Author's Note: Please read A/N at the end
Chapter 4
"Prince!" he heard the familiar voice call to him, as he sat in one of the lush's green gardens of the palace.
There was no need for the young man to turn around to see who it was, there was only one person who could own such a heavenly voice.
"Prince what's wrong?" the girl asked, as she sat down next to her friend.
Smiling, he still hadn't turned to face the girl "And what makes you think that something is wrong?" he asked her with a steady voice, hoping she wouldn't see right through it.
"Cause were best friends, and I know you. You can't hide these things from me"
She called his bluff and as usual she won.
"I went and saw father. He requested an audience with me, and that is where I've just been"
"How is your dad?"
Any other person would have got a scolding at the disrespect of the improper title used to address the prince's father. But this girl was his best friend, she made him feel just like another person and never treated him differently. One of the many things he loved about having this girl as his best friend. He was so comfortable and trusted her completely, allowing him to find it easy to talk to her about anything and she would listen and if she could, she would help solve the matter.
"He is pretty much the same, maybe a little worst. But he knows that his time is soon and he said I should be prepare for when that moment happens".
"Oh prince I'm sorry"
The boy could only give out a wary smile "He did give me something. He said that he thinks now is the time for me to have it"
"Really? What did he give you?"
The prince pulled out an object that he had been concealing under his cape. It was a golden pyramid with an the eye of Horus laying in the middle of it and a rope attached to it
"That's- that's the" the girl struggled to say
"The millennium Pendant"
"He gave that to you earlier?"
"Yes and now its burdens are now mine to carry"
"It may be a burden, but it can also be a gift"
"How so?"
"Because of these seven millennium items our land was saved, our homes still remain tall and the darkness that threatened to destroy it all is gone"
"Yes but at what price? There is a greater darkness out there, a bigger evil and it's all because of these items. I know it, I can feel it"
"What are you going to do prince?"
"I'm going to stop it and put an end to the items once and for all" and for the first time since she joined him in the garden, the boy looked up to face his friend and came to stare at glowing green emerald eyes.
Atem launched forward in his bed eyes widen, breathing heavy and drenched in sweat. He couldn't believe the dream he just had.
He was about to bring his hand up to wipe his brow, when he felt something heavy in his hand. Looking down he found his millennium puzzle and the eye in the middle once again aglow.
His brow creased, he couldn't understand how his puzzle got into his hands. He swore he had put it on his bed side table before he fell asleep.
He continued to watch the eye as the light died away, just like the same as the day before and then something occurred to Atem.
'Wait this happened yesterday in my free with Mana. Was that a dream as well, had I fallen asleep against the tree? Or are these visions something else? But what exactly?'
Atem pondered on the thought awhile, only to come up with nothing.
Sighing Atem place his puzzle back on the bed side table and looked at his alarm clock. Seeing the time as 6:54am, he still had awhile before he had to get out of bed to get ready for school. But somehow he doubted that he would actually get back to sleep.
Slinking out of bed, Atem stripped off his bed, removing his sweaty bed sheets, so he could put them in the wash and then place fresh clean sheets back on his bed. Before making his way to the bathroom to shower and freshen himself up.
Atem was sitting at the dining room table eating cereal for breakfast and thinking about before. 'What's going on? I don't understand it, the puzzle has never done that before in all the years I've had it. So why do it now?' Atem was only receiving more questions than answers, when he thought of something. 'I may not know the answers, but maybe she does. She has knowledge of this stuff, they had been there to help me out at the start maybe she could- No I can't. I can't ask, I can't even face her not after what I did'. Sighing in defeat and guilt Atem figured that he would have to deal and solve this mystery himself.
"Atem my boy what are you doing up this early? There's still a bit more time left before you and Yugi have to get up for school?" grandpa Muto ask, startling Atem from his thoughts.
"Oh grandpa, um I couldn't sleep so I decided to get up"
"Everything alright?"
"Yes gramps everything is fine, I just could sleep" Atem said, reassuring his grandfather.
