I own nothing, not the characters, the space where this story exists, or even the eyes that you are using to read it. This is for entertainment proposes only, no money involved.


After having left the cave the team was greeted as conquering heroes and a party had been planned for that night. Snow had gotten on Danny's case about breaking the 25% limit she had set for him on his Spirit Cannon. He choose not to tell her that he had broken the 100% cap. Danny gave Ginta one of the two magic stones since they both still had open slots.

There was plenty of food since Jacks vegetables grew like Undergrowth's weeds and had completely overrun the once dead fields. People we laughing and goofing around since there hope had been rekindled. Ginta was telling anyone who would listen how they were going to save the world of MAR and how the people shouldn't give up hope. Nanashi was flirting with at least three girls at once, while Snow was drinking a strange drink that Danny was pretty sure was alcoholic.

But Danny himself was sitting alone separated from the rest of them. He had needed to think and was hardly touching his food. The evil feeling he had sensed right before leaving the cave was weighing on his mind. The spirit of the woman, since Danny never actually got her name, had told him that Phantom stopped visiting her after he died at the end of the War Games, but that he had started coming again. Could that presence he had sensed been the Phantom of this world. His power had seemed to be completely opposite of Danny's own, and if Danny was honest with himself, much stronger.

"Why aren't you partying like everyone else?" Dorothy asked as she walked over and sat down with Danny.

"I could as you the same thing." Danny joked though his face was still solemn and his eyes were looking towards the caves.

"Parties are not really my thing." The witch said with a shrug. "Besides, I didn't even get to fight one of the Chess Pieces because Nanashi felt like being a glory hog." She said throwing a glare to were the womanizer was laying down with three young women in his arms. "What's your excuse."

Danny was silent for a second but then he started with. "He killed her." This shocked Dorothy a little since there wasn't much context. "Phantom killed his own lover and bond her soul to that cave along with dozens of innocent civilians that just happened to be in his way. What kind of monster would do something like that."

"How do... the ghosts told you that?" Dorothy asked and Danny nodded.

"She said that he used to visit her every day and that he was once a kind man before he was marked by the zombie tattoo." Danny said. "I think she still loves him. Even after everything he's done. Why... Why does he get to be loved?" Danny didn't even realize there there was bitter jealousy in his voice until after he was done saying it. "So what are you doing outside of the Land of the Witches anyways? Ed said that witches usually don't leave even if the rest of MAR is going to hell."

"Well that dog should learn to shut up." Dorothy said angrily. "And as for why I'm here, a girl needs to have some secrets doesn't she?" Dorothy said playfully, but her eyes were even colder than Danny's.

"I guess so." Danny said not wanting to pry.

A moment passed before something interrupted the silence. "Snow Kick!" Snow shouted as she jumped up from behind Danny and aimed a kick at his head. Danny neatly leaned to the side and scooped the princess out of the air mid kick, holding her bridle style.

"If you want to sneak up on someone, you shouldn't shout." Danny said as the princess flailed around in his arms.

"Danny!..." Snow pouted loudly in a more childish than usual voice. "I'm bored, but you're only talking to Dorothy. Spend time with me!..."

"Looks like the little Missy has had to much Pupura juice." Nanashi laughed at the girl's antics earning him a mug to the face thrown by the little Missy.

Snow scowled at him as the whole village laughed at the bandit's misfortune. Then Snow turned to Danny again as she was still in his arms and asked. "Danny, can we do it?" It was as if a bomb shell went off. People were laughing everywhere and Danny was completely flustered.

"No! Princess you can't say things like that!" Ed shouted, Jack nodding in agreement.

"Quiet you two. Or I'll freeze you." Snow said giggling causing them to back away in fear. Then she turned back to Danny and continued to pout. "Come on, we did it ever night when we were alone back in the training gate."

"Wow, I didn't know you two kids were so far along." Dorothy giggling at the two. "Ginta, why haven't we done it yet?" She teased the blond boy who was shocked at seeing Snow the way she was and hearing that she and Danny 'did it'.

"Oh!" Danny said finally realizing what the princess meant. "Sure, we can do that." He said to the horror of Ed and Jack. But their horror disappeared as Danny set the princess down and reached into his dimensional bag and pulled out his guitar.

"Yay!" Snow shouted laughing all the while. Danny started to strick some cords and tuning his instrument.

"What, you mean you can actually play the guitar?" Ginta asked surprised.

Danny chuckled. "What, did you think it was only a bludgeoning weapon?" He asked causing Ginta to laugh too.

