He remembered the first time he saw a shadow game.

He and Yubel were still young and had a lot to learn about the world. They had just been playing in the garden, trying to have some fun even though Yubel had just become a Duel Monster. They just needed some breathing space.

The assassin that tried to challenge them to a Shadow Game hadn't cared.

Nor had the knight who stepped into the fray.

Yubel had tried to rush him away from the scene, before he saw anything else horrific, as he had while watching Yubel's operation.

They weren't quick enough to hide him from the sight of the knight being struck down with a Duel Monster, a lance piercing through his armour. Or the sight of the assassin dropping dead when the knight's beast launched a counter attack.

He had nightmares about it for months.

They only grew worse when his King told him he'd be using Yubel in these battles. He couldn't stand the thought of hurting them, he wanted to saw off his own arm before that.

But he had no choice.

Yuuna jumps down onto the rocks and smiles at Yubel, raising her Duel Disk. "I'm ready!"

Its the night after the Promotional Exams. Yuuna had been eager to keep trying to use her powers, so after the party celebrating her staying was done, Yubel was ready at the bottom of the rocks to help her.

Yubel nods across from her, their arms folded. "Begin!"

They're rather excited for today's training session too. Especially after what they noticed in the exam.

Yuuna draws, looks at her card and calls out. "I summon Winged Kuriboh!"

Winged Kuriboh appears on the field with a triumphant 'kuri', then turns towards Yuuna, bouncing around.

Yubel hums. Maybe today?

Yuuna laughs and opens her arms. "Come give me a hug, buddy!"

Winged Kuriboh races straight for her and Yuuna wraps her arms around him-

She gasps.

Yubel grins. She's done it

Yuuna squeezes Winged Kuriboh. She lets him go and he puffs back up, smiling with his eyes.

Yuuna screams and lifts him over her head. "YUBEL, I DID IT!"

Winged Kuriboh 'kuri's in joy, flapping his wings, making Yuuna giggle and dance on the spot.

Yubel practically beams at her. "Well done, Yuuna!"

They knew she'd get it eventually!

As Yuuna continues to celebrate, Yubel thinks back to when Yuuna was Duelling Bastion. When she managed to unlock her abilities…

What was different in that Duel compared to their training? They have to know.

Yubel lifts their head and floats towards their charge. "Yuuna, how do you feel when we're practising?"

Yuuna hums, running her fingers through Winged Kuriboh's fur. "Usually a little sleep deprived, a little stressed, but I'm still determined to keep going!" She raises a fist and punches the air. "And I finally did it, I can't believe this!" She laughs and picks up Winged Kuriboh, pointing him towards them. "Feel how soft he is, Yubel!"

Yubel reaches out a hand for Winged Kuriboh and feels him a little, thinking. Stress and a lack of sleep used to affect Haou's control of his abilities...

Yubel hums. "And how did you feel during your Duel with Bastion?"

"Huh?" Yuuna blinks, then scratches her head. "Well, I remember I was really excited. I felt like I was making a friend through Duelling, for once, rather than making more enemies. It felt nice to be able to joke and laugh, even if I was a little stressed out."

Yubel is quiet for a while. Of course she's been struggling to unlock her powers. She hasn't been able to while at home, surrounded by the stresses that come with living with the kind of parents Yuuna has. It's no wonder she wasn't able to use her abilities here, when she was under the pressure of having to deal with the Princess of Light and bullies already.

They'd hoped so desperately they could leave that behind when they all came to Duel Academy. Even in this place of sanctuary, they've failed her.

"Kuri-kuri?" Winged Kuriboh flies over to them.

"Yubel?" Yuuna calls.

Yubel sighs and lifts their head. "Yuuna, I have to apologize."

"What do you mean?" Yuuna tilts her head.

Yubel floats a little closer to her. "I pushed you too hard and you've been struggling to train because you've been worrying about the consequences of failure. It was only when you were having fun that you were able to access your powers."

This is all their fault. They should have paid more attention to her emotional needs.

"What do you mean?" Yuuna gets to her feet, looking Yubel eye to eye. "I didn't use my powers in my Duel with Bastion, I think I would have noticed if I did."

Of course she didn't know she had, the last time Yuuna tried to use her powers, she almost died.

Yubel shakes their head. "You did though. It helped you draw the card you needed the most."

Yuuna's eyes widen and Winged Kuriboh does a somersault.

Yubel looks at the waves. "One of the Supreme King's gifts was incredible luck in battle. Things would happen by chance and favor him at the last second or just before, depending on the situation." They turn back to Yuuna. "You were able to unlock that part of your abilities in your Duel with Bastion because you weren't trying. You weren't thinking of consequences, you were having fun."

Yuuna gapes at Yubel, staring at them in shock. "Really?"

Winged Kuriboh 'kuri's in a tone similar to her's, asking the same thing.

Yubel nods. They should have realised that Yuuna was struggling because of the stress on her and done their best to resolve it.

Yuuna looks at them, then looks out at the sea, watches the moon and stars dance on the waves, lighting up the night. Then she pulls out her deck and looks through her cards, humming.

"But there is hope." Yubel says because there is always hope. "Now that you've unlocked the first steps of your abilities, all it takes now is practise." They kneel at Yuuna's side and put their hand on her shoulder. "I know you can do this, Little Princess."

They'll make up for their mistakes now.

Yuuna turns to them, mouth wide open.

Then she smiles and nods. "I'll do my best Yubel. I won't let you down."

Yubel smiles and promises the same thing.

Yuuna giggles as she puts together the Deck. "So, who wants to draw next?"

It's late at night in the Slifer Red Dorm and Chumley, Syrus and Blair are sat with Yuuna around a table, a candle burning gently while Yubel floats overhead. After cleaning duties, Yuuna suggested they play a spooky story game just because and put a few miscellaneous cards together to form a Deck. Chumley just finished telling them all a mildly scary story, since he drew a level 2 monster.

"I'll go." Blair reaches out for the Deck.

Syrus adjusts his glasses. "Ya know, this has actually been fun."

Yubel narrows their eyes. "I'm surprised it hasn't turned into a disaster already."

Chumley huffs. "Just don't tell anything too scary, alright Blair? I don't wanna deal with anyone wetting the bed."

