Hey everyone! It's been such a busy summer, since I work full time. But thanks to the wait, it's given me a lot of time to fully organize and fix this chapter, that I had already finished. It was better for me to organize my ideas, since I no longer have school getting in my way. For now at least.

Anyhow, here is the new chapter of this story. The beginning of it is going to be Vaseshipping. Enjoy it while you can, because by the next few chapters there won't be much of it anymore, since we're heading into the action parts, twists, and plot revelations. In fact, this chapter is going to be the beginning of that. So buckle up and get ready, because by next chapter things are going to start to get bumpy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-OH or The Lion King. All rights go to Kazuki Takahashi & Walt Disney Pictures

Chapter 10: Facing Your Shadows

Atem laid comfortably on the grass, while breathing in the cool air and looking at the sky full of stars. It was quite warm tonight compared to the other cold nights. In fact, he hadn't felt this kind of warmth in his entire life. He sighed in satisfaction as the prince loved how calm and comforting the atmosphere around him was.

He held Mana in his arms, with her head on his bare chest, their legs tangled, and both covered in his brown cloak. She was currently napping, causing him to hear and feel her soft breathing against his neck. He loved having her this close, feeling her warmth even through her undergarments. He too had partly redressed, wearing his kilt, but remained shirtless as he was already use to the cool night.

The young prince ran his hand through her brown hair as he looked down at her sleeping form. He could hardly believe everything that had occurred over the past few days and especially what had happened between them just a few moments ago. Him and Mana reunited after so many years, them spending time together, and the friendship he had with Mana developing into something much deeper and more intimate. It all felt too good to be real, as if he was living in a very beautiful dream.

Every single moment he shared with Mana was engraved in his memory and he kept repeating them in his mind over and over again. The way they touched and caressed one another, an exchange of kisses, passionate words, soft whispers, and how he held her in his arms in the aftermath.

Atem smiled and planted a kiss on Mana's forehead, pulling her closer into his arms. Once they had finished bathing in the afterglow, they had laid there, looking at the stars, talking, and laughing at the shapes they saw the stars form. He remember her beautiful eyes, her laugh, her smile, everything of her made his heart skip a beat.

The whole experience had been amazingly wonderful. Atem had never thought that he would ever feel such strong emotions for anyone; that he could ever be this happy. It made him forget about all the horrible things that have happened in his life.

He continued to stare at the mage, who had been asleep for half an hour already. Playing with her hair, he began wondering of the future. What is to become of their relationship, now that they have taken this step? He really wanted Mana to stay here with him forever. But the question was, would he be able to convince her? Atem wished things would be easier. That way, he would make sure that Mana was extremely happy, living here by his side, away from troubles. Enjoying and having fun with his friends, sharing more nights like this with her, and maybe sometime in the future, have a family with her.

The prince hadn't thought how much his perspective has changed in just a few days. Before Mana reappeared in his life, he thought that having a real relationship with someone, settling down, and having children was something completely trivial. He had been so convinced that they were things he didn't need in his life, would only hold him back in his freedom, and if it was something he was certain he didn't deserve to have. Besides, he didn't think he would find someone that would make him feel this way. Atem was completely fine with his life as a bachelor and his friends were all that he needed.

But now... he wasn't willing to give up this immense felicity he felt at this moment. His childhood sweetheart was worth it. She perhaps could give him the future he had denied himself all those years ago.

At the thought of that, he continued to kiss her forehead tenderly, accidentally causing her to moan in her sleep and began to stir awake. Her eyes fluttered until they were half-open and stared at her lover, who was staring back at her with fascination. A tired smiled crossed her features.

"Um, hi."

"Hello my love. Did you have a good sleep?"

She let out a laugh and rubbed her tired eyes. "Mhm. The best sleep I've had in a long time. Being in your arms is enough to make me forget about everything else out there."

The prince smiled at that and planted a kiss on her lips. She then yawned and looked around.

"What time is it?"

"It's getting quite late. We should probably start heading back." Mana and looked up at him pouted in disappointment, which Atem thought what the cutest thing he had ever seen.

"Oh must we? Can't we just spend the night here or at least stay a little longer?" She then laid her head back on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "I don't want this moment to end just yet."

He couldn't help but notice her content and dazed look, dreamy smile, and sigh of satisfaction, causing him to smirk.

"Well, you seemed have enjoyed it a lot more than I expected." This made her blush slightly in embarrassment and playfully poked his chest and lifted her head to look at him momentarily.

"Oh stop it. You sure are as cocky as usual, my prince. But if it makes you feel any better, then yes I do enjoy it a lot."

Mana laid her head back down on his chest. "Now I understand why those village girls are after you all the time."

