Disclaimer: I do not own the Yu-Gi-Oh or Yu-Gi-Oh GX characters. All rights belong to Konami and Studio Dice. However, the fantasy world and original characters are of my creation. Made some changes to the story including cards, characters, and timeline to fit what's happening in my main story. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy.

Artwork made by me on Midjourney.

Written in memory of Kazuki Takahashi R.I.P King of Games!

The Town of Pinewood

Kingslands, Emboldor — the Royal Road.

Ana. XX, Year 17 4AOS

"You must find a place to rest," said Yubel.

She hovered over Jaden in phantom form, watching him like a fiendish guardian as he traversed the dark rainy roads. Even though he was shrouded with a cloak with fabric enchanted to be water and cold-resistant, she was beginning to worry about him. He had been walking for days, non-stop, traversing the wilds.

"Rrrrrow!" meowed a fat, lazy, cat named Pharaoh. He poked his head out of Jaden's military-style bug-out bag, which he carried with one strap over his shoulder. His legendary sword was sheathed and hanging from the side of the pack, slapping against it with every movement he made. This annoyed the cat, causing him to go back into his pack, where it was nice and dry.

Jaden didn't answer her and continued marching across the forest. There were highwaymen said to stalk these roads, but Yubel already pitied the ones foolish enough to try and rob Jaden. He was a skilled fighter and he was getting the hang of mastering the art of conjuration, allowing him to summon the very monsters he used in his deck. Judging by the mood Jaden was in, he would have probably liked a good bandit encounter right about now. Sadly, this was the Royal Road, a route that was used frequently by traders of silks, spices, precious gems, ores, the sturdy wood known as Kingswood, and shipments full of Duel Monster cards.

Because of this, there were plenty of soldiers patrolling the road, meaning an attack from highwaymen was highly unlikely. Jaden walked by a few of them as he crossed a stone bridge over a waterfall. One of them grumbled as they walked by, holding up torches to light the way. No doubt he would have preferred to be back at the barracks by the fire with a plate of hot meat and cold beer. The thought of those few things caused Jaden's belly to rumble.

"Aw, great," he said.

"Good," said Yubel. "Perhaps you'd like to stop at an inn tonight. The map says there's a city nearby. You can stop there for the night."

"I guess so," Jaden replied.

Pharaoh stuck his head out of the pack again and opened his mouth. A round orb flew out. The orb was actually the spirit of his alchemy teacher from Duel Academia, Professor Lyman Banner. Or Amnael to some.

He hovered in front of Jaden's face, making him stop. The glow he created lit up the darkness of Jaden's hood, revealing heterochromia eyes. One was glowing gold and the other glowed in a dark phantom green color. His eyes were normally hazel brown and would change whenever he Dueled or was about to battle. Professor Banner guessed that because Jaden was angry, they have changed.

"Okay, okay," said Banner. "You're in a mood. I understand. She wasn't there, and I'm sorry. At least you freed some slaves from being sold to those bandits. You did some good for this world, child. Now stick your chin out and try again. Your friend is out here. We just have to keep on looking."

"Right," said Jaden. "I'm sorry, guys. I'll head straight for the nearest inn." He stood up on his toes, noticing a glow through the trees. "Say, there's the town. Pinehold. I've got to say, that was quicker than I thought."

Jaden reached into his pocket and stuffed a caramel cube into his mouth, hoping the sweet flavor would lighten his mood. He walked over another stone bridge that arched over a small waterfall that fell down from the mountain, meaning he was much closer to the town than he thought.

As he traversed further down from the mountain, he soon saw the warm glow of windows shining behind thick stone walls. Through the rain, wind, and thunder, he could make out the endless chatter of the townsfolk and then the ringing of the clock tower in the center of town, signaling that it was eight o'clock.

Jaden adjusted the strap of his duffle bag, his gear and sword clanked once again as if groaning to him to be careful. He took a deep breath, feeling upset that he had to make a stop for the night. However, the more he thought about the warm fire of the inn and hot meat in front of him, the hungrier he got, and the hungrier he got, the less important other things seemed to be. One time at Duel Academia, the magical high school he attended years ago, he was in a graduation match against Zane Truesdale, the Rank 1 student on campus. During the middle of the match, Jaden got hungry and asked for a time out and a bite to eat. It was a most unusual request but the match was an epic one, and everyone rushed to see to the needs of the two players to keep it going, even accepting Jaden's request to cook him a meal so he could get the energy he needed to keep playing. The memory of that even came back to him as he traversed down the hill to the town and he let out a chuckle one he approached the gates. However, as soon as he made it to the gates, he was stopped by a guard in red leather armor and a chainmail hauberk.

"Halt!" he said holding up his palm, arresting Jaden's progress. "Show me your papers."

"Yes, sir," Jaden said and handed him his official pass, marked with a wax seal bearing High Chancellor Pegasus's sigil.

"All right, everything's in order," said the guard. He handed back the pass. "Sorry if I was brusque with you. We need to stay on high alert. There's been talk of some very shadowy figures running about. Even the High Chancellor is sending out a warning to stay alert."

