Street Card Buddyfight
Chapter One: Buddy Rare!
The sounds of laughter filled the air as a dark-haired teen walked up to the counter. HIz gaze darted about at the boxes kept on the shelves behind the counter, then a sigh escaped his lips and he pointed to a box. "Give me 5 packs of the new set, okay?" The store manager turned to fetch the packs, and the boy turned to watch the others in the back playing everybody's favorite card game: Buddyfight. Don't they realize how serious this game is?
The manager caught his attention again, stating the price of his packs. Paying, the boy slinked out, opening the packs on the sidewalk. Looking at the first pack, he groaned; all Dragon World cards. Dragon World was getting pretty popular, so he stowed those cards away; maybe he could get something for them later. Sighing, he shook his head and pressed on. He'd been buying cards with every cent he had because he was constantly looking for his Buddy Rare. But it was probably just a dream. He droned through the next two packs like a zombie, barely checking the rarities before moving on.
The fourth pack caused him to stop halfway, though. Dragon Knight, Kondou was a super rare card! That could make him some money for more packs! His interest had risen slightly, and he thumbed through the rest of the pack, then put the cards away and opened his final pack. As he took the cards, one by one, the last one gave off a bright light before he could read it. A Buddy Rare card?! Before his eyes, the card came to life, revealing a giant green dragon wearing, of all things, a wizard hat. He didn't yet recognize the monster, but the crowded streets suddenly seemed empty. "Who are you?"
"I am the great and powerful dragowizard, Kaylurian the Skywind!" the dragon roared. The boy raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. The dragon turned his head to look down at the boy, incredulous at the boy's clear lack of understanding.
"Translation?" was the boy's only response, to which the dragon roared, insulted. Even as the boy spoke, however, another boy was approaching the pair from the skies, flying alongside another large dragon, this one easily recognized: Jackknife Dragon.
Landing behind the unimpressed Buddyfighter, the blue-haired boy approached. "Shin Matsuki?" The dark-haired boy, Shin, whirled around in surprise. "I'm Tasuku Ryuenji, from the Buddy Police. You've entered into a Buddy Contract with Dragowizard, Tempest Wing. I'm here to present you with your Core Deck Case."
Shin blinked at the boy, dumbfounded. "Tasuku Ryuenji… The boy wonder Buddy Cop? So that must be Jackknife Dragon…" He smirked slightly, no longer off-balance. "Quite a large knife you've got there. Compensating for something, Jackknife Dragon?"
Jackknife Dragon snorted, infuriated, but Tasuku ignored it and pressed on. "Jack and I would like to congratulate you for becoming an official Buddyfighter!" Holding out the Core Deck Case, Tasuku smiled pleasantly.
"Jack" snorted again and muttered, "Yeah, I'd like to congratulate him on something else, too…"
"Jack! Be nice, okay?" Tasuku scolded. Turning his attention back to Shin, who accepted the case held out to him, Tasuku's smile returned. Shin turned the deck box over in his hands, examining the details in blue, accented by a red gem in the center… "I'm sorry I can't stay any longer, but good luck to you in your future Buddyfights!"
Shin turned to his newfound Buddy Monster. "Tempest Wing, eh? Alright, so you're from Magic World… I've never hated Magic World… But I don't have a deck like that right now. Also, you might want to shrink down, you've already scared everyone off."
Tempest thought about this for a moment as Shin walked away from him, and then shrunk down to his miniature form as he realized what had happened. "Hey! Wait for me!" Shin had no idea how to build a Magic World deck just yet, so he slid his deck into his new Core Deck Case and started to head home.
On the way home, Shin cut through an alleyway. Normally a bad idea for most people, Shin loved alleys. They were usually empty, but the occasional thug was easy enough to handle if it meant some privacy. The sounds of a struggle floated to him, and he looked up. A young kid, about 13, was being kicked and punched by another guy, Shin's own age. Shin was a lot of things, but he wasn't a bully, nor was he about to let this continue. He rushed in towards the older boy, punching him in the face and pulling the younger boy away from him. "Get out of here, kid."
The older boy didn't take kindly to the interruption, the corners of his mouth turning downwards in anger. "Get your nose out of this, buddy!" The younger boy stood still, trembling. "Come back here, Toichi, you know you'll get it worse if you don't!"
"Tempest, if you wanna be a real buddy, get that kid to safety. I'll handle this guy." Tempest Wing started dragging the kid away, and the punches began to fly. Before long, Shin was standing over the other boy, his fist raised for another punch in case his opponent tried to stand.
