From Darkness To Light: Welcome to the Bonzyard Part 1
By Asher Tye
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I wish I did 'cause then I'd be rich. Since I'm not, suing me would be pointless. Thanks bunches for all the reviews. I can't wait to see the reviews for this chapter. Also, I don't know the names of the Egyptian Gods' attacks, so I figured I'd use a few of my own.
Summary: Bonz is back and looking for revenge against Bakura. Meanwhile, Aza begins teaching Mokuba how to control his elemental powers. Will it be enough to save them from the undead duelist's wrath.
- Personal Thoughts
- Yugi to Yami
- Yami to Yugi
Telepathic communication
"Where... Where are we?" Bonz said, looking out from behind some rocks that hid their hiding place. All across the landscape, burning flames and darkness fell everywhere, all in all a typical day for the dark abyss known as the Fiend's Quarter. Before them sat a road of blackened gravel.
"How am I supposed to know numbskull," Syd hissed, emphasizing the point by striking his knuckles on the younger boy's head. "That freak job coulda sent us to the moon for all I know!"
"I don't think dey have monster like dat on the moon, Syd," Zygor said. "Dose was duel monsters. And dey didn't look dat happy ta see us."
"Brilliant deduction moron." Syd looked down at Bonz. "This is all your fault you little maggot. Why I let you talk me into that stupid plan with the graveyard is beyong me."
"My fault?!" Bonz cried. "It was your idea to even enter the Battle City Tournament, remember. You wanted to prove.." Bonz didn't get to finish as Syd hit him squarely in the jaw with a hard right.
"First you loose to that hack at Duelist Kingdom, then some dope out-creepies you in your own home... You gotta be the most worthless piece of human trash I ever met. Why Kieth even let a creepy little wierdo like you into the gang in the first place."
"Yeah," Zygor said. "All you ever do is whine about how everything isn't your fault."
"Well, I've had enough! I'm not about to die thanks to one of your dumb mistake you little twerp." Suddenly, Syd grabbed Bonz's arms. "Zygor, get his legs." The bigger teen complied, shrugging it off as Bonz kicked and struggled.
"Let go of me you jerks!" Syd and Zygor moved slowly out from behind rocks, Bonz dangling between them. Slowly they began to swing him, once, twice, and on the third sent him flying. The skull-faced boy tumbled and rolled before comming to a stop on the road. Quickly he righted himself.
Before he could get himself to his feet, however, another fist slammed into the back of his neck, driving him back to the ground.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" a sinister voice said from behind him. Bonz could hear the growling, snarling sound of some kind of beast standing in front of him. "Are you a little spy perhaps? Maybe someone's idea of a saboteur?" The sound of sniffing could be heard as Bonz felt himself being roughly turned over, only to come face to face with the living embodiement of the Master and Expert monster card. The Master's eyes widened a little as he saw Bonz's face. "Are you even still alive?" Suddenly, he heard the sound of rocks shuffling and looked up just in time to see two more human forms running away. "Oh I see, you were just a little sacrificial lamb to help those two oafs get away. I must say with tactics like that, those two might have been useful in Lord Zoa's army."
"Let me go you creep," Bonz yelled as he swung his fist at the distracted Master. Unfortunately, though the Master was indeed distracted, the Expert was not. The bestial monster's powerful jaws slammed down on Bonz's arm. The ashen faced boy could almost hear it as his flesh tore under the monster's sharp teeth. Casually, Master looked back at his pet's bloody face.
"Now now, Expert, you know first choice belongs to Dark Lord Zoa," Master said, looking from Bonz's bloody and torn arm to his face. "Though I seriously doubt his lordship will want such a sickly poor speciman." With that, Master tied both Bonz's arms and legs together before tossing the boy into his nearby wagon. Had Bonz been able to see through the pain in his arm, he would have noticed he was not alone and the wagon was occupied with several other bodies, some alive, some dead, all bound and helpless. With a painful jolt, the wagon began to move, continuing on it's long journey.
The sun hung low over the land, it's red rays silhouetting the forest as the clacking of a wagon could be heard. The wagon moved slowly through the forest, the Celtic Gaurdian sitting in the driver's seat, Seto Kaiba beside him playing lookout. Every so often the young CEO looked to the back of the wagon. Though it did carry the few trunks and cases they'd managed to save in their flight from Rimulder, it was not the possessions Seto was interested in. It was his brother. Mokuba had shed his dress (so had Marik) for his old clothes and was now sitting down with his legs crossed, his hands crossed in his lap, and the wind whipping through his long hair as he concentrated. Accross from him, Aza sat, his legs also crossed and a stern look on his face as he watched Mokuba in silence. Tea and Angella sat on the wagon's back, their legs dangling off the edge. Yugi was laying down between them, his eyes, apparently, closed, partially to regain the energy that had been lost the day before, and partially to be able to look the girls over without getting yelled at. The others were busy walking alongside the wagon. Suddenly, Mokuba let out a huge breath as his head fell down to his chest.
"This is soooo boring," Mokuba said.
"You're giving up after only three hours?" Aza asked.
"Three hours of nothing. That's gotta be the most boring thing I've ever done in my life." Mokuba looked down at his hands. "Nothing is happening, nothing. If I'm supposed to be Exodia's reincarnation or whatever, shouldn't this be easier?"
"Nothing in life is ever easy, particularly magic," the Spirit of Books said. "And though you may possess Exodia's power, I'm afraid you lack the memories that go along with it. It will take time to remaster your control over the elements. Now, please bring your hands back into position and continue your exercises." Mokuba complied. "Good, now, feel the currents of air swirling around you, sense it going around you, in you, through you."
"Fine." Once more Mokuba closed his eyes, concentrating as his teacher commanded.
"What is this supposed to do for my brother?" Seto asked.
"Since my natural element is wind, I felt it would be easiest to begin with. Done correctly, he should be able to control and manipulate air, as well as minor weather patterns."
"Utter nonsense."
"Your friends wield the powers of Millenium Items and you find this hard to believe?"
"I am willing to believe in the possibility of the power of the Millenium Items, but I'm not about to believe in new-age nonsense about controlling things with
your mind. Next you'll be telling him to unlock the spirit within."
"It is nothing so simple, Mr. Kaiba. Mokuba has the power within his spirit to manipulate the elements, to even use them in concert with each other. The
problem lies in his lack of memory on how to do it."
