Saturday came in fast.

“Squeak!” Carbuncle squirmed within the nylon bag. With him no longer being a teal-green apparition, he had a physical body and an actual mass.

I still haven’t seen him poop yet, so my bag should be fine… Sarah adjusted the strap on her shoulder as she entered The Card Cashe. Anyone who’s ever gotten past the first grade can easily tell he’s not just some kind of animal. But…

She scanned the main room upon entering, looking out for people talking to themselves or worse, weird looking tangible creatures like the one biting holes in her bag. While a good number of people showed up this early, it appeared not every contestant had arrived just yet.

If any other ACE users are here, we’ll be targeted.

Before she knew it, Sarah found herself against one of the stands holding the latest edition of Trailsearcher. Getting up quickly, she brushed off her now favorite houndstooth sweater, “Hey, watch where the fuck you’re going, you-”

The girl flinched as she raised her hands to her face. Her long black hair swayed gently despite the quick reaction. “I’m so sorry! Please don’t!”

Stepping out from behind her, a taller woman with ghastly white skin and matching hair put her hand on the panicking woman’s shoulder, “Why don’t you watch where you’re going, ya bitch? Who stands in the middle of a doorway lookin’ ‘round like some kinda invalid?”

Sarah stood stunned. The tall woman’s blue eyes, blue outfit, and most notably, blue tongue, was instantly distinguishable. Mica said the holder would be here, but she never would have expected the ACE creature herself would show up here. Ortelanus, Star of the Sea.

“S-sorry.” It was all she could mutter in her shock. Why in the absolute fuck would someone willingly bring their ACE out here without any kind of disguise?!

“That’s right! Don’t do it again, ya bitch!” Guiding her holder further into the shop, Ortelanus took the corner to the side room.

“Squeak! Squeak!” Carbuncle chirped from the newest hole in the gym bag, snapping Sarah free from her dumbstruck state. Having seen the ACE creature, he tried to get her attention.

“I know. I know.” She lifted the bag to make eye contact with her handbag hostage, “Why in the hell are those two just strutting around like nothing at all?”

“Squeak?” Carbuncle seemed confused as well. Despite being in the bag against his will, even that was better than being out in the open. His fur would be ruined for weeks after all the petting.

“Hey Sarah!” Both the short and tall Jefferson siblings walked up to Sarah, still leaning on the display. “You ready for the big day?”

Mikey showed his deck box, “Bruh. I’ve been labbing this new deck for weeks. You better make it to the finals with me.”

As the back room filled in with more participants, more and more familiar faces arrived. Bruno sheepishly stuck to a small group towards the back, occasionally glancing towards the short blonde girl, notably without a certain child clinging to his side. Whereas a more rambunctious group of guys, led by Ronnie, gathered around a table, working though test hands. Both Jim and Tim stood in a circle with other similarly shaped men with one woman, adorning their badges and matching ‘judge’ shirts.

The room was electric with anticipation.

“Good morning everyone!” Mr. Montgomery stood at the opening to the back room with a cheap blazer and bow tie. Keeping the Cardinals hat added to the charm. He adjusted his glasses before continuing to read the piece of paper pulled from his coat, “Good morning and welcome to the first ever local level tournament of the World Game Trading Card Game! I am proud to say that we have the honor of holding such a prestigious event and, best of all, we’ve got a great slew of prize support provided by Manufacturing Mirages themselves!”

An applause swept the room. Waiting for it to peter out, he continued, “The top eight players of this 64 player single elimination tournament would have an immediate entry into the World Game Regional level tournaments being held soon! And, most excitingly, the winner of this tournament would receive a sneak-peek release pack of the upcoming third expansion of World Game, Searchers of the Skin Searing Storm! Quite the mouthful!”

The crowd cooed at the pack Mr. Montgomery held up, the pack art notably having the Gemless Carbuncle on the front.

“You betcha! And of course, the winner of the first ever official World Game tournament will also receive this ultra rare, never before released, card from the newest pack signed by Mr. Rotewasser himself!”

Letting the attendants finally quiet down, Mr. Montgomery popped a bottle of champagne, “Now, go out and have some fun! Make some memories! And let’s get this first ever World Game tournament started!”

“Glad Mr. M’s in a good mood.” Isaac stood with the group, dressed in his finest fishnets and slashed jeans. His hood covered his head, a central accoutrement of today’s attire.

“Bruh, I am absolutely gonna win that card today.”

Mike stood proud as his sister jumped up to hook her arm around his neck, her lavender dress poofing out and slowing her fall, “Don’t you think you’ve got this one! My horoscope said today’s a good day to stomp stupid baby brothers!”

Kyle and Marty nodded as Tim told them standard procedures for a card game tournament. Jim left to his assigned table until his round came up.

“Have you checked in your cards yet?” Mica held her brother in a chokehold, bending the lanky giant down.

