"From what I can gather, they were. Childhood friends along with Mana and myself. As we grew and our pharaoh crowned, they later got closer. I do not remember how close they were." Mahad answered. He soon followed his former king into the shadows. The others followed suite with their monsters. 

Seto with Blue Eyes White Dragon, and his two cards yet to be summoned, Dragon Spirit of White, Maiden with Eyes of Blue. 

Joey with Red Eyes Black Dragon, and Pheonix Gearfried. Yami with, Dark Magician, Kuriboh, Celtic Guard of Royal Arms, Obnoxious Celtic Guard and Twin Hearted Knight card he hadn't summoned. 

Yugi with one of Kaiba's Blue-eyes White Dragons, Dark Magician Girl, Silent Magician Lvl 8 in his hand. 

Serena with Guardian of the King, and White Sage of the Sands who had not been summoned. 

Going into the shadows, the group could see nothing thus far. Continuing on it would slow change to that oh what looked to be a outstandingly large dark room with pillars. The core to the spell that opened the the shadows to Domino City in the middle of the room. 

Nothing seemed to be guarding this core which made Yami wonder what could hiding here that would serve as the spells guard(s). Joey looked at the core thinking this was going to be a snap. But as he looked at it more, he begin to see something something suspicious. "Wait a minute! How come they are making it so easy?! That's just not right." 

Yami had stopped halfway from the core when Joey said something and figured this would be the case. Kaiba took a glance to Joey and stood next to him. "You don't say. This quite common Wheeler, but have to admit that it's quite old when it's the most common thing that ever could happen.