The desert lands of the ancient kings before the pharaoh himself, and who ever took after him. This was something Yugi never thought possible, to step on the land that the spirit he shares a body with used to rule.
The spirit had rules over all of this, and he didn't remember any of it.
Marik, Ishizu, and Odion greet the friends as they step off the plane. Ishizu smiles as she looks down to Yugi. "Gods. It's been a long time. Your necklace has shown me: I know of the bond you and the Pharaoh hold."
"Everyone knows." Yugi smiled.
Ishizu only nodded and she waves a hand in front of her, indicating to follow her.
The three tomb guardians led Joey, Tristan, Tea, and Yugi down a stone flight of stairs, down underground, as the path got darker Yugi had to place is hand against the stone wall. That's when the Pharaoh made his presence known next to Yugi.
"The puzzle didn't chose you."
Yugi looked up next to him, confused. "What do you-"
"The Puzzle didn't chose you... I did." The Pharaoh takes his partners hand into his. "Many tried to put the puzzle together. O many faces and names. None were ever able to do it, until you came. I found you tied to me in some way. I knew... our bond was before this... before now."
"You think we have a past?" Yugi asked.
"I... I can't say for sure, but do know this, what I see, what I witness, changes nothing here." He looks at Yugi with determination. "My promise to you won't change."
Yugi gives him the same look. "I never thought it would."
All seven of them approach the tablet, by this time Yugi had given the Pharaoh control, this was his journey now.
Ishizu spoke. "Just hold the three legendary cards up to the tablet."
The spirit shuffles through his deck as he looks for the three he needs, Yugi next to him.
"You know how this works?" Yugi asked
One card found.
"Not a clue."
Second one was found.
"So what are you-"
"Just gonna have to see."
Three cards held in his hand, as he places his deck back. It was strange really, these three card were gonna open his eyes, reveal everything. He knew one thing. 'Whatever happens, nothing changes between us. Nothing.'
"Wait!"
Tea held a small pendant in her hand. "It's a cartouche pendant. Pharaohs had their names carved into them. This way, when you remember it, you won't ever forget it."
The pharaoh then places the small token around his neck, smiling to her gratefully. "Thank you."
He then held up the card to the tablet. It happened so fast. The pharaoh was gone. Sucked into the stone.
XXX
"My king, open your eyes."
The pharaoh did and there he stood, before thousands of people. He knew what this was.
His coronation.
He stood upon the palace balcony as his people cheered him, but none spoke of his name. He placed his hand on his chest. What some might have seen it as flatter, it was actually pain.
'I miss Yugi, I know I do, but this pain feels worse than before...'
"My king, are you alright?" a short man, elderly, stood next to him. Well, actually, he looked familiar...
"Grandpa?"
"I'm not your grandfather!" The short man clears his throat, realizing who he is talking to. "I'm your vizier, Shimon Muran. Here, let me show you around."
Wasn't even out of the throne room before an attempt on his life was made. An assassin.
His chosen Sacred Guardians, the keepers of the millennium items. Isis (Who looks like Ishizu) was the keeper of the necklace. She saw the attack coming. And this led to the millennium trials.
Shada uses his key to look into his mind, Aknadin uses the eye to reveal the monster. Then Priest Seto (Who looks like Seto Kiaba) uses his rod to seal the monster inside a stone tablet.
The pharaoh sits there in shock. This is how duel monsters started? Even scarier, this is the true power of the millennium items? Maybe taking this with Yugi was a little too dangerous...
'No! I can think like that.' he puts a hand to his head. 'I need Yugi. I made a promise.'
XXX
Yugi got to his feet. When the pharaoh was taken from his body, it was half of him went with him. He held his chest. All he knew, that this separation hurt, mentally, emotionally and physically.
"So? That's it? That's all we came for? What a rip off!"
"Cool it Joey, I'm sure Yugi is a more confused than us. The pharaoh is gone." Tristan snapped.
