Chaos Effect

"Time… space…"

Upon a flat plane the images appeared. Of different heroes. Yugi Muto. Joey Wheeer. Tristan Taylor. Tea Gardner. Edwin Chaos. Corpse-Man.

"Is more than a linear path."

As the words were spoken the images changed. To Yugi Muto dressed in Seto Kaiba's outfit, commanding the Blue-Eyes White Dragon to attack Pegasus, Tea's soul trapped in a card. Joey taking up the puzzle and finishing it as Yugi lay in a coma. Tristan fighting back against a horde of Rare Hunters, swinging a baseball bat at them as Mokuba and Serenity worked opening a door. Tea wearing the Millennium Belt and unleashing the spirit of the Nameless Amazon Queen. Edwin's image changing again… and again… and again…

"It is a prism… of endless possibilities."

All the images began to merge together.

"Where a single choice can branch out into countless alternate realities."

Pieces began to break off from the greater image, floating off and growing into their own competing forms.

"Create alternate worlds from the ones you know."

Earth-2 with Aiden Order. Earth-3 with Edna Chaos. The worlds of Josiah and Arno.

"I… am the Watcher."

The images all pulled back, forming into a single eternal being. Tall, with a bald head and brownish skin, eyes glowing as he saw all.

"Your guide to these vast new realities. Follow me… and ponder the question: What if?"

"yeah, that's nice and all," Edwin Chaos said and the Watcher turned towards the bed the man was lying on, Mai Valentine straddling his hips and wearing a nightie, "but why the fuck are you here?!?"

"We are going to explore the possibilities… what might have happened had another been the hero who stepped up and saved the day," the Watcher informed him.

"Awesome. Really, that's awesome." Edwin narrowed his eyes. "But this is April Fool's Day and Mai and I celebrate that by fucking all day so we avoid the Filler Arc. We already sent texts to Yuri and Renard to find fuck buddies."

Mai nodded. "I bought Tea a gift card to Eve's Delight. She'll be all set, so long as she remembers to drink plenty of fluids."

"So we aren't interested! Now, if you don't mind? I want to try something new that involves a feather duster and Mai's sweet ass."

The Watcher merely nodded. "That is fine… I will merely introduce tales of alternate worlds in the Chaosverse. Worlds where it was not you who altered Destiny and Fate but rather another. Sometimes it will be someone you know, other times a stranger. Some acting to help guide things along while more times still it will be those that were never given a chance to rise up and change their fate. The small. The dramatic. All will be observed as we see how a single change, a single flapping of a butterfly's wings, can change the world for the better. This… is what we will be observing this day, Edwin Chaos."

"…then get the hell out of here!" Edwin shouted in frustration.

The Watcher though shook his head. "It is my name."

That made Edwin blink. "Oh for fuck's sake you are NOT going to watch us fuck!"

"I can sit in a chair or hide in the closet… I already have a Superman outfit I can wear."

"The fuck!?!" Edwin shouted, moving to sit up only for Mai to push him down. "Mai?"

"Let's try it out… I'm curious."

"…oh this better not awaken anything in me," he grunted.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I'm just saying that the fire nozzles could easily burn me too!" PaniK complained as he sat in the breakroom of Pegasus' castle, smearing some cream cheese on his bagel. Croquet tried not to pay too much attention, focused instead on his crossword puzzle. "I just don't see why we need to have sets on both dueling platforms." Rather than talking in his 'dueling voice' he was using his regular voice, which was far more soft spoken.

"We are not fans of the cave, for they are dark," Para said as he stirred some cream into his coffee. The rhyming thing WAS something he and his brother did all the time but that was because of their OCD that they did it; honestly they thought it a bit offensive that Pegasus wanted to base their entire duel around that bit.

"Why can't we duel in a nice green park?" Dox added. He added some coffee to his cream.

"Have you tried bringing this up to Mr. Pegasus?" the Mimic of Doom suggested, looking up from his phone.

"Of course we have!" PaniK complained. "He just tells us that we need to focus on the tournament! I swear he doesn't even care if we get hurt!"

"Did you read the contracts he had us sign?" Para asked.

"It says we could be mind crushed or force to die!" Dox exclaimed.

Croquet frowned at that. Honestly he had noticed that recently Pegasus had gotten… odd… with how he handled the employees. Once he had been so kind to his employees that they had felt him more like a father rather than an employer; even Croquet, who had over a decade and a half of the man, felt that way. And while Pegasus remained kind there was also something… off… about him. A hidden edge. An obsession…

The butler frowned when Kemo entered into the room and slumped down in an empty chair. He was a new hire and a bit of an arrogant prick; nothing like the people that were normally brought in to work for Industrial Illusions and that was… worrisome. But what was even more worrisome was the fact that Kemo looked so utterly drained and defeated.

"Do… do we even want to know?" PaniK asked.

"I just brought Mokuba Kaiba in," he said.

Croquet's blood ran cold. He had begged Master Pegasus… BEGGED HIM to reconsider his plan to use Mokuba Kaiba in his scheme. He had thought that he had gotten him to understand but…

"He… he just kept crying… asking me why I was doing this…" Kemo held his head in his hands. "I tried not to break… I tried… but hearing him beg…"

Croquet slammed his hands on the table he was sitting at, slowly rising up.

"This has to stop," he said firmly, the others staring at him. "Master Pegasus… he's lost his way. He's treating us cruelly. We need to get him to see the truth and understand that he CAN'T do this to us."

"But… how?" the Mimic of Doom asked.

Croquet sighed. "A last, deadly, dangerous resort…"

~One Day Later~

"What do we want?" Croquet called out through the bullhorn.

"To not be used as pawns!" the entire staff of the castle, along with the Eliminators, declared as they marched back and forth before the main gate.

Pegasus groaned. "Unions… they had to make a union!"

So distracted was he that he didn't notice Mokuba quietly sneaking out, holding Solomon Muto's soul card.

~By Moose the 3rd~

If you do your job right, nobody will think you did anything at all. Its a good policy for a janitor. Being a janitor also has an advantage. As long as you look busy, you seem to belong. Even in a castle on a tropical island run by a man of questionable sanity, if you are mopping the floor, nobody asks questions...

Moose focused on making sure the corner was scrubbed until it is just a bit too clean. He then checked his watch....nodded at the time and stepped back. A few breaths later, Mokuba, freshly escaped from his cell, was running as fast as his 9-year old legs could carry him. Just behind and catching up was Kemo, in hot pursuit.

Mokuba took the turn perfectly, heading down the corridor to freedom.

Kemo was less lucky.

He foot came down on a slick patch of stone and he hit the ground with a large amount of pain and a lack of dignity. He got up in a few moments, but Mokuba was already into the woods and on his way to meeting up with new friends. Moose made sure to place the wet floor sign after Kemo left, picked up his mop and headed toward his closet.

The boat should be arriving at Duelist Kingdom any moment. He had enough time to read a few books before watching the show.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Foolish fools!" Marik cackled as he looked down at the Pharaoh, lying twitching and smoking at his feet. "You thought I would make it easy on you to claim even one of my Egyptian God Cards?"

Seto Kaiba and Mokuba struggled against the Rare Hunters that were holding onto their arms; Seto was cursing himself for becoming so focused on the duel Yugi was having with Strings that he didn't notice the Rare Hunters approaching. They had overwhelmed the two and now both had been captured, brought down to where Marik was. The Head of the Rare Hunters had arrived after Strings had defeated the Pharaoh and was now gloating.

"You truly believed that I would allow you to use Slifer's power against me? It was a simple matter to give Strings the card needed to destroy Revival Jam before Slifer did, leaving you with nothing!" He let out another laugh. "And even better you lured this fool-" he gestured at a glowering Seto, "-right to me. And now I can claim the Egyptian God Card that he holds!"

"If you think you can defeat me in a duel so easily-" Seto began only for one of the Rare Hunters to punch him in the gut, causing him to cough violently.

"There, I just defeated you in battle," the Rare Hunter said, reaching into Seto's coat pocket and pulling out his deck. "Master Marik."

"Thank you…" he paused, trying to remember the man's name.

"Steve, sir."

"…seriously?"

