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Chapter One Beginning: Ashes of the Phoenix

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As one evil dies...

One good is born...

Like a phoenix's ashes...

This is a story of violence...

And peace...

This is a story of hate...

And love...

This is a story about what it means to help your world...

And what it means to tear it apart...

This is a story about a hated hero...

Who's fate is decided only in the mind of god...

Pity, such a cursed hero

Praise, such a cursed hero

But to truly know his troubles I will have to start at the beginning.

The world was a beautiful place, because their was light, but then there was darkness. It consumed the heart of it's followers to fully, so proudly that it became it's own embodiment. Evil. The boundaries of evil were blurred to the point that no one man could identify what was about to happen. With one fatal swoop mankind nearly became extinct by a virus, Virus - Z, which killed any form of life that it came in contact with. But that was a millennium ago and the world was back to normal, much smaller, but normal. Virus - Z was a sentient being it was much more sentient than any human and was one omni-potent being. It was weakened by the strain of it's constant spread and died forever without any hope of returning. However it lives on in a few heroes called Flood. They are normal humans but with a voice living in their hand. They were essentially normal except for the fact that they were fostering a weakened voice of the virus.

They were hated by all. And to stop the hatred the newly formed United Human Republic the knowledge was erased of the species called flood and it was outlawed to speak their name. But humanity is a simply beast and would not forgive them for being heroes. They did not realize that the Flood kept the virus weak. They were the ones that should be hoisted at the alter, but instead they are hung up by a tree.

With humanity in it's weakened state war was not an option. Fighting was not an option.

People need to fight, it is part of their competitive spirit. It is almost as if hardwired into their brain is the need to eat, drink, reproduce, and dominate. The solution to this problem was easy. Duel Monsters had been a centuries old game founded by the to corporate powerhouses of I2 and Kaiba Corp. Now forged together the gaming giant was nearly a nation, religion, and way of life. It had become so popular that not a single person did not compete. Most aspects of life had some tie in with the game.

However you would think that eventually all of these people would get bored of this and turn back to conventional sports and hobbies but no, this was THE sport and you could even join an academy for it. These four academies were a collective nation that trained athletes and designers for the world's collective interest that was Duel Monsters.

The academies were the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic academies. Shane was a member of the Atlantic Academy. He had just joined at the age of 8 he was a grade schooler who hoped so desperately to become a real student their. An orphan with no parents he had gotten in on a recruiting drive of orphanages hoping to find a few diamonds in the rough. He would have to pass the two year education and then take the graduation test.

He sat high in the auditorium where a teacher was teaching them basic rules. What a magic card was and those cool looking monsters! They were awesome. The teacher noticed the class getting riled up and decided to start the show. It showed holograms of giant monsters that would blast fake attacks up into the audience and run around the auditorium. Shane nearly pissed his pants as a giant black dragon flapped it's wings knocking the papers on everyones desks everywhere. It blasted it's attacks up towards the ceiling so the kids wouldn't get to freaked out.

Class was over and recess had begun. Their was an open field with teeter totters and swing sets. It was a combination snack time/recess so the handlers and caregivers of the small children would pack their house groups lunches.

Shane didn't have a lunch, those stupid nannies would never pack him one. He begged and pleaded but all they did was whip him and tell him to suck it up. He swung on the swing he always swung on and nibbled at the crackers he had stolen from the kitchen. He could never play with the other kids because the nannies always threw rocks at him and told the other kids to hate him. He wouldn't cry. He wouldn't cry. That would mean he was weak. That's why people didn't like him, because he wasn't strong. He would show them what he was made of. And then they'd love him.

He saw a pretty girl sitting under a tree crying. Did they hate her to? He'd have to go say hi. That would make her feel better. He would be nice. Not like the rest of those jerks. Who would make a little girl cry. Her bubblegum pink hair was caked with dirk and her sapphire eyes were stained with tears. They were a sharp contrast to Shane's black hair and green eyes. He couldn't help but stare. They were beautiful even if they were dirty.

