Summary: A new world awaits Yugi, Joey, and Serenity beyond the call of a bright light. What will this world hold for them? Will they be able to push forward as they always have, or will they be overcome by the trails of this strange world? Yugi/Serenity, NaruHina, and stated Joey/Mai.

A/N: I had a lot of time to work on this story while waiting for the bulletins I worked on each week at my church to get finished printing.

Disclaimer: Both the Yu-Gi-Oh characters and Naruto people belong to their own respective founders…I can still daydream about certain characters though…

Ch. 1 The Call

Yugi, Joey, and Serenity walked down a pathway through the park. Things had really changed over the past few months. The Pharaoh, Atem, had left for the afterlife or his own time, Tea had left the group and pretty well disappeared afterward, and now even Tristan was beginning to distance himself from the group. He had started to go out with Miho and just didn't seem to have the time for the rest of them. Mai had contacted the group, and she was back in their lives, much to Joey's happiness-though he still wondered why Tristan was using Miho as an excuse to get out of hanging out with them; Mai was more high-maintance and she loved hanging with them. Yugi felt as if it were all returning to the way it was before the Millennium Puzzle. Soon, he believed, he would have no one and be all alone again. It was already starting: Atem was gone, Tea was gone, Tristan was leaving, and it was all a matter of time before the rest left him. He could almost curse himself for ever trusting anyone, but he also knew that without them he never would have survived the last few years, nor would he be as strong as he was.

Yugi jumped as an arm was slung over his thin shoulders. "You wanna come ova latta, Yug? Dad ain't around for da next few days so we got it to ourselves, plus it's Summer Break. Time to relax a lil. And you, of all people, need it."

"I wouldn't want to be a bother, Joey. I'm sure you have other things you would rather be doing than having me over to be in the way." came the boy's quiet reply.

"Yugi, you could never be a bother. We would love for you to stay a couple of days, huh, big brother." Serenity added in.

"O' course. Dude, we really need ta get you outta da shop for a while. You're getting depressed again. Your usin dat voice you used when we first met: dat quiet, unsure, shy voice. You're worryin me, bro."

"I'm sorry I'm worrying you, Joey. It's just, I've had a lot of strange thoughts going through my head lately. I mean I'm seeing everything reverting back to how it was before I solved the Puzzle. Those I thought cared about me left me behind. And every time that thought comes to mind, I can't help but wonder how long it is until I lose everyone..." Yugi admitted.

"Yug, you ain't gotta worry bout loosin us. You're da best thing dat eva happened to us. Dere's no way we could eva turn our backs on ya, bro. And as far as da othas go, well, dey made dere decision and now dey are gonna have ta live wit' it, more or less..."

"I suppose. It's still something that haunts me, I guess. I just don't want to hold out too much hope, you know." Yugi sighed and sat down under a tree. He was slightly surprised when Serenity sat beside him and put her arms around him, pulling him close to her. His face lit up with a small blush, but he decided to let himself be comforted for now.

In Joey's mind he could picture himself smacking Tristan in the back of the head, chewing out Tea (though he would like to hit her...), and actually punching the Pharaoh. He had been the closest, and the blonde could remember Yugi telling him once that Atem had swore to always be by the small teen's side, and now look. Yugi was depressed and the jerk was long gone. Joey sighed, he knew it wasn't really the Pharaoh's fault, but he needed to blame someone for the living picture of Yugi in front of him. He did smirk a little though at the scene. He liked the idea of his best bro with his little sister. It was always an idea he played with in the back of his mind and was always happy with the end result.

Serenity couldn't believe she had been so bold as to actually take the sad boy into her arms, but she couldn't help it. He needed comfort and a simple pat on the back wasn't going to help. On the plus side, she did get to find out the feeling of having him in her arms--something she greatly enjoyed. Her crush on him was definitely growing, but at this point she didn't care, nor try to stop it. Yugi had done so much for her and her brother, and he never asked for anything in return--except being his friend, but that was easily arranged.

Suddenly, all thought processes stopped as the group felt a tug on their spirits and bodies. A bright blue light shot down upon them, blinding the three. They could hear what seemed to be electricity popping all around them, and had the feeling of moving without leaving their spots. Then voices began to ring in their heads. "Master, we don't have much time, but all will be explained soon. For now, rest as you will need the energy once we are finished with our tasks..." Each heard a different voice with the same message, but before they could ponder upon the meaning of what was said they began to feel drowsy and soon all three were asleep.

Three figures stepped out of the light surrounding them, covered in their own blinding lights: one blue, one red, and one gold.

The blue figure stepped over to Joey's sleeping body. From within the creature two lights emerged. "Judge of innocence, you shall hold the key to the soul and the ability to judge one's heart. You weigh one's life and show them the way of change, though you do not have the power to make them change. I also grant you my power over the warriors and beast warriors. Together you shall fight to protect those that are weak and those that are close to your own heart. Your guardians shall be myself, Junpei the Flame Swordsman, Anji the Axe Raider, and Hatori the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. We shall fight by your side through each of you coming trails. Once your skills have awakened you shall be able to call upon me; the others have free range and will come on their own in times of trouble for you. Take care of this power and do not let it go to waste." With that said, the two lights enter the blonde and the blue figure nodded, fading away.

The red figure stepped over to Serenity's sleeping body. From within the majestic creature emerged two more lights. "Gentle Seer, you shall hold the ability to see a person's inner self and true intentions and have the gift of hindsight and future-sight. You will be able to tell those close to you where they have strayed from their path. Lies are useless to you as you shall see the underneath of the underneath, and truths are open books to you. I also grant you my power over all female fighters, be they humans or beasts. Your guardians will be myself, Mana the Dark Magician Girl, Rangiku the Harpy Lady, and Chihiro the Mystical Elf.

We shall fight by your side during the coming trails. Once your skills have fully manifested themselves within you, I shall be able to be called upon; the others have free range and will come on their own to you side if trouble comes. Take care of this power and do not let it go to waste." With that said, the two lights entered the girl and the red figure nodded, fading away.

The final figure, one of the brightest gold stepped over to Yugi's sleeping body. From within this mighty creature's body emerged three more lights. "My King, you hold a pure heart and the power of light. You have the ability to unite others and show them the goodness around them. You shall have the power to banish the tainting of a person's soul and unlock them from their dark bindings. You will be able to locate any that you put your mind on, and control any enemy to help those you hold precious. You will hold entire command of the Shadow Realm: all monsters, magic, and traps are at your call. Together you shall fight to keep those you deem worthy within the light and under your protection. Your guardians shall by myself, Mahadoh the Dark Magician, Koro the Kuriboh, and Miroku the Magician of Black Chaos. We shall be by your side during all the upcoming trails you and those you love must face. Once your skills have been fully awakened I shall come to your call; the others shall have free range and will come at any time of trouble. Keep in mind however, only your guardians may come to you at any time before you begin training and harnessing your powers. The others shall come on rank and strength. The stronger you become, the stronger the monsters you'll be able to call. Please, take care of this power, my king, and do not let it go to waste. You are being counted upon." With that said, the three lights entered the boy and the golden figure nodded and bowed before fading away.

The three teens floated to a bright blue colored light. What was to come next was unknown, but they did know, in their sleeping state, they would face it head on-just as always.

TBC…

A/N: Yes, I know I should have worked on The Transformation, but I do have most of chapter 5 finished. This was numerous chapters in for the above stated reason, so I decided I would go with it.