"Balle!" the dragon in question groaned and turned away from the voice. "Balle, wake up!"
"Go away..." Balle muttered.
"Balle, we're being attacked!" Sora cried.
"Say what?" Balle shot straight up. He looked around wildly. Suddenly the ship shook violently. "What's happening?"
"We're being attacked by a large enemy ship!" Donald explained as he manned one of the ships guns.
"What should I do?" Balle asked frantically.
"Just stay calm!" Sora yelled as he jumped into a chair. "Try to -" He was cut off as the ship shook violently once more.
"This thing's tough!" Donald growled. "But let's see it take this!" He pressed a button near his controls. Balle looked out the window to see a large Heartless vessel. Missiles shot out from the Gummi Ship, striking the enemy ship, leaving a large cloud of dust. "Ha!"
Balle clenched his fist as the smoke cleared. They all gasped as they saw the ship still up. "It survived..." Sora muttered. Suddenly the enemy ship launched missiles of it's own. "Balle get away! Sit down!" It was too late. The missiles struck causing the Balle to lose balance. The hatch opened causing the space around to act like a vacuum. Balle, being the only one not buckled down was sucked out.
"Balle!" Sora cried.
"No!" Goofy yelled. Balle's eyes widened. Suddenly his armor activated on it's own, encasing him. Balle sighed in relief... that is until a large piece of debris came hurtling toward him. Sora, Donald and Goofy watched helplessly as the debris crashed into him, sending him hurtling into space. Balle sighed as his world slowly faded into darkness. He could only think of one thing.
'This sure is happening a lot...'
"Hey, are you okay?" An unfamiliar voice asked.
"Who's there?" Balle asked. Slowly a figure appeared in Balle's blurry vision. As his vision cleared Balle could make out several things about the person. The person was male, he had tri-colored hair consisting of red, black and gold. He wore a blue school outfit and had a strange pyramid shaped necklace that had an eye on it.
"I found you laying here unconscious. I didn't expect you to be a dragon." the young man answered. "My name's Yugi Muto, what's yours?"
"I'm Balle du Dragon." Balle said. "Where are we exactly?"
Yugi shook his head. "I don't know, I got separated from my friends, I think we're in some sort of cave." Balle took a look around. They were indeed in a cave, however there were several torches hanging off the walls.
"Where ever we are, I don't like it." Balle said, letting out a shudder.
"Agreed." Yugi said. "Why don't we find a way out together?"
"Sure." Balle replied with a smile. Yugi extended a hand which Balle took and the two set off down the cave. Suddenly Balle felt a familiar presence, making him stop in his tracks. Yugi looked at him in confusion.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"We're not alone..." Balle said quietly. "Stay on guard." As he predicted the shadows began moving and formed into several Heartless. Yugi jumped back.
"W- what are they?" he asked.
"They're called the Heartless." Balle growled. He summoned his Keyblades... or at least tried to. Balle looked at his hand in shock. "What...?" The Shadows lunged at them. Balle clenched his fists.
"Ahh!" Yugi cried as he covered his face with his arm. Suddenly a flash appeared in his coat pocket. In another flash a figure appeared in front of them. The figure raised his scepter and sent a black bolt of energy at the Heartless, destroying them.
"What happened?" Balle asked in awe. Yugi looked up and jumped.
"D-Dark Magician?" he asked. The purple clad man looked back and smiled at him. "You're here to protect me?" The Dark Magician nodded. "But how? I thought you we're just a card."
"Maybe it's magic?" Balle suggested.
"Magic?" Yugi repeated. "You mean... like my Millenium Puzzle?"
Balle blinked. "I'm not sure what that is... but sure!"
Yugi looked down at his wierd necklace. "Maybe..."
"Or," Balle continued. "Maybe it was your heart."
Yugi's head snapped up. "My heart...?"
"Sure!" Balle said grinning. "The heart can do amazing things."
Yugi smiled back at him. "Yes," he said. "It can. As long as I put my heart into my cards!"
"Wait a minute, you said cards, right?" Balle asked. "What do you mean by that?"
Yugi reached into his pocket and pulled out a deck of brown cards. "These are Duel Monsters cards." he said showing him the cards. They each had a unique picture on them along with two sets of numbers and a description. "Each monster card has attack points and defense points, some of them have special effects." Yugi showed him a card with a yellow trim. "This is the Dark Magician, him." Yugi said pointing at the man, who waved.
Yugi pulled out a card with a green trim. "This is a spell card, they each have different affects. This spell card is Monster Reborn it allows me to resurrect a monster."
