Chapter 3:

Visions

The next morning the gang continued to walk down the forest, looking for any sign of a map to their way home. "We should split up. If any of you find anything, launch one of your monsters in the sky and we'll find you," Atem said.

Everyone nodded and they split up. Yuki hung close to Atem looking around for a map. She saw something shine in the tree along with a scroll. She got close to the objects finding a flute along the tree branch. "Atem! I found something!" she cried.

"What is it?" Atem asked. "I found a scroll and a flute…what does it mean…" she wondered.

Atem studied the flute and got an idea. "Yuki, give me a note," he said.

"What?"

"Sing!"

Yuki nodded and began singing the song she sang last night. As she did, Atem began playing the tune. Soon he stopped hearing the sounds of flapping in the trees. A giant winged creature cawed as it came to them ready to strike at who summoned them. "What is that?!" Yuki cried.

Atem stood at the ready. With a mighty "OOPP!!!" and "KURI! KURI!" Winged Kuriboh level 10 appeared. He stared down them. "Kuri, kuri?"

Yuki aimed her capsule on the creature a little frightened. "Don't worry, I think he's harmless," Atem said putting his hand up to stop her. He looked at the paper and read what it said. "Through the wings of flight, find a way through darkness by light. Summon the creature by way of song and your path will start. Be prepared for your journey is long."

"What does that mean?" Yuki asked. "Well...we already completed the second part by summoning him. Kuriboh, I think you are supposed to help us," Atem said. He nodded and flew down to them. As he did, a dark cloud appeared with tons of monsters' eyes. Yuki whimpered and stayed close to Atem. Kuriboh stood in front of Atem protectively. "I suppose this is the darkness part of the riddle," Atem said getting ready.

"What do we do?!" Yuki cried. Atem jumped on Kuriboh's back. "Come on, Yuki!" he cried. "I can't…" Yuki whimpered.

"Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"…yes…"

"Come on!!" Atem cried pulling her up and giving Kuriboh a slight kick with his heel and they flew into the sky. "Where did all these monsters come from?!" Yuki cried.

"I intend to find out. Kuriboh, can you find the source of the monsters?" Atem asked. Kuriboh nodded and flew deeper in the clouds. A monster came up behind them ready to strike. "Atem…can't you urge him to go faster?" Yuki said worriedly.

"Why?"

Before she could answer, the monster behind her fired on them. "Aah!" Yuki cried.

"Kuriboh, dodge it!" Atem cried as more of the monsters began firing on them. Another dragon that was a turquoise color fired on them making a direct hit and Yuki fell off the creature. "AAH!"

"Yuki!!" Atem cried as he urged Kuriboh to fly down to catch her. But she was falling too fast and Atem got an idea and jumped off the Kuriboh and started to play another song on the flute. His puzzle began to glow as did the monster. Kuriboh began to merge with its master as the light faded, Atem had the wings of an angel and the crown and armor he had was gold. He swooped down and caught Yuki in his arms. "Pharaoh…stop…please…" she moaned.

"Easy," he soothed as the sky cleared and the dragons disappeared. Atem defused with Kuriboh and looked around for a cave to settle in. he found one not far from where he was at and laid Yuki down on the ground, covering her up with his jacket.

He went outside and fired one of his monsters in the sky just like he said and went back inside. Hours later, Yuki awoke looking around and rubbing her eyes. "Atem…"

"Yuki! Are you okay?" Atem asked kneeling to her. "I…I think so…where did…the dragons go?" Yuki asked.

"They're gone. For now. We need to find a way to kill them," Atem said.

"But how…I'm scared…" Yuki moaned holding him close. "Hey, it's okay…" Atem soothed rubbing her back. "Atem…the dragon that attacked us…it was from my dream…" Yuki said with a whimper.

"What? Are you sure?" Atem asked. "Yeah…" Yuki said crying on his shoulder. Atem slowly rocked her rubbing her back. "What happened?" A voice called.

"Joey!" Atem cried. "We found the first scroll for the first task, but the dragons are too strong for us."

"You okay, Yuki?" Tea' asked. "Yeah. Just tired," Yuki said.

"What do you think is their weakness?" Yugi asked.

