Chapter 6
Previously
…"Pharaoh," she spoke in a voice laced with authority, "tomorrow you and your magician are to go to the temple of the gods. Inside is a tablet with a riddle. Find it, and solve it, for it will guide you to the answers you seek." and with that, she faded away.
Somewhere, in a hidden cave found in an oasis of the Egyptian desert, Valkyria appeared. Furrowing her eyebrows, she lit up.
When the light finally died down, Mana was on all fours, breathing heavily.
After she finally caught her breath, she said, "Well, that was interesting." and looked up the floating Dark Magician Girl…
On with the story
(With the Pharaoh)
That night, as Yami gazed at the stars from his room's balcony, his thoughts went back to the events that occurred earlier that day, especially Valkyria, who claimed that she was sent by the daughter of the gods
He would have continued reliving the memory, had Mahad, the bearer of the Millennium ring not interrupted him.
"Pardon me, my pharaoh." Mahad said, kneeling.
"Yes, …" Yami started, 'What is his name?' he thought anxiously, before suddenly remembering what someone called the man earlier that day, "Mahad?"
"I have arranged for two horses to be ready for our trip to the temple tomorrow." Mahad informed the pharoaoh.
"That is fine, thank you, Mahad." the young pharaoh said. "However, I'm not sure I can quite recall where the temple is."
"There is no need to worry, my pharaoh. I have been there before as well and I still remember the route to the temple." Mahad answered, dutifully.
"Very well, Mahad. I bid you goodnight." the Pharaoh said, turning to look up at the stars again.
Mahad bowed and started to leave when a thought struck Yami. 'Mana told Yugi she had a teacher when we were at the lake. Could Mahad be her teacher? Does he know her? There is only one way to find out.'
"Mahad." He called out.
"Yes, my liege?" Mahad asked, and walked back to Yami's side.
"In all of today's excitement, I have forgotten that I have not seen Mana during the coronation." He fibbed as casually as he could. "Have you seen her by any chance?"
Sighing, Mahad's shoulders sagged. "I hoped to keep you in the dark about this, but it seems that I have failed." he admitted, shamefully.
"What is it, Mahad? Why were you trying to keep me in the dark? Where is she?!" Yami's questions fired, without giving Mahad time to answer.
"She has left last night, my pharaoh…"
Flashback
"Mana, what are you doing? Where have you been? You did not show up for your lessons." Mahad asked Mana, after he finally found her in the stables.
"I'm leaving." The young woman said bluntly, while saddling her horse. "I have told you over and over that great danger is coming, but none of you believe me. Therefore, I will fight it myself."
"Don't be daft, Mana, and how many times must I tell you that my ring and Isis' necklace will tell us of any coming danger." He said exasperated.
Leading her horse out of the stable, she put her provisions in the saddlebag. Climbing onto the horse, she looked down at her once-teacher and said coldly, "You say the ring will warn you, and yet, how many times have that same ring failed you the last few weeks? You all have grown dependent upon the millennium items, but they are not infallible. Until you lot are willing to admit that I am right, I cannot stay here."
"I cannot allow you to leave, Mana. I will st-" Mahad started, but was frozen with Mana's famous freezing spell.
"The spell will wear of in a few hours' time." Mana said, her gaze shifting to the gate. "I am sorry, Mahad, but this is the only way."
End flashback
"After that, she had her horse run through the gate and I haven't seen her since." Mahad finished.
"I see. Why didn't you inform me that she has left?" the pharaoh asked, while thinking to himself: 'I promised Timeous that I would protect her, but how can I do that if she keeps on avoiding and running away from me?'
"I did not tell you, because I did not want to worry you." Mahad answered truthfully, "But I wouldn't worry too much. We both know that Mana has a tendency to overreact ever since she was little."
"I hope you are right, Mahad. I truly hope that you are right." Yami answered uneasily.
Time and Sceneswitch
After getting off their horses at their destination point, the ruler and magician entered the temple.
Carefully, Yami glanced around to get a better look of his surroundings.
At the foot of the altar, they found the tablet they were told about. Lighting a torch, Mahad and Yami took a closer look at its inscription. Luckily, to Yami's relief, he was able to read the text:
She walks among you
and is known by all.
She will give up all
to bring the enemy to a fall.
The queen without a crown.
She who can merge with
others to save those in need
along with the king
in command of three.
Utter her name
and together with thee,
you shall bring harmony
for all eternity.
Timeswitch
Later, back at the palace, Yami was sitting on his throne, thinking about what he has learned at the temple, completely unaware of what is currently happening in the desert.
Sceneswitch
Fighting the leviathan with the help of three dragons, Mana was getting desperate. 'As much as I hate to admit it, we need him, but how can I alert him from way out here? If only I could summon the gods… The gods! Yugi!'
Standing still, she called out to the three dragons: "Timeous, Critius, Hermos, stall that thing for a while! I'm going to call in reinforcements!"
Nodding their heads, the three dragons focused fully on the snake, allowing Mana to run to the top of a nearby dune.
When she finally reached the top of the dune, Mana concentrated very hard and mentally called out: 'Yugi! Can you hear me? Guys, I need your help!'
Sceneswitch
(with Yugi and the rest of the gang)
Opening a door, Yugi walked into a big room with no other exits.
"Guys, come and look at this!" he called his friends over.
Joining Yugi, they all agreed that thát room held a definite significance.
"I know this room is somehow important, Yug, but we've been calling out to both the pharaoh and Mana, and still nothing." Joey said, sitting down on the floor out of pure disappointment.
"I've been thinking about the same thing, Joey." Yugi responded, "Maybe, we've been doing this wrong. Maybe, instead of us calling out to them, they should call out to us!"
Just then, they heard a familiar voice calling out to them: "Yugi! Can you hear me? Guys, I need your help!"
Suddenly, a gateway opened - a gateway that will take the gang to their Egyptian friends. The five friends looked at each other, nodded in a mutual agreement, and jumped into the gateway, fully intent upon answering their friend's call in any possible way.
