"I don't understand. How is it that I'm here right now?" Atem thought aloud, looking around Yugi's room in confusion.

"I can answer that, Pharaoh."

Atem and Yugi turned to see Morgan, though what she looked like at that moment made Yugi gasp. No longer was she in her dirty white blouse and torn denim jeans; instead, she was adorned in a beautiful tannish-white sleeveless dress - which revealed the bandages wrapped around her right shoulder- that went to her feet, a golden, belt-like band tightly around her waist, and many pieces of Egyptian jewelry, including antique-style necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and a crown of lilies made of amber atop her head of red-brown hair. Her skin was also much more tan, like Atem's, and the amber light faintly outlined her body.

Embarr was also no where to be seen.

"Who are you?" Atem inquired, the hint of kingly demand present in his voice.

Morgan got to her feet and looked at the former pharaoh with a soft yet confident smile. She placed the hand of her uninjured shoulder on her chest and said, "Like Seto Kaiba, I also had a past life in Ancient Egypt, but destiny meant for me to be reborn in this time. In this time, I go by the name Morgan Halo, but my past name was Masika, Princess of the city Embarr… and I need your help, My Pharaoh."

Atem looked at Morgan suspiciously. "I've never heard of that city. How can I trust you if I've never seen you in The Spirit World?"

"Embarr was the capital of its own kingdom, My King; and unfortunately, much like you once had, destiny has prevented me from finding peace."

Hearing this, Atem felt sympathy for the girl. It had been hard for him, waiting 5,000 years for someone to solve the Millennium Puzzle. It was uncertain as to how long Morgan's spirit had wandered, but it was obvious that it was a very long time if she knew of him. "What can I possibly do? My purpose in this world has ended," he explained.

Morgan sighed. "Though it's true that you defeated Zorc, the being of darkness itself, there is another being that threatens to bring this world into darkness. Now it is time for your heir to finish his destiny."

Yugi gasped and was on his feet in an instant. "Wait; you mean Kaiba?"

Morgan looked at him and nodded.

"Not to sound negative, but Kaiba refuses to believe that he had a past life in Egypt, even when he traveled to the past with us," Yugi explained.

Morgan nodded again. "Yes, I know. That is why I need the help of you, Pharaoh," she said, turning back to Atem. "Even if it's for a short time, I need you to take me to The Spirit World."

Atem was taken aback. What she was asking for made no sense. "Why must you go there if Kaiba is the one that you need?"

Morgan sighed. "If he's going to accept his past life, I need to speak with the Seto from your time. I can give him the power to communicate with his present self, but he has to remember who I am first and the only way to do that is for me to see him myself. Please, My King; the fate of the world is at stake!" There was deep desperation in her voice.

Atem turned to his aibou. "What do you think, Yugi?"

Yugi looked at his closest friend with soft eyes and nodded his head. "I trust her, Atem. What's she told me as well as you, she must be telling us the truth if she knows so much."

Morgan smiled. "Thank-you, Yugi."

Atem smiled as well and nodded his head to Yugi before turning back to Morgan. "Very well; if Yugi trusts you as a friend, then you are my friend as well." He held out his hand for Morgan to take and asked, "Shall we go?"

Morgan took his hand and the amber light around her suddenly increased in brightness. She looked at Yugi and said "Watch over my body while I'm gone, okay?" When Yugi nodded, she added, "And keep an eye out; I sensed Corridor's presence earlier and he may still be lingering around."

With that, she split in two; Masika becoming a spirit and Morgan separating from her spirit and collapsing to the ground. Yugi watched as Masika and Atem grew in brightness and then disappeared in a flash. The cards surrounding Yugi all lost their glow and merely laid there on the carpet.

Yugi waited a few moments before he walked over to Morgan's body. He struggled but managed to safely place her in his bed. He pulled the light blankets up to the soulless girl's neck, then went downstairs to tell Joey what had happened, leaving the cards where Morgan had left them in case they would activate again upon her spirit's return.

XXXXX

Masika didn't know what to expect when she arrived at the Spirit World, but one thing was for certain; she didn't expect it to appear the same as it had when she had lived in Ancient Egypt.