"So when I do this, I'll be able to make wind, tornadoes and stuff like that?"
"Very basic skills, but yes, such will be granted you, though it is somewhat disconcerting to hear you talk solely of the offensive powers you'll gain."
"What else is there?"
"Well, by manipulating the currents of air around his body, Exodia gained the power to move at super-speed, and even fly. That said, the same should be
true for you."
"Fly? You mean I can fly?" Mokuba said, a glimmer of hope comming to his violet eyes.
"Well yes. As you gain control over each of the elements you formally had mastery of, you'll find new powers that serve in more than a simple offensive
ability. Earth, for instance, grants you an improved defensive ability. And by controling the currents of air, yes your body should be able to move through it with
extreme ease." Mokuba had actually stopped listening to Aza after hearing the word yes, returning to concentrating on feeling the energy of the air, the prospect of
flying rekindling his interest.
"Um Aza?" Joey asked.
"Yes Mr. Wheeler?"
"What's wit' the trees?" The Spirit of Books looked up to view the forest surrounding them. Indeed the trees were no longer green and full, but instead
were barren and black, as though they had been charred.
"Elrond, how long have the trees been looking like this," Aza said, a hint of worry in his voice.
"For about an hour now. I guess you and Mokuba were too busy concentrating to notice."
"What's the big deal about some of the forest suffering a flash fire," Bakura said. "It's just a few plants."
"If this is natural, I won't be worrying so much, but I'm afraid this could be much worse," Aza began to rumage through one of the bags he'd brought along,
pulling out a rolled up piece of paper. The birdman unrolled what soon proved to be a map. "Oh dear, it's just as I feared."
"What?"
"I was hoping we'd be able to go around this particular landmark. We're in Pyre Forest."
"Pyre Forest?" Angella said, looking over Aza's shoulder at the map (and simultaneously kicking Yugi in the face by accident). "Are you sure? I thought
Pyre was miles away from here."
"The chase with Valdis helped us make exceptionally good time. This is definitely Pyre Forest."
"Excuse me, what is this Pyro Forest?" Yugi asked.
"PYRE Forest is a section of the forest that was cursed long ago. It was the site of a monsterous battle between to wizards and their armies. The battle
lasted for days before the wizards summoned two massive firestorms to destroy their enemies. Both armies, the forest, and their fortresses were reduced to
cinders."
"That's awful."
"For the longest time, people tried to clean up the mess; get rid of the corpses, get the road through working again, but it was not to be."
"Yes, the burned forest never regrew. We heard much about it back home in Elfsgard."
"But that wasn't the worst part of it, I'm afraid," Aza continued. "The spirits of all those who died in the fires still dwell within these shattered woods,
thousands and thousands of tortured souls that have become warped and twisted with time spent in such captivity. Undead creatures roam this dark wood, hence
why I wished to avoid it all together."
"Perhaps we should turn around then," said Tea, taking a few nervous glances around to be sure no monsters were creeping up on them.
"It wouldn't do any good, I doubt we'd be able to get out of this forest before nightfall."
"And going backwards will just detain us more," Seto interrupted.
"Ain't you listening at all, this place is crawling with zombies an' ghosts." Had Joey looked around, he might have noticed a small animal suddenly take off from the bushes behind him.
Deep within Pyre Forest, Bonz was quite busy loosening the soil of one of the bare patches where the fire that had destroyed the forest had been the worst. Behind the ghostly boy a rather large pile of blackened bones could be seen, the result of several hours of toil. Sunddenly, Air Marmet of Nefariousness landed on Bonz's shoulder, chirping and chattering in the boy's ear.
"What?! They're here already? I'm not done yet?" Bonz said in a clearly distressed voice. Quickly Bonz reached into the dark, smelly robe he was wearing and pulled out one of the cards Zoa had given him. "Call of the Haunted?" Bonz could almost remember how much this particular card had meant to him back on Earth. It seemed kinda weird to him now, especially considering that it was just a simple piece of laminated paper. This one couldn't even work here. "All right, so we'll just have to do this quickly." In a single motion, Bonz pulled a second card from his robe. "STORM OF THE UNDEAD!" The card exploded over the collection of bones which slowly began to sink back into the earth as Bonz concentrated on the magical energy.
"ARRGH," Bonz cried as he slammed into a wall for what seemed the fifth time. His clothes were torn almost to shreds and his pale body was covered in bruises, cuts, and scraps from the treatment he'd been recieving. His arm had not even been allowed to heal from Expert's tearing bite. He quivered and shook in fear trying his best to recover from the impact with the wall. Slowly Bonz climbed to his knees only to feel a huge clawed hand grab the back of his head and shove him face first into the brick wall, breaking his nose. Nearby, Dark Necrofear grinned as he watched the young boy's discomfort.
"You know, you can end this little ordeal, boy. Just tell me what I want to know and you can go back to a nice comfy cage," Dark Necrofear said. Behind him, Bonz could hear the growling sound of the Ushi Oni demon that was... handling him. The pain coursing thoughout his body was tremendous, but Bonz had long since screamed himself out. Tears mixed with the blood on his face.
"I'm... I'm telling you... I don't know."
"Oh come now, you expect me to believe that you don't know how you were able to traverse the barrier between our worlds? Do you believe I'm stupid? Ushi Oni teach this filthy little gutter rat the error of his ways." The bull-like fiend let go of Bonz's head, letting the boy fall to the ground before grabbing one of his ankles. Bonz struggled as best he could, but to no avail. He felt another clawed hand grabbed the same leg closer to his hip.
"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Bonz screamed as Ushi Oni slammed the limb across his gut, snapping the bones of the leg. Bonz was still screaming as his tormentor let him drop to the ground in a whimpering heep.
"I can keep this up all day brat."
"Please... I'm telling the truth. I was... I was in a duel with this white-haired guy. He said something... something about a Shadow Game; that's... that's all I know, honest."