"Yes. Why, is that a problem?"

"No." Marik's face screwed up in confusion. "I don't know WHY I think it's a problem but… huh." He shook his head and selected Obelisk the Tormentor, handing the deck back to Steve (and that still felt… wrong). "Yes!" he declared, ripping the puzzle off of Yugi's neck and lifting it and the cards up. "Finally I have them! All three Egyptian God Cards AND the Pharaoh's puzzle!"

And that's one a large muscular hand snatched the cards away.

"And now I have them," Rafael of the DOMA riders said, the cards lifting from his hands and floating into the sky.

"WHAT?!?!" Marik shouted, turning to face Rafael only to get punched in the stomach.

"Doesn't… feel so good…does it?" Seto got out, letting out a gurgling cough at the end of his statement.

"Well done, Rafael!" Dartz, the ancient King of Atlantis, declared as he stepped forward. "With the power of the God Cards and all the souls we collected we can now bring forth the Great Leviathan!"

Dartz lifted the cards up with his magic, causing them to glow brightly. All around him orbs of light appeared which shot into the sky, following by the chasing beams of power that came from the God Cards. All of these rocketed deep into the atmosphere before, with a great boom that rattled all of Domino, the sky split open and the Great Leviathan slithered forth. So gargantuan was the dark deity of Atlantis that all of Japan was able to look up and gaze upon it, falling to their knees as their minds tried to comprehend its power. Even Marik, in the face of such might, dropped to the ground, accepting that against such a being there was no hope of victory.

"I… am the Great Leviathan!" the serpentine being declared in the minds of all that saw him. "And I bring with me destruction!" A tongue slipped out of its mouth, tasting the air. "The destruction of all you have known!"

The world trembled.

"I shall start… with famine!" And with that every person saw a small basket appear before them. "Within you will find food that will never end. All healthy, even while tasting sweet. Next I shall rain destruction against cancer! Already I am providing your scientists with the knowledge of how to cure the disease using only apple juice and a few choice chants. But I am not done with my strikes upon your world! For next will come global warming! It shall die a painful death!"

"Uh… excuse me?" Steve said. "This… all sounds rather good."

The Great Leviathan blinked at that. "it does?"

"Yes. It sounds amazing!"

"I… assumed you would be displeased."

"No, we are all thrilled with this!" Steve called out.

"I'm not," Marik said only for Mokuba to kick him. "Ow."

The Great Leviathan considered that. "I thought you would hate my actions."

"Only thing we are iffy on is the soul thing!" Strings called out, causing everyone to glare at him. "Oh fuck off, I'm off duty now!"

Dartz spoke up. "I suppose we should have mentioned the souls were those of pedophiles?"

"…all hail the Great Leviathan!" everyone declared, the deity… well… rather chuffed at how this was all turning out.

~By GarnettFox~

The shrill, annoying voice filled the air for Duelist Kingdom. "Let's see how you like my Killer-"

"Didn't anyone ever teach you it's rude to interrupt someone on a phone call?" The adult woman dressed in purple and denims asked before looking to the strange large orange mouse floating next to her "People have no manners do they Raijin?"

"Rai rai." The mouse nodded, apparently agreeing with her.

"I'm rude?! Your the one calling someone during a Duel!" Weevil Underwood spat as she turned away, the call apparently connecting.

"NONE! Hey it's me Slash…. No I don't know why I felt the need to say my name either. I got zapped into another universe again, Yugioh apparently." She paused. "I don't think so." She pulled the phone away looking at a very confused Joey "You know an Edwin Chaos?" At their blank looks she went back to her phone "No they don't. Listen I'm gonna need you to come get me. No I don't have the Millennium Ring. I lent it to Brock and Cilan to go to one of those food anime universes…..No, not the one where people have creepy orgasms-"

"I like that one." Weevil went quiet at Slash's glare.

"The one where they eat fantasy creatures….No not the Dungeons and Dragons based one! The one with an ocean made of alcohol where I am having my birthday party at some time." She blinked at the voice on the other line "What are they doing? I mean I wanna think they're on a date, Brock could really use a win after so many rejections…What? No, I don't want you to cut their date short! Just wait till they get back then use-" She paused. "Wait Yugioh…..Actually hold that thought. Get the Ring, then wait till I call you again then get me? Why?" She grinned "Two Words. Great. Leviathan. Ok. Love you too NONE!"

During the entire conversation Yugi and his friends had decided to bugger off, leaving Weevil fuming. "See what you've done? Now how am I supposed to-"

"Nah, its good. I'm gonna duel you."

"You are-" Weevil snapped, before pausing at the feral look in Slash's face.

"Yup. Are you ready for my Speed run strats?"

"Your what?"

"I CHOOSE YOU AGUNI!" The Charizard appeared on the field briefly looking confused before he noticed the holographic monster and Weevil. "Aguni, Flamethrower, and make it hurt."

The dragon smirked, and Weevil screamed.

0O0O0O0OO

"Slash-girl I know your every move before you make it."

Slash smiled, leaning against the duel platform looking totally unconcerned.

"That's nice Pegasus, but can your eye read Dark types?"

"....What is a dark-What is that dog doing-WHY AM I ON FIRE?!"

"His names Fenrir and Speedrun strats."

0o0o0o0o

"Only a Dragon can defeat the Five Headed Dragon!"

Slash nodded along with that, looking to her side at the strange corrupted-looking pink and blue duck that had been with her during the whole legendary hero's fiasco.

"Hey Zero?" The thing's head fell off of its shoulder as it looked to her

"Rooooooory?"

"Have fun." The Porygon Z tilted his head as it floated back onto it's body. Just after a static laced cackling laugher started to emanate from it, and the Big Five starts screaming. "....I should probably stop letting him hang with NONE…..Nawwww the pair of them have lots of fun together. In any case, Speedrun Strats."

0o0o0o0o0o

"Ok I am bored with this situation now." Slash sighed tugging at the chain on her ankle.

"Bored Pharaoh? Are you prepared to let your friends Die?" Slash gave the Rare Hunter Marik was using to speak through a deadpan stare. How he had come to the believe she was the Pharaoh she had no idea…

"Naw, Speedrun Strats. Ohhhhh Vulpermancer!" Before the Rare Hunters could react, the chains holding Slash and Joey where broken, along with the mind control on him and Tea, the container above her started to fall, only for it to be caught in the telekentic grip of a Shiny Delphox who just looked bored with the entire thing. "Oh, Catch!" Slash grinned as the Delphox smirked lifting the container above the Rare Hunters.

And letting his grip fail.

"Speedrun Strats!"

"I think you're an actual psychopath…" Tea muttered dully as the humanoid fox gently undid her restraints.

"Naw, this is all filler so it doesn't matter anyway."

"What?"

"What?"

0o0o0o0o0o

"....This isn't even Speedrun strats I honestly just don't like you," Slash shrugged letting Petrie the Aerodactyl out, Ishizu screaming as she was lifted off the blimp.

If Slash noticed that Petrie didn't seem interested in his food that night she never mentioned.

0o0o0o0o0o

".....Ohhhh Zero-"

"NO NO PLEASE NO WE'LL DO WHATEVER YOU-"

"Playtime! And I brought a nice big hard drive so we can take your new toys home with us."

"PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD-"

"There is no god here. Only Speedrun strats."

0o0o0o0o0o

The ref scratched his head. "Due to uhrm….All of the other Duelists being immolated, electrocuted, drowned and various other methods of…Uhrm….Slash is the winner by default."

"Fuck ya Speedrun strats!"

0o0o0o0o

"Here take my god cards." Slash shoved them at Raphael, who just looked confused.

"Uhrm."

"Take them, summon the big snek and then come back."

"....W-we're supposed to-"

"Summon. The Snek. Or my Tyrantrum. Will eat you."

The pair stared at each other

"....I will inform Master Dartz."

"Fuck yes Speedrun strats!"

0o0o0o0o0o

Slash stared down the Great Leviathan as it growled, slowly opening it's mouth to devour her, and all others that dared stand against it-

Only to get very lightly bonked on the snout with a small white and purple ball and find itself contained in a very tight space.

