Chapter 1: Stag of the White Forest

-

This chapter is based off of the movie barbie of swan lake. I know that all of those movies are cheesy, but I figured it would work.

-

-

In the kingdom of Avalon, down king's road that leads to the palace, there lived a young boy and his grandfather. They ran a small toy store that sold everything from straw and potato dolls, to the finest board games. A crowd of children stood at the window, staring as Yugi put the latest game in the window.

Duel Monsters.

The children cooed as they looked at the wooden cards displayed. They were ferocious and positioned so that they looked like they were looking straight at you. Yugi waved at the children and went to the counter of the store. He sat down, looking at the unfinished game he was playing with himself. He moved a piece and tilted his head cutely. His grandfather, Solomon, watched him proudly. Yugi was small and petite, with gentle curves that deceived his true gender. His hair was colored three different colors, obsidian black with ruby edging and golden bangs. His wide amethyst eyes were closed in concentration as he thought of the pieces in his mind. Solomon gently cleared his throat. Yugi stumbled, knocking over the pieces.

"Grandpa!" He whined. Solomon chuckled.

"Sorry Yugi. Couldn't resist." Yugi sighed and bent down and picked up the chess pieces. "Why don't you go to the village competitions? You're really good." Yugi shook his head.

"And have people stare at me? Thanks, but I get enough of that already."He said, running a hand through his hair. Solomon shook his head.

"You need to have more faith in yourself Yugi." There was a tinkling at the back door. "I'll get it." Yugi shook his head at his grandfather, rearranging the games so that they were all easy to see and reach. A high whinny caught his attention. He went outside in time to see a bay stallion leap over the town fence. Yugi backed up as it galloped up to their shop.

"Any faster and you're going to fly!" Yugi admonished. Malik grinned.

"That's my point!" Yugi sighed. "It's really fun Yugi! You should come along." Yugi grimaced.

"Thanks but…"

"No thanks." Malik sighed. "Your loss mate." he turned his horse around. "I'll bring you a souvenier!" He galloped off again. A blue bird flew off and turned in the air, circling the town square before it went upstream toward the palace. It sat on a bale of hay, only to fly away as an arrow buried itself in the straw. A man who looked like Yugi smirked at his companion. Bakura smirked.

"All right. But can you make it four for four?" His voice was husky with a faint trace of French. His hair was pure white and spiked so that it looked untamed. Bakura was dressed in a storm grey shirt and charcoal black pants. His boots were also a dull black, though that was because they were made that way. The Yugi look a-like chuckled, crimson eyes sparkling with mirth. He was dressed in dark navy blue pants and a black silk shirt. His jacket matched his pants and hugged his form. His black boots shone in the sunlight as he adjusted his stance.

"Tell you what. What if I hit that old coot's hat over there?" The old man he pointed to was slowly making his way along the garden path on the other side of the courtyard. Bakura laughed.

"That guy?! All the way over there?!" He kept laughing. "That's impossible! I'll win this time for sure Yami!" Yami barked a laugh himself.

"Impossible is my favorite word!" He drew back the arrow and set his sights. With a twang, the arrow sailed through statues and over bushes to go straight through the man's hat and bury itself in a sack. Yami smirked at Bakura who scowled and pulled out a pouch.

"Bloody Prince. You've been practicing." He handed him six gold coins. Yami just smirked at him. Mahaado, Yami's counselor, walked into the garden. At that moment the arrow freed itself from the sack and spilled flour all over him. Bakura laughed while Yami cringed. He ran over to Mahaado and helped him dust off.

"I'm sorry Mahaado." His counselor picked up the arrow and raised an eyebrow at it.

"Target practice again?" He commented wryly. Yami blushed and rubbed the back of his head. Mahaado shook his head. "Here. Your mother wanted me to give these to you." Yami took a stack of letters from his hands.

"What are they?" He asked.

"Responses of which princesses are coming to the royal ball." Yami sighed, sitting down on the floor in exasperation and depression.

"When is mother going to realize that I'm not interested in settling down? I want to have adventures, see foreign lands!" Mahaado knelt down and patted his arm.

"You will….after you give her grandchildren." Yami sighed again.

"It's not like I have much choice." Mahaado slapped him on the back.

"That's the spirit! Now come on, I here that the village party is going to be quite lively."

Yugi hummed a ballroom tune as he set out a set of duel monster cards, sorting them by name. He smiled fondly at one before setting it down. The same blue bird who had been at the palace sat on the window sill and began twirling around, trying to get his attention. It spun very fast and tumbled into a bowl of white chalk. Yugi giggled and picked it up. The bird twittered and cooed as Yugi stroked it. The bird ruffled his feathers to get rid of the chalk. Yugi laughed and put his hands up as the chalk scattered all over him. He went over to the door and held out his hands. The bird checked its wings, then flew away. Yugi smiled as he watched it fly through the sky. He looked down the street when he heard a commotion. His eyes went wide when a unicorn dashed down the street.

"I don't believe it!" The unicorn was pure white with a pearl horn and soft brown eyes. People were chasing after it, trying to keep it still. A man with a whip stepped in front of it and cracked it. The unicorn reared on its hind legs, melting brown eyes rolling in fright. It ran up a set of stairs. A man ran up and aimed an arrow at its flank. Yugi gasped. "No! You'll hurt it!" The man let the arrow loose. At the last moment the unicorn leapt out of the way. The sound of hooves cantering on the cobblestones faded as the unicorn got farther away. Yugi followed and watched it get caught by a rope. Yugi started forward, getting ready to help it get free. He sighed when it managed to cut the rope on an axe. He saw it was heading out of the city. Yugi bit his lip in worry. The rope had caught on a fallen branch. He went forward to untangle it, but the unicorn got free itself. It cantered into the woods, Yugi running to keep up with it. The rope got caught again. Yugi stayed back, wanting to help, but not wanting to be seen. After a few tugs, the unicorn was free and continuing on its way. Yugi trailed behind, watching as it stepped over stones in a stream. After slight hesitation, he followed. Yugi gasped at what he saw next. Two huge waterfalls spilled down a chasm, a fallen tree the only way across. The unicorn started over the makeshift bridge, slipping about halfway there. Yugi gasped, stepping toward the bridge in worry. The unicorn righted itself and kept moving forward. It promptly slipped again, this time ending up laying flat on the tree trunk. Yugi cautiously put one foot on the bridge. The unicorn tried to get up, only to slip back down.

"Hold on!" He ran across the bridge toward the unicorn. The animal itself looked at him and snorted. It got up and began walking toward the other side. Yugi stopped and realized where he was. He gulped and walked forward much more slowly. The unicorn stopped at the rock wall and touched a large stone with its horn. The boulder rumbled and moved aside. Yugi stopped and stared in wonder. The unicorn went through. Yugi shook himself out of his reverie and followed, barely making it through before the boulder went back into place. Yugi looked around to find himself in a tunnel with light on the other side. He stepped forward and felt his jaw drop. He was in a beautiful forest, full of sunshine. A huge lake with gentle, curtain like waterfalls sat in the center. Birds flew around in flocks of lazy circles. Tall trees with pure white bark and leaves of gold and green towered above, giving the lighting a beautiful undertone. It was the most amazing place he had ever seen. A high whinny alerted him to the reason he was here. He ran to where he heard the sound to see that the rope had gotten much more tangled than the other times. Yugi came forward slowly, holding up his hands.

"Don't worry. Just hold still." The unicorn snorted.

"Easy for you to say." It muttered. Yugi gasped. "You're not the one getting strangled." Yugi stared at the unicorn with wide eyes.

"You….talk?" The unicorn sighed.

"Of course." Yugi kept staring at it. The unicorn tossed its head. "Are you going to stand there, or cut me loose?" Yugi blinked. The unicorn sighed. "Never mind, I'll do it myself." He pulled at the rope, only to have the rope tighten. "Ouch!" Yugi reached out for it a bit.

"Wait! I'll find something to cut it with."

"Sure." The unicorn said, voice strained from nearly strangling itself. "You do that." Yugi walked away to see if he could find a sharp stone. His eyes widened when he realized that he was in what looked like a village square. The tall trees were hollowed out at the base, making doorways and windows to the outside world. Shining amber covered the windows like golden panes of glass. In the center was what looked like a fountain. It was made from the same white wood that everything else was, with red and gold amber embedded in the wood. He caught a flash at the very top. Several forest animals came out from behind trees to look on in awe at Yugi.

"D'ya see dat? It's a human. A human!" A golden dog said, chest puffing up at recognizing one. Yugi walked over to look at the flash. It was a bright golden box, hidden in the very top bowl of the non-working fountain. Yugi stretched out on his toes to pick it up.

"Oh no! Somebody stop him!" A small squirrel chittered, running around in circles, ending up hiding behind its tail. An old man put up his hand.

"Quiet Chris. Just watch." Yugi set his fingers around the box and gently pulled it out. The other animals gasped. The man smiled. Yugi walked over to the unicorn, who was still trying to pull itself free. He went down the rope so that he could cut it. The unicorn gasped.

"Where did you get that?" It asked in wonder.

"That fountain in the middle of the square." Yugi said, pointing behind him.

"You mean you just took it out?" It asked, disbelieving.

"I-I'm sorry. I'll put it right back." He opened the lid and gasped, inside were geometric shapes, all made out of solid gold. He took one out and used it to cut the rope. "There. I thought that would do it." The old man walked over to him. The unicorn looked over at him.

