If you've read the old version of this story/chapter of it, this is just undergoing slight editing. You know, fixing up spelling errors and that sort of stuff.

And even though it's an AU, doesn't mean it doesn't follow canon at parts. 'kay?

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh GX or any of its characters. I do own the plot.

3 – Chapter 2: Discovery

(Jaden's POV)

My eyelids slowly fluttered open. All I could see around me was darkness. I tried lifting my head, but dark tendrils were holding me down. I tried to squirm out of the tendrils binding me, but the more I struggled, the tighter the tendrils' grip got.

I screamed, the sound echoing through the black abyss. But so sense of relief came.

I was tired. I could feel the strength in my body being sapped away. Try as I might, I couldn't free myself from the chains of my prison.

I longed for a change, even the mirrors that surrounded me in my dreams would be a welcomed interruption. I was then that I caught sight of a mirror directly in front of me.

Uh Oh! I should have been more careful what I wished for.

(Alexis' POV)

Something didn't quite feel right. Currently in Ms Fontaine's gym class, playing a game of dodge ball, I dodged a ball coming at me, and then spared a glance around the courts. I spied Chazz throwing a ball at my brother Atticus, who happened to be on the opposing team. He dodged, and the ball wound up hitting Mindy, who was also on the opposing team, effectively eliminating her from the game. A little way across the court, I saw Syrus dodging a ball thrown by Jasmine, before grabbing a stray ball and throwing it at me.

I caught the ball on reflex and threw it towards Atticus' head, just as Jasmine aimed one towards his feet. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't seen Jasmine's ball, so he simply ducked to avoid mine, and got hit.

Now, it was just me, Chazz and Jasmine against Syrus. Everyone else in the class had already been eliminated, except Jaden, who hadn't turned up to class. I was worried, but put on my cool mask of indifference and concentrated on the game, just as Syrus aimed a ball at Jasmine's head, which missed and was caught by Chazz. However, in the process, he tripped backwards over a stray ball and was eliminated.

'Good one Truesdale,' someone called from the sidelines, and Chazz trudged reluctantly off the court. Now it was just me and Jasmine, and a lot of stray balls. I grabbed one and aimed it at Syrus, only for him to catch it and send it back to me. I ducked to avoid it, just as Jasmine threw a ball at Syrus. Taking advantage of Syrus' temporary distraction, I grabbed the balls nearest to him, passing a few over to Jasmine and keeping the rest.

Syrus looked up at us after seeing no balls around. Jasmine and I were on either side of him, with an arsenal of balls in our own hands. The remaining balls were behind us, out of Syrus' reach.

It was over. We threw our balls at the same time. Syrus dodged to the best of his ability, but eventually got nailed in his stomach by one, ending the game in our team's victory.

The bell rang then, signalling the start of period two, which happened to be a free period. Ms Fontaine dismissed the class, and I headed towards the girls changing rooms to change out of my gym clothes and back into my school uniform, with Jasmine following behind me. I quickly changed clothes, then headed to Chazz's dorm room a.k.a Slifer common room.

I opened the door and walked in, closing it gently behind me. Scanning the room quickly, I noticed Chazz and Syrus sitting on the coach. I plopped down next to Syrus.

'Where's Atti?' I asked, noticing the absence of my hyperactive brother.

'Getting ice for his foot,' Syrus replied.

'And Jaden?'

'Dunno.' He shrugged. 'He wasn't in his room when I checked just now.'

Just then the door opened and my brother limped in with an ice pack strapped to his foot. He shut the door, but not so gently, and flopped down onto the couch opposite the one we were seated on.

'You ok,' I asked him.

He shrugged nonchalantly in reply. 'It's just a bruise. But maybe we should go and look for Jaden.'

I nodded, as did Syrus. The three of us then stared at Chazz.

'Let's go then,' he said, gesturing towards the door.

Atticus limped over to the door and held it open. We all trailed outside and Atticus closed the door behind us.

'One question,' Syrus said. 'Where do we start looking?'

We all stared at each other. Where indeed?

(3rd Person POV)

Jaden lay face-down on the sandy beach, his form deathly still. His skin was pale, too pale, and his breathing was coming out in harsh, ragged gasps, though it was almost too faint to hear. Over him stood the spirit of Yubel, her face mere inches from his, examining his condition. She put two fingers to his throat to check for a pulse. She could feel the unsteady, pounding of his heart, but it was almost too faint to pick up.

'Kuri Kuri! [What is wrong with Jaden!]' Yubel looked up from her examination into the eyes of Jaden's duel spirit, Winged Kuriboh.

'I'm not exactly sure Little One,' she replied gently. 'It seems as though the darkness is slowly extinguishing his spirit.'

