Chapter 1: Swords 'n Colossuses (oh my!)

Disclaimer: I do not own Magic, or anything else that does not belong to me that will most likely go into this fic.

Serge walked into Sentry Box. He was in awe... the store was more of a warehouse! The ceiling, vaulted and high, its metal beams seeming to have as much rust as pride. Serge was in front of a set of stairs going to the basement floor. The two story building was uniquely designed, the main floor being more of a huge balcony. The only thing stopping one from falling on the merchandise below was an olden guard rail...

Serge looked to the left. The 14 year old's eyes widened in excitement! Magic players! He had come to "The Box" for some more dueling experience... and he was astonished by the amount of adult here... and their huge multiplayer game in the corner.

"Huzzah! I Tinker out Darksteel Colossus! now, I attack thanks to your Concordant Crossroads!"

"Ha! Swords to Plowshares the fugger! Gain your 11 life!"

"I play Fork and copy Swords, and remove Akroma form play!"

"Damn!"

"End turn. Go, Owen."

"Strong moves. I play Moat."

"Damn you all!"

Serge didn't understand a single word of these experienced players, or why they cursed for that matter. He was preoccupied with finding a person to play. Nobody seemed to be free for a game... sigh... was coming here a waste?

Suddenly, Serge's hope became revitalized. He had spotted a guy in a brown coat, whose face was planted on a table (sleeping, from the faint snoring heard). The guy was obviously a duelist from the deckbox clutched in his unconscious hand.

Serge went up to the guy. He noticed as he approached that the guy was rather odd. Firstly, the guy had on a pair of black, fingerless, fishnet gloves that had leather for protecting the palms. Secondly, the jacket he had on was a cotton army jacket. Third, the guy was wearing an ankh necklace that had become draped over one of his arms.

"Umm... mister," Serge asked, tapping the sleeping person on the shoulder, "can we duel?"

The guy woke up, startled by a particularly fierce stab to the shoulder. He snapped back up, almost violently enough that his gunmetal glasses almost flew off.

"What!" the guy exclaimed, unawareness in his eyes. His black hair swung madly as he looked this way and that, unknowing of what had happened.

"Sir," said Serge, poking the guy some more, "can we have a game? My name's Serge."

"Oh. Yeah. Sure. I'll have a game," answered the teenager. He then muttered something about Filipino heritage, then held out a gloved hand, "Name's Benedict."

Serge took Benedict's hand. As he felt the leather touch his palm, serge felt awkward. He looked at Benedict... the guy had nothing but black on, save the jacket, various chains, and a purple mountain climber's clip hanging on a ring on a belt loop on his jeans. Was asking a duel form this guy a bad idea?

After shaking hands, Serge took a seat at the other end of the table.

"how long have you been playing?" Serge asked.

"About a year now," Benedict answered.

While Serge began pulling out unsleeved cards from his windbreaker, Benedict was in deep thought... his eyes closed off to the world, unseated by the laughter that suddenly erupted from the multiplayer table ("Dude, you just got killed by a Birds of Paradise!")

Hmm... the kid's obviously a newbie. I HATE newbies! It's impossible to learn anything out of duels with them. Now... how shall I destroy? Shall I use Shared Fate? Nah, the kid's deck is probably too weak to use against him. Heart of Darkness? No... it'll kill him too fast to have any real fun. Nostalgic Reverie? It was my first deck... rather appropriate... the Golem gets a workout!

Serge was already finished shuffling when Benedict finally took a deck out of his backpack. He then shuffled it before taking out a large, black D6 with white dots and a TI-83 calculator. He cast the die. "I roll 3." Serge took the D6 and rolled. "Got 5. I guess I go first." Benedict then set aside the die.

Serge: 20

Benedict: 20

"I go first," said Serge as he drew his opening hand. "I play forest."

Oh bloody hell, Benedict thought, that's an Eight Edition forest. Am I facing a pre-constructed deck again?

"Draw." Benedict laid his index finger on his black sleeved deck and flicked it back, kicking a card into the palm of his hand. "Excellent..." he grinned ominously, Serge not noticing since he was reading his cards. Benedict let out a, "Psshh," blowing at his bangs, angered at the kid's inability to remember his own cards. "I play swamp. Then Welding Jar."

Welding Jar 0

Artifact

Sacrifice Welding Jar: Regenerate target artifact.

"And I play Ornithopter..."

Ornithopter 0

Artifact Creature- Thopter

Flying

0/2

"Now... the Ritual!"

Dark Ritual B

Instant

Add BBB to your mana pool

"And I cast Grafted Wargear!"

Grafted Wargear 3

Artifact- Equipment

Equipped creature gets +3+2. Sacrifice equipped creature if Grafted Wargear becomes unattached.

Equip- 0

"Equip Grafted Wargear to Ornithopter. Done."

Serge: 20 Benedict: 20

Serge looked up from his cards. He was shocked! How could anybody have gotten so many things down first turn?

He drew. "I play a forest and play Rampant Growth."

