Chapter 1: A New Era

It had been another normal day in the Muto household, if by normal you mean avoiding hordes of fangirls or taking on a couple of plucky challengers eager for the title of "The King of Games". Yugi sat at the dinner table, eating out of a cup of ramen noodles while his Grandpa examined some new artifact from Africa. He looked down at the Millennium Puzzle hanging by a chain around his neck, then looked at his friend, Tea Gardner, who was sitting across the table from him. She had swooped in out of nowhere while he was trying desperately to escape the throng of fangirls threatening to suffocate him and pulled him out of the mess.

"Guess my attempt to scare those girls off didn't work out so well, huh?" Tea said with a sheepish grin.

Yugi grinned despite himself. Tea had tried to sell the idea that Yugi already had a girlfriend by kissing him full on the lips while the fangirls gave chase. Unfortunately for them, that kiss turned the loving adulation of the females into burning hatred and rage, forcing the two of them to run for safety. They had eventually made it back to the Muto household safely, but not before Yugi got hit by a rock. He winced as he touched the small black eye he was now sporting. "It was a nice idea, but shouldn't you have known they would react like that?"

"Not all women act the same," Tea answered in a huff, "I thought they were going to go away and sulk, maybe write a bit of hate mail, but definitely didn't think they'd try and kill us!"

"At least we're alright," Yugi said sagely, "what about Joey and Tristan? I didn't see them after you kissed me."

Tea blushed slightly. Yugi's naivety never failed to catch her off guard. "Well, last I saw, Joey was still taking on challengers and Tristan was still there as moral support. If I know Joey, he's still dueling."

Yugi slurped up some more ramen. "He never could turn down a challenge. Still, shouldn't we let him know he can stop now?"

"I'm sure he'll stop when he gets hungry," Tea said nonchalantly, "But if it's worrying you that much, I'll try and call him to let him know you're worried about him." She walked over to the phone and began dialing Joey's cell phone number. Yugi, meanwhile, sensed the Pharaoh's presence.

"I know firsthand the bonds between you and your friends, Yugi," the Pharaoh said, laying a spiritual hand on Yugi's shoulder, "And I know you would be devastated if something were to happen to them. However, Joey's just doing what he does best, and I sensed no movement in the shadows. Your friend is safe."

"I trust you Pharaoh," Yugi replied, "I'd rather see it personally that everyone's alright. I'd hate for something to happen to them simply because we're the best duelist."

"And that is why you are the best duelist," the Pharaoh said. "You duel for others, not like Kaiba or Marik, who dueled for self-gain. It's why we were fated to meet and save the world from the likes of Marik and Dartz. And it's why we may still have to save the world once more."

"What do you mean?" Yugi asked, perplexed.

"I don't exactly know," Pharaoh replied, "Call it an instinct feeling, but I feel that the world is going to need our help soon. Just not tonight." He smiled and faded back into the Puzzle.

"How soon is soon?" Yugi asked out loud.

"I'd say about fifteen minutes," Tea replied, misunderstanding the question, then seeing Yugi's face. "Or were you talking with the Pharaoh?"

"He said something about the world needing our help soon, but not tonight," Yugi answered, "Now what's this about fifteen minutes?"

"My parents are expecting me back by 10 tonight," Tea replied, pulling a face. "I hate curfews. I'm an adult, we're about to graduate high school, yet she still treats me like a kid sometimes!"

"Now now there young Tea," Solomon Muto interrupted, walking into the kitchen as Yugi slurped down the last of the ramen, "Your parents impose rules because they love you. You are an adult, but you've only been an adult for a few months now. That doesn't mean you're automatically able to survive in the cruel adult world. Do you not have your own car and license?"

"Yeah, but-" Tea began

"Then your parents have already given you a great amount of freedom as it is. The best way to gain more freedom is to abide by the rules your parents set for you, earning their trust so that you CAN begin to live on your own. Do you understand what I'm saying young lady?" Solomon asked, a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes, Mr. Muto," Tea answered, all sense of defiance gone, "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Take care" Solomon said, "And remember, one of the best gifts in life is experience."

