A/N: Day 1: Fantasy AU

I'm going to try to get these out on their respective days initially, but due to my busy work schedule, this is going to get unsustainable after a while. I will finish this challenge though, it just may take me some time!

Snap.

He dropped to his knees, closing his eyes and fighting the gag rising in his throat. His fingers dug into the soil beneath him, grass tickling between his fingers. Slowly, the world stared to ease, it's disorienting spin becoming more manageable. As the uncomfortable sensations subsided, Yugi started to register a gentle breeze running cool on the nape of his neck and tousling his hair. Fresh air. Yeah, that would help clear his head. He took a few breaths. In. Out. In. Out. Once the worst of the nausea had passed, he opened his eyes.

Where... Where... Where am I?

He found himself along a river bank that ran through a sprawling valley. Under the clear blue sky, unkempt grass dotted with wildflowers rippled in the breeze, stretching out in a sea of green. In the distance loomed a rugged cliff carved into a mountainside. The cheery chirps of birds provided a sweet melody to accompany the rhythmic rustle of foliage and streaming water. It was peaceful. Serene. Yet, in stark contrast, Yugi was losing his mind.

He scrambled to his feet, looking wildly around for some sort of sign. A clue about what was going on and where he was. All he saw was green grass where carpet should be and a river where his bed used to be. He had just been in his room!

"I'm dreaming. I must be dreaming." Yugi reassured himself in a quiet murmur. It was the only explanation that made sense. There was no possible way this was real. He must of fallen asleep, after all, it had been a long day. He spent the next few moments quelling his panic, but despite his best efforts to convince himself that he was dreaming, something felt off with that answer. The breeze felt almost too real.

The last thing he remembered was inspecting that strange device from Kaiba Corp. He remembered holding it in his hand and putting it against his wrist. Yugi looked down. There it was, clamped tight like a futuristic, obsidian cuff against his wrist. He ran his finger around its edge trying to find a clasp or seam, but to no avail. It was flush. He let out a sigh as he tried to slip a finger underneath.

"Well, that's definitely strange. What is this thing?" Yugi mused aloud. He did not have too much time to ponder the device, though, as he noticed that the birds had suddenly stopped singing. A low rumble took its place, becoming louder by the second. Yugi took a deep breath as he spun to hear something he hoped to never hear again.

A black winged beast approached at a breakneck pace. It dove and banked, aiming its sights directly for Yugi. He froze, eyes wide and locked on the red eyes of the dragon as it approached. At the last minute, Yugi made a haphazard leap, throwing himself into the grass off to the side. The grass whipped around him violently as he pressed his face into the dirt. Just as he dared to peek, he saw a flash of icy white before his eyes as another shriek echoed throughout the valley. Yugi let out a yelp of his own as he pressed his nose hard into the ground.

Were those dragons? This has got to be a dream… no, a nightmare. That's it, it's just a bad, bad nightmare. One of those night terrors people talk about. It's got to be, this is really terrifying. There is no way that any of this could be real. Yugi tried to reassure himself, feeling himself start to shake slightly.

"Alright, Yugi. You can't lay here forever. Get up and find cover." Yugi muttered to himself, hoping the pep talk would break him out of his paralysis. He quickly got to his feet, but before he could take strides to run, he stopped dead in his tracks. The spectacle nearly took his breath away.

Two dragons were dancing in the sky, gracefully but none too gently. They loosed attacks at each other, ducking and weaving to avoid blows. Beams of what looked like lightning streamed out of the open maw of the white dragon, while the black dragon loosed balls of fire in retaliation. As the lightning dragon pulled into a dive, Yugi saw what looked like a person harnessed onto its back. A person riding a dragon, in the thick of one of the most terrifying firefights Yugi could have ever imagined. Now that takes some sort of bravery. Or recklessness? Either way, Yugi was sure he did not want to find out. He looked around, spotting a wooded area several hundred meters down the riverbank. He would surely be safer in there than out in the field.

