Taylor was frustrated. Tony's card had blocked her spells. Even though it was only for one move that eliminated most of her cards. Taylor chewed her lip in annoyance as she considered her limited options. Then she remembered something. Tony's deck was nearly identical to Shaggy Jr's which meant she had the perfect card.
"And garlic damages you" Taylor said as she laid her card down.
"Crud" Tony mumbled.
….
Several moves later. The two were tied. One wrong move and that would mean the end.
"And my silver pendant defeats you " Taylor announced.
"You heard it folks Taylor moves on to the next round " someone announced over the loudspeaker.
"Your good for a girl" Tony said as the two collected their cards.
"Thanks "
As the two were headed to their families the lights went nuts.
"Like what's with the light show?" Shaggy asked stepping closer to Christina.
"I've gotta a bad feeling about this" Shaggy Jr. agreed.
When the lights went out smoke filled the room.
"Uh-oh" Taylor muttered.
"Got that right sis" Shaggy Jr agreed.
Then the smoke formed a cloud in the center of the room. From that cloud came someone the twins knew all to well. The creature was dressed in a long red robe with a black cape trailing behind them. It's hands were scaly and it had sharp claws. The creature had no face. Only yellow eyes.
"It's-it's the-the" Shaggy jr stuttered.
"The Faceless wizard" Taylor gasped.
"Who?" Shaggy asked through chattering teeth.
"The faceless wizard" Tony replied from where he was standing.
"Listen mortals" it said in a hoarse voice "Leave this place or suffer my curse"
With a cackle the wizard disappeared. The room was dark. Panic and madness overtook the many kids and their families. Security tried for several minutes to calm the crowd down. After forty five minutes the lights came back on which calmed everyone down but not for long.
"Hey my cards are missing " someone cried out from the back.
"Hey all my attack spells are gone "
"My weather cards. They're gone"
"Oh no no. This can't be happening" Shaggy Jr said as he frantically looked through his cards.
"What is it?" Jackie asked.
"My sun attack card it's gone " Shaggy Jr wailed miserably.
"My silver pendant card is missing" Taylor added .
"Can't you just get new ones?" Daisy asked.
"GET NEW ONES!" The twins cried in unison.
"What did I say?"
"We can't just get new ones " Shaggy Jr started.
"Those were a one in a hundred " Taylor added .
"Which means they're super rare" Shaggy jr said.
"And super powerful " Taylor explained.
"They were our best cards"
"AND NOW THEY'RE GONE "
"Well gang looks like we have-" Fred started.
"A mystery on our hands " Daisy finished.
"Come on guys" Sammie cried.
"May we?" The twins asked.
"Of course"
"Did she just?" Fred asked.
"She takes after you" Daphne said as the kids raced off.
..
"Okay this is the exact spot where the wizard was" Jackie announced.
"Creepy" Shaggy jr muttered.
"What's creepy about the center of an event hall?" Taylor asked.
"What's that?" Daisy asked pointing to a powder on the floor.
"Let me see" Jackie said dropping down to examine the substance.
"Well what is it?" Taylor asked.
"Looks like the residue from a smoke bomb"
"How'd you guess that?"
"My aunt's a magician"
"Oh"
"Look foot prints" Daisy observed.
"Lets follow them"
"Do we have to?" Sammie asked.
"Yes now come on"
…..
The kids followed the footprints to an open locker.
"That's strange" Jackie said.
"What?"
"Who would leave their locker open in a place like this?" Jackie asked.
"You're right" Taylor agreed.
"Looks like they were in a hurry" Sammie observed.
"Look at this" Daisy cried pulling something out of the locker.
"That's the robe the wizard was wearing " Shaggy jr exclaimed.
"Who's locker is this?"
"It belongs to someone named Steve" Daisy said reading the name on the locker .
"Looks like he owns one of those vender stalls in the front hall"
"Let's go see what he knows "
…
The front hall was lined with salesmen trying to make some cash . There were cards, food, worthless trinkets and oddities of all sorts. The kids found Steve working the costume stall.
"What can I do for ya kids?"
Steve was a short man. His blonde hair was greased to his head. He had braces and wore a Hawaiian print shirt with black shorts knee length socks and brown shoes.
"Well sir we're investigating the missing cards and the wizard" Jackie started.
"Ya I heard bout that. I'm awfully sorry fer those kids " Steve said.
"We were wondering if you knew anything" Taylor continued.
"I'm sorry to say I don't know anything kids. Would you like to buy a costume?"
"No sir. Thanks for your help " Daisy said as the kids walked away.
"Well that was a bust" Shaggy Jr sighed.
"Not entirely SJ" Daisy replied.
"How?"
"Didn't you notice the costumes Steve was selling?"
"That's his job Daisy"
"I know he was selling costumes just like the faceless wizard" Taylor quipped.
"Exactly"
"But that means almost anyone could be the wizard" Sammie said in frustration.
"That's why we keep looking for clues" Jackie said.
"I say we split up that way we can cover more ground " Daisy suggested.
"Well okay "
"Great. Taylor you and Sammie check out the west hall. Jackie and Shaggy Jr can check the north hall and I'll look around here" Daisy said.
"Sounds okay with me " Shaggy Jr shrugged before following Jackie.
…
"So how did you and Taylor get into this game?" Jackie asked.
"That's a funny story actually" Shaggy Jr laughed.
"I'd love to hear it"
"Well…"
….
Flashback.
"Mom can we get ice cream?" Shaggy Jr asked.
Christina was off work and enjoying time with her kids.
"Sure" Christina said.
As they were walking out of the ice cream parlor Taylor spotted something.
"Mom can we go to the toy store?"
"I'm not made of money Taylor "
"Taylor and I have our allowance with us. Please Mom?" Shaggy Jr begged.
"Well okay "
…
In the toy store.
"Look Mommy Batman "Luke cried pointing to a shelf full of superhero toys.
"Batman " Nathan giggled picking up a Batman plush.
"Joker" Luke added picking up the plush next to Batman.
"Is that what you want?" Christina asked.
"Yes"
"What do you want Beatrice?" Christina asked her younger daughter.
"Barbie"
"Which one?"
"This one " Beatrice said picking up a Barbie dressed as a princess.
"Okay "
"Mom come look at this!" Shaggy Jr. cried.
"Battle of myths and legends?"
"Can I get it?" Shaggy Jr asked.
"One pack just in case you don't like it "
"Cool I still have comic book money" Shaggy jr cried as he raced to the comics.
"Mom look" Taylor said rushing over.
Taylor held up the book for her mom to see.
"Disney fairies?"
"Yep and I've got money left"
"Why don't you get some cards like your brother so he has someone to play against?"
"Okay "
…..
Present.
"And when we got home we played for hours. Mom had to tell us to clear the table for dinner "
"Wow"
"Jackie look"
"It's the wizard!"