Initial comments are at the bottom…if you want those first.
Of Zombies and Card Games
Chapter 1
In all directions the land was barren, wasteland. At intervals flaming mounds could be seen, charred bits of corpse coating the ground. The stench barely tolerable, nothing living - or anything close to it - could be found for miles. One could assume nothing living remained to be found at all - save for one young man.
Stepping from the shadows a stone fortress provided, the youth looked around. Sighing sadly he strode out onto the battlefield. A sole survivor, and he wasn't entirely sure how. Reaching down to idly stroke the puzzle round his neck, he let his thoughts stretch over centuries of solitude with this mere trinket. He did not look forwards to centuries more.
He walked a hundred yards and stopped at the completely intact corpse of a lanky blonde man. Atemu gazed sadly upon the man's vacant face, lamenting the waste of all that fierce determination, the vigor, and the unswerving loyalty. He was the best friend either he, or his now lost compatriot, had ever had.
Atemu reached down with trembling fingers, to shut the eyes, and shut out the image of this burnt world from his fallen friend. Upon contact with flesh a spark surged through his spine, and he gasped as the face below him regained color, the eyes focus, and a sharp intake of breath heralding the realization that Jounouchi had come back to life.
This story is obviously very AU, which is weird because I avoid AU a lot in reading, so I can't believe I'm writing it (especially as my first delve into the realm of fan fiction), but alas I cannot argue with myne muses.
A few clarifications, to begin with, though there will be more as we go along I'm sure, hooray for an AU story:
1. This story is based on a dream I had, and the first several chapters pretty much follow that out. It's the reason I'm writing this, my first fan fiction, I couldn't resist this most recent temptation.
2. Yes Atem and Yuugi are not/were not the same body. They weren't in my dream so they aren't in the story. That will apply to Yami Bakura and Ryou as well. Malik however wasn't in my dream, but if I do introduce him into the story at some point (have not done so and have no plans to thus far, but we'll see) he and his alter half will probably stay the same person. Mostly because even in the series they always were one person so it doesn't make sense at all to split them.
3. The story will shift focus/point of view frequently. I'm going to apologize in advance for the confusion this will cause - a lot of that will be intentional though. Internal monologues and name usage will probably shift depending on the POV - be it first person or third with a specific character as the focus.
4. This story will probably be long, don't know how long at the moment, I have 12 chapters thus far (of varying length - most aren't this short though). Yes it is in progress, but I swear I will finish it if it kills me. If I vanish completely it's probably because I died *knock on wood*. My biggest pet peeve is unfinished stories (I understand, I do, but how I hate loving something that will never end) so I don't want to be guilty myself. I really didn't want to post this until I finished, but I guess I'm trusting that I will succeed. At the very least I will post my condolences if I find myself in a state of fail.
5. I don't want to say there won't be slash or pairings of any sort in the story, as that's my primary interest when reading fan fiction, however at the moment I have no plans for or thoughts of thus.
6. Sorry if I royally screw up names, couldn't figure out what to commit to as far as names ago, and especially as far as nicknames go. If you want to point out lack of consistency or what not, feel free, I'll fix things that are harped on (that I agree with) but if not I'll leave it alone even if I notice it later. I have no beta, I probably have people who could do such for me if I wanted, but at the moment it's all crazy me.
7. Rating, heck if I know, silly rating systems make no sense to me…I do tend to swear a lot in print (to make up for not swearing that much out loud), so if you find it consistently staying higher than need be let me know and I'll lower it (likewise if I'm just swearing and being perverted way too much let me know and I'll raise it). Actually this is probably the one area I'm really going to need the most help in for now (obviously not yet though).
I think I'll shut it for now, I promise there won't always be an essay infinitely (yes I like to exaggerate) longer than the chapter. Mostly just trying to avoid questions (if you still have a question go ahead and ask, it's probably not answered because I don't have an answer, but ask away). Loved it, hated it? I don't particularly care, haha. This is my first fic but I would never ask anyone to be kind, so think and say whatever you like. Kindness is often a lie, and even when it isn't what use is it to me? Heh, if you really liked it that's fine, just don't leave comments on how much you liked it if you actually don't. Mostly though, I am just writing this for me, and posting it for a few friends who were interested. If you hate it just don't read/stop reading, as simple as that. Cheers!