Disclaimer: I don't own Magic: The Gathering.
"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I summon Kami of False Hope (1/1). Go."
Damn! A white deck! And I've got no Putrid Imp or Vampiric Tutor in my hand. Let's find out what he's got.
"I play a swamp," said Arrathir "And I play Duress! Let's see your hand." Erik's hand contained: Holy Day, Plains, Story Circle, Devoted Retainer, and another Plains. "Get rid of Story Circle," said Arrathir. "End turn."
"Another Plains," said Erik "And I summon Suntail Hawk (1/1, flying). Now I attack with Kami of False Hope. Your turn."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 19
"Excellent!' said Arrathir "Another Swamp and I summon Putrid Imp, discarding a card to give him flying until end of turn. Your move."
"I tap out to play Serra's Blessing," said Erik "All my creatures don't tap to attack. No I'll attack with Suntail Hawk and Kami of False Hope."
"I discard to give my Imp flying and block Suntail Hawk with him," said Arrathir.
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 18
"End turn."
"I play a third Swamp," said Arrathir "And I play Vampiric Tutor, searching my deck for a card and putting it on top. I loose two life, however."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 16
"Next, I play Night's Whisper to draw two cards, but I loose two more life."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 14
"Your turn."
"I play another Plains," said Erik "And I summon Paladin en-Vec (2/2, first strike, pro red, pro black). Now I hit you for one with Kami of False Hope. Go."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 13
"Time to bring out the heavy artillery," said Arrathir "I play Exhume! We each bring a creature from our graveyards back into play. I bring back Avatar of Woe (6/5, fear)."
"And I bring back Suntail Hawk (1/1, flying)," said Erik.
"Finally," said Arrathir "I'll play Reanimate to bring my Putrid Imp back, though I loose life equal to its converted mana cost. Your move."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 12
"I summon Devoted Retainer (1/1, bushido 1)," said Erik "And I'll end my turn."
"I'll play Cabal Therapy," said Arrathir "I say Holy Day!" Erik discarded his last card. "Now I attack with Avatar of Woe!"
"I sack Kami of False Hope to activate it's effect," said Erik "When it is sacrificed, all combat damage is prevented."
"Then I'll summon a second Putrid Imp in my second main phase," said Arrathir "End turn."
"I attack with Paladin en-Vec, Suntail Hawk, and Devoted Retainer," said Erik.
"I block your Retainer with my two Imps," said Arrathir.
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 9
"End turn."
"All right!" said Arrathir "I play another Swamp and end my turn."
"I play a Plains and summon Dawn Elemental (3/3, flying,)," said Erik.
Shit!
"I attack with Suntail Hawk and end my turn."
ERIK: 20
ARRATHIR: 8
"Draw!" said Arrathir "And I play Zombify to return Havoc Demon to play! Now I attack with Avatar of Woe!"
ERIK: 14
ARRATHIR: 8
"Main phase 2, I'll sack havoc Demon to Flashback Cabal Therapy!"
"I play Breath of Life to return my Paladin en-Vec to play," said Erik "End turn."
This is a risky move, but it just might work.
"I play Reanimate!" said Arrathir "To bring back your Dawn Elemental under my control!"
Since all combat damage to Dawn Elemental is prevented, I have a great blocker.
ERIK: 14
ARRATHIR: 4
"How dare you!" said Erik "I play Noble Purpose. Whenever a creature I control deals damage, I gain that much life. End turn."
"Swamp, end turn," said Arrathir.
"End turn," said Erik.
"I play Zombify to bring back Avatar of Woe (6/5, fear)," said Arrathir "End turn."
"It would be pointless for me to summon a creature," said Erik "So I'll end my turn."
"Draw!" said Arrathir "And I attack with Avatar of Woe!"
ERIK: 8
ARRATHIR: 4
"I play a Plains and end my turn," said Erik.
"I play Cabal Therapy on myself," said Arrathir "And I discard Hypnox. Now I attack with Avatar of Woe."
ERIK: 2
ARRATHIR: 4
"I play Crusade," said Erik "All white creatures get +1+1. End turn."
"That won't help you now," said Arrathir "I finish you off with Avatar of Woe!"
"I play Humble!" said Erik "Until end of turn, your creatures becomes a 0/1 and looses all its abilities. I block it with my Paladin en-Vec!"