He chuckled at her comment and traced his fingers on her shoulder. "Heh, well they're going to have to accept the fact that it's not going to happen, because from now on... "

Atem hugged her closer to him as she snuggled even more into his embrace. Mana looked up at the prince, their eyes meetings. "The only girl I want to be is you." He then closed eyes and breathed in her sweet scent. "After so long, I never thought I could ever have something that could feel so mine."

The magician apprentice let out a laugh and gave him yet another sweet smile. She put her hand on his cheek while his own hands cupped her face.

He captured her lips in a passionate kiss. She corresponded to his kisses and they continued on for a few seconds, before they broke apart and laid back together in the grass. They stayed together in silence for a few moments, just enjoying each others company. He then began to play around with his own amulet, looking at it without reason, that is until he felt something strange on it.

Now curious, he turned that amulet around to its back and held it above him to get a better look. To his surprise, he noticed small carvings of Egyptian hieroglyphics carved onto the amulet.

This wasn't here before.

He brought it closer to his view and read the message.

"Prince, is something wrong?" Mana asked, noticing his disconcerted behavior.

"Mana let me see your amulet for a minute?" Mana gave him a questioning look, but did not deny his request. Handing him the moon amulet, Atem looked at it and noticed that it also had hieroglyphics carved on it, except it was a different message.

"I don't believe it. Mana look at this." He got up into a sitting position, Mana following him, while covering her half-naked body with his cloak.

She looked at down at the amulets and gasped, now understanding why Atem was acting so strange.

'Love thee' had been carved onto the moon amulet.

'For all eternity' was also carved onto Atem's sun amulet, finishing the message.

The couple stared at the amulet for a minute in thought, bewildered at what they saw, before Mana reacted at last.

"Wait, now that I think about, mother did mention that these amulets were enchanted, remember? She had told me that when our bond was solidified.."

Mana slowed down, before stopping and began to blush, finally realizing what those words had insinuated all this time. Atem too blushed.

"Well... I see that she as well as everyone else was right about us. Though, I never imagined it would be like this."

Mana could hear certain doubt his voice and leaned closer to him."Um Temmy, are you... regretting what happened between us?"

The prince immediately turned to her, disconcerted by what she had just asked.

"No! Of course not Mana!" He then cupped her face into his hands, looking into her worried eyes. "I'm sorry I may have worried you, I have a lot on my mind lately, but believe me. What just happened between us was the best moment of my life. And I don't regret a single moment of it. I'm very serious about this relationship and I'm also serious about you. I love you and I don't want you to doubt a single moment of it."

Mana stared at him in disbelief and felt her heart warm up at his speech. His expression and the look in his eyes were bright and full of honesty. Now feeling silly at even thinking he had regrets, she leaned in and smiled.

"I believe you my prince. And I love you too."

He smiled once more and inched closer, until the two once more joined their lips in another breathtaking kiss that continued on for a few moments. They finally parted for air and smiled at one another, with their cheeks flushed.

Atem then stood up, but not breaking each other's stare. He then offered her a hand. "Come on, it's time for us to head back. It's almost dawn and the others are bound to wake up and start wondering why we haven't made it back. And I honestly do not feel like giving any explanations of what happened here. Especially to Jounouchi."

The mage smiled and sighed, slightly disappointed at having to leave this paradise. Holding the cloak around her body and grabbing her clothes, she accepted his hand and helped pull her up. They then each turned their backs to each other and started to get finish dressing.

"Remember Atem, no peaking." She teased and winked at him with sly smile, before putting her clothes back on.

Catching that, he blushed slightly and let out a chuckle, before turning back to what he was doing as well.

"Heh, after what we did, I don't think that really matters anymore Mana."

She giggled and both were then silent for the next few minutes, focused on getting fully dressed. Atem was the first to be done as he put his brown cloak back into his bag, while tried to fix her golden collar necklace back on. She had trouble putting it on though, so Atem had to help her. Moving her hair aside, he did not fail to admire her beautiful neck, exposed shoulders, refined collarbones and her partly exposed smooth back. She's so beautiful.

He finished locking the necklace together and Mana turned shyly to face him.

"Are you ready to go?"

She nodded. "Yep."

The prince held her hand and guided her out of the area. Once they were out, they continued to walk for a bit, until an idea crossed Mana's mind.

She suddenly jumped on Atem's back and screamed 'Piggyback!'.

Surprised at first, the prince still smiled and let her ride on his back, just like the old days.

Atem then began to travel back through the same way they came from. Mana kept looking at her surroundings, thinking how everything was even more beautiful at night. She couldn't believe Atem has been living here all these years. But still it made her wonder why he never returned to Egypt.

She froze and that is when everything hit her. Mana had been so caught up in spending with the prince, that she had completely forgotten the problems back in Egypt. At first, she had decided to put it aside and give Atem his space. But now that their relationship was now reestablished, she knew the time had come. They needed to talk. The two had finally reached the waterfall and he began walking on the bridge across from it.