"Why would we wet the bed?!" Syrus and Blair call out.

Yubel makes a gross face.

Yuuna laughs and shakes her head. "Just draw your card, Blair!"

Blair rolls her eyes and draws, revealing a level 6 monster.

Syrus ohhs. "That's a tough one. You think you can do something scary with that?"

Blair glares at him. "I'll have you know I can think of a perfectly frightening story for that."

Yuuna smiles. "Go ahead then, Blair."

Blair hums, adjusting her hat. She takes a deep breath. "Once upon a time, there was a Princess."

Yubel blinks, crossing their arms. "Why a Princess?"

Yuuna was thinking the same thing. Blair doesn't seem like the type to be into princesses.

"She was once happy and carefree. Her father was a kind and strong King, who carried his little girl around and showed her the world from his shoulders." Blair smiles a little as if in a memory. "The people loved the King and his Princess too."

Yuuna's eyes widen. Blair's talking about herself.

Chumley hums. "This isn't that scary."

"Shh!" Syrus glares at him.

Blair gives Syrus a small smile and continues. "But one day, the King suddenly fell ill. No one knew why his legs suddenly grew weak, why he could no longer care for his people or his kingdom, why his eyes refused to stay open, as if he was being drained of his energy by an evil curse."

Yubel blinks and then they give a sympathetic frown. "The poor girl…"

"The King worried for his people and his daughter and so, before his body completely gave out on him, he sought out a new Queen." Blair scowls. "And he picked the worst one possible."

Yuuna curls a small fist at her side. Blair's step Mom.

"The Queen seemed nice, at first. She said all the right things to make the King like her. She acted all the right ways to make the people adore her. She sang all the right praises to convince the Princess to like her." Blair curls her hands into fists.

Yubel hums. "Actors tend to be good at what they do."

"What no one knew was that the new Queen was a Witch. A wicked and cruel woman, who wanted nothing but the King's power for herself, so she could squander it until the realm was famished." Blair puts her hand on her stomach. "Even the Princess struggled to find enough food."

Yuuna resists the urge to curse. She starved her?!

"The King's body gave out and he spent all his time in bed, unable to protect his people or his daughter from the Witch's influence. The Princess would hide in his room when she could, fearing the Witch's wrath." Blair looks into the candle light. "The Witch hated the Princess, though she never knew why. So she created a plan to get rid of her."

Syrus shudders. "Oh no."

Chumley gulps. "What happened to her?"

Blair snaps her eyes from the fire, to stare at him. Yuuna reaches under the table to take Blair's hand and give it a supportive squeeze. Blair squeezes right back and looks at her drawn card.

"Late one night, while the Princess was meant to be sleeping, the Witch came to her room. She tried to cast a spell so the Princess would be gone and the Witch could have the King's money all to herself." Blair swallows.

Yubel's eyes widen. "Oh no."

"But the Princess woke up. She didn't want to disappear and leave her father and her people. She lied and told the Witch she wasn't afraid of her." Blair squeezes Yuuna's hand. "That was a mistake."

Yuuna's heart cracks.

"The Witch destroyed her things, ripping her favourite skirts, stealing her precious pictures of her father, breaking her dolls! She didn't stop until the room looked like a war zone and the Princess cried in red as the Witch left." Blair looks Syrus and Chumley in the eye. "Only one thing remained that the Witch didn't destroy. An apple, dripped in poison, she was going to use to make the Princess disappear."

Chumley gulps.

Yuuna swears internally as rage bubbles in her gut.

Yubel curses. "I'll kill her if I ever find her."

"The Witch locked the room and left the Princess to starve or eat the poisoned apple." Blair huffs. "The Princess screamed and screamed, hoping someone would hear her and help her get away."

Syrus whimpers. "Did she get away?"

Blair seems to pause and think, staring at the card, then looking at him. "No."

Yuuna's heart breaks.

"The Princess remained trapped in that room for what little was left of her life. No one heard her screams, or if they did, they didn't care." Blair tightens her grip on the card. "The Witch would taunt the Princess with her laughter whenever she passed the room, until the Princess stopped screaming and finally disappeared."

Yubel sighs, looking at Blair. "The poor girl."

"A hundred years later, people pass her room and they can still hear her screams and the Witch's laughter." Blair looks out the window. "Some say that the Witch still lives though and now wanders the world, looking for the next heart to break and the next fortune to steal."

Blair is quiet for a while.

Yubel tsuks. "If her step mother ever shows her face on this island, it'll be the last thing she does."

Yuuna agrees.

Chumley huffs. "Well uhh, sure, I guess that was scary."

Blair raises an eyebrow at him.

Chumley stiffens and wisely backs down. "S-so did Syrus, am I right?!"

Syrus blinks at him, then yelps turning to Blair. "Really scary!"

Yunna hums. "How about you tell the next one, Syrus?"

"Uh, okay." Syrus reaches for the Deck of cards.

Chumley smirks. "Show 'em what you can do, Sy!"

Syrus draws a Level 4 monster

Yuuna laughs. "I'm sure he will, considering he drew a card higher than yours."

Syrus smiles bashfully while Chumley huffs and looks to the side.

Yubel floats and leans against the wall, watching them with a small smile. "It'll be a struggle to top Blair's tale."

Blair lets out a breath and sighs, slumping against Yuuna. "Let's hear about it, Syrus."

Yuuna gives her a one armed hug. Syrus takes in a deep breath and closes his eyes.

"Okay, here we go." Syrus opens them.

Yuuna pets Blair's hat and looks at him. "We're all ears."

"This should be good." Yubel smirks.

Syrus takes in a deep breath and then he says. "One night, underneath the full moon, I was exploring the forests on the island when I found a path to a cavern that seemed… abandoned."

Yuuna hums, leaning forward and petting Blair's hat. "Oh really? Then what?"

Syrus leans on the table, the shadows and light of the candle dancing on his face. "At the back of the cavern I see a mysterious lake, where the water ripples and bounces around the edges."

Yubel raises an eyebrow. "And this is supposed to be frightening?"

Yuuna would hush them if they could.

