I opened my eyes still groggy. I felt shadows lift from the room.

Wait.

Did that mean?

I could see Tristan holding Joey up to the window.

Joey… Joey!

"Serenity, what's going on? Is this the hospital? Did someone get hurt?" Joey said looking around the group. My heart burst with joy. He did it! He beat the shadows!

"Yeah, Joey someone was knocked unconscious." Tristan said, looking at his friend, too relieved to tease him fully.

"Wait a sec? Did I pass out? Is that why everyone's happy to see me?"

"Why else would we be, if we weren't terrified, you'd been taken by the Shadow Realm." I called from my bed, everyone turned to look at me.

"Mana!" Joey said looking at me in alarm. "You weren't this bad before? What'd you do?" his eyes narrowed.

"Gave you mental energy. You're welcome."

"She also got in a mini magic battle with Marik, trying to make him bring you back." Tristan said.

"So yeah we can see how she might look worse," Duke said.

"You did that for me?" Joey said, his expression was so sweet.

"Course I did knuckle head," I lifted my arms up. He grinned he went to come around and hug me, but Serenity started to cry, wrapping herself around her brother.

"You really scared us," Téa said.

"Don't you ever pull this again. You hear me!" Tristan grabbed him by the shirt, then whipped his eyes. "I mean you had the girls really worried. Of course, I knew you'd make it all along."

"Mai's still trapped Joey, but we'll get her back," I said, as I saw the recognition in his eyes. "The reason you aren't the same is cause technically you never lost; you were disqualified. That's why you could fight the shadows. You collapsed before you could beat him."

He suddenly looked around.

"Where's Yugi? Did his duel start yet?"

"Yes," Téa said. "He's duelling against Kaiba right now."

"What? Well I gotta get up there and help him out."

"Joey!"

"Téa I've made up my mind." He said putting on his trainers.

"I'm sorry what did you tell me this morning?" I scowled at him.

"Err, do as I say not as I do," he grinned at me.

I laughed.

"Fine get me the chair and I promise no magic during Seto and Yugi or I suppose Yami's duel." I lifted my fingers to my forehead. "Sorcerers honour."

"If I let you go. You can't nag me. Promise me, you'll be good."

"I just did genius," I said laughing. He scooped me up all basically threw me in the chair, and began to run towards the door.

"Joey!" I could hear the rest of them yell.

"Whoa! Joey careful!" I clutched the arms rests, wishing I had a seatbelt.

As we arrived Yami was finishing Seto off. The rest of the group cheered. I rolled over to Yami giving his hand a quick squeeze, before I made my way over to Seto. He looked like his world was ending. I hugged him around the waist.

"The title isn't what's important," I said softly, knowing he was taking it badly.

"That was the most challenging duel I ever fought Kaiba," I turned to see Yami standing behind me.

"Just save it," he said, a scowl creeping on his face.

"Just think about everything you have gained from this tournament, you finally know about your ancient past, you have found me, and Noah. You have acquired two new siblings! In the grand scheme of things this isn't a big deal. A part of your destiny is to save the world from darkness not to always be known as the best duellist who ever lived. We need to defeat Marik and begin to unlock our ancient memories. You need to conquer the monsters in your heart before they destroy you." I looked up at him judging how well he was taking in my comments. He looked down at me, I smiled at him. But his frowned deepened.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he sounded like he was scolding a child.

"Trying to save your soul. The usual it's Saturday. Mokuba is the most important thing, not this silly title."

He pulled my arms off of him, and crouched down. Pulling me into a hug.

"Mana, it's not just Mokuba who matters most. You do."

"And Noah," I added. I could hear him scoff.

"Your step father was just as cruel to him as he was to you. Give Noah a chance."

"And together we'll melt the ice around your heart." I heard Mokuba's voice as he joined in on the hug. We stayed like that for a long moment before the two boys let me go. Seto stood back up and frowned.

"So, who was the irresponsible fool who allowed you to leave the hospital." He said eying up the group.