"Isn't this place amazing?" Atem exclaimed.

Yes, it's very beautiful." She sighed. "But there's something I still don't understand Atem. You've been alive here, all this time. Why didn't you ever come back to Egypt?"

The prince stopped his tracks, really wishing she hadn't brought that up. However, he knew he couldn't keep silent and had to come up with an excuse.

"Well..." His arms loosened and let Mana off his back. He then turned to her. "I... just decided that... I needed a life of my own."

He then laid on a couple of vines that formed a sleeping swing. "Live my own life. I did and it is the best decision I've ever made."

Mana was concerned to hear him talk this way. Regardless, she had to keep insisting. "But Atem, we really needed you at home."

Atem turned his gaze from her into a shameful look. "No one needs me." He murmured.

"Yes we do! Of course we do, you're the pharaoh after all!"

"Mana we already talked about this. I'm not the pharaoh. Aknadin is."

The magician apprentice was starting to grow frustrated and looked down, hesitant at telling him the truth for a moment. But seeing how he was negligent in going back, Mana knew she had no other choice, since this might be the only to way to reason with him. She looked back, her expression serious with a hint of sadness.

"Atem, he let the thieves and tomb robbers take over Egypt."

"What?" This caught him by surprise.

"And that's not even the worse part. He has most of our people put into slavery. Then he started using the shadow monsters trapped in the stones tablets to dictate all over Egypt. This angered the gods and they punished us by destroying almost everything, because Aknadin refused to change his ways. He then let Bakura and his other minions kill the sacred court! And then he simply washed his hands, claiming that it wasn't his fault, because he wasn't the one who ordered Bakura to kill them, even though he could have ordered him not to. He didn't do anything to stop it and he's the reason why this whole mess happened in the first place!"

"My gods... but why would Aknadin do such a thing?"

"Because he's evil. He doesn't care what happens to us or to our precious kingdom. All he cares about is power and that no one questions is authority. He's so buried in his own greed and ambition, he won't listen to anyone."

Atem couldn't believe what he was hearing. His uncle did all this against his own people. The very kingdom his father had worked so hard rule and maintain peace, had been destroyed by his own brother.

"Because of him, everything is destroyed. There's no food or water. Atem, please. You're alive, you're the only one who can fix this. If you don't do something soon, everyone is going die!"

He felt guilt-ridden at Mana pleading him like this and help her solve the grave situation their kingdom was in. But his consciousness got the better of him and shook his head negatively.

"I can't." He got off the swing and tried to walk away, but Mana grabbed him by the arm.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"WHAT wouldn't I understand exactly?!" She was getting frustrated by his attitude and he decided to find a way to explain myself. He turned to her.

"It doesn't matter. Shinpai nai."

Mana gave him a strange look. "What?"

"Shinpai nai. look, sometimes horrible things happen in life..."

"Atem, please!"

"And there's nothing you can do about it. So why worry about it?"

He turned and started walking, but Mana caught up with him, walking right next to him, refusing to give up.

"Because it's your responsibility!"

He stopped for a moment. Her insistence at reminding him what his place is-was in Egypt was making him angry and was not willing to tolerate anymore. He turned to her once more.

"What about you and Isis?! You both left without any problem, didn't you?!"

"We left to find help! And we found you! Don't you understand Atem, you're the only hope we have left."

Despite her hoping her words would get to him, he turned his head negatively. "Sorry."

This broke Mana's belief in him and couldn't help but give him a look of disappointment . "What's happened to you all these years? You're not the Atem I remember."

This made him feel bitter at hearing her say that. "You're right. I'm not. Are you satisfied now?"

His statement was stern and started walking away, not wanting to hear her lecture him anymore. Mana simply shook her head.

"No. Just disappointed in you." He snapped his teeth in annoyance and continued walking.

"You know you're starting to sound just like my father right now." He continued to walk away, without looking at her. She glared angrily at him and retorted lowly.

"Good. At least one of us does."

That made him stop his tracks as her words hit him like a ton of bricks and he had reached his breaking point. Furious, he turned to Mana.

"Listen! You think you can just suddenly appear out of nowhere and tell me how to live MY life?! You don't even have the slightest idea of what I've had to go through!"

After practically yelling into Mana's face, he turned and stormed off.

"I would you would just tell!" She insisted one last time.

"Forget about it!" He yelled angrily, while he continued to walk away, not looking back.

"Fine!" Mana yelled back and turned her head, while stubbornly crossing her arms.

The prince didn't look back and kept walking ahead, finding someplace quiet where he may cool down and clear his thoughts. He finally made it out of the jungle and into the open savanna. He then started walking back and forth, fighting with his thoughts.

"She's wrong. She has to be." He insisted with himself. "There's no way I can go back. What will it prove either way? It won't change anything. Nothing can be done to change the past."

