Chapter One: A Sinister Plan

It has been a year since Ginta defeated Phantom in the final round of the War Games. Peace has been restored to all of Mar-Heaven, and most have let the memories of the Chess no Koma fade from their memories. Not all, though, celebrated the end of the criminal organization.

Antagonistic extremists attempted to continue carrying out the work of the Chess, yet "witch-hunts" were conducted, in which all those with ties to, or those who worshipped, the Chess no Koma were burned at stakes.

In a quiet little hamlet near the home of Jack, a participant in the 2nd War Games, a man sits near a fire with thoughts boiling in his head. What he is plotting is anyone's guess, but one thing is for sure: He is a survivor of the Chess, and more than anything, he wants chaos to reign over the entire world!

It had been a long year. One with no excitement, no more deaths than could be expected, and certainly…no Chess! For him, it seemed like only yesterday he had witnessed Phantom being defeated by a mere child! Ginta, he was called. And that meddlesome Babbo.

Babbo…The man's brown eyes lit up a tiny bit. Not because of the fire that raged before him in the brick fireplace, but of the idea that ran through his brain. Since that day, he had ruthlessly pursued the Arm with all his being. An entire year, wasted…He hadn't come up with a single lead on the Arm's whereabouts.

So, he put a hand to his alabaster forehead, cursing everything he could think of. He cursed Ginta. He cursed Babbo. He even cursed himself. But most of all, he cursed Mär-Heaven. Oh, how he hated humans! "Not an ounce of worth among any of them now. Us Chess were the only respectable ones, and now look where we are. Well! This place has gone to hell in just a short year."

The man slammed his fist down onto the darkened cherry of the only end table in the area. The polished wood crumbled beneath the force of the impact. His anger was unfathomable, and the veins on his arms bulged intensely. He proceeded to pick up a piece of the end table and smash the floor with it. "Damn it!"

It was then, as if he could not be calmed down, there was a low chirp from the windowsill. Turning to it, his ferocious look melted into a grin. "Hello, Karasu."

On the sill was a crow. Its black feathers gleamed like silky velvet. Although the beak couldn't fold itself into some kind of emotional expression, it hinted a dark smile. The eyes, black as coal, shone like a flashlight was being shone at its face. This Karasu opened its beak. "Good day to you, sir."

He nodded. "What is it?"

Karasu's tongue extracted itself and licked the entire front of his beak. "I've found out where it's hidden."

"No way…Are you serious?!"

"Yes way. I have a double-agent inside Caldian borders. He gladly leaked me the information he was able to scrounge up from others…even from the Great Elder."

"Where is it?!"

"Quite simple…Vestry, sir. It's being held by a young boy. His name was…err…Veru."

The man was silent for a moment, then reared his head back and began to cackle. He was absorbed by the discovery that he didn't hear the sound of scuttling feet coming towards him. "I see you're pretty happy."

He stopped, then reached into his pocket. Out of it he pulled a grey stone. It was a perfect sphere, and had two distinct scents on it. One was his former master's; the other's was that of his former master's defeater. His cackling continued.

Vestry

Veru slipped the backpack on. It felt like there was a huge weight in it, but it was only a ball with a small hammer attached to it. Letting his shoulder-length blond hair fall behind the pack, he walked over to the man in the springs. "Alviss-san…?"

Alviss craned his neck to look at the boy. "Oh. Veru…What is it?"

"I'm goin' to the marketplace. Just though I'd let you know."

Alviss smiled and nodded. "Alright. Just make sure you keep…that…safe. Okay?"

With a huge grin and a fast nod, Veru ran off. Sighing, Alviss turned to the man beside him, who was sniffing a beer. His long blond hair disappeared below the spring's water, and the blue headband remained where it should be. "Are you sure this was a good idea?"

Nanashi looked up from the glass of alcohol, and said, "Wha? I didn't hear you."

"I said, are you sure this was a good idea?"

"What?"

"Leaving Babbo to Veru's care. He's only a child after all."

Turning back to his glass, Nanashi replied, "When did you become a worrywart? Everything's fine. No one will suspect Babbo's out in the open; most will think we've hid him in some deep cave that's nearly inaccessible somewhere in Neverland."

"Yeah, I guess you're right…" Alviss let himself slide down deeper into the soothing water. "For an 11-year-old kid to have to go through the mental stress of-"

"What mental stress? To him, it's just a ball. Who are you, and what have you done with Alviss?"

"Once again, you're right…" Alviss sighed. "Even if it is that Rolan creep's adopted kid, I still want to protect him…he's only a kid after all…"

At that moment, someone passed by the springs. "Excuse me, but did a boy just leave here?"

Both Nanashi and Alviss looked at the man. "Yes. He went to the marketplace. Why d'ya want to know?"

"Oh, no reason…" As he walked away, a malevolent grin spread on his face.

Vestry Marketplace

The bustling of everyday Vestrian life knocked Veru to the side more than a few times. What a hassle, and all he wanted were a few treats. Mostly for himself, but a few for Alviss and Nanashi; not to mention Rolan.

But barely had he made it to a concession stand when a man came up to him. He had raven-black hair down to his elbows, and wore an outfit similar to Peta's; it was black, with grey clouds on it. Eyeliner made strange markings on his face, and his tongue was pierced. There was a crow on his shoulder. Bending down to the boy, he said, "Is your name Veru, by any chance?"

Veru nodded.

"Good, good. Say, what do ya have in your backpack?"

Veru looked back to it, slightly grimacing. "Uh, nothing…"

The man smiled. "Really?" He grabbed Veru by his white long-sleeved shirt. He pulled him in very close, so Veru could feel the man breath on his face. "Liar."

He threw the boy to the ground with a resounding thud. Everyone stopped what they were doing, and turned to the scene. "Nothing, huh?" He brought his foot back, and then released it. It made contact with the boy's face, knocking him unconscious instantaneously. He grabbed the backpack.

"Oh, yeah. No doubt about it. Good job, Karasu."

Karasu used a wing as a hand, and bowed. "Thank you."

The man laughed, then snapped his fingers.

Vestry: Spring

"Hey, Al…Did that guy seem familiar to you?"

Opening an eye, Alviss looked at Nanashi. "Nah. Why?"

"I think I've seen him somewhere before." Nanashi stroked his chin. "Now that I think about it, he kinda looked like Pe-" Suddenly, he stopped. Then he muttered, "War Games…"

"What about them?"

"He was there!" Nanashi exclaimed. "I saw him. He never participated, but he was on the Chess side! Al!" Before he could say anything more, there was a loud explosion, followed by many screams.

"Trouble in the marketplace?!" Alviss shouted. "Damn it!" Both he and Nanashi sprung to their feet. "Let's go!"

"Uhh…" Nanashi turned to him. "Al, I don't think we can go be the heroes just yet…In case you've forgotten…we're naked."

Alviss's cheeks turned scarlet.

Vestry Marketplace

When they arrived, now clothed, Nanashi and Alviss stopped dead in their tracks. The entire market was ablaze with near-white flames. In the middle lay Veru, still out cold. Sweat poured down his forehead, and scorch marks littered the rim of his shirt.

"Veru!" Alviss yelled. He turned to his friend. "See, I told you it was a bad idea!" He ran into the flames, and picked the boy up.

"Whoever the hell did this, come out!" Nanashi screeched.

A low chuckle emanated from a ridge overlooking the market. "Have you already forgotten about me? Heh. I'm disappointed, but not shocked."

Both looked to the ridge, and their eyes widened.

"No way…" Alviss mumbled in shock.

"It can't be…" Nanashi said, trembling, with his mouth agape.

Up on the ridge stood Halloween.