He made a mad dash for the trees just as he heard one of the dragons let loose another cry. The cry was harsher, pained. One of them must have gotten hit. He kept his pace, powered forward completely on adrenaline. Another cry. Closer this time? Another. ANOTHER. One loud, shrill shriek sounded from right behind him. His heart stopped. He looked over his shoulder mid stride to see the red eyed dragon not fifty meters behind him, mouth agape and razor sharp teeth glistening. Before the scream curled in the back of his throat was unleashed, it was torn from him.

A force came crashing into him, propelling him sideways and out of the path of the oncoming dragon. Screwing his eyes shut and letting loose the loudest scream he was capable of, Yugi felt himself falling, falling. He could not stop it. Then cold. His back broke the surface of the water, the weight on his chest finally easing off. He held his breath as he felt the rush of the current pull at him, dragging him like a rag doll in the hand of a wanton child. Yugi blinked his eyes open as he started to thrash against the current, the water stinging his eyes. He managed to surface just long enough to take another breath before he was pulled under once again. Yugi grappled in an increasingly frantic pace, trying to grab onto something to anchor himself or merely keep him afloat. His hand brushed something. Then a hand brushed him back.

His collar was yanked as a second hand grabbed at his torso, balling up in his t-shirt. The hands pulled him against the current and up towards the surface. They succeeded. Gasping and sputtering for air, Yugi weakly assisted the hands of his saviour as he was pulled towards the bank, his runners running the river rocks feebly. The hands never left him. Finally he was out of the water. As he curled up on his side, coughing a few times to dislodge the final drops of river water from his lungs, he raised his eyes to the man panting beside him.

His cream tunic was waterlogged and translucent, clinging against toned skin underneath. His brown leather vest hung limply from his shoulders. He had two long swords holstered to his belt, their hilts dotted with what looked like precious gems. A mess of hair fell into the man's eyes, briefly obscuring his face from view. A hand raised to run the errant hair back and…

"A-Atem?" Yugi panted. He pulled himself up to sit, staring at a familiar yet startling face.

Crimson eyes narrowed as the man sat back ever so slightly. "How do you know my name?"

Implicitly, Yugi reached out to the man with the disquiet in his eyes, but as he did, a burst of pain stopped him. With a wince, he pulled hand back to grab his side.

"Are you alright?" The disquiet settled, replaced momentarily by concern. "Did you get hurt?"

"No, no. I'm fine. Just a bit sore from… wait, I never thanked you. You saved my life!"

"It was nothing. But you really should take better care." Crimson eyes bore into him. "I will ask again. Who are you? How do you know who I am? What are you doing out here unarmed and dressed like… that?"

He does have a point. Wearing just a t-shirt and pants in a world where mythical creatures attacked people could be detrimental. But right now, Yugi had something more pressing on his mind. Atem… how did he get here? Why did not recognize him? What the hell is going on? He debated unleashing his own questions in response, as he was just as lost and confused as Atem was. Yugi opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by a buffet of wind. The black dragon swooped low over the valley again, soaring right over their heads. Yugi clambered back, wincing again as he put weight on his arm. A second gust hit Yugi's back as he felt the ground shake slightly underneath him. He suppressed another yelp.

"Cousin, what in the Queen's name are you doing?" A third voice called over in irritation. It was the rider of the white dragon, still atop his fantastical steed, who had landed right next to them. "I saw you dart out and fall into the river. Have you lost your mind?! We have work to do and there is no time for your antics."

"Calm down." Atem growled as he stood up. "This man was about to be killed and I could not sit idly by."

"Your desire to be the hero will be your downfall. You are going to get yourself killed." The man's icy blue stare became transfixed on Yugi. "Now who the hell are you?"

Yugi swallowed as he stared at another familiar face. This time, it was of someone decidedly less friendly. He had gone to school with Seto Kaiba and had been on the receiving end of that cold stare many, many times. It was just as he remembered: equal parts intimidating and frustrating.

"Yugi Muto. I'm, ah, just passing through." Yugi responded as amicably as he could. Those blue eyes did not waver.

"Well, you should do so more quickly. No armor, no leathers… do you wish to die?" the question sounded more like a sneer.

"Lay off him, Kaiba."