"And friends to share it with," Yugi added, earning an approving nod from his grandfather.

"And friends to share it with," Solomon repeated, "See you around Tea."

"Thanks!" Tea said and walked out the door. There was the sound of a car starting up and Yugi saw Tea's small, white convertible drive off towards her home out the window.

"Now, it's getting late," Solomon said, "why don't we both retire to our rooms and turn in for the night?"

Yugi wiped some sauce off his face and nodded. "I think we both could use some shut-eye. Goodnight Grandpa!"

"Goodnight Yugi," Solomon said with a weary smile as both Mutos trudged up the stairs to their separate rooms, "And don't stay up too late talking with the Pharaoh, I'm sure he needs his rest as well."

"Don't worry Grandpa, I won't." Yugi closed his bedroom door and promptly changed into his pajamas.

"He didn't say we couldn't talk at all," Yami commented, "And I'm sure you want to know what I meant earlier."

Yugi nodded as he flopped onto his bed. "Yeah, a cryptic message about the world needing us isn't exactly what I wanted to hear after a long day of avoiding both crazed women and rabid duelists."

"Life at the top isn't all roses and sweets," Pharaoh said with a smile.

"And you didn't warn me as we rose to the top?" Yugi asked jokingly.

"I think we both were more concerned with stopping Pegasus and Marik at the time," Yami answered.

Yugi chuckled as he looked at Yami sitting in his chair by his desk, arms behind his head as he lay back on his bed. "Saving the world does seem more important than becoming the King of Games. But all joking aside, what exactly did you mean earlier when you said you thought the world would need us soon? I though you said earlier you sensed no movement in the shadows."

"And I did sense no movement towards Joey," Yami said as his face grew serious, brow furrowed in concentration. "However, the shadows are always shifting, waiting for an opportunity to take over. Even now, someone is plotting something nefarious towards someone else. Darkness always lurks, no matter how hard we try to banish it. It is a part of human nature. However, it is also true that a candle shines brightest in the dark. It may not be today or tomorrow, but someday in the future, a great evil will rise up to try and eliminate that light that is the goodness of all mankind. All I can say is that we must remain vigilant for anything. My gut is telling me to be prepared for something, but what, I can't figure out."

"Well maybe a good night's sleep will help you figure it out," Yugi suggested, trying and failing to suppress a yawn.

Yami smiled. "That may do the trick. Good night Yugi."

"Good night Pharaoh," came the tired response from under the covers as the King of Games was quickly overcome with sleep. The Pharaoh looked out the window at the star covered sky one last time before returning to the Millennium Puzzle. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had, but he saw no reason to burden his host with the problem. 'Yugi worries about his friends enough, he doesn't need to worry about me as well' Pharaoh thought as he returned to his room within the Puzzle. 'Whatever happens, I'm sure we can handle it.'

4 Hours Later

2 in the morning is generally considered part of the quiet hours of the morning. Most people have decided to finally turn in or have ended their rather mature endeavors due to exhaustion. Few people stay awake to enjoy the quiet hours of the night, though the majority of those people could either be described as college students working on an essay due the next morning or unsavory characters looking to purloin same valuable commodities from their sleeping neighbors. Indeed, two such characters were outside the Muto household, about to put into motion events that would affect many other lives if their nefarious plans came to pass.

"You know what to do once you're inside, right my dear?" the man asked. He wasn't the most intimidating man, physically at least. Behind that black mask, however, lay a man of cunning, deceit, and partial insanity. His followers knew nothing about the madness behind his eyes, but they did follow in his cause. The woman he was talking to was dressed in a black, tight jumpsuit, eerily similar to something out of a spy movie, and her athletic build did nothing to dispel that idea. Her long, dark hair was tied back in a simple braid, perfect for breaking and entering.

"Yes, master," she answered simply, "I am to steal the Egyptian God cards Obelisk the Tormentor and The Winged Dragon of Ra from Yugi's deck without alerting him."

