A Darkened World

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of it's characters, names, trademarks, and the like. I also do not own Pokemon names. This is an AU fanfic, and in this world Pokemon are much different. NOW....read the fic!

The world is in turmoil. Blackness has fallen over the earth and nothing can pierce it's depths. Only a small group of beings are the ones who can overcome this blackness and bring light into the darkened world once more. This is their story...

Yami was watching the rampaging Gyarados with a look of contempt when Yugi busted in, a flustered look on his face.

"It's coming this way! We need to get everyone out of here before it reaches us!"

"Are you sure!? It looks like it's staying in one spot..."

"Yes! Hurry!"

Yami got to his feet and hurried after Yugi to the back of the house, where a small group of people was sitting or lying. Among them were their other friends, Joey, Tristan, and Tea. Seto was there, and Mokuba, but they weren't there by their own choice. One day a group of Pokemon had attacked Kaiba Corp, and destroyed it, and by either fate or misfortune, they had been driven to Yugi and the others. The rest of the people were a few stranded souls who had found this small sanctuary in a demented world. But now they had to flee.

"Everyone, there's a Gyarados headed this way. We need to clear out," Yami said. Yugi stood by him, fear etched into his face. Everyone looked terrified, except Seto.

"And where will we go? This is the last place. We've all seen the news reports, read the papers. The whole world has gone nuts, and Pokemon are slaughtering people and destroying places for no reason. Where do we go? We should stay and fight!" A few people gave feeble agreements, but for the most part everyone ignored him. They trusted Yami more. Tea glared at him.

"You're a fool Seto. We can't fight these things! Even the Duel Monsters can't hold them back!"

"We're fleeing like cowards!"

"There's nothing else to do," said Yugi's grandfather, Solomon, coming from another room. "We must survive, in order to fight. Otherwise it's pointless. Now everyone, let's get ready and head out."

Everyone began to gather up their one or two possessions and group together. Seto was glaring at everyone, nothing for these people in his heart, nothing but a healthy, or unhealthy, loathing for such cowardly beings. Finally, he stood, only because Mokuba was leaving as well. He said nothing as he caught Yugi and Yami watching him.

It was half an hour later as everyone watched the Gyarados slam into their only home, destroying it in a single blow. Then it began to spew flames everywhere, and soon the last city on earth was gone. And with it, their hopes.

Well, let's go," Yami said softly, and they all turned and walked off, not looking back as the Pokemon roared in horrible triumph.

"This is awful," said a young woman with a black Dragon-like tail and black wolf ears. She wore a black kimono, and even her eyes were black. Her hair was in sharp contrast to her other features, as it was stark white. Beside her was a huge wolf, though not a normal wolf. This was a Lycan, and an Anthro one at that, meaning he was always in wolf-form. His fur was a deep emerald and his eyes a feral gold. He stood about seven feet tall, a foot and a half or so taller than his woman companion. He wore a ripped pair of khakis and had a slivery scar across his chest.

"Feria, you know it's like this everywhere," he said softly. "We've seen this everywhere else we've been."

"I know Grei, but this was the very last place untouched by the evil, and now it is gone."

Her voice was sad and Grei put a large paw on her shoulder for comfort.

"I know."

They watched as the Gyarados roared and spewed flames at Yugi's home place, and soon they too left.

Not a few miles away, another was watching the destruction. He was a young-looking man, appearing no older than twenty or so, but he was much older. He was a Dragon. The man's hair was pale red, and his eyes a darker shade. He wore a thick black cloak which hid his brown silk Nobleman-like clothing. He held a golden staff in one hand, and at the top of it was a red-and-jade orb, which glowed softly.

"The time has come. With the fall of the last, shall begin the birth of the first."

When they all stopped, it was well past midnight. The destruction had been left far behind, but they all still felt the effect of it. Almost everyone was crying, Yami was sitting aside from them all, brooding. Seto was glaring at them all in disgust, Mokuba was in a fitful sleep, twisting and groaning. Tea was staring into a fire, tears in her eyes. Tristan and Joey were trying their best to look tough and make the others feel better but it was pointless. The rest were loafing around, trying to distract themselves from the horror of what had happened. Yugi looked to Yami, then stood and walked over, sitting beside him.

"It wasn't your fault you know."

"I know."

Yami looked to everyone else, and his gaze rested on Seto, who had turned his back on everyone.

"How can he be so cold? If it were Mokuba, he wouldn't be acting that way."

"He just doesn't like to show his emotions. I bet inside he's in more pain than any of us."