Toichi looked to Tempest Wing. "Koetsu's gonna be mad… I'm never going to hear the end of this…" Tempest Wing sighed, looking towards Shin in an attempt to figure out how the situation would be resolved. Shin, however, had turned to walk away.
Koetsu, defeated, finally stood up again, an idea sparking. "How about we have a man's fight instead? Or are you too chicken?" Shin turned his head and stopped, apparently intrigued by the idea. Clearly, the bully was looking for a way to save face, but Shin didn't mind. "You win, the kid goes free, never bothered again. I win, he's mine."
Shin raised an eyebrow at Koetsu, and spoke quietly. "I'm listening. What kind of fight did you have in mind?"
Koetsu held up his Core Deck Case. "A Buddyfight. What else?" Shin scoffed and shook his head, walking away again. "What?! What's the matter, you too good to Buddyfight me?!"
Shin spun around, now looking angry at the other boy. "You don't get it? Well allow me to enlighten you. I don't Buddyfight without a reason. The stakes aren't high enough. You know what they say: go big, or go home."
Koetsu was shocked, but he instantly knew what to do, and pointed to Tempest Wing. "The kid… AND your buddy." A smirk lit up Shin's face as he turned to face the obnoxious boy.
"And if I win…?" Koetsu suddenly looked lost, as if he hadn't thought that far ahead. He pulled out his pockets, looking for an ante, until Shin stopped him. "Don't bother, I know what I want. If you lose, I want your Core Deck Case."
Koetsu's eyes widened, stunned by the declaration. Without it, he couldn't Buddyfight. But if he won, he got a powerful new card, and what he'd been wanting anyways: the chance to pick on Toichi some more. This fight was the only way he could… "Fine! But I won't lose. A flash of claws before an endless darkness! Furious Clash! Lumenize!" His Core Deck Case flashed and transformed into a shoulder holster for his deck, as his Buddy Monster, Ironblood Dragon, Gavaldine, appeared beside him.
Shin held up a card as it turned into a monster. "For this fight, Galiazond will be my buddy! Furious force from ages long past, destroy the meager peasant before you! Ancient Storm, Lumenize!" Shin's Core Deck Case lit up, turning into a floating book. Shin scoffed again, agitated. "A book? That's my fancy Core Gadget?"
"This is your first time Lumenizing?! Hahahaha! This'll be too easy! I'll start! Charge and draw!" Koetsu grabbed one of the luminescent cards before him and tossed it towards the gauge area, then drew a new card from his Core Gadget. "I call to the right area, Nightflight Dragon, Rahal! Rahal, attack the fighter!"
Shin didn't flinch at all as Rahal lunged at him and bit. His life indicator, floating above his head, set itself accordingly, down to 8 life points. A voice boomed from Koetsu's Core Gadget. "End of move." Then, the same voice sounded from Shin's Core Gadget, saying, "Your move."
"Draw!" Shin drew a new card from the book floating beside him. It was a marvel really, a blue book with a red gem on the cover, holding a glowing card waiting for him… He'd never used more than a generic Core Gadget before, but this one was his. A little lame, perhaps, but it was his nonetheless. "Charge and Draw!" Throwing a card to the gauge, he drew a new card.
"Why aren't you out there fighting with him? He is your buddy, right?" Toichi asked Tempest Wing, puzzled by the situation.
"We only became buddies today, he doesn't have a Magic World deck, according to him. This will do fine for now, I suppose…" came Tempest Wing's reply.
"Galiazond will lend me some additional help, with Buddy Help! Cast!" Spending all 3 of his gauge, Shin drew 2 new cards. "Next up, Dragon Emperor Legend!" A new card appeared in his gauge, the floating 8 above him broke to reveal a 9, then he drew a new card. "That's a start… Let's see here… Destruction Dragon Emperor, Gatastor to the Center area!"
Gatastor took center stage, the giant size 3 monster taking up the entire alleyway. Any hope Koetsu had had of winning the fight was quickly fading. "What the hell?!" Koetsu didn't know how to handle a move like this, and that was painfully obvious.
"Next up, Flame Dragon Emperor, Magmanova's special ability! By discarding him, I deal a damage to you!" Koetsu's life counter went down to 9 as he cried out in pain. "And that's not all. I like it so much, let's do it again. Twice." Discarding two more copies of Magmanova, Shin grinned at Koetsu's near-scream of pain as his life was reduced to 7. "And now for the Gatastor in my hand! Pay one gauge and discard him… I can destroy one of your monsters! Rahal!" The unfortunate monster shattered into light, and vanished from the field. "Next, it's Rock Dragon Emperor, Vragos, giving me 2 life by being discarded!" Now at 11 life, Shin pointed at Koetsu. "Gatastor, attack the fighter!" Gatastor slashed in at Koetsu with his giant claws, but was blasted back by a shining barrier.
