C.A. Hello! This is a new story to replace 'For the want of a Friend' I hope you like it, Er yeah Hope is an OC but you don't really see her for real until the last chapter so don't worry about that. So here you go the first chapter!

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RUNAWAYS _______________________________________________________________________________

"Come on Hope it's time sleep."

"Tell me a story!"

"Okay but only one which on do you want?"

"The Duel Monsters story!"

"But I told you that one last week."

"Please!"

"Okay okay I'll tell you that one." The baby sitter took a deep breath and started talking.

"Everyone knows the game Duel Monsters and some of the players know that the cards are alive, but new cards are being made all the time. Therefore new monsters are born to be sealed into those cards. Yet...what if there were some monsters that didn't want to be in cards? What if they wanted to be free in every sense of the word possible? How far would they have to run to be free? What would their freedom cost? This is their tale...."

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CHAPTER 1 - FLAMED sWORDSMAN
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They flew though the night sky. Those young monsters. They had yet to be put into a deck, they hadn't even been sealed into cards yet. They belonged to no one but each other and wished it to remain that way.

Those who could fly carried those who couldn't.

Being the biggest and the most intimidating to look at even if he wasn't the strongest among them. The Red Eye's Black Dragon carried the most.

On his back sat the Flamed Swordsmen, Celtic Guardian, and the Mystic Elf.

The Dark Magician had the Dark Elf in his arms, his sister the Dark Magician girl flew at his side she didn't carry anyone at the moment but had volunteered to carry the Baby Dragon when he got tired. He was currently flying a little a head of her proving that just because he was the youngest didn't mean he couldn't pull his weight.

Harpy's pet dragon carried Neo, the light Swordsman, He held on to the young Red Archery girl, she was tightly clamped inside her shell, having only now discovered that she was afraid of heights. Harpy lady herself flew next to her beloved pet and a very young Dark Witch trying to prove herself by keeping up with Harpy Lady

Hiding just behind the Red-Eyes, for he was rare, was the Magician of Black Chaos. He was using magic to hide the others from the eyes of other cards who would stop them. Escaping the Shadow Realm would be hard enough without being weakened with other fights along the way. But he still hid since if they were seen it would be best if they underestimate the group.

He was what could be termed a Wild card Hidden up their sleeve..

At the back of the group was the outcast. A being that would have sealed in a magic card. She was only just within the Magician's of Black Chaos's protective bubble. Her bond hair blew in her face as she beat her wings, one of white feathers and one of black leather.

She was Change of Heart.

They had allowed her to come since like the rest she wanted to remain free, but she was only tolerated, the slight chance that if they got into a fight before the shadow realm exit she could be useful. Yet that was not likely, there were few monsters who could stand up to their combined strength. Change of Heart thought that maybe no monster could truly strand up to them. Save for the Guardians.

Most of the cards were close to the age when they are sealed so they looked just like the adult monster who stop ageing once they are cards and no longer free. The two exceptions were The Magician of Black Chaos, and Change of heart. They were both only Sixteen. The top of the Magician of Chaos's head only just reached Dark Magician's shoulder. His adolescence the only reason for him not being the leader. Red Archery girl was ten, she looked more like the Toon Red Archery Girl except that clam didn't have those cartoon eyes on them. The Dark Witch was nine she could have been mistaken for a toon card too if there was a Toon Dark Witch in existence.

As the hours of flying wore on they tired. Harpy Lady had started carrying the young Dark Witch. Baby dragon started to fall behind. He was now next to Change of Heart. She watched him but didn't talk to him for she knew that he was scared of her and that the self-appointed care takers of the baby disliked her.

The Dark Magician Girl suddenly noticed that the baby was nowhere near her anymore. She saw him near the magic card and dropped back. She took the baby in her arms and glared at the Change of Heart before catching back up with her brother.

"Stay away from her baby...she can't be trusted." She told Baby Dragon.

Change of Heart didn't say anything, she never said anything she just took it. They may be scared of her but she was just as scared of them.

A few more hours later the leader of the group, Dark Magician, called for a rest stop.

They dared not risk a fire so they sat close to the dragons for their warmth. Save for three of them. The Red Archery Girl was comfortable in her shell. Change of Heart wouldn't dare come too close and the Flamed Swordsman was on watch today. He nodded to Change of Heart as he passed her. She nodded back thankful for the respect and politeness directed at her even if she would have preferred friendship. Change of Heart found a soft patch of grass to lay on.

She fell asleep quickly despite the cold making her shiver.

She woke when she thought she heard a struggle.

She looked around she was nearest to what was going on. She saw that the Flamed Swordsman was dead. His throat had been cut open.

By Gaia the Fierce Knight.

Change of Heart, was not a fighter, she considered herself a coward which was why she panicked. She didn't know what to do...the Knight had the Ferial Imp, Curse of Dragon, and Winged Dragon Guardian of the Fortress...what could one Change of Heart do to stop them? Then she had a brainwave.

Change of Heart took in a deep breath and screamed at the top of her lungs. The sound almost unrecognisable.

The reaction of the other cards were immediate. They had been fearful of something like this which was why Dark Magician had insisted of having a watch.

"In to the air everyone!" The Dark Magician ordered.

The Mystic Elf, and Celtic Guardian jumped on to the back of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Neo the Magic Swordsman grabbed the Red Archery Girl and Dark Witch before jumping onto the back of Harpy's Pet Dragon, Both of the dragons and Baby Dragon flew into the air without hesitation. Harpy Lady froze when she saw the Flamed Swordsman but her dragon came back and took her in it's clawed forepaws and carried her away.

The Dark Magician girl and the Dark Elf were a different story.

"But Dar! What about you and Chaos!" Dark Magician Girl asked.

"We're not leaving with out you!" Dark Elf shouted.

"Magi!" Dark Magician glared at his sister. "Take De and go! I can't fight if I worry about you, you'll be safer in the air! Please."

The Dark Magician Girl nodded and done as she was told. Though nether her or the Dark Elf liked it.

Change of Heart was still to scared to move. When a monster that hasn't yet been bound to a card is killed it stays dead unlike bonded monsters which are healed by their owners.

There was once fourteen of them, now their was only thirteen. Change of Heart shuddered. And looked away. She didn't want to see anymore killing. Instead she saw something worse. A giggling black cat.

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So what do you think?

Don't worry about Yugi and the others they will show up eventually but just to make sure you know, that these monster are NOT the ones that you've seen in the show. You need to remember that or things won't make sense later.

Please Review?