"Yeah, Joey. How do you think Yugi feels? I bet he's more confused than any of us. He and the pharaoh have something that even we can't comprehend." Tea explained.
"Doesn't matter." Yugi finally spoke after countless minutes of looking at the tablet and holding his chest. He smiled. "He needs to find out who he is. Something that I couldn't do. The fates know of out bond. Our hearts are one. We made a promise."
As the four friends turned to leave the tomb, Shadi appears. He explains to them that trouble hold the pharaoh is in trouble. And that he needs Yugi and his friends to help him. Shadi explains that he is a grave keeper and Yami Bakura had destroyed his body thousands of years ago, and is now seeking to bring harm to the pharaoh.
Yugi, knowing his lover was in trouble knew the only thing he could.
"Send me after him!" Yugi demanded. "He needs me, as much as I need him."
"Us too!" Tea demanded as well. "We are doing this together, like always."
Like that, all four friends were transported into the puzzle
XXX
A gasp is heard through the courts everyone looks to Isis in alarm. She held her hands to her necklace, eyes closed as she spoke. "I see danger approaching, my king."
XXX
From the puzzle, Shadi Tells Yugi's friend that they must find the door to the Pharaoh's time within the labyrinth of doors.
XXX
You know that true evil lurks where you never think to see it? Well this time, it came in a shirtless gut with a robe like tunic on, yelling absurdities. Things even the Pharaoh couldn't believe.
The Pharaoh recognized the man right away, Yami Bakura, in his truest form. It made their ties to past more known now. The thief king he was known as.
"Your father was evil Pharaoh!" The Thief King smirked evilly. Calling him out where the Pharaoh sat. "You will meet the same fate he did. Death."
Everyone kind of lost it when the Thief king sent a coffin sliding across the floor. Stopping in front of the pharaoh. Disrespect at its finest. The millennium trials are tried to the bandit, only to fail. This put the chosen ones of the millennium items on the defense, activating their DiaDhanks. Each of them summon their own monster.
It adds insult to injury as his internal monster now at his disposal, now free from the bandit's dark heart. It is also shown that The Thief king had stolen the passing Pharaoh's DiaDhank. He then calls forth The Winged Sage Falcos.
It belonged the Nameless pharaoh's father. Now, the Pharaoh's father's monsters belonged to this bandit.
"I ransacked Pharaoh Akamkanon's tomb. Took his guardian monsters. They all now belong to me." The Thief King continues his speech. "Your father, Pharaoh, was a tyrant, he killed everyone in my village to create the seven millennium items."
"Liar!" Aknadin called the bandit out where he stood. "Aknamanon put an end to the great war. Bought peace all over Egypt and made the millennium items to ensure harmony over Egypt."
"You really don't understand the power of those items do you?" The bandit smirked. The items reacts with the darkness of ones hard with whoever yields one. Opens a pathway to the dark world. Possess all seven and, and well, bring them to the village of Kul Elna. There you will find a tablet there of the realm of the dead. This will bring you to the realm of the dead.
The village name strikes a chord with Aknadin, who doesn't do well with ignoring it.
"Enough!"
And with that Seto sends his monster to attack the "bandit's" Winged Sage Falcos. And a Duel begins. The six chosen guardians against the bandit, and The Pharaoh's father's monsters.
The pharaoh watches as monsters are defeated on both side, watches the DaiDhank, seeing that he has one too. He even saw how the millennium scale had joined two monsters as one. He think to himself. 'This must be how duel monsters started. And how fusion monsters were made.'
'I really, really need Yugi's support right about now.' He looks down to his father's sarcophagus, as his father's words come to him, telling him that justice will come in the same of the gods. The pharaoh stands, activating his DiaDhank. 'I know he's here with me in spirit. That's all the support I need right now!'
