I'm sorry that this took longer to post then what I had originally though it was going to take. Work had ended up putting me on with more hours so it was hard to get around to writing this. Now I do work the next few days but I'm hoping to still finish this season but the end of July. I really honestly want to start Season One come August so I at least have a start before school begins again and I get supper busy.
Yes I am going to continue with all the seasons. For those of you who were curious about that. They will not be in this same Fanfic however. They will be under the names
Pieces of a Puzzle: Duelist Kingdom
Pieces of a Puzzle: Battle City
and so on and so forth, that way everyone knows what season it is and that the chapters don't go on forever.
If you would like me to doodle what Maria's figure looks like for the game let me know and I'll have it up on my deviantart page or post it on my profile here, let me know.
Reviews are great and keep me writing. Hope you all enjoy the beginning of the end for Season 0
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I stretched feeling each muscle pop back into place. The alarm continued to blare on the nightstand next to me. I opened my eyes slowly turning it off and recalling what had happened yesterday. I got dressed thinking about how Kaiba had gone to such lengths to get revenge on Other Yugi, and on top of that Yugi now knows about Other Yugi. I held my head in my hands after swallowing some of my medicine. It burned for a moment then stopped. I stood up and left the bathroom after finishing my morning routine and grabbed my school bag heading out for the day locking the door behind me.
Walking down the streets I tightened my grip on my bag listing all of our close calls that had happened during the Death T. Everyone had been so supportive of each other; I never thought I would ever have friends like that. I shook my head focusing on where my feet were going.
"Maria!" A smile fell on my face. Speaking of friends. I stopped turning to face them seeing the gang all walking up to me. I smiled and waved to all of them as we walked up to the gates of the school.
"Morning Maria-chan." Yugi said with his usual bright smile.
"Morning." I signed back to him seeing as we all passed through the gates of the school. Jounouchi seemed to be in a really good mood this morning as he laughed.
"Death-T has really made me feel confident about playing games!" He cheered. He stopped and flexed his arm laughing again. "I want to play a game with someone!"
"Damn . . . it's rare to see a guy as cocky as you." Honda said shrugging. "You didn't win the game by yourself."
"Yeah! We won with the power of our friendship!" Anzu said putting her hands on her hips. I gave her a look but kept my hands to myself.
"I-I know that!" Jounouchi pulled his bag to his shoulder and continued walking. Miho looked off the side and suddenly shouted.
"Bakura-kun spotted!" She cheered heading over towards him. I watched while Honda just watched her go. His eyes were sad but he didn't speak up. I placed a hand on his shoulder and smile to him.
"Bakura-kun, good morning!" Miho shouted catching up to him. He stopped then turned placing his hand on his chest.
"Nosaka-san." He greeted politely.
"Morning." Yugi said. We all crowded around.
"Hey!"
"Morning!"
"How's it going? Are you used to our school?" Yugi asked smiling to him. He suddenly looked to be in pain. What? "What's wrong?" Yugi continued concern in his voice.
"S-sorry. I'm going ahead." He said then ran off.
"Ah! Bakura-kun" Miho muttered clearly upset that he was leaving.
"I wonder what's wrong?" Anzu asked.
"It's obvious. He's headed for the bathroom." Jounouchi said. Miho suddenly slapped him and began yelling.
"Bakura-kun is not going to the toilet!" I've never seen her so angry.
"That's way too unreasonable!" Jounouchi shouted from the ground. I shook my head as we all made our way into the building and up into our classroom. I sat at my desk thinking about Ryou. He seemed to be in a lot of pain, could he also have a medical condition?
My shoulders slouched while I made my way outside while Anzu and Miho stretched for P.E. Due to my throat the teacher never let me do anything because if I were to have an episode the school would get into a lot of trouble so I had to change and then just stood on the side even though I was fully capable of doing everything. I turned hearing the boys instructor begin to yell.
"Hey, Jounouchi! Don't run so slowly!"
"I'm running fine!" He shouted back. Oh boy.
"Don't talk back! Start doing bunny hops!" The instructor yelled. I watched seeing Jounouchi having to put his hands behind his back and crouch hopping in that position. It looked painful. "Motou!Honda! For talking during a sacred time like class, you guys are bunny hopping too!" He shouted. I watched sadly as the three boys had to suffer the punishment.
"Transfer student!" What you can't even learn his name? I thought watching. "You're pretty gutsy to show up ten minute late to my class."
"I'm sorry . . . I feel a bit unwell." Bakura muttered.
