Before we get started, there are some things to address about this story:

First off, this story will take place after the end of the Pokémon Battle Frontier and will be an adaptation of "Waking the Dragons". While this story will adhere to the dub, I will add in some references to the original anime (but not all of them, of course). The only (human) characters from Pokémon that play a role here will be May and Max-whether or not I shall add others in future tales will depend on whether or not people are interested, and whether or not I can easily fit them into the world.

Second, cards that are showcased here will be spread-out throughout the entire franchise, but most of the monsters showcased are from the DM and GX era. Made-up cards will be marked in bold and information about the cards will be shown at the bottom of the chapter (reading through them is completely optional). Duels that involve supernatural powers will start at 4000 lifepoints, while regular duels will begin with 8000.

Third, Pokémon attacks and abilities will adhere to Gen VI (Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire specifically), but Mega Evolutions will not appear in this tale.

Fourth, and last but not least, I do not own any of the characters except for ones I made up. All rights to the characters from Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh belong to their respective creators and nothing more. The only thing I have control over is the flow of the story, nothing more.

And now, without further ado, let us begin.

Between My Brother and Me: De Novo

Author: Green Phantom Queen

Rated: T

Summary: Before heading off to the Johto league, May and Max decide to take a trip to Domino City where they encounter real live Duel Monsters, ancient spirits, and the task to protect the Pharaoh in his darkest hour against the threat of the Seal of Orichalcos. Armed with their Pokémon, Duel Disks and endless amounts of courage, these two will stop at nothing in saving the world from utter destruction.

Prologue: Trial of Nightmare

"I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality."

-Frida Kalho

It was sunset on that fateful day when everything changed.

That was when our lives went off into a different direction, if only for a short while. Max and I changed so dramatically within that span of 7 to 8 days that I still remember it right now. It involved so many things: a book, a friend, a giant monster, a man wanting to rebuild the world in his image, and memories from a time long, long ago…

But the most important thing that it happened was how Max and I made it all the way to the end and how we grew up from these experiences. Sure, Ash and Brock helped us out throughout our adventures in the Hoenn and Kanto region, but after that, we were on our own. It's amazing what we experienced in that week...

I'm getting ahead of myself though. Let me start just after the Terracotta Grand Festival...

0-0-0-0-0

It was sunset when it all started.

After the battle in the Terracotta Grand Festival, which lead to May's Combusken evolving into a Blaziken and both she and Ash tying for the Terracotta ribbon (that they promptly were able to split thanks to a Leaf Blade from Ash's Sceptile), it was time for her to head off for the next Pokémon Festival and to improve her skills as a Pokémon Coordinator. Saying good-bye to people you grew close to was always difficult, but it had to be done.

"It's been fun," May said to Ash and Brock as the ship appeared at the port. "But...now it's time for me to go on my own adventure, and take what I've learn to become the best Pokémon coordinator ever! So, I hope you understand...and I hope to see you again soon."

"We do, don't worry," Ash replied, patting the girl's head. "Just promise me that you'll call us from time to time, okay?"

"Pikachu. Pika!" The small yellow rodent added.

"And make sure all of your Pokémon are in good condition," Brock added. "You don't want them to get sick on your trip to the Johto region."

"Promise," May replied, saluting them. "I won't let any of my friends get sick."

"That's good to hear," Ash smiled, hands behind his head. "It's always good to take care of your friends."

Suddenly the sound of the foghorns came in, and May turned to see the ship at the dock, placing a hand on her forehead to block the glare of the sun. Something about the sunset, in its bright orange, reds and yellows that indicated the time between day and night, reminded her of something long ago...or perhaps it was something that she saw in a dream. Still, she smiled all the same.

"Well, Max," she said as she turned to Max. "This looks like this is our ship."

"Huh?" Max asked in confusion. "'You're not heading off for the Johto region yet?"

May shook her head. "I'm going to go back home and rest for a while before I head off," she explained, turning toward the sunset. "Mom and Dad haven't heard from us for a while, anyway. It would be great to see them before I head off."

