A/N: Reader discretion is advised for a few lines of dialogue that are mature in nature…
"I think we consider too much the good luck of the early bird and not enough the bad luck of the early worm."
~Franklin D. Roosevelt
The ripe scent of crashing waves nipped playfully at Destiny's nose. Blinking stupidly, she glanced around as an image slowly wafted into being around her. She was on a fairly large cruise ship, it was night, and the sky was black and still. Despite the late hour, the ship was alive with the hum of jumbled chatter and the gentle crashing of the waves as the ship bobbed like a cork in the Caribbean Sea. Destiny scanned the scattered knots of conversation, all the kids were talking in the usual loud, hammering fashion with drinks in one hand, smiling and laughing while showing no signs of fatigue.
Well, of course; they were all alone on a cruise ship with no parents to discipline them and the only authority a pack of Suits who couldn't care less what time they went to bed or how much the ate.
"Thanks again, Yug. You really came through for me there" a familiar voice caused Destiny to turn towards the railing where Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler were casually reclining.
"You've thanked me enough times, Joey" Yugi exclaimed with a laugh "I told you before; it was nothing, really."
"You keep saying that, but it was" Joey replied "now we only have one Card and Star Chip between us."
"Shhh! Not so loud!" Yugi cried "we don't want the other contestants to know that."
Destiny arched an eyebrow.
So did another figure who was observing a short distance away.
"Well, well. What do we have here?" Joey and Yugi whirled around to see a curvaceous sculpture of wavy, golden-blonde locks and tight purple attire.
"Wow!" Joey exclaimed his face flushing and his eyes practically jumping out of his head.
"Hold on a second!" Mai Valentine exclaimed when her gaze fell on Yugi "you're the kid that beat Seto Kaiba, aren't ya?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah" Yugi told his shoes.
"Wow, can't believe a little squirt like you could beat Kaiba. You're famous, ya know?" Mai added, leaning in even closer.
Poor Yugi flushed crimson and his eyes shifted every which way to look anywhere but down Mai's corset top.
Destiny was pretty sure she had that shirt in black.
"Uh, thanks very much…I think" Yugi muttered to Mai.
"Hey miss, I'm a good friend of the famous Yugi Muto" Joey called "in fact-"
"Look!" Mai snapped; turning around to face Joey "you're either a champ or a chump in this Tournament" she turned back to Yugi "I'd suggest cutting this guy loose, he's fashioned challenged and deserves to be crushed in the games."
And with that and a toss of her golden hair, Mai sauntered off.
"Hey, you can crush me anytime" Joey called after her.
Mai glanced back and smirked.
"I'll crush you all eventually. The name's Mai and by the way you better keep an eye out; there's a rumor going around that the Shadow King is going to be on this island" she added before vanishing into the crowd.
"Wow, ain't she something else" Joey exclaimed running his fingers through his own hair.
"I wonder who the Shadow King is" Yugi muttered "he sounds like bad news if he can get Mai worried, and she sounds like a strong Duelist."
"A strong Duelist!" Joey cried "is that all you think about? I'm talking about those legs! Ya see 'em? Wow whee!"
Yugi blushed again and his attention returned to his feet.
Destiny rolled her eyes, her attention wavering. Watching boys be boys was starting to grate and she surveyed the remainder of the deck for other means of entertainment.
"Ouch!" a voice from behind suddenly cried.
"Shut up Teá…Hey, get down!"
"I can't help it, it's freezing in here."
"You blokes better can it, or we'll be discovered."
Destiny spun around to see a wall of black bleeding out from a scar between the ship's caverns.
Eyes narrowed, she channeled her vision into the hole and caught a flash of soft, white hair as Ryou Bakura yanked Teá Gardner back into a deeper curtain of shadows.
Again Destiny raised an eyebrow.
So, she had seen something sneak on board the ship earlier that day, or rather someone, aka Ryou, Teá, and Tristan.
"Oh, don't feel bad, Teá" Tristan stated, a smile clearly heard in his voice "in like four hours the sun will be up."
"That's not funny, Tristan" Teá moaned.
"Move over, will ya?" Ryou hissed "its bloody ice out in the wind. I'll freeze to death."
"How are you cold?" Teá snapped "you're in that fuzzy, wool sweater, I'm in a frigging mini skirt!"
"Perhaps you should have dressed more appropriately for our stowaway holiday, hmm?" Ryou offered.
