They followed Yugi off the beaten path. They remembered the layout of the city well enough to know that despite the overgrowth and the massive vines, the trees now growing through old stone which back in the day would have been someone's house or shop, that they were heading towards what would have been the Palace.
Yugi cut down vines with the machete he kept strapped to his leg for this purpose and helped them climb over large roots of ancient trees until finally, past the last root to climb he spotted it; what remained of the Palace. It still stood, buried and covered in vines, bushes, flowers, moss. All manner of flora grew in and around it. They'd have found it eventually but without Yishan's call to him it would have taken far longer.
He heard it clearer now, louder as it no longer needed to break through the forest to reach him. The others insisted they still didn't hear anything but he was certain of it. He heard it as clear as day, as clear as if Yishan had been beside him.
Climbing the steps up they took in the sight, the smell of nature and remembered just for them, just a few hours ago it was young. The stream on either side of the steps still flowed down but the stone had lost its glow, the paintings had worn off, the vines now crawled along the steps to make them dangerous and the statues grew leafy coats.
"This is nuts. We were just here." Joey said slowly.
"Yeah but now … this is what 6000 years has done?" Tristan asked.
"It's kind of sad isn't it? This city used to be bustling, we were here for like a week or so … I can't believe it's just gone now." Tea said.
"6000 years ago people lived here… but over those years they came and went. They didn't just disappear Tea, they moved on while time moved in." Yugi said fondly.
It was warming to hear Yugi say that… even Atem felt better hearing it. His thoughts had often strayed to his own people long gone but to hear those words leave Yugi's lips gave him hope that they didn't just die out, they evolved, moved on instead.
He took Yugi's hand and squeezed it, silently letting him know he appreciated that sentiment before they reached the final step.
The Palace Hall where the King would sit was bare of vines or overgrown plantlife. The tiles still held their gloss, the pillars stood tall and strong even after millennia of time. But what caught their attention most was the King sleeping in the throne. His head lolled heavily to his chest, his long braid pooling on his lap and down to his feet. His skin appeared aged but still lifelike… it was impossible. 6000 years… he should have died so long ago that nothing should be left of him but bones, especially if left in the elements for this long… there's no way he could have lived this long…
"Is that… a mummy?" Joey asked, his voice cracking in fear.
"Or a ghost?!" Tristan asked. They hugged one another but Tea just rolled her eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous guys."
Yugi approached him, tiptoeing up to him in case he woke the man but as he got closer he saw he wasn't breathing. His chest wasn't rising, his skin while tanned originally had lost its colour and the skin on his neck was thin enough that he couldn't see a pulse.
Carefully crouching before him and looked up to his face and saw it was Yishan… he had aged a lot but this was definitely Yishan.
"Yishan." Yugi whispered. He gently pressed his fingers to Yishan's wrist and then to his neck but as his fingers touched his skin he saw Yishan's eyes flutter and his chest rose sharply.
"Woah!" Joey exclaimed loudly.
"Joey!" Yugi snapped at him, annoyed he had spooked him. "Yishan." He said gently to the man before him as he slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head to see them.
Even after 6000 years he breathed. The red of his eyes were dimmed now, fading as time began to slowly take his sight but the sparkle in them, so full of life.
"How?" Yugi breathed.
"This is incredible! How is he alive after all these years?" Tea asked.
"This is crazy! Are you immortal dude?" Tristan asked.
He looked at each of them, smiling tiredly as he saw them, landing finally on Atem and Yugi and lingering upon the both of them.
"It has been long." Yishan said finally with a croaky voice. "Forgive me. Has been too long since I last spoke."
"Do you guys have any water?" Yugi asked them. "How are you still alive?"
"An granted me long life. I am reaching the end of my time though. He gave me long enough to set our father and myself free. Did you bring the dagger, like I asked you?" Yishan asked him.
"Yes… but, what do you mean?" Yugi asked as he slipped the dagger out and passed it to him gently.
