Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Crow: Armageddon ❯ Drama of The Masked Beast ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: The Wolf Demon 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Horror / Adventure | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 04.14.2007 | Updated On: 04.14.2007 | Pages: 12 | Words: 8.1K | Visits: 183 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Horror / Adventure | Type: Crossover | Uploaded On: 04.14.2007 | Updated On: 04.14.2007 | Pages: 12 | Words: 8.1K | Visits: 183 | Status: Completed
The Crow: Armageddon By The Wolf God and Kokuryu
Disclaimer: The Crow, Yu-Gi-Oh, the Teen Titans, and Jay and Silent Bob are owned by James O'Barr, Kazuki Takahashi, Shonen Jump, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, and Kevin Smith.
Author's Note: In the last chapter, The Crow met up with Raven and The Black Robin and encountered his old foes, The Harpy Lady Sisters. The Harpy Lady Sisters were named after the Brides of Dracula from the Van Helsing film. In this chapter, Yami Yugi reunites with the Teen Titans and Yugi's friends are headin' for Gotham. Will the arrival of Joey and co. effect the outcome? And what does the Joker and Marik have up their sleeves? Now, my fellow wolves, let's begin the third chapter of our horror story.
Warning: This chapter contains drug references. Reader discretion is advised.
"Evolution is a mystery
Full of change that no one sees
Clock makes a fool of history
Yesterday's too long ago
Don't agree with what I know
Tomorrow becomes the place to be
I see the line in the sand
Time to find out, who I am
Looking back to see where I stand
Evolution, Evolution
See my reflection change
Nothing ever stays the same
But you know the names the game
We don't know what it means
Nothing's ever what it seems
Unforgiven...unforseen
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution is a mystery
Full of change that no one sees
Clock makes a fool of history
Yesterday's too long ago
Don't agree with what I know
Tomorrow becomes the place to be
I see the line in the sand
Time to find out, who I am
Looking back to see where I stand
Evolution, Evolution
See my reflection change
Nothing ever stays the same
But you know the names the game
We don't know what it means
Nothing's ever what it seems
Unforgiven...unforseen
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution, Evolution"
Motorhead-"Line in the Sand (Evolution theme music)"
Chapter 3:
Drama of the Masked Beast
(Arkham Asylum)
"God fucking damn it!" Marik yelled, slamming his fist on a table. "The Harpy Lady Sisters have failed to take out The Crow and his pathetic friends!"
Marik started to throw stuff around the room and smash any item he could get his hands on. It was then the Joker and Harley appeared to calm the Ghouls' leader down.
"Marik, calm down," The Joker said.
"Calm down? Marik echoed. "That bastard and his Titan friends killed my harpies!"
"Just a minor setback," The Joker reassured. "Don't let that stop you from taking over the world."
"Of course I won't let it stop me," Marik replied. "However, I'll have to take it up a notch."
"How are you gonna do that, Marik?" Harley Quinn asked.
"I'm going to send a couple of my Ghouls to find The Crow and his Titan friends," Marik replied.
"And who are these two members of your little group?" Joker asked.
"Lumis and Umbra," Marik replied.
(Yugi and Raven's apartment)
Yami Yugi was sleeping in his room but his sleep wasn't a good one. Yugi groaned as he moved about in his bed. He was having a nightmare.
(Nightmare)
The Crow was in a dark room. He walked through the dark room as he yelled, "Hello?" No response. He continued walking until he saw blood on the floor. When the lights suddenly went on, Yugi saw numerous dead bodies on the floor. Yugi gasped when he realized the dead bodies lying in the puddles of blood were the Titans and his friends.
"Oh no," Yugi said hearing the sounds of crying in the background. "Who's there?"
Yugi followed the crying sounds until he saw a familiar girl sitting on the ground crying while a boy was trying to comfort her. Yugi knew who the girl and the boy were, Starfire and Robin.
"Starfire, what's the matter?" Yugi asked.
"You monster!" Starfire exclaimed. "What have you done?"
"Done what?" Yugi asked.
"Can you not see what you have done?" Starfire asked, her tone horrified.
"What did I do?" Yami asked.
"You know damn well what you did!" Robin exclaimed. "You killed your own friends!"
"No. I didn't," Yugi replied sadly.
"Yeah you did," Robin said coldly. "Take a look behind you."
Yugi turned around to see two corpses lying in a huge puddle of blood. The dead bodies were female, one had brown hair and blue eyes and the other had purple hair and violet eyes. Yugi recognized the dead bodies were the two special ladies of his unlife, Tea and Raven.
"No," Yugi said breathlessly.
Yugi kneeled down and hugged the dead bodies as tears streamed down his face. Yami Yugi cried silently as he said through his tears, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Yugi continued to cry in silence until a demonic voice asked, "What the fuck are you sorry for?"
Yugi shot his head up to see a shadowy figure with a very menacing glare.
"Why are you crying for?" The figure asked. "You should be glad that they're dead. They weren't your friends. Never had been, never will."
"That's not true!" Yami Yugi declared. "I care about my friends! They're the reason why I'm here!"
"Oh no. You came back to Earth for a different reason," The figure replied.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yugi screamed.
"You'll know soon enough," The dark figure replied.
With that said, the figure cackled.
(End Nightmare)
Yugi woke up so suddenly. He breathed heavily as he sat up on his bed. Raven came into Yugi's room, she was concerned for his well-being.
"Yugi, what happened?" Raven asked with concern.
"I just had a god damn nightmare," The Crow replied.
Raven didn't press him any further; she sensed that his nightmare had deeply horrified him. "I'm here if you wanna talk about it."
"Thanks, but I don't," Yugi replied softly. "Go back to sleep."
Before Raven returned to her room, they heard a knock on the door. Yugi and Raven went to the living room; when Yugi opened the door, no one was there except a goldenrod colored card on the floor.
"What the hell is this?" Raven asked picking up the card.
"It's an invitation," Yugi replied. Reading from the invitation, "'Yugi and Raven Muto, you are cordially invited to the Egyptian exhibit of the Gotham City Museum of Natural History.'"
"A museum," Raven said. "Sounds interesting."
"Maybe I can find some answers to what the hell is going on," Yugi said.
"Maybe," Raven agreed.
(Domino City/Joey's house)
It had been one day since Yugi Muto left Domino City for Gotham City. During that one day, Joey and co. were worried sick, especially Joey. Joey smoked cigerettes non-stop. Mai knew if Joey gets himself extremely worried, he would smoke an entire pack of cigerettes then he would smoke another pack.
"Joey, I thought I fucking told you not to smoke any more!" Mai yelled. "I know you're worried about Yugi and Tea but you shouldn't be killing yourself over this bullshit!"
Joey sighed. "Sorry, Mai. It's either dis or nervous fidgeting."
"I would rather prefer nervous fidgeting over your damn smoking habit," Mai declared.
"They're my lungs, and I'll fuck them up all I please," Joey replied.
"If you don't stop hurting your lungs, I'll rip them out for you!" Mai retorted.
"Damn, you're really hot when you're mad," Joey remarked.
"Don't be such a suck-up, Joey," Mai said.
"So what do we do?" Tristan asked. "Yugi's in Gotham all by himself and going against God knows what."
"I just hope he and Tea are okay," Serenity said her voice quivering. "I don't want to see Yugi get hurt or worse."
Tristan gently hugged her. "Don't worry, Serenity. Yugi and Tea will be fine."
"And we're gonna make sure of it," Joey added intensely. "I already bought plane tickets to Gotham for the four of us."
"But Yugi said," Tristen said before Joey cut him off.
"Yugi's our friend, Tristan," Joey said. "And friends don't leave friends to take on psychos by themselves."
"Time to pack our things then," Mai said. "Everyone, looks like we're heading to Gotham City."
"Are we going to meet Batman?" Joey asked.
"Joey!" Tristan yelled. "We're going to Gotham to help Yugi save Tea, not track down creepy urban legends!"
"Batman is not a creepy urban legend!" Joey retorted. "You met Robin, and he was trained by the guy! Batman is real!"
"Whatever," Tristen remarked.
(Gotham City/Ivan and Yuri's Apartment)
Ivan and Yuri, Yugi and Raven's neighbors, were in their apartment doing their usual thing, playing Halo 2.
"Oh yeah, I smoked your alien ass, bitch!" Ivan cheered.
"Fuck you," Yuri grumbled. "Rematch, motherfucker."
"C'mon, dude," Ivan replied. "I whooped your ass five times already."
"And we're gonna rematch, dammit!" Yuri retorted. "We're gonna rematch until I beat you."
"Whatever you say, Yuri," remarked Ivan.