"Don't give me such a transparent excuse. I bet you were screwing around with some girl. So, you're popular with the girls, eh?" He began.
"No! I really don't feel." Ryou tried to defend but was interrupted.
"Don't make excuses! 100 laps around the campus!" He said holding a fist in the poor boys face.
"Wait a minute!" Jounouchi yelled. "How can you do that to someone who said he doesn't feel well?!"
"What?" The instructor said turning around.
"Bakura really did seem sick this morning." Honda said standing up for him. I was proud of him. Honda knew that Miho really liked Ryou yet here Honda was defending him.
"That's true." Yugi chimed in. "Bakura-kun isn't someone who would lie."
"Yugi-kun . .. everyone." Ryou smiled.
"What is this? Friendship? It brings me to tears!" Sensei teased.
"What was that?! Why you!" Jounouchi yelled getting angry.
"It's dangerous to be this guy's friend." Sensei said again. "I'm sure you've heard. At his previous school, his friends would fall into comas one after another."
"That's just a coincidence!" Honda said stepping in.
"Maybe it's a coincidence, but it definitely happened. Hey, transfer student. Isn't that why you have no friends?" Does this Sensei not have a life?
"Bakura-kun, don't let that bother you." Yugi tried to cheer him up.
"That's why I keep transferring schools." Ryou said suddenly shaking his head. "All my friends become comatose. Everyone . . . Yugi-kun-tachi, it's best to stay away from me." I blinked. "I'm going to run." He said the jogged off.
"Maria! You coming!" Anzu yelled making me turn back and nodding catching up to her and Miho while they began to play a game of basketball. The class soon ended and we all changed heading back into our uniforms and headed up to the class room. Once we were seated the boys didn't waste any time filling us in.
"Karita, that jerk! He said that?!" Anzu shouted.
"How mean!" Miho said holding her hands in fists.
"Bakura pretended to be fine, but that probably stung." Jounouchi said sitting in his desk. We were all standing around him.
"Of course! So where is Bakura-kun now?" Anzu asked.
"He was feeling unwell, so he probably went home." Yugi answered.
"Karita, that bastard!" Honda yelled. "I can't stand it."
"At any rate, Miho will go home, then visit him!" Miho said happily swaying back and forth.
"I'll go too." Yugi cheered.
"Count me in." I signed thinking that it would be fun.
"Yeah! People losing consciousness is just a coincidence." Anzu said smiling.
"Alright! We'll get close and prove that!" Jounouchi cheered. We all agreed and decided to head over right after school. We all headed down the street going towards the apartment building that Bakura apparently lived at.
"This is where Bakura-kun lives." Yugi said when we came across a large apartment complex.
"Do you know what floor?" I signed seeing him shake his head no. So we headed up each floor and checked the nameplates by the doors. We made it to the sixth floor and found one that said Bakura.
"Oh, this is it!" Honda said happily. Yugi reached forward and rang the bell.
"Bakura-kun everyone is here." Yugi said happily while we all stood in the doorway.
"Welcome. I'm glad you all came." Bakura said. My eyes widened when our eyes met and I felt like my blood had gone cold. Something. . . something was very wrong here.
"I'm coming right in." Jounouchi said pushing forward blocking him from my view allowing me to move forward as well.
"Pardon the intrusion." Yugi said as we all took off our shoes.
"Are you okay?" Honda asked him.
"Yeah I'm fine." He said walking over to his desk.
"Thank goodness." Miho cheered. "I was worried since I heard Karita-sensei said terrible things to you."
"I'm used to it." He answered simply.
"But Karita suddenly fell over and was taken to the hospital." Anzu interjected. I hadn't heard that news.
"It's heavenly retribution." Jounouchi said with a smile. Is that really something to laugh at?
"Hey, Bakura-kun. These figures are from Monster World, right?" Yugi asked while the two of us looked in at the figures in the cases.
"Yup, I'm a big fan." Bakura explained.
"What's Monster World?" Jounouchi asked.
"It's a game that combines board games and role playing games." Yugi told him.
"What?! Game?! You've got my blood boiling!" Jounouchi said happily ready to play.
"Want to try? It's simple." Bakura offered.
"Yeah! Let's play!" Miho cheered.
"Shall we go to the game room then?" He asked motioning to a different door and opening it. "This is Monster World's battlefield." We all walked in seeing a large table with small models of a world. It was very impressive.
"Amazing." Jounouchi said awestruck.
"How exciting!" Miho bounced up and down.