Slash smiled, picking up the Master Ball. "Your nickname is Bitch and we're going to get veeeeeery close very quickly~" She giggled pulling out her phone to call NONE.

Inside the ball the Great Leviathan, devourer of souls, bringer of the end of the world….felt very afraid for it's virtue.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Now then," Pegasus said dryly, "I must ask why you continue this useless little game, dear Mokuba." He looked at the boy in his well furnished prison cell. "You have no chance of defeating me… I have thought of every avenue. Your brother is dead, which means that you now are the sole owner of the KaibaCorp stock that I don't already possess. All I need is for you to sign them over and you will be freed. And let me assure you that you will be paid handsomely for your shares… I'm not asking for everything."

"I'm not… the sole owner."

"You will be able to-"

Pegasus blinked.

"-what?"

"My brother… he didn't know… that I signed my share of KaibaCorp… over to some trusted allies."

Pegasus raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh really? And who is that…. Yugi-Boy?"

"No," Mokuba said with a smirk… just as the castle began to rumble. "You might want to check out the window… I think they just showed up."

Pegasus frowned at how Mokuba was acting. It was like he thought the creator of Duel Monsters was utterly doomed. "I assure you that-" He paused again. "Do you hear a march?" He cocked his head… yes. Yes it was a lively march.

"Look out the window."

Pegasus did… and his stomach plummeted to his feet as he saw just WHAT had arrived at his island.

"RUN!" Croquet screamed as he hurried past. "ITS GOJIRA!"

The King of the Monsters slowly emerged from the surf, Kong, Mothra, and Anguirus following after him. But what was truly terrifying was the giant deck of cards Godzilla was shuffling.

"Uh… can we talk this over?" Pegasus whimpered.

Godzilla roared.

~by CaioCaio~

In the heart of Domino City, the once bustling streets now lay shrouded in an eerie silence, as if the very air itself held its breath in anticipation. The towering skyscrapers, once gleaming symbols of prosperity, now loomed ominously over the deserted avenues, casting long, menacing shadows that seemed to dance with malevolent intent.

A heavy fog draped itself over the city like a funeral shroud, obscuring the once vibrant colors of the buildings and muting the sounds of life. The streetlights flickered sporadically, casting feeble pools of light that only served to accentuate the darkness that engulfed the city.

Whispers of fear and uncertainty echoed through the empty streets, carried on the chilling wind that swept through the deserted alleys. Windows were boarded up, doors barricaded shut, as if the very inhabitants of Domino City sought refuge from an unseen terror that lurked in the shadows.

In the distance, the low rumble of thunder rolled ominously across the skyline, heralding the approach of a storm both physical and metaphysical. The very fabric of reality seemed to fray at the edges, as if the world itself teetered on the brink of collapse.

And yet, amidst the palpable tension that hung in the air, there remained a glimmer of hope. For in the heart of Domino City, where darkness threatened to consume all, there was one who stood ready to fight against the encroaching shadows, to defend his home and his world from the forces of darkness that sought to engulf them.

"STOP THIS." A small glimpse of brightness appeared from somewhere, revealed to be Mokuba Kaiba. Perhaps the last person in Domino with their brain still in their head. And target of his bellow, the source of the darkness?

A little girl who was smiling happily sitting on her throne

A 6 year old was the bane of the danger around the city.

Mostly because she had SOMEHOW collected 6 of the Millennium Items…

Mokuba glowered at the crowd, many with familiar faces. "This city is out of balance, and the more time we pass around, the worst the mist happened. HOW THAT EVEN HAPPENED ON THE FIRST PLACE?"

"We couldn't help it." Joey Wheeler said as he smiled sheepishly, with Serenity who was giggling happily. "She was really cute with that little outfit." He gestured at the girl, wearing a pink party dress.

"Yeah, she was explaining her plans." Serenity nodded her head as she gushed. "All resistance is futile."

"Those who stray from the past will be corrected, today we will make Domino City Safe, and later the world. No more wars, no more deaths and everyone is going to be happy and safe." Joey Wheeler quoted with a high pitched voice, which made Mokuba's eyes twitch.

"HOW CAN YOU ALL NOT SEE SHE IS DANGEROUS?!?"

"I am not!" the girl said sweetly.

"Okay… she really does sound adorable. Aww…" Mokuba said as he gushed as well, but then coughed in his hand. "But I have no idea on how she managed to have all the Millennium Items. I mean, how did she get the Millennium eye from Pegasus?"

"Well…" Pegasus said sheepishly, "she simply asked if she could have the eye for a weekend, and she sounded so cute, I couldn't help it…"

Mokuba facepalmed.

"Should we take the Millennium Scale next my supreme princess?" Weevil asked.

"Nah, Uncle Caesar said Mokuba wants to play, so I need to play fair…" The girl smiled happily. The Millennium Puzzle around her neck, the Millennium Eye tied on her little finger like a ring, The Millennium Key and Millennium Ring were tied around her throne as she happily wave her legs. The Millennium Necklace was around her head like a Tiara. "More people to play instead of fight, the world will be safe if everyone plays happy."

"Please, stop this." Mokuba half pleaded.

"Want to play tag?" Ellie asked as she just pointed the direction of the group who looked at her with their eyes wide open and full of love. "Okay, you are it. Catch him."

Mokuba wisely began to run from the minions of the new Queen of the World.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I'm afraid I'm not quite used to such technology. But… if you wish to duel using this… duel disc system? I will of course accept."

Pegasus smiled as he looked at Seto Kaiba. So arrogant. So brass. He believed that with just a few words he could take the world and force it to do all he wished. That with a twist of his hands he could take hold of its head and twist it until it submitted. But Pegasus had long learned that wasn't how the world worked. Reality was like rubber: the harder you punched it the harder it would bounce back at you. And while your fist would ache and your knuckles would bleed the rubber would remain the same.

No… one had to be subtle. Careful. Run their hands along the rubber with gentle touches. Let it be as if you were doing nothing at all but admiring it… until you then struck with your full fury at the weak point.

As the old saying went: if you try to kill the king you better not miss.

Seto wasn't a rebel assassin. He was a dim-witted peon throwing a clod of dirt at a heavily armored carrier.

"I do reserve the right to name a champion in my place," he continued and motioned to his left, where Mokuba Kaiba lifelessly stepped out. He HATED that he had been forced to rip the boy's soul out of his body, using him now as a puppet. He would make it right though… once all was said and done he would make it right for the boy. "If you have-"

"Using children!?!" a gruff voice declared to his right, making Pegasus start at the suddenness of its appearance. "That wasn't anything I agreed to, Pegasus! And I will not stand for it!"

Pegasus turned and stared in shock at the new arrival. He was a man of average height but NOT of average build. No…some might have thought he was heavy set but in reality he was built like a brick wall. Or a tank. Heavily muscular and ready to prove it. He was wearing a custom made suit and had a bushy mustache… and was glaring at Pegasus as he stormed towards him.

"Who… who are you?" Yugi got out.

"I… am Adrian Randolph Crump… the Third." He said 'the third' like he was declaring he was a superhero. "And I am here to put a stop to this!" He began to march towards Pegasus. "You told us we would be doing a hostile takeover of KaibaCorp after Seto Kaiba put that poor Solomon Muto in the hospital… you didn't tell me you were kidnapping children! That is something I will NEVER stand for." He removed his suit jacket and tossed it to a startled Tea. "So now… I will be defeating you."

"And how will you be doing that?" Pegasus asked with a sly smile. "I hold the Millennium Eye, with the power of the Shadow Realm flowing through it. I am the creator of Duel Monsters and my deck has never failed me. Just what do you plan to do to stop me, Crump?" he chuckled. "Sick some penguins on me?"

"Oh, I know you think I am a joke," Crump said in the face of Pegasus' mockery. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular forearms covered in tattoos. "But I have a power far greater than your's. One that will make you wish you had never tried to harm these children." He drew up right to Pegasus. "An audit."

~One Hour Later~

"…cost of those flame throwers put you well over your budget for the quarter. That isn't going to look good-"

"Please…" Pegasus whimpered, "have mercy."

"No," Crump said coolly. "Not so long as you threaten children. Kemo, please see Mr. Pegasus to a cell." Kemo swallowed nervously and did as commanded.

