She had fire in her soul
It was easy to see
How the devil himself
Could be pulled out of me


Serenity woke up, feeling groggier than she ever had in her entire life. It took several minutes for her to process her surroundings.

Or lack thereof. She decided she must have been in some kind of room, but this room had no windows, no doors…and no real floor, walls or ceiling. It was just white.

"Look who's finally awake."

Serenity started. The voice was cruel and terrifying and, at least to her, came out of nowhere.

"Who-who are you?" she whispered.

"One who has waited long for you to come to. You, my dear, have become very interesting to me."

Serenity racked her brain, trying to remember how she had gotten here. She had gone out to shop for some apples – Duke had said he wanted some – she had seen a strange mirror at the market and…

She couldn't recall at all. That mirror had been the last thing she had seen before she had blacked out.

"Why…am I…here?" she could barely get the words out.

"Do you remember what happened in your mirror trial, Serenity?"

"Mirror trial? What on earth…and how do you know my name?"

"The mirror trials tell all. Serenity Wheeler. You had a brother, but he's gone now. I noticed you don't say he's dead, just gone. I wonder at that…you also have a fiancé. Duke is his name. You used to be blind as well…that might be the explanation of course."

"Explanation?"

"Very few have endured my mirror trials…but you. You were completely unaffected by it. I'm interested in why of course. So now you will have another one."

Serenity watched as the non-existent walls, floor, and ceiling became one reflective surface. She saw herself reflected over and over again.

"Let the trial begin!"


Tea woke up screaming.

Atem shot up like a bullet at the sound. He looked about wildly and saw Tea sitting up next to him, hands over her face, trembling.

"Tea!" he cried grabbing her shoulders, "What is it Tea? What happened?"

"I saw Serenity."

Yugi was awake now and at their side in an instant. "What was happening?" he asked.

Tea pulled her hands away, tears in her eyes. "A mirror trial. I could see the trial…see what she was seeing…or at least what she should have been seeing. It was awful. But I don't think she could see…at least I hope not." Tea was talking very quickly and had to check herself between sobs.

"Tea," Atem whispered soothingly, "Calm down, Tea. I know you're upset, but you have to relax and tell us exactly what happened or we can't figure out how to help her."

Tea took a deep breath and tried again. "Serenity is in a mirror trial. And…and it's not right! It's…it's a trial of…possibilities. You both know how the real Trial works. You see what happened and how that caused other things to happen. But they all actually occurred. These…these are projections of what might happen. But it's all wrong. They're…they're all based on a world with no love, no mercy. It's all pain and despair. If she could have seen what it was...," Tea stopped there. She couldn't bear to even try and remember what she had seen in Serenity's.

"It would drive you mad," she finished.

The room was quiet as Yugi and Atem processed this.

"You don't think Serenity can see these visions? Why not?" asked Yugi.

"She was completely unaffected...it was as if she wasn't looking at anything...there was something else...someone else...there too. They were pretty unhappy that she couldn't see it. They want to know why."

"That must be why she's gone," said Atem. "Whoever is conducting these mirror trials is probably wondering why she can't see them. Why it doesn't hurt her." He looked at the anguish on Tea's face. "Tea, what else was there? You're not telling us everything."

Tea looked away. "That's all there is."

"No," said Atem firmly, "don't do that, Tea. Please...what else happened?"

Tea was silent.

Yugi's eyes flashed with knowing. He took Tea's hand in his.

"Tea...how much pain..."

She met his gaze and the answer was plainly there.

"It's not just a vision is it?"

She shook her head.

Atem stared in horror. "But why are you..." and then he knew. "Tea...he saw you."

She nodded.

"He put you through a trial didn't he?"

"Yes."

"What did you see?"

She didn't answer at first. A shudder shook her as pain closed in around her. "I'm not going to return with you two at the end."

Yugi and Atem were thunderstruck. What had she just said?

"Tea, what on earth..."

She continued, "I'm going to have to...make a choice. In the end. I don't know what it is even. But I do know that the choice is between saving one of you and returning to the King. I won't be able to do both."

"No," said Atem. "He would have never sent us here if that was the only choice, Tea. You already said the trials aren't fair. They are based on something that isn't real. You are full of love, Tea. So if that was the choice in that trial - ."

"It was so real, Atem," she whispered, "I'm afraid that it really is going to happen."

"It's not!" he cried. "I won't let it! You are coming back with us...or else I am taking your place."

"You can't, Atem, I don't think it will work like – "

"I'll make it!" he was nearly shouting now.

Tea put her hand on his shoulder. "Atem...please..."

Her voice was pleading. He felt the pride he knew was so dangerous to him trying to claw its way out of him. He must control himself. He couldn't help Tea in a blind rage.

"Joan," Tea whispered.

Fairly light surrounded them and a beautiful angel with red hair and a robe of dazzling white and cloth-of-gold appeared.

"Kasai," she continued.

Next to Joan a figure clothed in flame, bright red and orange materialized. Her hair was like white flame and her eyes burned like embers.

"What do you require, Princess of Grace?" inquired Joan.

"Joan, I need you to go to where Serenity is. I know you can see where she is from my mind, though I myself do not know the location. Bring her back to Duke."

The Guardian Angel disappeared.

"Kasai, take us to where this spirit is...the one conducting the false mirror trials."

The Fire Princess bowed and the four found themselves encircled in flame.

"Mahad. Mana," Atem's voice was commanding.

The Dark Magician and his servant were soon at their side.

"Stay close," said Atem.

The mages nodded gravely and were soon swept away in the pillar of fire.


Serenity could sense something was supposed to be happening in this mirror, but she could not see it. What was she supposed to be seeing?

"I can't understand it!" cried the cruel voice again, "What will it take to get through to you?"

All of a sudden a brightness, brighter than the sun filled the mirrors. The voice cried out, "Impossible!" and then was silenced.

Serenity saw angel wings and kindly eyes and then was blinded again. Later, when trying to describe it, she would say she was blinded in light rather than darkness but she could never come up with a better explanation.

"No fear, dear one," said a soft voice that sounded like falling crystal, "You'll soon be safe."

Serenity trusted the kind voice completely. She felt herself being lifted by strong arms and then all was darkness. The last words she heard before she fell unconscious were, "Hello, Prince of Spirit. She'll be safe now."