I couldn't wait longer... I was going to wait a few days, but after finishing this chapter I was too excited. Ooo! I FOUND THE PLOT!

Chapter 9

Yami raised his head sharply, his crimson eyes looking into the distance. Yugi stirred against his side, making a soft sound in his sleep, but he didn't wake. Yami purred slightly to get the boy to relax, and Yugi smiled in his sleep, snuggling closer to Yami's warm black side.

The dragon returned to looking into the distance, staring out one of the windows in the large factory. 'Something's coming…'

He turned his head, looking out into the darkness of the factory. From his perch on one of the upper levels he could see a few of the other dragons, Kisara's white bulk like a beacon, Malik's golden scales nearly glowing. Yami turned his head to where he knew Magician to be resting, even though he could hardly see the darkly colored dragon. His night vision was good, but Magician's dark scales kept him well hidden.

He wasn't surprised to see Magician's glowing eyes focused in his direction, the orbs swirling in the dark. You feel it as well, Yami?

Yami nodded, careful to keep his voice only to Magician. Yes. I'm… not sure what it is, but something is coming.

Magician's eyes went out of his sight as the older dragon turned his head, looking towards the window near his head. Yes… I feel the same… I believe it would be best to wake the others, but silently. It is best we do this in quiet.

Yami nodded his understanding and then prodded mentally at Yugi. Aibou. Aibou, wake up.

As Yugi opened his eyes Yami was careful to warn him to remain silent. Though confused, Yugi obeyed his dragon's words, looking around carefully as he spotted Kisara and Malik stirring in the dark, their lighter colored scales easier to see in the dark.

/What's going on, Yami?/

Magician and I have sensed something coming. We believed it best to wake everyone, but to remain silent. It might be crucial not to allow this enemy to know that we are aware of its presence. Yami explained, rising slowly to his feet after Yugi sat up.

Magician's voice suddenly came to him, and he could distinctly feel that he was broadcasting. Everyone get to the lower level, we need to keep as quiet as we can. This presence is just outside.

Yugi swore inwardly as he dressed as quickly as he could, pulling on his flight jacket and warm pants. He climbed into Yami's saddle and the dragon glided down from the top level, his wings moving soundlessly through the air. He landed just as a few others did, and then Magician spoke once more.

We need to remain silent, I cannot stress that enough. I do not like this… feeling that I'm getting. It would also benefit us to use the darker dragons to attack first, use the advantage of surprise. No doubt they still believe us to be unaware.

Yami shifted uncomfortably. I know this feeling, now that I focus on it more. It's that red dragon, the one that was in front last time they attacked.

Of course… Magician murmured, his green eyes widening. I can't believe I didn't notice it before… But something is different. That's what was confusing me. Something is… stronger…

Harpy snorted quietly as though she had smelled something bad. Her voice echoed in their minds. He smells more like magic than he ever has, that's what it is. They are preparing a spell, and a powerful one.

Shit.

Yugi turned to look at Dice, whose eyes had narrowed as he said this. The aqua colored dragon turned his head, looking towards Harpy. The smaller female growled faintly despite herself, though the sound wasn't loud enough to make a difference to the silence that had enclosed them.

Yugi nearly flinched as teeth hooked in his jacket, but he instantly stilled when he remembered Yami's presence behind him. The dragon carefully deposited his Rider on his shoulders as the others mounted their own dragons.

Yami, you and I will go out first, as we are the darkest dragons. Bakura, I want you to follow us next. Once the enemy is aware of us, the rest of you may come as you please. Harpy, on second thought, you'd best come too. Mai, Ryou, be ready to cast.

Yugi nodded hopefully as he heard this. Yami and Magician, with their dark scales and large size, would be good choices to go first. Harpy and Bakura weren't as large as either of the other dragons, but both Ryou and Mai were their strongest magic users, and Harpy and Bakura were quick in the air.

As they took to the air a feeling flitted through Yugi and he frowned, a hand unconsciously stroking Yami's scales.

Aibou?

/I'm fine, Yami. Just… just a feeling. Be careful./

Yami's feelings of reassurance floated into his mind. I would never be any other way with you on my back. I will keep us safe.

