A Dragon's Destiny

by Magi Mana

Talesverse. Kisara is a new student at Domino, returning after years of being away. She sees her childhood friend Seto has become cold and distant while she quickly makes friends with his soon-to-be rivals Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler. While facing the return of the Shadow Games, Kisara will have to face both her past with Seto and the truth about the Millennium Items.

13. The End of Duelist Kingdom

Yet again, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, we'd see more of Cecelia as a character instead of just the images of Pegasus's memories. I would have loved to see more of their dynamic explored; they seem to be the one confirmed happy couple we get in the show before her death (since Kazuki Takahashi seems to refuse to have any of his main characters actually become couples, leaving us to search for them in fanfiction). But I digress and cut myself off before I start a full rant.

Chapter Thirteen: The End of Duelist Kingdom

Pegasus sighed as he stood over the desk in his sanctuary. It's all over. Everything he struggled for, all he tried to achieve, was gone. He failed to defeat Yugi and claim the Puzzle. And since Yugi won, he couldn't claim KaibaCorp either. He spread the three soul cards out in front of him. Keeping them contained wouldn't help him anymore. Besides, he gave his word, and he was duty-bound to keep it. Calling on the power of his Millennium Eye, the image on each card turned blank. The freed souls should wake up in their bodies shortly.

He turned to stand in front of the painting of his beloved. "Cecelia, I'm sorry, but I failed you." His heart ached, the same dull, heavy pain he felt the day she was taken from him. He was so close. But once again, she was pulled away from him. "I love you. I always have, and I always will."

"How sweet," an icy voice startled him.

"Who's there?" Pegasus turned to face the intruder. No one should even know about this place. He didn't even let Croquet up here. Whoever it was would regret disturbing him in his own sanctuary.

Standing in the shadows by the window was a boy with white hair dressed in a white sweater and blue jeans. "Bakura?" It came back to him. Yugi's three little friends trespassing in the sanctuary, and Pegasus meant to send them to the Shadow Realm, but then another presence challenged him, stealing the three children away. But… the Ring. The Millennium Ring must have wiped his memory along with Yugi's friends. "You're the one that possesses the Millennium Ring!" he stated.

"Yes," young Bakura stepped out of the shadows. "And I intend to have all the Items. Care to wager yours on a Shadow Game? I'll give you a second chance at a Millennium Item." He grinned. "What you couldn't win from Yugi, perhaps you can win from me."

There must more to him than that. For the first time in years, Pegasus felt an ounce of fear penetrate him. Even when Yugi and the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle gained the upper hand in their duel, he was never truly afraid of them. But this presence was different. This felt like evil itself.

"Who knows?" Bakura picked up Pegasus's deck and began shuffling the cards. "If you defeat me and claim my Ring, your deepest desires might not be beyond your grasp after all." Cecelia. Pegasus glanced up to her portrait before watching the intruder again. Bakura laid five face-down cards on the desk in three rows—one in the first, three in the second, and one in the last, making a cross pattern. "Your Millennium Item allows you to look into people's minds, Pegasus. Mine allows me to see into their souls. I have but to look at your deck and it reveals to me your true nature." He flipped over the first card in the second row. "The Happy Lover card. It shows you have experienced the joys of love; however, this card is upside down, which means your romance ended in tragedy."

He's using my deck like Tarot cards. Pegasus narrowed his eye at the boy, keeping the rest of his expression blank. There was more to this boy than he first thought; the events of the previous night proved that. "What a pity it is," Bakura continued. "Well the next card should show me more about your present than your past." He flipped over the middle card. "Ah, the Mask of Darkness, eh? So your recent actions were all just an effort to mask your true objectives. Objectives that came from deep within your heart. Who would have thought you even had a heart, let alone one so easily broken?"

"Quiet!" Pegasus had enough. Who was this boy to walk in and mock his objectives? This boy had never felt the pain and agony that he had, losing the person who meant more to him than anything else. The longing to see and hold that person again, knowing that no matter how hard he wished for it, she was not coming back. Not unless he reached across the planes of reality and found her himself. "Let's just play the game!" Pegasus would defeat this boy and silence him and his mockery for good.

Bakura chuckled. "As you wish, but first there is one more card to be revealed. Don't you want to see your future?" He flipped over the last card in the row. "Doma, the Angel of Silence. It's an appropriate card for your future, since I will now silence you forever!" He turned to face Pegasus directly. "Prepare yourself, mortal, for a Shadow Game the likes of which you've never played!" The Millennium Ring pulsed with blue light. The pointers all directed themselves at his Eye. "This match will be played on the landscape of our minds."

