Chapter 21

May 1, 3000BC

I opened my eyes and found that I was no longer in the tablet sanctuary. I was in a much decorated room with paintings of images and people on the walls. I looked around and saw a bed, a dresser, and two doors. One I assumed was an exit. I looked back to the bed and noticed garments laying on it. Then I noticed that I was bear naked. That' strange…

I walked over to the bed and looked at the clothes. I guess who ever these belong to won't mind making a donation.

I picked up a dark blue skirt and froze at the sight of my hand. My hand, which had always been pale, was now tanned. I turned to run to the mirror and almost screamed at the reflection but stopped myself. There, staring back at me, was not myself. Or so I thought. The reflection had tan skin. And although my hair was still brunette, the style was completely different. It was longer, almost to my lower back, and the bangs were cut across my whole forehead instead of just on the side. There was one piece that hung in my face. That would get annoying. There was a part that was tied at the end that lay in front of my shoulder. Some of the pieces of my hair looked un-even, also, it was stylish, but not the clean cut hair style that I was used to. And then I noticed my eyes. They were no longer the murky green I had known all my life. But now a bright, blue with the slightest hint of green around the iris. They immediately reminded me of the ocean. Another look showed me that I still had my mother's necklace on. How it made it here, where ever I am, was a mystery.

I turned back to the garments that laid on the bed and put the skirt on. I found that it stopped just before my knee. It had a dark red stripe in the middle of it. There was a light blue shirt that reached just above my mid-section, with a belt to match. The shirt was sleeveless and had a gold neckline. There was gold jewelry lying on the bed as well; a gold armband, gold bracelet, gold anklet, and gold earrings. That's a lot of gold, but no shoes? That's weird. I put the jewelry on, seeing as though it matched the outfit. I looked back at myself in the mirror and couldn't help but see the familiarity in the face that was staring back at me. Is this me, from the past? I couldn't be too sure, but my instinct told me yes. And if this was the past me, then I must be in ancient Egypt. Is Yami here, too?

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Do I answer? Should I hide? Before I could answer, the door opened. "My Avatar, I know you want to rest from your long journey, but your presence is requested in the throne room for the festivities." A man stood in the door frame, he was tall and had dark skin like own and ice blue eyes. He looked an awfully like that Seto Kaiba fellow, I saw briefly at the Halloween party a couple weeks ago. "Avatar?"

"Um, yes?" I asked, confused.

He sighed, "I can see your travels haven't changed you a bit. Pity, but I'm sure your skills have improved greatly." He smirked, "Now come with me, the new pharaoh is very excited to see his old friend again."

The pharaoh? So he is here! But where did I come from?

He led me down the corridors of what I presumed were the pharaoh's palace. The walls were beautifully decorated, much like the room I came out of.

"So… Mr. Umm…" I could tell by his wardrobe that he was some kind of nobility but I didn't know his name. Were we friends? Maybe family, even? "Seto?" Let's hope that's right.

"Yes, my Avatar?" He asked.

"Where did I come from again, exactly?" I asked, not sure how to ask the question without sound like a complete crazy person.

But sure enough, he looked at me as though I was one. "You don't remember?"

"Um, I-I, was just making sure YOU remembered." Smooth, Anna, very smooth.

He gave me an even weirder look, "Well, you were traveling around the world, visiting many other nations to master the elements. You were gone for 8 years! And today is the day that you take on the role of the Avatar, and as the pharaoh's new guardian. Today is also the celebration of the pharaoh's, where His Majesty has just been crowned." He explained, swiftly.

Hmmm… I guess that explains a little bit…

We came to two giant doors, which I guessed led to the throne room. Bet that's where Yami is.

The doors opened to the throne room, and Seto escorted me into the massive room. My eyes immediately fell onto a pair of violet eyes that could have belonged to none other than Yami. I noticed that, like my skin, his was now tanned too and was dressed in royal garments. Royalty suits him. He truly did look powerful, sitting on his throne. I could feel my face heat up as we walked down the aisle; all eyes on Seto and I. Including Yami's and the people standing around him, they seemed to be each holding a Millennium Item. Who were these people?

Once we were standing in front of the throne, Seto announced me. "May I present, Avatar Anoet. (An-Oh-Et)" He said with a booming voice. "As most of everyone knows, she has just returned from a great journey, mastering the elements and is now more than ready to take on her role as the Pharaoh's guardian." He turned to me. "Do you, Avatar Anoet, vow to keep the pharaoh safe and protected, and always look after his wellbeing, for however long he is in power?"

His request took me by surprise. He continued to stare at me; I guess he's waiting for an answer. "Um, I do?"