Yugi then pulled out a card with a purple trim. "And this is a trap card, they activate when an opponent attacks you, like a real trap. This trap card is Spellbinding Circle it renders an attacking monster immobile."
"Whoa, that's a lot to take in." Balle said clutching his head. Yugi laughed while the Dark Magician looked amused.
"It's easy once you get used to playing," Yugi said as they continued down the tunnel. "and a lot of fun too!"
"It sounds like it." Balle said smiling. Then he frowned. 'Why can't I use my Keyblades? Is it one of the crazy rules of this world?'
"Hey Balle?" Yugi's voice broke his train of thought.
"Yeah?" Balle asked.
"You know, maybe if my cards worked for me, maybe they'll work for you." Yugi said. Balle looked at him in confusion.
"Huh?" he asked. Yugi began digging around in his pockets once more.
"Aha!" he cried triumphantly as he pulled out another deck. "Here, they're some spare cards I have! But they don't really have any real strategy..." Yugi said holding out his cards.
"I couldn't do that..." Balle said backing away. Yugi shook his head.
"No, take them. Maybe you can use them too." he said. "I just have this feeling."
Balle stared at him for a couple of seconds before nodding. "Alright, if you're sure." he said taking the cards from him.
"I'm positive." Yugi said. He suddenly jumped. "Now's the perfect time to try! Look!"
Balle looked forward in time to see the shadows forming again. Balle gritted his teeth and looked at the cards. 'What am I supposed to do with these?'
"Balle!" Yugi called. Balle looked at him. The duelist gave him a determined look as the Dark Magician took a battle stance. "Have faith in them! Believe in the heart of the cards!"
'The heart of the cards...' Balle thought to himself. 'Here goes nothing!' Balle closed his eyes and drew the first card in the deck.
"Alright!" Yugi cheered. Balle opened his eyes and gasped. Before him stood a blond girl wearing an outfit similar to the Dark Magician, only blue and pink, and more feminine. "Hi~! Balle-chan~!" The girl said cutely. Balle looked at the card. Dark Magician Girl. Balle grinned. "Okay, Balle." Yugi said. "What do you say to a double attack?"
"Fine by me!" Balle said. "Dark Magician Girl!"
"Dark Magician!" Yugi called.
"Dark Burning Magic!" they said in unison. The two spell casters raised their scepters and released two bolts of energy, destroying the Heartless in their path. The Dark Magician simply floated back to his place beside Yugi. The Dark Magician Girl, however happily skipped back to Balle and gave him a hug. Balle blushed and awkwardly returned the hug.
Yugi laughed. "It looks like Dark Magician Girl likes you!" The Dark Magician shook his head in amusement. Balle laughed nervously and the four moved on. Balle could only smile as the Dark Magician Girl bounced around humming to herself, flashing him a smile ever now and then, while her male counterpart simply walked silently. 'They're like complete opposites.' Balle thought amused.
"So Balle, where are you from?" Yugi asked. Balle flinched slightly.
"Er- well nowhere really." he said lamely.
"Nowhere?" Yugi asked confused.
"Well, I travel around a lot so..." Balle trailed off. Yugi nodded in acceptance of his answer. 'Well... It's kinda true.' Balle thought. "I was separated from my friends too."
"Really?" Yugi asked. Balle nodded. "I can't wait to find my friends again. Joey, Tristen, Tea and Bakura."
Balle sighed. "I have a lot of friends who I want to see again." he said. "Misty, Brock... May and Dawn... And then there's my newest friends: Sora, Donald and Goofy."
Yugi put a hand on his shoulder. "Then it's a good thing we're not alone."
Balle smiled. "Yeah, I've made a new friend." Balle felt a tap on his shoulder. "Mou~! Balle-chan~!" He turned to see and hear Dark Magician Girl pouting at him. Balle gave her a lopsided grin. "And of course you too Dark." She beamed at him happily and gave him another hug. Balle sighed and hugged her back. Over her shoulder, Balle saw the Dark Magician smirking at him. 'Butt out.' he mouthed. The wizard waggled a finger at him and Balle merely stuck his tongue out. The Dark Magician chuckled silently.
"Hey look!" Yugi cried. "There's a light up ahead!" Balle looked up and grinned. There was a light up ahead. The two ran towards it, the two magicians floating behind them. Suddenly the magicians stopped as they returned to their cards.
"Hey, what's happening?" Balle asked. He looked back up and saw they were in a brightly lit room. Before them stood some kind of... arena?
"It's a dueling arena." Yugi said cautiously.