While Mr Muto started to get his own breakfast ready, Atem finished the last bit of his cereal, before getting up from his seat to put his bowl in the sink and rinsed it out. He gave his grandpa a small smile, as he left the kitchen and headed upstairs to finish getting ready. It was when Atem started to brush his teeth that Yugi walked in to the bathroom with droopy eyes.
"Morning Yugi"
"Morning Atem" Yugi grumbled "You're up early, keen to get to school?"
"Ha no, I just couldn't sleep that's why I'm up early. This also gives me some time to do some other stuff"
"Like what?" Yugi asked
"Like finish off one of my sketches"
"You're still drawing? That's great, you were always so good at it"
"Haha yeah I am still drawing, though not as much as I would like"
"Why didn't you elect to do art class" Yugi asked as he followed Atem to his room and out of the bathroom when he was finished brushing his teeth.
"Because this way I can draw what I want and how I want it, not some stupid way that the teacher wants. This way I will still enjoy doing it and not end up despising it because of the teacher".
"I guess you have a point, okay well I'm going down for breakfast and then get ready so we can go" Yugi said as he walked out of Atem's room.
Once Yugi went out of sight heading downstairs to the kitchen, Atem pulled out his sketch pad and flipped it open to his recent drawing. It was of a little market place not too far from where Atem had once live, allowing him the chance to draw the scenery. Buyers, sellers, children were everywhere smiling at the good day they were having and behind the market place in the distance were the pyramids.
Atem was adding one last bit of detail to his sketch, when Yugi, with his school bag draped over his shoulder walked into Atem's room.
"Time to get going"
Sighing Atem closed his book, he had become so engrossed in his sketching that he forgot the outside world was waiting for him. Grabbing his bag he followed Yugi out of his room and downstairs to head off to school.
"Bye Grandpa" the two boys chorused together as they walked out the front door.
They had not gotten too far into their walk to school when Yugi turned left at a street sign.
"Yugi what are you doing? School isn't this way. Are you ditching?"
Yugi could only laugh at Atem's disbelieved face
"No I'm not ditching"
"Then what?"
"You'll see"
They walked past a few houses before they came to a halt in front of one. The house was a tan coloured brick house with a black door and window trimmings and a black steel bond roof.
"Yugi?"
Yugi just smiled at Atem before returning his gaze to the front door. Atem just kept his gaze on Yugi, when he heard a small click he turned to face the house to see a figure walking towards them.
"Well it's nice of you to remember me today"
"Sorry about yesterday Mana, I was meant to message you saying I wouldn't be walking with you. I needed to get Atem to the office before classes began"
"It's alright Yugi, I was just messing with you. I figured you had to do something so no sweat ok"
"Thanks Mana. Shall we get going?"
"Yeah sure, we don't want to be late now do we?" Mana asked giggling slightly.
Through the greeting between Yugi and Mana, Atem silently stood off to the side, hoping to be ignored.
"Morning Atem" Mana greeted happily.
'And there goes the plan of begin ignored' Atem thought to himself.
"Morning" Atem grunted at Mana as they started walking, heading for their school.
During the rest of the walk to school Atem remained silent as Yugi and Mana talked. He was thinking about his dream. What it meant, how - if at all- was it connected to his puzzle and if it has anything to do with what he saw yesterday in his free. Atem was so engross in reliving what happened in the dream that he barely felt something nudging his arm. When he looked up his amethyst eyes lock with emerald green ones.
# # # #
He was now in his free period sitting under the tree once again. He had spent the morning once again withdrawn from others and kept to himself. He couldn't shake off the resemblance between the emerald green eyes in his dream and Mana's. Had she not nudged him this morning on their way to school he would most likely still be oblivious.
He thought that his dream was a result of his mind messing with him that the girl in the dream only had green eyes because Mana did and he met and spent most of yesterday with her. But why when he meet Mana for the very first time yesterday did it feel like he had already meet her? Why did she feel familiar?
He couldn't shake his line of thought and it's was exasperating. He had all these questions and no way and no one to answer them.
