This one is longer and touches on some important details about Yuuma's past in this AU. It will be filled out more later.

I hope you enjoy!

(Chapter 2)

The Shadow Realm

Darkness gently brushed against his soul and curled protectively around the light within his heart. Ever since he could remember the Darkness has all ways been there. Stepping down he felt his feet touch stone. The Darkness lessened and he could see the paths and corridors which surrounded him.

When he first came to this place he was four years old and was scared out of his mind. He ended up crying so loudly that someone came and tried to see what was wrong.

Yuuma smiled as he remembered the Great Pharaoh. The first person he met in this dimension. He was the one who showed him the way home and introduced him to Gagaga Magician. He never could look at the monster the same after that trip. In his mind Gagaga Magician was a protector who did not follow him because of his father but for him as a person.

Walking forward he followed the small balls of light which formed around him and floated down the corridors.

His steps did not echo nor did any sound could be heard. It was silent and Yuuma could not help but feel worry creep on him. This place and silent did not go together. There was always some sort of sound in the background. But the Darkness did not have it normal gentle hum nor did the stone resonate with gleeful pulses. In fact everything was still. Too still. It made Yuuma's hair stand on end.

Wrapping his arms around him he looked around, hoping to see something that would make his worry fade.

Nothing came to his sight. Fear started to grow in his heart. Something was not right at all. Everything seemed dead.

Looking forward he stopped. All the balls of light had stopped floating and just a few paces away he could see the stone disappear into black shadows. Taking a deep breath he released himself and held his arms at his side. Positioning his feet, he tensed his body. Pushing off he ran into the shadows.

It was thick and wrapped maliciously around him. Air did not seem to want to come to his lungs. His limbs felt weighted down and slow. His heart was beating in his ears. His thoughts were scattered and would not form anything coherent.

Still he push on. He was going to find his answers no matter what.

Reaching forward his hand brushed against the shadows. With a bit of force his fingers pushed through them causing the shadows to break as he fell forward. Falling to his hands and knees he panted. Whatever that was, it was not nice, even now he could feel it shifting and about to reach for him. Getting up he took off in a dead run.

He had to find the circle. It was there he met the Great Pharaoh's friends: the King of Dark Justice and the Holder of the Red Dragon. It was also where he could get in contact with different creatures from this realm.

Balls of light formed around him once more and floated down the corridor moving faster than before. Soon a curve could be seen in the path. He was close!

The orbs flew out and hovered in different positions around the circle as Yuuma skidded to a halt. Catching his breath the teen looked around. The circle felt empty. Like no one has been there in years. Many years in fact. Just how long ago are we talking about anyway?

Slowly releasing his breath, he walked to the pillar in the center of the circle. It came just a bit above his waist and was made out of stone. Looking down at the smooth surface he readied himself for news he most likely would not like.

Reaching for his cards he contemplated who to call. Rainbow Kuriboh was usually patient and willing to answer questions, but something about the stillness around him made Yuuma hesitate. So looking at his cards he pondered for a moment before sighing. It felt wrong to call out any of them. Besides seeing they fell through time with him they may not know what happen as much as he.

Swallowing he admitted that this needed the help of one who was not with him. And that this talk was going to be a bit harsher than he would like.

Putting his deck away he placed his left hand onto the pillar. Closing his eyes he focused on the being he wanted to summon.

He felt the stone warm slightly at his thoughts, before a chill ran down his spine. Looking up he met gazes with the monster he summoned.

Dark blue skin lightly glowed in the glow of the balls of light. Metal glinted, and red armor looked vicious. The broken doll in the being's arms stared at Yuuma with light blue eyes while the monster's deep red eyes bore down into his own.

"Dark Necrofear." To Yuuma's credit his voice did not waver nor did his trepidation at seeing his old ace monster bleed through.

The bald lady merely kept their gazes locked.

"Would you tell me when am I? And why this world feels so dead?"

Red eyes softened before the fiend nodded. Slowly she reached out with her right hand and placed it on Yuuma's head.

Blinking the teen felt knowledge fall into his mind, and he felt information flow out to her in response. Well she did need something in return.

