Author Notes: This prologue serves primarily as an introduction to Ryou and Yami Bakura by alternating quotes from the manga and anime (and even a couple quotes from Season Zero). The words of Yami Bakura are in bold. If you're already well acquainted with these characters, you can just skip on ahead to the next chapter, where the story starts!
"Wh-What is this pain?" Ryou muttered as he unbuttoned his shirt, only to see that the Millennium ring, the gift from his father, was impaling his chest with its prongs. Pain. Confusion. Fear.
"I am the other being hidden inside you. I came with the Millennium ring. I've decided to stay in you forever!"
"Didn't you hear? Everyone who becomes his friend ends up in a coma!"
"Ever since you were little, you were picked on. You had no friends. Your wish was to someday be with a lot of friends. That's why I granted your wish. I made it so your friends are always nearby. I trapped their souls in these miniatures so that you can play with them forever!"
"This can't be happening, not again!"
"Stop it, stay away from me!"
"I can't do that, we still have a mission to complete."
"Mission?"
"How quickly you forget. Allow me to remind you. Does the term Millennium item sound familiar? Well, you promised to help me obtain all seven, and at the moment we only have one. But not to worry, I know where the others are. I just need someone to take me to them. And that's where you come in. After all, you're the vessel that allows me to exist in this world. Now stop resisting and join me!"
"Never!"
"What makes you think I'm giving you the choice? You will help me, and the most powerful force that ever existed will be mine!"
"You can't force me!"
"That's where you're wrong, mortal! I've waited long enough. The darkest Shadow game in five millennia will now begin!"
"I won't let you control me anymore! I'm going to help my friends strike you down!"
"This damn left hand!" the spirit of the Millennium ring shouted before impaling the offending appendage on the point of a turret of Castle Zorc. "Now you can't do as you'd like, Ryou Bakura!"
An injured Ryou was supported by Marik Ishtar, his upper arm bleeding from a stab wound inflicted by his yami.
"Bakura, what happened?" Joey asked, concerned for his friend.
"It happened so quickly, I can't remember."
"I am a thief and a stealer of souls, and I have done terrible things in my quest to obtain the seven millennium items."
"I won't let you kill my friends. I'll fight too."
"I was enjoying prolonging your suffering."
"Leave the young one out of this!" the spirit of the Millennium puzzle commanded.
"Why should I? By simply destroying him, I defeat you as well. You're here to guide and protect him? Then protect him against this!" Yami Bakura played the Change of Heart, summoning the soul of his host to the playing field.
"Bakura! So your soul was sealed into your favorite card too," Yugi observed.
"I want to help, but we must act quickly, Yugi!" Ryou cried as he rushed to possess his Yami's only monster on the field: the Lady of Faith. "I've taken over one of his cards instead of yours! I'll control her while you attack me! You can win against the evil Bakura."
"I can't!" Yugi protested. "I'd be destroying you, sending you to the graveyard!"
"I don't care, it's better than being enslaved by an evil spirit! Do it!"
"Don't you realize that I am the darkness? I cannot be destroyed!"
"My arm… it hurts. Yugi, help me! I don't know where I am. What am I doing here in this duel? What happened to my arm?"
"You can regret your foolishness in Hell!"
"He's in pain. Without the spirit of the ring he is weak."
"Now, pharaoh ... let's begin the killing game!"
"I don't feel very well, Yugi," Ryou said as he sank to his knees.
"I am the great Bakura, the King of Thieves!"
"Please, someone help me, I don't feel well at all."
"I'll paint the walls of the palace with your blood!"
"I don't want to lose any more friends, even if it means my soul should shatter!"
"No one can truly draw the line between just and unjust, good and evil. Only the Millennium items can tell ... they are the compass of the soul!"