"So I go in to look very carefully and under just the right angle of light…" Syrus tilts his head forward, as if looking into the lake now. "At the very bottom of the lake, beyond my reflection…"

Chumley gulps.

"I see a rare and powerful card!" Syrus gasps, tilting his head up.

"Ohhh." Blair murmurs.

"Naturally, I go to get it, but when I reach for it-" Syrus jumps to his feet. "And arm shoots out, grabs me and pulls me into the lake!" Syrus screams and claws at the air. "Help me! Not the water, anything but the water!"

Yubel starts laughing, shaking their head while watching him.

He looks so ridiculous, she can't help herself.

Yuuna giggles. "Water's not that scary."

Syrus pauses in his clawing, making one of the funniest faces Yuuna has ever seen. "Not even dirty swamp water?"

Blair laughs and smiles at him. "Not really."

"Oh you're right, only a chump would be scared of that." Syrus groans, putting his face in his hands.

Chumley meanwhile has jumped far away from Syrus and is clinging to the wall behind him, trembling and shaking. Yubel is flying around him, whispering about how a water monster is coming to take him away, Blair is giggling behind her hands while Yuuna wonders if Chumley nearly drowned as a child or something.

"Still, that was a good story." Yuuna smiles, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Middle level scares for a mid level card."

Syrus blinks up at her, face a little pink, then he smiles and nods. "Th-thanks Yuuna."

Yuuna smiles and draws back. "No problem."

"You're the only one who hasn't had a turn yet, Yuuna." Blair hums, straightening up while turning to her. "You ready?"

"Oh yeah." Yuuna rubs her hands together and reaches for the Deck. "I hope I get a high level!"

She draws a level 1 monster.

"Aww man." Yuuna groans, putting the card on the table.

Chumley takes a seat. "Looks like you won't be scaring us tonight."

"Too bad you lucked out." Syrus shrugs.

Blair hums. "How can you scare someone with a level that low, I wonder…"

Yuuna looks towards Yubel and hums. Maybe she should tell them…

Yubel blinks. But they nod and offer a smile. "If you trust them, you should tell them."

Yuuna smiles. "Well, I've got a fairy tale too. Or at least, my Guardian called it that."

Chumley blinks at her, while Syrus leans forward and Blair gazes up at her.

"Guardian?" Syrus hums.

"Yeah." Yuuna nods and leans back. "I've never had a good relationship with my parents, so my Guardian kinda raised me. They've always had my back, no matter what kind of trouble I'm in." Yuuna looks up at Yubel, who's floating just overhead. "They've taught me so much and I don't know who or what I'd be without them. They're my hero."

Yubel has tears in their eyes, which they quickly whip away.

"Wow. They sound like really good people." Blair murmurs.

Yuuna shakes her head and holds up a finger. "Person. I only have one Guardian and they're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love them."

Yubel laughs and shakes their head. "You sap."

"Oh, they're non-bianry!" Chumley straightens, then nods. "Makes sense."

Yuuna nods. "Yeah. They told me a lot of stories growing up, but I've always had one favourite. Prince Haou and the Dragon Guard."

Blair blinks then smiles, settling better. "I love dragons! Let's hear it!"

Yuuna laughs and nods, patting her head. "Okay then, here goes."

Yuuna settles and turns to her friends, even Yubel floating down as if they were going to sit with their friends.

"Millenia ago, there was a kingdom where a Prince named Haou lived. He wasn't like other Princes his age." Yuuna grins. "He had the ability to control Duel Monsters and to communicate with them too. He had incredible luck in battle and could walk through shadows. He was the Prince of the Gentle Darkness, a power that exists in this world to protect people and allow life to flourish by providing rest and warmth in it's shadows."

Blair's eyes widen in awe. "Amazing…"

It reminds Yuuna of when she first heard this story from Yubel, before she even knew she was a girl.

"But where there is goodness, there is evil to destroy it." Yuuna looks at the candle. "Prince Haou was born with these powers for a reason, because the world was about to be engulfed by a great evil. The Light of Destruction."

Syrus frowns. "Aww man. That doesn't sound good."

"It's not." Yuuna stares at the candle's flame, her eyes narrowing. "The Light of Destruction is an evil and cold force, seeking to destroy all life on Earth. It infects civilisations where it can, whenever it can, spreading hatred and war, encouraging destruction and creating horror. The Light of Destruction can possess a person's body, strip them of their will and use them like a puppet until you're nothing but a good little soldier for a being that wants the world to end."

Chumley gulps.

"And the only one who could fight it was Prince Haou. He was the only one with the Gentle Darkness's power. He knew he would have to fight the light alone, some day." Yuuna hums. "What he didn't count on was his best friend also knowing of his destiny and willing to risk everything to save him."

Blair blinks. "What did his best friend do?"

Yuuna looks to Yubel, who nods.

Yuuna looks at her friends. "His best friend offered herself to the King to be transformed into a Duel Monster."

Syrus gasps. "No way."

"Yes." Yuuna nods. "The procedure was painful. A once normal human child had become a terrifying monster, with a dragon's heart beating in their chest and a body that was half man, half woman, all fiend. Haou wouldn't have recognised them if he hadn't known them so well."

Chumley whimpers.

Yuuna smiles and looks at Yubel. "But Prince Haou didn't run. Not away from his Dragon Guard. He ran towards them and held them close, while swearing to always love them as a show of gratitude for their sacrifice."

Blair lets out a small breath.

Yubel smiles and nods. "And I'll always be grateful for that, Yuuna. Thank you."

Yuuna's smile widens and she nods, then turns to her friends. "Prince Haou and his Dragon Guard fought many a battle together and when it was time for the Light of Destruction to rain on their kingdom, they were as ready as they'd ever be."

"Did they win?" Blair gasps.

Yuuna shrugs and pats her hat. "No one knows. The tablet that contained the legend was damaged at the bottom, so my Guardian didn't know how the battle ended." She smiles. "So that's the end of the story."

"That's it?" Chumley and Syrus whine.

Yuuna laughs. "Well, there's a lot of stories about Prince Haou and the Dragon Guard that my Guardian told me about, but I don't think we have time to go through them all tonight."

Yubel's wings droop slightly. "And even if we did, I've still got so many I haven't told you about. Maybe one day."