He felt confused, lost and alone. More alone then he has ever felt before, even when he first completed the puzzle and pushed those closes to him away, out of fear of something my happen to them because of him. And he was right and he has never been able to forgive himself or forget what he had done.
He was so deep in thought that he didn't see her move from the table and around to him, he still hadn't notice her until she was sitting next to him leaning up against the tree the two of them side by side facing one another.
What she did next surprised him. Mana leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He sat frozen from shock not knowing what to do, whether to push her off or leave her to finish her embrace with him. Latter. For reason unknown to him, he chose the latter and sat there with Mana's arms around him while he remained as still as a statue. What she said next confounded him.
"I want to help you Atem. I know there is more to you than you let on, and I think I know why. It's the pendent, isn't it?"
Speechless. That was what Atem was. Unable to form words Atem just stared at Mana dumbfound. Finally finding the words to speak, he spoke at a soft whisper.
"How?"
"I saw what it did when you were fighting troy. I saw it starting to glow, with its glow I felt cold and numb. At first I thought it may be because of the fight, but my gut was telling me otherwise and then I saw the light forming on your forehead. And I knew that it all came together, it came together because of the pendent you wear"
"How? How do you know this? And why aren't you freaked out? This isn't every day normal stuff"
Mana stared at Atem momentarily her eyes filed with sadness? Regret? Atem didn't know.
"This isn't my first time coming across one of these" Mana said, flicking her eye to his pendent and pointing with her chin.
"What? You've seen another one of these? Where? What did it look like?" Atem asked completely thrown off by Mana's announcement. Atem felt as if everything was shattering into pieces. 'How? How could someone like Mana come across one of these items before? Across something so dark? I doubt she is a handler, so how?'
All these questions and no answers were driving him insane. He needed to know. He had to know. He just had to.
Opening her mouth to answer, only for her to close it just as quick, Mana sat there debating whether she should say.
'Atem has the right to know and it may help him. But he's not here at the moment and I don't know if he would help, he's been odd lately, odder than usual. Somethings up that he's not telling me'
Mana was about to respond to Atem when the bell rung loud and clear, signalling that the period was over and the next class was about to begin so move it.
Rushing up and grabbing her stuff, Mana tried to make a quick escape in hopes to avoid having to answer Atem's questions, only to fail by Atem seizing Mana by her elbow. Slowly with her head down she turned her body to face him.
"I don't know"
It was barely a whisper, he was surprised he heard it at all.
"Mana?" he was confused. She had just said that his puzzle was not the first millennium item that she had come across and yet here she was telling him she didn't know. He didn't understand.
"I don't know Atem. I don't know how to answer those questions. The person who owns a pendent similar to yours, a pendent that bares the same eye that is on yours is not here. They're away at the moment"
"When they return will you introduce us?"
"I will try to, yes"
"That is all I ask. Thank you Mana"
"Atem?
I have just one simple request"
"And what would that be" his brows were creased together not knowing where this was going.
"Try. Try to be happy and enjoy yourself. Relax a little and try to get along with us all. If not for you then for Yugi. I know you mean a lot to him as does his friends mean a lot to him, but being caught in the middle is not fun for him and he's sad about the distances you put between us and him. He just wants us all to get along"
"I can't-"
"You can!"
"You don't understand" Atem's voice had rinse. He was getting frustrated at how naïve Mana was to think it was that easy.
"I do understand"
'What?'
"You're afraid. Scared of what might happen. I saw the look in your eyes yesterday when it started to glow" Mana said as her eyes flickered to the puzzle.
"I'm not afraid of what may happen to me" Atem retaliated
"I never said you. I mean you're afraid something may happen to us if you allow us in"
"Exactly, so why can't you understand I'm doing this so none of you get hurt"
"Who said any of us would get hurt?"
"Someone always gets hurt and I'm not going to risk it"
"Too bad Atem, because either way your suck with us. So you can either make being around us difficult and you be all miserable or you can relax, let us in and let us be your friend and not let fear control you.
