My thanks to LittleDragonOfTruth for the inspiration of the menagerie scenes
Tomboy 601 :- want's them all in Gryffindor
Knight25 :- thanks for the review
FlyingShadow666 :- thanks for the review, my friend
Check out the Harry Potter books (the comic relief – fantastic beasts and where to find them has them all) to match the descriptions of animals to the names
Scale belly and Lizard lips were names given to Dinobot by Rattrap in the Beast wars cartoon (Dinobot used to call Rattrap 'that defecating rodent')
8) Prey bird, Scale belly and Firebird
The shopkeeper had managed to find three surviving Monster book of monsters books in a cage at the back of the shop.
Marik steps up to the cage "leave this to us" he tells the shopkeeper confidently, before reaching through the open top of the cage to grab a book, to attempt this is suicidal or at least with a disregard for having a complete collection of fingers, as the books cover forms a mouth with sharp fang like fastenings hanging down of the cover.
The shopkeeper clearly thinks that Marik is suicidal or insane or more likely both.
Marik glares at his chosen book and reaches into the cage, the book backs up growling before ignoring his hands and leaping at his head, fortunately Marik grabs the book in mid-leap, the book continues growling and snapping at Marik until he growls back even more threateningly, the book stops trying to bite him and whimpers, obviously intimidated.
Marik turns to the shopkeeper who is absolutely stunned and shrugs "you just have to know how to talk to 'em" he says
Bakura chuckles and steps up to the cage, picking out a book lying in wait, under an emerald coloured blanket, reaching into the cage Bakura dangles his own fingers as bait, however the book isn't fooled and the other book in the cage nearly takes Bakura's hand off, scowling Bakura adjusts his strategy and finally goads the selected book into attacking him, this time Bakura grabs it and quickly fastens it shut wrapping the blanket around it as a makeshift rope.
"Ha!" Bakura laughs "that'll teach it to try to trick a trickster"
The shopkeeper looks at him like he's mad, or he himself has gone mad (depends which way you look at it I suppose.)
Yami sighs and steps forward, the last book wasn't as vicious as marik's, nor as cunning as Bakura's but he could still sense its darkness.
"Its time to obliterate" he mutters as the millennium symbol glows on his forehead and he throws his arm out pointing at the book "mind crush" he says, invisible to the shopkeeper but perfectly visible to Marik and Bakura, the book freezes as the dark part of it's personality shatters and is sent in pieces to the shadow realm.
The now motionless book is easily scooped up by Yami 'I think that's all we needed' he says smoothly, they leave the befuddled shopkeeper behind and re-enter Diagon alley.
After Yami and Bakura relinquish control back to their vessels, choosing to return to their soul rooms, they decide to return to the hotel, after checking out the Magical Menagerie which from the look of it was a wizard's pet shop, with loads of weird and magical creatures.
Among the more normal of the creatures were owls, ravens, toads, cats (of all colours but black seemed to be the most popular) snakes, rabbits (admittedly giant sized ones that kept turning into an average sized top hat)and spiders of all shapes and sizes.
Among the more strange pets were gigantic snails that oozed an orange poisonous trail, something that looked like a cross between a frog and a monkey and that had a wicked set of teeth, a dog with a forked tail, a jewel shelled tortoise, a cat like creature that looks like a midget lion, that glares and hisses at Ryo and Marik for some reason, a lizard that upon closer examination shrinks down to a size that can't be seen by the human eye, and little furry balls with mouths that 'meeped' happily.
Stepping into the shop Ryo and Bakura (their in the same body remember) are instantly mugged by every cat in the place (except the lion like thing that doesn't like Ryo or Marik, or their Yami's.)
//The cats of this world, still recognisee their one true master, the Thief King// Bakura smirks.
"This always happens to me" mutters Ryo embarrassed as he strokes one of the cats.
:/He wants a cat?/: asks Ishtar critically
Bakura takes over from Ryo and shakes his head before whispering 'sorry' he seems generally apologetic 'I can't buy one of you' the cats slink away seemingly saddened.
"Can I help you?" asks the storekeeper amusedly, observing the effect Bakura has had on the cats.
