Prologue
It's been 4 years since Yugi's battle with the Plana, and the Pharaoh's "return". But as soon as he came, he left. Kaiba's battle with Atem was never recorded, and he never spoke of it to anyone, not even Mokuba. Tea had left 3 weeks after the battle to fulfill her dreams to become a professional dancer, and has been seen at the Olympics, and on National TV for various events. Tristan has since been dating Serenity, under the watchful eye of Joey. Duke and Bakura have been promoting Duke's game of Dungeon Dice Monsters, which has spread worldwide, even being recognized as competition for Duel Monsters for the title of the world's most popular game.
Joey Wheeler himself however, has been on a journey of his own. Postponing his journey to become the world's greatest duelist, he's looking for the one person he has finally realized he needs in his life. Joey learned that before she left, Mai had told Yugi that she wasn't planning to duel any longer, except for practice. That is until the person she was waiting for finally came to his sense. But she had told Yugi to withhold the information, until that person left for his journey. That person was Joey Wheeler. "She's waiting for you Joey.", Yugi told him. "She's waiting for you to come get her. She's been waiting for 3 long years. I think it's time you rescue the princess from her castle." With those final words from his best friend his guiding drive, Joey Wheeler left his life in Domino City behind, but not become a duelist. Not yet anyway. "I'm comin Mai. Don't worry. You won't have to wait any longer."
"Yes!", Mai exclaimed. "Thank you Seto Kaiba. Maybe you do have a soft spot after all."
3 years early, before Mai had left to wait for Joey in her house in Malibu, Mai had paid a special visit to Seto Kaiba, to collect on the promise he had made to her after battle against Dartz.
Three Years Earlier.
"I've got to admit, you pulled through quite well. Our plan worked perfectly." Kaiba said. "If you ever make me do something like that again, I swear not only will I decline your offer, but I'll beat you so bad that everyone will be able to beat you at Duel Monsters When I'm finished with you." Mai was furious. She and Kaiba had secretly made a deal that would eventually lead to the production of Kaiba's new Duel Disk 3 years later. She had let him put her back into the shadow realm to see if he could bring what she saw to the real world, and use the images to form "real holograms" to create new tech for the new duel disk he was building. However, the torture Mai had experienced had somehow made Kaiba feel something he'd almost never experienced before, guilt. He saw Joey Wheeler, at the center of her world, a great duelist with a heart of passion not just for duel monsters, but for his friends, and secretly, a heart for Mai.
He realized that what Tea had said before about Wheeler was true. "What do you have at the end of the day Kaiba, other than your machines, and a cold heart?! Tell me!", she had said. And that day he had known the answer. Nothing. Mokuba was all that he had, and at Duelist Kingdom even that would've been taken from him. And at Battle City, Wheeler had shown that he was an incredible Duelist, much better than Kaiba had originally given him credit for. And not only was he a much better Duelist, but he was a better man. "Kaiba, this is a great duel, and I'm just glad I get to have some fun.", he'd said during their duel on his Island.
"So, are we done here?" Mai asked him. "I'm afraid not." He said. "I saw everything that you experienced in there, and I've got to say, I was wrong." "About what?", Mai asked. "About Joseph Wheeler.", Kaiba admitted. "You and Tea were right. Wheeler is clearly a better man than I am. Don't ever tell him I said that though." "Ha! You have my word Seto Kaiba.", Mai said. "But you are right, we aren't done. You owe me a favor, and I'll be back to collect when the time is right."
When that day had come around, Mai had asked Kaiba for the a drone. But not just any drone, a stealth drone, so that she could see all of Joey's Duels through his Duel Disk, and where he was and what he was doing. "Talk about a Secret Admirer. Stalker much?", She thought to herself, remembering the time she had asked. But she got what she needed. And now, all she had to do was wait. For her knight in shining armor was about to come and rescue her from the castle that she had imprisoned herself in.
(Hey guys. Just wanted to say that I wanted to post the prologue and maybe chapter 1 to see if you guys like it before I continue. Please Review!)