"You… you did it," Yugi exclaimed. Seto was so stunned by how Crump had taken down Pegasus that he remained disassociated, rooted to the floor. "You stopped Pegasus!"

"That's right!" Crump declared. "And now… I shall get you back to your parents!"

That made Yugi shuffle awkwardly. "Uh… I… actually… don't have parents."

"Then who watches out for you!?!" Crump declared.

"My grandpa!" Yugi declared. But in a softer voice he said, "who… is currently in a coma?"

"…then I shall be your father!" Crump declared, slinging an arm around Yugi. "You three, do you have parents?"

"Joey doesn't!" Tea chimed in helpfully.

"Course I have parents!" Joey commented. "I mean sure, my mom abandoned me without even saying goodbye or giving me a forwarding address and my dad beats me… but that's only if he's been drinkin'!"

Crump's brow twitched.

~A Few Months Later~

Weevil cackled. "Oh, you think you can defeat me, Yugi? Unlike last time I will easily defeat you and continue on in this tournament!"

Yugi looked across the table at his opponent; while technically not as big as 'Duelist Kingdom' the Pan-Pacific Tournament was still a big one. He touched the Millennium Puzzle but didn't activate it; there was no need. He was ready to win.

"I think not! I activate Polymerization to fuse my Dark Magician with my Penguin Knight to summon forth The Dark Penguin Magician!"

"That's my boy!" Crump called out from the crowd.

~By The Patient One~

On the streets of Domino City, many individuals with Duel Disks ran to and fro, whether seeking challengers or bemoaning their losses. Kaiba's tournament had begun recently, and everyone was eager to see what would happen.

One individual who, at a glance, didn't appear to be part of the tournament stood on a bench in a park. A bald, blank-faced individual with piercings in his face, staring unblinkingly ahead of him with his hands raised like a mime. He didn't move a muscle, didn't say a word, and didn't give any indication to anyone that he was more than a realistic statue.

It was no mistake for Marik to hide his valuable pawn in plain sight, the mindless Strings incapable of drawing suspicion to himself as more than a sideshow freak. He remained in the midst, drawing curious glances and watchers but no more than that, as he waited for the chance to challenge the Pharaoh.

The mistake was that he had decided to stash his valuable Duel Disk in a nearby bush. One seemingly random bypasser noticed it and quietly extracted it, slipping it on and heading elsewhere in the city.

…

"Excuse me."

The KaibaCorp receptionist looked up, frowning at the tall and heavyset man who had walked in.

"I found this abandoned in the park, Deck and all. I was wondering if you might be able to get it back to its owner."

The receptionist blinked in bemusement as she accepted the disk, turning her attention to the computer as she scanned the serial number and brought up the registrations. Her frown grew deeper as she found a serious inconsistency with the details of the seller.

So engrossed was she that by the time she thought to ask the man for more details, she found he had already left the building.

What she didn't know was that the Deck in the disc was one card lighter than it had been when the man had found it.

…

Elsewhere in the city, he came across a Duel, smirking to himself as he saw a grinning graverobbing imp use a giant can of aerosol to obliterate a powerful insect monarch. He watched silently from a distance as Joey finished the Duel against Weevil, claiming both his locator cards and his mighty Insect Queen.

The stranger watched for several moments until the group left Weevil alone, and followed behind them until they were out of sight of the bug Duelist.

"Excuse me."

"YIPE!" Joey yelped, spinning around. The stranger simply raised a brow as Téa, Tristan, and Solomon also turned to see him. "What's the big deal, sneakin' up on us like that?"

"Who was sneaking? I wasn't trying to scare you," the man shrugged.

"Well, what do you want?" Tristan asked.

He glanced in both directions before stepping closer.

"I'm here to aid the Pharaoh. Joey, hold out your hand. Tristan, Téa, cover his mouth."

All three looked bemused yet guarded. Joey obliged in holding out his hand, and the man placed in it a piece of paper along with a single card. Joey looked at both, and his eyes shot comically wide. He opened his mouth to yell—

"SLI—MMPH!"

—only for Tristan and Téa to decide it was a good idea to follow the man's second piece of advice, both vehemently shushing the loud-mouthed blond. Even if they themselves were just as shocked.

After about a minute, Joey seemed calm enough that they let him go.

"Quietly, please," the man insisted. "It was Marik's fault to leave the thing lying around; he will be very unhappy when he finds it gone. I could give it to Yugi, but you're the one missing a powerful dragon. Read its effect and use it well."

He stepped closer, looking Joey in his eyes.

"And do not boast about it to anyone until you Summon it. Not when you have it in your Deck, not when you have it in your hand, not until you play the card. Because as soon as Marik knows who has it, he's going to muster every lackey he has to get it back. Tell no one but Yugi."

All of them nodded, but Solomon spoke up.

"Who are you and how do you know all of this?"

The man smirked. "I'm just a dreamer and a trespasser. I'm just here to watch the show."

He walked away without another word, only to double back by another route. And this time around, when Joey challenged Kaiba to a Battle City Duel, there was no report of someone else summoning Slifer the Sky Dragon to distract him.

…

Marik looked in outrage and panic as his mind slave grappled for a Duel Disk that was no longer there. It had been well out of sight; nobody could have found it by accident without making enough noise that he would have noticed, and nobody could have found it on purpose unless they knew it was there!

And nobody could have known about it—

Marik's eyes shot wide, and he scowled ferociously as he realized the culprit.

"Ishizu…you'll pay for this."

Despite knowing it would come to naught, he redirected all of his forces into finding his insufferable sister. This time, things had gone much too far.

…

Kaiba was frowning as he stood against Wheeler. He had no doubt that he would still win this Duel, but things weren't going his way.

First he had sidestepped his Crush Card Virus in the stupidest way imaginable: attacking his Set Ryu-Kishin Powered with Swordsman of Landstar, a monster that was so weak that even using Shrink, his gargoyle wouldn't be destroyed. He had decided to leave his monster in Defense Mode, expecting Wheeler to Tribute that Swordsman for a monster that WOULD trigger his virus. And he wasn't wrong; Wheeler then proceeded to play Jinzo, which destroyed his Virus before destroying his gargoyle.

Then, as he'd stopped toying around and started actively attacking, Wheeler kept throwing him off with those stupid dice-rolling, coin-tossing, roulette-spinning cards. And if he didn't know his technology inside and out—along with Wheeler's lacking intelligence—he would have assumed that his Duel Disk had been hacked, because his luck was ridiculous, leading to two of his precious Blue-Eyes White Dragons being destroyed.

But now, he would put him in his place.

"I've let you have your delusions for long enough, Wheeler. With this, I'll make you regret ever challenging me! I sacrifice Gadget Soldier, Dragon Seeker, and Kaiser Glider to summon the Egyptian God Card, Obelisk the Tormentor!"

The great blue giant rose, towering over the skyscrapers, and Seto smirked.

"You may have lucked out and gotten a few new tricks, Wheeler, but there's not a card in your pathetic Deck that can save you now. Obelisk, destroy Insect Queen with Fist of Fate!"

The fist plowed through Joey's Queen, leaving three powerful but inadequate monsters left on his Field.

"You may as well just surrender now. But if you want to keep squirming, I'll be glad to give my Obelisk a workout."

"Dat big blue lug ain't scarin' me!" Wheeler said boldly.

"Then you're a fool. But I guess we already knew that. Go ahead, then, my turn is over."

Wheeler snatched up the next card from his Deck and grinned.

"All right. First, I'm playin' my Sixth Sense Trap Card!" he said, and Kaiba scowled. "Dis lets me pick two numbers and roll a die. I draw dat many cards if I'm right or get rid o' dat many cards if I'm wrong. And I choose 5 and 6!"

Kaiba watched with a scowl, exasperated but, at this point, no longer surprised as the roll came up as a 5.

"PERFECT! I'm about ta end this Duel, rich boy!"

"Oh, you're going to surrender?"

"Laugh it up. You're gonna be wettin' your pants in a second 'ere."

Joey's grin was far, far too wide as he swiped at his Duel Disk.

