Yugi couldn't concentrate.
He was remembering things, things that shouldn't be real. All these memories, or fake dreams, or whatever, they were coming back faster and faster, and Yugi didn't get it one bit. There was Tea being held hostage under a metal crate, one where he was staring at a huge stone tablet that had an etching that looked something like him on it, and one weird one where he was looking at an exact replica of himself, except it was no reflection and no mirror trick. Yugi thought he was loosing it, but Tea's proclamation of this world being fake kept coming back, and Yugi was starting to doubt his sanity.
He didn't get it, not one bit.
Yugi set his trig book down and sighed. He wasn't going to be able to study, not until he figured out what was going on. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on one particular memory Yugi knew couldn't be real. He had been dueling, which was the first indicator because Yugi never dueled, and his soul had been sucked out. Second indicator it was fake, he was in his own body, and he had his own soul. Yugi frowned trying to remember more of the details. He hadn't been taken on purpose, that thought suddenly shot to the forefront of his mind. He had been shoving someone out of the way, someone he trusted, but for the life of him Yugi couldn't remember. He had pushed someone aside, someone whose soul had been wanted, it wasn't his that was supposed to be stolen, and instead of the intended soul being taken it was his. Who had he been trying to save? Yugi thought, concentrating on the false memory. Someone he had considered a friend, a best friend almost. But Yugi just couldn't remember, he wasn't sure if he'd ever remember. Picking up the study notes Tea had quizzed him on, Yugi grabbed them to try to concentrate on something else. Doodled in the left hand corner of his paper was a pyramid, one with an Egyptian eye in the middle. He knew that symbol! Yugi realized urgently, sensing this was a key to remembering, remembering whatever it was he'd forgotten. He knew that pyramid too, he knew it! But he couldn't remember where! Focusing on the Ancient Egyptian symbol, things clicked, and then disconnected. Why couldn't he remember? Yugi demanded of himself. He started to remember, but then it was like someone erased whatever he had suddenly remembered. Blowing out steam, Yugi focused, and this time he had to remember.
33333
The wind whipped up and Tea had to hold onto both Tristan and Joey so she wouldn't fly away.
"What's goin' on here?" Joey asked, looking around him wildly.
"This ain't normal, right Tea?" Tristan yelled over the wind.
"I bet it's Noah. Noah! Get out here! I won, get over it!" She yelled into the wind. The wind picked up, and this time Tea was thrown sideways and away from the boys.
"Tea!" They yelled, and Tea dug her nails into the ground trying to find purchase. Her nails scraped the ground awkwardly, and Tea had to wince as she dug harder in, but was only sent farther away.
"Noah! Stop this!" Tea demanded, not knowing where she was anymore. She had been saving her friends from making the roads bleed, and had saved the day, but then the whole 'perfect world' crumbled down around them and Tea wasn't exactly sure where she was. Her nails were digging into rocks and dirt, but because of the wind Tea had to close her eyes and try to hold her ground. The wind suddenly stopped, and Tea hesitantly opened her eyes. Tristan and Joey were also looking around from the opposite side of the clearing they were finding themselves in, and with a wariness and a shifting glance at their surroundings Tea stood up.
"Tay?" Joey called. "Is he here? Please say no, I don't want that creep anywhere me or my brain."
"I don't see Noah, but that doesn't mean a thing. He controls this place, he could be right in our midst and we'd never know." Tea replied, turning around carefully.
"What does he want?" Tristan demanded, standing up less cautious than Tea had. "I don't get it. Why kidnap everyone? What is he trying to accomplish?"
"How would I know?" Tea asked desperately. She didn't know how to be a leader, she was the cheerleader, that was what she was good at! Not saving the world, well virtual world, from Noah and not really getting why she of all people was gifted with the ability of remembrance. How was she supposed to save the (virtual) world, she didn't have any special power or anything! What was she supposed to prove, and to whom? And why! She wished she had been able to reawaken the memories in Yugi, he knew what he was doing. He had already saved the world countless times! Tea was almost positive when Yugi finally died his tombstone would read:
"Yugi Muto
Beloved Husband and Father
Defender of Earth
He saved the world a lot"
And hers:
"Tea Gardner
Wonderful Wife and Mother
She liked friendship"
Big difference. Sighing Tea called out Noah's name again, and once again he didn't show.
"So, what are we going to do?" Tristan finally asked.
"Yeah, this feels like all the other times we save the world. We need to get a plan. Anyone know how to do that?" Joey asked.
"Well, so far all I've figured out is that if we unlock everyone's memories Noah loses his control over them." Tea shrugged.
"Yeah, but we're all still here, in his virtual realm." Tristan pointed out.
"I think we need to find The Pharaoh." Tea suddenly realized.
"Isn't he with Yuge?" Joey asked confused.
"No, his 'perfect' world was where he was accepted as himself, not with The Pharaoh and all the accomplishments he's made because of dueling with his other half." Tea sighed, did he really see things that way? Tea thought sadly.
"Well, then we need the Pharaoh." Tristan said. "Any ideas where he is?" Tea shook her head.
"You want The Pharaoh?" Noah's voice laughed, and the trio turned to watch him emerge from the forest. "Well then, I suggest-"
"No more riddles Noah. Just let us out already." Tea sighed.
"Tea, Tea." Noah chided. "Either you play by my rules or we can start all over again."
"You are so not my friend." She ground out.
"Aw, we're making progress." He laughed. "Now Tea,
Follow the land to the sand filled hills,
Where great big pyramids line the sky,
And look for he with robes of maroon,
and he with the objects of power.
Give up now, and I promise you loss,
or continue on without thought."
"I still can't stand your riddles." Tea sighed.
"Oh, I do enjoy our talks." Noah laughed, and backed right out of the clearing. "So let's head for the 'sand filled hills.'"
"Can we trust him?" Joey demanded.
"Not really, but all of his riddles were right on. They lead me to Yuge, to you two, and they will lead me to The Pharaoh. Hopefully."
"Well, then we got a lot of walking ahead of us. We should get started." Tristan replied, and the trio started out, each one fearing the dread that came with trying to save the world, no matter the fact this one wasn't real.