Greetings Yu-Gi-Oh fandom. I, J the Stickybeak will be attempting to write a fantasy AU story using Yu-Gi-Oh characters and elements. I get the feeling this little experiment of mine will either be a great success or a monumental flop. Doesn't stop me from trying anyway. If you like mystery and discovering things as the characters do then by all means skip ahead to the start of the chapter. If, on the other hand, you would like to know a little more about what I'm doing and some of the rules to this AU then please read the following.

This story technically takes place after the canon events of Arc-V. In that 'world' Leo Akaba wasn't quite as able to accept that he failed to bring back his daughter as the anime ending would suggest. And in my humble opinion why would he. If he was willing to declare war to get his daughter back then I don't think he'd accept the well wishes of a fourteen year old boy and leave things as is.

So when the Leo Corporation digs up an ancient artefact, that for now shall remain unnamed for plot purposes, and discovers that it has the ability to rewrite the outcome of historical events, Leo of course jumps at the opportunity to get his daughter back. He goes ahead and uses it anyway despite the multiple warnings given by the people who sealed it away. It gives him exactly what he wanted . . . along with a whole bunch of other side effects such as partially fusing the dimension people live in with the dimension duel spirits live in as well as setting back most of the world to the medieval era. The world that existed before this event was hereby dubbed 'The Old World' while the one that exists after is dubbed 'The New world'. But only stuffy scholars know that there even was an old world so let go over things you readers will find more useful.

The protagonists of this story are the Yu-boys and the bracelets girls. The artefact that I shall not name separated them but most of them don't remember the old world, same applies to 99% of the rest of the population. I'll be focussing more on the girls to begin with because I think it's only fair that they try to save the guys for a change. Relationship wise I'm fond of love triangles for comedy purposes so don't be surprised if a dragon boy ends up with several girls. I apologise to any potential female readers but I'm assuming the vast majority of people in this fandom are guys anyway. I'll be trying to include as many of the Arc-V characters as I can as well as characters from older Yu-Gi-Oh series. Our eight budding protagonists will be 15 in this story with everyone else keeping the same relative age (plus one to whatever's listed on the wiki). I'll also be using Japanese names for half the cast (Boyle is a terrible surname for a girl and all the justification I need not to use the dub).

Onto the world structure:
The new world is populated by Spirits, Artificial spirits, Pseudo-spirits, Humans, Astral beings and Ignis (the last two are fairly minor). Duelling has been converted into something similar to what it originally was in Ancient Egypt. People who have the right kind of aptitude can become Summoners and call forth Spirits and the like with whom they have a contract (either individually or by Archetype). Spell and Trap cards have become actual magic used by summoners but I'll get into that down below. Combat between Spirits is more true to real life and not determined completely by attack and defence values. They are measurements of power and a good indicator but it is technically possible for a Dark Magician to defeat a blue eyes with the right tactics in this world. Levels, ranks etc. will also have more of an effect as they indicate a 'health bar' and also allow monsters with high levels to shrug of the effects of monsters with much lower levels (e.g. Blue-eyes white dragon shrugging of the insta-kill effect of fencing fire ferret). I will confess, part of the reason I'm writing my story as an AU fantasy one with matching RPG battle system is because I'm only a casual duellist so I'm not good enough to write a duel and do the characters decks the justice they deserve so I've made do with this system.

Spell and trap cards keep most of their classifications but have become place, magical object or actual magic with spells being labelled as magic/spells while traps are labelled counter magic/spells. Counter traps have become counter counter magic. Most equip spells have become actual objects while ritual spell card are actual complicated rituals. Quick play becomes quick cast and a continuous card becomes continuous, perpetual or eternal magic depending on how strong it is. Field spells are either special locations or classified as world magic, which is considered the strongest alongside eternal magic.

When the unnamed artefact was used it fused the world people live in with the world spirits live in in a way akin to bubble wrap. Both spirits and humans can coexist in the areas where the 'plastic' is one layer without the need for a summoner and are referred to as inter-spirit zones. However when there are two layers of 'plastic' thereby creating a 'bubble', the human and spirit worlds remain separate and they cannot enter each other's worlds without the aid of a summoner. I will also state that these different 'zones' are not consistently uniform like bubble wrap so territory can be any size or shape.