The marketplace was as lively as it would be in the land of the living. Merchants called out for people to try their wonderful food, fortunetellers whispered to those that passed them that they could have their futures read, and performers danced, sang, or charmed snakes, gaining gold coins from impressed spectators.

Atem and Masika passed through the streets, offering greetings when greeted and politely turning down those who tried to sell them something.

They had just reached the outer courtyard of the palace when a familiar brunette-haired girl jumped out from behind a pillar, wrapping her body around Atem and nearly bringing him to the ground.

"Atem!I've been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?" She saw that Masika was behind the former pharaoh and asked "Who's your friend?"

Masika giggled before placing her right hand on her chest in greeting. "Greetings. My name is Masika. I'm just a simple colleague of Pharaoh Atem's."

Atem removed his long childhood friend from his body and looked at Masika. "I see us as quite more than just mutual friends if you're friends with Yugi," he stated. Masika's eyes grew wide in surprise, gaining a laugh from the former king. "Don't worry; Mana knows of Yugi and the others. She met them when they traveled into the past." He started to head towards the palace, his two friends close behind.

"Wait, so you're like that boy who looks just like Atem, and his friends?" Mana inquired with a questionable look.

Masika inclined her head slightly. "In some way, yes. Although I would be more than willing to explain it to you, my time here is limited, and it is urgent that I speak to Seto right away."

"Seto?" Mana repeated. "I haven't seen him all day,"

Masika smiled. "I have a feeling I know where he is. If I know him, he should be cooped up in the royal library."

They passed the large gate doors and entered the inner courtyard.

"How can you be sure of that?" Mana asked.

Before Masika could answer, she spotted a tall man at the archway to the palace. He wore a decorative purple galabeya that fell to his feet and a white headpiece with a golden cobra at the crest of his forehead. His face was sharp and he had a gray mustache and beard, but there was obvious kindness in his eyes when he spotted Atem.

"Ah, my son," the man said with a deep voice. "I was going to tell you that Mana was looking for you, but it seems she has already found you," he added with a laugh.

Masika and Mana stayed where they were as Atem walked up to his father and bowed respectfully.

Aknamkanon smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. He looked over to Mana and for the first time noticed Masika. His eyes grew wide a little in surprise as he walked past his son and was soon standing in front of Masika. Mana instinctively bowed, but the former pharaoh paid no attention to the young spell-caster. Instead, he studied Masika, as if trying to place a familiar face. "Dendera?" He finally asked.

But Masika shook her head. "No, Pharaoh Aknamkanon. Dendera is… was, my mother. I am her and Adom's second eldest, Masika." She then bowed her head and curtsied.

Aknamkanon's eyes softened as he smiled and placed his hands on Masika's shoulders, forcing the girl to look up. "Masika, you look just like your mother. You've become quite the beautiful woman," he said.

Masika looked down again and blushed under the compliment.

"Father, you know her?" Atem asked, walking up to him and Masika.

"Yes," Aknamkanon replied, looking at his son. "Masika's parents and I were very good friends. The last time I saw them was before you were born, and Masika here was but a small child." He looked back at Masika and lifted her chin in a kind manner so that their eyes met. "I am curious though. How is it that your family is yet to visit us here? Surely Adom and Dendera aren't too busy with their city to come and visit an old friend."

It was then that tears began to well up and spill from Masika's eyes. She pulled her head gently away from Aknamkanon's hands and tried her best not to let out her pitiful noises of sobbing. "I'm sorry, my Pharaoh, but my family cannot visit because… they are prisoners of The Shadow Realm.

Mana was the only one to gasp as she put her hands over her mouth, but it was obvious that this news surprised Atem, and Aknamkanon looked down and clenched his hands into fists, a look of sorrow on his face.

"How did it happen?" Aknamkanon asked, half to himself.

"I-I wish I could tell you, My King," Masika began, wiping away some of her tears with her arm. "But the memory itself is too much to bear, and I'm afraid that my time here is limited."

Aknamkanon nodded. "Yes, I sensed that you are not yet a resident of this world." He turned Masika by the shoulders so she was facing him. "Just know that if there is anything you need, just let me be aware of it, and I will do what I can to help."