"Very good, and put a smile on that face, sweetie, you're about to steal from the King of Games himself! Most people in New Domino City would kill to simply meet the boy; you're about to grab two of the most powerful cards ever made, made by Maxamillion himself! You oughta be positively elated!" The masked man ended this with a dark chuckle.

The woman gave a half-hearted attempt at a smile, to which the masked man pouted. "My dear Kuno, you must lighten up. We are about to start something grand!"

"I must focus on my mission. I can't let frivolous emotions get in the way right now." Kuno countered, "Is it time?"

"Soon, my dear," the masked man said simply, "in three, two, one. Go!" The woman rolled her eyes at his antics and began nimbly climbing up the side of the house. Her slender hands found places to grip that no average climber would have found. The woman, whose full name is Kuno Ichi, had Olympic caliber talent and was soon perched somewhat awkwardly outside Yugi's window. Kuno then pulled on a glove with sharp claws attached and cut a circle big enough for her to fit her slim hand through and unlock the latch. Swiftly, she opened the window and eased her slender frame silently into Yugi's bedroom. Taking stock of the situation, she spotted the yellow and purple hair of the duelist she had heard so many legends about as she grew up. He was deep in slumber, sprawled out all over the bed; covers knocked every which way; all in all a rather unflattering view of Yugi.

"The textbooks always made him seem taller," Kuno whispered to herself as her sharp eyes looked away from the sleeping Duel King and began taking in every detail about his room, scanning for the items she had come here for. Finally, she spotted the Duel Disk lying on the desk. His deck lay next to the disk. She began to look through the deck in absolute silence, looking at each of the famous cards carefully before putting it back on the bottom. Kuno gasped when she finally found the cards she was looking for. A sharp tingle went through her arm as she viewed both the blue demon and the divine dragon in her hands. She pocketed the cards and turned to make her escape back to her master.

"I'd put those cards back if I were you," a deep, commanding voice echoed around the room, freezing Kuno in her tracks. She looked around, worried, knowing she had been silent except for that one little gasp. She immediately looked at Yugi on the bed, but he was still sleeping; tossing and turning, but still asleep.

"Who's there?" Kuno asked, crouching low, ready to act upon any sign of movement, a black throwing star appearing in her hand.

The disembodied voice chuckled. "Someone you don't want to mess with. Put the cards back and I'll let you leave with your sanity."

It was Kuno's turn to chuckle. "My mind cannot be broken, not even by a spirit." With that, she climbed onto the window sill and prepared to leap down to her master, who was waiting below.

"You're going to regret that. MIND CRUSH!" yelled the voice and Kuno faltered as a sudden wave of pain seemed to explode within her skull. Her graceful leap turned into a crashing fall into the tree right next to the shop, yet she managed to retain consciousness. She staggered to her feet and stumbled over to the man in the black mask before collapsing onto the back seat of the odd looking motorcycle.

"My dear, it seems that you had a bit of a misstep," the man chuckled as he turned on the motor, "I thought a kunoichi named Kuno Ichi would be better than that! Ha!"

"That boy… is more powerful… than we imagined," Kuno gasped out, "It would… be wise to leave now!" With that, she fell into unconsciousness, guaranteed to wake up with a splitting headache later. Back in the Muto house, Pharaoh (for who else would it be) surveyed his work, impressed that someone had actually managed to resist his Mind Crush technique. Realizing she had help, the ancient spirit from Egypt went over to Yugi and began yelling in his ear "Wake up!" Yugi was currently in the middle of a dream, and what a dream it was; Yugi was helpless as he watched a warrior and a dragon, led by a dark figure, all three emanating chaotic energy that made Yugi shudder, lay waste to several cities across the globe, though he couldn't recognize any of those cities. He saw five people with strange red marks on their arms summon powerful dragons to fight off the evil, but they too fell, one by one, until only a man in blue with hair not unlike Yugi's remained. He had a yellow line under his left eye as he wept openly for his fallen comrades , but he continued fighting, calling upon an even stronger version of his dragon and actually striking down the warrior and the enemy dragon. Alas, he too fell to the dark figure that reigned over the two. A man in strange gold and black outfit commanded the dark figure, calling the dark figure "The Envoy of the Beginning and the End". That man began laughing maniacally as he called upon a woman who emanated the same chaotic energy as the dark figure and together, they began to lay waste to the rest of the world. Yugi screamed as he tried desperately to do something, ANYTHING to help, but the flames began to consume him as well, until he heard the Pharaoh's voice.