"I sacrifice Jinzo, Panther Warrior, and Gilford the Lightning! Any guess what happens next?"

Kaiba's eyes widened, real fear in his eyes now. "Impossible. You can't have one!"

"Wanna bet?! Then whaddaya call this bad boy! HERE'S ANOTHER EGYPTIAN GOD: SLIFER THE SKY DRAGON!"

And in a storm of rolling thunder, the serpentine dragon descended upon another that it had deemed worthy of its strength. Kaiba was thunderstruck.

"Oh, and by da way, rich boy? Slifer's Attack Points are 1,000 for every card in my hand. And it looks like I've got about…six. Now, I may not be good at math, but I'm pretty sure that means you're about to lose all your Life Points. So how's about YOU surrender instead?"

Kaiba's face was crimson as Joey stared him down.

"Guess not. Slifer, destroy Obelisk with Thunder Force!"

With a mighty thunderclap, the blue giant crumbled and Kaiba was sent flying back.

…

Stripped of his pride and his god card, losing both to Wheeler, of all people, Kaiba was out for blood for the rest of Battle City. He had enough locator cards to stay in the tournament, but was on the warpath for everyone with the mantle of the Rare Hunters, determined to claim the final god card for himself.

Yugi's group remained together for the rest of the day, taking no risks due to the target on their backs, but with Kaiba's warpath and the Rare Hunters already scattered thanks to their master's previous order, it was all Marik could do to focus on retaining enough locator cards for himself and Odion, with even his new ally Bakura struggling to scrounge up enough that Kaiba hadn't already claimed.

And through it all, one quiet stranger watched as history changed, a small smile on his face as he waited to see how else these ripples would play out.

~MC~MC~MC~

Tristan glared at the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. "So… going to try and take Mokuba to be your new body, huh?"

"That's right," the Spirit of the Millennium Ring declared. "This body no longer will work, not with the Pharaoh now knowing I am controlling it."

"The Pharaoh?"

The Spirit of the Millennium Ring glowered at that. "Ah… he hasn't explained that, has it? Well, the Dark Yugi or "Yami Yugi" is in fact the spirit of an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh-"

~Meanwhile…~

Ishizu suddenly looked up, wondering why she had the oddest sense that someone was stealing her bit. She then shrugged and got back to her important job of not actually doing her job.

~Back at the plot…~

"-and the Dark Magician Girl was the student of his best friend. But everyone knows that."

"Right," Tristan said with a shrug. "But I won't let you take Mokuba."

"Oh… going to battle me for him?" The Spirit of the Millennium Ring declared. "Very well then… we shall battle. And if you win I will not only leave Mokuba be, I will leave Bakura-"

Tristan slapped the Spirit of the Millennium Ring across the face.

"…owwwwww!" the Spirit whined, clutching his face. "That-"

SLAP!

"Stop it!" he whimpered.

"no!" Tristan said. "Not until you surrender!"

SLAP!

"Okay, okay!" The Spirit of the Millennium Ring held up his hands. "I give up!"

Tristan smiled at that, backing away. "So… you can leave Bakura now."

"What?" The Spirit of the Millennium Ring said, surprised by Tristan's comment. "I'm not going to leave. You pissed me the frick off, man. I'm still gonna torture you forever. Forever man!" And with that the Millennium Ring glowed and Tristan found himself being restrained by chains.

"No, what?" Tristan exclaimed in surprise, struggling against the glowing chains. "No, that is not fair!"

Before the Spirit of the Millennium Ring could answer though a voice called out from above them, "A DEAL'S A DEAL!"

The roof of Pegasus' castle caved in and the 50 foot tall form of a surprisingly buff Gilbert Godfrey, wearing a toga and sandals, slammed down in a superhero crouch right in front of Tristan and the Spirit of the Millennium Ring. The shockwave from the fall caused the chains to shatter, leaving Tristan to fall on top of Mokuba.

"QUICKLY, TRISTAN, GET ON!" Gilbert demanded, holding out his hand. Tristan, not needing to be told twice, scrambled up, dragging Mokuba with him. The moment he was settled Gilbert drew Tristan to his chest before leaping into the sky.

"Blast, foiled again!" the Spirit of the Millennium Ring declared.

Tristan watched as Duelist Kingdom grew smaller, slowly becoming just a speck as he was yanked into the heavens.

"YOU PASSED MY TEST, TRISTAN! BY DEFEATING THE EVIL YAMI BAKURA YOU CONFRONTED YOUR OWN PROBLEMS. I HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING FROM THIS COOL EXPERIENCE!" And with that Gilbert reared back, taking on a pitcher's stance. "APRIL FOOLS!!"

And with that he flung Tristan and Mokuba back to the Earth, their clothing burning up in reentry but otherwise the two perfectly fine as they crashed right back into the castle, knocking out Pegasus before he could begin dueling Yugi.

~By FlippyTheMummifiedHedgehog~

Aria bit at her lip, wishing she was with the others, eating popcorn and watching the duel on tv, making sure Cassie didn't freak out by the God Cards.

"But no," Aria thought with utter disdain, "I have to be here on a fucking blimp in case any of the duel disks malfunction. Which I doubt but as Kaiba said, "better safe than sorry"."

Well, he had more said "I don't want these Duel Discs to have any problems and ruin my victory at MY tournament" but it was basically the same thing.

She crossed her arms, watching as that crazy woman, Ishizu, started rattling off how Kaiba wasn't really Kaiba, but was Shinryu. She couldn't help but frown, everyone and their uncle knew that Kaiba and Mokuba were adopted, and even though Gozaburo was a piece of shit, they clearly didn't want to talk about their past before his death. And everyone respected their wishes, knowing that anyone who was foolish to dig through their past would deeply regret it.

So you could excuse her mouth dropping as Kaiba lost, watching as her boss was sent flying back as Obelisk the Tormentor slammed his fist into the Maiden of Eyes of Blue, shattering the illusion. More so as the ref declared Ishizu the winner and with a pulse of something, the Blue Eyes White Dragon card appeared in her hand.

Aria knew that there was magic. After all there was Yugi, who she stayed far far away as possible. Not many knew this but her job before working at KaibaCorp was at Burger World. Seeing the small teenager shoot up a few inches, much to her jealousy, and then set the escape convict on fire would make anyone fear them.

"Per the ante rules…. your strongest card belongs to me,"

RIP!

Aria's eyes widen as she stared as the two halves of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon flutter in the wind. Ishizu sneered at Kaiba, "I have no need for such weak things," and walked past Kaiba without a care for him and what he did. When her green eyes stared at Kaiba, many would say they would saw blankness, no emotion in him at all… but that was wrong. She could see the utter despair in them.

And something in her snapped, her blood roaring in her ears as something filled her. In the corner of her eyes, she saw Yugi's, and even Ishizu's brother, Marik's head snap at her.

"Aria?" Yugi softly asked, "are you alright?"

Taking a deep breath, Aria nods her head, "I will be…can you guys watch Mokuba?" she turned to the kid, who eyes were widen in shock and horror that was slowly fading away to anger, "Before he does anything rash?"

"Of course," Tea nodded, before she frowning, "Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom," she stated, "I'm going to take this time before another hour long duel starts or some other world/dimension ending happens." And with that she walked towards the elevator, walking past Marik who was looking at her in interest, grinning that mad grin of his.

But she ignored him, stepping into the elevator. Before the doors close, she could her Yugi asking Tea, "Wait…did she said Dimension ending… I though she didn't-"

~MC~MC~MC~

Ishizu sighed, annoyed, looking around the room that she found herself in. She was not hiding, as a servant of the Pharaoh would never hide, but had taken under her control. The peasants just didn't understand the greater good, especially those her Pharaoh had been forced to be around because of his host.

The boy.

She sneered at the thought of Yugi Muto. He should be honored that he was gifted by the Gods to have such an important task. That a boy with no blood of the great Egyptians was Chosen to be allowed to complete the Millennium Puzzle and be granted the great spirit? As soon as he had learn the truth, he should have given the Pharaoh complete control over his body, none of this foolish partnership they had. The Pharaoh had a greater purpose than being friends with a little boy, and his little friends. Especially that Tea girl, who rubbed her body against the Pharaoh, that little girl who dare strike her.

