Author's Note: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you all have a great day, and that you know I'm thankful for all of my readers!
"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith." -Steve Jobs
Yami, Tèa, and Cecelia all scaled the mountain to get back to the train track. Yami got up first.
"Here, take my hand." He said, pulling Tèa up. They both helped Cecelia onto the mountain, and they all stood up. "We're back where we left off."
"Nice! Now all we have to do is follow those tracks." Said Tèa.
"That's right. If all goes well they should lead us straight to Tristan and Joey. Assuming that they haven't wandered off."
"They better be there. We have to do what we set out to do. Figure out where this Dartz creep hangs out so we can set free everyone he captured."
"Yes. I only wish it were that easy." Murmured Yami with a nod. The three of them got on the train tracks and started walking. They walked down the tracks for what seemed like hours. The trek was hardest on Cecelia, who was struggling with back pain and nausea from being so high up. A few times they had to stop so that she could get sick. Tèa was kind enough to hold back her hair. But other than that, the trip was almost uninterrupted. Suddenly, in the middle of the forest, Yami's deck started to glow.
"What's this?" He asked aloud. Then he looked up. "Tèa, look at that!"
"Check it out! Those dragons just saved that airplane!"
"Now there's something you don't see everyday." Said a familiar voice.
"Joey! Tristan!" Called Tèa.
"It's Tèa!" Said Joey, hauling Rex Raptor on his back.
"And Yugi!" Tristan added.
"And Mrs. Cecelia." Added Croquet. They all went down to see the damage.
"Wait a sec- that's one of Kaiba's planes!" Said Tèa.
"Hey you're right!" Said Tristan.
"I hope everyone's okay." She said.
"Me too." Added Cecelia.
The door opened, and there stood Kaiba carrying Alister.
"Kaiba." Said Yami in shock.
"Oh, great. If it isn't the dweeb patrol."
"What happened up there?" Asked Tèa.
"Roland!" Exclaimed Mokuba as he poked his head out the door and looked at the fleet of helicopters flying toward them.
"So you dueled this guy on top of a moving plane?!" Joey said, surprised.
"Maybe I did." Kaiba said reluctantly. "Don't you geeks have someone else to annoy?"
"Kaiba, we can't do this without you and you know it. So please, accept your destiny and help us to stop this evil." Asked Yami.
"Hm. If I had a dime for every time you used the word destiny I'd be even richer." He dead panned. Everyone sighed.
"Mr. Kaiba! Mokuba! Are you hurt?!" Yelled Roland as the helicopter landed.
"We're fine." Said Mokuba.
"Good. But I've got terrible news!" He said, and then told them that Kaiba Corp had been taken over. They all boarded the helicopter and tried to get talking.
"So now our whole company is owned by this Dartz guy? I don't get it, Seto. How was one person able to buy every share of Kaiba Corp without you and I knowing about it? Our network should have detected it." Said Mokuba.
"There's only one way that I can think of: They must have hacked into our accounts."
"Without you knowing it? How'd they get past your security system?" Asked Tèa.
"We're obviously dealing with a powerful organization here."
"But sir-" began Roland, but Kaiba cut him off.
"Save it. I'm not your boss anymore."
"Seto..." Whispered Mokuba.
"I won't abandon you sir. I'll stand by your side until Kaiba Corp is yours again." Said one of their security officials.
"That goes for me too!" Roland added.
"See, Seto? We're all with ya!" Said Mokuba.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Let's go. We've got to get to the museum and decipher those ruins!" Yami declared.
"My research team is already there. And my security force will handle any unexpected guests."
They all nodded, and Kaiba pulled out his laptop.
Meanwhile, towards the back of the plane, Cecelia sat quietly in her seat. She was exhausted, but couldn't sleep. She was starving, but couldn't eat. Her skin was pale as an over washed sheet, and she couldn't bring herself to focus on anything in particular. Maximillion lay in her lap, and she thought about the last time they had seen each other. His smile, his voice, his stance. Each trait made her melt a little inside. But the one thing that kept replaying over and over again was how much she missed him. She could have broken down and cried right there, but refused to break. He needed her to be strong for the both of them right now. She was so engrossed in her thoughts, she didn't notice someone calling her name.
"Cecelia?" Asked Tèa. When she finally looked up she smiled apologetically.
"Yes?"
"Are you alright?" She asked. Cecelia smiled.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You seem a little distracted. Everything okay?"
"I'm fine, really. Just a little nauseous, that's all."
"Can I get you anything, Mrs. Cecelia?"
"No thank you, Croquet. There's not much that can be done, I'm afraid." She said with a sigh.
"Very well." He said.
Mokuba had been watching her for some time and wondered who she was. He wanted to find out, but saw Pegasus in her lap and was too afraid of him to go. Luckily, his brother got an answer for him.
"So, who's the latest addition to the nerd heard?" He asked. She smiled at him.
"I'm Cecelia. It's nice to meet you." She said, fighting the internal urge to claw his eyes out with her nails at his chauvinistic attitude. Mokuba was a little less afraid of her now.
"Yeah. Whatever." Said Kaiba as he waited for his computer to boot up.
Mokuba looked at their newest guest curiously. Who was she, and what had driven Yugi and his friends to take her along with them? And most importantly, what was her connection to Pegasus? As the helicopter kept heading toward it's destination, he had a feeling that he would find out soon enough.