"I summon Obelisk the Tormentor!" The Pharaoh watches as the bandit sends his diamond to attack his summoned God. The monsters' attack in a draw and both monsters return back to their respected DiaDhanks.
The bandit flees the palace on horseback as the Pharaoh only watches from the balcony as the bandit escapes. He sees a pyramid in the sky but seems that no one else can see it.
XXX
After what has happened to the pharaoh, it wasn't surprising that sleep wouldn't be granted to him, and after Mahad's and Mana's (He even asked Mana what his name was, but she went on to babble about him being prince and then being pharaoh, so the prince was the pharaoh? Something like this.) warning of his being exposed to anyone when he was standing on his balcony, it was only normal to feel as though he was threatened.
But this, this was different. It mainly started with Yugi not here. The first time he had to face something alone. Wasn't knew or anything, Yugi was just the one to make things seem more positive, even when things seemed to be grim.
And today seemed very grim.
He missed his partner. The pain in his chest was still there, still hurting. The emptiness, the alone feeling. His subjects and chosen guardians loved him and he loved them, but with Yugi not here, he just felt alone, just like when he lost his lover's soul almost a year ago.
But the pharaoh did get sleep, only to wake up in a startle. Something didn't seem right...
He gets out of bed in a rush and runs to his balcony in his room, his intuition correct as he can see Mahad's mage stone glowing. He was in battle and he can only guess who he was. He takes his horse and takes off to the stone where he sees Mana.
Things only get worse, the stone shatters but Mahad spirit returns in the form of Dark Magician, making a promise to serve the Pharaoh. DiaBound was destroyed as the pharaoh knew but so was his best friend. (Even though he had no memories of them.)
XXX
Yugi and his friends, after checking so many doors, and coming to face to face with the evil spirit of the ring and found that the thing that sent them flying back from the door was something that the Pharaoh was fighting, a dark monster, an evil shadow.
"Yugi! Help me. I can't do this without you!"
Yugi knew that voice. His lover needed him, like he knew he would, and he wasn't about to abandon him. "Guys! I can hear him!"
Tea stays quiet as she tried and listens. "I don't hear-"
"He's calling me." He looks to his friends. "Try concentrate and listen."
Tea is the first to take Yugi's hand and then takes Joeys. "Join hands. Both of them need us."
They all nodded and joined hands as they concentrated and listened, joined in a circle. They all finally heard the call as they were engulfed in a bright light, the door becomes visible to them and they enter it.
XXX
The Pharaoh watches as Isis explains to Mana that Mahad isn't dead and that his life lives on and he is that much more powerful. Still the Pharaoh feels horrible for what had happened. Mana goes on to explain her training isn't complete and the Pharaoh feels as though he is part to blame.
XXX
To make sure Bakura is found, Seto sets up a way to check every citizen to see who holds the strongest monsters in the souls and to see if he can track down the bandit that infiltrated the palace. Seto takes Shada with him to look into every person's heart.
He then finds a girl with pale skin and blue eyes and finds she has a powerful being inside her. He then sees the blue eyes white dragon in her heart, which leads him to treat her better than a prisoner.
XXX
Night comes which makes the Thief king come out of hiding, inflicting fear into everyone. The pharaoh his riding his horse through the desert, Slifer the Sky dragon at his side, as he scans the skies ready to fight Bakura.
And a fight there was only for the bandit to play dirty and have his DiaBound attack the city, forcing him to command his Sky Dragon to protect the city and allowing him and the Thief kings to fight.
XXX
The pharaoh had to admit. After today, he was pretty glad that Duel monsters were just card game in Yugi's time. Otherwise, this whole thing would repeat, over and over. No one really needed to go through what he did today.
And now he was stuck in a jam. To give up his puzzle or face a grim fate. Of course the plan was to fake the bandit out, but of course, after today, why wouldn't something so simple go as it was supposed to?
The plan was to have Slifer attack the bandit, of course the bandit had the same idea. Both attacked and bother were canceled. Luckily, back up arrives in The Pharaoh's defense.