Pseudo-spirits are people who have partially become spirits, either by accident or to gain more power (usually because they didn't have the aptitude to become a summoner) and are able to exist permanently in both worlds without the aid of a summoner. It would be safe for you to assume that most warrior and spellcaster type monsters (like buster blader and dark magician) fall into this category. Some spirits can revert between human and spirit appearance while others cannot. Artificial spirit is just a term to refer to a spirit that has been man made (that does not mean all machine and cyberse monsters are artificial).

The new world is divided up into six kingdoms, one for each series, and all areas outside them are controlled by hostile spirits. They are named, in order of series, Egypt, ########, Old Domino, Heartland, Arcia and ####### with the capital city usually sharing the same name. Our main Antagonist Leo Akaba, as the person who used the artefact in the first place, has become king of Arcia, which represents Arc-V. All the capitals exist outside inter-spirit zones, which are usually regarded as quite hazardous to civilians. The history of the new world is a warped version of all the anime series mixed in with duel terminal stories and archetype stories. Some anime events have already taken place (original and GX) while others are yet to come (5Ds, Zexal etc.).

Phew, I think that covers everything. If not I'll add it later. On to the story!

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V, the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game or any related products as they are the property of Konami and their affiliates.

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Chapter 1: The New World and the Old

Ruri woke with a start, her hand reaching out for something she could no longer recall. Realising the futility, she pinched the bridge of her nose instead and let out an exasperated sigh. It had happened again. For the last few weeks she had intermittently been experiencing terrible dreams she could never remember and flashes of events that had never happened while she was awake. But their was nothing she could do about it and the royal physicians were just as stumped so she called out for her close friend and personal attendant Sayaka to help her get dressed.

"Bad night I take it?" Sayaka asked as she helped her into the black dress reminiscent of the ancient Greek style. It represented her station as the Black Priestess and three of her cousins would be wearing ones just like it in their respective colours: red, purple and white.

"It couldn't have been that bad, otherwise I'd actually remember something," Ruri grumbled as she arranged her hair in its usual style.

"King Leo insists that it's harmless and you shouldn't pay it any mind," Sayaka soothed.

"I know," Ruri sighed. But ever since these things started she'd been getting the growing feeling that she absolutely hated the man. It didn't make any sense since Leo Akaba had always been a kind and generous king. He had taken her, her older brother and even her friend Sayaka out of the rubble of Heartland and into the royal palace. He had fed them, clothed them and taught them, all because her deceased mother happened to be the sister of his first wife. Most royals would have stomped out a threat to their bloodline in the same position.

"If you want, we could go to see the Chief Royal Physician again," suggested Sayaka.

In an instant Ruri's world was replaced by a strange windowless room. She was strapped to a cold steel table writhing and screaming her lungs out while the grinning madman held a squirming red bug to her ear.

The flash of memory was gone as quickly as it came as Ruri involuntarily flinched. The Chief Royal Physician or the Doktor as he liked to be called, was a perfectly nice, if a little strange, man.

"Uh, no, todays celebration ceremony is important and we can't afford to be late," she excused.

Despite that she still now felt like throwing up every time she was in the same room as him. These fictitious flashes were so annoying but she just couldn't get rid of the image of that squirming red bug.

Sayaka giggled, "No, YOU can't be late. I'm just a servant girl. Come on, lets get you some breakfast and then we'll head to the coliseum."

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Grand Coliseum, Arcia

No human city was truly complete without the massive structure known as a coliseum. An enormous arena of stone and brick filled to the brim with cheering citizens all usually gathered for humanity's most exciting game and ultimate art of war: Summoning! Under official rules and referees it had been dubbed the Shadow Games by none other than Pharaoh Atem himself. During these events summoners would test their mettle against each other by calling forth great spirits to do battle while supporting them with magical spells and counter spells.

It was here that Ruri met with the other three priestesses on a private balcony reserved just for them due to their important status in the kingdom. It was one of three balconies on this side of the arena with king Leo sitting in the highest central balcony with his immediate family and attendants. The balcony where the priestesses sat was situated on Leo's left while the balcony on his lower right contained ALL thirty or so of his advisers and senior officials.