Yuuna nods. Maybe one day.

Blair giggles. "Maybe we should do this again sometime and instead of specifically scary stories, we could just tell each other any story."

Yuuna nods. "I'd like that."

"MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Hey, I want to join in on the fright fest!"

Blair yelps and jumps into Yuuna's arms, who tugs her behind her and against the wall to shield her, while Syrus jumps under the table and Chumley nearly runs up the stairs until…

"You realise it's just Professor Banner and Pharaoh, right?" Yubel folds their arms and raises an eyebrow.

"You just did!" Syrus whimpers.

Blair peeks out from under Yuuna's arms. "You scared us half to death, Professor!"

Yuuna nods quickly, nearly knocking Blair's hat off her head. "We're kinda on the edge of our seats here!"

Chumley whimpers. "At least we were."

Banner has the decency to look ashamed at least.

Yubel shakes their head. "We need to work on your awareness."

Okay, true, that skill has been dropping since they got out of the house.

Yuuna slowly releases Blair from her hold, keeping her hat in place as she secures it properly.

"But since you're here…" Syrus climbs out from under the table, taking his seat. "Why don't you draw a card? The higher the level, the scarier your story has to be."

"Oh well that certainly sounds easy enough." Banner draws a card with one hand, cradling Pharaoh in the other.

It's a level 12 monster.

"I think I'm going to bed now." Syrus whimpers.

"I'll join you." Blair nods.

"Me three!" Chumley calls.

Yuuna gulps and looks to Yubel. They shrug.

Banner breaks out into wicked laughter. "Don't you want to learn about the Abandoned Dorm?"

Yuuna leans forward. "Abandoned Dorm?"

She remembers the last time she heard of it. When Jasmine and Mindy said the fake love letter she got was meant to lead there. Alexis got all defensive and testy about it too. Why?

"Why yes children." Banner places the card on the table and takes a seat. "Today, we only have four official dorms that students may be administered into: Slifer Red, Ra Yellow and the two Obelisk Blue Dorms, one for the boys and one for the girls. But there's a fifth dorm on the island, hidden deep in the forest."

Blair straightens.

"This dorm was the original Obelisk Blue Dorm, where male and female students resided and were the academy's best. But slowly, the students began to go missing, one by one." Banner hums. "The Dorm was shut down and the new Obelisk Blue Dorms were built in record time to save the last of the students."

Syrus gulps. "Where'd they disappear to?"

Banner leans down, the candle's shadows and light dancing on his face. "That's the mystery of it, we don't know. All we know is that it had something to do with…" His eyes sharpen. "The Shadow Games."

Yuuna stiffens and looks to Yubel.

Shadow Games?

Here, on the island?!

"Thanks, you can stop now!" Chumley shouts, cowering behind a table.

Banner barely spares him a glance before continuing. "You see children, the Shadow Games were Duels played by the ancient Egyptian Pharaohs and started using mystical artifacts known as the Millenium Items."

Yuuna gulps. It wasn't just the Millenium Items that were used to start Shadow Games.

"In a Shadow Game, the two players would be gambling their very souls on the match, risking their lives in epic battles with monsters of their own creation." Banner continues. "If you lost a match five thousand years ago, you would die." He chuckles and adjusts his glasses. "Very different to our own modern day Duels, right?"

Yuuna curls a fist in her lap. He has no idea.

Blair rolls her eyes. "Come on Professor Banner, there's no way the Shadow Games were real, or the Millenium Items."

Yuuna blinks.

Oh no. Not a good thing. They need to stop her.

"What makes you think that, Blair?" Syrus calls.

Yuuna bites her lip and curses to herself.

"They've never been discovered in an archeological digs and the rumours of the Millenium Items even existing came about when Yugi Moto first Duelled in Battle City." Blair shrugs and folds her arms. "He wore a funny pendant in Duelist Kingdom and when he won, people started copying him and ran around Battle City claiming they were holding items with magical powers or had magical powers just to psych out their opponents."

Yuuna groans. Damnit, she has to stop or she's going to get the Shadow Games coming after her.

Banner laughs and smiles at Blair. "Well, that is what most people think. But most stories often have a grain of truth to them."

"Yeah and the grain of truth is Yugi Moto started a fashion trend that people took too far." Blair rolls her eyes.

Yuuna gulps and looks at Yubel, feeling her worry grow. It's often that those who don't believe in the Shadow Games suffer the most if they get entangled in them. This isn't good.

Pharaoh meows.

"Well, that's my cue to go to bed, as should you all. Good night children." Banner gets up and walks away with Pharaoh.

"Good night Professor." The Slifer Reds call.

Yuuna watches him go and feels worry worm into her heart. It could just be a rumour, but….

"Ya know, there was this creepy building I saw in the forest once." Syrus shivers.

Yuuna stiffens and turns to him. "Seriously?"

He nods.

Yuuna fights the horror that wants to claw out of her throat and scream, taking a few quiet but deep breaths to reign in her fear. She has to calm down. She can't let them all realise how freaked out she is.

"Awesome, you can lead us there tomorrow night." Blair says.

Yuuna turns to her. "What?!"

"The Shadow Games are nothing but hocus pocus and I'm going to prove it." Blair declares, jumping to her feet.

Syrus whimpers. "Is that really a good idea?!"

Chumley shouts. "And what do you mean by 'us'?! I didn't agree to this!"

Yubel groans and hides their face in their hands. "This is going to be a disaster."

Yuuna agrees. She has to stop them before they do this.

"It'll be fun." Blair smirks. "Unless you're all chicken."

Syrus gulps and turns to Chumley. "Well, most chickens who fly away live another day."

"Chickens can't fly, Syrus." Chumley declares.

Yuuna laughs nervously. "How about we all go to bed and talk about this in the morning?"

Blair glares at her. "But I'm not…" She trails off into a yawn. "Sleepy…"

Yubel snorts.

Yuuna smiles and kneels before Blair. "I can carry you if you want, sleepyhead."

Blair blinks and looks at her. "I'm not 8 years old Yuuna."

Yuuna offers her a hand. "And? We all need a little looking after sometimes. It lets us know someone cares about us."

