Chapter 2: Turning back time

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A/N: Sorry for the long time between updates, I was having trouble with how I should write this chapter.I still find it pretty weak, but I guess it's better than nothing, right?

Not many references here, remember it's Atem's POV.

Italics = thoughts

" " = dialogue

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I felt light headed and woozy. The bright glow dimmed down to a soft, warm ray of Ra's light warming up my face. My eyes still stinging , I grimaced a bit, trying to pull myself together. I was afraid to get up.

Did it work?Did Ma'at save us?

Then I heard an unfamiliar voice next to me.

"Are you alright?".

Was he talking to me?

I felt a hand grab my arm and pull me in a sitting position. Did I faint? I opened my eyes slowly, unsure of who was next to me or what his intentions might be. I moved my head towards the source of the voice. It took almost a full minute before my eyes adjusted and I could see the shape of a man dressed in a long, gray robe and a large turban on his head. He looked like a merchant.

"What befell you, my good fellow? I found you unconscious here on the side-road " he said to me as he pulled me up. "The gods were smiling on you today, to have been found by me in your vulnerable state, people around these parts don't spare rich folks such as you".

Around these parts?

Then it dawned on me that I wasn't in the cave anymore. I was somewhere in an alleyway, in a village, somewhere..somewhere familiar, yet different..where am I? Am I…

I pulled myself to my feet, wanting to explore my surroundings. I wanted to ask the person to accompany me, but he seemed to be able to read my thoughts, as he quickly added "You can't travel around here all by yourself, my good fellow! Come with me, I'll take you to my stand and I'll show you some useful items you'll need for your trip!"

So he was a merchant..

He took me by the shoulder and walked me through the marketplace, while people of all kinds, merchants, buyers, travelers, even beggars all stared at me at least once before getting back to their business, which I found rather odd. What was so interesting about me?I looked the same, as far as I know..is it my hair?

"My good sir" I started, "I appreciate your generosity, but I'm not looking to buy anything". I wanted to get straight to the point, ask him about this place, and what happened to my friends.

He looked at me with a disapproving look and added "No, we can't have that. I told you without my help there's a good chance you'll get mugged in this village". He winked at me and added "You'll reconsider once you see my great bargains!"

I scoffed at the man when I saw I wasn't getting through to him over his greed and left. There was bound to be someone else here willing to help me out.

Then I felt something pull at my neck and I saw a pair of men run by me. One of them elbowed me in the gut, knocking the wind out of me, while the other one tore the Millennium Pyramid's string from around my neck and ran off with it into the crowd.

I ran after the men, pushing through the mass of onlookers, yelling at someone, anyone to stop them.

I thought I was going to lose the precious item, when , seemingly out of nowhere, a middle-aged man stepped forward and punched the thief who held my item in the jaw, knocking off his balance.

The other thief tried to hit the man from behind, but he pulled out a knife and stabbed the thief in the shoulder, making him cry out in pain. The first of the pair dropped the Pyramid, deciding it wasn't worth losing his life over, and ran off into the crowd, followed closely by the other one, who swore vengeance upon the man who hurt him before disappearing into the distance.

I took this opportunity to get closer and try to reclaim my item, hoping this person wasn't interested in taking it for himself as well. Just as I dropped down to my knees to take my necklace back, he turned to me.

"You shouldn't wander through in this village wearing so much golden jewelry, my boy", he told me .

So that was it...people were staring at my royal garments. Only then did I realize with a flush of embarrassment that I looked like a fancy peacock striding around with glittering ornaments whilst everyone else was dressed in dirty peasant clothing. This was indeed a poor village.

The man smiled kindly to me "I'm sorry about these kids" he said, referring to the thieves that attacked me earlier "They've been causing trouble for quite some time. Expect a lot of people to try to get their hands on your jewelry. If I were you, I'd get rid of them before you get into serious trouble. "

Remembering what the merchant told me, I asked, jokingly "People around here aren't very nice, are they?"

