Beginning Author Notes

Welcome to my first-ever Zatch Bell story, viewers, and I appreciate you taking the time to read it. This story, like a good amount of my stories, is OC-centered but that does not last for the entire duration. So, I guess this story CAN reach out to both sides of the fanfiction community, but my reception will dictate that. Anyway, please enjoy and tell me how I do.

Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). The only things I own that are currently revealed in the story are E, Nylon, and Shine.

Chapter 1: Pensiveness

"What, too smart to good to school?"

"Do you have even anyone to be with? Are you some kind of outcast?"

"Hey, you! Don't ignore us! Stop acting so weird!"

Those were only excerpts of the biting remarks he would receive due to his strange mannerisms. No known parents, homeland, or birthplace for someone of the Mamodo World would elicit drollness from the other Mamodo. It was like he was some sort of tourist attraction. For the majority of the time, he would turn a deaf ear, leave them with a cryptic remark, or nonchalantly keep going on with his daily rounds.

Though, such occurrences did not come without reflections on his past. That's what led him to a moonlit riverbed in the forest, watching the crystal blue water flow calmly downstream. Why did they tease him about it? What was so unnatural about him compared to the rest of society? All Mamodo were special or different in their own way, so why he was such an exception to his norm?

As his eyes—glassy, green, and resembling a pair of sunglasses or lenses—watched the water, his mind continued to ruminate. He certainly was not a regular humanlike Mamodo, but, at least he thought, he looked better than some of the monstrosities that shared the same species as him. He was only of a meager three foot and six inches in height. With no legs seen from underneath the hem of his black, completely buttoned trench coat, levitating indefinitely off the ground was one of his unique characteristics. His bowl-shaped face that was covered in off-white wraps furthered his anonymous visage. Lastly, he wore a black, bell-shaped hat over his oblong head.

He scratched the side of his head wonderingly with one of only three digits he had on his wrapped-up hands. With a vaguely audible grumble, he decided that Mamodo like them could not be understood. Nevertheless, he was thankful that his mind had fortitude to this maltreatment, so that he could continue wandering the Mamodo World and taking in new sights until there were no more.

"Now, what's an outcast like you doin' out here?"

He tensed up but dauntlessly turned his head to look at a group of three bullying Mamodo before him, his green eyes shadowed by the rim of his hat but his clothes reflecting the white light of the lunette object in the sky. "Minding my own business," he replied haughtily, "and so should you three."

"A typical response from this freak." the second one hissed. Behind his wraps, he raised arched a bow. This encounter was starting a little more different than the others. "I wonder if that's how they all act on his home planet." The same one continued.

"What?" He thought. What were they implying?

"Gotta be," the third and final bully finally spoke, "E the Alien Mamodo. A fitting moniker for an outcast and a freak."

"I'm not sure if he even is a Mamodo," the first one, apparently the leader, sneered, "I haven't seen him eat like one, act like one, or go to school like one."

The second one laughed viperishly, "Remember? E's got some crazy psychic power going on. He's too "special" to go to school like us normal— "

This was the first time these impossible people used this approach; a blatant attack on his mannerism, species, and origins. The Mamodo in question known as E for some time had prolonged his patience, made himself impervious to the verbal assaults. Now, that bastion broke. He could handle being teased for being different, but for being extraterrestrial was another subject altogether.

As the three bullies continued sneering and snickering, they did not notice E's green eyes flashing a dangerous dark pink. He poured his outraged emotions into this next course of action, and the results were pretty serious.

The trio of tormentors had no time to scream, or even react for that matter, before the area suddenly imploded from a strong and powerful force. The incident took place quickly yet effectively. The trees around them went bent out of shape, some had collapsed. The ground was fissured and deprived of grass or plant life. In the middle of the wreckage were the three bullies, motionless and unconscious.

Before them was E, whose lenses reverted back to their original glassy green color, looking at the result of letting his emotions loose expressionlessly. He honestly believed that his innate psychic abilities are what really made him a source of envious ridicule. His intelligence and natural powers increased because of it. Of course, there were drawbacks, and this was one of them.

E lifted up his right arm and motioned toward the motionless while keeping his distance. He started using another skill of his, the ability to rewrite and erase memories. It was a skill he detested with vigor, but he only used when absolutely necessary. When he finished depleting their memories of the encounter, E looked over his shoulder to the river to see it flowing just as carefreely and majestically as before.

