Zypher: I thank those who have reviewed the first chapter so here's chapter 2 of The Demon of Oz.
Disclaimer: -sign was placed up that said Rose Mistress doesn't own Yugioh or the Wizard of Oz-
The Demon of Oz
Chapter 2
Soon, Yugi came upon the Bone Dragon Village, which was, as its name said, a village that was made entirely out of deceased dragon bones. He walked through the quiet village and someone grabbed his shoulder and he jumped, turning around quickly to see it was a figure in a cloak, piercing ice blue eyes showing from under the cloak. "Are you the savior of our land?" The figure asked and Yugi didn't know what to say.
"What do you mean?" Yugi asked. "Are you the one who will see the Shadow Kings which in turn, save us from their wrath?" The figure asked more clearly and Yugi had to nod. The man from earlier said that he had to meet the Shadow Kings and if he was the savior of these people, then that is what he must do.
He may be in a new world but these people shouldn't have to live this way. The figure smiled. "That's wonderful, I see that you have a long way to go so come, you can stay in my home and I can tell you what has happen to our gentle realm." The figure said and Yugi nodded as he followed the figure; which he could tell was a woman from her voice.
Inside, the woman fixed him something to eat and he sat at the table, looking around the cozy home even though it was made from dragon bones. She placed the bowl of soup down in front of him and he thanked her. "So, what has happened here?" Yugi asked.
"It all started a few years ago, this land was called the Bright Haven. We all lived happily. The dragons, sphinxes, humans and any other races lived in harmony. But only one race wasn't happy with our world and that was the Shadow Demons. They care only about power and filling their needs with humans at the most. Their King and Dragon King, Yami and Aqua wanted to expand their race so they took over the haven, mutilating people to become shadow guards and using humans for pleasure.
"Soon, we all grew weak and wasn't able to fight them back to save our homes and villages. Soon, they took control of the land, making it into the Shadow Kingdom where their rule is law and we have to give up what remaining humans to them for their needs. A sphinx sorceress told us that a human savior from another world will come to help us and bring down the kingdom of darkness and let us live our normal lives." The woman finished.
Yugi had tears in his eyes after her story. "What cruel people they are. Mutilating others for their own reasons. They should never have control over you or the people." Yugi said and looked up to her. "Did anything bad happen to you?" Yugi asked, afraid of the worst.
She looked down. "Yes. Unfortunately, I tried to use my powers against them but the Shadow Dragon King reflected my attack and it hit my face dead on, causing me to look like this." The woman spoke and lifted the hood, showing that half her face was shaped into crystal ice.
Yugi gasped and got up, walking over to her and lifted his hand, gently touching the crystal that made up half her face and felt the coolness. "I can't believe this. They would do such a horrible thing to you." Yugi said and she placed a crystal claw over his hand. "I know, but with you here might change everything for us." The woman said.
"What is your name? I never ask that of you yet. I'm Yugi Motou." Yugi said, wiping his face free of tears. "I'm Crystal Kirana. I used to be one of the good witches that watch over the people of Dragon Villa before it became the Bone Dragon Village which to me looks more like a cemetery for the deceased dragons." Crystal said as she lifted Yugi's hand away from her face and took of her cloak which showed that most of her body was now crystal as well, just like her name.
Yugi went back to sit down and finished his soup as Crystal left to fix him a room that he could stay in for the night. She came back in later to see Yugi washing out his bowl.
"Yugi, I have a spare room set up for you. Get some rest and tomorrow, I will give you a weapon and some items to help you against any shadow guards that block your way but I think you will find some people to help you along the way to the Black Emerald Castle." Crystal said and Yugi nodded, remembering the pulsing crystal that sat beneath his shirt.
Yami watched Yugi's every movement through a dark portal, grinning ever so much. Soon, Yugi would fall for his trap and he will have the boy to himself in exchange for sparing the lives of the people. Yugi never did know that the man he met before he started on his quest was the Shadow King himself.
He laughed to himself. "Poor naïve little Yugi. You believe that I am an ally when I'm only coming after you. I brought you here, using that storm as a decoy to make you let your guard down. I didn't expect you to bring your wolf with you but oh well, he would make a great shadow knight. Wouldn't he, Aqua?" Yami asked to the shadows behind him and blood red eyes appeared in the mass of darkness.
"You are surely right, Yami. Why don't we turn him now and see what little Yugi's reaction would be when he sees his only true friend now a part of the shadows." Aqua said and he stepped out from the shadows, dragging an unconscious Wolfe behind him. Yami summoned up an insignia on the ground which was a intricate design of the kanji symbol for darkness along with a coiling shadow demon that was a snake.
Aqua laid Wolfe on the symbol and stepped back as he started to chant in the shadows' language. Soon enough, the shadows slid from the surrounding and seeped into Wolfe's body. His body twitched and he mewled softly before he screamed, the shadows taking over his body and changing him.
His body became more bulkier, the two tones of blue that was on his fur changing into black and red. A bloodied skull formed over the top of his head and long horns appeared on the forehead portion of the skull. A black crystal stuck out from his chest as the last of the shadow went into the crystal, giving it energy.
Yami smirked as the transformation was completed and got up from his throne, walking down to look at their newest creation. "A magnificent beast he is. Why don't we see how he turns out to be. Awaken, Shadow Wolf and do the bidding of your Kings." Yami announced and the beast woke up, never-ending black eyes looked up to them before he got up and knelt before them.
"Great, now my beast, go out to the Village of the Souls and grab a nice human for us." Yami commanded and the beast nodded before disappearing into the shadows to do as his master commanded. Yami went back to him throne and relaxed. 'Now our first plan has been completed. Now, come to us, Yugi, if you vow to save your friend and get back home.' Yami thought before he turned to watch Yugi sleep, Aqua standing by his side.
