AN: Hello, back again! Got a new chappie, too! Sorry it's late! It's also just a bit of a clean up chapter to try and explain a few things, so it might be slightly... crap. Anyway, on with the fic!

IMPORTANT! There is an important message at the end of this chapter - Please read the Author's Note!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, Spiderman or anything else of any real interest, yada yada...

Chapter 12: Day Dreams?

"I hate Mondays…." Yugi grumbled as he, Atem and Téa arrived at the college via the twins' car.

Atem couldn't help but chuckle. "You sound like Garfield the cat." He understood better, though: They had returned to the mansion rather late, and they had received some rather unsettling information from the Ancient One of the Deep Forest – which Atem had later found out that Yugi had seen just before they entered the basement that night.

'Three powerful creatures hold the three pieces of the Millennium Book…' He mused. 'But where are they? What do they look like?'

Téa leaned forward from her place in the backseat. "Atem, are you alright? Are you sure you're okay to do this?"

Atem looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I'm fine. I can't put off classes forever, anyway."

"Well… I know it's hard, but try not to think about yesterday." Téa said. 'I hope he's okay. He's been rather quiet since he got back last night.'

"I will, and don't you forget to keep our little secret." Atem said with a wink.

Téa nodded. "My lips are sealed."

"Well, let's get this over with," Yugi groaned. "Did I mention how much I hate Mondays?"

((Class is SO boring.))

(I know, but it's one of life's tortures that we all must bear.)

((Maybe they should put all this on a giant TV screen instead of have some poor teacher drone on.))

Atem sighed. He and Yugi had been passing messages through their link since class began. It was easier than passing pieces of paper, plus the teacher couldn't catch them at it.

'Why do I feel so lethargic?' He mused, laying his head on one folded arm while jotting notes with the other.

Neither he nor anyone else noticed when he fell asleep moments later, dropping his pencil silently onto the desk.

Atem walked calmly down a long corridor decorated with golden pillars and burnings torches, the smell of incense filling his senses. He himself was dressed in a cream-coloured tunic that went down to his knees with gold adorning several places of his body, including the Millennium Puzzle resting around his neck. A long, dark blue cape flitted gently behind him as his golden sandals clicked lightly against the stone floor beneath him. He seemed to be walking with a purpose, a destination already in mind, and it wasn't long before he drew back a silk curtain to enter what seemed to be a shrine. With a sigh he approached a small set of stairs but didn't ascend them, instead kneeling on one knee and crossing his arms over his torso. At the top of the stairs were three large shrines that resembled windowsills, and each one had a small flame burning before them to light up a stone carving within each shrine. Just before the shrines was a pedestal, on which there was what seemed to be a book made of solid gold with the Millennium Symbol in the centre.

Atem bowed his head and closed his eyes before speaking out in a calm but clear voice, the words leaving his mouth before he had even though of them. "Ancient guardians of Egypt…. Protectors of worlds bound by laws…. Hear me in this sacred place of prayer. I fear that the ultimate price must be paid in exchange for the safety of my people. If it must be done, I will offer my own soul and it's power to keep the shadows from consuming this world, but I sense that it may not be enough…. I ask that if more is needed, you will assist me?"

The fires roared slightly… or so he thought, but when the sound returned he realised that it was a growl. He glanced up and was transfixed by what he saw. Between the shrines and the book were three creatures hidden by darkness. The one on the left was long and snake-like; the one on the right had its wings extended slightly, and the one in the middle stood on large feet. The colours of the three creatures were – from left to right – red, blue and yellow.

"Rise, Pharaoh of Egypt." A dark, inhuman voice boomed. "As Our master, We are the ones who should bow." As though on command, the heads of the three creatures lowered in respect.

Atem rose to his feet and bowed his head in return. "Then let us stand as equals."

"Agreed." A second voice replied, also unlike a human. "Pharaoh…. We hear your plea and acknowledge your request…. You are correct in your assumptions."

A third voice, slightly louder than the other two, joined in. "Though your power will keep the shadows back, it would be unwise to attempt a full sealing at this time…."