With another slightly audible grumble, E levitated off, coming to the conclusion that even nature in its purest form was indifferent to the plight of Mamodo or any other intellectual creature.

However, such an event did not come without its merit. E found the resolve to train himself to keep his emotions under control as they dramatically affected how his psychic powers operated. He also developed the resolution to charitably help those enduring similar troubles to himself. The first couple of days were rather successful on both parts.

Then, the next major part of his life happened.

E was making his daily rounds again during the normal school hours for the rest of the Mamodo. He was exploring the earthy territory some miles off the riverbed he was at days prior. The orange twilight of the sunset permeated through the party cloudy sky and reflected those green eyes of E.

"So you're the one called E…"

E froze up just like that day he assaulted those three bullies. This time, the Mamodo that he was going to acquaint had a composed yet astringent tone. A stark contrast that made E absentmindedly get ready to defend himself via psychic means.

"Calm down. Those guys may have been my cohorts, but they weren't that important."

After that contumely, the Mamodo finally revealed himself to the psychic. Like he, the Mamodo was not human but at least anthropomorphic. Based on the number of spines and quills located on the back of his head and down his back, the Mamodo was most likely of a porcupine-like species. His whitish-blue fur coruscated the yellow-orange light of the setting sun, but his crossed arms and stoic countenance were uninviting. It was another contrast that made E wonder just what was the true nature of this Mamodo.

"So, they call you the Alien Mamodo…" He said as he walked slowly to the levitating psychic, his diamond-colored shoes crushing bits of stone. "An inaccurate statement, in all honesty." E replied warily. "Right…" The anthropomorphic porcupine drawled, "…My name is Shine, if you are wondering."

"Hmph." E huffed tersely. He would have reciprocated the introduction, if Shine had not already known who he was. Since that was the case, in his opinion, there was nothing else left to be said. Shine, on the other hand, was curious. The rumors circulating around after that event implored Shine to investigate the extent of the psychic's power. That was a rare case concerning Shine; not many things interested him other than what he desired.

And, for him to be satisfied, he would have to emulate the insensateness that caused E to do what he did those days back.

"Don't want to stay and talk?" Shine spoke callously, "You insensitive freak of nature." When the animal-like Mamodo saw E twitch ever so slightly, he continued his verbal barrage, "But I guess that's how people are at the planet you came from. Maybe that's how you have such a hard time—"

Shine could not finish his sentence as he felt a powerful force press against and cause the area around him to implode. The results of the apoplexy were identical to the last; the ground was fissured and scarred, and a crater was where Shine was standing.

E again was just looking at the wreckage he caused expressionlessly. He was about to leave until he heard that same tone of voice, albeit a bit more impressed, "An outcast never has that kind of power. So the rumors are just what they are—rumors."

"…This Shine guy must be blessed…" E thought, dumbfounded, as he examined a relatively fine Shine standing in the crater. The only things he actually suffered from the attack were a large bleeding wound over his right temple, and a seemingly dislocated left shoulder. "Shine has natural defense."

"But being bound to the dimensions of the Mamodo World hampers our true potential, E," Shine continued speaking, popping his shoulder back into place, "So, I've come to tell you that you, along me with and ninety-eight other Mamodo, are being sent to the Human World for the title of the throne."

E had heard about the Mamodo Fight, but to actually be a participant in it was shocking to say the least. "And whoever you get and whatever kind of book you get," Shine demanded challengingly, "Make sure they're safe until you meet me where we can fight truly as rivals!"

When the fight was underway, motivated by rivalry, E and Shine survived until they encountered each other one fateful day. E was ultimately defeated by Shine, and his book got burned. Shine disappointedly scoffed at him, saying he was pathetically weak and would have been a better opponent in the Mamodo World. When E was finally sent back in the Mamodo World, learning and experiencing practically nothing, he resumed his former lifestyle. Yet, his defeat at the hands of Shine would haunt the back of his psyche, for there was nothing he could really do about the strong guy, and he knew that.

All that occurred one thousand years ago.

Ageless but maturing, all E could do was watch the time pass by like a blur and the new generation of Mamodo crop up and develop before his every eyes. As new people replaced the old, except for him, new waves of verbal abusers came up—apparently, they descended from the ones he experienced.