ERIK: 3
ARRATHIR: 4
"End turn."
"I summon Leonin Skyhunter (3/3, flying) (A/N: Taking into account the bonus from Crusade) and Isamaru, Hound of Konda (3/3)," said Erik "Now you're in trouble. End turn."
"At least I can clear the field," said Arrathir "I play a swamp and play Zombify to return my Havoc Demon. Next, I sack him to Flashback Cabal Therapy! I say Holy Day!" Erik revealed his hand: it contained no Holy Day.
"Now you've left yourself wide open!" he laughed.
"Says you," said Arrathir "there are now more than ten creatures in all graveyards, meaning I can summon the Avatar of Woe I have in my hand for only two black mana! End turn."
"I summon Kami of False Hope (2/2)," said Erik "End turn."
"One swamp," said Arrathir "And I tap Avatar of Woe to kill your Kami. End turn."
"I summon Paladin en-Vec (3/3)," said Erik "End turn."
"I play Zombify to return Hypnox (8/8, flying) to play! Now I'll finish you off with Avatar of Woe."
"Wrong!" said Erik "Holy Day!"
"I'm still safe," said Arrathir "End turn."
"That's where you're also wrong," said Erik "Go, Divine Sacrament! This enchantment gives white creates +1+1, but since I have Threshold, they get +2+2. Now, since my Paladin en-Vec has pro black, I'll finish you off!"
ERIK: 3
ARRATHIR: 0
No! I lost!
"Now then," said Erik "I believe we had a wager on this game?"
This has gotta be the most humiliating thing I've ever done!
"Erik, I'm sorry I was in your way," said Arrathir.
"Good," said Erik "Well, I must be off now." He gathered his cards, got up and left.
"Wow," said Eva "He sure kicked your ass."
"I almost had him!" fumed Arrathir."
"So, what do we do now?" asked Eva.
"I guess we could crash at my place," said Arrathir "It's the only place I can think of right now."
After paying for their drinks, they left and soon reached Arrathir's flat. The place was a mess. Obviously, it had been ransacked. Books were strewn around like dead leaves on an autumn day. Arrathir made his way to his room. He crawled under his bed, pried up a floorboard and stuck his hand in the opening; it was still there. He pulled out his Duel Disk, the metallic surfaces glinting faintly in the moonlight flooding his bed.
"Is that…" asked Eva.
"Yep," said Arrathir "My old Duel Disk. We've been through thick and thin together. Whenever I feel hopeless, I take it out and it reminds me that, no matter what, I have to keep going.
"Does it still work?"
"Well, we're gonna find out right now," said Arrathir. He strapped the device to his arm and slotted his deck. With the flick of a switch, the device came to life. The holographic pods ejected and the two wings extended from the body and pivoted forwards, forming the dueling field. The LED readout flashed and clocked up to 4000. Arrathir drew a card from his deck and slapped it onto a monster slot. A card appeared in the middle of the room and from it burst a small winged creature.
"Wow," said Eva "It's so realistic."
"Yeah, but compared to mana summoning, it's not that great," said Arrathir. He powered down the Duel Disk and the Putrid Imp disappeared. "You can take the bed," he told Eva "I'll just sleep on the couch." Despite the caffeine still coursing through his veins, he soon fell asleep.
The next morning, he awoke to find Eva watching TV.
"They're doing a report on the Sliver attack!" she said.
"There is still no information about the slaughter of over a hundred people at a local Magic: the Gathering tournament last week," said the reporter "Of the two hundred people at this even, nineteen are reported missing. The only known survivor of this attack has just been identified today as Erik Morlock, the son of the deceased Douglas Morlock, founder of Morlock Systems Inc. Authorities have not yet commented if this attack could have been a terrorist act."
"Hey, Erik Morlock," said Eva "Wasn't he the guy who beat you yesterday?"
"Yeah, so?" asked Arrathir.
"He's going to be in danger now," said Eva "That Sliver summoner's going to be after him."
"Good for her," said Arrathir "He deserves it."
A split-second later, Arrathir was on the floor with a fresh bruise on his face where Eva had slugged him.
"I can't believe you!" she screamed, "Just because this guy beat you, you're going to let him die? Well, not me!"
She grabbed the phone book and thumbed through it, searching for Erik's number.
"Molton…Montgomery…Moran…Morlock!"
