Summary: What if Kaiba did the unthinkable? What if Joey called that last attack and defeated Marik? Who would have thought two what ifs could change…everything.

Italics= thoughts

WARNING:eventual Puppyshipping, so for any non-yaoi lovers this fic may not be for you.

However, note the word"eventual."

My favorite Puppyshipping fics are those where they don't start off having crushes on each other. These two characters do not like each other at first but the potential for love is too great for me to ignore. I think they are both too thick-headed to view each other in a positive light but if it wasn't for that they would make a great couple (a crazy, bickering couple but great nonetheless). At heart, they are a lot alike.

Anyways on with the story!

"JOEY!"

Several voices could be heard screaming the blonde's name. The gang watched on with horrified eyes. The Winged-Dragon of Ra's attack left a devastating aftermath.

Mokuba took a few steps forward. His eyes could not believe what he'd just witnessed.

"We have to stop this now," the little boy whispered.

Kaiba kept himself from tensing when Mokuba stepped away from his side. While he would never baby his younger brother he was a good deal protective. In a situation like this he'd rather have his brother close within his sphere of protection.

That being said the tall brunette felt himself tense at Mokuba's words.

'There's no way I'm stopping this duel. I can't. I must witness Ra's power with my own eyes,'ice blue eyes focused on the abundance of smoke dissipating on one end of the arena. 'It's not like this duel will last much longer. Wheeler will be down and out. He'll be fine.'

A bark of mad laughter slid everyone's attention to the other end of the arena where Marik stood.

"Now, now Little Joey," Mark snidely called out, eyes aglow with insanity. "Come out of hiding won't you? The shadows await and they want your soul."

His ringing howls angered more than one. Marik's eyes flashed over to Yami. Any moment now Little Joey will be nothing more than an emotionless shell when the shadows take him. He will serve as a perfect example as to what will happen to the Pharaoh once he got the chance to face him.

As the smoke withered away everyone once again calls out.

Joey…was standing.

Every single one of them had expected to find the blonde passed out on the floor.

No one was more shocked than Marik who screamed out in astonishment.

"It can't be! No one can withstand the fury of an Egyptian God Monster! No one!"

Marik grit his teeth. Anger pumped through his veins, but it was the note of fear that truly unnerved him.

"You should have been wiped out!" the crazed man cried hysterically.

Several gasped as Joey's head lifted. The honey eyes, normally alit with fire, were glazed. Yugi recoiled from his spirit room inside of Yami, his large eyes filling with tears. The look in Joey's eyes reminded Yugi of when his best friend had been possessed.

This water? Where'd it come from?

Joey's mind was lost in a haze. He had no idea what was going on or where he was. The murky water encompassed him. To his confusion it felt…familiar, non-threating. He wasn't safe in the dark waters but he knew he would be okay regardless. The interment flashes of light only served to add to his confusion.

"Guys?" the blonde spoke in a bubble. He watched it float up away from him.

"Somebody?"

What felt like a hand grasped the surprised blonde and jerked him forward.

The lights gathered as one and blew out searing his vision.

When the blonde came back to his mind was back in the present, as though he'd burst out of the water only to find himself at a duel.

Joey couldn't see his friends though he could hear their calls somewhere in the distance. His main concern however lay in front of him. Marik glared something fierce, Mokuba's jaw hung open, and Roland's wide eyes were visible; his signature shades clutched in his hand.

All this aside, there was one person who garnered Joey's true focus. Joey always thought he'd had Kaiba pegged. The tall brunette's sparkling personality was supposed to be set in stone. He'd never thought he'd see the day he'd be able to do something so drastic that it would place the Ice Prince in such a state of shock. Even from where he stood Joey could make-out the visible confusion in the turbulent blue eyes. Had the blonde been just a bit more speculative by nature he may have wondered why the look in Kaiba's eyes lit of flame of excitement in him.

Re-energized, the blonde turned back to Marik, honey eyes flickering.

"I'm putting a stop to your evil Marik," Joey spat confidently. His eyes blazed. "For good!"

A bead of sweat trickled down Marik's forehead. His veins became grotesquely pronounce as he growled.

'If he manages to call an attack I'll lose the duel and my Egyptian God card.'

Among all spectators Mokuba is the first to truly react.

"Go Joey!" Mokuba cheered. He pumped a triumphant fist into the air.

His elder brother was in a world all his own. Kaiba was a man of calculations which is why the scene before him floored him so much. Even he did not predict this outcome. His quick mind instantly dredged up a previous deduction he'd once made, 'Wheeler is so unpredictable even Kaiba Corp Computers can't properly deduce what he can or will do.' The statement was meant as a joke at the time but it couldn't ring more true than it did at this moment. The idiot mutt was about to pull off the big win.

"How did he withstand Ra's attack?" Kaiba unintentionally breathed out. The brunette hadn't missed the look Wheeler sent his way. It only further bothered the corporate teen that it had caused him to straighten himself to his full towering height.

'Here goes,' Joey thought as he pulled out a card. 'Gearfried the Iron Knight, perfect. He's got more than enough power to wipe Marik out.'

Feeling his strength begin to drain Joey placed the card on his duel disk.

"Get ready Marik, I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight!"

"No!" his opponent exclaimed.

Mokuba and the gang cheered Joey on.

Joey frowned. His strength was fading fast. He switched his footing to prevent from staggering. Ra's attack was finally taking its toll. He wasn't going to last much longer. His vision was blurring around the edges and creeping in.

"Gearfried, attack Marik's life points directly!"

Joey made sure to keep direct eye-contact with Marik as he unleashed his final attack.

"No, no, no!" Marik shouted in utter disbelief. "This can't be happening!"

Gearfried closed in and speared Marik. The spiky-haired male screamed in agony as he hunched over and fell to his knees.

Serenity ran out of the elevator and onto the deck just in time to catch the uproar let out by the gang. Yami stood proud as Tristan and Duke hoot and hollered. Teal latched onto Serenity upon noticing the younger female was with them.

"What's going on?" Serenity asked.

"It's Joey, he won!"

"Big brother?" Serenity's smile grew wide as she looked upon her brother's form. "Oh Joey, you did it!"

Joey paid no one no mind. He used the last of his strength to smile.

"Ra," he announced, honey eyes brilliantly lit. "Is mine."

The cheers truly exploded at that pronouncement.

'Impossible! Wheeler's gained the power of Ra!' Kaiba's eyes narrowed, all traces of surprise long gone He still couldn't believe it. The mutt is supposed to be a simpleton, a third-rate duelist...right?

To everyone's continuing shock Joey toppled forward. The blonde was out before his head knocked against the ground.

Everyone rushed to his side at once.

Roland jerked in surprise as Kaiba held him back.

"Medics, now."

The elder man didn't miss the strange glow in the icy eyes but wisely made no comment.

Kaiba himself strode onto the arena platform and stood aways from the group gathered around Joey. His insides squirmed in apprehension though he honestly could not tell from what.

The blonde didn't stir.

Sorry for it being short! I just wanted this first chapter to set things up. I'm hoping to make this a long fic. I'd try to stick to cannon but obviously there already has been some major changes so I guess that won't be happening.

Read and review lovelies.

If you have any scenes or interactions you want to see between Joey and Seto feel free to let me know and I'll see if I can work it into the story.