Back to the ancient times

By:

Aya al maghrabi

Chapter 6:Telling the story.

Atem was walking in a hallway heading to his room to have some rest. He saw Mana and she looked bothered.

"Mana." He called.

She woke up when she heard her name." What?" It was her childhood friend.

"You look bothered. Something's wrong?" He asked.

She sighted." It's not me, it's Tea. She said that she is okay, but I don't believe her. One moment she was smiling and the next she looked…I don't know, upset, quiet and maybe afraid as if she has seen a ghost." She breathed in." I just want to help her."

Atem smiled." Don't worry. I think she is like this because she is far away from her home."

"Maybe."

He asked." So... Is she your friend now?"

Mana laughed." I wish. I really like her. But don't worry; I'm good at gaining new friends."

"Well then, I'll go to bed. Don't worry, Okay?" He said.

She nodded and smiled. "OK."

Tea decided to eat then sleep. There was no point from staying awake thinking. She closed the balcony doors and the window on the other side of the room tightly. She has to make sure that no one will break into again.

She laid on her bed covering her self with a sheet. She stayed like this for couple of minutes then closing her eyes to sleep.

The dream.

She was walking in a path surrounded by flowers in a beautiful garden. Her hear was being blown by fresh air.

Suddenly, the land began to shake like an earthquake. The trees leaves fall leaving a dead trees. The flowers wilted. Then a huge thing came from the ground. Tea jumped behind a tree hiding.

When she looked closer, she was shocked. It was Zorc and Bakura. Bakura was standing on a high hill, laughing evilly.

'How's this happening?'

What was he laughing at? Then she saw Atem. He looked tired as if he'd been fighting for hours. His friends were with him. She didn't see herself, Yugi, Joey or Tristan. She saw only his friends from the past. Why weren't they with him? They were the ones who helped him defeating Zorc, weren't they?

She watched the events silently. Atem and his friends were very weak. She knew it.

Zorc was about to hit Atem with his huge, fire fist. His friends went unconscious.

She quickly started to run towards him." NO! STOP!"

"I shall seal you FOREVER!" Atem screamed loudly and the millennium puzzle glowed brightly.

There was a bright light that blinded her. She covered her eyes with arms, so she could see where she was running. But she couldn't, so she closed her eyes.

Tea's eyes were wide opened. Sweat covered her forehead and neck. Sun rays lighted her room a bit. She kept staring at the ceiling.

'We weren't there. That's not what happened with us.'

'I will seal you FOREVER!' She remembered his words.

Then she thought about it. 'Maybe it's the first battle with Zorc.' Her brain voice toldher.

Then it hit her.' Then it might be…What if…Oh god.' She sat straight on her bed. She was quit close to find why Atem did forget everything. She sat up an opened her balcony doors. The sun shone like a ball of fire.

"I have to ask Mana, just to be sure that what I'm thinking is right." She whispered to herself and a smile was drawn on her face.

There was a knock on the door and Mana showed herself." Good.. Afternoon, sleepyhead." She came smiling.

She looked at her." Good… Afternoon." Her smile got bigger.

Mana put her hands on her waist and checked Tea out." What's up with the smiling face? You weren't like that yesterday."

"You know. New day, new hope, new ideas." Tea replied.

"That's how I want you. Now come. I want you to meet someone." She held Tea's hand and ran out of the room. Tea could see the familiar hallways. And she soon saw the garden gate.

"Come on." Mana said. Tea followed her. Minutes later she saw a small group of kids sitting on the grass. Tea guessed that their age range from 5 to 10.

"Tea, I'd like to introduce you to my new friends." Then she looked at the kids." Kids, say hello to my friend, Tea."

They greeted her politely." Hello, miss Tea." Tea smiled at them." Hi."

"So, Tea if you are not busy or something, we were wondering if you'd like to play with us." Mana said.

"Of course. I love playing." Tea said.

"Great!" Mana yelled." What will we play then?"

A nice yet excited voice spoke." Hide and seek." Tea looked down at the voice. She was a beautiful little girl; Tea realized that she was the youngest here.

Tea grabbed Tea by her arm and pulled her, whispering in her ear." Mana, who are they?"

"They are the kids from the village which was destroyed." Mana ansewered.

"What are they doing here?" Tea questioned.

"The pharaoh decided to bring them until their village gets rebuild, among with the women and old people. Do you believe that there are infants, too? I want to see them."

"That was a very nice thing he did." Tea said. She knew her friend well.

"Yes, he is a great pharaoh." Mana replied.

Tea looked back at the girl. She had a black ponytail. She wasn't tan nor very pale. Her eyes are glowing green.

Tea kneeled in front of her and put her hands on the girl's shoulders." What's your name little one?"

"Nour." The girl said. Tea looked at Mana.

