Hey, minna! I know I took a long time to write up this chapter, but I was busy...don't worry, I won't start explaining...much. I've decided that with the way my schedule has been lately I'm not going to get much writing done. (It's almost always been that way, but...) I used to write on the weekends and just type up a whole chapter in one day however many hours it just happened to take. That usually led to me getting bored by the end of it and not doing as well as I could/should so now, I've decided to just write little bits of this story at a time (a little bit each day when I find a minute) and then, hopefully, I'll be able to write a whole chapter and not completely ruin it for you all.

Thanks for waiting on me as always guys! I marvel at your patience and greatly appreciate it!

NOTE: I would like to give a big thank you to Una and Hazel-Beka for flaming me last chapter. The way I originally had it written was horrible and I just want to thank them for telling me and giving me advice! I cut off the very end and now you guys have this chapter instead! (gives you three cookies, candy, and plushies – all your favorites!)

Una: Hey, don't worry about the flame, I needed it to open my eyes and wake up a bit! Yes, I knew it was and I hated it! Thanks SO much for your advice...as you can see I changed it and this is much better...I think you'll agree w/me. Thanks for all your help with everything Una-chan!

Subieko: Well, I actually got that idea from Seto Kaiba and Voldemort (Harry Potter) they both went to orphanages and turned into psycho evil ppl! So that's where Selina comes from...

Hazel-Beka: Thanks for the nice sentiments Beka...jk! Yeah, you and Una helped to convince me that I really needed to write something else so here it is! I hope you like this ending better!

Sorceress Vanessa: Well, you only had one review...maybe it was the last chapter you were remembering? Or maybe you didn't push the button or something? (shrugs) I don't know...I'm glad you liked it and here's what happens next! I hope you like it!

Nicky: HAHAHA!! When did you tell me about Kari's idea? The beginning of the year? HAHAHA! Only you (and me) would try to glare at ourselves...now, can you honestly tell me you liked that other ending over THIS one?

hobbit13: Oh, so that's how it was spelled...oops! That's why I should make you my beta reader! Well, you have to admit the whole show is basically about friendship (and Duel Monsters, and Yugi, and Spirits, and Yami, and the Millennium Items...) Neways...(blushes) yeah, I thought I had stopped putting myself down too. I guess it just snuck up on me...sorry. Glad you liked last chapter and here's the new one so even if it was a bad cliffie you don't need to hurt me anymore!!

Chapter 8: Changing the Rules

Serafina came forward, staring at Selina as she exclaimed, "Selina! Please stop this! We can help you!"

The dark figure of Selina smiled sinisterly as she looked over to her lighter half before a burst of evil laughter escaped her and filled the area so that chills ran up the spines of everyone in the vicinity.

"And just how do you think you can help me?" she asked sarcastically.

"Look, I know why you're doing all this. You're lonely and you think if you take over people will respect you, but that's not true! You'll never get any true respect like that. People will only be afraid of you and you'll never have a chance at friendship. I know you think that anyone that gets close to you will just leave you, but that's not true. Not everyone is like that! Please let me help you, Selina. I want to be your friend."

Selina's glare seemed to falter for a moment, or maybe it just lost its sinister gleam, but whatever Selina was thinking, it appeared that she was truly taking what Serafina had to say into consideration.

The evil appeal returned a moment later, however, and Selina said, almost to herself, "No, I will never have friends. I won't give anyone that kind of power over me again. If I don't want to be hurt, I must make sure that I don't place myself in a position where I can be made vulnerable ever again!"

With that, her face hardened, becoming a stoic mask and she called out, pointing at the group, "Finish them off. I have no time to waste on such fools."

A sound of despair escaped Serafina's lips and she tried to speak again to Selina, but she was cut off as once more, the shadows tore through her, ripping her very breath from her. Pain rolled over her in waves as she sank to her knees, clutching at her heart with both hands, willing that the pain would go away.

The spasms were getting worse, and closer together. She and Yugi did not have much time left to be in the Shadow Realm before their energies were dispersed into the darkness. She just had to get through to Selina before it was too late.

But what would happen if she could not convince Selina to help them? She would never get to see her grandparents again, not even to receive a scolding for being out too late. Tears sprang to Serafina's eyes as she imagined all the things that she would miss out on if her life ended now. No more friends, no more fun, no more flowers or blue skies. There would no longer be any rainbows for her or beautiful landscapes to explore. All that would be lost to her if she could not soothe Selina's heart of her fears.