"CAST! Battle Aura Circle!"
Shin's Core Gadget spoke. "End of move." This was immediately followed by Koetsu's Core Gadget. "Your move."
"Draw! Charge and draw!" Koetsu seemed to study his hand for a moment, having regained his composure. "I call to the right, Saberclaw Dragon, Valken! Pay 1 gauge to activate his skill, I gain a life!" Koetsu grinned widely up at Shin, showing off now. Shin shook his head and sighed. "Next, I call a second Valken to the left, and do it again!" Koetsu was now at 9 life, and seemed to be on a roll. "I pay two gauge to equip Hysteric Spear! Valken, Link attack Gatastor with me!" Valken and Koetsu leapt into action, Koetsu spinning the spear that had appeared in his hands as he moved towards Gatastor.
"Ice Dragon Emperor Glacies, Freeze Shot! By discarding Glacies and paying 1 life, I nullify the attack!" Shin calmly, almost creepily stared at Koetsu as he and Valken were temporarily frozen. "Did you think it would be that easy?"
"End of move. Your move," stated the voices of the fighters' respective Core Gadgets.
"Draw! Charge and draw! Gatastor, attack the Valken on the fighter's left area!" Gatastor leaned forward, swiping a claw through Valken, who shattered and vanished, and Shin sighed. That was way too short… Oh well.
"End of move. Your move."
"I draw! Then charge and draw! I call Nightflight Dragon, Rahal to the Left area! Valken, you're with me! Attack Gatastor!" Shin winced slightly as Valken and Koetsu cut through Gatastor, since Gatastor's Lifelink reduced his life to 9. Koetsu slashed at Shin directly with the Hysteric Spear he held, because Hysteric Spear's Penetrate skill activated, further reducing Shin's life to 7. "Rahal! Attack the fighter!" Rahal lunged, biting Shin's arm, and Koetsu seemed satisfied with his lead.
"End of move. Your move."
Shin cracked his knuckles, then his neck. "You look so smug over there with a 4 damage lead. They teach you how to look smug like that in grade school? You haven't seen anything yet! Draw! Charge and… draw!" Shin looked at his new card with a smile. "Dragon Emperor Legend!" Yet another new card appeared in his gauge, and he gained a life and a new card. It was all he could do to keep from laughing at the stupefied look on Koetsu's face. With Shin down to 6 life, Koetsu was confident he had this game in the bag. "Divine Dragon Creation! I pay 2 life to cast!" Shin drew 2 new cards, and Koetsu laughed.
"What's wrong? Searching for something? Aww, you're just making it easier for me to kill you, aren't you?" Koetsu was positively ecstatic now. His opponent was making it too easy!
Shin ignored Koetsu and continued. "Next up, let's go! Great Talent Dragon Formation! Pay 2 life to search my deck for a size 3 Dragon Lord! Buddy Call to the Center area with 3 gauge and 4 cards from my Drop Zone! SPACE DRAGON EMPEROR, GALIAZOND! I gain 1 life from Buddy Gift!"
"Rahal's special ability activates at your Attack Phase! Move to the Center!" A look of panic spread across Koetsu's face. He had to kill this huge monster with 4 soul?
Toichi looked to Tempest Wing in confusion. "I watched what he was doing, and… the cards in Galiazond's soul… He only used 3 of them, right? Magmanova, Vragos, and… Glacies. Where did the fourthone come from?"
Tempest Wing smiled at the boy, as best as a dragon could smile, at least. "The fourth one was used as a gauge payment earlier in the game… Storm Dragon Emperor, Thundertornado, I believe. Ah, a curious mind is always ripe for learning…"
"Galiazond! Attack Rahal!" Shin pointed towards the monster, and Galiazond slashed down at Rahal, only to have his claws bounce off of Rahal.
"Cast! Battle Spirit Unite! Take my energy, raise your defense, Rahal! Counterattack!"
"Unfortunately, Rahal's power isn't high enough to take down Galiazond… Too bad. And unfortunately for you, Galiazond is so strong, he gets another attack! Galiazond, attack Rahal again!" Koetsu's face dropped in horror as Galiazond slashed in again and destroyed Rahal, since the extra defense from his spell had been but a temporary boost.
