Chapter 3: A New Friend

Sidney just ran across an old bridge in the Riverlands, dodging a Riptide attack. Right behind her was Crawsectus, the big lobster like OverWorlder. "That's it. Get to know your surroundings. That's how you're gonna win when you battle here in the Riverlands." Crawsectus said. "Frost Blight!" He fired his ice attack from his mouth. Sidney ducked as it hit a palm tree, freezing it. "Just remember: it takes more than just using attacks to battle another person. It takes strategy and knowledge." Crawsectus said. "I know. I'll remember. Thanks, Crawsectus." Sidney said, taking out her scanner. "And thanks for the training and helping me get around the Riverlands in exchange for a scan of you." She said, scanning the lobster. "No problem. Anything for Tom's daughter." Crawsectus said. As soon as Crawsectus' scan was finished, Sidney said goodbye and ported back to Chaotic.

After she ported back, she joined her parents at their table. "So, how did training with Crawsectus go?" Tom asked. "It went great. Despite that I almost got my legs frozen, I now know my way around the Riverlands." Sidney said. "That's great news." Sarah said. "Plus, I even got a scan of Crawsectus in exchange for the training." Sidney said, pulling up her new Creature scan. "Cool. Crawsectus will be a big help when you're battling in the Riverlands." Tom said.

Suddenly, Sidney's scanner started beeping. She answered. A familiar goth appeared on-screen. "Minnie!" She said. "Sup, Sid? How 'bout that match we talked about?" Minnie asked. "Alright. I've been waiting for you to ask that." Sidney accepted. "Alright then. Meet me at the Beta Drome for a 3-on-3 match this afternoon. Sound good?" Minnie asked. "You're on." Sidney accepted. "Okay. See you then." Minnie said, ending the call. Sidney looked over to her parents. "Well, you're gonna need a strategy if you're gonna go against this girl." Tom said. "Yeah. Especially since you don't know anything about Minnie." Sarah said. "You're right. So, let's start planning." Sidney said.


(Intro)


Sidney and Minnie met up in the Beta Drome. They docked their scanners and prepared to assemble their teams. "Good luck to you, Sidney." Minnie said. "You too." Sidney said. Minnie started going through her creature deck. 'I have no idea on how Minnie's gonna play. She probably studied up on me. So, she probably knows I don't play Danians much. So, I'll surprise her and put Mallash up front with a Vlaric Shard.' Sidney thought, selecting the Danian, Mallash, and equipping him with a Vlaric Shard. 'Then, to keep her guessing, I'll throw in Drakness with a Cyclance.' She put the UnderWorlder, Drakness, beside Mallash and equipped him with a Cyclance. 'And I'll save the best for last. Verlina and the Sword of Khy'at. It'll be a good chance to test her out.' She put Verlina in her cleanup spot and equipped her with the Sword of Khy'at.

"Okay. I'm ready." Sidney said. "Me too." Minnie said. They locked their decks and revealed their teams. Minnie had Toxis, Kerric and Ghatup. "Well, well, well, looks like we're using the same strategy. You're using Creatures from 3 different Tribes, while I'm using Creatures from 2." Minnie said, until she got a look at Verlina. "Who's that behind your other Creatures?" She asked. "Verlina. I scanned her on my first day here. Let's just say she's very special." Sidney explained. "Okay then. You wanna go first?" Minnie asked. "Okay. Sure." Sidney said. She spun the randomizer and it spun through her 10 locations until it stopped at one. Gloomuck Swamp. "Mallash attacks Kerric!" Sidney called, tapping Mallash. Her screen disappeared and she transformed into the big bug himself. Minnie tapped her Kerric and transformed into the man-sized dragonfly. "Let's get Chaotic!" Mallash said. Kerric just smiled as everything went white.