Then Danny started to play and the whole camp went silent. It wasn't a complicated song to play but it did have a soothing effect. Then Danny started to sing.

I remember tears streaming down you face when I said, I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost took your light...

I remember you say, don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight...

Team MAR was pretty surprised to hear Danny singing. But it was even more surprising when Snow joined in. Her voice was pretty and rich, despite her being drunk.

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright...

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe.. and.. sound...

The song continued for two more minutes and by the end Snow was nodding off to sleep, nearly in the middle of her own line.

Danny helped Ed lay her down on some blankets while the party continued. "She seems so peaceful." Ed said as the girl slept soundly. "The last few days, she's been happier than I had seen her since we fled the palace." The dog started chocking up. "She's been so scare, and yet she was always worrying about others."

"I know what you mean. The first few days in the training gate she was finding it hard to sleep, so I started playing her lullabies every night." Danny said patting the sleeping princess's head. "She's just a fourteen year old girl, but she's trying to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. This world's not good enough to deserve a ruler like her."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ed grumbled.

"Dress it up however you want. But the Chess Pieces aren't some foreign invaders." Danny said bitterly. "They are your own people. They even work for your queen. You think that a world that produces people like the Chess Pieces deserves a gentle soul like Snow's? Her own people are the ones that hunt her. And yet she wants to save them. Ginta keeps going on about how this is a beautiful and amazing world, but he's just fooling himself." Ed looked to the ground crestfallen. Danny sighed. "Though I guess Earth and the GZ aren't any better. A world is a world, evil is evil."

"But the question that will define the future of this world is; is a Phantom, a Phantom?" Ed said looking at Danny who didn't offer a response. "The man inside me trust you, Snow trusts you, Ginta seems to trust you. But I don't. You are the same type of thing as Phantom. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"Don't know? Do you really have a chose?" Danny asked back causing Ed to look to the ground again. "I'm not asking you to trust me. I don't even need you to. Just watch, and I'll show you who I am." Ed couldn't think of anything else to say. What could he say? He didn't like Danny, but he had to admit that Danny was strong, and unlike the others he seemed to be familiar with real combat. He was probably their best hope for overcoming the Chess Pieces in the War Games and beating Phantom. So Ed just got up and walked off.

Snow started to shift around in her sleep. "Mommy... Daddy..." She muttered clearly having a nightmare.

Danny placed a hand on her head. "It's alright, Snow. I'll watch over you." Danny said softly. "Just close your eyes, the sun is going down. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now. Come morning light, you and I'll be safe. and. sound..." Danny sang softly as Snow settled back down.


Dorothy was still at the edge of the party looking in as if she didn't belong. But Nanashi came up behind her. "It's times like this that make you remember that they are just kids." He said as they watched Ginta, Jack, and Babbo goofing off with some of the village children while Danny sat near the sleeping Snow like a faithful guard dog. "Hard to believe that they both took down Bishop class Chess Pieces just earlier today."

"I'm not surprised." Dorothy said shrugging. "I trained Ginta and Jack myself. And even if Jack is a moron, they both have a good amount of potential. Ginta's magical power grew faster than anyone I have ever seen before... But that Danny kid... he's another sort entirely."

"You sensed it to then?" Nanashi said glancing at the witch from underneath his bandanna.

The pink haired witch scoffed. "Of course I sensed it. How could I not sense it? His magical power grew to a level beyond my own for a few moments down in that cave." Dorothy said putting a finger to her chin. "I've heard legends about the power of those from the otherworld, but it should take a lot more than just one six month trip in a training gate to become that powerful, or else Ginta would also be there at that same level."

"Let's just be glad that he's on our side." Nanashi said leaning back and putting his hands behind his head. He was basking in the warmth of the party until he noticed the moon. His eyes widened. "Everyone!" He shouted getting everyone's attention, Princess Snow sat up with a start blinking the sleep out of her eyes. "The moon, it's like a mirror!" Nanashi shouted pointing at the moon.

And as the clouds cleared the rest of them could see it too. The moon showed an image of a creepy looking man in a black cloak with a more pin like robe hat. The man had yellowish skin and the one eye he showed didn't look healthy. There were words of panic through the crowd.

"To all those in MAR who hold a hatred toward us Chess Pieces." The man in the moon said, his voice sounding surprisingly normal considering he wasn't really there and he looked like some kind of rat. "We will begin the War Games yet again!"

"I knew they'd do this." Ed said. Others in the village were saying similar things all in hushed, scared voices.

