Chapter 12: Recovery Lessons
Poor Sidney was having a very bad day. She's been on a losing streak. Ever since Chaor nearly destroyed her when he and his UnderWorlder army attacked Kiru City weeks ago, she's been in a constant state of shock.
Sidney was currently battling as Laarina in the Amzen Drome. Her opponent was battling as Ekuud. They were battling at the Imaginary Walls. Trouble was that Laarina was Sidney's last creature and her energy was dropping fast.
She panted heavily as she made her way up to the top of the wall. "You can't get away that easy, Majorina!" Ekuud called, firing a Pebblestorm. Sidney was caught off guard and was struck in the back. "Huh. I expected more of a challenge from the daughter of the legendary MajorTom." Ekuud said as he loomed over his opponent. Sidney struggled to get up. 'I can't lose another match! I can't let my family down! Not like this!' She thought. She formed a Torrent Krinth on her arm and turned to face Ekuud. "Riptide!" She fired the stream of water at the Danian Noble, but he moved aside, dodging the attack. Just then, Sidney started to hallucinate. In Ekuud's place stood Chaor, making her shake with fear. He then slowly grabbed Sidney's neck and lifted her over the edge of the wall.
(Intro)
Sidney struggled a bit. "If you ever want a rematch after you snap out of this shock, Majorina, you know where I'll be." Ekuud said before letting go. Sidney screamed as she fell towards the bottom. She burst into code as she finally hit the bottom.
At the Port Court, Sidney was comforted by her parents, Minnie and Robbie. "That's the 5th match I lost in a row." Sidney whined. "You shouldn't blame yourself, lass. You're just going through a slump." Robbie said. "Robbie's right. I went through the same slump when I lost my Maxxor scan in a challenge match." Tom said. "Except I didn't lose any of my cards. I nearly got crushed by Chaor." Sidney reminded. "We know. But you can't let it get to you. You're a great player, Sid." Sarah said. "Yeah. What about all those wins you racked up in the Amzen Drome? You're probably close to a CodeMaster match." Tom said. Minnie suddenly had a thought. "Wait. Sid, how many wins do you have in the Amzen Drome?" She asked. "6." Sidney answered. "Whoa. Closer than we thought." Robbie said. Sidney then had a thought "Say Dad? Could you tell us about your CodeMaster matches?" She asked. "Sure." Tom said.
The group of 5 sat around their table as Tom told the tales of his CodeMaster matches against CodeMasters Crellen and Hotekk. "And that's when I used Terraport to transport myself and Hotekk's Creatures to Cordac Falls' Plunge Pool. As the Plunge Pool does 5 damage to every Creature battling there, Hotekk's Creatures were coded on the spot." Tom finished. "Wow! That was epic!" Robbie said. "I never would've thought to do any of that." Minnie said. Sidney just sighed. "That's all well for you guys, but in the state I'm in, I may never win a chance to battle CodeMaster Amzen." She said, walking away. Minnie wanted to go after her, but Tom stopped her. "Let her go. She just needs some time. I did the same thing when I lost Maxxor." Tom said.
Sidney ported to Pouril Forest and sat at the edge of the waterfall. 'I got to get out of this slump. But how can I?' She thought as she tossed some pebbles over the edge. Suddenly, she heard something moving behind her. She looked to see, but nothing was there. She just sighed and went back to tossing her pebbles. "Help me!" A voice called. Sidney jolted up and ran to where the voice called. A girl around Sidney's age was dangling from the edge of a cliff. "I can't reach my scanner! And I can't hold on much longer!" The girl cried. Sidney reached down and grabbed the girl's wrist. "Okay. I'm gonna pull you up!" Sidney said. The girl nodded. Sidney pulled as hard as she could, helping the girl climb up the cliff.