Sidney found herself trailing her bug legs through the swampy Location, looking for Kerric. She groaned as she walked through the swampy water. "Ew! Why did I put this place in my Location deck?! I mean, I know it boosts my earth attacks, but man it's disgusting here!" She cried. "Tell me about it." A voice came. Mallash looked up to see Kerric relaxing in a dead tree. "I could hear your big mouth complaining even before I found this tree." Minnie said. "I'm a woman. Even if I look like a big bug at the moment. What'd you expect?" Sidney asked. "Good point. Plasmarrow!" Kerric called, firing several arrows from his tail towards Mallash. Sidney jumped out of the way before she got hit, and again, and again. "Sandstrike!" Mallash fired sand arrows from his hands and hit Kerric, knocking him into the swampy water. Minnie resurfaced, coughed and shook off her wings. "Not fun, is it?" Sidney asked. "Thunder Shout!" Kerric screamed, knocking Mallash down. Kerric flew up as Mallash slowly recovered. "Now who's not having fun?" Minnie asked, forming a Pyroblaster in her hands and firing a Lavalanche.

Sidney braced herself by activating the one Danian Mugic in her deck. "Song of Resistance!" The Song of Resistance started playing in key and formed a protective armor around Mallash. The Lavalanche didn't leave so much as a scorch mark. Minnie went wide-eyed. "You've got a nice piece of Battlegear. So do I." Sidney said, forming her Vlaric Shard on her wrist. "Vine Snare!" Vines popped up from beneath Kerric, snaring him. Kerric struggled to get free, but no avail. "Struggling won't help. Remember, my Vlaric Shard boosts Mallash's earth attacks. Plus, with the extra boost I get here in Gloomuck Swamp, my earth attacks are in the ultimate. Pebblestorm!" Mallash fired a barrage of pebbles from his hands, hitting Kerric and coding him.

Minnie appeared back in the drome as Mallash appeared on the other side, transforming back into Sidney. "That was impressive. Trapping Kerric with a Vine Snare. Especially with the added boosts from the Location and your Vlaric Shard. That was a stroke of genius." Minnie said. "Thanks. Gloomuck Swamp may be messy, but I know of the special properties it carries." Sidney said. "Well, I have Locations with special properties too." Minnie said. It was now her turn. She spun her Location randomizer and it stopped. Runic Grove. "Toxis attacks Mallash!" Minnie tapped her Toxis card and transformed into the frightening little toad. Sidney almost gagged at the sight of Toxis. "And I thought the picture was ugly." She said, transforming into Mallash again. "Believe me. His looks are nothing compared to his attacks." Minnie said.

Mallash strolled around the trees surrounding the Location. 'Okay. Dad's told me about Runic Grove. Neither me or Minnie can't use Tribal Mugic here. So, I'll have to think of a plan.' She thought. Suddenly, Mallash's antennae sensed movement nearby. Just then, an Ectospasm hit her from behind, knocking her into a tree. Mallash looked up to see Toxis wearing a Torwegg, flying down towards her. She stopped and hovered overhead. "How do you like this little surprise, huh? Toxis with a Torwegg?" Minnie asked. "I get it. It helps you get around. But it also boosts air attacks. Toxis is only good at fire attacks." Sidney pointed out. "Yeah, I know. But you know, attacks aren't everything. Flame Orb!" Toxis called, throwing balls of fire from his hands. Mallash jumped out of the way as Toxis flew away. 'Oh, you're not getting away that easy.' She thought. "Rusttoxic!" She called, throwing a wave of rusty liquid at Toxis' Torwegg. It completely covered itself in rust and started to power down, sending Toxis falling. Luckily, she landed on a nearby tree and slid down it to the ground. She took off the Torwegg as Mallash advanced on her. "Well, Toxis, any final words?" She asked. "Just one. Fortissimo!" Toxis called, activating a Mugic. The Fortissimo Mugic started playing as a light shined on Toxis, making her grow into a giant. "Uh oh." Sidney muttered, knowing that she was in trouble now. She attempted to scurry away. "Wall of Flame!" Toxis called, creating a wall of fire and blowing towards Mallash. Mallash got cought in it and exploded into code.

"The Fortissimo Mugic? Guess you did know that we could only use Generic Mugic in Runic Grove." Sidney said as Minnie transformed back. "Mm-hmm." Minnie nodded with a smile. "Wow! I've playing cards and online for a long time. I never would've thought to do that." Sidney said. "A lot of Chaotic players have a lot of surprises. Let's see if you've got any." Minnie said, moving Ghatup up front. Sidney spun the Location randomizer until it stopped at the next Location. Rock River Canyon. "Drakness attacks Ghatup!"