It's why she tries not to complain whenever Yubel gets too fussy or keeps telling her to go to bed. She knows it's because they care.

Blair stares at Yuuna's hand and smiles, taking it. "Alright then, fine."

Yuuna giggles. She picks up Blair and turns to Syrus and Chumley. Syrus has a slight pinch in his brow, while Chumley looks like he's trying not to laugh.

"I can carry you too, Syrus." Yuuna giggles and offers him the arm that isn't holding Blair.

Syrus blinks, turns completely pink and grumbles under his breath. "It, it's not like I need it."

"I know, but I'm still offering. Come on." Yuuna smiles.

Yubel grins sharply, wings fluttering slightly. "I don't see why he's being shy now when you carried him in front of the whole school during the promotion exams."

Syrus, pink as a panther, heads in and hugs Yuuna around her neck while she wraps her arm around his legs and back.

"Do I weigh anything to you?" Syrus blinks.

"Nah, you and Blair are like grapes, we need to put some weight on you." Yuuna giggles.

She starts heading up the stairs, Chumley behind her and Yubel disappears for a while. Then Yuuna enters her friend's Dorm room. What might have been her Dorm room if things hadn't worked out.

"Blair has the bottom bunk, Syrus is the middle." Chumley calls as he climbs into the top.

Yuuna nods and sets Blair down first, then Syrus. She takes off their shoes, puts them next to Chumley's by the door. Then she tucks the two of them in.

"Night, Syrus." Yuuna kisses Syrus' forehead.

Syrus murmurs softly. "Good night, Yuuna."

"Night, Blair." Yuuna kisses Blair's forehead.

Blair yawns. "Nighty night, Yuuna."

Yuuna feels a giggle threaten to break out of her throat. They're so cute.

In no time at all, they're asleep and Yuuna is heading towards the door to go to her room.

"Hey, Yuuna, question." Chumley calls.

Yuuna pauses and turns around. "Yeah?"

Chumley looks at her. "Did you have any little brothers or sisters at home?"

Yuuna blinks and tilts her head. "No, why?"

Chumley hums and looks down, so Yuuna follows his gaze. But she just sees Syrus and Blair, with small smiles on their faces that Yuuna can't help but share.

"You're really good at acting like a big sister." Chumley says.

Yuuna blinks and stares at him. "What?"

Her? A big sister?

Chumley nods. "Yeah, you often treat Syrus and Blair like they're your kid siblings. I thought you were getting all motherly and stuff because you missed your real siblings or something."

Yuuna holds her hand over her heart. Motherly?

"This is for your own good Judai." CRACK!

"You're really caring and stuff, it was just an observation." Chumley huffs, turning away from her. "Don't be weird about it."

Yuuna rubs at her face as if she's tired before any potential tears fall and she looks at Syrus and Blair again. They're completely sound asleep now. Chumley didn't know about her mother. Yuuna would never act like her, never.

So Yuuna fakes a smile. "Thank you, Chumley. That means a lot to me."

Then she leaves, hides in her room and feels the tears drip down her face and her legs ache with phantom pains. But thoughts race through her head and force the tears to fall faster as she crumbles to the ground, muffling her cries with her hands.

"Yuuna?" Yubel appears. "What's wrong?"

"Chumley, said… he said I was motherly." Yuuna sniffles and chokes through her tears. "But I-"

Winged Kuriboh appears and 'kuri's to her worriedly.

Yuuna reaches for his card and her Duel Disk, making him real. Immediately soft fur and feathery wings rub against her face and she hugs him to her chest, hiding her face in his fur. Yubel rakes their claws through her hair and kisses her forehead.

"I won't ever be a mother. I don't have the parts." Yuuna sniffles. "I can't get pregnant or feed a baby like a mother's supposed to."

She knows it's impossible, something that could never happen. Dear God though, she wished she could be a mother some day and it hurts to know she'll never be one.

"Maybe so, Yuuna." Yubel hums, petting her head. "But that doesn't mean you'll never have a family."

Yuuna pauses in the sniffling, turning to look at Yubel. "Really?"

Winged Kuriboh 'kuri's and nuzzles her face, then flies to her PDA. He picks it up and then drops it in her lap. Yuuna opens it.

The picture app comes up. Specifically, one picture.

Yuuna is in the middle of the picture, with Syrus and Blair under her arms. Mindy and Jasmine are peeking out behind her shoulders while Bastion stands to the side and Chumley is on Yuuna's other side.

That was taken the day of the promotional exams.

Yuuna starts to smile a little.

"Why did Chumley think you were being motherly?" Yubel hums.

Yuuna wipes at her tears. "Because I was acting like a big sister to Syrus and Blair."

Winged Kuriboh 'kuri's and flaps his wings excitedly. Yuuna smiles and runs her fingers through his soft, spiky fur.

Blair lets Yuuna fuss over her and Syrus lets Yuuna dote on him. Blair passes her notes when she sleeps in class and Syrus shares his food with her too. Yuuna knows she'd put her life on the line for them if it ever came to that.

"They may be your friends. But they could be your family too." Yubel pets their head. "And you'll always have me too, Little Princess. You'll always have me."

Winged Kuriboh 'kuri's in agreement, nodding his head.

Yuuna rubs at her face and tries to get rid of the tears.

She smiles and nods at them. "Thanks, you guys."

Despite Yuuna's best efforts though, the next night find her, Syrus, Chumley and Blair wandering through the forest with torches out in front of them.

"You could think of it as being lost. Or you could think of it as a sign that we should head back." Yuuna hums as she looks around.

Blair turns around. "Yuuna, we've been out here for half an hour, it's way too early to quit now."

Yuuna sighs. Damnit, nothing she can think of is working.

"Are you feeling okay, Yuuna?" Syrus calls, stepping over to her.

Chumley nods. "Yeah, you've seemed kinda down all day. It's not like you to not want to do the reckless and fun thing."

Yuuna looks between the two of them and wonders…

"I'm just not sure if this is the safest idea. I've got a bad feeling in my gut and I don't want to go messing with the Shadow Games." Yuuna hugs her stomach. "That same bad feeling has saved me from suffering before, so I… I'd rather we listen to it and just get out of here. Please?"

