Mari the Doll Master

Disclaimer: I don't own Shaman King or any of its characters (as if it's even possible)

The story so far

For those of you who can't be bothered to read the beginning, you're lucky as it's not relevant to the rest of the story, but here's a summary anyway, just because I'm nice. Well Mari awoke from a nightmare which reminded her of memories she'd rather forget and now finds herself in a forest. Mari is on her way to the Shaman Tournament along with her three dolls Chuck, Danny and Tillie. The story continues with Mari coming upon a group of shaman on the forests edge...

Chapter 2 - Encounters

How did Mari get herself into this? Mari will not be fooled again so easily! Mari should have known they were dangerous... no matter Mari will teach them a lesson... (authors note: words in italics are thoughts, ok)

A twisted smile spread across Mari's face as she gazed lazily about her. These shaman were weak, she could see that easily, but as a team they would be harder to defeat. She cast an eye on each shaman in turn feeling slightly apprehensive, yet she didn't let her guard slip and stood stock still arms wrapped tightly around Chuck, her eyes steely and lacking any human warmth.

"I asked you a question! Who are you?" A boy of about Mari's age glared at her with a frown to match her own, he held a Kwan Dao, dagger like and dangerous and was at this moment pointing it at her in a threatening way.

"The pointy haired person is talking. Is he talking to Mari? Mari wonders..." Mari turned her eyes on him, matching his glare without flinching.

"You know very well I'm talking to you!" spat the boy, his frown deepening, "who else would I be talking to? Him?" he added jerking his head towards a blue-haired boy who appeared to originate from a northerly country.

This boy pulled a face and then grinned. "I don't know Ren, with that high and mighty voice I'm surprised she understands what you're saying."

Ren turned his Kwan Dao on the blue hair, "don't mess with me HoroHoro!"

"Oooo look at me. I'm Ren I have a blade-on-a-stick thing and I'm not afraid to use it!" teased HoroHoro.

"It's called a Kwan Dao, you idiot. But you're right about one thing, I'm not afraid to use it!" replied Ren poking HoroHoro with the Kwan Dao.

"Uh, guys I don't think we're being very welcoming..."

A small boy with a nervous voice had spoken. With large nervous eyes and a bewildered expression he looked to Mari like a doll, glancing at Chuck Mari shrugged: a mere coincidence.

"Manta's right." The fourth and final shaman, who had not spoken up until now, finally let his voice be heard. He had brown hair and calm laid back eyes with a carefree expression on his face. He threw a kind smile at Mari before adding, "guys, come on. I mean we haven't really given her a chance to speak."

The other two nodded still glaring daggers at each other. The brown haired shaman turned to Mari.

"Don't mind them, they're always like that. By the way I'm Yoh."

Mari didn't return the smile, she just stood as still as ever gazing at him.

"Um, ok..." said Yoh struggling to continue, "so um, nice doll, do you play with it? Um, what's it called"

Mari's twisted smile reappeared - this was her chance to get rid of shaman who were likely to be competing in the tournament, it was just too perfect.

"This is Chuck," she replied holding the doll up by the threads of hair attached to its scalp. Still holding it high she asked, "do you want to see how Mari plays with him?"

All four boys were now paying attention, and unknowingly they nodded uncertainly. Mari's smile grew. Mari will show them alright, except it won't be Chuck who Mari is playing with, Mari will be playing with them...

Without warning she forced a burst of rose pink furyoku into Chuck and threw him into the air shouting "Chuck show them how we play!"

The doll fell to the ground with a thud, and the shaman gazed at it uncertainly.

"I guess your little trick didn't work," commented HoroHoro with a smile of obvious relief. Mari smiled back and pointed towards the doll, which had stood up abruptly. Head hanging in a zombie like manner, it lolled from side to side, before lifting up as though jerked by a puppeteers string. A pink aura surrounded it and it turned its blank button eye to face HoroHoro.

"Attack Chuck," whispered Mari simply, and lightning quick Chuck darted at Horo spraying him with bullets.

"What the-" shouted Horo raising an arm protectively over his head while drawing out his snowboard.

"You're a shaman?" asked Yoh disbelievingly as Horo summoned Kororo.

"Kororo into the snowboard!"

Ducking behind the snowboard Horo managed to repel the bullets, but they kept bouncing off the board, more ferociously as Chuck drew out a second gun.

Ren began to sprint towards Mari, Kwan Dao held strait ahead of him, the spear glinting in the in the intense sunlight.

"I got you now!" he said barely a meter away from her, but Mari shook her head and with another burst of furyoku she drew Danny out from behind her back.

"Danny, teach the pointy haired one how to play," she said and dropping him to the ground she stepped a few paces back to observe the fight.

Danny landed on the ground and pulled out his miniature sword. As Ren swiped at him with the Kwan Dao a clash of metal was heard as Danny countered him with his sword. Annoyed Ren snarled and aimed a kick at the doll, hitting his target with perfection. However Danny pivoted on the spot and retaliated by sinking his sword deep into Ren's ankle, as Ren growled in pain.

