Me: Hello, all!
Red: WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO THE TITLE!
Me: Oh ^_^' I decided to change it, for a few reasons. This is PART of the story-
Red: FOR REALZ?
Me: IF YOU WOULD STOP INTERUPTING ME...
Red: Oh ^_^' Sorry...
Me: As I was saying...Yes, this only part of the whole story. This is actually the second installment, and the first one will be called Heart of Ice instead of this one. It will feature the three cats mentioned in this story: Dawn, the lavender tom, and the sandy-blonde tom.
Red: And the two toms' names may or may not be revealed in this chapter. Heck, we do this before the author starts writing, and she don't got a clue on where to end it. That's why there're so many cliffhangers.
Me: ^_^'
Red: ...Ya know, we really need to stop making that face. That was the third time today.
Me: ...Yeah, your right. REPLYS TO REVIEWS ON ZE BOTTOM!
Yugioh: Eye of Fire
Chapter 5: Introductions - Gold to Gold
Gold stared at his reflection, his right eye glowing an emerald green, unlike the usual sapphire. Questions buzzed about his head as the green faded back into sapphire.
What's happening to me?
Why was I fighting like that?
Who was that boy?
And why did he come to me?
"Sometimes, you have to earn the answer to your questions." Gold froze at hearing the voice identical to his, and turned to face an unusual cat with a beautiful shade of lavender fur, and eyes identical to Gold's own burning sapphire orbs.
"Did you...just speak?"
"I guess you could say that," The cat answered. A slight breeze ruffled the white of the cat's chest and underbelly. "To you, I can speak. To others, I sound just like any normal cat would. You're the only human who can understand me perfectly."
Gold looked at the cat, confusion and suspicion tumbling within the confines of his eyes. The cat was the exact opposite, with absolutely certainty, trust, and a spark of hope shining in his creepily identical eyes. The two stared for a few moments, not daring to break the silence.
"You have to come with me," The cat said finally.
"Okay, but I want to know who you are first," Gold replied.
The cat turned to face the forest, with his back to Gold. "As I said, 'Sometimes, you have to earn your answers,'" He repeated.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"...You'll see." And with that, the cat disappeared into the forest. Without a second thought, Gold launched himself into the forest after the cat. He had the answers to his questions, about the battle and the boy and the eyes. The four questions buzzed about his head once again, drowning out his other thoughts and driving him forward. He failed to notice as he grew closer to the cat, the cat's body gradually stretched, becoming taller. He also failed to notice his fingers curling slightly as he grew closer to the cat, and his fingernails sharpening. His movements began to mirror the cat's. If the cat stumbled slightly, Gold would stumble at the same time. If the cat dove under a bush, Gold would dive under the same bush, with just as much agility and speed as the tom.
The two suddenly burst out of the forest and into a large desert. Gold finally noticed something wasn't right. There isn't a desert anywhere near Domino! He thought. Still, he pushed himself to continue. The cat risked a glance over his shoulder and then pushed himself forward, somehow running even faster. Exhaustion pulled at both being's limbs, and threatened to collapse them. They both did their best to shrug it off and continue. The sands threatened to swallow them whole, and yet they plowed through it, continuing despite the impossible odds. They ran for what seemed like eternity, until their destination finally appeared: A small temple seemingly rising from the sands.
Gold raced inside and saw the cat sitting in front of him, panting, trying to catch his breath. Then he noticed that he himself was bent over, hands resting at his knees, panting like there was no tomorrow.
The cat took one final gasping breath before approaching Gold. "You've come a long way, Yugi. You've faced horrors and uncertainy that would crush a normal human's spirit, from Duelist Kingdom, to Battle City, to the Battle Against Dartz, to the Grand Championship and Journey to Ancient Egypt, finally ending with the final game versus Yami, and winning him a body. You are an exceptional human, I'll give you that much."
Gold smirked. "And you're a special cat."
The lavender cat laughed. "Yes, I guess you could say that."
"What do you mean by that?"
"...You won't be able to handle that kind of information."
"Oh yeah?" Gold cried indignantly. "Then lay it on me! I could take it!"
"You asked for it, not me..." The tomcat sighed. "My name is Gold, and I'm another version of you."
Gold/Yugi stared. "WHAT? How could you be me? I'm me!"
"Of course you're you. But you're also like, three others, including me."
"HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?"
"Becuase of the differents worlds and realities!" The cat cried.
"What?"
"Yeah, you heard me. We're from different realities, you and I. My reality is a lot like yours, but there're no humans, just cats. There're other differences too, but that's one of the big ones."
"So let me get this straight," Gold/Yugi said. "You're a different version of me, a version to fit your own reality?"
The cat smirked. "Exactly. You learn quickly."
"Thanks. So, why'd you bring me here?"
"So you can learn from my memories."
"But aren't our memories the same?"