"When my Pharaoh sees the truth, Gardner will surely pay for such a transaction!" she whispered.

"I suggest you shut your mouth about Tea," a calm voice spoke behind Ishizu making her turn on her heel. She relaxed at the sight of the woman known as Aria Potts, seeing her as no threat. Who would even think of the tiny slip of a girl who hung off of the likes of Kaiba, trying to get even a lick of their success, was a threat? "She has a lot of friends."

Ishizu sneered, "What are you doing here? I have more important things to do then talk to some low life girl who's lucky enough to be in my presence let alone in the presence of the Great Pharaoh."

The woman was silent, merely staring at her, though Ishizu could hardly see her eyes, covered by the bangs that were dyed purple. When she didn't speak, Ishizu opened her mouth to tell the woman to leave when a bang sounded, something flying by her face. When she turned she saw a small hole in the wall, just an inch away from her head, slightly smoking. Snapping her head back, she saw Potts holding up a gun, "it's a good thing that Kaiba didn't think to remove the stash of guns that I collected during the Filler Arcs,"

"How dare you!" Ishizu snarled, pulling at the magic of the Shadows to heed her call, "You shall pay for this transaction in the Shadow Realm!" But before she could order the shadows to do her bidding, they were ripped away from her. Her eyes widen in shock and fear as the Shadows themselves curled around the Potts woman, almost nuzzling her like a lost pet finding its Mistress again.

The woman gently let them, a soft smile on her face as the shadows began to shift under her touch. Black-scaled wings spread wide to wrap around her, sharp claws twitching as if ready to tear into Ishizu's flesh, as if daring her to attack. And red eyes, gazing at the woman with burning loyalty but while glaring at her with a desire to see her burn.

"How?" Ishizu choked out, staring at the living and breathing Red Eyes Black Dragon that was forming around the Potts woman. "A while ago you had not even a drop of potential… how are you wielding the magic of the Shadow Realm-" she faltered to a stop as Aria Potts looked at her. What were once green eyes filled with joy and mischief, were now yellow eyes that were filled with rage; yellow golden eyes that had seen terrible things, "You are not Aria Potts,"

"No," the woman nodded, "but at the same time yes. It's actually your fault that I'm awake; this was only a back up plan in case something happened to Yubel. In case something compromised her and she couldn't do her duty in protecting my successor. I trust her of course," she shrugged, "but like her I am very protective and I while don't doubt that she would do an excellent job protecting them, it's better be safe than sorry." Her yellow eyes glare at Ishizu, the Red Eyes snarling. "And you're wondering how it's your fault isn't it? Try to use that abomination of a necklace to find a way out, but you won't. Not after what you did with the Blue Eyes."

"I did what was needed!" Ishizu snarled, her hand going to her Millennium Necklace. The woman was right, for once. She was trying to find a way out of this, but it was like she was cut off; cut off from the Shadows themselves. Right now the Millennium Necklace was just a fancy trinket, "I showed Kaiba the truth! He was misusing the Blue Eyes White Dragon, using it for his own selfish purposes and not to help the Pharaoh! That was why Priest Set was given it!"

"That is not how the story goes," Potts snarled, Red Eyes Black Dragon growling with her, "Not everything revolves around your so-called precious Pharaoh! The Blue Eyes White Dragon is not loyal at all to the Pharaoh, she wouldn't even give a shit if he drops dead. Kisara's loyalty lies with Priest Set and therefore lies with Kaiba. So if Kaiba wants to use the card to fight the Pharaoh so be it!"

Before Ishizu would go on a rant that Kaiba's pathetic plan to usurp the Pharaoh's rightful birthright she stopped, considering what had just been said. "How do you know that name?"

"Because Priest Set told me himself," the Not-Potts calmly stated. "Years ago, my home was attacked, most of my people slaughtered and scattered to the winds, thanks to our enemies who had the upper hand. I, though, was captured, saved from a life of slavery by a traveling mage," she gently smiled, scratching the chin of the Red Eyes as it snarled, drools dripping from its fangs. "Though he only did it at first because he owe a debt to Pluto, he soon became like an older brother figure to me, so…

"Wellt my magic… he taught me the basics. He couldn't teach me how to wield my true powers though. He did know someone who could, and that person was a Priest, or at least had been: the Pharaoh Set." The woman grinned, taking a step forward, making Ishizu take a step back, not out of fear, but dread. "You tombkeepers love to forget that after your Nameless Pharaoh's death, Priest Set was the one to take over as Pharaoh as it was his birthright… but I'm guessing it's the inbreeding you lot just love to do," the Non-Aria stuck out her tongue in disgust.

"Who.,.. who are you?" Ishizu whispered and the woman began to cackle, her own form changing. Gone was the simple t-shirt and jeans with the leather jacket. Now she was wearing an outfit fit for a queen. Wearing black and gold medieval armor, one shoulder had three small spikes jutting out, while the other shoulder guard was in the shape of the head of a red eyes black dragon. Wrapped around her shoulders was a floor length cape, and on her head was an onyx diadem, encrusted with red rubies.

"I'm so glad you asked," the woman coldly stated, "I am Queen Atalanta better known as the Primordial of the Gentle Darkness, the great-aunt and predecessor of the Supreme King," and the woman's smile turns to a frown, "and you… you make me angry." She took a step forward, "And I promise you Ishizu Ishtar, you will rue that you made me angry."

Before Ishizu could speak a word, a gloved hand wrapped around her neck, then Atalanta kneed her in the stomach. She coughed, feeling bile rise up into her mouth before her head was slammed into the floor.

"You think that you are the guide, the one to show your precious Pharaoh the truth, the Light," Atalanta sneered, "but you must remember, that even in Light there is evil, and that's all you have caused. Pain and suffering… and for no good reason. And it's my job, as the wielder of the Gentle Darkness, to cull the sickness that is the Light of Destruction,"

Ishizu coughed, spit dripping down her mouth as she whimpered when her hair was painfully grabbed, her head pulled up.

"And unlike what you think, your Gods won't care if I kill you, because you are nothing to them. Unlike your dear baby brother who is a good stepping stone to the final battle, you are nothing more than an annoyance; a pest,"

A screams ripped itself out of Ishizu's throat as a knife was stabbed into her flesh, blood dripping down her dress.

"And no one will care as I send you to Osiris himself to be eaten by his dear pet."

Those were the last words Ishizu heard before her whole world was filled with pain, and her ears throbbed with the triumphant roar of the Red Eyes Black Dragon.

~MC~MC~MC~

"What do you mean she's dead?" Kaiba growled, staring at Roland.

"That is what I mean sir," the man stated. "She was found dead in one of the spare rooms. Her body was…" he gulped, "burned… badly. We only knew it was her because of her duel disk, and this," he held out Obelisk towards Kaiba who stared at it blankly as he took it.

"So she's dead?" Joey frowned, having overheard the news. "I guess it was Marik…I mean… he's the only one here that can…" He shook his head before glancing over at the newest arrival at the breakfast table. "You ok, Aria?"

"Yeah…" Aria yawned again, covering her mouth, "it's just strange… I don't remember anything after Kaiba's duel with that bitch. I just have been really out of it or something because the next thing I knew I was waking up in my bed,"

While the others looked at her in concern, Serenity even placing a hand on her forehead, Yugi and the Pharaoh frown, both thinking the same thing.

"Were her eyes just golden for a second?"

~MC~MC~MC~

Joey stared up in shock and horror at the Egyptian God Card that Marik had summoned. 'When I saw it before it was freaky… but its something else entirely ta face it down!' He felt his knees shaking. His gut twisting into knocks as he stared up at the sky. Despite the blue skies hanging above him, with cheerful white clouds that might as well have had smiles drawn on them, he felt utterly cold in the face of the power that Marik wielded. 'But… I got ta figure out a way ta defeat him! For everyone's sake! For my friends! My family! And the entire world!'

As if he sensed his thoughts Yami Marik let out a laugh. "Do you see now how your cause is destined for failure, Joey?" he somehow made Joey's name sound like an insult. "How can you hope to ever defeat me when I wield the might of the Ra?" He threw his arms upward, gesturing towards the golden Duel Monster that hung above him. "You have no hope! You can not defeat my monster for he is the very embodiment of the sun itself!"

