I'm back! School became too busy to keep writing so I'm back to continue my story because I really want to finish it. This chapter will feature a dream sequence of Yami's that'll be very pivotal for her.

Yami began tossing and turning in her sleep as a vivid dream began to fill her mind.

She saw a beautiful young woman with flowing blonde hair surrounded by what looked like midwives. The woman had just given birth and was holding her newborn baby girl.

Yami was standing in the room as a ghostly bystander watching the scene take place.

"My pharaoh," called one of the midwives, "your heir was arrived!"

The former pharaoh ran into the room and knelt at the bedside next to his wife.

"The princess and the queen are both doing well," said the midwife.

The queen turned her arms in a position where the baby could be seen by the pharaoh. The couple looked at each other and smiled. The pharaoh reached forward and gently stroke the baby's cheek. The baby opened her eyes and Yami gasped in surprise.

That child is me! Those are the same violet eyes and blonde bangs as mine and I think I see black and red hair as well. Which means…what I am witnessing right now…is the day of my birth! And that beautiful couple is…my parents.

Yami kept watching as the pharaoh gently took the child in his arms and began to walk towards a balcony. Yami followed her father out of the delivery room and shielded her eyes from the bright sun. Her father stood before a massive crowd of people and held up the newborn princess for everyone to see. The crowd began cheering like mad and proceeded to bow. Yami watched in awe as her father cradled her infant body once again and began rocking her in his arms.

He looks so happy. I wish I could remember this day more clearly. I want to know more about my relationship with my parents.

The scene changed to what looked like about a year later. Baby Yami was beginning to take her first steps. Her father was kneeling a short distance away and encouraging his daughter to walk towards him. The queen was following behind the princess in case she fell. After a few steps the princess stumbled and fell. Instinctually, Yami ran forward to help her younger self as well as the queen when the pharaoh said,

"No my dear, let our daughter learn on her own."

Yami's mother smiled, nodded, and took a step back.

The young princess began to cry when she had trouble standing back up.

"Don't cry, my child, you can do it," the queen stated, "Your father and I believe in you."

The young princess glanced back at her mother as the queen gave her a reassuring nod. Slowly, the princess stood back up and tried walking towards her father again. He stretched his arms wide and smiled as the princess fell into his embrace. He wiped the tears from her face and looked his daughter in the eyes.

"I'm proud of you, my sweet girl," spoke the pharaoh, "Father, loves you very much."

The princess stammered in reply, clearly still learning how to speak, "I love you father."

Tears began to stream down the older Yami's face.

I was so loved by my mother and father and yet I can't remember anything about them from my childhood. This dream must be buried deep within my memories. I wonder if I can recall any more.

The scene changed once again to a gloomy cave where her father was carrying a torch to lead him deeper into the cave.

Why is he alone? And why is he in this creepy place?

Yami followed her father until she reached a large room with an altar at the end of a long walkway. Her father kneeled before the altar and dropped his torch. From a distance, Yami saw his body began shaking with sobs and approached him further.

"Egyptian gods please here my prayer," her father spoke with a voice broken from crying, "I have committed a heinous sin in my need for power. I never intended for the creation of the Millennium items to lead to death and destruction of my own people. I wanted the items to grant wisdom and power to protect my people but the dark magic which created the items was more evil than I realized. Due to my ignorance, I wish you to punish me instead of the one I love the most. I have already lost my wife due to illness, please don't take my daughter."

Tears began to run faster down his face. Yami looked on in shock as tears stained her own cheeks.

"She is to continue my legacy and fix all the horrible crimes I have committed against my people. She is kind but strong. I know she will serve you well."

I lost my mother at a young age due to illness. And my father is carrying the burden of the destruction of Kul Elna on his shoulders completely. I wish there was something I could do to relieve his pain.

"Father!" Yami called to her father though he could not hear her voice since she was only an imaginary bystander in her dream. The dream then began to fade.

"Father wait!" Yami screamed louder, "DON'T GO!"

Yami awoke from her dream covered in sweat and panting heavily. She glanced over at Yugi and Mano and saw they were both still asleep. She quietly sighed in relief.

Yami rose from the bed and walked towards the window in the room.

I had the most wonderful parents anyone could have asked for, but my mind had to erase everything I knew about them.

She then rested her hand on the window sill and looked out at the stars.

I will finish what you started, Father, and seal away all the evil in this world. I will not let your death be in vain!

She began crying again as she thought about her father.

I must defeat Bakura and learn the truth about my past.

Yami wiped the tears from her face and went back to bed.

*Nighttime*

The next morning, Yami thanked the innkeeper for his courtesy and paid him handsomely. Then her and her army were off to Kul Elna.

