Here it is people, the full story to Surviving with Duel Monsters, my zombie AU. Though the better analogy would be to say Surviving with Duel Monsters is the trailer and this is the full movie. Also note that half the story will be told through flashbacks. One scene will be the present-day, and the next will be some time in the past dictated by the first flashback note (some may jump more and will noted with that scene). I'm going for a borderline-abstract form, so I will definitely appreciate any and all feedback on this story.
And for the usual disclaimer, I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I did, I would go to the Duel Monsters Spirit World to escape the zombie apocalypse.
Chapter One: Mana
"Dark Magic Attack!"
Mana Mazaki felt herself relax as the Dark Magician vaporized the horde attacking them. Her hand instinctively moved to the circular pendant around her neck as the purple-robed spellcaster faded.
"It's a good thing Joey and Tristan didn't come with us," her friend Yugi Muto said as he ran a hand through his spikey hair. "They would have blown through all their ammo with that horde."
"Atem could have left some for the rest of us," Mana looked to Yugi's twin brother. "Dark Magician Girl could have taken them just as easily."
"Mana, you know we can't summon the spirits that long," Atem rolled his amethyst eyes at her.
"But it's boring using the guns," Mana pouted.
"That's because you can never hit anything with them," Atem teased her. She scowled and punched his arm. "Ow!"
"You asked for that one," Yugi laughed. "Come on. Let's get our supplies from the university and get back to the shop."
"Right," the other two agreed.
The trio ducked into the nearest building of Domino University. Mana gripped her pendant as their footsteps echoed through the hallways. It was hard to believe it was once bustling with students and teachers. Now the entire campus was abandoned.
The twins started jimmying the nearest vending machine. Mana walked farther down the hallway to see if there were any other supplies they could use.
The bangles on her pendant started glowing and levitated themselves, pointing up the stairs on her right. Following the pendant's lead, Mana ventured up the stairs and down the corridor. The bangles rested when she came to a door she knew. She opened the door and stepped inside.
Her heart ached when she saw all the artwork in the room. She and several other art students were preparing for an art gallery when the outbreak occurred. Mana froze when she came to one of her own paintings. Two people sat at the base of a mansion, their gaze focused upwards. One was a guy with brown hair falling into his deep blue eyes and dressed all in black except for his white sleeveless trench coat. His arm was wrapped around a girl with long white hair and sapphire eyes wearing a light blue hoodie and jeans. Their gaze was focused on a large white dragon flying through the starry sky.
"Do you want to take it with you?" Atem said from behind her.
Mana elbowed him. "Don't scare me like that, Atem!" she snapped. Sighing, she turned back to the painting. "I don't know. It's hard to believe it's been over a year since all this happened."
Domino University. One Year Ago.
"Ta-da!" Mana pulled the tarp back covering her latest painting so her friends could see. She was especially proud of this one; she sure hoped her friends liked it.
"Mana, it's beautiful," Kisara White's sapphire eyes moved from the couple sitting at the base of the mansion to the dragon flying above them.
"How'd you get Rich Boy to pose for this?" Joey Wheeler asked. "Kisara, I can see, but Rich Boy barely comes to campus as it is."
"I didn't," Mana grinned. "I've sketched him enough times when he's around I don't really need to use him as a model."
"So you don't need him but you make us sit for hours while you to paint?" Joey glared at her.
"I don't need to," Mana answered, "but it's kind of fun to boss you around when I'm painting."
"She's got you there," Tristan Taylor laughed.
Joey pulled him into a headlock. "You want to go, Tristan?"
"Your art has definitely improved from the stick figures you used to draw in chalk in front of the store," Atem said.
"Oh, like you did any better," Mana narrowed her aquamarine eyes at him. "I remember some really awkward cats by my stick figures. And your cats still look the same."
"And that's why I'm not an art student," Atem countered.
"So is this what you're putting in the gallery?" Tea Gardner asked, interrupting the friends' banter.
"One of them," the artist answered. "We can submit up to three. I'm still debating which of my others to do."