Pegasus scowled and called on the power of his, firing a beam of red magic that collided with Bakura's blue. Struggling against the force of the Ring's power, he realized he was more fatigued from the Shadow Game with Yugi than he first realized. And Bakura was fresh, a fact the Ring wielder mocked him for. His strength gave out, and Bakura's power flung him into the wall.

"You are defeated," Bakura grinned. "A rank amateur compared to one who has played for centuries."

"You've lived for centuries?" Pegasus repeated. But how? Was he like the mysterious spirit in little Yugi's Puzzle? "What kind of creature are you?"

"I am the one who will possess all the Millennium Items," the being answered. "And I shall use their combined might to conquer the entire world! You have lost the game, and that entitles me to take your Millennium Item, the way you meant to take Yugi's." He knelt down to face Pegasus, staring him right in the Eye.

He reached for the Millennium Eye. "No!" Pegasus yelled. Bakura yanked; the pain was even worse than the time Shadi put it in. "NO!" he cried out one more time before everything went black.

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Kisara panted as they ran through the halls of the castle. "Don't worry, Yugi," Joey called from the front of the group. "He couldn't have gotten far."

"We've got to find him," Yugi said from just behind her. "He's the only one who can restore Grandpa's soul."

"And Seto and Mokuba's," Kisara added.

"Wait a minute!" All of a sudden, Tea stopped, causing Kisara to collide into her.

"What's the matter, Tea?" Yugi skidded to a stop next to them.

"That tower," the brunette pointed to the tallest one across the way from them. "It looks… I think I've been there before with Tristan and Bakura." Tristan's eyes widened as she continued. "I vaguely recall a secret room—Pegasus's sanctuary." Tea stepped closer to see the tower better. "Maybe it was all a dream, but…"

"Only if we were both dreaming," Tristan stepped closer as well. "I'm starting to remember it too. Pegasus fought with Bakura, and then Bakura's evil spirit came out. But why'd we forget?"

"When was this?" Kisara asked.

"I think… last night," Tea answered. So when Yugi, Joey, and I were preparing for the finals. Kisara bit her lip, worried at the danger her friends could have been in.

"I bet that evil spirit cast a spell on you!" Joey reasoned.

"Well we remember now! Let's go!" Tea led the way to the tower.

"NO!" a scream echoed throughout the castle.

"Did you guys hear that?" Tristan asked.

"It came from the tower," Tea said.

"It sounded like Pegasus," Joey added.

When they reached the stairs to the tower, Croquet, Kemo and a handful of guards were exiting it. Kemo carried an unconscious Pegasus on his back. Kisara gasped when she saw the creator's face. "Croquet, what happened to Pegasus?" Yugi asked.

"It's none of your concern," the liaison brushed off their inquiry. "He's suddenly taken ill."

"But what about Grandpa and the others?" Yugi demanded. "He promised he'd free their souls! He promised!"

"Not my department," Croquet walked past him.

"Where's the Millennium Eye?" Kisara asked.

Croquet turned to face her. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not in the mood for your ignorance act," Kisara snapped. "I saw the Eye was gone. Pegasus didn't just 'take ill.' He was attacked. And if that attack has prevented him from fulfilling his end of the bargain with Yugi, we have a right to know. Or we could just mention to the media about how 'our gracious host' kidnapped an eleven-year-old for corporate greed. Or perhaps we could share how inadequate the security was here since they couldn't even keep their own boss safe."

"I already said it's not my department," Croquet remained expressionless to Kisara's threats. "Good luck finding someone who will believe you, a defeated participant unhappy at not receiving the grand prize and looking to take more from our gracious host." With that, he turned and walked away.

"Why that sleazy—" Joey held his fists ready to charge at the liaison until Kisara blocked him with her arm. "Why are you stopping me?"

"It won't do any good right now," she answered. "I thought playing hardball would get us somewhere, but he didn't go for it. Besides, we have bigger things to worry about."

"Like who or what could have done that to Pegasus," Tristan said.

"Should we check the tower?" Tea suggested. The others nodded, and they ascended the stairs to the sanctuary.

The room was a simple setup. A desk right by a window facing the building with the arena, a canopy bed along the opposite wall with a night stand next to it, and other necessities for staying in the room for long periods of time. The most noticeable feature was a large portrait of a blonde woman in a pastel blue dress that matched her eyes. "So this is where Pegasus hangs out?" Joey asked as he examined the portrait. "Whoever that woman is, she sure is pretty."

