"Okay, so what will our first quest be?", I ask.
Everyone looks dumbfounded for a second. And I thought at least they had and idea.
"Ah, uhm, well, I guess we could look for someone's trouble and see if we can solve it. That's the most typical adventury thing.", Hit suggests.
"Maybe there's another monster bugged by a mugger we can save!", Pipsqueak says cheerfully.
"You shouldn't be so cheerful about that.", Frankie says, "I don't think people being in potentially mortal danger is as frequent around here as it seems."
Hm, maybe I should ask Tourguide to see where Clear Wing Synchro Dragon and Starve Venom Fusion Dragon have gone. But I am definetly too much of a wuss as of yet to go into that creepy bus again.
"We could look for the Karakuri Showdown Castle.", Ace suggests, "I heard some event related to Gil Garth happened there."
"But Lightning doesn't *uck over the same spot twice.", I say, thinking about what the dragons are searching next to Different Dimension Gate, "And even if, we might wanna solve a problem that isn't THAT big first."
"We still might be able to find street-level problems there.", Mr. Robotto says.
"I'd be for it.", Pipsqeak says.
I get outvoted with only Hit being on my side, before anyone could say "Gather you Mind".
"But we shouldn't take that cursed bus.", I insist.
"We might find a Daigusto Falco willing to carry us there.", Frankie suggests.
"Gotta try hard not to poison them by accident, but I'll manage.", Hit says.
"Great, we'll be in debt for travel expenses on day 1 if he demands hazard pay.", Mr. Robotto says.
"I was kidding.", Hit adds.
"I don't think you're the best comedian.", Ace says.
"Funny, because when Curran went back to trade away Ryu-Ran, I also got myself a playset of Fiend Comedian.", Hit says.
"Uhm, but where do we find a Falco?", Pipsqueak wonders.
"Considering most travelers go to the inn first, that's where we should go first.", Frankie says.
"I've been there twice this day and also last night. They're gonna wonder if I want to move , I've kind of been bugging customers hoping they'd be up in arms to join my adventuring squad and got kicked out. Kind of.", I say sheepishly.
"I think we can figure out who didn't talk to a cussing girl.", Hit says.
"She only did twice since me and Veiler met her.", Mr. Robotto says.
Well that's because I didn't *ucking feel like it in those moments.
"But lying would be bad!", Pipsqueak says.
"Well, technically, Crystron Rosenix was overreacting to me asking once.", I admit, "but he could overreact again."
"I've seen that one around here, I think he should be somewhere else by this point.", Mr. Robotto says.
"Fine, I guess.", I aquiesce (hope that's the right word) in utter humility, "Third Time's a Shabti Charm!"
Though since the first time worked well, I guess we have Amazoness Charm, then Terrible Deal and then Shabti Charm. Maybe I should look up whether's a fiendish/evil/tainted charm, that would be a better bad example.
"Since we're not being chased by Ultimate Obedient Fiend, how about we split up and ask?", I suggest, "Call it an early test of trust, so see who's really a part of this crew."
"Weren't we referring to this thing as 'leisurely'? People dropping in and out would be an ordinary thing in that case, wouldn't it?", Hit asks.
"Well, but not leaving the team while we're looking for errands to perform without saying anything.", I say.
"Let's hope nobody gets abducted and mistaken for a cowardly quitter.", Pipsqueak says.
"I think the latter part isn't the issue here.", Frankie deadpans.
"Though it would be very ironic if the first person we have to save if one of us four, I mean six.", Robotto says.
"Who were you counting out apart from yourself? Or was it another duo you were finding suspicious?", Ace wonders, raising those weird leaf-lookalikes pinecones have as if they were eyebrows.
"I just am not the calculcator. Though then I would have said, uhm 1+1+2+3+1+2=10. 10 of us would I say if I were the calculator.", wouldn't Robotto also multiply that by 300? Though 3000 of us would be crazy, "Look everyone makes embarassing miscalculations and -pronunciations from time to time!", he justifies himself.