"You're lying, I know it," Dark Necrofear said. In response, Ushi Oni grabbed Bonz other leg. "No no, you dumb horn head. I think this calls for something a little more... drasitc." Dark Necrofear's head lowered so he could look at his upside down captive straight in the eyes. A blue hand roughly grabbed Bonz by the hair, ripping a few of the midnight blue strands from his scalp. "Hold him steady Ushi, I want to enjoy his screams," Dark Necrofear said as one of his clawed fingers rose to carress Bonz's cheek. Bonz watched in fear as the finger roamed over his face, Dark Necrofear licking his lips. Without a word, the claw came to a point right in front of the boy's left eye. Suddenly, Bonz's face was white hot with pain as Dark Necrofears entire finger shot forward, it's sharp claw piercing the milky white orb.
Bonz shook his head banishing the memory from his mind. The spell was nearly complete, and remembering what Dark Necrofear had done to him was not helping him. Beneath him, the ground was now moving and shifting. He smiled a little as his eye glowed in the darkness of the new night sky, the power given to him charging through his body. "All right, go and do what you do best."
Meanwhile, Yugi and company had made camp beneath the scorched trees. Elrond had managed to get a fire started while the others were busy chewing (or should I say choking) on some of the dried rations their guides had brought with them.
"Blech, dis stuff tastes horrible," Joey said spitting out the meat he'd been eating.
"You have no idea what horrible tastes like, Wheeler," Bakura said. "When I was young, this would be considered a great meal." Bakura took a look at the meat he'd just bitten. "Still I'd give my right foot for a roasted rabbit, or a chicken."
"I wouldn't trust anything from this forest," Yami said. "This whole place stinks of death. I'll be most happy when we're all out of here."
/You and me both Yami,/ came Yugi's comment, causing Yami to smile. The once Pharoah turned to Bakura.
"You know, if you don't like the food, you could surrender control of that body back to it's REAL owner for a while."
"I'm the real owner of the body," Bakura said venomously. "Still, this is the kind of task for which Ryou is helpful." Within less than a second, Bakura's menacing features disappeared, replaced by the much gentler visage of Ryou. The English boy's gentle face suddenly skewed, however, as he tasted what was in his mouth.
"He did it to me again, didn't he?"
"Yep, sorry about that."
"I hate it when he leaves me holding the bag."
"Of course you do," Seto said. "But you're just a whiny little wimp so there's really no chance your situation will change."
"Oh real nice Kaiba, you're a real friend."
"I'm not his friend, and that's what allows me to speak the truth about him," Seto said after swallowing a bit of his dinner. "If I were you, I'd take that stupid looking thing off and nail it to a wall, give that parasite a few days to reflect on how difficult it is to move a piece of jewelry when one has no hands."
"Everytime I try to get rid of it, the Millenium Ring keeps calling me back to it. I... I just can't resist."
"Then maybe you should try building up some backbone first." At these words Ryou's face fell.
"Don't let him get to you," Tea said. "He doesn't mean it." Tea ignored the snort from Seto.
"Yeah yeah, that's what everyone says." Suddenly, Ryou noticed the fire had started to get low. "Do we have anymore wood for the fire?"
"I'd like to conserve the wood we brought with us," Elrond said. "But I really don't recommend trying to find any wood in this forest."
"Still, we should try." Ryou got up, brushing off the dirt from the back of his shorts.
"It may not be safe."
"Don't worry, I won't go far."
"I'll come with you," Yugi said, taking over control of his body from Yami. "It won't be as dangerous with me and Yami along."
"Thanks Yugi." The two teens left the campfire. It was then that a gust of wind passed through the camp, ruffling Aza's feathers and whipping Mokuba's hair.
"What did you say?" Mokuba asked, turning towards Aza.
"I didn't say anything Mokuba."
"Seto?" His elder brother shook his head. "Joey?" The blonde teen's mouth was full of food. "Anybody?"
"Mokuba no one said anything."
"But I could swear I heard..." Mokuba stopped see the looks the others were giving him.
"Heard what?"
"Nothing... It was probably just the wind." This seemed to satisfy most of the travelers, though Aza continued to look at Mokuba with interest.
Yugi and Ryou hadn't really had much success finding wood, very little wasn't charred and blackened, and it was steadily getting on Yami's nerves.
"It's amazing, there's barely any plantlife here at all," Ryou said. "You would think after all these years, something would be at least trying to reclaim the forest."
"Maybe it's like Aza said and this place really is cursed," Yugi said as he bent over to retrieve a small branch that looked promising. Ryou was doing the same.
"That's kind of sad, I bet this place was really beautiful once upon a... a... AHHHH!"
"Ryou what's wrong?" Yugi looked at his friend who was screaming at something in his hand. The King of Games's eyes widened as he saw what Ryou held. It was a long white arm with knarled fingers. The short boy jumped back as Ryou tossed the skeletal arm back to the ground. "I guess that's part of the old battlefield."
"Yugi, look!" Once more Yugi looked to see what had distressed his friend. On the ground, the hand and arm Ryou had just discarded was actually beginning to move. It's fingers flexed and crunched as it turned over to pull itself upright and "stand" on it's fingers. Like a spider it sped straight to Ryou grabbing one of his ankles like a vice. "What the..."
"We've got a problem," Yugi said as he looked around. More hands were appearing from the ground, only now they were attached to more than simple arms.
"Zombies... Dozens of them!" Ryou said. As he spoke, the undead monsters swiftly began to surround the boys. One of the skeletal zombies leapt, making a swiping grab for Ryou.
"Spellbinding Circle, GO!" Yami called as a circle of light ensnared the bony attacker. "RUN!" The once Pharoah commanded as he dashed through the opening created by the trap.
Bonz smiled as he watched his Skull Servants attacking Yugi and Ryou.
"Excellent my servants, make the white-haired freak pay," Bonz growled. His smile faded a little when Yami used his trap card, but it quickly strengthened again as he saw them begin to run. "Okay, time for the next part of my plan."
"They're popping up everywhere!" Ryou cried as he looked through the dark forest at the ominous shapes rising from out of the ground around them.
"Don't focus on that now, we have to get back to warn the others. WOBAKU!" Yami yelled as a group of three ethereal women rose to block the attacks of five of the zombie monsters. This didn't help them, however, when three more Skull Servants appeared right in front of them, baring their way. Yami fell as he tried to avoid the clubbing fist of one of the skeletons. The duelist looked up to see the same servant preparing to strike him again. Yami was saved, however, as a silver sword cleaved the skull in two. The sword slashed again taking out the other two zombies.