"Now, let's begin the game." Bakura said sitting down. We all sat down and I noticed a dark look on his face feeling a chill do through me again. I didn't want to think about it. "Okay, let me explain the game rules. The players are split into a single dark master and adventurers. The dark master controls the evil monsters in this world. He tries to stop the adventurers. On the other side, the adventurers each have their own character, and fight against the dark master. And if they find the boss monster and defeat it, the adventurers win. If the characters are wiped out, the dark master wins." He explained in detail.
"It's just like the role playing games from TV games." Anzu said.
"That's right." Bakura nodded. "I'll be the dark master so you guys pick which adventurer characters you want. One of the figures is surely an offshoot of yourself." He said motioning to the cases.
"Alright." Jounouchi said and stood looking while the rest of us did the same.
"Role playing means to play a role. The players act as their characters and enter a world of adventures. That's what makes this game popular." He said.
"Doesn't it seem like Bakura-kun is a bit different than usual?" Yugi asked me softly from where we were standing. I nodded to him without looking at him to make it seem like I was focused on the task at hand.
"Oh! Doesn't this look like Miho?" She said pointing to one.
"Oh, Honda! This figure with the foolish face looks just like you!" Jounouchi teased. "Alright, I've picked my character!" Jounouchi said. Bakura began to type the information into the computer. I smiled looking down at the figure that did oddly enough resemble me in some ways. She had brown long hair in a brain but wore green clothes and a brown cape and hood. She looked adorable.
"Alright since you all have your figures I'm going to fill in your profiles."
" Yugi; race: Half-Elf, Class: Beast Tamer, Weapon: None, Equipment: Robe, Agility: 17, Intelligence: 18, Strength: 9, Courage: 18, LV1, HP 22."
"Jounouchi has Race: Human, Class: Warrior, Weapon: Short sword, Equipment: Leather armor, shield, Agility:16, Intelligence: 8, Strength: 20, Courage: 21, LV1, HP25."
"Honda is Race: Human, Class: Hunter, Weapon: Magic pistol, Equipment: Robe, magic bullets, Agility: 18, Intelligence: 10, Strength: 14, Courage: 19, LV1, HP 23.
"Anzu has Race: Elf, Class: Magician, Weapon: none, Equipment: Staff, robe, hood, Agility: 20, Intelligence: 17, Strength: 9, Courage:14, LV1 HP18."
"Miho is Race: Fairy, Class: Merchant, Weapon: None, Equipment: Robe, Agility: 17, Intelligence: 10, Strength: 9, Courage: 12, LV1, HP18."
"Finally Maria is Race: Fairy, Class: Robber, Weapon: Twin Daggers, Equipment: Cloak, Hood, Pouch, Agility: 21, Intelligence: 18, Strength:12, Courage: 14,LV1, HP24." Bakura said filling in the information from our character sheets. "Alright, all set up." We all placed down our figures and began the game.
"The adventure begins!" Jounouchi shouted.
"I'll enter your data into the computer. With this I'll be able to simulate the battle with the monsters. As game master, most decisions still lie with me. Alright, we're all set."
"Ah, what is this?! We're the only ones on the field!" Jounouchi huffed.
"One feature of this fame is that it's not obvious where the monsters are. The monsters appear depending on the players' actions and luck." Bakura explained.
"But we don't know anything about this world." Jounouchi said.
"Yeah, it's not clear how we should move to find the boss monster." Honda continued.
"The village. Going to the village and gathering information is an RPG trope. We'll gather information at the tavern." I signed seeing them nod. RPG games were what I use to play all the time with my friends back home. This was something I was very use to.
"Maria's right. Let's go the Village." Yugi said.
"Okay. It takes you guys 5 turns to arrive at the village." Bakura said while we all moved our pieces. Bakura reached over and pulled off the top of the village and there were figures inside.
"Oh, amazing!" Miho cheered.
"Alright! Let's gather some information already!" Jounouchi said moving his player into the tavern. "Hey! I'd like to ask about the monsters!" One of the figures turned around and Jounouchi and Honda began to laugh. "Look at this villager's figure!"
"The physique looks just like Karita's!" Honda laughed.
"Jounouchi!" The figure said. My eyes widened hearing the sound.
"Ah? Someone say my name?" Jounouchi asked.
"Nope." Honda answered.
"Please save me!" The figure began again. "He . . . Bakura changed me into a doll!" I could feel myself getting sick from the chill that crawled up my spine. Something was very wrong here.
"Oh? The figure talked just now." Miho sounded confused.
"Are you a fool?" Jounouchi asked.