Atem then desperately looked up at the sky full of stars.

"YOU SAID YOU WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE FOR ME!" He yelled out desperately, hoping his father heard him, before wallowing up in his own guilt. "But you're not here. You're gone forever. And it's all my fault. My fault..."

He kept repeating that phrase over and over again, before lowering his head in pain and guilt. The prince then stood there silent for a moments, mourning. Despite the negative feelings that were going through, he still appreciated the silence that surrounded. However, that silence was broken when he started hearing someone singing random words that made no sense to him.

He turned and saw an old man in dark-brown robes and holding a wooden staff happily singing, while watching him from affar. Slightly annoyed, Atem left the area, thinking it was just an old beggar who has lost his marbles.

The man, who turned out to be Shimon, giggled, happy at seeing Atem after so many years and proud at how much he's grown.

Meanwhile Atem managed to find a more quiet area, where he sat on a log that crossed above a pond. The prince looked around, noticing that not too far from him was his white horse, Hurria, who was calmly eating the grass around him. He smiled at his loyal friend, before turning his attention back down to the pond. He put his hand on his face and sighed, while looking down at his reflection in thought. But once again, his moment of peace was interrupted as a rock was thrown into the pond. Startled, the prince turned and saw the same old man singing in gibberish louder than before. He began to grow even more annoyed and frustrated.

"Sir would to please stop already?" He got up and started to leave again Shimon only laughed and continued to follow him.

"I'm afraid I can't young man."

Atem started walking faster, hoping to lose the old man, but to his surprise, was able to keep up with him.

"Senile old man. Would you stop following me?!" But Shimon finally caught up to him and stood in front of him. "Just who are you?"

Shimon merely pointed his staff directly towards the youth's face. "That is not the issue here. The REAL question is WHO are YOU?"

The prince opened his jaw in shock right before he could answer, hearing how that question was asked. He then looked down, feeling insecure. "I thought I knew. Now I'm not even sure anymore."

"Well I happen to know who you are!" Shimon claimed optimistically and waved Atem to lean closer. "Come here, it is a secret."

Despite still thinking the old man was a looney, curiosity got the better of him and leaned in. Just when Shimon seemed he was about to reveal something important, he started singing loudly in gibberish and started dancing like a crazy. This irritated the teen even more.

"Enough already! Is that even supposed to mean anything?"

"Yes, it means you are a dummy. And I am not." Shimon giggled at his own comment, while Atem gave him a sarcastic look.

"I think you're a little confused."

"Wrong! I am not the one whose confused. You do not even know who you are young one."

Atem scoff, and started to make his way away from Shimon. "Oh and I suppose you know." He commented sarcastically.

"Of course I do. You're the son of Aknamkanon ."

This made the prince freeze in his place and his expression in shock. He then turned to the old man, who was at a good distance, smiling at him.

"Bye." That was all he said before running off, causing the prince to panic and run after him.

"Wait! Come back!" He ran for a short while, surprised that an old man can run with such speed. It wasn't long until he found Shimon sitting on a rock, praying. Atem stopped next to him.

"You knew my father?" He asked desperately.

"Correction, I know your father." Hearing him take about his father in present tense, the young heir became saddened, thinking the man didn't know the pharaoh died.

"I hate to tell you this, but...my father died...many years ago."

To his surprise though, instead seeing a shocked expression, which was what the prince expected, Shimon jumped off the log eagerly. "Nope! Wrong again! Your father is very much alive and I will show him to you so that you may see him with your own eyes."

He then pointed a pathway back into the jungle. "Follow me! I know how we must get there! Come!"

Shimon headed inside the jungle, causing Atem to run after him. The prince kept having trouble following the old man, since he was currently in a section of the jungle he did not recognize.

"Stop!" Shimon suddenly appeared in front of the prince, with his hand in front, causing him to stop in his tracks. The elder man then slowly pointed behind him. "Look in there."

Atem did as he was told and quietly made his way through, with Shimon watching him intently. He made it to a crystal clear pond and looked into it, only seeing his reflection. He sighed in disappointment.

"That is not my father. It is simply my reflection."

"No!" Shimon insisted, pointing back into the water. "Look closer and you will see."

The prince tried once more, fully concentrating into looking for what Shimon wanted him to see. After a few seconds, his reflection disappeared and morphed into his father, who had the same serious expression as he did when he was alive. Atem looked intently with wide eyes.

"Do you see now? He lives in you." Shimon said before disappearing out of sight for the moment. At the same time, the prince felt a strong wind coming his way.

The prince then started to glow golden, which startled him and looked at himself in shock. "What the?! What going on?!"

"Atem..."

The teen was shocked at the far too familiar voice, a voice he never thought he would ever hear again, while the sky and clouds began to form the figure of a man.