Before Ivan and Yuri had their rematch, they heard a door close. The two punks walked to the window to see a boy and a girl dressed in black walking to a black GTO. The boy had tri-colored hair. He wore a black sleeveless shirt with a skull wrapped in barb wire, leather pants, and a black trench coat. He also wore two studded belts, a studded coller, studded boots, and a golden pendant. The girl had purple hair. She wore a shirt with a raven perched on a bleeding skull, black low-rise jeans, and black laced boots.
"Dude, who are they?" Ivan asked.
"That's Yugi and Raven," Yuri replied. "They moved in last night."
"I thought that dude looked familiar," Ivan said. "He works with my cousin at the Razor's Edge store."
"Really?" Yuri remarked.
"Yeah. I heard Raven is a member of the Titans," Ivan replied. "Not to mention such a hottie."
"Yeah," Yuri agreed, although he had the required muscle control so that he didn't start drooling.
"Hey dude, admire your dream girl later," Ivan said. "We've gotta a game to finish."
"That's right," Yuri agreed. "And I'm gonna kick your sorry ass, bi-atch!"
(Highway)
The GTO cruised down the highway of Gotham. Yugi and Raven were listening to Cradle of Filth's "Nymphetamine". Yugi noticed the needle on the gas tank meter was near the letter "E".
"We have to stop for gas," Yugi said.
Yami Yugi drove the GTO into a gas station. Raven stepped out of the car and walked to the convenience store to purchase a few things. Near the entrance of the convenience store were two dudes dressed in faux gangster clothes. One dude was short and was a little stocky, wearing a baseball cap backwards, a pair of blue jeans, and a green trenchcoat. He had long brown hair and had a beard. The other dude was a little taller, wearing a black shirt with the word "Berserker" printed in red, baggy black pants, and a knit cap that covered his long blond hair. They were both smoking weed. When Raven walked out of the convenience store, the blond haired dude saw her and gave his friend a perverted smile.
"Check this out, lunchbox," The blond dude said. "Goth honey at twelve o'clock."
The other one said nothing, just gracing his friend with a stare.
"Hey, fine piece of ass," The blond dude called out. "Would you like to party with me and Silent Bob here?"
Raven glared at him and random objects glowed black. The smallest one flew up and smacked the blond dude in the head.
"Don't call me that," Raven said.
"Wow," The blond dude said in a daze. "She's fuckin' feisty, Silent Bob."
Silent Bob just said, "Yeah, Jay."
"Our car needs gas," Yugi said. "So stop being goofballs."
"Who the fuck are you, motherfucker?" Jay asked.
Yugi just smiled evilly. "If you don't stop talking shit about my sister, I'm your worst nightmare."
"Hey man, we don't want no trouble," Silent Bob replied.
"Good," Yugi said. "Premium."
Yugi filled the gas tank with premium fuel then he went into the store and paid the clerk for the gas. As Yugi hopped into the GTO, he turned to Jay and Silent Bob.
"You guys are getting off light," Yami Yugi said firmly. "But if I catch you near my sister again, I will kick your ass."
"O-ok, man," Jay stuttered.
Yugi turned on the engine and drove from the gas station. Around twenty minutes later, Yugi and Raven arrived at the Gotham City Museum of Natural History.
"This is the place," Raven said.
Yami Yugi stared at the museum door. Beyond that door, he felt, lay the answers he sought - or at the very least, clues that could help him find his way.
"Hopefully, I'll find some answers to what's going on," Yugi replied.
"Hopefully," Raven murmured.
They walked up the steps and entered the museum. They walked around the museum and saw various things like old dinosaur skeletons and relics from different eras of history. It was while examining the coffin of an Egyptian pharaoh that Yugi and Raven saw a mysterious blue-eyed Egyptian woman dressed in the uniform of a museum curator.
"Hello, I've been waiting for you," said the woman.
"You have?" Raven asked.
"Yes. I knew you both would come here," The woman said.
"How did you know?" Yugi asked.
"I have the power to see the past and probable futures," the woman replied.
"Like how?" Yugi asked.
"I do not know," the woman admitted. "It's a power I've had since I was a child."
"What do you see in my past?" Raven asked.
"I see that you are a child of both light and darkness," the woman replied. "Your father was the dreaded demon Trigon and your mother was a human woman offered to him as his bride by a cult of his worshippers. I know that until his recent death at your and Yugi's hands, you had to contain your emotions so that he would not have any outlet with which to escape into this world."
"Whoa!" Raven declared.
"I see dark forces in your future, Yugi," the woman stated.
"Dark forces are everywhere I go," Yugi replied. "Your point?"
"Everyone around you will be in danger," the woman stated. "Even those you love."
"The one I love most is already in danger," Yugi replied. "She's been kidnapped."
"Yes, and your sister's in danger too," the woman added pointing to Raven.
"How am I in danger?" Raven asked.
"You'll know soon, my dear," the woman replied.
"Tell us now," Raven said. "You say we're in danger. We want to know where this danger comes from."
"Very well, then," the woman conceded. "Follow me."
As the Muto siblings followed the woman, two men wearing purple coats watched them from the distance.
"Is that them?" a short bald man asked.
"Yeah, that's them," a tall blue-haired man replied. "I don't know why Master Marik wants those punk kids dead, but I'm not gonna bother questioning him."
"We shall wait until the right moment to strike," the bald man said.
"Yeah," the blue-haired man agreed.
The woman led Yugi and Raven down a long hallway. The walls of the hallway had numerous paintings, each one were done by world-famous artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. When they finally came to the Egyptian exhibit, Yugi and Raven gazed at a huge tablet that depicted an ancient battle between a pharaoh and a demon. However, when they saw the image of the pharaoh, they were startled.
"He looks just like you, Yugi," Raven managed to breathe out.
"No fucking way," Yugi replied.
"Yes 'fucking' way, Yugi Muto," the woman said. "Or may I address you with the honor you deserve . . . Pharaoh Yami."
"Pharoah Yami?" Raven echoed.
"Yes, Raven, your brother was once a great and powerful pharaoh," the woman replied.
"How could this be?" Yugi asked. "How could I be a 'great and powerful pharaoh' in a previous life?"
"It is simple, Yami," the woman replied. "Do you remember joining forces with Robin, Raven, and the other Titans to fight the demon Thartoc?"
"Yeah, I remember," Yugi replied.
"That was not the first time you and Robin joined forces to fight Thartoc," the woman explained. "The first time you did so was three thousand years ago, when you were pharaoh and Robin was the warrior-priest Riku. You were allied with Taelos, the order of priestesses dedicated to ending Thartoc's evil, and Riku was its most trusted warrior."
"You have got to be shitting me," Yugi remarked.
"The Millennium Puzzle around your neck tells me otherwise," the woman said.
"What does the Millennium Puzzle have something to do with this?" Raven asked.
"The Millennium Puzzle contained the magic of Haniah, the leader of Taelos," the woman replied. "She bequeathed it to Yami for safekeeping."
"What about the legend of the crow?" Yugi asked.
"When you died, Yami, the prophets said that you would return as an immortal, unstoppable dark messiah of justice," the woman replied. "You spent your first sixteen years of life as a normal boy, but when Seto Kaiba murdered you and your grandfather, the prophecy came true."
Yugi bowed his head in sadness.
"The pain from losing your grandfather is like a knife in your heart that you constantly live with," the woman said. "And not even your friends, your sister Raven, or Tea, the woman you love, can pull it out."
"I know," Yugi replied sadly. "Its a pain I'm gonna live with for the rest of my un-life."
The woman smiled sadly at Yugi.
"I'm sorry," the woman said.
"It's all right," Yugi said. "Not for me, but . . . you know."
"As pharaoh, you were instrumental in saving the world from the threat of Thartoc," the woman explained. "And now you must save the world again."
"From whom?" Yugi asked.
"The evil that tried to plunge this world into eternal darkness has returned," the woman replied.
"What kind of evil?" Raven asked.
"The same evil that Thartoc represented," the woman replied. "I cannot tell you what shape that evil walks in now, but it is as much a threat now as it was then."
"Does this have something to do with my destiny?" Yami asked.
"Yes, my pharaoh," the woman replied, "It does. This is the evil that you were returned to this world to fight."
"When do we face this evil?" Raven asked.
"That I cannot say," the woman replied. "I only see potential futures, and yours is unclear at this moment."
"Thanks for your time," Yami Yugi said.
"You're welcome," the woman replied. "As I know your names, it is only fair that you know mine before you leave. Ishizu Ishtar."
"We'll see you around...Ishizu," Raven said.
"See you then," Ishizu said. 'I know the pharaoh is the one who can save the world from my brother and hopefully, save him as well. I wish you luck, my king.'
The Muto siblings left the Egyptian exhibit. Just as they were about to exit the museum, a voice called, "Going somewhere you two?"
Yugi and Raven turned around and saw two guys dressed in purple coats, one was short and bald and the other was tall and had blue hair.