Shane crouched down in front of her and looked her in the eyes. He raised her chin up and wiped her hair out of her eyes.

"What's wrong, is their anything I can do to help." Shane's eyes held deep compassion and empathy. He was fairly handsome for his age. Most girls would have considered him a heart throb if it weren't for the staff constantly interfering.

The pink haired girl sniffled and crossed her arms around her chest and let a short sob.

"Don't worry you can tell me." Shane's smile was wide in an attempt to comfort the young girl.

"Those boys were [sob kicking dirt [sob in my face." She broke down into a fit of crying and couldn't stop.

"Don't worry I won't let them get away with it." Shane's eyes steeled with a tempering that could only be identified with a tested warrior, while he was not one himself the torture that this one boy had went through could not be met by many war hero's. After being abused, both mentally and physically, he knew the pain. He would NOT let it happen to anyone else.

"Did they take anything?"

"Only my [sob necklace [sob please bring it back, It was my mothers [sob. It's all I have to remember her by."

Okay now he was pissed. How could they take something so precious to someone. He would break their arms and feed it to them. He rose up and turned around. Staring down three boys. They were two years older than him. Almost ready to take the test. To bad they couldn't take the test if they had no arms. He ran up behind one of them and kicked his legs in so they buckled. He sat on his back while punching him in the back of the head. He was unconscious but he continued to pound until he was hauled up by the collar of his jacket.

"Hey , what makes you think that you can go poundin' on bigger and stronger kids eh. We'll have to kick some sense into you."

They kicked him in the crotch and dropped him on the ground. They punched him breaking his nose and his ribs. The blood soaked his jacket and his fist was clenched not in an attempt to fight back, but in an attempt to hide the necklace of the little girl he had met. If it killed him he would get it back to her.

Sam sat in horror as the boy that had said would help her was being beaten to a pulp, while the rest of the kids sat by watching in horror she scrambled to get the attention of a teacher that was just walking out of the main building. He rushed over after he saw the little girl. She pointed to the fight and without saying a word he rushed over and broke up the fight. The boys were ushered away by two security officers and Shane was lifted up into the arms of the teacher. He rushed him off to the medical ward where he was wrapped up like a mummy in bandages. He was likely going to die.

But fate had a grip on him stronger than death.

---(Shane's Mind Scape)--------------------------------------------------------

Shane woke up in a world that was dark, was he dead. No if he was dead he would be burning. This place was cold. He shivered and zipped up his coat. He attempted to stand up but his knees buckled. This world was awful, he had sat up on the bleak concrete that spread across the size of a football field. It was only dimly lighted by some source that couldn't be identified. There was a ominous voice that suddenly jolted a cold shiver down his spine.

"He, he, he, look what we have here. A poor little monkey boy that can't get back to his body." A simple looking business man with a well kept beard and suit stepped out of the shadows. His leather shoes clacked against the concrete but the pools of water and grime did not deter this man. "I see you have finally decided to join me. We have not been properly introduces call me Vacuous." He extended his hand out to Shane to help him up. "Well I believe you should want some answers."

"Who, who are you." Shane barely managed to stutter out.

"Well I am the incarnate of darkness, that you humans call virus - z. I am the reason you are hated. I am the reason you are Flood."

Shane looked up confused he didn't know what the flood where and he wanted to know why he was here.

Sensing his confusion Vacuous smiled. "The flood are the few mortals left that foster some of my essence. They are the few that keep me stretched thin so I cannot assimilate and plunge the world back into plague." Vacuous smirked and evilly glared at Shane. "Unfortunately for you people do not see the truth and hate the carriers of my essence and most would kill you with the chance. I sense your also wandering why you didn't know. Well simply put, a figurative book burning went on purging the information that kept you from being put to death.

"No! GO AWAY! Get out of my head! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!"