"It will be held just west of the center of MAR, at Reginrave Castle." The man in the moon said. "Those who desire a battle with us, gather at that castle, which we have already prepared." A map appeared in the moon with instructions on how to get there. "We have not forgotten our enmity from six years ago! If no one appears, we'll turn MAR into hell!" The image of the man returned with a huge grin that made him look even weirder. "We'll be waiting for humans who will amuse us. Especially you, Babbo, being Phantom's ARM, and yet betraying the Chess Pieces. And its owner. That goes for the other Phantom who chooses to side against the Chess Pieces as well." Danny's expression hardened and Snow looked worried.

"Don't worry Snow, it doesn't matter what they know. We'll beat them all the same." Danny said grinning as he noticed her looking at him. She smiled and nodded.

"The game starts the day after tomorrow at noon. We'll be waiting." And with that the man in the moon vanished and the moon returned to normal.

"Lets go." Snow said loud enough to get all the members of team MAR's attention. "To Reginrave Castle." She said seriously, no more signs of her drunken state.

"Ye...yeah." Jack said nervously. "So no other place has to go through what Vestry went through... But then, can I do it when I was merely growing vegetables until the other day?"

"Don't talk like that Jack." Danny said standing behind Snow. "No second guessing. We will do it. It's that simple."

"With the Cross Guard dysfunctional, we can't look forward to too many people gathering at Reginrave Castle, however we have no choice but to go." Ed said.

"Who needs the Cross Guard? Now that you have me?" Nanashi said cocky as ever.

"I doubt you guys will let me get out of this, so I'm going too." Dorothy said proudly.

"Ginta!" One of the villagers shouted. "We'll restore this village to the best of our abilities."

"May we entrust this world's fate to you?" Another asked.

"As pathetic as it sounds, we don't have any power." Said a third. "But if it's you people who have the power to fight the Chess Pieces, you can give courage and hope to all of MAR."

"May we entrust the War Games to you? Ginta?" The second man asked.

Ginta grinned and nodded. "Leave it to us!" Cheers and shouts went through what was left of the village. Danny and Snow watched as Ginta was thrown into the air by the towns people who saw him as a hero.

"He sure does know how to work up a crowd." Danny said a little in awe.

"Ginta really is good at that kind of thing." Snow agreed. "Stirring up people's forgotten love of the world. Given them hope that truth and justice always wins in the end." Snow said chuckling. "That's Ginta's power. He gives people hope." Then she looked at Danny. "But... you're the one that gives me courage." She said embarrassing him. "Danny, thank you for everything."

Danny smiled. "Sure thing, Snow." He said the were pretty close to each other, but neither of them noticed. Tomorrow was going to be the day in which everything began.


It was almost noon on the day of the start of the War Games and things were looking bleak for the people of Reginrave Castle. The Cross Guard had yet to arrive and most of the normal guards that were still alive were injured from the Chess Pieces original attack. The few families that were remaining in the area had fled to the castle for safety since it would be a haven from Chess Piece attacks while the War Games were still in section. But if no one came to participate in the war games, then they would be the first to die.

"It's almost noon." One of the injured soldiers commented.

"Yeah, no one's coming." Another said in despair.

"Is this castle going to be torn down too?" Another asked worried.

"Of course. Sooner or later, all of MAR's going to be taken over by the Chess Pieces." The first guard said miserably.

But then cheers came from near the gate bridge. "The Cross Guard! The Cross Guard is here!"

"This many Cross Guard came!" Someone shouted in joy. A old man with gray hair in a brue uniform walked through the gates. He was easily distinguished among the group. "And look, it's the third man. Gaira!"

"The hero of the previous War Games! He's the one that brought victory to us along with Boss and Allan!" Another man shouted. More and more cheers went through the people who had gathered.

A boy with dark blue hair walked up before Gaira. The boy was around 16 with a white long sleeve shirt that covered a cursed tattoo. On his belt was a chain ARM, his 13 totem pole. On his shoulder was a small fairy with brighter blue hair. It took a moment for Gaira to recognize the boy but when he did he smiled at his old apprentice. "Alviss, it looks like Allan is not here." He said seriously. "I heard you've met him already."

A sad look passed over Alviss's face. He had seen Allan already, or the human form of Ed. But Allan hadn't gone to fight the Chess Pieces during their attack on the world. Allan had acted like a coward in the eyes of the young Cross Guard. Though Alviss hadn't realized that he had stayed behind so that he could keep the training gates open for Ginta and his friends.

"He's not com..." Alviss started but the sound of a certain loud mouthed kid cut him off.