You never know it can turn out great and lots of fun"
"Or it could be bad and filled with nothing but pain and sadness all because of me"
"Oh Atem I'm sure you had friends in Egypt"
"No, I was alone in Egypt"
"You're trying to tell me that you had no friends, no one tried to befriend you? And you had no girlfriends? Yeah I don't believe that, not for one bit".
Atem smiled smugly as he replied "People tried to befriend me yes, but I refused and pushed them away, so no, no friends. As for girlfriends, well I wouldn't say that they were girlfriends more special acquaintances who-"
Mana held up her hand, cutting Atem off "I don't need nor want to hear about your conquest.
You may not see becoming friends with anyone a good thing, but all I ask is you try with us. You give me your word you will try and be friends with us and I will give you my word that you will meet this other person with the item no matter what" Mana said the last part while sticking out her hand to seal the agreement with a handshake.
Signing in defeat Atem reach his own hand out and shook Mana's, releasing each other's hands Atem bent down and collected his things and then they made their way to class; which they were now 10 minutes late for.
Along the way Atem was stuck deep in thought 'I need to meet this person with another millennium item, with no battling each other; I don't want a repeat of last time and if this deal is the way to go then so be. I will not back down, I gave Mana my word and like I was taught to I will keep and honour my word. Though the first sign of trouble I'm out. Next issue, Mana. I said I would try with all of them including her, I don't want to hurt her, any of them, her most of all though. I'll have to avoid her a much as possible. But for some reason that I can't explain I fill this pull towards her. A pull that must stop, a pull I have to stop'.
"Well, well, well isn't it nice of you two to join us all"
Atem raised his head at the teacher calling to them.
"Sorry Mrs Elton I was-"
"Since I'm still new here Mana was helping me finish off some stuff that I needed to have done"
Mrs Elton looked between the two briefly with a look at said 'I don't fully believe that' "Fine sit down and don't be late next time otherwise detention"
With quick nods to their teacher they quickly made their way to their desks behind Joey and Tristian at the front near the wall.
####
The last lesson of the day had flown by and the group of friends found themselves at the front gates of the school.
"So guys how was P.E?" Tea asked.
"It was so boring. All we did was take notes. Atem and Mana had the right idea of rocking up half way through the last" Joey whined.
"We were 10 minutes late Joey stop being dramatic" Mana re-butted.
"Anyway what are we all up to now" Tristian asked intervening.
"Well Joey and I were thinking about going and looking at this new game shop that specialises in duel monsters. Just no one tell grandpa" Yugi said, felling slightly guilty.
"Yeah and if we get anything we could head over to the duel café and test them out. What do we say guys?" Joey asked enthusiastically.
"Sure sounds fun" Mana said sweetly.
"I'm in" Tea and Tristian said simultaneously.
Everyone turned and stared at Atem waiting for his response, which they all believed would be a 'no'.
Looking back at them he caught the look Mana was giving him, it was a look that said 'come on this is a part of trying'.
Atem weighed his options for a while say no and leave or join in. The first would result in Mana not introducing him to this other person and disappointing Yugi and the second he would take everyone by shock honour his deal and please Yugi, that and he did need some more cards for his own deck. Guessing this trip won't be so bad he agrees to go. Once everyone is over their initial shock they start to make their way to the new game shop.
####
When they arrived at the shop Tea and Tristian went and looked around the shop, Joey, Yugi and Atem went to the card part of the shop to look through the packets, with Mana hovering in the background near the boys, with her eyes once in a while glancing over at Atem.
Atem could feel her eyes on him and to get it over and done with he turned to face her.
"Yes Mana?"
"Hmm what?"
"Don't play dumb I know you have been looking"
"Fine. I was just curious that's all"
"About what?"
"Well… um. You play duel monsters as well?"
"Yes I do"
"So you have your own deck and everything? Are you any good?"
Atem could feel himself wanting to laugh at the excitement Mana spoke about it all.