Thankfully, because he was fully mature, E finally gained the emotional tolerance to these taunts that he craved one thousand years back. Mimicking his old self, he waved them off nonchalantly and went about his business.

That is, until yet another day came up, where he discovered this generation was more violent than the others.

E was at the beach this time, the daytime sun showing off its beauty in entirety. Using telekinesis, he tossed stones across the water and watched in amusement as they skipped across the surface before finally sinking.

"Well, if it isn't E the extraterrestrial!"

E hung his head in annoyance. These kinds of encounters were getting really, really, really old. Night, twilight, or day, these people would always somehow find him. To make matters worse, because he was ageless, none of the new generation of Mamodo knew E was about one thousand years old. For all they knew, he was just like the rest of them.

E turned to them and replied the three Mamodo, "Go away. I'm not in the mood for your boring banter." After making that irritated remark, E proceeded to float away.

The leading Mamodo, along with his two cronies, gritted their teeth, "Where do you think you're going?" He darted for E while his back was turned and readied to deliver an effective sucker punch on the psychic Mamodo.

"Let him go where he wants to." A calm voice said authoritatively, followed by the leader being abruptly kicked in the face by a grey shoe. After the leader fell onto the sound and recovered from the sudden attack, he shot a glare at his assailant, "Hey! Don't bug us—" He and his other two partners in crime were reduced to unintelligible gibberish when they fully registered who they were dealing with.

The male Mamodo was in his teenage years, exactly seventeen years of age, and of a respectable 5'9" height. His platinum-colored cloak flowed in the daytime sea breeze, and so did strands of his roughly chin-length silver hair. The bangs of his hair were longer on the left side of his face, so the right side of his face—including a red-violet eye full of seriousness—was entirely visible, but his left eye peeked through some strands. His arms were crossed over the chest of his white shirt.

"Y-Y-You..You're…It's Nylon!" The trio of bullies sputtered out and burst into a cowardly retreat, knowing full-well who this Nylon person was.

All the while, E was engrossed interestedly in the scene. It delighted him to see those types of Mamodo flee in fear; before long, if something like that happened to bullies all the time, he surmised that bullying would cease to continue.

"Sorry for taking your prey," Nylon turned to E with a smile, the sea breeze dying down so that his cloak would again shroud his shirt, arms, and most of his slightly baggy silver pants, "I had to do something; cheap shots don't follow the code of chivalry." E casually replied, "All is good. If it isn't for you, they would have been sent to a mental asylum." Nylon and E then shared a hearty laughter together, already finding a sort of symmetry to each other.

From then on, Nylon and E acquainted and spent time with each other considerably. Pretty soon, the two became best friends, marking the first time that E actually had a positive relationship with someone. E soon discovered why Nylon was so eminent: he was the founder of a chain of orphanages and nurseries for both young and old Mamodo. As much as Nylon was feared by some he was also revered by just as much.

Even though E continued to leave his lifestyle, gratuitously, he sometimes assisted Nylon in his affairs with his business. As a result, E actually met a good amount of other Mamodo. Finally, after one thousand grueling years, his life got better. He was utterly relieved. He had shouldered the burden of enduring verbal abuses just because he was supposedly outside the norm. Now, with friends and comrades like Nylon around, E finally felt like he belonged.

E examined the angular building before thoughtfully. It was an interesting work of architecture without a doubt because it was differently built from other schools. E almost chuckled at the thought of comparing himself to this school. But now, he focused himself on the objective he was given. One of Nylon's associates asked to get him from the high school he attended.

"How Nylon manages to balance school and business is beyond me." E mumbled to himself and he floated through school grounds, "Not to mention he also finds and deals with all those orphans and elders. What kind of military training did he do when he was younger? Or does it have to do with that code of chivalry?"

"I don't believe it. E the Alien actually entered a school."

If E was near any lockers, he certainly would have banged his cranium, hidden by that black fitting hat of his, against it repeatedly. Instead, he opted to face whoever his oppressors were this time. To his mild surprise, it was the same three Mamodo Nylon took care of at the beach back then, accompanied by two newcomers.

E idly looked at the clock over yonder and deadpanned, "Skipping class while school is still in session? Typical behavior for degenerates."