He turned back towards Yami, "With the oath set into place, may we precede to the ceremony, my lord?" I could tell by Yami's expression that he didn't have the slightest clue as to what was going on. Neither did I, for that matter.

"Y-yes," he stammered "You may."

Seto nodded and motioned to the right, almost immediately, four people walked into the throne room. Two men and two women. One man was tall and lean. He was bald and wore strange, orange clothing. He also had a blue arrow tattooed to his head. The other man was tall also and had his black hair pulled back into a pony tail. He was very stern looking, but he had kind eyes. He was dressed in red.

The two women were both kind looking, and looked to be about a few years older than me. One had long dark brown hair and light blues eye. Her skin was also tanned like mine. She wore blue. The other had black hair and fair skin. Her eyes had no color to them, she must have been blind. She was wearing green.

"These are the great masters of the elements," Seto announced. He then turned toward me, "If you can defeat them, then you will be sworn in as the Guardian Avatar."

I was caught off guard, "Y-you want me, to fight them?" I didn't know how to fight! Much less use my powers!

"You must. If you don't then you will be turning your back on your kingdom, and your pharaoh." An elderly man spoke up that stood with the group of people that were standing around Yami.

I could see the pleading in Yami's eyes to not take on the challenge, but I didn't see any other option. I nodded to Seto and stepped to the masters of the elements. How tough can this be? I mean, I am the Avatar, after all.

The battle started almost immediately. The first to strike was the man dressed in red who was a firebender. I quickly ducked to avoid his blow and started to run away. The next was the blind one, who was an earthbender. Even though she was blind, she knew exactly where I was going. I quickly dodged her blows as well. But I knew if I wanted at least some chance of winning, I would have to go on the offensive. I stopped running and stood still for a second, waiting for the next attack, which was from the girl with the light blue eyes. She was a waterbender. She controlled the water from the fountains in the throne room and launched it at me. I held my hands up and focused all my energy on the water, just like I did before with the glass of water. The water quickly froze at my command and I sent it straight back to the waterbender, she fell from the impact and hit her head, knocking her out. I looked down at my hands in wonder. Did I really do that? I was quickly pulled from my thoughts to the airbender making his way towards me. He blew a gust of wind in my direction, but I quickly redirected it towards him and knocked him out, as well. I did the same with the last two benders, each one fell at my attacks. Once the battle was finally over, I turned towards Yami and his (who I presumed were his priests). They all looked at me with wonder and started to applaud.

Seto came down to where I stood to congratulate me. "Well done, Anoet. You are now ready to become the pharaoh's guardian. He motioned for me to walk up to the throne, which I did. I bowed down to him and tried to play it off as well as I could "I'm very lucky to serve you, my pharaoh." I looked up into his eye and I thought I saw a flash of recognition in them.

After the ceremony, it was now night time and I was taken to my bedchambers. It was the same room I was in before Seto took me to the throne room. I was told that Yami's room was right across the hall from my own, to make protecting him easier. I walked over to his room so I could talk to him while we were alone.

I knocked on the door.

"Come in," I heard Yami's strong voice echo through the room. I opened the door to find him standing on a balcony, overlooking the city. I quickly made my way to him and tapped his shoulder. He turned to face me.

I didn't know what to say to him and I could tell he didn't know what to say either. I guess we didn't want to think the other was crazy, in case neither one of us remember each other. I decided to start first.

"Yami… Do you… Know who I am?" I asked with the slightest bit of hesitation in my voice. I could see his face relax a bit at the question.

"Of course!" He said, happily and relieved.

My excitement grew, as well. "You do?"

He nodded and pulled me into a hug and I rapped my arms around his neck, happily. "How could I ever forget you, Abbey?"

I quickly dropped my hands from his neck and stepped back, angry. "Did you just call me Abbey?" I hissed. I couldn't believe this. After all this, and he STILL believes that Abbey is the Avatar!

"Would you rather I call you, Anoet?" He asked, confused.

"No!" I screamed. "I'm not Abbey, you idiot!"

He was taken aback from my outbreak. He raised an eyebrow, "Well then, who are you?"

"I can't tell you!" I screamed again. I was angrier at myself than I was at him.

Yami grew frustrated, too. "Look, I don't know who you are, but you can't—"

"Just look at me!" I yelled.

He was caught off guard, "Excuse me?"

I walked up to him and looked right into his eyes and held his arms, "Look at me, Yami. Just, really look at me."

And he did, for a moment and then his eyes fell to my neck. The slightest bit of recognition flashed in his eyes again. "That…Necklace…"

"What about it?" I asked, hopeful.

"I've seen it… Before." He stayed silent, trying to remember. And then he did. "Anna?"