This is a fan-fiction based on the anime/manga series known, as Yugioh, the characters and cards are the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi.
YU-GI-OH!
Heart
Of
Darkness
By: Eben Stonier
Chapter 1
Through an ancient passageway littered with dust and cobwebs that had built up over countless of untold years a mysterious figure draped in black robes wandered, as if guided by some unseen force. A single shadow followed in a manner much like that of a cat stalking a mouse, and then in fluid-like movement the shadow slips past the shrouded figured. Then in a blinding flash long dead torches flash to life as if at the will of some unseen force. From the shadows slips a tall Egyptian man stood dressed in a long pure white robe and turban, from around his neck hung a Ankh with a key shaped end.
"I am Shadi, the protector of the Pharaoh's tomb. It is forbidden for you to trespass within these sacred halls, I shall not allow anyone to disturb the resting place of his body..." the white robed figure states. The black shrouded figure stood still and silent, a pair of eyes glowed darkly from under his hood while a small red gemstone pined to his robe glowed. Ever so slowly shadows crept around the two, the more the gemstone glowed the darker the shadows became and the faster they encircled them. Shadi stood with his unwavering stare; his Millennium Key glowed faintly and hummed a warning.
"I do not know how one such as you could gain the powers of the Shadow Realm without use of one of the seven Millennium Items, but I still will not allow you to pass so easily..." Shadi states. Suddenly throwing aside part of his robes the still unknown figure reveals a Duel Disk firmly attached to his arm, Shadi nods his head as one manifests upon his own arm.
"Then we shall duel...and I shall go first!" he shouts, both draw five cards from their own decks as their life-point counters reach 4000 and Shadi draws a sixth card.
"I set one monster in face-down defense and cover one card..." Shadi said as he places the cards into their proper places on the duel disk. Silently the other draws a card, summoning a Spear Dragon and covering a pair of cards. With a wave of his hand the Spear Dragon attacks Shadi's defense monster, the monster recoils back from shock as Shadi's monster is revealed to be a Gravekeeper's Spy. The figure's life-points drop by 100 points.
"Once my Gravekeeper's Spy is flipped I can summon another Gravekeeper monster with an attack of 1500 or less, and I choose to summon Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier in attack mode. Now it's my turn, I draw and play the Field magic card Necrovalley which seals the card-graveyard and boosts all Gravekeeper monsters' attack power by 500!" Shadi declares as he sends his Spear Soldier to attack the figure's now defending Spear Dragon. The Dragon was quickly destroyed and his owner's life-points drop by 2000.
"The Spear Dragon shifts to defense mode after it attacks while my Spear Soldier can cause damage to monsters even in defense position, since your Spear Dragon had a defense of zero your life-points take the full brunt of his attack..." he states, Shadi sets another monster in defense mode and ends his turn. The cloaked figured draws a card. Quickly he plays the magic card Mystical Space typhoon to destroy Shadi's Necrovalley, then summons Slate Warrior and attacks his Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier which was quickly destroyed and causing his life-points to drop by 400.
"I reveal my face-down card the trap Attack and Receive which allows me to cause 700 points of direct damage to your life-points!" Shadi retorts, but frowns when his own life-points drop by 700 instead. Glancing up he discovers that one of his opponent's face down cards was the trap card Barrel Behind the Door. Nodding his head in approval he starts his own turn by drawing a card he covers another card, then plays the magic card Rite of Spirit to special summon his Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier back from his graveyard.
"Know I sacrifice my two monsters for the Mystical Knight of Jackal, now attack his Slate Warrior!" He orders, with a beastly howl his monster slashes and destroys his opponent's. With a sudden flash the Slate Warrior returns to the top of the cloaked stranger's deck as his life-points drop by 800.
"The special effect of the Mystical Knight of Jackal is to send any monster it destroys back to the top of the owner's deck..." Shadi explains, but frowns as he notices the attack power of his monster drops from 2600 to 2100.
"I see the special effect of Slate Warrior, drops the attack of its destroyer by 500..." he mutters more to himself than to his opponent. The cloaked duelist draws a card and plays monster reborn on Shadi's Gravekeeper's Spy and places it into defense mode while also placing a monster in facedown defense then ends his turn. Shadi plays another Rite of Spirit magic card to special summon his Gravekeeper's Spear Soldier, only to sacrifice it for Ghost Knight of Jackal. Quickly sending his Mystical Knight of Jackal to destroy his resurrected Spy and forcing it back to the top of his own deck, then sends his second monster which destroys his opponent's face down monster. It flips showing that it was Slate Warrior once again and his Ghost Knight of Jackal's attacks drops from 1700 to 1200. There was a soft glow as Slate Warrior suddenly appears in defense mode on Shadi's side of the dueling field.