"I don't mind" Tristan chuckled, followed by a blunt 'thunk'. Teá had obviously smacked him.
"Hey Yug, check out these new Cards I got. I forgot to show ya" Joey exclaimed reverting Destiny's attention back to him and Yugi.
"Really? Lemme see!" Yugi cried, taking the Cards from his friend's hand and scanning them over "these are great! With these Magic Cards combined with your Monster Cards it'll really boost your Deck."
"You bet!" Joey pumped his fist "now I'm ready to win ever Duel I play."
"I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that" Yugi asserted with a weak smile before reaching into his pocket "here, this Card is good for getting out of a tight spot" he passed the Card to his friend.
Destiny stepped over to glance at the Card in question over Yugi's shoulder. On the Card there was a picture of a brightly-colored clock with a face painted on its, well, face and stubby arms and legs protruding from its side.
"Thanks, I'll take it" Joey said with a grin "you know I can't get over how you're always helping me out. Time Wizard, huh?" he added with a glance at the Card.
"Hmm, well wonders never cease" a slimy, nasally voice suddenly wafted out of the darkness.
Yugi and Joey both turned to see a scrawny, boney-kneed kid with obnoxiously large glasses and floppy light-blue hair "if it isn't the famous Yugi Muto."
"Hey, aren't you Weevil Underwood!" Joey asked, nearly dropping his new Time Wizard Card in excitement.
"Of course I am, not surprised you've heard of me" Weevil replied with a snarky laugh.
Destiny rolled her eyes.
She'd like to see if that arrogant little twit would still be laughing after going toe to toe with Kaiba or her.
"Ah, the evening wind sure feels nice" Weevil observed, stepping directly through Destiny (who screamed) and out onto the railing to allow said wind to rifle his nerdy hair-cut "so Yugi, did you trade for any good Cards?" he asked turning back to face the other two boys.
"Nah" Yugi replied "I'm Dueling with the Cards I brought" he added, taping the bulge at his hip as he spoke.
"I figured as much" Weevil sneered "you used the Exodia Cards in your Duel against Kaiba, didn't you? Those are the strongest Cards of them all."
"And really rare too" Yugi agreed with a grin.
Weevil eyes grew wide and his hands shock with excitement.
"Could I…could I possibly see those legendary Cards?" he stammered.
"I don't see why not" Yugi replied reaching into his pocket "just be careful with them."
Destiny's eyes widened.
Gullible little Yugi, it didn't take a genius to figure out what Weevil was playing at.
"Here you go" Yugi said brightly, passing five Cards to Weevil who eagerly snatched them.
Despite herself, Destiny once again rose to tip-toe so as to peer over the shrimp Weevil's shoulder and get a good look at Exodia.
Exodia was the equivalent of a mummy on steroids; his burnt-orange skin stretched paper thin across his bulging muscles, his face was covered in golden wrinkles and his swollen purple lips seemed to stretch all the way to his ears in a devilish smirk.
Weevil flashed a similar smile.
"So these are the legendary Exodia Cards" he stated "for so long I've been trying to come up with a strategy to beat these Cards" he glanced back to Yugi "but I never could, until now!"
And with that, Weevil spun on his heel and tossed the Cards over board.
"Say goodbye to your precious Exodia!" he snarled.
"NO!" Yugi screamed.
But it was too late, the Cards flew from Weevil's hand and alighted like flower petals on top of the churning waves. The water snatched greedily at the thin paper, soaking them clean through, and it a matter of seconds Yugi's Exodia sunk beneath the waves.
"My Cards!" Yugi wailed forlornly.
"You simpering dumbass!" Weevil chided. "Now there's nobody in this Tournament who can challenge me!" and, laughing like a mad man, Weevil strutted off.
"Why you little-"Joey started after Weevil but stopped when Yugi burst into tears at the sight of his quickly vanishing Cards.
"Those were my grandpa's most prized Cards" he sobbed.
"I'll get 'em" Joey assured his friend sliding off his jacket and preparing to hop over the railing.
"Joey don't" Yugi cried grabbing his friends arm "you'll drown."
"But what about the Exodia Cards?" Joey asked.
"There not worth you risking your life for" Yugi replied, hanging his head "just let them go."
As the image around her faded, Destiny almost felt sorry for Yugi…
…Almost.
That was her last thought as she was flung from the boat like the Exodia Cards and awoke in the warm, dryness of her four poster bed in the Duelist Kingdom Castle.
