Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of the characters on the show. I only own my creativity, my computer, and Serena…and any other characters not mentioned on the show.

PixieDust: Unlike my past two fanfics, I plan on finishing this one…unless I become extremely at a loss for writing as I am in the middle of a pretty large project called "Silver Stone." My inspiration for it was none other than "Yu-Gi-Oh" itself. If you would like to read the prologue and tell me your thoughts on it, you can do so by going to my bio page. It is titled "Silver Stone – The Beginning of the End." (For now at least…and yes, Serena is the only name I can think of right now) Anyways, please enjoy this story.

Modifications: I haven't seen every Yu-Gi-Oh episode so if some things do not line up, please forgive me.
Background: Bearing a dark past, Serena must learn to balance her burdens. After the death of her mother, trusting people has become the hardest thing for her to do. She's learned to trust in her friends, but will she learn to trust in the only man who can save her; a man who has only trusted in himself?

Prologue – Reveal the Past

"Mommy!" a young girl screamed, piercing the silence of the night as she watched her mother be thrown against the wall and fall down in pain. She felt a blade of cold metal press up against the base of her neck and then penetrate the skin, drawing blood. She immediately quieted, biting down on her lip to hold the pain inside.

"Keep her quiet," a voice demanded in the darkness, the power and evil quite evident.

"It will be ok, everything will be fine!" her mother's voice spoke calmly, but the pain in it was unmistakable.

"Keep them both quiet!" the voice demanded again.

"Yes Master," a barely audible voice spoke up, covering the mother's voice.

"You have crossed the wrong lines Celeste Pegasus; you and your brother. For that, you must die. I will spare his life, as you have formerly requested, as well as the life of your daughter, but you, you must die."

"No!!!!" the child's voice screamed out, tears falling down her dirty face.

"I will give you a minute to say goodbye to your daughter." With a wave of his hand, his servant released Celeste, who eagerly ran to her six year old little girl.

"I love you my darling. Never forget me. You will understand why this has happened when you are older. Your uncle will take good care of you my darling," she said rapidly, slipping something into her daughter's hand, unnoticed by everyone in the room. "Take care of it," she whispered softly, as she watched her daughter slip it in her sweater pocket.

"I love you Mommy," the little girl said, more tears falling from her eyes.

"Time is up. Take her away."

"How will I know my daughter is safe?" Celeste demanded her eyes still full of fire and her words still as forceful as always.

"I am a man of my words Miss Pegasus," he said evenly. "Take her daughter away, inform Mr. Pegasus that his sister has died and his niece has been left in his custody," he said to the servant who holding tightly to the sobbing child. This is not the last you will see of me Serena Pegasus. I will return again.

"Mommy!" Serena screamed out once again, as she was dragged away from the room.

"Everything will be ok darling! I love you!" Celeste yelled after them, and faced her abductor.

"Any last words?" he asked her cynically.

Celeste was amazed at how much people could change when putting on masks and unveiling their true selves. Jared had seemed perfect when she had first met him, and here he was, preparing to kill her. She briefly and silently chastised herself for being so foolish and naïve six years ago.

"None? It's a shame; I was hoping you would tell me where the millennium ruby necklace was."

"I will never tell you! Never!"

"I know you won't. You'll be dead," he mocked her.

"Leave Serena out of this! She does not know!" Celeste yelled at him, understanding where his thoughts were heading.

"I do think I have a right to talk to my –"

"You have no rights to her!"

"You have just said your last words Celeste Pegasus. Prepare to die."

A single gunshot was heard in the night sky. There was no scream of pain. Only silence inhabited the world after the gun had sounded.

A car drove fast into the darkness, heading for Maximillion Pegasus' mansion. Serena sat quietly beside one of the men involved in this nightmare, her hand dug deep into her pocket, clutching tightly to the millennium ruby necklace – the last memory of her mother.