"The special effect of the Ghost Knight of Jackal allows me to special summon any monster it destroys to my field in defense, so know your monster is my servant." Shadi explains. Ending his turn the cloaked figure starts his by drawing and setting a monster in facedown defense mode, and then reveals his trap card CeaseFire. But, before his trap card could cause 500 points of damage for all effect monsters Shadi reveals his trap card 7 Tools of the Bandit. Costing him 1000 life-points instead of the 2000 that CeaseFire would of cost him. Starting his turn Shadi draws a card and shifts Slate Warrior into attack mode then launches a three-monster attack that obliterates his opponent's only defense monster and the last of his life-points.
"You have been defeated, now tell me who has sent you and what do you desire!?" Shadi orders, he stood with his eyes locked upon his opponent. The cloaked stranger staggered backwards, his body shook as his body arched back and then cried out in pain. Shadi watched with mild surprise as his opponent's body was consumed by the shadows and his clothing dropped to the floor of the tomb, curious he made his way over toward the pool of clothing.
"It seems you were not a true master of the darkness, one toying with such powers must be aware of the penalties of using them without knowledge. But, I wonder how did he gain the ability create a Shadow Game..." Shadi mutters to himself. Just before he reached the pile of clothing the darkness that swallowed the unknown man started to swirl and open much like a doorway. From there a figure of a young man appeared dressed in a pure white formal jacket which hung open and a matching pair of loose pants with a light sky blue button up shirt. The new stranger stood there silently with his head hung down, which was adorn with golden blond shoulder length hair. A pair of dark brown bangs hung down over his face covering much of it, Shadi stood there his eyes narrowed as he reached for his Millennium Key.
"I see now, you must be the one behind this intrusion. But if you were his master why would you risk his life by lending him such power. I can not imagine your reasons, nor your ability to do so without a Millennium Item..." Shadi spoke strongly. The young man lifted his head up slightly a smile ever so slowly crept across his face, as he raised his head a pair of blood red eyes glared out at Shadi in a inhuman manner. As his dark colored bangs parted showing that his forehead was covered by a crown made of a silver colored metal that appeared to wrap around his head. Imprinted on the front of the crown was an eye-shaped design that over lapped an outline of a Egyptian ankh, a dark purple light emanated from the crown. The stranger's smile suddenly changes into a psychic toothy grin while the hair on the back of his head becomes thicker and his bangs spike out wildly. His eyes widen while his pupils shrink as a wave of force explodes from him and hits Shadi sending him flying backwards, slamming him into the wall of the tomb only to slump down on the floor.
"You can not stop me Guardian, I will have my revenge on the Pharaoh... Him and all his allies shall be consumed by the darkness..." the stranger whispers coldly, then with a evil chuckle vanishes along with the fading shadows. Shadi stood the concerned look on his face hadn't changed since he confronted the first invader, he glanced toward the pool of clothing but only saw a pile of tattered rags and useless shards of stone.
"Such intense dark powers and evil emotions, I must warn the Pharaoh and his host of this..." he mutters before walking into the shadows of the tomb and vanishing.
Little Yugi laid sprawled out in his bed in a deep sleep snoring on his night stand laid his Millennium Puzzle, the eye shaped imprint glowed faintly which spread through the entire thing. As it glowed a soft light emanated from Yugi's forehead in a couple of moments the light shifted into the form of a glowing eye. Yugi felt like he was floating, then suddenly dropping down through a pitch-black tunnel. When he opened his eyes he saw miles and miles of sand, turning slowly he saw a massive pyramid. Suddenly sensing something odd he turns back and sees a massive army of Egyptians being led by his partner, the unknown Pharaoh.
"I thought this was a dream...either mine or my partner, but I think this might be part of his lost memories..." Yugi mutters, then suddenly he felt himself being drawn over toward his counter-part. Now floating in ghostly manner by the Pharaoh's side Yugi looked upwards once he heard a familiar roar, hovering above them were all three Egyptian God monsters. Staring up in awe at the three divine monsters Yugi suddenly shivers as he felt a cold presence, turning he noticed far across the field a pair of young men of unknown origin stood. A swirling mass of darkness surrounded the pair and extended far above them, near the pair two forms slowly appeared from the shadows. A monstrous human-like form and a giant serpent monster showed themselves, but behind them a massive amount of shadows moved together trying to take on a single form. But, Yugi couldn't make out what it was due to the amount of shadows, which suddenly darkened the entire area. Suddenly Yugi jerked wide-awake panting hard, his entire body coated with sweat. Taking a couple deep breaths to calm down Yugi reached over to his nightstand and picked up his Millennium Puzzle, looping the thick metal chain around his neck he cradles his puzzle.
