Beginning Author Notes

This is a hats-off to the Zatch Bell followers I amassed during the original story's run. If inaction didn't tell you, it became a dead fic. But, no more, it's time to revisit and modify the story. Hopefully, this time, I'll have the confidence to finish it. Is everyone ready?

Setting: While Chapter 1 (the prologue) takes place before the events of the tournament, the story largely begins amid the "Mamodo from a Thousand Years Ago" arc. After that, you may or may not see other canon events as told from a different perspective. Long story short, the story takes place during the actual storyline.

Disclaimer: Zatch Bell is copyrighted to Makoto Raiku (characters, series, and concepts). I only claim ownership to the story and the original concepts present within it.

Chapter 1: Pensiveness

"Where is that fool?!"

King Bell's voice was like a roar of thunder, one that shook the palace walls, as lightning flashed from the storm outside. His servants constantly searched the grounds for the person he summoned as well as consoled the irate king. This matter could not wait, for the tournament that occurred every thousand years was soon to begin, and foul play was already in the air.

The doors to King Bell's throne room flew open unannounced. On the other side, an entity floated in. Albino, glowing eyes, a pointed head, body obscured by a blue and white robe. With the wave of an arm, the doors immediately closed, halting the personnel who tried to follow after him.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" The creature, speaking in a voice as old and domineering as the king himself, stared up to the mountain of a Mamodo glowering down at him. "I prefer to be indoors during weather like this if you don't mind."

King Bell examined him, a Mamodo that looked strange even by Mamodo standards. Even about half of the children at the school were bigger and more normal than him. His arms hung by his sides limp like a dead machine; fitting, what with the mechanical hands and gears. He spotted a small sneer behind his battlement-shaped collar, and the Mamodo World king cracked one of his own. "The Mind Colony are interesting Mamodo indeed. Your home orbits this world like the Moon with the Human World. You all are gifted with amazing psychic power. You age at such a different pace from even Mamodo that a toddler could be as old as my father."

"Yes, I am very well educated in the history and physiology of my own kind," the fellow Mamodo replied, trying but failing to mask his sarcasm, "Your Highness, if I can speak freely, get to the point."

"Isterius." Calm on the inside, the current king boiled with rage within. King Bell narrowed his eyes as lightning cracked along his rough hands. "You attempted to have several Mind Colonists smuggled into the tournament, didn't you? The Headmaster noticed this discrepancy. One of them even had already battled a millennium ago."

Isterius stared up to the king. King Bell tried to read his expression for any signs of guilt, but it was a futile task. Those eyes were like empty white voids. "The smuggling accusations I deny. Perhaps it is time for the Headmaster to retire and pick a replacement." Isterius paused to cross his arms. "As for the second part, you said it yourself. My clan's unique body toys with age itself. That person you referred to may be a millennium old but is like a qualifying child nonetheless. Besides, poor souls like that need an outlet. Spending such long time in that kind of stasis isn't healthy."

King Bell moved suddenly, and before Isterius knew it, he stood above him, ready to judge. "No more. I turned a blind eye to similar, if pettier, cases in the past, but not today. I am hereby instituting a new rule. Mamodo, in spite of longevity, sustained age, or whatever reason, cannot participate in the tournament more than once. We are relics of the past. We must nurture and teach the younger generation so they can take up the mantle when it's time. This loophole with your species undermines the idea. I deign to say it's cheating."

Parts of Isterius's body twitched at the decree. The one leverage his colony had over these lesser commoners was officially gone. His chances at having someone win the throne in the name of the Mind Colony had been significantly cut. King Bell took note of the more intense glow in the Mamodo's eyes but was unmoved. "I'll be calling for you later today. You are dismissed."

Never had he been happier to hear such words. Isterius, still floating above ground level, whipped around, used his psychic powers to open the doors, and slammed them behind him upon exit. The Mamodo growled like an animal, clenching a fist, wishing it were King Bell's skull within his fist. "I cannot wait until you're gone."

"Czar Lowerjacques!" One of the castle servants stepped out from a group. Isterius forgot they existed. "You'd do well to remember your place. You may be a political figure of the Mamodo World, the czar of the Mind Colony, but you fall under King Bell's jurisdiction. You've shown us and him utter contempt today. You better watch—"

Isterius raised a hand, silencing the rest of the servant's retort, as he psychically picked him up by the throat. The other castle workers gasped in shock as the czar choked the Mamodo before them. A female servant rushed past, hoping to get the king's attention. "M-Milor—!" Out of nowhere, a force blew her into the waiting wall, causing the rest to freeze in fear.