"It would seem this forest is more lively than we first thought," Elrond said as he gripped his sword harder. "We need to leave, now."
"My thoughts exactly," Yami said as he gazed out into the forest. Where once there had been only a few dozen zombies, now there were easily a hundred, not good odds by any stretch of the imagination.
"Undead Ungeant!" Aza cried as he threw two vials at Yami and Ryou, covering them in a gooey liquid.
"What is this stuff?"
"It'll protect you from the zombies, at least for a while. Now run back to the cart so we can get out of here!"
Back at the camp, the others were busy fighting off the invading army of skull servants as best they could. Everytime they knocked one down, however, the bones would reform into some new shape and continue the assault. Seto had roughly tossed his brother into the back of the cart and was swinging a fiery branch at the zombies as they came forward. Marik's Millenium Rod was a blur as he smashed bones all around him, trying to keep the monsters from rebuilding themselves,
Joey kicking the pieces and scattering them. Yami, Elrond, and Ryou appeared quickly, Elrond's sword a flash of steel as it cut through the skeletal warriors.
"Everybody, into the cart!" Seto Kaiba commanded as he grabbed the reigns of the oxen and jumped into the driver's seat, Angella sitting beside him. Elrond jumped into the back with everyone else, his sword still out as he swatted at any of the skulls that dared get too clost to the cart.
"We're in!" Yami cried.
"Hyah hyah!" Seto called as he got the two oxen moving and the group began to make their escape.
Air Marmonet of Nefariousness landed once more on Bonz's shoulder. The ghostly boy stood in the very center of Pyre Forest, at the center of the clearing where in most of the monsters of the two armies had perished during the blaze set by their masters. The mousey monster chittered and chattered as it described how the battle had gone. Bones of all shapes and sizes surrounded the boy as he listened to "his" spy. In truth the flying rat was Zoa's and was more there to make sure Bonz didn't screw up... or find some way to escape their master's control.
"Now with any luck the Skull Servants will be smart enough to drive those fools here, then I'll be able to use my real monsters to nail 'em," Bonz said as behind him, a Dragon Zombie growled in agreement as more zombies pulled themselves from the ground. The monsters moved towards Bonz nipping a little at him. The human had to remember to keep these creatures at arms length, zombies were carnivorous afterall, and the last thing he wanted to be was dinner. A sharp kick got the undead dragon to leave him alone, even if it did hurt somewhat. Bonz's attention was diverted as he heard the thunderous sound of hooves slamming on the ground. "Great, they're here already." A small drop of sweat had formed on Bonz's forehead as he saw the oxen pulling the cart containing his enemies break into the clearing.
"Arise my TEMPLE OF THE SKULLS!!!" The ground trembled and shook as the entire perimeter of the clearing erupted with a wall off bones blocking all exits. The startled animals made a sharp turn, sending the cart tumbling. Ryou found himself sprawled out on the ground spitting up the dirt that had gotten into his mouth. A shoe stamped down right in front of his face. The white haired boy looked up to see Bonz sneering down at some. "So we meet again."
"Who... Who are you?" An angry look came over Bonz's face as he looked down at Ryou.
"Who am I? WHO AM I!?!" Bonz delivered a sharp kick to the English boy's face. "After what you did to me, you have the gall to say that to me!" In response to Bonz's agitation, Zombie Dragon lept into the air followed closely by a deadly Dokurider. The blazing fire of a dozen Flame Ghosts lit up the area, giving the dark arena a very creepy quality
"All right, who's the butthead who threw the wall at us?" Joey cried as he pulled himself free of the crashed cart. He looked around and was astonished at the dozens and dozens of zombies that had pulled themselves free of the dirt and grime. "Woah, who left de crypt doors open."
"It looks like everything that ever died in this forest has come back to life just to tear us limb from limb," Tea said fearfully. Then she noticed Bonz as he kicked Ryou. "Guys look!"
"Hey creep, stop kicking our friend!" Joey said as he tackled Bonz. Suddenly, the blonde's nose was assaulted by the putrid stentch of rottening flesh. Two blue hands erupted from the ground on both sides of Bonz's head, grabbing Joey's arms. Soon Joey found himself staring into the four eyes of a three-legged zombie. "Dis is just way too gross!"
"Maybe this will teach you to mind your own business blondie, ha ha ha ha." Bonz looked back to the others. "You all might as well give up. I've got two armies worth of undead to draw warriors from. By this time tommorrow you'll all be prisoners of Master Zoa." Bonz then turned back to Ryou. "Except you... You'll be dead so you can burn where you belong for what you did to me!"
"Did to you?" Ryou said, pulling himself to his knees. "What did I do to you? I don't even know you."
"LIAR!" Bonz yelled. "SHADOW SPELL!" Once more the ground erupted, but this time it was not bones or bodyparts that came forth, but chains made of black iron. The chains wiggled and wound their way around Ryou's arms, legs, and neck and bound him to the ground. Bonz reached into his musty black robe and pulled forth a scimitar. "I don't care what I promised Zoa, you die now you wretch." Bonz brought the sword down, aiming for Ryou neck. Fortunately, the blade was blocked as by Elrond's own legendary sword.
"If you are a servant to Zoa, than you are the enemy of all those who love life," Elrond said. "And it will be my pleasure to send you to your grave."
"You're too late," Bonz said. "And any way, you seem to forget you're outnumbered. My army of zombies is gonna eat you alive." As Bonz spoke, a flood of bones slammed into him knocking the elf swordsman away from their master.
"Now I know where I've seen you before," Yugi said as he knocked away a small goblin skeleton. "You were with Bandit Keith at Duelist Kingdom... the duelist who tricked Joey into that cave. Bonz! How... How did you get to the Shadow Realm?"
"He did it!" Bonz cried, pointing at Ryou. "He's the one who sent me to this... this... this nightmare. This is all his fault!"
"What?"
"You're the one who challenged me in the graveyard. Then you cheated, used some sort of magic or something to mess with my mind so you could beat me. Then you used that same hocus-pocus to send me to this psycho place full of monsters and beasts and everything else!" Now Bonz was smiling. "But it's all right. As soon as I hand you losers over to the Dark Ruler, Zoa will reward me and send me home."