Yami sat behind Mano as he led the caravan to the ruined village with the other High Priests following close behind as well as Yugi and the gang. It wasn't long until they arrived.

Kul Elna was a ghost town with no inhabitants and all the buildings were crumbling and falling apart.

"What is this place?" asked Taric.

"This village was home to criminals and petty thieves," Shada replied, "But one day all the inhabitants just…vanished."

Yami felt a chill run down her spine as a fallen spirit passed through her body.

Yami shuddered and looked around as the spirits of Kul Elna circled around the buildings and around the living. The spirits almost seemed to slow down as they moved past her.

They must see the former pharaoh in me.

"I can feel the anger of all the spirits in this village," Yami spoke softly, "Anger for what my father never intended to happen."

"Don't feel so bad, Princess," Mano replied, "There's nothing you can do for what happened in the past."

"No…but I pray that I can put these souls to rest."

Mano frowned then lifted his head when he noticed something in the distance, "Look!"

The caravan stopped and looked at what Mano and found. A stairwell descending into the earth.

This has to be it.

Yami dismounted her and Mano's horse and walked towards the stairwell.

"My queen, you mustn't!" Aknadin cried.

"I know this is where Bakura is waiting for me," Yami answered boldly, "I have to go."

"Then let us go with you!" Isis said as she dismounted her own horse.

Mano and the remaining sacred guardians followed suit and held their Millennium items at the ready.

"Don't forget about us!" Joanne yelled.

"Yeah we got your back," Yugi smiled.

Yami smiled back at her partner and gave her a nod then shared a similar look with the rest of the group.

Yami then turned and face her army donning a serious look, "The rest of you," every member of the army turned towards her and sat straighter in their saddles, "keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. I'm sure Bakura has traps waiting for us"

"Yes your majesty," the captain of the army replied.

Yami turned around and began her descent down the stairs with her most trusted advisors, and friends, following behind her.

Show yourself, coward.

"Bakura!" Yami called into the darkness, "Quit hiding and face me!"

A low laugh came from the far end of the underground chamber. Suddenly, every torch in the room became lit and Bakura revealed himself. He was sitting at the opposite end of the room sitting atop the Millennium Stone with a dark aura surrounding him.

"Ha ha ha, you must be quite brave to set foot in Kul Elna," Bakura cackled, "Even your father never came here, making him the wiser man."

Suddenly, several skeleton warriors emerged from the ground and came running towards Yami. Mano immediately stepped in front of her.

"Mano, look out!" Yami screamed.

He materialized his wand and raised it over his head.

Where did that come from?

Mano began chanting in ancient Egyptian causing a bright light to fill the room. The light caused the skeleton warriors to crumble to dust. The light that filled the room began to form the shape of a girl with a similar wand to Mano's. Everyone stared in shock as the apprentice's Ka was finally revealed.

"Dark Magician Girl!" Yugi cried.

The female spell caster turned around and smiled at Mano. He smiled back as she faded away.

"Now I know how to manifest my Ka," Mano boasted then pointed his wand at Bakura, "You better watch out, thief."

"Oh I'm trembling hahaha!" Bakura cackled.

"Give back the Millennium items you stole, Bakura!" Seto screamed.

"Oh but if I do that, I won't be able to summon Zorc, the Dark One and I still need the rest of your items to do this. And how convenient it is that you brought them straight to me."

The Sacred Guardians clutched their items tighter.

"The Millennium items were created to bring peace and prosperity to Egypt," Yami remarked.

"That's what you were told by your guardians but I think otherwise. And I have a witness who agrees with me."

A small girl emerged from the shadows. Yami gasped when she saw the young servant girl from her coronation ceremony.

"Astra!" Yami exclaimed.

"I can't believe you actually remember me," Astra chided. "I was just a measly servant girl that served you one time."

I never thought I'd see this.

"What are you doing with Bakura?" Yami commanded, "Tell me!"

"You see, your highness, Bakura and I are survivors of the attack on Kul Elna. Your wicked father called for an attack on our village and is responsible for the death of hundreds of lives! Somehow Bakura and I were able to escape and we planned our revenge for years."

"But my father didn't know the consequences of creating the Millennium items. He felt horribly guilty when he learned of your – no – his people's deaths."

"Don't even try to defend that evil man by claiming he cared for us!"

Yami scowled at Astra and produced a throaty growl.

"In order for the Millennium items to be created," Bakura continued, "it requires a sacrifice of ninety-nine dark souls. He must have felt the people of Kul Elna were worth losing in order to 'better' the kingdom."