"Father?" He looked up and was so astonished at what he was seeing, that he failed to noticed the golden light leaving his body and disintegrated into the sky. The light then surrounded a spiritual entity, which Atem recognized as his father, Pharaoh Aknamkanon himself. The entire moment appeared so majestic before the prince's eyes that it seemed as if he was looking at a god.

"Atem, you have forgotten me."

"No, I could never forget you father."

"You have forgotten who you are and so, you have forgotten me. Look at yourself Atem. You are more than what you have become my boy. You must take your place as the rightful heir to Egypt's throne. Our people depend on you Atem and only you have the power hold our kingdom together."

"But how can I return?!" He questioned his father with desperation. "I am not the same person I use to be."

"Remember who you are. You are my son. And the one true pharaoh. Remember..."

Soon, Aknamkanon's spirit began to diminish into the sky, causing Atem to panick and ran after him.

"Father wait! Don't go! Please! Don't leave me again! Father!"

"Remember..." The pharaoh's spirit continued echoing that same phrase, until he completely disappeared from the sky, causing everything to go back to normal. Atem had stopped his tracks, wanting to hold onto to his father once more.

"Don't leave me..." He continued to look on where his father had been and couldn't help but notice how his entire being glowed golden once more before wearing off. However, this time he wasn't startled and instead looked at his hands as he now knew his father lived within him and was counting him to do what was right.

Everything was silent once more as the adolescent was left thinking over of what his father had just told him. He knew what he had to do, but it just wasn't that easy.

He suddenly felt a bright, warm light shine through his bag, causing him to cover his eyes. The light only lasted for a few seconds before it disappeared, just like his father's spirit had a few moments ago. Intrigued by this, Atem looked into his bag and tried to find the object that was the source of that bright light. The only things he had in there were his brown cloak, his dagger, and the mysterious box Sensei Ishida had given him as a present for his day of birth.

Knowing it couldn't have been the cloak or the dagger that caused that light, Atem assumed it had to be the box. He took it out, seeing it was still wrapped in the green cloth. However, the weight felt heavier and not as hollow as before. He shook the box and heard the clanking of small objects inside. Even more curious, Atem began to unwrapped the box. He continued, until he was surprised to see that beneath the cloth was gold. He finished unwrapping the object and right in his hands was a golden box. But the most shocking detail that caught his attention of the box was the fact that it had the infamous Egyptian Eye of Wadjet, the same eye that was carved onto the Millennium Items, with the exception of Shadi's Millennium Key.

But how is it that his sensei could have gotten his hands on this? And how was he connected to all this? Suddenly, he realized something very important.

Wait! So does that mean, he knew all along? Sensei Ishida knew who I really was from the beginning? Well, remembering what he told me the day he gave me this and the fact that he even had this in his possession, it would only make sense that he knew. But the question is, how does he know so much about me and my heritage?

So many questions were running through Atem's mind as he looked back down at the box. Curious to see what was inside, the prince opened the box. His breath came to a halt and his eyes were wide as plates.

The pieces of my father's Millennium Puzzle! But how is this even possible?!

Now he was even more confused than ever before. How is it that he was now in position of the pieces of this Millennium Item? The last time he saw the Millennium Puzzle was so many years ago, around his father's neck the day he-

Atem shook those thoughts out of his head, not wishing to relive that horrible moment or let the guilt overwhelm him again, especially now that had so many questions that needed to be answered. Thinking back on the operative, the prince continued to wonder how is it that it ended up in Master Ishida's hands when his father was the last one to have it. Nothing was making sense.

"Well that was some weather!" Shimon's voice sarcastically commented put of the blue, causing him to turn his attention to him. "It sure has been a long time since we had these kinds of strong winds."

The prince continued to look at him curiously, until he noticed the old man was holding something in his other hand. Examining it closer, he realized it was his katana.

"Hey! That's my-"

"I know, young one. I came from talking to your master. He was here a few moments ago and told me to give you this. He said that you will need in your future journey."

Atem walked to Shimon and took his sword from him, still very confused at all this. "Is that all he told you or was there more?"

Shimon nodded. "He told me everything. The reason why he had the Millennium Puzzle in his possession is because Shadi had given it to him to keep hidden."

"What?! Shadi is involved in this too?! But how is it that they know each other? And how or better yet, when did he give him the puzzle?"

The old man cleared his throat and continued.

"The very night following your father's death, Shadi returned to the destroyed village of Balat in search for some answers. Instead, he found the Millennium Puzzle scattered into pieces. Realizing that he could not let this item fall into Aknadin's hands, he decided to keep the puzzle as far away from Egypt as possible. Kenji Ishida, your teacher, is a long-time friend of Shadi, which he met during one of his travels to other countries. Shadi had saved his life from dying in the desert, when Ishida first came from his home land and your master swore he would be forever in his debt. Shadi explained to him the situation, since he knew that he was the only one who he can actually trust to keep the Millennium Puzzle safe and where Aknadin may never find it. A few days later, he met you when his other students brought you to him. The moment he heard your name, he knew that you were the Egyptian prince that everyone had proclaimed dead and the rightful owner to this item. Ishida was certain that fate brought you to him and the puzzle, therefore decided to train you, until you were ready to receive this item and return as Egypt's rightful king."