"What's this?" Tea found a book on the desk and began flipping through it. "It seems to be a diary. Maybe we'll find something in here."

A card fell out of the book. Yugi stooped to pick it up. Kisara looked at the card over his shoulder; it was the same as the portrait.

"It's all about Pegasus," Tea drew their attention back to the book. "Listen to this; he's written about that lady."

"She's everywhere," Yugi held the card for the others to see.

"She must mean a lot to him," Kisara said.

"Darling Cecelia," Tea read. "At last, I've finally found a way to restore you to this world. It's an elaborate plan, but not one beyond my genius. It involves the Kaiba Corporation and some ancient magic I plan to harness when I obtain more Millennium Items." She looked up from the book. "This could be it! This might explain why he set up the tournament and why he went after Yugi!"

"And maybe who the girl is," Yugi added.

"It's pretty obvious he's hung up on her," Joey said.

Tea continued in the book. "Cecelia, oh my lovely darling Cecelia, you know how I've loved you since the first moment we met those many years ago. I'll never forget that day. It was at a party at my father's country estate. It was a gala event, with celebrities and tycoons from all over the world. Anyone who was anyone was there. But by far the one the one that impressed me most was you. Even though we were only children, I knew I was in love. We were drawn to each other, and from that moment on we were inseparable, you and I.

"You inflamed my passions, inspired me to become a painter. And you were my favorite subject. I was so in love. And just when I thought things couldn't get any better, you agreed to take my hand once again. This time in marriage. That was the happiest day of my life. But it was cut short. For it seemed just as we said our vows, you were struck down by a devastating disease and taken from me and this world. It was as if a blow had struck me from the heavens. I was filled with sorrow. From that moment on, I could no longer paint. My heart grew bitter and cold. Unable to accept the idea that our love was forever lost, I decided to scour the earth in an attempt to find any way to reach you beyond this mortal veil.

"My journey eventually brought me to the Great Pyramids of Egypt, that mysterious land who ancient people believed in a life beyond the here and now—a belief I wanted to embrace. I had just begun to explore that ancient city when fate intervened. I met a stranger who warned me against my path, telling me my journey could lead to greater heartache. But that couldn't be true. Nothing could be worse than living in a world without you. 'Go home,' the man told me.

"But I couldn't. I realized if the man somehow knew of my pain, maybe he could help me heal it. I followed him against his wishes, or so I thought. Although the passage seemed to lead to the bowels of the earth, still I followed. And my footsteps led me to a hidden crypt, apparently buried beneath centuries of civilization.

"The stranger turned to face me. 'So you chose not to heed my warning,' he said. Men grabbed me from either side of the doorway, ignoring my pleas to release me. The stranger told me he was a guardian of the Millennium Items, and the only way to leave was to be chosen. 'It must be your destiny,' he said.

"I failed to understand what the stranger meant as the guards pushed me to the ground in front of him. He held a golden eye in front of my face, saying I would be tested by it. The two men backed away from me and the stranger. I didn't need to read minds to know they were terrified of the thing. 'Each Millennium Item awaits the day its fated possessor appears to claim it and punishes those who are undeserving," the stranger said. 'But if you pass its test, it will empower you to see more than you've ever seen before." Was it possible? Would this strange Eye let me see you once again, to hold you in my arms like I used to? 'However, if you are not the one destined to possess it,' the stranger warned, 'all that awaits you is nightmares beyond your imagination.' He held the Eye over my left one, and I was blinded with light.

"The pain was excruciating. I feared this was the punishment the stranger warned. What got me through it was you. I held onto you, my love, and my need to be reunited with you. Eventually the pain subsided, and I was once again in the stranger's lair. My left eye was gone; in its place was the strange object the stranger had held in front of me. 'You are the chosen one,' the stranger said. 'Now your eyes will be open to dimensions beyond the here and now, like having a sixth sense, capable of seeing worlds and times outside our own.'

"No sooner than the stranger finished speaking than you appeared before me, my greatest wish granted as I held you in my arms. Finally, at last, we were reunited, but it was not meant to last, for just a soon as the bliss of being with you again overtook me, you were gone. The stranger told me to truly be with you was beyond the power of my new Eye.

