"So what's the diagnosis Doc?" Joey said, as they worked over Odeon.
"Well so far Odeon's heartrate is steady, his tests were fine, but I'm afraid all the mental stress he's gone through has left him unconscious."
"Yeah, I could use a nap too," Joey said.
"Doctor means he's been knocked out Joey," Tristan smirked.
"Join the club," I muttered my eyes getting heavier. "The way this magic works is complicated," I said as I saw Téa open her mouth. "He'll wake up, it's just when…"
"I guess that we are not going to know who this guy is before he wakes up," Duke said looking at him.
"There is one thing for sure," Yami said, staring down at the poor man. "He was determined to protect Marik for as long as he could."
"And for what? Look at him," Joey said angrily, gesturing to him. "Odeon's lying in a hospital bed and Marik couldn't care less if he ever wakes up again. That creeps as nasty as they get."
"What do you expect Marik todo? Send flowers?" Mai said. "Poor Odeon, it's times when your down that you need your friends the most."
"You guys I just figured it all out." Joey said holding his head, his eyes wide. "I know how I was able to get on my feet and win the duel. Cause you helped me, see you guys I had a dream and it reminded me that my friends were routing for me the whole way, and it was like you were all on the field with you know,"
"Yes Joey," Yami said, looking at me. I smiled.
"And having you there gave me the strength to get back up and win,"
I nudged Tristan as I saw him open his mouth with a smartass look in his eyes.
"Hey guys isn't it time for Kaiba to pick the next two duellist for the final." Duke said. I groaned; couldn't we just do it tomorrow. I was exhausted. Yami's arms wrapped around me in comfort.
"I'm just going to head straight up and see when I get there. The cold air will probably wake me up a little."
"Mana if you need to rest –"
"No, there is a big chance that Marik – you know, the real creepy extra dark one – is going to duel and I need to be there to make sure things don't go too sideways. There is only so much I can do against an item, but…"
"Mana, you were kidnapped today." Mai said.
"And so was Joey, Téa and Mokuba." I said.
"Yeah, but we ain't trying to fight off darkness with magic," Joey said. I laughed at his explanation.
"Or reliving our death," Téa said.
"No but, you nearly drowned, and you were both taken over. I will be fine."
I move out of Yami's arms ignoring his concerned look, and headed up to the top deck. I did some stretches and I jogged a little on the spot.
As soon as Marik's duel is over you can sleep. I promised myself.
Mai came up to the top.
"Hey Mai," I greeted her jogging to her side, I look for her opponent or the others… "Where's –"
"I don't need a cheer squad to win, or to know who I am duelling." She snapped; I stepped back a little, then narrowed my eyes.
"Cut the crap Mai, what's upset you? I know you better than that don't go all Duellist Kingdom on me." I said, raising a brow and waiting. She glared opened her mouth and then sighed.
"Joey bugged me,"
"Joey does that to all of us… the dream, he didn't want to admit that you were in it." I realised. Oh that idiot.
"It doesn't matter if I was in his stupid dream or not," she said snapping back to her old self. "I'm here to duel not to keep up with old friends –"
"You're being ridiculous," I told her, she ignored me and made her way up to the podium.
Kaiba, Mokuba and the suit got here first.
"Where's Marik the broadcast sounded in every room." Kaiba said impatiently.
"Maybe he chickened out," Mai said, as if he heard her say it the doors to the elevator opened and Marik stepped out. "It's about time," she told him.
"This won't take too long," Marik said, I was so anxious about Mai, I completely ignored everything the suit said. The battle started off odd, Mai didn't seem like herself. She seemed like she did back in early Duellist Kingdom days. I tried to think of a way to reach her, but I didn't have time to think about that for long as after a few turns Marik took her to the shadow realm. He made it so that for every one of her monsters that was destroyed she would forget one of us. He was sick! The first to go was Téa. Next was Joey. Yami tried to help her by activating his puzzle, I went to help but he just looked at me. I scowled, but I would jump in if it got much worse.
"Curse you Pharaoh, for intervening in my mind games," he glared at Yami, but then his vision went to me. "Don't forget I know more about your past life than you, or your beloved Queen. I know every major event in your life pharaoh including the big scandal involving your uncle."