She dialed the number and waited, impatiently tapping her foot.
"Erik Morlock?" she asked when someone answered the phone.
"Speaking," said Erik on the other end of the line."
"Listen," said Eva "I know you're going to think I'm crazy, but your life is in danger. You've got to get out of your house!"
"Do I know you?" asked Erik.
"We met last night," said Eva "In an Internet Café."
"Ah yes," said Erik "You're the girlfriend of that amateur I beat. Looking for a more challenging opponent than that looser?"
"First of all," said Eva "I'm not his girlfriend, and second of all, you've got to trust me on this! You are in danger!"
"Trust you?" said Erik "I barely know you! But if you want to come over to my place, we can get better acquainted. I'll send a limo over in five minutes. Where do you live?"
Eva put her hand over the mouthpiece.
"He's inviting us over to his place," she whispered "Now's our chance to convince him!"
"You go," said Arrathir "I'm not."
"Look at you!" said Eva "What happened to you? Are you a coward? Afraid of facing this guy just because he beat you in a game? His life is on the line here!"
"Fine! I'll go!"
Eva gave Erik Arrathir's address and hung up.
"So, what are we gonna tell him?" asked Arrathir "Something like, 'There's a crazy bitch after us and now she's gonna kill you too. Oh, and by the way: Magic: The Gathering is real'?"
Arrathir was soon having another chat with his old friend, the floor, after Eva knocked him down again.
"We'll tell him the truth," said Eva "After all, he saw the Slivers at the PTQ, so that should convince him. Next, we'll have to bring him someplace safe, but where?"
At that moment, a limo pulled up to the curb in front of Arrathir's flat.
"The car's here," said Eva, half dragging Arrathir out of the apartment. When they got downstairs, the driver was a bit reluctant at letting Arrathir into the limo.
"Mr. Morlock didn't say anything about another boy," he said.
"Look, this is my good friend," said Eva "And if he's not coming, neither am I! That wouldn't make you boss happy now, would it?"
Finally, Arrathir was allowed to ride in the limousine.
"Lucky he didn't call your bluff," he told Eva.
"I wasn't bluffing," she replied.
The limo dropped them off in front of an impressive two-story house. It was surrounded by a wrought iron fence and armed guards stood by the gates.
"State your name," said one of the guards as they approached.
"I'm Eva Pezrokov," she said "And I'm here to see Erik Morlock."
The guards unclipped his radio and said, "There's a Miss Pezrokov to see you, Mr. Morlock."
"Let her in," said Erik's voice over the radio.
The guards ushered Eva and Arrathir through the gates. They walked up the stone stairs to the front door where a butler let them in. The entered in a marble foyer with a grand staircase leading to the upper level of the house. Many doors led from the foyer to other parts of the house. Shortly after they entered, Erik came down the stairs, dressed in a black jacket, shirt, and tie.
"Did you have to bring him?" he asked.
Talk about your warm welcomes.
"Yes," said Eva "Is there someplace we can talk in private?"
"Sure," said Erik, ushering them into a nearby room. Arrathir's jaw hit the floor when he entered the room. He had just stepped into a Magic player's paradise. The room had an arched ceiling from which hung an enormous Magic: The Gathering neon sign. In the middle of the room was a low table surrounded by comfy armchairs. The walls of the room were covered in display cases containing rare cards of all sorts. There was even a complete set of P9 cards. Posters from various Magic expansions also hung on the walls. In one particularly large case were a great number of Magic trophies and plaques.
"Welcome," said Erik "To my Magic room."
Arrathir and Eva were still busy picking up their jaws while trying to wipe up the massive amount of drool they were producing.
"Anything to drink?" asked Erik.
"I'll just have a Coke," said Eva. Arrathir just shook his head.
Erik gave Eva her drink and motioned for them to sit down.
"So, what is this danger you say I'm in?" he asked.
"At the PTQ," said Eva "The Slivers, you saw them."
Erik's face became grim.
"Actually, I wasn't at the PTQ," he said "I was registered, but on that day I was awfully sick and couldn't go. I heard about it on the news. Horrible. Who would do such a thing?"
"Well," said Eva "You seen the world of Magic: The Gathering is real. A Planeswalker summoned a Sliver herd and attacked the PTQ. She was after Arrathir apparently, but we escaped on a Havoc Demon. The Slivers killed our families and now we think they'll be coming after you."