"You primitive worms had better realize how you compare to me," Isterius spoke in a dangerously calm tone, "I'm no one's puppet or slave. I am Isterius Lowerjacques, Czar of the great Mind Colony. I am above you and no one can save you from my wrath. So let me leave."

Isterius finally released both castle workers and levitated away without another word. As they tended to their own, the castle workers all thought one thing, 'Glad he was never chosen for a tournament.'

Isterius returned to the Mind Colony, a moonlike planet that hovered outside the Mamodo World itself. The czar gazed around the environment, more technologically inclined than the main world, as alien Mamodo like himself walked or floated around. As he passed by, his subjects showed reverence by bowing. He contemplated making a public announcement about King Bell's decree, but he figured it wouldn't matter.

Coming upon his palace, half the size of the royal one and colored blue and white like himself, Isterius decided to talk to one Mind Colonist who was still eligible for the tournament.

He wouldn't have to go far, for said Mamodo was right outside the palace.

His eyes – glassy, green and resembling lenses – watched the river flow through its channel. Even smaller than Isterius himself, he too levitated off the ground. His black, buttoned trench coat hid his body. His bowl-shaped face was covered in bandages. Seemingly unaware of Isterius's presence, he adjusted the black, bell-shaped hat over his oblong head with one of only three fingers on his wrapped-up hands.

Isterius stared at the scene, quiet as a mouse, until it become too much for him. Nobody was that inattentive. "There are better things to do than watch rivers all day, brother."

The other Mamodo never moved. "I doubt you were going to say anything more interesting."

So he was aware. Isterius wasn't sure if he should be proud or insulted. He floated over and patted his younger brother on the back, oblivious to him flinching at his cold touch. "Guess what, Egarius? You're the sole representative of the Mind Colony to participate in this millennium's tournament. Be proud."

Egarius rolled his unseen eyes, finally turning to face his older sibling. "Yay, mortal danger."

Isterius frowned, following Egarius as he floated up the palace steps. "Come now. This is a momentous occasion. Nobody from here has won since the tournament began. I'm hoping you can change that."

"No guarantee," Egarius replied with a shake of his head, "This whole endeavor is one big headache."

Isterius's fingers twitched with the same agitation he had during his conversation with King Bell. Something about Egarius's flippant attitude bothered him. Many Mind Colonists would kill to be in his position. "Hm. Well, unlike most of us, you actually act like the age you appear."

"Not really." Egarius turned around, staring his older brother dead in his plain eyes. "I still feel like a midget and, if I truly had the mind of a 16-year-old, I wouldn't feel like I'm surrounded by idiots every time I leave our little 'planet.'"

"Can't argue with you there." Isterius looked at the clock tower on the horizon. "If you're skipping classes, I suggest you hurry along and at least get attendance points. I know some of those lessons can be grating and superfluous but at least show some character."

Egarius released a prolonged sigh. "All right, all right. I'll get going."

The two brothers went their separate ways, Egarius back to the Mamodo World and Isterius inside his chambers. As soon as he did, he used telepathy to summon three castle servants. When they arrived, they genuflected. "I just had a chat with both King Bell and Egarius." Isterius dipped his head slightly, hints of a frown visible over the rim of his collar. "This won't do. I have a feeling Egarius won't take this seriously enough. I need to brew some hatred in him, toughen him up. If my own kin cannot secure the crown in my name, that won't bode well for my future."

The servants looked up, awaiting his orders. Isterius stared at them hard. "All of you, I have an important task. I command you all to find ways to make Egarius suffer. Make him rue the day he was born. But no matter what, no matter how much he begs or suffers, let no one kill or severely injure him. Manipulate those young fools he goes to school with if you must."

"Y-Your excellency?"

"I-I do not understand your aim…"

"You needn't understand, only obey," Isterius explained, crossing his arms, "Loyal subjects, it is of grave importance King Bell is dethroned and has to watch one of my own take his place. That's a whole millennium whereupon the Mind Colony controls the Mamodo World. Egarius's life and happiness are a trifling price to pay. I know what tests await in the tournament. He'll have to fight those he doesn't wish to fight… kill who he doesn't want to kill. It's dog-eat-dog, so he must be properly primed for such a trial if he is to win."

"Understood, sir."

"We will carry out your orders."

"With pleasure."

Egarius survived two boring lectures on subjects he was already well-versed in, reminding him why he played hooky so much. Nonetheless, he fulfilled his quota for the day. As he left the grounds, other Mamodo children and teenagers doing whatever, he wondered if being in this tournament would be the reprieve from this dull life that he needed.

