a past life? Did I know the spirit then too?"

Now her saddened expression turned to one of wistful happiness. It was a look he'd seen on the spirit a few times. She was recalling a very happy memory from the past.

"You did know him! I knew it!"

Irisa angled her staff to the side as she floated there in front of her future self. Her posture changed to one of grim determination. The story she was about to tell wasn't all pleasant.

"Yes, I knew the pharaoh. I knew him very well, but that is a tale for another day. There is little time. I must unlock your memories now before its too late."

"Too late for what?" Now he was confused.

"Before history repeats itself. For as long as I can remember; every time the pharaoh fell in love, his rival came along and destroyed his happiness. Set was always a jealous man, but he also hated Atemu with a passion. They were always fighting, even before the battle that claimed both of their lives. What I'm about to show you will open your eyes to things you had only imagined before. You'll have the answer to questions that have plagued everyone from the beginning. You will be able to answer the pharaoh's questions about the past. No longer will you be left in shadow. Brace yourself Yuugi, this is going to be rough. Ra, protect you."

With these words Irisa pointed the end of her staff at Yuugi's heart and blasted him with it. All at once her memories of the past surfaced in his mind. She had been with him the entire time. It had been her, not Yami, that had kept his faith directed towards the heart of the cards. She was the one that had kept him pure hearted. He was being overwhelmed. Images of ancient Egypt floated towards him. He was surrounded by them, drowning in them. He lost himself. It was beginning.

Well that's it.

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Please be kind and review, this is my first attempt at Yu-Gi-Oh Fanfiction.