Disclaimer: Koros45 doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Or Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's

Chapter 9: Mysteries and Movements

Seto was anxious to do much of anything. The man in white was gloating and things seemed dire. Then things got slightly less dire as a cry was heard over the horizon and a slender blue and gold dragon appeared, cawing steadily getting bigger as it neared, landing in from of the man in white, and sending a giant cloud of dust into the air as the ground shook from the dragon's landing. The rider of the dragon in question was a teenage girl, who was – for some reason – wearing the Millennium Puzzle around her neck.

"I don't know who you are, but you'd better release Red Demon's at once, or Ancient Fairy is going to get angry." The girl said as though it was a basic fact of life.

The man in white had envisioned himself as some kind of chess master, but at the moment he was unsure of that given all that had just transpired. Shiro sighed. "Here I was, trying to act all grandiose, yet here comes Ruka of all people to give me trouble." He glanced up at Ancient Fairy and then looked at the blazing red demon in front of him, who'd begun roaring and waving it's snake tendrils at the sight of the Signer Dragon, clearly agitated by it.

"I feel that it's not right." Shiro stopped. "Wait. No no no." The tall man in white clutched at his brown hair and began to pace back and forth. "I did it out of order. It's not going to work out then. . ." He turned to the gathered resistance around him, shooting glares all his way, yet still worried about the hulking red creature who was in the man's thrall.

"I'm sorry. I thought I really would put on a spectacle here, but I messed up." Shiro said. He looked at the hulking red beast of energy in front of him and held up the card.

"Alright Scar-Red Nova. Into the card you go. You got what you wanted, leave Ancient Fairy alone. I don't want you losing control and eating me. Yliaster wouldn't want that, would they?" He said and the creature screamed as is was suddenly sucked into the card. Shiro hissed as it appeared the card burned his hand upon contact, Seto noticed.

"Now what's your way out of this?" Seto asked.

Kisara's plan had worked. She'd reached the blonde man who'd saved her and Seto from the Spider God. She would be happy to note that, yet at the moment she was more concerned with getting Red Demon's to respond to her. The dragon wasn't moving at all. Nor was the blonde man Red Demon's told her was named Master Jack. Kisara felt some kind of rift had appeared between man and dragon, and there was something wrong with Jack's essence – like part of it had been torn away.

Still, Kisara couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief as the man in white who was talking down to all of them vanished – along with the Millennium Stone – after playing another card. This meant that everyone gathered was frantic and it took Seto to calm them all down. Yet this also meant that Kisara could look at the dragon properly and figure out what was wrong with it.

=(0)=

Yusei opened his eyes to Atem looking worried at him and was annoyed a little that he was in the same exact situation the first time he'd appeared in this world. He was supposed to be the one to help out Atem, yet it seemed once again that the Pharaoh would be the one doing the saving. Still, Yusei was glad to see Atem was unharmed.

"Marik." Yusei said, briefly. He glanced around the area and saw no sight of the pointy haired maniac.

"Gone." Atem said. "He vanished into thin air. However, I think that he won't come back here again." The Pharaoh added with a hint of pride.

"I don't remember much after he hung me to that rock, Atem. What happened while I was semi-conscious?" Yusei asked.

"Well first I was able to follow up on the duel and take your place using your deck against Marik. You were able to remind me about your Gardna's effect which saved me. Marik resorted to his usual cowardly ways of wearing down his opponent physically and psychologically. Still your deck had enough tricks to stall him while I formed a counter-strategy. Who knew you had a fusion monster up your sleeve." Atem stated. "I'm impressed as ever, Yusei. I'm also glad I saw duel in person so I could get the gist of Synchro Summoning – I'd have lost if I couldn't summon your Stardust Dragon. There's more details but that all can wait. Are you well enough to drive?" Atem asked.

=(0)=

Seto managed to calm everybody down, which surprised even him, but he reckoned the Millennium Puzzle on his neck that the girl, Ruka, had returned to him had played no small part in his ordeal. He'd managed to gather everyone in the ruined square to discuss what had happened and currently the crowd of people was staring at the foreigners intently.