"You mean for Duel Monsters?" Balle asked.
"That is correct!" a new voice interjected. The two boys looked across the arena. There stood a boy with shoulder length silvery-white hair.
"Bakura?" Yugi exclaimed.
"Wait... you mean your friend?" Balle asked confused. He looked again and saw the boy was wearing a strange circular necklace with an eye similar to Yugi's.
"Wait... Oh no! Bakura's been possessed by the evil spirit in his Millenium Ring!" Yugi gasped.
"Possessed?!" Balle exclaimed.
"Haha! That's right!" a familiar, but unwelcome voice said. Pete walked out of the shadows grinning like a fool. "And he's gonna help me take you out, bub!"
"Pete!" Balle growled. Yugi looked at him.
"You know this clown?" Yugi asked. Pete bristled.
"What did you say punk?" Pete shouted. Balle laughed.
"That's what I said." Balle said amused. Pete growled.
"Alright, Bakura let's do this!" Pete yelled.
"I don't take orders from you, fool." Bakura said coldly. Pete's jaw dropped. "But, I will ally myself with you this once... So I can obtain Yugi's Millenium Puzzle!" he said pointing at Yugi's necklace. "We challenge you to a duel!"
"And if we refuse?" Yugi asked. Bakura smirked.
"Then you don't make it out of here." he said. "The only way this door will unlock is by defeating us." he said gesturing to a large door behind him.
"Looks like I have no choice but to accept..." Yugi muttered. "Fine, I accept your challenge!"
"I don't think so, we challenged the both of you to a duel." Bakura said.
"What?" Balle jumped. "But I've never dueled before!"
"Too bad." Bakura smirked. "But don't worry, this oaf hasn't either."
"But..." Balle whispered. Balle's attention was drawn to Yugi's Puzzle, which started pulsating. Yugi closed his eyes for a few moments before opening them once more. Balle bit back a gasp as Yugi's eyes burned with a new determination.
"So you plan to pray on Balle's inexperience to win, eh Bakura?" Yugi asked in a more mature and determined voice. "Very well, we accept your challenge!"
"But... Yugi..."
"Just have faith in the cards, Balle." Yugi said. "Put your heart in the cards and there's nothing you can't do."
Balle looked into Yugi's eyes and saw the pure determination and courage burning within them. Balle nodded. "Alright." They both looked back at their opponents, who were already on their platform.
"It's time to duel!" they exclaimed in unison. They stepped onto their blue platform and were lifted up.
"The rules are simple," Bakura said drawing four cards. "Each of us starts with 2000 lifepoints. If one person loses his LP his partner loses as well."
"Fine by me." Yugi said. Balle just nodded.
"Balle moves first, then me, Yugi, and Pete." Bakura stated. Balle gulped. 'Okay, I'll be fine.' He drew a card from his shuffled deck.
"Okay, I'll start with the Cyber Commander in attack mode." Balle said.
Cyber Commander
Atk: 750
Def:700
"Fine then, I summon the White Magical Hat!" Bakura smirked.
White Magical Hat
Atk: 1000
Def:700
"Attack!" Bakura ordered. A man wearing a white top hat charged at his soldier, destroying it.
Balle's LP: 1750
"Because his attack points were higher, he destroyed your monster." Yugi told him. "Either way it's my turn, and I call upon the Celtic Guardian!"
Celtic Guardian
Atk: 1400
Def: 1200
"Celtic Guardian, attack!" The green glad elven warrior charged at the other monster, destroying it.
Bakura's LP: 1600
Bakura grit his teeth. Pete just stared stupidly at his cards, trying to figure out what they meant. "Pete you buffoon, it's your turn!" Bakura shouted.
'Oh!" Pete yelp as he fumbled with his cards. "Right!"
Bakura sighed irritably. "Draw from your deck!"
"Right!" Pete did so. "Okay I'll play this card!"
Wretched Ghost
Atk: 550
Def: 400
"Attack!" Pete roar smirking.
"You idiot!" Bakura spat. "That card is weaker than his!'
"Huh?" Pete asked stupidly. Yugi chuckled.
"Celtic Guardian, counter it!" The elven warrior just rolled its eyes and stabbed the furry monster, destroying it.
Pete's LP: 1150
"And now it's my turn again." Balle said drawing a card. "I place this monster facedown in defense mode. And this card facedown." he said. "That ends my turn."
"Now it's my turn." Bakura said drawing a card. He smirked. "Remember this card, Yugi? I use Change of Heart!"
"Change of Heart?" Balle asked.
