This Fan Fic was written by Joji Sada and Rayze.

Disclaimer: We don't own any of the Yu-Gi-OH characters.
The only thing we own is our characters and the plot line.
Don't sue... Have no money.

A/N: This is where things take some interesting turns and I try to figure out exactly what happens. If you get lost then take a left at the dueling monkey and follow until you find your tour guide. The great Dark Magician. The duel will begin shortly so enjoy the wait.

Joji: "Rayze, quit screwing with the reader."

Rayze: "Okay...I'm not really like that anyway."

Joji: "You always were a bad liar... No, wait... come back with my sugar and coffee. Get back here."

Rayze: "NEVER! And in response to your first comment: I didn't know you said 'with'...

Joji: "You little Runt...Enjoy this chapter... I may not have a co-author on the next one."

Rayze: "Knock it off and get to the story Joji. Man, you take forever."

Joji: "I don't see you typing, except to insult me so shut it. You're lucky I let you live."

Rayze: "...I still have your sugar..."

Joji: "Really, good, now I have another excuse to hurt you. You won't get away this time. 'Evil Grin.' You get a 5 second head start. 1...2...5."

Rayze: "AGGGGHHHHHH! 'Runs away with sugar...Uh-oh. I'm screwed.'

"Back to the duel. For my turn," Yugi said "I will sacrifice my Winged Dragon to play the Summoned Skull. I also play this card face down to end my turn."

Yugiko wasn't paying much attention to the duel. 'He's shy and timid, like I used to be.' Yugi thought. He was still shaken by the images of Yami's ancient past that he barely noticed Yugiko take his turn. All he really knew was that it was now Yami's, I mean, the Pharaoh's turn.

"I think I shall play Monster Reborn to return Yugi's dragon to my side of the field. I then tribute summon the Millennium Shield. But that's not all. I also equip it with the magic card Rod of Silence- Kay'est which raises its defense by 500. Last, I will play this card face down and end my turn.

"It looks like somebody has played something worth destroying. I think you are about to go down." Yamises sneered. "Well, it is now my turn; so I shall play a card face-down. I now attack Yugi's Summoned Skull! Say goodbye, Yugi!

"Not so fast!" Yugi retaliated. "I activate Mirror Force, reflecting the attack back to what will hurt you most. You left yourself wide open."

"No" Yami screamed. "It's going towards Yugiko!"

Both of Yugiko's monsters were destroyed and Yugi was left shocked by what he had just done. Mirror Force wasn't supposed to do that.

"So that was what would hurt you most." Yugi stated blankly to Yamises.

Life Point (Now)

Yugiko – 0000 x

Yugi – 4,000

Yami – 4,000

Yamises – 4,000

"Wha..." Yugiko began as the ring of light, above his head, dropped straight down and trapped him again. This time there was no chance of escape. He was able to say "good luck, my friend" before he lost all consciousness. He was propelled over 20 feet in the air and there he hung above the duel.

"No..." Yamises whispered "No!" He shouted loud enough to shattered glass. "We will not be defeated. Yugikoooooo!"

The floor then began to crumble beneath them. It all sank into the depths of the millennium puzzle. All, that is, except the three remaining circles of fire and the statue that kept the dark chamber lit from behind.

"You'll pay for striking Yugiko." Yamises answered in a sly, angry manner.

With Yugiko gone, it was a two on one match. Yugi would have been a little relieved if his opponent hadn't been a form of Yami, the King of Games.

Yugi used his turn to play a monster face-down. He still wondered why Yami looked like the Pharaoh. But he pushed the thought aside and focused on the duel. They were close but they hadn't won yet.

During Yami's turn, he played the field magic card Chorus of Sanctuary which raised the defense of Yami's monster by 500 points. "Then I play a card face-down and that is all for now." Said Yami.

Yamises still looked upset at the Quick loss of Yugiko but he was ready for sweet revenge.

'This is Yugi's fault.' Yamises thought. 'I can't let Yami's change stop my plan I will win.'

Yamises played 2 more cards face down after activating Block Attack on Yugi's Summoned Skull. This put it in defense mode.