"Oh, great, he's been hanging around with Nylon too much!" the first new guy of the group groaned aloud. "I know, right? Now they're talking just like each other." the second newcomer said grumbly.

"No matter," the leader said, "This time, he ain't around to protect him. He's all ours now, boys."

E scoffed, "I'm giving you one and one chance only to leave. I will attack out of self-defense, and my attacks will be more severe than Nylon's."

"Tch. He's awfully cocky for an alien Mamodo." One of the thugs said vindictively, "Especially when he thinks Nylon and those other orphans are still his friend."

"What?" E found his mind racing without rest. Something about that statement riled his blood.

The leader smirked at his companion that made that remark, "Oh, yeah! Good point! E hasn't realized that Nylon being his friend is purely out of pity."

"No one wants to be friends with a freak from outer space!"

"The same goes for all the people he's met and befriended. They think so, too!"

"I think even E knows it, but is too much of a punk to admit!"

Now E knew why. No matter what, the teasing and tormenting would always find innovative ways to reach the inner depths of his mind…no, his heart. Each stinging remark about his friends and the people he knew was like a lance stabbing into each of the four chambers of his heart. He knew it wasn't true; Nylon and the others would have rejected from day one if that was the case. These bullies were going to pay. They dare had the audacity to tell him such lies.

For the first time in one thousand years, E's psychic power went out of control. His green lenses turned pink, and then that area of school suddenly imploded. And just like then, it happened as quickly as it started.

E's eyes reverted back to their original green color and saw the five bullies lying on the ground motionlessly just like those three from one thousand years ago. "Hmph. Serves you right." He said but then instantly regretted when he noticed his surroundings. His psychic powers had done damage to the school, concert and metallic detritus flown haphazardly everywhere. This damage, in addition to the fissures and the crater in the ground, would take weeks to repair.

He was very fortunate that he and the bullies were the only ones in that part of the school. He realized this was the first time his powers had gone out of control in one thousand years and that it happened in a public place. Even after so long, people could still affect him mentally and emotionally with the right words. He inwardly cursed his temperament. He could even easily done something stupid—if this wasn't considered stupid already. To add to the horror, he could have sworn the bullies were now labeled as crippled in that crater.

He shook his head and curtly brushed off the serious situation. But before he could take his leave, he heard a shocked voice before, "E…D-Did you do that?" It was then E noticed that Nylon and a couple of people were looking at the scene, mouths wide and eyes dilated in disbelief.

"No…" E thought with dread. This would surely confirm his reputation as a freak. He really had done something stupid. Hastily, E outstretched both of his arms to the group who recoiled in shock, thinking they were E's next targets. All the psychic Mamodo did was erase their memories of the scene—all except Nylon for some strange psychological reason. When the process completed, everyone except Nylon fell into unconsciousness.

Nylon couldn't believe his eyes whatsoever. E could not be this kind of savage. He wanted answers, but his mouth could not perform the proper words. The only thing that actually managed out was, "E…" Promptly, E floated off right as when Nylon regained the ability to speak. "E! Hold up!" Nylon called out to him, but the psychic was gone in a flash.

E, by some add chance of fate, wound up back in the same riverbed that night one thousand years ago. Finding seclusion, he allowed this to be the place where he could calm down. As he looked at the water flow, not having changed a bit since then, E still adhered to his belief that nature still did not care about one's problems.

"Why…Just why?" E thought irritably.

Just then, the psychic Mamodo heard the soft padding of feet against the grass. Someone was approaching him, but someone docile and nice; because if it was a bully, they would have started off more forwardly. "May I help you?" E asked, turning his head slightly to gaze at his accompaniment.

"Uh, hi there. I'm Zatch Bell." A blonde boy wearing a blue cloak greeted, stopping to the side of E as if they were friends. "Hmph. Hello." E responded, wishing the blonde boy would leave already. He knew the reason why he bothered to come up to him.

"I saw from a distance what you just did," Zatch said.

"Sorry you had to." E replied lugubriously, turning back to the river. "So they call you the Alien Mamodo." Zatch continued to speak, "Those bullies are something else, aren't they?"

