Author's Note: I'm very glad some people like this.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

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Chapter 3

The Puzzle, the Ring, and the Rod

Yami surveyed the gloom of Marik's lair with a raised eyebrow. Everything had been moved or replaced since the last time he was here.

Marik was the head of an infamous assassin band that called themselves the Ghouls. Formerly under the service of the Pharaoh, they had declined their position when the traitors had seized control of the monarchy. As Marik put it, he was a shameless thief and a remorseless killer but he would die before he served the high-minded fools currently residing in the palace.

"Have you any idea who leads them?" Yami inquired.

He could tell that the ex-prince was tense-and with good reason too, he thought. The nine of them, Yami, Marik, and seven of his most loyal Ghouls, were seated around a circular table, catching one another up on the past few months.

"I hear it's a man named Pegasus, a former member of your father's court. My spies inform me that he has somehow gotten hold of something that enhances his shadow powers and augments his magical talent beyond imagining. By all accounts he is nearly unbeatable."

"No one is unbeatable."

The assassin gave him a wry grin. "I seem to remember a time when you would have said otherwise."

Yami sighed, leaning back in his chair. "That may be, but things are different now. There is more at risk than ever before."

There was a long, uncomfortable silence while everyone pondered the possibilities.

"Well," Marik finally said. "If you are so set in your decision, I have some advice I believe you should consider."

From a pocket deep inside his robes, the assassin produce a scroll, yellow with age.

"There is a legend, a tale told for generations of three monsters so powerful no being has ever managed to control them. The most feared creatures of the Shadow Realm, they were sealed into cards like the ones used today to play the Shadow Games and locked away in the most mysterious regions of the land. These God Cards are said to possess immense power, power to rival even that of the famed Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon."

Marik spread the scroll across the tabletop. It turned out to be some sort of map covered in strange markings and slanted glyphs. Carefully, the assassin traced a path that was indicated in red, showing three specific regions.

"This," he said, "is a map I acquired from the palace library after the news of your father's death. These three regions belong to the God Cards; Obelisk, Osiris, and Ra."

"It can't be that simple," Yami observed, pointing out the many symbols that were scattered throughout all three areas. "There has to be a catch."

Marik grinned. "As always. To unseal the prisons of these creatures, we will need three keys; the Millenium Puzzle, the Millenium Ring, and the Millenium Rod. The last two should not be too difficult, but the Puzzle, if the legends are true, was destroyed ages ago, shattered into fragments that can not be mended. Aside from that, there are monsters, magical traps, and spells that guard and protect the region, slaying any foolish enough to attempt retrieving the God Cards."

"Foolish mayhaps, and unwise, but all for a worthy cause."

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Ryou and Yugi gawked in awe at the inside of Bakura's hideout. It was a rectangular, underground chamber worn into solid stone. All four walls were decorated with gold, polished wooden ornaments, ivory, and precious stones. Where Bakura found all of it, it was anyone's guess.

The tomb robber surveyed the room, grinning slightly at their astonishment, then turned and crept up the twisted staircase to check that the entrance was secure. Halfway up he turned back, listeing to the conversation that had begun between the two brothers. It sounded like they were examining every piece of jewelry he had gathered over the years.

"Bakura!"

Bakura whirled around, nearly fell down the stairs and flung out his hand, letting fly with a dagger. His visitor ducked just in time and the blade imbedded itself to the hilt in the wall behind him.

"Marik, you idiot, don't sneak up on me like that!"

The assassin grinned, yanking the dagger from its rocky sheath and tossing it back to its owner.

"This is serious, Bakura. I need to ask a favor."

When they'd gotten back down and the robber had introduced him Marik explained what was afoot.

Bakura was silent for a long time, pondering his words.

"Why would I want to get involved in your battles? Who rules this kingdom makes no difference to me."

"That's where you're wrong. If Pegasus is allowed to stay on the throne, he will seek to increase his own power. Who do you think he will go after? Obviously, his main target will be all those who possess the shadow powers. Rule them, us, and he has the world under his foot."

Bakura clenched his fists at his side, his mind running through all of the worst scenarios he could not seem to stop picturing.

"Fine," he said at last. "But those two come with us."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* The Palace *~*~*~*~*~*~*~

High Priest Seto Kaiba stood alone in the high-vaulted chamber of his temple, gazing up at the statue of Amun-Ra. The deity's polished, gemstone eyes glittered down at him.

Aloud the priest made no sound but inside, he was praying, asking the gods for answers. The kingdom was in need, their walls were crumbling, and a false, power-hungry king held the throne. Seto let his breath out in a heavy sigh, but as he made to head back to his quarters, a sparkle out of the corner of his eye snagged his attention. At the foot of the god's throne was a wooden basin filled to the brim with shards of irregularly shaped, multicolored crystal.

"Reading stones?"

Seto reached out to touch the device, but before his fingers brushed the bowl it tipped over, scattering the crystals across the floor. Cursing, the priest bent to scoop up the mess, yet something about the pattern stayed his hand.

Blue eyes trained by years of practice ran across the Reading and a slow smile found its way onto the priest's stern face.

"I see . . ."

He turned back to the statue and bowed slightly. "Thank you. It is a wonder that the prince still lives. I will do all in my power to aid him on his quest."

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AN: Thanks for reading! I hope you like this. Please R&R!