"Maybe, but Kaiba doesn't seem the type to care about anyone other than himself and Mokuba." Yami's eyes flared with anger. "He acts as if no one else matters! He acts as if nothing else matters! Perhaps we should have left him behind like he wanted? It's not like he would risk his life for any of us."

"Yami!" Yugi couldn't believe what he was hearing. Yami never talked like that! "You can't mean that! I mean yeah, Seto isn't the biggest caring person in the world, but he does care about Mokuba."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated."

"I know. We all are."

They sat in silence, and soon they were the last ones awake.

Dawn came and found them asleep.

Grei and Feria found them that morning, and they were all asleep. The two of them smiled a little, and sat, waiting for the others to wake.

The Dragon also waited nearby, not leaving himself in the open as the others were. That was foolish.

He held his staff tighter as he watched, and waited.

When Yami woke, he was surprised and startled to find a huge wolf-creature standing beside him. He gasped and leapt to his feet, reaching for his Duel Monsters cards, when the Anthro-Lycan held up his paws and grinned. It wasn't a comforting gesture.

"Calm down now Pharaoh," he said, putting a paw on his hips and kneeling down. "I mean you no harm. I'm with her." He waved to a young woman, who was standing a few yards away, looking into the sky. He looked back to Yami. "We're here to help you. Your home...that city is where you're all from isn't it? I can smell it on you all. Well, what's done is done. Now then, my name is Grei, and that over there is Feria. I'm an Anthro-Lycan. Feria is a spirit Mage." Grei grinned at Yami's clueless expression. "Don't worry, we'll explain later. Right now you should wake your friends."

Yami said nothing, but nodded and began to rouse everyone. Just as he finished, another stranger appeared out of nowhere. Yami blinked.

"I suppose now is as good a time as any to introduce myself. I am Aideno, a DragonMaster." Aideno bowed and then approached, using his staff like a walking stick. Everyone stared at the three newcomers.

"What, more lost, helpless babies?" Seto mocked angrily. "We don't need more people to worry about."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about us," Grei said, waving to himself and Feria, who had joined the small group. Aideno nodded.

"Or I," he said simply. Seto snorted and turned away from them.

"You said you were here to help?" Yami asked Grei. The Anthro-Lycan nodded. "How do you know about me?"

"Let's just say I'm very learned in the old history," Grei said with that eerie wolf-grin. Yugi shuddered.

"At any rate, it isn't important how we know you, or who we are. What does matter is getting to the bottom of why we're all here," said Aideno after a moment.

"Getting to that, Mr. Mage," Grei said, a little impatiently. Feria smiled and laughed a little at Aideno's miffed look. Grei cleared his throat as everyone watched. "Okay now. As you all know, this world is slowly being destroyed by some sort of darkness. Pokemon are rampaging and killing, people are crazed, things are happening with no explanation possible. To put it bluntly, we're all in deep sh-"

"What Grei is trying to say," Feria quickly interrupted, much to Grei's amusement, "is that things are going from bad to worse. That's why we are here, and you as well I presume." She pointed to Aideno, who nodded.

"Yes indeed. Now then, as the one with the colorful language said," he smirked at Grei, "there is a darkness that is causing all this. An evil. Fortunately, it can be fought and beaten. Thus, I have searched for others who are able to stand against such a thing." He paused and looked at them all. "But not everyone here is able. For there is a prophecy that tells of a certain few that will band together."

Here Aideno paused again, and closed his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then spoke in an oddly hushed voice.

"Darkness shall come, and all shall be thrown into chaos. Cities shall fall as the blackness rises from the ashes and claims its cruelly-got gains. But there will come those who can best the darkness and send it back to whence it came.

"The first, a youth with the Guide of the ages.

"Second, the Guide himself shall aide the cause.

"Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, the friends and family of the Guide's charge.

"Eighth, a woman who wanders the earth, powers blooming within her soul.

"Ninth, a beast with the heart of a hero.

"And last, the Guardian of Life, coming on wings of hope, to show them all the way."

Aideno fell silent once more, then opened his eyes and stared at them all.

"Those are the ones I have sought, and it seems the ones I have found. It is time to prepare. You are the ones spoken, and as it is written, so shall it be."

Well how was that? Hope you like it. I love YGO and Pokemon and thought it would be great to combine them. By the way, in this fanfic o' mine, Duel Monsters are real. They exist in their cards until the person calls them out, kinda like Pokemon in a PokeBall! Well anyways, don't forget to review!