"…" E stayed silent because he was trying to figure out what was this boy's intention. He was talking to him as if this was a casual conversation between them. "I get bullied a lot too," Zatch admitted solemnly, "They always call me a crybaby too…"

"Those who shed the most tears merit righteousness." E said sagaciously. He then mentally gasped; that proverbial statement came out of nowhere. It was like a sudden impulse. What could have caused that?

"You really think so?" Zatch said brightly, his golden-orange eyes shimmering. Having no other choice, he had to continue off that, "Tests and trials develop a person. Before long, you and I will be rid of this torment one way or another."

"Even so!" Now it was Zatch's turn to say something wise, "We can endure it. Besides, we got friends who are always on our side." That was something E could not argue against. What vexed was that how did this boy, Zatch, manage to lift him out of his disgruntled mood. He approached him arbitrarily, with no regard about his "reputation," and used little but powerful words that reached him. Did this kid have some kind of special essence about him?

Regardless, E decided the least he could do was give in return that kindness. "I apologize; I never told you my name. I am E." Zatch smiled, "Nice to meet you, E!" E nodded, since the blonde body could not see his smile, and then turned to his attention back to the river just in time to see yellowtail jumping out.

"Oh boy! Yellowtail!" Zatch exclaimed excitedly, eyeing his favorite meal predatorily. "Leave this to me." E volunteered before extending out his right arm. The next time two yellowtails popped from the surface, E telekinetically caught them in midair and brought the two fish over to him and Zatch. "Eat up." He tossed the blonde his yellowtail and brought a hand up his wraps.

"Thanks, E!" Zatch said appreciatively and immediately started tearing through the meat and skin of the yellowtail with his teeth. He only stopped when a loud, sudden chomp came from beside him. E was readjusting his wraps around his face to their original way and tossed aside the bony remains of his yellowtail. "Surprised I'm an organic Mamodo after all?" He questioned when he saw Zatch looking at him.

"Nope," Zatch responded earnestly, "I knew from the beginning you were a Mamodo, like me, except with weirder-looking clothes." E chuckled heartily, "You're too kind, Zatch Bell." The psychic Mamodo then noticed Zatch had finished his yellowtail off relatively quick as well and proposed, "Ready for seconds?"

"You bet I am!" Zatch exclaimed happily, and proceeded to retrieve the yellowtail this time after throwing his cloak in E's face.

"E! E! Where are you?" Nylon shouted, his voice amplified by his hands that were on either side of his mouth. It had been at least thirty minutes since the endeavor at his high school, and E was nowhere to be found after he fled. "Where could the guy have gone?"

"Looking for me?"

Nylon swiftly turned around and got in a battle stance but relaxed when he saw it was just his psychic friend. "Ooh, E, I was getting ready to punch you full of holes." The orphanage and retirement home owner said humorously.

"I apologize for making you jump," E said, "And I also apologize for destroying that part of your school."

"That's all water under the bridge, E." Nylon stated while nodding, "Those guys had no business messing with a guy like you anyway." E sighed in relief as his pose slumped slightly, "Phew. Thanks, that relieves me…"

"Although…"

E looked at Nylon curiously and scratched his head wonderingly when the seventeen-year-old was looking at him seriously. "You're gonna need all the power you can get, E," Nylon stated, "You and me are only but two are the one hundred Mamodo chosen to participate in the Mamodo Fight for the title of king."

That was news he hadn't heard in one thousand years. But the last Mamodo Fight he participated in did not end very well in his case. E looked up to the sky and recalled the conversation he had with Zatch concerning people like them.

"E?" Nylon asked, blinking. He expected a different sort reaction that was aligned toward shock. But then again, this was E; he was different from the rest.

"Nylon." E spoke sternly, now looking at the silver-haired male, "Mark my words. When I become king, his world will promote nothing but harmony and stability among all types of Mamodo."

He knew this Mamodo Fight would end differently than last time. He had resolve, a purpose, the friends, and the mindset. He finally put the past behind him and was only interested in the future.

Now, he hoped that his future bookkeeper and partner would serve him better than his last one.

Ending Author Notes

And that's the end of the prologue, introducing the main Mamodo of the story, E. This story will take place during the actual Zatch Bell storyline (if you hadn't guess that already).

So how did I do? Bad, good, or meh? Let me know so I can improve or maintain my pace. Remember that this is my first Zatch Bell story ever.

Adios and Adieu for now!