"Very well get out of this hell and go to another!"

---(Real World)------------------------------------------------------------------

"Professor, Professor, He's breathing! Godspeed, he's BREATHING!"

The kind professor that had brought him down hear was looking at him through his coke bottle glasses. The boy's breathing had returned and his eyes were fluttering open. He managed to sit up against the protests of the doctors.

"Thanks doc but I'm fine now let me go."

"Young man with all due respect thirty seconds ago you were dead now lay down.

The professor looked at the young boy, he had spunk, he knew of the fact he was flood and applauded him for it. It had been hard getting only non-racist doctors but it had been worth it. They had saved him, but he couldn't shake the urge that something much greater was working here.

---(Two Years Later: Testing Time)---------------------------------------------

Shane was haunted from the dream he had those years ago. Shane hadn't changed a lot but he had grown a lot taller. Though that was not saying anything. He was much shorter than most other students. He was sitting at the desk taking his final exam. The 'Crucible' as it was nicknamed was a purely written test that was so excruciatingly difficult. Failure would result in immediate expulsion back to the mainland.

"One minute till finish!"

Shane scribbled the last few answers on to the test.

Oh my god that was so hard! The duel puzzles were especially hard.

Shane looked across the auditorium at the love of his life. Samantha, here beautiful pink hair bounced as she walked to turn her test in. Her frilly pink skirt left little to the imagination and so did her sweater.

God she's beautiful, why is it always me that gets shafted, he shifted his attention to that preppy jerk wad that was sitting surrounded by girls that were gossiping. He shot him daggers and waited for his plan to take action. He had loosened the screws on his desk so that when he got up it would collapse sending him sprawling to the floor. He longed for Sam's attention and thought maybe, just maybe, if he could humiliate William she would remember him.

"Student's whose names have been called please report to the pier. Your time at Atlantic Academy has ended." The same professor from three years ago had made the announcement. He looked up at Shane and sighed.

Shane, my best student, he barely passed, a straight 75. The lowest grades out of all of the students.

---(3 years later)-----------------------------------------------------------------

Shane had barely grown at all. Now conventional schooling was over and the true duel academy experience was a about to begin. His deck bulged in his shirt pocket. He sat in the inboard cafe as they transfered to the main island. He ordered a Mountain Dew and scanned the crowd. He found exactly who he was looking for, Sam was alone checking her make-up and he new it was his time to shine, he looked at his cheap watch and jacket and thought for a second.

How am I supposed to impress her with these cheap clothes. Well it's not exactly like he had a choice.

None of the stores would sell him a thing. So he decided to go through with the plan anyway. He sat down next to Sam.

"Hey Sam, remember me, I was wondering if maybe you would like to hang out once we reach the island."

"Buzz of geek, I've heard that pickup line so many times before it isn't even funny."

"No I'm serious, It's me Shane, I got you your..."

"I told you to buzz off and do it quick. William is coming."

"But, please just let me..."

"Buzz of you stupid, hormonal, retard! Can't you see I'm about to make good with William, the coolest kid at the academy.

"But..."

"GO!"

---(?'s POV)----------------------------------------------------------------------

A purple haired onlooker had pity for the boy. If only he would notice her then she would be in heaven.

Oh Shane, she rejects you so much, yet you always come back.

---(Shane's POV)----------------------------------------------------------------

Shane angrily stomped away towards the place where William had been sitting.

"You, you jerk, she always loved you and hated me. I'm going to knock you into the next century."

"Oh, please there is no way I'm stooping down to your level." William was taller than Shane and he was dressed in a preppy sweater vest and slacks.

"You leave Willy alone!" Shouted one random fangirl.

"We'll beat you to a pulp!" Shouted another.

"How dare you threaten our Willy!"

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Chapter One End:

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(A/N: Not bad for one sit down. This is my new fanfic as I am abandoning my previous fic as it was a breeding ground for Gary-Stus.)