"That means light." Mana said.(That's an Arabic name.)

Tea smiled at the girl." What a beautiful name." The girl smiled.

"So, you want to play hide and seek, me too. Who will play with us?" Tea asked aloud.

All the children raised their hands. Among them Mana.

Atem was walking through a hallway. Window passing him as he walked. Then his ears recognized a familiar voice. He looked out the window and saw Mana playing with kids. Then his eyes caught someone. She was his guest, hiding behind a tree with a little girl holding her hand.

She sure was enjoying her time playing. It appeared from how she wanted not to laugh because Mana couldn't find them.

Mana almost caught her but Tea quickly avoided her and ran. Tea laughed hardly and Mana stood, crossing arms looking at Tea.

Tea's laugher was very familiar to Atem's ears. But he let go of the idea and continued watching.

"Let's play again. I want to catch you." Mana said.

"No problem. Remember you said that the last time which was the third time I won."

"This time I'll win." Mana said, confidently.

"We will see." Tea said, playfully.

Mana looked up and noticed that Atem was looking at them from a window.

"Hello there." She called and waved.

Atem waved back and looked at Tea who noticed him because of Mana. He smiled at her simply. Tea bowed her head a little and smiled back.

'She looks so familiar.' He thought.

Then he heard someone calling." Hey, can you come down here?" Mana called.

"Ok. I will." Atem answered.

In a dark place looked like a cave, sat on a chair the king of the thieves.

"Master..." A woman was bowing to her knees in front of Bakura.

She stood and looked at him. "What is the plan?" She asked.

"Be patient Kanika(Means balck), I know what I'm doing." He spoke darkly.

"But you had threatened her by killing." She said. "I wonder why we need her anyway. Aren't we capable of this job?" She was getting angry.

Bakura looked up at her." Don't be fool. Everything I'm doing has a reason." He stood up and wandered around the room.

"During watching her and her friends, the battle with them and Zorc and the times before that, too. I figured that she is very… what they call it..Uh, loyal I think."

Kanika looked at him confused." Then why did you go and threatened her, if she is loyal?"

"It was just a test to scary her and for something you'll see later."

Mana turned to Tea." Let's set down and wait for him." Tea nodded, so they sat on the grass, waiting.

A minute later Atem came. " Good morning." Tea and Mana turned to him and replayed. Tea was about to get up to bow, but he refused.

"Stay still Miss Tea; I'm the one who will sit down. Can I?" Tea nodded." Of course."

"OK. Sit down now." Mana said. He sat down.

Mana started the conversation." So, Pharaoh, busy day?"

"You could say that." Atem said.

"Is this about Bakura?" She asked. Atem nodded.

Mana huffed." That freak. If someone let me on him."

Tea remained quiet just listening. What could she say? 'Hi, Atem. I'm your friend from the future. I helped you discover your memory which you had lost and now I want your help to go back to the rest of our friends 3000 years from know.'

Tea sighted.' He will think I'm crazy. I'll have to slow down.'

Atem looked at Tea. She was very quiet. "Miss Tea." Tea looked up." What?"

Atem smiled." You are quiet. You seemed to be in a deep thought."

"Yea. I was just thinking a bit." She laughed nervously.

Mana spoke." No. You are this quiet towards strangers, aren't you?"

"No! I'm not!" They laughed at her sudden burst.

Tea then looked at Atem. She wanted to start a conversation to reach what she wanted.

"If you don't mind me asking, but you seem young to be a pharaoh."

"You are right. Well I'm the only heir of the crown, so it's my destiny since my father died."

"I'm sorry to ask you."

"Never mind."

Mana spoke." It's all started since the accident of kul elna."

"Kul elna..?" Tea said. Mana sighted." It's a long story, but I'll tell you."

Then she started from the beginning. Tea knew a lot of things she didn't know before.

"So this Bakura wants to revenge from you because something he thinks your father did. Using this millennium items." Tea said.

"That's correct." He said.

"I see." Tea said. "So, why don't you arrest him? He deserves a punishment."

"He is using the magic of a millennium item. I feel he is planning for something to destroy my all kingdom. Even the people feel a disaster coming. But we don't know what?" Atem said.

'Now I got it. He didn't battle Zorc for the first time, so he didn't lose his memory. He hasn't even known us yet. Bakura is playing to change the events of the past to change the future. What a snake.' Tea thought. 'I have to warn him, but in the right time.'

"Ok, that's enough. Let's change the subject. I like to talk about our childhood. You know Tea, I and the pharaoh used to play here when we were young. We would get ourselves in troubles and Master Mahad was the one who saved us." Mana said.

"Really?" Tea said. She heard very funny stories from them. She laughed a lot like she was with her friends from the future, nearly. Mana was funny and energetic like Joey and Atem was the older version of Yugi.

