Back in the virtual field, the Pokémon gang and the duelist squad once again encountered each other during the walkthroughs, but this time, things will become different. The spark between them may have died out. The two leaders, Ash and Yugi (who was changed back) retreated from their friends and approached each other. They felt a little awkward and uncomfortable at each other's presence, after all they did get off on the wrong foot. "Uh, hi," Ash managed to blurt out.

"Hey," Yugi returned the response. The two young leaders stood facing each other for a moment as they searched for the words. "Uh...you go first," Ash offered, rubbing his head.

"Nah, you go first," Yugi insisted.

"Look, um..we, uh, got off to a rough start earlier, and um, I just want to say, you know..." Ash started to apologize.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry," Yugi put in, scratching his purple black hair. "I've acted like a total jerk."

"Nah, I'm the jerk!" Ash admitted. "I've shouldn't have acted so conceited back there when you saved me from that bear thing."

"No, I'm the one who intervened," Yugi owned up. "It was your 'Pocket Monster' game, it should be you who passes it without us getting in the way. We should have let you capture that bear when you had the chance."

"Look, since we're both in this video game together..." Ash put in.

"Why don't we..." Yugi added.

"Start over?" The leaders finished in unison. The friends of both teams watched them in anticipation, awaiting for something to happen.

At the same time, they cleared their throats as they prepared for a proper introduction. "Hi, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town," the black-haired boy presented himself first, taking out his hand.

"Hello, my name is Yugi Muto from Domino City," the black violet/blond haired teenager said pleasantly, accepting the young boy's handshake.

"It's very nice to meet you!" They said in unison as they shook hands together.

The other sidekicks went over and got acquainted with one another. "My name is Brock and I come from the Pewter City gym." The spiky haired, line-eyed boy presented himself.

"What's up? Joey Wheeler's the name, dueling's my game!" The blond-haired teenager stylishly introduced himself. The two of them grinned as they shook hands. "Hey!"

"My name is May, and that's a really nice outfit you're wearing," the young girl complemented.

"I'm Tèa Gardener, and thank you." The tall brunette smiled warmly. "I like your cute hairstyle as well."

"Thank you!" May giggled.

"Hiya! I'm Max!" The youngest kid said next.

"Tristan Taylor if you please." The tall tan teenager said. He bended to shake the smallest boy's hand.

Everyone smiled and laughed as they finally got along. Mokuba and Pegasus smiled as they are happy and relieved that the youth buried the hatchet and became friends, even though they're from different worlds. Kaiba just sat on his chair with his back turned and folded arms for he does not care of the Pokémon trainers and duelists becoming friends.

"Pika!" Pikachu hopped in between them and looked up to Yugi and the gang who startled with intimidation. "Whoa! Take it easy, little guy! Don't shock us!" Yugi squealed in alarm.

"We're not harming you!" Joey added.

Pikachu cocked its head innocently. "It's okay, guys. He just wants to be your friend." Ash assured them. "Don't worry, he won't shock you, unless I tell him to or if you make him mad."

Pikachu squeaked, flipping his long black-tipped yellow ears up and down, begging to be pet. Yugi cautiously bent down and reached his hand toward the yellow lightning mouse, and gingerly touched its yellow head. Pikachu purred. Yugi began stroking it in the long pointy ears. It thumped its hind paw as a sign of pleasure and fondness to the teenaged boy. "Pika!" Yugi sighed in relief and smiled.

"That means he likes you, Yugi" Ash said.

"Ha ha ha! Hi, Pikachu!" Yugi grinned.

"He's so cute!" Tèa said blissfully.

"Pika-chu!"

"Well, 'Pika-chu' to you, too," Tristan grinned.

"Pretty cool!" Joey added. They each took turns petting the mouse Pokémon.

"Thanks for helping us with Team Rocket earlier," May said.

"And for bringing back my Pikachu!" Ash added.

"Pika!"

"Hey, don't sweat it, guys!" Joey said. "Just glad to help!"

"We're really grateful for your assistance." Brock said.

"Those dimwits would have gotten away for sure if it weren't for Yugi!" Max added. "You're a hero."

"Heh heh! Ah, it was nothing really." Yugi said modestly, blushing. "Actually, you should thank the pharaoh. He's the one who saved us."

