The Past Returns

With everyone in pursuit of Bakura and Max, Aknadin was taken to the hospital wing. His injuries had been tended to and the royal physicians told him that he needed to rest. But rest would not be possible. The two thieves were haunting him. Aknadin saw their faces even when his eyes were closed and he even heard them cackling. Though they were not in his presence, he still felt them near him.

Bakura's voice rang through his head once again. "We know all of your secrets, Aknadin. We know what you did at Kul Elna. These events may have occurred eighteen long years ago, but time doesn't heal all wounds."

The past began to haunt Aknadin. He had often recalled what happened all those years ago, but he had never felt so disturbed or tormented in such a terrible way until now.

It was just as Bakura mentioned. It all happened eighteen years ago during the great wars that threatened Egypt; back to the time when everyone's lives would change forever.

Cobalion stood before King Aknamakon and gave him a status report. "My pharaoh, we've lost our stronghold to the north and the enemy continues their march towards the capital."

"With our remaining armies, how long can we withstand their attack?"

"If all goes well, perhaps a week," Cobalion answered.

The pharaoh sighed in accepting of his defeat. "So the end has come."

Aknadin spoke up and told his highness, "With all due respect, giving up is not an option, sir. This conflict will not just decide the fate of our country, but that of the entire world. If we were to allow the enemy to advance much further, they would seize our Millennium Star."

Realizing that, the king becomes more alert. He knew that if the Millennium Star would fall into the wrong hands, its pure forces would become corrupted and the one responsible for its corruption would abuse its sacred powers, thus destroying themselves and everything else around them. That was why the pharaoh had been safeguarding it for the true heiress of Millennia. Only she could properly use the Millennium Star. Sadly, she was still too little and too weak to control it. King Aknamkanon also knew that even if he were to properly use the Millennium Star himself, he would still lack what it takes even if the Great Goddess herself would be guiding him.

But Aknadin knew that there would still be a way to use Millennia's power without using the Star itself. The royals were also in possession of the Millennium Spellbook. Whoever would be able to decipher the book's ancient text would learn all the powers and secrets of the Great Goddess. Aknadin suggested that they would be able to use Millennia's power by learning from her Spellbook.

But the pharaoh objected. "We've been through this before, Aknadin. No one has been able to decode those spells."

"That's not true, sir," Aknadin debated. "We have had a breakthrough."

The king was surprised to hear that. "What? Are you saying that you've decoded the book?"

"Not quite," Aknadin answered, "but I have managed to decipher one of its spells. It's a ritual of sorts, allowing the spellcaster to forge seven mystical treasures capable of giving the ability to borrow Millennia's powers. These Millennium Items could eliminate the invaders and bring tranquility to Egypt once again."

Seeming interested and convinced, King Aknamkanon asks, "And just how long will it take to create them?"

"According to the spell, the task will take seven days," said Aknadin. "Fortunately, I've already begun experimenting with the magic necessary to fashion these treasures."

What King Aknamkanon wanted was for Egypt to once again live in peace. In hopes that Aknadin's task would carry out that wish, he decided to let him complete the spell. "If it will bring peace, fine. Proceed," the pharaoh decreed. "Go forth and create these seven Millennium Items in the name of Egypt. The fate of this kingdom rests with you, my brother. May the Great Goddess be with you."

Before Aknadin would be able to carry out his task, he knew that sacrifices had to be made. He couldn't risk losing everything he held dear to him; not even his own family. It wasn't just his elder brother he wanted to help. Aknadin was concerned about his wife and only son; a small blue-eyed boy who was no more than five. Aknadin told his wife to take their son and leave to a safe place. At first, she thought he was trying to keep them safe from the wars, but she realized it was much more than that.

"In order to save our kingdom, I must do the unthinkable," Aknadin told her. "And if my actions are discovered, people may seek revenge. So for your own protection, no one must ever know I have a family. You must run as far from here as you can. It's for your own good. I wish there was another solution to this," he said regretfully.

"So do I," sobbed his wife. She tightly held her little boy's hand and looked at her husband with eyes filled with tears.

"And please remember, it is essential that Seto never learned the truth about who I am," he paused for a second, and then finished, "as long as he lives." Then he started riding his horse through the palace gates.

"Aknadin!" She cried, watching him leave. The boy watched in silence with a look of both sadness and anger. He knew he would never see his father again.

But Aknadin didn't stop or look back. He continued running with a heavy heart, whispering his goodbyes to his wife and only son, hoping they would live long and be safe.

That night, Aknadin summoned the royal guard and was joined by Rama, Serin, Olman, and Ishtar. He spoke to the soldiers loud and clear for all of them to hear. "I've called you here for one reason. You are the pharaoh's strongest soldiers and beasts and the fate of this kingdom depends upon you. Now listen closely, you must never question or repeat what I say and now I shall make sure of that." Gazing at the soldiers, Aknadin and the rest of the royal court began mesmerizing the soldiers and their Magical Creatures. "Let my voice penetrate your very core."

"Yes, Master Aknadin," the soldiers answered, feeling dazed.

"Gentlemen, my voice is the voice of reason, the voice of peace, the only voice you will obey. You have been handpicked to take part in a ritualistic experiment to save the land of Egypt. There is no turning back now. Our mission begins tonight on a small village in the outskirts of our kingdom. To Kul Elna!"

