It was a hot summer afternoon as two young boys ran through the woods near their home. The path they took was an old dirt one, worn down from the countless people before them twisting in all sorts of directions to avoid the large trees and bushes while the occasional trash littered the sides. There was even a small creek which the pair had to jump over to avoid getting their shoes wet. The course started out simple enough, but the deeper they got into the woods, the more they began to notice the gentle incline which made the trek all the more strenuous on their young bodies. Thanks to the many trees which towered over the two, there was some degree of shade to protect them from the scorching heat of the sun as it tried to pierce the leaves above. But still the boys could feel the heat pressing on all sides, sweat drenching their shirts and rolling down their legs. To make the whole thing more unpleasant, the two of them felt like they were being chased by every mosquito in the forest as their buzzing filled their ears.

After what seemed like forever, the two made it to the end of the trail: the top of a hill where the forest cleared up a bit. There the sun shined at its brightest, its direct light being felt on the skin of both boys as they entered. The first to make it into the clearing was a proud looking boy wearing a red shirt with seven shooting stars on it. Despite the amount of sweat on him, the boy bounced up and down as he waited for the other to get there. With each bounce his brand new light up sneakers began to shine.

As for the second, he was not as energetic. Shambling into the clearing, this boy came to a complete halt before placing his hands on his knees while taking long deep breaths. He was more drenched than the first, several large droplets of sweat falling from his face as he looked like he was about to puke. His clothing was plainer than the first, looking older but still well cared for than the first with a constellation on the front.

“I win again!” cheered Star Chaser as he punched the air in front of him several times, as if he were beating up an invisible foe. As he continued to move, his brother continued to wheeze and gasp for air.

“What…ever,” Star Hunter gasped before gulping. Chaser rolled his eyes while still grinning at this.

“So, how does it feel to lose to your little brother?” asked Chaser, still bouncing around like he had all the energy in the world as he looked at his brother. Despite them being a year apart, many people around Hollow Shades still mistook them for twins most of the time as both of them were around the same height, had the same light brown skin with darker brown hair, as well as the same yellow eyes. Eyes, people stated, that almost looked like the slitted eyes of a predator.

“I…told you,” gasped Hunter as he rolled backwards to land on his ass before going onto his back. He then closed his eyes to protect them from the sun while his limbs sprawled out in all directions. “I…didn’t want…to race you. Too…hot. I just…wanted…to read. In…AC.”

“Come on,” said Chaser, still bouncing but his smile had faltered slightly as he looked at his brother. “Just say that I won. Or we could do a best of three so I can show you who's better! I can do this all day!” Then, much to Chaser’s delight, Hunter rolled over with a groan. Slowly he got up and onto his feet facing the shadowy trail leading back into town. The younger boy could feel the excitement racing through him. Another chance to show up his big brother. Another chance to prove he was better than him in every way possible!

“Forget it,” said Hunter, causing Chaser to stop dead in his tracks. Hunter didn’t turn around, just stumbling a few times as he walked back into the woods where the shadows quickly surrounded him. “I only did this because mom said I had to. Now I need to take a shower.”

Now Chaser could feel his anger rising as he watched his brother’s back. “Then just say I won! How amazing I was!” Chaser yelled, his voice echoing through the hills and woods around him. Now he stood there, staring at his brother’s back and panting a little as a breeze blew through the woods. Hunter didn’t move at all. He didn’t walk away or turn around or anything. He just stood there like some idiot! Then, finally, Hunter turned to look at him and Chaser would never forget the look he gave him. Those eyes…the look they gave him was something he had never seen anyone else give him before. And he didn’t like it. No, not at all!

“Chaser,” Hunter said, his eyes locked onto Chaser’s. “Just stop it already.” Then slowly Hunter began to walk away, further into the shadows of the trees leaving Chaser standing there in the blinding light which seemed to get brighter and brighter along with his anger.

With a start, Chaser suddenly opened his eyes as the dream abruptly ended. For a moment, he blinked in confusion as he lifted his head off the small white desk the prison had provided him with. His neck felt sore, forcing him to turn his head to the side in order to crack it followed by a small feeling of bliss that went all the way from his head to his toes. As he turned his head the other way, Chaser glanced at his tiny cell. The room was mostly bare save a cot which was attached to the wall, a toilet/sink, and the desk which was also attached to the wall. The only thing to pass for a chair was a small stone pillar that came out of the ground, preventing Chaser from using it as a weapon or the like. This was all he had now. He had gone from a large bedroom with a walk-in closet and attached bathroom, three plasma TVs, all the best clothing, a fortune in Duel Monsters cards…to this shit!

