GOTC: YAY!!!!! THE LAST CHAP IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!!!!

Ace: And I thought you'd be happy about it.........

GOTC: I am.....oh.....HEY!!!!!!!!!!

Ace: sigh And sarcasm is still a foreign language to you.......

GOTC: sob And after all I went through to save you from Laura Chubb......

Laura Chubb pops up from behind non-existent bush

Laura Chubb: I shall get you my precious, for GOTC does not own Yugioh, or LOTR!!!!

Ace: backs away And on that enlightening note....Let the show begin!!!!

Chapter 7: Partners, My Friend.

The sky outside turned form a midnight blue to a pallid orange as the hours wore away. The first ray of morning sun fell on Yugi as he lay on a small couch in the room of his injured friend. As the light grew brighter, Yugi began to stir and realized he had fallen asleep. He cursed himself for dozing of as he got to his feet.

Yugi, thinking-" How'd I get over here anyway? Last I remember I was over by Ace...."

He cast a glance towards Ace laying on the hospital bed across the room. Asleep or unconscious, he couldn't tell. He let out a long sigh as he remembered why Ace was even here in the first place. How had he let things get so out of hand? But it was like Slyfer had a mind of its own.......

Yugi-" I'm so sorry I let this happen. Believe me if I would have known...I would have never accepted......

Ace, sleepily-" If we always knew where the paths we choose would take us, there would be no purpose to life. No hope. No reason to live."

Yugi jumped back in alarm.

Yugi-" I thought you were asleep!!!"

Ace-" yawn I've learned to stay half-awake. It's useful to. Never miss anything."

Just then a nurse came bustling into the room carrying a large tray.

Nurse-" Time for your medicine!"

Ace-" I'm not taking anymore of your painkillers! Last time they knocked me out for 6 hours!"

Nurse-" Don't worry. It's Castor Oil."

Ace-" sweat drop That's not much better...."

Nurse-" Take it or I'll give you an IV drip."

Ace opened his mouth to protest, but as he did the nurse shoved in a spoonful ful the Castor Oil. Ace swallowed it, and sputtered in disgust as the nurse left the room.

Ace-" Next time you come back bring some mouthwash!"

Yugi gawked. Could this be the same person he had dueled just the night before? He was so laid back, despite all he had been through....

Ace-" Hey you beat me last night didn't you?"

Yugi-" Well not really... I mean I had to or...'

Ace-" Did my life points reach zero before yours?"

Yugi-" Well, yeah.."

Ace-" Then according to Battle City rules, that means I need to give you my rarest card."

Yugi-" But Battle city is over, and besides I couldn't take your rarest card. Not after what I did to you...."

But Ace was already reaching for his jacket that lay next to his bed. Once he had it he pulled out a small stack of cards, and began to sort them.

Ace-" Well first off, since we used Duel Disks to duel with, we have to use Battle City rules. And you can to take my rarest card, but since I am a fusionist, you'll get a choice."

Yugi-" What do you mean?"

Ace-" Well....see you'll get a choice of cards, because if you choose my fusion cards, then I become your dueling partner. You'd duel like normal,'cept when you play me, I can act on my own. On the other hand, if you like to duel alone, then you can have these."

With that, Ace pulled out the five cards of Exodia the Forbidden One. But in the other hand, he held considerably more. He held 4 magic cards, 7 dragons, his fusion card, and two others that were shrouded in shadow and mystery.

Yugi-" I thought I was only supposed to get your rarest card."

Ace-" Well, you get the package deal. Oh and you may want to talk to the Pharaoh about this too. After all, you to do share a deck."

Yami, who had appeared in his spirit form to listen to the conversation, was just as surprised as his hiarki at his noticed presence. But through the awkward tension, the two were already in perfect agreement, and Yugi took the fusion cards from Ace's hand, and then held out his own.

Yugi-" Partners my friend."

Just then Joey, Tristan, and Tea came bursting in through the door, panting heavily.

Tea-" Mokuba just filled us in about the whole fusionist thing."

Joey-" So are ya gonna help Yugi kick some butt?"

Yugi and Ace looked at each other as a smile spread across Ace's face. Not a big toothy grin, but the smile of someone who hadn't truly smiled in a long time.

J ,T,&T-" Yeah! Alright! Welcome to the team!"

And so starts the beginning of a friendship that would truly test their bonds. But now with a new friend they could trust beside them, they would all face that test together.

Ace: does a jig It's over, it's over!!!!

GOTC:sweat drop I thought you would be exited...

Ace: I am........Darnit!!!!

GOTC: Gotcha!

Laura Chubb leaps from hiding spot and grabs Ace

Laura Chubb: And now I've gotcha! Hahahahahaha!!!

GOTC: HEY!!!!! HE'S MY MAIN CHARACTER!!!! AND BESIDES I NEED HIM FOR THE NEXT STORY!!!!

Laura Chubb: eyes sparkle REALLY?!?!?!

GOTC: Ummm yeah...... hides Ace Please review, and keep your eyes peeled for Rise of the Guardian 2: Forbidden Memories!

Laura Chubb: YAY!!!!!