No. She would not let that happen. With new determination coursing through her, Serafina raised her head, opening her pain-filled eyes, and attempted to stand. Everyone was once again crowded around Yugi, but she could not be bothered by that now. She had a job to do and she would make sure it got done.

She staggered and nearly fell over again, but after closing her eyes and holding out her hands to catch herself if she fell, she regained her balance and continued on. Stopping ever few seconds to keep herself from falling over, a strong sense of vertigo overcoming her, Serafina took baby steps in Selina's direction, intending to pass through Yami and Bakura's barrier and make it over to her sister and from that point on do whatever she could to save her sister from the darkness that had taken control of her.

Yami and Bakura were trying to keep up their shield to keep the Duel Monster attacks away from the others, so far it was still holding up, but they were both beginning to loose their grips. Sweat poured down both of their faces and blurred their vision.

"Do you think we should try to summon our own monsters?" Yami asked Bakura through gritted teeth in his effort to hold the shield.

"I don't know. We're the only ones that can do it besides Yugi and Serafina, but they're both indisposed at the moment. We can't hold this shield forever, but I'm afraid we may have wasted too much energy as it is just trying to hold it up so far. If we decided to summon monsters, we might not be able to hold their energies long enough to get rid of all those monsters."

Yami growled in frustration, as the desperation of the situation flooded through him, discouraging him. The answer to this puzzle eluded him, if he could just figure out what he was supposed to do! Serafina's speech loomed up in his thoughts and he considered the implications.

"Bakura," Yami said, "I think Serafina may be right. I think the only way we're going to get out of this is with Selina's help. We've got to get through to her!"

Bakura looked back at Serafina and watched as she took slow, tentative, determined steps in their direction and looked over at Selina as she watched the proceedings with a look of grim satisfaction.

His eyes narrowed at her for a second before muttering to Yami, "I think you may be right. We need to talk to her. Convince her that this isn't what she wants, and I think I know something that might help."

"Well, whatever it is could you hurry up with it! I don't know about you, but I can't hold this all day..."

"Selina!" Bakura called.

Serafina looked up, glancing between the two warily. She hoped they would not do anything that incensed Selina. She HAD to get over there to her before Yami and Bakura ruined everything; after all, they had been the most opposed to her plan, if you did not count Joey.

"Selina," Bakura repeated once he had her attention. "Either you let us free of this place or your soul will be dispersed in the shadows with the rest of us!"

"Is that a threat? You are in no position to be-"

"I don't need to make threats. You're the one that's doing it to yourself! You see your hikari?!"

Everyone looked over at Serafina, who was once again being assaulted by the forces of the Shadow Realm.

"If you let her soul die then your will as well! If you don't save her, you'll both be lost forever."

Selina's eyes widened at that statement, but then narrowed again in distrust. "Oh, and how do I know you're telling the truth?!"

"Because, it's happened to me before! Before Ryou and I became friends I would always be sent to the Shadow Realm. After I found my way out the first time I made regular trips back so that I could explore and figure out all the spots where the barrier was weak. Usually, Ryou annoyed me with his whining and talking so I would deposit him in the Shadow Realm and leave him."

Bakura felt Ryou shudder through the link as he recalled the same events.

"One time I left him and was having so much trouble finding a weakness in the part of the Shadow Realm that I was in that I forgot all about my hikari. After a while I began to feel a pain in my chest, it was growing every second and I just couldn't figure out why.

When I checked my link with Ryou, I found that it was coming from him. At first I thought I'd just leave him to the shadows, but then I realized that his pain was affecting me as well. I knew then that if I didn't find and restore Ryou, we would both be destroyed by the darkness."

As if to emphasize his point, Selina gasped and gripped her chest with a hand, eyes wide with fear. Selina looked over at Serafina who was flat against the ground, limbs shaking, gasping like a goldfish out of water for a breath, but not being able to draw any.

"Fine then," Selina said, straightening back up, "I'll just bring Serafina back to her soul room," and then she attempted to do just that.

Serafina, on the other hand, had other plans. She had heard the conversation between the two yamis and knew that she might die, but she could not leave Yugi and the others.

When she felt the pull of her soul through the link, she resisted, struggling to call upon her own magic even though she had never used it before and had no idea how to summon it to herself.

Being proportionately matched in power with her own yami, once Serafina managed to bring out her magic in desperation, she was able to counter Selina and keep herself rooted as a physical entity.

Selina was beginning to become desperate herself. Her hikari was not cooperating with her and if she was killed then she would be too.

"What are you doing?!" Selina hissed at her other.

"I'm not letting you take me away from my friends! If you're going to kill them, then you're just going to have to get rid of me too. I won't leave them!"