"That was really intense... All three Egyptian God monsters...and my other self, it had to be one of his missing memories. But who were those two guys and their monsters, not to mention that other thing..." Yugi mutters to himself, glancing up quickly as his puzzle hums softly. The faint form of Shadi appears in a ghostly manner, bowing his head toward the spiky haired boy.
"Greeting, I am sorry for the intrusion. But I must speak with my Pharaoh..." he asked, Yugi nods his head as he lets go of his puzzle and a bright glow encases his body. Once the light fads the older and darker version of Yugi sat there in the bed, he acknowledges Shadi with a slight nod. Slowly drawing one leg up and resting a arm across his upraised knee he gives the mysterious Egyptian a level stare.
"My Pharaoh, an evil force tried to invade your ancient tomb. I know not the being's reasons, but I do know that he wielded powers similar to those of a holder of a Millennium Item. Not only that but he seems to be after you my Pharaoh..." Shadi explained as Yami-Yugi nods his head as he slowly took in the information.
"I see that event must have triggered that dream we shared..." Yami-Yugi mutters, a ghostly image of Yugi appears next to his older alter ego.
"I think it was a vision of long ago, a part of your memory surfacing." little Yugi stated, the two nod their heads in agreement.
"Thank you...." Yami-Yugi started but stopped once he noticed that Shadi had vanished just as mysteriously as he appeared. With another soft glow of light the two traded places once again, slowly wiggling back under his covers in attempt to get comfortable again little Yugi tried to go to sleep once again. The spirit hovered close to his young partner's bed watching him in a protective manner, and then glanced out the window into the night sky a concerned look in his face.
The next morning a clearly annoyed Tea dressed in the typical Japanese schoolgirl's uniform stood by Trusdale's home/game shop waiting for Yugi so they could walk to school. Tea tapped her foot with her arms folded across her chest, after a few moments Yugi explodes out the door his Millennium puzzle bouncing about with a large slice of toast clenched tightly in his teeth.
"It's about time Yugi I was getting worried and we don't need to be late again..." she said, Yugi mumbled something as he quickly munched down the slice of toast. As the two ran to their high school they encountered both Joey and Tristan leaning against the school's gate, noticing the two running toward them they wave.
"Yo! Yugi, Tea! About time you guys showed up..." Joey shouted, "Yea guys, what kept you two" Tristan added.
"Sorry everyone, I didn't get much sleep last night. My partner and I had a odd dream that we believe was part of his missing memory, that and we also had a visit from Shadi as well." Yugi started to explain. Tristan blinked in momentary confusion but remembered the mysterious guy who saved him and Duke aboard Kaiba's Battle Ship.
"He told us that someone possessing dark powers had try to invade my partner's tomb in Egypt, it seems that there is someone after him..." Yugi finished, a look of fear strikes Joey's face but he quickly hides it.
"Great another Marik! That's all we need..." Joey growls, clenching his fist as he raises it in a threatening manner and putting on his most courageous grin. "Oh well, we'll just crush him like we did Marik!" he laughed, Tristan nudged Joey's arm giving him a sly look.
"We? Didn't Yugi beat Marik? You did do much huh?" Tristan chuckled, with an enraged shout Joey quickly puts his friend in a tight headlock, as Tristan struggled to free himself the two fell to the ground and rolled about. Yugi just smiled weakly as he watched, next to him the ghostly image of the Pharaoh appeared and smiled slightly.
"Joey is right Yugi, they all helped us in our battle against Marik and they will once again against this new evil force..." Yami-Yugi mentally spoke to his younger partner. Noticing Tea's silences Yugi turned to her and saw the look of worry on her face.
"Tea are you alright?" Yugi asked softly, Tea shakes her head.
"It's nothing Yugi, but shouldn't we hurry...we'll be late if we don't" she quickly explained, "I just hope things don't get as extreme as they did when we faced Marik. I don't want to see so many people hurt like that ever again." Tea though to her self. Upon hearing the comment about being late both Joey and Tristan leap up from the ground and took off running, quickly followed by both Yugi and Tea.
A few moments later the four had just barely made it into their homeroom each now slightly nervous due to the knowledge of another villein. With their minds someplace else they quickly jumped as the teach walked into the room, following the lead of their fellow students they make themselves appear bright eyed and ready to learn.