"It allows me to take control of one opposing monster, and I choose Celtic Guardian!" An angel suddenly appeared from the card and possessed the elven warrior, bringing it to Bakura's side.
"My Celtic Guardian!" Yugi cried.
"Oh yeah!" Pete gloated. "What now?"
"Shut up you imbecile." Bakura demanded. "Now Celtic Guardian, attack Yugi's LP directly!"
Yugi's LP: 600
"Yugi..." Balle groaned.
"Don't worry, Balle. He can only control Celtic Guardian for one turn." Yugi assured him.
"I'll lay this card facedown to end my turn." Bakura said.
"Alright, it's my turn." Yugi said drawing a card. Suddenly he smirked. "Well then, I summon the Dark Magician!" Balle grinned as well.
Dark Magician
Atk: 2500
Def: 2100
"Dark Magician attack Pete's LP directly!" Yugi ordered.
"Not so fast!" Bakura yelled. "You activated my Spellbinding Circle!"
"A trap!" Yugi growled. "Very well, you've stopped me this turn."
"Pete!" Bakura yelled. "You're up and don't blow it!"
"You bet!" Pete said drawing a card. He stared at them for several moments before, "Hey! I gots an idea!"
"Oh joy..." Bakura muttered.
"I play this card!" Pete said smugly. Balle smirked, but quickly paled.
Red-Eyes Black Dragon
Atk: 2400
Def: 2000
"It doesn't matter, it's still weaker than my Dark Magician!" Yugi said.
"Not when I add this!" Pete shouted. "Dragon Nails!"
"Oh no!" Yugi said worried. "Dragon nails increased a dragon's attack power by 600 points!"
"That's right!" Pete grinned. 'That makes it 3000, now Red Eyes, attack!" The large dragon fired a fireball at the magician, while Yugi watched on helplessly.
"I don't think so!" Balle called. They looked at him. "My facedown card is the Witch's Apprentice!"
Witch's Apprentice
Atk: 550
Def: 500
"What's that gonna do?" Pete scoffed. "It's weaker!"
"It doesn't matter!" Yugi said smirking. "The Witch's Apprentice has a special ability, it powers up all Dark monsters on our side of the field!"
"That makes the Dark Magician's attack 3000!" Balle said. "It ends in a draw!" The fireball was deflected by the Dark Magician's scepter.
"Thank you, Balle." Yugi said.
"No problem." Balle grinned. "Now it's my turn." Balle drew a card. Balle grinned. "Time to say bye-bye to your dragon, Pete!"
"Whatchu talkin' bout!" Pete demanded.
"First I use Red Medicine and Blue Medicine to raise Yugi's LP to 1500!" Balle said. Yugi nodded at him thankfully. "I call Buster Blader!"
Buster Blader
Atk: 2600
Def: 2300
"Hahaha!" Pete laughed. "My dragon's still stronger!"
"Haven't you learned anything about special effects, Pete?"
"Huh?"
Yugi answered him. "The Buster Blader gains 500 attack points for every dragon type on your side of the field or your graveyard!"
"Making his attack 3100!" Balle shouted. "Buster Blader attack!"
Pete's LP: 1450
"You oaf, you're going to cost us the match!" Bakura shouted.
"Hey at least I'm doin' something!" Pete shouted back.
Bakura growled and drew. He scowled even deeper. "Fine, I'll just place this card and this monster facedown to end my turn."
"Now we end this, Dark Magician attack!" Yugi called.
"You fell for the same trap twice!" Bakura laughed. "Spellbinding Circle!"
"Again..." Balle muttered. Yugi grit his teeth.
"Fine, but try guarding against the Celtic Guardian!" Yugi yelled.
Pete's LP: 50
"Uh oh!" Pete gulped. Bakura glared at him. "Well here goes nothing." He drew his card. "Hm... I use Pot of Greed to draw two other cards!" He did so and grinned upon seeing his two new cards.
"I use Dark Hole!"
"No!" Yugi cried.
"Oh yes!" Pete said triumphantly.
"Dark Hole destroys all monsters on the field on both sides." Yugi said. Balle, Yugi and Bakura's monsters were all sent to the graveyard. "And that's not all, I use Monster Reborn!"
"Uh oh..." Balle muttered.
"I resurrect my Red Eyes Black Dragon!" Pete shouted.
Red Eyes Black Dragon
Atk: 2400
Def: 2000
"You're just lucky I can't attack on this turn." Pete chuckled.
"The only monster I have strong enough is already in the graveyard." Yugi muttered.
