The Gateway to a New World

Before the group could begin their journey, they had to take care of a few things back home like getting packed up for the trip and letting people know they would be going away. Many of Kaiba's associates were used to him going away for long periods of time and would always make sure the company would be in good hands. This time was no different. And as usual, there would be no telling how long he would be gone for.

The others took that thought into consideration. Joey cleaned out his refrigerator of food that would perish while he would be gone and fixed up some snacks and treats for the trip. Emily spoke to her bosses at work and requested vacation time off. They agreed that she was due for a break anyway. After the disturbance she had with her father with the trials at court and the mishap he had before returning home, Andrew and Andrea figured it would be best if their assistant took time off. Though all that trouble happened a little over a month ago, the twin merchants had been urging Emily to take time for herself. It wasn't getting in her way with work, but they didn't want her to get too emotionally sick.

After taking time off from work, Emily returned to her home and began going through the food in her refrigerator and pantries. She decided not to let anything go to waste and start baking goods. Her calico kitten Avalon picked up the scent of sugar and chocolate and nuts and fruits and walked into the kitchen. When Emily saw her friend coming her way, she knew she would have to consider finding a pet sitter to look after Avalon.

Avalon liked watching Emily bake, though she knew she couldn't eat any of the sweets. "Is this what humans mean when they say, 'it puts bread on the table' and 'I've decided to bring my work home with me?'"

"In more ways than one," Emily replied as she mixed the ingredients together. But what was happening right now did make those statements quite literal. Because baking does keep bread on the table and Emily was working in her own home.

Curious as ever, Avalon had more questions. "Are you making special treats for your friends?"

Emily decided to tell it to her friend straight out. "I'm going away for a while. So I'm using up all my food so none of it goes to waste while I'm gone. And as an added treat, my friends and I will have food for our journey."

"You're going away? Where?"

Emily was silent for a minute. "Umm, it's a surprise." She had to say that though she didn't really know. The Great Goddess wasn't specific on where she was sending her warriors.

Avalon was always sad whenever Emily said she would be going away. She understood that her friend had school and work, but a vacation didn't seem right or even fair because the little calico couldn't come along. Avalon even often wondered who would take care of her. "Well, what am I supposed to do while you're gone?"

Emily stopped working, washed her hands, and picked Avalon up from the ground. "I'm only going to be gone for a few days. And don't worry, I'll call my friends and ask if any of them will be able to look after you for me."

Avalon knew most of Emily's friends because they often came over to her house. It took a while for the little calico to warm up to any of them, but after a while, she decided she liked Emily's friends. She just didn't like being away from her housemate for too long because she would get worried that she had been abandoned. It couldn't be helped. Avalon was still only a few months old.

As promised, Emily called her friends while she resumed baking. Some of them were sick and couldn't get out of bed and others had to change shifts at work or attend to their activities. Luckily, Rafael said he would be happy to take care of Avalon while Emily would be gone. After all, he was the one who found her in the first place and gave her to Emily. So it was settled. Rafael would look after Avalon for the next few days.

Considering that she would be gone for a long time, Emily wondered if it would be better to let Avalon stay with the bikers in their house instead of having them come over to her house. But Avalon is young and insecure and may not like staying in their house. But the kitten promised Emily that she would behave and like it with them. After all, she met the bikers before she met Emily. That was back when she was lost and starving and she stumbled into their home looking for something to eat. Accepting Avalon's promise, Emily coaxes the kitten into her carrier and drops her off at the bikers' home with food and her bed and a litter tray. Rafael, Alister, and Valon wish Emily well on her way and promise her that they'll take care of Avalon and Avalon promises to be good.

Yugi didn't spend a lot of time thinking about what he would need for the trip. He had been going on journeys before and he figured he knew what he needed. He packed his clothes, his sleeping bag, a first aid kit, and other things he would need. He also made sure he had enough money on hand.

After making sure they had everything they needed, the group met up in the park. They agreed it was best to meet up together in one common area than return to the Garden individually. "Is everyone all set?" Kaiba asked.