"Did you see that Iron heart? Did you?" It asked in excitement. "He used the puzzle!" Yugi bowed.

"I'm terribly sorry." Iron heart laughed.

"It's quite all right. We've been waiting for you for quite a long time."

"Me?" Yugi asked.

"But first, let me thank you for helping Ryou. And you." He said, turning to the unicorn. "You know better than to go into the human world." Ryou hung his head in shame. "A creature from the enchanted forest can be…."

"We know, we know. Killed by a human." Yugi turned and gasped. A large gold and brown colored griffon stood behind them. "It's all over." It choked on fake tears."We're done for!" It choked on more tears. "Good bye world! Good bye!" He fell to the ground, playing dead. Iron heart rolled his eyes, smiling good naturedly.

"What am I going to do with you Marik?" He said.

"Aw c'mon Iron heart! He was just trying to find something to beat old dragon head." Marik said with a wide grin. He raised an eyebrow.

"So I guess it was your idea then." Marik jumped and hung his head, ashamed at being found out. Iron heart shook his head. "So, what's your name?" He said, turning back to Yugi.

"Yugi sir."

"Yugi, do you know what you hold in your hands?" Yugi looked down at the puzzle in the box.

"Not really." Marik sighed. "I'm sorry. I was going to return it."

"Don't worry. The millennium puzzle belongs to you now." Yugi looked at him, obviously saying 'what?'.

"Ah! How is he going to save us?!" Marik dropped onto the ground in a pout. Yugi watched them warily.

"…I think you have me confused with somebody else." Iron heart sighed.

"Years ago my cousin Dartz and I lived together in a kingdom not far from here. When my uncle, the king, died, Dartz took over the throne. For a few years everything was fine, but then he showed his true colors. He began ruling the king like a tyrant and searching for the ultimate power. He found it in a stone known as the Orichalcos. With this at his disposal, he began rapidly rising to power, calling forth a great beast known as the leviathan to keep everyone scared of his rule. In desperation, I took those who were not too afraid and fled the country into this forest, where a prophecy had been made." Iron heart looked down at him. "It was said that when a great evil arose and threatened our kingdom, there would appear a tool to vanquish it forever. It was known as the millennium puzzle, a highly magical talisman that is said to grant unlimited power to anyone who solves it. The puzzle only shows up in times of great need, and can only be accessed by those destined to wield it. Word had reached me that the puzzle had appeared in this small town." He gestured around him. "Unfortunately, Dartz heard this too, and persued me. We tried to make a stand here but…it didn't work. We were defeated and Dartz tried to take the puzzle, tried being the operative word. The puzzle shot him back and killed the entire army he brought. It then made us immune to any spell with harmful intentions to us. In his anger, Dartz turned to us and said. 'You may have thwarted me this time cousin, but when you next see me, the puzzle will be mine!' A few years later, he began invading again, taking over parts of the forest and capturing its inhabitants, turning them into animals and forcing them to work for him. Even I myself have been cursed with the body of an old man." He sighed.

"But now that you're here…" Marik said. Yugi just looked at them.

"But I don't understand. What can I do? And if the puzzle protected you from curses, how did you end up like that?" He said.

"The puzzle just protects us against spells that will physically harm us, not asthetic changes. But it has been foretold, that whomever frees the millennium puzzle shall overcome Dartz and save our home and all of mankind. But nobody has been able to free it, Yugi. Until today." A golden dog rushed up.

"It's you, You! Oh! Give me a hug!"

"Joey!" The dog leaped up and tackled him to the ground, nuzzling him. Yugi gasped for breath.

"Joey! He can't breathe!" Ryou called. Joey got up hastily.

"Eh. Sorry Yug'." The griffon stepped forward and circled him.

"Well….he doesn't look like much. But…..maybe." Yugi turned to him in shock.

"What?! Wait! I think you have the wrong person! I haven't overcome anyone…..I wish I could help….but…"

"Hmph. I knew it." Marik huffed.

"Marik please. We can't force him. The dangers are enormous." Yugi looked down.

"I'm really sorry, but I have to get back. My Grandfather will be worried sick." Iron heart nodded.

"I understand Yugi. Marik will show the way." Marik looked at him in anger.

"I'm sorry….good bye." Chris sighed.

"It's over. Over! Done! Finished!" She ran in circles. Marik strutted up to Iron heart, looking straight into his eyes.

"You really think he has something special with him don't you?" He sighed. "All right. I'll see what I can do." Two ravens, who were perched on a branch, looked at each other before flying off.

-

--

-

Marik flew ahead of Yugi and landed on a large flat rock. He looked back at Yugi and grinned.

"You know if I had the millennium puzzle, I'd nail Dratz! Hyah! On guard dragon head!" He reared and swiped at an unknown enemy with his claws. "Epe!" He swiped his claws. "Coupe!" He reared again. "Cool way!" He leaped. There was a crash and the sound of rustling. Marik looked sheepishly back at Yugi. "Oopse?" Yugi giggled. Marik pulled his claws out of the branch he had gotten them stuck in. He grinned at Yugi. "Just, uh…..keeping my claws sharp." Yugi sighed.

"It's just….I'm not brave like you." Marik smirked.

"That's true. Nobody's braver than me!" He puffed his chest out in pride. "But maybe I could help you!" He said cheerfully. A loud roar made them look up. Two large dragons were descending down to where they were. Marik backed up with a look of utter terror on his face. Both of them landed heavily on the ground. One looked a lot like an oriental dragon, sleek and refined. But its scales were a dirty brown with a bracken-like mane and icy ocean blue eyes. The second was about twice the size of the oriental and looked more like a serpent with long grey hair that fanned out on either side. Cold, golden eyes pierced through his own, making him shudder in fright. Yugi watched as the larger of transformed into a handsome man with teal green hair and two color eyes. The other dragon let out a strange noise similar to a bird's cackle. "That's Dartz, that form he took is a smaller version of the great leviathan." Yugi shuddered. The dragon had been bigger than a house. If that was a small version, how big was the real one? Dartz turned to oriental and waved his hand lazily. The dragon transformed into a pretty girl with chin length brown hair and icy ocean blue eyes. Dartz laughed coldly.

"Look at this Anzu! This truly is pathetic." Anzu laughed, sounding a lot like the cackle she had let out before, then turned serious very suddenly.

"Pathetic." She sneered.

"A little bird had told me that a human had come into the forest and freed the millennium puzzle. You couldn't possibly be him." Marik stepped forward.

"Mane a bit ruffled Dartz?" Marik asked. He backed up in mock terror.

"Oh my days are numbered! I'm shaking in my boots!" Marik snorted. Anzu laughed coldly.

"Go ahead and laugh all you want! But Yugi and I will throw you right out of the forest!"

"Marik!" Yugi said.

"Oh yeah! Yugi is going to have you two for breakfast! Cause you two, are toast!" Dartz chuckled

"And here I thought Griffons were….reserved." His eyes glowed red for a moment. Marik backed up, lowering his head. Dartz smirked at them. He turned to Anzu. "Anzu my darling. How would you like a new pelt for your room?" Anzu cackled in her bird like laugh.

"Anytime!" Dartz smirked again. He put his hand down. A sickly green energy shot up from the ground. It went up his arm and gathered around a pendant on his neck. Dartz took the pendant and pointed it at Yugi. The energy shot out and swirled around him. He put his hands up in an attempt to stop the magic. Yugi cried out as he felt the magic surround him and change his shape. When he opened his eyes again he was a snow white deer with slim, silvery antlers. He reared up as he realized what he was. Tears sprang to his eyes as he fell over when he lost balance. The puzzle clattered to the ground in front of him.

"Ah ha, ha, ha! Look at the great hero of the forest now!" He grabbed hairs from his tail and yanked them out.

"Ow!"

"Hey! Lay off!" Marik ran at him and butted him to the ground. He then promptly turned around and started running away, scooping the box of the millennium puzzle into his mouth.

"GO! Run! Run Yugi! Run!" He shouted around the box. Yugi galloped off into the forest.

"Over here Yugi." He turned around a boulder and cantered through a shallow place in the water. He stopped at the edge. Iron heart looked at his form and sighed. "Oh Yugi. Here. This will help protect you." He put a silver collar on his neck that cradled the millennium puzzle in the center.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is, my dear cousin."

"He can't do anything more to you Yugi. Not as long as you're wearing that necklace."

"Do you honestly think you can get in the way of my destiny?" He asked incredously. "This is my forest. Mine! Just as the kingdom was mine, and the power. So why don't you save us all a lot of trouble, and surrender?"

"And let you destroy the rest of the world? Never!"

"Then enjoy the show." Dartz turned around. "This boy's days are at an end!" The sickly green light gathered around him again. He shot it at Yugi, only to have a golden shield encase him. Dartz narrowed his eyes and put more power into the attack. The shield brightened, then shattered into a million pieces, encompassing the energy that Dartz had taken and spreading it around the forest.

"Ah…." All the enchanted animals gasped at the light display. Dartz gritted his teeth.

"Go Dartz, you can do nothing here." Iron heart told him forcefully.

"So you think!" He sneered. "Hmph! Come Anzu, we're finished here."

"But what about my pelt?" She whined. Dartz sighed and just flew away. Marik flew in at top speed.

"Did you see that?! 'Come Anzu.' Hah ha! You got him Yugi! You got him good!" Yugi stepped out of the water delicately.