"Okay, let's s do a Volcanic Scattershot and look for people before we digress further on this.", am I replacing swearwords with unusual censoring asterisks with card puns?
*hit *ell *uck no. I hope not, anyways. Or maybe. I can vary. I just don't know yet if I want to vary.
I don't see Rosenix anywhere, nor do I see Slate Warrior, who also was part of Gil Garth's crew when they still were a threat, although it would be hilarious if he were to drown his sorrows in Hot Sauce Bottles like a Dizzy Tiger. In another corner I see Prediction Princess Coinorma, Performapal Coin Dragon and Goe Goe the Gallant Ninja. They have a very big money sign on them.
"Hello, you lovely people, may I-", but then something taps on my hat from behind.
...
...
...
I see Sandgambler.
I need to get out of here. FAST!
I slap his face with a riding crop, and run, I have no idea why they let me re-enter in the first place and now I wish they did not.
Dammit, why did we say those things before entering?
Let's hope he's the only "bounty" hunter.
POV 2 Hitodenchak
"Dammit, why did we let that brat go back in here?", Rosenix complains.
It's Curran. I should probably think better of a friend, but when you meet someone new, you know, it's different. And since we only had her account, we don't know whether she was unfairly kicked out or not. Though she did act like it was for good reasons and then said it was for a bad reason. I will be smart and not overclarify myself now.
I walk over to Rosenix.
"What did Curran do?", I ask, furrowing those stringy things I have. (Do YOU know every part of your body perfectly? I don't think so)
"She slapped Sandgambler into the face with her riding crop and ran away!", Rosenix answers, "Wait, you know her?"
"Uhm yeah, she indeed found other people to join her troupe.", I answer, "What did she do before to get kicked out? Can't be that bad if she's allows back in."
"If she has money and she does, it CAN be that bad. She pestered me to join her group. Meanae the Thorn dueled and defeated her in my stead. Had I done it myself, she wouldn't have stopped with the pestering. But it looks not even that worked.", Rosenix says.
"Seriously? That's everything? If she was only going to duel you for it, why would she slap someone now?", I say.
"Getting harsher with each rejection does make sense.", Rosenix argues. And technically he is not entirely wrong. But I don't think she would run away without notifying us.
Man, these things we said right before entering really seem weird now. I see Sandgambler running out of the room, so he could be an abductor.
Time to call the rest of the group.
"Those predictions came true?!", Pinecono gasps.
"*groan*, seems to be the case.", Effect Veiler says.
"Only one option here.", Acorno says.
"Mission 1: Rescue Ebon Magician Curran.", Roboyarou says.
POV 3 Curran
*huff* *huff*
How did I even get this far away? I think I'm going to throw up.
"You're gonna go back home, with me.", Sandgambler says.
"NO!", I scream, heavily shivering.
"Before you try any strange magics on me, how about we duel?", he suggests.
Jokes on him, I am probably breathing to heavily to cast the spells properly. Yeah no, won't work. Just why can't I think straight?
Ebon Magician Curran (4000lp) vs Sandgambler (4000lp)
"While you're 'collecting yourself', I will start by summoning myself. I toss 3 coins. Oh, whoopsies, all tails. I am destroyed. But this means I get to summon Meklord Emperor Wisel from my hand."
"Wha-, where-", I really want to, but I can't make a joke about how weird this card is for him to have. Also his cards appear like Coins made out of sand, which then dust themselves off into cards, once he has drawn them.
"I'm a simple man, so I end my turn."
"I... draw..."
I have to summon Clear Wing or Starve Venom, there's no other chance. But my hand right now isn't working for that. I summon myself and set Peril of the Princesses. Though at least I also have Igor to help me.
"over.", I bring out.