Marik threw back his head and cackled while Joey looked at his deck. 'There must be something here… something in my deck that-'

"That is the embodiment of the sun?"

Joey turned and stared in surprise as one of the KaibaCorp Blimp Staff began to walk towards them. He had reddish brown hair and was wearing a dress shirt and vest… but both were beginning to tear away from his body with each step as he walked towards them, looking at them not quite with arrogance but something… else. An emotion that spoke of strength known.

"Who decided that?"

Marik glowered as the man continued to walk up to them, before sneering. "Oh, come to beg for Joey's life? It won't work."

"You are not allowed up here!" Mokuba cried out. "Its against the rules."

"I can not deal with a villain such as this?" the man asked, refusing to stop despite Mokuba's commands. "Who decided that?"

"I… I did," Mokuba said but he shrunk down as the man ignored him.

"Stop!" Marik roared, pointing his Millennium Rod right at the strange man. "Stop or feel my power!"

"And you will stop me with that little toothpick?" The man asked casually, finally standing in front of Joey, blocking him from Marik. He leisurely held up his hand and the sun, the true sun, flared before from the sky dropped a massive one handed battle axe, golden in color as if it had been forged on the brightest summer afternoon and managed to capture in its metal its heat and light. "Well then, if you will wield that as your weapon it is only fair I wield my own weapon: Sacred Treasure Rita, the battle ax adored by the sun and named after a Maiden. Worthy only to be held by me."

The last of the man's shirt and vest tore away, revealing his muscles that had quadrupled in size since he'd begun walking towards them.

"Who do you think you are!?!" Marik roared, Ra letting out a bellow.

But the man merely continued to stare him down.

"I am the one who stands at the pinnacle of all races. I am the Lion's Sin of Pride: Escanor."

"You… you will die here!" Marik screamed. "I don't care if you aren't my foe! I will destroy you just as I will destroy the Pharaoh! Winged Dragon of Ra! BLAZE CANNON!"

The golden Duel Monster opened its mouth and unleashed a beam of concentrated sun, the blast striking Escanor head on, engulfing him completely. Joey threw himself out of the way, falling to the ground before crying out for Marik to stop even as the attack continued on.

"Haven't you been paying attention?"

Joey's eyes widened as the energy began to dissipate, lessening to reveal Escanor still standing there, not looking fazed in the slightest. Indeed he looked far BIGGER. STRONGER. POWERFUL.

"You can not hope to defeat the likes of me with such a weak showing. How can you claim that this fanciful chicken is the embodiment of the sun?"

Escanor began to walk forward again.

"I… I don't know how you managed to survive that but it only proves that you would be better served living out the rest of your days as my mind slave!" Marik thrust out the Millennium Rod-

CRACK!

Marik's eyes went wide, staring at the shaft of the Millennium Rod… which Escanor had snapped in half with just a single flick of his finger.

"I am afraid that I have broken your toothpick," he replied.

"Noooooooooo…" Marik got out, his voice turning to a shrill whine.

Escanor shook his head. "A sad showing… but it will not stop me from honoring you, Marik Ishtar. I will give you a taste of my power." He lifted up his battle ax and it seemed as if the sun itself had swelled around it. "Cruel Sun."

Marik's scream filled the air for only a moment… and then there was nothing.

For there was nothing LEFT of Marik.

"A pity. I had hoped that for all his boasts he might be able to actually give me a challenge." Escanor shrugged. "Now then… where is the supposed Demon God Zorc? I wish to show him what a human can do."

Yami Bakura proceeded to pee himself.

~By Miki~

Ishizu had her day planned perfectly: from her meals and the papers to sign, to her evening meeting with Seto Kaiba.

Nothing came to surprise her anymore, and she was better off for it. The warm, golden vision of her Millennium Necklace made sure nothing would ever catch her off guard again. The security of knowing what was and what would be kept her head held high and her steps ever-stable.

So it was a VERY unwelcome surprise when, as she was getting air before the meeting, that a cold, empty person-shaped void somehow wandered into her peripheral sight.

And the more she tried to scry this bizarre existence, the colder and darker her world became.

There was nothing.

There was no one.

Just a cold, empty hole in the fabric of reality.

"Excuse me?"

The voice, deep with the barest hint of femininity, came from behind her. And with that presence, the cold of the void just inches from her back.

Ishizu hated that her body had frozen, sweat trickling down her temple, even if for a moment. She was of the Ishtar line, sworn to bring in the Pharaoh's reign! If an enemy showed itself, she would castigate it into submission!

The blade was already lodged full-hilt into the void's chest, making it stumble back. Ishizu grimaced at the hot wetness of blood splattering on her hand, but it was a small price to pay-

"Good lord, you are much stabbier than I expected."

A gloved hand gently slid out the dagger and Ishizu's eyes widened in shock as she saw the wound had sealed itself into a scar of several weeks old. A clatter of steel startled her out of her staring as her dagger was kicked back towards her, the gloved hands raised in surrender.

When Ishizu's eyes flickered to examine the being's face, her eyes widened and she involuntarily took a full step backwards.

'Seto Kaiba?! It can't be!'

This being had same hair and eye color, identical to the 16-year old CEO in face and height. Yet the hair was much longer and an almost x-shaped scar was etched from the left cheek, over the nose and disappearing under the right eyebrow.

"You are Ishizu Ishtar, right?"

And the creature knew her name. Because of course it did. Of course this walking chasm knew who she was, and sought her out.

"You… just what in the world ARE you?!"

With that last sentence, Ishizu poured in all the power she could into deciphering this being. Everything that would strip it bare and naked before her eyes, leaving no secrets to hide.

"I was hoping you could tell me, because I seem to have gotten very, very lost."

Nothing.

The void remained indifferent, as if she had never used her power.

This demanded answers, investigation. If this entity crossed paths with the Pharaoh and his servants… she didn't even want to finish that thought!

The Golden Future she had worked so hard for would be destroyed!

She forced the creature into her apartment, the tall brunette allowing herself to be pushed and pulled whichever way. Ishizu could see the defined abs beneath her jacket, feel the solid muscle of her arm. Even with the air she carried herself with, Ishizu could see this was a seasoned fighter.

None of this was a comfort.

"This place looks a lot less lived in than I expected," the brunette remarked, looking over Ishizu's temporary living quarters.

Darker blue eyes narrowed. "What were you expecting, creature?"

"Saya Sohryu, thank you kindly." The thing, Saya, sat down far too casually on the sofa. "It's so new," she poked at the cushions. "Did you just move in here?"

"That is none of your concern."

"The Ishizu I'm more familiar with would have been living here for about… what's the date?"

"May 5th," Ishizu found herself answering.

"So around a year by now."

Ishizu's gaze sharpened. "So you claim to know another me. Just what are you?"

"The Ishizu I knew was trying to figure that out too," the brunette chuckled. "Lemme guess: every time you look at me, I show up as a scary void creature?"

"So you ARE aware of your nature."

"I know how I affect the Millennium Necklace," Ishizu shivered at how casually the brunette spoke and gestured to her heirloom, "but I have no idea WHAT I am or why I appear like that. All we know is that I'm basically immune to destiny and scrying, and I can hide other people from destiny and scrying if I'm close to them too."

This was terrible. This was catastrophic.

This was the worst possible thing Ishizu could have come across at the eleventh hour. If this thing came into contact with the Pharaoh, Kaiba, her brother, she would be rendered blind!

"I don't suppose you know of any dimensional portals or the like?"

Getting this creature out of this world was Ishizu's top priority. But she somehow healed from a stab in the arteries, Ishizu's magic and her Necklace's Sight didn't affect them… so the only option would be to send the being back from whence it came.

"Pretty sure at this point." Saya cracked her knuckles. "We were looking for leads about some Alexander mofo, and there was a bright light…"

She spread her arms.

"And here I am."

"… and here you are."

-----

The next few days aside from the preparations for Battle City, Ishizu kept Saya Sohryu as closely guarded a secret as possible.