The prince was impacted by everything he just heard. This whole time, Sensei Ishida knew about his true identity. Now everything made sense. His final words after he passed the last test of his training, his dedication to training him to his full potential, his connection to Shadi, everything. He thought that the moment he left Egypt, his old life was over, that it was left in the past. But in reality, fate and destiny had planned everything, to protect him from the evil that took over his kingdom and prepare him so that one day, he may return and vanquish it.

He then looked at the sky, feeling the cool breeze hit his face. Everything felt different now. He could feel a new determination grow within him.

"I can feel the winds changing."

"True, they are. Change is a good thing."

"Yes, but it's not easy. I know what I must do in order to face my past, but I've been running away from for so long that..."

He was interrupted as Shimon suddenly just randomly knocked him on the head with his wooden staff, causing Atem to hold his head in pain. "OW! What the hell did you do that for?!"

The old man shrugged and laughed. "It doesn't matter anymore. It's in the past."

"Yes, but it still hurts..." The prince continued to rub his sore head.

"Oh yes, the past can hurt. But there are two options you can choose. You can either run from the past or... learn from it."

At that moment, Shimon tried to hit Atem with his staff again. However, this time, the prince saw it coming and dodge the blow from reaching his head.

"Ha! I knew it! You can learn after all! So tell me, what do you plan to do now?"

The prince gave a mischievous look for a moment. "Well, first, I'm going to take your staff." He then snatched the wooden staff out of the old man's hands and threw it across from them.

"No! Not my staff!" Shimon panicked and immediately ran after it. By the time he finally got it, he turned towards the prince, ready to scold him, when to his surprise, Atem was already riding away on Hurria.

"My prince! Where are you going?!"

"I'm going back!" Atem yelled back before departing out of the savanna.

At hearing those words, Shimon felt joy, excitement, and happiness fill him as he jumped around excitedly.

"Good! Go on boy! Get out of here!" The old man continued to celebrate as the true pharaoh began his journey on returning to Egypt.

()()()()()()

Mana was currently roaming within the jungle alongside Isis, where they were heading towards the cabin where Atem and his friends usually were. After that heated argument, Mana had managed to calm down and go back to the village to get Isis, so that they may both talk to the prince. Mana had told the priestess everything that had occurred, but of course, avoiding any warm details about what happened between her and the prince.

Despite their argument, Mana knew this would not come between them, since this had nothing to do with their relationship, but rather an outside dilemma that Atem was going through, which she was certain had something to do with his father. She only hoped that after calming down, he would give into reason once she and Isis talk to him. Mana took her to the waterfall, which the last place she saw him, hoping to find him nearby. But to their surprise, the prince was nowhere to be found. After a while of looking for him, they decided to find his friends at the cabin instead, as they might know where he was. Perhaps he decided to head back there for the night.

During their way there, Isis kept asking Mana if there was something wrong with her, which the young mage kept answering with a 'no'. While she didn't understand why the priestess kept asking her as she didn't find herself different, Isis had noticed there was definitely something different about her, since she returned from the jungle. Physically, nothing was different, but her behavior was certainly off. She seemed more calm, a little more mature, and her eyes seemed to have a certain spark added to them. It was as if the childish demeanor the magician apprentice usually had was starting to diminish.

Mana on the other hand, was getting tired of her constant questioning and hurriedly made it to the cabin to avoid further interrogation. She entered the cabin first with Isis following close behind her. She couldn't help but giggle of how the boys slept. Particularly Jo and Honda, who had their arms and legs spread out on the bed, and were both snoring loudly. Mean while Yugi was snuggled in his own bed, while Bobassa slept on a large, thick, colored blanket on the floor. She tiptoed towards Jo, and began to nudge him on the arm.

"Hey Jo. Come on wake up." The sleeping boy didn't budge and Mana decided to keep trying, pushing his shoulder even rougher. "Can you wake up already?" She even tried moving Honda too, but despite her attempts, neither boy was even close to waking up. Jo even moved positions to the other side, his back facing her now. The young mage was now frustrated and decided to take drastic measures. She walked back outside of the cabin, pulling Isis with her.

"Mana, what are you doing?"

"They left me no choice. If they don't want to wake up the easy way, then I will wake them up the hard way."

She then lifted up her wand and waved it a few times. Before anyone realized, a very strong wind seemed to appear inside the cabin, causing havoc in there.

