Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, or Nick who belongs to Phoenix or two new characters, which I won't reveal names yet who belong to DJ Rodriguez, but I do own the Guardians. Anyway, here's Chapter 15!

Chapter 15: Shadow Game! New Allies!

"A Shadow Game!" I gasped.

Just moments ago, Artemis declared a shadow game against Erebus, and the others and I were now trapped in the Shadow Realm.

The eternal darkness reminded me of the Underworld and fortunately we've been through several shadow games, but who knew if the Guardians used their own form of shadow games.

"You're foolish if you think you can defeat me!" Erebus ridiculed. "Since it was you who brought us, what is your game?"

Artemis smirked at him. "You will be defeated as long as I'm around! I promised Yukai centuries ago…"

"Ah yes, the promise but you will never succeed!"

"Seiryu, why did you take us here?" Stella suddenly said.

Where was her voice coming from? We looked around and found the Final Five watching us. Stella, Athena, Vulcan and Zephyrus were shivering uncontrollably. I presumed they had never been in the Shadow Realm.

"Just what we needed…" Erebus groaned.

"Well, Erebus, we meet again," Seiryu said. "I'm allowing Artemis to get rid of you."

"Have they met?" I asked.

"Yeah, Erebus's the reason why some of the Titans switched sides during the Final Battle." Pluto explained as he crossed his arms.

"Are we going to start or what?" Erebus replied irritably.

"You're sure impatient for someone who was sealed in Yukai's head for so long." Artemis said. "This game will require a lot of energy to use and our Ka are the only tools we need."

"What's the idea?" Erebus responded.

"Erebus, I hope you have enough energy to summon Slifer because the stronger the monster, the more energy is needed to summon it."

"That's crazy!" Atem yelled.

"What's the problem?" Joey questioned.

"The Shadow Realm makes it difficult for them to summon monsters and if they do sacrifice their energy, there might be a possibility they will not survive!"

"Do all your shadow games involve sacrificing energy?" Nick asked, glaring at Pluto.

"I thought you weren't going to talk to us after accusing us of betrayal," Pluto reminded. "Fine, if you must know the answer is yes."

"I'm enjoying this tension." Sonja said evilly.

"I hope Artemis will win…" Zephyrus replied.

"She'll be fine." Sonja scoffed. "We can't underestimate her powers."

I overheard their conversation but I couldn't help wonder how Zephyrus recovered from Ra's attack while Mercury was still in a coma. Was there something I did not understand?

"Remember, the stronger the monster, the more energy you lose," Artemis repeated to Erebus.

"You don't need to remind me twice!" Erebus shouted.

"Also the winner must be able to eliminate all of their opponent's life force or if the sand on that timer runs out and the loser will be declared if they have the least amount of life force left." She explained.

A timer materialized in front of them and the sand began falling. Erebus summoned Meteor Dragon (Dragon/ATK: 1800/ DEF: 2000) as Artemis summoned Dark Magician Girl. (Spellcaster/EFF/ATK: 2000/ DEF: 1700)

"Do the rules apply to Duel Monsters?" I queried.

"In fact, it does." Pluto answered.

So the Millennium Guardians played a form of Duel Monsters similar to what my friends and I played. I looked over at Zephyrus who was staring at me. He seemed worried about Artemis's safety as much as I did. I faced my direction back to Artemis and Erebus's duel.

Dark Magician Girl destroyed Meteor Dragon with a single blast from her staff, and Erebus fell to the ground, clutching his stomach. His eyes were quivering in frustration as he got back up. The timer was still full, and I feared that Erebus wasn't done with Artemis yet. He instantly summoned Tri-Horned Dragon (Dragon/ATK: 2850/ DEF: 2350). This great blue dragon had three horns sticking out from its head and it had deadly sharp claws that could tear away flesh.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Artemis replied.

"You should be," Erebus mocked. "My monster has enough power to eliminate your weak magician, and take some damage from your life force!"

"We'll see about that," Artemis whispered under her breath.

"Tri-Horned Dragon, attack her!"