"That's awesome! Then we can spend more time before you leave."

May blinked. "You're...really going to miss me that much?"

Max turned away, trying to hide the embarrassment on his face. "Well...I'll miss you...a little bit," he replied in a soft voice.

May smiled as she hugged her brother. "That's okay," she said. "I'll miss you too."

"Goodbye then!" Ash said, as the two siblings headed to the ship. "Take care!"

"Goodbye!" May and Max replied with a wave of their hands as the ship started to sail away minutes later. Slowly, Ash, Brock and Pikachu became nothing more than dots underneath the red and orange sky. Resting against the side of the ship, May stared at the waters, seeing it ripple and foam. A gentle breeze blew and caressed her cheeks. At one point, she thought she could hear a voice whispering directly into her ear, as if the person was standing right behind her, but she brushed that thought aside and took in a deep breath to smell the salty air.

"I wonder what's going to be like once I'm alone," she murmured. "I'm a bit scared..."

Max turned to his sister and placed a hand over her own. May turned, seeing how her her brother smiled at her.

"Don't worry," he said. "You'll be fine. No matter what happens, I'll be thinking about you and praying that you'll make it. All you have to do is believe in yourself, and things will turn out for the better!"

"You really think so?"

"Trust me, I know so."

May smiled as the two siblings held hands. The wind blew softly as they continued to stare for a few seconds. May then released the grasp and looked for something in one of the pouches on her fanny pack. She then pulled the items out: they were two necklaces that looked like the halves of a Poké Ball pendant.

"I almost forgot about these," she said as she placed one necklace around her brother's neck, feeling her gloved fingers connect the clasp. "That way, no matter what happens, we're always there for each other. What do you think?"

Max stared at the pendant for a while. Despite all of the bickering the two went through during the past few months together, the siblings had a bond that no one could break. The pendant halves proved that they would always be together no matter what.

"It looks great," he said with a big smile on his face. "Now we'll..." He was interrupted when a light appeared from one of May's Poké Balls. Munchlax appeared, greeting the two with a cry of his name. May giggled.

"Munchlax!" she replied as she knelt closer to him. "Are you hungry, already?"

"Munch!" Munchlax replied patting his stomach. May laughed as she pulled out her Pokéblock case.

"Okay, open wide!" She replied as a pink Pokéblock popped out of the case and into her gloved hand. Munchlax immediately dove for it, swallowing it whole. In seconds, his stomach expanded before shrinking down to its normal size. Munchlax then fell asleep on his back, happy that he was full.

"Guess some things will never change," Max replied as May laughed in reply.

0-0-0-0-0

Far far away from where May and Max were, in an ancient stone temple that sat in the middle of the ocean standing upon an unknown island, a white hooded figure stared at them through an untouched bowl of water carved with symbols of an unknown origin. Waving his hand over the bowl, the image disappeared. He looked up at the temple, stone panels revealing images of people were surrounding him, and three stone snakes, their mouths wide open with pointed fangs greeted him. After all this time, he finally had to worry about two very dangerous adversaries.

"These two," the figure murmured, narrowing his eyes. "The Leviathan senses great power within them. In fact, they even rival the Pharaoh's power if they were to ever tap into it."

"Two little kids rival a 5,000 year old Pharaoh?" A voice from behind him replied. Hearing it, it sounded as if he had a strange accent. "That's improbable."

"Improbable it may be, Valon," The white hooded man replied, turning to face whoever spoke. "But it is not impossible. Apparently these two have met up with some beings that gave them these strange auras...could it be possible that these two will give the Leviathan more power than before?"

"It could be," A second voice chimed in. "What is your plan, Master?"

The so-called "Master" grinned. "Stick to the plan for now," he replied. "But, should you find evidence of these children unlocking their true potential, bring them to me. We might be able to use them for our cause..."

The waters in the stone bowl rippled again, revealing the two siblings once more. However, they both had glowing auras. May's was a ocean blue, while Max was a starry yellow, but neither of them could see it. And even if they could, they were too focused on the adventures ahead, and what would await them.