"That's all you want? To go home?" Aza said as he pulled himself and Mokuba free of the cart, with Seto Kaiba's help. "For that you would doom billions of lives to slavery under Zoa's rule?"
"You don't have to do this," Yugi called. "We're trying to get home too. If you help us, we'll take you with us."
"Yeah, you don't really wanna help that demon, do you Bone Boy?" At Joey and Yugi's words, Bonz's face darkened considerably as the zombies stopped moving. The light cast by the flames gave the pale boy little illumination, but Yugi could almost swear he saw a small trail of tears going down his adversary's face.
"It's not that simple, it never is..." Bonz shot another angry look at Ryou. "I have no choice but to put my trust in Zoa."
"He's lying to you... you have to know that," Yami said. "Help us instead, we'll be happy to help you get home."
"Didn't you hear me! I said it's NOT THAT SIMPLE!!" Bonz yelled as he yanked off his robe. Even Yami looked aghast at the sight of Bonz's now bare chest. Tears and claw marks were all over his torso, cuts and bruises that looked like they should be dripping blood, but were not. It was small wonder why, however, as the entire left side of the boy's chest was dominated by a gapping hole where his heart should be. In fact, the organ itself was missing.
"He's a zombie!" Joey stated.
"Like I said, it's too late for me to just go back," Bonz said, a stream of tears falling down his face, or at least trying to.
Bonz lay inside a coffin-like box panic spreading over his entire form as he struggled against the rope that tied his wrists and feet. His shoulders bumped and bounced against the walls of the box as he screamed, the foul smelling liquid in the box with him sloshing all over him. Had he been in less dire circumstance, Bonz might have found his being inside a coffin somewhat ironic, given his preoccupation with dead stuff. Suddenly, Bonz felt the box he was in jostle as it was lifted from the ground.
"Let me out! Please, someone listen! I don't wanna get buried!" Bonz yelled, even knowing that anyone who heard him wouldn't care. He was going to die, he knew that. Still he thrashed, trying to knock the box out of the hands of whoever was holding it.
Please someone, anyone just get me out of this and I'll do anything," Bonz thought as he began another round of screaming. The foul liquid sloshed once more as the box suddenly landed roughly on the ground, some of it getting into his open mouth. For a brief instant, Bonz had a glimmer of hope that his efforts had been successful, that someone had heard him and had indeed answered his screams. His hopes were quickly squashed as the cover to his container was removed and the visage of Zoa himself filled the vision of his one good eye.
"Well, well, well, what have we here," Zoa said, his face filling with a toothy grin, a clawed finger touching the tears on Bonz's face. "I thought I requested a live meal, but you look already dead."
Meal! came the boy's alarmed thoughts, even as he squeeked at Zoa's touch. The demon's claws dug into Bonz's shoulders as he was lifted up. Again Bonz struggled, trying to break the demon's grip.
"No! Please!" The skull-faced boy began to yell. His cries were cut off, however, as Zoa's jaws clamped down over his chest.
"He didn't just kill me, he stole my soul," Bonz cried, still in tears. "He reanimated me to be his little slave... AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!!" Bonz cried at Ryou. Around the English boy the ground erupted as an Armored Zombie rose to grab him. "But that'll be all right now, because as soon as I deliver that brat to Zoa, he's promised to transfer me into your body and then send me home." At Bonz's words the zombie army began advancing again. Seto picked up the boney tusk of a large battle elephant and began to swing it like a club at the Flame Ghosts advancing on his brother and himself. Elrond's sword sliced through one zombie after another, while Angella began casting spells of protection on them.
Suddenly, the Armored Zombie holding Ryou was blown away as Bakura manifested himself, his Millenium Ring glowing.
"So the little zombie boy wants revenge 'cause he was stupid enough to challenge his superior."
"Shut up you white-haired freak!"
"What's the matter, upset that you're misplaced pride cost you your life? As the Pharoah over there will attest, no one can be forced into a Shadow Game,
you have to freely accept... It's not my fault that you chose to continue playing after I transformed the field."
"I'll make you be QUIET! KILL HIM!!" Three flame ghosts changed towards Bakura, their fires swirling together as they began their assault. It was short-lived however as an inky blackness stretched out of a card in Bakura's hand, snuffing out the brilliant light of the flames. When the dark cloud lifted, it was revealed that the flame ghosts' attacks had missed their mark and instead they had smashed themselves. Bakura gave a little breath as he felt the energy needed for his yami card leave him.
"If you want this body so badly I would suggest you try something different you bone head. Or do you want just another corpse."
"Fine then... let's try a new trick," Bonz said as he pulled a card from his deck. "Lord Zoa was most gracious with the powers he gave me... including the power to do this! NIGHTMARE STEEL CAGE!" As Bonz spoke a giant birdcage materialized around Bakura, trapping him.
"This is getting ridiculous," Elrond said as he slashed another zombie. "It doesn't matter how many of them we destroy, three more take it's place."
"At this rate he'll bury us in bones if we continue like this," Yami said, using an equip magic card to defend both himself and Yugi. "Aza do you have anything that could help us?" Nearby, the Spirit of Books was using a rather big one to club and knock the boney zombies away.
"Nothing that would offer anything more than a temporary repite. Anti-undead spells take time to prepare and that is definitely something we don't have."
"Maybe I can help," Mokuba said.
"Not now Mokuba, just stay behind us."
"But Seto if Aza's right maybe I can stop these monsters."
"I said not now Mokuba."
"Oh, so you're Mokuba," Bonz said. "You're the only one I actually have to capture for Zoa to free me."
"Forget it shrimp," Seto said as he moved himself between Bonz and his little brother.
"That would make you Seto, huh. I didn't get the pleasure of meeting you in Battle City, but I'll be happy to demonstrate my skills for you now." Again the ground erupted as more and more zombies rose from the ground, this time wielding actual weapons. It took only a minute for Seto to recognize what was happening.
"You call this skill? You're just trying to overwhelm us with numbers, that's no strategy."
"Maybe not... but it works for a simple battle like this. ATTACK!!" The skeletal zombies moved in and Seto's muscles tensed as he prepared for what he
knew would be a futile struggle.
"Mokuba," he whispered to his younger brother. "They're gonna charge us soon. I'll hold them off as long as I can, you make a break for it."
