HA! Updates twice in the same month, getting better at this!

(Edit 7/16/2021: …oh you sweet summer child…)

There is a moment in this chapter where you will do a double take. You'll know it when you cross it. Trust me, there is an explanation coming in a future update—for now, I shall leave you in suspense and confusion. Besides, if I gave everything away at once that wouldn't be much fun at all, would it?

*prepares to dodge thrown projectiles*

Once again, thanks for your reviews! I'm happy for all the praise and the concrit I'm getting - I hope I continue to meet expectations, haha!

Content warning: painful curse breaking ahead.

If the group had not clearly known that she did not have wings, most of those in the clearing would have thought Téa had grown them. In seconds, she had crossed the clearing and had practically tackled Yugi before anyone could register what had happened. "Yugi!"

There was a startled yelp from the short magic caster, and they could see the dusting of color across his features. His arms rose almost of their own accord, coming around to circle Téa; there was a subtle shift of Téa's arms as she returned the hug, careful not to harm her friend.

They missed whatever it was that Téa said in Yugi's ear, but as he pulled back there was a concerned look on his face. "I didn't mean to worry you," he said gently. "I—"

Téa put her fingers to his lips and shook her head, brushing her tears away with a free hand. "I don't care about that! I thought…I thought you were gone, Yugi," she whispered.

Yugi's expression softened as he moved Téa's hand away. "I tried to recover as fast as I could…"

There was a shaky laugh from the dancer and she shook her head. "Don't apologize, Yugi," she said, hugging him again. "I'm happy you're back."

There was a moment of silence, and then Yugi reluctantly stepped away from Téa. His gaze traveled around the clearing to those gathered. "I'm sorry I was away for so long—"

"It's as Téa says. No one here faults you for your absence, Yugi," said Ryou, his voice quiet but reassuring. "You were badly injured—you're lucky it wasn't any worse."

Yugi sobered. His gaze started on Rishid and ended on Alister. "There's some new faces here."

"You're not entirely surprised to see us," Alister commented.

Yugi laughed. "Yami was keeping me in the loop as best as he could," he explained. "I have my own questions, but I can ask those later. I have more important priorities now," he said, his eyes going to Jou. "There's a curse that needs to be broken."

The dragon immediately shook his massive head with a sound of protest. He was not the only one alarmed by this announcement. Ryou and Marik both started to speak at once; Téa blanched, eyes widening; and Bakura's own eyes narrowed, something unreadable on his face. Alister and Valon were uneasy themselves, and Marik's siblings were exchanging confused glances.

It was the sudden reappearance of Yami in the clearing, separate from Yugi and transparent but no less present, that quieted the din. "Yugi, you have only just recovered. It's too dangerous to break a complicated curse in your condition, especially when you're barely standing," he said severely. His voice carried through the clearing.

Yugi faced Yami then, his eyes flashing. "Dangerous or not, I can't let this go! It's getting worse, Yami. You can see it, can't you? Jou's slipping away—we're losing him."

All eyes shot to the dragon, who promptly ducked his head. "What do you mean?" Valon asked at last. "Jou looks jus' fine to me."

"Physically, he's fine," Yugi said, shooting Jou a worried glance of his own. "But…"

He pulled out a bag from the belt on his side, poured a measured amount of white sand into his hand, and murmured a spell under his breath. A portion of the sand flew from his hand and formed into a miniature version of Jou; the sand went from alabaster white to obsidian and two red dots formed Jou's eyes.

The rest of the white sand rose, forming lines in the air surrounding the smaller Jou. An aquamarine line wound itself around the tiny dragon's throat and snout, also forming a small circle on the dragon's forehead. Red lines wound themselves around the entire body of the dragon, while the remaining sand formed into a blue human shape that set itself squarely in the center of its chest.

"That's what the spells looked like before I was attacked," Yugi began. As he spoke, Yami disappeared, likely returning inside the Puzzle. "The aquamarine is the gag spell, and the curse keeping Jou as a dragon is marked in red. Those are the most prominent of the curses binding him."

"So that blue sand is Jou?" asked Sivya.

"Not quite. That blue sand represents Jou's true self. That's what makes Jou who he is," Yugi said grimly. "Without it, Jou would forget he's human. He would really turn into a dragon if that part of him is lost."

"You said that what we're seeing was the condition of the curses before you were hurt," said Marik, a note of unease coloring his voice. "What do they look like now?"

Yugi hesitated, then waved his hand. He looked thoroughly unhappy as he did so. "This."

The red and green lines thickened into a blanket that surrounded the sand version of Jou. The blue sand shrank in size, to the point where one had to squint to see it against the red and green that ensconced the miniature dragon.

A collective gasp and murmur rose, followed shortly by Valon suddenly whirling on the dragon. "Jou, why didn' you say anything sooner?" he snapped. "Cripes, if we'd known we woulda worked on tha' spell faster!"

"I don't know how recent this change is, but it may pertain to Mai," Yugi said sadly. "Something's happened to her that's caused the curses to accelerate. If we waste any more time, we risk losing Jou. I can't stand by and do nothing, not when he needs us."

A stunned silence fell. Overhead several birds chirped and flew from branch to branch, causing a few leaves to fall. A fairy light flitted close to Téa's hand; she lifted her hand to try and catch it, only for the light to float away.

"If nothing is done, we lose Jou forever. If we do something about it, though, we risk killing Yugi," said Alister at length, breaking the silence. "Damned if we do and damned if we don't, in other words. Great."

"I meant what I said earlier. I can break the spell now that we know Jou's real name," said Yugi firmly, his eyes flashing. "I'll need help from Yami and Bakura, but I'm confident I can do it."

"Yugi, all it would take is one backlash from the curse and you'd be finished," Ryou pointed out. "You're barely standing on your own right now."

"And Jou will die if I don't try. Not all deaths are physical ones," said Yugi. "I'll be using magic circles to keep the backlash at a minimum, but I could use additional help. That's where Yami and Bakura come in."