"I think it's more that he got me." He looked down at his cloven hooves and sighed. Marik pouted.

"Well….he did score a few points."

"What am I going to do? I can't return to my Grandpa like this! And what about Malik? They both must be worried sick."

'Malik?' Marik thought. 'This little human sounds interesting. Maybe I should go and visit him.'

"Can you turn me back?" Yugi asked. Iron heart sighed.

"I wish I could. Over time a few of the refugees who fleed with me have escaped…."

"It was very close!" Chris squealed. "But we made it!" She began running around. Joey chuckled and put out a paw.

"Slow down Chris. You're gonna make everyone dizzy."

"My powers weren't enough to get rid of the spell, but I was able to turn them back into themselves from sunset until dawn."

"And now…?" Iron heart gripped his staff. "Please try. I don't want to be a stag for the rest of my life." Iron heart sighed and put his staff between Yugi's antlers. A golden glow encompassed him before fading out of existence. The sun went lower and lower on the horizon until it vanished. All the other animals changed back. Joey turned into a lanky teenager with a mop of golden hair and liquid amber eyes with a pair of dog ears in place of human ears, and a long tail. Chris the squirrel became a young girl dressed in western style clothes with squirrel ears and a fluffy tail that curled over her head. Ryou became an albino with doe brown eyes. Marik transformed into a man who looked a lot like Malik with wings and claws. Ryou looked to Yugi, who was still a stag. Yugi looked at himself and sighed.

"C'mon. Work." Ryou whispered. His face lit up as the magic began working and he turned back into a human. Yugi looked at himself. He was now dressed in pure white clothing the same color as his hide as a stag. Yugi looked at Iron heart with gratefulness in his eyes. The box now hung precariously against his chest tangled in a thin silver chain.

"Thank you. Thank you so much!"

"You realize that when the sun rises…"

"I'll turn into a stag again." Yugi finished. "I can't go home like this. I have to find a way to defeat Dartz." Ryou smiled.

"That's the spirit!" Joey yelped for joy.

"We're saved! We're saved!" He leaped over to Ryou and hugged him.

"Joey! Air!" He got off.

"Sorry bud."Yugi contemplated the pieces in front of him.

"Well. I guess it's to work." He knelt down and began trying to fit the pieces together. Iron heart smiled and turned to the other animals.

"All right, let's go. He needs to think. Marik, stay with him and keep watch." Marik stepped up proudly.

"Sure thing!" He plopped down next to Yugi and curled around him, keeping an eye out for danger. Yugi just continued working on the puzzle, already lost in his own thought.

-

--

-

Yami was studying a scroll and checking the letters when he heard a thud and a curse.

'Must be Bakura.' He said, getting up and going outside to the hall.

"What happened?" He gasped. "My package! It's here!" He ran over and tried to pick it up, frowning when he couldn't get it off the ground. He looked over to Bakura. "Can you help me?" Bakura shrugged. Together they picked it up and put it in the library. He excitedly removed the lid. The walls fell away to reveal a square globe. Yami chuckled good naturedly. "Well they didn't get that right." Bakura scoffed.

"Well if it isn't right, then I'll get rid of it." Yami shook his head.

"No, no. It's fine." He looked at the land. "Just look at it Bakura. So much unexplored territory."

"Yep! Good thing you have to stay here!" He slapped Yami on the back. Yami sighed.

"I know. That's why I'm unhappy." He walked to the window. "But somehow, I feel like there's an adventure, just around the corner." He stared out into the kingdom with distant eyes. Bakura rolled his eyes and left.

Yugi yawned. "Yugi. You've been doing that for the past hour. Don't you think you need to get some sleep?" Yugi shook his head.

"No. I'm almost done…Just need to put in…!" He yawned again.

"See?! That's the fifth time this evening! At the very least you should move indoors." Yugi looked up.

"We can go inside?" Marik snorted.

"Of course! What did you think, we laid outside on the grass like common animals?" Yugi blushed and ducked his head. That's exactly what he had thought.

"O for crying out loud. Come on human. We're going to the troll's house." He got up to his feet and started walking off. Yugi squeaked and picked up the pieces of the puzzle, putting them in the box, before scrambling after Marik.

"So um….How scary are trolls here?" Yugi asked. Marik smirked, thinking of an evil plan.

"Ha! Scary doesn't even cover it! Trolls have beady eyes, hulking bodies! Oh!" Here he gained a wicked gleam in his eye. "And they eat human flesh!"

"WHAT?!" Yugi squealed, more than a little scared. Marik laughed.

"I'm kidding. It's just a rumor." They approached a large set of doors lit by firefly lamps. "Well! Here we are! You ready?" Yugi nodded and stood stiffly by Marik. The griffon tapped his beak on the doors three times. They flashed golden and opened invitingly. Marik strutted confidently through the doors. He looked back when he saw Yugi wasn't following him. "C'mon Yugi! You're braver than you think!"

"So you say." He murmured, walking forward.

In the village, all the stores and houses were closed. Only the game shop was still lit. Inside, Solomon sat by the fire. The bell on the door jingled as Malik entered. Solomon looked up.

"Did you find him?" Malik shook his head.

"I looked everywhere, even the forest. There was no sign of him." Solomon sighed. "Come I'll help you." Malik was about to protest, but closed his mouth, knowing how stubborn the man could get, and just nodded.

Yugi walked down the halls after Marik, looking back and forth for any danger. They came to a pedestal.

"Who goes there?!" A voice called. Yugi looked up to see a huge shadow on the wall.

"It's Marik! And my friend Yugi."

"I don't know you, and you really don't want to know me!" Marik rolled his eyes.

"No kidding." He cleared his throat. "It's just….We've come for a place to stay for the night."

"For the night?! " He shouted, pounding his hands. Marik winced.

"Yes! Iron heart sent us!" Yugi gulped. Yugi watched as the shadow came down the stairs, getting smaller and smaller until it was the size of a tall human. A handsome young man with pointed ears and his brown hair shaped into a point on his head appeared. Marik raised an eyebrow at him. The man stalked forward and inspected them closely. Yugi backed up a bit hesitantly. All of a sudden he laughed.

"Finally! Guests! I can't believe this!" He shook each of their hands. "My name is Honda, but of course you already know that. OH! Is there anything I can get you? Tea? Cakes? Muffins?" He held out a plate of moldy biscuits. "I made them myself!" He bustled off. Marik spit out the one that he had eaten.

"When?!" Honda bustled about. Yugi politely put the one he had taken to the floor.

"So how's the forest been? What about Rafael the strong?"

"He retired." Marik said, scraping his tongue to get rid of the taste. Honda looked a bit disappointed.

"Oh. Well he did talk about nothing else. How about Rebecca the Mage?"

"Old Faeries home." Marik replied again.

"Allister the mighty?"

"He died."

"Valon the brave?"

"Bought a fast horse and is exploring the forest." Honda sat down.

"Everone's gone." He sighed. "You know what that means? I'm old!" He sat by the forest. "Nobody needs me." Marik and Yugi looked at each other.

"Well….we need you." Yugi said. "I'm working on this puzzle, and need a place to stay for the night. Will you let us be here?" Honda wasn't listening. He was looking at Yugi neck, where the box was still held precariously.

"Oh my….You're the one!" Yugi smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah…So…may we stay?" Honda looked at them in disbelief.

"May you….Of course! I'll get rooms ready right away!" He dashed off to a stack of books. "Not to worry! My hospitality is state of the art!" Marik looked around at the mess of books.

"Obviously." He commented. Yugi nudged him in the ribs. Marik ruffled his wings and sighed.

"How about we help?" Yugi said. Honda beamed.

"Be my guest!" They sorted through the books, Honda throwing them off in random directions. Marik was inspecting a bucket of wands. He touched one, only to have it zap him. Yugi looked toward him and laughed.

"If I get zapped by another defective wand I'll rip this whole place apart!" Yugi laughed again.

"I don't know. I like it." Marik's hair had been reshaped so that it looked a lot like an afro. A crash made them look toward Honda, who had lost his balance and fallen and been buried by books. He stuck out a hand.

"I'm okay. I'm okay." He sighed. "Okay, up those stairs are the rooms. When you're ready, just head up. I'll be getting them ready." Yugi walked over to him.

"Thank you Honda." He sat in front of the fireplace and began working on the puzzle again, humming a light tune. Honda came up to stand beside Marik, who's hair had gone back to its original state.

"So, he's the one?" Marik nodded.

"Yep. Doesn't look like much does he?" Honda smiled, showing pointed teeth.

"I wouldn't say that. He may not be physically strong, but strength can come from other places." Marik looked at him funnily. Honda just chuckled and looked back to Yugi who was still working on the puzzle.

-

--

-

"Yugi, go to sleep!"

"I just have to put these pieces together! Then I'll have a basis to work on! And it can't be as bad as you make it out to be Marik. I haven't been working that long." Marik snorted.

"You kidding? You've been working on it all night!" Yugi gasped.

"All night?" He looked out the window. The sun rose over the horizon. The golden glow of Iron hearts magic enveloped him, and when it faded he was a pure white stag. Yugi stepped to a mirror and looked at his reflection. He sighed, closing his amethyst eyes in despair, then opening them again. "I don't care! I'll finish it even if it takes me all day!" He went back through the shelves. "Honda, I'm going to need your help." Marik changed into a griffon and looked to Honda. Both shrugged and followed after the stag.

