Disclaimer: I don't own Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh!

"So you're sure about this?" asked Yugi "You're welcome to stay longer if you wish." It was three days after Khell's departure. Arrathir had just announced he was planning to leave.

"Thanks, Yugi," said Arrathir "But I've really got to get back home, where people aren't obsessed with Duel Monsters and maniacs aren't trying to take over the world."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow," said Arrathir "I'm going to buy supplies for the journey home."

When Arrathir returned, he found the Kame Game shop in darkness. He figured Yugi must have gone out. He went around back and unlocked the back door with the key hidden under the doormat. He made his way to the kitchen in the darkness. As he entered the kitchen, the lights turned on.

"SURPRISE!"

Arrathir was dumbstruck. The kitchen was decked out in balloons ad streamers. A banner reading, "Bon Voyage, Arrathir!" was hung over the table which was covered in food. Standing around the table were Yugi, Joey, Ryou, Marik, and Solomon.

"A going-away party, for me?" Aww, guys! You shouldn't have!"

"Nonsense," said Gramps "You were a wonderful guest. It's a shame we have to loose you."

"It would be a shame to loose this food," said Joey "Let's eat!"

Laughing, they crowded around the table and helped themselves to the feast before them. There was ramen noodles, takoyaki (octopus batter balls), several kinds of sushi, and a giant steaming bowl of rice from which everyone helped themselves, as well as many other marvelous and delicious foods. Arrathir tried a bit of everything, but try as he might, he couldn't master using chopsticks. Half the time, the food would refuse to stay between the wooden sticks and when he finally did manage to get a grip on the food, it would invariably slip out on the way to his mouth. He enviously watched Joey wolf down bowl after bowl of food, handling his chopsticks like a maestro, before finally giving up and getting himself a fork.

After dinner, Yugi introduced Arrathir to an ancient Chinese board game: Go. Played on a 19 x 19 grid with black and white stones, the objective of the game was to encircle territory with your stones. According to Yugi, the game was played the the samurai as preparation for battle.

Arrathir immediately took to the game, He loved the feel of the smooth stones, the ease with which the stones were plucked for their holding bowl between the index and middle finger, and the sharp click they made when placed on the wooden board.

They played a few games of Atari Go in which the objective was to capture stones. When Arrathir had grasped the basics of the game, they progressed to playing a full game. Arrathir lost badly, not quite having understood the strategy behind the game. The strategy in Go was incredibly complex. Even chess palled in comparison. Go was more intellectually stimulating since one move could come back and bite you in the ass a hundred moves later. There were so many possible combinations, you could play a thousand games and each one would be different.

After his third defeat, Arrathir gave up. It was getting late, and he wanted to leave early the next day. He said good-bye to everyone and went to bed.

The next morning, he awoke bright and early. When he entered the kitchen Yugi was waiting.

"Well," he said, "This is it."

"Indeed," said Arrathir "Thanks for everything, Yugi."

"It was great knowing you," said Yugi "You're a terrific duelist."

"Yes," said Yami, coming out in spirit form "Your skills have evolved and you are on the way to becoming a True Duelist. Keep your faith in the Heart of the Cards and you will become one. I trust you will be able to handle your spirit?"

"Yeah, I'll be OK," said Arrathir "Good-bye, Yugi, Yami."

"Bye, Arrathir," said Yugi.

"Safe journey home," said Yami.

They say before you die, your life flashed before your eyes. This was almost what was happening to Arrathir. As he walked through the deserted streets of Domino, he relived all the events that had happened since his arrival: the duel with Yami, with Kaiba, Khell's arrival, the beginning of his mana training, Battle City, his 'death,' his rebirth as the Keeper of Black Mana, and the final duel with Yami. As he walked, he felt a pang of sadness at the thought he was leaving his friends, probably forever.

As he reached the outskirts of town, he quickly spotted the cave he'd come through. With a final look back at Domino, he entered the cave. He flicked on his flashlight, the pale yellow beam piercing the darkness, showing him the many obstacles in his path. As he walked, he wondered where the portal back to his world was. Suddenly, his flashlight faded, flickered, and went out. Cursing himself for not bringing spare batteries, Arrathir felt about, hoping to find a wall he could follow. As he groped about, his foot slipped on a wet rock and gravity took over.

Whoa, deja-vu!

Arrathir's head connected solidly with the ground and he passed out. When he awoke, he was lying on a stretcher. A paramedic was beside him, adjusting an IV line.

"What happened?" asked Arrathir.

"Stay calm, kid," said the medic "We found you unconscious outside Falson Cave."

"I had the weirdest dream," said Arrathir.

It wasn't a dream, naki.

What? You? But then…how did I get out of the cave?

I suppose you should thank me. I took over and hauled your sorry ass outside the cave, or would you have rather died?

Spirit, thank-you.

Don't mention it, ever!

Arrathir closed his eyes. His journey may have been over, but he left his story was only beginning.

The End

EPILOGUE

The mages all got safely back to Dominaria. Khell sealed the portal shut with the intent of never opening it again.

That day, Yugi was proclaimed the winner of Battle City II, and his reputation as the King of Games only grew larger. After the closing ceremonies, Yugi left Kaiba Land and headed home. He picked up his Duel Disk and left again.

Joey was in Domino Park, reflecting on the events of the past few weeks. The tournament had almost seemed like deja vu of the first Battle City. Yami Marik had returned and been, apparently, destroyed again, and Yugi had once again finished in first. Joey sighed: He knew someday he would be as good as his friend, but until this day came, he had to keep working to be the best. He checked his watch.

"You're late," he told Yami as the spirit came up the dirt path.

"Does it matter if I am?" said Yami "At least I'm here."

"Ready, pal?" asked Joey.

"You're just in a hurry to get beaten," said Yami.

"We'll see about that!" said Joey, powering up his Duel Disk. The device ejected the holographic pods and the two panels slid into duel mode.

"Just like last time," said Yami.

"Except this time, I'm more experienced," said Joey "I've learned even more about dueling during the past Battle City, especially from you and Arrathir. "

"Yes," said Yami "He was a great duelist."

"This one's for him!" said Joey.

"To Arrathir," said Yami, powering up his Duel Disk.

Life meters clocked up to 4000 and the duellists drew their hands.

"Let's Duel!"

Author's Note: Well, that's it. One year, one month, and 87, 000 words: That's how long I've spent on this fic. It's been a great journey, and I hope you've appreciated it as much as I did. Thanks to everyone who submitted decklists, everyone who reviewed and thanks especially to Khell for being such a good sport when I 'killed' his character. Thanks also to Lu Chao who helped me enormously with this fic in all aspects, especially the cards for the h4k32z arc.

Arrathir will return in the sequel that is underway…