"Now class we have a surprise for today, a new student all the way from America..." the teacher said. From the doorway appeared a slim, small built young man dressed in the same Japanese school uniform as the other boys in the class. Dark brown shoulder length hair covered his head while pure white bangs hung down over his face slowly walked into the classroom. Stopping once next to the teacher's deck he turned to face the entire class, the young man glanced over the room with a pair of sad pale yellow eyes then mustered a weak smile.
"Hello...my name is Alard, Alard Schwent...I'm pleased to meet you all..." he whispered softly. Joey grinned as he leaned forward and punched at Tristan's arm from his seat behind him, quickly glancing back Tristan returned the punched but aimed at his friend's knee.
"Sweet! Dude its another guy..." Joey whispered, they froze hearing their teacher clearing her throat and quickly straightened themselves in their seats. Tea slowly raised her hand and patiently waited for the teacher's approval to speak.
"Not to be rude, but your name doesn't sound American..." Tea stated, Alard's eyes soften and he smiled a bit more as he turned his head to look at Tea, nervously folding his hands behind his back.
"Your right... It's German, but I've lived in the US for the past few years..." Alard explained. With a stern look the teacher quickly killed off any other questions then directed him toward a empty seat near the back of the class. Silently Alard walked down the row of desks, but as the new student walked pass Yugi he felt the Millenium Puzzle hum as if reacting to another Millenium Item. Yugi watched from his seat as Alard walked by, it felt like for the two of them time was slowing down around them. Despite the fact that the young man kept his head forward and hung down Yugi noticed that Alard's eyes were locked upon him. Almost as if he too felt the same sensation that Yugi himself felt, then just for a moment Alard gave him a frightening sideways glance. But, not at Yugi himself but at something else then as Alard passed him the ghostly image of the Pharaoh appeared next to Yugi in the exact place the young man had glanced at a second ago.
"I sense something from him, something familiar...as if he too were a holder of a Millenium Item" Yami-Yugi spoke mentally to Yugi, "I agree but how all seven already have masters and it's as if he sensed you to my partner..." Little Yugi replied mentally. Yugi turned slightly and watched as Alard made it to his desk and took his seat silently, staring into the young man's eyes Yugi could feel a deep sorrow coming from him.
"Yugi Muto! Despite the fact you were the winner of Seto Kaiba's Battle City that does not give you the right to goof off in my class." the teacher stated, Yugi whipped around and sat straight in his seat while his cheeks turned a deep crimson.
Once classes had ended and the high school started to let out, Yugi and his friends leisurely exited and start to wander about the grounds. Both Joey and Tristan relaxed against the side of the building trying to look their toughest while Tea was going over some homework assignments. Yugi's mind or minds were else where, thinking about the new threat of evil and the sudden appearance of the odd new student. Suddenly both Joey and Tristan perked up and put on their most serious faces as they started to walk off Tea blinked and stared in confusion as she tapped Yugi on the shoulder. As the two silently followed their friends they noticed that both of them had stopped at a corner and peeked out as if spying on someone.
"What are you two doing?" Tea questioned, the two turned and each one pressed a single finger to their lips and hissed at her to be quiet.
"Just look..." Joey quietly whispered, Tristan pointed around the corner. As Yugi and Tea followed their lead and looked around the corner they noticed a grouping of four other students, three of which were known bullies and the fourth was Alard. Tea covered her mouth with her hands to muffle the gasp she made when she saw the leader of the bullies roughly shove Alard against the wall, the other two bullies stayed behind their so-called boss grinning. As Alard's back hit the wall he slumped slightly with his head hung down, oddly silently even as a few items fell from his person.
"I can't stand you stuck up Americans, you shits think your so much better than everyone else huh?" the Leader chuckled. He stood back grinning with his hands on his sides and overly playing the macho gang leader role, while his two so-called underlings stepped forward cracking their knuckles in a threatening manner.
"We usually just like to hassle any new kids, but your different and I don't like you. But, I'm sure if you gave us some money we may just leave you alone...for a while..." he growled, while his other two flunkies just chuckled.
"...Leave me...just leave me...alone...Just leave me alone!" Alard said, his voice going from soft to a harsh growl. The three bullies stare in disbelief and shock for a moment before grinning and slowly started to close in on the young man. One of the thugs stopped suddenly as his foot hit something laying on the ground, stooping to pick it up he stares at the oddly shaped box.
"What the hell is this?" he mutters, quickly the leader grabs the box and looks it over.
"This is a deck box, for holding Duel Monster cards. This little freak is a Duelist... Well since you don't have any money you won't mind if we sell your cards do you huh?" he chuckled, he started to walk away leaving the two other with Alard. Slowly looking up Alard narrowed his eyes a inhuman shine within them, while his upper lip twitched up in a sneer exposing his teeth in a feral manner.