-

--

-

Deep in the forest, a serpentine dragon flew to a mansion that looked abandoned, but magnificent in its own way. Dark grey trees loomed overhead, branches bare. A sickly green mist clung to the earth, keeping life from the soil. This was Dartz's palace. Inside, Anzu was lounging on a couch, looking at her jewelry. She sighed, tossing priceless gems aside.

"Boring." She said. She picked up what looked like no more than a rock. "Dull." She picked up another inspecting it before throwing it again. "Ugly." She threw up her hands in anger.

"Ugh! I have nothing to wear! It's humiliating!" She looked to her father who had just flown in, and was now pacing the floor. "Hmmm….I know that look." She said seductively. "You're thinking dad."

"I'm going to get that puzzle even if I have to rip it off that infuriating stag myself!" Anzu squealed.

"A puzzle! Could I have it daddy? Please? Daddy please!" Dartz sighed.

"Yes my child. You may have it, as soon as I can get it." Anzu pouted.

"But I want it now Daddy!" She whined. "I'm like the most out of fashion princess in the forest!" She crossed her arms and pouted. "Why can't you just destroy him daddy? Any old human could do it." She had meant it as an insult, but Dartz stopped pacing and smirked.

"Of course. Even though the crystal protects him, now that he's a creature of the forest he can be killed by a human!" He smiled winningly at Anzu. "My little angel! You're so clever!" Anzu cooed.

"Of course daddy!" She said, batting her eyelashes.

-

--

-

"Prince Yami, could you remind me why you are going hunting alone? You know that a boar will gore you before you can kill it." Yami sighed as he saddled up his horse. Today he was wearing black leather and a black cape that flowed around his shoulders and shone like molten glass. His shiny black boots clacked as he paced to the other side of his horse to put the saddle on.

"That's why I'm not going Boar hunting. I'm not going hunting at all. I just thought I would bring my bow in case I spotted something." Mahaado raised an eyebrow.

"And please tell me why at least I should not accompany you?" He asked. Yami sighed.

"Because you're the one I want to get away from." Yami mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing." He said easily. "Look, I won't even get far enough away from the city that you can't hear my horn. Does that make you feel better?" Mahaado sighed.

"No. But there's no talking you out of this." Yami beamed.

"Thank you my friend." Mahaado snorted.

"Just be careful. And don't get into any trouble!" Yami just waved at him until he was out of sight. Mahaado sighed. "What will I do with him?" He smiled sadly. "Now, to make sure the queen doesn't know about this." He walked off to go distract her.

-

--

-

Yami galloped through the forest, savoring the wind whipping past his face and the feeling of soaring as they leaped over logs and streams. He urged his horse faster and faster, relishing the feeling of speed. He slowed down when he saw a giant dragon swoop through the trees. Curious, Yami redirected his horse in its direction and started galloping again. The serpent-like creature led him to a waterfall that had a huge tree acting as a bridge to get to the other side. Warily, he dismounted his horse and walked across, keeping his eyes on the tunneled entrance that was just behind the curtain of water. He ran through, stopping when he saw the magnificence of the place he had stumbled upon.

"Wow." He whispered. 'How could nobody have ever found this place? It's beautiful.' He looked as he saw the dragon that he had followed circling downwards into the trees. Eager to see where it was going, he ran after it. 'I wonder what it's doing here.'

-

--

-

Yugi was laying on the bank of the lake, his head tucked beside him. Ryou approached cautiously.

"How's he doing?" He whispered. Marik snorted.

"We tried all night and all day to solve that thing, and nothing, how do you think?"

"Shh! You're going to wake him up." Chris admonished. Dartz looked down and spotted Yugi. He looked behind him and smirked as he saw the young man he had found running close behind. Circling them once he dove down, frightening all of Iron heart's subjects. Yugi woke up with a start and gasped when he saw Dartz. He scrambled to his feet and galloped as fast as he could away from the evil man. Dartz laughed and chased after him, making him turn toward the human. Yami saw the stag running toward him and stopped, excitedly notching an arrow.

"What a prize!" He whispered, taking in the height of the horns and overall size. Above, Dartz smirked.

"C'mon human, take the shot!" A ray of sunlight fell on Yugi, lighting up his coat. Yami lowered his bow.

"It's so….beautiful." He gazed at the slim build and silvery antlers that curved gracefully over its head. He looked down to his bow, and back at the stag. Dartz started to lose confidence.

"What is he doing? No. No!" After a moment of hesitation, Yami lowered his bow fully, breaking the arrow in half. He turned his eyes away from the beautiful creature, ashamed of what he had almost done. Yugi looked around the surrounding forest. Not seeing Dartz, he sighed and stopped. He looked to the mountains and reared onto his hind legs, the sun slipped below the horizon, turning him back into a human. He checked the skies again, trying to make sure that Dartz was gone. Yami stared in wonder at the sight he had just seen. A gorgeous stag, had just turned into a boy of unearthly beauty. And he had been about to…..He dropped his bow to the ground. Dartz growled.

"Humans! Such fools!"

-

--

-

Anzu paced in front of a part of the lake, preening her self-image.

"Now let's see….maybe pearls." She said, drawing her finger around her neck. "Ugh! No! Much too yesterday! Hmm….But Rubies and Diamonds! Yes! It's just so Fire and Ice!" He giggled as she thought of it. Joey and Chris watched in disgust.

"Disgusting." Chris said.

"Yeah….So what should we do about her?" Chris smirked.

"I've got an idea. We just need….a few friends."

-

--

-

Dartz glared angrily as he watched the young man he had lured here step into the clearing, heading for the boy whom he had cursed. He sighed. 'Oh well, I guess the only way to do things, is to do them yourself.' He landed on the ground and turned back into a man.

"Well, well, well. Look at what we have here. I see that old Iron heart still has some power after all." Yugi jumped and backed away. Yami stepped forward to protect him. Dartz sighed, looking over to Yami. "One arrow from a human, that's all it would've taken." Yugi looked over to where Dartz was talking, jaw dropping when he saw the prince of the land. Yami's eyes widened, then narrowed, their color brightening in anger.

"You wanted me to kill him!" He shouted. Yugi gasped and backed away.

"You're a hunter aren't you?! Why else would I lure you here?! Of course, now you're useless." He smirked. "Useless as…say….a pig!" He charged up his pendant and aimed it at Yami. The prince stepped away from Yugi, making sure that the spell wouldn't redirect and hit the little one. At the last minute, Yugi got in front of him, the box lighting up around his neck as it protected him from the attack. Dartz narrowed his eyes. "You can save him you know. Just give the puzzle to me, and I'll leave him alone." Yami pulled another arrow from his quiver and shot at Dartz. The dark mage held up his pendant, stopping the arrow in its tracks and making it disentigrate into nothing. Dartz smirked. "You obviously have no idea who you're dealing with." He said, charging up his pendant again. Yami braced himself for the attack, not going to show him that he was afraid. Just as Dartz was going to unleash the attack, a call went through the forest. Dartz stopped. He listened for a moment, then began preparing the attack again.

"Daddy!" A high, annoying voice called. Dartz sighed and glared at the two.

"I'll deal with you later. Don't assume you're safe." He turned into the leviathan and flew off.

-

--

-

Anzu screeched as the musk of skunks circled around her. She squealed at them and tried to leave, only to screech as the skunks sprayed her again, keeping her within their circle. She screamed as the smell overpowered her senses.

"Oooh! You're all roadkill! Daddy!" Chris laughed.

"That's right everyone! Let her have it!" Dartz landed beside them, transforming back into a man. Chris and Joey gasped, running off into the woods along with the skunks they had called. Dartz coughed at the strong smell, but still smiled sweetly at Anzu.

"Anzu."

"Ugh! This is the worst day of my entire life!" She screeched. He chuckled at seeing her torment.

"Don't worry dear. You just need a bath in some vinegar and tomato juice." He transformed back into a dragon and picked her up.

"Do I look like a salad Dad?" Dartz's smirk got wider.

"A long bath."

-

--

-

Yami looked over to the little one and smiled.

"Thank you. You saved my life." Yugi blushed, and Yami couldn't help but feel that it was endearing, and contributed to the look of innocence that hung about him.

"W-Well, the puzzle protects me. As long as I wear it, I'm not in danger." He chuckled. Yugi almost melted at the sound.

"That's not what it looked like to me little one. Thank you." He twined their fingers together. Yugi's blush darkened. "So, where are we?" Yugi giggled.

"I haven't seen much of this place, but I could show you swan lake." Yami smiled at him.

"That sounds wonderful." Yugi looked away shyly.

"Okay." He whispered. Yami chuckled at the little ones hesitation. They started walking toward where the lake that he had first seen when he came here was.

"So, who was that man?"

"Well….you see…."