"Here. Drink this." Tea said sweetly and helped him drink the water from her canister. He lapped it up gratefully and cleared his throat.
"Thank you dear." He said sweetly.
"Yishan, what did you mean by setting you two free?" Yugi asked him.
"I have written my tale down in those journals beside me. They are yours now Yugi." Yishan said, gesturing to a stack of journals placed neatly beside him. Surprisingly untouched by water or air, insects and even time. They were in perfect condition… as was he. An had protected them… for this moment.
Yishan held the dagger and as his fingers curled around the blade he and it began to glow until finally his fingers lost their strength, his head fell heavy and his chest released one last breath.
"Yishan? Yishan!?" Yugi panicked. He checked for a pulse, slapped his face slightly, tried to jolt him awake but his body was lifeless. "No… come back. There's… there's still so many questions. Yishan!"
"Yugi." Atem said, tapping his shoulder repeatedly until he looked to him. Atem and the others weren't looking at Yishan though, they were looking behind them, and as Yugi followed his gaze he saw Yishan and his father standing young and lively, tall and proud. They were spectral… definitely their spirits but they were there.
"It's okay Yugi." Yishan said happily. He was dressed as a King, appearing older but no where near as old as his body sat in the throne.
"Yugi." His father said fondly.
Yugi stood to face them and they all approached, looking upon the spirits in awe.
"By returning the dagger to me you have allowed An to set us free. Now we may move on and join the rest of our loved ones in the realm of the gods and rest in peace." Yishan said, bowing to him.
"Yugi… I have waited 6000 years to be put to rest. Thank you." His father said.
"But… I don't … Yishan your call… I followed …"
"You did. You followed your heart like I told you to, and you remembered my call like I asked of you, and your heart lead you to me. 6000 years had taken it's toll on me, so I left a memory upon the city to react when it sensed you, so that you might follow it to me." Yishan said.
"How?"
"An showed me how. It took a thousand years to implement. But it seems it worked."
Yugi laughed but it was to hide the pain and confusion.
"Yugi. I knew I wouldn't have much time to answer all your questions, so I have kept some light reading for you. Those journals are almost 6000 years worth of history. Inside them you will find what happened within this city, what happened when people moved on, what happened with my children and my childrens children and so on. Anything you might want to know is in those journals." Yishan told him before he turned to Atem.
"And you, my dear boy. I do believe there will be some interested information and answers for you inside those journals as well."
"For me?" Atem asked.
"I am proud of you Atem, and what you achieve in your time as King of Egypt and the person you have become. When we return to the realm of the gods, we will give your love to your father."
"My… father?" Atem asked again. Why was he bringing him up? For that matter why was he talking so familiar with him so specifically? What did he know?
"Yugi. Do you remember what I asked of you?" His father asked him.
"The gift? Yes but with the state of this place, it might take some time to find it." Yugi said. Yishan shook his head no though.
"I am wearing it. I found it among your things father and thought to keep it safe. It is around my neck Yugi, take it. It is yours." He said.
"In that case, we shall bid you all goodbye. Yugi… I am so proud of you. I am proud of all of you. Thank you for protecting my people, my city and for setting us free. We shall see you again, and we will welcome you with open arms. I love you Yugi… always remember that." His father said.
Tears grabbed his heart… he controlled himself immediately but still he felt them trying to break through. He couldn't cry now… not now… not while they're still here.
"Yugi. Thank you for everything, my dear brother. I love you as well and I hope my journals offer you the answers you seek." Yishan said sweetly.
"Thank you… rest well." Yugi said with a failing voice.
They smiled fondly before fading to nothing more than a whisper on the wind. After a moment of not breathing at all Atem finally pulled him into a hug where he felt comfortable enough to break down, crying quietly into his chest and gripping his shirt tightly.
"Why was Yishan so focused on you Atem. He was like that before he sent us back too. What does he know?" Tea asked carefully.
"I don't know, but he said the answers are in his journals." He said.
"Speaking of." Tristan said and went to go look at them. Carefully he lifted the first few pages of the one on top and groaned.