"End of move. Your move."
"I draw, then charge and draw! Valken, with me! Link attack Galiazond!" Koetsu and Valken rushed at Galiazond, who vanished, allowing Koetsu to strike at Shin with Penetrate, reducing his life to 1, before Galiazond reappeared thanks to Soulguard. Koetsu looked stunned, eyes wide with horror. "N-no way! How do you beat this thing?!"
"End of move. Your move."
Shin simply smirked. "That's the beauty of it. No one beats Galiazond. Now draw! Charge and… Draw! Gatastor's skill will let me end your link attacks! Destroy Valken!" The monster shattered and vanished and Koetsu gulped in fear. That HAD been his only hope to win next turn, link attacking with Hysteric Spear's Penetrate, but this match was quickly turning in Shin's favor. "Dragon Emperor Legend!" Another new card appeared in Shin's gauge, and his life increased to 2, then Shin drew a card. "This is the card I needed to make sure you don't hit me again! Thundertornado! I give up a gauge to use his skill! Destroy Hysteric Spear!" Koetsu's weapon shattered and vanished, and there was an audible gulp as Koetsu was left defenseless. "Galiazond, attack the fighter directly! Twice!" Galiazond slashed in with both claws until Koetsu's life counter was reduced to 3.
"End of move. Your move."
"D-d-draw! Then charge and… draw! I cast! Survival Chance! I draw two cards!" After examining his cards for a moment, Koetsu's face lit up. "That's it! Buddy Call to the Center! Ironblood Dragon, Gavaldine! I gain a life from Buddy Gift! Grassland Dragon, Grassrunner to the left! Link attack on Galiazond!" As the two monsters rushed in and attacked Galiazond, the giant dragon shattered, vanished, and reappeared, thanks to Soulguard.
"End of move. Your move."
"Two soul left. You think you're doing well? You're sorely mistaken. Draw! Then charge and draw! Fortune Dragon, Forbolka's skill! Discard him to gain 2 gauge! Buddy Help from Galiazond!" 3 gauge disappeared, granting Shin 2 cards. "Galiazond, attack Gavaldine!" The giant dragon slashed down at Gavaldine, who shattered, vanished, and reappeared.
"Soulguard prevents him from leaving the field!" Koetsu's grin was badly timed, considering what was about to happen
"I know how it works. You forget Galiazond's Double Attack! Galiazond, attack Gavaldine!" Horrified, Koetsu was forced to watch as his Galiazond slashed at Gavaldine again, and Gavaldine shattered and vanished, this time for good.
"End of move. Your move."
"Draw, then… charge and draw… I… I can't do anything…" Koetsu's face had fallen, realizing that he was about to lose.
"End of move. Your move."
"Then it's finished. Draw! Charge and draw! Galiazond… Attack the fighter!" Galiazond slashed at Koetsu directly, reducing Koetsu's life to 1. "Now finish it, Galiazond, attack the fighter once more!" Galiazond slashed in one last time, before vanishing for good.
"Game over. Winner: Shin Matsuki," came the voice of the Core Gadget. Koetsu fell to his knees, and Shin walked over to him, putting his Core Deck Case away. Taking away Koetsu's, he tossed the cards out of it, spilling them all over the ground.
"My cards! What are you-" Koetsu's protests were interrupted by Shin's voice talking over him.
"You lost, so this is mine. I'll see you later, when you learn to Buddyfight for real." Walking over to one of the loose bricks in the alley, he set the Core Deck Case down, picked up the brick, and brought it down on the case, smashing it to pieces, and left it there as he went to find Tempest Wing.
Toichi was psyched with amazement. "Wow! He's such a great fighter! I wanna be just like him some day!"
Tempest Wing was about to respond when Shin arrived, speaking up before Tempest Wing had his chance. "Then you're gonna hafta toughen up, kid. There's no reason you should let him bully you, no matter how much stronger or older he is." Looking to his new buddy, Shin grinned sheepishly. "Well, I didn't lose you in a Buddyfight, so I guess that means we're really buddies."
"You shouldn't have accepted such a wager!" Tempest Wing was clearly infuriated by the mere thought, but Shin just laughed it off, turning away to resume his walk home. Even as Tempest Wing chased him down, the day's excitement finally caught up with him. I got my Buddy Rare card! And a Core Deck Case! There's no way I can ever lose, now!
(Special thanks goes to Guardian Fira for helping me make this fight as realistic as possible and for inspiring the name of Koetsu's deck. Thanks, Fira!)