"With this in mind, We trust the powers of the Millennium Book to you…." The first voice concluded. "When your task is done, We will take the book and separate it. We will then go into dormancy and await your return…."

Atem tilted his head to the side in puzzlement. "Await my return… from where?"

A chuckle was heard before the second voice spoke. "As We said, it is unwise to seal the shadows completely…. Your soul at this time will not be able to withstand the strain of such a spell. If you were to attempt a full sealing, your soul would be shredded beyond survival…."

"If that is what it takes, I am willing to make that sacrifice." Atem said defiantly.

"We understand your enthusiasm," The third voice mused. "However, your soul is unique… one of a kind, and is of more value than several hundreds…. With this in mind, as well as your determination to assist your people, We propose a temporary sealing…."

"With this, you will protect your world, without the cost of your soul's destruction…. Your soul will need time to rest afterwards, but then We believe a second attempt will allow you to seal the shadows completely…."

"How will my soul rest?" Atem asked.

The first voice hummed softly. "Your body will die, but your soul will rest with Us… until your body is reincarnated on the future. You will be reborn into this world when your soul is strong enough."

"Your Puzzle will shatter at your body's death," The second voice said. "Your soul and powers will replenish the strength you will lose in the sealing…. Then you will return to finish the sealing…."

Atem bowed his head. "I understand."

The book on the pedestal was taken into claws of gleaming white and carried to the Pharaoh, who took it in both hands. The book was rather heavy in his hands, but he was used to it from carrying the Millennium Puzzle.

"We are by your side always, Pharaoh…." The first voice said. "As your servants, We will fight until the end…."

Yugi had almost dropped off to sleep, but he still noticed when the teacher suddenly stopped talking and was looking in Atem's direction. The younger Motou blinked and followed her gaze, and saw that Atem had fallen asleep on his desk. What surprised Yugi was that his brother had the Millennium Symbol on his forehead. Luckily, the symbol disappeared before anyone else noticed it.

The teacher sighed and walked over to Atem's desk, a heavy book in her hand. Yugi knew exactly what would happen next, so he tried to rouse his brother.

((Bro, you better wake up or you'll be in for a shock.)) He warned, but got no response.

The teacher did, by dropping the book on Atem's desk with a loud slap. Atem jolted awake from the sound, nearly falling out of his seat in shock, gaining a few sniggers.

"Is my class that boring, Atem?" The teacher asked.

Atem looked up at her. "S-sorry, miss. I was asleep before I even knew it."

"And he's still a little drowsy from being ill," Yugi added quickly. "Our grandpa nearly kept him home again this morning."

The teacher seemed sympathetic after that. "Are you alright? If you want you can go to the nurse's office."

"N-no, that's alright." Atem said, pointing at the book still on his desk. "That wake-up call was all I needed."

The teacher nodded and returned to her class. Yugi looked over at his brother and sent a frown through their link. ((What happened? And don't say that it was nothing – I saw the Millennium Symbol. You had another vision, didn't you?))

(I'll tell you about it later,) Atem replied.

The classes ended without further disruption, and Téa ran from her own class to her locker where Atem and Yugi were waiting. As soon as she reached them she wrapped her arms around Atem's neck and hugged him tight. "I heard you fell asleep in class. Are you alright?"

Atem nodded. "I'm fine, really. I just didn't sleep last night, that's all. And that teacher nearly put the whole class to sleep, not just me."

"Even so," Yugi said. "Atem had another vision. It might be a clue."

"Yes," Atem agreed. "I was praying, and three creatures appeared to give me the Millennium Book. I think they were the creatures that the Ancient One of the Deep Forest told us about."

Yugi gave a nod. "The dormant ones that hold the three pieces of the Millennium Book. But where are they?"

"I don't know…. I could barely see what colour they were, never mind what they looked like." Atem replied. "I'll need to talk to Simon about this."

"Simon?" Atem called as he entered the library in the Motou mansion.

"Simon, you here?" Yugi called long and loud.

