When I came to I felt gentle hands holding me up. I slowly opened my eyes to find Yugi hovering above me with a worried expiration on his face. When he saw I was awake, relief washed over his features and his whole body relaxed. I smiled weakly up at him.
"Hi," I whispered sheepishly "what happened while I was out?" Yugi smiled obviously happy I was strong enough to make jokes.
"You should have seen it! Pharaoh and I found the god cards but they weren't working so we came back hoping to help in some other way. We got back just in time to see you set up that barrier. When you collapsed everybody freaked. You should have seen Sarah and Emily, they went ballistic! They were all out firing with all their strength but then The Leviathan grabbed us all and we began to sink into it! But Pharaoh got everyone to think about happy thing and he summoned the god cards. They started attacking left and right! It was so cool, then they all attacked together along with the duel monsters and The Leviathan fell!" Yugi explained excitedly.
"I take it we won." I said laughing. Yugi grinned sheepishly and helped me up. I looked around to find that most of the duel monsters were still here and looked quite pleased with themselves, even Sarah and Emily seemed too happy to remember what was supposed to happed next.
"Thank you for your help, everyone, we couldn't have done it without you." I called to the duel monsters. They took that as a signal that it was time to go home so up into the sky they flew, in great mobs, all trying to get home first. I smiled as I watched them go and as Seto headed out of the portal. Then I called Sarah and Emily over to me.
"What's up?" asked Emily, she was practically glowing with joy.
"It's not over yet, remember?" I said looking into each their eyes. They looked confused then recognition came into Emily's eyes
"Oh, no," she whispered, and then turning around she started towards Pharaoh. I reached forward and got a tight grip on her arm. Sarah was quick to follow my lead.
"No Emily, You know this must happen so let it." I said as she struggled to get free. Right on cue The Leviathan rose up once more. It trapped Pharaoh in a dark vortex and Emily began to struggle harder! Yugi looked close to panic as well but he at least had control over himself.
"Relax Emily, everything will turn out ok, remember?" I pleated her while tightening my grip on her wrist. She stopped struggling but remained tense. But as Pharaoh screamed in pain she just about went ballistic! It took all of mine and Sarah's combined strength to hold her. Then all her struggling ceased as Pharaoh began to glow with a golden light. As the light spread across the room I let my hands drop to my side, then quickly raised it back up to cover my eyes when the light intensified.
"Pharaoh, are you all right?"
I opened my eyes to find Emily holding up a very exhausted looking Pharaoh.
"I'm fine, are you ok." implored Pharaoh locking eyes with her. Suddenly I felt like I was intruding in on some private inner conversation of theirs so I turned to Yugi whose face was showing the same uncomfortable feelings I was experiencing. He noticed my looking at him and turned to me. I quickly looked away, blushing.
Then I noticed Dartz who was struggling to get back on his feet, while holding his head. I walked over and gently helped him up. When he looked at me his eyes were unfocused and dazed. I smiled and saw recognition dawn in his eyes.
"Are you ok?" I asked observing his unbalanced poster and unstable stance. He nodded obviously unable to find his voice.
"Yeah I'm fine." He said when he regained his voice. I raised my eyebrows unbelieving.
"Really, I'm fine." He insisted while forcing a smile "but I'm sorry about all the trouble I caused, I really am. I didn't mean it." I smiled
"Its ok, I know what the Orichalcos does to people, and how it gets worse the longer it controls you." I reassured him. Then I looked my friends I saw that they were gathering back up. I turned to Dartz and smiled before running over to my friends. I looked back at Dartz to see Chris, Sky, and Ironheart appear beside him. I smiled at them then turned to walk to the portal.
"Where are you going?" asked Joey.
"Well," I said "If my calculations are correct, the Atlantian temple, and our only way home, is going to start sinking into the sea right…about…now!" Suddenly a rumble filled the castle.
"Uh-oh!" moaned Tristan.
"Me first!" yelled Joey as he scrambled towards the portal
"Last one there is a rotten egg!" cried Tristan as he shoved past Joey. I shook my head, exasperated and signaled for the others to follow me as I calmly walked to the portal. I then stopped and watched as everyone went through the portal. Then I stepped through. When I reached the other side I was greeted by the sight of Seto Kaiba and Mokuba Kaiba up in their helicopter, and right below them a giant tidal wave rushed towards Yugi and the others! I quickly ran forward to them.
"Link hands everyone!" I commanded "We can't afford to get separated!" We all joined hands and took deep breaths as the tidal wave crashed down on us and pulled us deep beneath the surface of the waves. With our hands still linked we began to kick upwards. My legs pounded the water rhythmically as thousands of years of instinct and practice kicked in. I looked down to find our group in a triangle position. I was at the point, Sarah and Emily were next in line, followed by Joey and Tristan, and Yugi and Pharaoh were last in line. I turned my eyes back to the surface to try to judge the distance between us and it. It was too big to mentally measure! I quickly turned my head back towards the others; they were almost out of air! Panic seized me when I saw Yugi and Pharaoh going slightly limp! It fueled my legs as they went into overtime.
