Hello everyone,

This is my first FanFiction and the first story I ever wrote, so tell me if you like it!

Dreams

Prologue

Atem ran through the battlefield, cloak flowing behind him, paying no attention to the battle raging around him. He had to stop this; it had gone on for too long.

In the few years Atem had stayed in the afterlife, chaos had descended swiftly. The shadow creatures had found a DoorWay leading to the afterlife, and saw it as an opportunity for revenge. Since that day, they were battling almost nonstop and Atem was exhausted.

I have to do this, Atem thought; the fate of the afterlife depends on it!

He weaved swiftly around the shadow creature army and suddenly, he stopped. There she was the Queen of Darkness and leader of this invasion, Elivira. She was humanoid, with pure white skin and blazing red hair made of flames. Bloodred eyes that flamed when she got irritated made her skin look even paler, a set of pitch black devils' horns adorned her head, while a matching devils' tail swished behind her. Elivira was wearing a sleeveless, and loose black dress that hung just above her knees, while simple black runners adorned her feet. Perfect for fighting.

Elivira watched as Atem approached and smiled sweetly, "Have you come to tell me you are surrendering?" Atem narrowed his eyes, "No, in fact, it is time to end this madness!"

"Oh, really?" Elivira said amused. Giving Atem no time to respond, she drew a gleaming black dagger and smiled as darkness caressed the blade. "Let's duel!" Elivira announced.

Mana looked on as battle continued. She spotted master Mahad blasting at monsters with Illusion Magician by his side. Seto was using his Duos to slash through shadow creatures, while the rest of the priests, Isis, Shada and Karim, fought with their spirit monsters in different places in the battlefield. Aknamkanon could be seen fighting alongside his brother Aknadin and even Shimon was in battle.

Mana was seriously annoyed that she wasn't allowed to fight, and with the guards around, there was no possibility of escape. So she was sitting here on the balcony where she and Atem had sat on so many times, as the battle raged below.

Her eyes followed her best friend as he ran through the monsters, expertly weaving in between them. Mana wondered if she should join him. When she found Atem again, tears formed in her eyes. She had to help him, she had to. Without even looking back, she slipped off the balcony to the ground below.

Elivira did not leave much time for Atem to respond, for she attacked almost immediately. Even so, Atem had managed to unsheathe his DiaDhank and summon the Winged Dragon of Ra. To his surprise, Elivira did not attack Ra, but attacked him instead. With no weapons to defend himself with, all he could do was dodge her attacks.

"What's wrong, honey?" Elivira said real sweet with a just as sweet smile, "You can't land a blow?" Atem gritted his teeth and said nothing. Ra tried to protect Atem and attack Elivira, but she was too fast and slipped under Ra's tail and slashed Atem's shoulder when he turned to dodge. He immediately collapsed in pain. Ra shimmered and vanished, Atem was too weak to keep it out of its tablet. Elivira smiled and took her time advancing.

Tears ran down Mana's face as she watched her best friend collapse. She ran ever faster, but she was too far away. Mana knew that she wouldn't make it. Time seemed to slow, as Elivira advanced, smiling triumphantly.

All of a sudden, the portal flew open and she saw Atem use the remaining strength he had to push Elivira halfway in. Elivira shrieked and grabbed at Atem.

A cry escaped her mouth as she watched Elivira grasp Atem's belt and dragged him with her. By the time she got there, it was too late.

The portal had closed.

It was a pain he had never felt before. It felt like his shoulder was on fire and was quickly spreading to his whole body. Atem dimly heard Elivira's voice. What had she said?

"One wound by this blade shall send you to the shadow realm!"

Well, I'll take you with me! Atem thought as his half closed eyes caught sight of the portal. Using his shadow magic, he opened the portal and gathered his remaining strength to push Elivira partway in.

Elivira shrieked, "NOOOOO! If I go you do too!" her hands clutching at Atem. Just as she fell into the portal, the hand managed to snag Atem's golden belt and dragged his unresisting body in.

Once inside the portal, he used the rest of his shadow magic to close the portal. The last thing his pain fevered mind registered was Mana's voice calling his name.

"Atem! Atem! Please come back!" Mana shouted that over and over as she fell to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. Knowing that shouting won't bring him back, didn't stop her cries and she barely noticed that the fighting had died down.

Without Elivira's influence, the monsters were weakened, so that they would be easy to defeat. With the battle over, everyone caught sight of Mana crying in front of the locked portal.

"Mana, what's wrong?" It was Master Mahad. Mana could barely speak through the lump in her throat, but she managed, "Atem...gone,"

The silence that stretched after those few words were deafening after the sounds of battle. Finally, Aknamkanon said, "Let's go into the palace, so you can tell us the full story." With that, he turned toward the palace and walked slowly toward it. Everyone else following soon after. Mana reluctantly followed, after taking one last look at the spot where her best friend, Atem, had given himself up to save them, once again.

So, how is it?

FireWolf593