"I should have once again been engulfed in despair, but seeing you for that brief moment gave me more hope than I would have thought possible. Even though you were gone from my world, I knew there was still a way to reach your spirit, and I wouldn't rest until I found a way to bring you back. And once again touch the flower that is your face and gaze into your eyes once more." Tea closed the book. "It goes on to say that later Pegasus got an inspiration," she said. "He found a way to combine Kaiba's virtual technology with the magic of Millennium Items to restore Cecelia. But nothing about Grandpa or the Kaiba brothers." She returned the book to its place on the desk.

Kisara gazed at the portrait. She could see the love Pegasus had poured into the painting, love he had for only Cecelia. "I understand now," she said. "He was desperate to save a loved one, just like us."

"But we didn't hurt innocent people to get what we wanted," Tristan pointed out.

"We never completely lost our hope," Kisara countered. "I came close a few times growing up. I know what it's like to feel desperate enough to do anything to get back a loved one."

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked.

Kisara sighed and glanced at each of her friends. "Joey knows most of this, but it's not easy to share. My mom was killed in a hit-and-run when I was nine. Her distant relatives passed me around like a dirty sock, none of them actually wanting me. I was bullied at school, ignored at home, and just when I got some semblance of normal, I was shipped off to the next place."

She let her hair fall into her face as she continued. "I would have given anything to go back to how things were. Living with Mom in our tiny apartment while she put almost everything she earned into a savings account, which ended being the only thing she left me. Said she wanted me to go to college someday, which is probably why I can't even touch it until I turn eighteen. But after the third house, I didn't care anymore. I just wanted a family… I wanted my family back. So, yeah, I can empathize with Pegasus. I'm not saying what he did was right—I don't want anyone to have to go through what I have. But I do understand what he's feeling. The feeling that comes when the person you care about most is taken from you."

"I'm sorry," Tristan said.

"Don't be," Kisara told him, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "Yeah, what I went through was rough, but I know other people have had it worse than me. Besides, I'm not lonely anymore." She held up her hand, remembering where Tea had inked it over two months ago. "I have you guys now."

"Aw, Kisara," Tea pulled her into a hug. "We're glad you're with us."

"Thanks, Tea," she said.

"Hey, look," Yugi noticed something else on the desk. The other four gathered around to see. "Three soul cards, and they're all blank."

"Pegasus must have freed them," Joey reasoned.

"Let's find out," Tea led the way down the stairs, back to where they left Mokuba and Bakura.

"Hold on! Wait for me!" Yugi called as Kisara got about halfway down the staircase. The other three went on; she turned back to allow Yugi to catch up. A distortion of light appeared between them, and a man wearing long white robes and a turban emerged from the light, his back to Kisara. The man walked toward Yugi. "Stay back!" Yugi warned.

Kisara didn't give it a second thought as she raced back up and grabbed the man by the shoulder, intent on pulling him away from Yugi. She barely saw the golden ankh in his hand as everything went white.

When her vision cleared, she and the man stood in a long hallway. On one side, the walls were a light blue, like the brick walls of an ordinary house in Domino. The other side's walls were more of a rundown brown, like a decaying tomb. A doorway stood on each wall, matching the design of its corresponding wall. "What is this place?" she asked.

The man turned to face her, shaking her hand off his shoulder. "What are you doing here?" His gaze seemed to pierce her very soul. Now that his front was to her, she could see the golden ankh around his neck. Is that another Millennium Item?

"I don't even know where here is," Kisara answered, careful to keep her voice and expression calm. "You were threatening my friend; I tried to stop you. What happened after that you can tell me."

"We are inside your friend's mind," he told her. "I seek answers of my own, and I will find them." He turned back and walked down the hallway.

Kisara hurried to catch up to him, keeping pace with him and watching his expression carefully. "So how do we leave?"

"My Millennium Key will let me leave when I have the information I seek," he answered, his voice the very definition of calm. "I assume you will leave the same way."

"Then let's go now," she insisted. "Or don't you know it's rude to probe people's minds without permission? We already crossed that bridge with Pegasus."

The stranger ignored her and stood in front of the doorways looking between the two. I'd better stick close to him if I want to leave. That'd be a real fun one for Yugi to explain to the others. Yeah, Kisara's fine. She's just trapped in my head because of some weird guy with an ankh decided he needed answers.

"Child," he addressed her. She moved past his patronizing attitude and focused on him. "Would you know why this boy has two chambers in his mind?"

"You mean the doors?" Kisara looked between the two ways, the only break in the never-ending hallway.