"No problem," said Jaden.

Since the main gates were closed for the night, the guard knocked on a wooden door near the barracks to let Jaden inside so he could enter another way. He looked over his shoulder, something he did more than usual these days when he entered big cities. He held on tightly to his backpack and dashed into the barracks.

Once he made it out, he thanked the guard and made his way into town.

He didn't know he was being followed. Every corner he walked, there were hooded ruffians standing in dark alleyways or leaning against iron lamp posts watching his every move. A bald one with a white eye looked to one of his friends on the roof and nodded reassuringly. The companion on the roof nodded back and drew a dagger from his cloak, signaling that he was coming down.

The bald man then gazed into an empty stable where three more men were hiding. One of them, a hook-nosed man, jerked his head toward the direction Jaden was walking. The bald man nodded and slid his finger across his throat.

Jaden took no notice of them and stormed into the inn called The Dancing Swan. After stepping through the doors, he was met by a blast of warm air from the five hearths burning bright. He smiled and sighed with relief, happy to be out of the cold, dark, forest and surrounded by people in the warm and cozy inn safe behind thick city walls.

Jaden slid his bag off his shoulder, and again his sword and gear clinked and jingled around. Pharaoh jumped out as soon as Jaden took the bag off so he could walk beside him. He carried his bag by the strap as he walked across the dining hall.

Six tables there were rented out for the night by a group of adventurers who were enjoying a merry feast. They were celebrating their successful campaign into an Ancient Norman ruin to retrieve a lost crown that was guarded by a terrible one-eyed monster called Hitotsu-Me Giant, who thought the crown made him king of the mountain.

The bard of their group was leaning against his chair, playing his flute as his companions; a knight, a paladin, a healer, an Elvish archer, a mage, and a beautiful summoner girl, were playing Duel Monsters on the table. They had a small black chest full of gold coins, the payment they received from the count for retrieving his treasure and ridding the town of the giant.

"Finally," said Yubel. "You made quite a bit of gold claiming the bounty on the Jade Arrow Bandits. Buy yourself a grand feast."

"I'm not that hungry," said Jaden. He merely told the red-haired waitress that he would settle for a bowl of popcorn with no butter and a pinch of salt.

Jaden looked around the inn, wondering about the stories each person had. There were some beggars sitting alone in the corners of the tavern, using the money they scraped up to buy a bowl of soup to warm themselves from the rain. The winds were blowing so fiercely that the walls of the inn creaked and moaned. Even the fires of the hearths shivered in the gale.

Ooooooo! Howled his Duel Spirit, a winged little furball called Winged Kuriboh. Jaden noticed the distress in his voice.

He was warning him about something.

Jaden looked from the corner of his eye and noticed a few men watching him from the darkest corners of the tavern. He saw two more scouting him in a sitting area by the third fireplace. He shifted his bag and sword closer. Despite the large weapon by his side, they didn't seem bothered. They were ready for a fight. One by one, they got up from their seats and started walking toward him. Jaden plopped the last piece of popcorn into his mouth. He grabbed the hilt as a final warning to keep them back. The blade ignited with rainbow flames.

Still...the men didn't stop.

Jaden's heart raced in his chest and his fingers eagerly drummed against the handle of the magical sword, demanding that Jaden take action at once. It was as if they were impatiently waiting for him to give them the command to kill, and he was close to making that decision, evermore now that Yubel was whispering in his mind, telling him the men were getting closer. The boar-like grunting of the brigands was so loud. Their steps were sharp, powerful, and full of eagerness, meaning the reward for taking him down must have been great. A few patrons knew that something foul was afoot and stormed out of the inn.

Just then, someone sat down in front of him. His hair was wide and long enough to obstruct the brigands from Jaden's view.

"Hello," said the spiky-haired man.

"Oooh!" went Banner.

"It's him," Yubel whispered softly.

"Master Yugi!" Jaden gasped.

"Mind if I join you?" Yami Yugi asked although he was already making himself comfortable.

The men knew who he was and backed away, running out of the inn with fright.

"Jaden Yuki," Yami said. "You look famished. I'll order something for you."

The waitress noticed Yami signaling her to come with his fingers. She sauntered to their table with a notepad ready for their order.

"Right then," said Yami. He gazed up at the ceiling, admiring the decorative vines covering the beams and the walls as he pondered what to order. "We'll start with beer. To save your little legs a constant trip back and forth from the kitchen, bring the whole keg. To go with the beer…"

"A whole keg?" the waitress asked aloud. "I presume you've got the gold to pay for this?"

Yami chuckled and threw a handsome leather pouch full of gold and silver coins and Star Chips with a chipped ruby. "The ruby's for you, dear."

"At your service, milord," said the girl. "Anything to go along with your keg of beer?"

Yami looked up again and tapped his lip with his fingertip. "Uhhh…uhhh…hmm. What do you propose to go along with the beer, young lady?"

"Cheese?" she risked with a shrug.