"GAH! WHERE THE HELL DID THIS TORNADO COME FROM?!" Jo's screaming voice was heard from inside the cabin, causing Mana to smile in triumph. Soon the others screamed as well, while Bobassa was simply laughing. Before she knew it, both Jo and Honda came out running and screaming out of the cabin, with their clothes and hair all messy. They both fell to the floor in front of the two women, trying to recover from that unpleasant "alarm clock". However, as soon as they saw Mana's shadowy figure hovering over them, they screamed in horror and hugged one another, not realizing it was her.

"Hey would you two relax?! It's me, Mana!" She yelled at them, trying to get them to stop screaming. Eventually, they did and Jo squinted closer as he finally recognized her.

"Oh it's you." He said confirming in a monotone voice. She, however, was still smiling, seeing how her spell had worked just like she wanted it to.

"Well it seems my little wake-up call did work like a charm."

Both boys froze at that, looking at each other for a moment in shock, before they looked back at Mana in accusation.

"YOU DID THAT?!" They both yelled, causing her to laugh even more. Even Isis was giggling a bit and had temporarily taken back everything she had thought about Mana before as her mischievous, childish persona seemed to have returned.

"Wow Mana. That was a really cool spell. I didn't know you can do something as amazing as that." Yugi commented, who was coming out of the cabin, his hair also messy. But rather than angry and offended like his other two friends, he was actually impressed. "Can you do anything else?"

"YES!" Bobassa exclaimed early, as he ran towards Mana with excitement. "Please show us!"

"DON'T ENCOURAGE HER!" Jo and Honda screamed at both Yugi and Bobassa, to which Mana giggled some more.

"I wish I could, but we really don't have time for that. I only did it, because I needed to find a way to wake you guys up."

Jo jumped to his feet, gasping loudly. "Don't EVER do that again! One of these days you're gonna give me a heart-attack!"

Mana simply shrugged. "No promises."

Isis stepped forward. "We were just wondering if you happen to know where the prince might be."

Jo then turned to Mana. "We thought he was with you."

"Yeah, I mean weren't you two spending some quality time together or something?"

Despite that Honda was being direct and didn't mean it in a embarrassing way, Mana couldn't help but slightly blush at the mention of 'quality time' and look away with a smile, remembering the very intimate moment of passion she shared with Atem. None of them seemed to notice this, with the exception of Isis, who was secretly giving her a suspicious look, especially after seeing that same spark in her eyes from earlier return in a flash. After much thinking, she managed to put the two and two together.

"Um...yeah...well he was but now we can't find him." She claimed, her embarrassment subsiding and focusing on the main issue at hand. "I brought Isis with me because we need to talk him. But if he's not with you, then where can he be?"

"Ho, ho! I'm afraid you won't find him here children!"

They all turned to the new voice and saw an old man standing on a very high tree root ascending from the ground.

"Shimon?! What are you doing here?!" Both women questioned in surprise. They had recognized him as one of the previous pharaoh's former sacred guardians and queen Nefertiti's uncle, whom had appeared to them and introduced himself as such, after Aknadin's reign over Egypt began. He then then had been secretly supporting them for the past eight years, such as with food, water, medicine, etc, though it was barely enough to keep only a handful of them alive. Regardless, they had been eternally greatful with the old man.

"I am simply here to inform you that his royal highness is nowhere near here." He then put his arm across his chest and made a little bow. "For you see, the pharaoh has returned."

Isis and Mana gasped in surprise and happiness. "I can't believe it. Atem's really gone back..."

"Yay! Our little friend is going to be king! This is truly wonderful news!" Bobassa then began to dance bounce with excitement."

"Gone where exactly?!" Jo questioned, confused as ever, while turning to look at Shimon, However, to their surprise, the old shaman had disappeared in a flash just as how he reappeared. "Just what the hell is going on here?! Whose the old guy?!"

"Atem has gone back to challenge Aknadin!"

"Aknadin?" Yugi asked.

"Yes, Aknadin."

"What's an aknadin?" Bobassa questioned stupidly.

"No, no, no! It's his uncle!"

"The old guy's his uncle?!" Jo asked.

"No! I mean yes, him too, but THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

The boys became silent at the girl's outburst as Mana panted in frustration before taking a deep breath to calm herself, before starting over. "Look. Atem went back to Egypt to challenge his uncle Aknadin, his father's brother, who is currently ruling Egypt, so that he may take his place as king."

"Ooohhh..." The trio said in unison, understanding Mana's calm explanation, to which she let out a sigh of relief. There were a few seconds of silence as the boys let the information sink in.

"So Atem really is going to Egypt alone to be the new pharaoh? And he's never- wait a minute! Atem is going alone to fight his uncle?!" Yugi exclaimed, realizing how grave the situation really was.