"Sure am," Joey answered. "I knew it wouldn't be enough just to pack the simplest things. That's why I made sure I wouldn't be leaving without going through all the food in my kitchen. I knew I had stuff that would have to be gotten rid of sooner or later and it was a good thing we were getting out of here. Now I don't have to worry about anything going bad."

Kaiba rolled his eyes. "Typical, as usual, thinking with your stomach," he muttered. "This isn't a picnic."

"Well, it never hurts to have food for the trip," Emily was saying. "I did the same thing and made snacks and treats."

"When you put it that way, what you guys did was smart," Yugi complemented. "You made the most of the food you had that would be due to perish and we won't go hungry on our journey."

Emily nods in agreement. "I've always loved travel, anyway; the open road, the wind in my face, and the heat of the sun beating down on me."

"Yeah," Kaiba was saying, "well, how are we going to travel? Did anyone think of that?"

"No, but I'm sure all the arrangements will be made once the Great Goddess sends us off," Emily figured. Speaking of the Great Goddess, it was time for the heroes to return to the Secret Garden and begin their pilgrimage.

When they got back, Millennia had a few last words for her heroes. "I have one last statement to mention. Once a world has been rescued after the Cobalt Star shard has been obtained, you will be able to return to that world whenever you wish. You can even bring your friends along with you. And any friends that you might make in the other worlds will also be welcome to come to this Garden and see new worlds as well. But I also have to warn you, I know I said the worlds you will visit and the challenges you face will be no different from your past adventures, but that does not mean the journey will be easy. Each new world will prove to have more difficult challenges than the previous. You will be tested in every way possible in physical and inner strength. Use all that you have learned in the past and all that you believe in today as you face your challenges and all will be successful along the way. And along the way, you will realize that it is not just the four of you who must stay together and work together, but all of your friends."

"Yes, Millennia," the warriors said in unison.

"One last thing, I have a gift for each of you; a gift that will help you on your journey." She uses her magic to create bracelets for her heroes. A red bracelet materializes around Kaiba's left wrist, a blue one materializes around Yugi's left wrist, a white one materializes around Emily's wrist, and a yellow one materializes around Joey's wrist. "Look closely at those bracelets, my heroes."

They did take a closer look and saw colorful stones in the middle. They were round and smooth like pearls and colorful like an aurora. When they saw the DNA-like pattern in the middle, Yugi and his friends realized what they were. "These are Keystones," Yugi saw saying, "They're just like the ones in the Pokémon game."

Joey's eyes widened at that last statement. "Hold on, does this mean-? Are you sending us to-?"

"You guess correctly," Millennia replied. "I know you were promised that you would one day be able to see the world of the Magical Creatures you now call Pokémon. It is time for that promise to be fulfilled. This will be the first world you will be sent to."

Yugi and his friends were exhilarated. Neither of them could believe that they were actually going to go to the world of Pokémon. They knew they were promised, but they couldn't believe that this was happening. But they quickly remembered all that they were talking about. There may be fun along the way, but there will also likely be danger because of the mission. That's why they can't be too excited. After all, it's not just a game.

The Great Goddess knew just as much and that was why she wished the best for her heroes. "If you are ready, my heroes, I will now open the door to world of Pokémon." A light shines brightly and Millennia returns to her form as a star.

After admiring their Keystones, the heroes stare at the door in front of them. "I… guess this is it," Yugi said softly.

"Uh-huh," Kaiba responded.

"Okay then," Emily said as she approached the door. She gripped the handle and pulled it and as the door was opening, it revealed a light. The heroes pick up their supplies and begin walking.

Joey was still having a hard time containing his enthusiasm. "I can't believe we're doing this." He raises his voice and cheers, "We're actually finally going to the world of Pokémon!"

"Don't get too excited," Kaiba warned him. "This won't be all fun and games." But he was just as excited and knew this would be an adventure of a lifetime.