The trainers paused right there in queer when he mentioned that word. "Pharaoh?" Ash repeated in puzzlement.

"What pharaoh?" Brock asked.

"Pikachu?"

"That's right, the pharaoh did do all the work." Tèa said. "He deserves all the credit."

Disoriented, the siblings looked at each other in question, wondering what is she talking about.

"Yeah, he totally kicked major butt!" Joey said. "Did you see how he blew up Team Rocket in the sky? 'Mind Crush'!" He did an imitation of the pharaoh casting a dark spell.

"He zapped those dimwits like they were nothing!" Tristan added. "Of course they were nothing in the first place. I could have taken them out myself!" He folded his arms.

"Yeah, me too!" Joey chuckled, also folded his arms.

The Pokémon trainers looked confused. "But wasn't that you who fought Team Rocket, Yugi?" May asked the eccentric colored-haired teenager. "We all saw you in action."

"Well, yeah, sort of. That may have looked like it was me there." Yugi answered circuitously, itching his face with his finger. "But that wasn't just me out there, it was a different me."

The Pokémon gang did not understand. "I'm confused." Ash said. "What do you mean 'a different me'?"

"Pika."

"There are two sides of Yug you see," Joey explained. "There's the light one and the dark half. Yugi's the light one and the dark half lives inside Yug's Millennium Puzzle."

The Pokémon trainers frowned as they tried to grasp on what they're saying. "Whenever there's trouble, the pharaoh comes out of the Millennium Puzzle and takes over Yugi's body," Tristan put in. "You see, they take turns being each other whenever the circumstances."

"What he meant to say was that there are two spirits sharing one body," Tèa added in to make things clearer. "Yugi is more like the vessel and the spirit of the pharaoh hosts him."

The trainers were still lost from the cryptic explanation. "I'm sorry, but we're still a little lost here," Ash said.

"Who is this pharaoh you keep speaking of?" May asked.

"I thought pharaohs are ancient Egyptian rulers," Max said, folding his arms.

"Pika."

"Oh boy, I'm going to have to start from the very beginning, huh?" Yugi said. "But It's really an epic story that I don't know where to begin."

"Just break it down into details," Ash suggested.

"You can tell it to us over lunch, Yugi," Brock suggested. "That is, if you would like to join us."

The dueling team smiled in gratitude. Their stomachs were growling. "Really? That would be delightful!" Joey beamed.

"Super! We're starving!" Tristan rejoiced.

"That sounds good," Yugi smiled.

"You can make lunch, Brock?" Tèa asked.

"Yep, all I need is ingredients," the dark spiky haired teen answered.

"Brock cooks really good," Ash said. "You'll really enjoy his cooking. Come on, let's look for the ingredients so we can hear Yugi tell the story." The party scattered and searched the virtual woods for lunch supplies so Brock can get cooking.

Outside the KaibaCorp building, a dark cloud has ascended when the Team Rocket duo, Billy and Kidd arrived at last in front of the gaming industry. They parked their motorcycle, hopped out, removed their helmets and sunglasses, and replaced them with their trademark cowboy hats. "At last, we have arrived at our destination. The short black-haired man said.

"So, this is KaibaCorp, eh? One of the biggest industries in the world," Billy observed. "Duh, It ain't look like much. You think they would have make it taller than the Pokémon Tower."

"This is it alright," Kidd said. "This is where they are keeping the most powerful monsters cards. The Blues-Eyes White Dragon is practically in our grasp now." He examined the statue of the Blue Eyes Dragon.

"With a big place like this, it's bound to be full of tight and tough securities," Billy said. "But there ain't nothing we can't handle, eh Kidd?"

"True, but I think we should try a different approach," Kidd said.

"Duh, how different? We knock on their door?" Billy asked dumbly.

Kidd glared at slow partner. "No, you blubber-headed dolt!" He said sharply. "Breaking and sneaking in underneath their noses has been quite too easy for us. I was thinking it's time we try something new for a change, Bill." His large partner looked at him carefully.

"From what I read, the late Gozaburo Kaiba started this company and ran until his own stepson surpassed him." Kidd continued. "This Kaiba character seems like a very interesting person. I would surely like to meet him in person and his younger brother."