"Wake up!"

"huh?"

"WAKE UP!" Yugi shot upright in his bed, confused beyond comprehension.

"Wha?" Yugi asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

"The god cards are being stolen!" Yami cried. He promptly took control of Yugi's body, forcing him over to the window in time for Yugi to see a black and white strange motorcycle rev up its engines and take off down the street, disappearing around the corner with a strange flash of light.

"What's going on?!" Yugi asked, not comprehending still. Yami remained silent, prompting Yugi to ask again, "What just happened?"

The Pharaoh walked Yugi over to his desk, picked up his deck, and relinquished control of Yugi's body back to Yugi. "We lost two very important cards tonight."

Yugi immediately began to thumb through his deck, scared by the hidden implications. "Which cards are you talking about? Please tell me this is a joke! There's Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, Slifer, Valkyrion, Buster." Yugi stopped when he finally saw who was missing. "Ra and Obelisk are gone." He said simply. "They're gone…"

"We have to get them back. In the wrong hands, the Egyptian gods could cause untold chaos," Pharaoh said. "Get dressed, we need to get help if we're going to track those cards down."

"Right," Yugi said and began to throw on his Domino City High uniform.

Later….

"You mean ta tell me that some chick broke into yo house and made off with 2 of the Egyptian god cards?" Joey Wheeler asked sleepily as he eyed Yugi. He, Tristan, and Tea had all agreed to meet, however reluctantly, with Yugi after receiving frantic calls from the Duel King. After Yugi explained both the theft and the dream, a silence had fallen over the group, until Joey broke the silence.

"Yeah," Yugi said patiently.

"And you saw this dude destroy the world with some chaotic monsters in a dream?"

"Yes Joey."

"And you have no idea who or where dis guy is?"

"Thank you for summing up what he just told us Joey," Tristan commented, "Because we totally needed to hear that again."

"Hey, I'm just making sure I got all the facts straight," Joey snapped.

"You should worry more about putting your shirt on straight," Tristan countered.

"It's 3 in the morning, and when Yuge called sounding like he did, I ain't gonna worry about whether or not my shirt's on straight!" Joey said as he began to fix his shirt.

"Well, at least you remembered to put a shirt on, it's a start," Tristan teased.

"Why I oughta!" Joey began, advancing towards Tristan with his shirt halfway around. Tea stood between the two and held up a warning finger.

"Boys, now is not the time for fighting," she cautioned, "Yugi's missing two Egyptian god cards. We have to figure out a way to track them down."

"Why not ask Seto Kaiba to use Kaibacorp to track them down?" Tristan suggested.

"You wanna go begging rich-boy for help?!" Joey asked incredulously, looking at Tristan as though he'd grown a second head.

"You got any other ideas?"

"Yeah, wait for the guy to show up challenging Yugi for his title," Joey said as if it were obvious, "With two Egyptian gods in his deck, I'm sure he'll show up looking for a shot at the top."

"Because that's totally what happened the last time the god cards were stolen," Tea noted, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Dartz totally came after Yugi's title when he had the god cards stolen."

"That was a ten thousand year plan," Joey argued, "I don't think we're going to get another guy from Atlantis using some crazy seal trying to destroy everything."

"No, we're just getting another crazy guy trying to destroy the world," Tristan said, "Joey, I know you hate the guy, but we have no other way of tracking the god cards."

"I ain't gonna give rich-boy the satisfaction of beggin for help!" Joey snarled, banging his fist on the table outside the game shop.