"What?!" Honda yelled shoving Jounouchi back.
"Characters who aren't the adventurers are played by the master." Yugi explained to her.
"Then it's Bakura-kun that's talking?" Miho asked. Suddenly the figure began speaking again.
"R-recently the dark ruler, Zork, appeared. He took the castle. Since then, evil monsters have started appearing in this world. Many villagers have fallen victim." The figure told it's tale.
"What?! How unforgivable! Which was is the castle?!" Jounouchi shouted getting into it.
"When you leave the village, head north. But . . . be careful not to go through the woods. It's crawling with monsters."
"Alright! Let's leave the village. Our destination is Zork's castle." Jounouchi yelled.
"Oh. This is a monster area." Bakura said. "In front of you are monsters hidden all around. If you go over that area, a monster will appear." Yugi moved his piece and something happened.
"A monster has appeared." Bakura quickly spoke up. "This square is a goblin."
"I've been waiting for this! It ain't a game without this!" Jounouchi cheered.
"The battle is all done with these ten-sided dice." Bakura interjected.
"Ten-sided dice?" Jounouchi and Honda both looked at him confused.
"That's the first I've seen such dice."
"The white die covers the one position. The red die covers the tens position. You do more damage the closer you get to zero." He explained. "But if you get 99 . . . punishment awaits." My eyes widened and I inhaled a gasp. This was . . . a shadow game!
"Alright. I'll start." Jounouchi said happily tossing the dice. He rolled a 13. Bakura quickly typed it into the computer and brought up the results. "Okay. Direct hit." Jounouchi's character swung and defeated the goblin in one hit.
"Alright! Just one hit!" He shouted holding a fist.
"Jounouchi-kun, way to go!" Miho cheered.
"Alright, let's continue." Honda smirked. Everyone agreed in excitement as I sat there looking at Bakura. He glanced at me and I glared. I was onto this game, but sadly there was nothing I could do to stop it. We continued to move when there was a figure in our way.
"Ah. Someone's fallen over." Miho said.
"Poor thing. Let's help." Anzu said looking to us all.
"But how suspicious. It might be a trap." Yugi said.
"Let's help him." I signed picking him up.
"Everyone, please help me." The figure began to speak. I was attacked in the forest and my treasure was stolen."
"He mentioned a treasure!" Miho shouted.
"Yes. That treasure is the holy sword, the only thing that can defeat Zork." The doll spoke again.
"A holy sword that can defeat Zork?" Jounouchi repeated.
"Please! Retrieve that sword!" The figure pleaded.
"What should we do?" Anzu asked.
"Is it that easy to obtain a sword that can defeat Zork?" Yugi pondered.
"Treasure is always good!" Jounouchi shouted.
"But wait. The forest is where monsters dwell remember." I signed seeing them think about it.
"It'll be okay. Let's go!" Miho piped up.
"Alright, let's go to the forest." Jounouchi said.
"Thank you. Let me go with you." The figure spoke again.
"Okay, you guys enter the forest. The monster encounter rate in this area is 80 percent. Judgment roll." He tossed the dice and they landed on 5. "Five monsters appear." He said as the figures appeared. "You enter battle."
"Alright. I'll roll the dice." Jounouchi said getting things started." Jounouchi rolled and ended up getting an 82.
"82. Aweful. Joe falls over." Bakura said.
"Lame." Jounouchi muttered embarrassed.
"Leave it to me." Honda said rolling. He ended up getting a 21.
"21. Direct Hit." His character shot and the monster was destroyed. Miho ended up flinging herself on him in a hug.
"Honda-kun!" She cheered.
"My turn next." Yugi said rolling the dice.
"25. A Beast Tamer can turn one enemy monster into a comrade. It has a 50% success rate." Bakura explained.
"Alright you." Yugi picked. "Glove Hand." Yugi used the attack. When the attacked ended the monster turned into a cute little creature. "Alright! We've got another ally!"
"Alright. Me too!" Miho said rolling.
"76. The merchant finds money." Bakura said.
"Alright!" She cheered.
"Three monsters left." Honda said.
"My turn next." Anzu picked up the dice and rolled.
"Anzu, you can do it!" Yugi cheered for her.
"00! It's a supercritical hit!" Bakura said. "Despite being an apprentice class, you let loose a killer move.
"Apprentice final big bang!" Anzu cheered placing her attack. All three monsters were destroyed.
"Amazing!" I signed to her happily. That had been a great roll!
"You blew away three monsters in one hit!" Jounouchi said.