"And pretty tough from what I heard," Billy said. "His strongest cards are gonna be hard to beat."

Kidd closed his eyes and smirked. "Once again true, but he'll be just another target." He opened his eyes and looked up the building. "And besides that, I hear that the creator of Duel Monsters is currently attending there for a project and..." he paused to chuckle deviously. "Quite frankly I've always wanted to meet him. He's the one who made things possible."

"Ha ha ha! That's true! If it ain't for Pegasus, we wouldn't have right tools to conquer all!" Billy agreed.

"What we would like to do is spread a little mayhem, show them that we mean business. There's a couple of security guards warding each sector, and well, somebody has to tell them what a good job they're doing, don't you think?" Kidd looked at his partner cunningly.

"That's sound great, Kidd!" Billy smirked pleasing. "Boy, you are the man, Kidd! It's no wonder we're an unstoppable duo! The Boss was a sucker to hire us as hunters to get his Ball of the Underworld! Ha ha ha!"

Kidd chuckled darkly in agreement. "Indeed, Billy." He smiled wickedly as the duo are prepared to penetrate the tight and wealthy industry of KaibaCorp.

Back at the virtual world, the whole party met back in the grove a one hour later with some wood, food, and ingredients. While Brock prepared lunch, Yugi chronicled the whole history of his Millennium Puzzle to their newfound friends, from the beginning to the present. With no detailed missed out, the Poké gang gradually understood and learned about Yugi's link with the Millennium Puzzle and the spirit of the pharaoh who lives inside it.

"I see," Ash finally said. "So you have a 5,000-year-old spirit living inside your Millennium Puzzle? That's pretty hype."

"Pikachu!"

"Ever since I completed the puzzle, he's been residing inside of my body," Yugi said. "Whenever there's trouble, he emerges from the Millennium Puzzle and takes over my body, and pretty much does the hard work that I couldn't pull."

"That's pretty amazing," Brock commented, stirring the stew.

"Is that spirit really from 5,000 years in the past?" May asked.

"That's right, May." Yugi nodded. "In his days as pharaoh, he locked away an all powerful evil magic and sealed it inside the Millennium Puzzle along with himself, saving Egypt from complete annihilation."

"Then five millenniums later, our pal Yug put together the pieces into one and became Yami Yugi," Joey added.

"I haven't forgotten the day he rescued us from that bully," Tristan added his piece also.

"And the time he saved me at a burger restaurant where I used to work," Tèa detailed.

"Two spirits, two minds, one body!" Tristan put in one more detail.

"Wow, imagine having two identities," Ash said. "One minute you're normal high school student, and then the next, you're a supercool butt-kicking pharaoh."

"Kind of like a superhero," Max said. "Except you have less time to change out of your wardrobe and put on a cape. You just hold on to the Millennium Puzzle and you're good to go!"

"Yep, that's just about it," Joey said.

"That's our guy!" Tristan said.

"I don't know about you, but I like the sweet Yugi better," May said, eying admiringly at the King of Games. "He's kinda cute!" She fluttered her eyes which caused Yugi blushed and chuckled coyly.

"Hey, that's my friend!" Tèa ejaculated jealously. She doesn't like it when some other girl flirts when her childhood friend.

"Oh, are you jealous?" May asked teasingly.

"Uh...no!" Tèa blushed.

"Then I hope you wouldn't mind if I sit next to Yugi," May giggled and sat next to the shy spiky haired teen.

Tèa growled in steaminess, displeased at the young brunette curling next to Yugi. Max giggled.

"Lunch is ready." Brock informed. "We're having apple and spice stew and sandwiches á-la-mode."

Everyone stood up from the logs they were sitting and got ready to help themselves. "Awesome," Ash said.

"Finally, I'm famished," May said.

"That looks great, Brock," Yugi said.

"Smells good!" Tèa said.

"Time to dig in!" Max added.

But before the group could get close to the pot, Joey and Tristan wasted no time, pushing their friends aside and pounced on the Pewter City gym leader's chow. Brock exclaimed in surprise as the tall boys began wolfing down the stew and sandwiches.

"Hey, guys! Save some for us!" May said.

"Don't hog it!" Max added. He and the others reached for the portion.

