As a public service from the Sailor Scouts, Sailor Moon presents: The Author's Note.

Serena: Hi, readers. Thanks for reading the first chapter and showing enough interest to keep going. Jesse (that's the author's name, of course) has decided to slightly re-write the ending to the first Yu-Gi-Oh series.

The canon ending in the Yu-Gi-Oh series was that Atem's soul was finally able to return after Yugi beat him in a Duel (because Yugi totally sacked by predicting freaking Monster Reborn in that chest thingy). HOWEVER, that sucks because he was an awesome guy and he shouldn't have had to leave. SO, Jesse has written that Atem returned to his own time, but quickly found that being in the modern world had changed him to the point that he felt like a stranger in his own time. Therefore, he handed the ruling duties over to the next in line (Jesse didn't feel like figuring out who got it) and Atem was able to get Shadi to transport Atem back to Yugi's time. Atem now has his own body, and he is approximately 20 years old. He regrouped with the old gang and now lives with Yugi, who he shares a room with at the game shop.

With that said and done, hope no one minds the change! Onward to the fic!

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"Slifer! Dark Magician! NO!" Atem cried. His two signature monsters stood side by side, having just attacked the dark force that loomed before them. To Yugi's side was his long-time rival, Seto Kaiba, who had attacked with Obelisk the Tormentor and Blue-Eyes White Dragon. All four strikes had failed, and now a dark blast was heading straight at them. Atem braced for impact when suddenly the blast met a barrier of pure light. Trying to gaze through the light, Atem barely made out five figures right in front of the barrier, which had reformed from a solid wall into a colossal crescent moon. The five figures turned around, revealing their faces…

Atem shot up out of bed. All a dream…or so it would seem, the former Pharoah thought to himself. Deep inside, he knew it was no ordinary dream. It had been a little too real. The five he'd seen… he saw just enough to know that they were females. And what had the crescent moon meant? Why was Kaiba, of all people at his side instead of Joey or even Tea? Joey had two signature cards in his Red-Eyes Black Dragon and Gearfried The Iron Knight. Was it because of Obelisk? Too many questions came from one dream for Atem to notice Yugi sitting up.

"Something wrong, bro?" Yugi asked. Though they were obviously not of blood relation, Atem had developed such a close bond with Yugi during his stay in the Puzzle that they shared the same bond. As such, when Atem had returned he took on Yugi's last name and assumed the role of Yugi's brother and Solomon's second grandson.

Atem started. "I didn't notice you'd woken up, Yugi," He said. He then recounted his dream to the young King of Games, whose face became one of intent listening and understanding. When Atem, was finished, he furrowed his brow.

"I don't know, Pharoah. I mean, we've fought our share of dark forces," He said, his mind jumping from the spirit of the Millenium Rod to Dartz and finally to Zorc. "It's the five girls that throws me off. I mean, the only girls we really know are Tea, Mai, Serenity and Rebecca. That's only four, and as far as I know none of them have anything to do with the moon," Yugi added. Atem nodded in agreement.

"Well, hopefully it was just a dream. And even if it wasn't, I'm sure that we can face any kind of malevolent force that comes our way, but let's deal with that if the time comes. Right now I think we both need to just go back to sleep," Yugi said with a laugh. Atem smiled and nodded as they both laid down, but even as sleep took him again the one-time ruler couldn't shake the bad feeling that something was about to shake things up around Domino.

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The day was perfect. Atem and Yugi were on their way to meet their usual crew of friends and head off to the movies. As usual, the pair were wearing similar clothing, though Atem had finally dropped the cape from his typical wear. As they made their way through the streets, they spotted two or three Duels being played, not unusual to see in Domino City these days. Neither was the person that challenged Atem, a man that Atem estimated to be in his 20's. People challenged Atem by mistake all the time, thinking he was the King of Games when in reality Yugi held that honor.

"Perhaps another time? I'm off to meet friends," Atem politely declined. He made to walk past the man, but the challenger held out an arm.

"We will duel now, Pharoah," He said. Atem took a step back and gave the man a once-over. Now that Atem stopped to feel for it, he could feel darkness exuding from his would-be opponent, whose red eyes stared into Atem's own. His blonde hair curled at the front and feathered down the rest of the way around his head. "I know who you are close to. I know who and what you love. And if you refuse this duel, I will personally see to the destruction of everything you hold dear, starting with him," He said, pointing at Yugi.

"…Who are you?" Atem asked. He was wary, but he would not back down. The man gave a dark smile that even the spirit of the Millenium Ring would frighten of, raising his left arm to activate a Duel Disk.

"You may call me Jaedite. You will put your God card and Dark Magician on the line for this duel," Jaedite said. It wasn't a question, just a matter-of-fact statement. The former Pharaoh laughed out loud.

"And just what makes you think I'd do that? What makes you think that I won't just brush you off as a nut who wants a piece of me?" He challenged. Jaedite smirked, raised his right hand and aimed it at Yugi. Bolts of black lightning struck the boy, and even as he was being raised into the air to be held by it Atem noticed that the city around them was disappearing. "Wait! Where are you taking us?" He shouted.

"Oh, just back to my place in the Negaverse," Jaedite said casually. "You put up your cards, I put up your friend and way home," He said. Atem growled, but nodded knowing it was his only option as he activated his own Disk.

The Negaverse…? I've never heard of that before, Atem thought, looking around. They stood in front of a huge castle, and when the one-time ruler looked around he noticed that everything around him was full of darkness and negative force.

"It's been a while since I last dueled evil, but I believe the saying goes…" Atem smiled slightly. "Let's DUEL!"

Atem: 8000

Jaedite: 8000

"Since you're the challenger, I'll start this off," Atem announced, drawing six cards. Did you hear your names? He thought as he looked his hand over. Both Slifer and Dark Magician were there, as if calling to be put into action. "I summon Big Shield Gardna in defense mode!" He said as a warrior with an enormous shield shimmered into play (100/2600). "Two cards face down ends my turn," He added.

"A formidable first round, Atem," Jaedite commented as he drew. "I'll start by playing One For One! By discarding one Monster card to the Graveyard, I now Summon one Level 1 Monster from my Deck! Come forth, Unknown Synchron!" He said, sliding a card into his Graveyard and placing another on the field. A spherical device with two antennae and one eye appeared, floating in mid air (0/0). Atem furrowed his brow.

No attack or defense points? There must be some secret effect to it… Atem thought as he watched the sphere float.

"Next, I play the Spell card, Machine Duplication!" Jaedite announced. As he played the card, a factory production line appeared. "This card allows me to summon up to two of my Unknown Synchron from my Deck since it is a Machine with less than 500 ATK," He said. Two more Synchrons came down the line, each being put into play before the line vanished.

"And now, by sacrificing all three of these no-good scrap heaps, I summon this! Rise, Dark God! The Wicked Avatar!" Jaedite swept his three creatures off the field and slammed one onto his disk. From the shadows of the dimension surrounding them came a dark ball, which grew in size until it dwarfed either player. "For the next two of your turns, you may not activate Spells or Traps! But the real ability of the Avatar…" He said as the ball began to morph. Finally, it reshaped into the Big Shield Gardna, except it retained its immense size. "None of your monsters will be able to destroy it! Its ATK and DEF power are both always 100 points higher than the strongest monster you have! (200/2700)"

A continually shifting ability that makes it stronger than anything I play? And I can't even use my Spell or Trap cards… At least he can't get to me for now, Atem noted. "One face-down card ends my turn," Jaedite added. Atem looked down at his deck. Heart of the cards… guide me, He thought as he drew.