You bounced through the woods with Mako on your shoulder. The griffin stayed with you all the time. You felt full of energy this morning. The sense of accomplishment didn't leave you as you recalled your successful fight with the griffins.

This morning after breakfast you trained with your magic as usual. You got an idea of turning your wind into some shape. You remembered the feeling of wielding Atem's sword. You tried to replicate it with the wind. Usually your blasts were visible. You didn't know how exactly this worked, but you could see the shape of the blast. You didn't know if the others saw it too though. So after lots of failed attempts you finally succeeded. Only for a while, but you created a sword with wind that could cut through the woods.

Today's gotten windy, though you guessed it was more because of the fact you were near a canyon that caused the improvement of weather. Nonetheless, traveling like this was more enjoyable. You wondered what Khaidu Lake looked like. You were excited for fresh water.

At night you dreamed about a man in turban again. This time you stood before the white doors, yet everything around you, ceiling, floors and walls were shrouded in darkness. Only a white, flowery ornamented doors were visible. You saw and felt details when you slid your hand along its structure. The doors opened a little with a loud creak. For a moment the light blinded you. You looked towards the black man. He stood emotionless beside you. You tried to push the doors more, but no matter how hard you tried they didn't budge. As if something from the other side stopped you.

"Watch out!"

"Huh?" you slipped lost in thoughts and would fall into hole in the ground. With a squeak you sunk your nails into Atem's arms and let him maneuver you through the slippery mud. You heard Mako's screech as he flew into the air. Yellow feathers flew around you as you tried to regain balance. You two froze clutching to each other in the mud. You made your way cautiously to dry ground. A sudden thought flashed through your mind. Why was there mud if rain hadn't fallen for a whole month?

"Are you okay?" Atem asked. He kept you in an embrace and held onto Gurram's reins at the same time.

"O-oh! Yes!" realizing you still held onto the half-dragon for your dear life, your heart beat faster. It's not like you weren't this close to him, but today the thought of being so close made you nervous. You let go and took a a few slippy steps back. You massaged your red cheeks and turned away. Gods, what was happening to you? You heard Atem coughing.

"It seems we found the way into Khaidu Lake."

"It's under the ground?" you blinked and pushed hanging green lianas aside. You peeked inside. You felt shiver run down your spine. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," he nodded. "There are three entrances to the Lake. One here, second one on the other side of the canyon. We're going to use the third one that would lead us to the path to Lord Pegasus' mansion at the foot of Mt. Tap Turpu."

"And this is the only way in, right?" you asked. He blinked and focused his gaze on you. You nervously fiddled with your hair and refused to meet his eyes. Now the perspective of going to the Lake wasn't so promising.

"Are you afraid...?" he asked.

"N-no! It's just...," you didn't know what to say. He was right. You didn't want to go back to the dark place that reminds you of the cave. You didn't know why, but a thought of going inside sent chills through your body.

He stood there uncertain what to do. You felt bad, really bad about it. But you were sure that you could not step inside the cave no matter how hard you tried to convince yourself it'll be alright. The entrance looked like jaws that wanted to eat you.

You heard a thumping sound from the inside and took a few steps backwards. Atem must've heard it too since he put his hand on the hilt of his sword. The noise was louder and louder. Something inside was coming closer, with heavy snorting and wheezing.

Out of the cave fell a black horse with a resonant neigh. You felt as if your heart was about to burst out of your chest any moment. You breathed in relief, while Atem calmed down the horse.

"A horse?" he patted its mane.

"But what was it doing in that tunnel," you perked. Atem nodded. Mako wriggled on your shoulder. You scratched him under his chin.

"I've got no idea. Maybe somebody else is in there," he said. The horse neighed again and you fed him a carrot. "We should get going too. Take his reins."

You fidgeted in your place. For a moment you forgot about your problem, but it came back to hit you with the full force. You felt Atem's gaze on you.

"Come on," you blinked when he held out his hand for you. You looked confused at him. "Take my hand. I... I won't let anything happen to you. Okay?"

You hesitantly took his hand. The leathered glove was rough and worn. He squeezed your hand and walked into the cave. You tugged on the black horse's reins and walked behind him. The torch you had was small and fragile. You felt your heart beating faster. You breathed deeply when you walked through the stone tunnel. Pebbles gritted under your shoes, echoing further into the tunnel. The further you went the taller the walls became, so you didn't have to worry about hitting yourself on a protruding roots and the horses could go in their full height. You gulped and squeezed Atem's hand harder.

The ground shook and you screamed loudly. You crouched down and covered your ears with your hands. You felt tears welling in your eyes. You were afraid.

"No! I want to get out of here!"

"It's alright," the half-dragon crouched beside you. You only shook your head and trembled. You felt him hugging you. Minutes passed till you finally calmed down. "We really need to go, ______. Can you stand up?"

No, your mind said. You only nodded and stood up. You shivered when a sudden gust of wind blew right through you. You were trembling and wailing, when another earthquake came. This time it did some damage. From the way you came here you heard a horrible noise you remembered from months back. The tunnel was collapsing.