Téa looked in awe at the amount of books in the room – it was enough to put the public library to shame! There wasn't an inch of wall that didn't have a shelf lined with books, and there was also a glass cabinet that held what looked like scrolls. "Wow…."

"There you are!" The sound of moving wheels caught their attention before Amy appeared on a tall ladder with wheels on the bottom. "Simon and I have been waiting. We found something."

The trio followed the girl as she wheeled the ladder back and led them to where Simon was reading a scroll at a desk. He glanced up over the rim of his glasses as they approached.

"What did you find, Simon?" Yugi asked.

Simon smiled. "Well, I've been looking through some of the older scrolls, and I've found something of interest."

Yugi was nearly hopping in excitement. "Well, spill it already! Stop keeping us in suspense!"

"Alright, alright." Simon chuckled. "Now, this one dates back to the time of Atem's reign as Pharaoh. Though there were sorcerers who could wield Shadow Magic and summon monsters, there were three powerful creatures that could only be commanded by those of royal blood. In short, only the Pharaoh could control them. Then, when the Pharaoh sealed the shadows away, these three creatures simply disappeared, not seen ever since."

"They went dormant." Atem said softly. "They protected the Pharaoh's soul while it was drained of life…."

Simon looked puzzled. "That's… right. This scroll was written by the Pharaoh's brother shortly after the king's death. It says that the Pharaoh's prophecy was to return to complete what he couldn't do then. His soul slept, gathering strength, and would return to reclaim control of these creatures and wield the Millennium Book."

"But where are these creatures?!" Yugi asked, frustrated. "Where did they go?"

Simon paused to glance over the scroll in front of him. "Well, according to these records, all the Shadow Creatures that were controlled by humans would rest within 'beds of stone and magic.'"

"Stone slabs…." Everyone looked at Atem as he mumbled the words, and just caught the brief flash of the Millennium Symbol on his forehead. "They were kept in stone slabs, inside some kind of… temple…. The three creatures that guarded the Millennium Book rested in my temple…. I prayed to them for help, and they gave me the book…."

"That's what this scroll says." Simon confirmed. "But how did you know that already, Atem?"

"He had another vision in class today." Téa said before Atem could even open his mouth.

Simon smiled. "Well then, here is a little surprise for you. I was reading the paper this morning, and there was an article about a new discovery from Egypt that's going to be on show at Domino Museum in two days."

"And what is it that they'll be showing?" Yugi asked suspiciously.

"A few old pots, some Egyptian treasures-" Simon's smile grew even more. "-and an odd stone carving."

Atem blinked, startled. "Could it be…?"

Simon nodded. "I believe it just might be one of the creatures that have the pieces of the Millennium Book."

Cobrakhan growled as the fire before him roared. "I failed, master…. Those pesky Shadows found the Ancient One before I did, and now they have the information we need."

"No, we no longer need the information…." The voice within the fire mused. "I know now what the creature was there to speak of…."

"You… do?" Cobrakhan asked.

The fire looked almost like it was laughing silently. "Yes…. I sense them, even though they are dormant…. Listen well, my servant…. Keep an eye on the Yin Yang Shadows…. They will lead you to the location of the book, but be wary…. They are about to come into contact with a power like none they have encountered before, and may enlist it to their cause…. But keep an eye on Shadow especially… He may have something we need…."

"But what could he possibly…" Cobrakhan started, but trailed off as the fire started to dim. Instead he bowed his head. "As you wish, master…."

"He is close… It is the Pharaoh, for sure…."

"Does he remember? Is he aware of Us…?"

"It matters not…. We are close…. We will arrive soon…."

AN: Chapter over... phew! I know, there is little detail about the three creatures eveyone's going on about... it's because I don't know! I'm stuck between using the Three Egyptian Gods from Yu-Gi-Oh or the three Sacred Beasts from Yu-Gi-Oh GX! So what should I do...? Ask my readers, of course! So, here's the vote:

Obelisk, Slifer and Ra

or

Raviel, Uria and Hammon

Please let me know in your review! The winner(s) will be announced in the next chapter! Thank you!