--

Yugi and Yami walked through the forest, looking at the scenery and catching sneaking glances at each other, Yugi blushing when he was caught, Yami smirking whenever he was found out. Joey and Chris along with the other animals carried food and drink to a table within the forest, while Yugi and Yami explored. Yugi leaned down to smell a flower, only to jump when faeries came out. Yami laughed at the expression on his face, Yugi pouting, but soon smiling again. They hopped over rocks on a stream as they followed the elves. Chris handed Yugi a bouqet of flowers. He put his nose in them to catch their scent, only to jump when the faeries reappeared and circled around him, giving him a violet tunic with silver edging. Yugi smiled shyly at Yami, who chuckled at the boy's shining innocence. They sat down together, jumping when Joey appeared right next to them, trying to get a treat. Yami raised an eyebrow at him. He got the message and backed off, smiling sheepishly. Yami turned back to Yugi and smiled, holding out his hand. Yugi blushed, but did the same, putting his petite hand in Yami's own. He leaned down and kissed his slim fingers. Yugi blushed even more, but let him do it. They spent the rest of the night talking about one another, finding out what they liked and didn't like. Yami was estatic to learn that Yugi had a passion for games, much like him. They played a few on the ground and Yami was delighted again when he found out how good he was as well. Yugi showed him the puzzle, and the two began working on it, to Yugi's delight, they made twice the progress they had been earlier, by the time the sun was rising, it was almost done. Sadly, the kind of bonding that they were doing made time pass all too quickly, and soon dawn was approaching. They were walking near the water's edge of swan lake. Yami took Yugi's hand.

"Yugi, tomorrow night, my mother is throwing a royal ball. Come with me. I can protect you." Yugi looked away, trying to buy time. He noticed the sun.

"It's nearly dawn." He whispered. Yami squeezed his hand.

"Yugi please. Come with me, I can protect you and your family. Please." Yugi looked to the all the elves who had yet to transform into their animal shapes. Yugi sighed.

"I can't. I'm sorry Yami. But somehow I've been connected to the puzzle. I can't just leave them here. I need to find a way to break this spell."

"I'm not letting Dartz get away with this. I'll come back with an army if I have too." Yugi sighed.

"You can't, he's too powerful. He'll do to them what he's done to the others…to me." Yami turned and clasped his hands.

"I'll do whatever it takes."

"And your men?" Yami looked away.

"I'll take that risk."

"Please Yami. Go home. I couldn't stand it if Dartz hurt you to get at me."

"And leave you here?" He asked incredously.

"Do you really want to help?"

"Yes." He replied earnestly.

"Then find my grandpa. Tell him I'm all right, that I'll be home soon." Yugi looked at the ground. "He must be so worried."

"But…"

"Please Yami. For me? I'll be all right. I'm safe as long as I have the puzzle." Yugi fingered it. The puzzle was nearly complete, now hanging from the chain that had held the box. It was in the shape of an upside down pyramid with a loop for a string to go through. He looked to the sun. It had just begun to show itself. The other elves began to turn back into their animal forms.

"No…" Yugi was encompassed in his golden light. "No!" But it was too late. Yugi was already a stag again, with the silver collar that held the puzzle around his neck. "No." Yugi sighed and turned to look at his reflection.

"Please Yami." The prince sighed.

"Fine, but only if you come to the palace."

"But…"

"Then I stay here." He said stubbornly. Yugi sighed.

"Okay. I'll come. I promise." He gave him a smile and galloped off. Yami watched him go with sad eyes.

-

--

-

Yami cantered up to the building where Yugi had said his grandfather lived. It was a small shop that sold many toys, including his favorite game of duel monsters. Yami sighed.

'If it weren't for the fact that I was bringing news of Yugi I would probably buy some.' He sighed and went up to the door and knocked. He received no answer.

"He's gone your highness." He looked over to see a fruit vendor bowing. "They left to go look for Solomon's grandson. He's gone missing." Yami nodded and got back up on his horse.

"When he returns, have him see me right away." The vendor bowed again.

"Of course your highness." He picked up his cart and went on his way, while Yami cantered off to the palace.

-

--

-

Deep in the forest, laughter was heard. Honda burst out of the doors of the library.

"Yes! I found it! I found it! Yes! This troll is on a roll!" He ran off to swan lake to find Yugi and the others, oblivious when one of the mushrooms turned into a raven and flew off. "See? See? I found it. I found it! Just a matter of time." Marik snickered.

"What exactly did ya find?" Joey asked. Honda thought for a moment.

"A book on the power of the millennium puzzle!" They all gasped. Marik leaned forward.

"And where was it?" Honda scratched the back of his head.

"Um….I was using it for a stabilizer on my favorite chair." All the animals laughed. Honda blushed.

"S'okay bud! Maybe next time you could use it as a head rest, that way you can see it!" Joey said cheerfully. Honda growled and slapped him upside the head. "Anyway, here." He handed the book to Yugi. He opened the book and turned a few pages.

"It says: The one who completes the millennium puzzle, will share a love so true, that its power will overcome all others."

"You and the prince!" Chris squealed. Yugi blushed.

"No. I-it couldn't be." Joey smiled boyishly.

"I think it is Yug'. Who else could it be? You saw how fast you put solved that thing together." Yugi blushed to a deep beet red and looked away.

"Well….Maybe." Joey beamed.

"See?"

"Uh, oh. Guys, there's a however." Ryou said. The others looked to him.

"It says: If however, the one the chosen loves."

"Meaning his royal sexiness!" Joy shouted.

"Joey!" Yugi said in embaressment.

"Pledges love to another."

"Meanin' not Yugi?!"

"The millennium puzzle will lose all its power!" Ryou looked up at them in horror.

"What?! Dat's not fair!" Joey said in outrage. Iron heart sighed.

"No, it isn't. But prophecies cannot be rewritten."

"You must understand. True love is very rare." Honda said.

"Ya mean like met da parents rare? Everyone gets along rare?" Joey asked incredously.

"A start. But True love is where two people love each other so much, they become a part of each other, like two halves of one whole. Alone they are two, but together they are one. That kind of selfless love has awesome power."

"Ah, I see! Two for one! Den' we gotta get you ready!"

"For what?" Yugi asked.

"For da royal ball!" He looked to Honda. "Who knew you were such a helpless romantic." Honda scowled.

"Shut up."

"Hey, has anyone seen Marik?" Everyone looked around, surprised when they didn't see him.

"He's probably gone off to find some poor animal to scare. Don't worry about it." Joey said.

"Now come on Yugi, we have to teach you how to dance." Iron heart stepped forward.

"I don't have much power left, but here." He touched the millennium puzzle. Yugi was encompassed in the familiar golden light. When it faded he was dressed in a white shirt and a shimmering silver vest with a violet jacket and midnight black pants with black boots that shone in the moonlight. Amethyst gems sparkled on the edgings of the jacket. Silver buttons shone like stars. Chris beamed.

"You look beautiful Yugi." He blushed good naturedly.

"Thanks Chris." She giggled. Ryou stepped forward.

"Wait!" They all turned to look at Joey. "Shouldn' we complete the puzzle first?" Yugi nodded.

"Right. There's only three pieces left." He knelt and brought out the box, pulling out three pieces. Everyone watched in rapt attention as they fitted into place. Yugi held the final piece up to the light, licked his lips…and slid it into place. Everyone cheered as they gazed at the completed puzzle. It was a perfectly smooth upside down pyramid with an eye in the center that seemed to sparkle and glow with energy. Ryou smiled and stepped forward again.

"Now, just follow my movements, and you'll soon be the most graceful person on the floor." Yugi nodded and started to copy his movements.

-

--

-

Marik flew over the forest, looking for any signs of life other than the local animals. He banked when he got a glimpse of a fire. Landing carefully, he walked toward the clearing it was in, checking to see if he could tell whether it was Yugi's grandfather or not. All he saw was a young boy sitting by the fire. Sighing, he was about to take off again, when he stopped and turned back around to take a closer look.

The boy looked a lot like him, only slightly less insane and a little more innocent. He went to step forward, then thought better of it. He took a step back, and winced as he heard a twig snap. The boy's head snapped up in his direction. Marik melted at the sight of the lavender orbs. He began to panic when the boy stepped toward toward him.

"Yugi? Yugi is that you?" Marik stopped.

'He knows Yugi?' He smirked. 'This must be Malik.' He licked his lips. 'What a pretty mortal.' He chuckled. "Not quite. But I know where he is." Malik tensed.

"What do you mean? Who are you? Did you kidnap Yugi?"

"Malik who are you talking to?" An old man with spiky grey hair and gentle violet eyes came into the clearing.

"A man who claims to know where Yugi is." The old man gasped and looked toward him.

"You do? Where is he? Is he all right? Can you take us to him?" Marik held up his hands.

"Easy old man. Yes, I do know where Yugi is. He's in a secret part of the forest. He's perfectly fine. But no, I can't take you to him." Malik jumped up.

"WHAT?! WHY?!" Marik sighed.

"Because we're over a day away from the entrance if we go by foot, which we would seeing as I couldn't carry both of you. And Yugi is going to the royal ball tomorrow." Malik raised an eyebrow.

"How do you know that? And if he was going to go to the ball, then why didn't he stay at home? And why won't you come out into the light?" Marik sighed.

"Because of this." He stepped into the firelight. Malik and Yugi's grandfather gasped. Marik sighed. "Yugi, along with everyone else in the enchanted forest, has been cursed. I was an elf, but Dartz turned me into a griffon. I can only turn back into myself at night. Yugi is a stag by day, human by night. He's trying to break the spell on us and himself. His true love is going to be at the royal ball. That's the only way for him to defeat him. I just came to tell you that he was fine, and that he would be home soon." He turned around to take off.

"Wait!" Marik turned to look back. "You say that Yugi is safe. Prove it. Take me with you." Marik lifted an eyebrow, but inwardly smirked.

"All right, hold on!" He grabbed him around his waist and took off. Solomon raced after them.

"Wait! Malik!" He looked down.