"Yes," the stranger answered. "Never before I have I seen two chambers in one mind."

One for each Yugi then? "If I did know anything, why would I tell you? You're the one not answering my questions," she countered. If this guy wasn't going to share everything he knew, then she would hold back what she knew also. At least until she determined whether or not she could trust him. Who knew what could happen to Yugi if he decided to attack the place, assuming what he said was true and the really were inside Yugi's mind.

He glanced at her before opening the door to the older wall. Inside was dimly lit; the only light seemed to come from the hallway. Someone else was already there. Tri-colored hair and amethyst eyes greeted them as the door let in more light. "It's all right. You may enter my chamber if that is what you desire," the owner greeted the stranger.

"Other Yugi," Kisara stepped out from behind the man.

"I thought I sensed you too," Other Yugi acknowledged her. His gaze shifted back to the stranger. "I warn you. Tread cautiously. I will allow no harm to come to the boy whose vessel I share. Or to his friend you brought along." His eyes flicked back to her before returning to the man. "Your presence here intrigues me; I don't know how you entered my mind. Explain yourself, before you trespass further. I demand an explanation for your intrusion."

Kisara inched away from the stranger and stepped closer to Other Yugi. "I promise I did not mean to intrude on your mind," she whispered to him. "We've had enough of that lately."

"I know," Other Yugi kept his gaze on the man.

He finally decided to answer. "I seek a criminal who has stolen the power of a Millennium Item," he said. "It has been five long millennia since those ancient Items were created. Their magical energies were trapped in them by a brave pharaoh. Combined, these seven Millennium Items possess power enough to conquer the world. Hence, many evil men have ventured to gather these Items for themselves. It is my heritage to guard the Millennium Items. And my charge to punish the thief who stole Pegasus's Millennium Eye."

"And you accuse me of being that criminal?" Other Yugi raised an eyebrow at him.

"You have already taken refuge in the vessel of another," the stranger said. "That does not bode well."

"Does an alibi help?" Kisara asked. "I can promise you, I've been next to him and his vessel since the last time we saw the Millennium Eye with Pegasus."

"If he is not the criminal," the stranger eyed her, "then he has nothing to fear from my search."

"Guilty until proven innocent," Other Yugi reasoned. "An ancient concept for this modern age. However, I have nothing to hide. I'm not your criminal."

"Then grant me passage to your unconscious mind," the man requested.

"Fine," Other Yugi complied. "I'll open the doors for you." He snapped his fingers, and the entire room lit up, revealing a maze that defied all the laws of Kisara's logic, built from a dusty stone that she thought the Pyramids were made of. "You may search them to your heart's content."

The stranger looked around, and then walked to the nearest door. "What should I do?" Kisara asked Other Yugi.

"Since he brought you here, whether intended or not, he's probably your only way of leaving," Other Yugi answered. "That ankh is definitely another Millennium Item, probably the means of his passage."

"He called what he used the Millennium Key," she shared what the stranger said. "I know I wanted to know more about the Items, but this is not what I had in mind."

"Nothing you can do about that right now," Other Yugi smirked at her comment. "For now, stay with him; I'll be around to help you should you need it. But be careful. There are surprises even I can't predict in here." With that, Other Yugi turned transparent and disappeared.

Kisara followed the stranger up the nearest flight of stairs. She almost caught up to him when he opened a door and a large weight came crashing down. He managed to get out of the way in time, but the force of the impact sent him backwards to crash at her feet. "Are you all right?" Kisara asked, extending a hand to help him up.

"I am fine," he answered, getting to his feet without her help. He walked onto the next door to try. He ignored several of the doors, glancing back and forth like he was searching for a certain one. How does he even know where he's going? Of course, how does Other Yugi know where everything is in here? For what felt like the hundredth time since she learned of his existence, Kisara wished she knew more about the presence inside the Millennium Puzzle, if only to better understand the person who was helping her and her friends. At the same time, she still felt like a trespasser wandering around the labyrinth, waiting for the next surprise Other Yugi warned of.

The stranger finally stopped at a certain door and threw it open. Kisara peaked in behind him. It didn't seem like there was a trap like the other door. Still, it didn't ease her caution or growing anxiety. Something wasn't right. She could feel it.

