As some of you may not know, not only will I be posting this story on FFN, I also posted this story on DA if anyone would like to read it there. And soon I'll be making fanart of my story for DA.

I want to thank Autobot once again for helping me with this story, and all of you who read and review it.

Enjoy:)

Domino city lit up with the city lights of all colors, making it more delightful for the Domino residents who were out for a night in town. The people were walking to restaurants , clubs or simply walking down the streets, and families bringing their kids to the bright and colorful scenery.

In a near by five star hotel, Mai Valentine looks out from her hotel window and sighed. She looked down at the busy city and smirked, "This place hasn't changed much. Still as busy as always," suddenly, the beautiful woman started to frown and looked down at the floor, velvet eyes filled with guilt and uncertainty.

"...I wonder if the others are still mad at me for what happened?"

Mai wasn't sure if she should have come back to Domino city at first. Ever since the DOMA incident where she was out for Joey's blood, she basically severed her ties with the gang with her spouting her contempt for them for abandoning her in her darkest hour, or so she thought they did. It was only until Joey lost his soul by her hands that she realized her friends, Joey especially, had never abandoned her at all, and that her rampage against Joey was because of how people viewed her as a dead last compared to Yugi, Joey and Seto Kaiba after losing in Duelist kingdom and Battle city.

Along with the fact that she had constant nightmare's about Yami Marik suffocating her in the hour glass, symbolizing her fears of feeling weak and alone according to the Psychiatrist she was seeing after DOMA disbanded.

Mai traveled the world again and was rediscovering her love for Duel monsters, and to heal from the trauma Yami Marik put her though. She started winning competitions again, and she ended up meeting the people who talked behind her back and laughed at her the night Valon took her in DOMA, where she was able to show them how wrong they were about her.

As well as ask them if they ever dueled either Yugi, Seto or Joey for that matter, which they were all silent as many witnesses stared on while the people in question were embarrassed. It ended it with her flipping her golden blonde curls as others snickered at the people she confronted, that was proof that Mai Valentine was back, confidence, sass and all.

Despite getting her confidence back, she knew that she would face serious consequences from the gang for what she did to them as Dartz's soldier over her unresolved issues, regardless of her own trauma, she knew she had no right to take it out on them. Her guilt resurfaced when she found out about Joey's recent condition and immediately got a plane ticket from America to head to Domino.

When the news broke out about Joey being attacked by his father by the media, along with the news telling Joey's story about his abusive childhood with his father, it made Mai hate herself all over again. Knowing that Joey suffered a life of abuse from his own father, along with the fact that he, a nine year old boy, had to get a job to pay for school and the rent for his and his father's apartment boggled her mind and boiled her blood, but most of all it broke her heart for him.

And the fact that his father is the reason that Joey's mother divorced him and what separated him from his little sister for seven years, it made Mai call Vivian to help her calm her down from unleashing her Harpy ladies to find Joey's father to tear him to pieces.

Mai stopped pacing and sat on her bed and turned the television on. A news woman with short brown hair wearing an ocean green suit appeared and started her report after a story of a cat dressed up as Blue Eyes White dragon went viral on Social Media.

"In other news, we have an update on the condition of famous duelist, Joey Wheeler."

Mai froze when she heard Joey's name and continued starring at the screen. She increased the volume to listen.

"After being in critical condition, Mr. Wheeler is now stable. Wheeler was hospitalized after a supposed attack from his father, Jordan Wheeler. Strangely enough, that very same night when Joey Wheeler was sent to the hospital and Jordan Wheeler's warrant for his arrest was signed, there were reports that a holographic image of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon appeared above the city. While Kaiba Corp has denied any involvement in this, many people find it strange that those two incidences happened coincidentally, as the Red-Eyes Black Dragon is regarded as Joey Wheeler's mascot monster as he won it from Rex Raptor, the ex dueling star, when he competed in Duelist Kingdom."

Mai turns off the TV and started shaking. Hearing that the Red Eyes Black dragon was flying across Domino city that fateful night was bringing back memories of DOMA, when she took part in bringing real life duel monsters into the world that nearly ended all of humanity.