Afterwards, Sidney and the girl sat down around a campfire. Sidney told her about Chaor and his recent attack on Kiru City. "You nearly got destroyed by Chaor when he attacked Verlina?" The girl asked. "Yeah. But I had to. Verlina's my friend." Sidney said. "You did the right thing." The girl said. "I don't know what to do. I haven't won a match since then. That Chaor incident keeps coming back to me." Sidney said. "You just need time to recover from the shock. Lots of players do." The girl said. "Even if I could, I don't think it'll help when I get to battle CodeMaster Amzen, if I even win another match." Sidney said. The girl just stared. "What exactly does it take to beat a CodeMaster? My father never said." Sidney asked. "That's something that even I can't answer." The girl said. Sidney looked more depressed than usual. "But I could give you a few pointers." The girl offered.
At the Beta Drome, Sidney and the girl set up their scanners. "Okay. Pick you're 6 Creatures." The girl said. 'I don't know anything about this girl. She probably goes for OverWorld scans since I met her in Pouril Forest.' Sidney thought as the girl went through her Creature deck. She then started to pick out her 6 Creatures. 'I'll start things off with Lomma, Sukoval and Laarina.' She put her first 3 Creatures up. 'I'm pretty tight with Frafdo and Crawsectus.' She then put up her next 2. 'And I'll go with Verlina to battle cleanup.' She finally placed Verlina in cleanup. She then started to go through her BattleGear. 'The Torrent Krinth will pump up Crawsectus's water attacks.' She equipped Crawsectus with the Torrent Krinth. 'The Skeletal Steed will help Lomma pick up speed and help with her attack range.' She equipped Lomma with a Skeletal Steed. 'A Cyclance for Laarina.' She equipped Laarina with a Cyclance. The girl just watched as Sidney equipped Frafdo and Sukoval. 'And Verlina can mix it up with the Riverland Star.' Sidney thought as she equipped Verlina with the Riverland Star. 'Now Mugic.' She started going through her Mugics. 'I should use Song of Resurgance for defense. Song of Embernova for offence. And maybe some Song of Interruption. Perfect.' She thought as she chose her 6 Mugics. 'I'm sure this girl will come up with a lot of surprises. So, I better go with the 10 locations I know best.' She thought, loading her 10 locations, including Kiru City, Fear Valley, the Riverlands, Wooden Pillar and Everrain.
"I'm ready." Sidney said, locking her deck. "Me too." The girl said, doing the same. The screen revealed both teams. But something was off. The girl had put only one Creature on her team. "I thought this was a 6-on-6 match." Sidney said. "Surprised?" The girl asked. "A little. I don't know if you're trying to do me a favor, but I can handle a 6-on-6 match." Sidney said. "I know you can. But can you handle Flitterix?" The girl asked, gesturing to her one Creature. Sidney looked at the picture. It looked like a butterfly of sorts. "Where'd you scan her?" She asked. "You'll see. And since you have the advantage, I'll attack first." The girl said, spinning her Location randomizer. It stopped on a single location. A weird location that looked like a big forest with insects. "Flitterix attacks Lomma in Invectoid Garden." The girl declared. "Invectoid Garden?" Sidney said with confusion. The girl tapped her only Creature scan and transformed. In her place stood a big black, teal and orange female humanoid butterfly with big orange wings stood in her place. Sidney was shocked. She never seen a Creature like this before. But she got over the shock, tapped her Lomma scan and transformed into the female gazelle. "Ready to get Chaotic?" Flitterix asked. "Yeah. Sure." Lomma said, unsure of the turnout as everything went white.
Sidney found herself wandering in a big forest with huge grass blades and leaves, looking for that weird butterfly Creature. "Okay. I'm in a Location I've never seen against a Creature I've never seen. But that's no reason to panic." She said to herself. Suddenly, a shadow flew right over her. She looked up and saw Flitterix flying over the plants. "That's a reason to panic!" Flitterix flew down and stopped just a few feet away from Lomma. "Well, come and get me." Flitterix dared. Sidney got ready and ran towards Flitterix, using Lomma's excellent hopping abilities to get around the foliage. But then, she got stuck in some kind of quicksand trap. She struggled to get out, but she just started to sink faster. "Vine Snare!" She called as vines shot from her fingers and wrapped around a tree branch. But as she started to pull herself out, Flitterix swooped in and prepared an attack. "Pollen Gust!" Her wings blew a gust of pollen towards Lomma, coding her on impact.
