I'd like to welcome you to DuelTale, the Final Triumph. It's one of the side series I've been working on, and, if I need it, will serve as an excellent filler arc. It'll be mostly Kaiba-centered, with Azzy-centered bits sprinkled throughout (he IS the main character of DuelTale Reloaded, after all). So without further ado, backstory! It's set after DSOD, so, basically, the whole series. I'll try not to put in spoilers that are too huge, but you never know! If I must, I'll put a massive SPOILER ALERT in between paragraphs. I haven't even planned out all of Season One yet, so keep an open mind.

Seto Kaiba was tied up. And he didn't deserve it.

"Look," he told the man who was watching him, "If you wanted my autograph, you could've just asked for it. But since you so kindly decided to kidnap me, maybe I should return the favor..."

"That's enough from you, Mr. Kaiba," the voice said. It was familiar, with a southern accent. He raised his fedora, and Kaiba saw, to his sure surprise, a dark-skinned man with a goatee.

"What?" said Seto, surprised. "Leichter?"

He couldn't believe that. The last time the pair had met, Leichter had been blown up on a virtual island when its owner, Seto's stepbrother Noah, sacrificed himself to protect the tall CEO and the other residents of that disastrous game. How had he possibly survived that?

"That's right," Leichter said. "This time, Mr. Kaiba, I'm the one in charge. No throwin' me to the curb this time, I'll grant you that."

"How did you survive the Virtual World?" Seto asked angrily. In addition to the fact previously mentioned, Leichter's very mind had been trapped in said virtual world. He should have been dead!

"Funny story, when the virtual World was disabled..." Leichter let out a sly chuckle. "I woke up. It's odd, since my comrades are all DEAD. And for that, I blame you, Mr. Kaiba."

"Another thing," Kaiba said. "You sound like you've been in there for a lot longer than you say. Is there anything else you wanted to bring up?"

"Actually, yes," Leichter stated. "While I was in the Virtual World, I taught myself how to make a time machine of sorts. Naturally, I figured it wouldn't work in the real world, so I decided to look for an alternative... and wouldn't you know it, in the bowels of your company, Mr. Kaiba, I found exactly what I was lookin' for."

"How did you even get in?"

"You never took away my member's card, Mr. Kaiba."

"Ugh."

"My point is," Leichter finished, "that I've gathered you, your friends, and some of the other best duelists through time and space to compete in this little dueling tournet I've arranged. Win, and I set you free. Lose, and, well, I'd hate to imagine what would happen..."

"What are you saying?" asked Kaiba angrily.

"For your sake, Mr. Kaiba," Leichter said, "I took the liberty of finding the one person you have a heart for. Winnin' duelist gets him and a certain ancient artifact I found to take over his life. And there are some vicious fiends out there..."

No! Not Mokuba!

Kaiba twinged. Leichter had found his weak spot, His former aide wasn't very aideful anymore. And "ancient artifact?" Leichter certainly meant the Millenium Rod once wielded by Marik Ishtar, one of the most ruthless foes Kaiba's old rivals, Yugi Muto and Asriel Dreemur, had ever faced. With any luck (though Kaiba wouldn't admit it), Yugi or maybe Azzy would also be in the tournament, to make it easier to get Mokuba back.

But another question stung in his head. How did Leichter KNOW about the Millenium Rod in the first place? The worst Millenium Item he'd had to face was Yugi's Puzzle, which was securely held by Yugi as a fragment of the past, after the events involving Diva. And there wasn't even a spirit in the puzzle anymore, making it nothing more than a good luck charm.

But the biggest question of all was in Kaiba's head.

"What do you want?"

"I just want comeuppance," Leichter said, "for you abandoning me after I painstakingly helped you obtain that fifty-one percent of KaibaCorp. That, and for you and your friends leaving me to die in that dark abyss your stepbrother called a 'world.' Hence why I brought them."

"So this is all just for revenge?" Kaiba asked. "And tell me, what else do YOU get out of this?"

"I'm also dueling in this tournament," Leichter said, "with a deck that's all but unstoppable, Mr. Kaiba. I've prepped the ultimate tournament, good and bad, and I know I'm the only real goodguy in here. Everyone's done something wrong in their life; heck, I even tried to take your body. But, knowing who you are, I should've been way more careful about that. You and your friends have done worse, Mr. Kaiba, and I'm just bringing justice."

"Listen to yourself!" Kaiba said. "You're practically a madman! Going back in time to bring back dangerous foes who should've later turned away from their ways, kidnapping a young boy to get revenge on his brother- this is being good? I'd hate to see what BAD is for you, Leichter."

"I think you know what I'm talking about, Mr. Kaiba," Leichter said, smirking.

Then, he left the room, letting Kaiba alone.

Without Mokuba.

Revenge truly is a dish best served cold, Mr. Kaiba, Leichter thought to himself. And just for you, I'm leaving it in the freezer.

Well, I'm sorry I had to leave you guys hanging on the original for now, and I know this opening was somewhat less than stellar, but I think this is for the best; I won't waste my time coming up with a nonexistent plot for it! Last I checked, Undyne and Asgore were in a helicopter above the ocean, trying to stop a danger that doesn't exist, and the Four-Way... I'm lost... In my own story! WHAT?

This, however, SHOULD be a cleaner re-write. I'll keep it out there for you to see if you want to read it, but certain events in seasons two through four should be problematic. I'll try to update THIS one monthly.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, and please, consider reviewing to tell me how you feel.