While standing there, Chaser slowly turned to look at the piece of shit cot once more and wondered why he hadn’t slept on that. Sure it was garbage compared to what he was used to, but it had to be more comfortable than sleeping on that dumb stone pillar and laying his head on the desk! And, what was with that dream? Yawning loudly as he began to stretch, scratching his sides through the ugly orange jumpsuit he was now forced to wear, his thoughts went to what he had seen while asleep. It wasn’t a dream he normally had, different from the ones where he was surrounded by women who knew their rightful place was to serve his needs or being showered by the endless praise he deserved. Heck, his retard brother was in it and Chaser wasn’t beating the ever living shit out of him as people cheered! No, this was…something else. Thinking about it, it was almost like a memory. Yeah. Now that he thought about it, Chaser remembered running through that old patch of woodland with his retarded brother all the time back when they were young. That hilltop sure brought him back. That was where he had gotten his first girl drunk, laughing at her as she puked all over the place as well as doing some other things that he would never say out loud. Not now or here anyways.

Chaser frowned, his head tilting downwards a bit so that he was now looking at his attire including the crappy shoes he had been given. Everything he was, everything he could do, was gone. All because of Hunter! All because his brother wouldn’t roll over like the sack of shit he was back when they were taking their ‘entrance’ exam at Crystal Prep. He was the reason Chaser had been caught cheating, he was the reason he had that lifelong ban, he was the reason he was sent to jail! If it hadn’t been for that retard, then Chaser would be living the life surrounded by hot babes in sexy schoolgirl uniform preparing to enter the world of dueling. And from there it would have only gotten better. Heck, with his no doubt popularity he would have been able to do anything after words. Maybe even President!

Feeling his anger rising, Chaser turned to look at his desk. There was not much there: one of the decks he had been allowed to bring with him and several torn pieces of newspaper. Chaser’s eyes narrowed at the paper as he remembered the night before. Normally he wouldn’t have read anything from such trash that didn’t include even the merest mention of him! But this…this was something he had to read for the picture headlining the article was of Hunter as he held a card in one hand that Chaser had never seen before. Nor had anyone else for that matter! Quickly reading the article told him that his retarded brother had received a one of a kind deck from the creator of Duel Monsters himself! While the article didn’t give any specifics about the deck, the moron who wrote it wondered if Hunter was destined for great things like other duelists of note who had also received their own personal one of a kind decks. On and on it went, talking about that dumb ass Hunter when it should have been praising someone of note! Someone like HIM! By the time Chaser got to the part about the Canterlot Duel Team, Chaser had had enough and began to rip the paper into thousands of tiny pieces.

Chaser’s eyes turned to look at his deck, the anger beast within him calming down until it began to purr in delight. Oh, it wouldn’t be like this for much longer. That old man, what’s-his-name, had seen just how special Chaser was, even showing him something that he didn’t know about himself. He, the great Star Chaser, had magic. Untapped for so long, the powers of the Shadow Games were now at his fingertips. Now he could draw whatever card he wanted, create his own cards to help him, and best of all could harness the power of a Shadow Game. All the tools he needed to take back what was his. To return to the spotlight where he rightfully belonged and punishing those who dared to stand in his way.

Flash Sentry, the loser who caught him putting rat poison in people’s water bottles before telling on him like the rat he was.

Applejugs, the country hick who defeated him and prevented him from being part of the Friendship Cup!

Sombra, the fool who got him that lifelong ban!

He would make them all pay! But none would pay more that Star Hunter! The one who started this all! The one who looked at him like-

“Star! Breakfast!” barked a guard as he opened Chaser’s cell. Chaser looked at him, angered by the way this man spoke to him. Who did he think he was talking to? He was no mere criminal like the rest of the losers in this place! He was greatness made flesh! He was Star Chaser!

“Let’s go Star,” repeated the guard in annoyance, but Chaser wasn’t looking at him anymore. Instead, he looked at his deck and the power it gave him. Then he glanced over at the torn newspaper again before making up his mind. The guard was speaking again, but Chaser wasn’t listening to him anymore. And he would never listen to him again.

Star Hunter was laying on his back, his eyes feeling so very heavy at that moment. He could feel the soft, cool grass pressing against his back while a slightly chilled wind blew through the field he was laying in. Not the type of chilly of a winter’s day, but the refreshing chilly one feels after a hot summer’s day or just working really hard. Which one was it? Hunter didn’t know or care at that moment. Taking in a breath, he could smell the crispness that comes from a pleasant fall day as the leaves were being crushed under people’s shoes.

But there was more. He could feel his head resting on someone’s lap while a hand gently stroked his hair. The hand was slightly bigger than his or Moondancer’s, yet was so gentle and loving. The teen tried his best to look upwards to see who it was, but his head refused to move from this comfortable position and his eyelids were drooping. All he could see was the shadowy outline of a woman who seemed…familiar to him. It wasn’t his mother nor his aunt, of that he was certain.

