Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links: Pharaoh's Revival

Chapter 23 - Memoirs of a Concubine

I escaped unharmed that night, as I knew I would, but the situation yesterday had me thinking. What exactly was that "prophecy"? Maybe I could ask Shimon if I find him. Wait, is that... That's right, this is when Isis tries to warn Mahad about Bakura. ....... Forget Shimon, I have to fix this! They will die happy together!

Mousedung, Mahad's already gone. Then again, I was far enough away to have screwed this up. Isis tilted her head down, disappointed in herself. I stepped in front of her and gave her a hug. "He'll be fine." I said. "That is, if you let me go after him..."

That didn't seem to go as planned. "I'm not sure." Isis began. "What if the Pharaoh realizes you are gone?"

I shrugged her comment off. "Oh, he'll just assume I got lost again. Everyone knows I'm a huge troublemaker compared to his other concubines. He'll be so busy wandering around here looking for me that he won't even have to worry about Bakura."

Isis giggled. "Unluckily for him, you're always changing your hiding spot."

I smiled back. "As much as I would love to think up a new one just to get on his nerves, I could still go after Mahad, if you'd like."

She nodded. "Keep him safe."

And with that, I was off! I don't care if I stop their Duel, nothing's gonna change drastically. If I keep Mahad from becoming the Dark Magician, Yugi's just gonna end up with a new ace monster. And then Atem will lose the Final Duel that much faster!

Mahad was on horseback, whereas I got to the cavern on foot, as to not be noticed, so it took me that much longer to get to their Dueling site. So long that I got caved out. Yeah, that's a phrase. Not caved in, out. No biggie though, maybe I can just use the Pendant to-- Foxdung, Adia doesn't get the Pendant until after Zorc's defeat. There has got to be a way inside.

Wait, what's that sound? Other horses? There's gotta be at least five, coming towards me at least. Sounds like maybe twenty running away from me. Oh no, I'm even later than I thought! Calm down, if I can get inside, I might still be able to keep Mahad's soul from being sealed away and swipe the Millennium Ring before Bakura can get his hands on it, but I've gotta hurry. Come on, Bakura, I know you left an opening somewhere. There's no such thing as the perfect crime.

Found it! And just in time. "Hello? Hello, hello?"

"A-....Aida?!"

I swung in and snagged the Ring before Bakura could. "I'll be taking this." Once I was on the other side, I thought I'd get a little creative. I reconnected the lace. Three times fast, three times slow, three times fast. Atem better recognize this!

"You pathetic mortal." Bakura scoffed. "I should have known you'd follow the Pharaoh. You know what will happen to you here...." That smirk he gave me... Am I a target for him? Nah, he hates my guts.

Well, my plan would have worked... "So, how did things go with Mana before my little adventure?" I playfully asked Atem as we made our escape. He swoops in to save me and you expect me NOT to change the subject?!

"We'll talk later!" he scowled.

I nabbed his sword and did a flip off of the horse. "I got your back!"

"Wait, what?" You should have been there to see his reaction! Bent over clinging onto that poor pony's neck for dear life, "CHARGE!!!!!!!!", crashed right through Bakura's army. Hilarious!

When am I gonna learn that "later" means "tonight". At least he's more tame than I expected. "I never got my answer about Mana."

Atem blushed red as Yuya's tomato hair. "I-it-... Everything was fine. We need to talk. About your role as a Temple."

I nodded.

"Adia and Mahad were... very close.... Adia's parents were already slaves during my father's rule. Mahad was very serious about them being kept while the rest of the Hebrews were freed."

"So, Ramses was your grandfather?"

"Yes, Aknamkanon was the second-born."

I rushed forward and pinned him against the edge of the bed, gripping the collar of his tunic, our bodies as far apart as possible. "You're lying, I can tell. Aknamkanon was never mentioned. And don't go trying to tell me he wasn't talked about because the story now focused on the Israelites rather than the Egyptians. I doubt He would skim over something like that."

Atem sighed, giving in. I caught him.

"When did you learn this?"

"I remembered everything as soon as you started doing that S-O-S thing with the Millennium Ring. Even if I was lying, Adia had a closer relationship with Mahad than anyone else." he hung his head. "Sometimes, I thought he was the one having the affair with her..."

I smirked. "Foolish. Mahad was trying to help her escape, he wouldn't take advantage of her. The fact that I'm not bearing the child of either of you is clear proof of it."

Atem cursed at himself hearing this. "It won't matter if I'm his obsession, your brother's going to kill me..."

I rubbed my forehead and sighed. "I'm not bearing a child at all. But, as long as he doesn't find out you assumed that, I think we're good."