She'd gotten that feeling an hour before her parents tried breaking down her room, giving her time to ensure she had everything in her go bag the last time she saw them.

Chumley, Syrus and Blair all look between each other, then the boys look at Blair. She looks between the boys, then sighs and looks at Yuuna.

"How about this?" Blair holds up one finger. "If we can't find the Abandoned Dorm in another half an hour, we go back, okay?"

Yuuna blinks but nods. Okay she can work with that.

"Thanks Blair." Yuuna walks over to her, smiling. "Why do you want to prove the Shadow Games don't exist anyway? You usually guide me away from the reckless things."

"Yeah, I'm curious too." Syrus hums.

Blair stiffens up and looks out at the forest.

Then she sighs. "It's because of my mom."

Everyone stops.

Blair looks at the ground. "When I was little and I wanted to know where she was, my Dad said she was in the Shadow Realm. As if I couldn't understand that she was no more. He used to say there was a chance he could save her."

Yuuna puts her hand over her heart. Oh no.

"For a long time, I believed him because I was a kid, what else was I to do?" Blair lifts her head. "So I have to prove to myself that the Shadow Games don't exist. My mother's not coming back."

Syrus reaches out for her. "Blair…"

Blair marches on and Yuuna follows behind her, heart in ribbons. She wants so desperately to help Blair, but the Shadow Games are real. It wasn't right for her father to lie to her, but if Yuuna says the Shadow Games aren't real when she knows they are, there's a chance she could invite trouble. Blair's already done plenty of damage, practically inviting something to start a Shadow Game with her by denying their existence.

What can she do?

"Hey, what's that?"

Yuuna lifts her head and sees Syrus pointing his torch down. On the ground lay two flowers, a white rose and a red rose, both looking fresh.

"What are flowers doing this far out?" Chumley calls, pointing his flashlight in the same direction.

Blair murmurs in awe. "I think I know why. Look behind the flowers."

Yuuna points her torch in the same direction that Blair is aiming hers. And her heart drops in her stomach acid.

An old building is before them, a once regal dome crumbling, with boarded up windows and doors barely hanging on hinges and "Keep Out" tape all around the fence and gate before them.

"The Abandoned Dorm." Chumley murmurs.

Yuuna curses under her breath. She has to get her friends out of here before something bad happens.

"Okay, we've seen it, how about we all go before something bad happens?" Yuuna frantically looks over her friends. "Please?"

Syrus gulps and reaches out to grab her jacket. "I'm with you, Yuuna. Blair, Chumley, let's go. It's probably full of lots of ghosts, too."

"Oh relax you two, there's nothing to be afraid of." Blair rolls her eyes.

Snap!

Syrus screams and jumps into Yuuna's arms, while Chumley yelps and hides behind her, the boys screaming. "What was that?!"

Blair and Yuuna point their flashlights to the sound of the noise and find-

"Alexis…" Yuuna gulps.

Alexis glares her down, as does the Obelisk boy behind her. He's taller and broader than anyone Yuuna's seen on the island yet, with dark blue hair and eyes to match. Eyes that are just as cold as Alexis'.

"Yuki." Alexis says.

Syrus gasps. "Zane."

The boy behind Alexis narrows his eyes further.

Yuuna blinks and sets Syrus down, putting him behind her and away from the Obelisks' line of sight. Chumley gulps as he looks them up and down while Blair gives them a defiant glare.

"What are you doing out here?" Alexis's voice is cold, a snarl barely waiting to be unleashed under her breath.

Yuuna narrows her eyes.

Blair huffs. "What's it to-"

Yuuna steps up, putting her arm out before Blair. "We don't want any trouble, okay? We were just leaving."

She can't let her friends get hurt. She doesn't want to start a fight with Alexis now. She actually could go her whole life without fighting Alexis and be happy.

Zane steps up. "She asked you a question."

Syrus whimpers and Yuuna's instincts flare up.

She glares him down. "And I don't have to answer, the reason doesn't matter because we're going to leave."

Alexis steps over. "I want an answer Yuki."

Yuuna glares between the two Obelisks. She has to diffuse the situation somehow, before Alexis claws out her throat.

"We just wanted to check out the Abandoned Dorm!" Blair suddenly rushes under Yuuna's arm, holding her hands up in peace. "I dragged us all out here because I wanted to prove that the Shadow Games don't exist, just leave us alone and we'll leave you guys alone!"

Yuuna gasps. "Blair!"

Alexis's hands curl into fists at her sides. "Well you can stop that little quest right now and get out, okay? Children have a way of disappearing around these parts."

Zane overlooks them again. "It's strictly forbidden to enter or be near the Abandoned Dorm. If any of you get caught, you could be suspended or even expelled."

Yuuna's eyes widen. No way.

"Then why are you two here?" Blair laughs, hand on her hip. "What, are you the hall monitors?"

Alexis snarls and takes a step forward, hand raised. "I have my own reasons you little-"

Blair gasps and holds her arms up-

Anger rushes through Yuuna as she moves in front of Blair, holding her arms up-

"Alexis." Zane puts his hand on her shoulder, pulling her back. "They're not worth it. Ignore them."

Alexis continues to snarl at them and Yuuna glares right back, Blair breathing heavily behind her, Syrus and Chumley whimpering softly. Zane is the only calm one, holding Alexis back, looking over them with a critical eye.

"Fine." Alexis steps back, looking as if she wants to spit in their direction.

Yuuna lowers her arms and drops her fighting stance, but she keeps Blair behind her.

Alexis huffs and stomps away from them, in the direction of the Obelisk Dorms most likely. Zane watches her go, then turns to the Slifer Red students.

"Don't get caught. You may not belong on the island, but don't purposefully try to kick yourselves out." Zane turns around and walks away.

Yuuna's blood boils and she shouts back. "We belong on this island as much as you do, you stupid blue bloods!"

Zane doesn't turn around and Alexis is already gone, disappeared like a shooting star.

Yuuna waits for Zane to disappear before turning on her heel and falling to a knee, hands hovering over- "Blair, are you okay?"

She's hugging herself tightly, there's tears in her eyes and Yuuna might actually kill both of those Obelisks if they actually make her cry.