The two of them walked a few steps in, and the floor gave out underneath them. They each barely managed to grab onto a brick that had not broken free. Don't look down. Don't look down. Kisara glanced down and saw nothing but darkness. Kisara, what did I tell you? Don't look down! She focused on the brick she was holding onto. "Other Yugi!" she called to him. This counted as her needing him. A hand reached down grabbed hers, pulling her up. Back on solid ground she looked to her savior, but there was no sign of him.

I'm sorry.

Kisara looked around. I'm sure that was Other Yugi's voice. But where is he? Pushing it away for the moment, she turned to help the stranger. Yugi beat her to it, grabbing the guy's hand. When did he get here? She grabbed his other one, and together the two students pulled the man out of the pit.

All safe from the pit, the three of them took shelter in a corner, deciding they had to catch each other up. "I seek only the truth," the stranger said. "But it's strange. My way is blocked.

"It's strange all right," Yugi said, looking around the maze. "But I don't think the spirit's doing this on purpose."

"Me neither," Kisara agreed. "He said there surprises even he couldn't predict in here, and I think he's the one who pulled me out of that pit."

"I get the feeling there are some memories hidden even from him," Yugi concluded. "I sure wish I knew what they were."

The door closest to them lit up and opened itself, the light from inside blinding them. The three entered when the light died down. Stone tablets line the sides of the revealed passageway. "Is it just me, or do these look like Duel Monsters?" Kisara asked, noting carvings resembling Celtic Guardian, Summoned Skull, and Curse of Dragon. Many of them seemed to resemble monsters in Yugi's deck.

"They look like Duel Monsters," Yugi answered.

"Five thousand years ago, Egyptian kings played a game of great and terrible power," the stranger explained. "These Shadow Games were played with real magic and real monsters. But those games erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the entire world. Until a brave and powerful pharaoh locked the magic away, sealing the monsters in stone tablets. But how could your other personality have knowledge of this ancient history?" he asked Yugi. "And why do I suddenly sense here, in his unconscious mind, magic that the world has not known for five millennia?"

Before Yugi could answer, one of the tablets responded to their presence. Dark Magician stood twice as tall as them, glaring at their intrusion. Maybe I was off. I always thought Dark Magician was protecting Yugi, but maybe Other Yugi is the one he's determined to serve. That's not good if he sees us as intruders. Rephrase: malicious intruders. Dark Magician pointed his staff at them, ready to strike.

"It's another mental defense against any intruders," the stranger concluded. "The magician intends to destroy us all."

"He can't," Kisara insisted. "Other Yugi knows he can't let something happen to us, especially Yugi."

"Not if he doesn't know he's doing it," the stranger countered. "Unless we can stop him, we can never leave this chamber." He looked down at the ground. "Wait. The surface we stand on may be the means of our salvation."

Kisara looked down to a carving of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. "If that other image spanned the essence of the Dark Magician, then this one must contain the magical energy of his nemesis, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon," he continued.

"Blue-Eyes is the Dark Magician's nemesis?" Kisara repeated, stepping back from the purple-robed spellcaster. "But…" Her favorite monster couldn't really be Yugi's and the Dark Magician's enemy, could it? She knelt on the tablet, touching the carving of the dragon. No. Yugi and Seto may be rivals, but Blue-Eyes and Dark Magician are not. I trust both of them to protect us.

Responding to her touch, the carving began to glow. "Kisara, don't!" Yugi pulled her hand away. The glow in the carving died.

"You can summon the White Dragon without a Millennium Item?" the stranger stared at her, his blue eyes wide. "Do it then!"

Kisara looked between Yugi and the guy. He called it the White Dragon. Just like Bakura's evil spirit did in that Shadow Game. Cautiously, she lowered her hand towards the tablet.

"No," Yugi stopped her again. He turned to face the Dark Magician. "He would never hurt me." He ran forward, blocking the spellcaster's way to the other two. "Dark Magician, we are not intruders," he said. "Don't you recognize me? Stand aside and let us leave in peace! We will not reveal the hidden secrets. You know me. You trust me."

Kisara's hand hovered over the carving. She wanted to believe in Yugi and his favorite monster, and she would give them the chance to resolve their predicament. But if that image decided to attack, she had to protect her friend.

She sighed in relief when the Dark Magician lowered his staff. Kisara turned to see the stranger looking back and forth between her and her friend, his eyes even wider than before. The spellcaster's body flashed with golden light, blinding the three explorers.