"Go back to the village Grandpa! I'll be with Yugi at the ball!" He called back. Solomon sighed.

"Be careful."

-

--

-

Yugi had spent hours practicing dances, doing both the male and female parts. Iron heart watched as Yugi moved with an unnatural grace. All the others had started to dance as well, and were enjoying themselves a lot. The light of dawn was coming when Marik spotted them. He grinned and headed toward them.

"There he is! HEY YUGI! Look what I found!" Yugi stopped dancing and looked up. He beamed when he saw his childhood friend.

"Malik! You're here!" Malik smiled when he saw Yugi.

"Hey Yugi! You look hot!" Yugi blushed brightly and looked down. Marik circled them and began a gentle dive to land. All of a sudden Dartz dove out of the sky and intercepted them. His tail crashed into Marik on his head and made him lose consciousness. He grabbed both of them and flew away.

"No!" Anzu swooped down and grabbed Honda and the book. "NO!" The sun rose, turning him into a stag again. Iron heart tried to stop them with his magic, but all of a sudden his golden glow faded and he crashed to the ground. Yugi sighed and looked to everyone. "Come on! We can't let Dartz win! We just can't!" He narrowed his eyes as he tried to think of a plan.

-

--

-

Deep in the woods, Dartz was looking at the book that Honda had found. Honda himself was tied upside down, and desperately trying to get free.

"Hmmm….Interesting. So the millennium puzzle isn't invincible after all. I wonder what my cousin would say to that."

"There's nothing in there!" He said desperately. "Just fairy tales! I assure you!" Dartz turned to Anzu.

"Anzu my dear, do you remember the puzzle you wanted?" She nodded enthusiastically.

"Am I going to get it daddy? Am I?" She asked in excitement.

"Yes my little angel. Tonight. At the royal ball. My spies tell me that Yugi will be there to meet the prince." He touched the gem on her pendant, filling it with his magic. It changed from ruby red to jade green.

"Daddy! That was my third favorite necklace!" She said.

"It's magic now my dear. Now whenever that fool Yami sees you, he will see his true love, Yugi." Malik gasped. The prince? In love with Yugi? Anzu tilted her head, a pout still on her features.

"So?"

"So? You can trick him into declaring his love for you." Anzu's features lit up.

"Oh! I've always wanted to marry a prince!" Dartz smirked.

"Once Yami swears his love to you the powers of the puzzle will fade, and then we will fufill our destinies! I will be the ruler of the entire kingdom!"

"And I'll be the most stylish creature in it!" Anzu squealed.

"And who knows what other worlds we could conquer? Maybe we could even take a liking to….the royal palace!" Anzu cackled in delight.

"It won't work!" Honda shouted. Dartz smirked.

"Bold words coming from a troll who's about to be eaten." He stalked forward and gathered energy around his pendant. With a punch, the energy was released and turned Honda into a worm.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Malik snarled, trying to get rid of his own bonds, looking worriedly at Marik who was still unconscious. Anzu smirked at him.

"Ooh! This little kitty has a bite!" She tickled his chin. Malik growled and snapped at her fingers. Anzu screeched. Malik smirked.

"A cat?" Dartz said. "Yess….you are like a kitten…..Anzu…..do you want a new pet?" Anzu squealed.

"Oh yes!" Dartz smirked.

"Very well. You shall have one!" He shot his magic at Malik, fading to reveal a sandy colored kitten. Malik mewed. Anzu squealed at him.

"Awww! He's so adorable!" She bent down and picked him up. Malik hissed and scratched her, running out the window. Anzu tried to go after him.

"Leave him Anzu." She pouted at her father.

"But daddy!"

"No. Let him go. Let him find his friends. Let them know I know their weakness." Anzu pouted that she had lost her kitten, but mumbled.

"Kittens are out of fashion anyway."

-

--

-

Yugi and the others approached Dartz's palace. Joey shivered.

"Gives me the creeps jus' lookin at it." Yugi looked to Iron heart.

"Honda….is he?"

"Still alive." Iron heart said. "But under a magic spell." Yugi nodded. Ryou gulped.

"So how do we get in?" He asked. Yugi looked around.

"Well….Dartz flies almost everywhere he goes….there's probably an entrance on the roof." Chris sighed, exasperated.

"Great! None of us are able to fly!" Yugi narrowed his eyes.

"Hey!" Everyone jumped. "Down here!" Iron heart bent down. He came back up with a sandy colored kitten. The kitten panted, snuggling into Iron hearts arms.

"Boy am I glad to see you guys!" Yugi looked at the kitten closely. His eyes widened.

"Malik?" He asked. The kitten looked up.

"Hey Yugi. Yeah, it's me." He observed his friends new form. "You know, you don't look bad like that, fairly alluring." Yugi blushed, then shook his head.

"That's not something we need to think about right now. How did you get out?"

"Through an open window. I was able to see through the mist somehow." He looked back.

"Yugi. Dartz knows the weakness of that puzzle you're wearing. You need to be careful." Yug looked down at it and sighed.

"Okay. Malik, could you show us how you got in?" The kitten nodded.

"Just follow me." He leaped out of Iron hearts arms and went to the edge of the ledge. He leaped down. Yugi looked at everyone, then followed him. Malik trotted through the mist, constantly mewing so that Yugi knew where he was. Yugi would occasionally stumble over logs and stones, but nothing ever too serious. Malik came to a low window just big enough for Yugi to leap into. Malik went inside and stepped aside. Yugi leaped in and began to look for their friends.

"Honda? Marik?" He stepped around, looking for either one. "Honda?"

"Psst! Over here!" Yugi looked over and saw Marik unconscious on a hearth rug. He cantered over and looked down. A worm was hiding under one of Marik's paws. Yugi bent his head down.

"Honda?" The worm sighed.

"Don't ask." He looked around. "Be careful. The raven's are here! And worse, they're hungry!" Malik lowered his head so that Honda could get on top of it. With a caw, the raven's appeared, not about to let their meal get away. Yugi helped Marik up and, with a grunt, started to lead him out of the palace. They exited through the window. Yugi had to shove him out the window and follow him. Getting under him again, he started heading after Malik and Honda. The raven's pecked and poked him with their beaks. Yugi cried out at the pain but kept going. Malik looked behind him and saw how hard a time Yugi was having with Marik. He turned around and ran to him.

"Go! You take care of Honda. I'll get Marik moving."

"But…"

"GO!" Yugi reluctantly nodded and helped Honda onto his horns. He ran back through the fog and leaped onto the edge. The raven's followed him. Joey leaped in front of the ledge and barked. Startled, they back winged and tried to get away. Chris leapt down from a branch and pelted them with nuts. Soon they were all on the ground unconscious.

"Yeah baby! We're good!" Joey said proudly. Meanwhile Malik was trying to get Marik to wake up. Out of exasperation he bit his ear. Marik yelped and shot up. He glared, looking for who had done that. Malik leaped onto him and licked his face, nuzzling his cheek.

"Marik! You're awake!" Marik blinked, then gasped.

"Malik?" He nodded sadly. Marik clenched his talons.

"Where are the others?"

"Up on the ledge. Can you fly us out of this mist?" Marik nodded. Malik leaped up onto his back. Marik ran, pumping his wings until they were airborne. He circled down to where the others were.

"Marik! You're awake!"

"Yeah. No thanks to a certain someone." He mock glared at Malik. He just grinned back.

"Come on! We have to get the ball!"

-

--

-

It was almost sunset, carriages from different kingdoms rolled into the courtyard of the royal palace. People from all over the land stood in the hallways and talked, whispering about who the prince would choose as his bride. Mana, the queen, strode gracefully through the halls. She stopped when she spotted her son pacing impatiently in a side hall. She squinted to make sure it was her son, then walked toward him.

"Yami, what are you doing? The ball is starting." Yami sighed. He was dressed in a sleek black shirt edged in gold. Rubies were embedded into the fabric, glittering somberly in the light. A dark red velvet sash was draped across his chest. Coal black pants and boots with gold buckles were on his legs. He paced back and forth.

"I know. I'm waiting for someone." He said.

"A future bride I hope." She said. Yami looked around for him and grinned.

"I guess you could say so."

"Well!" She said. "This is quite a surprise!" She looped his arm. "Come! I want you to come and introduce us the minute she comes in." Yami smirked.

'If only she knew.' He thought. "If he arrives."

-

--

-

"And then Dartz said that he would disguise Anzu as Yugi and use her to trick Yami and declare his love to her!"

"What?! It can't work like dat!" Joey shouted.

"Yes! Yami must be in love with Yugi! If he's not, who knows what'll happen!" The others couldn't help but agree with Ryou.

"I can go! I used to live there after all." Malik said.

"No, I'll go." Yugi said.

"You go? Yugi there must be at least a dozen hunters waiting to shoot a perfect stag like you." Ryou said. Honda nodded sadly. "I should know. I was there. It's a tough crowd."

"But it has to be me. I'm the only one who can! If Yami sees me, he'll see that he's being tricked!" Ryou pouted.

"Unfortunately he has a point." Marik said. Iron heart sighed.

"Use the puzzle to unlock the rock at the waterfall Yugi." Iron heart said. "Good luck."

"And Yugi!" He looked back at Marik and Malik. "Watch your back." Yugi nodded and galloped off toward the palace.

-

--

-

At the palace, everyone was beginning to dance, floating gracefully across the dance floor. Mana went over to Yami.