"My uncle?" the pharaoh said frowning.
"Aknadin," I said for the Pharaoh.
"Yes, he had a son who he left hoping to protect him, his mother remarried so that he would not be frowned upon and had a little girl who was lost in the destruction of the village, the young prince found her in the rubble left by the fire." he said looking at the Pharaoh. I remembered that. "Seto was the boy's name."
No… Seto was my half-brother! "He came to the palace later on it was his duty to protect the prince, the next pharaoh and unknowingly his cousin and half-sister as they played together." He said laughing, the pharaoh and I shared a glance. "Do you remember him yet Mana, your memories should be returning."
"I was related to Seto?" I said shakily, Kaiba glared at me.
"Not you the other one," I said to him.
"You are this time around too, don't you remember your baby sister Seto?" he said. Wow, I don't think I had ever seen Kaiba that angry before. He looked like he could actually kill him without even touching him. I didn't even know he had a sister... The big thing, that was what Mokuba was trying to say. I must have reminded him of her. "Or did the separation and magic make you forget, poor baby Mokuba will be too young. It was a similar fate to five thousand years ago, surely you remember the crash Seto, your baby sister was missing and suspected to be dead; can you remember her?"
"What are you trying to say!" Kaiba snarled.
"Look in front and to the Pharaoh's right and you will find her." Marik said.
Kaiba's eyes went wide as his eyes zoned in on me. No…
"Only, she hit her head pretty badly and is unable to remember. You seem to have lots of memory problems don't you Mana?" I glared at him thinking of my foggy past memories. "Oh well I am sure this life's memories can be fixed with a memory charm," he said laughing at everyone's expression.
"And why should I trust what you say!" I snapped at him.
"The look on Kaiba's face and Mokuba's for that matter."
I turned and saw them staring at me in shock.
"I remember brown shoulder length hair, and big green eyes." Mokuba said. "Seto keeps a picture in our necklace, you kind of look like her, an older version."
"Impossible the damage was devastating there is no way you can be my Mana." Kaiba yelled at me.
"Because Mana is such a common name, and she never said she was rich boy!" Joey said, pulling me behind him, and to be honest I was thankful Kaiba looked ready to kill me. I felt Duke place his hand on my shoulder, I tensed, but allowed him to keep it there, my eyes flickering to the Pharaoh. His eyes were on Kaiba, preparing, like Joey, for an attack.
"I can't remember ever being in hospital," I said, like Kaiba trying to find a loop. "And, we are in the same year at school if –"
"You've always had your powers you healed yourself gradually, and then struggled to Domino where the Pharaoh would be re-earthed from the puzzle. Like the prophecy foretold." Marik said laughing. "Age, come now Mana you forgot everything, is it so hard to believe that you gave yourself the wrong age?"
"Yugi says you did come to the shop in tattered clothes and dried blood," the Pharaoh said, looking at me critically and anxiously.
"None of this makes any sense!" Kaiba growled. "What game are you playing." He glared at me. "Is this your game, hire this clown to trick me. You little leach!"
"Hey! Watch your mouth!" Tristan said, putting a hand on my waist ready to pull me behind him too, just in case.
"Yeah, don't talk to her like that! She ain't a leach and she wouldn't want to be related to you anyways!" Joey yelled, his fist pointed at Kaiba.
"Roland!" Kaiba barked. "Get someone to take a DNA sample from both myself and Mana; that will prove that she is not my sister,"
I continued to watch him in shock. A suit came over and took a swab of my cheek before rushing down to the medical room. My head was whirling, which is exactly what Marik wanted. We had been so distracted by the reveal he was playing with Mai's mind again.
Lights brought us back to the game. Mai had Ra and she was playing it.
But, there was a problem.
It was in a ball.
"Now that you've stolen my Egyptian God card, why don't you try and use it against me." He taunted her.
"That's the Winged Dragon of Ra?" Mai said surprised.
"What's the deal?" Tristan said.
"What's that ball?" Téa was just as confused as Tristan.
"Someone how the dragon is locked inside, Mana –"
"I have no idea sorry." I said trying to think. "Wait, the ancient script!" I gasped looking at Mai, then at Marik. He would know! This whole thing was a trap.