"No Seto, they'll kill you if you stay." Seto ignored his younger brother, knowing full well the consequences of his actions. The zombies picked up the pace,
the leader raising his sword as he moved to cleave the eldar Kaiba. Seto was too fast, though knocking the boney monster to the ground. A second zombie came in, this one swinging a mace. Kaiba's purloined femur proved unable to block a real club, snapping in two. It did prove a distraction, however, allowing Seto's hand to smash the skelton's boney elbow and snag his weapon. Suddenly, the brown-haired teen felt a foot smash into his back, sending him crashing to the ground. He turned around to see a Master Kyonshee standing above him, it's putrid body crouching as it prepared another assault. A few beads of sweat appeared on Seto's brow. He had been trained in self defense, a definite must for the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company, but he knew he was no match for a martial arts master, even a zombified one. Still every second he was able to hold them off was a second Mokuba had to escape. Like a missile the Master Kyonshee took to the air in a leaping kick, prepared to take separate Seto's head from his shoulders.
"SQUALL BARRICADE!" In an instant, a barrier of pure wind appeared in front of Seto deflecting the monster's attack.
"Uh guys, Mokuba's doing his red-eye bit," Joey said as everyone turned to see that indeed Mokuba's eyes had begun to glow bright red. Mokuba's hand swept across the assembled skeleton army, and a strong gust of wind blew them to pieces.
"What in the world?"
"Hmph, it seems you've once again overestimated your abilities," Bakura said. "Did you think even an army of bones could help a weakling like yourself take us down? The brat's Exodia's reincarnation, and the pipsqueeck's got the Pharoah protecting him. And then there's me..." Bakura's Millennium Ring began to glow golden as he summoned his shadow powers. "I'm more than a match for anything you can do." A cloud of gray smoke spread from Bakura's dispell card activated, reducing the cage that held him to dust.
"Don't count me out yet," Bonz said as a new monster rose from the ground behind him. Before the monster could act, though, as a blast of cold from a Coldsnap trap card froze it solid. Bakura replaced the card back in his diminished deck.
"You're so pathetic you don't even know when you've been beaten. Zoa may have told you he gave you great power, but so far the only thing I've seen you do is raise monsters." Before Bonz could react, Bakura's fist connected with his jaw, sending the smaller boy falling backward.
"Hey!"
"Hey?" Bakura said, mocking Bonz. "What? Did you expect you could assault me and only your little friends would suffer for it? Allow me to teach you how flawed such a belief is!" Again Bakura drew a card from his deck. "Ah, something for me to play with." The card transformed in Bakura's hand, becomming a string of beads. "I noticed that you took the time to give most of the zombies under your command a weapon. This card will takes advantage of that little fact." Bakura held his beads before his face. "Go now, to thy ETERNAL REST!" Each of the beads on the string flew from the Bakura's hand, striking each zombie possessing a weapon. Or at least all the ones not currently caught up in Mokuba's tornado. As they were struck, the zombies collapsed into dust, devastating Bonz's forces.
"Be careful with those cards Bakura!" Yami said in irritation. "Eternal Rest isn't exactly picky about what it destroys."
"What't the matter, Pharoah, are you frightened I'll blast you by acciden..." Bakura's words were cut off as Bonz kicked him in the gut.
"Looks like you're the one who forgot the importance of this battle." Bonz began to glow as the remaining skeletal warriors began moving towards him, forming a pile around him.
"What's he doing?" Joey asked as he saw the mound of bones getting bigger and bigger. The pile soon began to take shape, forming a new monster with Bonz at the center.
"It's a Ryo-Koshi?" Tea cried, causing everyone to turn to her.
"How do YOU know that?" Marik asked.
"Not all my cards a cute and cuddly you know." The giant zombie's massive hand rose as it attempted to crush them flat.
"My my, you all look like ants down there," Bonz cackled. "Now feel my BONEYARD CRUSH!" From the multitude of skulls held in the Ryo-Koshi's body erupted a stream of bones headed straight for Yami and Tea. Before the attack could reach it's targets, a small raven-haired form intercepted it. With a single gesture, Mokuba summoned another squall barricade, sending the bones flying in all directions.
"Razor... wind," Mokuba whispered as his arms both swept towards Bonz, sending sickle shaped beams flying through the air, slicing off the Ryo-Koshi's shoulders and severing it's arms.
"Do you think that's enough to stop me!" New hands regrew from the giant zombie's sides, though it made the Ryu-Koshi much thinner. Bonz directed the monster's hands to grab Mokuba, holding him tightly as it pulled the boy closer to it's monsterous mouth. With a loud chomp the Ryu-Koshi stuffed the boy in his mouth and swallowed. "HA! I got him! Now all I need is you, white hair, and Zoa will have to send me home!"
"MOKUBA!" Seto yelled. The elder Kaiba raced over to zombie, hoping to save his brother. Suddenly, the Ryu-Koshi began to sway and convulse.
"Wha... what's happening?" Bonz said trying to keep his balance with in the massive monster. The undead monster's massive gutt exploded as what
appeared to be a spear-shaped tornado ripped through him, releasing Mokuba. The tween rose into the air to become level with Bonz, a smile on the boy's face that gave Bonz nightmarish flashbacks.
"Now this is what I call power," Mokuba said as his hand shot towards Bonz. The wind mimicked Mokuba, and a hand of air slammed into Bonz, roughly shoving him out the back of the Ryo-Koshi and simultaneously destroying the monster. The air filled with Bonz's scream as he was slammed into the ground, looking up in time to see Mokuba standing over him. "Yeah, not so tough now are you? Betcha came here expecting easy prey, good ol' Mokuba ready to roll over on his back and get snatched again, huh?" Mokuba's fingers encircled Bonz's throat and, despite the fact that Bonz was taller, the young wizard lifted his prey up off the ground.
"No! Let... let me go!" Bonz cried, his vision bluring as to his mind Mokuba changed into the muscular form of the Ushi-Oni. "I... I just want to go home! I don't wanna be here anymore!" Bonz was now crying, a sight that did not go unnoticed by Yugi.
"Mokuba put him down. We've won, you don't have to attack him anymore." Yami swiftly took over Yugi's body, already sensing the energies building a s strong gust of wind nearly sent him flying. He looked at Mokuba and saw the red glow had not left his eyes, and nor had the smile.
"Mokuba stop..."