"Ooh, do the one with Atem in a dress!" Joey grinned.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Atem sighed. "That is historically accurate to what pharaohs wore at the time. It is not a dress. Mana paints one historically accurate picture with me as the character, and I never get to live it down." He held up the canvas of him dressed in the beige and blue kilt and tunic of a pharaoh with a long navy cape billowing from his neck. Resting on his head was a golden crown with an eye symbol in the center, and gold adorned his arms. Around his neck was a pendant shaped like an upside-down pyramid. He fought against a guy his age with wild white hair and brown eyes with a hint of madness, enhanced by the scars along his right eye. He wore a crimson overcoat and a black kilt, and he carried a sack of treasure over his shoulder. Mana called Atem's opponent "The Thief King."
"Technically, there's more than that one," Mana pointed to the corner in the room where she had two more paintings.
One had Atem dressed in the pharaoh's garb from his battle with the Thief King. Behind him were other characters Mana had dubbed the priests and friends. Some of the characters were members of their group: Kisara and her boyfriend Seto Kaiba, Mana and her brother Mahad, his girlfriend Ishizu, Yugi and Atem's grandfather. Others were characters Mana made up: an older man with hooded robes covering his white hair and his left eye, a bald man with pupil-less blue eyes and black markings on his forehead wearing beige robes, and a muscular man with shoulder-length black hair and green eyes. Each wielded an Item with the same symbol on Atem's crown.
The second one had their entire group dressed as ancient Egyptians. Mana called it Egyptian Cosplay. Atem was once again dressed as the pharaoh; Yugi wore the garb a prince with a black tunic and white leggings with his own navy cape and a smaller crown in his hair. Their black, magenta, and blond hair drew the eyes to the royal pair. They chatted with Tea, Ishizu, and the Mazaki siblings. Tea held Yugi's hand, her short brown hair adorned by a circlet golden crown, and she wore a white dress with a pink cape and golden belt. Mana had on a short beige dress with off-the-shoulder straps and a matching hat adorned her brown hair. Mahad wore the beige robes of a priest with a headdress covering his hair and the Mazaki family pendant around his neck. Ishizu leaned in close to him, a beige headdress framing her tan face and blue eyes. Her family's heirloom necklace glittered around her neck. To the right Tristan gripped Joey in a playful headlock. The blond and brunet boys wore white shirts trimmed in black and black leggings. The pair was chastised by a blonde Egyptian warrior with violet eyes—Mai Valentine. Laughing next to Mai stood a girl with long auburn hair and hazel-gray eyes. Joey's sister Serenity wore a long white dress with a gold colored sash. The last two members stood in the back, one watching the group with amusement and the other with annoyance. Kisara's long white hair contrasted the short beige dress she wore, and she gripped Kaiba's hand tightly. Kaiba had the blue and white robes of an Egyptian Priest, and his brown hair was covered by a large blue hat.
"When did you make these?" Atem looked between the paintings.
"When you were busy studying your artifacts," Mana answered. "I'm also thinking of using the Dark Magician one." She looked to the canvas of Dark Magician Girl pulling Dark Magician along to some unknown destination. "I could also do Red-Eyes and Blue-Eyes in the yin-yang."
"Put up whichever ones you want," Kisara said. "They're all fantastic."
"Thanks, K," Mana grinned. "If you don't mind, I'm definitely submitting this one. After the show, it's all yours. Kaiba could use more color at his mansion."
"My house is fine," Seto Kaiba stepped into the room. "I don't need decorating advice from a hyperactive pipsqueak."
"Hey!" Mana glared at him. "I'm taller than Yugi!"
"Don't pull me into this!" the shortest member of the group protested.
"Whatever," Kaiba brushed off their indignation. "You ready to go, Kisara?"
"Yes, Seto," Kisara took his hand. "We'll see you guys later." The couple left the gallery.
"Sometimes I wonder what she sees in him," Mana rolled her eyes at door.
Present Day
"Do you think they're okay?" Mana asked.
"I'm sure they're fine," Atem said. "Kaiba may be a jerk at times, but there's no way he would let anything happen to Kisara or Mokuba. The three of them are probably holed up at Kaiba Mansion or KaibaCorp.
"To think they didn't get along before Duelist Kingdom," Mana smiled, ignoring the heartache she felt thinking of her friends. "I miss them. I miss Kisara joking with Joey and Tristan. I miss Mokuba going on about what was happening at the high school. I even miss Kaiba being a jerk when Kisara dragged him out with us. Never thought I'd say that."