Blair nods, shuddering, spitting out. "I'm fine!" She rubs her arms and then her face and stands tall. "I'm completely fine and even more determined to investigate the Abandoned Dorm now!" She huffs and folds her arms. "What's their problem, anyway?!"

Yuuna sighs and smiles, reaching up to pet her head. "Just so long as you're okay, spitfire."

Blair blushes and if she can get flustered over a nickname, then she must be okay.

"Well…" Chumley murmurs. "I think I might know what's up."

The first years turn to him, Yuuna getting to her feet.

"During my First Year, there was this one Obelisk Blue who was really loud but I didn't know his name." Chumley folds his arms. "He was constantly hanging out with Zane and this other guy, bragging about his cute little sister 'Lexi' and how she'd take Duel Academy by storm when she showed up."

Yuuna's blood runs cold.

"Then…" Syrus gulps.

Chumley shrugs. "I used to think he just dropped out or got into the overseas study program after he stopped showing up to class or hanging out with Zane. But…"

Blair gulps and looks out at the Abandoned Dorm. "You think that this guy went missing because of the Abandoned Dorm? And he was Alexis' older brother?"

"It'd explain the roses, too." Blair points her torch in their direction again.

"Makes sense." Yuuna hums. "Which only means one thing."

There were Shadow Games played on Duel Academy Island, in this building.

"The rumours aren't rumours." Syrus whimpers. "People really did go missing."

Chumley nods. "Guys, I say we go back."

Yuuna and Syrus nod.

"Well I say we go in." Blair says.

"What?!" The others shout.

Yuuna can't believe this.

"Think about it!" Blair turns around. "If we can find some clue to prove that Alexis' older brother didn't disappear because of the Shadow Games, maybe she can stop being so testy and learn where he actually went."

Yuuna reaches out for her. "Blair, you can't be ser-"

"You can't stop me, Yuuna!" Blair stamps her foot and glares at her. "I have to do this. If not for her, then for me. You can either come with me, or you can go back to the Red Dorm."

Yuuna bites her lip and holds back a groan. Damnit, this isn't the time to be stubborn! But… If Blair goes in alone and the Shadow Games swallow her up, Yuuna won't be able to save her or forgive herself.

Yuuna sighs. "Alright. I'll stay then."

Blair's eyes widen. "What?"

Yuuna kneels before her. "If you're going in there to potentially get hurt, I'm going in there with you to keep you safe and be there for you. You're my friend Blair. I'm not going to let you get hurt."

Blair's eyes tear up and she smiles, whipping at them. "Thanks, Yuuna."

Yuuna smiles and stands up, offering her hand then looking at the boys. "Well?"

Syrus flushes and rubs the back of his head. "Well, after a speech like that, I'd feel like a big wuss if I just walked back."

"And I'm not afraid!" Chumley huffs, puffing out his chest. "Bring on the ghosts!"

Yuuna fakes a smile. Great. Now she's convinced all her friends to walk right into an area where the Shadow Games have happened.

"Let's go then." Yuuna turns to the building.

So the Slifer Red gang walk into the Abandoned Dorm, unaware of the masked eyes or ice ones glaring them down.

For a place that once housed Shadow Games, the Abandoned Dorm is surprisingly mundane.

A dusty chandelier hangs from the ceiling, the once white ceiling now turning grey with cracks and mold all over the top. The wooden wall decorations look rotten and eaten away at, with shattered glass all over the floor and in the broken windows. There's a table on the ground with some of it's legs broken beneath it, a chest of draws rotting on the floor, empty bookshelves and some wall decorations above two opposite sets of draws.

It's enough to make Yuuna feel calm enough to joke. "Ya know, this isn't as bad as I thought it'd be." Yuuna smiles at her friends. "Maybe with a throw rug, some paint and cleaning, we could all move in here!"

"What, are you kidding?!" Syrus gasps. "This is even worse than the Slifer Dorm!"

Blair wanders deeper into the room. "What's this?"

She shines her light on some of the wall decorations and Yunna recognises them now. The Millenium Items.

Yubel showed her footage of Battle City and told her about what was really going on, listing each item's powers and explaining to her how Yugi Moto saved the world. She remembers how her love of Duelling and her determination to save the world was really sparked when she understood everything he went through.

"Do you think it has something to do with the Shadow Games?" Chumley gulps.

Yuuna walks over to the wall with Blair, humming. "I know they do, they're the seven Millenium Items that Banner mentioned."

Blair rolls her eyes. "Yeah, the things everyone was cosplaying with."

"Hey you two, don't stand so close!" Syrus whimpers.

Yuuna hums and turns to Blair. "Oh? Can you name them all, or did you not bother with that?"

Blair gives her a competitive grin. "Rod, Eye, Necklace, Scale, Puzzle, Key and Ring. Happy?"

Yuuna grins and pats her head. "Very much so, spitfire."

Blair clings to her hat and pulls it down her face, smiling shyly.

Yuuna nods to her and points her torch to other parts of the wall and then her eyes catch on a different tablet.

One with a figure dressed in black armour stands in the centre and the shadow of a winged figure floats above him while seven items surround them.

"What's that?" Syrus calls.

His torch lands on the tablet and reveals the armoured figure in greater detail. Such as the gold trimmings on his outfit and the seven items surrounding him and the winged figure, who's been faded with time.

"I don't know, Sy." Blair walks over to the tablet.

Yuuna swallows and puts her hand over her heart. She knows.

It's the Supreme King and Yubel surrounded by the Shadow Charms.

According to Yubel, after he performed the ritual to give Yubel their dragon heart, Haou's father also created the Shadow Charms. Seven items with the ability to begin a Shadow Game tailored to the weilder's desires, but they each had a specific ability. Yuuna knew that the original Millenium Items were created by sacrificing an entire village of supposedly wicked people, but Yubel hadn't told Yuuna how Haou's father created the Shadow Charms. She almost doesn't want to know, because she'd hoped she wouldn't find them.

But if they're referenced in the Abandoned Dorm, then….

"Whoever's in that, he sure is scary looking." Chumley whimpers.

Blair looks over her shoulder. "Yuuna, take a closer look at this."