"That would be me, Kaiba," Joey said, ready for the verbal battle about to take place.

"Figures," he scowled. "She's sick Wheeler, and needs rest,"

"She," I said raising an eyebrow. "Can speak for herself and inform you that I am perfectly fine. I'm just drained, not dying. I can take a little nap right here while we are waiting for the final. There will be a break, right?"

Seto nodded. I smiled with a nod, before closing my eyes and taking my well-earned nap…

I could feel the shadow magic beside me, regretfully opening on of my eyes to see Yugi and Yami talking in spirit form.

"Something is wrong with Téa. We've got to go and find her now." Yugi said looking at Yami with determination.

"I'm going with you," I said. Both of them jumped at turned to look at me. Not realising that I had woken up. I looked around a little more to see that Seto and Joey were duelling outside of the duel tower. Ah, probably for 3rd and 4th place knowing Joey. Yami measured my expression for a moment before grabbing the chair and running back towards the duel tower.

He stirred me into the lift and we began to head up.

"What do you think is wrong with Téa?" I asked him.

"I am not sure, but I have a feeling Marik is most likely involved." He said darkly. I sighed, agreeing with him.

The doors opened and a sinister voice spoke.

"I am going to enjoy this immensely."

"Hold on," Yami called out. I took out my staff as I looked at the scene in front of me. Téa was on the floor and Marik was pointing the rod at his sister.

"Look at this, I'm quite popular today," he sneered.

"All right, this has gone too far!" Yami's voice was full of power, it brought back memories of when he protected me back in Egypt.

"Ah welcome Pharaoh. Our battle will begin sooner than I thought."

Ra's symbol appeared on Yami's head too, the sky began to purple and darken, I watched as Ishizu protected Téa. I kept my staff pointed at Marik just in case. But then the shadows faded.

"On second thought, I don't want to end this just yet. That would be too easy Pharaoh, and I have something more fun in mind." He chuckled.

Oh goodie.

"So, the next time we met your power will be mine." He laughed as he headed back towards the elevator. I wheeled towards Ishizu and Téa. The older woman had her arms wrapped around her and was resting her head on her lap.

"What happened is she ok?" I asked.

"Téa's been through quite a bit, but she will be fine soon." She promised us.

"Why would she have come here in the first place," Yami asked, looking at our friend with confusion and concern.

"Poor girl. Pharaoh, my brother's good side still lives –"

"I know," he said, I was confused why was that relevant to Téa?

"But there's more," she told us. "He lives within Téa's mind –"

"How? Why?" I said looking at my friend in horror.

"When you, Téa, and Joey were taken he controlled both of them." Yami explained to me. "Joey broke the connection. Whereas Téa was just released."

"Ah so because she didn't remove him, he still has access to her mind." I said looking at her in concern. Couldn't we just have one friend who was normal? I rubbed my eyes, as the tiredness set in again.

"Sleep, my love." Yami murmured, I could feel his magic helping me sleep.

"Hey, if you are going to pay more attention to your magic, I'd rather you didn't use it on me." I said sleepily. I felt his fingers playing with my hair.

"You sure you don't have those memories," I narrowed my eyes at him. He chuckled.

"I have seen others use this tactic before in Yugi's memories. Though it is nice to know it worked in both time periods." His smirk was amused.

"I'm watching your battle with Marik," I told him, I could hear my words slurring slightly.

"Shh, Mana. Everything will be fine." His voiced soothed, as I allowed my eyes to close and sleep to find me again.

"Mana," a gently voice called, as I felt someone shaking my shoulder. "Wake up,"

Pulling myself back to consciousness, I looked around to see everyone was at the duelling tower. Yami and Marik were about to duel. Well, everyone, but Seto… I frowned looking for him again.

"You feeling better?" Joey said, smiling down at me in the chair. I nodded. Then I saw Seto get out of the lift.