Suddenly the weight I was pulling felt much lighter! I looked back to find Yugi and Pharaoh sinking away from us, eyes closing! I quickly pulled Sarah and Emily up next to my and linked their hands before pushing them upward. I watched each of them pass by me. Then I quickly swam straight down towards Yugi and Pharaoh. I reached them easily then, grabbing their waists, I began to swim upward with all my might. I saw the other reach the surface as my lungs began to strain for air.
When I finally breached the surface I was quick to pull Yugi and Pharaoh above the water. Gasping for breath I looked around for any sign of land, but instead I found a pod of dolphins. I reached out to the dolphins with my mind, calling out for help. I didn't know if they would hear me or if they would respond but it was the only chance we had.
I watched as the dolphins slowly sank beneath the waves and with them my hopes. Suddenly I felt myself being lifted out of the water! I looked down, right into the laughing eyes of a sleek silver-blue dolphin. I smiled as my friends were lifted out of the water by other dolphins. I laughed at their startled expirations and silently thanked the dolphins. I pulled Pharaoh and Yugi atop my dolphin. I glance over at Emily to find her looking around franticly. Then she noticed Pharaoh lying on my dolphin, and her eyes widened fearfully.
"Pharaoh!" she cried, everyone's eyes turned towards her confused. Then, as if reading her mind, her dolphin swam over to me. Emily quickly took Pharaoh from me and held him gently, her eyes pleading for him to be alright. I gently resituated Yugi who lay motionless in my arms. He looked so small and helpless laying there as his hair plastered against his face. I closed my eyes, hoping and praying for him to be alright. I looked up at the horizon and was surprised to see the thin outline of an island.
When we finally reached the island I quickly carried Yugi ashore and turned to wave to the dolphins, I watched them swim away then turned around to lay Yugi gently on the warm, golden sand. I knelt down beside him and observed my surroundings. I heard a low moan and I turned to see Yugi struggling to sit up.
"Are you ok" I asked worriedly
"Yeah, but where are we? Last thing I remember my hand had slipped out of Joey's and I was sinking."
"Yeah," I nodded understanding "before we could reach the surface you and Pharaoh both passed out and began to sink. I had to quickly swim down to get you."
"Pharaoh too, is he ok?" cried Yugi eyes wide with fear.
"He's fine, Yugi, relax. He's right over there." I said pointing over to where Emily was helping up a confused looking Pharaoh "He seems to be just waking up himself."
"Hey you guys, how'd you get here!" I spun to face the familiar voice.
"Megan!" I cried, getting up and running to my friend "Why are you here?" Emily and Sarah ran over to us laughing.
"Your parents told me you three had gone to Japan on a field trip so I boarded the next plain and headed off to join you but my plane got caught in some bad turbulence and crashed in the middle of the ocean. It's amazing I even survived; I don't know how I got to this island though. I fell unconscious and woke up here." she explained "Hey who are they?" Megan had suddenly noticed Yugi and the others. I smiled uncertainty.
"Umm…We've made some new friends while we've been here." I said sheepishly.
"Hey aren't they from…" I quickly covered her mouth and shook my head.
"What?" She asked while pulling my hand from my mouth. Sarah, Emily, and I all shook our heads franticly. She looked confused then I saw understanding dawn in her eyes and she nodded. I smiled and nodded in return.
"Who's that?" asked Megan as her eyes centered in on Joey "Isn't that Joey Wheeler? Self proclaimed Godfather of Games?" I nodded. Joey seemed pretty happy to be recognized.
"Hey are you guys just going to stand there or are you going to get on this copter?" called Seto from the helicopter that had just landed on shore "Who is she?" He had just seen Megan and obviously was not trilled about having another rider. I watched Yugi intently as he got ready to board the train,
"Five…four…three…two…one" I mentally counted down "go!" right on cue a small gold card appeared behind him. I quickly jumped forward and grabbed it.
"Hey what's that?" called Joey.
"Nothing," I said concealing the card behind my back "nothing at all!" But Joey was not easily fooled and jumped at me pulling the card from my hands.
"I've never seen this card before. Where'd you get it?" he said, holding it up. By now he had attracted the attention of the others.
"Give it back Joey! It's none of your concern!" I yelled as I lunged forward "Be careful! Don't damage it!" As Joey wheeled to avoid me I saw him slightly crumpled the card!
"OW!" yelped Yugi "What hit me?" I quickly grabbed the card form Joey's distracted hands.
"I told you to be careful! Now look what you did!" I scolded as I reached forward and placed my hand on Yugi "Here." I focused on sending energy into him
"Wow that's much better. What did you do?" said Yugi, amazed "and what's with the card?"
