Beyond a Looking Glass.

Chapter one: Impossibilities.

...

For the first time in a while, the always calm and composed priestess Isis seemed troubled- if not enterily upset. She had been for a long, long time sitting at the same spot in the priest's chamber, hands over her millennium necklace as she concentrated into once again trying to force and figure out the vision she had seen a few times before during the night.

It was just so grieving. Everytime the millennium item showed her a quick vission, she would always cleverly recognize and recite its meaning for everyone to hear, but this time... This time, it had been more than a little strange.

After some minutes, the article had given a glow that made Isis squeeze her eyes shut to focus. There it was again; that vision...

A vision she had been repeating over and over ever since she had first gotten it at midnight. The priestess was concentrating as hard as she could, still hopeful to find what it meant. A minute passed, and she released an exhausted gasp, as her hands fell on her lap and her head leaned down with a bit of a thrust.

"I…don't understand." The woman quietly muttered, angry at herself for not being able to clearly see into what her visions were trying to tell her. "What does this even mean...?" She wondered, sounding entirely frustated.

Surprise hit her questioning when she noticed that it was already morning. She clenched her fists a little, and sighed deeply before deciding that it would be useless to continue trying if she was out of energy.

She would just have to break her daily routine, much to the horror of her responsible self, and make sure to tell just the very trusting Priest Mahaad about this first, to ask for advice.

After all, not everybody had to know, given that not even she could know what the future had in store for the palace this time…

xxXXxx

The daily sun was intense, and so, so very hot. So much that every single image before his eyes seemed to be slowly moving up and down…

There was not even a drop of humidity in the air, not even the feeling of saliva in his dry mouth and throat; But there was the dangerously slow thumping his heart and head kept making to the heat, there were his aching legs, his difficulty for breathing… for some reason, everything around and inside of him seemed ten times worse than other days. The dessert was being far harsher than usual on the poor, hungry boy as he walked through the endless crowd of his Egyptian fellow villagers, all either fully static on a marketing stand, or chattering loudly as they moved and shoved everyone out of their ways.

But alas, the miserable state he was in was not compared to the one his very old, yet still somehow kind grandfather was in, he remembered. While the boy was still young and surprisingly vivid, his grandfather was more ill as each day passed, and food and water were beginning to become a complete need. It wasn't entirely all the better to him that his neighbors and friends had begun to pity them so much they'd go out of the way to help get anything at all for them to eat and drink. Help was appreciated, it truly was, but it made him feel so...so troublesome.

Why did the taxes have to go up…? Why did they live at such poverty..? Why couldn't he be older and stronger for the sake of his loved ones…?

His thoughts were so blank- so tormented by all of his problems that he blindly walked on, doing whatever his now completely lost mind told him to.

...Perhaps, and just perhaps, those were the questions and all the situations that simply brought him into stealing the food that was showing on the next fruit stand he saw on the marketplace.

xxXXxx

It was morning at the Palace, and things were as routinary as ever, but...

For some reason, the whole day had felt somewhat tense for the young Pharaoh Atem, as he watched from his throne at only four priests below him- all standing to their usual duties, talking to guards and the palace's working staff. The Pharaoh had been noticing for a while that Isis and Mahaad had both been absent for the whole morning. Normally, it wouldn't have bugged him as much, but the fact that along with Seto those two were specially devoted to their duties to never miss a day of work really made him re-think things through.

It was all the more rare when he had seen his old friend Mana earlier and she had cheerily assured him that her Master had been there all day long, just like herself.

"...May I ask a question, Shimon?" Atem finally asked, facing to his right, where his loyal vizier and tutor always stood.

"You may. Is something the matter, Pharaoh?" The old man responded with a very firm expression.

"Do you happen to know where Isis and Mahaad might be?"

Shimon pressed his lips together and looked up thoughtfully; "…Hm, considering how secretive those two particularly get when something's off…" He mumbled to himself, in such a way that Atem could not hear him clearly, " ...Though if it's something bad they would've told me already…"

"Well? What do you think?" Atem pressed on, only having Shimon hand him a reassuring grin.

"Maybe you shouldn't worry, Pharaoh. Perhaps one of them had a personal matter and the other is just helping out? Besides, if something goes on at this palace, I'm the first to know."

Though Atem wasn't exactly convinced by Shimon's rather carefree answer, given that Mana would've told him if something was wrong with Mahaad and that Isis didn't seem to be too open about her actual personal life- not even to Mahaad-, it was all highly unlikely. But then again, he wasn't one to decide that. He reluctantly took for granted his adviser's words and tried to continue his day as normally as possible.

Yet…Still with that uneasy feeling that his day was just going to be…different.

xXXx

It wasn't possible. Why had he done something so reckless, stupid and impulsive? It's not like a couple of apples, grapes and mangos were worth getting thrown in a dark dungeon for who knows how long, or knowing how stric the law was, maybe for his entire life.