Erik laughed. "You almost had me worried there, but" he added, becoming more serious "I don't like it when people waste my time. You've had your laughs, so now clear out!"
"No!" said Eva "It's true! Arrathir, show him!"
Arrathir snapped out of his daze "OK, here goes. Just don't panic." Charging his mana, his hand burst into black flames.
"What is he doing?' asked Erik.
"Shut up!" said Arrathir "You wanted proof, well here's your proof!" He cast his spell, the mana flowing from his hand and forming into Havoc Demon. The demon perched itself on the table a roared, a deafening sound in the small room.
"What is this?" asked Erik "Some kind of trick? A hologram?"
"No trick," said Arrathir "This is a real living, breathing Havoc Demon. Touch it if you don't believe me."
Erik reached out and put his hand on the demon's hide. The Havoc Demon growled, but did not move.
"Who are you?" asked Erik.
Arrathir dispelled the demon, the creature exploding in a shower of black mana.
"I am Arrathir Quinn," he said "The Keeper of Black Mana."
"Keeper of Black mana?" asked Erik "I've never read about them in the Magic novels."
"The novels speak of Dominaria many years after the great War of the Keepers," said Arrathir "This war occurred thousands of years before the Alpha set and has now become only a legend in Dominaria. The Keepers of Mana were five powerful Planeswalkers who channeled the mana across the Multiverse. When conflict arose among them, they began fighting, their quarrel cumulating into the War of the Keepers. This war almost destroyed the Multiverse and resulted in the death of the five keepers. Now, the spirit of the Keeper of Black mana has awakened within me and I have been charged to awaken the remaining keepers to restore order to the Multiverse."
"But that's impossible!" said Erik "Magic is just a game!"
"It is no game!" said Arrathir "It is a reality! You can choose to accept it or ignore it. Choose quickly because the Slivers are approaching."
They suddenly heard gunshots and screams coming from outside. Erik pushed a button on the table and a screen slid down from the ceiling. An image appeared showing the outside of the house. Hundreds of Slivers are attacking, killing the guards and swarming the doors. Erik pushed another button and the image changed, showing the interior of the house. Here again, Slivers were attacking. Erik pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number.
"Security!" he said "We have a situation! Evacuate the personnel to the panic room and lock the house down! I want armed forces here on the double!" hanging up, he walked over to a painting of Darksteel Colossus and removed it from the wall, revealing a button hidden behind it. He pressed it and the wall pivoted, reveling a space behind it.
"Go down," he said. Arrathir and Eva went in a found a staircase descending into the earth. They went down and found themselves in an underground parking with a Ford Mustang parked in the middle.
"Get in," said Erik, taking the driver's seat. He turned the key in the ignition and the engine came to life with a roar. Erik put the pedal to the metal and the car jumped forward, sending them speeding along a dark passage.
"Always have an emergency escape," Erik said.
"Where are we going?" asked Eva from the front passenger seat.
"To the airport," said Erik "I've got a private jet that will take us out of the country."
They sped along until the burst out of the tunnel and back into daylight. Arrathir saw they had emerged near an airport. Erik drove at breakneck speed onto the tarmac where a jet was parked.
"Ready for takeoff, Mr. Morlock," said the pilot when they had entered the plane.
"Good," said Erik "Let's get going then."
They strapped themselves in and the jet took off. Arrathir watched out the window as the ground grew smaller and smaller until they were above the clouds and the only thing he could see was a sea of whiteness.
"Now," said Erik, unbuckling his seatbelt "Tell me what is going on here."
To be continued…
Author's note: Sorry about the delay, but I've been busy lately. I don't know if I've lost some readers, but it seems it's always the same people reviewing. Let me know you're out there!
John: No, Erik is not going to be the comic relief in this story.
Demonslayer: I took a look at your fic. Keep it up!
Askari Knight: I have a large amount of unused decklists from my previous story, so I will not be accepting decklists for this story, unless I specify otherwise.
ACS Dude: When the Havoc Demon died, it did kill a large number of Slivers, but only within a certain vicinity. There were plenty more Slivers to replace the dead ones.
Booyah: No. This fic is going to be strictly Magic and they will not be going to Domino.
Igor Jabberwocky: You can submit decklists changes if you want. After all, it makes sense the characters would alter their decks as the story goes on.