"That's enough!" Joey shouted as he launched himself from the group's small hiding place straight at one of the two thugs. A look of shock over came Alard's face while the look of surprise on the first thug's face was shattered and in all possibility his jaw as well when Joey's clenched fist struck him. As his companion hit the ground with a thud the second bully launched himself toward Joey but was quickly tackled and roughly hammed in the stomach by Tristan and both his elbows. The pair of would be heroes smiled at each other but then noticed the so-called leader was making a run for it, as they turned to go after him something shot past them suddenly. Moving surprising fast Alard caught up to him, grabbed him by the shoulders. With a quick move threw him back-first against a metal chain-link fence then Alard slammed his foot into the young man's chest as if to hold him in place, while he gagged and gasped in pain.
"I believe you have something of mine..." Alard stated in a playful yet harsh voice, leaning forward and slowly reaching out he snatched his deck box from the bully's upraised hand. The four watched in surprise as the personality of the quiet, soft spoken young man they met earlier seemed to totally change. Yugi held his puzzle tightly with one hand as both him and his alter ego sensed a dark force struggling to be released and yet something holding it back. Alard dropped his foot and started to walk away from his would-be robber, who in turn coughed and stood straight. Tea's eyes widen as she noticed him reaching into his pocket and retrieved a small switchblade.
"Look out!" she shouted, jerking his head up Alard suddenly performs a roundhouse. Slamming his foot into the side of his would be attacker's head and dropping him to the ground.
"If you can't play nice you should play at all..." he chuckles. Turning around again Alard noticed the wide-eyed looks he was getting from Yugi and his friends. Giving the four a lost and confused look he gives them a childish smile, scratching the back of his head.
"Ah...thank you...for helping me..." Alard mutters in embarrassment, slightly glancing around so not to make eye contact with any of the four as his cheeks reddened. Both Joey and Tristan grinned proudly both of them giving the young man a thumbs-up as they puffed out their chest trying to make themselves look manlier than normal.
"Ah it's no problem!" Joey laughs, "Besides your a Duelist too, I couldn't stand by and let a fellow Duelist be harassed like that!" he adds, both Tristan and Tea give Joey a doubtful look and shake their heads.
"But how did you two know he was in trouble?" Tea suddenly asks, Joey winks and raises a pair of fingers while Tristan rubs his chin.
"It was an easy deduction Tea..." Tristan explains, "Yea, Alard is the new guy and everyone knows that new students are always the favorite targets of bullies!" Joey adds.
"Oh I thought it was the fact you guys used to be bullies yourselves." Tea jokes causing the two stumble over, deflating their egos as well. Yugi walks up toward Alard, a mixture of concern and worry easily seen on his young face.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Alard simply nods his head and gives him a weak smile as Yugi noticed that he looked just as nervous surrounded by them as he did when faced by the three thugs. Suddenly Joey appears next to the young man and drops his arm around Alard's neck, the friendly action causes him to freeze and eyes to widen as if in shock. Not knowing his actions seem to bother him Joey leans close and poke Alard in the chest.
"Hey we Duelists got to stick together right? And if you like to repay me with a friendly duel that would be fantastic!" Joey offered. Alard suddenly frowned as his eyes dropped, he quickly shrugged off Joey's arm slightly shocking the young man. Slowly shaking his head while his pale yellow eyes were filled with uncertainty as he back away from the four friends.
"I...I don't duel...not anymore...I'm sorry I got to go..." Alard suddenly mutters before he takes off running leaving the four standing there confused.
"Jeez I wonder what his deal is?" Joey mutters slightly annoyed as well as confused. Tristan keeping silent but his face showing the same annoyance as Joey's toward Alard's seemingly rude departure, Tea on the other hand stare after him with a look of pity and wondering what upset Alard more the bullies' attack or their offer of friendship. As Yugi watched the young man run the ghostly image of the Pharaoh appears beside him.
"He is frightened of something and he walks with a great amount of weight upon his shoulders as well..." he observes, Yugi nods his head in agreement. As Alard ran with his eye clenched tight a small amount of wetness formed at their corners, after a few moments he stops. Pulling open the school uniform's jacket exposing a silver collar locked around his neck, hanging down from it was a ankh with a very familiar eye-shaped pattern. It bounced and swung as he undid his jacket, Alard stood there panting for breath. He suddenly snapped open his eyes and for a moment they were hard and cruel, staring out with a serious look on his face.
"So, It begins..." Alard whispers softly before stuffing his hands into his pockets and slowly walks off down the street.