Author's Note: So if you've been following me for the past decade, you'd know I'm a huge Atem x Mana supporter. You'd also know that I did a Teana vs Mana story years ago as well. Consider this to be a revamp of that story. There will be certain aspects from the past story into this story, but consider it new. Hope you guys enjoy! And leave a review!

The sun beams down on an open courtyard where two children play without a care in the world. They were enclosed by tall palace walls and statues of the gods they worshipped. Despite the burning hot weather of Cairo, Egypt, it didn't slow them down from their game of tag.

"You can't catch me!" a small girl with brown spiky hair yells back to the kid running behind her. Although small, she was very quick on her feet. Her white dress whooshes in the wind as she picks up the speed and her aquamarine eyes looked focused as she was determined to not be caught by her friend. She squeaks when she looks behind her to see the boy with spiky tri-colored hair not trailing too far behind her.

"I'm on your tail, Mana!" the boy yells. Unlike his friend, he was adorned with a lot more jewelry and a gold crown, symbolizing his royalty. He was the prince of Egypt and the next heir to the throne. His father, Aknamkanon is the ruler of Egypt, beloved by all, even his servants because he was a loyal, kind, yet serious ruler.

Mana comes across a tree in which their other friend is sitting down peacefully, reading a spell book. She reaches the tree and hops up a few times, trying to reach a branch for her to climb. "Mahad, help!" she whines to the older teen. Without hesitation and not removing his eyes from the book he is studying, he uses one hand to give her a boost so that she can climb the tree. She looks down as the prince looks up at her in defeat and she sticks her tongue out at him.

"No fair! You had help!" he yells before sending over a glare at Mahad. "Mahad, that's cheating!"

"I'm sorry my prince. It won't happen again," Mahad apologizes, still keeping his eyes on the book.

Mana maneuvers herself so that she is hanging upside down on the tree branch. "Why don't you come play with us, Mahad?"

"Yeah, you're always skipping out on us."

"My apologies. But my duty is to protect you my prince. I cannot do that if I don't brush up on my studies," Mahad explains.

The three of them were all very close friends. At one point, they would all play together. But with Mahad being a little bit older than then, he had to take on certain responsibilities, the main one being to protect the prince. He stands up, closing his book and turning to leave. "I really must go now. Please play nicely and don't get into any trouble."

The prince and Mana watches as their older friend leaves and Mana sighs heavily. "He never has time for us anymore. If that's what growing up is all about, then I don't wanna."

"Aw come on Mana. I'm sure it'll get better. He's got exams and training to see if he'll be qualified toto be a top magician. Maybe when that's over, we'll be back to playing again."

"Yeah, sure," she says with a pout and folding her arms. "But you'll never abandon me, right?"

"Of course not! You're my best friend!" he assures her, putting an arm around her shoulder. "And when I'm pharaoh, I'll make sure I dedicate time with you and Mahad."

Mana breaks away from his grasp, not looking really convinced. "I don't know, prince. Being pharaoh seems like a big deal. You promise you'll still have time for me?"

"I promise."

Mana suddenly whips out her pinky, looking at him intensely and he blinks a few times. "Uh…what are you doing?" he asks with a puzzled look.

"It's a pinky promise! A promise isn't sealed without the pinky!" she explains, still holding out her pinky. He slowly follows her lead as they lock pinkies and he looks into her eyes as she looks satisfied. "Now it's official."

YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGO

A large crowd gathers outside the palace, chanting and cheering in anticipation of the new crowned pharaoh. Standing at the two large double doors stands a more mature prince. He wore a skirt and tunic along with a long navy blue cape. His multi colored spiky hair was dressed with a golden crown and he wore rings on his fingers that belonged to his late father. The Millennium Puzzle hung around his neck on a brown rope. He had grown over the years, although shorter compared to his high priests, and his chest, abs and arms were more chiseled and toned.

He closes his naturally narrowed eyes and takes a deep breath. Years of training and teachings by his father had prepared him for this moment. As the large doors open, making way for the sound of the loud cheers of his people, he opens his eyes and steps out until he reaches the balcony, standing alongside his advisor, Shimon who wore a tall purple hat.