The thief grunted. "And why would I help?" he asked. "What obligation do I have to help you?"

Yugi continued to gaze evenly at the white-haired man, then folded his arms when Bakura made no indication of changing his mind. "Aside from the Millennium Puzzle, I'll give you any item in my shop without question if you help us break Jou's curse and help take back Jou's kingdom."

Bakura straightened up, his eyes gleaming. "Any item?"

"Any."

"…Very well, little Yugi. We have an accord," said Bakura. "What must be done?"

Yugi took a moment to return the magical sand, then turned to face Bakura. "I need you to go to the Turtle Shop. There's a cabinet upstairs, all holding white sand in them. I need all the bags, since it's used for making magic circles," he explained. He held up the bag containing the sand as demonstration.

"And I suppose you want me to fetch these bags?"

"Yes. Don't take anything else, Bakura. There are anti-theft charms that my grandfather cast. You don't want to be on the wrong end of those spells."

Bakura's eyebrows arched. "I despise being made into an errand boy, but I'll make an exception this once. I'll return shortly," he replied, and with a small burst of shadow he vanished from the clearing.

Alister took this chance to catch Yugi's attention. "Is there a way for you to find out what happened to Raphael?" he asked. Beside him, Valon's own gaze sharpened and he sat straighter.

Yugi shook his head sadly, his expression radiating an apology. "I've tried scrying the castle before. There's wards in place and they won't allow me in, not without me having to break them. I'd have to be there in person to break those wards, but I'd give myself away and risk everyone's safety."

"There's gotta be somethin' you can do!" Valon burst out. "We don' know wha's goin' on up there! We don't know wha' this git's up to, we don' even know what's happenin' to Raph! Couldn' you try to break tha' gag spell on him from 'ere?"

Yugi frowned, studying Alister intently. "There's remnants of the spell on Alister," he murmured. "If I use him as a focal point, I might be able to reverse it."

The Puzzle gleamed at Yugi's neck, and the magic caster's gaze shifted downwards. There was a moment of silence, and then Yugi's shoulders dropped. His eyes went back to Alister. "Yami just pointed out that there's a chance of triggering the spell instead of breaking it," he said quietly.

"So?"

"That's not ideal," Marik said suddenly. "I've seen what it can do when it's triggered. It happened to Jou, and he was very badly hurt. Aside from the curse Jou was healthy and hale when that happened—but what of Raphael, or Elya, or anyone under that spell? If Raphael isn't dead yet, I'm willing to bet he's been badly hurt. He could be injured even worse when we accidentally trigger that spell. Is risking his life worth the benefit?"

"…No." Valon's reply was reluctant, and he still looked torn between agreeing with them and rushing the castle.

Yugi didn't miss Valon's expression. "If Raphael is still alive, I will find a way to help him. You have my word."

"I know you will," said Alister quietly after a moment's pause. "You've always pulled through when you're needed most. We'll do as you say—for now."

Yugi offered them an encouraging smile before turning to the others gathered in the clearing. "All right, I need help," he announced. He pulled out a piece of paper from a pocket in his cloak and opened it up, showing them what was on it.

A large circle filled the page, drawn in green ink; there was a smaller circle within it that was connected to the larger outer circle, also drawn in green ink. Four smaller circles were drawn onto the larger green ones in red, each facing north, south, east, and west; triangles were drawn into these smaller circles, with golden runes lining each of the three sides. All four of these circles were bound together by white runes, outlined in pale blue ink.

"This is a spellbinding circle. There's also a magic jamming circle I'm planning to use. Given its nature, I'd rather not have a drawing of that one lying around. I'll draw that one out when Bakura comes back. Point is, when these two circles are combined it will keep Jou inside while canceling out most of the backlash."

Ryou gave a low whistle, visibly impressed. "Even if Dartz or Ishtar are watching, they cannot interfere if you have a magic jamming circle. Add a spellbinding circle to the mix, and the backlash should be almost nonexistent," he said.

Marik still looked doubtful. "And you're sure these circles will work?" he asked. "You'll only get one chance."

"There's still room for error, but not much," Yugi replied, looking confident. "This is where I need help. I need as much room for these circles as I can get, and to do that I need this clearing emptied. I'd use magic, but right now I need to save as much energy as I can—maintaining this many circles is going to be taxing."

Rishid rose to his feet before anyone could react. "What is it that you require of us?"

Yugi started, caught off guard by the sudden motion. "You're Marik's older brother, aren't you?" he asked, after a moment's pause. "I haven't had a chance to meet you or your sister properly. I'm happy to see both of you here. You two can stay seated if you like—you've had a long journey. Alister, you almost died this morning. You should rest as well."

All three of them shook their heads. "I'm fine, Yugi," said Alister, speaking first. "I can help."

"Rishid and I also want to help. I appreciate your concern, however," said Ishizu graciously.

Yugi smiled at them with noted appreciation. He then turned to Sivya. "I need to speak with you in private. Yami wanted to ask you a question."

Sivya looked startled, but she nodded and rose to her feet; Marik frowned at Yugi, his expression showing distinct suspicion, but he didn't speak. Once she had joined Yugi's side, the shorter man looked to everyone remaining in the clearing.

"Alister, Valon, Marik, put out the fire and move the cauldron away. Ryou, you and Rishid shift the firewood and the logs everyone was sitting on to a different place.

"Once that's done, I'll need Ishizu and Téa to mark out the design that's on this paper with rocks and sticks. When everything's been moved, I'll need people to supply them with said rocks and sticks. I ask that you do not close the outer circle when you're drawing these out. That is vitally important, because if it's closed the circle will activate. Jou, you're best to stay where you are—this isn't going to be an easy venture."

"All right, guys, that's pretty much all I need done," said Yugi, looking suddenly sheepish. "I'm sorry for all the orders, but—"

"We know, Yugi, no worries," said Valon, the semblance of a grin on his face. "Do what you gotta do, boss."

Yugi smiled back, then turned to Téa. He gave her the parchment with the magic circles and watched everyone start on their assigned tasks, making sure they did not need his help before turning to Sivya. His smile faded as he looked up at her.