Both of the boys snatched the pot and plate away from the friends and growled ravenously at them like a pair of greedy jackals, not wanting to share the meal. Ash, Yugi, Tèa, May, and Max stopped in their tracks. "Joey? Tristan?" Ash spoke up uneasily.

"Pika?"

"We're hungry too, you know," Yugi protested.

"That food was supposed to be for everyone," Tèa said.

"You wanna eat? Ask Brock!" Joey snarled, looking like a rabid dog with soup oozing from the rims of his mouth. "He's the one who cooks for you everyday!"

"Yeah! So back off! This grub's OURS!" Tristan barked. Scraps of food spat out from his mouth when he talked.

So the friends stood out of their way as the two ravenous teenaged boys continued scarfing down the rest of Brock's cooking like a pair of savages.

"Wow, they weren't kidding when they said they were starving," Brock said, amazed.

"Ugh! These guys have no manners!" May said.

"I would take their advice, guys," Téa advised. "Trying to share food with them would be like trying to take scraps from a pack of Rottweilers. They'll likely take your hands away."

A couple of minutes later, Brock remade the stew and the sandwiches while the rest ate apple slices as appetizers. Finally, everyone had a good lunch and ate, except Joey and Tristan who had their fill. Soon everyone was satisfied and happy. "Ah! That was real good cooking, Brock," Yugi said, dropping his spoon in his empty bowl. "Very delicious."

"Yeah, real satisfying," Tèa said.

"Brock always makes the best food for us," May said.

"There's plenty more where that came from," Brock smiled. "I made super double extras, in case a certain pair of someone wants more." He eyed on a full Joey who chuckled awkwardly.

Pikachu looked at the teenager's Millennium Puzzle with interest. "Pika!"

"Don't look now, Yugi, but Pikachu's really attached to that Millennium Puzzle of yours," Ash said.

"It must be feeling the pharaoh's spirit inside the Puzzle," Yugi said. "I think Pokémon have the ability to sense presences of spirits. Pikachu must be one of them."

"Pikachu!" It made contact with the Pharaoh.

"Hello, Pikachu," Yami greeted from the Millennium Puzzle.

"Pikachu!" The yellow mouse squeaked. It'd never seen a spirit up close before, especially from a Millennium Puzzle. "Pi Pi Pi, Pikachu." It thanked the pharaoh for rescuing it from Team Rocket.

"Oh, it's alright, Pikachu. They won't bother you as long as I'm here."

Pikachu was surprised that the spirit can understand it. "Pikachu?"

"Of course I can understand you, Pikachu," Yami read it. "Your speech may not be readable, but I hear your thoughts clearly. I can feel what you are feeling."

"Pika Pika Pikachu!" Pikachu rubbed his head, saying "looks like Meowth isn't the only one who can speak Pokémon!"

The Pharaoh chuckled. "Yes. He could have put that big mouth of his in good use." He said, folding his arms.

Pikachu chuckled along and continued to make conversation with the pharaoh spirit.

"Boy, Pikachu is having a chat with the pharaoh," Yugi observed them on his lap. "The pharaoh can read its mind, I think."

"I wish I could understand what are they talking about," Ash said.

"Pikachu." Translation: "I hope you get your memory back."

"I will, Pikachu," the pharaoh replied. "With the help of my friends, I will find my way back home."

"Pika."

"So you said that the pharaoh doesn't even remember his own name?" Max asked. "That's so sad."

"We're working on helping him remember his past," Yugi said. "With the aid of the God cards and the Millennium Items, I'm sure we will be able to unlock his memories."

"Hmm." Ash, Brock, May, and Max hummed in interest.

Tristan looked up and frowned as he observed the Pokémon trainers in puzzlement. "Hey, guys? Can I ask you something?" He addressed them.

"What about, Tristan?" Ash asked.

"I hope this doesn't sound like I'm being nosy, but if you guys are Pokémon trainers, why'd you end here in the Duel Monsters world?" The pointy haired teen asked. "We thought you'd only stayed on the other side, catching Pokémon and gaining badges and stuff."

"I agree with Tristan, we were surprised to see trainers like yourself from the other world wandering around in Domino City," Tèa said.

