The Wings of Pegasus

Chapter 1: A hope born

Cecelia Pegasus was walking down the beach near the estate she and her beloved called home. Her white-blond hair gleamed in the morning light, as she looked out into the vast ocean. She had yet to tell her beloved of their upcoming enlargement of the family, she was still getting used to being pregnant. Her doctor had told her this morning that the baby was healthy and would be born soon. She had been having terrible dreams lately of a young woman who was calling out for someone, the dreams bothered her greatly but she didn't trouble her beloved over them. Cecelia was no fool she knew she wasn't going to be around for long, the doctors had told her so. But while Maximillion was traveling she knew it was safe to allow her pregnancy to show, her maids knew to say nothing to the master of the house.

She rubbed her hand over her belly and sighed, she knew that Max wouldn't be back until after the child was born but by then it might be too late. Cecelia wanted her child to grow up safe and loved. So she had began writing her will and made sure that her child would have the means to take care of its self. She set aside one of the mountain estates that her mother had given her as a wedding gift. And provisioned a trust fund that her child would get when they reached seventeen. It was a few days later that she went into labor, she had been in the garden when her water broke and she had yelled for a servant. "My Lady!" One of the gardeners called out to her as he ran towards her. "My water broke Jon, I need to get back to the main house." He scooped his lady up and carried her from the maze, when he entered the house he called out for the midwife. "Mary! The lady needs you now!"

The small woman and her assistants came running, the midwife examined the lady before ordering she be brought to the birthing room. It took nearly twenty hours before the child was born, a beautiful creature with white-blue eyes and a full head of silvery-white hair. "My lady would you like to know what gender your child is?" Cecelia laid there gently holding the child as they stared into each others eyes, the child's fist clinging to her pointer finger. "No...Its not safe here for my child, I wont be in this world much longer Mary. I need you to do me a great and terrible favor..." The midwife gasped, but nodded and looked her lady in the eye. "Take my child and flee, there have been many death threat letters sent to my beloved. I don't want my child exposed to that until they can defend themselves. I have set aside a place and some money for you. It will come to you in my will, no one must know of my child until their seventeenth birthday. Then this house and all that resides within it will belong to it." The midwife was in awe before she replied. "My lady I am not sure I can do this... What about the master? Losing you will most certainly devastate him, how can I take away his only child as-well?"Cecelia smiled as she stroked the child's soft hair and pointed to a box that rested on the bedside table.

"Within that box is a set of items given to me by a Egyptian man. A long-time friend of my family's. He said they were destined for my child and to my child it will go. I know Maximillion will take my loss hard, but when our child is strong enough to stand beside him all will be well." Mary looked at her lady and gasped, her body was becoming pale. "I do not have much time left Mary all I ask is that my beloved's name live on with our child. There will be a great destiny for my child, one that started long ago. I will be watching over you my little shadow, when you need help, a great flame will light your way through your darkest hours. Farewell my little one..." The midwife gently lifted the child from her lady's chest and watched in awe as her lady passed away. She was astonished when a cry from the child brought her back to the present. "Hush now little one you will be safe with me." She quickly packed all she could and left the house with one final thought. Master please do not die someone still needs you...

-Sixteen years later-

Yugi and his friends were gathered at the mall, picking out new outfits and having a blast. Tea was trying on a pink dress, Tristan was examining a new jacket and Joey was playing a video game. They played around in a few more stores before leaving the mall, Yami looked to the sky as he sensed that something was about to change drastically.

Across town at the game store the door jingled open and a figure stepped inside, eyes shielded by mirrored glasses. The figure's eyes scanned the cases as footsteps echoed from the back room and Solomon Moto emerged from the back room. "Hello, How may I help you today."the tall figure approached the counter and gently set a hand upon it, the other raised to her face and removed the glasses. Bright purple eyes glittered as they adjusted to the light in the store. "Hello, I am looking for some cards to balance my deck for the up coming Battle-city tournament."

Solomon smiled as he looked the figure over. The person was tall, with long crimson hair that seemed to have a silver sheen to it in the florescent light. Their skin was tanned without a blemish that could be seen,a black top that was backless and tied around the figures neck showed off muscular shoulders. Long,muscular legs were left bare shown off slightly by the blue jean shorts that matched the top. Two spiked belts ran around the figure's hips, one holding a pair of matching cases. Solomon blinked and the details came into focus, the figure was obviously female and not from around here. "The battle-city tournament is a prestigious event my dear, you are wise to iron out your deck for any flaws." She smiled at him and chuckled. "My governess says the same thing...Oh, I am sorry to be rude. You can call me Kage, and I am from up north."

He smiled and held out his hand. "I am Solomon Moto, I own this shop. My Grand-son is also in the tournament." They examined cards and talked on how to use them for a couple hours, it was nearing four o'clock when the door to the shop opened and four teens walked in. Solomon looked up to see his grand-son and his friends. "Ah Yugi, there is someone I want you to meet." He gestured for the boy to join them, Kage's eyes were fastened to the cards in front of her. "Kage, this is my grand-son Yugi. Yugi this is Kage, a young woman who is also in the tournament." He gestured to each in turn. Kage's eyes met his and they shook hands instinctively. To them both there was something familiar about the other that couldn't quite be named. Some spark of memory that told them both that the other would be someone important in the days to come. They separated shortly after, the old man telling her that she should check back in two days to see if her cards had arrived.