"From the task it says light. I tried attacking it but it didn't work," Atem explained.

"What monster did you use?"

"Winged Kuriboh."

"What? You gotta be kidding me!" Joey cried laughing.

"I most certainly am not."

"Then what's with that?" Tristan asked pointing to the flute.

"It came with the riddle. It's how I summoned Winged Kuriboh."

"What? You gonna be an elf and play a song and dance?" Joey laughed. "Joey!" Tea' said slapping him. Atem glared at the joke. Yuki shivered in fear hearing a low roar from the sky.

"Have you tried fusing with it?" Tristan asked.

"Yes."

The roars then became louder. "Oh no…they're back…" Yuki whimpered. "C'mon Winged Kuriboh," Atem said standing up. "Activate Duel Armor!"

"Atem, don't! It's too dangerous!!" Yuki cried as he fused.

"Yuki, I have to go. You stay here and stay safe."

"No! Let me go with you!" Yuki cried. "No, stay behind. You'll be safe." With that, Atem flew out of the cave, after the dragons.

"Atem!!" Yuki yelled as he flew away like a bird. In the sky as Atem approached the dragons circled him ready to strike if he made any moves. He glared at them and prepared to attack.

The same dragon that attacked him before was behind Atem preparing to fire its attack. He dodged and used a shield. Another came up and fired an attack on him from behind.

He let out a cry but quickly recovered.

Another dragon wrapped its tail around Atem's body squeezing tightly around him. He growled. Power of light, what does the riddle mean?

A dragon loomed over him ready to go for the kill.

"Oh…I can't see what's going on up there…!" Yuki whined.

"Should we go help?" Yugi asked.

"I don't care what Atem says. He needs our help!" Yuki cried. The dragon looming over Atem prepared to fire its attack. He braced himself with a shield. Just then, the sun shone very brightly. He felt a surge of power go through him as his shined down on him, blinding him. He glowed brightly. "Of course! Light! Sun increased light's power!"

The dragons roared in fear of the light weakened by it. "Light Flare Wing Attack!!" Atem cried flapping his wings and firing a blast. The dragons were destroyed one by one from the attack. "Whoa!! Check it out!" Joey cried.

"Atem…he did it!!" Yuki cried. Atem flew down to them and defused with Kuriboh as the monster returned to its capsule. "You okay?" Yuki asked.

"I'm fine...I-..." he fainted from the over use of his duel armor. "Atem!" Yuki cried holding him close. "We can't rest now. We have to find the second scroll," Yugi said as they walked deeper in the forest. "But...he needs rest," Yuki said.

"I know..." Yugi sighed. "We'll have to wait until we get to the next task."

"Uh, guys…this may sound crazy but…why's the lake frozen?" Joey asked pointing ahead of him. The lake was indeed frozen but there was no snow around. "I don't know," said Tea'.

Yuki carefully stepped on the ice but almost slipped, trying not to drop Atem. "Be careful!" Yugi said. Yuki steadied herself and looked down finding the scroll…frozen in the ice. "Guys…I think I found it."

"Okay," said Joey. He carefully walked out onto the ice and tried to get the scroll out. "Joey…it's frozen in there," Yuki said sighing. Then Atem began to stir slowly opening his eyes. "Atem, don't…you need to rest," Yuki said.

"...I'll...be fine..."

"Okay if you're sure…" Yuki said setting Atem on his feet. "We found the second scroll but it's frozen in the ice."

Atem thought for a moment on how to get it out. He noticed a capsule and broke it open. It was Darkfire Dragon. "Whoa!" Yuki cried in awe.

"Go! Darkfire Dragon! Melt the scroll from the ice!" Atem cried. The dragons fired its flames on the ice melting it. Unfortunately, just as Joey took the scroll the ice cracked and melted fully. Atem growled. "Fire capsule! Winged Kuriboh! Activate Duel Armor!"

Yuki wobbled as the ice started to crack under her. Atem, despite his obvious weakness, snatched her up and flew her to safety. "Thanks…" she smiled. "Hey!! What about me?!" Joey yelled.