Atem took a couple steps to stand between Yugi and Kaiba, river water dripping off his vest. He shook his head as he stared at his cousin. Seto Kaiba was indeed a talented dragon rider and warrior. His aptitude and leadership skills served him well as one of the premiere knights in the kingdom. But conversely, he could be a real ass. Atem understood that the rogue Red Eyes Black Dragon was a threat to the kingdom's security, but that does not mean it was right to leave someone so small and unarmed to fend for himself.

Atem glanced back at the stranger, garbed in strange clothing sitting in a sopping heap in the grass. He would not survive a night out here in his state. If the beasts did not get him, his inevitable fever would. Atem bit his lip. His duty was to the kingdom and should really be taking to the skies to help reign in the Red Eyes Black Dragon, but something kept him rooted where he stood. This strange man, the one who knew his name. What is his purpose here? Is he some sort of oracle? Could he be the one to finally…

"Seto, go on ahead. I am going to make sure this man does not become an unfortunate meal. I will join you afterwards." Atem said quietly, his eyes never leaving the stranger.

On the other side of the gaze, Yugi's confusion grew. For a moment, he wondered if he had seen a spark of recollection behind those strangely intimidating crimson irises, but as quickly as it came, it was gone. It was so strange and… frustrating to look at someone who he had come to know well look at him like he was a stranger.

A hand was extended in his direction. Yugi took it, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet.

"Hmph. Faster, cousin. The dragon must not go back towards town. I will meet you in the skies."

The blue eyed man on the blue eyed dragon took to the skies without any hesitation, taking off in hot pursuit of his target. Yugi stared off as the dragon and rider became but a speck of dust in the expansive sky.

"Yugi, was it?" The deep voice was still filled with uncertainty, but it had lost its harsh edge. "I need you to stay here. I have something I need to finish. Then we will find you a safe place to rest and more… appropriate clothing."

Yugi chuckled at the remark, which only seemed to make the facsimile of his friend frown. "Ok."

Atem turned to leave, but before he took his first step, he stopped. Scratching at the back of his head quietly in thought he stood there fore a moment before he finally let his hand fall. His hand moved to hover above the hilt at his waist in a moment of hesitation before he finally unsheathed the weapon. He flourished the blade, holding the hilt out to Yugi.

"You have used one of these before, right?"

"Ahh, yeah, yeah! Of course I have." He most certainly had not. Even though he could tell Atem did not buy his proclamation, the man relinquished the blade anyways.

"Well, this is blade is most effective when swung. Two hands on the hilt like so." Two hands enclosed his own, their fingers callused but warm. Pressure against his own fingers prompted him to adjust his grip. "There. Hold onto it tightly and try to not let go."

Yugi swallowed. The hatched brass grip bit into his palm, feeling heavy and almost forbidden.

"I don't generally let anyone handle my blade. But there's…." The crimson eyed man trailed off into a beat of silence. When he spoke again, the almost biting tone was back. "Just do not die. Wait for me here, I will return."

Yugi nodded mutely as the man strode off towards the field.How strange, is he going to set out in search of this dragon on foot? A sharp whistle filled the valley and answered Yugi's question. His eyes widened as a dragon appeared from beyond the trees, swooping down to land in front of Atem. Scales of teal gleamed in the sunlight as the beast bent his head to nuzzle against Atem's hand.

"There you are, Timaeus. I wondered if you had left. Sorry for leaving you." Atem murmured to the dragon. A small puff of air from the dragon's nostrils made the rider's hair bob and dance. "Yes, I know you hate it when I do that."

Yugi could not help but smile as he watched Atem dote on the dragon for a moment, rubbing his scales underneath his jaw as he whispered softly. He rides dragons too. Amazing. Yugi remarked to himself.

"Alright, I have to go." Atem turned to address Yugi once again. "Do not do anything foolish."

Yugi nodded and watched Atem climb up onto his steed and take to the sky.

He's amazing.

Yugi allowed himself to fall back against the tree trunk behind him. The minutes dragged into hours without a sign of the dragon riders' return. Yugi fingers wandered restlessly from the across the hilt of the sword Atem had given him to the dragon scale he had found in the clearing. He inspected the teal scale for what must be the tenth time before depositing it back in his jeans pocket. Corralling the dragon must be taking longer than they had anticipated. He wished that there was a way he could have helped, but in this strange place, he did not have all that much to offer.