Hearing that the Red Eyes, Joey's mascot duel monster since day one of his dueling career, appeared in Domino city was alarming to the beautiful blonde. She had been on enough adventures with Yugi and DOMA to know that when real duel monsters show up in the human world, trouble was coming. And Joey was the one in danger.

Mai held her head, contemplating what to do, whether to go to Joey to warn him or stay away as she feared what he and the others would say for her betrayal. Despite coming all the way to Domino to make sure he was alright, seeing him in the flesh nearly a year alter after trying to kill him was another matter.

"Joey…I can't see him now. Not after what happened...what will the others say!?" she exclaimed in her head.

Mai could hear it now, the angry voices of Tea, Yugi, Tristan and Duke calling her a traitor and how she jumped to conclusions in joining DOMA intent on killing Joey and Yugi for glory and to attempt to put her trauma with Marik behind her. How her excuse was because Joey and Yugi made her feel weak and abandoned her when she was the one who never reached out to them when they could have helped her from the beginning.

Ah Mai held her head in fear, she heard a roaring sound in her head.

"Go to him."

Mai opened her eyes, tears threatening to come out, she heard the voice again. It sounded stern and commanding yet gentle and diligent, almost like a powerful entity was guiding her.

"Go to him."

Mai closes her eyes again and tears up a bit. She didn't know where that rare voice of reason came from, whether from her Psychologist or a guardian angel, Mai knew the day would come where she would have to face what she's done. And she was already in Domino wanting to see Joey again, and it was going to be a painful recovery for both of them, Joey physically and Mai mentally.

Mai wanted to be by his side, and let him know how sorry she is and make things right.

"...I have to see him…"

The rays of the sun was hitting Serenity's sleeping face as it began to rose over Domino city. As it hit her eyes lids, olive eyes opened as the young girl started to groggily wake up. She sat up and stretched as she let out a big yawn, with the sunlight now fully on her body, making her messy auburn hair reflect the light.

She looks out the window and had a tired smile as she looked at the city with the people getting ready for their day. It was so different compared to Haiku, the neighborhood she lived in after her parents divorce was quiet and the community was small with not that many people since it was in the countryside, which was eight thousand miles away from Domino. Last time she was in the city was when Tea gave her a tour before she left for home, where there were large crowds of people and many places to see, it was lively and Serenity had a great time and deeply missed the large city afterwards when she returned home.

Unfortunately, her reason for being in Domino this time was not under the best circumstances, and she is still in fear for her brother's well-being, and will soon face the man who she called her father to confront him for his abuse on her older brother that spanned over eight years since she and her mother left as a child. The thought of him inspired both fear and anger in the young girl.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her door, "Serenity, are you up?" the feminine voice from the other side was Judith, "I made breakfast."

Serenity rubs her eyes, "Yeah, I'll be out in a bit, Judith." she answered groggily as she tries to wake up.

"Okay. Don't take too long or it'll get cold." the older Taylor woman replied.

Serenity got out of her bed, got dressed into a yellow T-shirt with a white skirt while putting on a pair of pink socks and white shoes. She stands in front of the mirror as she grabbed her hair brush and started brushing her long hair.

Meanwhile, Judith goes into the kitchen when Tristan is eating his breakfast, the traditional bacon and eggs while Judith sat down with him, drinking a cup of black tea.

While Tristan was eating a piece of bacon, Judith starts t speak to her son.

"So you think you'll tell her today?"

Tristan nearly choked on his bacon from his mother's words. When he grabbed a glass of milk to wash down the bacon, he gasped and looked at her with wide-eyes and ended up with a huge milk mustache.

"Really mom? It's still too soon, I can't just bring that up like that!" he imparted in embarrassment, his cheeks burning red.

Judith giggles, "I'm just saying, sometimes it's better not to wait. Remember what happened with the other girl you liked? Miho Nosaka was it?" she asked.

Tristan grimaced at his mother's words, "Please don't remind me. And besides, Serenity's different from Miho. Miho was a sweet girl, and I might've had feelings for her too at the time, but it's…different with Serenity. Serenity's-"

"Special?" Judith finished for him.

Tristan nodded," Exactly," he started blinking and looked at his mother in surprise, "Wait, how'd you know I was gonna say that?"

Judith smiled at him, "Oh…intuition...and you have a milk mustache dear."

