Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or anything I could be sued for.

***

My name is Celtic Guardian.

Not that most care, but I have to tell this story, so it would probably help you if you knew my name.

Did I tell you I'm a duel monster?

Yeah, a monster. Although my duelist always tells us that we're not "monsters" but we're…well…I'm not sure because she never found the right word either. But she says that "monster" is a negative term, so I guess you could say she calls us "cards".

Well, we are monsters,

And we are cards.

So whichever you want to call us, monsters or cards, then that's what we are.

But this is not about the subject on whom we are, monsters or cards.

This is about MY story.

And my heart…

***

(Card Realm)

"Celtic!" Dark Magician called. "Celtic, are you here?"

Sitting under a lush tree, I sighed happily. Staring up at the blue sky through the tree leaves and the sun winking at me through them, I was in paradise. Trying to black out Dark's calls, ("Millennium items to Celtic, Millennium items to Celtic Guardian, are you there?! We're losing contact!") And get a nap, I sighed. "No…" I muttered. "Leave me alone…"

But he found me.

"There you are you big lug!" he greeted happily, his hands on his hips. "I found you!" Opening one lazy eye at Dark, I looked up to see his grinning face under that purple hat, I sighed and closed my eyes again. "Dark," I muttered as I put both hands behind my head as a makeshift pillow. "I am taking a nap right now…go and bug someone else why don't you?" Dark, grinning like an idiot, (I'm guessing, but knowing Dark, he probably was) bent down and poked me in the ribs.

Hard.

"Sorry Celtic ol'e buddy." He teased. "But Dark Elf, you're GIRLFRIEND is looking for you, so I gotta wake you up from Dream world. I have to bring you back to reality. I need to drag you back to consciousness. I…"

Dark Elf is NOT my girlfriend.

Getting increasingly annoyed by Dark and showing it through gritted teeth and clenching fists, I finally grabbed his foot and pulled making him fall from under himself while shouting, "SHUT UP!" Dark landed with a small "OOF!" and then, staring dazed, he smiled.

He knew he just had a bit more to go before I snapped.

"Oh Celtty!" he cooed.

I HATE THAT NAME!

Gritting my teeth to keep from exploding, I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled back my ears, but it was no good.

Dark the mosquito, poked his wand into me and buzzed around me whining, "Celtty! Celtty you gotta wake up! Wakey, wakey Celtty! CEEEEEEELLLLTTTYYYYYYEEEEEE!!"

That was it.

"YAARRGHH!" I screamed as I suddenly got up and cuffed the bug, ready to swat him down, "Shut…" I growled with poison in my mouth. "Up…"

The bug smiled.

HE SMILED!

"Oh Celtty," Dark said straitening his hat a bit and ignoring my fists and shoulders shaking with anger. "You're a bit grumpy today aren't you? Maybe I could make you feel better?" Then, he quickly gave me a hug and crooned, "AWWWW!!!" This caught me by surprise, so I was shocked while he did this. Noticing my face seething with anger as I regained my grip on reality, he quickly broke loose and ran.

"YOU GET BACK HERE YOU ANNOYING FLY!" I screamed pulling out my sword and began the chase. "I'LL SQUASH YOU!"

"Maybe with your gigantic as-…?"

"YEAAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!"

***

After I had finished chasing Dark around, (I had lost him when he disappeared with one of his Magical Hats…I HATE top hats with question marks on them.) I sighed and looked around. "Where am I?" I was in a part of the realm I had never been in before. It was nothing but forest as dense as a brick wall.

There was no sound. Not even the wind blew through here.

Nothing but green plants of every shape and size.

Feeling intrigued, I decided to explore my new area; I stumbled through vegetation and mud, tripping once…

Or twice…

All right, all right. I tripped FIVE times. Are you happy?

Sorry, I'm just still peeved at Dark Mosquito.

Anyway, as I fell farther and farther into the forest, I began to notice that it was getting darker. The sun was barely shining through, yet somehow, it was still bright enough to see. The more I fell through, the more I felt that I should turn back, but for some reason…I didn't.

Then, finally, I came onto a clearing of trees. But this was weird too because the trees seemed to be moving away from one small hut in the center. Like they were afraid to come close to the hut. The hut was nothing but a little tan straw hut, barely my height and if I stretched my arms out all the way, it would be just a bit past the width of the hut. To finish it off, a tarnished silver doorknob was seated upon the front door.

And it was dark.

Very, VERY dark.

What was this?

Swallowing hard and bracing myself, I slowly and cautiously walked up to the hut, sword positioned for and attack.

Anything could happen.

Pressing my ear slightly to the door, I could hear something moving and something whispering inside.

What should I do?

Should I knock?

Should I walk away?

I wasn't sure, but something told me to just walk in.

So cautiously, I reached for the silver doorknob…

And turned.

The door was open.

Sticking my head inside, I looked around. Almost nothing was there. Nothing except for a table with two chairs and a small wooden box. Walking slowly inside, I cautiously called, "Hello? Is anyone here?" But when no answer came, I felt safe to look around. Walking to the table, I had to take my helmet off so I could stand properly, and I reached for the little box. Seeing a fancy copper latch, I was intrigued by what was inside. Studying the box, I gently picked it up and stared it over. It was a deep oak brown and was sanded at the corners to make the smooth. If I closed my fingers over it, my middle finger could touch the tip of my thumb. But what was strange about the box was that it shone like it had been polished recently and it didn't have a design. Just a simple wooden box with a not so simple silver latch.