Balle looked down. It was all on him then. As closed his eyes. 'It's all on me...' Balle thought to himself. 'I just have to believe... I have trust in my heart!' Balle placed his hand on the deck and slowly drew. He opened his eyes. He read the description and smirked. Yugi saw this looked at him intently.
"Alright, Pete." Balle said. "This is the end."
"What, you surrender?" Pete asked smirking.
"Not a chance." Balle responded. "This is the card that will beat you!"
"W- what?" Pete asked.
"You heard me, now go!" Balle yelled slamming the card down. Slowly the figure appeared.
Dark Magician Girl
Atk: 2000
Def: 1700
Dark Magician Girl turned to him and smiled. Pete just laughed. "You think your little magic girl can beat my Red Eyes?" he asked. "My dragon is still stronger!"
"Oh I wouldn't be too sure on that, Pete." Balle said. "You see, you sent Dark Magician to the graveyard," Balle smirked. "and she's really angry." Dark Magician Girl glared at Pete angrily with a purplish aura.
"Huh?" Pete asked stupidly.
"What he means, Pete." Yugi said smirking. "That Dark Magician Girl gains 500 attack points for every Dark Magician in the graveyard."
"Add it up and that makes her attack strength a whopping 2500!" Balle shouted.
"No!" Pete shouted clutching his head.
"Dark Magician Girl!" Balle shouted. "Dark Burning Attack!"
"No!" Pete and Bakura shouted in unison.
Pete's LP: 0
"There's no way you coulda won!" Pete yelled. "Aw forget this crumby game, I'm outa here!" he said as he retreated into the shadows once more.
"Now Bakura, or whoever you may be." Yugi said. "It's time you left us!" Yugi and Balle raised his hand and Bakura screamed. Suddenly the necklace around his neck disappeared and Bakura opened his eyes once more. This time they showed no malice, just confusion.
"What's happened?" Bakura asked in a different, more innocent tone. "Yugi, is that you?'
"Yes, Bakura." Yugi said as they walked up to him. "The evil spirit of your Millenium Ring possessed you again."
"Really?" Bakura asked with eyes wide.
"Don't worry, he was banished to the Shadow Realm." Yugi assured him. Suddenly the door they were standing before opened.
"Now it's time to get out of here!" Balle cheered. Yugi nodded.
"Let's go, Bakura." Yugi said.
"Right."
"Ah, the light." Yugi said. "It truly is a marvelous thing."
"Yeah," Balle said savoring the feel of the sun. He suddenly remembered something. "Oh, Yugi!"
"Hmm?" he asked.
"Your cards!" Balle said holding out Yugi's cards. Yugi reached out, but closed Balle's hand around them.
"Keep them." Yugi said with a smile. "They're your's now. Thank you for all your help, my friend."
Balle looked at him before grinning. "No problem, buddy." he said. "Thank you as well, for the cards too."
Yugi nodded. Balle held up his cards proudly. Suddenly they began glowing as they floated above them. Yugi and Bakura watched in awe. Balle's Oathkeeper appeared in his hand. Understanding, Balle pointed the Keyblade at the deck, and sealed the Keyhole.
"What was that?" Yugi asked.
"A new path has been opened..." Balle muttered. Yugi looked confused but shrugged.
"That Dark Magician Girl is very special, Balle." he told him.
"Yeah." Balle smiled softly. Suddenly the deck flashed again, and hugging him was the Dark Magician Girl.
"Balle-chan no katta~!" Dark said nuzzling her cheek with Balle's.
"She will protect you." Yugi said. "Just call upon her aid." Balle nodded as she disappeared once more.
"I will."
"Balle!"
"Hey Balle!" Yugi and Balle turned to Sora, Donald and Goofy running up to them.
"Balle are you okay?" Sora asked worried.
"I'm fine, Sora." Balle smiled.
"Oh, these are your friends you were talking about." Yugi commented.
"Yep." Balle grinned. "I sealed this world's Keyhole."
"Okay then!" Sora said happily. "That's two down!"
"We will meet again, Balle." Yugi said. They could hear voices in the distance.
"That sounds like Joey, Tea and Tristen!" Bakura said running towards the voices.
"I hope so." Balle said. Yugi nodded and walked after Bakura. Balle nodded. "Let's go guys!"
"Alright!" Sora said as the Gummi Ship beamed them up. "Next world, here we come!"
Balle smiled sadly as Yugi's world got farther away. He looked at Dark Magician Girl's card.
"Thanks for teaching me to trust in my heart, Yugi..." Balle whispered.
Obtained
***Duel Monster's Deck***
***Summon: Dark Magician Girl***