Tristan realized this as well and wiped his mouth. Memories of Tristan's first love came flooding into his mind when Judith brought up Miho's name. The innocent giggles, the long shiny violet hair that was tied in a yellow ribbon that earned her the nickname 'ribbon' in school, and how he was head over heels for that girl.

Tristan saw Miho as a goddess the moment he laid eyes on her, he did everything at her command and was basically her loyal servant of love. Of course, while Tristan was blind and was oblivious of Miho taking advantage of him at times, he was content being of use to her and showing her his love for the girl.

But all that changed in their second year of high school when she announced that she was moving from the country with her family. It crushed Tristan as he realized the girl he loved was moving away, and when she left he couldn't leave his room for days until Joey and Yugi dragged him out. It took weeks for Tristan to get over her, and during that time the boys had to be the one to snap him out of his depression and encouraged him that there will be other girls. As Joey put it "There's more fish in the sea, buddy! Just try not to find the ones floating at the top or are in the deep, those are the dangerous ones."

And Tristan decided to take his best friends advice. Slowly but surely Tristan was able to recover from Miho's departure. And when Joey showed Serenity's picture for the first time, seeing Serenity's innocent olive eyes, her beautiful face and long shiny Auburn hair that reminded him of of both a sun rise and sunset, Tristan fell in love all over again. But he knew that Serenity was not going to be easy to court on the count that his best friend is her big brother and he would't hesitate to take down any guy down who was after his sister.

Serenity's door opened, and Judith and Tristan looked up and saw the young Wheeler dressed for the day. Tristan blushed but quickly looked away so she wouldn't notice

"Good morning, everyone." Serenity greeted warmly.

Tristan drank his milk again, but avoided eye contact with Serenity. He couldn't believe how cute she looked in that yellow shirt and skirt. "H-hey, good to see you're up." he stuttered a bit.

Serenity looked at Tristan, her cheeks turning red a bit as she remembered last night.

"Yeah, I do like Serenity a lot, mom. I'm actually crazy about her."

The words echoed in her head, she continued looking at Tristan, who wasn't looking at her. She became nervous and quickly asked Judith, "So what's for breakfast, Judith?"

Judith smiled, "Anything you like. Tristan's having eggs and bacon, I made some Chocolate chip pancakes and sausage if you like some?"

Serenity's eyes lit up, "Mmmm, sounds good."

Judith giggled at Serenity's reaction, "I'll serve some up for you."

"Thanks Judith."

Judith heads to the oven while Serenity sat at the table across from Tristan. Tristan continues eating his breakfast, while Serenity was wondering what to say to him. The confession she heard from Tristan and Judith's conversation left Serenity in complete uncertainty and guilt, however, she would like to get to know Tristan more and fact he said he liked her with such sincerity, she wasn't going to lie, it made her feel good.

Serenity decided to break the silence, "Your mom's a nice lady, Tristan."

Tristan looks at Serenity, while trying to be as calm as possible, "Yeah, she sure is. She's been taking care of me and my brother and sister since we were born."

Serenity smiled and nodded,"So if you don't mind me asking, why is she staying here? And where is your dad?" she asked him.

Tristan forms a nervous expression on his face. He wasn't sure if he should tell Serenity about his parents recent divorce, especially when Joey is still in the hospital and bringing up bad dad's since her father is accused of hurting him would probably bring a damper to Serenity's mood.

Judith, hearing Serenity's question as she came in with the pancakes and sausage, looked at Tristan, "It's okay, Tristan. You can tell her." she told him.

Tristan, surprised his mother gave consent to tell the young girl, nods at her then turns back to Serenity," My parents just got divorced, Serenity."

Serenity's eyes widened in shock, then they lowered in sympathy, "Oh I see, that's…I'm really sorry, Tristan." she tells him apologetically, as she knew the pain of having divorced parents all to well. While he father was an alcoholic who destroyed her family in the first place, it was still sad for any marriage to end and for a family to break apart.

Judith frowned, "What about me, Serenity?"

Serenity became flustered, feeling insensitive to her as she was the who's been divorced, "Oh sorry, Judith, I didn't mean-"

Judith began to laugh, "No worries, Serenity, I'm just giving you a hard time. I do that with everyone I like."