"They're written in their language…It's gonna take ages to translate these." He complained.
Drying his tears Yugi went to go look at them but as he looked at the words he found he was able to understand everything… very clearly too as if it was his own language.
"I … can read this no problem." He said slowly.
"What how? I thought you were still learning this language." Joey said.
"I was but I understand everything here. Maybe… Enlil taught me when he was controlling me?" He suggested.
"Yugi… is this what your father meant?" Atem asked as he held a jewelled necklace in his palm, still attached to Yishan's neck.
"I think so." Yugi said. Unclasping the necklace he took it from him gently and held it up. "Before the fight he told me that in his room was a gift for my mother… he made it in the hopes of giving it to her when he returned but that never happened. So he asked me to give it to her. Yishan's been keeping it safe all this time."
"That is so sweet." Tea cried.
"So… what do we do now?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah… we've saved the city -"
"We?" Tea questioned Joey.
"Alright… Yug saved the city. We returned the dagger, we got the necklace and Yishan's journals, set them free. Am I forgetting anything?"
"I think thats it. I think the dagger should come with us… Yishan and my father have been set free like you said, it's like all the other items now… but in the wrong hands it could be dangerous." Yugi said. "Besides there's a lot about its power I don't know and as the local Millenium Expert, I should probably learn all I can about it just in case." Yugi said as he gently took the dagger from Yishan's lap.
"We'll carry these back." Joey said as he took a stack of the journals.
"I know they've been kept in good condition but they're still thousands of years old guys. Please be careful with them. We still need to climb back over those vines and stuff." Tea said.
"Yug why don't you bring out the Silent Magician, he can probably levitate them right?" Joey joked.
"I really don't think he'll appreciate being pulled out for that." Atem laughed.
And so they waited back at the temple but thankfully not for too long. Transporting the journals safely took some time until they were finally free of climbing trees and vines. Yugi took to perusing them carefully, sat beside Atem as he flipped through the pages too.. Though he couldn't understand a single symbol.
Tea enjoyed the journal with the pictures Yishan had sketched of his city changing throughout the ages. Some of them were of familiar places, others were completely knew, even to the point of drawing the pyramids in Egypt. According to the entry he had visited Egypt alone, to see his family who had moved here. They did not know him by this age but he watched for a while before returning home.
"So his family moved to Egypt huh. When was this?" Atem asked.
"It's dated approximately a thousand years before your time. So they must have left for Egypt and carried his line there. I wonder if they went anywhere else." Yugi said.
"Oh look! Yugi!" Atem said quickly, placing his journal into his lap and tapping on his name, written in Egyptian Heiroglyphs. "It's my name!"
"It is. Hang on." Yugi said. He looked at the page before and after.
"I heard rumours the Queen of Egypt was pregnant. I was happy to hear this as I knew my family line would continue strongly for more years to come. But when I heard his name travel the seas, to reach my soul I knew I had to leave my home again. I needed to see for my own eyes, the boy from so long ago.
I was not permitted to see him, of course. The City guard knew nothing of me, I am long forgotten, a living relic… but a living relic with the powers of An in my veins. I waited until nightfall, when I called upon An to grant me vision. Inside his lavishly gold room I saw him sleeping in his cot, toys of the Egyptian gods dangling above his head: a golden bird the Egyptians called Ra, a red dragon named Slifer and cuddled in his arms as he sucked on his head, a blue doll fondly named Obelisk. Even a baby, his wild hair resembled mine once upon a time, a spitting image of the boy I knew he would grow to be.
This was remarkable to say the least. An was telling it true, he was my descendant and in another 3000 years I would see him grown; once while I am young, and once more when I am done. Atem. An told me of the journey he would undertake, of the travesty that would befall him but of the fortune he would find in 3000 years when he finally meets my dear brother. This young, beautiful child, has such a strong destiny. I only hope that he can feel my prayers for him while I am home, waiting." Yugi said.