Sivya was about to speak when she noticed that Yugi's eyes had turned red, and he was noticeably taller than before. "Yami?" she guessed.

His head dipped. "You've gotten good at noticing the shift," he said, a small smile on his features. The smile did not last long.

Sivya frowned at him. "You wanted to talk to me?"

"Yes." Yami seemed hesitant, weighing his words before speaking. "Let me start by saying this: I am about to ask something of you, and you do have the freedom to say no. I will not be angry. I will not make you feel guilty for refusing. My request is one that will directly put you in danger, and if you are caught there will be no one who can save you. There is a good chance that capture will equate to death."

From behind Yami came a startled yelp, and both turned to watch as Valon started waving his now-on-fire boot frantically. Alister and Marik hurried to help, snapping for the younger Aurosian to remain still as they tried to put out the fire.

"Some things do not change. Valon's luck with fire is still abysmal," Yami murmured, humor in his voice. Sivya herself started to smile, though Yami's words were still weighing on her mind.

Whatever Yami was about to ask for her to do was clearly dangerous, and in fact she felt that she already knew what he was about to ask. There was so much risk, but…but there were others here who had risked their lives as well, to help those they cared about.

Why couldn't she?

"What is it you would have me do, Yami?" she asked, meeting his gaze as he turned to her.

"You have not even heard what my request is. That's dangerous within itself—you'd be wise not to agree to anything ambiguous."

"I think I already know what you want." Sivya lifted her chin. "I know the risks. Let me help."

Yami studied her intently, then sighed and stepped back. "Very well. I will fill you in, but it is best if Bakura or the others do not know what I'm about to task you with. The less who know, the better."

"Lord Duke! Lord Duke!"

Duke had no idea what his father had been thinking when naming him. He'd named his son after a title of royalty, when he had been born into it—but then again, his father had gone mad and at one point had donned a jester's costume, so he could not totally fault the man. At least it wasn't a completely stupid name.

"I've been over this before," he sighed, looking over at the man who had just run into his chambers. He had just gotten done dressing, thankfully. "Master Duke, Your Highness, Lord Devlin—I'll respond to anything except 'Lord Duke'."

"Apologies, but I'm afraid there's more important matters at hand. There's a situation at the gate."

Duke raised an eyebrow as he finished tying his vest closed. "Is it a threat to this castle?"

"No, but—"

"Then it's not necessarily a bad thing." He pulled his hair back into its customary ponytail before turning to face him. Noting the troubled look on the other man's face, however, he frowned. "You seem to think it is."

"It's your cousin's lady-in-waiting. She must have ridden through the storm in the night, but she's here and she's alone."

Alarm immediately replaced annoyance. "What do you mean she's here by herself?" he asked sharply. "Where's Princess Mai? Did she say why she's here?"

"We've only gathered that there was an urgent message for you, and that it's from Princess Mai. She collapsed before we could ask any further. We already have a healer seeing to her, but I could be some time before she revives."

"Where is she?"

"It's a spare bedroom nearby the main hall. It's small, but we were concerned for her and decided to place her in the nearest comfortable room—"

Duke did not allow him to finish, shoving the doors to his chambers open and striding down the hall. His attendant followed, almost jogging to keep up with Duke's long, hurried strides. "Duke, sir, what does it mean?"

"Something's happened in Hermos, that's what. Vivian would never willingly leave my cousin by herself," he replied shortly. His eyes were flashing as he spoke. "If Vivian is here alone, it means trouble."

Bakura materialized outside of where the Turtle Shop had formerly been with barely a sound, the Shadows swirling around him. Several birds took off into the sky at his presence, fearful of the Shadow magic. He eyed the blank space where the building had been dispassionately. He didn't need the Ring to know that there were enchantments hiding the Turtle Shop, but he did need it to dispel the Shadows guarding its location.

All magic held sentience, fueled by those who had cast it, but Shadow magic especially held its own. It also functioned as its own communication system, he'd long ago discovered, and he was about to use it to his advantage.

Bakura put his hand on his hips, addressing the clearing at large. "While I appreciate your concern in guarding this hovel, I can't get to it without breaking your barrier, Yami," he said aloud. "I don't think Yugi would much appreciate me doing that in his current condition. Let it down, would you?"

This was a bluff. Truthfully, Yami would be more affected by Bakura forcing his way past the barrier than Yugi would—but he didn't have time for Yami's defensive posturing, and this was the best way to cut past it.

At first nothing seemed to happen. He felt the tension in the clearing thicken as the air in front of him rippled and warped. A small opening appeared, the Turtle Shop coming into view through the hole moments later. It seems he's listening after all.

He stepped through the hole, turning to watch as the Shadows closed back over; from inside this barrier, he could see out into the forest, but he knew others outside it could not see inside it. Yami had been clever in hiding it.

There had been no other defensive spells placed; it seemed that most of them had been undone after Yugi's collapse. Nothing stopped Bakura as he made his way into the shop and up the stairs, barely sparing a glance for anything aside from the cabinet that Yugi had described. It had been one that he'd often tried accessing before, knowing that was where some of the rarer magical items were kept.

He opened the doors with a casual flick of his wrist, his eyes searching for the bags of sand. Normally he'd contemplate stealing something from the cabinet, but there was no challenge in it—the best prizes were earned by hard work, not by lazy errand fetching.

Briefly, his gaze halted on the ornate box where he knew the shard of Orichalcum lay. Orichalcum was not an easy material to find, as it was jealously guarded by its keeper. He did not trust that man as far as he could throw him, but the power of the orichalcum…he lifted the lid of the box and studied the small stone sitting on the pillow.

Would you care to try my power, O Mighty King?

Bakura retreated a step at the sound of the aristocratic voice that rose from the stone, his eyes slitting. "Thanks, but I'm good with using one sentient magical item," he said stiffly, reaching over and closing the lid of the box.