Serenity blushed from Judith's joke, "Oh…" Serenity smiles a bit, but then the smile faded, "Well still, I'm sorry for both of you."

Tristan smiled at her, "It's alright, Serenity. If there's anyone who'd know what going through a divorce is like, it's you."

Serenity nodded sadly as she remembered when her parents divorced. but she knew it was for the best as she saw the monster her father was becoming. The only tragedy from the divorce was that it costed her being with Joey as he had to stay with his father, while she lived far away with her mother, "Yeah…"

Judith served Serenity's breakfast and sat down, "But it's better this way."

Serenity blinked, "What do you mean?"

Tristan narrowed his eyes remembering his father, "Let's just say my dad isn't exactly father of the year."

Serenity began to worry, "You mean...was he like?..."

Tristan shook his head, "Not like yours. But he was a control freak, and my older siblings don't talk to him anymore, in fact he had me work in the factory after graduating high school. But I hated working there so much I quit to work as a mechanic while working part time at Duke's shop, but my dad disowned me for breaking 'family tradition'."

"Family tradition?" Serenity asked curiously.

Judith continued for Tristan, "You see, dear, during World War two the Taylor men worked in the manufacturing factory in order to bring the family out of poverty. The factory paid very well sure, but during Tristan's great grandfather and my father in law's time, things were also very Conservative, where the women had to be the homemakers and the men had to work. It was breaded into my soon to be ex-husband's bones and since then, he lead our family in the traditional and Conservative way."

Tristan looked down and frowned, "And that caused a lot of problems for our family, everything we did was never good enough for him nor were we allowed to really make our own choices...in fact, it was because of what he did to us when we were young, I became somewhat a thug myself in school before Joey and I met Yugi." Tristan voice hinted regret as he remembered how he and Joey used to bully Yugi.

Tristan was ashamed how he and Joey used to be back in High school whenever he remembered his past. He knew Yugi never did anything to them but hated how naive Yugi was when it came to the real world, especially when he and Joey came from harsh backgrounds and Yugi represented what they've lost a long time ago; innocence.

But when Yugi stood up for them against Ushio, the school Hall monitor and leader of the Disciplinary group in Domino high who abused his power, Joey and Tristan realized that Yugi wasn't what they expected. Just because he was innocent, that didn't mean he was ignorant of the bad things that happened in life, and they saw that the boy they picked on had the biggest heart there was and the courage that they didn't have when facing the world.

It made Tristan and Joey realize that regardless of how bad things get, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel for everyone to be redeemed. And they thank Yugi everyday for giving them redemption and a chance to become better than their families.

Serenity frowned at Tristan's story. While she was shocked and a little disappointed that he and her big brother were bullies at one point, it made her sad that they became that way because their father's made their lives at home terrible.

Serenity took Tristan's hand, surprising Tristan as she looked at him with big olive eyes, "I'm sorry that happened, Tristan. But I'm happy you and big brother managed to become better people thanks to Yugi, it was also thanks to him that he helped Joey become a duelist and win the prize money for my eye surgery, and you are able to become a kinder person and friend."

Tristan was still registering that the girl he liked was actually holding his hand, he started to smile at her while blushing, "Thanks Serenity."

Serenity smiled back, "You're welcome, Tristan. And in a way, maybe it's a good thing."

Tristan blinked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Serenity, noticing her hand was on Tristan's, quickly took it off and blushed as she continued talking, "Well I mean is if your father disowned you, then maybe it's a way for your family to start over with you and your siblings to be a proper family without your father causing problems to you guys. Think of it as a fresh start, a rebirth of the Taylor family," Serenity looked away, embarrassed by her words, "Oh, sorry it must sound silly." she said flustered.

Judith was surprised, she never thought of it in that way before. Serenity was already impressing Judith more and more as the young girl was showing wisdom beyond her years, "That's a good way to look at it, Serenity. You're right, now that Troy is gone my family can heal from years of his control and unrealistic expectations and we can move forward."

Serenity, still blushing a bit, smiled, "Well thank you for thinking I don't sound cheesy, Judith."

"You've really grown up since I last saw you." Tristan complimented Serenity.

Tristan swore he could feel his heart grow bigger each time he was near Serenity. Now he understood why she was Joey's inspiration.

