PART 5 [A New Character]
(Nicole's POV)
I watched as Yugi and Ishizu come out of the room.
"If you all would please follow me," Ishizu instructed before I had the chance to ask Yugi what was up. We walked towards the back of the museum almost to what started to look like an office area instead of an exhibit.
"Hea Yugi, where are we going?" I asked softly so not to let the Ishizu hear.
"I'm gonna let you see a tablet that connects the ancient past to duel monsters." Yugi responded.
"Cool. Why wasn't it with the other artifacts?" I asked.
"It is said the tablets have mystical powers in them, and they're too big to fit in those small rooms." He responded.
I did a quick double take on the area behind us. The tablets were too big for the small room?! How was that giant room small?!
I quickly regained my thought and continued down the hall with the others. We traveled corridors among corridors then down some stairs. Finally, we made it to a large reinforced steel door. Ishizu slid a card key into a slot causing the door to unlock and open slowly. We all entered the room and saw the most outrageous sight. In front of us hung a whole series of gigantic ancient tablets. I stood in amazement of the size of them bringing my mouth to drop as I noticed the intricate designs of duel monsters upon them. Ishizu noticed my astonishment and started speaking,
"Over 5,000 years ago, ancient rulers played a game of unspeakable power. These games were not played for fun but for power and rule. They were used to decide wars, settle diplomatic arguments, pass judgment, and many other things. Sorcerers found a way to seal these monsters into large tablets and release them whenever they wished. These games became known as Shadow Games. When the games got out of control, a brave and powerful pharaoh saved the world by imprisoning the magic of these games in seven mystical items. These items became known as the Millennium Items. These items were locked away in the tomb of the brave pharaoh. The items were safe until grave robbers stole the items and spread them throughout the world. Later, a man by the name of Maxamillion Pegasus found the tablets with these monsters on them. He created a game around these tablets. This game became known as Duel Monsters. Now, because the Millennium Items are still out there, the world is once again in danger of being destroyed by these Shadow Games."
"My God" I gasped scanning the tablets. Suddenly, one caught my eye. The tablet depicted what looked like two men staring each other down. It hit me that one of the men looked just like Yugi, and above him was a sketch of Yugi's favorite monster The Dark Magician. "It can't be." I shuddered looking at the tablet then at Yugi and back to the tablet. "You look ju..just like that guy there."
"Yes, that's true. That is because I have one of the Millennium items. I own the Millennium Puzzle," Yugi spoke lifting his puzzle, "It holds the spirit of the pharaoh who saved mankind. You can say he was an ancestor of mine. I share a bond with this spirit in the puzzle. I am on a quest to get all the Millennium Items and not let them fall into the wrong hands."
"What does this tablet portray?" I asked as my eyes gazed over the rest of the tablet.
"It portrays an ancient battle fought between the Pharaoh and a sorcerer. The battle was fierce, but we do not know the outcome due to the stone breaking in that one corner over time." Ishizu spoke looking at me as she tapped the glass over what looked like an eroded part of the stone.
That's when another tablet caught my attention. Where the one with the figures seemed to tell a story, this was one tablet had one massive picture. The main difference between this one and the others was the fact that it was obviously damaged and was in two massive pieces that were hung in such a way so you could make out the original depiction. It looked almost like a duel monster. It was tall, almost human like with a cape. Do I see fangs?! "Is that... Is that a vampire?! I've seen this card!" I exclaimed as something pulled me towards the tablet. Where had I seen this monster before? Why was it that I felt... connected... to this picture?
"Now that you mention it... it reminds me of that one vampire creature... Dark Fang Lord?" Tea thought out-loud.
"We believe these were the tablets used in the shadow games. It was tablets like this that Maxamillion Pegasus based the artwork of Duel Monsters on." Ishizu explained.
I started inching towards the tablet again getting closer and closer. As I began to get close enough, I started to reach my hand out to touch the glass. As my fingers touched the cool slick surface, the world seemed to explode around me. A pain shot up through my arm as if I was being shocked by something. My ears were filled with a loud shriek that was in no way human, but I could tell it was in pain. I pressed my hands against my ears trying to protect them from the sound. I could almost faintly hear my name, but it was being drown out by the shrill.
"Make it stop!" I couldn't help but scream myself.
Then make him stop! You know the words! A voice I could barely make out screamed above the chaos. My head began to pound from the inside making me double over. I looked up and could see the concerned figures before me, but they weren't going to help.
Set me free! Was the last thing I heard as everything went dark.