0-0-0-0-0

After dinner on the ship, May and Max immediately made it to their sleeping quarters. It was a small room, complete with a desk, lamp, chair and bunk beds. Both siblings removed their shoes as Max ran to the ladder.

"Top bunk's mine!" he said climbing up the ladder. He immediately removed his backpack, setting it to the side of his bed. He let his back bounce against the comfy mattress as he laughed. "This mattress is so comfy, May!"

"Don't bounce on it too hard, or you'll crash into me," May replied, placing her fanny pack on her bed. Grabbing her four Poké Balls, she tossed them into the air, all four of her Pokémon—Blaziken, Squirtle, Munchlax and Eevee—soon settling on the floor.

"Okay guys," said May as she pulled out some food bowls from Max's backpack. "Dinner time!" The Pokémon cried in happiness as the bowls were filled with delicious food. The coordinator sighed as she rested her head on the pillow, closing her eyes. It was a tiring day and she could really use some rest.

"Hey May," asked her brother suddenly, causing the coordinator to look up. "Do you think I'll become a great Pokémon trainer someday?" May sat up and stuck her head out of the bunk.

"You'll be fine, Max. I mean, Dad is Gym Leader of Petalburg, and traveling with Ash and Brock helped you experience what it was like traveling all over the world. In fact, I'd be very proud of you once you're out on your own with your first Pokémon."

Max smiled as he stared at the top of the ceiling. "You're right...everything is going to be just fine."

After all of the Pokémon had been fed, May returned them all to their Poké Balls. She turned off the lights to the room, smiling a bit as she removed her bandana off of her head and onto the desk. Stretching her arms, she laid back on her bed, pulling the blankets over her.

"Goodnight, Max," she said, her brother replying with his own "Goodnight, May."

And in a few minutes, she soon fell asleep, her eyes closing shut as she began to dream.

0-0-0-0-0

May didn't know how long she was asleep when she opened her eyes to find herself swimming in the ocean. Her mind instantly recalled the the dream she had long ago, when she met up with Manaphy, the Prince of the Sea. Mantine, Luvdisc, Goldeen, Magikarp, and Remoraid swam past her, while bubbles of water surrounded her like a small tornado. She could only laugh as other Pokémon like Chinchou, Wailmer, Seaking, and Lanturn said hello. It was a beautiful sight of different color coral coming out of the ground and a gentle ocean current calming her. Nothing could replace this beautiful feeling of peace and serenity.

That's when she looked up and saw a sight that she had not seen for such a long time. It was Samiya, the Sea Crown. Memories appeared in her mind. She recalled the journey to find Samiya and the Sea Crown so Manaphy could go back home, and of the tearful goodbye the two had shared. She missed Manaphy very, very much.

"Momma!" May gasped as she turned to her left, as a small glowing orb of light soon appeared by her side. It dissipated as Manaphy appeared in front of her eyes. "Momma, momma, momma!"

"Manaphy?" The coordinator said to herself. "Manaphy!" She cried as the Seafaring Pokémon came to her.

"Momma!" Manaphy replied. "May!" May couldn't help but hug the Prince of the Sea as it came near her. "Momma! Momma!" The Pokémon cried out in distress.

"Manaphy, what's wrong?" May looked up to see Samiya being destroyed! Manaphy started to cry as May held him close, the to watching the palace being destroyed by a dark serpent-like shadow in horror. A ghastly roar was heard as Samiya started to fall into the ocean floor, the gems that gave it the name of "The Sea Crown" being destroyed into smaller and smaller crystals. Manaphy flew away from May's arms, swimming toward its fallen home.

"MANAPHY!" May screamed as a swarm of bubbles covered her vision. "Wait, come back!"

0-0-0-0-0

"MANAPHY!" May shouted as she woke up from her nightmare. She panted for breath, a hand on her heart. Looking outside, she found light pouring out of the porthole; it was morning. Sweat fell down her face as she recalled that horrible dream. What type of monstrous being would go after Samiya like that?