"Did we make it in time!?" Ginta shouted as he ran through the gate into Reginrave Castle. Alviss was dumb struck at the appearance of Ginta. He had been the one who had used the Gatekeeper Clown which had brought Ginta to the world of MAR, but Alviss himself had quickly decide not to waste his time with the kid and left him to his own devices. "Man, this is a huge castle." Ginta said as he friends joined him. It just showed that his mind sight had not changed that much, even though the war had started.

"It looks very governmental." Snow agreed looking around.

"Maybe, but this place has probably seen better days." Danny said pulling Snow to one side as a bit of wall nearly collapsed on her. "But it doesn't even make the top ten of the most depressing castles I've ever been in."

"I've been here once to steal stuff before, so it was within Andarta's range." Nanashi said putting his hands behind his head.

"You go everywhere, don't you?" Ed said sarcastically.

"So, were are the Chess Pieces?" Dorothy asked looking around.

Jack looked around until he spotted Alviss. "Ahhh!" He shouted pointing at the older boy.

"Yo Alviss, long time no see." Ginta said greeting the Cross Guard member. He clearly had no grudge from there last meeting in which Alviss had turned Jack into a bird, beaten up Ginta, threatened to destroy Babbo, but then changed his mind and left because Ginta's powers of hope had convinced him to get Babbo a chance.

"Y... yeah." Alviss said. The thing that shocked Alviss the most was Ginta's magical power. It was easily on Bishop level even though Ginta had had no magical powers when they had last seen each other the week before.

"I still haven't forgiven him for turning me into a bird." Jack said angrily.

"Me neither, since he said something about destroying me." Babbo agreed.

"Where I come from, those are considered pleasantries. Like talking about the weather, or asking about how the kids are doing." Danny said crossing his arms. "You two need to stop sweating the small stuff."

"Danny, I think you have a weird definition of the small things." Snow giggled.

"Gaira, it looks like Allan is here." Alviss said pointing at Ed the dog. Gaira didn't seem to understand, as if he thought it was a bad joke.

The tower bells began to ring signaling noon and a beautiful woman with long black hair in a white dress walked out onto a balcony. "Everyone, thank you for coming to Reginrave." She said solemnly. "We sincerely welcome you."

"Princess!" Several of the onlookers shouted in admiration.

"Princess?" Ginta questioned not understanding why the princess was greeting them to the War Games.

"She is the Princess of Reginrave." One of the guards said.

"Why the princess here?" Ginta asked.

"I'd guess she doesn't have a chose." Danny said nearby. "She was probably given the ultimatum of put on a pretty show for the Chess Pieces or they kill everyone at the castle." Danny seemed to just be accepting that that was how things worked. But Ginta was practically enraged by the injustice. Snow couldn't believe how different there reactions were.

"We will now start the War Games." Princess Reginrave said as a large table appeared covered in red magical orbs. "But first, we will have a test to see if you are suitable for participating in the games. Those who are participating, please pick up a Magic Stone from that table."

Ginta was the first to grab one, quickly followed by Danny and Snow. But soon all the Cross Guard and team MAR had one, with the exception of Ed the dog who couldn't fight out of his human form.

After everyone had an orb the princess spoke a few short words. "Began the test." All of the magic stones began to glow and each of the participants were teleported way.


Danny found himself in a green swirling dimension. "Wow, I feel at home." Danny joked as he waited for something to happen. He didn't have to wait very long before a pawn was teleported in. It was a muscle bound idiot with large metal claw like ARM that would restrict his arm movement, even if they did act as arm guards. He was bold and had on one of the stander pawn masks. "You got to be kidding me? A pawn. One little pawn." Danny complained as the pawn rushed him.

Danny didn't even activate his ARM. He side stepped the pawn's assault, grabbed his arm and pulled him into a knee to the stomach. And then while the pawn was bending over, attempting to gasp for air through his mask, Danny laced his hands together and smashed down on the back of the pawn's head, sending him to the invisible ground for the count.

"Too easy." Danny said as he felt himself being teleported away again.


"They're coming back!" Ed the dog said excitedly as lights appeared in front of him. Moments later all of Team MAR and Alviss were standing in front of them.

"Piece of cake." Jack said holding up victory signs.

"Is everyone ok?" Snow asked concerned as always.

"It wasn't even a warm-up." Nanashi joked putting his arms behind his head.

Ginta was smiling at his team until he noticed that Alviss was looking all around desperately. "What's wrong, Alviss?" Ginta asked.

"None of the Cross Guard are back. Even Gaira isn't back." Alviss pointed out. And it was true. Out of all the Cross Guard, only Alviss returned.