Masika's tears stopped and she smiled. "Thank you, Pharaoh Aknamkanon. I will be sure to do just that.

XXXXX

Afterwards, Mana had left to do training with her master Mahado, and after walking around the palace and asking about the whereabout of Seto, Atem and Masika confirmed that he was very much in the library. When they had just a few steps from their destination, Kisara came out of the doorway. She was holding several papyrus scrolls against her chest and was leaving when she saw Atem.

"Oh, hello, Pharaoh Atem," Kisara greeted as she walked up to the former king. She bowed, dropping one of the scrolls.

Atem quickly reached out a hand and caught the scroll, then handed it back to the white-haired girl. "Is Seto in there?" He indicated to the library.

"Y-Yes," Kisara stammered nervously. "He wanted me to look into something for him."

"Well then, I won't keep you waiting," Atem replied.

Kisara simply nodded her head and headed off in the opposite direction in a cheery manner.

"She sure seems happy," Masika put out.

Atem nodded. "She and Seto are quite close. Even now, her Ka protects Kaiba."

They both walked into the royal library and just like Kisara had said, Seto was there, reading through several papyrus scrolls and small stone tablets that lay scattered on the table.

He must have heard them come in, for he looked up from his work and saw Atem. "Pharaoh Atem, what can I do for you?" He asked, getting up from his chair.

"There's someone here who wishs to speak with you," Atem explained. He stepped aside to reveal Masika behind him.

Masika walked over the table and bowed her head to Seto. "It's been a long time, Pharaoh Seto."

Seto just blinked at the girl. "Do I know you?"

Oh how much he and his present form are so alike, even in attitude, Masika thought to herself. She put a hand to her mouth and giggled, gaining a confused look from Seto. "You really haven't changed," Masika explained between her laughter. "I cannot say that you are at fault for not recognizing me. After all, we were merely children when last we saw each other."

Seto continued to look at this stranger, wondering who she was. Finally he managed to say, "I feel like I know you from somewhere."

Masika stopped her laughing and placed her hand on her chin in thought, trying to think of a way that would trigger his memory of her. After all, she couldn't go straight out with telling him her name, otherwise the spell couldn't work, and she knew that Corridor had ears in the Spirit World, so the less she revealed herself here, the better. Asking Embarr to appear was also out of the question, for her presence would be known by Corridor's spies in an instant.

That's when Masika remembered a certain event in her childhood. With this in mind, she let her hand fall to her side and reached for her left ear. She removed the small earring from it, then did the same with the one on her other ear. Then she put them both in the palm of her right hand and showed it to Seto. "Do you recognize these? You were the one who made them for me, after all."

The earrings were beautiful, round stones of the purest stone of amber. Well, they weren't completely round; it was obvious that unpracticed hands had made them, yet the glory of the earrings and the love and dedication that the maker put into it was crystal clear.

It was then that Seto remembered.

[Flashback]

Young Seto and his mother are walking down a marketplace road, heading back to their home from the river. A jug is on his mother's head, while Seto struggles with the bucket that he carries with both his hands.

"Seto!" A voice calls from behind them in the distance.

Seto and his mother turn to see a small girl in a royal linen gown riding towards them on a large, white fox-creature.

Seto smiles, but quickly realizes the fox is coming towards them far too fast. Before he cam warn the girl, the fox skids to a sudden halt, throwing the girl over its head and sending her crashing into Seto, forcing the bucket to fly and the water dumping on top of them with one big splash.

"S-Sorry," the girl says at first, but when she sees what the water had done to her friend, she bursts out in laughter.

Seto's hair is in a complete mess, dripping and falling flat on his head.

Seto just pouts. "That's not funny, Princess Masika. You could have gotten hurt. You need to learn to control that thing," he retorted, indicating to the fox creature that was now nuzzling Seto's mother softly.

"Don't blame Embarr; she's still just a kid, like us. It's not her fault she was excited to see you," the girl stated.

At the sound of its name, the fox-beast came over to the two human children and gave Seto a big lick on the cheek.

Masika laughed, and Seto eventually gave in and laughed as well.

[Flashback ends]

Seto cupped his hands around Masika's one hand and smiled at her. "It's been so long, Princess Masika."