Yugi clutched tighter to the handle on Yami's saddle, leaning forward and plastering himself to Yami's neck in order to give the dragon better maneuverability. He looked to the side to see the others doing the same as the dragons prepared to shoot out into the air, hopefully surprising the enemy.

Harpy floated back from her place up front, her sense of smell for magic letting them know if it was a good idea to go. Yugi spotted Mai on her back, her blonde hair pinned into a tight bun, her body plastered to Harpy's saddle so her small dragon could maneuver. Nothing is being cast. Harpy announced, flying back behind Yami's much larger bulk.

GO! Magician roared, and together he and Yami burst into the night air with roars of rage. The red dragon that floated just outside of the factory spun away from the attacks; he seemed to have been aware of their presence despite the fact that his attention had been focused on the spell his Rider was weaving.

The large brown dragon that Yami had fought before was there, and the black dragon grinned, showing off sharp teeth as he flew for this former enemy. Yami's black flames poured forth, scorching the dragon as he flew around him. Leviathan, Ishizu had called him, opened his own jaws, brown tinged fire flying for Yami.

The black dragon easily darted around the fire, avoiding the danger easily as he darted close to latch onto Leviathan's neck. Roars of pain and rage echoed from the other, and Yugi flung a spell at the man on the other's neck, Dartz.

He barely protected himself, and Yugi understood Ishizu's earlier words. Dartz was weak with magic, he depended upon his dragon.

At that moment Leviathan turned his head, wrenching Yami off of him. Yugi was shocked as instead of attacking again, Leviathan turned and flew away. Confused, Yugi looked around, and then a blazing light lit the sky, slamming into Yami's body.

Yami's cries of pain echoed through Yugi's mind and the dragon bucked his body, throwing Yugi from his back. Yugi screamed, falling through the air, but a moment later he stopped, caught in Harpy's claws. The female held him carefully, raising her leg so he could climb to her back with Mai.

The woman's violet eyes were afraid as she watched Yami writhe in pain in the air, his screams ringing around them. Malik and Odion instantly flew forward, Marik and Ishizu absent from their backs, going beneath Yami as the dragon's wings crumpled, his body falling. Odion grunted loudly as Yami slammed into his back, but he held beneath the slightly smaller dragon's weight, Malik carefully holding half of the burden.

Harpy took them back into the factory as Malik and Odion returned Yami within the building, and Yugi saw Ishizu and Marik climbing off of Dice and Bakura. It was obvious that the two had changed dragons in order to free Malik and Odion to help the ailing dragon.

"What's happening?.!" Yugi asked as he felt the link with Yami being stretched.

Harpy wrinkled her muzzle. It's that spell, whatever it was. That is powerful magic that is being worked on Yami.

Yugi started to run forward, but Yami was suddenly surrounded by Kisara and Valkyria, who were struggling to keep the thrashing dragon still. There was a slice through his mind, and then Yugi screamed.

The link. Their bond was gone, severed completely. The ringing emptiness of his mind made him frightened beyond all belief and his knees gave, sending him to the ground as Mai, Ishizu, and Mana came to him, trying to comfort him.

"Yami…" Yugi murmured, forcing himself to his feet and running towards Kisara's white bulk. The two females were wound tighter than he thought would be possible, but as he came close he noticed that they were cooing and purring, their tails wrapped securely around something in between them.

Yami's black body was gone.

Yugi pushed at the walls of dragonflesh and the two allowed him inside to see what their tails were guarding.

There, shivering madly as the dragon scales left his body, was a boy. He was naked, his thin form in the smallest ball he could possibly fold it into. Yugi moved forward slowly, carefully, not wanting to startle the boy.

"Y-Yami?"

Crimson eyes stared back at him, and then Yami started to wail, his fear almost tangible as he sat there in a body unfamiliar to him. His cries pierced the quiet, and Kisara and Valkyria cooed and purred near him, trying to comfort him.

But Yami was hysteric, his sobs echoing as he clung to his former Rider, lost, confused, and afraid.

Ooooo... that's all I have to say...