"Your late!" lectured Serena with her arms crossed and tapping her sandalled foot expectantly.

"Don't be silly, the event hasn't started yet," Yuzu chastised lightly, "Now both of you sit down. We have a few minutes to talk."

So Ruri sat down next to her cousins in the row of four seats meant for comfortably viewing today's events as much as they were for putting the priestesses on displays for the rest of the crowd.

After a few moments hesitation Ruri tentatively asked, "Have any of you been having doubts about King Leo's war on dragon spirits and the role we play in it?"

"Not really," came Rin's immediate and somewhat disinterested reply.

"Have you been having more of those flashes again?" asked Yuzu with concern.

Ruri nodded guiltily since she didn't want to lie to her close friends and family.

Serena huffed and crossed her legs in an unladylike manner, "Look, dragon type spirits are aggressive, intelligent and carnivorous. Nine times out of ten they're the apex predator of their habitat and they kill over a hundred travellers every year. That's more then every other type of wild spirit put together bar demons (A/N: That's fiend type for those of you who don't know). Add on the fact that they're immortals that get stronger as they age and are viciously territorial, hogging all the best drinking, hunting and resting spots so that nothing bigger than a wolf can survive in their excessively large territory. Getting rid of all the dragon type spirits protects both human settlements and helps the environment. Don't feel any sympathy for them Ruri. Dragons are nothing but cold blooded flying killers that torch villages."

"I know," Ruri said, "It's just . . . what about that boy that the prophecy referred to as the Prince of Synchro. Rin, you found him, befriended him, lured him into a trap and then betrayed him. He didn't seem remotely evil or twisted and was genuinely hurt when you betrayed him. Don't you even feel a little bit guilty about using your eternal magic En Winds to cripple and then kill his dragon?"

"Nope," Rin shrugged, "Ever since I did that all synchro type dragon spirits have been 25% easier to kill. It's pretty easy to way up the dozens of lives that's already saved over the feelings of someone who was destined to destroy the world when they grew to adulthood. If anyone should be feeling guilty it should be Serena, she's the one who botched her part of the prophecy."

The Purple Priestess looked away shame faced, "I-I didn't botch it. I'll just have to try again when he pops up again. But for the record Ruri, that guy really was a monster. Yuri took delight in using his dragon in tandem with his plant summons to wipe out whole towns. It was all just some . . . sick game to him. I'm sure the two remaining dragon princes are just as detestable in character. The one that escaped from Rin after she killed his dragon was definitely an outlier."

Ruri hung her head, "I just thought that since Prince Reiji doesn't agree with the war on dragons then maybe we could find an alternative."

Yuzu gave an involuntary shudder, "As strong as they make him, I wouldn't trust someone who has a summoning contract with one of the top five demon factions."

The conversation was then cut short by the booming voice of Leo Akaba, king of Arcia.

"Citizens of my beloved kingdom! We are here today to celebrate ten years of peace within our kingdom. Ten years since the wicked Supreme King Dragon Z-Arc was sealed away. Ten years since we cast out Astrograph and Chronograph Sorcerer from the fifth dimension and replaced them with the artificial spirit Master Spirit Tech Force – Pendulum Ruler so that the perpetual energy within that dimension may be used for the good of all who desire it," spoke the king with his arms wide before pointing above him at the gigantic dragon like machine perched on the coliseum wall, "Ten years since the kingdom has signed the ancient gear contract to strengthen our forces and drive the dreaded dragons from our lands.

I know that for some of you it has been a long HARD road. Our noble crusade to rid the world of dragons has taken many from us before their time. But it has not been in vain. It has never been safer for you to walk the street, to travel and see distant relatives or do business. Many months ago, the White Priestess successfully killed the Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, one of the four ruling dragons that lead their scaly legions. Its' body is now entombed in stone on one of four platforms in the royal courtyard for all to see. I have full confidence that it shall soon be joined by its' brethren in the months to come. We WILL rid the world of this menace, no matter how strong they may be, no matter how far they run or how deep into the earth and high into the sky and hide. Felgrand, Diabolos, the dragon rulers, these are just some of the great titans of history that we have already overcome. The future of this world is ours to decide and with that . . . LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!"