Men, women and children changed 'pharaoh' repeatedly. He decided to keep it short by raising his right hand to wave and they all respond with a bow.

'I'm going to have to get used that,' he thought to himself before Shimon leads him inside.

"We have prepared a feast in your honor," the short old advisor tells him as the walk into the throne room. He walked in the center as he is surrounded by servants who bow with their face to the ground in respect. A servant in particular with blue hair and pale skin manages to steal a peek, watching as the new pharaoh walks to his throne and walks up the few stairs to the alter, surrounded by his high priests who also bowed with their right hand over their hearts. There were two in particular that he was most familiar with. His childhood friend Mahad, who had moved up and became not only the strongest magician in the palace, but one of the six priests who held the Millennium Ring. And then there was his older cousin Seto who was the holder of the Millennium Rod.

As he sat down on the throne, Priest Seto steps up and outstretches his hands. "The time has come. Let us all welcome his excellence to the throne of Egypt with the ceremonial festival of the pharaohs!" he announces. Atem couldn't help but smile inwardly. His cousin is typically sarcastic and less than enthused to do things for him. But now that he is pharaoh, all of that is about to change.

Women dressed in long, sheer dresses and revealing tops, dancing for their entertainment. The servants begin to prepare and set food at a long table for them to feast and the priests begin to converse with each other. A woman with long blue hair and wearing a long sleeve shirt and skirt that reached her knees heads back to the kitchen to retrieve more food for the table. Turning the corner, she bumps into another woman with brown spiky hair. Her sleeveless top revealed her brown shoulders and her ruffled straps covered only part of her arms. She also wore a beige pleated mini skirt with charmed bracelets around her wrists and ankles, a matching necklace and a headpiece. She blinks as she held on to an apple using her teeth.

"What are you doing back here Mana?" the slender blue haired woman asks. "Shouldn't you be out there enjoying the festivities?"

Mana takes the apple out of her mouth. "I got hungry. My stomach was growling so bad and I couldn't take it anymore," she whines. She stands by as her friend retrieves more food and she walks back to the throne room with her, leaning up against the wall as the slender servant finishes up with setting the table. She then joins Mana off in a secluded corner of the throne room as they observe the festivities.

"Can you believe the day has finally come?" she asks as Mana munches down on her apple. "Everyone seems so excited."

"Mmm, I don't know, Kisara. Your boyfriend doesn't look too thrilled," Mana jokes, noticing the stoic look on Seto's face who sat with his arms crossed at the table.

Kisara turns a bright red. "We're just friends, Mana. Besides, what would people think if someone of his stature got with an outsider like me?" Kisara, unlike Mana, did not grow up in the palace. She had met Seto when he saved her from slave traders when they were kids. After being caught trying to set her free, they retaliated on Seto, but not before she returned the favor by saving his life. Since then, she has stayed at the palace as a servant, becoming close friends with Mana.

"Besides, he always looks like that," Kisara giggles. "And what about you? You don't seem to 'thrilled' either."

Mana eyes scroll over until they land on Atem. So much had changed between them. Over the years, they began to see less and less of each other. His training to become the next pharaoh and other things had caused them to grow apart. Kisara follows her gaze and smiles in realization.

"You miss him, don't you?"

"Of course I do, Kisara. But things happened and I've moved on. We'll always be the best of friends!"

Atem starts to walk to the table, joining the rest of the priests. As he made his way over, he couldn't help but notice that he was getting stares from some of the women in there. One in particular with long black hair looks at him with her seductive blue eyes and he smirks. The attention from women was something he had grown used to and he knew with his position as pharaoh, that it would continue. As he continued to scan the room, his eyes land on his childhood friend who stood along the wall with Kisara. Her beauty was undeniable. From her perfect curves, her beautiful skin and those eyes of hers.