"So, Tea is our friend now, Right Atem?" Mana asked.

"I'd delighted to be Miss Tea's friend." Atem said.

"I'd be happy to be your friend, too, Pharaoh." Tea said.

"Great!" Mana." Shake hands of peace now."

"What?" Tea questioned.

"It's a tradition Mana made for the new friends to shake hands." Atem said.

"Oh."

Atem then raised his hands towards Tea to shake." Friends."

Tea looked at his hand then to him. He had the same smile she knew. And she took his hand and they shook hands." We already are friends." She said and didn't lie about it.

For some odd feeling Atem didn't know how to describe. He felt attracted to Tea. Like she was his best friend for years, despite it was their first real conversation. He was content when she laughs and he love how bright she looks when she smiles.

"Well if you'll excuse me, but I have to go now." Atem said and stood up. "It was a pleasure to talk to you Miss Tea." The he left.

"…Mana..?" Tea said.

"Yes, Tea. Are you all right?" Mana asked because Tea looked nervous.

"Mana. I have a lot of secrets that I have to tell soon." Tea said quietly.

"What..? What kind of secrets?" Mana asked, she was getting worried from how Tea acts.

"Secrets that can make ones lose their lives and the change the history. But please promise me that you won't tell anybody until it's the right time, please."

Mana was extremely worried and confused." Tea… I trust you. And you have become one of my closest friends, so don't hesitate to tell me anything and I promise you that I won't tell a soul."

Then they hugged." Thank you, Mana. I'm just scared. If something went wrong then it is the end. The end of this world." Tea said in Mana's ear.

They pulled back." The end of this world..?" Mana said.

"I told you, these secrets are very dangerous." Tea said.

"So, the bitch has decided to speak." Bakura was hiding on a tree hearing them." Fine. She did this to herself." He has an evil smirk on his face.

Meanwhile, there was a maid cleaning Tea's room . While sweeping the floor under the bed, she found something. Bending down, she grabbed the piece of paper. She folded it but she was a simple woman that doesn't know how to read and write so she decided to hide it and give it Master Shimon later.

Tea and Mana were sitting on Tea's bed. Mana wanted to know what Tea had to say.

"Mana, the reason I'm telling you this is because I trust you very much and this is a real troubled to us all." Tea started. She sounded very serious.

Mana asked."What do you mean us?"

"I mean myself, you and the rest of the royal court and especially The pharaoh."

Mana was surprised. Just then she knew that Tea was hiding a dangerous secret. And she was worried about her friend, too."How are we involved in this?"

Tea calmed herself ."I'll tell you. As you know I'm Tea Gardner from Japan. And I'm supposed to be a complete stranger, right?" Mana nodded."Well I'm not. I know you before even coming here."

Mana thought that this was getting interesting."How so?"

"Because I'm from the future. 5ooo thousand year actually."

Mana mouth dropped."What...How?You're kidding right..?"Tea didn't answer immediately."Do I look like someone kidding."

"No..But what are you saying is..strange.I'm sorry, please continue."

Then Tea told her everything. Starting from Yugi solving the puzzle till the final duel. And she didn't forget to mention how she got here. Tea didn't know how to describe Mana's face after she had finished. She was confused and there were details that shocked her. Tea thought she looked really silly.

"So, what do have to say?"Tea asked.

"I..I think I'll faint."She grabbed a jar of water and drank it all."Aww..Now my stomach hurt beside my head."

"Tea. this is..this is... Why didn't you tell me sooner?" She exclaimed.

"I needed to think." Tea said.

"You're telling me that you and your friends who has strange names are The pharaoh Atem friend who helped him for years to save the world and discover his name to go to the afterlife. And that Bakura came to your house and kidnapped you here. And you don't know his intentions?"

Tea answered."Yes."

"Wow..He is more evil than I thought. Tea we have to tell The pharaoh."Mana said and stood up.

Tea grabbed her hand."We have to think first. Bakura is after me. Do you remember two days ago when you came and found me pale and scared?"

"Yeah, why?"

"That night I found a letter. It was from him. He threated me to hurt you all if I said anything then he came and asked me to steal The millennium puzzle and I said no so he pull a knife and was about to kill me but you came."Tea said.

Mana sat down again."Okay, let's think together of what to do."

Shimon was sitting on his desk writing some documents. Atem was beside him examining a letter he wrote to The king of another near kingdom. Then shimon asked."Have you seen Mana today, Atem."He used to call him by his when they are alone or with their friends.

"No, she have been with lady Tea since this afternoon. Strange she usually practice her magic after sunset but now it's late."

"That's along time. It's good that she found a friend by her age. Lady Tea seems a nice, friendly girl to me."Shimon said.

"You think so?"Shimon nodded then Atem continued."Me too. I fell I have seen here somewhere."

"Really?But she is not even from this country!" Shimon said and looked at Atem.