"Yes I have a deck and I'm alright I guess"
Mana gave a small smile before continuing on "So what are you doing now?"
"Well if you must know-"
"I must know yes"
Atem's lips slightly tugged up at the corners to create a faint smile.
"I am getting a few more cards for my deck, they come in packets though, so you have to go by faith, feel out the cards and let the cards choose you. I already have one packet I just need one more, I'm just not sure which one"
"So what you're saying is that instead of just grabbing a packet, you believe in the cards, you believe that the card you need/want will sort of come to you?"
"Something like that yes Mana"
"Wow you really care about your cards. There not just some replicable object"
"No my cards mean a lot to me and I take care and show them respect" Atem said slightly annoyed that some people disrespect their cards and through them out when done with them.
"Well in that case with all that in mind get this packet" Mana said as she reach forward and grabbed a packet that seemed to be calling to her the whole time she has been there talking to Atem.
"Why?"
"Because you're struggling to find a second packet and this one seemed to be calling to me"
"Well why don't you get it then?"
"I don't play duel monsters, just watch it. So therefore it's a sign. Get it, trust me"
Rolling his eyes Atem took the packet from Mana and made his way up to the cashier.
"Don't get them confused I want to see what I picked" Mana requested as she followed Atem.
"Fine, here you hold it. Open it and find out what you picked when we get to the café"
"Ok" Mana replied smiling brightly carefully securing the packet so she didn't lose it.
Atem and Mana were waiting at the front of the shop with Tea and Tristian, Yugi made his way over to the rest of his friends while Joey made his way to buy the packets he got. Once Joey was done they set off for the café.
####
Arriving at the café the group of friends headed for a both at the back. Tristian, Joey and Yugi slid in to one side of the booth while Tea, Mana and Atem slid into the other side. They had only just gotten comfortable when a waitress came up to them.
"Hi my name is Billy and I'll be your waitress. If you're still deciding as to what you would like I can grab your order of drinks and take the rest of your order when I came back?"
Having been to the café many time before the group of friends already knew what they were going to have.
"I'll have a hamburger, with chips and a chocolate milk shake" Joey ordered while wiping the drool from his mouth that formed just by thinking of all that food.
Tristian order wedges with sweet chilli and sour cream sauce with a coke, Tea asked for a bowl of fruit salad and water, Yugi wanted a BLT sandwich, Mana ordered an ice tea and a blue berry muffin and Atem only asked for water. Quickly scribbling the orders down Billy then scurried of to place them. Once the waitress left Mana pounced.
"Can I open the packet now? Please, please, please!"
"If you must, geez" Atem couldn't understand the extent of Mana's excitement. Sure he was always excited but not to the level Mana was displaying.
"Good idea Mana. I would like to see what I've got" Joey said as he reached for the packets he bought.
"You going to see what is in your other packet Atem?" Yugi asked.
Pulling out the packet he stored in his pocket Atem opened it with the rest to find out what the three new cards were.
"Aw wow look at these babies I got" Joey said excitedly, while laying his cards out for everyone to see.
"'Kunai Whip Chain', 'Alligator Swordsman', 'Baby Dragon', 'Scapegoat', 'Fairy Box' and 'Red Eyes Black Dragon'?! Wow they are some great cards Joey, shame you didn't get some more spell cards, you have a lot of monster and need some more spell cards to help you out" Yugi said
Looking down at the three cards; 'Shield and Sword', 'Beta the Magnet Warrior' and 'Magic Cylinder', that lay in his hand Atem reached for the first one.
"Here Joey take this one" Atem said as he stretched his hand out towards Joey.
Everyone were looking at the two as Joey received the card Atem handed to him.
"Shield and sword, but this is your card that you got, I couldn't possibly take it"
"Take it Joey, I don't need it. You can get better use out of it then me, so go ahead take it"
"Aw thanks man"
A small smile graced his lips and out of the corner of his eye he could see Mana facing him with a large grin, rolling his eyes he asked "Are you going to open it or to do?"
"Huh? Oh right" Mana replied sheepishly.