"Who in Satan's name are you?" The Crow asked.
"I am Lumis," the short bald man replied.
"And I am Umbra," the taller blue-haired man added.
"What the hell do you two want with us?" Raven asked.
"Our master wants you dead," Lumis replied.
"Bad news for you, I'm already dead," The Crow stated.
"Our master knows that," Umbra replied. "He just wants you dead as in buried-six-feet-under dead, not invincible-super-zombie dead."
"We shall see about that," Raven said.
"Yes, we shall see just how invincible your big brother is when he's pouring his un-life's blood onto the ground," Lumis threatened.
"I'm gonna snap your head off and piss down your neck!" The Crow retorted.
"We're scared," Umbra mocked. "Not! You think we're afraid of an undead punk kid?"
"Oh you will be. You will be," Yugi replied. "Enough talk, time to fight."
"Yes, and we summon the Masked Beast Des Gardius!" Lumis shouted.
A dimensional portal opened on the floor. A creature with three blue faces emerged from the dimensional hole and let out a roar which scared everyone in the museum. The people ran for the exit of the museum while the Muto siblings stood their ground.
"Behold our great beast, Des Gardius!" Umbra declared.
"Ooh, scary," Raven mocked.
"Don't judge this monster by its looks, Raven," Yugi said. "Des Gardius is much more powerful than the Harpy Lady sisters."
"I'm sure," Raven said seriously.
"Go, Des Gardius!" Lumis ordered. "Destroy those god damn teenagers."
Raven's eyes glowed in preparation for her to use her powers on the demon while Yugi pulled out his new weapons from his coat pockets: duel SW revolvers.
"It's battle time," The Crow said as he dropped his glamour spell.
"So he showed his true face to us at last," Lumis remarked.
"Yeah and this is the last face you'll ever see!" The Crow retorted.
"Like I'm scared of a punk kid with bad make-up!" Umbra mocked. "Des Gardius! Kill his ass!"
Des Gardius roared in obediance. Yugi fired rounds at the demon while Raven pummelled it with her dark magic but Des Gardius was unfazed. The Masked Beast smashed the two heroes with its right claw and then marched out of the museum to cause some destruction. Yugi and Raven knew it was time to call for back-up.
"I think we should call for back-up," Yugi said.
Raven flipped open her T-com. "Robin, we've got trouble."
"Where are you?" Robin asked.
"In the Gotham Museum of Natural History," Raven replied. "We're fighting a monster summoned by a couple of robed freaks."
"Ok, we're on our way," Robin said.
"We'll fight Des Gardius for as long as we can," Raven said before shutting the T-com.
"How long will Robin and the rest of the Titans show up?" Yugi asked.
"Not too long," Raven replied. "I hope."
The Muto siblings ran out of the museum and continued their fight against Des Gardius. Lumis and Umbra walked out of the museum to watch Yugi and Raven get the shit kicked out of them by their demon pet. Yugi poured on the fire power while Raven threw her dark magic balls but Des Gardius was still unfazed. The ammo of Yugi's magnum revolvers ran dry. He quickly put his revolvers into his pockets and ran to his car to get his other new weapon: an assault rifle. He grabbed his weapon from the trunk of his car and ran back to the battle.
"Raven, stand clear," Yugi said.
Raven nodded. She ran as Yugi pulled the trigger of his assault rifle. The assault rifle spat out rounds of bullets at Des Gardius. The Masked Beast absorbed the bullets but it was still standing. Yugi kept firing until his rifle ran out of bullets.
"Damn it, that bastard won't go down!" The Crow spat.
"He'll go down," Raven replied. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She channeled her dark psychic energy into a powerful blast.
The blast struck Des Gardius in the chest. The Masked Beast was wounded but that did little to take it down.
"No! that blast should've destroyed him!" Raven cried.
"You can't take Des Gardius down, honey," Lumis replied. "No one can! Des Gardius, finish them off!"
Des Gardius roared as the Muto siblings were ready to battle once again. Before the Muto siblings and the Masked Beast did battle, the monster was hit by an incoming starbolt and a proton blast. Yugi and Raven saw their fellow Titans had arrived in time to take Des Gardius down.
"Sorry we're late, you guys," Robin said.
"It's about damn time you show up," Yugi replied.
"Ya know the traffic in Gotham, really rough," Beast Boy said.
"So the gang is all here," Umbra said.
"It's nice to meet the Titans at long last," Lumis added.
"You must be the guys Raven told us about," Cyborg said.
Umbra looked at Robin. "You must be the other painted-up dead bitch."
"My lover is not a female dog!" Starfire yelled.
"I'm gonna rip your head off and shove it up your ass," Robin said.
"Funny," Umbra said. "Your friend said the same thing to us, except he said he was gonna piss down our throats instead of shove our heads up our asses."
"You and your Masked Beast are gonna get fragged," The Crow said reloading his assault rifle.
"Like we're scared of your popgun!" Lumis sneered.
"Des Gardius, attack them," Umbra ordered.
"Titans, Go!" Superboy cried.
The Crow, the Black Robin, and the Titans took the fight to Des Gardius. Wonder Girl bound Des Gardius with her enchanted lasso while Superboy delivered a telekinetic blast to the Masked Beast. Robin fired an X while Starfire fired a starbolt eye blast. Yami Yugi and Raven used their dark powers while Cyborg fired his proton cannon. All the attacks slammed into Des Gardius then Beast Boy followed it up by transforming himself into a bull and smashing the Masked Beast Des Gardius in the belly.
The beast went flying and crash-landed on a nearby car. The Masked Beast pulled itself up and roared with anger.
"None of our attacks hurt the Des Gardius," Starfire said.
"He's far too unstoppable," Cyborg added.
"Not really," Robin contradicted.
"What Masked Beast are you fighting?" Superboy asked.
"I may have figured out a way to defeat Des Gardius," Yugi replied.
"What is it?" Beast Boy asked. "We're all ears."
"An attack Skull Cowboy taught me," Yugi replied. "It's called Shadow Wave Crush."
"Now would be a very good time to use it, please," Starfire said.
"Yes, I suppose it would," Yami Yugi replied.
Yami Yugi tossed his assault rifle to Cyborg. The Crow's eyes glowed a light violet as he summoned the darkness from within him. Lumis and Umbra gasped in fear as they saw a sphere of shadow energy forming in The Crow's hands.
"What the fuck is he doing?" Lumis asked.
"I don't know but we must stop him before he draws any more power," Umbra replied. "Des Gardius, kill The Crow now!"
Des Gardius ran at Yami as he thrusted his hands to his right hip. The Crow threw his shadow energy sphere as he shouted, "Shadow Wave Crush!"
The attack zoomed forth and nailed Des Gardius dead on. The Masked Beast roared in agony as it felt every DNA molecule in its body rip apart and explode. The Masked Beast Des Gardius' whole body blew up causing chunks of meat and bone to fly everywhere.
"Dude, that was totally sick," Beast Boy said trying not to puke. "And I don't mean that in a good way."
"Wuss," Superboy mumbled.
"It was pretty awesome, though," Robin said.
"You got to teach me that attack," Raven said.
"I will," Yugi replied.
The Titans turned their attention to Lumis and Umbra. They expected the hooded thugs to be scared but they appeared to be smiling.
"Did you think that attack destroyed our great beast?" Lumis asked.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
"You may have destroyed the body of Des Gardius, but his spirit lives on," Umbra replied. "Mask of Remnants!"
The three faces of the Masked Beast floated in the air then fused into a very demonic looking mask. Its eyeball stared at Yugi with evil intent.
"Since you killed Des Gardius, Yugi," Lumis said. "The Mask of Remnants has chosen you as its new host."
"That accursed mask won't take me without a fight!" Yugi vowed.
"You won't have a choice, Yugi," Umbra replied. "Once the Mask of Remnants is on your face, you'll be our slave for all eternity!"
"We'll see about that!" Yami Yugi retorted defiantly.
"Mask of Remnants, get him!" Umbra ordered.
The Mask of Remnants flew toward The Crow as he pulled out a shiv from his inside coat pocket. Yami Yugi screamed as he slashed the demon mask in two. Blood from the mask splattered on Yugi's face as his eyes suddenly turned blood red.
"Umbra, what the fuck is happening to him?" Lumis asked.
"I have no idea," Umbra replied.
The Crow gave Lumis and Umbra a demonic smile, exposing his canine-like fangs. Lumis and Umbra were about to run but The Crow appeared in front of them. Yugi wrapped his left hand around Lumis' throat and pointed his shiv near Lumis' eye with his right hand. Umbra ran to his partner's aid but he received a kick to the chin from Yugi's right foot.
"You threatened to kill me and my sister," The Crow stated. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't bury this in your eye."
"Uh, you're a good guy?" Lumis attempted.