"Lord Seto, please tell us why these people are here!" One of the crowd called out.

"Yes! If they are behind the attack then we demand justice!" Another voice called out.

"And where is our Pharaoh? Is he alright?" Another voice cried.

Seto gave his standard frown and looked to the masses.

"The young woman you see with me is an ally who has helped Pharaoh Atem. The yellow-haired man in white is unconscious at the moment. They both were very helpful in saving me and this city from our enemy. What I know is the thief who was known as Bakura has once again returned. He destroyed most of our summoning tower and was allied with some form of wicked God. And he was allied with a man none of us could recognize. Our Millennium Stone had been taken from it's resting place. What that man plans with it, I know not."

Seto paused. It was a lot of information to take in, much less to try and explain coherently.

"As for the city itself, it remains intact. The Wicked God that Ruka (He gestured to her as he spoke) helped take down absorbed most of the Ka from the tower before it fell. My guess is that this was a big ploy to rob us of our monsters. So this mystery man could strike. Luckily other than our priests, there seems to be no one who was injured. And there was no loss of life, although I heard that Bakura vanished into the sand after he fought the priests and one of our allies."

Seto gave a small sigh.

"In any case we need a plan. This man needs to be stopped. And although we were for the most part safe, we should-".

Seto was cut off by more commotion.

"Pharaoh!"

"Lord Atem!"

"King Atem!"

"And Sir Yusei too?!"

"It's the Pharaoh!"

Cries of his cousin's name could be heard from city folk near the gate.

True to their voices, Atem appeared, weary, on a steed. Next to him was Yusei, on a red wheeled contraption.

They both dismounted and Yusei struggled to stay upright. The man slumped against his red- whatever it was – and gave a sigh. Atem said something to him and then turned to the audience and Seto midst the people cheering.

Seto wanted to laugh at their timing.

"Thought you were dead, cousin." Seto said as he took the puzzle off of his neck.

Atem approached the podium Seto stood at and turned to face the audience next to his cousin, taking the puzzle as he did so.

"I may have very well been claimed by darkness, but thanks to Ruka, we were able to repel the Earthbound God. And thanks to Yusei, I was able to defeat an old foe who'd returned." He said quietly to Seto, before adding. "No jail cells for Yusei this time, right?" Atem asked, raising an eyebrow.

Seto laughed to his cousin. "Now that he's an ally it won't be a problem. Ruka already introduced herself to the priests and gave me the puzzle as a token of her good will. And that yellow haired guy who looks a little like me is being treated. Something attacked his Ka." Seto said. "Still it is wonderful seeing you here cousin. Please finish this announcement to the people I already told them that they're our friends. I was getting to the pursue and punish our attackers part". Seto said.

"Very well." Atem said, speaking up to the crowd afterward.

"Everyone, Seto has told you of our allies. Though we now have made some old enemies. There was an Earthbound God from the world of the living as well as Marik, an old foe of mine back when my spirit was reawakened in the world of the living." Atem said.

Seto spoke bluntly next to Atem so as to he heard in private. "Bakura returned as well. And there was a man we could not identify. He took the Millennium Stone. Don't panic. The people know this. You have returned. No one was hurt badly. And today was a day of victory."

Thank you, Seto, Atem thought. "People, know that whoever was behind this will be brought to justice. But more importantly, know that you all will remain safe. These people whoever they may be have gotten what they were looking for. I do not think we will be attacked a second time. However I will insure we are prepared if that need arises. Now at this time I beseech my people to have faith in your leaders and in each other. In order for us to be strong, we all must share our strength with each other."

Atem finished and Seto began to clap as he was joined by the rest of the crowd.

"Good. I'm glad you came back in time." Seto said wryly. Atem nodded as he fit the Puzzle around his neck.

"There is more to say, but it can wait until we are with the priests and Yusei, Ruka, and Jack." Seto said. "For now, let's dismiss everyone and discuss our next move."