He studied the box, frowning at it for several moments, and then he tore his gaze away. He grabbed the seven large sandbags and affixed them to his belt, closed the cabinet door, and started back the way he'd come.

"Bakura's taking his time," Marik commented with a frown.

The group had finished setting up the circles and had been awaiting Bakura's return. Sivya had quietly left while everyone had been working, but when he was asked Yugi only had said he was not certain where she had gone. He had seemed genuinely concerned about his answer, which implied that Yami had been involved somehow; it seemed Yami had blocked Yugi from seeing what he was doing. Marik and his siblings were bothered by the response, but there was not much anyone could do since she had already gone.

Yugi paused in what he was doing. He had been reading the story book that Téa and Yami had brought back from the shop, but at the comment he looked up. "He should be at my shop, but you're right. He's taking too long to come back," he said.

"I'm not even that late," Bakura said irritably, stepping into the clearing. "The only reason I'm not back sooner is because you decided to guard the shop with Shadow magic."

Yugi blinked. "I am?" he asked, surprised.

"That was Yami's doing," Téa said. "Castle guards were going to the shop to try and arrest Yami, so he said he'd deal with them. That's when the barrier went up."

"Deal with…"

Yugi trailed off and tilted his head, listening to something only he could hear. They saw him frown in disapproval before he gave a tired sigh. "If you say so, Yami," he muttered.

He turned to Bakura and said, "Did you bring what I asked?"

"Everyone always seems to doubt me. It was a simple fetch quest, magic caster, not an epic journey," came the annoyed retort. Bakura held up the bags in his hands before dropping them on the ground. As an afterthought, he pulled out a staff from behind his back and tossed it carelessly at Yugi.

The shorter wizard caught it and beamed at the thief. "Thank you, Bakura."

"Don't mention it, and don't make me do it again."

"Any reason we need this much sand?" Alister asked, frowning at the bags. "You only said you needed it for your spells, but I don't see how."

"Well…again, I'd best show you rather than explain. Everyone, stand clear of the circle," said Yugi. He waited until the others had retreated a safe distance away from the circle drawn on the ground before he lifted his staff over the now-open bags. "Creao."

The sand rose from the bags in thin threads and flew upwards, each thread coming together before dropping down to the ground; each thread moved to trace the circles Ishizu and Téa had outlined earlier. The sand encased the sticks and stones, creating perfect lines; when the bags had been halfway emptied, each stone and stick were hidden by a smooth layer of perfect white sand.

Valon gave an impressed whistle. "Tha's cool," he said. He frowned and tilted his head. "Shouldn't it 'ave changed color, though?"

"Once I close the circles, it will," said Yugi. He lifted his staff over the bags, once again speaking the command. More sand rose and formed two circles above the outline of the spell-binding circle, runes starting to spell themselves out in the edges of the circles above them. An intricate web of lines and runes began forming inside the circle.

Yugi's hand shot sharply downwards. The sand in the air dropped on top of the spell-binding circle, both circles closing simultaneously. Instantly the sand flared to life, reds and golds lining the magic jamming circle and the spell-binding circle; the remaining white sand gained a pale blue edge to it as th e runes lit up in the center. Yugi's eyes remained on the sand, his hands flicking minutely to make last minute adjustments. Satisfied, he turned to the group.

"You've got to close the circles at the same time," explained Yugi with a weary smile. "Magic jamming circles prevent any magic from escaping the circle, while spell-binding circles hold an individual in place. If I tried creating one circle separately from another, Jou wouldn't be able to enter the circles at all."

He sobered. "I need to warn you. Once I start, I can't stop. Breaking a curse is an all-or-nothing process, and it's dangerous depending on how strong it is. I need to concentrate, so please don't distract me."

Yugi then turned to Jou, who had risen to his feet slowly and was eyeing the circles warily. "Jou, you have my word that I'll do everything I can to keep you safe," he said solemnly.

Jou's expression shifted, slowly nodding.

After taking a deep breath, Yugi stepped forward and set the bottom of his staff on top of the outer circle. Light rose and illuminated the circles, casting eerie shadows on the ground; above them, the sunlight dimmed and the animals in the clearing fell silent.

"Prince Jousef of Hermos, enter when you are ready."

Yugi's voice was thrumming with authority and magic, all traces of his shy demeanor gone. His voice carried around the clearing, yet he wasn't yelling. Invisible pressure started to settle on everyone's shoulders as magic began charging the air around them.

Jou hesitated, staring at the glowing circles. There was a lot of magic rising from those circles, and even more room for error in the counterspell. If the curse rebounded on Yugi, it would certainly kill him. If the curse didn't break, it meant Jou was condemned to losing himself within a dragon's body.

Jou was not a coward, but there was no shame in admitting that he was scared.

He grit his teeth. Mai needed him to break this curse. His sister needed him to break this curse. The two most important women of his life, his kingdom, the guards who'd sacrificed so much by standing with him…they needed him, and he couldn't afford to let his fear stop him from trying to break free.

There's worse ways to go.

Jou took a soft breath, steadying his nerves. His eyes met Yugi's, and as he stepped into the circles he lifted his head high. His eyes traveled to those around him, hoping that he didn't appear as scared as he felt.

It wasn't until his body was fully inside both circles, tail curling around him, when the first wave of magical pressure hit him. He let out a startled whine, eyes shooting to Yugi once again.

"It's all right, Jou, that's normal," Yugi assured him quietly. "Just try to stay still."

The circles lit up, a myriad of colors glittering around the clearing; shadows were cast and iridescent flares of light began dancing across the grass and trees. The spell-binding circle rose around him, flipping in the air to circle around his stomach. The pressure skyrocketed, the magic binding him beginning to clash with Yugi's own spellwork. This time he couldn't fully bite back a yelp of pain.

Here we go…!

Yugi gripped his staff tightly in his hands, bringing it down into the grass. "Revelum Incantatum!"

Lines began forming on Jou's body, the same ones Yugi had shown them on the miniature. Green lightning instantly began crackling menacingly along the edges of the spell-binding circle, held back only by the magic-jamming circle. None of it reached Yugi; even as more than one bolt of lightning slammed into the barrier, he did not waver or flinch. He couldn't afford to—one misstep would lead to the magic escaping.