"It's not a matter of naughty or nice, my boy" he replied "It's a matter of getting bread on the table at the end of the day.". His tone was serious, and it made me feel bad about my joke.

We started walking away, as the people too went about their daily lives, as if the incident never even happened.

I took this opportunity to get a better look at my savior. He was an average man by all accounts. He had a short, pointy, gray-hair ridden black beard and mustache and a cloth covering his head, and he wore simple, purple and tan clothing. His facial features were soft and kind, unlike the people I've met thus far.

He reminded me of my father somewhat. At least, as much as I can remember about him, it's been quite a while since he's passed on.

The man looked around , never making eye contact with me, as he kept talking. "This place used to be a flourishing village twenty, even ten years ago. Alas, it was fate that led to our downfall. Our village is one of great blacksmith tradition, but our products aren't needed anymore. Without wars, there was no need for weapons, and thus no need for us. Things started to fall apart when the palace stopped ordering our products. Then the people resorted to stealing just to make end's meet. Everyone does it nowadays. It breaks my heart to see how much we've fallen, and what the youth around here are leaning towards. Rather than learning to wield a hammer, they learn to kill and pillage. "

Then he stopped talking , letting an eerie silence settle in. He was genuinely saddened by his own story.

I didn't know what to say, other than the obvious."I'm sorry for your people"

He smiled a weak smile and shook his head "Don't feel bad for us. It was only a matter of time before it got to this. Having only one strong quality in the end leads to such things."

I looked up to him and asked "Well, what about you? If everyone here's a thief, aren't you one as well?"

He chuckled and replied "I too admit I had my fair share of crimes. But I decided this wasn't the life I wanted for my wife and son. I decided to make my late father's last wish come true and continue the village's blacksmith tradition. It's not earning me much, but I've been saving up to move out of here, to the village of Vaiin. There, I'll be able to sell my products better and I'll be able to feed my family."

Vaiin? I knew this village! This couldn't be?

"What's wrong? You seem pale all of a sudden" he asked me with a worried tone.

"Is this..Kul Elna?" I said , barely above a whisper.

"Why yes it is" he answered, bewildered. "You didn't even know where you were? How did you get here then?"

Then it all made sense. That's why it seemed so familiar! I've been here once before, only 2 weeks ago, when the Thief King Bakura lured me here and tried to kill me with his army of wraiths.

But the village was in ruins, the building merely shells of their former glory, and there was no sign of life…I knew the place was a haven for ghosts, but then I found out the true story of how it came to be that way...that it was my father who ordered them all to be sacrificed, under the angered eyes of the thief, and made into the items alike the one around my neck.

I remember I refused to accept the fact that my father would do suck a thing. My father was a righteous man, with a pure heart and goodwill towards all his people. There must be more to this that the thief wouldn't tell me. The thief must've lied to me, I'm sure of it.

Then I realized that if the village was back together, the spring must've granted my wish….to turn back the flow of time...Isis was right, this could be my chance to save everyone!

If I went back in time , then maybe I could stop the retched thief Bakura before he got to the palace! I needed to find him and quick.

Nobody seems to recognize me, so it must be before I became Pharaoh.

"So I see you're here by chance." the man continued, interrupting me from my thoughts.

Maybe this man could help me. He seems to be the first genuinely nice person I've met here.

"I'm looking for The Thief King. Do you know where he is?" I finally answered.

The man frowned at this statement. "Yes, I know him. Everyone does. This wretched thief, who entitled himself as "king", came here a few years ago and took advantage of the people's desperation and poverty. The youth were easily impressed and created a formidable group that goes out every now and again to steal from the King's Valley or the treasuries of aristocrats. He holds the village under his foot and all his demands are to be met or else his wrath turns towards us. We're nothing but slaves to him and his cohort."

He added "I'd rather you not cross him, my boy , for I wouldn't be able to save you from this black-hearted man".