'Kuri [So what do we do?]'

'Go get his friends. Jaden needs medical attention immediately.'

Kuriboh nodded and flew towards the Slifer dorms on the other side of the island. Yubel stared after the retreating figure, before staring down at her soul partner.

'Hang in there Jaden,' she whispered.

(Chazz's POV)

We stood outside my dorm room, trying to decide where to look for Jaden.

'Hey Chazz?' Syrus asked suddenly.

I turned to him. 'Yeah,' I replied.

'Why do you care about Jaden?' He asked. 'You were always mean to him, calling him names like Slacker …'

'I've changed,' I interrupted. 'Jaden taught me to enjoy my duels and respect my opponents. He saved my from my brothers' wrath, and from the society of light. I owe my life to him.'

He nodded, looking a bit surprised. I guess he's not used to me expressing my emotions, which is understandable because I hardly ever do. I smiled suddenly; hanging out with these guys has really changed me fore the better.

'Kurii! [Guys!]' I heard faintly from the direction of the beach. I turned towards the sound, shielding my eyes from the glare of the sun, and saw Jaden's Winged Kuriboh frantically flying towards us.

'Hold on guys,' I called as I saw Alexis, Atticus and Syrus walking away. They stopped. 'Winged Kuriboh can take us to Jaden.'

'But we're not in the other dimension,' Alexis said. 'Can you see monster spirits too?'

I nodded. 'Kuriboh, where's Jaden?'

'Kuri Kuriii … [He's unconscious on the beach after someone attacked him and …]'

'Cant you speak English,' I exclaimed, cutting Kuriboh's rant short. I guess Jaden's the only human who can understand him. Ojama Yellow appeared on my shoulder and started talking to Kuriboh. After a lot of frantic 'Kuri's' Ojama Yellow got a look of horror on his face.

'Someone attacked Jaden, and he's unconscious on the beach, and Kuriboh says he needs medical attention!' he informed me hurriedly.

I repeated what Ojama Yellow said to the others, who couldn't hear monster spirits, and the four of us took off running towards the beack.

Please be ok Jaden, I thought as I ran.

(Jaden's POV)

I stared, entranced, into the mirror, even though I knew I wouldn't like what I saw. I just couldn't look away. The mirror had caught my gaze, and now I was trapped, forced to witness what it had to show.

In the mirror's reflection, I could see a village burning. The strong spirit of Staunch Defender stood, trying in vain to hold back the Supreme King's army. He stood tall, a true warrior, till at last he sank to his knees exhausted, his energy all but spent. The fiends surged past, attacking the villagers, and I watched as humans and duel monsters alike turned into particles of light and disappeared.

Tears ran down my face from the thought of all those that had been killed on my orders and by my own hands. I heard a sound behind me, and suddenly the spell was broken. I turned, seeing Haou behind me.

My eyes widened. Oh no!

(Alexis' POV)

We all ran to the beach, pushing our legs to the limit. We didn't stop or even slow down as we ran through the forest, collecting scratches and bruises along the way.

Finally, we burst out of the forest and onto the sandy beach. Quickly, I scanned the shoreline before catching site of the red blazer that was Jaden's trademark. I ran to him, with the others at my heels, and my breath caught in my throat as I got a better look at him.

I sank to my knees beside his still body, and gathered him into my slightly shaking arms. He was as white as a sheet, and his breaths came out in short, ragged gasps. I grabbed his hand, and shivered at its icy temperature. Putting two fingers to his neck, I managed to pick up a faint, unsteady pulse.

'What's his condition?' Chazz questioned.

'He's as cold as ice, and his heart rate is unsteady,' I replied. He simply nodded and picked Jaden up bridal style.

'He's as light as a feather,' he exclaimed, before taking off in the direction of the infirmary, followed by Syrus and Atticus, who was still limping.

I looked back at where we had found Jaden, looking for something out of the ordinary. The sand he had been lying on had been slightly scattered towards the water, and the hollow was deeper towards the woods, indicating a small struggle.

I dug around a bit in the sand, but found no clue as to who attacked him. Sighing in defeat, I trudged to the infirmary.

When I arrived there, Jaden had been placed in one of the beds, and Ms Fontaine was checking over him. She didn't even look up when I walked in.

'Is he ok?' I asked as Ms Fontaine straightened up.

'I found choke marks on his neck,' she replied, rummaging around in a drawer. 'His body has also gone into hypothermic shock, and something is interfering with his heart's regular beating. And because of all that, he is in a coma.'

We all gasped in shock. She shook her head sadly at us.

'There is more unfortunately,' she said. 'His core body temperature is 21 degrees. Any lower, he'll be brain dead.'