"We're not begging," Yugi pointed out, "we're just asking for a little help. I'll duel Kaiba if that's what it takes, but we have to at least try."

Joey grunted. "It feels like begging."

"You don't have to come with us," Tea pointed out, "You could slink back to bed right now and nobody would be mad about it."

Tristan grinned, "Then I wouldn't get to see you yell at Kaiba, and that's always fun to watch."

"Aaaah, shad up!" Joey yawned, too tired to argue, "I'm going wit ya, simply cuz we do everything together. That, and it'll be worth it to catch rich-boy in his pajamas. What I don't get is why that ninja chick didn't take Slifer as well? Wouldn't this bad guy wanna have all three gods to use?"

Yugi didn't have an answer to that, though Tea offered an idea. "Maybe the Pharaoh interrupted her before she could snatch Slifer."

"We'll ask them when we catch them, won't we Yugi?" Tristan said.

"Thank guys," Yugi said, his spirits lifting, "I don't know what I'd do without you guys." He held up his hand. "Remember that friendship circle we drew a few years back?"

"Of course!" Tea and Tristan exclaimed simultaneously.

"The ink may have faded, but our bond never will," Joey said proudly, "Now let's go get rich-boy to track down your cards!"

At KaibaCorp

The guard didn't look very pleased to see them. "It's three in the morning, what do you punks want?" The gruff and irritated guard asked.

"We need to see Seto Kaiba now!" Yugi said, coming straight to the point.

"Make an appointment, he's sleeping," The guard grunted and began to close the doors.

"Yo!" Joey yelled, sticking his foot in the door, "We need rich-boy's help because we need to track down the Egyptian god cards."

"The Egyptian gods?" the guard asked, puzzlement written on his face, "Yugi Muto's got them. Find him, you find the cards. Now go to bed!"

"I am Yugi Muto!" Yugi said simply, "And someone has just stolen two of the three god cards. We need Kaiba to help track them down."

The guard sighed. "Alright, I'll let youse guys in. But if Kaiba says no, I'm throwing you out. Personally."

"I'd like ta see you try," Joey growled threateningly.

"Not now you idiot," Tea said, grabbing his ear, "We did come here at a time where most people are sleeping."

"I'm sure rich-boy pays people to sleep for him," Joey said with a hint of pain in his voice, "Now would ya let go already? OW!" The bickering continued as they were escorted to a waiting room and the guard disappeared into the elevator.

Yugi grinned despite the situation, sensing the Pharaoh stir. "Something the matter?"

"No," Yami said. "I'm just noting how lucky you are to have such great friends. I can't recall if I ever had such great friends like you, Yugi."

"Don't worry Pharaoh," Yugi said, "We'll get your memories back. Besides, you have friends now."

"Thanks Yugi," Yami said, "Now let's see if we can get Kaiba to help us." As if on cue, the elevator dinged, ending all discussion in the room.

"What do you dweebs want?" Seto Kaiba asked as he entered the room, fully dressed in his Battle City attire, his long white coat swirling about him dramatically.

"We need your help in tracking the Egyptian god cards," Yugi said politely.

"If you lost them in a duel, I can't help you," Kaiba answered. "And if you lost a duel to someone other than me-"

"Aaah, stuff it rich-boy" Joey interrupted, "Yugi didn't lose to nobody. They was stolen!"

Kaiba's eyes narrowed. "Nobody asked for your opinion, Wheeler."

"Nobody said I couldn't say my opinion either."

"Like any opinion a third-rate duelist could offer would be worthwhile."

"You wanna take this outside and fight like men, or are ya gonna pay someone else to do your dirty work?"

"I've already proven I'm the better duelist, why should I waste my time with an amateur like you?"

"If I'm such a lousy duelist, why'd I get Hermos during that battle against Dartz?"

"Every dog finds a bone every now and then." Kaiba turned away from the fuming Joey. "Yugi, it's bad enough that I have to put up with your pathetic friends every time we meet, why have you brought them here at three in the morning? I have a company to run, you know."