The days passed quickly for Kage and on her way back to Mr. Moto's shop she heard some one talking about raiding it for rare cards. She quietly fled and ran for the store as fast as she could. She was running at all speed when she slammed into a taller guy and fell on her backside. "Ouch!"She yelped as the guy said. "Oof!" She looked up into the deep blue eyes of Seto Kaiba. He looking into her eyes and found something familiar in them. "Please excuse me miss." She let him help her up and smiled at him. "Its alright I should have been looking where I was going. I'm Kage, by the way." He chuckled, before replying. "Seto."She smiled and her mind caught up with her. "Oh no! Mr. Moto is in danger! Sorry Seto I gotta run!" She said before hugging him and darting off in the direction of the Moto's shop.

By the time she got there, she saw that the rare-hunters had gotten there first. She sighed and walked under the tape and asked an officer if Mr. Moto was alright. "He is over there young lady.."He pointed a direction out and she darted off, seeing the old man was safe from harm she relaxed. "Mr. Moto...Are you ok?"He turned to see her and smiled holding a small packet out to her. "Here my dear, these are the cards you asked for." She smiled and thanked him. Taking the cards she hung out with him until he said he was going to stay in a hotel close to the grounds of the tournament. She walked him there and was amused to tell him they were staying in the same hotel. Kage left him after they shared dinner and went up to her room. She carefully took and redid her deck to her specs. She made sure all her cards were in correct condition and proper numbers to be allowed for the tournament. She smiled as she picked up the box that she had been told her mother left for her. She was already wearing what had been within the box but it comforted her to know her mother had cared.

Kage was up early the next morning, grabbing a hot shower and picking out her outfit. She finally left her room with her belts fastened about her waist and her boots making solid thumps on the carpeted floor. She went to the check-in point and was issued her Dual-disk and id-card. She was having trouble getting her dual-disk on, she tripped and bumped into someone. Rex Raptor was shocked when the pretty red-head bumped into him and he carefully helped steady her. "Thanks, sorry for bumping into you. This blasted thing wont sit right!"He smiled at her and removed the device before setting the wrist mount to her size and giving it back. "Thank you!" She said as it finally sat properly on her wrist. "I'm Rex, who are you?" She smiled at him, before giving him a warm hug. Poor Rex blushed to the roots of his black hair. "I'm Kage! Nice to meet you Rex!" He offered his arm to her and she took it, giggling. They stood together as the tournament started and were talking when Weevil Underwood walked up. "Rex! I want to..." He had started loud but trailed off seeing his friend's companion. Kage looked at Weevil and smiled gently. "Who's that Rex?" He grinned seeing the love struck look on the bug duelist's face. "Kage meet Weevil Underwood.. Weevil, this is Kage." She shook his hand and smiled at him. "So, you guys want to team up and go through the tournament together?"She asked and both nodded quickly.

The three departed towards the upper part of the city and wound up getting along quite well. Weevil found out Kage was highly intelligent, and Rex learned she loved dragons, though they weren't her specialty. Kage enjoyed Rex for his sense of humor, and Weevil for his shrewd wit. They walked up to the guards of the blimp just four days into the tournament and turned in their 10 cards to show proof of the battles they had won. The boys knew there was a chance they would have to face her sometime and prayed it would be the other who did. It was late after dinner when Kage was walking the halls when she slammed into someone coming round a corner. "Ow!" "Crap!" Blue met Purple as she realized who she was sitting on. "Seto! Sorry again!" He chuckled seeing who it was who was sitting on his stomach. "Hi Kage, Don't worry about it." She got off of him and helped him to his feet, but in pulling to hard had them stumbling into a dark corner with her hands pinned by his. "Wow..." She said looking into his eyes, he blushed lightly as she gave him a soft smile. "I agree..." She smiled and they both started to laugh, at themselves and one another. "Wow, what a night!" They parted with a chuckle after she wished him luck and he did the same. They parted and she returned to her room, undress and showered she sat on a soft armchair in a silk night dress. She smiled at the city before her. A soft music came from her head-phones, she swayed softly as she opened her mouth and started to sing. The lilting song growing louder as she lost herself to the music only she could hear. She got to her feet and began to dance, swaying and rocking. The vent to her room was open unknown to her, as she twirled and sang, the mezzo ringing down the hall through the vents.

Making heads snap up and stair in awe. Outside her room door four men stared in awe. "Dragon, hear my plea. Set my beloved free. Shining wings of mercury, eyes of gleaming sapphire. Bathe my enemies in your sacred fire, while I hold tight to those I desire." The woman belted out, the moon turning her gown nearly transparent, highlighting her curving form. Silence held the men in rapture of the power in her voice. Seto's eyes were soft, as he leaned against the wall connecting the rooms. Rex was leaning against the vent, eyes closed his mind focused on the voice of his newest friend. Weevil's glasses were in his hand as he wiped silent tears from his cheeks. When the song finished she curled herself into bed and woke happy the next morning, she showered and dressed, brushing her hair and putting it into a suitable style. She left her room and locked it behind her, walking to the dining room.

Her dress was an off the shoulder gown that hovered an inch above the floor two long gauzy pieces of fabric came off the back and flowed out behind her. When she walked the design of the winged dragon could be seen. She flowed into the room, not seeing the widened eyes on her form. She settled into a chair between Rex and Seto. "Good morning Gentlemen." Both looked up, Rex from his cards and Seto from his pile of papers. Rex's eyes widened seeing the dress and the creature stitched around the hem. "Where did you get that dress its magnificent." Tea asked as she sat on the other side of the table. "I made it." Tea was impressed and they began talking about dresses and the party that was supposed to take place before the finals.