"My turn, draw.", he takes 300 damage from my effect (Sandgambler LP: 4000-3700), "I use Nobleman of Extinctionon your face-down card, banishing it. Peril of the Princesses is a trap, so all other copies are banished from your deck. I summon Gambler of Legends. I toss 3 coins for his effect. I got three heads, so I discard a card from your hand. I pick the one from the very left."
That is Igor.
"I use Called by the Grave on Igor in case there is another in your hand. It's banished and you can't use its effect for the rest of the turn now. I destroy Curran with Wisel."
It slices field-me into pieces. (Curran LP: 4000-2700)
"Then Gambler of Legends attacks directly. (Curran LP: 2700-2200) Back to you."
I draw. Still no chance to summon Clear Wing or Starve Venom. Being unable to speak, I summon Princess' Gift and try to activate Walpurgis Gathering.
"Wisel negates. But I guess I really made you speechless.", he taunts me.
I reveal Raigeki, destroying his 2 monsters.
"Actually, I have Meklord Emperor Skiel as well.", he says.
I use the effect of Gift to deal 400 damage. (Sandgambler LP: 3700-3300) I set 2 cards and end my turn. They are Radiant Mirror Force and Ojama Trio.
"I really have no idea why you summoned that in attack position. I attack it with Skiel." (Curran LP: 2200-100)
Should I use trio? I have no good destruction cards to deal 900 damage and he might draw some random tuner before running into Radiant Mirror Force. But also he might summon some weird army of monsters.
"Your move.", Sandgambler says.
I draw Cyberjar. Yes!
"I activate Ojama Trio clogging up your field with 300 tokens! I set a monster and end my turn!"
"Suddenly all enthusiastic. Also, that was a really bad pokerface. I know you have a card that will get rid of these quickly. I summon Atlantean Pikeman. I use my whole field to Synchro Summon, Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! I banish the set card from your field and the original Curran from your GY."
"You gotta be shitting me.", I grimace, "That's a joke, isn't it!?"
"I never joke about having good cards of all kinds.", Sandgambler taunts me, "I attack your face-down monster."
"At least you're not the only idiot with suprising cards!", I scream, "I posess the ability to use the forbidden art of Cyberjar! Black Hole and 5 new cards, please!"
"That one hasn't been weakened yet?!", Sandgambler gasps.
Like it makes sense. Blackwing Gofu the Vague Shadow, Destrudo the Lost Dragon's Frisson and Glow-Up Bulb would be more likely to escape the forbidden realm at the cost of a huge lot of power.
"I draw Servant Steed Alioth, another Gift, another myself, another Princess myself and Trial Troll! I put all summonables face-down in DEF mode!"
"Let's see what I get. Its Foolish Burial Goods, Wavegambler (ATK: 700), Gambler of Legends (ATK: 500), another Sandgambler (ATK: 300) and Full House! I summon all of them. One monster will survive, so I end the Battle Phase and use Burial Goods, milling proton blast. I use my own effect and banish Proton Blast to get a perfect result.
I use Gambler of Legend. Double Head. That takes one card. Then I use Wavegambler. Having a mix of Heads and Tails discards your entire hand."
"Fuck you for that flex.", I grimace.
"I set Full House and end my turn. Can't you just go home with me?", he asks.
"FUCK! OFF! I draw! I will never go back to that hell! I set a card and it's back to you. But as you draw, I activate my second forbidden Art, Sixth Sense!"
"How bad can it be if you get to learn 2 forbidden arts?", Sandgambler wonders.
"I declare 5 and 6. Your turn to roll.", I say.
He rolls a 5.
"Fine then, I'll keep dueling you into submission. I activate Reinforcement of the Army. I add and summon Gambler of the Storm. (ATK: 900) If he had all identical symbols, I could wipe your backrow, but you already used it. I toss for Wavegambler."
He tosses wrong.
"Why did showing off work, but sensible order doesn't?", he sighs, "I toss for Gambler of Legends. I pick the card in the middle of your hand."
"That was Trial of the Princesses. No biggie.", I say.