With the excitement of the boys opening their packets Mana momentarily forgot about the one in her hand.
Opening it up Mana reviled the three cards in her packet as 'Dark Magician Girl', 'Magic Formula' and 'Monster Reborn'.
"So how did I do? Did it pick good?" Mana asked as she look anxiously at Atem.
Atem just continued to stare at Mana, not saying a word. Feeling that she chose badly she bit down on her bottom lip preparing to apologise, only Atem beat her to it and open his mouth to speak first.
"Pick good? Mana you did better then good. You choose excellently"
Releasing her bottom Mana grinned happily, before throwing her arms around Atem's shoulders to hug him.
"Hey you got yourself some pretty good cards to Atem. What do you say Atem after we eat we have a friendly duel?" Joey asked wanting to test out his knew cards.
"That would be pretty cool to see" Tristian encouraged.
"Yeah and it will give us all a chance to see if your good at it like Yugi" Tea said as if to challenge Atem.
Atem was still trying to decide as to whether he wanted to accept or decline.
"What do you say Atem?" Yugi questioned.
Looking up at his cousin, Atem could see the hopefulness in Yugi's eyes. Tea's challenge put Atem on the edge of accepting but it was Yugi's hope that gave him the final push.
"Okay I accept. I won't be going easy though"
"That's good cause neither will I"
Once they had finished their food and paid for it they headed over to an available duelling area, where Joey and Atem took their places and shuffled their cards.
"Let's duel" both Joey and Atem said together.
Both sides of the podium lit up, giving Joey and tem 2000 life points.
"Hey Atem I'm not going to go easy on you just cause your Yugi's cousin"
"Then I shall give it my all as well"
"I should probably also warn you I've had the best duel monsters teachers; Yugi and ya gramps"
Both Yugi and Mana tried to hide their giggles, Tea stared opened-mouth, while Tristian voiced what everyone knew.
"You idiot, who do you think taught and played against Atem before? Grandpa taught Yugi so why wouldn't he teach Atem and Yugi and Atem would have been bound to duel one another before"
"What? But… lived… Egypt… him"
"Just duel already Joey" Tea said cutting into the conversation.
"Fine. Alright Atem lets do this"
"Very well.
I summon Celtic guardian in attack mode" Atem said as he place the card down.
"Alright my move and I summon Giltia the D. Knight in attack mode. Go Giltia attack his Celtic Guardian".
With one blow celtic guardian was gone and Atem's life points dropped down to 1550.
"My turn Joey and I play Gaia the fierce knight. Attack"
Changing and scoring a direct hit Atem's knight blow away Joey's Giltia, causing Joey's own life points to drop to 1550 as well.
"I summon Armored Lizard in defense mode"
"And I counter by summoning my Summoned Skull. Attack Armored Lizard"
"Well thanks to my Lizard being in defense mode I don't lose points, but hey that's a pretty strong card you got"
"Umm…thanks?" Atem was confused he could tell you was up to something but could think of what.
"Hey Yugi what's with the goofy grin on Joeys face? Has he lost it or something?"
"No Tristian, Joey has a plan and by his growing grin it must be a good one"
"What do you think it could be? I mean you know his moves better than anyone"
"I'm not sure Tea we'll just have to wait and see"
"I play my Flame Swordsman in attack mode"
'Why would he play that and in attack mode both my monsters are stronger, what is he up to?'
"Not only do I play my Flame Swordsman, but I also activate Shield and Sword. Switching each of our monsters defence and attack points. Bet your wishing you never gave me this card now, aye Atem?
Go Flame Swordsman attack Summoned Skull with flaming sword of battle"
With Summoned Skull being reduced to ash by Joey's Swordsman, Atem's life points reduce to 1150.
"I will now avenge my Summoned Skull Joey and I'll do it by playing my curse of Dragon in attack mode and then active my polymerization card fusing together my Dragon and Knight to form Gaia the Dragon Champion. Now attack"
With his Flame Swordsman gone Joey's loses 800 of his life points giving him now a total of 750.