Destiny lay in bed for a few moments.
A small smile curled up her lips.
"So, Yugi's lost Exodia? How…unfortunate."
Around eleven the following morning, Destiny was up, teeth brushed, hair combed and dressed in an outfit she'd laid out the night before. The outfit consisted of white denim shorts, fishnet tights, blue knee-high socks, a black long sleeve shirt, under a blue tank top that only came to her middle. Add a silver KC necklace Kaiba had given her (standing for Kaiba Corp), her brother's Shen amulet and she was all set for breakfast. In a light, cheery mood Destiny skipped down the steps, into the main hallway, and down it to the dining room.
Pegasus was sitting at the large table with the TV on but no image was playing so his attention was engrossed in another TOON World comic book.
Destiny cleared her throat pointedly.
Pegasus glanced up from his comic, the Millennium Eye flashed.
He surveyed her face, reading it thoroughly.
"Another Vision" it was really more of a statement then a question.
Destiny nodded, she then explained what she had seen and heard.
Pegasus nodded as he calmly closed his book and picked up his glass of sparkling grape juice.
Destiny sat down beside him as he took a long, calm sip.
"So, Yugi-boy has lost Exodia" Pegasus finally stated. "This certainly tips the, for lack of a better term, cards in our favor."
"Perhaps Yugi isn't as dangerous as we thought" Destiny offered. "I mean any idiot could see what Weevil was playing at when he asked to see those Cards."
"But you must remember" Pegasus replied holding up a finger "it is not Yugi Muto who is the true threat."
"It's the Pharaoh" Destiny finished for him, feeling that acid anger in her mouth again.
"Indeed" Pegasus agreed.
Then Destiny remembered something else from the Vision.
"Pegasus?" she asked. "Who's the Shadow King?"
"Sorry?" Pegasus asked.
"In my Vision, a woman named Mai Valentine mentioned a champion Duelist in the Tournament called the Shadow King. Who is he?"
Pegasus chuckled.
"Perhaps 'he' isn't the appropriate pronoun" he replied.
"What are you talking about?" Destiny demanded.
"The Shadow King is you, Destiny" Pegasus replied.
"What?" Destiny asked.
Pegasus laughed.
"Apparently, you need to catch up on your tabloids" he advised, pulling said magazine out of his jacket as he spoke.
"I avoid these things like the plague" Destiny replied, but she accepted the Duelist Weekly magazine all the same.
On the front cover, there was a picture of her and Pegasus. Pegasus was holding a Dark Magician Card and Destiny was holding one of her strongest Cards known as Hydra: the Seven Headed Terror.
Beside their photos it read the King of Games and the Shadow King.
"Where the hell did they get 'Shadow King' from?" Destiny snapped, letting the magazine drop to the table as she spoke.
"Well, you carry an air of mystery and darkness about you" Pegasus explained. "I mean just look at your clothes. Also, it is rumored that you seem to burrow into a person's soul when you Duel, get inside their minds, play with their heads. And, since I'm the King of Games, you're the King of Shadows."
Destiny blinked.
"I guess that kind of makes sense. But, what, they couldn't use Shadow Queen?"
"King just sounds better, I guess" Pegasus replied, calmly turning the page of his TOON comic.
Destiny sighed as she slid the magazine back to her brother and began to eat the now nearly cold breakfast laid out before her.
She had barely finished before Pegasus stood up with an aura of importance.
She glanced up in curiosity.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Croquet informed me that the participants shall be arriving on the island in about an hour, until then, I'd like you to brief the other Eliminators on the tournament and their jobs."
Destiny's eyes narrowed.
"Why do I have to do that?" she demanded, almost whining. "Couldn't you just get Khemo, Clint, or Croquet to talk to them?"
"Oh come now, who would be better to instruct the Eliminators than one of them?" Pegasus asserted "and besides, it'll give you a good opportunity to get acquainted with your co-workers."
Destiny scowled.
"Ugh, fine" she grumbled with a dramatic sigh as she slid from her seat and headed towards the door.
"They're in the main living room, you should find them easily enough" Pegasus called to her.
"Okay" Destiny replied.
The main living room was on the castle's ground floor so Destiny had to weave her way through several hallways and a winding stair case before she arrived at the door to said room.
It was partly ajar so a thin sliver was allowing a fraction of the room and the people within to be seen.
