Summary: What if Kaiba did the unthinkable? What if Joey called that last attack and defeated Marik? Who would have thought two what ifs could change…everything.

Italics= thoughts

WARNING:eventual Puppyshipping, so for any non-yaoi lovers this fic may not be for you.

Anyways on with the story!

Chapter 2

"You've got to go Joey."

Joey looked up to find Yugi looking straight at him. The small guy had a smile on his face and was tugging on the blonde's arm to urge him forward.

"Yugi? What's going on? I just woke up here I swear!"

Yugi laughed.

"It's time to go Joey," purple eyes shone. "The biggest duel of your life awaits!"

The blonde scratched his head.

"Uh Yug, what are ya talkin' bout?"

The little guy only smiled as he continued tugging his friend through the streets.

"Oh wait!" realization dawned on Joey. "I dueled Marik! And won! Aww yeah Joey Wheeler kicked some major bad guy butt!"

The blonde pulled to a stop to pump several fists up into the air. He stopped mid-motion as another thought came to him.

"Wait a minute! What are we doing here? Where are we? And what about your duel with Kaiba?"

"You're in a dream Joey. I'm trying to wake you up. Your opponent will be the toughest you've ever faced. When you face him you must be ready."

Surprise took over Yugi's face as Joey hoisted him up into the air.

"Yes! That means you beat Kaiba! I wished I could have seen rich boy's face! Our duel is going to be awesome Yug! I can't wait!"

Yugi smiled as he was set back down. He walked away from Joey and turned a corner.

"Hey! Where ya goin'?"

The blonde ran after Yugi almost crashing into him around the corner. The little guy was pointing ahead.

"There's the exit Joey."

Joey sweatdropped. A never-ending black abyss shaped as a hole in the ground lay before them.

"Uh Yug are you sure about that?" Joey asked weakly. His knees shook. Yugi's gramp's soul was locked away in a card? Okay. Crazy madman possessed him and almost cost him his life? Sure. Crazy madman is actually possessed himself by an evil set on taking over the world through an ancient power? When isn't that happening? But a scary looking hole was the same to Joey as ghosts were, a big fat NO!

Yugi chuckled and nodded.

Nervous laughter filtered out of Joey.

"In that case why don't you go first?"

Yugi shook his head.

"I'm not real Joey. And I'm not the one who needs to wake up."

"Traitor," Joey whispered flatly.

'Oh well I lived a good life right?'

His body tensed as he stood at the edge of the abyss. He swallowed audibly and shook himself. With a raging cry akin to George of the Jungle the blonde leaped into the air and fell into the dark hole. He screamed as he felt a rushing sensation surge through him as though he were being sucked in through a tube.

"Oh Joey, please wake up..."

'That voice.'

The blonde felt stiff everywhere. Darkness surrounded him. With a groan his eyes parted open, the light driving all the dark away. With a turn of his head he noticed Serenity was at his side. The young female had her arms wrapped around her legs, head hidden away in the crook.

"Serenity?"

Hazel eyes widened in disbelief as the female raised her head up. The tear-stained cheeks were telling.

"Big brother? Are you really awake?"

Joey chuckled.

"It's me sis."

"Oh Joey!"

Serenity threw herself onto her brother, latching onto his bare torso as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Joey allowed himself a peaceful moment to hug his sister. He ran a hand through her hair before pulling her back a bit so he can get a clear view of her face.

"I'm so glad you're awake," Serenity sniffled.

"I remember now," Joey mused. "I was dueling Marik and I must have passed out. Is this some sort of hospital room? Where are all of the others?"

"I told everyone to go. They wanted to stay but I insisted. Kaiba and Yugi's duel was up so I told them to go give Yugi support," Serenity explained.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go and cheer Yugi on!" Joey cried as he yanked wires off of his chest and got to his feet.

A startled gasp turned the sibling's attention to the man who'd just entered the room.

"This is impossible," the man proclaimed. "You shouldn't be awake much less up an running."

"Well you're wrong Doc cause I feel fine," Joey returned. He would have said more but that was when he spotted Mai.

The elder female lay in her hospital bed. She hadn't woken up.

"Mai!"

The male blonde rushed to her side. He gripped one of her shoulders gently and shook her.

"Why isn't she awake? I beat Marik so why isn't she up yet!"

"I don't know Joey," Serenity came to stand at her brother's side, large eyes sorrowful. "I'm sorry."

Joey growled.

'This doesn't make any sense!'

He let Mai go. He'd failed. He beat Marik and yet still failed. Mai had become one of his closest friends. She was the only one who figured out his secrets, some he had yet to come to grips to himself. She meant so much to him, and yet, he still failed her completely.

"Stay here Serenity, stay with Mai," Joey told her. "I'll go find the others and I'll make Marik pay. I'll pound that frizzy-haired creep until he brings Mai back."

"Now you listen here young man you can't- "

"Joey wait!"

Joey had only been a few steps from the door when he broke into a run. He could ignore the doctor but never his little sister.

"Serenity I- "

"You need a shirt big brother, and shoes."

Serenity smiled a bit coyly as Joey looked down at himself and blushed in embarrassment.

"Right," the male blonde said with a laugh.

"Your shoes are there," his sister pointed to the end of the bed.

Joey kept ignoring the doctor's rants as he slipped his sneakers on.

"Hey, where's my shirt?" He checked the bed and looked under it but couldn't find a thing. Looking up he noticed Serenity's smile was very mischievious.

"I'm sorry big brother but your shirt fell apart. They had to dispose of it so you'll have to go shirtless."

"WHAT?"

"Sorry big brother."

"Ugh," Joey groaned. "I don't have time for this!"

He stormed out.

Serenity chuckled and turned around to look up at the duel tower through the window.

"Good luck big brother."

'Is it already over?'

Joey's mind lay in whirl as he waited in the elevator. He wished the damn thing would go faster.

'I beat Marik but Mai still isn't awake which means Ryou probably isn't either. And everyone else has got to be up on the duel tower but from what I could tell it doesn't sound like there's a duel going on.'

The blonde growled as he placed his hands on his head.

'Just what the heck is happening?'

His heart sped up as he noticed the elevator was slowing down. When the doors opened he saw everyone turn around and break out into shock.

"Joey!"

"Hey guys! Good to see all of ya!" he called out cheerfully.

His friends were almost too shocked to say anything.

"Dude where's your shirt?" Tristan burst out.

Joey shrugged.

"I decided to work on my tan."

"Is he serious?" Duke asked, eyes widening slightly.

Tea had yet to say anything.

"Where's moneybags? I wanna see his face after Yugi beat him."

"Think twice mutt."

Joey's retort caught in his throat.

When Kaiba's distinctive voice cut through the air the blonde immediately parted through his friends ready to make his own snappy comeback but the words instantly died away.

Right in the center of the dueling arena lay Yugi… and Marik. Both lay perfectly still, eyes closed.

"Yug?" the blonde called out weakly.

Both Yugi and Marik wore a soft purple glow that pulsated off of them. But it was the definitive paleness of the small boy and the utter stillness that shocked Joey beyond all measure.

His little buddy looked dead.