“You look so tired,” said the woman, confirming to him that it wasn’t any relative of his. Nor was it Moondancer. Her voice was clearly older than his girlfriend’s, holding tones of authority as well as kindness that mixed perfectly together. Hunter tried to rack his brain to figure out who it might be, but he became distracted as he became aware that they were not alone. Who they were, again, Hunter did not know for all he could see where their silhouettes were. These shadowy figures surrounded the two, some sitting on their knees while others stood by him. But despite not being able to see who they were, Hunter seemed to know them as well. They were familiar somehow. What’s more, they brought with them various scents; things like strawberry shortcake, onion soup, soap bubbles, and more. The more he breathed in these scents, the more his eyes wanted to close for he knew he would be safe here.

Yet, something else compelled his eyes to remain open. As if he had something important he needed to do. Something he wasn’t finished with. Something that wouldn’t let him rest until it was finally taken care of. A burden of sorts.

As if to confirm this, another figure appeared near his feet. “It seems the wolf is breaking out of its cage,” said the new figure. It was a woman, speaking in a voice that was both smooth and seductive. Yet there was a hint of a bite to her voice, a danger hidden in the undertones that was nearly impossible for someone to pick up on. This person, whoever it was, would make a deadly enemy should he ever be on her bad side.

“That is regrettable,” said the woman whose lap Hunter was currently using. She then let out a sigh, never stopping her stroking. “Master, don’t worry. When the beast comes for you, we shall remain by your side. And then, when it is over, you may finally rest.”

Hunter had no idea what they were talking about. As much as he wanted to ask them what was going on, who they were, and so many other questions that were on the tip of his tongue, he found he lacked the strength to do so. Yes, he was tired. So very tired of…something. All he wanted to do now was rest, let go of his burden. So, rather than saying anything, he just laid there feeling the soft touch of this woman as she stroked his hair while waiting for his eyes to finally close.

Never knowing that this was all a dream. A dream that would end in mere moments when his nearby alarm clock would sound.

Star Chaser’s head was thrown back, laughing with insane glee as the world around him descended into chaos.The morons who had been in this prison were in a state of panic, their tiny minds unable to understand what they had just seen. Fires lit anything and everything that could burn, including a few people who had gotten too close. The walls were cracked, some spots looking like massive spider webs while other parts of the building had crumbled. Large chunks of the wall had fallen down, crushing several of the peons who guarded this place. In all honesty, it was their fault they were dead. Had they just let Chaser out then they would still have their meaningless lives. But none of that compared to what was in front of Chaser! A massive hole in the wall leading to the outside, created with the power of his magic! Between him and his freedom were several guards laying face down on the ground, their eyes devoid of all life as their stiffening fingers continued to hold onto their shitty cards from their shitty decks.

Chaser continued to laugh. What utter fools! Did they really think they had it within them to defeat someone like him? The great Star Chaser, the greatest human being who had ever lived? He who had been a star athlete since the day he was born, top of his class, and graced with amazing good looks? Not to mention one of the best duelists who ever lived? The whole idea that fools like them could even begin to challenge Star Chaser was a joke! At least their lives would have some merit having ended by his hands, their souls and magic going to feed his own greatness for the battle ahead of him. Oh, he just wanted to twirl around, basking in the sight of his power. But, alas, he would have to show some self control. As powerful as he was, these duels and use of his magic had drained him considerably. Already the adrenaline in his system was beginning to wean ever slightly.

“You,” came a gasping voice that was familiar to Chaser. The teen turned his head to the side, spotting an old blue skinned man with goatish features and white hair. It was the old man who had told him he could do magic, shown him what he was capable of, guiding its usage. Now, what’s his name had his back to the wall, his orange jumpsuit turning red as a jagged piece of rock was buried in his side. Yet as the life slowly drained out of him, the old fool kept his eyes on Chaser.

“Well, well,” said Chaser as he moved over to the old man, grinning from ear to ear. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be down in the mess hall having your moldy pudding?”

“This…wasn’t the plan,” said the old man. “We were supposed to…escape…together. We had…”

“Oh, the deal?” asked Chaser in a mocking tone. “Why should I help your wrinkly old ass escape when I have everything I need? Still, you should feel honored…whatever your name is. You helped free the greatest human being in the history of the world!”

“Fool,” spat the man, coughing slightly as he did. Blood was seeping out from between his lips while all the humor on Chaser’s face vanished due to that single word. He looked at whatever his name was as if he were a fresh pile of shit that had dropped in front of him, the sight and smell offending his senses. “You don’t… know everything. Only…so much…you can do…on your…own.”

“I say I’ve learned enough,” said Chaser coldly while moving away from the old fart. “Whatever else I need to learn I can figure it out on my own. Goodbye…whoever you are.” With that, Chaser turned and walked down the hallway towards the exit.

Author's Note

And thus it begins. I will be shooting for smaller chapters, hopefully posting them once a week. Hope you all enjoy