The crowd roared and the first participant of today's peace anniversary tournament began. Between rounds there were various entertainers and shows for the crowd. For a while Ruri was able to lose herself in the festive atmosphere but alas the day soon came to a close.

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As the sun set Ruri made her way back to her quarters. She had eaten more then enough at the coliseum so some light reading followed by an early night sounded very appealing right now. Removing her sandals as she entered, she walked over to her bedside table to grab the novel she'd been reading. That was odd? Shouldn't the luminous crystals in her room be lit by now? Ruri then immediately stiffened as something cold and sharp was placed against her neck.

"Don't move. Don't scream and don't even think about casting something."

What? What was going on? Ruri began to sweat as her heart thundered in her chest. Her older brother was appointed her official bodyguard and checked the security around this wing of the castle with a religious passion. How on earth did this person get in?

"Now I'm going to turn you around reeeaaal slowly. No funny business, my associates just want to chat," said the voice.

Ruri became very aware of the amour against her back as a strong male hand took her shoulder and turned her to face two more individuals in heavy armour on of which was holding one of her crystal lanterns. They and very likely the warrior behinds her were pseudo-spirits, even more terrifyingly she recognised them as Buster Blader and Gearfried the red-eyes iron knight. Both of them were legendary for their achievements despite Gearfried's low level. More importantly they were well known dragon knights, which meant she was unlikely to live through the minute, let alone the night.

"Good evening, I am Buster Blader and this is my associate Gearfried. We are here on orders on behalf of the great Pharaoh Atem," introduced the famous dragon slayer turned defender, "Well actually the Dragon Knight of Creation behind you is a third party contractor."

Tears began to well in her eyes. The man behind her was a worshipper of Felgrand, a dragon that King Leo's army had killed eight years ago. They were here for revenge, she was going to die, she just knew it.

"You happy now, she's crying, your negotiations have failed, now lets off the bitch already," snapped Gearfried.

"Those aren't our orders," Buster Blader replied sharply.

"What do you mean those aren't our orders! We're dealing with the bloody BLACK PRIESTESS for crying out loud! She and her three little she-devils are responsible for personally wiping out over half the dragons in the world. If they keep going any further then there will be nothing left to keep the balance and the Angelic and Demonic factions will rip each other, and everybody else caught in the crossfire, to pieces!"

The dragon knight chuckled, "You are as crude as your master. Should you continue to make such a racket then I have no doubt the girls older brother along with half the royal guard will be upon us any moment."

"Hey, NOBODY insults Joey Wheeler. He's the best boss in the whole world," Gearfried retort back with a jab of his finger(?).

"Enough, now keep her still while I give her the potion," ordered Buster Blader, "She's the best candidate and this stuff is very difficult to make so we can't afford to waste our only bottle."

Ruri's eyes immediately locked on the small dark bowling pin shaped bottle in Buster Blader's hand and immediately started wriggling to escape. The knight of creation quickly clasped his free hand around her waist and she nicked her neck several times on the sword while Buster Blader put down the lantern and then placed his extremely firm hand on her jaw. Forcing it open, he popped the glass stopper with his thumb and shoved the bottle in her mouth before she could scream. Her stifled cry promptly turned into a gagging cough as she struggled NOT to swallow the stinging bitter liquid. Buster Blader just used two free fingers to clamp her nose shut while the hand on her jaw forced her head back. Inevitably she couldn't/ wasn't fully willing to bite through the glass bottle to breath so Ruri was forced to shallow to avoid suffocation.

The effects of the potion were immediate as both swordsmen stepped back with the bottle. Her body felt both swelteringly overwhelmingly hot and chilling piercingly unbearable cold at the same time. She felt her heart racing while her head throbbed as if it were about to split open. Her legs wobbled as her vision blurred and began to darken. Words echoed and ceased to have meaning as her eyes rolled up and she keeled over twitching. Oh god it hurt!

"Yuto . . . save me," Ruri mumbled incoherently, unaware of her own words before she blacked out and knew no more.