"We'll see them again," Atem promised. "Someday, somehow, this will end."
"Hey, guys, we may be stuck here a while," Yugi stepped into the room and locked the door. "I saw more of them lurking around outside. There's too many for the three of us to fight off."
"Then we'll wait them out," Atem decided. "Mana, your pendant will warn us if they come closer, right?"
"Yeah," Mana placed a hand on her pendant. "I wish none of this happened."
"Don't forget to choose your other two paintings," Atem reminded Mana.
"Right!" Mana looked back to her paintings, the reason she asked her friends to come to the art studio. "I probably want to have a bit of variety. So one Egyptian, the one of Kisara and her stick-in-the-mud, and…" she looked over her other canvases. "This one!" She held up a canvas with colorful superheroes racing across the canvas. Leading the way was a green birdman with white wings. Talons covered his fists as he flew. A woman in a bright red bodysuit floated next him, her silver hair flaring out behind her and fire gathered in her open palms. Below them, a massive stone warrior with brown armor and a red helmet stood defensively, ready to protect his friends. Swinging down from the left was a blue-clad warrior with a white cape. A blue cowl obscured his face, but his expression was amused. The final hero was covered in blue and gold armor, lightning sparking from his outstretched hands.
"You made your own superheroes?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah," Mana grinned sheepishly as she ran a hand through her spikey brown hair. "I kind of watched every superhero movie I owned in one night, and it sparked this. Dr. Larson did not appreciate me having drawings of these guys all over my history notes."
"Just don't tell Mahad that," Atem rolled his eyes.
"Wasn't planning on it," Mana said. "He chastises me for not knowing enough history as it is."
"So which of the Egyptian paintings are you going to use?" Atem asked.
"Does it matter to you?" Joey snickered. "You're still in a dress."
"How many times do I have to say it? It's not a dress!"
Everyone laughed at his indignant expression. "I think I'll do Egyptian Cosplay," Mana said, picking up the one with their group. "Do you guys want to head over to where the gallery is being set up?"
"Of course!" Tea exclaimed. "I can't wait to see it!"
"Let me just pack up the canvases," Mana grabbed the bags she used to transport her paintings. With her friends' help, they were on their way in less than five minutes.
The gallery was bustling with activity when the group arrived. "There you are, Mana," the professor noticed the group. "Did you decide which paintings to use?"
"Yep," Mana grinned. "Where do you want me to set up?"
"Right over there," she pointed to an empty place in the display.
"Hey, Mana," Yugi called to her from around the corner. "I found your heroes and cosplay paintings."
Mana walked over to him and found the discarded paintings. Dust covered them, and the edges had been worn slightly, but they were completely intact. The same could be said for the other artwork that had been left behind. She knew the paintings as well as her own. Jordan had a corgi hidden somewhere in each of her paintings. Miho loved to draw sunsets. Becca's artwork was full of fairies. Claire sketched areas around campus, drawing people on their way to class. Everything they submitted to the gallery that day was still there. Her pendant suddenly felt heavy, and tears sprung to her eyes.
Atem was by her side in an instant. "It's all right," he pulled her close, letting her cry into his shirt.
"We left them behind, Atem," Mana whispered. "We didn't even try to help anyone else."
"Mana, we didn't even know what was happening then," Atem told her. "We still don't know what happened."
"We'll figure it out," Yugi walked over to the window, eyeing the horde creeping around outside. "Someone has to be working on a cure. We just have to survive until then."
"Joey Wheeler!" The group turned to see a tall woman with thick blonde hair marching towards them. "I've been looking all over for you! You were supposed to meet me outside your dorm half an hour ago!"
"Mai!" Joey backed away from the newcomer. "Is it that late already?"
"Yes, it is!" Mai shouted at him.
"Sorry, Mai," Mana decided to take pity on the blond idiot and help. "Joey was helping me choose what to submit. What do you think?" She gestured to the cosplay painting.
"Wow," Mai's violet eyes scanned the image. "You're really good, hon. Think you could make that outfit for real?"
"I'm an artist, not a seamstress," the painter protested.
Atem's cell phone rang, interrupting the conversation. "Mana, where's your phone?" he asked when he saw the caller I.D.
"I left it in my dorm because it was dead," she answered. "Why?"
