Lu: This is it! The beginning of the major story! hyper-ventilates It's finally here! After 11 days, I'm finally posting up the actual story.

Yami Lu: Whoop-de-do, shout for joy. Can I go and hang out with my friends?

Lu: That's it for now! Read and review!

Chapter 12 – The Millennium Ring

The next morning, they set off again. But Yugi, Joey and Mai realised that they knew very little about the tournament.

"I should've asked Kaiba about it when I was at his house," groaned Joey. "I hope dis doesn't turn out like de Battle City."

The Battle City tournament that Kaiba had held was a disaster - Mai's mind had become locked in the Shadow Realm and a psychotic 16 year old had tried to kill Yugi.

"Too late now, Joey," said Yugi. "All we've got are these maps."

"Anyway, it won't turn out like the Battle City tournament. Kaiba did write in the letter that there is better security, and it was only by invitation," said Mai.

"We better get going. It would be nice to get over that hill by midday," said Tea.

So they started the long day of walking, unaware of any danger that might be haunting their steps. They kept a good speed, considering Joey's leg and Mai's concern.

But they were soon stopped by a dark figure on the road ahead. The area they were in had suddenly become dark and misty.

"Yami, I don't like this," said Yugi nervously.

"I'll take over," said Yami

The Millennium Puzzle around Yugi's neck flashed, and Yami Yugi appeared.

Tea immediately blushed. 'How can he just appear so suddenly? He startles me, and then I get all tongue-tied. Why did I have to like my best friend's alter ego?' she thought.

In the mist surrounding the mysterious person, a light glowed brightly from an object around his neck. It was shaped like a dream-catcher, but with a Millennium symbol in the centre.

"Who is it?" whispered Tea.

"Who are you?" yelled Yami. The figure said nothing.

"Show yourself!" Yami shouted.

"Yeah, come on, you coward!" shouted Joey, backing up Yami.

An evil laugh came from the mist. The figure emerged.

It was Ryou, but he was different. His hair looked as though he had been struck by lightning. A shadow fell over his eyes.

"Bakura!" muttered Yami.

"Hello, Bel um Fal," said Bakura, in a voice unlike Ryou.

"Ryou, control your Millennium Ring! Come on, Ryou, break free!" shouted Yami at Ryou. An evil grin spread across Bakura's face.

"Ryou is under my control now," he smirked.

Yami scowled. "Let him go!" he said loudly.

"Too late, Yami Yugi, he's mine," Bakura replied. "You do know what I want, don't you?"

"Yes," Yami sighed. "Revenge."

"That's right, Yami," Bakura smiled. "Your people killed my village, just so you could make the Millennium items. Sure, it was 5000 years ago, but things like that just don't go away quickly. Now, Pharaoh, you and your people will pay!"

Yami suddenly froze. The two spirits talked to one another, but nobody else heard.

/What/ said Yugi to Yami.

/Don't worry/ Yami replied. /This is between me and Bakura. But by the sound of it, you and your friends might be in danger. As you know, I am the spirit of an Egyptian Pharaoh, and I was the one who locked away the monsters. But my chief councillor insisted that we make items that will forever preserve our souls, the Millennium items. We needed the blood of many people to make those items. So the chief councillor chose a whole village to sacrifice so as to make the items. But that village was Bakura's village. He sealed his soul in one of the items, the Millennium Ring that Ryou now possesses./

/Why didn't you tell me this before, Yami/ Yugi asked.

/Because it was not necessary that you knew./ Yami replied. /But by the sound of it, Bakura wants revenge on me, and will destroy my people. I'm afraid that that might mean you and your friends, Yugi./

Yugi and Yami were interrupted at that point by Joey.

"Hey, Yami, are you OK? You look a bit spaced out."

"Yes, Joey, I'm fine." said Yami, snapping out of his trance. "Now, Bakura, what do you want?"

"I want a duel. Oh, and you might want to take these." Bakura handed Yami several monster cards. Yami looked at them and gasped. They were monster cards, but the monsters names were Joey, Yami, Tea, Tristan and Mai. A/N: Yes, I am perfectly aware that Yami is already a field magic card. But I am making it a monster card in here as well.

"What is it, Yami?" Joey asked.

"Look at this," Yami said, and handed the cards to Joey.

"Whoa, what are you playing at, Bakura?" said Joey, eyes widening as he saw pictures of him and his friends on monster cards. Bakura smiled evilly again, and chuckled.

"Well, I did say I wanted revenge on the pharaoh, and what better way to do it than to do the same to him as he did to me - kill his friends and family."

Yami's forehead creased, as he realized that all his friends were in serious danger. If they were to accept the duel, all of them could easily be hurt.

"What if I don't want to duel, Bakura?" asked Yami.

"Well, you see, that isn't an option. While we were talking, I have had all of us transported to the Shadow Realm. The only way to get out of here is to beat me in a duel. And if one of your 'monsters' is sent to the graveyard, well, there is a very small chance of them returning to the real world."

Tristan's mouth opened slightly, Joey stared at Bakura blankly, Mai looked shocked, Tea looked like she was about to cry and Yami tried to maintain his balance, but he had just cried out "NO" inside himself.

/Don't worry Yugi. I have duelled for a very long time. I should be able to beat Bakura./ encouraged Yami.

/But, Yami, if we play your card, I'll have to duel. I'm not sure I can take that pressure/ said Yugi.

/Yugi, believe in the heart of the cards/ said Yami. /And I can promise that they will be alive at the end of this duel./

/But Yami.../ Yugi began.

/Trust me Yugi./ Yami cut in. /You can get all of us out of this alive./

Yami addressed his friends. "We are going to have to risk it."

"So, Bel um Fal, do you accept?" asked Bakura with a small manic grin.

"It seems we don't have much of a choice," replied Yami.

"That's right, little Yami," taunted Bakura.

Yami scowled. "It's time to duel! Are you too scared to start?"

Bakura smiled evilly and withdrew his deck from his pocket. "I hope you have room for those cards Yami, otherwise you and your friends are stuck here. Permanently," he grinned.

Yami removed his deck from his pocket and quickly counted his cards. "47" he muttered, and inserted the 5 new cards into the deck. "52" he muttered again, and placed the deck on the field. Joey, Tristan, Tea and Mai stood behind Yugi.

"Yami, we know you can win!" shouted Joey.

"Yeah, Yami, you've won loads of times before," encouraged Tristan.

"You're bigger than this, Yami, you can beat that creep!" shouted Mai. Tea was staring at Yami. Joey elbowed her in the ribs.

"Ow, what? Oh, yeah, Yami, you can do it! Your friends are with you!" cheered Tea.

They all looked at her. Yami glanced at Joey, who shrugged and mouthed "What's up with her?" Yami shrugged back and turned to face his opponent.

Lu: My first bit of Yami/Tea! Not much, but it's something. And before you blow on me, I know that that stuff about the Millennium items and Bakura is wrong. So I'm sorry.

Yami Lu: Why don't you go back and change it?

Lu: 'Cause I've got that stupid novella. Maybe I'll post it on Fiction Press when I've finished. Not that I've ever been on fiction press. If I ever do put it on the net, I'll be sure to tell y'all. Review!