"Yeah, what drew you guys here in the dueling arena?" Joey added. "You mind spilling the beans with us?"

"Well, you see, it's kind of a long story," Ash put in. "It was my fault to begin with."

"Oh really? Give us the details then," Yugi said.

Now it was the Pokémon trainers' turn to tell their side of the story. A few minutes later, Ash told the dueling team everything about how they accidentally missed their bus and rode to Domino City.

"So you guys got here by the wrong bus?" Joey said. "That's an unusual style of traveling."

"That's kind of funny," Tristan said. "No offense."

"We're sorry that you missed your contest, May," Tèa said.

"It's okay, it's not your fault." May said.

"I feel bad that we missed the contest because of me," Ash said guiltily.

"Don't worry about it, Ash. You know what they say: everything happens for a reason," Brock said optimistically. "If we didn't miss our bus, we'd never would have gone to Domino City. You learn something new everyday."

"That's true," Joey said. "I'd never knew that I get to see Pokémon."

"I'd never knew that there was another side of the world." May said

We learned that Pokémon aren't the only phenomenon in this world." Brock said.

"I'd like to learn about Duel Monsters now," Max said, feeling excited. "I'd like to play with those metal thingies you wore on your arms."

"You mean this?" Yugi said, presenting his duel disk. "It's called a duel disk."

"A duel disk," Ash recited, eying on the KaibaCorp gadget. "How does it work?"

"You place on it your forearm, near the wrist." Yugi instructed. He lent his young friend his duel disk to tutor him.

Ash inserted it on his forearm, near his wrist as instructed. "Like this?"

"There you go," Yugi said. "Now you can activate it by moving your arm erect."

Ash moved his arm up as told, opening up the duel disk. He laughed in amazement. "Neato!"

Brock and May's gadgets lent by Joey and Tèa activated as well. "Nice!" The spiky haired preteen exclaimed.

"Won't this make a nice fashion accessary?" The young brunette beamed.

Max tried to activate the weighty gadget on his forearm, swinging his arm up and down. "Mine's not working!"

Tristan bended down to assist him. "That's because you're holding it upside down. Here." He removed the duel disk from Max's forearm and switched in the correct position, activating it at last.

"Cool!" The youngest boy said.

"Now we'll teach you about the heart of the cards," Yugi said, getting out his card deck.

"The heart of the cards?" Ash repeated. Yugi slipped the cards in the black-haired trainers's hands to shuffle them first. Ash fumbled with them and dropped them on the grass.

"Oops! Sorry, Yugi," he apologized.

"That's alright, Ash." Yugi replied warmly. He and Ash bended down and picked up the cards.

"Pika!" Pikachu held a card in its paws. It was looking at a picture of an electric squirrel-like monster.

Yugi and Ash looked over and saw what Pikachu was holding. "Hey, that one looks like Pikachu," the black-haired trainer said.

"It sure does," Yugi agreed. "That one can be your card, Ash. It is called Wattsquirrel, one of the most special effect monster cards."

"Really? Cool," Ash said, taking the Wattsquierrel card from Pikachu.

"I got my favorite card, I call this one Dark Magician," Yugi said, sharing his special monster card.

"That's the one you beat Team Rocket with, right?" Ash said. "He looks pretty awesome!"

"Pika!"

"He is. He's my prized and the most trusted monster I ever got." The King of Games said.

"Those monsters on the field looked totally real!" May said.

"They are real, May," Tèa said. "In spirit. They share your passion, feeling, and love for dueling. With a strong bond between you and them, you have complete faith and heart of the game."

"Just like I do with my Pokémon." Ash said, inspired.

"There you go!" Yugi concurred. "You gotta believe in the heart of the cards."

"The heart of the cards," Ash repeated. Yugi started guiding his new friend through the card game.

The others toured their trainer friends through the dueling world of monsters, spells, and traps. Tristan helped Max summon a monster into reality.

"This is just like Pokémon!" The youngest member exclaimed. "Except none of them looked like humans and you don't have to worry about responsibility."

"I wouldn't say anything about not taking responsibility," Yugi said. "They still need lots of care."

"And attention," Joey said. "I have a certain card that is high of maintenance."

Everyone laughed in amusement as they are having a good time learning and teaching about Duel Monsters.