"That's right my Queen, glad to see your memory is slowly retuning. Now you will watch as I finish off your friend as she will be locked in the Shadow Realm alone for all eternity."
"I can't remember the ancient chant," I said trying to focus desperately trying to help Mai. I couldn't fail her I had to help; I could feel my eyes burn as nothing happened. Ok I had to focus on all of my power to try and stop the God's attack. I knew I couldn't beat it, but I could take most of the damage, and I know Yami would help protect them after I had been whipped of all my power. I focused.
Egyptian?
Wait what?
I snapped my head back up at the sound of my old language. Mai was trapped against an Egyptian wall, her legs and arms chained.
"Great beast of the sky, please hear my cry.
Transform thyself from orb of light, and bring me victory in this fight."
"Wha'd he just say?" Joey said, but I didn't have time to translate Ra was uncurling from it's ball.
"Envelop the dessert with your glow, and cast your rage upon my foe.
Unlock your powers from deep within, so that together we may win.
Here in the Shadow Game as I call your name. Winged Dragon of Ra!"
The wind picked up, as we all started in shock and horror at the God in this form, bending my left leg forward, I prepared to intervene.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one, Joey ran up, he ran straight to Mai. Could I move them both in time? Could I redirect the blast? No and no. I knew there was only one thing to do.
As Ra began to attack, I ran forward blocking my two friends with my own body against its great power.
"Foolish girl! You may be strong, but no one can withstand Ra's attack!" Marik laughed.
I groaned as I felt the pure power of Ra. The heat surged through me painfully. I screamed, my throat burning as I kept it at bay, keeping my hands pushed out in front of me. Protecting my body, and theirs.
"Almost there," I gasped trying to keep the force away, but my arms were giving up, losing more and more ground. The golden flames flickering inches from my face.
"I can't hold it much longer!" I yelled as I lost yet more ground. My limps getting weaker and weaker.
"That's enough!" I heard Yami bellow. I saw him jump over the duel platform running towards me.
"Yami!" I gasped, losing more ground as he jumped in front of me.
"Yami," I moaned, my knee's buckled, and I felt him catch me as my vision blackened.
Yami POV…
I jumped in front of her the surge hit my back as I watched her eyes closed and her body dropped like a puppet whose strings had been cut. I caught her resting her head on my collar bone, and keeping one arms around her to prevent her from falling to the floor.
The other steadied me as I fought the power of the Egyptian God. It's power was so strong I could feel it's pure strength.
\We can do this.\ Yugi cried. \For Mana!\
Finally, it was over I sunk to the floor cradling Mana so that she didn't hit her head, carefully preventing it from lolling all over the place. Her eyes were closed and she was too still the only thing that reassured me she was alright was the feeling of her lungs working against my arm.
"Hang in there Yugi!" I heard Joey yell to me. I kept myself conscious focusing on my bundle.
"You did well my Queen, but you were no match!" I growled clutching her closer, I felt my power draining as my forehead began to glow again.
"You need to be taught a lesson in meddling in matters that don't concern you." I heard Marik say, I looked up Joey was frozen as Marik pointed the rod at him. "This should hold you."
I tried to stand and help him, but I was too weak.
"Perhaps next time you'll think before you enter a duel uninvited."
"Joey! What did you do to him!" Mai yelled at Marik.
"Not to worry he'll be fine, but there's something we need to discuss."
The rest was too quiet for me to hear, the Mai dropped. I watched in horror; she was an innocent. Not meant to be involved in this ancient madness and yet, here she was because of me in danger.
He began to walk towards me, ignoring Joey completely. I clutched Mana tighter he was not going take her to the Shadow Realm, not while I still had breath.
"Relax, I still need her," the evil Marik said, watching Mana's face, I too looked down at her peaceful face. "She is part of the key to unlock your power."
He walked away, I gently manoeuvred Mana so I could attempt to carry her.
\I can give you some of my energy\ Yugi said. \You wouldn't let me help, but I can help now.\
/Thank you, Yugi/ I said taking his strength and standing up. Joey had unfrozen and was picking up Mai. We both rushed to the hospital with our bundles.