Sarah turned away from the white haired girl cupping the black haired girl’s cheeks, stretching them out and laughing as a crowd of boys awkwardly stood around them. “No? I probably should do that, huh?”

“Yeah, just go up to the mainroom and one of the judges will help you do that.”

Standing in the check-in line, Sarah finally made her way to the front and listed every card in her deck on a sheet of paper. Reading through the cards, the judge gave her a weird look when reaching her unique 3 play point creature.

“Don’t worry about that one. That’s a legal card.”

A tall ginger man wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt stepped forward from behind the counter and put his hand up. Wearing a piece of folded notebook paper with the word ‘Judge’ hastily written on it in permanent marker, the man smirked as he towered over Sarah. While the card he gave her thankfully did not carry anthrax, it carried something far more severe.

“You! FUCKER!” Sarah shouted, forgetting herself. “I’ve been looking for you for over two fucking months!”

The middle-aged man shrugged, “I missed you too! Do you even remember my name, little miss?”

Sarah glared a hole through the bear of a man’s head. With pure drive, purpose, and conviction, she said his name calmly and coldly.

“Dick. Johnson.”

He stopped.

“No way.” His belly jumped as he laughed loudly, turning everyone’s attention towards him. He threw his back and covered his eyes, his cackles echoing through the shop. “No way! Mark said you had a horrible memory, but this is even better!”

Finally backing down, Sarah turned flush as she looked around the room, everyone still staring at the man gasping for air.

“Whew! That, right there, made my day!” Richard wiped a tear from his eye, “Oh God. Oh man…” Finally regaining composure, he righted himself, “Kid. I’ll give you points for remembering my prank, but who in their right mind names their kid ‘Dick Johnson’?

The real name’s Richard O’Malley. My daughter’s friends with your sister, Miss Sarah Weatherford.”

Sarah lightly hit her forehead with her palm. Shit! That’s why that name sounded familiar ages ago… He’s Katherine’s dad! He even has the red hair!

“I think we even met at a business function once? But…” He popped the collar of this festive button-up shirt, “It’s been a few years since I retired. I don’t blame you if you don’t remember. How’s that card been treating you, by the way?”

Sarah shifted the bag on her shoulder, resuming her glare from where she left off, “I’ve got questions.”

Throwing up his hands, Richard smirked, “I’m sure! But this might not be the best time… I’m a bit busy right now. How about after the tournament?”

This absolute fucker. He knows. He fucking knows. “Fine.”

The black haired girl gingerly gathered her cards. Shuffling her deck, she smiled towards Mica, “Good game, I think I’ve finally got how your deck works.”

Quickly hiding a frown, Mica smiled back, “I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve. You got that second round, but I’m moving on after this one.”

With Mikey moving on to the next round, the group gathered around Mica’s table.

“Come on, little sis! You’ve got this!” Mike grasped his sister by the shoulders and shook her a little. “I thought your horoscope said you were gonna beat me?”

Sarah tried not to notice the glare from Ortelanus sitting next to her holder across the table. Having checked the card’s art one more time to be sure, she was certain these two were possible enemies. “Yeah, Mica! She just got lucky last time, but you’ve got her now!”

Mica kicked off her high heels and set her cards before her, “For sure. I only need to win once to get to the next round.”

“You’ve got this, Jesse! Just take it slow and control her out!” Ortelanus reassured the fighter in her corner as well.

“Yeah! You got this!”

“Mica’s good, but you know her gimmick!”

“Hey, gimme your friend’s number after you win this!”

The crowd favored the other side, something Sarah was used to already. They hovered around the shy gorgeous girl and her hot cosplaying friend, excited that there were other women aside from the stuck-up gremlin, the walking Barbie doll, Kyle’s girl, and the mom someone brought with them today.

“The game’s got a bit of a control problem right now.” Isaac mumbled to himself, barely audible for Sarah to catch. “Beatdown decks like yours and Mica’s suck right now with all the tools we have to stall them out. It’s why you lose so much. And why I’ll beat you again today.”

“Listen here, fucker. You just got lucky!”

Isaac cracked a sly smile, “I just play what’s meta. We’ll see if I’m just lucky by the end of this.”

“I’ll draw!” Mica drew her first card, snapping back their attention. “I’m gonna summon Toaster Fibre and end my turn.”

All traces of nerves disappeared from her opponent’s face. Drawing her card, Ortelanus looked over and smiled alongside her holder.

“I’ll go ahead and pass this one. Go ahead.”

With a scowl, Mica drew her card. “Let’s add two Nix, Firmament’s Blades to the field.”

“Getting out three [Blockers] on the field while only on turn two ain’t too bad…” Isaac remarked, his gaze still locked on the game.

Nodding in agreement, Sarah smiled, “Yeah, especially for her deck? Hopefully she gets the high roll.”

Jesse shuffled her hand a bit more. After a quick head scratch, she placed a card after flipping her two fish rocks she built up on her second turn, “I hate throwing this out so early, but I need something on the board… I’ll play Pristine Pug.”

