#2000to2009

Admin's notes: sometimes you go looking for old school mermaid fics for mer!May and find not just puzzleshipping but MONARCHSHIPPING and MOBIUMSHIPPING hello. A bit dated in terms of style, but the moments of tenderness and support between the three of them are a treat. heads up for the m!preg (ish?) at the end.

Admin's notes: I re-read this for the first time in ages and oof it is a willllld ride and I love it. The alignment with season 0 with all the death games and Yugi being Clever AF riddling his way through everything is so expertly done (like, kudos to the author for being a genius with all the different games because I'm just like "welp id die on my first turn"). And the spooky shadow Yami is top notch with Causing Mayhem and Making Bad Decisions. It even dares to expand on Yugi's family and Sugoroku Mutou's wife and the history of the puzzle, and brings everything back around to the beginning in such a satisfying way. But the standout in this whole absolutely immaculate story is the development of the relationship between Yugi and Yami and the sheer intensity and fluidity of their bond. I just love how it's written so so much.

Admin's notes: this is 100% the fic that revived my current ygo phase. I was off in another fandom, reading a genie!fic and couldn't stop thinking about *this one* that does it so so so well. It is so good to re-read even now, and even though it's incomplete, what is done is just *chef's kiss* perfection. no one does it better. the plot is riveting, the developing relationship between yugi and Atem is believable and satisfying and i'm gonna stop writing so that you can go and read this right now

Admins notes: After looking for this for ages, I have finally found it, and am so pleased that it still stands as a quality fic 20 years later. I love this moment where Tristan is the first to really glimpse the spirit as someone separate from Yugi, and witness the trust and tenderness inherent to Yugi and Yami Yugi's dynamic so early in the series. The subtle contrast with Bakura and the Ring I think adds something to Tristan's willingness to accept what he sees rather than dismissing it (what's one more unbelievable thing, after the week they've had?). And the spot-on description of the rest of the friend group, even while sleeping, is the cherry on top and makes this such a solid, enjoyable read.

Admin's notes: I admit I haven't gone back to re-read this since I was a wee puzzleshipper, but I *devoured* positively everything written by this author back in the day, and this was one of my first foray's into ancient egypt Yugi-goes-to-Atem fics. A light-hearted story, I loved Atem's immediate interest and devotion to Yugi, and how they went about finding a common means of communication in the face of a language barrier. Another highlight was Set's unrestrained disgust at their shameless PDA. It's fun. Nothing terrible happens. They're perpetually soft about each other. what's not to like.

Admin's notes: okay it's not strictly puzzleshipping, but I love an off-beat sort of AU. It's funny and clever and different and spot-on.

Admin's notes: this author wrote one of my favourite canon-retellings back in the day (Partners of the Heart). when I went looking for that fic I found it had been deleted... but they'd started this very cool AU! This is full of old school shadow magic shenanigans, where Yugi has a mysterious curse/tattoo on his back that comes alive when he's in danger a la Yami. There's peachshipping at the start, but Yami's role as jealous, overbearing, devoted protector complicates things soon enough. There's plenty of struggle as Yami and Yugi learn to cooperate and trust each other, but evolves to that natural equilibrium we know and love.

Rec'ers notes: I loved this sappy dramatic retelling of the series back in the day, and it still holds a tender place in my heart. It's uses a lot Yugi tropes you don't see much of anymore; incredibly naive and weak and innocent, but the softness with which he carries his Pharaoh doll and in how Yami watches out for him is heart-warming.