"To Kul Elna!" The royal guard echoed.

Everyone's forces were gathered and they all started riding their beasts to the outskirts. Aknadin knew very well that the outskirts were where the Dark Lord's followers resided. On the way, he wondered to himself, The pharaoh must never learn of the events that are about to follow. According to Millennia's spell, evil spirits must be captured in order to forge her treasures. Of this, my brother would never approve.

By the time they reached the village, the moon was above them and houses were lit up. No doubt the villagers were getting ready to make their moves and work for their Dark Lord. Aknadin would see to it that it would never happen. "We stand before the evil village of Kul Elna," he told his army. "The inhabitants are not only followers of the Dark Lord Cobalt, but they are also possessed with the darkest spirits known to man. That's why they have been raiding our royal tombs and slaughtering our people for years. But tonight, we shall put an end to their evil ways. Capture those spirits, men!"

Soldiers yelled and cheered as though they were in battle. They set every house they encountered on fire, drawing families out into the open. Mothers held their children close to them, elders tried to lead their fellow villagers to safety, men tried to fight back, even monsters engaged in battle. Soldiers kept surrounding and trapping every villager who tried to escape. Magical Creatures and guardian beasts were captured and contained so they wouldn't be able to protect their human companions. When the soldiers assumed that they had drawn everybody out, they led all the human villagers to the sacred shrine below their village. One by one, every man, woman, child, and elder was slaughtered and offered to the Great Goddess so their evil spiritual power could be harnessed.

The offering was accepted and the golden magical substance took the shape of the seven treasures of the Great Goddess Millennia. The ritual was a success. That was what the royals assumed until they felt the ground below them quaking. It was coming apart below them and releasing tremendous shadow magic. Some of the men assumed that the ritual angered the Gods; especially the Dark Lord Cobalt. They even wondered, was Millennia also angry with what they had done? Had the ritual been performed incorrectly? They knew their Great Goddess was not one for sacrifices, but then why would she need to harness the spirits of her enemy's children in order to create her treasures? Something was wrong and certainly didn't make any sense, but what?

Rama lost his balance and his grip on the Millennium Ring, causing it to fall into the Pit of Shadows. A few seconds later, the Ring emerged from the shadows, but with it came a large stone tablet. Aknadin looked closely at the tablet. It looked as though the seven Millennium Items were able to fit inside the stone.

The Millennium Ring glowed and released an evil pulse, pushing Olman and Ishtar against the wall where the stairs led out of the shrine. "What have I unleashed?" Aknadin asked in fear. Shadows started surrounding the tablet and took on the form of a terrible dark creature. The monster extended an arm and grabbed Aknadin. "What do you want from me?" Aknadin questioned.

"Return those treasures to their resting place," the monster growled.

Aknadin lifted his arm and placed the Millennium Eye close to his face. If he was to have any hope of saving himself from this monster, if these treasures would allow him to borrow Millennia's power, then he needed to use the treasure in his hands. "These Items belong to us," Aknadin debated, putting the Millennium Eye in the place of his left eye. Tapping into its power, he made the Shadow Creature lose its grip and start reacting in fear of the Item's light.

Serin gathered the rest of the Millennium Items. "Master Aknadin, we must leave now!"

"Not without this," Aknadin said and grabbed the Millennium Ring from the stone. He and Serin watched the monster disappear within the tablet. They didn't know for sure if the beast was gone, but they weren't waiting to find out. Assuming that it was trapped, they escaped from the shrine and started heading back to the city. The rest of their friends ended up being engulfed by the shadows when the monster appeared and attacked with its shadow magic.

A few days later, the enemy arrived and was in reach of the city. Soldiers and their demonic companions laughed and assumed they were victorious. "Men, those cowards have abandoned their kingdom, which means that Egypt belongs to us now," the general announced. His men and fellow beasts cheered and howled as they started making their way towards the palace. As they raced through the streets and passed empty houses, they saw the king and his new royal courtiers standing in front of their palace to defend it.

"Look at these poor fools," the general jeered. "They face us with an army of seven! Show no mercy, men!"

This was now the time for the royal Egyptians to make their move and save their beloved city. "In the name of Egypt, Great Goddess Millennia, lend us your power!" the pharaoh called, and everyone's Millennium Items started activating. "Mighty spirits, protect our kingdom!" Seven Shadow Creatures appeared above them and launched their attacks towards the invaders. The ground quaked around them from the impact of the blasts and several men disappeared without a trace.

The memories finally ceased and Aknadin found himself lying in his bed. I shall never forget what happened, he thought to himself. It was both my greatest achievement and my darkest hour. My efforts saved Egypt from destruction, but I deserted my family to save my kingdom. And my only son would never know of his noble ancestry.

He thought he would never see Seto again after leaving him, but he was wrong. Aknadin never expected it to happen, but Mystery, the heiress of Millennia, found his son and brought him home. He didn't believe it at first, but after taking the young man as his student and getting to know him, Aknadin knew right away that he was his son. And after seeing him working hard to rise to excellence and regain his royal status, Aknadin knew right away that Seto deserved so much more. His own son, a man of royal blood, but having to work to get where he was and Atem, a boy who got everything he had without having to work for it. It wasn't enough or even fair. Aknadin felt with great bitterness and rage that Seto was the one who was destined to be king of Egypt. That was when he decided that he would do everything in his power to make sure Seto would become king.