"'Good guy'?" The Crow echoed coldly. "You see, I am not 'good' by any means. 'Good guys' don't kill. 'Good guys' don't maim and mutilate. 'Good guys' don't torture. I've been known to do all those things."
"Please, don't kill me," Lumis pleaded.
"Beg all you want," Yami stated coldly. "I won't stop until I've squeezed the very life out of your throat."
The Titans couldn't help but watch their comrade choke Lumis to death. Starfire and Raven became concerned not only for Yugi but for Lumis as well.
"What is wrong with Yugi?" Starfire asked with concern.
"Oh, no. Not again," Raven replied with concern. "Yugi, stop! Don't kill him!"
"Sorry, Yugi has left the building," The Crow said. "Now, Lumis, time for you to die."
"No!" Lumis cried out.
The Crow raised his shiv but before he could impale Lumis' eye, Raven levitated the shiv from her brother's hand with her powers and dropped it to the ground. That snapped The Crow back to his senses. He loosened his grip around Lumis' neck and released him. Lumis coughed as Yugi stared blankly at Lumis and an unconscious Umbra.
'What's happening to me?' Yugi asked himself in his head.
The Titans walked to Yugi. They were very worried about him after his sudden outburst of violence, especially Raven.
"Are you ok, Yugi?" Starfire asked.
"I don't know," Yugi replied.
"What just happened?" Wonder Girl asked.
"I don't know," Yugi replied. "It was like . . . a horrible darkness had me in its grip for a moment. It's been happening ever since Tea was kidnapped."
"Well, at least it's over," Beast Boy said.
'I wouldn't count on it,' Raven said mentally.
As the Titans reflected on the situation, a black dodge viper with a silver trim appeared. Emerging from the driverside was a white-haired teenage boy.
"Lumis, grab Umbra off the ground and get your ass in the car," The white-haired boy said. Lumis nodded. He picked up Umbra and lay him down in the backseat of Bakura's car. Lumis got into the passengerside and fastened his seatbelt.
Yami Yugi gasped in horror when he saw the boy. "I don't believe it . . . it's Bakura," he uttered in breathless shock.
Upon hearing Yugi's voice, he turned his gaze to Yugi.
"Yugi, it's been a long time," Bakura said. "I thought you were a corpse rotting in the ground."
"Bakura?" Yugi wondered. "What's happened to you?"
"Nothing much," Bakura replied coldly. "I just found an item that changed my life for the better."
"What are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
Bakura unbuttoned the snow-white shirt he wore, revealing a black T-shirt underneath and a pendant in the shape of a large ring around his neck. The pendant had a flattened pyramid marked by an Egyptian eye embedded in it. Not to mention five sharp pointers dangling from it.
"The Millenium Ring!" Yugi exclaimed. "Where did you get that?"
"My father," Bakura replied. "He gave it to me as a present, said I was destined to have it."
"I sense evil within that ring," Raven said.
"Yes, and that evil has obviously corrupted Bakura," Yugi added.
Indeed, it had. Physically, Bakura had changed very little, aside from developing some muscle tone. He still had long spiky white hair and he still had brown eyes. However, his hair was spikier than Yugi remembered. Not to mention that his eyes were far colder and darker as well.
"How perceptive of you two," Bakura said. "But enough about me. I'm here to tell you about Tea."
"Are you working for whoever had her kidnapped?" Yugi asked, unable to maintain his composure.
"Working for?" Bakura echoed in a mocking tone. "Silly Yugi. I work for no one."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
"You'll see," Bakura replied. "My current associate has a strong interest in your precious Tea. And don't think he's leaving you out, Starfire." That last sentence was spoken with an evil smirk.
"Leave Starfire out of this, you bastard!" Robin yelled.
"Or you'll do what, little blackbird?" Bakura asked in a sneering tone.
Crimson energy crackled in Robin's fist, a by-product of the zinothium core that fueled his suit.
"Do you think I'm scared of you, foolish boy?" Bakura asked.
And now that Yugi thought about it, Bakura's voice was a lot rougher and harsher than he remembered.
"Soon, this worthless planet will burn in an inferno of darkness," Bakura announced. "Then we'll set our sights on the entire universe and there's nothing you can do to stop us."
"You shall not succeed!" Starfire vowed.
"Just so you know, once we're done with Earth, your precious Tamaran is next," Bakura snarled.
"You'll never touch Tamaran! Never!" Robin screamed.
"Anxious to defend your precious Starfire's homeworld, eh?" Bakura mocked.
"To my dying breath, you bastard," Robin replied coldly.
"You're already dead, nimrod," Bakura sneered.
"Come over here and say it to my face," Robin said cracking his knuckles.
"I would to love destroy you, punk," Bakura growled. "But I must take my leave. I got places to go, darkness to spread. See you around."
With that said, Bakura hopped into his car and drove off in the crowded streets of Gotham. Yugi collapsed on his knees as he asked himself in a sad tone, "Bakura, why did you become a monster?"
"Was he a friend of yours?" Cyborg asked softly.
"Yes, once," Yugi replied sadly. "Before I died."
"What happened to him after your death?" Raven asked.
Yugi sighed. "I don't want to talk about it right now. Let's go home."
Yugi and Raven went into their GTO while the rest of the Titans went to their vehicles and went their seperate ways.
(Arkham Asylum)
Marik, Joker, and Harley sitting in an old office while sipping some wine and discussing plans after world domination. They noticed Odion came into the room with some bad news.
"What is it, Odion?" Marik asked.
"Sir, Bakura has returned with Lumis and Umbra," Odion replied.
"Let me guess, Lumis and Umbra failed," Marik said.
"Yes, Master Marik," Odion said.
"See to that they are punished for their failure," Marik ordered.
"Yes, Marik," Odion said and left.
"Aren't ya being just a little harsh on your lackies?" Harley asked.
"You know I don't tolerate failure, Harley," Marik replied.
"You know my henchmen, Sid and Zygore, they never caused me any trouble," Joker stated.
"Hmph, you want me to send them?" Marik wondered.
"No, no," Joker replied. "I'll find them myself."
"Suit yourself," Marik said.
Joker and Harley left the office to find Sid and Zygore. They searched some parts of the asylum until they found Sid and Zygore were smoking weed with the members of the Ghouls in the TV room. Upon seeing this, the Joker became downright furious.
"Sid! Zygore! What the hell are you doing?" the Joker yelled.
"Getting high," Sid replied.
"Yeah, this is some good weed," Zygore added.
"Damn it!" the Joker cursed. "I need you ready at all times! That means your minds must be clear! Which means no weed! If you wanna get high on something, inhale the fumes of the dead! That always does the trick for me."
"Sorry, boss," Sid replied. "Won't happen again."
"Make sure it doesn't," the Joker growled.
"Yes, boss," Zygore said.
Odion came into the TV room. He saw one of the members of the Ghouls, Seeker, smoking a Cuban cigar and watching the news about the recent events that happened at the Gotham Museum.
"Seeker!" Odion called out.
"What the hell do you want, Odion?" Seeker asked.
"Master Marik wants to see you, now," Odion replied.
"Yeah, yeah," Seeker remarked.
"Don't make any remarks at me, limp dick!" Odion retorted. "Just go see Marik, now!"
"All right, all right," Seeker said. "Don't get your panties in a knot."
Seeker placed his cigar into the ashtray and left the TV room for Marik's office. Seeker got into Marik's office as he asked, "You like to see me, my master?"
"Yes, Seeker," Marik replied. "Sit down."
"What is you want, Master Marik?" Seeker asked.
"I want you to destroy The Crow and those worthless Titans once and for all," Marik replied.
"As you have commanded, so it will be done," Seeker said.
"Good. Leave me," Marik ordered.
Seeker got up and left. Marik stared at the entire city from the window of his office. A sinister smile cracked his face as he thought, 'Once The Crow and the Teen Titans are out of my way, Earth and the universe will belong to me and the Great Demon Gods.'
To Be Continued...
"voices call, they call out my name, (my name, my name)
they say I'm different well I'm not the same (the same)
you say you want
to be like me (like me, like me)
well boy let me tell you,
you didn't know what I've seen.
They say the devil
lives in my soul
(my soul, my soul)
I promise not to let him
take control
I'm minding
my own business.
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I ain't doing
nothing wrong.
shadows follow
So close behind me
I look in the mirror
I don't like what I see.
Oh God, Can't you help me
get out of here?
(here, here)
I feel like I'm living
deep in hell.
I'm minding
my own business
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
(Black)
I'm minding
my own business
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I'm minding,
I'm minding my own.
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
nothing wrong"
Sevendust-"Black"
Author's note: That concludes the third chapter of our horror story, kiddies. Things have taken a dark turn now that the Titans know of Yugi's dilemma. What has become of The Crow's old friend, Ryou Bakura? And what are the Great Demon Gods? For all this and more, stay tuned for more high-octaned and ass-kickin' chapters. Until then, my fellow wolves and Crow-ites, happy readin'.