I sighed "It's a soul card. Each one represents a certain person's soul. All Atlantians are born with one. All humans have one too, but it is concealed in their heart. But if someone knows an Atlantian for a certain period of time their soul card is released." I noticed their confused exasperations and sighed.
"But what about you being Dartz's sister, what's up with that?" cried Emily I smiled sheepishly.
"Half sister, same mom different dad." I corrected, then looking up at Sarah and Emily I continued "And you mean us being Dartz's sisters"
"What, we're not his sisters!" cried Sarah. I looked at them sheepishly.
"Yeah, about that," I said, placing my hand on their foreheads "This might help" I gently removed the barriers I had placed in their minds and released the memories I had locked away years ago.
"Wow, what's the deal?" objected Emily angrily "You erased our memories?" I nodded and looked down ashamed.
"It was for you own well being." I promised "Really!" Emily frowned at me before rolling her eyes and shrugging...
"What's done is done." said Sarah. I looked over at Yugi and the others who were looking at us like we were crazy.
"It's a long story." I said
"We have a long ride ahead of us." replied Seto "Now get in!" I nodded and climbed into the copter.
"I'll explain on the way" I promised. Everyone climbed in and we took off.
"Oh, and Seto, I have something to tell you." called Emily
"Can it wait?" grumbled Seto
"No," said Emily firmly "Listen Seto, can I ask you a question?"
"Fire away." sighed Seto
Emily nodded and said "Did you have a sister when you were younger?"
"Who told you!" cried Seto "Mokuba!"
"No I know, because I'm her." said Emily looking him right in the eye.
"No way." said Seto, looking her over "Not possible."
"Sorry Seto but it is." said Emily "We may not be blood siblings but were as close as possible to it." Everyone looked at her surprised.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" whispered Seto
"I didn't know." replied Emily "Someone… erased my memories." she cast me a glance as I put my hands up in surrender.
"Sorry!" I said, backing up. Emily laughed then pushed Seto into the copter and sat next to Mokuba as the rest of us climbed in.
"Wow, so you're my sister!" said Mokuba in awe. Emily nodded and rustled his hair.
When we were in the air and everyone was settled I reached forwarded and touched each of my friends foreheads and sent images of my Atlantian past into their minds. I watched as their eyes widened and images flowed into their minds.
"Wow, that was your life?" whispered Joey.
"Most of it, the rest would have bored you." I replied looking down. I saw Yugi looking at me, he could tell I was lying. I looked out the window, signaling to him I didn't want to discuss it. Out of the corner of my eye I saw him turn away and look out the other window. I looked down, I didn't like lying to them but they wouldn't understand the other side of my past, it was my dark secret. When we landed I turned to Megan, Sarah, and Emily.
"We better get back to the U.S.A., are parents are going to start missing us." I said
"But…I…ok." Emily stuttered. I saw her cast a glance in Pharaoh's direction.
"I understand." I said thinking of Yugi.
"Do you, really?" asked Emily, skeptically.
"More than you know." I said sighing. She looked at me confused.
"Ok, that's enough of that!" said Sarah "We get it, you don't want to leave but you have to." With that she pushed us out towards the airport.
"Hey, where are you four going?" called Joey "The funs just getting started!"
"We have to go home." said Emily "Our parents will worry if we don't."
"Yeah, they'll send a whole swat team to find us." Sarah laughed half heartedly.
"Oh," said Joey "I guess if you have to you can go, but come back sometime, ok." I nodded and glanced over to see Pharaoh and Yugi standing off to the side. I looked down, ashamed of myself for not being able to tell them the truth. I heard Emily run over to Pharaoh to say goodbye.
"Let's go." said Emily as she walked past me.
"You go I'll catch up." I said waving her on. I looked up at Joey and he seemed to understand because he turned to the others.
"Come on, lets go." he said while herding them away. The others quickly followed, leaving Yugi and me alone.
"Yugi," I said "I need to talk to you. What I said on the copter wasn't completely true." He looked up at me and waited.
"The truth is I'm only half Atlantian." I then proceeded to tell him a secret I had kept form every one I knew, my dark, dangerous secret. You see the truth is my father was a werewolf, and we had been at war with the Vampires for 5000 years!
"Please don't tell them! I'm not ready for them to know yet!" I pleaded "I'll tell them when I'm ready. I promise."
"Alright but you better get going, your plane is going to leave without you." he laughed. I nodded and turned to run off to the plane.
"What took you so long?" asked Sarah when I had boarded the plane.
"I had to do something before I left." I said as I sat by the window, across the path from the others. I turned and looked out the window, falling silent. I heard Megan start to say my name but someone must have stopped her because she stopped mid-word. The whole trip went by this way, me sitting quietly over to the side and the others talking to each other and respecting my silence.
When we landed in America we exited the plane and got our luggage in almost complete silence.
"Well, see you in school then." said Emily with uncertainty.
"Yeah, see you guys…in…three days, I think." I smiled, trying to make up for my mood on the plane. The others smiled and we all headed off on our way home.