When the light faded, Kisara stood next to the stranger, her hand resting on his shoulder. He held his ankh to Yugi's forehead. "I apologize for my rude intrusion into your mind," he said. "I did not realize you are the chosen one and that the ancient predictions have finally been fulfilled at last." He stepped aside to let Kisara stand next to Yugi. "In my search for a thief, I instead found the most worthy, one fated to unlock all the magic."

"All the magic?" Kisara repeated. Yugi said nothing as he watched the stranger.

"The theft of Pegasus's Millennium Eye was but the first sign that evil once again walks the earth, bringing madness in its wake. As in ancient times, chaos once more threatens to envelope an unsuspecting world, and only he who solved the Millennium Puzzle can save it."

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked. "Is there anything else you can tell me about this?"

"How do we even know what this evil is?" Kisara added.

The stranger descended the stairs, barely glancing back to speak to them. "Take great care," he warned. "Be on your guard, for whoever the thief is who stole Pegasus's Millennium Item, he will also come seeking yours."

"That's almost too scary to think about," Yugi said as he processed the information. "But if a guy like you couldn't find him, how do you expect me too?"

"And what did you mean by White Dragon?" Kisara asked. "What is my connection to it?"

A halo of light surrounded the stranger, the distortion the same as when he first appeared.

"Don't go!" Yugi called him back. "Who are you?"

"My name is Shadi," he said. "And I am certain that we will meet again another day. Until then, stay true to your destiny. Remember the fate of the world rests on your shoulders. And trust the dragon you seem to have watching your back." With that, he was gone.

"That was weird, right?" Kisara turned to Yugi.

"A little," he answered.

"I'm sorry I kind of ended up intruding in your mind too," Kisara said.

"It's not your fault," Yugi brushed it off. "I'm more worried about what he told us."

"Yeah, I thought Pegasus would be the worst we had to face. I was hoping for normal when this was over."

"Well we won't get normal if we stay here. Let's catch up to the others," Yugi led the way down the stairs.

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Kisara took Mokuba from Bakura just as the eleven-year-old opened his eyes. "Kisara?" he whispered.

"It's me," she assured him. "How are you feeling?"

"Groggy," he gave her a half-smile, wrapping his arms around her neck. "I'm glad to see you, Sœur."

"I'm just happy you're okay," she said as she returned the hug. "It's finally over, Petit Frère. Everything's going to be all right now."

"Who would have thought Pegasus would keep his word?" Joey asked.

"Yeah, go figure," Yugi rubbed his head. "Mokuba, do you feel like getting off the island?"

"Not without Seto," Mokuba answered. "Where is he?"

"He's somewhere in the castle," Yugi told him.

"We'll find him," Kisara promised. "Knowing him, he's going to be more worried about you than himself. We won't leave until we find him."

"Yugi, Joey," Croquet entered from the other side and addressed the top two duelists.

"Croquet," they acknowledged him.

"Due to his illness," the liaison continued, "Mr. Pegasus will be unable to present the tournament prizes himself. Yugi has already received his agreed-upon award of three freed souls, but…" He held out a velvet-lined box to Yugi. Laid inside was a card with the image of a young girl with a light pink dress and angel wings. Her golden-blonde hair flew above her head, and her hands were folded over her heart. It was probably the prettiest card Kisara had seen. "It's called Ties of Friendship. It's the only one of its kind, hand-painted by Pegasus himself." Yugi took the card, holding it carefully between his hands. "I was instructed to deliver it personally to Yugi Muto. You are now, officially, King of Games."

Croquet then reached into his blazer and pulled out an envelope. "This contains a check for the prize money won by Yugi in his duel with Joey Wheeler." He held the envelope for them to take.

"It's all yours, Joey," Yugi looked to their blond friend.

Kisara smiled at the expression on Joey's face as he held the prize money in his hand. "We've been apart for so long," he said, "but now I can save her from going blind."

"She's going to be so happy," Kisara said.

"I'm lost," Mokuba whispered to her.

"It's a long story," she whispered. "We'll catch up when we get home."

"Now we'd like you all to leave," Croquet cut into their small celebration.

"Hold on," Kisara called him back. "Where is Seto Kaiba? We're not leaving without him."

"Mr. Kaiba has already been released," Croquet answered. "I'm sure he'll find you shortly." He turned and left the balcony.

Knowing Grandpa would be all right when they made it home, the group left the castle and began the search for Seto. Kisara filled Mokuba in on what happened since she dueled Seto's imposter for his freedom as they searched. The sun sank lower in the sky as they walked around the outer areas of the castle.

"Seto!" Mokuba called for him. "Where are you, Big Brother?"