By now Jou was in real pain. The pressure was crushing, the lightning was blinding and sharp, and he felt like his blood was practically boiling; red light was shining through his scales, and his skin felt as if it were being pulled taut, to the point he felt it would rip.

"Finite Modestus Sileo!" Yugi called, his voice thrumming with magic.

The green-tinted spell around Jou's throat began unraveling, floating in the air around Jou's neck and head. A loud buzzing began filling Jou's ears and his head began to throb in agonizing waves.

He barely heard Yugi's voice when it called out another counterspell. "Finite Verto Draconis!"

Now Jou was in pain.

His body began uncontrollably contracting on itself, forcing Jou into a ball that was growing smaller by the second. It was as if his bones were melting, as if someone were rearranging his insides. His scales began falling away, pain lighting each spot that they fell from. A pained scream, half human and half draconic, broke from his throat as his spine began to try and straighten inside the ball he was currently tucked into.

Smoke began obscuring his vision, and it took Jou several seconds to realize it was coming from his shrinking body. He felt the atmosphere around him change as smoke continued to escape his body. He cast a watery gaze to the green spell above him. The lines that had previously been around his throat had formed into the familiar green circle that he knew was glowing on his head.

He knew what it meant. He'd seen it when he'd initially been cursed.

Dartz had set a trap.

YUGI!

The Seal flared to life and a green blast of energy slammed into the circles. Jou was swallowed by the light and—

Yugi had known this would not be an easy thing to do. He'd seen how tightly the spell-binding circle had wound itself around Jou the moment the dragon had entered the circle, and the pressure rising around him had threatened to buckle his knees. Even those warnings had done little to prepare him for the sheer power of the curse trapped in the circles. It had channeled itself through the staff from the moment Jou had stepped inside. His arms had trembled the entire time he'd been casting the spells.

He had closed his eyes on purpose. He knew what was going to happen to Jou, and guilt wrenched through him as he heard Jou's cries of pain. Even so, he kept his focus directed at his task. If he looked and broke concentration, then he would kill them both. He had to finish what was started—they were past the point of stopping.

Yugi had tuned out everyone behind him, but it was not until he felt a burst of Shadow magic erupt from both behind him and from the Puzzle that he opened his eyes. His gaze landed squarely on the green magic circle spinning rapidly inside the barriers.

He managed to keep his focus on the spells as he continued to cast them, but his eyes never left the new circle. Dartz must have planted a trap spell on Jou, one that would activate only when the curse was being broken. It had still managed to activate even inside of his magic jamming circle.

If there was ever a doubt about the powers of the so-called Master of Orichalcum, Yugi no longer harbored them.

There was a flare of alarm as the smoke inside the circle rose over Jou, trapping him inside it and out of Yugi's sight; the smoke was a thick blanket, hiding almost everything from view. Seconds later, an explosion of green light nearly blinded him as Dartz's spell blasted outward. If not checked, it would hurt innocent people behind him.

Protection from physical harm. Protection from evil. Protection from destruction. Contain the magic, reverse its course.

The spells flew from his mouth almost instinctively and Yugi felt the charge rising in the air around him, the top of his staff alight as the spells formed a shield around the people behind him. He fought to keep the magic contained in the circle, even as his legs quaked and sweat soaked his bangs. It had been hard enough fueling the circles, and now he was fighting to contain the errant magic.

There was already so much light, but a new golden one shone from beneath Yugi's face. He felt the Puzzle start to spin. Support braced him, his legs firming and his trembling hands stilling as ghostly ones overlapped them.

Yami was loaning him his strength, he realized. The magical pressure eased as the Millennium Puzzle around his neck began to glow, the errant energies being forced back and into the circles. Yami wasn't draining Yugi at all, instead relying on his own innate power and Shadow magic to contain Dartz's spell.

At the same moment, Yugi saw a motion at his side. Bakura had come to his right, his Ring alight as his body started to blur. Shadows sprang forth, wrapping itself in a ring around the magic circles. The Shadows swallowed it entirely, bathing almost the entire clearing in darkness and pushing everyone aside from Yugi out into the forest, obscuring their view of the circles.

I have you, Yugi, and the thief is helping to protect our friends. Focus your efforts on freeing Jousef.

Yugi nodded to acknowledge Yami's words, effortlessly changing the target of his protective spells as he felt for Jou's presence within the smoke; the staff he held had not only connected him to the magic of his own circles, but it also connected him to the magic binding Jou.

He found Jou's presence, felt but not seen. He also could feel a massive amount of power preventing him from intervening; it wouldn't disperse, not even when Yami and Bakura attempted to dispel the concentration of magic with their own.

Yugi's lips pressed into a thin line. He could not stop Dartz's spell, whatever it was doing, but he could offer Jou support. He took in a deep breath and gathered his magic again. He diverted it away from the outer parts of the circles, forcing it to where he could feel the coil of magic trapping Jousef. He began murmuring the counterspells, his gazes locked on the smoke hiding Jou.

Protection from physical harm. Protection from evil. Protection from destruction. Protection from deception.

Good fortune be on his side, strength be given, guide him through the dark. End the gag spell, end the spell of draconic transformation. End Dartz's curse and return Jousef to his true form.

Protection from harm, protection from evil, protection from destruction…

The first thing he became aware of was that he was no longer a dragon. Even better, he wasn't hurting anymore.

Jou opened his eyes and slowly sat up. It was dark in here, the silence eerie and the atmosphere smothering and almost too dark. A quick look around confirmed he was alone; he could hear a low hum of energy, and there was still the heavy pressure of magic hanging around him.

He forced himself to his feet, squinting through the dark. He could see the outline of his talons and could feel the horns over his ears. He must be caught in that weird transitional stage that new moon always brought. How was he—?

That was the moment he also realized something else: he was naked.