"I understand that Kaiba," Yugi said apologetically, "But we have to find those god cards quickly before something terrible happens."

"Spare me the mystic mumbo jumbo," Kaiba groaned, stifling a yawn, "I'll help you find your cards, only because I don't believe in such a dishonorable method of acquiring cards and whoever resorts to stealing needs to be punished."

"Awesome!" Yugi exclaimed.

"Ya know Kaiba," Joey began, startling everyone in the room by actually referring to the Kaibacorp executive by his name, "For a rich-boy, you ain't as bad as you try to be."

"I don't need everyone getting all mushy on me either," Kaiba snapped. "I'm only doing this because I will be the one to take the god cards from Yugi by defeating him in a duel, not some sleazy thief in the middle of the night. Follow me." Kaiba led the group down a corridor, up a flight of stairs, down another long corridor, which was the catalyst for Joey to start complaining "Just how big is this freakin place?" Finally, Kaiba opened a door and led the group inside to a room filled with computers. Various cards were scrolling across the screen, popping up in various places across the globe.

"This is where Kaibacorp tracks every single card that's played, to keep an eye out for phony cards," Kaiba explained, "You wouldn't believe how many fake Blue-Eyes people have tried to pass off as actual cards."

"So this can find the Egyptian god cards?" Yugi asked.

"If they use the cards in a duel, I can have a satellite on them in minutes," Kaiba answered with a hint of pride creeping into his voice. He sat down at the console and began typing in some algorithms.

"So you spy on good and bad duelists?" Tristan asked innocently.

"Only on cards of interest," Kaiba answered. "I don't care what other duelists do in their free time so long as they don't try to use fake cards."

"I think Kaiba's more worried someone might use his precious Blue-Eyes better than he does," Joey snickered.

"Wheeler, I can easily have your sorry carcass thrown out of the building," Kaiba threatened, "It's bad enough that all of you idiots have to come here at three in the morning, I do NOT want to put up with your mushy nonsense."

"Any luck finding the god cards?" Tea asked hurriedly before Joey could retaliate.

"The last time a god card was played was Slifer this morning by Yugi's house," Kaiba reported.

"That was the last duel before those fangirls swarmed me," Yugi commented, "I used Slifer to defeat his Summoned Skull."

"I'll set the computer to monitor any sign of the Egyptian god cards. If your thieves use them, we'll know," Kaiba said, "I'll inform Yugi when that happens. Until then, please leave my building and let me get some sleep."

"You mean you can't just pay someone to sleep for you?" Joey teased. Kaiba's retort was lost in the sudden high-pitched roar that echoed weirdly throughout the room.

"What was that?" Tristan asked.

"I'm not sure I want to find out," Yugi said quietly. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked over to see the Pharaoh staring at him.

"I don't sense any darkness from this yet," Yami said, "In fact, I'm getting a very good feeling from this."

"It's not trying to trick you, is it?" Yugi asked.

"No, but it is fast approaching," Yami warned.

"Where-" was all Yugi managed to get out before he and Kaiba were swallowed by a shining red light that filled the room.

"What's this?" Tea shouted.

"I don't know!" Tristan asked. Joey peeked through his arms to see a crimson colored dragon twisting and making its way out the room before disappearing with another flash of light.

Joey glanced around the room. "Guys, Yugi and rich-boy just got taken by a red lizard thing." The red light filled the room again, and this time the dragon stopped directly in front of Joey.

"I AM NOT A RED LIZARD THING!" a draconic voice emanated within their heads, "I AM THE CRIMSON DRAGON!"

Joey, as usual, had some fight in him. "Well, if you're gonna take Yugi, ya might as well take me too."

"YOU WILL BE NEEDED HERE, FIGHTING THE FORCES OF DARKNESS FOR AS LONG AS I NEED THESE TWO," the Crimson Dragon said," NOW I MUST GO, IF THE POWERS OF CHAOS ARE TO BE STOPPED IN TIME." With that, the dragon disappeared, ignoring Joey's shouts and Tea's worried cry "YUGI!"