"I don't know, maybe it's just my imagination."Atem said that but he couldn't forget it.

In the present

Yugi, Joey and Tristan returned to yugi's house. His grandfather was asleep.

"So, what will we do now?" Tristan asked.

"I don't know but to think correctly we have to eat first." Joey said.

Yugi threw a pillow in his face."Can't you think in another matters!"

"Hey, I'm hungry. We didn't eat anything since this afternoon. Beside your grandfather is asleep. So I'll make some ramen and we will thing all this night okay."

"I agree." Tristan said. "Fine."Yugi said.

After half an hour from eating."Listen guys." Joey started." Why would he want to take Tea, and where?"

"After fighting him for years I think that he want to role the world and destroy every good thing."Yugi said.

Tristan spoke."But without the millennium items he is useless."

"Then how did he took Tea. He somehow had powers."Joey said.

"We'll ask grandpa in the morning about this."Yugi said. After eating and talking they felt their eyes closing by it's self. They had been awake since early in the morning and now it was 2:30 AM. So they slept.

Mana stood up."Oh, it's late. I should've practiced but your story made me forget about time. Master Mahad will definitely insult me in the morning."She said then yawned. Tea looked troubled, Mana noticed when she didn't answer her.

"Hey, you okay?" Mana asked.

"I'm fine, I'm just scared that he would come back."Tea said.

"I'll stay with you then."Mana said cheerfully."And if he came, I would turn him into monkey."

Tea laughed."Thank you. But let's close the balcony and the door well."

They closed everything very tight and settled under the covers.

"Mana?" Tea said.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for believing me." Tea said and smiled at her.

Mana smiled back."That's what friends are for."

The next morning.

"Tea wake up."Mana was shaking her lightly.

"What?"Tea said opening her eyes.

"Would you come to watch me practicing? I'll do a new spell."Mana happily said.

"Okay. Just one minute."Tea said sleepy.

"If you didn't wake up, I would let a snake sleep beside you now."She threatened her.

Tea's eyes shot opened."WHAT?!"Mana laughed hard.

"Okay, Mana, I woke up." Tea said. She despite snakes.

In the garden Mana was practicing on making the flowers bloom. But with no luck.

"Don't give up, Mana." Tea encouraged her. From afar Tea saw Mahad coming."Isn't this you master, Mana?" She asked her.

"What? Oh my god."Then quickly she hid behind Tea.

Mahad reached her. Tea stood up and bowed."Good morning."

Mahad said."Good morning." Then he looked behind her." I know your are hiding. Come now, Mana."

"Master Mahad I'm very, very, very sorry I didn't practice." She popped her head.

"Come now."He ordered. She came out carefully and get closer to him as he held her ear.

"What did I say about skipping practicing?"He said. Then he turned to Tea."Excuse us my lady." Tea nodded.

When they left Tea couldn't stop laughing when she remembered Mana's tortured expression.

"Found something to laugh about?" Atem appeared.

Tea stopped laughing. She didn't see him yesterday."Oh, good morning." Then she bowed.

"Friends should not bow, Lady Tea."

"Yea sorry. Then you should call me Tea."He nodded." It was very funny." She started laughing again, holding her stomach.

Even her laughter was familiar to him." They are always like this."

"Oh, my stomach hurt."She said."So what are you doing here?"

"I was going to take a walk then I saw you. Would you mind walking with me?" He asked.

Tea seemed a little surprised." Of course I don't mind." They walked together in the garden , talking about everything like life, friends, home and many other things. Atem found himself talking to her freely as if he know her for years. It was very easy talking to her and laughing with her. I t was strange to him because he is not a socialize person by nature. And not very good at making friends. But he felt she was already his best friend. Then they stopped by the fountain and sat on the edge.

Tea loved her time. She thought that this was Atem her friend. He was talking to her in this time more than he was talking to her in the future. Maybe because they are alone and he have his memories, family and friends. He doesn't carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Not yet.

"It was nice talking to you,...Tea."Atem said.

"It was nice talking to you, too."Tea answered.

"You know. I have this strange you."Atem said.

"What is it? Is it a bad feeling?" Tea said.

Atem chuckled."Not at all. I feel that I know you but I know that I didn't see before. It's really easy talking to you like you're my best friend for years. Strange, right?"

Tea looked at him and thought.'Maybe there is a hope he'll remember us'." No it's not strange." She answered.

He raised his eyebrows."How so?"

"You know. My father told me once that if two people saw each other and got to know each other quickly, then they are meant to be friends in the future." She said.

"What a wise father."He said and Tea nodded.

"I've missed them all. My family and my friends." Tea said.

Atem put his hand on her shoulder."Don't worry you'll go back." He smiled at her.

She smiled back." Thank you all."

Aya al maghrabi