Selina nearly growled in frustration. This was not working the way she had planned! If she wanted to get out of here, she would have to save all of the others as well. Selina did not know what to do, should she just throw away the opportunity of getting rid of Yugi and the other, but die herself? Or should she save them all including herself?

She thought it might just be worth it to kill Serafina and the others just to get her revenge, but her thoughts were halted when Serafina spoke up again.

"We could be friends if you wanted, Selina," Serafina said as she began to walk unsteadily forward some more. "We could all be friends and we would protect you the same way we protect each other now. I meant what I said when I told you if you became friends with me I would always stand with you. All you have to do is accept my offer and let me show you that I mean it."

Serafina was at the edge of Yami and Bakura's barrier now. They were the only ones close enough to stop her from crossing, but they were both struggling to uphold the shield and knew that if Serafina tried to go through, there would be nothing they could do to stop it and the shadow magic would be even more potent.

Serafina could very well die if she crossed that line, but there was no one that could stop her. Serafina took that last step and passed through the dome and fell to her knees with a gasp.

"Look out!" Yami cried as one of the Duel Monsters turned toward her and fired a spell.

Serafina just barely managed to duck out of the way, as she felt the fire blast of the Flame Swordsman pass over her head, whipping her hair into her face and singing her clothes and hair in the process.

The darkness of the Shadow Realm tore through her, ripping at her heart, shredding her soul into pieces. She could no longer stand up, nor could she even raise herself up onto her knees anymore. The only way she would be able to make it to Selina's side was if she crawled forward inch by inch.

Serafina was starting to doubt the intelligence of her decision as two more Duel Monsters turn toward her and began to fire attacks. Everyone on the inside of the dome shield held their breath collectively as they watched her. After she had given up her chance to live to help all of them, they felt their bond with her grow.

It had been there all along; it was just on a one-way receiver. Now that they knew it was there, they all tried to give a bit of their energy to help Serafina reach her goal and keep her from passing out.

Serafina managed to duck and roll out of the way of all the attacks, but it had cost her. Her whole body was shaking from the exertion and sweat poured down her, soaking her clothes, causing them to cling to her uncomfortably.

Still she did not give up; the fact that her energy was quickly becoming drained only increased her determination. She continued on until she was on hands and knees in front of Selina, who had stood watching her hikari with awe and confusion.

Why was she doing this? Why did Serafina want to reach her so badly just to show her that she would be Selina's friend? Why did she want to be Selina's friend so badly? It just did not make sense to Selina as she stood their gaping at the crumpled figure before her.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Serafina tentatively stood. She almost collapsed again with her legs shaking so much underneath her. When she had finally reached her full height, Serafina looked into Selina's face and their eyes met. Icy blue met warm gray and Selina could not help but see the assurance shinning in Serafina's glittering orbs and the sincerity of Serafina's gift flowing through their link.

What neither of the two noticed were the three Duel Monsters coming steadily closer to them. Neither was ready when all three combined their attacks and sent them flying in the twins' direction.

Joey shouted, "LOOK OUT!!" and Serafina turned part of the way around.

Her eyes widened and she stepped more fully in front of Selina so she could shield her with her body. The spells connected and tore into her back, ripping off skin and sinew, causing blood to flow and Serafina collapsed against Selina, who caught her hikari and carefully lowered her to the ground.

The last of the ice melted from Selina's heart with that act of sacrifice from Serafina and she asked the one question that was burning the most within her, "Why?"

"Because," Serafina whispered in a raspy voice, "you're my sister..." she managed before going completely limp in Selina's arms.

Tears swirled in Selina's eyes as she stared at her hikari and sister. She may not have completely known how it was possible, but feeling the strength of Serafina's love flowing through their link at her was enough to convince her of the truth.

A new resolution filled Selina and the Duel Monsters disappeared. Yami and Bakura released their shield and both collapsed with exhaustion before Selina summoned all her shadow powers and transported them all back to the park where they started out.

Serafina was not completely gone yet and Selina would make sure she never would be and she resolved to accept Serafina's proposition and claim Serafina as her friend.

Never again would Selina seek the destruction of others for revenge; she had something much better after all...friendship.

-Owari-

A/N- Well, that wasn't that bad I guess. I can't really be objective so I guess it's up to you guys. Sorry for taking so long! I hope you liked that ending and hopefully I'll be able to think of something to write for the epilogue quickly so I can put it up for you all.

NOTE: I'm definitely writing an epilogue so look for it!

Please review and tell me what you think.

Love, SerafinaMoon