'I will defend you Yugiko.' Yamises thought

"Yami," he said directing his direction at the Pharaoh. "Since I know you have something to stop me from destroying you, I will attack the next best thing. One of you is going down."

"Not so fast..." began Yami "I activate scapegoat. I send them over to Yugi as a block from your amateur attack."

'Yes," Yamises smiled. "And destroy you. I redirect my attack at you. And you call me a damn amateur."

Life Points (Update)

Yugi – 4,000

Yugiko – 0000 x

Yami – 0000 x

Yamises – 4000

"Yugi..." Yami said with his last conscious breath. "believe in yourself." Yami's circle of fire crumbled into the abyss.

"No," Yugi said, tears forming in his eyes. He turned to Yamises. "WHY?"

"Why am I here?" Yamises yelled back at Yugi. "Do you want to know what kind of hell I live in?" Yamises was now fuming.

"What could be so bad that you had to come back and do this? Look what has happened." Yugi screamed and pointed to the two lifeless figures hanging above them.

They were alone now, except for the virtual monsters they had summoned. Yami and Yugiko lay trapped, waiting to be released.

"You want to know what haunts our life in times to come?" Yugi was caught off guard by Yamises's quick change in attitude. "You have no idea what horror will happen and even if you fight with All your will and strength; you will not win."

Yamises used his usual command to bend the reality within the puzzle. He snapped his fingers. (A/N: You'd think the Puzzle was a dog. 'snaps fingers' come here boy. LOL.)

Something began to form in the shadows.

FRIENDS...

"Duke, Joey..." Yugi went on to call out to all his friends but none of them answered.

"Don't waste your breath, Yugi. They are only holograms." Yamises said coldly. "Now, Watch."

Yugi did as he was asked and watched in shock as the color faded from his friends and their movement stopped. First it was Duke, the Tristan (A/N: 'Tear'), Serenity, and Tea. Both Mokuba and Kaiba stood frozen, never to reach each other. A single, solitary tear rolled down the gray colored Mokuba and Kaiba was released. What did it...? I don't think anyone could honestly tell you. Truly, it may have been Mokuba's undying love for his brother. No one may ever know.

The surroundings in this fact-based movie of his memories were foreign to Yugi but the people were not.

Joey had broken down and tears flowed freely from his face. Yamises could be seen along with Yugiko. Their faces frozen with shock and filled with hatred for the person who had done this. They watched as Joey was on his knees at the feet of the statue of his sister.

Kaiba, on the other hand, only cared for two people. He cared for himself and Mokuba. After Mokuba was lost to this tragedy, Kaiba seemed lost as well.

"What did you do to them?" Yugi screamed; he couldn't bear to watch this happen. It was something he just couldn't handle.

"It wasn't me, you fool. Never would I harm them." Yamises defended his words. His eyes focused on Yugi, his face without emotion.

"I...I don't believe you." Yugi stuttered.

"If you don't believe me then believe in yourself. Trust what your heart tells you." Yamises said.

Yugi seemed somewhat surprised to hear those words leave Yamises's lips. Yugi had only seen him as an enemy. He had never stopped to revisit the fact that Yamises was a projection of his and Yami's future self.

'I wish Yami was here, I don't know what to do.' Yugi thought. 'I want to help myself, or him, but how...that's the problem.'

'If only...'

"If only what?" A voice echoed back at him.

"Yamises, you have done too much. You have lied before, so why should I trust you now? What makes this so different?" Yugi was still so confused and conflicted in his mind about to what to do.

"If you don't believe me, then you have no trust in yourself. If that is true than the belief in 'Heart of the Cards' is gone.

"He's right." The voice echoed again.

"Who is that?" Yugi looked around.

"Close your eyes, look inside, and all will be revealed." Yamises finished.

"Why..."

"Ok, look, we both still have fire surrounding us. It's not like I can get to you. Plus, even if I wanted to... I can't. Remember, we are one in the same. If anything happens to you then I am gone."

Yugi thought about what was said. He figured it made sense so he was pretty safe. Yugi complied with Yamises's request. He thought about what he was looking for. He wasn't quite sure but figured he would recognize it when it showed up. After several minutes, when nothing out of the ordinary appeared, he opened his eyes. The most unlikely person stood before him...

HIS DARK MAGICIAN!