Destiny leaned lightly against the door and squinted through the crack.
Her eyes grew wide and she let out a slight gasp before spinning back around and pressing her back against the door, breathing heavily with fear.
Had Pegasus hired Duelists or the cast of The Nightmare Before Christmas?
Behind that door were some of the scariest-looking people Destiny had ever seen.
"Oh God" she whispered, every bone in her body desiring to sprint back up the stairs and into the safety of the dining room. But Pegasus was counting on her to do this and if she could stare down Shadi then she could walk into a room full of reject Halloween partiers.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and strode into the room.
About forty pairs of eyes all shot her way and smacked her in the forehead like a series of bullets.
Destiny repressed the urge to run screaming back out of the room.
"Um…Hello" Destiny said, her voice sounding far calmer then she felt.
"Well, hello darling" a man in the front, who looked like Marilyn Manson in drag, called to her. "You look like a gal that likes heavy metal. Want me to teach ya how to scream?"
A chorus of snickers radiated around the room.
Destiny's eyes narrowed, fighting an angry blush that was brimming on her cheeks.
"I'm not a hooker, you stupid ox!" she snapped. "My name is Destiny Pegasus."
"Ah, the Shadow King" a Harley Quinn impersonator called from the back of the room.
"Yes" Destiny replied tensely, that nickname still had sunken in yet. "The reason I'm here is because my brother asked me to brief you all on the Tournament and your part in it" she added as she crossed the room to where a screen was.
She clicked a small remote and a detailed map of Duelist Kingdom appeared on the screen.
"If you'll direct your attention to the map, you will see that the island has various landscapes that shall stand for various Fields that the Duelist may play on. Being Duelists, you all know that different Fields affect different Monsters. Therefore, you all shall be positioned at various points around the island" she began. "Your objective…" Destiny produced a golden plastic piece shaped like a star from her pocket "are these. Each of the participants has been given two of these Star Chips, for each Duel they bet a certain number of their Star Chips on the Duel. Winner takes all. If they run out of Star Chips they're out of the Tournament; if they collect ten they shall precede to the semifinals. Of course, they'll have to get past me first. I shall be here" she pointed to the drawbridge laid out before the Castle.
"As an Eliminator, you go around the island Dueling whomever you wish and, if you win, you take all of their Star Chips for yourselves. According to my brother, whoever collects the most Star Chips by the end of the Tournament will find a special bonus in their pay checks."
This brought about a round of applause from the crowd, two bald Asian men dressed in orange and green robes even stood up and clapped. A man in a Jonah Hex hat made the ventriloquist dummy he was holding clap for him. Destiny shivered. She hated those things.
"Well, then" Destiny concluded. "Any questions?"
Silence, nobody raised their hand.
Destiny nodded.
"Thank you."
Glad that it was over she turned to leave but suddenly heard someone whisper.
"That ass."
She whirled around to face the one who had spoken,.
The voice belonged to a man clothed in a black coat and wearing clown makeup.
Eyes burning, Destiny crossed the room in two strides and slapped the man across the face.
"You're shifts begin at sundown" she said tightly.
It took all of her self-control not to run out of the room.
"Pegasus, what the hell?" Destiny demanded when she returned to the dining room.
"Pardon?" Pegasus asked, glancing back from his anxious gaze on the still blank screen.
"The next time you hire the Insane Clown Posse, can you tell me first? Those people were disgusting!" she cried.
Pegasus chuckled.
"Oh, you mean the Eliminators?" he asked in that annoyingly calm tone he always had. "Well, I wanted all of them to be rather unique individuals."
"Pegasus they looked like Stephen King's nightmares" Destiny snapped.
"Exactly my point" Pegasus replied "if they freaked you out, imagine the terror and chaos they'll create down in the island's jungles."
Destiny pursed her lips.
He did have a point.
"Pegasus, they said some pretty gross things to me though" she whispered.
Pegasus glanced up.
"Really?"
"Yeah, like disgusting. These two guys in clown get ups."
"I see" Pegasus mused. "Well, perhaps some Eliminators shall be more welcome for their…creativity than others."
"But do they have to be so weird?" she asked.
"I like to think of it more as putting on an 'act' of sorts" Pegasus replied.
"An act?"
"Yes indeed and since you are an Eliminator, perhaps you should have an act as well."
"What kind of act?" Destiny asked.
Pegasus shrugged.
"You're the Shadow King. I'm sure you can think of something" he replied.