"A lesson in mercy, dear Pharoah? Enlighten me, just how many souls have you sent screaming to this place, hmm?" Mokuba said, his voice becomming harsher. "No you are definitely not entitled to council mercy to one such as me, little king."
"Mr. Kaiba you must try to reason with your brother. He may listen if you ask him to spare this Bonz person," Aza said. Upon hearing this, Seto coldly laughed.
"What were you expecting, goblin? That once you trained him in these 'fantastic' powers, Mokuba would just shut up and play nice with the other children?" Seto asked, turning back to look at Mokuba. "Power is always meant to be used, used to place one at one's rightful place. If this Bonz freak didn't want to die, he should not have challenged my brother."
"I knew fully well that helping Mokuba re-attain his power was dangerous and the risk of abuse was great. I am not as naive as to the nature of power, in fact I am probably more knowledgeable than you yourself. But I tell you now that if Mokuba begins his trek down this road it will prove to be his undoing just as readily as it will prove yours!"
"Enough old man... Mokuba finally wants to show the world he's not a pushover. I can see no wrong in that."
"Then allow me to offer a different perspective," Judith said. "Bonz is a servant to Zoa, which means he may be privy to Zoa's plans. It would be in our best interest to obtain that information, particularly if we are to evade his forces." Seto considered the Magician of Faith's words for a moment before making his decision.
"Mokuba, let him go," the elder Kaiba told the younger, using the same voice he often did when he meant business with his little brother. Mokuba's face turned to look at the young CEO, and for the briefest of moments, Seto could almost swear his younger brother's face was twisted in pure rage. The brunette's eyes blinked, however, and when he looked again, Mokuba's face was back to normal and he had dropped Bonz.
I may need to have my eyes checked.
"Well, that was an interesting diversion," Marik said as Joey walked over to Bonz.
"Okay Bonz, time to come clean about everything you know about this place and Zoa."
"Ha, the only thing that worthless worm is gonna do is experience a world of pain!" cried a voice as Joey was hit in the back by the Air Marmet of Nefariousness. The undead flying gerbil turned to Bonz. "Master Zoa was most gracious and gave you a chance to defeat his enemies whelp, but it seems you were most definitely not up to the challenge.... big surprise."
"N... no I can still beat them, just give me another chance. Now that I know what they can do..."
"You don't seem to quite understand what you bartered with for this chance little zombie... Master Zoa does not tolerate failure, even in his lowliest of pets. You're going back into the Dark Nexus." At these words Bonz's eyes widened and his skin seemed to go even paler. Suddenly his teeth clentched together in pure anger as he glared at Bakura.
"YOU! This is all your FAULT!" Before anyone could stop him, Bonz was once more on his feet and charging Bakura. From one of the pockets of his frayed and torn pants he pulled a small switchblade knife, fully intending to drive the blade into Ryou and Bakura's shared heart. Before the young zombie could acomplish this however, a tornado of wind appeared underneath him, blowing him back into a tree before magically returning to the tomb robber's hand.
"Stupid fool," Bakura said. "Did you really think you could kill me with such a pathetic attack. You need not worry about that worthless rat's threat of this Dark Nexus, because for this insult I shall send you to OBLIVION!" Bakura drew a new card from his deck. "Go now to thy Eternal Res...." Bakura's words were cut off as a small body slammed into him, knocking the white-haired bandit to the ground.
"Not this time," came Mokuba's voice in a hissing whisper. Without a word the raven-haired tween grabbed Bonz, opening his mouth wide, his voice maintaining the same hissing whisper. "Your time has come.... your mind belongs to me!" The same energy beam that Yugi and crew had seen absorb the dark god Set's soul in their vision back in Domino erupted from Mokuba's mouth. Once more the energy poured into Bonz's own mouth and Yugi could see the distinct from of Bonz's spirit, full and unbroken, as it was torn from it's body and swept into Mokuba's. Mokuba's eyes flared red as his attack ended and he roared to the heavens as pure power seemed to explode from his small form. Trees, rocks, bones; everything seemed to start flying as wind blew outward from him. So strong was the wind that Yugi found himself loosing his footing, at least until Joey grabbed him and held him in place. Suddenly the wind died as the younger Kaiba ceased his roar.
"How dare you steal Lord Zoa's property like that!" Air Marmet cried "He will destroy for this affrontery, do you hear me boy he will... gak!" Air Marmet's words were cut off as Mokuba grabbed his small body, grinning at him viciously. "How dare you grab me like this? No! What are you doing? Loosen your grip this instant, I demand it! NO!!"
"Why don't you just shut up..." Mokuba said as he crushed the annoying monster in his hand. The dead beast fell from his hand as the awakening phantom god turned towards Bakura. "You...."
"What? What me?"
"I remember you, you killed me..."
"I killed you? You're not making any sens..." Bakura's voice was stopped cold as all the air surrounding him suddenly disappeared. It took only a second for the tomb robber to realize his peril, with no air, he could not breath. Quickly, Bakura tried to move out of the apparent vaccuum Mokuba had placed him in, but it was no use, everywhere he went he could almost hear the air rushing away from him.
"This is what I feared would happen," Aza said. "Mokuba is far too inexperienced to control the full range of his powers. When he absorbed Bonz's soul, he must have been overwhelmed by Bonz's memories."
"You mean he thinks he's Bonz?"
"It would explain why he is attacking your friend," Aza said as he began to concentrate on his own powers, attempting to push the air back to the ailing human. It proved most difficult but soon he could feel it as small amounts of air began to fill Bakura's lungs. "Mokuba listen to me, you must stop this."
"For Ra's sake please listen to him," Bakura gasped, grateful to once more be able to breathe, even if they were short breaths.
"No, you must pay, for everything you did, for all your deeds, for all you hurt," Mokuba said in a voice very similar to Bonz's.
"Stop, I don't want to kill him," came Mokuba's own voice as he grabbed his head.
"Yes I do... No I don't... Yes... No... Yes.... NO!" Seto moved over to his brother as Mokuba continued to battle himself.
"Mokuba snap out of it."
"You must regain control, try to separate your memories from the zombie's."