May the wolf spirit guide thee...
Disclaimer: The Crow, Yu-Gi-Oh, the Teen Titans, and Jay and Silent Bob are owned by James O'Barr, Kazuki Takahashi, Shonen Jump, Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, and Kevin Smith.
Author's Note: In the last chapter, The Crow met up with Raven and The Black Robin and encountered his old foes, The Harpy Lady Sisters. The Harpy Lady Sisters were named after the Brides of Dracula from the Van Helsing film. In this chapter, Yami Yugi reunites with the Teen Titans and Yugi's friends are headin' for Gotham. Will the arrival of Joey and co. effect the outcome? And what does the Joker and Marik have up their sleeves? Now, my fellow wolves, let's begin the third chapter of our horror story.
Warning: This chapter contains drug references. Reader discretion is advised.
"Evolution is a mystery
Full of change that no one sees
Clock makes a fool of history
Yesterday's too long ago
Don't agree with what I know
Tomorrow becomes the place to be
I see the line in the sand
Time to find out, who I am
Looking back to see where I stand
Evolution, Evolution
See my reflection change
Nothing ever stays the same
But you know the names the game
We don't know what it means
Nothing's ever what it seems
Unforgiven...unforseen
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution is a mystery
Full of change that no one sees
Clock makes a fool of history
Yesterday's too long ago
Don't agree with what I know
Tomorrow becomes the place to be
I see the line in the sand
Time to find out, who I am
Looking back to see where I stand
Evolution, Evolution
See my reflection change
Nothing ever stays the same
But you know the names the game
We don't know what it means
Nothing's ever what it seems
Unforgiven...unforseen
Evolution, Evolution
Evolution, Evolution"
Motorhead-"Line in the Sand (Evolution theme music)"
Chapter 3:
Drama of the Masked Beast
(Arkham Asylum)
"God fucking damn it!" Marik yelled, slamming his fist on a table. "The Harpy Lady Sisters have failed to take out The Crow and his pathetic friends!"
Marik started to throw stuff around the room and smash any item he could get his hands on. It was then the Joker and Harley appeared to calm the Ghouls' leader down.
"Marik, calm down," The Joker said.
"Calm down? Marik echoed. "That bastard and his Titan friends killed my harpies!"
"Just a minor setback," The Joker reassured. "Don't let that stop you from taking over the world."
"Of course I won't let it stop me," Marik replied. "However, I'll have to take it up a notch."
"How are you gonna do that, Marik?" Harley Quinn asked.
"I'm going to send a couple of my Ghouls to find The Crow and his Titan friends," Marik replied.
"And who are these two members of your little group?" Joker asked.
"Lumis and Umbra," Marik replied.
(Yugi and Raven's apartment)
Yami Yugi was sleeping in his room but his sleep wasn't a good one. Yugi groaned as he moved about in his bed. He was having a nightmare.
(Nightmare)
The Crow was in a dark room. He walked through the dark room as he yelled, "Hello?" No response. He continued walking until he saw blood on the floor. When the lights suddenly went on, Yugi saw numerous dead bodies on the floor. Yugi gasped when he realized the dead bodies lying in the puddles of blood were the Titans and his friends.
"Oh no," Yugi said hearing the sounds of crying in the background. "Who's there?"
Yugi followed the crying sounds until he saw a familiar girl sitting on the ground crying while a boy was trying to comfort her. Yugi knew who the girl and the boy were, Starfire and Robin.
"Starfire, what's the matter?" Yugi asked.
"You monster!" Starfire exclaimed. "What have you done?"
"Done what?" Yugi asked.
"Can you not see what you have done?" Starfire asked, her tone horrified.
"What did I do?" Yami asked.
"You know damn well what you did!" Robin exclaimed. "You killed your own friends!"
"No. I didn't," Yugi replied sadly.
"Yeah you did," Robin said coldly. "Take a look behind you."
Yugi turned around to see two corpses lying in a huge puddle of blood. The dead bodies were female, one had brown hair and blue eyes and the other had purple hair and violet eyes. Yugi recognized the dead bodies were the two special ladies of his unlife, Tea and Raven.
"No," Yugi said breathlessly.
Yugi kneeled down and hugged the dead bodies as tears streamed down his face. Yami Yugi cried silently as he said through his tears, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Yugi continued to cry in silence until a demonic voice asked, "What the fuck are you sorry for?"
Yugi shot his head up to see a shadowy figure with a very menacing glare.
"Why are you crying for?" The figure asked. "You should be glad that they're dead. They weren't your friends. Never had been, never will."
"That's not true!" Yami Yugi declared. "I care about my friends! They're the reason why I'm here!"
"Oh no. You came back to Earth for a different reason," The figure replied.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yugi screamed.
"You'll know soon enough," The dark figure replied.
With that said, the figure cackled.
(End Nightmare)
Yugi woke up so suddenly. He breathed heavily as he sat up on his bed. Raven came into Yugi's room, she was concerned for his well-being.
"Yugi, what happened?" Raven asked with concern.
"I just had a god damn nightmare," The Crow replied.
Raven didn't press him any further; she sensed that his nightmare had deeply horrified him. "I'm here if you wanna talk about it."
"Thanks, but I don't," Yugi replied softly. "Go back to sleep."
Before Raven returned to her room, they heard a knock on the door. Yugi and Raven went to the living room; when Yugi opened the door, no one was there except a goldenrod colored card on the floor.
"What the hell is this?" Raven asked picking up the card.
"It's an invitation," Yugi replied. Reading from the invitation, "'Yugi and Raven Muto, you are cordially invited to the Egyptian exhibit of the Gotham City Museum of Natural History.'"
"A museum," Raven said. "Sounds interesting."
"Maybe I can find some answers to what the hell is going on," Yugi said.
"Maybe," Raven agreed.
(Domino City/Joey's house)
It had been one day since Yugi Muto left Domino City for Gotham City. During that one day, Joey and co. were worried sick, especially Joey. Joey smoked cigerettes non-stop. Mai knew if Joey gets himself extremely worried, he would smoke an entire pack of cigerettes then he would smoke another pack.
"Joey, I thought I fucking told you not to smoke any more!" Mai yelled. "I know you're worried about Yugi and Tea but you shouldn't be killing yourself over this bullshit!"
Joey sighed. "Sorry, Mai. It's either dis or nervous fidgeting."
"I would rather prefer nervous fidgeting over your damn smoking habit," Mai declared.
"They're my lungs, and I'll fuck them up all I please," Joey replied.
"If you don't stop hurting your lungs, I'll rip them out for you!" Mai retorted.
"Damn, you're really hot when you're mad," Joey remarked.
"Don't be such a suck-up, Joey," Mai said.
"So what do we do?" Tristan asked. "Yugi's in Gotham all by himself and going against God knows what."
"I just hope he and Tea are okay," Serenity said her voice quivering. "I don't want to see Yugi get hurt or worse."
Tristan gently hugged her. "Don't worry, Serenity. Yugi and Tea will be fine."
"And we're gonna make sure of it," Joey added intensely. "I already bought plane tickets to Gotham for the four of us."
"But Yugi said," Tristen said before Joey cut him off.
"Yugi's our friend, Tristan," Joey said. "And friends don't leave friends to take on psychos by themselves."
"Time to pack our things then," Mai said. "Everyone, looks like we're heading to Gotham City."
"Are we going to meet Batman?" Joey asked.
"Joey!" Tristan yelled. "We're going to Gotham to help Yugi save Tea, not track down creepy urban legends!"
"Batman is not a creepy urban legend!" Joey retorted. "You met Robin, and he was trained by the guy! Batman is real!"
"Whatever," Tristen remarked.
(Gotham City/Ivan and Yuri's Apartment)
Ivan and Yuri, Yugi and Raven's neighbors, were in their apartment doing their usual thing, playing Halo 2.
"Oh yeah, I smoked your alien ass, bitch!" Ivan cheered.
"Fuck you," Yuri grumbled. "Rematch, motherfucker."
"C'mon, dude," Ivan replied. "I whooped your ass five times already."
"And we're gonna rematch, dammit!" Yuri retorted. "We're gonna rematch until I beat you."
"Whatever you say, Yuri," remarked Ivan.
Before Ivan and Yuri had their rematch, they heard a door close. The two punks walked to the window to see a boy and a girl dressed in black walking to a black GTO. The boy had tri-colored hair. He wore a black sleeveless shirt with a skull wrapped in barb wire, leather pants, and a black trench coat. He also wore two studded belts, a studded coller, studded boots, and a golden pendant. The girl had purple hair. She wore a shirt with a raven perched on a bleeding skull, black low-rise jeans, and black laced boots.