"It couldn't be..." she whispered. "What's happened to Manaphy?" She didn't have time to think as she heard Max climbing down the ladder. She briefly looked into her brother's large brown eyes, seeing that they showed concern and worry for her.

"Are you alright, May?" he asked. "You were screaming about Manaphy..." May slowly nodded her head. "Is something wrong with him? Has some poacher tried to make off with Samiya again?"

"I...I don't know. I was dreaming a similar dream when we were with Lizabeth and her family, but then something strange happened. Some sort of giant snake was destroying Samiya, and Manaphy went after it..."

"Could it be that Manaphy is in danger?" Max asked, some fear in his voice. May shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.

"I'm...not sure myself," she answered back. "I don't have all the answers, and Manaphy is with Samiya wherever the current is moving it. I'm not a descendant of the People of the Water, so why did I have that vision?"

"Maybe because you and Manaphy had a special bond, he's telling you what is going to happen in the near future. Or maybe...he's told you something about what's happening right now."

"I'm afraid, Max," May closed her eyes as she pulled her knees to her chest. "What if Manaphy is in danger? And what about Samiya? What's happening to them?"

She stayed silent while horrid thoughts of her nightmare played through her mind. She covered her ears with her hands and squeezed her eyes shut in the attempt that these dark visions would go away. Seeing this, Max crawled up into the bunk and hugged his sister.

"Things are going to be better, I promise. Manaphy's going to be fine, I'm sure you were just having a nightmare, that's all."

"Yeah...a nightmare," May whispered, repeating her brother's words. The two were still in that embrace for some time before heading outside of the ship.

0-0-0-0-0

After arriving at Slateport City, taking a ferry to Dewford Island, and using Mr. Briney's boat to head back to Petalburg Forest, it was already night time. The stars greeted the two as the wind whispered a soft hello against the trees. Around them, Tailow were asleep on the tree branches, Wurmple—along with its evolutionary partners Silcoon and Cascoon—slept around large patches of grass, while Poochyena slept in packs of four or five pups, sighing happily.

"It's been awhile since we've been here," said Max, staring at their surroundings. "It was if it was only yesterday that Ash captured a Tailow and we met up with Brock for the first time."

"I know," May replied. "There are so many Pokémon here: Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Wurmple, Slakoth..."

"Shuppet!"

"And Shuppet!" May finished. Then she paused. "Wait a minute, Shuppet don't live in Petalburg Woods."

Both siblings turned around to see a smiling Puppet Pokémon looking back at them. They screamed as they stepped back from the Ghost Pokémon slowly approaching them.

"What's a Shuppet doing out here?" Max asked as the Ghost Pokémon traveled to them. That's when the two noticed what was surrounding him—a Poké Ball and a folded piece of paper taped to it in a light blue aura.

"And why does he have a Poké Ball and a floating around him?" May added as she picked up the Poké ball. Removing the paper, and unfolding it, she soon began to read its contents out loud.

"To Max and May,

"If you are reading this, then Shuppet has been able to successfully find you. And for that, I am relieved.

"Let me explain, after Shuppet and I reunited, I slowly came to realize that Shuppet missed playing like in the old days. Knowing how much fun he had with you two, I thought it would be best that you would have him. It was sad to let him go, but it is for the best...I wish him the best of luck.

"I have sent along with this letter a Poké Ball that will be used for keeping my good friend. I hope you take care of this little Pokémon, and will be able to have fun with him like I did in my youth."

Signed, Emily

"Emily?" said Max, tilting his head and tapping his chin with a finger for a second or two. "Wait, she's the same woman who owned that mansion that we stayed in when the rain was pouring. You know, the one where I used Shuppet to pretend that the mansion was haunted, right?"

"You had to bring that up..." May sighed. "But still, the fact that she's giving Shuppet to you…" She stared at the Ghost Pokémon with the big grin on its face as it floated toward Max.

"Shuppet..." The Puppet Pokémon replied, using his Psychic attack to lift the Poké Ball out of May's hands and into Max's own. "Shuppet, shup."