"No than…yeah" says Marik changing his mind.
:/I don't want no stinking pet/: complains Ishtar.
"All these birds, owls and everything what are they for" asks Marik curiously.
"Post" answers the storekeeper surprised that they didn't know "almost any bird can be trained to carry post, but we generally favour owls, most postal birds can deliver letters to anyone anywhere in the world"
Marik grins "you wouldn't happen to have something with a little more bite do you? Like an eagle or hawk or something that could do that"
"Well we have one pedigree falcon and it's been trained as a postal bird, but its surly and bullies the other birds"
Marik grin widens, even Ishtar seems happy with this "we'll..I mean I'll take it"
Bakura steps up to the counter after Marik has received his falcon and falconers equipment "I'd like to see your snakes" he says as he peers closely at a tank containing a young boa constrictor, Ryo sighs and continues to be aware of the situation knowing that he'd have to put up with whatever snake Bakura decides to buy, "I like this one, it has a good feel about it" he says.
The snake lifts its head slightly giving the impression that it is glaring at him well I don't like the look of you! It hisses but I bet you'd feel good in my stomac.
Ryo is shocked that snake just talked to him and he understood it, Bakura frowns and in a low voice hisses back tough and besides scale belly, your to small to eat me right now Ryo suddenly realises that the snake and Bakura are hissing rather than talking, yet he can understand what they are saying.
The snake blinks you speak our tongue boy? It asks cautiously.
That's obvious isn't it? Asks Bakura who resists the urge to roll his eyes.
I have never met one who could speak to us, my ancestors spoke to wizards who could speak back, but I never believed I would speak to a lizard lips the snake replies eagerly.
Yes well Bakura seems amused I doubt you'd find another who could talk to you, apart from me so how about it? Want to come along with me? He asks.
"I'll take it" grins Bakura
//And nothing I say will convince you to change your mind// asks Ryo hopefully.
//I'm sure you'll learn to like it// Bakura reassures him //we can explain our situation to the scale belly here later//
//But you and it were talking and I could understand…//
//Later// Bakura says firmly as he drapes the five foot long, four inches wide snake across his shoulders.
"And you sir" asks the storekeeper hoping for a third sale "is their anything you've seen that you want?"
"Well I guess an owl would be useful" Yugi begins when a flash of fire occurs in front of him, causing everyone to jump back, an orange/red regal looking bird had appeared standing on the counter, looking at Yugi thoughtfully.
::Yami is…is that a Phoenix:: Yugi asks Yami at the same time as Ryo (who has control of his body given back to him by Bakura to try and get him used to their new snake) says "is that a Phoenix" in awe.
"Yes" breaths the storekeeper "I've read about them but I've never seen one before now"
::It appears to be:: says Yami cautiously ::do not fear Aibou from what I recall of Egyptian Phoenix legends they will never harm the pure of heart, Bakura and Marik had better be careful though::
"You mean it's a wild one?" asks Marik
"There's no other kind" states the storekeeper "they can inspire the pure of heart, and can become fiercely loyal to those who have earned their trust" he says "I believe this one has chosen you"
"Me?" asks Yugi.
::Who else?:: demands Yami as the Phoenix leaps onto Yugi's shoulder and nuzzles his cheek.
"You came into my shop, looking to buy a pet, instead you leave with a new friend, don't try to pay me for him" the storekeeper says "he was not mine to sell"
The gang regroup after buying everything they need that was on the list.
"Well that's everything" says Yugi scratching his new friend under the chin.
"We should probably get back to the hotel, your grandfather will be worried about us Yugi" says Ryo.
"Oh no! we never told gramps that the offer was for real!" exclaims Marik.
"Oh yeah" Yugi blushes "in all the excitement I forgot about telling him"
'Another more pressing problem' Bakura in spirit form tells them 'how do we get across London without attracting every ones attention?' he asks
'we have three cauldrons, a mountain of books, a set of Halloween costumes, a trained falcon, a phoenix and a snake, someone is going to notice us!'
Can they get back to the hotel and into their room before they tip the muggle world off about magic?