He shook his head as he recalled the last time he had felt so helpless. It was right before high school. Being as short as he was often made him an easy target for bullies. He had lost many, many lunchtime allowances in his childhood and early adolescence. His hand stopped its fidgeting, his palm coming to rest on the sword's grip. As much as he tried to fight back, he needed help. Thankfully he had met Joey, Tristan and Tea along the way. He rarely needed their help now, but always welcomed it. Yugi sighed, feeling a familiar frustration mount. He was now back to depending on others to help pull him out of the depths and he hated it. He wanted to be the one who could be there for his friends.

An inhuman cry carrying from a distance away broke Yugi from his thoughts with a startle. To his delight, two familiar dragons appeared in the sky. Yugi got to his feet and waited for the riders to land. Atem and his dragon landed a few meters away, and with a wave, he was beckoned to their side.

"My apologies for the delay. It took longer than anticipated to secure Red Eyes, but now we must return. Is there someplace that you need to be?"

"… No."

"A man with no purpose?" Eyes narrowed slightly.

Yugi was taken aback by the blunt question. It was a simple question, but in this moment, its sentiment was true. Other than to wait for his eventual wake up from this insane dream, Yugi had little else to do. "I suppose."

"Well, purpose or not, I cannot in good conscience leave you here to fend for yourself. I insist that you come with us. We can at least provide you with a meal and a place to stay for the evening."

Yugi heard a huff in the distance but he paid it no mind. "Alright."

A hand was offered from a top the dragon, expectant crimson eyes finding his.

"Ahh, you mean we are going to leave on…" Yugi waved a hand wildly at the teal colored dragon. A deep chuckle met his ear.

"Of course. It would be a half day's journey on foot to get out of the valley and back to Arindale. Timaeus can take us there in less than an hour."

Yugi swallowed, still staring in apprehension at the proffered hand.

"Please do not tell me that you are afraid of heights." The imploring statement dripped with a challenge so much so that Yugi forgot for a moment that he was talking to a peculiar replica of one of his dear friends. His Atem would often use that tone whenever they would play video games, often hoping to goad Yugi into whatever trap he had set up for him. Yugi could not deny how even hearing that tone made him feel safe. It sounded like home.

"Of course not." Yugi accepted the hand nonchalantly and was promptly pulled up towards the dragon rider. With a few adjustments, Yugi finally situated himself behind Atem.

"Hmm, that will not do. You need to be closer." Hands reached back and gently rested on his lower back, pulling Yugi flush against Atem's back.

"Ah, ok." Yugi chuckled against his pilot's back. To his dismay and confusion, his hips were not the only thing to become flush at the unexpected contact.

"Now hold onto me tight. Timaeus is as swift as he is acrobatic." Atem instructed quietly. He did as he was told, wrapping his arms around the other man's torso. As he clasped his hands together, he could not help but notice the lean, firm muscle he clung to. His mind absently wondered if his Atem was like this.

The dragon shifted beneath him, wings unfurling to their span. The powerful wing beats jostled Yugi as the dragon readied his take off, causing him to tighten his grip around Atem's chest. As they hurdled up into the sky, Yugi clinging on for dear life, he felt a rumble beneath his arms.

Atem gently guided Timaeus into his final descent as he watched Arindale, his home, unfurl in front of his eyes. When he had gotten up this morning, he would have never expected his day to take such a strange turn. First, it was the alert that the Red Eyes Black Dragon had inexplicably escaped during the night that tossed his plans for the day into the wind. Atem had admonished himself, taking personal responsibility for the wayward dragon. Ever since that fateful battle during the Urfell seige a month prior where his childhood friend Joey had been wounded, he had promised to care for his friend's bonded dragon. Red Eyes was not usually reckless, but ever since his rider was hurt, the beast too seemed to be in pain.

In their hunt for the hurting dragon, Atem had stumbled upon another oddity. His mind wandered to the man firmly clutching his chest, his grip so tight that he could not take a deep breath. He seemed so out of place, unarmed, unprotected, and so filled with wondrous awe at the mundane that Atem could not help but wonder where he was from. He had never seen someone stare at a dragon like that before, like he had never seen such a creature. Usually such naivety and poor judgment would irk him, but this time, Atem could not help but feel a sense of protectiveness. It was all very peculiar.