Sidney looked on in shock as she transported back. Flitterix followed. "Always remember." She said as she transformed back into the girl. "Watch your step." Sidney frowned and spun her randomizer.
They now battled at Wooden Pillar. Sidney was attacking Flitterix with Laarina. As Flitterix flew about the pillar, Laarina climbed up the pillar's roots, summoned her Cyclance and fired Airize. But before the attack could hit Flitterix, a weird white pheromone glowed around her and blocked it. Flitterix then fired a Telekinetic Bolt. Laarina screamed in pain before she burst into code.
"Something's wrong. Why weren't my air attacks working?" Sidney asked. "It's because of this." The girl showed Sidney her scan of an unknown BattleGear. "It's called Element Pheromone. It neutralizes any damage from any elemental attack of the Creature Flitterix battles. And I think I'm the only one who has a scan of it." The girl explained. Now Sidney was getting worried.
The girl now attacked Crawsectus with Flitterix at Invectoid Garden. Flitterix held back Crawsectus' claws. Sidney jumped back out of Flitterix's grip, avoiding an incoming attack. "Okay. I'll admit you're tough. But try to stop this!" Sidney shouted as she fired a Torrent of Water from her mouth. But Flitterix's pheromone glowed blue this time and blocked the water attack. Sidney was now getting furious. 'The Torrent Krinth's supposed to boost my water attacks, but the Element Pheromone is shutting down everything!' She thought. 'Let's see if it blocks Mugic.' She casted one of Crawsectus' Mugicians to activate a Mugic. "Song of Embernova!" The Mugic played in key and shined an orange beam of light over Flitterix, dealing damage. But Flitterix just chuckled like she didn't even feel it, shocking Crawsectus. "Nice move. Here's a better one. Spirit Strike!" Flitterix casted a misty spirit form of her body and sent it flying at Crawsectus. She tried to get away, but the spirit pounced her and coded her.
"I thought you were supposed to give me pointers." Sidney said as Flitterix transformed back. "I'll I've learned is that you have scans and codes I've never seen before." "Sometimes a player learns more from losing than winning." The girl said. "That's easy to say when you're winning." Sidney said. "So, you're gonna give up?" The girl asked. "Not on your life. Frafdo attacks Flitterix!" Sidney said, tapping her Frafdo scan.
Frafdo attacked Flitterix in the skies around Ravanaugh Ridge. Frafdo fired a Windslash, but Flitterix moved too fast and dodged it. Flitterix then fired Fearocity, trapping Frafdo in the typhoon and coding the poor bird.
"Flitterix attacks Sukoval." The girl declared. "And I'm gonna be coded then." Sidney muttered, tapping her Sukoval.
Flitterix searched Invectoid Garden for Sukoval, who was waiting for her from up a tree. Sidney formed the Gauntlets of Might on her arms and leapt down from the tree to attack. But Flitterix saw her coming and blasted her back into the tree with Night Strike, coding her on impact.
Sidney was now getting really worried. "This is it. My last shot. And I already used up my healing Mugic." She said. "Ready?" the girl asked. "What's the use? I'm just gonna lose again. Just like the last 5 times." Sidney said. "Sidney, you shouldn't let your fear get the best of you." The girl said. "I keep telling you-" "I can't win! Not with Chaor still rattling my head!" Sidney said. "You can't win with that depression! Especially against a CodeMaster!" The girl said. "Well, when I battle one-" Sidney stopped herself, putting the pieces together. Flitterix, Invectoid Garden, the Elemental Pheromone. Rare and powerful scans and codes she's never seen before. "Who are you?" She asked. The girl held up a special Chaotic card, which then glowed with special tech veins. Then, the entire Drome started to form an energy surge, and a light beamed around the girl. The girl then transformed into a woman wearing a robe and helmet. "CodeMaster Amzen!" Sidney said in realization. "Déjà vu, huh?" The CodeMaster asked. "But why?" Sidney asked. "Everyone faces challenges they're not prepared for. Your father felt the same when Crellen faced him the same way we face each other now. But the challenges themselves are not important. How we deal with them, that is the true test of being a great player." Amzen said. Sidney felt the wisdom in her opponent's words. "Would you still like to forfeit the match?" Amzen asked. Sidney, getting her game face back, shook her head. She then spun her Location randomizer, landing on her last Location for the match. "Kiru City." Sidney revealed. "Choose your attacking Creature please." Amzen said. "Verlina attacks Flitterix!" Sidney declared, tapping the scan and transforming into her best Creature as Amzen transformed into Flitterix once more. "Let's get Chaotic, CodeMaster Amzen." Sidney said.