"Dude, who are they?" Ivan asked.
"That's Yugi and Raven," Yuri replied. "They moved in last night."
"I thought that dude looked familiar," Ivan said. "He works with my cousin at the Razor's Edge store."
"Really?" Yuri remarked.
"Yeah. I heard Raven is a member of the Titans," Ivan replied. "Not to mention such a hottie."
"Yeah," Yuri agreed, although he had the required muscle control so that he didn't start drooling.
"Hey dude, admire your dream girl later," Ivan said. "We've gotta a game to finish."
"That's right," Yuri agreed. "And I'm gonna kick your sorry ass, bi-atch!"
(Highway)
The GTO cruised down the highway of Gotham. Yugi and Raven were listening to Cradle of Filth's "Nymphetamine". Yugi noticed the needle on the gas tank meter was near the letter "E".
"We have to stop for gas," Yugi said.
Yami Yugi drove the GTO into a gas station. Raven stepped out of the car and walked to the convenience store to purchase a few things. Near the entrance of the convenience store were two dudes dressed in faux gangster clothes. One dude was short and was a little stocky, wearing a baseball cap backwards, a pair of blue jeans, and a green trenchcoat. He had long brown hair and had a beard. The other dude was a little taller, wearing a black shirt with the word "Berserker" printed in red, baggy black pants, and a knit cap that covered his long blond hair. They were both smoking weed. When Raven walked out of the convenience store, the blond haired dude saw her and gave his friend a perverted smile.
"Check this out, lunchbox," The blond dude said. "Goth honey at twelve o'clock."
The other one said nothing, just gracing his friend with a stare.
"Hey, fine piece of ass," The blond dude called out. "Would you like to party with me and Silent Bob here?"
Raven glared at him and random objects glowed black. The smallest one flew up and smacked the blond dude in the head.
"Don't call me that," Raven said.
"Wow," The blond dude said in a daze. "She's fuckin' feisty, Silent Bob."
Silent Bob just said, "Yeah, Jay."
"Our car needs gas," Yugi said. "So stop being goofballs."
"Who the fuck are you, motherfucker?" Jay asked.
Yugi just smiled evilly. "If you don't stop talking shit about my sister, I'm your worst nightmare."
"Hey man, we don't want no trouble," Silent Bob replied.
"Good," Yugi said. "Premium."
Yugi filled the gas tank with premium fuel then he went into the store and paid the clerk for the gas. As Yugi hopped into the GTO, he turned to Jay and Silent Bob.
"You guys are getting off light," Yami Yugi said firmly. "But if I catch you near my sister again, I will kick your ass."
"O-ok, man," Jay stuttered.
Yugi turned on the engine and drove from the gas station. Around twenty minutes later, Yugi and Raven arrived at the Gotham City Museum of Natural History.
"This is the place," Raven said.
Yami Yugi stared at the museum door. Beyond that door, he felt, lay the answers he sought - or at the very least, clues that could help him find his way.
"Hopefully, I'll find some answers to what's going on," Yugi replied.
"Hopefully," Raven murmured.
They walked up the steps and entered the museum. They walked around the museum and saw various things like old dinosaur skeletons and relics from different eras of history. It was while examining the coffin of an Egyptian pharaoh that Yugi and Raven saw a mysterious blue-eyed Egyptian woman dressed in the uniform of a museum curator.
"Hello, I've been waiting for you," said the woman.
"You have?" Raven asked.
"Yes. I knew you both would come here," The woman said.
"How did you know?" Yugi asked.
"I have the power to see the past and probable futures," the woman replied.
"Like how?" Yugi asked.
"I do not know," the woman admitted. "It's a power I've had since I was a child."
"What do you see in my past?" Raven asked.
"I see that you are a child of both light and darkness," the woman replied. "Your father was the dreaded demon Trigon and your mother was a human woman offered to him as his bride by a cult of his worshippers. I know that until his recent death at your and Yugi's hands, you had to contain your emotions so that he would not have any outlet with which to escape into this world."
"Whoa!" Raven declared.
"I see dark forces in your future, Yugi," the woman stated.
"Dark forces are everywhere I go," Yugi replied. "Your point?"
"Everyone around you will be in danger," the woman stated. "Even those you love."
"The one I love most is already in danger," Yugi replied. "She's been kidnapped."
"Yes, and your sister's in danger too," the woman added pointing to Raven.
"How am I in danger?" Raven asked.
"You'll know soon, my dear," the woman replied.
"Tell us now," Raven said. "You say we're in danger. We want to know where this danger comes from."
"Very well, then," the woman conceded. "Follow me."
As the Muto siblings followed the woman, two men wearing purple coats watched them from the distance.
"Is that them?" a short bald man asked.
"Yeah, that's them," a tall blue-haired man replied. "I don't know why Master Marik wants those punk kids dead, but I'm not gonna bother questioning him."
"We shall wait until the right moment to strike," the bald man said.
"Yeah," the blue-haired man agreed.
The woman led Yugi and Raven down a long hallway. The walls of the hallway had numerous paintings, each one were done by world-famous artists like Picasso and Van Gogh. When they finally came to the Egyptian exhibit, Yugi and Raven gazed at a huge tablet that depicted an ancient battle between a pharaoh and a demon. However, when they saw the image of the pharaoh, they were startled.
"He looks just like you, Yugi," Raven managed to breathe out.
"No fucking way," Yugi replied.
"Yes 'fucking' way, Yugi Muto," the woman said. "Or may I address you with the honor you deserve . . . Pharaoh Yami."
"Pharoah Yami?" Raven echoed.
"Yes, Raven, your brother was once a great and powerful pharaoh," the woman replied.
"How could this be?" Yugi asked. "How could I be a 'great and powerful pharaoh' in a previous life?"
"It is simple, Yami," the woman replied. "Do you remember joining forces with Robin, Raven, and the other Titans to fight the demon Thartoc?"
"Yeah, I remember," Yugi replied.
"That was not the first time you and Robin joined forces to fight Thartoc," the woman explained. "The first time you did so was three thousand years ago, when you were pharaoh and Robin was the warrior-priest Riku. You were allied with Taelos, the order of priestesses dedicated to ending Thartoc's evil, and Riku was its most trusted warrior."
"You have got to be shitting me," Yugi remarked.
"The Millennium Puzzle around your neck tells me otherwise," the woman said.
"What does the Millennium Puzzle have something to do with this?" Raven asked.
"The Millennium Puzzle contained the magic of Haniah, the leader of Taelos," the woman replied. "She bequeathed it to Yami for safekeeping."
"What about the legend of the crow?" Yugi asked.
"When you died, Yami, the prophets said that you would return as an immortal, unstoppable dark messiah of justice," the woman replied. "You spent your first sixteen years of life as a normal boy, but when Seto Kaiba murdered you and your grandfather, the prophecy came true."
Yugi bowed his head in sadness.
"The pain from losing your grandfather is like a knife in your heart that you constantly live with," the woman said. "And not even your friends, your sister Raven, or Tea, the woman you love, can pull it out."
"I know," Yugi replied sadly. "Its a pain I'm gonna live with for the rest of my un-life."
The woman smiled sadly at Yugi.
"I'm sorry," the woman said.
"It's all right," Yugi said. "Not for me, but . . . you know."
"As pharaoh, you were instrumental in saving the world from the threat of Thartoc," the woman explained. "And now you must save the world again."
"From whom?" Yugi asked.
"The evil that tried to plunge this world into eternal darkness has returned," the woman replied.
"What kind of evil?" Raven asked.
"The same evil that Thartoc represented," the woman replied. "I cannot tell you what shape that evil walks in now, but it is as much a threat now as it was then."
"Does this have something to do with my destiny?" Yami asked.
"Yes, my pharaoh," the woman replied, "It does. This is the evil that you were returned to this world to fight."
"When do we face this evil?" Raven asked.
"That I cannot say," the woman replied. "I only see potential futures, and yours is unclear at this moment."
"Thanks for your time," Yami Yugi said.
"You're welcome," the woman replied. "As I know your names, it is only fair that you know mine before you leave. Ishizu Ishtar."
"We'll see you around...Ishizu," Raven said.
"See you then," Ishizu said. 'I know the pharaoh is the one who can save the world from my brother and hopefully, save him as well. I wish you luck, my king.'
The Muto siblings left the Egyptian exhibit. Just as they were about to exit the museum, a voice called, "Going somewhere you two?"
Yugi and Raven turned around and saw two guys dressed in purple coats, one was short and bald and the other was tall and had blue hair.
"Who in Satan's name are you?" The Crow asked.
"I am Lumis," the short bald man replied.
"And I am Umbra," the taller blue-haired man added.
"What the hell do you two want with us?" Raven asked.
"Our master wants you dead," Lumis replied.