They touched down in the enclosed dirt lot and in one fluid motion, Atem leapt from atop Timaeus to the ground below. Yugi followed suit, albeit a bit more clumsily.

"First order of business," Atem started, "is to get you dry clothing. Your outfit is still damp from our misadventure, and I would hate to see you fall ill."

"That would be great, thank you." Even though he had dried off considerably during their flight, his jeans seemed to remain perpetually wet.

"It's no problem. I will go fetch you some clothing while you go inside. If you are hungry, a man inside by the name of Marik should be able to give you some stew. It's nearly dinner hour and the meal should be ready."

They parted ways and Yugi went towards the building that Atem had indicated. He entered the expansive single story stone building and eyed the long communal tables that occupied the large common room. People were milling about, chatting amongst themselves while they paid him no mind. He felt his mouth start to water as the aromatic smells of roasted vegetables, rich beef stock and a myriad of spices wafted from the steaming bowls in the hands of people passing by. He felt like it had been days since he had last eaten.

Yugi joined the line and managed to convince the man behind the counter to give him two heaping bowls of stew. Picking a seat by one of the rustic open windows, Yugi tried his first bite. It was quite possibly the best bite of food he had tried in recent memory and it was soon joined by another larger spoonful.

"You may want to slow down. I don't want to have to save your life twice in one day should you choke."

Yugi looked up from his meal to see Atem holding a neatly folded stack of clothes under one arm. His windswept hair had been tamed and he looked to have donned dry clothes himself.

Yugi chuckled. Even in this world, Atem seemed to be a worrier. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Oh really?"

"You know what I mean! Also here, I grabbed you a bowl."

"Oh, you really did not have to." Atem murmured as he sat down across from Yugi, crossing his legs as he got comfortable on the bench.

"It's the least I can do to thank you for saving my life today." Yugi pushed the second bowl of stew towards Atem.

"As much as my cousin has a flair for the dramatic, Red Eyes would not have killed you, you know." Atem said between bites of stew. "Maimed, yes. But kill? Not unless his rider told him to."

"He's got a rider too?"

"Yes. His rider is my friend and he is, well, out of commission for the next little while."

Sensing the sour in Atem's tone, Yugi felt it would probably be best to not push further. The curiosity may gnaw away at him, but he did not want to impose. Even though this man had the face of his friend, they had only just met. Spooning another bite of meat and potatoes into his mouth, Yugi let the silence hang.

"So Yugi, I am still very confused as to, well, everything about you."

That made two of them. Yugi had no idea what was going on, if this is some sort of dream or… he could not even fathom what else it could be. Another time? Another world? Another dimension? Atem's guess was likely as good as his own.

"Honestly I don't know." Yugi responded, eyes never leaving his bowl. "I, ah, woke up in that field and I have no idea where I am or what I am supposed to do."

A hum filled with concern and confusion met his ear, pulling his attention back to the man across from him. "Well, if you need a place to stay, Arindale is open to you for as long as you need."

"That is a very generous offer. Thank you, Atem." Yugi smiled.

"You may also want to accept my other offer." Atem nodded towards the clean, dry clothing deposited on the tabletop. "The lavatories are just beyond the back wall."

It took Yugi several wrong turns but eventually, he found the lavatories and changed into the dark loose tunic and linen pants Atem had provided. Yugi folded up his own clothes neatly and made his way back to the table.

"Better?"

"Better." Yugi confirmed. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure."

As soon as Yugi sat down, the room seemed to shift off its axis, teetering sideways to an alarming degree. Blinking to try to clear his vision, he reached out for the edge of the table to steady himself. His other hand grappled at the table top and found his stack of damp clothes, pulling them close to him.

"Yugi. Yugi! Are you alright?" the alarmed voice of his companion sounded farther away with each passing word.

All he could manage was a groan. Terror gripped his chest. His vision became saturated with a pale blue light, which quickly faded to nothing.

Snap.