Yami glared and was about to reply with colorful language when Aknadin said, "But Aknamkanon didn't know the curse of the Millennium items!"

Everyone stopped and stared at the old man in confusion.

"Master Aknadin, what are you talking about?" Seto asked.

"The former pharaoh was my elder brother and he asked me to handle the process of creating the Millennium items."

There was a collective gasp from everyone in the room except Bakura and Astra.

Aknadin continued, "I was aware of the ninety-nine sacrifices that were required so if you want to hate anyone, hate me. My brother had nothing to do with Kul Elna."

Aknadin looked at Yami, "My queen,"

She looked back at him with concern in her eyes.

"Your father loved you very much and didn't want the wrath of the gods to fall on your shoulders. After your mother died, he begged the gods to spare your life. He gave his own so that you may live."

Yami suppressed the tears welling in her eyes, "I know, Aknadin."

Yami quickly composed herself and stared at Bakura, "Which is why I will not let his death be in vain."

Yami raised her diadhank over her head and cried, "Mahad! Come forth!"

Magic filled the room as the powerful Dark Magician appeared above Yami's head.

"MASTER!" Mano cried with happiness.

"You didn't think I'd be that easy kill," Mahad smirked as Bakura slightly trembled. "I now reside within the queen as her Ka, the Dark Magician, making me powerful than before."

Yami smiled confidently seeing her enemy tremble in fear. Mano stared in awe as his former master was revealed to be alive once again.

"This means nothing!" Astra shouted, "Spirits of Kul Elna, attack her magician and end this!"

The tormented souls of Kul Elna began to emerge and swarmed Yami and Mahad. Mahad raised a shield and deflected the spirits.

"Going to play like this are we?" Bakura sneered, "Diabound, come forth!"

Bakura raised his stolen diadhank above his head and summoned the mighty beast. The massive monster appeared before everyone larger and more powerful than before.

"It evolved!" Mano cried.

"Diabound, attack with Thunder Force attack!"

Diabound unleashed the power of Slifer though Mahad was ready.

"Mahad, counterattack!" Yami cried.

"Dark Magic Portal!" Mahad called.

A dark hole opened to absorb Diabound's attack.

"The portal that Mahad has opened will absorb the attack and redirect it back at you." Yami stated confidently.

I love the adrenaline that runs through my blood when I duel.

At that moment, the portal opened up again and struck Diabound from behind before it could deflect the attack. Mahad used this opportunity to strike again while the beast was weakened. Bakura clutched his chest and fell to his knees.

"Diabound, hide in the shadows!" Astra commanded.

Diabound blended in with the darkness.

"Don't let that monster get away, Mahad!" Yami cried.

"Rapid Spell Fire!" Mahad yelled.

Multiple bursts of magic filled the room creating holes in the walls and ceiling. The room filled with sunlight revealing the creature.

"Finish him!" Yami screamed.

Mahad released a flurry of bursts of magic onto Diabound causing Bakura to collapse. Astra rushed to his aid and helped him sit up.

"I'm still not done," Bakura stammered, "Spirits of Kul Elna, fill me with your rage and give you're power to Diabound ahahahahaha!"

The spirits of Kul Elna flowed into Bakura causing him to glow with a dark aura and Diabound to grow even stronger. Mahad unleased another attack on Diabound yet it was deflected by a shield made of souls.

"The spirits will protect me and Diabound," Bakura said, "Spiral Wave Attack!"

A column of energy shot from Diabound's chest and struck Mahad into a structural column causing the column to shatter and collapse. Yami clutched her chest feeling the same pain as Mahad. Mano ran to her side.

"Princess!" Mano cried and ran to her side.

"He's too strong," Yami struggled to say while she clutched her chest.

"Let me assist you."

Mano raised his wand and summoned his Ka as Diabound launched another attack on Mahad.

"Magic Cylinder!" Mano commanded his Ka.

Dark Magician Girl quickly summoned the spell and redirected the attack back to Diabound. The soul shield absorbed the attack with no damage coming to the monster. Bakura and Astra stared in shock as the master and apprentice were once again side by side.

"Now Bakura," Mano said with a smirk on his face and Yami standing proudly next to him, "you have to deal with both our magicians."

Bakura and Astra began to tremble.

Yami smiled and laughed confidently, "Let the true test begin. Time to duel!"

I decided for my story that Aknadin would be good instead of going power crazy for Seto. I know the Sacred Guardians and Yugi and the gang seem useless in this chapter but I wanted the focus to stay on Yami, Mano, Bakura, and Astra as well as their monsters. Though they are about to have some interesting things happen. Follow and review