"Get on a horse!" Atem commanded and helped you. You waited as he got on Gurram's back and with a heart in your throat you galloped through the tunnel. You saw Mako flying in front of you till the torch fell on the floor and expired. You rushed the horse with a kick.

All you thought about was to get out of here. In total darkness you put your trust in the black horse. You prayed that it will get you out of here. A small voice inside your head told you to go faster, but how could you?

Your mind went blank when you felt another quake. You numbly squeezed the reins and looked ahead. Everything around you stopped to matter when you saw a source of light ahead. Just a little closer and you'll be alright. A little bit and maybe you won't die. Just a little...

You rode into the light and for a moment you were blinded. The tunnel behind you was filled with dirt and rocks. Before you stretched glowing surface of the Khaidu Lake. With a voice inside your head rushing you, you got off the black horse and walked towards the Lake. You looked at your reflection in the mirror like surface. You stepped on the solid structure.

"______?" Atem called out for you. But you didn't turn around. You just walked forward as the whispering voice inside your head told you.

Wake me up. Don't! Wake me up! Do not wake me up! W a k e m e u p ! D o n o t wake me up!

You heard voice from the inside. You crouched at the center of the Lake, but all you could see was your dazed reflection.

S I N G

And so you did.

"I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name

"Listen, my child," you say to me
"I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid, come follow me
Answer my call, and I'll set you free"
.
.
.

You stood up and let your voice resonate through the air. You didn't know how you knew the lyrics. They just appeared in your mind and you followed the melody. You danced on the surface with a contradicting sense of calmness and dread in your heart. When you closed your eyes you saw the White Doors. With each word leaving your mouth they moved. You tried to reach them but you still couldn't open them.

***


Yugi and his group finally found the way into Khaidu Lake. They hoped that they wouldn't experience another earthquake. Just as they got out of the hole, they almost fell down again. The earth shook and they held onto the plants for their dear life.

At least they found the entrance to the Lake, it was a long tunnel, high enough for a horse to walk freely. Well, if they had a horse. Yugi's Rendava was probably still with the King's henchmen. Along with their food supplies and clothes.

As they walked further into the tunnel they heard weird noises and little quake.

"Not again!" wailed Laegil and sped up.

"Let's hurry!"

"Yeah!"

The three of them ran along the stoney corridor. Yugi prayed for the tunnel to not collapse, at least not with them inside. He hoped Atem and ______ were safe.

"I am the voice of the past that will always be,

Filled with my sorrow and blood in my veins,

I am the voice of the future,

Bring me your peace,

Bring me your peace and my wounds, they will heal."

The half-dragon heard echoing voice through the cave. The sound mixed with thumping and panting. Yugi thought it was ______, but why would she sing in such a situation? They must've felt the earthquake.

The three companions fell out of the tunnel blinded by a sudden rush of light. The surface of the Lake shined like a million diamonds. Yugi saw the dancing girl on the solid mirror. He wasn't sure if what he saw was real. Was it the light the Lake produced or she herself glowed in the darkness?"

"I am the voice of the past that will always be,
I am the voice of your hunger and pain,
I am the voice of the future,
I am the voice!"

The girl sang last notes with her arms wide open. She looked like she bathed in the light and the light was covering her. Yugi thought she was beautiful and stood staring at her. She finally stopped and it was as if the whole magic faded. Then he finally noticed his brother, who as well stood mesmerized on the other side of the Lake.

"Yugi!" Atem finally shook out of the daze and called out.

"Hey!" he waved back and three of them walked around the Lake. ______ still stood at the center of the mirror.

"______ I missed you so muuuch~!" Laegil ran up to her and hugged the girl. She smiled and patted the dragon on the head. "You're not hurt, are you? I'm sorry we had to split!"

"No, Laegil, I'm fine."

"Really?"

"Just a little bit... tired."

Yugi smiled a little at that scene. Laegil was really protective of the Vayis girl. And taking into the account what they learned the night before about the magic of Light, she had a lot of reasons.

"Huh? Since when did you had another horse?" Jonouchi asked Atem. Yugi blinked, now he noticed the black horse.

"Well, he kinda ran outside the tunnel?" Atem scratched his cheek. "So we took him with us. Anyway we should get going, one tunnel collapsed already. We barely made it in time."

They looked at the tunnel Atem pointed. The rocks fell out of it and there was no way to go through.

"What's on your end?" he asked when they started to leave the tunnel. _____ was unusually quiet, Yugi noticed, and she glanced behind her all the time. She looked nervous and clung to Laegil till they were out.

Yugi proceeded with narrating about their adventures, meaning meeting the King, losing a horse and almost being buried alive. He still was sad because of his horse. He was with his companion for a long time and they bonded with each other. He felt bad about leaving Rendava behind, but there was no way to get him back.

When they finally walked out of the tunnel he felt a light breeze touching his skin.

Then he felt an arrow piercing his shoulder.

~~***~~
SONG:
Kinda important on many levels!
Hi! I hope you enjoyed! :)