"Aw hell," he muttered, his face flushing as his tail curled around his waist. He looked around, squinting in the dark and trying to find anything familiar. "Guys, if you are in here, I'm sorry for the show!"

The only thing that greeted him in reply was an eerie silence.

He scowled and folded his arms. "Oh, this is great. I died, didn't I?" he asked aloud. "I knew it. I'm dead, and now I'm going to have to haunt Jean Claude for the rest of my days. Dammit, I don't even like ghosts!"

An unpleasant laugh echoed around him.

Being a dragon for so long had sharpened his instincts. His talons flashed at his side in a defensive posture, fangs bared and a snarl ripping out of his throat even before he could find the stranger. "All right, who's there?" he yelled. "I know the voices of my friends, and you ain't one of 'em!"

Another laugh came, this one directly behind him and almost in his ear.

He snarled in surprise, spinning on his feet. He froze at the sight of the large oval mirror that was floating in the air in front of him. The glass was glowing, a small pinpoint of light in an otherwise smothering darkness, and he found himself slowly moving towards it.

What was a mirror doing here? How had a mirror gotten here? Was it from Yugi? No, he was sure he'd know it if it was from the magic caster. So who had put it here?

As he got closer, he found there was no reflection; the glass looked hazy, as if mist was inside the mirror. He examined it from all sides, even tapping it with a hesitant talon. The mirror remained still and silent.

Jou sighed, trying to ignore the chill creeping along his arms as he stared at it. "You aren't creepy at all," he muttered. After several long moments of staring at it, a rueful grin stretched across his face. "Mirror mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of all?"

He had been about to laugh when that unpleasant voice said, "Certainly not you, idiot."

Jou took several quick steps away from the mirror, his eyes widening as goosebumps began prickling his arms. "Oh come on, no creepy ghost stuff," he moaned. "I'd rather stay cursed!"

"Coward."

Jou stiffened, fear and discomfort immediately gone as anger rose within him. "Who're you callin' a coward?" he said fiercely, stalking forward. "I'm not about to be called names by some freaky mirror!"

He reached the mirror, but this time instead of blank glass his reflection was showing.

Jou froze as he registered his reflection. "Wait…that's me…what…?"

His reflection may have had his face, but Jou did not recognize the person inside it. His blonde hair was combed and neat, rather than his preferred tousled style, and he wore a black silk turtleneck with red trim. An emerald amulet hung about his neck and his large golden crown was lined with strange glowing green gems. His eyes were not their customary brown, but a deep shade of red; his skin was no longer sun-tanned, instead an alabaster white.

"…I'm lost," he managed at last.

The footsteps behind him were the only warning he had. Jou violently started, nearly falling over as he scrambled away. Seconds later he snarled as his eyes landed on the other man standing behind him. "YOU."

The newcomer was clothed in closed white and blue robes with padded shoulders, his sleeves cuffed and his collar raised. A long white cloak trailed behind him, his light blue hair falling just above his knees and tied at the bottom. On his forehead was a fragment of orichalcum; there was a larger Orichalcum medallion sitting on his chest. His eyes—one gold, the other the same shade as the orichalcum he wore—glinted in the darkness.

"It has been some time, Prince Jousef. It's nice to see you in such good health," the man said, something condescending in his voice. "How are you?"

Jou snarled, a fist forming as he lunged for the man—

—only for him to stumble through him, falling to the ground in a tangled heap.

"Come now, surely you don't think I'm so foolish to put myself in range of your claws?" Dartz chided. "I have the ability to appear over distances. All I need is my seal, and I can appear as a shade wherever I please."

"Worth a shot," Jou spat, his voice rich with anger. "What do you want anyways, you slimy creep? And what's with the mirror? Who's that supposed to be?"

Dartz's eyebrows rose. "I would think that obvious. Surely my curse hasn't altered your mental faculties that badly."

"Yeah? Last I checked, I didn't look like that," he snapped, gesturing to the mirror. "I don't know what your game is, and I don't care! Let me out of here, now!"

Dartz laughed, a cold sound that made Jou distinctly uncomfortable. "Do not let me stop you. However, there is only one way out and I alone hold the key. I'll even make it easy. All you need do is take it from me," he said. As he spoke, his right hand lifted and his fingers uncurled.

Jou's eyes narrowed suspiciously. When Dartz made no move to take his hand back, Jou slowly approached him. He didn't have to come close before he saw what was sitting on Dartz's palm. He immediately backed away with a snarl, eyes locked on the green stone. "Do you think I'm stupid, Dartz? I know orichalcum when I see it!"

"I do not think you an idiot yet, Jousef. Young and misguided, yes, but not stupid." This time Dartz's voice was lacking its mocking edge, and Jou was startled enough to make eye contact with the man. "It isn't just a means to escape your curse. Orichalcum can grant you power. It can help you achieve anything you desire. It is not something I offer up idly."

Jou shook his head. "What's the price for belonging to you, my soul?" he said, eyes flashing. "I'm not one of your pawns, Dartz! You can't trick me!"

"It is not a trick, Prince Jousef. You and I both know that your plight would be best mended with what I am offering."

The younger man looked away, hands coming over his ears. "Not listening, pal. There's nothing that would have had me take up orichalcum."

Even through his hands, Dartz's next sentence cut through him. "What if I said it would finally grant you your birthright?"

Jou felt the blood draining from his face, and for a moment he could have sworn he had ice dropped down his back. "How do you know…?"

"Orichalcum has enlightened me to your situation, and I know of the legend that surrounds Hermos. I know of what binds you, Jousef. I am old enough to have been there when the story was written."

Jou fought to keep his expression neutral even as he felt a spike of fear. "S-So you know the bedtime stories. Good job on keeping—"

"You say you are a prince, but I know you are not. I know you grew up outside of palace walls. I know of your troubled past and family history. I know that you have grown up being constantly forced to prove yourself worthy of the throne. You were denied your birthright by your parents, and now you are denied your birthright by a spell."

Jou's fists clenched. He felt his talons cut into his palms and he hissed.