But who comes out here though all that forest?

No one I knew.

"So I see you've found the box."

Spinning quickly around, I saw an old man walking with a dark wood cane. The man's clothes were covered with a brown cloak, and his beard was a silver gray that flew down almost to the floor. A glint in his eyes stared back at me, making me nervous. "Er…" I began, not really knowing what to say. "I'm sorry I uh…barged into your house sir. I'll leave…" I quickly put the box down and started for the door. But before I could get past two feet from him, the old man said, "Running away from destiny so soon?" Stopping in surprise, I didn't turn, but asked, "My destiny?" The old man nodded. "You're fate. Your curse…and your miracle."

"Miracle?" I snorted turning around to face him. "There're no such things as miracles. I know old man, I've had the experience." Turing away form me, he walked over to the table and stared at the little box before him. "Tell me boy," he said in a rather authoritative tone. "Why don't you…believe in what fate has in store for you?" To me, this was getting annoying. "I don't have to tell you anything I don't want you to know!" I shot back angry, and swept my way to the door.

"Something happened to you…long ago."

Stopping, I stared at the doorknob as the old man continued. "You lost someone…a long time ago…am I right?" Turning to me and walking up to me, the old man peered at me curiously. "A girl…am I right so far? A girl…a long time ago…she was with you wasn't she…and then…and then you lost her. Forever…because you broke a promise…a promise of commitment…"

"SHUT UP!"

The old man didn't waver as I spun around and cuffed him, making him rise a few inches off the ground. "What do you know about this?" I screamed. "Why are you saying this?!" My own amber eyes, burning with fire, glared back into his calm blue ones. Then, feeling ashamed I had attacked an old man, I roughly let him down and backed away. "You don't know me!" I yelled frustrated. "You don't know anything!" I had enough of being there, so I turned my back to him and began to head out. "You don't know anything…" I muttered as I began to walk away. I wanted out of there. But then, the old an said, "I know everything. All that will come…and all that has been." But I was already out the door, not bothering to shut it behind me. The old man followed, carrying that stupid box with him saying, "I have seen what fate has in store for you…Celtic Guardian." Hearing my name, that made me stop and turn to look at the old man in surprise. "How…?" I asked. "How did you…?"

Oh right….

The "I have seen all there is" thing.

The old man looked away, and then pointed to the small box on the table. "You'll need that." He said. "You'll need it when the time comes. But…you can't open it. When you're fate comes…then fate will open the box. It won't be long…" Looking at his stern face, I glared. "I don't want anything that belonged to you!" I sneered. "I don't ever want to see you again!" But he continued walking up to me and staring at me with an eerie calmness in him. "You need this…" he said. "You need this to give to your destiny. You have to take it. You will need it and you will be glad you have had it. You'll face many dangers as soon as this box is opened. Many are looking for it. Keep it safe…and keep the one who holds it safe as well." Then, taking my hand, placing the box inside, he whispered, "It won't be long…" and then turned away, inside his house, closing the door.

Looking down at the box again, I stared at its lack of design. I was confused on what he meant by "Fate". I didn't want to have another miracle or destiny. I just wanted to be left alone and in peace. Looking up, I was about to say I didn't want the box, "Old man…"

But everything was gone.

The hut,

The bending trees…

Nothing but empty space.

***

Walking back home with the box, I stared at it curiously. It was beautiful, no mistake. Whoever did carve this box obviously put a lot of time into it. Turning it over and over, even though it didn't have much of a design, it did do something else. It gave me a warm feeling. Like I knew I was safe and cared for…by someone.

But no one really does that.

Not anymore…

Not after…her…

NO! Now is not the time to talk about it. I need to focus on the future and I don't need anyone else. Not anymore. No one.

Looking up, I noticed that I had made it out of the forest finally. Going back out seemed to take up a smaller amount of time then going in. Tucking the box away in a pocket I have on the front of my belt, I sighed. What did that old man mean by destiny and fate? I thought as I stared up at the setting sun. My only response was the sky's brilliant color setting off a soft array of pinks and purples. Sighing some more, I finally pulled the box out again. Looking at the latch that was on the front, I gently traced a finger over the lock. The lock itself was made of silver that seemed to flash more white than a gray color.

The outside looked like a millennium eye except thinner and more almond shaped. The center of the eye was filled with what looked like copper, but I don't know my minerals very well, so I wasn't sure.

Oh well.

But…

Why would the old man give me a box that I couldn't even open? Reaching for the lock, maybe I could force it open. But, as soon as I touched the lock, a brilliant silver light shot out of it and rose to the heavens. The light was so bright, I immediately fell back and raised both my hands over my eyes shielding myself from the illumination, dropping the box.

"AAAARRRGGGGHHH!"

When the glowing finally did stop, I slowly let down my guard, feeling my eyes sting and my head spin from the blast. But as soon as my thoughts and my focus came back into view, I gasped. There, lying on the ground, the box next to her, a small HUMAN girl laid, unconscious.

Slowly walking over like I would to a wounded dragon, I gently put a hand on her head. Responding with a soft moan, I stared the girl down. She was wearing a long baggy sleeved white shirt, and with long khaki pants; it would have made her easily blend in with a field of grass. However, over her shoulders, a short blue cape that was held by two gold buttons connected together by a gold string in front. The cape came only to her elbows would have stood out in that field of brown grass. Gently turning her over, I saw that under her layered dark hair with golden streaks, a trickle of blood slid down her forehead.

Then, with a soft moan, she began to wake up…