With backup on the pharaoh's side, the bandit decides to make a run for it. To retreat and come up with another plan. Seto decides to hold an evacuation since most of the city is in flames.
The Pharaoh, mounds his horse and ready to ride on. Of course Seto and Karim summon their own monsters to help the pharaoh and Slifer stop the DiaBound.
As he rode on in the desert night, the pain in his chest grew. It was slowly killing him without Yugi being here. He knew.
He reaches the bandit and the fight continues. DiaBound attacks the Egyptian god, but of course its dodge. But something odd happened on the second attack. The Dragon froze, paralyzed.
DiaBound attacks, and destroyed the God. This in turns takes most of the pharaoh's life energy with him. He faint off his horse,
He lays on the ground, holding his chest. The pain hurt. He felt weak, couldn't stand, and couldn't move. His eyes forced shut as he says between ragged breathes. "I could really use Yugi, right about now..."
"I'm here." The Pharaoh opens his eyes meeting the purple eyes of the one he had miss so. The pain in his chest was gone and he felt like some of his energy had upturned. Yugi cradled his lover in his arms, as he spoke. "I heard you calling me, I had to come."
"Yugi, I don't know what to say."
"You don't need to say anything." Yugi takes his lover's hand. The first time he has ever been about to actually feel his partners hand in his. "I promised you, you're never alone. We are all in this together. I love you. Never forget that."
'I never noticed how deep my bond with Yugi was. Then pain in my best is gone, and my energy is back.' He grips Yugi's hand tightly, stands, and prepares for a final battle.
He calls forth Ra, The winged dragon and this in turns lights up the sky. DiaBound can no longer hide. He then transforms Ra into a phoenix. Ra defeats the DiaBound and the bandit king lays in the dirt, his life energy almost gone.
XXX
The Pharaoh pulls Yugi into a hug smiling into his eyes and nuzzling his forehead then kissed it. "I don't know what would have happened if you didn't show up."
"Your never alone, Pharaoh." Yugi smiles back up to the king that's holding him in his arms. "When you have friends, you're never alone."
The pharaoh places a hand on the boy's cheek, inching their lips closer, but before they can touch, the sands of time our moved. I trick up the bandits sleeve.
Time is turned back. Yugi and his friends are pulled further from the Pharaoh. The bandit understood more now than ever. Yugi and the Pharaoh needed to be separated, for him to ever beat the Pharaoh. Even if their bond is of the heart, the pharaoh still can't survive physically without Yugi in The Land of Memories. The bandit's idea?
Keep the Pharaoh and Yugi separated.
Time is reset. Yugi and his friends never get the Pharaoh in time. The bandit defeats the Pharaoh. The pharaoh's puzzle is taken, the pharaoh then falls into precipices, and Yugi friends are forced to retreat because of the cracking of the earth under them.
XXX
The four friends regroup and talk about what happened. Yugi of course is overcome by grief. His inability to help his lover after the pharaoh had called him here in the first place.
"What every your thinking, Yugi." Tea says trying to reassure him. "This isn't your fault."
"Whether it was or not, doesn't matter." Yugi smiles. "That Pharaoh is still alive. I'm sure of it."
"How can you be so sure?" Joey asked
"Think about it." Yugi explains. "We are still here. This is the Pharaoh's memories. If he was gone, we wouldn't be here."
Tristen shrugged his shoulders. "He's got a point."
"So where, should we go?" Joey asked.
Tea answers. "He will want to be near water. I say we check the Nile."
The friends agree as they make walk towards the Nile. Yugi of course, had his optimistic smile turn into a frown. He thinks to himself. 'I will find you Pharaoh, no matter what it takes.
XXX
Update for you guys. I know you have all waited so patiently. Sorry school is taking up all my time. Episode 201 to 207. Enjoy. Read rate and comment