"Your special girl?" She asked. Yami sighed.

"No sign of him yet." Yami found it odd that his mother hadn't commented on his use of him instead of her.

"Well until then you can't be rude, and there are some very lovely young girls around here. Find someone wonderful to dance with until she arrives." Yami smirked and turned to his mother.

"May I?" He asked, bowing gallantly to her. Mana giggled.

"Rascal." She scolded him, but they began dancing anyway. Dartz and his daughter Anzu came into the ballroom. She was dressed in a shimmering silk pink dress with diamonds set in it. The ruby necklace hung down on her chest. She looked very beautiful, but one look and you knew something was off. Dartz smirked when he saw Yami dancing with his mother. He turned to his daughter.

"Remember. Not a word." He said.

"Why not?" She asked in her annoying voice.

"Hush my child! Not a word." Yami looked over and smiled when he saw something. Instead of seeing Dartz and his daughter, he saw Yugi dressed in a beautiful outfit of violet, silver and black. Beside him was a man obviously getting on in his years. His hair was silvery grey and his eyes were golden like a hawks as he looked around for Yami, smirking when he saw Yami walking toward them.

"Your majesties." He said politely, hating the fact that he had to bow to them.

"I'm glad you came." Yami said, looking to Yugi with loving eyes.

"And I..." Dartz squeezed her fingers. She immediately shut her mouth and smiled sweetly at them.

"We were glad to make it." Dartz said. Yami bowed to Yugi and held out his hand.

"Will you dance with me?" He asked. Anzu nodded and they walked onto the dance floor. Yami smiled. "I see you finished the millennium puzzle." He gazed at her lovingly. Mana watched them go suspiciously. There was something off about that girl. Yami and Anzu walked to the center of the dance floor. He let go of her hand and she walked off a short distance away from him. Everyone stopped talking as they noticed who had taken the dance floor. Dartz's eyes narrowed in victory as he watched them both start to dance. Anzu was very graceful, but everyone wondered why the prince would pick her. But Yami didn't see a beautiful girl with an ugly smile. He only had eyes for the beautiful form she had taken.--Yugi galloped through the forest as fast as he could, dodging trees and leaping over obstacles. --Yami continued to dance with Anzu, watching as Yugi's violet jacket swirled around him.

"You know, I promised my mother I would find myself a bride tonight." He said. "And I never break a promise." Anzu smirked and continued to dance. Mana watched them dance. She had to admit, they looked wonderful together. She smiled at Dartz.

"It seems my son is enamored with your daughter." She said. Dartz smirked.

"Yes it does, doesn't it?" He said. They went back to watching the two dance.

Yugi galloped down the cobblestone streets as fast as he could, passing startled shopkeepers and excited huntsmen. Yugi went faster as he knew arrows would be flying soon. He ran right past the game shop, where Solomon had just finished putting on the appropriate clothing for the ball. He stopped at the door when he saw the stag galloping past the shop. He blinked in amazement.

"Yugi?" He asked. Yugi galloped up the bridge and toward the ballroom, trying to find a way in. Inside Yami was still dancing, becoming more and more entranced by Anzu's grace and easiness with all of their stares. Dartz kept smiling, knowing it wouldn't be long. He looked to the open window and saw Yugi cantering toward it. He narrowed his eyes and clenched his hand. His pendant flashed for a moment and the windows closed. Yugi reared up so that he wouldn't run into them and tried to find another way in. He went to a small side window and gasped at what he saw. Anzu was dancing with Yami, and performing beautifully.

"No." He whispered. Dartz gritted his teeth and closed those windows as well. Yugi gasped and tried to look for another way in, growing desperate. Yami cleared his throat.

"What I'm trying to say is….will you marry me?" Yugi hung his head.

"No." It felt like his heart was breaking. "No!" Anzu walked away from Yami and Dartz stepped forward.

"I'm sorry your highness, but I couldn't help but overhear. Are you asking for my son's hand in marriage?"

"Yes." He said. Dartz smirked.

"What I am asking is….do you love him?"

"Yes." Yami said, with all the fortitude he could muster. Yugi froze….he…didn't love him? Yugi's heart broke and he fell to his knees, collapsing to the ground and falling to his side. The puzzle dulled until it was ash grey.

"Thank you your highness! That's exactly what I've been waiting to hear!" His pendant glowed and the spell around Anzu broke. Yami's eyes widened and he released the girls hand immediately.

"No…Dartz…" Anzu giggled.

"What day should we get married handsome?" She asked.

"Where is Yugi?!" He shouted.

"Who cares?! You've already pledged your love to my daughter!" Anzu blew him a kiss and batted her eyelids. They both transformed into dragons, causing everyone there to scream. Bakura tossed Yami a sword. Yami caught it and aimed it at the two. Dartz laughed and they flew off.

"Bye bye, big boy!" Anzu called. Outside, Yugi transformed back into his human self, still dressed for the ball. Dartz and Anzu landed beside him. They transformed back into humans.

"Well,well! What a sad and beautiful picture." He bent own and removed his necklace. "Let's see how brave you are without the puzzle." He removed it from its silver chain and handed it to Anzu. "There you go my child. Your necklace, as promised." He put it on and squealed.

"Oh! It's me isn't it?!" She asked. Dartz didn't respond. Anzu held the slim chain up to the light.

"A futile legend wasn't it? You? Beating me? You're nothing!" Anzu gasped.

"Daddy look out!" He turned around just in time to dodge Yami's slash as he jumped down from his spot. Dartz laughed.

"Ha! Come to discuss the wedding plans?!" Yami lunged forward. Dartz turned his sword into a feather. "I believe it's your move." He said.

-

--

-

Ryou hastily pulled a carriage into the courtyard, looking for Yugi and the prince. They stopped when they saw Yugi. Chris gasped.

"We're too late." She whispered. Iron heart stood up.

"No…." They all looked up. "He's still alive….but only barely." The faerie lights that had lit the way last night rushed forward to go get him. Yami saw them and decided to stall.

"So what're you waiting for?" He sneered. "Come and get me! I'm right here! Not an easy target to miss!" He dove behind Anzu. She shrieked as Dartz's magic surrounded her and turned her into a pig. Dartz's eyes flared in anger. The sun set behind the palace.

"My child!" He went over to her. While he was distracted, the lights picked Yugi up and carried him to the carriage. Joey and the others caught him and set him down so that he was comfortable. Ryou grabbed the bars, as he was now human, and raced off. Bakura watched him and smirked, licking his lips at the thought of having someone like that by his side. Dartz saw them going away and tried to go after them.

"Daddy!" Anzu snorted. "Daddy, make it go away! Make it go away!" She squealed. Dartz looked between his daughter and the carriage for a while, before transforming into the leviathan and flying after the carriage. "Daddy wait! I've got a serious situation here!"

-

--

-

The carriage went through the forest as fast as Ryou could run. Joey had leaped out a little while ago and had begun to help him. Iron heart stroked Yugi's hair as they went toward the enchanted forest.

"Hang in there Yugi." They heard a loud roar and looked up. Dartz was following them in his dragon form, and quickly gaining up on them. The faerie lights circled them and pulled them into the air so that they were flying. Joey whooped.

"Oh yeah baby! Now we're talkin'!" They raced through the air. When they neared the waterfall, Ryou lowered his head. Where his horn would be, a white spot glowed. The boulder moved out of the way for them. The carriage swooped through and out the tunnel and into the forest. Dartz followed close behind. Dartz smirked as he gained up on them. His eyes glowed green for a moment as his magic worked. A tree fell into their path. Ryou and Joey gasped and tried to move it out of the way. The carriage swerved and broke apart. Ryou and Joey got up from the ground, shaking their heads. Dartz landed on the ground and transformed.

"Ah….much better. I don't like to rush around. Bad for the digestion." He smirked. "And now for the boy." He said, striding forward. Ryou gulped and stepped forward.

"No, you'll have to get through me first." Ryou said. Joey stepped forward.

"Me too." Chris stepped in front of him as well.

"Me three." Dartz laughed.

"Oh look! The three musketeers!"

"Leave them alone Dartz." Iron heart said. "You're battle is with me." Dartz stoked his chin.

"You know….you're absolutely right!" He shot a beam of energy at Iron heart. He tried to defend himself, but no dice. The magic surrounded him, and when it faded he was a mouse. Ryou bent down and put Iron heart in his hand.

"Oh, Iron heart." Joey looked at them in disbelief. He narrowed his eyes at Dartz.

"Dat's it! I'm gonna knock you inta next week!" He charged at Dartz. The man moved aside at the last minute and he crashed into a tree. Joey fell backwards in a dead faint. Chris ran forward and tried to scratch his face. Dartz held up his hand and stopped her in her tracks.

"Is that all you can do?" He asked. Joey got up off of the ground. "Now I will call forth my ultimate beast! The great levia….!!" A high whinny made him look over to the entrance of the forest. Yami rode up on a black horse. He dismounted and aimed his bow at Dartz's back. Dartz whirled around and stopped the arrow in its tracks, again disentigrating it into dust. Yugi blinked as he came back into consciousness. Yami pulled out a new sword and pointed it at Dartz. "You don't know when to give up do you?" Dartz asked. He blasted Yami's sword out of his hand, then blasted another beam of energy at him. Yami ducked behind a tree to avoid it. "But you're a strong soul. Far stronger than any I've found." He clenched his hand and a net of sickly green energy captured the prince. "Your sacrifice would greatly increase the leviathan's power." He said, putting a finger under Yami's jaw. The prince just stared him straight in the eye, unafraid. He was about to plunge his hand into Yami's chest, when Yugi shouted.