He wasn't like this. He usually thought things through... was his misery really so big he had fallen this low?

All of these questions, self-scoldings and pondering quickly went over the boy's head as he ran away from the guards. Oh, for all of the Gods... he never even imagined to ever be running away from guards. Nevertheless, the boy ran, ran and ran until he wasn't even sure where he was going.

"After him!" A palace guard had yelled, as he and another colleague of his ran after the small boy.

Given how actually weak, exhausted and horribly thin the boy was, it didn't take him long to lose his breath and the fruit he was trying to hold on to, as he tripped on a rather large rock that made him fall flat on his face on the horribly hot sand. He wasn't sure what was worse by now- The physical pain or the way the little-to-no reputation he had was going through right now...

He had wanted to, and by the gods he tried to get up, but… it all seemed useless at this point. The running had messed up his flat and already old shoes, and his right foot- the one that hit the rock- bled in a way that it stung to even move. He was slowly fainting, before he even noticed.

'Grandfather…' He thought, trying with all his might to hold tears back, 'Everyone...I'm so sorry. Looks like this is it for me…'

The boy had closed his eyes shut, as if he had just decided to give up.

Now that the thief was down, the guards took the chance to get him- but as one of them was close enough to take a good look to the boy's face, he gasped.

After asking what was wrong, the other guard one did so too when he looked at he boy himself.

Completely taken back by the definitely strange thief, the two guards exchanged creeped out looks and tried to decide what to do.

"Should we... take him into the dungeons, with all the other thieves?"

"I don't think that would be good..."

"Why not? He's a thief, like all the others."

"This one is…a lot different."

"Yes, but still a thief..."

"But with those looks… aren't we supposed to inform the priests of anything unusual going on at the village?"

"Certainly…"

"And this is most unusual."

"Certainly..."

"Exactly my point..."

"Should we…take him to the palace?"

They both fell into silence, and stared at the boy, who was passed out and seemed to be barely breathing. In all honesty, he didn't seem as vicious, dangerous or even as greedy as all the other people they caught. He seemed just really, really trapped...

The first guard nodded to his compannion, and almost immediately after, they both took the boy by his shoulders to rise him up, tied his hands together the way they did for every thief, and leaded him to walk below them (now on their horses) in direction to the Pharaoh's palace.

Barely awake, the boy had walked with his head down in shame, hopping to the gods that his grandfather and acquaintances wouldn't see him that way. He muttered apologies to them, too, trying not to care about his bleeding foot and his general pain.

It was going to be a long walk...

xxXXxx

As Atem had predicted, the day had still felt uneasy so far. He had greeted his people just a while back, and was taking a rest to be with Mana, as he normally did every noon.

He was now walking with her by the little courtyard pond. Mahaad was supposed to be with them, but he hadn't appeared yet.

As always, the Pharaoh and the sorcerrer-apprentice stopped at some random point to sit down next to the water; he simply looked down at his reflection in usual thoughtfulness as his childhood friend picked pink lotus flowers and pushed them around the water, seeming quite bored.

"Mana, are you certain Mahaad was with you this morning?" Atem asked again, only receiving a little distracted shrug from her.

"Yep~, I mean, every time I come here to visit he always makes sure to walk me so I don't get lost or trip…" The girl answered, poking a lotus. "And don't worry, he was his usual self. Trust me, if anyone can tell when Master's acting funny, that's me!" She assured; now fully taking the flower on her hands.

Just as Atem was about to make another statement, he had seen for the first time his other childhood friend, Mahaad, approaching from a distance.

While the man wasn't looking entirely rested, he seemed as normal as ever. Good.

"Oh, there you are, Master!" Mana cheerfully said, leaving the flower back in the water as she quickly got up and ran in attempts to tackle-hug the man, which was foiled by him just grabbing her head to keep her at distance.

"Hold yourself back a little, will you?" Mahaad ordered bluntly, as the girl flailed.

"Master, don't be mean~!" Mana tried, but quieted down when she noticed that Atem also approached them, a small smile on his face.

"It's good to finally see you today, Mahaad." Atem greeted, to which Mahaad pressed his hand to his chest and bowed respectfully.

"Pardon me, Pharaoh. I didn't mean to cause any harm or trouble you- I was assisting Isis on something that was happening with her millennium necklace."

"Gee, I can't believe how formally you're speaking to an old friend, Master…" Mana mumbled, and while Atem really wanted to ignore a serious conversation about millennium articles and such, he couldn't help but to feel really in the need to know what had been the cause of Mahaad and Isis's absence.

"Is everything alright with her necklace?" The pharaoh asked reluctantly.

Mahaad frowned and paused before answering, as if trying to put his words in order.

"It is. But last night, it showed Isis a rather peculiar vision. She's been trying to figure out its meaning ever since... She stopped for some time during the morning, but knowing her, she might be doing it again now."