"It's your brother," Atem handed her the still-ringing phone.
"Yes, brother dear," Mana pressed the answer button.
"Mana?" Mahad's voice was startled on the other. "Where have you been? I've tried calling you."
"I'm getting ready for the gallery, duh," Mana rolled her eyes. "What's so urgent?"
"Get out of there," Mahad commanded. "Take your friends and get somewhere isolated."
"Why?" Mana asked. "Mahad, what's going on?"
"Just do it." She could pick up the panic in her brother's voice. "Actually, head to Mr. Muto's game shop. I'll meet you there." He hung up.
"Mahad?" Mana stared at Atem's phone.
"What is it?" Atem noticed the panic in her eyes.
"I don't know," she handed him his phone. "He wants us to go to the shop. I haven't heard him so panicked since…"
"Then let's head there," Atem said. "Whatever it is, we'll sort it out when we get there. It could be nothing."
"Hey, Yugi," Mai turned to the shorter twin. "Does your grandpa still have that Harpies' Hunting Ground card on display?"
"Yeah, I think so," Yugi answered. "Are you interested in it?"
"Might as well if we're going to the shop," the blonde answered. "And Joey gets to pay for dinner since he made me traipse all over campus looking for him."
"Aw, come on!" Joey groaned.
Laughing, they exited the gallery and stepped outside the building. It wasn't too far to walk to the game shop, so Mai decided to leave her car where it was.
A scream interrupted their conversation. Someone ran from around a corner. "Monsters!" he yelled. A second later, a dark form stumbled after him. It was humanoid, but its flesh charred and rotted. It turned and noticed the group. It charged at them.
"Run!" Joey yelled. He grabbed Mai's hand, pulling her along. The rest of group was close behind them.
More monsters joined the chase as they raced to the shop. The distance between them and the students closed as they neared their destination. Just before the monsters caught them, the group burst through the door of the game shop, ringing the bell above. They locked the door, and the monsters slammed into it and the walls. "What is going on?" Tristan asked.
"Grandpa?" Yugi called to the back of the store. Atem ran to the back, passing the old man.
"Yugi?" Solomon Muto froze at the creatures outside the door. "What's happening?"
"They came out of nowhere," Tea answered.
"It's like something out of a horror movie," Tristan added.
"Back door's locked," Atem returned to the front of the shop. "We should probably barricade the doors and windows in case those things get bold."
"Right," Yugi agreed.
Atem's phone rang again. "Mahad?" he answered, hitting the speaker phone button.
"Did you guys make it to the shop?" Mahad asked.
"Yeah, we're here," Mana told him. "Where are you? There are monsters everywhere."
"It's some kind of outbreak," her brother said. "Ishizu and I are holed up at the museum right now. We probably won't make it there for a while. Stay put, and don't let anyone in until I get there. Love you, Mana." He hung up.
Atem tucked his phone back into his pocket. "You guys heard him. Let's get this place secure."
The sun dropped closer and closer to the horizon, turning the sky a deep crimson. "I think we're going to have to stay here tonight," Yugi said. He frowned as he looked out the window at the creatures surrounding the building. He probably missed Tea.
"The others are going to be worried," Atem said. "I hope Grandpa and Tea can keep Joey and Tristan in the shop. Those two will be chomping at the bit to come find us."
"Maybe I can send word to them," Mana scribbled something on a piece of scrap paper. She held her hands over her pendant and closed her eyes, focusing on Tea and the game shop. The slip of paper folded itself in a bird and flew out the window. "If it worked, Tea should get that soon."
"Then let's sleep in shifts," Yugi decided. "I'll take the first watch, then Atem, and Mana you get the last. Hopefully they'll be gone come morning."
Nodding, Mana and Atem made themselves comfortable in the corner. The exhaustion from the day soon caught up to her, and she was asleep next to her friend.
So, yeah, Mana was an art student. I think it fits. Also, yes, the last name I chose for Mana and Mahad is Tea's surname in the Japanese version. I'm not the best at coming up with last names, so I did that as a reference to my story Tales of Academia. Hope that doesn't cause too much confusion. There are also some Easter Eggs hidden in this chapter-some obvious and some probably not as much. Have fun finding them.
Anyway, thanks for reading!