(Yugi's POV)
Nikki walked closer and closer to the tablet as if she was in a trance of some kind. Is this what we were looking for? She began to lift her hand to touch the glass, but the moment her hand hit the glass, a pink light erupted and she began to scream. I was shocked in place as she doubled over holding each side of her head.
"Make it stop!"
"Pharaoh! What is happening?!" Ishizu asked concerned
"I'm not sure, but I think we are about to get our answer!"
I broke out of my trance and started my way to her when she suddenly fell to her knees in front of the tablet with her hands still on her ears. It was Nikki screaming again that made me pause. They weren't English and not a language I knew either.
"Kaeb li rabu al'asnan!"
The room was now filled with an eerie silence. I knelt down to Nikki's level trying to decide what to do next.
"Nikki?"
"Eabdi!" She shrieked as her head jerked up, but her eyes were focused on the tablet in front of her as if she didn't even notice my kneeling next to her, " 'Ayn khadimati?!"
I could only glance back as Ishizu. Maybe she understood what Nikki was saying?
"S-She is asking about a servant?" Ishizu spoke carefully so not to disturb the scene.
Yugi, I think this is what I was looking for. Let me talk to her. I could hear Yami ask through the bond. Agreeing with his assumption, I did as was asked and let him take over.
(Yami Yugi POV)
Yugi made the connection with me, and I was the one who controlled his body, as he sat in the puzzle.
"Nikki?" I spoke up testing the theory of who was on the ground in front of me.
I was met with Nikki's face, but the look in her eyes was not one I recognized. "Milki?!"
The language she used, I knew I should recognize it, but it was like a washed-out dream. "What is your name?" I asked slowly.
"N-n-name?" the young woman asked as if confused. She looked around the room then down at her body her fingers tugging at her shirt. "N-n-not home!" She stammered frightened.
That's a start! Just need to build on it. I could hear Yugi cheer through the bond.
"Home? Where is home?"
The girl looked at me again in shock and confusion. How much of this did she understand? She seemed to rub her fist against the side of her head in cringe in pain.
"H-Home was the Q-Qasr! D-Don't you remember Milki?"
"Milki? Is that my name?" I questioned carefully. Maybe whoever this was... was the key to the past I could not remember!
"Milki, means my king in Arabic like qasr is palace. I think she speaks of your time as pharaoh." Ishizu spoke up.
Nikki looked back at Ishizu in surprise, "Wasi?!"
"Do you understand me?" I asked the girl slowly trying to get her attention again. I was met with her dark eyes as I noticed more recognition.
"I-I beginning... this tongue... is new, but I... know it?"
"What is your name? Do you know?" I asked carefully.
"M-Maza Milki... don't you remember..." She paused, but my silence seemed to give her the answer she was looking for. I could almost swear a tear formed on the corner of her eye, but she brushed it away with her finger, "I served your father as part of his guard and upon his passing, you Milki! That was until.."
"Until what?" I lightly set my hands upon her shoulders. This person was the key to unlocking the memories I did not possess. That I was sure of, "Please! I cannot remember the past, but something tells me you do and can help me find answers as to why we are both here."
Her eyes stayed on my own, and I noticed the change. They went from emotional and confused, to serious and sure. It was almost weird to say it was the same person talking to me? "Y-you ordered me dead.. for a crime I did not commit. You ordered my Eabdi destroyed," She pointed to the broken tablet next to us, "so I was near defenseless when they came for me!"
"W-What are you talking about?! I-" I couldn't remember any of this, but it didn't sound right.
She softly took both sides of my face in her hands. "Not all your fault Milki..." I could tell the touch wasn't in a romantic sense. It was more like... caring, "You were tricked as many were by him. He was.. No... is true evil. And the witch she-" her words fell short as her eyes glazed over just before her head dropped and her hands went to either side. She quickly got to her feet, but her hands still held her head and she was bent forward. "Milki run! Run!"
"No! What's wrong? We can help you!" I tried to argue. This woman knew things, and I needed to know what they were.
"You cannot stop her!" She exclaimed backing away several steps, "You must get Kira or Seto! They are the only ones that can stop the Alzalam." She looked up the pain apparent in her eye. She was fighting something. "I said run Milki! She will kill you as she did Rubin!"
"She? Who is she?!" This had to be it! This had to be the answers we were looking. She knew about the evil from the past!
"Sharun Qadim! Now go! Before she-" She stopped and all fell silent.
"M-Maza?" I spoke up taking a step towards her, but I stopped as she suddenly stood straight fixing the hair in front of her face by combing her hair with her fingers. Her eyes were closed and she was taking a deep breath in. Her eyes came open as she exhaled. It was the faint purple glow that caught my attention. That and the look of calm and seriousness in her eyes.