Amado frowned at the residue. "Good thing Isis was able to catch the magical signature of the portal as this Shiro character left. With it we may be able to track him."

Ruka – who was the de facto leader of Team 5D's at the moment due to Yusei and Jack's states – nodded sternly. "We need to follow him. I think that might be the only way to get back. Your summoning tower was ruined, so a duel won't work as an exit this time (she'd been caught up on how exactly Yusei was able to get back). If we do go, we'll need some people to look after us. In our condition we won't last on our own if something unexpected happens." She admitted.

Seto and Atem exchanged a glance. Then Atem spoke. "As Pharaoh I agree, but I also feel this is my responsibility. I would like to come along if possible." He looked over to Seto. "And you? What are your thoughts?"

Seto let out a sigh. "Logically, I should tell my Pharaoh to stay here since his people need him. Or I could rule in his stead as Pharaoh while he is gone. However, it is not logic that I am thinking of at the moment." Seto paused. "I want this Shiro character to pay. And I want to have a hand in it." Another pause. "I know that it is very risky leaving our damaged city in this state, but the enemy got what they wanted. I do not think they will come back soon." Seto looked to Ruka, Atem, and the priests.

"This is not a light decision," Mahado said. "If we are wrong, then what?" He raised an eyebrow to Seto.

"Be that as it may," Karim said, "our people once did not have the luxury of a summoning tower or a great Ka like the Pharaoh's three Gods. We can rebuild it all. It will just take time."

"Indeed." Shada added. "It seems time passes faster here than in the world of the living. We can get the tower repaired and provide you with Ka if that's needed." He said.

Then Isis spoke. "And the Millennium Items. Will we be taking them?" She asked, holding up the Millennium Eye that Shiro had tossed her between her thumb and index finger.

Atem nodded. "My puzzle is coming with me." He stated. "However, I think that unless the item user is experienced enough, they should stay behind."

Seto nodded. "As much as I would like to bring the Millennium Rod, I don't want this Marik you told me about to recover it as Bakura recovered the ring."

"Then Seto and I will go." Atem said.

Isis spoke up. "I would like to go as well. I can tell the possible futures with my necklace, and I have mastery over it."

Shada closed his eyes. "I wish I could go, yet I feel my duty is to look after the people."

"Then myself, Mahado and Isis will travel with us." Seto said. Then Kisara stood up. "I will go too. I may not keep my Ka shifting abilities in the world of the living, but I would like to help if I can. I go where you go, Seto." She said.

"OK, so that's me, Jack and Yusei for Team 5D's," Ruka said, counting on her fingers, "Plus Atem, Seto, Isis, Kisara, and Mahado?" She clarified.

Atem nodded. "I'm sorry to leave you all in such a state, but it's my duty to stop these people from unleashing havoc with the Millennium Stone and Ring. I swear as your Pharaoh I will bring back everyone."

"Shada, we leave this place in your care." Seto said. "Please look after it."

Freed the Matchless General (as his troops called him) roared as he fought off a Goblin Attack Force. He'd caught them all by surprise and he'd been able to disable most of them with little trouble. Currently he was parrying a club when a white blur fell from the sky and crashed right next to the remaining Goblin, causing it to run away.

The white thing was not a creature. It looked to be some sort of steed from the two people on it, a man in white and another in regal attire of a king. Freed frowned and approached the two, looking at the royal intently.

"Are you Lord King Pharaoh?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

The man looked to him and was surprised. "I am Pharaoh Atem, yes. And who might you be?" He asked.

"Call me Freed. And be on guard. You've appeared in the middle of a skirmish. My forces are attacking Dark Lord HaDes. Please have your knight withdraw towards the dense forest. Our elvish allies reside there. You'll be safe."

Atem could hardly believe their good fortune.

"…. Where are we?" Jack asked.

Author's note: Get ready for a departure from these characters next few chapters. I've got the next few ready to go and it kinda just flew out of me from one chapter to several.