Drawing his next card, Joey scanned his cards, looking at his options of what he can use. Grinning Joey played his new thought up combo.
"Alright now it's my turn to show some big moves. I play my Red Eyes Black Dragon in attack mode, then I activate this little baby my Graverobber. Oh and look he just stole your Summoned Skull and for my final card I play I'm gonna throw down this critter Copycat. This card will copy the effect of any card on the field and that means your Polymerization".
"My fusion card"
"That's right! Now I may have never done this before but I have seen Yugi do this 100's of time.
Now go Red eyes and fuse with Summoned Skull to create Black Skull Dragon and destroy Gaia the Dragon Champion"
"Wow what a move. Atem only has 550 life points this is turning out to be a great duel"
"You said it Mana, Joey has come a long way and is really showing us what he's made of"
"So Yugi, you think Joey's going to win, that he will beat Atem?"
"I don't know about that Tea, it's been awhile since I played Atem but he's always had a trick up his sleeve and that trick always come through for him just when he needs it"
"So Atem's really lucky with his card draw"
"I don't know if I would call it luck Tristian, but I don't know what else you could call it, so luck it is" Yugi said with a chuckle.
Drawing his next card Atem freezes at the sight of the card in front of him Obelisk the Tormentor. Everyone was watching Atem waiting for his next move. It was only Mana who noticed light glow appear on Atem's puzzle.
'What card did he draw to get such a reaction?'
Placing his newly draw card in his hand, he pulled one of the others out and place on the field.
"I place one card face down in defence mode"
Joey draw a card from his deck and added it to his hand before giving his Black Skull Dragon the go head to attack Atem's face down card.
'Heart of the cards guide me give me something that can end this match now'
Placing his hand on his deck Atem slowly drew his next card, a card he hope would help. Raising the card up he came to find it as Dark Magician Girl.
'It's the card Mana pick'
Atem found himself quickly glancing at Mana before returning to the duel with a play in mind.
"I play Dark Magician Girl in attack mode"
"Best you got aye?"
"She will be enough to destroy your dragon"
"You sure? In a duel the monster with the lowest life points loses, that's one of the first thing Yugi and his gramps taught me about duel monsters".
"Well then they should have also taught you how to protect your weaker monsters by enhancing them with magic cards"
"What?"
"I play Magical Hats to conceal my Dark Magician Girl. Its back to you now Joey so take a pick"
"Grrr. I will, attack molten fire ball"
"Wrong guess. Anything else you would like to play before its back to me?"
"Yes I would. Garoozis in attack mode"
"What are you crazy Joey? The Dark Magician Girl can wipe Garoozis out what are you thinking?"
"Huh your right Tristian, Garoozis is weaker then Dark Magician Girl. What was I thinking, I guess Atem has no choice but to attack Garoozis"
"It's happen Joey's lost his mind"
"I don't think so Tea, lets watch and see" Yugi said already knowing what Joey's plan is.
"That might work on another duellist but not me, sorry Joey, instead I place two cards under the Magical Hats and end my turn"
"I don't get it what are they talking about?"
"Well Tea, if Atem attack Garoozis then Joey's life points would only drop down to 550 and at the same time expose The Dark Magician Girl, which would allow Joey to counter attack wiping out Atem's life points. Eeh right yug?"
"That's right Mana. For someone who doesn't play you don't know the quite well"
"I just watch it a lot"
"Time to pick another hat Joey"
"Ahh crap. Ok um attack the hat on the far right"
"Lucky guess Joey"
"Ha alright"
"It's not over yet Joey"
"How isn't- wait what's going on? She's absorbing my attack?"
"That's right Joey or did you forget about the other cards I placed under the hats? Two trap cards to be exact; Magic Cylinder and Spell Binding Circle. So first I'll weaken your dragon's power then redirect its own molten fire ball back at it. Say goodbye to Black Skull Dragon"
With a direct attack Black Skull Dragon with destroyed bringing Joey's life points down to zero.