Before Mana could respond, Isis did in her place. "No Yugi. Mana and I are going after him, because the great evil that has taken over our land is far too powerful for him to fight off alone. And I am not referring to only Aknadin. In this fight, not only must we recover our precious kingdom, but the fate of the world also depends on this."

"Isis, we have to hurry and catch up to him! Atem must be already traveling deep in desert already." The priestess nodded in agreement.

"Right. Let us head back and prepare for departure." However as the women started to take their leave, their path was immediately blocked by an angry Jo.

"Now wait just a second! If you girls think you're planning on leaving us out, when our pal is going into war, then you're completely out of ya minds! We're Atem's friends too and if he needs all the help he can get, then we're gonna be there, fighting with him till the end. So we're going with you and that's that!"

Both girls looked bewildered at the blonde's attitude and determination.

"Exactly!" Honda jumped in. "We've been with Atem through thick and thin. And he's never let us down, so we're not planning on letting him down. So if you ladies plan on helping him fight this war, then count us in."

Yugi also nodded with his other two friends. "I'm going too. Atem's our friend and if he needs our help, then we'll be there, fighting by his side."

"Yes!" Bobassa clapped. "We will help little Atem become king, even though to me, he will always be little Atem."

Isis and Mana looked at one another, astonished at just how loyal Atem's friends were and how much they cared for him. He was indeed blessed to have crossed paths with them.

"Thank you so much guys."

"You have no idea how greatful we are for what you are all doing for our prince." Isis bowed her head in respect.

Jo just waved his hand, brushing it off. "Ah, forget about it ma'am. Now let's get packin' and get ready to kick some ass. The longer we wait, the more danger our pal might be in. Come on!" He then ran back into the cabin, with Honda running after him

"Hey wait for me!"

Mana smiled at them before looking back Yugi and Bobassa. However, her attention was caught on Yugi, who was currently looking towards something, deep in thought. She followed his line of view and realized he was looking at the same place where Shimon had been.

"Yugi, is something wrong?"

The boy didn't turn back, but answered her. "I don't know. It's just that old man that was here a few minutes ago. He seems strangely familiar to me, but I can't put my finger on it."

"You mean Shimon?"

"Yeah. I mean I know it sounds crazy, since I know I've never met him before. But at the same time, I feel like I've either seen him from somewhere or through someone. Like if he reminded me of someone else."

The women and even Bobassa exchanged looks of confusion. But then Yugi scratched his head sheepishly. "Heh heh. Maybe I'm just being silly and over thinking things. I should probably get those ideas out of my head and start getting ready to leave. Come on Bobassa!"

"Right behind you!"

They both left to their cabin as Mana and Isis watched.

"Okay, that was weird. Don't you think so Isis?"

"Yes it was definitely strange. But as young Yugi said, it might be just a coincidence." Mana shrugged.

"Yep, it could be..." A few moments passed before a previous thought came back to Isis and a teasing smile appeared on her face.

"Ahem, so Mana, what did exactly happen between you and the prince, when you were both alone in the jungle?" Mana froze in her place. "Because that look on your face earlier says something much more than just a friendly walk in the jungle."

The young magician's face turned bright red as she started stutter nervously. "I um, d-don't know what you're talking about! Oh no, look it's getting late! We should probably head back to the village and get our things ready! Hee, hee!"

She laughed nervously, while fidgeting as she began walking ahead. Isis smiled at the embarrassed girl, feeling a tingling feeling of satisfaction, remembering all the times Mana use to tease and embarrass her and Mahad, when they were children.

I guess this is what it feels like to get payback.

But despite that, she felt happy for the girl and the prince. Now she only hoped that everything turned out their way for the greater good. Prince Atem giving into reason and returning to Egypt to reclaim his rightful place as pharaoh was the first step. Now came the hard part. The beginning of the fight between good and evil, where Egypt and the rest of humanity's fate was at stake.

Isis began to walk back to the village as well, inwardly praying.

Mahad, please hang in there.

Yes! Finally finished the chapter! I tried putting a lot of romance and a lot Vaseshipping in this and the previous chapter, because starting next chapter, there's not going to be room for anymore of these huge lovey-dovey scenes in a while, since the war against Aknadin, Bakura, & The Dark One is soon to begin. I'm going to try and fit in one more small romantic scene, however, it's going to be with a different pairing, which I'm not going to mention. You're just going to have to find out the next chapter.

Also the scene with Atem and the golden light surrounding him and then forming into Pharaoh Aknamkanon. If you saw Season 5, that actually happened. The pharaoh had sealed a piece of his soul into Atem, so that he could save him in the future from being devoured by the evil spirits of Kul Elna. Also, that is another thing Simba and Atem have in common. Their fathers, although dead, continued to live within their sons, and then one day, their spirits appear in front of them and tell them they need to save their kingdom. Coincidence? I think not! It's mind blowing I know. Well, that's that. Until the next time, everyone.