Someone else started teleporting in and after the light cleared a small purple humanoid creature with two horns dress in a wizards hat was standing in front of them. "That has got to be the fourth most pathetic minion I have ever seen." Danny said looking at the goblin thing.

The goblin thing started to cackle. "Looks like everyone else couldn't make it back. This year's Cross Guard was no good." It said rudely. "I wonder if the strong ones died in the previous battles defending their cities. They were all garbage, no better than pawns."

"You... have no respect for the dead." Danny growled, his eyes flashing green. Snow grabbed onto his arm to stop him from doing something stupid. "Those people died for what they believed in. Could you say the same if we decided to kill you right now?" The goblin gulped and backed away a little.

"Danny, please save it for the games." Snow said but it was clear that she was upset too.

Alviss had more pressing concerns. "Where's Gaira? It's impossible for him to lose to a pawn."

The goblin began to cackle again. "Who said there were only pawns?" The goblin said. Light appeared next to him and a masked man with gelled up green hair stood next to the goblin. He had a knight earring piece. "There was one special Magic Stone that went to one unlucky person. He must have been that one."

"You're lying." Danny said glaring at the goblin. "I'm the most unlucky person in at least three worlds. There is no way that I wouldn't have been the one to grab that stone if it wasn't rigged." The goblin just laughed, feeling a lot safer with the knight standing next to him.

Lights appeared next to Alviss and Gaira reappeared sporting a terrible injury. "Alviss." Gaira panted.

"Gaira!" Alviss shouted seeing the condition of his teacher.

"This was unexpected... for me to be disqualified before the games started." Gaira said still in great pain. Snow ran up and started to heal him.

"He sure is the third in command from six years ago, that Gaira. He's alive after a battle with Chimera. I'll commend him for that. So..." The goblin said looking over the group. "Only these seven are the ones that passed."

"Count me too!" Babbo demanded but was ignored.

"So few. Didn't we have about 30 Cross Guards in the last games?" The goblin said. "And you're just a bunch of children. Phantom won't have fun with this."

"Make him have fun? We'll freak him out!" Ginta said pumping his fist. "Start the game already!"

"Don't get so excited." The goblin said chuckling. "Today was just the preliminaries. The War Games will start tomorrow. Have a wonderful night and savor the greatness of your remaining lives."

"I hate that thing." Danny muttered loudly. "I can already tell he's going to cheat all the time." But the others were more silent.

"Just the seven of us." Jack finally said depressed. "The War Games with just us? To be honest, I'm getting scared, Ginta."

"Danny..." Snow said grabbing onto Danny's sleeve. Worry was clear in her chocolate colored eyes. "Are we going to be alright?"

Danny just grinned. "None of that talk. We've already decided we are going to win haven't we. So we will just have to give it our all and find a way. And if we somehow lose, then we will find a way to save MAR anyways." Danny said confidently. Snow smiled as Danny's confidence boosted her own. "Don't worry, I'm right here with you."

"Thanks Danny." Snow said quietly.


Later that night inside of Regenrave castle the princess led them to a large rooms where they could stay, one for all the boy's and one of each of the girls. "Please spend the night here." She said still being the picture royal princess.

"Hey, you're this castle's Princess, right?" Nanashi said already crashing on one of the beds. "Why did you give the intro for the War Games?"

"It's for the sake of my citizens. If I do not follow their orders, the lives of those outside would be in jeopardy." The Princess said confirming Danny's suspicions. "In order to protect them, I'm willing to do anything. I am their Princess, after all." She finished with a sad smile.

Danny glanced at Snow who's eyes were downcast at the older Princess's words. "Yes, you're right." Snow said.

"Just remember that you don't have to do it alone, Princess Snow." Danny said causing Snow to blush.

Snow looked around and smiled. "Ed, have you noticed?" Snow said smiling.

"Yes, Princess." The dog said. "The seven people who would help you protect MAR." He said before starting to list them off. "Alviss, Danny, Dorothy, Ginta, Jack, Nanashi, and the man inside of me, Allan."

"I'm sure it will turn out just as the oracle said." Snow said smiling. "We will save all of MAR."


The song was 'Safe and Sound' by Taylor Swift.

Yes, people still view Ginta as the savior type more than Danny. He is more up beat and cheerful. Danny is more deep and independent.

Round one of the War Games is starting next chapter, and I will not be writing every fight in the same level of detail as they happen in the Anime/Manga since that would take forever and you can all just go look them up if you are interested.