The next day, Yugi woke up to Crystal's gentle nudging and he looked up to her. "Come, Yugi, it is time for you to start on your way." Crystal said and he nodded as he got up and followed her. She went into her room and picked up a staff that had a white pearl on the top and was painted dark blue. She handed the staff to Yugi and the pearl glowed slightly before it went back to normal.
"That was my old staff that I used to use Yugi, I want you to have it and may it protect you well from the shadow guards." Crystal said. Yugi nodded and thanked her before he left, waving back to her. She smiled softly, bidding well on his journey to the Black Emerald City.
Yugi walked along the Crimson Brick Road that Crystal told him about. It would lead him straight to the castle as long as he doesn't veer off course for anything. As he was walking, he heard something clanking together and he looked around. He heard the clanking again and stopped.
"Who would dare come along the Crimson Brick Road alone?" A voice said. Yugi shook his head and looked straight ahead into the darkness. "I am the savior of the Bright Haven. I demand that you show yourself now." Yugi said and he saw a ghost of a smile show up in the tree.
"So, you are the savior? I never thought it would be true that you have finally came." The bodiless voice said, the mouth moving along with the words spoken to him.
"Who are you?" Yugi asked and a body started to form. "I used to be the sorceress of this land before the Shadow Kings took over and now I am known as the Bloody Cheshire, Diamond." The sphinx now known as Diamond said, looking down to Yugi. He gasped at her appearance.
Blood patches matted her once pure white fur and her eyes looked like they used to be a dark blue but were now tinted red. Shards of the black crystal was embedded into her arms and face while her clothes were tattered and torn. Even though her appearance was devastating, she always had a smile on her face.
"What caused you to be like this, Diamond?" Yugi asked as she jumped down in front of him.
"I wanted to free the land from the grip of the Shadow Kings but their power overruled mine and I was helpless. They thought I would make a great Shadow Knight and tried to transform me into that but it backfired and some of the shards from their castle combined with my skin and face, causing me to change. I was lucky to make it out alive, because one of their shadows captains wanted me as his own, but the side effects from the shard cause me to develop an insanity problem. I try to help people that walk along the Crimson Brick Road but I might end up killing them in the process." Diamond explained.
Yugi backed away from her slowly, just in case she was to attack him. "Oh don't worry, small one, she would never hurt you." Another voice said and a white haired boy that had some parts of his body made from metal appeared from the forest of twisted trees. Strapped to his back was a bloody axe and some of the metal on him was tainted with blood as well.
"Sorry to have frighten you but we have been known to guard this part of the Crimson Brick Road but since you are here, we will help you out." The boy said and Yugi nodded. He was quite afraid of them but if they were willing to help, he could trust them enough.
"So, what is your name?" Yugi asked. "I'm Ryou. I used to live in the Dragon Villa as a dragon caretaker but like Diamond, I was transformed to be a tin man but the Shadow King spared me for reasons unknown and only made certain parts of my body metal." Ryou explained.
"Oh. Well I'm Yugi Motou. I have come here to save a friend of mine and head home. A man that I met before I headed into the Bone Dragon Village told me that if I went to see the Shadow Kings, they might be able to take me back home." Yugi said as they started walking off.
"Hmm, that seems to be a big wish, Yugi. And you seem to be a very pretty boy. The Kings might not let you go so easily." Diamond said. "She is right, you know. Crystal may have not told you this but the Kings have a bad reputation of taking those that they see are fair enough to take for the night and depending of their worth, will depend whether they kill them off, turn them into a shadow guard or keep them for their own personal gain." Ryou said.
Yugi shivered a bit, thinking of what might happen to him when me meets with the Shadow Kings. "Do not worry about that little one, I think the Shadow Kings would be pleased to see you." A voice said. Diamond and Ryou got ready to protect Yugi but a figure stepped out from the shadows and they gasped. 'It's Shadow King Yami. What is he doing here?' Ryou wondered but a look from him told them that they should keep quiet.
"Hey, it's you. What are you doing here?" Yugi asked as he walked over to them. " I just wanted to see your progress with finding the Shadow Kings. I see you have made two new allies." Yami said. "Yes, she's Diamond and he's Ryou." Yugi said. "Well, I never told you my name. I really can't say I have one so you could call me Darkness." Yami said, hoping that Yugi would fall for it.
"Well, that's a very unique name Darkness. I like it." Yugi said, smiling up to him. Yami smiled back. "Well, I must be going, got many things to do." Yami said before he left back into the darkness once again. 'Yugi actually trusts Yami. He must not know of his true identity and I think we better keep it a secret to keep our own lives.' Diamond thought, the grin still on her face even though she was worried for Yugi.
"Well, that was an interesting meeting. Let's keep going, Yugi." Ryou said and Yugi nodded as they continued on.
Yami smirked, seeing that Yugi still fell for his fake identity. 'You are so easy to fool and with your naïveté, you will fall right into our hands and you will never leave us. I'll make sure of that.' Yami thought.
Aqua appeared beside him. "Yami, why don't we test out their skill in fighting?" Aqua asked and Yami grinned, nodding. "Let's." Yami said and clapped his hands and two people came from the ground, shrouded in shadows. "What do you want of us Yami?" The figure asked angrily.
"I have a task for you, Bakura and Crimson. Since you both love to kill, I want you to test out Yugi's new allies. If they pose a problem, do away with them so Yugi will be all alone again." Yami said and Bakura nodded, looking through the portal and saw Ryou and thought of other things than Yami's orders.
'Why should I kill him when I can make him mine once again? You have escaped me once but I'll bring you back.' Bakura thought as he nodded over to Crimson and they left.
Zypher: Well, that's all. Thank you and please review if you want to find out what happens next.