"Win this match. You were right, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but Wheeler taught me something. I have been filled with hate and rage since the accident that made us orphans, that I thought took Mana away from me. My step father, and everything that happened with Pegasus and the Big 5. But now, I realise that by acting like I am on my own. I could lose Mokuba and Mana by driving them away from me. Pharaoh, I would be honoured to join you and help defeat the darkness."

I stood up from the chair and hugged him tightly. He returned the hug, kissing the top of my head. When we pulled away, he looked serious again.

"So take this and it will defeat Ra," he said throwing the card at Yami. The two shuffled each other's decks, Marik looked like a maniac as he shuffled Yami's.

"Guys, can I take strength from you if I need it… I'm going to avoid intervening as much as possible, but –"

"Of course you can, Mana," Joey said. "We're a team."

"And we're in this together," Téa said.

"That's right, we need to take this creep down." Tristan added. I smiled at them all. We could do this. We could all defeat Marik and unlock our past.

As I predicted Marik immediately took the game to the shadows. He told us that he had several twists in this game.

"Now, Pharaoh it's time to reveal the first of my surprises." He lifted his rod and Mai came down from above, trapped in a clear pyramid.

"P-please! H-help!" she cried.

"Mai!"

"See someone familiar do we?" he sneered. "It's your dear friend Mai. Slowly slipping into the shadows, when our duel ends she'll be gone forever."

I took out my staff and tried to smash her prison, only to find that the spell bounced off, and came back to me instead. It knocked me off my feet, I felt Seto hold me up right.

"Are you all right?" he asked me, I nodded. I looked up to see he was already pulling her back into the darkness.

"That was a good try my Queen, but as I have said before as powerful as you are you are no match for the millennium rod. But now for my second surprise. It seems it's not only Mai who is in danger. Are you ready to met my next victim?" the rod glowed again, then a figure appeared beside Yami. He looked confused as he was strapped up, unable to move. My stomach turned to lead and dropped to my feet. No.

"Yugi!" Yami cried. Marik laughed again. I raised my staff, pointing it at Marik.

"Leave him out of your games, Marik. I am also connected to the puzzle, use me instead."

I felt Seto's grip on me tighten. Marik laughed again.

"Oh I would have my dear, if I didn't need you. You would be there in little Yugi's place."

I glared at him, and as I did I realised there was someone beside him too. The real Marik. He was unconscious, unaware of what was happening to him. I could tell some of the others were getting used to seeing them both together, as well as realising what Marik planned to do to Yugi.

"We can do this!" Yugi said, his face was determined. "Ever since you and I met we've been through everything together as a team. This game is no different. I'm still right here next to you, and we can defeat Marik together. He'll never win this."

The duel powered through, nail biting, staff clenching worry as the two magically infused people battled for the fate of the world. Didn't that sound dramatic. Marik continued to use mind games throughout the game, even showing us the ring, he had taken from Bakura and the evil spirit. Téa was used by the real Marik to beg Yami to kill him, and not worry about saving him. Asking for his and my forgiveness. Yami also used Dark Magician Girl several times giving me a nice power boost. I remained ready to intervene in any way possible if I was needed.

The Gods rewarded us by removing Yami's moral dilemma of having to destroy the real Marik in order to save the world when Odeon staggered out of the elevator. Once he was there the protection charm working again, the real Marik was able to summon enough strength to recontrol his body and destroy the evil part of him once and for all. He surrendered the duel making Yami the winner. The shadow game ended taking the evil Marik as its victim.

He spoke to Yami about being proud to help him, and me. And that he was proud to be a tomb keeper. To my relief Yugi's spirit form lost it's chains and appeared as it normally did by Yami's side.

And with that, the battle city tournament was over, and we were one step closer to discovering our past and locking the darkness away for good.

The end of BC I hoped you guys enjoyed this! Next stop Atlantis. Feel free to give me suggestions on how you think DMG and Mana should work with oricalcos. I have a plan but hey if someone suggests something better that I haven't thought of I don't mind :P