Erebus' monster obeyed, but a powerful shield protected Dark Magician Girl. I realized Artemis held up a card in her hand and it was Mirror Wall. Tri-Horned Dragon received its own damage from a mirror-image of itself, and now its attack points were reduced in half.

"He's an idiot!" Stella said. "Artemis has many tricks up her sleeve and Erebus' falling for them!"

"Perhaps right now is the time to eliminate the Guardians and the mortals while we're here?" Athena suggested.

"I agree," Vulcan replied eagerly.

"It would be imprudent of us if we don't take this chance we have," Sonja added, looking at Seiryu. "If all else fails, we have the traitor to do some of the work for us."

"Their alliance is already beginning to fall," Seiryu said. "Then you have my order to do so."

"Pluto, don't look now but I think we're being ambushed." Uranus said to him, pointing at the Final Five.

"They obviously have no idea that a Millennium Guardian's power grows stronger when in the Shadow Realm." Pluto mused to himself.

I didn't pay attention to what was going on. All I could do was watch the fight between Artemis and Erebus. Dark Magician Girl easily eliminated Tri-Horned Dragon, and that was not all. With the monster's destruction, Erebus felt his life force being drained. He suddenly smirked to himself and began laughing.

"What's so funny?" Artemis questioned.

"I still have my secret weapon to get rid of you!" Erebus responded.

"But you haven't enough energy to summon it!"

"I could always take from my lighter half."

Was he serious? Erebus was going take away energy from Yukai, and what happened if all of Yukai's energy was gone?

"Don't do it!" Artemis pleaded.

"It was your idea for our shadow game," Erebus reminded. "Now you have to pay the price!"

A red serpentine-like dragon with yellow eyes appeared from the darkness. It roared as I was knocked to the ground. Could Silfer's special ability affect the same way it does as in Duel Monsters? If it could, then Artemis was in trouble if she tried to summon her monsters.

"With Slifer here, your Mirror Wall won't affect it!" Erebus said. "Slifer, attack her!"

Slifer opened its large jaws and created a sphere of yellow light. It aimed at Artemis and Dark Magician Girl. I had to stop this before she was destroyed!

"Artemis!" I cried.

"Yugi…" she gasped.

"I think not!" An unfamiliar voice said as roses began forming around Slifer and a beam of light appeared out of nowhere.

The ring of roses exploded underneath Slifer and the beam of light struck its slender body. The energy blast engulfed Slifer, and it vanished. Who was responsible for this? Erebus collapsed onto the floor, and he stared angrily in the direction of the source.

A young boy with black eyes and unruly black hair wearing a black Godzilla t-shirt and blue jean shorts stood beside someone wearing a tuxedo, a top hat over his head, a small mask covered his eyes and he was twirling his long, black cane.

"Darien!" Artemis called out.

"What in the world are you doing here?" Luna yelled in surprised at the person in the tuxedo.

"It's good to see you again, Artemis and Luna." Darien said. "This boy beside me is named DJ."

"You know them?" I asked Luna, glancing at her.

"Yes, we have met Darien before but the boy I have never seen until now." Luna answered.

Just who were these new arrivals? Looks like we were about to find out.

Author's Notes: Well, I introduced DJ Rodriguez's characters, and I hope I did okay for their entrance. That took time to plan out, and I also want to inform reviewers that a duel should take place soon, but I am unsure when that will be. I want to see how Dark Crisis is going and then I will place in the duel. Another thing about the Shadow Game is an idea I thought of because I wanted to do an earlier form of Duel Monsters. Did it sound good? Here's the next chapter summary:

The gang has received some more help, and will they escape the dreaded Shadow Realm? It doesn't look like Artemis is done yet, and what is this? She has combined herself with her fusion Ka! Yugi, what will you do? Hey, how did Mercury awaken from his a coma and get himself to the Shadow Realm? Let's just hope both DJ and Darien can assist the gang, and do what they can to defeat the Final Five. Next time on Dark Crisis - Chapter 16: Renewed Courage and Hope