Serenity smiles at the mother and son, but then her smile fades as she began to think, it was something that was on her mind since she left Haiku to Domino.

Serenity looks at Tristan with a determined expression, "Tristan, I want to ask you a favor."

"Anything."

"...Today I'm gonna go see Joey in the hospital, but first...I want to see my dad."

Tristan and Judith were silent with pure shock on their faces.

Tristan broke the silence, "Why Serenity?"

Serenity looked at the table as she continued, "It's something I have to do."

Tristan leaned towards her with concern, "But Serenity, you know how your dad feels about you. If he saw you were back in Domino, it could be dangerous."

Serenity shook a little, memories of her father's violent outbursts and his insults filled her mind, causing her to sweat and to be wide-eyed in fear.

"You're the one who caused this, you little brat! The debt collectors won't leave us alone and you keep making it worse for being so goddamn sick!"

"Because of you we're sinking lower and lower with each damn doctors appointment we make! Your eyesight is shit and we're paying the price for it! I hope you go blind soon so this can be over and done with, and don't think you'll live here when it happens! I'm not supporting a blind daughter who's already drained me of everything I had, I'd rather dump you in state custody so I'll have one less pest to deal with!"

"Your brother is garbage, but at least he's useful while you're a waste of, especially when you'll be blind as a bat someday!"

"I hate you, Serenity! You ruined my life and this family the moment you came out of your mother! Joseph is a burden himself, but you and your eyes are a curse! You should never have been born in the first place! You destroyed this family with your very existence!"

Serenity closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again with snow drops of tears falling as she regained her composure, "I know, but I need answers about what happened to Joey...I want answers from that man for what he's done."

Tristan tilted his head, "Answers? But the police already said that he doesn't remember what happened that night."

Serenity looked at him, surprising Tristan as her eyes began to harden, "I'm not just talking about him attacking Joey."

Tristan began to worry more when he saw the tears in Serenity's eyes,"But Serenity-"

"It's something important to Serenity, dear," Judith cut in, "If she says that she has to do this, then we should let her."

Tristan was unsure. While Jordan should answer for his crimes, he was afraid for Serenity's well being as she would be facing the man who not only was accused of putting his best friend in a coma, but who also abused her since she was a little girl and who was obviously still traumatized by him years later.

But in his heart, he knew Serenity was not a little girl anymore, and this was her time to confront him for not only his treatment of Joey, but also for Serenity to have closure with her former abuser.

Tristan let out a huge sigh, knowing Serenity wanted this more than anything, "Okay. But I'm coming with you. I need answers from him too, and I want to make sure you'll be safe from that bastard."

Serenity nodded in agreement, "Sure," she leans over the table and hugged him, "Thanks Tristan."

As Tristan hugged her back, Serenity suddenly shot her eyes open. In her mind she began to hear a growl and two red eyes opened in pure darkness, with the growling getting louder with the sound of chains clanking from behind, and Serenity started to hear large footsteps being taken, and the red eyes were getting bigger to Serenity.

"Serenity? Serenity!?" Judith called Serenity, causing Serenity to jump and be brought back to reality, "Are you alright, dear?"

Serenity broke her hug from Tristan, breathing slightly heavy with her heart pounding a bit as she looked around the room.

"Y-yeah, I'm okay Judith." Serenity said assuringly, even though she was in shock.

Serenity didn't know what happened, she had no idea why she had such a strange thought. It was as if she was a dream for a second-or nightmare as the red eyes made Serenity shiver.

But she pushed that thought from her mind as she and Tristan got up from the table. They cleaned up the kitchen and Serenity and Tristan said their goodbyes to Judith as they head out to the city to Domino county jail. the place where Serenity will soon be face to face with the man who she hadn't seen in over eight years, who abused her and her brother since childhood and who was the main reason their family was destroyed and why she and Joey were separated.

Serenity Elizabeth Jacob Wheeler was determined to see her father pay for his crimes once and for all.

Finally chapter six is done! I apologize for the long wait, many things came up this year but I promise to continue more on this story! Looks like now Serenity is ready to face her father after many years, how do you think it'll go down? And what do you think will happen to Joey in his dream, who is that large creature in the cloak he met? All will be revealed in the next chapter!

Thank you for your patience and don't forget to leave a review!