'How did I get here?' a single thought ran through the young man's head as he lay in the rubble from where he'd fallen off the ledge. He'd come to Egypt after Marik had
called and claimed they'd found Atem's tomb. Yugi had wanted to confirm the theory himself; it was something that he believed he needed to do, something he had to do. And
now here he was, lying in the middle of stone and dust dying all alone. He could feel his energy and the warmth from his body fading as the icy cold crept in to take hold of
him during a blazing heat wave.
"I should've listened to Ryou. He was right." He smiled softly for a moment before looking over at the sarcophagus next to him. The stone had etchings where a name
should have been but they had been carved away, leaving the mummy nameless.
"Maybe… Just maybe I'll get to see you again Atem." His vision faded slowly to black and after what seemed like an eternity he heard a voice calling out to him in the dark.
"Yugi… It's time to awaken." The voice was soft but he could feel the power behind it as he forced his eyes open expecting to still be in the tomb, but instead when he
looked around he seemed to be lost in a place with a menagerie of colors swirling about. Almost like a void in space. The owner of the voice was a woman draped in traditional
ancient Egyptian garments, gold accents and with a mask of a cat.
"I am Bastet, the goddess in charge of guarding the Pharaoh, and the right hand to my father Ra. We have heard your lamenting and have come to offer you up a
challenge to save not only yourself, but the Nameless Pharaoh that you hold onto." Yugi could only stare for a moment at the woman trying to collect his baring's. She was
regal and proud and here he stood before her like a lost little mouse.
"Save the Pharaoh? You mean Atem?" he questioned allowing himself to play along even if it seemed like a dream. The goddess nodded folding her hands together.
"His name is the key. But there is also another, one who must survive. The child called Heba, who became not only one of the Prince's close confidants but also the only
person he ever allowed himself to love." Yugi watched her patiently listening his heart clenching at the last part of her words.
"Heba… I've never seen any records of that name in any books or carvings." Yugi muttered to himself trying to recollect if he'd ever come across such a name.
"Nor would you. Heba was a poor boy; he was chosen to become a Priestess because of the mark he was born with. The only male ever allowed in the temple, because I
saw in him a kindness that could endure anything. Even the hatred and curse of the millennium items, and even all the trials he had to endure in his life. He had nothing but
kindness and courage, the same kindness and courage that you've always managed to carry with you." A smile graced her lips as she watched for his reaction.
"How could I guide Heba? I don't think I could help someone else get with Atem… No matter how much I wanted to." He clutched to where his heart ached.
"I wouldn't give this offer to anyone who wasn't compatible. I believed and I know that you can do it. As the reincarnation of Heba, it is your duty." Yugi's eyes widened at
the news. The burning ache in his heart, lulling into a soft almost melodic throb after hearing the revelation.
"You have the choice of living and saving the one you long to see, or dying here and never getting to see him again. Forever separated." She saw the panic cross across
his face.
"But do not be afraid. I shall guide you, this time where I was unable to guide Heba before so you can achieve your goal. Though I warn you, the things you see and the
things you may have to endure will not be easy." She turned to look away from him for the moment before hearing him speak up.
"I'm in. I'll do whatever I have to, to save Atem's soul. I have to save him." His face and voice were full of determination as he looked at her. Bastet nodded, before
reaching out and touching his forehead a sudden dizzy and exhausting feeling sweeping over him as he began to black out.
"The trial has begun."