"STOP!!" The two turned to see Yugi glaring at Dartz. "If you want him, you'll have to go through me." Dartz laughed. "Do you really think that you, a puny little human could defeat me?" He charged up his pendant.

"Yugi you can't! You don't have the puzzle!" Yugi shook his head.

"It doesn't matter. As long as you live." He turned to Dartz and nodded. The king laughed cruelly.

"How chivalrous of you. Very well!" He charged up his pendant and aimed it straight for Yugi. The boy stood as still as a rock. He wasn't afraid. He was willing to die for Yami, even if he didn't return his feelings. A few inches in front of his face Yugi closed his eyes. With a deafening bang, the magic exploded and vanished into thin air. Yugi opened his eyes again in surprise. "You!" Yugi looked over to Dartz, who was livid. "How do you know the white magic's?!" He looked down at himself. Sure enough, he was glowing with a pure white radiance, the signal of white magic's, the most powerful energy to manipulate. He looked back up at Dartz. Would he be able to win after all? Dartz smirked. It didn't matter to him. The white magic's might be strong, but he had just discovered his power. It would not take much to bring this boy to his knees. "Great Leviathan! I summon you!" The ground began to shake. The elves ran in every direction, trying to find a place to hide. Several trees nearby fell around them, beautiful white bark dulling to black. With a mighty roar, the Great Leviathan emerged from the earth, and Yugi saw why Dartz's form was considered small.

The Great Leviathan was over a thousand feet high, and a thousand feet long. It towered over the entire forest and blocked out the sun, casting a dark shadow over the land. Wicked teal green eyes gazed coldly into his own. Yami just stared. How could anyone stand up to that thing?! Black slime shot out from the creatures body and encircled him. Yami cried out and tried to fight it off, but was only pulled towards its hideous body.

"YAMI!!" Yugi shouted, trying to get closer. Dartz zapped a bit of magic at him.

"Ah, ah, ah little one. In order to save your lover, you have to play by my rules. Or else…" He clicked his fingers. The black slime dragged Yami into the Leviathan's skin up to his ankles. "He'll be absorbed by my beast." Yugi had a look of desperation and rage on his face. He gazed between Yami and Dartz, before bowing his head and nodding. "Good. The rules are simple. Defeat me in a duel, and I'll free the prince. But if you fail, yours and his soul is forfeit to the Leviathan. Do you understand?" Before Yugi could give confirmation, Dartz began attacking him. Yugi managed to conjure up a shield that held in place. To his surprise, it took very little energy. If he waited long enough, Dartz might exhaust his energy supplies and he could attack. His concentration slipped though, when he heard Yami cry out. He looked up, only to see that Yami had sunk into the Leviathan's skin up to his knees. Dartz chuckled. "Oh. Did I forget to mention that there's a time limit? If you don't defeat me in the next ten minutes, your precious lover will be completely absorbed by my great beast." Yugi felt tears well up in his eyes. What could he do? He didn't know enough about his magic to attack. Yami looked down to him with complete trust in his eyes. Yugi nodded, and turned back to Dartz. He put his hands in a circle and gathered up a ball of energy. When he thought it was enough, he threw it at the man across from him, only to have it batted away like a fly. Yami sunk in to his waist. Yugi glanced up at him worriedly, before trying again. He formed a spear out of light, which he threw at Dartz, only to have the same result. Yugi kept on trying, pulling feints, tricks, and even making decoys. Somehow, Dartz always knew what he was doing, and countered it perfectly. He looked up to Yami. He was up to his neck in the Leviathan's body, yet his eyes still held the same trust and faith that they had at the beginning. The Leviathan engulfed him even more. Yami winced as the scales and slime closed in over his head.

"NOO!" He shouted. A powerful blow of energy hit him square in the chest and sent him flying into the Leviathan. Dartz chuckled.

"It seems I win little one." The slime gathered around him and pulled him up towards where Yami disappeared, before slowly swallowing him up as well. "I hope you enjoy being trapped as a power source for my monster." He smirked evilly. "Oh well. At least you get to be with your little lover." He didn't hear anymore, as the slime had closed in over his head.

It was dark, pitch dark; and cold, so very, very cold. It felt like he was floating. He reached out for something to steady him, and found an icy hand. He looked over, opening his eyes. It was Yami, his own eyes were dull and weary, but he still managed a small smile. Yugi smiled gently back, taking his hand and twining their fingers together. Dartz was right. They would spend eternity here, but at least they would be together. Yugi felt his eyelids grow heavy as the Leviathan pulled strength from his body. 'I love you' Yugi thought. He could've sworn he heard a response back, saying that he was loved as well. Still smiling, he let black oblivion fall on his consciousness, succumbing to the will to sleep. He never noticed the small light that began to accumulate in their hands.

-

--

-

Iron heart and the other elves watched in horror as Yugi and the prince were sucked into the Leviathan. Dartz laughed maniacally.

"Ha! That wasn't a bad deal! Two for one!" The puzzle around his neck lit up. "This world is mine!" The puzzle began to shine and sparkle, gaining back its golden hue. Dartz turned to them. "And you're next!" The elves tensed, only to stare at the puzzle, which had began emitted a blinding white light. Dartz frowned at their confusion, before looking down, eyes wideneding at what he saw. "What? No! NO!"

"The puzzle! Its power isn't gone!" Joey shouted joyfully. A golden light spread through Dartz, the puzzle glowing brighter and brighter until it was blinding. Dartz's palace began to shake and crumble. Life spread into the parts of the forest Dartz had taken over. Ryou set Iron heart back on the ground and he turned back into a human, now a youthful man who looked a bit like Dartz, only with brown hair instead of green and warm brown eyes. All of the other creatures turned back into their normal selves. They smiled. But their joy was soon dissipated when they heard a cruel laugh.

"Fools! Do you think I could be gotten rid of that easily?!" The looked up. The Great Levaithan was still there, only with a small change. On his nose, was a black figure that looked like Dartz with even wilder and darker hair. The millennium puzzle was in the center of his chest, coated with the same black substance. "I have the ultimate power! Not even the puzzle can overcome the great evil within the heart of my beast!" He began blasting away at the forest, laughing. The elves screamed and ran for places to hide. Dartz roared in glee at the chaos, before stopping. On his back, one of his scales had turned from black to gold. Dartz turned around to get a closer look at it. "What…." The gold began spreading. "No…" A golden spot appeared on his chest, before spreading. "No!" Gold spots began appearing everywhere on his body, spreading and turning white. "NOOOO!!" The Leviathan exploded into millions of beads of light. The droplets hung in the air for a moment, before scattering every which way, disappearing into the night. One by one, the elves came out of their hiding places. On the ground, where the great leviathan had fallen, lay Yami and Yugi, their clothes perfectly in tact, only Yugi's were the ones he had worn when he had started this whole adventure. The millennium puzzle lay beside them, most of its glitter and sparkle gone. Joey, Malik, Marik, and Ryou raced to their sides, kneeling down. Ryou checked their pulses, only to sigh.

"They're dead." Everyone bowed their heads. The millennium puzzle flashed for a moment, before giving off a gentle, steady light. Yugi groaned, and Yami began to stir.

"Look!" Chris said. "They're waking! The legend! It has to be true!" She sighed. "True love!" Yugi lifted his head heavily and looked down to Yami who was also waking up. They stared at each other, eyes lost in each other. Yugi's eyelids drooped, his eyes darkening to a dark violet.

"Why don't you just kiss me already?" He asked. Yami smirked and pulled him down into a fierce kiss. Yugi was startled, but soon melted into the embrace. They parted for a moment.

"Dartz tricked me." He said between kisses. "It's you I love….If you'll have me?" He asked. Yugi hugged him tightly.

"Of course." Joey handed the puzzle back to Yugi.

"Here ya are Yug'." The boy nodded and put it around his neck.

"Oh….It hasn't got any more magic." Yugi said, sighing. Yami chuckled.

"I think its better that way." Yugi smiled.

"Yeah. Me too." He said, tilting his head up and giving the prince another kiss.

-

--

-

A few days later, they held a ball in the enchanted forest. Yugi danced with his grandfather, laughing when they messed up.

"I still can't believe that you were here Yugi, or that you saved this enchanted forest." Yugi laughed.

"Well, a friend of mine told me 'you're braver than you think.' Turns out he was right." Marik puffed out his chest in pride, then turned back to Malik, whom he was flirting with. Malik blushed, but allowed him to do as he wished. Yami tapped Solomon on the shoulder.

"May I?" He said with a bow. Solomon stepped aside.

"First, you must answer a very important question." Yugi and Yami looked at each other. "How many layers for the wedding cake? I was quite a cook back in my time."

"Can it have frosting flowers?" Joey interjected. "I love dos' dings!" Yugi laughed.

"Of course Joey. Of course." He smiled at Yami, who took his hand. They went out to the center of the floor and began dancing their hearts out. Bakura walked up to Ryou, who was conversing good naturedly with a few of the townsfolk, and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hmm?" Bakura bowed gallantly, taking his hand.

"May I have this dance?" He asked. Ryou blushed when the girls began to giggle, but took his hand anyway.

"Sure." Bakura smirked and began leading him across the dance floor.

-

--

-

The End