Closing his eyes Yuuma shifted through the information Dark Necrofear gave him.

He was in the year 1995, and the reason why the Realm of Shadows felt so dead was the fact no one had solved the Millennium Puzzle. Causing the Realm to be sealed to all except the most vile of beings who had access to one of the other Items.

Yuuma shuttered as he felt Dark Necrofear's contempt for this vile being. Yeah he had a guess who that was. Only one being could be able to use the Darkness even when it was sealed away. He dared not think of its name in case it came to see him but to say the least it was troublesome.

Feeling Dark Necrofear's hand move from his head he looked up. Loneliness gripping his heart. He stopped using his fiends when his parents disappeared. Instead picking up his father's old deck, which really was missing some key components in order to be used properly. He had thought of picking up his old deck to battle Astral. But decided against it. It had been a long time since he used those cards. Astral did not even know he had them. However he wanted to give the alien a chance, so he used his Gagagas, Gogogos, Dododos, and Djins. A part of him regretted it however another part was proud that he beat Astral while using strategies the other knew about.

Still it did not remove the ache he had at the thought of the wrong he did to his friends. While he did not think they knew fear, he had to learn that at Duel Sanctuary after all, he knew that they were real beings. For the longest time they were his only friends besides Akari. Then Kotori became his friend and she became a friend to his fiends as well. He was actually halfway decent with his fiends, he just could not face XYZs that well so he lost a lot. But his friends never got mad, they even tried to help find a way to fight back.

Then he put them aside in his grief. He never really knew how much it hurt to do that until Astral came around and started to convince him to change his Dad's deck so it could work better. But he never had the courage to face them and see if they wanted to join him in battle once more.

Seeing his old ace made his heart ache. How had he missed her. She was his protector besides Kurivolt and Rainbow Kuriboh. Then Hope came. Number 39 was calm and protective but he always was more concerned about Astral. While Future Number 0 Emperor of the Future, Hope felt just as protective of Yuuma as Dark Necrofear was in the past. Hope stood by him and lent support as his family started to fall apart. He would never dream of leaving Hope, but as history shown he would in a heartbeat.

Tears fell and hit his hand. His body was shaking as guilt filled him. How badly he wanted to change what he done. To had continued with his fiends or at least had talked to them when he wasn't.

A hand gently landed on his head. Softly it ruffled his hair. Looking up he met the warm gaze of Dark Necrofear. Looking deep within in the red eyes of the monster he felt calmer. She did not blame him.

A smile tugged on the fiend's lips as she reached down and wiped his tears away. An echo of her thoughts resounded in his mind.

"Why must you think such thoughts? You have always been our little master. We understood."

Yuuma's breath caught in his throat. The ache of his heart lessened and the feeling of hope bloomed. Slowly he smiled at her only to receive a pick on his cheek.

"You really should have called me sooner, Little Master. You did not need my card or to be in the Circle of Kings to do so."

Pouting Yuuma rubbed his cheek.

"Pardon me for not knowing."

Dark Necrofear smiled before placing her hand on his on top the pillar.

"You will not be alone here. While I cannot tell you how to return to your time, do know Little Master, we will fight along side you till the end."

Yuuma smiled as he felt her strength flow into him. Followed by the others of his old deck, even the strength of those in his current one. No he was not alone. Even in this far off time he was not without those he loved and who loved him in return.

Meeting his monster's eyes, he smiled.

"Thank you Dark Necrofear."

The fiend smiled before floating away.

Slowly Yuuma removed his hand from the pillar. Before a desperate force slammed into him.

Dun! Dun!

Anyway, yes Little Man this is a different system than I normally do for the Shadow Realm. But for this story it shall do what I want. Don't worry some of the things from that system shall pop up. Just not the main one.

For everyone else: Yes the people I listed are the previous protagonists. More on that later. As for Yuuma having a hard time with his fiends against XYZs, well I am mixing anime card effects with real world. And Yuuma does not have Destiny Board. More of this fiend deck will be shown later. Besides I had fun with the thought.

Now Forward!