"Huh?" Max asked in confusion. "You want...to be with me?" Shuppet nodded his head. "Really? But…" Max looked down at his feet as he asked, "What if I don't become a good trainer. What if I fail?"

"Shuppet, shup, Shuppet." The Ghost Pokémon nodded its head.. "Shuppet, Shuppet!"

"Shuppet is right," said May, placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. "You need to believe in yourself in order to succeed. Besides, Shuppet has a liking to you, and until you're old enough to become a trainer, you can use Shuppet to be your soon to be partner."

"What about Ralts?" Max replied, recalling the promise he had made to the Feeling Pokémon on Izabe Island. "I made a promise to him that we'd be together..."

"I'm sure Ralts will understand what's going on when you show him Shuppet. Then, Ralts and Shuppet will become great friends just like you're friends with them. Now come on; throw that PokeBall and capture Shuppet."

"All right, here goes. Go Poké ball!"

Max tossed the Poké ball to Shuppet, the sphere tapping against the Pokémon's forehead. He then became a red beam of light as he was transported into the Poké Ball. The metal sphere closed and fell to the ground, the silver button in the center blinking red as the Ball vibrated for a bit. Then with a satisfied 'click', Shuppet was captured.

Max picked up the Poké Ball and cried, "All right, Shuppet. Come on out!"

The Poké Ball opened and the Puppet Pokémon appeared once more with the same smile on its face.

"Shuppet!" he replied as the ghost-type flew near Max. The young boy laughed as the two partners embraced each other. May could only smile as she saw Max playing with a new friend.

"I'm glad we're getting to know each other better," she said after a few seconds. "But we still need to get back to Mom and Dad."

"Oh yeah," Max said before turning to Shuppet. "You're going to meet up with my parents, and then you'll see all the Pokémon we have. Isn't that great?"

"Shup!" The Pokémon nodded its head, excited about the new friends it would make.

"Let's hurry up so we can get some sleep!" May shouted as the three raced across the forest, their lungs filled with the night-time air, their hearts pounding in excitement as they were about to reach the end of their journey, returning to their home where it all began...

Where May left so she could venture to Littleroot Town...

Where Max received the PokéNav from their father...

Where Ash fought their father for the Balance Badge...

Everything would start and end at Petalburgh City, they just knew it.

Neither sibling had the time to look around or talk as they eventually saw the sleepy town of Petalburg come up to them. They stood still, observing the quiet scenery around them, just knowing that they had all arrived home safe and sound.

"We're here," May thought as the three ran to the Petalburg Gym. "We're home."

0-0-0-0-0

Deep within the basement of the Petalburg Gym, among dust, boxes and knickknacks, a tome filled with strange, archaic symbols was lit by the light of the moon. The symbols of the cover started to glow...

And with it, four pairs of eyes opened from a deep slumber. Each one was trapped within the confines of the pages, each one praying to be let loose. For the first time in what seemed like a millennium, they were fully aware of their surroundings.

"Finally," One voice replied. "She has returned...our goddess. The one who talked to us...the one who cherished us. We will finally be able to see her again!"

"And yet," Another voice added. "She does not know, and she cannot recall what has happened in her past. Evil is afoot though; she must fulfill her destiny."

"We must be free of our prison," The third voice stated. "Then we can finally be with her once more!"

"May the gods be on our side," The last voice ended. "So that we can protect her...our beloved Goddess of Joy."

0-0-0-0-0

May: So, we finally made it back home. Mom and Dad must be excited to see us after all this time.

Max: And it seems like they want us to visit some place called Domino City. I've never heard of that place before.

May: They must have some awesome Pokémon trainers and coordinators. I bet the food is also tasty.

Caroline: Actually, it's known for this tournament known as the Battle City Tournament. And get this, it doesn't involve Pokémon, but something called 'Duel Monsters'.

May and Max: Duel Monsters?!

May: Next time, Between my Brother and Me: De Novo Chapter 1, "Domino Effect"

Max: What exactly are Duel Monsters?