Rampant Growth 1G

Sorcery

Put a basic land into play from your library into play tapped. Then shuffle your library.

Serge took out another forest and shuffled his library. "End Turn."

Benedict drew. "Play swamp. Tap 2, play Cranial Plating."

Cranial Plating

Artifact- Equipment

Equipped creature gets +X+0, where X is the number of artifacts you control.

Equip- 1

BB: Attach Cranial Plating to target creature you control.

"Now, attack with mine Ornithopter for 3! Done!"

Serge: 17 Benedict: 20

Serge was shocked at the quick life loss, but he had a plan.

"I draw. Forest. Then I play Wild Growth on a forest!"

Wild Growth G

Enchant Land

When enchanted land is tapped for mana, add G to your mana pool.

"I play Fangren Firstborn. End Turn."

Fangren Firstborn 1GGG

Creature-Beast

When Fangren Firstborn attacks, all attacking creatures get a +1+1 counter.

"Good stuff. Draw! Swamp! Mine Ornithopter, attack!"

"I block Ornithopter!"

"Can't! It Flies! Now I play Phyrexian Arena!" Benedict let out a chuckle

Phyrexian Arena 1BB

Enchantment

At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card and lose 1 life.

"Just be glad I didn't decide to attach Plating to the Thopter."

Serge was completely angered. He had lost another 3 life and he had no creatures at all! It was still third turn... that was too much life lost...

Serge: 14 Benedict: 20

Serge picked up a card. "Forest. I play Rhox!'

Rhox 4GG Creature – Beast

1G: Regenerate Rhox

You may have Rhox deal its combat damage as though it was not blacked

"I attack with Fangren Firstborn! It gets a counter!"

Serge: 14

Benedict: 15

"Ouch. I lose a life and get and extra card from Arena." Benedict picked up his 2 cards. "I play swamp. Next, pay 1 since there are 4 swamps for the Golem!"

Dross Golem 5

Artifact Creature - Golem

Affinity for Swamps

Fear

3/2

"Play Lightning Greaves!"

Lightning Greaves

Artifact – Equipment

Equipped creature has Haste and can't be the target of spells or abilities.

Equip – 0

Use my last mana to equip Cranial Plating to Ornithopter (9/2) and equip Lightning Greaves to the Golem... attack!"

"Block Dross Golem with Rhox!"

"Can't! Dross has Fear! Equip Lightning Greaves to Ornithopter! Done!"

Serge: 2

Benedict: 14

Serge was down to 2... how could he possibly win?

"Draw..." he wished it was a Giant Growth. "Attack with Fangren Firstborn (6/6) and Rhox (6/6)! End turn!

Serge: 2

Benedict: 2

Benedict looked up sadistically and gave another chuckle. "I draw my 2 cards... excellent. Play Vault of Whispers."

Vault of Whispers

Artifact Land

T: add B to your mana pool

"I play Kiku's Shadow on Fangren Firstborn."

Kiku's Shadow BB

Sorcery

Target creature deals damage to itself equal to its power.

The Fangren was chucked to the grave.

"Then... attack!" Benedict licked his lips. "And before damage calculation, I play Terror on your Rhox."

Terror 1B

Instant

Destroy target non-black creature. It cannot be regenerated.

Serge: 0

Benedict: 1

"Good game, kid."

Benedict then pulled out a Discman, headphones, and trading binder. "Here, have a look," he said, handing the dumbstruck Serge his binder. He then plugged the headphones into the walkman and put them on. As Benedict watched Serge look in awe at his green rares, he listened to "My Immortal" by Evanescence. As he leaned back into his chair, he thought, Was I too sadistic on the kid?

Benedict looked in a weakened state that contradicted his strength in the duel very much. He closed his eyes... "Pox deck for sale! Has Mox Jet!"

Benedict's eyes snapped back to life. Holy Crap! Did I just hear what I think I heard! "Hey! I'll buy!" He ran towards the origin of the call to be startled by an old man holding up a stack of cards for all to see...

A/N: And so you have come to the end of the first chapter of Yawgmoth's Messenger's first Magic fic. and i should mention that if you were bored by it, it was the fact that i wrote it up in Social Studies (the SS teacher is boring as hell with his monotone voice. think Ben Stein).

Also, if you know me... well, you can tell this fic is a self insertion. dont worry, though. it gets more fantasy like as i go. In case you are wondering, I consider myself goth. i wear almost all black. the reasoning behind the army jacket... well, im a military goth. s, other than that, if you know me, itll be highly probable you will be a character here without your permission (points at Daryl). so... what else? spirits getting hosts? Yawgmoth? who knows? just please R & R. i really like reviews. they highten the spirit. and if you have any decklists, please send. i still dont have enough. please e mail your lists and keep in mind that if you put descriptions of spells , ill be mor likely to use them. oh, and about me putting descriptions for something as simple as a Wild Growth, i am expecting people who don know t much about magic to read (for i invited them). other than that, have a good day, don't get on he bad side of Death (she hates being angry) and e mail me lists! you can also check any of my decks on the link i have on my profile