Chapter 11

When I woke up that next morning, I felt legs around my waist. I opened my eyes a little wider. Yugi was nuzzled into my chest, trying to use my boobs for a pillow. Trying being the keyword. I was only an A cup, there wasn't much to use, and what was there was really firm and not pillowlike at all.

Regardless of the facts, he was adorable and I didn't want to disturb him. I reached over to my bag and found my phone. Perhaps it was weird to take a photo of this kind of situation. But I needed something to remember him by, and this was going to be one of them. In fact, the whole day today was going to be about memory making. Pictures will be taken, videos recorded, the whole shebang.

The camera went snap. Yugi stirred.I put the phone back and nudged him a little.

"Yugi wake up. Your crushing my ribs." I said. He lazily opened his eyes. A moment of realization passed, and he turned a saturated red. His nose was even bleeding and he was speechless.

"It's fine. You were some drunk last night. I had to take an entire bottle of wine away from you." I said, motioning to the discarded bottle.

"Wait you're not mad at me?" He said, clutching his head in why I assume was hangover pain.

"Why would I be mad? We didn't do anything regretful." I said, sitting up. I think I had slept on a big rock or something, my back was killing me. I rubbed a tendon and groaned.

"Today's the big day, huh?" He said. I nodded. Today was the day I go back to my time. I was supposed to go this afternoon. I had to get that video of Yami. I wonder if he was awake yet.

I grabbed my phone, my backpack, and letter and got out of the tent. Sure enough, he was nearby. The smell of the meat was gone, the bonfire long out. Many were still asleep.

"Good morning Yami." I greeted. He turned around and nodded.

"Good morning Lucy. You're up early."

"Yes well, I guess I couldn't sleep." I said. "You know, I never got that video."

"Ah yes. So what do I do? You mentioned something about a 'phone'?

"Yes. I'll back up and tell you when it's rolling." I said. I took a couple steps back and pushed the recording button. "Okay go."

Yami cleared his throat. "So I just say something encouraging?"

"Yep." I said.

"Okay. Lucy. I you're viewing this, you may have been dealt a bad hand in life. Perhaps you're in an unfamiliar place or life just isn't treating you right. But you are the Rose Duelist. You freed England from the tyranny of the Yorkists. You have come this far. Don't give up now. Every day is a second chance. Just because something isn't happening for you now doesn't mean it will never happen. You may not control the events that happen to you, but you can choose not to be reduced by them. Don't change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will like you. You only have a tiny spark of madness. You musn't lose it. Lucy, you've been in worse situations than the current one. I know you can power through this and demolish blockades. I believe in you, so says Henry Tudor, King of England.

Is that good? Are we good?"

I shakily pushed the button again. Shakily because I going to cry of missing him.

"Lucy? Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah. Ima go get Yugi so we can have a picture or two together." I said. I went back to the tent and opened the flap. I saw Yugi look up from the bed.

"Come on, I want to take pictures of us together." I said. He rubbed his eyes and groaned a little but complied. He followed me out to where Yami was.

"So what is this called again?" Yugi asked.

"It's called a picture. This device takes instantaneous images that are hyper realistic. So first Yami alone..." I snapped a picture of Yami looking regal.

"Then Yugi..." I snapped a pic of him being playful.

"Now both..." The two got together. Yami put his hand around Yugi's waist and vice versa. I snapped the picture.

"Now all three! Say cheese!" I backed between them and held the phone in front of us. I snapped the picture.

"Guys, the pictures came out great. I can't thank you two enough for what you two did for me." I said.

"What are friends for?" Yugi said.

"It's only fitting of a King to help his peers." Yami said.

"To thank you for what you've done, I would like you to have this." I said, handing Yami the letter. "Don't open it till I'm gone."

"Why?" He asked.

"It's for the best." I said. I saw lightning strike the center of Stonehenge out of the corner of my eye.

"And speaking of best, I think the ritual is ready." I said, walking up the hill. A blue, iridescent portal shone before me. I took one last look at my two favorite people in the world. Tears streamed from my eyes and a lump formed in my throat.

"Lucy, do you have to go?" Yugi asked, he himself crying.

"Fraid so. But remember this. You only have one tiny spark of madness. You musn't lose it." And before I could start to regret what I was doing, I let myself fall backwards into the portal.

It felt like I was in a wind tunnel. Blue lights glowed all around me. I closed my eyes, crying, letting my tears stream down my face. I didn't want to leave. But I didn't belong in this time zone.

I felt something hard hit my head, and everything went black.

...

When I woke up, I was face up in a bed. A canopy bed. Usually, I would be overjoyed by this because I love canopy beds.

BUT I DID NOT OWN A CANOPY BED.

I shot up, and my head felt heavier than usual. I ran my fingers through my hair, and it seemed... Volumous. I don't wear hairspray, and it wasn't clotting like hairspray does.

No.

NO.

I tore away the soft veil to reveal the rest of the room. I was completely made out of stone, with a distinct color pallets of red, yellow, blue, black, and white. A large balcony branched out. I ran out to see the view. A palace. A FRICKING PALACE OVERLOOKING A DESERT TOWN.

I had to get out. But it was cold in the desert at night. My pack and a burlap cloak were sitting on a dresser near the bed. I put on the pack and then the cloak, fastening it around my neck with a gold clasp. I pulled the hood over my head and walked out the door to my room.

Goddamn where was the gate? The palace couldn't be this fricking big could it? So far I had passed through every room except the throne hall and the gates. I was currently in a beautiful garden. It was ok in here, so I took my cloak and pack off because the pack was chafing. I checked through my pack to see if everything was still there. Art Kit, candy, deck, phone, tablet. Yep, still there. I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I turned to stare at my reflection I a pool of water.

I was Atem. No I'm not kidding. Poof hair with all the improbable highlights, my boobs were gone, my skin was an Arabian tan, everything. I wasn't wearing a shirt, just the man skirt and Millennium Puzzle.

What. WHAT?!