Feeling sick of home, Egarius took a detour to the forest. Having spent most of his life on the Mind Colony, he found himself entranced by things as little as rivers, trees, and fruit. His home planet, in his opinion, lacked any soul. He stopped near a creek and simply floated there, enjoying his privacy.

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

He tensed up but turned his head to look at a group of three Mamodo before him. Either they were already here, which he doubted, or they followed him. "Minding my own business," he replied, "and so should you three."

The second one hissed. "A typical response from this freak."

"Nobody wants you here!" the third and final bully yelled out, picking up a stone and chucking it at Egarius. "Crawl back to your hole, freak!"

Egarius taught the stone with his psychokinesis. "No thank you." Out of nowhere, something – much harder than a stone – hit his head. He winced, whipping to the direction. It was another group of Mamodo. "Where did they come from?"

"Leave them alone, you psycho!" The thrower demanded. The two flanking her left and right threw whatever they could get their hands on. Most of them Egarius caught psychically, but the others blindsided him. "Thinking you're so special you can skip class whenever you want. Just because you're the czar's brother and got some fancy powers. We don't want you here!"

For the next three days, this was the routine. Now with less motivation to leave home, Egarius tried to shut himself inside his room, but Isterius convinced him otherwise. It'd inevitably lead to some score of Mamodo finding him just to insult and bemoan his very existence. Already someone who emoted less than half the time, the bullying was making Egarius deader and deader.

All according to Isterius's plan.

Then came the day before fighters departed for Earth.

Egarius took cover behind a tree. A team of Mamodo, consisting of both children and teenagers, hunted him like a fugitive. Never before had he seen so many spells casted in such quick succession. This was ridiculous. His brother and the other adults were so useless when it came to messes like this. Egarius examined himself. His coat was a little scuffed up, and part of the bandages around his face felt wet. He reached up, tapped a spot, and looked to see blood on his hand.

"Oh my, so your blood is red after all."

Egarius looked up from beneath the brim of his hat to see some of his chasers. "Yeah, hate to disappoint." Taking a page from his brother's book, he casually flicked his hand and a sudden force tossed them backwards. He seized the chance to make a mad dash in the opposite direction.

Once they recovered, the chase resumed. "That's all you have going for you!" The leader shouted out a spell but hit the trees instead. Egarius was a deceptively fast flyer. "Some witty retort to distract yourself and everyone from what you really are: a sad, lonely monster who knows he comes from a clan of freaks! Go back to that nest where you really belong!"

"Leave me alone!" Egarius shouted back. A smirk appeared on the bully's face. It was the first time something seemed to hit home.

"Zaker!"

Egarius stopped the minute he heard the rumble of thunder. Something radiated so much power the ground quaked, something he felt despite being off the ground. Turning around, he witnessed the blasts of lightning disappearing. It was so powerful his attackers ran away, screaming in fear. Egarius spotted the source of the spell, a small blond boy wearing a blue mantle. There was a fire in his orange eyes like none other.

The blonde turned around. "Are you okay?" His voice radiated such childish innocence Egarius had a hard time believing he was his savior.

The alien Mamodo stammered. "U-Um…I-I…"

He walked over, a smile on his face, and held out his hand like they were good friends. "I'm Zatch."

Egarius finally dismissed his awe and gingerly accepted the handshake. "E." Call him unoriginal for using the first letter of his first name, but it would at least hide part of his true identity. The moniker would aid him well in the tournament.

"Nice to meet you." 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. The two eventually started walking back to the creek. "I get bullied a lot too. They always call me a crybaby too."

"Those who are meek inherit the earth," E said. He did a double take. That came out of nowhere.

Zatch's golden-orange eyes shimmered, looking at E. "You really think so?"

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! We can make it!"

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.

Zatch started drooling at the sight of his favorite meal. "Oh boy! Yellowtail!"

"Leave this to me." E extended his arm out. 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 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.

E caught him the blonde's prying gaze. "Surprised?"

"Nope," Zatch responded earnestly, "I knew from the beginning you were a Mamodo, like me, except with weirder-looking clothes."

E chuckled. He probably didn't mean it like that, but it was a little funny to him. "You're too kind, Zatch." The psychic Mamodo then noticed he finished his yellowtail off relatively quick as well. He got this far, so he might as well keep it up, having lunch with his first-ever friend. "Ready for seconds?"

"You bet I am!" Before E knew it, Zatch stripped off his mantle and tossed it into his face, jumping in the water afterwards. "I'll be right back!"

E groaned as he snatched the article of clothing off his face. "I sincerely hope he washes this regularly."

Ending Author Notes

People who read the original Zatch Bell: Another Story are going to see a lot of differences in the coming chapters of the first arc. It's all to hopefully craft a better story, one that's easier to write too.