"I … can't believe this." Tea said behind her hand. "You're… you're Yishan's descendant!" She exclaimed.
"He was… my great, great great… however many great grandfather." Atem said quietly.
"But.. Yug's his brother so… what does that make him to you?" Joey asked.
"Technically Yishan is my half brother, so Atem and I are related but in a very very very distant way. Our blood's been diluted for 6000 years." Yugi said.
"You know that kind of explains why you two look alike though." Tea giggled.
"Yeah but… Yug are you like his uncle then?" Joey laughed.
"No Joey I'm not. But if you want to be picky then technically at one point or another we're all related. Think about that." Yugi laughed.
"I can't believe he came to see me." Atem said quietly.
"I can't believe you had toys of the Egyptian Gods!" Tea squeed in excitement.
"I kept those toys throughout my childhood too. Obelisk had seen better days but my mother made sure he was always repaired if he began to fall apart." Atem said fondly.
"Actually those toys were found in your tomb. They're in the museum and part of your display." Yugi said matter of factly.
"Really?" Yugi nodded. "You have to take me to see it when we get back."
"Sure." Yugi smiled.
"Does it say anything else about Atem?" Tristan asked.
"No. He says he returned to his home then and continued to wait. There might be something later…" He said and flicked forward until he found another mention of Atem.
"Here. An is stirring. The creation of the other Items in Egypt has him on edge. The dagger can feel it. It remains in position still, firmly stuck in Hero'd's old house, but it grows in energy. It's uncomfortable. The Items the Egyptians created are tainted with the blood of the unwilling. A darkness is born, drawn to it… darker than the great dragon all those years ago. This was born from pure vengeance, of injustice and inequality. The dragon was born from naivety and envy and but this darkness is born from the despair, the fear and betrayal of those used and discarded to create those items. They are evil, dirty and tarnished… but An assures me it was not the King's doing or that of Atem… but rather Aknadin. My other grandson… he had learned how to create the items but it was not as how An had taught my father. This knowledge came from elsewhere, whispered across time. If my father hadn't created the dagger perhaps Aknadin would not have known how to create these items...but if he did not then my people would be dead, not moved on. Atem, his father, Aknadin and all those before him would not have been born… it does not matter. What matters though is that soon Atem would need my strength and my faith more than ever. I cannot interfere… what is to come will always be… he must sacrifice himself to time, so that he and Yugi may defeat the darkness together and in the end, they may set my father and myself free. I cannot interfere… even if I want to. It is selfish of me to remain here as my family dies and sacrifices but I know that it will work out in the end. Please stay strong my boy. I believe in you and in your heart."
"Wow… so he knew about that too." Tea said.
"He didn't say anything." Joey said.
"Of course not Joey, he didn't know. When An spoke to him after he handled the dagger he must have been shown glimpses of the future, enough to know what would happen… thats why he looked at you with such love and awe… he knew you so well even before you were born." Yugi said to Atem.
"I had no idea that not even that far from us, was my distant ancestor watching over me…" Atem said quietly.
"This is incredible." Tea breathed.
"Tell me about it. I knew my family was strong; our line had been royalty for hundreds of years… but I never thought it would date this far back… and I never would have guessed that it all would have started with your father coming here."
"It's a self fulfilling paradox. If my father hadn't been trapped in time, none of this would have happened. We would never have met."
"So… do you think his journals date to your father's birth too? Do you think that even further down the line that your father is a descendant as well?" Tea asked.
"Okay thats too many descendants. This is getting confusing and weird." Joey said.
"I can't be sure of anything anymore. But if there's anyone who knows it'll be in Yishan's journals." Yugi said.
"Yugi!"
They heard from the stairs and saw to their happiness Leon and his scouts panting and smiling upon seeing them.
"Leon!" Yugi exclaimed happily. He was so relieved to see he was here, and unharmed.
"The hell happened to you guys!? Where did you go? What happened?" Leon asked as he approached them.
"It's a…. Really … really long story." Yugi smiled as he closed the journal.