Mana slowly turns her head, feeling his eyes on her. He gives her a slight wave and she chuckles before waving back with a shake of her head and a smile. It was weird seeing her friend in this position of power. All she saw was the boy that she played tag with in the courtyard. Time sure does fly.

"As much as you two flirt, you'd think you were still together," Kisara chuckles and Mana rolls her eyes.

"I guess I should go join them," Mana says and she quickly walks over to take her seat at the table next to her friend and master, Mahad. She was training under him as his apprentice to become an elite spell caster just like him.

"I propose a toast," announces another priest by the name of Aknadin. He was an older man who happened to be Atem's uncle, father to Seto and the holder of the Millennium eye. He raises up his glass and everyone else does the same. "A toast to the pharaoh"

"To the pharaoh!"

Atem takes a sip of his wine and sets it down on the table. To think all of these people worked for him. He knew he had really big shoes to fill. His father was very well loved by the people of Egypt and he ruled well. He only hoped that he could be as good as his father.

After the festivities were over, heads across the courtyard to turn in for the night in his room. It had been a long day and his first full day of ruling would be tomorrow. He smiles when he sees two familiar people standing off in a distance, engaging in conversation with each other.

"And you need to be up at the break of dawn for our trainings tomorrow," Mahad tells Mana who groans loudly.

"Do I really have to be up so early?" she complains. "There's so much time within a day! Why does it always have to be at the crack of dawn?"

"Not another word. That is final. "

"Mahad…Mana," Atem greets, pausing at the second name and they both turn to him.

"Your highness," Mahad greets back, bowing down. Mana tilts her head to the side before she feels her own head being tilted down by Mahad's large hand.

"There's really no need for that," Atem assures them and they both stand up straight.

Mahad smiles, proud of how far his friend has come. He couldn't be happier to stand by his side. "I hope the festivities were to your liking."

"Yes, thank you."

"So how does it feel being a great and powerful pharaoh?" Mana asks, taking note of his royal wardrobe and of his chiseled features.

"I don't think it has quite set in for me yet, honestly. Maybe ask tomorrow when I have my first full day."

"You should be getting your rest," Mahad advises. "Both of you. It is going to be a long day." He bows once more, excusing himself, leaving Atem and Mana alone.

There is a brief uncomfortable silence between the both of them as Mana stared at the ground and Atem looked off into the distance. Mana clasps her hands together and breathes out and they both make eye contact. "Well, congratulations on becoming pharaoh," she says and she turns to walk away. "I should get go—"

"Mana, wait," he says and she pauses before turning back to him.

"Yes, pharaoh?"

He shakes his head. "You know my real name, Mana. There really is no need for you to call me that."

Mana nods with a smile. "Atem," she corrects herself. It made him feel good and gave him a slight sense of relief when she called him by his name. So much had changed between them and not particularly for the better. So when she addressed him by name, it made him feel as if he hadn't totally lost her. He took in her features once more now that he was at a closer distance. She truly was beautiful.

"Did you need something?" she asks, breaking him out of his thoughts. Why had he stopped her again?

"I just…wanted to tell you how beautiful you look tonight," he compliments.

She smiles, rolling her eyes. He was never shy with expressing himself, that's for sure. "Thank you. And you're looking quite regal." She notices as he gazes down to the ruby necklace that she is wearing around her neck. The gold around it really complimented her skin well and the ruby sparkled under the full moon.

"I see you're wearing the necklace I got you," he notes, and she looks down at it, partially covering it with her hand. It was a gift he had given her years ago for her birthday.

"Mhmm," she simply responds with a nod. There is another uncomfortable silence between them. He was clearly beating behind the bush about something. But Mana wasn't sure if she wanted to stick around for any more awkward silences. "I'm sorry, I really should get going. Mahad has me waking up bright and early."

"Yes, of course," he replies, stepping to the side to let her pass.

"I'll see you around! And congratulations again!" And with that, she darts off in the direction of her quarters. He slaps a hand on his forehead before sliding it down his face. For someone as charismatic as him, he sure did know how to make things awkward. With a heavy sigh, he heads to his room to prepare for his first day.