"There is no shame in asking for assistance, Jousef, and I am offering you mine. If you took up orichalcum, your entire situation would change. You would no longer have to pretend. You would no longer have to prove your worth—don't you see that taking it up makes you worthy alone? The power only chooses the strong. It can make your path to the throne easier."

"Yeah, and who says I like taking the easy route?" retorted Jou thickly. "Maybe I like earning things the hard way."

"And how has that mentality played out in your predicament so far, hm? It seems you've been making some very…wise…decisions." Dartz's voice held a skeptical note as he finished speaking. "Orichalcum does offer enlightenment. Not that you haven't been doing well on your own so far—it's so clear that you're doing marvelous on your own so far."

"Not listening!" repeated Jou angrily, almost desperately. Dartz's words were cold and relentless, and he felt as if he was being driven into a corner.

Besides, he was no idiot. No good would come from punching a powerful magic caster in the nose.

"I am only pointing out the truth, Jousef. In that same vein, it is only fair to remind you where the blame solely lies. This all happened because of your inherent selfishness, Jousef."

Jou froze, his blood turning cold. "Wh-what are you talking about?" he said, but his voice lacked any sort of fire.

"You claimed you were searching for the cure to your sister's illness, but we both know that's not the full truth of the matter. Deep down, you know you don't belong. You only left your castle because you didn't want to be there. You would have rather stayed an ignorant peasant than to be saddled with an entire kingdom to look after."

Something hard settled in his stomach. "N-no, that's not…I didn't leave because of that!"

Dartz gestured to the mirror. Though the glass remained blank, a voice rose from the tranquil surface. "You left your kingdom in the hands of an inexperienced steward. Your burdens and responsibilities were not his to assume, yet you made him. He was not even close to prepared for Jean Claude to usurp the throne. Half of your servants and guards were banished because of your actions, with the remainder cursed to serve a false leader."

Jou's heart clenched. "Tristan," he breathed, the little color in his face leaving.

Now it was Raphael's voice that echoed through the dark. "You asked a man who had been forcibly dragged away from his home if he would be the captain of the guard. He had others who needed him more, yet you guilted him into taking on a position that was not his to take. Thanks to you, he will never see anyone he cares about again."

"No…"Jou turned around, his frightened eyes roaming the darkness. "No, I didn't—"

"You left your little sister alone to die," said a young girl's voice—Serena, he realized, and his hands rose to cover his ears.

"You hurt me. It was because of you that I was even involved."

"STOP IT!" he roared, his voice cracking as Mai's coldly spoken words echoed all around him. His legs trembled as he stood, threatening to give away as tears burned in his eyes. "STOP!"

"Why? This is something that you should have braced yourself for. Such questions are what await your return. I am only preparing you for the inevitable. Your selfish and childish quest, borne from a desire of freedom, was doomed to fail. You have as much chance as succeeding as you do winning the heart of the woman you love."

"Shut up!"

"Why, if you took up the orichalcum you would have won over Princess Mai. Even as hardened as her heart is against the idea of marriage, you would have easily gotten her to your side."

Jou's head snapped up as Mai's face appeared in the mirror. "Leave her out of this! You think I'd resort to using some rock to—to—now you're just talking crap!"

"Am I? You've heard it before. She doesn't seek marriage."

The mirror's image changed to a field Jou knew was located outside of Mai's castle in Thystia. His breath drew in sharply when his eyes landed on the two people in the shade of an oak tree. One was a woman with long blonde hair that fell in loose curls down her back, wearing one of her favorite low-cut gowns. The other was Jou himself, wearing a simple short-sleeved green tunic with black pants.

"It isn't fair!" she snapped, tears in her voice. "So I have standards and criteria! So I want someone who's successful and rich, whose kingdom is flourishing, who is smart and funny, and who's handsome as a bonus! What's wrong with that? No, apparently that's me being 'finicky'!"

He felt his heart plummet as he watched her pace. He met none of the criteria on her list.

"Now there's this stupid tournament my father is holding to decide who's going to be my husband! No matter who wins, that's who my parents want me to court! I don't want to be married off like I'm some sort of prize! Hell, right now I don't want to be married ever!"

Something in his chest felt too tight. He swallowed thickly, trying to steady his nerves as he reached for her. "Mai…"

She turned, amethyst eyes full of angry tears, and Jou swallowed again as he forced back the confession he'd been about to make. She came to his side, letting him take her hand, and he used it to pull her beside him. "Jou…" she started.

"Don't worry, Mai," he said, forcing one of his trademark grins. "I'll help you think of a way outta this. Promise."

His heart had no audible sound, but he knew it was breaking.

"She does not even consider you in the running as a suitor. Did you think you stood a chance with her?" Dartz taunted as the image faded. "You, the mongrel feigning to be a purebred? Don't make me laugh."

Jou's hands clenched so tightly that he felt blood running down his fingers. His legs shook and the temptation to sink to his knees was so strong that he was afraid his legs would give out without permission. Dartz's words were barbed and dug into every insecurity he had ever felt. This was just an illusion, there shouldn't be a reason he was feeling in so much pain. Yet…

Dartz was right. There was no getting around it. Everything the man said was saying was something he had thought more than once over the years.

The other man held out his hand once again. "I do not offer orichalcum to just anyone. You have the potential to become a great and powerful leader. Your heart is certainly strong enough to bend the power within this stone to your will."

Right now, all Jou wanted to do was smash the mirror and break Dartz's neck before curling into a corner. He didn't want to hear anything this man said anymore, he just wanted to leave.

"Take my gift, Jousef. Use it to take back your kingdom and to protect your loved ones. Prove that you are worthy to wield such a power."

Jou's hand twitched involuntarily as his eyes landed on the orichalcum. Maybe…maybe Dartz was right after all. Taking the orichalcum might be the very first advantage he'd have since this whole mess began.

"Use it to win your beloved's heart."

Mai's face reappeared in the mirror behind them. Jou sucked in a sharp breath and stared, his eyes on hers. For one long moment, Time stopped and the world froze in place.