Destiny barely had time to think it over before Croquet poked his head around the doorframe.
"Mr. Pegasus" he said "the Duelist Kingdom participants have just arrived and are awaiting your greeting."
"Well then, we better get a move on" Pegasus exclaimed, getting up and Destiny doing the same.
Pegasus and Destiny left the dining room and headed down the hall to the front of the Castle where a balcony opened up onto a glowing, mid-morning view of the steamy Caribbean jungles. The Castle itself was positioned on a plateau encircled by a moat. From the drawbridge, a series of stone steps snaked their way up the mountain. Off in the distance, the cruise ship was anchored at the modest dock and its passengers were now gathered in a clump at the base of the Castle.
However, they were all soon called to attention by the ridiculously hair-cut Khemo.
"Attention Duelists!" he called "your benevolent host is here to greet you."
A round of cheers swam through and up from the crowd as Pegasus strolled onto the balcony.
Destiny was about to follow…
Stay back there, Destiny, where they can't see you, Pegasus's voice echoed in her mind.
Why? Destiny demanded.
You're an Eliminator; keep the element of surprise.
Oh, Destiny nodded before shrinking back to skulk in the shadows of the curtains framing the balcony.
Like the Shadow King she was.
"Greetings, Duelists" Pegasus exclaimed, spreading his arms wide to meet still more applause. "It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to the Duelist Kingdom!"
Destiny peered out through the curtains and spied Yugi, who was staring daggers at Pegasus, along with Joey, who clenched his fists like he wanted to get at his throat. They seemed to have joined up with the three stowaways, Tristan, Teá, and Ryou; for they were all standing beside them.
"You stand before me as the best Duelists in the world" Pegasus continued "but by this Tournament's end only one shall be crowned the new King of Games. I advise you all to assemble your Decks with skill, creativity, and cunning. For this Tournament will test your skills like never before! Now, for this Tournament you have each been given two precious Star Chips, as well as a Dueling Gauntlet to store the Chips in. Ten Star Chips shall admit you to the semi-finals in my Castle and a chance to face me and the three million dollar prize."
Now Destiny saw Pegasus glance Yugi's way.
She smirked.
"This Tournament shall be like none you've ever seen" Pegasus continued. "This entire island is covered with state-of-the-art Dueling Arenas as well as new rules and challenges that you must face. I could tell you them now, but what fun would that be? You'll discover these as you go. Now remember; play strategically and Duel mercilessly. You have one full hour to prepare you Decks and yourselves. When the sky lights up with fireworks, the Tournament begins. Good luck to you all!"
And, with one final cheer as a sendoff, Pegasus retreated back into his Castle.
"Nice speech" Destiny complimented as he strode past her.
"Thank you" Pegasus replied as he and Destiny headed back to the dining room, as they walked, Destiny spied the other Eliminators all milling about in the front hall down the stairs.
Pegasus spied them too.
"Khemo, could you do something for me" he called to his security guard before whispering something in his ear.
Khemo nodded mutely before barreling down the stairs and amongst the startled Eliminators.
Destiny watched with mock surprise as the two clown-like Eliminators were both punched squarely in their jaws by Khemo's meaty fists. As they hit the ground, two more security guards grabbed their arms and hoisted them to their feet in a binding hold.
"Gentlemen, I often consider myself to be a rather merciful man" Pegasus stated to them as he strolled down the steps and up to the two restrained men. "But, when it comes to my sister, I am ruthless."
He then gestured to the guards who then tossed both men out the door and sent them flying down the long flights of stairs, tumbling heel over head like a barrel falling from Niagara Falls. It was a long, painful way down.
"That ought to set a tone" Pegasus stated, glancing at the other Eliminators who all cowered back. "Not to mention add a little pre-tournament entertainment for the Duelists. That will be all, Khemo" he added before turning sharply on his heel and strutting back up the stairs. As he passed Destiny, he gave her a subtle wink. Destiny grinned in response but, as she turned to follow, her expression tightened into one of deep thought.
Hmm, an act, she mussed. What would be a good act for a Shadow King?
A/N: Awww, Pegasus is looking out for his sister. Also, again, I thought it was silly that Joey dove off a boat, into open ocean, nearly drowning to rescue a bunch of Cards. I mean, I know they're important but come on, Joey. You're smarter than that. So, again, I changed it. Not that big of a difference, but just in case you were wondering.