Atem flew back over and got everyone to safety. "Whew…" Yuki sighed as Atem lowered them to the other side of the lake. "At least we have the scroll," Joey said proudly. "Right..." With that, Atem collapsed his duel armor deactivating. He breathed heavily and very weakly as he lay there unconscious.

"Atem!" Yuki cried. "Aww...he's sleeping like a baby," Yugi said. "Not really," Yuki said worried. "He's not sleeping too peacefully. We need to stop and rest."

"Right," Yugi said. "But where?"

"Over there! That looks like a safe cave," Tea' said. Yuki nodded and carried Atem there laying him down softly. Atem only moaned tossing his head as if stuck in a dream.

"Atem...easy…" Yuki soothed. "...Y-Yuki...Yuki...don't..." he panted. "Atem, I'm here," Yuki said holding his hand.

"No…Don't..."

"Easy…I'm right here beside you," Yuki said.

"Yuki...the dragon...don't!"

"Atem!" Yugi cried. "...I think...he's having a nightmare," Tea' said. "Atem! Wake up!" Yuki cried.

"...No...The...the dragon..."

"What dragon?" Yuki asked.

"...Yuki...no...Let me...destroy it..."

"Pharaoh, please wake up...you're scaring us," Yugi said. "Atem!" Yuki cried shaking him. "No…Yuki…" Atem moaned sweating badly. "Atem, please wake up!!" Yuki cried. His eyes shot open. He was sweating and panting badly. The worst was, his head throbbed. He hadn't gotten any rest at all.

"Atem…what happened?" Yuki asked.

"...that...that dream..."

"The one I was having?" Yuki asked holding his hand. "Never mind that. We need you to read the second task on the scroll."

"...Al...Alright..." He slowly tried to sit up, but pain sent him back down. Yuki handed it to him helping him sit up slowly. He tried to read it. "What does it say?" Yuki asked.

"...L-locked...in...In a prison...of wa-...I...I can't...read...any...further..." he said collapsing again. "Locked in a prison of water and ice…now the time comes for a sacrifice," Yuki read. "Danger may lurk in the water below but beware, you may lose a fellow." Yuki's eyes widened. How could she read that?

"Guys…somethin's coming out of the water," Joey said. Yuki came over glancing at the bubbles on the surface. Suddenly a huge water serpent bursted from the water, letting out a loud roar. It appeared to be some ancient monster from the age of dinosaurs but had many red teeth and eyes and fins.

"That's one huge fish!" Joey yelled. "It's a Kairyu-shin!" Yuki cried. "How do we kill it?" Tea' cried.

"Fire capsule!!" Yuki cried as he Dark Magician girl appeared. "Dark Magic attack!!"

"Come on, Red Eyes!" Joey cried firing his monster along with the others. As their monsters fought, the monster seemed to be indestructible to their attacks. The worst was, Yuki was getting weaker than Yugi and her friends. "Yuki, you gotta keep fighting!" Yugi shouted.

"I…I can't…I'm…too weak…" Yuki moaned.

"Light Flare Wing attack!!" a voice cried. The monster recoiled but wasn't destroyed as if looking for the person that attacked him. "Leave my friends alone!" Atem cried glaring at the creature.

"Atem…!" Yuki cried as he few down to her. "You alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," Yuki smiled. The monster roared as it went to strike Atem again, but he flew in the air evading the attack. "Yuki, go and find the third scroll!" he cried.

"What?! Are you insane?!" Yuki cried.

"You'll get killed!" Joey cried.

"I know what I'm doing. Just go! Now!!" Atem shouted.

"No! We're not leaving you!" Yuki cried.

"Yuki…just go …" Atem whispered tears in his eyes. "Atem …" Yuki whimpered.

"…go…please…" Atem said as the monster began attacking him brutally. With one final attack he was sent plummeting towards the water, landing with a splash. "NO!! Yuki cried trying to get to him.

"He's gone, Yuki!! Let's go!!" Joey cried pulling her away from the water and running off as the creature dove into the water to finish off his victim. "We have to go get him!!" Yuki screamed.

"We can't! He's dead now! He solved the riddle!" Yugi cried. Yuki fell to her knees sobbing her heart out. "Atem…"