"That was a great duel Atem, I just can't believe I was by a girl so to speak"
"Are you insulting my card Joey?"
"Your card Mana? I'm pretty sure that it's Atem's card"
"Well I pick it for him so it's my card as well"
"Well either way guys it's getting late we should probably get going"
"Yugi's right lets go"
Walking out to the front of the shop everyone farewelled each other and departed. Mana was walking home with Atem and Yugi, talking about the duel between Joey and Atem.
"Hey Atem can I ask you something?"
"You just did"
"Oh Haha very funny. No I was wondering what was the card you drew before Dark Magician Girl? I saw your reaction to it and I was just wondering"
"Just a card that should not have been in there"
"Like what?"
"You're nosey aren't you?"
"I would like to think of it as curiosity"
"Curiosity killed the cat"
"Well it's a good thing cats have nine lives"
At Mana's riposte both Atem and Yugi found themselves laughing.
"Very well curious little kitten, it was one of my god monsters Obelisk"
"Obelisk" both Mana and Yugi said together.
"I've never heard of that monster Atem, where did you get it from?" Yugi asked.
"They were at the bottom of the box that was holding the pieces to my millennium puzzle"
"But how? Your puzzle and the tomb it was found in would have to thousands of years old and duel wasn't made that long ago"
"I know Yugi, I don't get it either but they were there and I can use them"
"You say they. Whose they?"
The two cousins turned to face Mana almost forgetting she was there during their discussion.
"They are my other god monsters. I have three, all three very powerful and as far as I know they were the only ones made"
"Well if there powerful why didn't you use the one you drew in your duel with Joey?"
"You see Mana, because of their great power they can be very dangerous and even though I can control them, but if I'm so zoned in the game or one very wrong move they can unleash their might and cause great destruction"
"How could they create great destruction? It's a card game, it's not real" Yugi question with confusion written all over his face.
"Does it have to do with your puzzle? Seeing as they were found with it and the way it glowed when you drew your god card?"
"I think so, though I can't be hundred percent-"
"Wait Mana knows about your puzzle? You told her?"
"Yes I know about his puzzle, I figured it out though. Long story no need for the boring details"
"What about-"
"Only you and Mana know Yugi and that's how it's going to stay. No one else is to know, understand"
"I understood cuz"
"Yep I got ya. Well any way here's my street, I'll catch you guys later"
"Bye Mana, see you tomorrow" Yugi said cheerfully
"Goodbye" Atem farewelled.
As the two cousins continued the rest of the way back to their home in silence Yugi could help the thought that was nagging at him. Deciding to get it out there.
"Hey Atem your quick choice of changing your mind to befriend everyone wasn't entirely your own was it? You had a little help, a small nudge perhaps?"
Chuckling Atem replied "I would say that small is an understatement"
"So Mana did help you with that change"
"Yes though it's not like she gave me much of a choice"
"That's Mana for you. A real force to be reckon with" Yugi said laughing.
"She said if I try to be friends with everyone then she would help me out with something. So I gave her my word I would try. But I don't know I still feel I should stay away, especially from her, to keep you all save."
"Yeah right good luck with that. You gave Mana your word you would try and I give you my word, you won't get out of it. Mana always seems to be able to get things to go her way and if she want to be friends with you and have you become friends with everyone else then that's what's going to happen"
Atem stopped in his tracks at Yugi's words, while the younger Muto cousin continued to walk up to the game shop that they had just arrived at.
Author's Note: Ok so I cannot duel to safe my life. Tried it lost in like the first five moves I'm that bad, lol. I burrowed the duel from the show, I will work on it though and try and make my own up for future duels. Anyway this chapter took forever, there was many late nights with this one. When I was rereading it I was like what I don't remember writing this, but anyhoo hope you like let me know.
Ok I know I said I was going on hiatus and I officially am now. I had all my chapter 4's done I just needed to check them over. I could have just left them and updated them when I came back but because I'm not sure when that will be, I thought I would give you all theses to tie you over until my return.