Meanwhile, Horo was still under a his snowboard, protected from the continuous hail of bullets. Chuck kept dashing about Horo, attempting to get a clean shot, but his attempts were failed as Horo kept turning the board and blocking the barrage.

"I can't believe she's a shaman," squeaked Manta his eyes fixed on Mari, who was standing slightly away from the battles taking place, looking as happy as a five year old who really was having a game with her dolls. Manta and Yoh were standing opposite her on the other side of the fighting. "More importantly, Yoh how can she do that?"

"What?" asked Yoh ripping his eyes away from Ren's fight with the demented Danny doll to look down at his short friend.

"That. You know controlling two dolls at once, I didn't know you could do that."

Yoh grinned "neither did I. But I can tell you one thing, she must be a powerful shaman to do that."

Manta looked up at Yoh a bemused smile on his face.

"Thanks for making me feel so much better Yoh," he said sarcastically, "but shouldn't you go help them?"

"I guess," replied Yoh yawning. "Hey Horo!" he called.

"What is it Yoh? I mean can't you see I'm a little busy at the moment?" screamed Horo, barely managing to block a bullet which had been aimed at his head.

"That's what I wanted to ask you," continued Yoh, as though they were having a quiet conversation on the phone, "I wanted to know if you needed a break."

"A break? Well yeah, dude I sure would like a break but it doesn't look like I'm going to get one does it?"

"I'll take over if you want a break that bad," and with that Yoh summoned Amidamaru and dashed to intercept Chuck, who seemed to be listening as he relented his attack on Horo and began attacking Yoh instead. As Yoh began swiping at Chuck with his sword Horo crawled over to Manta and collapsed next to him, breathing heavily.

"You look tired," commented Manta with a smile.

"Nah, fresh as a daisy," sighed Horo, the sarcasm only too plain in his voice.

As he regained his breath Horo sighed.

"I can't believe those things really are alive."

"They're not alive," replied Manta, "apparently that girl, um Mari or whatever her name is, she's controlling them."

"Two at once!"

"Yeah, Yoh didn't know it was possible either, but he says she must be a powerful shaman to manage it."

"Wait maybe that means if I attack her she'll lose her concentration on those things and Yoh and Ren'll be able to win."

"I don't know... I mean when Ren tried that she brought out that one that looks like a cowboy version of you," answered Manta doubtfully.

"Hey! It doesn't look that much like me. Anyway, it's a risk I have to be willing to take."

Standing up Horo dusted himself off and grinned at Manta, "anyway, don't worry I have Kororo don't I? Back in flash."

With that Horo leapt on his snowboard and headed for Mari.

Mari's eyes widened as she saw Horo approaching. What can Mari do? Mari doesn't have anything to protect herself with... unless... but no Mari can't risk Tillie getting hurt... But Horo was coming fast and the decision had to be made. Horo was only a couple of meters away, it was now or never, so reluctantly she pulled out Tillie from behind her. Hugging her briefly she whispered "try your best Tillie" before sending a wave of furyoku into her.

"Tillie attack the blue hair!"

Pink aura surrounding her, Tillie, the delicate angel like doll fluttered determinedly to meet Horo head on... Mari knew it had been a mistake before it had even happened... As Tillie flew towards him Horo shouted to his guardian spirit for an ice assault, and what happened next appeared to be taking place in painful slow-motion for Mari...

Ice shards flew at Tillie who couldn't defend herself, but attempted valiantly at hitting the on coming ice away from her with her golden staff. It was useless as a gigantic slab of ice collided with her perfectly made china head. The painted face showed a split second of horror before bursting into thousands of pieces which fell towards the earth like shimmering tears. It seemed as if the world stood still. Mari's face was contorted in pain her eyes large and pupils pinpricks, mouth slightly open.

All fighting immediately ceased as the dolls Danny and Chuck collapsed, lifeless, in front of their opponents and Mari fell to her knees watching the body of Tillie falling to the ground in front of her. Mari made not a sound and a graveyard like hush fell about all of them. As the blood red rose fell towards her, it seemed to be attempting to reach her and she reached out to catch it. Clutching at it she gazed down to see it, as if it wasn't there. Finally her eyes filled with tears which began flowing silently down her cheeks and she let out a high pitched, blood curdling scream. Large gashes appeared on her pale arms and her head began to spin.

"T - Til - Tillie..." and then all became black and silent as she fell face forward onto the grass still clutching the rose, blood streaming from her arms, dying the grass a rose red...

Well, was that ok? Aren't you glad I introduced some other characters? Your fave character not here yet? Don't worry more will come later. I know, I know a little confusing... "why does Mari have blood on her arms?" Well you can find out in the next chapter if you bother to read that is. Just to make a few things clear, Mari attacked the shaman because they're in the shaman tournament, a lot of shaman do that. How did she know? Well this is taking place after the characters have qualified for the second round, so they all have their oracle bells on their arms. Anyway, that's it until next time... the next chapter? Um, it may be called either "Revealed" or "Um,...friends?" or something completely different, who knows, lol D