Prologue

In Domino City at age 21 Yugi Motou married Tea Gardener. A year later Tea was pregnant with their first and to be only child. They were overjoyed at the birth of their baby girl. The girl was named Yamino in honor of the Pharaoh that had once dwelled in Yugi's puzzle. Yugi decided he no longer needed the Millennium Puzzle and so passed its power and responsibilities onto his daughter. Thirteen years later Yamino was enrolled in a special academy that taught an extra class of Duel Monsters. Because of this extra time spent at school the Domino Duelist Training Academy was also a boarding school. To all the kids in the academy it was known as Monster High. To be enrolled you had to take a written exam on duel monsters. In the first year most students either dropped out or were failed. When her parents told of the academy Yamino was ready to take on the challenge of the next generation.

Chapter 1

"This is going to be your first day at Domino Duelist Training Academy!" Tea said excitedly as she shook her reluctant daughter awake. "Good for me," Yamino groaned. Once her mother had left her Yamino dragged herself out of bed. She slipped into a black tank top and faded jeans.

Yamino looked in her suitcase for the last time to make sure that she wasn't forgetting anything. Last night she had finally decided to pack. All her clothes, a few books, her I-pod touch, a deck, a duel disk, and a few bucks were pretty much everything she had. The only jewelry she wore was the pendant her father had given her at birth. He had told her it might help her at the academy.

She walked down to the breakfast table backpack slung over one shoulder and lugging a suitcase. Tea looked up, "Yamino, you're going to hurt you're back if you carry you're book bag like that." Yamino flashed a false smile at her mother. "Thanks for the concern." Her father smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair as she sat down. Yamino jerked away. "Dad, what are you doing?"

Yugi sighed. "Nothing." As he looked at his daughter he realized how much she reminded him of the Pharaoh. Her hair was down to her chest and jet black with natural yellow lightening strikes down it and redish lining. He hoped she would do well at the academy.

Yamino only ate a little of the bacon her mother had made. She couldn't wait to get out on her own. She finished breakfast and got in the car. Her father drove as her mother attempted to fawn over her from the front seat. Yamino simply ignored her. Finally after a half hour of driving they reached the Domino Train Station. The academy was out in the country of Domino, at least 50 miles from anywhere in every direction.

Yamino shrugged her back pack higher on to her shoulder. She acknowledged her parents' goodbye briefly as she boarded the train. Once on board she quickly found an empty cabin. She heaved her suitcase into the overhead compartment. Then she leaned back in her seat and hooked up her I-pod. The blare of Simple Plan could be heard in the next cabin.

She did not notice when two young boys opened the door of her cabin. They attempted to ask her if the seat was open. She didn't hear them. The long-haired blonde poked her arm. Yamino jumped. She ripped out her ear buds. "What was that for," she said angrily. The boy held up his hands.

"Chill out, girl! We just want to see if this cabin is open," the blonde said. She frowned. "Does it look like its empty, Blondie?" Yamino put her feet up on the seat opposite her. Then the white-haired boy behind the blonde she hadn't even noticed threw her legs roughly off the seat. "You don't have to such a friggin' jerk!"

Yamino frowned and gestured for them to sit. As the two boys sat she asked, "So you got a name, Blondie?" The boy looked at her angrily but answered, "Yes, in fact I do." When he stopped she gestured for him to continue. He sighed, "Brandon Wheeler." She nodded.

"How 'bout you albino?" She saw a flash of annoyance in the boy's green eyes. "Rahuna Ryou." She raised an eyebrow. "I think I'll just nickname you Ra." Ra looked less than thrilled. "So who're you?" he asked. "Yamino Motou." Brandon rolled his eyes. "Am I the only one here with a slightly normal name?" Yamino couldn't help but smile at this.

"Appears that way," she said. Brandon leaned back in his seat. "So tell me, what kind of name is Yamino." She was about to answer when Ra interrupted. "You don't know? Oh please, Yamino means darkness." Brandon looked at her, "Does this mean you're some sort of dark creature come to eat the souls of mortals?"

This time Yamino couldn't help but laugh. "You… have been…*laughs*… been watching too many horror flicks." He smiled. Then Ra spoke, "What's that pendant you wear?" She looked down. "Oh, this," she said holding it up. "This was my father's. He called it the Millennium Puzzle. He made me put it together when I was younger. It came from Egypt, I think."

He nodded and seemed to digest the information. "Is there any particular reason you want to know?" Ra quickly shook his head. She frowned. Brandon proceeded to ask, "Are you Egyptian?" She nodded. Yamino, a voice called from deep within her. Yamino, beware of Ryou! She realized that the two boys were looking at her. She shook her head. "Sorry, did I miss something?"

The conversation continued, but Yamino was barely paying any attention. What was that voice? Where had it come from? What had it meant by beware of Ryou? She had only just met Ra yet she decidedly liked him and Brandon. For some reason she decided to trust the voice and simply be cautious around her new friend.

Finally the train came to a stop. The trio rushed to the window of their cabin. Yamino had to admit the academy was an impressive sight. There was a large garden with a stone path leading up to the main entrance of the school. The school itself was seven floors. The building was made from stone. On the stone walls were carved images of monsters one of which she recognized as the Dark Magician. A short walk away from the school was the dormitory. It was only two floors. Top floor for girls and bottom for guys. Since only a few duelists were accepted and passed their first year of five here the dorms were small and sectioned off for each year group.

Yamino, Brandon, and Ra stepped out of the train with all their luggage. A man in a red suit with long silver hair stood in front of them. The man waited until they all had assembled. "Welcome chosen duelists, I am Maximillion Pegasus, creator of Duel Monsters. I am here to welcome you to Monster High," the man said with a great flourish of his hands. Yes, Yamino thought. This will be Monster High.