Yuuna gulps and walks over. "What is it Blair?"

Upon closer inspection though, the winged figure isn't as faded as Yuuna hoped they'd be. Yubel's hair is clearly seen and there's patches of their skin visible, too.

"Doesn't that look like Yubel?" Blair murmurs.

Yuuna curses internally. "What does?"

Syrus gasps. "Oh yeah, I see it! The figure behind the armored guy!"

Yuuna curses again.

"Weird." Yuuna lies because it's not weird, of course Yubel would be there.

"There's some writing we can actually read!" Chumley calls, shining his torch on it. "Something about a Supreme King who would snuff out the Light with his beast."

Yunna shudders. "Wow, really weird, what else is here that's really weird?!"

She turns around and spins her torch frantically, trying to find something to get their attention off that tablet and landing on… a photo. Of a young man in the same uniform that Zane was wearing, with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, that look warm even under the glass.

"Chumley?" Yuuna calls. "Is this the guy you were thinking of?"

Chumley wanders over and nods. "Yeah, that's him!"

"Great, help me get that photo down then." Yuuna wanders over to it. "Maybe his name's on the back and we can confirm if this is Alexis' older brother."

Blair nods. "Good call! And we can give the picture to Alexis as a peace offering if it is her brother."

Yuuna smiles and starts reaching for the photo, but she can't quite get it-

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The Slifer Red students turn in all directions, looking for the source of the scream, then they look to each other.

"That sounded like Alexis!" Syrus gasps.

Blair sighs, shoulders slumping. "We're going to try to rescue her, aren't we?"

Yuuna nods and turns in the direction she knew the voice came from, deeper in the house. "Let's go!"

She leads the charge deeper into the house, Syrus and Blair on her heels, Chumley panting behind them.

"Why are we always running?!" Chumley whines. "For once, can we not run?!"

Yuuna ignores him and runs faster down the hallway, until she reaches a balcony overlooking a room full of covered furniture but no sign of Alexis. She shines her torch around the room, the other's lights soon joining the search-

"Is that a card?" Yuuna blinks.

Sure enough, it's a Duel Monster card, but she can't tell which one at a glance.

"Come on!" Blair starts racing down the stairs.

Yuuna, Syrus and Chumley follow her. Blair gets to the card first and picks it up, turning around to show it to Yuuna.

"You guys Duelled Alexis yet?" Blair asks.

Syrus and Chumley shake their heads.

"I have. That's Etoile Cyber." Yuuna nods, rubbing her jaw. "Definitely Alexis' card."

She remembers that kick to the face. It was not fun.

Chumley turns around and points ahead. "There's only one place she could have gone then."

Yuuna lifts her head and sees a tunnel up ahead.

"Then that's where we're going." Yuuna declares.

With that, the four Slifer Reds descend into the tunnel with a rescue mission on their mind. The deeper in, the more they call Alexis' name, desperately hoping they can find her before anything worse happens. Panic builds in Yuuna's blood the further underground they go but are unable to find hine or hair of the Obelisk Blue and potential Princess of Light.

Yuuna may be scared of the impending war, but she doesn't want to see Alexis hurt. Not when she could have stopped that from happening.

Finally, the four of them burst into a chamber. The ceiling is high, with odd lines across the floor, the walls made of craggy stones and cliffs while mist rolls across the ground. And against one of the walls, lies a passed out and tied up Alexis in a fanged coffin.

"Alexis!" Yuuna shouts.

A wicked laugh rings out in the mist. "She can't hear you! Her mind is far away, trapped in the Shadow Realm!"

The Shadow Realm?!

Yuuna gasps and holds out an arm. "Stay back!"

She stops Blair and Syrus from walking forward just in time, as a figure rises from the mist. An older man, in a black trench coat and top hat, a mask over his face and an odd Duel Disk.

"You're wise to keep your distance, child." The man says.

Chumley stammers, hanging onto Yuuna's shoulders. "Wh-who are you?!"

The man chuckles. "Your worst nightmare, children."

Yuuna bites her lip. This is bad.

"Oh gimme a break." Blair huffs under her breath.

The man lifts his head. "Then let me prove it to you." He lowers his arms. "In a Shadow Game!"

Yuuna's feet freeze up.

No.

No, no, no, she can barely use her powers, she won't be able to protect her friends if he starts a Shadow Game with her-

"We aren't afraid to Duel you, but Shadow Games don't exist!" Blair shouts, stomping her foot. "Stop playing dress up and give us Alexis back!"

"Yeah, hand her over or-" Syrus gulps. "Or you'll be sorry!"

Yuuna frantically looks at her friends, panic strangling her ability to speak.

The man chuckles. "The others didn't believe in the Shadow Games either, but they were soon convinced. For when you lose in a game to me, you pay with your soul!"

Wait, others?

Yuuna narrows her eyes and finds her voice. "Are you responsible for the missing students then?!"

The man just continues to smile. "Unless you win, she's mine forever, as will you all be."

Yuuna snarls. Damnit, she's gotta do something. Alexis might not be great, but she doesn't deserve to be abandoned in the Shadow Realm, nor do the other missing students.

"Yuuna?" Chumley calls.

Yuuna turns her head and sees him offering her his Duel Disk. Yuuna smiles and takes it, then puts it on and slides her Deck inside.

She's scared out of her mind. She's never fought in a Shadow Game before. She can barely use her own powers.

But her friends' lives are at stake here. She has to step up.

Yuuna is the Herald of the Gentle Darkness and she won't let her friends be consumed in a Shadow Game. Or Alexis.

"Alright, we'll Duel, Mr." Yuuna huffs. "What am I supposed to call you?"

The man hums. "Titan will do, my dear."

Yuuna walks further into the room, while the other Slifer Reds hang out near the entrance of the tunnel. Blair looks ready to storm across the Field and punch Titan in the crotch, while Syrus is hiding behind her and Chumley has a hand on both their shoulders, to hold Blair back and to hide with Syrus most likely.

Yuuna glances at Alexis. She doesn't look peaceful, as if she's been drugged or plagued by nightmares.

Yuuna turns to Titan and shouts. "Get your game on!"

"Shadow game that is!" Titan laughs.

"DUEL!"