The creature herself seemed remarkably fine with remaining in Ishizu's living quarters. She didn't protest against being ordered to remain there, and allowed Ishizu to forcibly move her where she needed.

But the mere knowledge that this girl could overpower her and none of her magic could make a difference infuriated Ishizu and filled her with fear in equal measures.

Said fear only worsened after one night, she had slipped in three different types of poison into Saya Sohryu's meal… and the brunette's response had been to ask for more, citing the cobra venom gave "a nice, minty aftertaste to the coffee," or "The arsenic adds a nice, bitter kick to the stroganoff."

Another time when she had the brunette trail after her when she got a vision of one of the Pharaoh's vessel's enemy potentially causing problems. Saya had been remarkably helpful in this endeavor, already being familiar with many of the escapades of the Pharaoh's vessel and his servants.

Ishizu had manipulated the mind of a driver to crash into Saya Sohryu, hoping it would be enough to kill or injure her…

The brunette had planted her feet, readied a stance, and grabbed the side of the car to wheel it into the side of the abandoned building so the driver not only survived but the car retained minimal damage.

Ishizu wasn't entirely sure this girl was flesh and blood anymore. She recalled how Marik had snuck glances at a movie about a time-traveling robot of all things. But now it seemed all too possible with this girl.

She had but one solace, one weapon against whatever the hell Saya Sohryu was.

"I summon Graceful Charity in Attack Mode."

"Graceful Charity is a spell card."

"… I summon Graceful Charity in Defense Mode."

"Did you not hear me? It. Is. A. Spell card."

"… I floop the Graceful Charity."

"YOU'RE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE!" Ishizu bellowed, pointing at the brunette accusingly. "IS THIS A GAME TO YOU?!"

The brunette spread her arms over the cards with an arched eyebrow. "Isn't it though? Is it not?"

Ishizu's face flushed. "You know what I mean!"

"I'm sure there's a me who understands a few parallel universes down left."

… it was interactions like these that led Ishizu to wonder if this girl was as big of a threat as she feared.

"Here." Ishizu startled when the brunette came behind her from where she slumped against the couch. "Shoulder massage? You look like you need it-"

"I'm fine," Ishizu half-heartedly slapped her hand away, voice lacking in venom.

"Suit yourself."

She had spent too much time around this girl. She had become used to her presence, her strange mannerisms. In a way, the brunette's presence had become a new normal for Ishizu.

'I have no need of companionship, not when my place is beside the Pharaoh,' she reminded herself, yet even that thought felt less ironclad than before.

"You know you don't have to shoulder everything. If you would just talk with Yugi and the others, then you'd get a lot more done."

Dark blue eyes flickered to where Saya had settled down with a bottle of lemonade. "Their place is behind the Pharaoh-"

"You and I both know that's bullshit. Yugi and Rei love them, and they definitely wouldn't appreciate you saying things like that."

"'Rei?'"

"The name the Pharaoh from my world chose to use until we found his name. We considered Yami, but Yukiteru says everyone he knew who was named that developed a complex."

Ishizu's head hurt. Yet more people who she might have to watch out for.

"Besides, you would have a lot more help in getting both your brothers back. They know what it's like to-"

Ishizu's hand lashed out, slapping the bottle out of Saya's hand. "Don't you dare," she snarled, "don't you dare speak as though-"

"The person you wanted to protect and shield was hurt and corrupted despite your best efforts. The parent you hated was gone, but you couldn't feel joy or relief. So when the first thing comes along that offers you any sort of power in a powerless situation… you grab it without hesitation."

Ishizu stared. How could she know? How could this being, this stranger… know how she felt that horrible, horrific day?

"It feels amazing. Having power no one else has. How it can make you feel so certain in yourself. You never notice how it makes you more alone and trapped than anyone else. But when the alternative is going back to being powerless… how can you go back?"

How could she look at this girl and know that she understood Ishizu in a way she never imagined… and believe it?

"It took so long to realize that that feeling was a trap, keeping me from everyone and everything that would heal my heart."

Ishizu's hand trembled as it settled above her own.

"My Ishizu might've walled herself off like you have… if she didn't have that dream."

Dream?

"She had a long dream of herself, clinging to the legacy of the Pharaoh and seeking to micromanage his everything as a trusted advisor and potential wife. Desperately trying to keep the actions of others from derailing from the path she had Seen, even when that path did everyone more harm than good.

"She clung to that Golden Future the Millennium Necklace showed her like a lifeline. To the point she laid hands on her brother Rishid, that she loved so dearly. It broke both her and Marik's hearts, to the point crueler personalities that had been forged by the abuse they faced took control.

"And all she could do was watch as her other self continued to hurt and kill for the sake of that Golden Path.

"And when she awoke from that dream, my Ishizu swore she would never become like that… and she came to Domino City just a few weeks later.

"That decision saved the life of Yugi Muto's father, Yukiteru Muto. Of Anzu Mazaki, Hiroto Honda, Kiyori Ieyasu, Hanasaki Tomoya..."

Blue eyes softened.

"Of Katsuya Jounouchi.

"With her by our side, we knew the truth of who the other Yugi was. And in working alongside us rather than watching from a distance, my Ishizu grew in power and in fortitude as she helped us fight against many enemies.

"She wasn't just a distant advisor, but a kind and close friend and comrade."

Ishizu stared ahead in stunned silence, barely noticing the warmth of Saya Sohryu's hand gently gripping her shoulder.

"Think about why you grasped the power you did that day. Before your means kill your ends."

----

(knock, knock, knock)

Yugi looked up at the sound. It was past closing time for Kame Game, just a bit after finishing dinner. He faintly heard his mom check the door and some voices down below.

"Yugi? Someone's here to see you!"

'Who could that be at this hour?' The faux blond wondered.

'Be careful, 'Yami warned.

'I will.'

Yugi came down to see his mom leading in two young women. One who reminded him of Shadi, and the other bore such a striking similarity to Kaiba, Yugi could feel Yami double take.

"Uh, who are you?"

The brunette nodded to the Egyptian woman and she took a breath.

"We have much to discuss, Yugi Muto."

~MC~M C~MC~

"And now you will wander alone."

"The truth path was one only we have known."

Para and Dox smirked as they looked at the teens. Because they had failed to answer their riddle they would-

"I'm afraid I can't allow that to happen!" a voice called out. The figure, with blonde hair and wearing a red evening jacket over a white dress shirt and black dress pants, looked at the two eliminators and shook his head. "No one wanders alone… just like no one dances alone!"

"KEVIN BACON!" the teens called out in delight.

"That's right!" the famous actor declared. "And I am here to help these teens escape! Not just these caves but this island and the traps that Pegasus has set up! And I will do that… through dance! HIT IT!"

Been working so hard

I'm punching my card

Eight hours, for what?

Oh, tell me what I got

And with that Kevin Bacon began to dance, the teens at once joining in.

"The music, it makes my hips sway."

"I want to just dance the day away!"

The two eliminators quickly joined in.

I've got this feeling

That time's just holding me down

I'll hit the ceiling

Or else I'll tear up this town

Yami Bakura, hiding in the Millennium Ring, let out a groan at what he was seeing. 'Curses! Just when I thought I had a chance to win…!'

So now I gotta cut loose

Footloose

Kick off the Sunday shoes

Please, Louise

Pull me off of my knees

Jack, get back

Come on before we crack

Lose your blues

Everybody cut footloose

~MC~MC~MC~

"This… is more than a linear path. It is a prism… of endless possibilities. Where a single choice can branch out into countless alternate realities. Create alternate opportunities from the ones you know. I… am the Watcher-"

"I KNOW YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SEXUAL POSITIONS, YOU FREAK!" Edwin shouted from the bathroom, the shower running.

"Edwin, I can't keep holding my cheeks…"

The Watcher smiled as he slowly knelt down to press his ear to the door, tugging on his Superman cape.

"You know, this wouldn't happen if you join my Christmas Avengers," The Grinch said from the hallway.

"Hey Edwin, we're out of Gingerbread men!" Aria called out from the kitchen.

"And booze!" Cassie shouted. "Watcher, you need another whiskey sour?"

"I'm good!"

"ALL OF YOU GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"