"No."

The word fell from his lips so easily, it was as if he'd simply exhaled. A tired and lopsided grin began to grow as he met Dartz's gaze. "You know something funny? Even after all that's happened, despite all my stupid decisions, I'm not gonna take you up on your offer."

Dartz's eyes narrowed. "Don't be a fool."

"But I'm not." Jou gave a rueful laugh. "I'll admit it. I'm green when it comes to politics and throne rooms. I was trained by a drunkard who loved his ale and by hard experience, my own mother didn't want me around, and…well, yeah, I'm no noble. Even if I finally get my birthright, I'll never feel like a true prince.

Jou put his hands on his hips, shaking his head. "Not gonna lie, you almost got me to take the orichalcum. Props, Dartz, you really got to me. Last person who made me feel like a peon was my parents.

"But you flubbed it by dragging Mai into it. You think I'd rely on some stone to win her over? Mai doesn't care for guys like that—just ask her about Jean Claude sometime, you'll get an earful. She hates guys who can't fight their battles on their own."

"Yet you entered a tournament to try and win her hand." Dartz was skeptical, looking unimpressed.

"Yeah, I did. But either you don't know or don't want me to remember how this story ended. I took part of that tournament, got myself hurt, and fought like hell to win, all so she'd stay free. Mai wouldn't have to marry me, nor would I force her to—hell, you can't force Mai into anything. She would just stay in Hermos for all of two months and then go home a single and free princess."

Dartz's expression was unreadable. "But you love her."

Jou's eyes softened, and his smile turned bittersweet. "More than words can ever express...but if Mai doesn't want marriage or a suitor, I won't force it. She's my friend and I promised I'd keep her safe and happy. If this is what she wants, I'll do everything in my power to keep her free."

The other man mulled over Jou's words for a few moments before he snorted. "Pathetic. You would stay silent about your own feelings if it meant securing her happiness?"

"If at the end of the day she still trusts me, then yes. How I feel doesn't hold a candle to losing her as a friend."

The magic caster began to laugh, the sound jarring and unpleasant. "You choose to watch your beloved from afar and she remains oblivious to your own emotions. It's so adorable it's almost sad," he declared.

"Suit yourself, then," Jou said, turning away. "I'm leaving you here and goin' home, and no one is goin' to stop me. Not some creep waving a magic golden stick like a toy, not some stuck up jerk who's pretending to be me, and certainly not some pretentious ass with a fetish for glowy green pebbles."

Dartz's eye twitched in annoyance and Jou grinned—he had struck a nerve.

The other man recovered quickly, regaining his impassive mask in seconds. "Are you so certain you have a home to go back to?" Dartz inquired. "For all you know, you could have nothing left. Everyone you care about could have died by now."

"They haven't," Jou said promptly, his head lifting. "Tristan, Raphael, Serena…the guards…Mai…they'll keep fighting. They'll fight for as long as they can, as hard as they can, and they won't quit until they've won. If they won't stop fighting, then I won't quit and take the orichalcum."

"You speak so confidently. Arrogance has no place here."

"It's not arrogance, it's fact, and you have no place here. Goodbye," said Jou with a mock-cheerful wave. He started walking forward.

"You will not escape, not on your own," said Dartz then, voice tinged with malice. "You're trapped in the bounds of my curse, and there's only one way out. I've manufactured it that way."

Jou spread his wings, preparing to fly; he kept his tail firmly wrapped around his waist as his wings began to flap. "I'll just find that out on my own, thanks," said Jou flatly, starting to fly forward.

It seemed that no matter which direction he started from, however, that he would eventually wind up back in front of the mirror; Dartz had vanished from view, but he still felt a watchful gaze following him in the dark. After coming back to the glowing mirror for the seventh time, he gave a frustrated growl.

"Will you take the orichalcum now?" The voice sounded almost too smug.

Jou snarled at the disembodied voice, eyes narrowing in anger. "Never."

"So how will you escape?"

Jou took a guess as to where Dartz was hiding and shot the spot a rude hand gesture in reply.

"What an eloquent response. Too bad it will not save you."

He clenched his fists, trying to think of some way to escape this oppressive darkness. What could he do? Taking the orichalcum was not even considered as an option. He had to get out of here, but there was no way that he could see. What could he do?

…good fortune be on his side, strength be given, guide him through the dark…

Jou's head shot up and he searched the darkness wildly. Yugi…that had been Yugi's voice just now, hadn't it? His eyes started scanning the nondescript surroundings hopefully. "Yugi?" he called.

Dartz scoffed, though the first hint of worry colored his voice when he spoke. "He's not here. You're just going mad."

Jou ignored him, listening for Yugi's voice once again. It had been faint, but…

There.

There it was. A small point of light was directly above him, a warm presence that was calling to him…that's the way out.

His wings flared out behind him once again and he started to fly for the light. All that mattered was to get to that light. If he could just make it to that light…if he could make it there, he'd be free. He just had to fly as fast as he could.

Protection from physical harm. Protection from evil. Protection from destruction.

As he got closer to that little ball of light in front of him, pain began igniting in his wings and at the base of his spine. His hands began to throb, and his taloned feet started to shrink.

Protection from deception. Good fortune be on his side.

His fangs were dulling, his eyesight dimming. Ahead of him, Yugi's voice was starting to rise.

Strength be given, guide him through the dark.

Scales were melding into skin and his shoulders burst into fiery agony. His spine exploded with almost blinding pain. He could feel the taint of Dartz's magic leaving him, as if he was having poison drawn from a wound.

End the gag spell!

His throat burned.

End the spell of draconic transformation!

He started to fall as his wings vanished, but…but now he was floating…? The light was fiercer now, holding him in place and stopping him from returning to the inky void he'd left.

Yugi's voice was a powerful roar now, his spells almost blurring together as heat blossomed from a point between his eyes.

END DARTZ'S CURSE AND RETURN JOUSEF TO HIS TRUE FORM!

The world exploded into brilliant, blinding light that swallowed him completely.