"Bad news for you, I'm already dead," The Crow stated.
"Our master knows that," Umbra replied. "He just wants you dead as in buried-six-feet-under dead, not invincible-super-zombie dead."
"We shall see about that," Raven said.
"Yes, we shall see just how invincible your big brother is when he's pouring his un-life's blood onto the ground," Lumis threatened.
"I'm gonna snap your head off and piss down your neck!" The Crow retorted.
"We're scared," Umbra mocked. "Not! You think we're afraid of an undead punk kid?"
"Oh you will be. You will be," Yugi replied. "Enough talk, time to fight."
"Yes, and we summon the Masked Beast Des Gardius!" Lumis shouted.
A dimensional portal opened on the floor. A creature with three blue faces emerged from the dimensional hole and let out a roar which scared everyone in the museum. The people ran for the exit of the museum while the Muto siblings stood their ground.
"Behold our great beast, Des Gardius!" Umbra declared.
"Ooh, scary," Raven mocked.
"Don't judge this monster by its looks, Raven," Yugi said. "Des Gardius is much more powerful than the Harpy Lady sisters."
"I'm sure," Raven said seriously.
"Go, Des Gardius!" Lumis ordered. "Destroy those god damn teenagers."
Raven's eyes glowed in preparation for her to use her powers on the demon while Yugi pulled out his new weapons from his coat pockets: duel SW revolvers.
"It's battle time," The Crow said as he dropped his glamour spell.
"So he showed his true face to us at last," Lumis remarked.
"Yeah and this is the last face you'll ever see!" The Crow retorted.
"Like I'm scared of a punk kid with bad make-up!" Umbra mocked. "Des Gardius! Kill his ass!"
Des Gardius roared in obediance. Yugi fired rounds at the demon while Raven pummelled it with her dark magic but Des Gardius was unfazed. The Masked Beast smashed the two heroes with its right claw and then marched out of the museum to cause some destruction. Yugi and Raven knew it was time to call for back-up.
"I think we should call for back-up," Yugi said.
Raven flipped open her T-com. "Robin, we've got trouble."
"Where are you?" Robin asked.
"In the Gotham Museum of Natural History," Raven replied. "We're fighting a monster summoned by a couple of robed freaks."
"Ok, we're on our way," Robin said.
"We'll fight Des Gardius for as long as we can," Raven said before shutting the T-com.
"How long will Robin and the rest of the Titans show up?" Yugi asked.
"Not too long," Raven replied. "I hope."
The Muto siblings ran out of the museum and continued their fight against Des Gardius. Lumis and Umbra walked out of the museum to watch Yugi and Raven get the shit kicked out of them by their demon pet. Yugi poured on the fire power while Raven threw her dark magic balls but Des Gardius was still unfazed. The ammo of Yugi's magnum revolvers ran dry. He quickly put his revolvers into his pockets and ran to his car to get his other new weapon: an assault rifle. He grabbed his weapon from the trunk of his car and ran back to the battle.
"Raven, stand clear," Yugi said.
Raven nodded. She ran as Yugi pulled the trigger of his assault rifle. The assault rifle spat out rounds of bullets at Des Gardius. The Masked Beast absorbed the bullets but it was still standing. Yugi kept firing until his rifle ran out of bullets.
"Damn it, that bastard won't go down!" The Crow spat.
"He'll go down," Raven replied. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She channeled her dark psychic energy into a powerful blast.
The blast struck Des Gardius in the chest. The Masked Beast was wounded but that did little to take it down.
"No! that blast should've destroyed him!" Raven cried.
"You can't take Des Gardius down, honey," Lumis replied. "No one can! Des Gardius, finish them off!"
Des Gardius roared as the Muto siblings were ready to battle once again. Before the Muto siblings and the Masked Beast did battle, the monster was hit by an incoming starbolt and a proton blast. Yugi and Raven saw their fellow Titans had arrived in time to take Des Gardius down.
"Sorry we're late, you guys," Robin said.
"It's about damn time you show up," Yugi replied.
"Ya know the traffic in Gotham, really rough," Beast Boy said.
"So the gang is all here," Umbra said.
"It's nice to meet the Titans at long last," Lumis added.
"You must be the guys Raven told us about," Cyborg said.
Umbra looked at Robin. "You must be the other painted-up dead bitch."
"My lover is not a female dog!" Starfire yelled.
"I'm gonna rip your head off and shove it up your ass," Robin said.
"Funny," Umbra said. "Your friend said the same thing to us, except he said he was gonna piss down our throats instead of shove our heads up our asses."
"You and your Masked Beast are gonna get fragged," The Crow said reloading his assault rifle.
"Like we're scared of your popgun!" Lumis sneered.
"Des Gardius, attack them," Umbra ordered.
"Titans, Go!" Superboy cried.
The Crow, the Black Robin, and the Titans took the fight to Des Gardius. Wonder Girl bound Des Gardius with her enchanted lasso while Superboy delivered a telekinetic blast to the Masked Beast. Robin fired an X while Starfire fired a starbolt eye blast. Yami Yugi and Raven used their dark powers while Cyborg fired his proton cannon. All the attacks slammed into Des Gardius then Beast Boy followed it up by transforming himself into a bull and smashing the Masked Beast Des Gardius in the belly.
The beast went flying and crash-landed on a nearby car. The Masked Beast pulled itself up and roared with anger.
"None of our attacks hurt the Des Gardius," Starfire said.
"He's far too unstoppable," Cyborg added.
"Not really," Robin contradicted.
"What Masked Beast are you fighting?" Superboy asked.
"I may have figured out a way to defeat Des Gardius," Yugi replied.
"What is it?" Beast Boy asked. "We're all ears."
"An attack Skull Cowboy taught me," Yugi replied. "It's called Shadow Wave Crush."
"Now would be a very good time to use it, please," Starfire said.
"Yes, I suppose it would," Yami Yugi replied.
Yami Yugi tossed his assault rifle to Cyborg. The Crow's eyes glowed a light violet as he summoned the darkness from within him. Lumis and Umbra gasped in fear as they saw a sphere of shadow energy forming in The Crow's hands.
"What the fuck is he doing?" Lumis asked.
"I don't know but we must stop him before he draws any more power," Umbra replied. "Des Gardius, kill The Crow now!"
Des Gardius ran at Yami as he thrusted his hands to his right hip. The Crow threw his shadow energy sphere as he shouted, "Shadow Wave Crush!"
The attack zoomed forth and nailed Des Gardius dead on. The Masked Beast roared in agony as it felt every DNA molecule in its body rip apart and explode. The Masked Beast Des Gardius' whole body blew up causing chunks of meat and bone to fly everywhere.
"Dude, that was totally sick," Beast Boy said trying not to puke. "And I don't mean that in a good way."
"Wuss," Superboy mumbled.
"It was pretty awesome, though," Robin said.
"You got to teach me that attack," Raven said.
"I will," Yugi replied.
The Titans turned their attention to Lumis and Umbra. They expected the hooded thugs to be scared but they appeared to be smiling.
"Did you think that attack destroyed our great beast?" Lumis asked.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
"You may have destroyed the body of Des Gardius, but his spirit lives on," Umbra replied. "Mask of Remnants!"
The three faces of the Masked Beast floated in the air then fused into a very demonic looking mask. Its eyeball stared at Yugi with evil intent.
"Since you killed Des Gardius, Yugi," Lumis said. "The Mask of Remnants has chosen you as its new host."
"That accursed mask won't take me without a fight!" Yugi vowed.
"You won't have a choice, Yugi," Umbra replied. "Once the Mask of Remnants is on your face, you'll be our slave for all eternity!"
"We'll see about that!" Yami Yugi retorted defiantly.
"Mask of Remnants, get him!" Umbra ordered.
The Mask of Remnants flew toward The Crow as he pulled out a shiv from his inside coat pocket. Yami Yugi screamed as he slashed the demon mask in two. Blood from the mask splattered on Yugi's face as his eyes suddenly turned blood red.
"Umbra, what the fuck is happening to him?" Lumis asked.
"I have no idea," Umbra replied.
The Crow gave Lumis and Umbra a demonic smile, exposing his canine-like fangs. Lumis and Umbra were about to run but The Crow appeared in front of them. Yugi wrapped his left hand around Lumis' throat and pointed his shiv near Lumis' eye with his right hand. Umbra ran to his partner's aid but he received a kick to the chin from Yugi's right foot.
"You threatened to kill me and my sister," The Crow stated. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't bury this in your eye."
"Uh, you're a good guy?" Lumis attempted.
"'Good guy'?" The Crow echoed coldly. "You see, I am not 'good' by any means. 'Good guys' don't kill. 'Good guys' don't maim and mutilate. 'Good guys' don't torture. I've been known to do all those things."
"Please, don't kill me," Lumis pleaded.