"But its past noon now…she must be so tired!" Mana exclaimed, full worry on her tone. She already thought that learning magic was hard enough…but being a priest seemed a complete different level to her and other young magicians around.

Taken back by the news, Atem's eyes sparked with a sense of unsecurity. He had been a pharaoh for a short time, but he knew fully well the impact that Isis's predictions normally had on everything he did. He couldn't help but to feel worried for her sake, and for everyone else's. But more than everything, he felt a little troubled for not knowing what exactly would happen.

Before Atem could say anything to this, a palace guard had dashed into the courtyard, seeming in a real rush to find the Pharaoh.

"Your highness!" The man shouted as soon as he localized the pointy star-like hair if his ruler.

"Is anything the matter?" Atem asked, fully turning to the guard.

"Pardon me for interrupting your free time, but your presence is required at your throne-room. It's imperative for you to be there as quickly as possible."

Mana and Mahaad traded confused looks with each other at the guard's request.

Atem only cocked an eyebrow, confused by the sudden important event that had just popped up. He thanked the guard for looking for him, and apologized to Mana and Mahaad for leaving so unexpectedly. He followed the guard into the palace and into his throne room, where Shimon was already talking to another guard, never leaving the throne's right side.

Just after Atem had left, Mana was sitting by the pond, hunched over with elbows on her knees, and her hands holding her face.

"...Say, Master? She began quietly, catching Mahaad's attention. "Do you want to hear something interesting?"

"What is it?"

"Did you know that the palace guards caught a thief over at the village today?"

"Why would that be interesting? They catch one at least every week or two."

"It was a little boy..."

"A little boy?"

"Yep, and you know what? Apparently he was going to be taken to the palace today..."

When Mana said this, Mahaad's eyes widened a little, as if that specific was something bigger than what it sounded like.

"…And what else?" He asked, trying not to sound too interested.

"I'm not so sure…I mean, the fact that it was just a little boy was surprising enough," Mana continued, "But apparently he has a rather…unique look."

Mahaad's look only grew more surprised- or even more appalled, one could've said, as his apprentice kept on telling him details about the thief.

xxXXxx

Atem was now sitting on his throne, being pretty unsure about what to think. Shimon was there, surely enough, but for some reason, none of the priests had been called out as they usually were. Apparently, the guards would call them in case anything happened, but Atem just couldn't understand why.

Then, as he waited, a pair of guards entered the room, yet not fully. They had someone with them- chained, and that person was not coming in yet.

"What is it that you need me for?" Atem's voice echoed across the room, as the two guards pressed their chests with their left hands and bowed in unison. With their heads down, they respectfully spoke to the pharaoh.

"Your highness, we caught a thief today at the market." One said.

"But rest assured, he didn't cause harm and the goods were returned." The other added.

Atem was now more than a little confused. This was no special matter...and if anything, the ones that needed to be there for dealing with evil thieves were usually the six Priests.

"But you know fully well, you two. There is a dungeon for thieves. What is your reason to bring this thief over to me?"

Before raising their heads, the two guards looked at each other nervously, only rising the pharaoh's wonder even more.

"...Please look at this, your highness." One of them said, as he finally yanked the chain he was holding to bring in the thief.

There was a quiet yelp of pain at the action, and a rather small silhouette made its way into the Pharaoh's throne-room.

Atem and Shimon's eyes widened at the looks of the so-called thief:

All they could see was a miserable, thin, exhausted and weak little boy...

But Atem's look only became even more alarmed when the boy had weakly rose his head to look at him straight in the eye:

The boy was physically almost exactly the same as the Pharaoh. Same complicated star-shaped hair, same black, magenta and yellow colors to said hair, the same tanned skin-tone, the same type of face... The Pharaoh was sure he had once been that height...and he was sure that those violet eyes that were barely openning- yet still shocked- due exhaustation were the same color as his.

For that split of a second that both of them had realized that the other was like a looking glass of themselves, the world and all time known seemed to stop.

Those analyzing, amazed and maybe even scared looks they had given to the other had lasted... They lasted for more than they should have.

Atem had finally realized now why he had felt that his day was going to be different.

...

xXx End Chapter xXx

AN: Well, boys and girls (or perhaps only girls. xD) Welcome to my newest non one-shot fic.:D

This is my current pairing, Puzzleshipping, and I have to say that I am Lo-ving- it~! This idea occurred to me a little while ago, and I was so struck with inspiration that it only took me a day to write the whole introductory chapter out. That is pretty amazing, if I may say so myself. xD

I know there wasn't even interaction with the main focus-characters, and all seems pretty rushed, but I swear this'll get better when I begin writing them together. It was actually really fun to write this, given how much Yu-Gi-Oh I've been watching lately. X3

Remember, I'll love you forever if you review. Let me know what you think so far! :D