"The sorceress is not home right now, leave a message at the beep and I might let her get back to you Pharaoh.." Even the voice was slightly different. The tone was slightly darker but still smooth and sure.
What is going on? This isn't Nikki! Nor is this the woman I was just speaking to.
"Have you forgotten us so easy.. What would the sorceress call you... Milki? Yes! That's it! Milki! Have you forgotten one of your childhood friends so easily?"
"Who are you?" I asked on the defensive.
"Who I am isn't quite the right question Milki! More like... what am I? I've never really had a name. I mean... I never even had my own body until your father and that mage ripped me from your friend. But enough about that. I believe you and I have some unfinished business..." It was almost too quick to catch, but she swung her arm in front of her and the next thing I knew I was airborne then hitting the ground and wall behind me.
"Pharaoh/Yugi!" I could hear Ishizu and Tea yell.
"Silence gnats!" I heard the woman command as she made a similar gesture and the two giving the same result. From what I could tell they weren't seriously injured, but hurt enough that they weren't getting up to help me for a bit. The woman's focus came back to me, "I can tell you aren't near the threat you used to be Pharaoh... So I will simply ask... Where is Guardian Seto and Lady Kira?"
Kira? Didn't the Maza woman say that name before? Who was this Kira? "I-I don't know who you are talking about..." I shrugged trying to see if there was anything this woman could give us while also buying time. From what little time I had seen this soul, I could tell she was not friendly or on my side.
"The lover and the sister Pharaoh!" she pressed as she kneeled down grasping the collar of my shirt, "They both served under you!"
"W-What do you want with them?" I stalled.
"Payback Pharaoh! They stole my freedom once I finally had it! Once I am done dealing with them, I can circle back to you. Now, where are they?"
"I'd never tell you even if I knew. I don't know a Guardian Seto nor a Lady Kira."
"Guardian Seto is the man in that tablet Pharaoh!" She sneered pointing at the large tablet nearby, "He was one of your most trusted. I can sense him. He's not close enough to strike, but he is somewhere! You cannot hide him forever."
"I can't help you because I do... not... remember..." I stressed which only seemed to agitate her.
"If that is so Milki... I may just take you first. I will find Seto on my own and end him. He never could tell the difference between the sorceress and myself despite being so disgustingly infatuated with her. I can get close and shove the knife through his heart before he realizes he is in trouble just as I should have done those years ago! Once that happens, I am sure Lady Kira will come out of hiding. She is quite fond on her friends and her sister. She won't stay hidden forever once her loved ones start dropping like flies. That I am quite sure of."
"Y-You seek to kill them... Kill me!" I stammered as the fear began to set in.
A smile of triumph and amusement played on her lips, "Of course Pharaoh! My master can't ascend to your throne while you occupy it. We will destroy you and all your followers in this timeline seeing as we obviously failed in our own."
She held up her hand and began to wave her fingers and utter a few words in a language I did not recognize. The purple glow in her eyes became brighter as the air became thin and I felt as if I couldn't breathe. Was this how I was to die? No! I wouldn't have been brought back like this just to die!
"This spell wouldn't have worked on you back in Egypt Milki, but you aren't quite yourself. Nor do you have your protection? To think the great king that saved all of Egypt could be this weak. A pity really..."
In my attempt to breathe, I took hold of her shirt trying to pull her. "Nikki!... fight!..." If I could just get Nikki to take over like Yugi would with me, maybe she could stop this. I just had to get a hold of her somehow.
"W-who?!"
It was then the color in her eyes seemed to flicker and a look of shock went over her face. The grip on my shirt fell and she closed her eyes tightly. I could breathe! I took my chance and rolled away getting up to my feet, "That's it! Fight Nikki! Regain control!" I tried to get out in between my breaths.
"Y-Yugi? What's wrong with me?!" I heard the scared voice of my friend ask.
"Nikki, it's going to be ok. I need you to fight back and take control of your body. Can you do that?"
"N-No! I will not be caged in a weak girl again!" The woman's voice grimaced as she too fought to keep control.
"Nikki is not weak! She is stronger than you! Fight her Nikki!" I pressed hoping Nikki would come out on top.
Nikki seemed to lean down so her forehead was against the floor her hands still grasping either side of her head. "Leave me alone! Get out of my head!" She yelled just before everything went still and silent. After a moment, she looked up, and I could see it. She was back. Nikki was the one in control. She got to her feet and staggered, so I rushed to her side steadying her.
"Y-yugi... what.." but her words disappeared as her body gave out.
"It's ok Nikki..." I whispered as I caught her, and slowly set her to the ground "I got you..."