I have Battle Fader. There is a tiny chance for me to summon Clear Wing and Starve Venom still.
"I attack with-"
"Doesn't matter, I summon Battle Fader.", I counter.
"Ch. I shouldn't do this, but I try to use my own ability.", the idiot gets it correctly, "now Fader is banished. Your move."
"I draw. I use a Wild Monster Appears to summon me as a Princess! I set 3 cards and... have to end my turn."
Please, please, please, just let me summon one of the dragons, then maybe I can continue to escape... Just why was I so afraid to go with them?
"My turn and I unfortunately take a ton of damage from your Princess. (Sandgambler LP: 3300-900) I use my own forbidden art Pof of Greed."
"They granted that to you, so you can hunt me down.", I grumble.
"Yeah, and I'll get to keep it even if you succeed at escaping or die first. But that money only comes if I bring you back alive.", he says.
"You're gonna at least get the alive part.", I mumble defiantly.
"I activate 2 copies of Second Coin Toss. I flip up Full House to destroy my 2 face-up continous spell and your 3 face-down backrow pieces. Your Princess has more attack and I don't want to risk a failed coin toss, so I pass and your Princess form returns to the deck."
Maybe he should have done it first with both second coin tosses, this mistake is my chance to turn this around.
"I DRAW!", I scream desperately, "..."
It's Mutually Affured Destruction. A card depicting Pikeru and me. Funny how this destruction won't be so 'affured' anymore. I want to laugh madly. I only have one very cowardly trick to save me. I do nothing. I'm to exhausted to escape him. Maybe he would look like the villain, but with my parent's standing he can easly prove that I'm their runaway kid.
I am so going to toss that card into the drain later. How could I miss it?!
A minute passes.
"Oh, real funny that you would do that. I dont't have that card in my hand, but let's make this a 'chicken game' and put the barrel in front of the door.", he says holding a golden gun.
"People are looking.", I say, failing to hold back a tear of fear.
"What, no cocky 'should have done this from the start'?", he asks.
"Hey, what are you trying to pull!?", I hear Effect Veiler's voice.
The rest of my team is also there.
"We agreed to resolve this struggle with a card game, but she chickened out, so we've gotta up this.", he says, trying to keep an intimating facade, but he's so screwed now!
Roboyarou picks up Hitodenchak and tosses him to Sandgamblers gunhand.
"Argh! Dammit, fine, I know when to escape.", he says and runs.
"Thank Odin for this.", I exhale.
"Hah, that was exciting!", Hitodenchak says, "Oops, sorry, you were about to be gunned down."
"Nah, let's celebrate this survival of our first threat.", I say, still breathing heavily,"Cocky laughs are the best response to that."
"I think she needs a hug.", Pinecono says.
I let him do that.
"It's really disturbing that nobody intended to interrupt that. When Gil Garth and his fools attacked me, there at least weren't that many people around.", Effect Veiler says.
"Bystanders suck sometimes.", Roboyarou says.
"But why would somebody hunt you and threaten you with a gun?", Acorno wonders.
"I guess I can't keep that secret anymore.", I say.
Do all effects of Sandgambler and Gambler of Legends need to be applicable to use it? If so, consider that a fanfic-ruling.
What is your view on this rather big tonal shift? Was Sandgambler using a gun too radical/edgy?
112 days for this one. I'll also count the time between this story's final chapter and the Arc-VRAINS tie-in.
OC cards:
Wavegambler
Level 2, Water, Spellcaster, Effect
ATK: 700
DEF: 1200
Effect: Once per turn you can toss a coin 3 times. If you get heads as well as tails among them, discard your opponent's entire hand, otherwise, discard your entire hand.
Gambler of the Storm
Level 1, Wind, Spellcaster, Effect, Tuner
ATK: 900
DEF: 1000
Effect: Once per turn you can toss a coin 3 times. If each symbol is the same, destroy all spell/trap cards your opponent controls, otherwise, destroy all spell/traps you control.