"I.... I can't it's too hard!" Images flashed before Mokuba's mind's eye, images of himself at the orphanage with Seto, of being with Bandit Keith at Duelist Kingdom, of being Battle City Commissioner, of lying on a hard mattress and using loud, bad music to drown out the all too familiar sounds of a man and woman fighting. More and more images danced before him, some friendly, some horrible, all him.
This.... this can't be right.... can it? These can't all be me, can they?
Yami suddenly felt a warmth growing on his chest and looked down to see the Millenium Puzzle glowing. The Millenium Ring and Rod were also doing likewise. Suddenly, both Yami and Yugi found themselves, along with Bakura, Ryou and Marik, in a dark place, the only illumination the glow of a giant Millenium Eye. A line of energy attatched the enormous Millenium Item to each of the three other items present, and those holding them found memoires of their own passing before them.
"What is this?" Bakura asked, not at all thrilled to have the contents of his mind on display for others to see. He was most relieved to see that most of the memories that were his were of his time in Battle City. Yugi watched as a replay of his interrupted duel with Mokuba on Duelist Kingdom was displayed before him, a thought clicking in his head.
"Mokuba must be using our memories to distinguish between his and Bonz's. The psychic powers of the Millenium Eye are letting him reach out to everyone else who holds a Millenium Item."
"That's stupid," Marik said, "I barely know the brat, what use can my memories be to him?"
"No, you don't know Mokuba.... but your Millenium Rod can connect to someone who does..." Yami said. "Marik, you must get your item to connect with it's former master, Seto Kaiba. It has to have absorbed enough Shadow Magic if Mokuba can reach out to it like this."
"I don't take orders from you Pharoah... but it would not do for this boy to loose himself like this." Marik began to concentrate on his Millenium Rod. "My connection is more distorted than usual, the item may not function correctly "
Unable to see the connection between the Millenium Items, Seto could not understand why Yugi, Bakura, and Marik had suddenly stopped moving, nor did he care. He only saw his beloved little brother staring at the sky with blank wide eyes. Before Seto could do anything, a beam of light came forth from the Millenium Rod, striking his forehead. In an instant, the minds of both the elder and younger Kaiba brothers were linked. Seto could see his memories flying around, encircling him. For the briefest of moments he did not understand why his memories (some of which he very much prefered to forget) were being brought out, but he was soon enlightened.
"Yes, these are the ones I need...," came a voice from the blackness.
"Mokuba?"
"I need more, help me please..."
"You need more what? More memories?"
"Please help me, remember me, tell me who I am..." It was clear to Seto that his brother was under stress, simply from the tone his voice was taking.
"You're Mokuba Kaiba, my little brother."
"And this is the sum of what he is?" came a new voice Seto didn't recognize. He turned to see a pair of red eyes staring at him from the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"Is that all he is? A name? A title?"
"I asked you a question!"
"And he asked you one too. Perhaps when you can answer his question, I shall answer yours." The next thing he knew, the elder Kaiba was once more in the real world standing next to Mokuba. That was when he noticed the ghostly presence separating itself from his brother. Bonz's spirit quite literally fell from Mokuba's body as Mokuba himself fell to his knees.
"That was... that was incredible," Mokuba said as he opened his eyes to stare at the spirit near him. In response, Bonz looked back at him. Then his ghostly head turned towards Bakura. For a breif moment the thief felt afraid before the dead eyes turned towards their former body. The formerly animated corpse, now devoid of any of the magic that had sustained it, had rapidly decayed into nothing by a bunch of dirty bones and torn cloth. A single phantom tear rolled down Bonz's ethereal cheek before the youthful spirit finally disappeared.
Since the danger of the forest was gone, and no one (Mokuba in particular) felt very much like moving, the group had opted to stay put and set up camp for the night. The Celtic Gaurdian and Magician of Faith were busy stoking the fire and cooking a pot of stew, much to Joey's delight. Marik and Bakura were off to the side by themselves, being watched carefully by a suspicious Tea. Yugi simply sat and watched the fire, no one could really be sure if he was thinking to himself or conversing to Yami. It was the Kaiba brothers who were busiest, however. Mokuba had collected Bonz's bones and had used a small shovel to dig a makeshift grave for the elder boy. In truth, Seto had not seen any real point to doing it, before this whole affair he hadn't even known the boy existed, much less that he had been at Battle City. Still his little brother had insisted.
The pair finally finished placing rocks ontop of the freshly turned earth, a small marker to keep its place and discourage scavenges. In truth the "grave" was nothing but a hole in the ground, but under the circumstances Mokuba hoped Bonz wouldn't mind. The task completed, Seto stood up to retrieve some dinner.
"Mokuba, are you comming?"
"I'll be there in a second Seto, just give me a minute." Seto nodded moving over to the pot just in time to meet Aza.
"Your brother certainly has a kind heart, I don't know many who would take the time to bury a fallen foe."
"Spare me," Seto said, having had his fill of toadying like this from Mokuba's school teachers.
"Ah yes. Having witnessed what the boy is capable of, I would understand if you wished me to discontinue his lessons in elemental manipulation."
"What he's capable of? Mokuba is capable of far more than these simple tricks and lightshows you're showing him. But if you think a little windstorm is reason for me to stop this, perhaps you should leave his 'training' up to someone more skilled."
"I was refering to his lack of inhibition when it came to battle. I don't know if you noticed, but there were moments there where I am not sure he knew who his friends were."
"He didn't because there are none."
"Hmm?"
"You may think we're all one big happy family, but Mokuba and I are no relation to this sorry collection of losers, and if they or you don't have the sense to stay out of our way, then they deserve to get trampled just like Zoa." Aza's eyes widened for a second at the venom Seto spoke before composing himself again.
"I see... In any event I failed to hear a no to more lessons, so I will assume you wish me to continue?"
"Just don't expect a paycheck for it."
Meanwhile, Mokuba was still hunched over the small grave, his mind a flutter with all the memories he'd gotten from Bonz. They saddened him, Bonz had felt utterly worthless for most of his life and the one time he had felt he had value... the person he'd placed it with betrayed him. Sure Mokuba had had a miserable childhood, first with the orphanage and then with Gozabura, but he'd always had Seto, Bonz had had no one. And yet in the end all he'd really wanted was to go home.
Well fine, Mokuba thought to himself. If I am really the reincarnation of Exodia, then I promise to come back here and get you home Bonz. I think you deserve that much.
To Be Continued.....