His words may as well be true, but I already know what the Thief King can do and I won't let this second chance go to waste.

"I need to see him. It's very important.". I looked at him with a determined look on my face. I knew he would insist on trying to stop me , but nothing he could say to me would turn me away from my duty to my people, and to my departed friends who trusted me.

He seemed to have understood my reasons from my stern look and breathed a heavy sigh of defeat.

"I can't take you to him myself, but I can show you the way. "

He took me through a side alley and to the end of the road. The sun was already setting and it was getting cold. I blew hot air into my hands and wrapped them together as we reached the end of the village.

The man pointed towards the horizon, to the sunrise east , and said "Going straight ahead, it'll be almost an hour on foot till you reach a cave in the sand. This is where he made his lair, and where you'll probably find him. I can do no more for you. I just hope you'll survive to meet me here again tomorrow"

I looked at him confidently and reassured him I'll be fine.

"Before going there, I'd get rid of these ornaments, if I were you." he added quickly before walking away.

I then realized that I'd probably get attacked again for the riches adorning my body and decided to listen to the man. I'll have to hide these somewhere safe.

I waited until he was out of sight and went back into the alley. I walked around till I found an old building with a crumbled wall and I took off all my jewelry , sans the Pyramid and an armband, and hid it all inside the crack, covering it with dirt and rocks. I hid the two remaining pieces under my clothes and after a last look back at the quiet village, made my way towards Bakura's hideout.

I walked towards the sandy hill, which glistened like gold in the setting sun . The wind was harsh and it hardened my trip. I think it took me two hours instead of one to reach the cave I was told about.

It was already night out and the cave glowed with the light of many candles, and the cheery dings of many glasses knocking into each other in a festive tone, as well as spoons clashing onto metal dinner plates, in what sounded like a big feast, could be heard from as far as a dune away.

There was no sign of human beings outside, as the horses too were enjoying a hard-earned meal of oats as they sat tied to their posts , completely ignoring my presence.

I peeked inside wearily, but I was not able to take more than 2 steps before I felt a cold metal blade sticking into my side. A pair of young thieves jumped at me from behind, grinning like a pair of lions to their unknowing prey. I didn't even sense their presence!

"Well, we seem to have a brave wanderer around our parts. What brings you here, stranger? "asked one of them happily. I see few people have dared venture out here indeed, and with good cause.

I raised my arms slowly in a sign of defeat, but kept my composure and a serious tone of voice "I came here to talk to the Thief King. I have a personal problem I need to discuss with him."

The two laughed heartily at me before the person said again "You have guts ordering us around…very well, we'll take you, but try anything funny and we'll be plugging the draft cracks in the main room with your skin!"

He pushed me on with the knife as I walked inside.

I was right, it was a feast, and there were many thieves here, all of whom stopped their celebration to eye me as I walked towards the center of the room. There were many stolen goods here, anything from gold coins, to bracelets, necklaces, zebra and lion skins and many more,as the smell of expensive imported condiments from the Far East filled the air.

I could say that I never saw so many priceless items all in the same place, and I have lived at the Royal Palace all my life!

We finally stopped as the thief hit me on the back of my legs, forcing me to kneel down, and addressed the person sitting on a (probably stolen) jewel-encrusted throne "My King, this puny stranger here said he wanted to talk to you."

I looked up towards the Thief King, hoping to finally accomplish my goal here.

Then I felt my heart shrink as I layed my eyes upon his face.

This..this can't be! This isn't him!

The person..the person standing before me wasn't Bakura…no, I've never seen this person before…

"You're not the Thief King!" I said, barely keeping my voice from cracking down into a whisper.

"But of course I am" the man on the throne responded. "Who did you expect?" he added, chuckling upon seeming my shocked expression amused him greatly.

This can't be happening…if Bakura isn't the Thief King.. then.. who is he? Where is Bakura?