"Beg all you want," Yami stated coldly. "I won't stop until I've squeezed the very life out of your throat."
The Titans couldn't help but watch their comrade choke Lumis to death. Starfire and Raven became concerned not only for Yugi but for Lumis as well.
"What is wrong with Yugi?" Starfire asked with concern.
"Oh, no. Not again," Raven replied with concern. "Yugi, stop! Don't kill him!"
"Sorry, Yugi has left the building," The Crow said. "Now, Lumis, time for you to die."
"No!" Lumis cried out.
The Crow raised his shiv but before he could impale Lumis' eye, Raven levitated the shiv from her brother's hand with her powers and dropped it to the ground. That snapped The Crow back to his senses. He loosened his grip around Lumis' neck and released him. Lumis coughed as Yugi stared blankly at Lumis and an unconscious Umbra.
'What's happening to me?' Yugi asked himself in his head.
The Titans walked to Yugi. They were very worried about him after his sudden outburst of violence, especially Raven.
"Are you ok, Yugi?" Starfire asked.
"I don't know," Yugi replied.
"What just happened?" Wonder Girl asked.
"I don't know," Yugi replied. "It was like . . . a horrible darkness had me in its grip for a moment. It's been happening ever since Tea was kidnapped."
"Well, at least it's over," Beast Boy said.
'I wouldn't count on it,' Raven said mentally.
As the Titans reflected on the situation, a black dodge viper with a silver trim appeared. Emerging from the driverside was a white-haired teenage boy.
"Lumis, grab Umbra off the ground and get your ass in the car," The white-haired boy said. Lumis nodded. He picked up Umbra and lay him down in the backseat of Bakura's car. Lumis got into the passengerside and fastened his seatbelt.
Yami Yugi gasped in horror when he saw the boy. "I don't believe it . . . it's Bakura," he uttered in breathless shock.
Upon hearing Yugi's voice, he turned his gaze to Yugi.
"Yugi, it's been a long time," Bakura said. "I thought you were a corpse rotting in the ground."
"Bakura?" Yugi wondered. "What's happened to you?"
"Nothing much," Bakura replied coldly. "I just found an item that changed my life for the better."
"What are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
Bakura unbuttoned the snow-white shirt he wore, revealing a black T-shirt underneath and a pendant in the shape of a large ring around his neck. The pendant had a flattened pyramid marked by an Egyptian eye embedded in it. Not to mention five sharp pointers dangling from it.
"The Millenium Ring!" Yugi exclaimed. "Where did you get that?"
"My father," Bakura replied. "He gave it to me as a present, said I was destined to have it."
"I sense evil within that ring," Raven said.
"Yes, and that evil has obviously corrupted Bakura," Yugi added.
Indeed, it had. Physically, Bakura had changed very little, aside from developing some muscle tone. He still had long spiky white hair and he still had brown eyes. However, his hair was spikier than Yugi remembered. Not to mention that his eyes were far colder and darker as well.
"How perceptive of you two," Bakura said. "But enough about me. I'm here to tell you about Tea."
"Are you working for whoever had her kidnapped?" Yugi asked, unable to maintain his composure.
"Working for?" Bakura echoed in a mocking tone. "Silly Yugi. I work for no one."
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Yugi asked.
"You'll see," Bakura replied. "My current associate has a strong interest in your precious Tea. And don't think he's leaving you out, Starfire." That last sentence was spoken with an evil smirk.
"Leave Starfire out of this, you bastard!" Robin yelled.
"Or you'll do what, little blackbird?" Bakura asked in a sneering tone.
Crimson energy crackled in Robin's fist, a by-product of the zinothium core that fueled his suit.
"Do you think I'm scared of you, foolish boy?" Bakura asked.
And now that Yugi thought about it, Bakura's voice was a lot rougher and harsher than he remembered.
"Soon, this worthless planet will burn in an inferno of darkness," Bakura announced. "Then we'll set our sights on the entire universe and there's nothing you can do to stop us."
"You shall not succeed!" Starfire vowed.
"Just so you know, once we're done with Earth, your precious Tamaran is next," Bakura snarled.
"You'll never touch Tamaran! Never!" Robin screamed.
"Anxious to defend your precious Starfire's homeworld, eh?" Bakura mocked.
"To my dying breath, you bastard," Robin replied coldly.
"You're already dead, nimrod," Bakura sneered.
"Come over here and say it to my face," Robin said cracking his knuckles.
"I would to love destroy you, punk," Bakura growled. "But I must take my leave. I got places to go, darkness to spread. See you around."
With that said, Bakura hopped into his car and drove off in the crowded streets of Gotham. Yugi collapsed on his knees as he asked himself in a sad tone, "Bakura, why did you become a monster?"
"Was he a friend of yours?" Cyborg asked softly.
"Yes, once," Yugi replied sadly. "Before I died."
"What happened to him after your death?" Raven asked.
Yugi sighed. "I don't want to talk about it right now. Let's go home."
Yugi and Raven went into their GTO while the rest of the Titans went to their vehicles and went their seperate ways.
(Arkham Asylum)
Marik, Joker, and Harley sitting in an old office while sipping some wine and discussing plans after world domination. They noticed Odion came into the room with some bad news.
"What is it, Odion?" Marik asked.
"Sir, Bakura has returned with Lumis and Umbra," Odion replied.
"Let me guess, Lumis and Umbra failed," Marik said.
"Yes, Master Marik," Odion said.
"See to that they are punished for their failure," Marik ordered.
"Yes, Marik," Odion said and left.
"Aren't ya being just a little harsh on your lackies?" Harley asked.
"You know I don't tolerate failure, Harley," Marik replied.
"You know my henchmen, Sid and Zygore, they never caused me any trouble," Joker stated.
"Hmph, you want me to send them?" Marik wondered.
"No, no," Joker replied. "I'll find them myself."
"Suit yourself," Marik said.
Joker and Harley left the office to find Sid and Zygore. They searched some parts of the asylum until they found Sid and Zygore were smoking weed with the members of the Ghouls in the TV room. Upon seeing this, the Joker became downright furious.
"Sid! Zygore! What the hell are you doing?" the Joker yelled.
"Getting high," Sid replied.
"Yeah, this is some good weed," Zygore added.
"Damn it!" the Joker cursed. "I need you ready at all times! That means your minds must be clear! Which means no weed! If you wanna get high on something, inhale the fumes of the dead! That always does the trick for me."
"Sorry, boss," Sid replied. "Won't happen again."
"Make sure it doesn't," the Joker growled.
"Yes, boss," Zygore said.
Odion came into the TV room. He saw one of the members of the Ghouls, Seeker, smoking a Cuban cigar and watching the news about the recent events that happened at the Gotham Museum.
"Seeker!" Odion called out.
"What the hell do you want, Odion?" Seeker asked.
"Master Marik wants to see you, now," Odion replied.
"Yeah, yeah," Seeker remarked.
"Don't make any remarks at me, limp dick!" Odion retorted. "Just go see Marik, now!"
"All right, all right," Seeker said. "Don't get your panties in a knot."
Seeker placed his cigar into the ashtray and left the TV room for Marik's office. Seeker got into Marik's office as he asked, "You like to see me, my master?"
"Yes, Seeker," Marik replied. "Sit down."
"What is you want, Master Marik?" Seeker asked.
"I want you to destroy The Crow and those worthless Titans once and for all," Marik replied.
"As you have commanded, so it will be done," Seeker said.
"Good. Leave me," Marik ordered.
Seeker got up and left. Marik stared at the entire city from the window of his office. A sinister smile cracked his face as he thought, 'Once The Crow and the Teen Titans are out of my way, Earth and the universe will belong to me and the Great Demon Gods.'
To Be Continued...
"voices call, they call out my name, (my name, my name)
they say I'm different well I'm not the same (the same)
you say you want
to be like me (like me, like me)
well boy let me tell you,
you didn't know what I've seen.
They say the devil
lives in my soul
(my soul, my soul)
I promise not to let him
take control
I'm minding
my own business.
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I ain't doing
nothing wrong.
shadows follow
So close behind me
I look in the mirror
I don't like what I see.
Oh God, Can't you help me
get out of here?
(here, here)
I feel like I'm living
deep in hell.
I'm minding
my own business
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
(Black)
I'm minding
my own business
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I'm minding,
I'm minding my own.
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
I ain't doing
nothing wrong
nothing wrong"
Sevendust-"Black"
Author's note: That concludes the third chapter of our horror story, kiddies. Things have taken a dark turn now that the Titans know of Yugi's dilemma. What has become of The Crow's old friend, Ryou Bakura? And what are the Great Demon Gods? For all this and more, stay tuned for more high-octaned and ass-kickin' chapters. Until then, my fellow wolves and Crow-ites, happy readin'.
May the wolf spirit guide thee...