"Oh no," Yami said with a laugh. "The boy and I will have cheese for dessert. I think we could go for something salty to go along with the beer. Ah, that tray I once had here. The one with diverse meats, sausages, maple-glazed chicken, and steak. After that, we'll see."

"At your service," said the waitress.

Jaden and Yami Yugi feasted and drank into the late hours of the night. Jaden spoke of how bittersweet his graduation was. The loss of a friend they all held dearly. She was called Belladonna Wyvernheart, Princess of Serania, The Dragon Lands. Or she was until House Martin and an army of backstabbing Great Houses and mercenaries marched into her kingdom while she was studying at Duel Academia in her final year.

"She had a dragon that could have helped us all with the High King business," said Jaden. "Bahamut the Lord of all Dragons. She was chosen by the Dragon Goddess to wield that card. It was a special monster."

"I know." Yami drank the last of the beer and set his tankard down. "Bahamut is the son of the Dragon Goddess and mightiest of all dragons. Even the Blue-Eyes White Dragon bows to him."

"No joke?" Jaden asked. "Man, that is power."

"Indeed. And House Wyvernheart certainly was worthy of it."

"Yes," said Banner. "Long have they been a great ally of the High King. Since the days of Tiberius Pendragon have they guarded the Diamond Throne, the God Cards, and the Heart-EartH Crown with their very lives during times of interregnum. A family pure of heart with honor and courage that show no bounds. They have never been bribed, they have never betrayed the royal family, and they are always the first to march into battle when the High King calls for it. It does not surprise me that now, in these foul and confusing times, someone would want them wiped out."

"And they succeeded," Jaden replied glumly. "I wanted to lead an army to take back the kingdom. I even begged Zane to lend me some of his machines, even if it meant putting me in debt to the Termnnian Bank. But he said I shouldn't get involved. Even if we were to take back the kingdom, what would be the point? The House of Wyvernheart is extinct to put it in layman's terms. Well, I don't think so."

He leaned forward and whispered to Yami Yugi. "I heard that Belladonna was spotted wandering the Wilds of Gunhold. I've been looking for her for almost a year but I haven't found a thing."

Yami sat up in his chair and spoke softly. "I know how much this quest means to you, Jaden. But I fear we have to assume the worst." He took out a torn piece of parchment from a compartment in his cloak. "I ran into some shifty-looking figures on the Azure Highway. They presumed me to be some wandering merchant."

"I can already see the look of regret on their stupid faces," Yubel whispered.

Yami laid the parchment on the table and unfolded it.

"Oh!" Banner went.

Jaden's eyes widened in surprise as though he had seen the girl come back from the dead. He leaned forward over the table to get a better look at the parchment. "Belladonna!" He tried to make out the text on the poster but it was in Naralian and he couldn't read it. What beastly luck! he thought as he slammed his fist on the table. "Master, what is this?" Jaden asked hesitantly.

Yami straightened up in his chair and folded his arms as he gave Jaden a very stern look. "It's a notice with a promise of payment."

"For what?"

"Her head."

"Augh!" Jaden gasped.

"Ever since Belladonna fled from Duel Academia to reclaim the kingdom and unlock Bahamut from the card, she has been hunted down by bounty hunters and other vagabonds. If she was indeed spotted here, Jaden, then I fear she may be long gone by now. It has been a year as you have said. The Azure Highway curves over the borders around these lands."

"This must have been recent," said Yubel. "The bounty hunters are still looking for her. Jaden. Your friend may yet be alive. At least you can rest easy knowing that."

"I guess."

"Leave this task behind you, Jaden. Songs of a Dragon Summoner have been heard in the dreams of Dragon Temple Priestesses. Something big is happening. And if Belladonna truly has a destiny with Bahamut, then I know within my heart that she will be safe. Bahamut is no Winged Kuriboh, Jaden. She's in good hands."

"So what am I supposed to do now?" Jaden asked.

"I have another individual for you to look after. One of great significance in our fight against the dark forces of the Perfect Goddess. She is a Priestess who serves in the temple of the Goddess of Love. Find her. And when you do, make sure she does not leave your side."

In Loving Memory of the High King himself, Kazuki Takahashi.

I would have posted this a little sooner but I, unfortunately, tested positive for COVID the same day Mr. Takahashi passed away. I'm getting better now and I worked up the strength to sit down and type a few words for the King of Games.

T hank you for brightening up every Saturday during my grade school days and creating the game that introduced me to so many friends and made so many memories.

I honestly don't know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for you, sir. The Yu-Gi-Oh TCG, anime, and Manga, have shined some light on some very dark days and pulled me out of some very hard times. Times where I felt like it was the end. But it was because of the friends I made playing this game and writing silly fanfiction about the show that I was able to pull through and wake up to a new day. I made friends both here and far away. Some in the neighborhood, some at school, and some even as far away as Greece and Spain thanks to the masterpiece you've created.

All of us are going to miss you dearly. One of my friends escaped the gang life because of Yu-Gi-Oh, another found her passion for art, but most importantly, it made us all into a family that lasted for a decade. And it's all because of you.

Rest easy legend. May the heart of the cards guide you to the other side.