"Kaiba, if you're hiding, you better come out real quick!" Joey yelled.

Kisara elbowed him. "Seto, please, yell if you can hear us!" she called out. "It's over! We can go home!" This place is huge. Where could he be?

The nearest gate swung open, revealing her missing friend. He stood tall, left hand holding his silver briefcase. Mokuba shot forward, throwing his arms around Seto's waist. "You're here," he cried over and over again. Kisara followed closely behind.

Seto pulled away and knelt down to meet his brother at eye-level. "I didn't know what happened to you, but I never stopped thinking of you, Big Brother," Mokuba pulled a card-shaped locket from under his shirt; Kisara could just make out a nine-year-old smiling Seto holding a chess piece when Mokuba opened the clasp. So that's where Seto was in the picture he showed me. Right over Mokuba's heart.

"I know," Seto took out his open pendant and opened his, revealing the picture of Mokuba. "I would have given anything to save you, Mokuba."

"Kisara told me what you risked," Mokuba smiled and turned to her, gesturing her to come over.

"I'm glad you're okay, Kisara," Seto said as she came closer.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again," she chastised him.

"Me scare you?" Seto raised an eyebrow at her. "You scared me when you let Pegasus hypnotize you like you did."

"You think that was hypnosis?" Kisara gaped at him. "I was trying to save your soul!"

"By getting your own captured?" he scoffed. "I can't believe you even fell for his mind tricks."

"Coming from the guy who lost his duel because he couldn't do anything about his opponent using magic to read his mind?"

"Just because I don't know how Pegasus was able to see my cards doesn't mean he was using magic."

"Seto, I've seen a lot of weird stuff these last few days that you can't even imagine, let alone—" she was cut off as Seto pulled her close.

"I don't care about Pegasus or whatever mystic nonsense you think you found," he said. "All I care is that you and Mokuba are safe."

"Same to you, mon ami," she hugged him tighter.

"Mon meilleur ami," he pulled away and gave her a small smile, the first real smile she had seen from him since she returned to Domino. It dropped as he turned his attention to her friends. "Thank you, Yugi," he said. "Thanks for saving my brother."

"How could I do anything else?" Yugi accepted his thanks.

"And I am grateful," Seto continued, "but because of our circumstances, our last duel was not really conclusive." Yugi nodded in agreement. "One day, we will meet in the arena again to decide which one of us is truly the better duelist. And one of us will walk away with pride."

"Seto…" Kisara smiled. She knew someday he and Yugi were going to have to duel again. She just hoped it could just be a normal, friendly duel with no stakes attached other than a title.

"Come on, Mokuba," Seto turned away. "Let's go home where we belong."

"All right, we're going home!" Mokuba cheered.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kisara saw Yugi step away from the group, like someone else was talking to him. Stepping closer to him, she saw a transparent version of Other Yugi appear. "You saved everyone, Yugi," the spirit said.

"We both did," Yugi insisted, careful to make his friends think he was just enjoying the view, based on Kisara's perspective. "And I don't even know your name."

"I've been called many things through the ages," Other Yugi answered. "I've been known as Yami."

"Well, Yami, I'm proud to call you my friend," Yugi grinned at the spirit.

"Good," Yami returned the grin. "Because I'm proud to be one."

So his name is Yami. But why can I see him? Kisara glanced to each of her friends; none of them noticed Yugi talking with the spirit, or that Yami was even standing by him. I won't worry about it now. Right now, I just want to go home.

Home. A thought occurred to Kisara as she watched Yugi rejoin the group. They were the only ones left; everyone else had already gone home. "Seto, wait!" she called to her friend; the Kaibas had just made it to the bottom of the castle steps. They turned back to face her. "Do you mind giving us a ride? We don't have any other way home!"

"That's right! All the boats have left!" Joey realized why she was asking.

She could just make out Mokuba's grin. "Come on board, guys!" he yelled. "It's the least we can do for you!"

Grinning, the six of them raced down the stairs, following Seto's lead to where his helicopter was. Climbing aboard, Seto started the engines, and they began the trip home.

Yay! Yami finally has a name! It felt so awkward writing Yugi and Other Yugi and now I can finally start developing him as his own character! As for why Kisara can see him... well you guys will just have to wait and see. The gang has left Duelist Kingdom, and we won't be seeing it again for quite a while. Now for the normal Kisara's been hoping for... well maybe what counts as normal for these guys. Anyway, thanks for reading!