"You did it, Anzu!" Yugi smiled to her.
"This is the power of a supercritical!" She said. "Alright, let's move forward."
"So you guys are the adventurers trying to defy me?" The figure who had joined our party said. "But your luck came to an end when you entered this forest! I'll bury you all now!"
"What! Just who are you?!" Jounouchi yelled.
"My name is dark master Zork!" It said while the figure changed into a menacing monster. "Alright, let me tell you. There is no sword in this world that can defeat me!"
"The players were caught completely off guard." Bakura said. "They are completely defenseless. They get hit by Zork's preemptive attack."
"You bastard! You tricked us!" Jounouchi shouted in anger.
"Zork attacks." Bakura tossed the dice and rolled and 00. "Supercritical hit. Zork uses his dark power to attack a player. You are the target!" He shouted pointing at Miho. "Soul body transfer!" Miho suddenly passed out and fell over. So, the shadow game begins.
"Miho!"
"What is it, Miho?!"
"Bakura-kun, what have you done to Miho-chan?!" Yugi yelled standing up along with Honda and Jounouchi.
"You guys are participating in the ultimate role-playing game. The players' fates are all decided by the dice. When hit by Zork's supercritical hit. . . or when you roll a 99 the power of darkness traps the player's soul into the figure." Bakura explained.
"Bakura! Explain what's happened to Miho-chan!" Honda growled out. He did, and it's going to get worse.
"Don't worry, Nosaka Miho is alive. In the game world, that is."
"What . . what happened to me. Why has everyone become so large?!" We all looked down hearing Miho's voice come from the figure. She looked completely panicked as the figure came alive. Miho then began to scream.
"Miho-chan!" Yugi yelled.
"There is one way to retrieve a soul." Bakura began again. "Defeat dark master Zork."
"Miho-chan! I'm going to save you right now!" Honda yelled. He rolled and got a five.
"Honda-kun. It wasn't your turn to attack just now. Your game manners are awful!" Bakura shouted. "Let me show you what happens when you roll a dice without the master's permission!" Honda fell over and that only meant that his soul was now also trapped in a figure.
"Honda-kun!" Miho said looking to him.
"Miho-chan."
"Bakura, you bastard!" Jounouchi yelled. "Okay, let's continue the game. Next." He said looking to me. I picked up the dice and rolled.
"10, The Robber steals two items from Zork." I nodded but was slightly upset that I didn't get to attack.
"My turn!" Jounouchi picked up the dice. "I'll get a supercritical!"
"Your hand is shaking." Bakura pointed out smirking to Jounouchi. "You can't help it. You might also eternally end up a figure, after all. But if you roll the dice in fear, you'll never get a good result."
"Shut up! I'm not afraid! I'm shaking with anger!" Jounouchi said but I saw his eyes, he was scared.
"That's for the dice to determine." Bakura said smugly.
"Jounouchi, you can do it!" Anzu said.
"99! No way! I'm afraid!?" He sounded shocked and angry at the same time.
"The dice do not lie." Bakura seemed to want to rub it in. "Punishment game!" Jounouchi's body slumped down adding to the list and his figure on the field became alive.
"Damn it. Believe me! I wasn't scared!" He said but sounded honestly upset.
"Next is Yugi-kun. Your turn." Bakura said. "What's wrong. Are you scared too?"
"First Bakura-kun, transfer my soul to my figure." He said making my eyes widen. Is he . . . going to let Other Yugi take over?
"What?! You will become a figure of your own volition?!" Bakura said surprised.
"Yugi!" Everyone shouted.
"I want to fight with everyone on the field." Yugi said.
"It can't be!" Bakura hissed.
"Me too! Turn me into a figure too!" Anzu yelled. I smiled to them then glared to Bakura.
"We're going to fight together." I signed.
"Very well. I'll grant your wishes. But, if there's no one left to roll the dice, your power becomes zero. You have no chance of winning." Bakura said sure of himself.
"Hurry!"
"Yeah!"
"Fools! This is game over!" He pointed to all of us and an odd sensation traveled through me and then I was down on the field as my figure. "Now all the players have become figures! That means I, the master, wi-"
"Oh really? Let's continue the game." Other Yugi said smirking to Bakura. "On this turn I roll for the warrior. 03, hit." Jounouchi ended up jumping and slashed Zork.
"Didn't I say so?! I'm surrounded by friends who I can trust! There's no way I'd be afraid."
"Don't worry. Your lives are in good hands." Other Yugi said looking down at us. "I will defeat Zork."