The cat turned to the wall. "They are the same until the end of Battle City. That's when everything changed for me..."
"Well, what happened?" Gold/Yugi asked.
"This," The cat replied, touching his nose to Gold/Yugi's forehead.
Memories that weren't Yugi's flashed by faster then anyone should've been able to comprehend, but the human boy understood them all...Every single painful one...
The cat's past was one of betrayal, pain, sadness, death, and grief. One particular memory shocked Yugi to the very core.
"You...they both died saving you?" Yugi asked once the flood of memories had ceased. The cat's eyes sparked with grief and sadness.
"Y-yeah...my Tea...and my grandpa...they're dead..." The cat said quietly. "It still hurts...just not as much as it used to..." Yugi didn't know what to say. I can't imagine what it would be like without Tea and Grandpa...he thought.
"And I can't believe Yami was..."
"Yeah. One of the key differences between my reality and yours is Yami. According to your memories, you don't need to worry about your Yami. It's mine we need to worry about. Come on, let's go find our friends. But first," The cat brought out a blank Duel Monsters card. "You need to transfer me from here into the card."
"WHAT? No way, I can't do that to you!" Yugi/Gold protested.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I can come out of that card whenever I wish. It's kinda like a pokeball, you know, from those Pokemon games you used to play."
"But I don't know how to get you in there!"
"Simple, just harness the power of that there Puzzle."
"...Alright, here goes," Yugi/Gold muttered. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the blank card. He imagined the cat fading into the card. He opened his eyes, and saw the cat was no longer there. He looked down to the blank card, only to see it was anything but. It was blue with a picture of the cat in a battle position, though there was no space for attack and defense points, which greatly confused Yugi/Gold. The title of the card was Gold, Warrior of Firelight.
"Huh," Yugi started. "It seems you want to keep the name Gold, so that leaves me with Yugi." The boy smiled. "I actually perfer being called Yugi over Gold, no offense." However, Yugi could sense he didn't need to say those words.
A streak of lavender flashed at the edge of Yugi's vision. Come on, your friends are probably looking for you, Gold's voice echoed.
"YUGI!" Yami shouted.
"YUG'!" Sand screamed. "WHERE ARE YA, BUDDY!"
"YUGI!" Tristan, Tea and Ryou shouted simultaneously.
The gang had begun searching for their friend throughout the forest. So far, it wasn't going very well, but that was about to change.
"I'm right here," Yugi responded, calmly approaching the group.
"Where were you?" Tea asked.
Yugi patted his left pocket. "Just talking to someone. He said he could help us, and gave me directions to the arsonists base."
"Really?" Tristan asked.
"Wait, how do you know we can trust this guy?" Yami asked.
"He's got a point," Ryou agreed.
"Believe me, I have every reason to trust him," Yugi stated.
"What reasons are those?" Tea asked.
Yugi smirked. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out."
"Aw, c'mon Yug', I hate guessin' games!" Sand cried. The gang chuckled at the remark.
"So, the Jerquail-MoFaUSs are under my complete control?" A deep voice, eerily similar to Yami's, asked. The owner of the voice sat atop a large stone throne, head bent down so his face was shadowed.
"Yes, sire," A voice almost identical to Tristan's replied. The owner of this voice was kneeling down in front of the throne. "Once they heard of your connections to the surviving Irenians, they were more than happy to hand over leadership to you."
"Good," The Yami-like voice remarked. "That little kitten and his friends are going to pay for everything they took from me..."
"Yes, sire. They cannot escape your wrath this time."
"No, they won't..." The shadow lifted off the face of the one on the throne, revealing a face identical to Yami's. His red eyes glinted.
"They should've never messed with the rightful Pharaoh!"
DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUN!
Me: Okay, introduction to the baddies!
Red: Another cliffhanger? Seriously? After a who-cares-how-long hiatus, you give them a beeping cliffhanger?
Me: I'M SORRY OKAY? I never know when to end a chapter, so I just keep writing until I find a decent place to end it. Thus, the Thousand Cliffhangers are born. I sincerely apologize for any brain damage resulting from the explosions of your minds from these cliffhangers.
Red: If you do have severe brain damage or if you happen to be a victim of brain combustion, please don't sue me. Sue Blaze-Cloud.
Me: WHAT? That's it, Red! If I get sued, you're gonna pay if off!
Red: Dang it!
NOTE: The author would like to let you know that she was trying to finish the still unfinished chapter for her other story, the Legend of Zelda/Warriors crossover. Wow, she really fails.
Me: HEY! IT TAKES AWHILE FOR ME TO WRITE, OKAY?
REVIEW REPLIES:
littlekuribohlover:Thanks. :D I got you into Warriors? As in Warrior Cats? THAT'S MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BOOK SERIES EVAR! How did I get you into it?
HeartXCrossbones:Thank you! Here's your update! Sorry it took so long though!