In Kiru City, Verlina wandered the streets looking for Flitterix. Just then Flitterix flew down and fired a Power Pulse at Verlina, but she jumped out of the way and brought her down with a Vine Snare. "Ha! I knew you weren't a quitter." Flitterix said, getting up and blowing Pollen Gust. Verlina struggled against the very wind of it. "You can't take me down that easy! Frostblight!" She fired her beam of ice from the Riverland Star. Flitterix's Element Pheromone blocked the water attack. "Time to get rid of that stuff. Chorus of Cothica!" Verlina cast her first Mugician to activate the generic Mugic. "Discord of Disarming!" She cast the UnderWorld Mugic thanks to Chorus of Cothica. As the Mugic played in key, a light shined over Flitterix. And before she knew it, her Element Pheromone disappeared. "Nice move. Never saw it coming." She said with impression. "Thanks. But you won't see anything else coming." Verlina said, forming the Riverland Star in her hand and creating a thick misty fog. "Bad move. You know I have wings." Flitterix said, floating up and blowing the fog away with her wings. But Verlina was gone, shocking Flitterix. Suddenly, Verlina pounced Flitterix from behind. They tumbled to the ground. Verlina stood up and looked over Flitterix with a smile. 'I can't believe it! I'm throwing her off her game! I could actually beat my first CodeMaster!' Sidney thought. As Flitterix turned to get up, Sidney started to hallucinate about Chaor again. 'Not this time, Chaor!' "Mirthquake!" She shouted, launching blue streaks of laughter at Flitterix. But the good female CodeMaster wasn't beaten yet. "Song of Translocation!" She cast a Mugician and activated said Mugic. As it played in key, a huge light shined over both Verlina and Flitterix. Suddenly, they were transported back to Invectoid Garden. Sidney was completely shocked by this. "You showed real fight and intelligence, Sidney. You almost got me, even when you were hallucinating about Chaor." Amzen said. "You knew about that?" Sidney asked in shock. "Yes, but you've learned to deal with it. It's just like your parents taught you. It's the player, not the cards." Amzen said. "Remember that." She then blasted Thunder Shout, sending Verlina over the edge of a nearby cliff, coding as she hit the bottom.
When Sidney transported back, she saw that CodeMaster Amzen was gone. "CodeMaster Amzen?" She called. Nothing. Sidney then took her scanner and exited the Beta Drome.
The next morning, she told her parents, Minnie and Robbie all about her match. "And then she pulled the Song of Translocation!" She explained. "Wow! I can't believe you actually got that far." Robbie said. "You think Amzen knew where you'd be and she set all of it up?" Minnie asked. "Like how CodeMaster Crellen did for your father?" Sarah asked. "Like father like daughter, I guess." Tom said.
Later, Sidney stood in front of the Amzen Drome. 'I know I still have so much to learn. And next time, I'll be ready to make a comeback.' She thought. 'Thank you, CodeMaster Amzen. For everything.'
Author's Note: When I saw that the show was to be potentially revived, I was shocked and very happy. I hope it will happen next year or so. And for the record, my OC for one of Amzen's Creatures, and for others I have in mind, along with the other OC Creatures I've used so far, nothing appears to be official for the show just yet. I just like keeping an open mind for when it happens. Leave a review if you like.
New Cards:
Creature: Flitterix
Past Insect Warrior
Courage: 50
Power: 60
Wisdom: 45
Speed: 65
Elements: Air
Mugic: 2
Energy: 65
BattleGear: Element Pheromone
Neutralizes battle damage of selected element.
Location: Invectoid Garden