Ghatup, being a Mipedian, dropped his invisibility to check the perimeter. Seeing nothing, Minnie resumed her invisibility and continued walking. Drakness, being a lively ghost-like shadow, hid in the shadows. "You're not as invisible as you think." She said, forming the Cyclance in her hands and pointing it to where Ghatup was walking. "Lightning Burst!" She cried, blasting a Lightning Burst attack from the Cyclance, giving Ghatup quite the shock. "Nice. But now I know where you are." Minnie said. Sidney sunk back into the shadows. "As if hiding in the same place is gonna help. Cyclone Slam!" Ghatup yelled, firing a cyclone from her chest. The cyclone hit the stone, but Drakness wasn't there. Ghatup looked around. 'Maybe she ducked into the river.' She thought. She leaped into the river to look for Sidney. "Over here." Drakness' voice called. Minnie looked behind her to see Drakness, poking her Cyclance into the water. Ghatup gasped, knowing what was about to happen. Drakness let loose another Lightning Burst, zapping the water and Ghatup. Minnie screamed as she bursted into code.

"Toxis attacks Drakness!" Next match, Toxis and Drakness were battling near Castle Bodhran, in the ruined village. Toxis flew after Drakness in the sky with the Torwegg. Toxis knocked her down with a Power Pulse. As Drakness hit the ground, Toxis flew down and blasted her into code with Heat Rage.

Back in the drome, Sidney and Minnie were getting set for the final match. "This is it. Our last match." Sidney said. "Finally, I'll get a taste of what Verlina can do." Minnie said. "I trust she'll seem familiar." Sidney said, spinning the randomizer until it stopped at the final Location. The Riverlands. "Verlina attacks Toxis!" Sidney called, touching Verlina's card. She then transformed into her OverWorlder friend. Minnie then transformed into Toxis once more. "Let's get Chaotic." Sidney said.

In the Riverlands, Toxis hopped to the edge of a cliff near the waterfalls. She started to look for Verlina. 'Okay. I know Verlina seems familiar. She looks like a mixture between… Maxxor and Intress!' She thought in realization. Suddenly, a shout came from behind Toxis. She turned to see Verlina coming down, fists high in the air. She landed and attacked with Rock Wave. Minnie jumped out of the way. "Impressive. Able to do earth attacks." She said. "That's not all she's good at. Riptide!" Sidney said, slamming her hands into the ground. Toxis looked a little confused. But suddenly, a rumble shook the ground. And then, several spouts of water shot out of the ground and blasted Minnie into the water. Verlina walked over to the edge and looked down into the water. Just then, Toxis shot out of the water with the Torwegg. "Impressive. Able to use earth and water attacks." She said. "Thank you. But flattery won't save you from this. Lavalanche!" Sidney yelled, firing 2 streams of lava from her hands. Toxis tried to fly away, but the attack hit the Torwegg. It started to short circuit, spark and fly out of control. Toxis screamed and crashed down to the ground. Toxis recovered and growled. "You ready to finish this?" She asked, forming a fireball in her hand. "Bring it on." Verlina answered, forming a water ball in her hand. They glared for a while, then prepped to launch their attacks. "Ember Swarm!" "Hail Storm!" They shouted, launching the attacks. They collided. After a few minutes of pushing, their attacks gave off a huge explosion which caused Toxis to burst into code.

Back at the drome, Sidney transformed back and walked towards Minnie. "Good match." She said, holding out her hand. Minnie smiled and shook it. "You too." She said. They walked out of the drome and headed to the Port Court.

At the Port Court, Sidney and Minnie shared a Perim Pizza. "So, tell me." Minnie began to ask. "Verlina. I've heard rumors. She's Maxxor and Intress's daughter, isn't she?" She asked. "Of course. And I'm pretty much the only one who has a scan of her." Sidney answered. "Why?" Minnie asked. "Because Verlina trusts me, and she's my friend." Sidney said. "Oh." Minnie said, looking down. "So, um if it's okay with you, would you like to be friends?" Sidney asked. Minnie looked up and thought about it. "I never had anyone ask that before." She said. "You mean, you don't have any friends?" Sidney asked. "I'm a goth. I'm not exactly considered friend material." Minnie explained. Sidney felt bad for her. "Well, consider me your first friend." She said. Minnie beamed and hugged her. "Thank you!" She whispered. Sidney smiled and hugged her back.