“Thankfully, without ending your turn with three remaining play points, you’re not getting an extra one this turn.” Mica confirmed.

“Right. Go ahead.”

Not even paying attention to her draw, Mica gently placed down a familiar sleeved card for only the play points, “I’ll summon The Dreaded Mask which lets me search my deck for a spell card.” After searching through the pile, she placed it with the rest in her hand, “I’m sure you can guess which one it is? It’s literally what my deck is built around…”

Looking at Ortelanus next to her who shook her head in return, Jesse drew her card. “Okay, I’m going to play Topaz Spellbot and I’ll swap this shield for a card in my hand!” With a quick swear of the card she picked up, she placed another one in the shield row. “I’ll also play out a Mountainside Hermit and end my turn!”

Both sides were building up their boards quickly. With Mica’s four versus Jesse’s three, things looked good for the girl in the big dress.

“Well, this will help get the ball rollin’! I’ll summon Malkuth, Lord of Firmament!” The glittery card was gently placed on the field. “If I end my turn with three play points remaining, like your Pug, I get to destroy a creature on your field!”

Since she used all four points she had this turn, nothing would happen just yet. But with another [Blocker] on the board and only one turn off from allowing all five creatures she had to attack, things were looking nice.

“I’ll go ahead and pass.” Jesse drew her card and set her hand down. Adding another fish rock, she smiled, “Pug gains me an extra play point since I have at least three points remaining at the end of my turn.”

“Well now you’re making this easy for me!” Mica drew her card and grinned back, “I’ll play down two more Mountainside Hermits. And to make sure I’ll get you next turn…

I’ll cast Innocence Lost targeting your own Hermit!” Mica widened the gap of creatures on their fields. “Unless you get lucky with those [Shield Skill]s again, you’re done next turn!”

“Too bad her deck’s built around [Shield Skill]s…” Sarah lamented.

Mike crossed his arms and leaned over, “Yeah. Doesn’t help she set down her own card meaning she’s got at least one thing up her sleeve…”

Flipping over five of her six fish rocks, Jesse lifted the card behind her shields and placed it on the field, “I’ll call forward Magnus, Dreamscape Painter! And as I’m sure you remember, as long as he’s out, all my shields gain [Shield Skill]!”

After getting the go-ahead from her opponent, Mica bit her thumb. After enough capitulation ending with a deep sigh, Mica slid down a card from her hand, “Fine. I’ll summon Quasar Pine, another [Blocker] and increases the attack power of all my creatures by 2 while it’s your turn.”

“But…” Mica continued, “Since I ended with at least three play points Malkuth lets me pop your Magnus!”

“Shit…” Placing her Strike Leader back in his spot behind her shields, Jesse drew her card. Despite leading on play points, the Mica now had a total of eight creatures on the field. “I’ll call forward Magnus, Dreamscape Painter again.”

Isaac crossed his arms, “She’s getting desperate.”

“Fuck yes! Sounds like Mica got past getting controlled on the board, now she just has to get past those shields.” Sarah pet Carbuncle, still in the bag, who was staring at Ortelanus intently.

“Really? Come on, just let me get the combo off, you anime-looking bimbo…” Mica sighed, “Okay, okay. I’ll summon another Dreaded Mask and search an Innocence Lost to put the pressure on.”

Changing their side as usual, the crowd began to murmur as Mica began to take a wider and wider lead.

“I’ll end my turn activating Malkuth again popping Magnus… again.”

With another grumble, Jesse put her strike leader back.

“Hey.” Ortelanus tapped Jesse on the shoulder. With a reassuring smile, Jesse’s fire came back.

With a deep breath, Jesse slapped down a card from her hand, “I’m gonna summon a Prominence Vine, this lets me put the top card of my deck into my shields face down!” With now six shields, she still had nine creatures on the other side of the field to deal with. “I’ll end, letting Pug get me my ninth play point.”

Mica laughed, “Yeah, like you’re gonna use it!”

Looking around the room for her brother, she gave a wink. “Alright, it’s time to go in. I’ll cast Identity Death!”

“Here we fucking go.”

For the first time since meeting him, Kyle added nothing besides a silent nod.

“Alright, so now that all my creatures that couldn’t attack before now can, let’s do this! Mountainside Hermit number one, take a shield.” Turning the card sideways, she waited until she surprisingly saw no response from her opponent picking it up. “Nice. The Dreaded Mask number one, take another shield.”

“Oof! And that’s my good card!” Jesse nudged Ortelanus beside her, “Here’s my limited edition Ortelanus, Star of the Sea!”

Mica groaned loudly, “Again with that stupid rich card?!”

“Yup! Let’s send your Malkuth back to the top of your deck!” Placing the glittering card on the field, the audience cooed once more seeing the Alcademia card in all its glory.

“Arlight, but I’m not done yet! I’ll attack with one of my Nyxs to break your third shield.”

Picking up the card, Jesse placed it on the field, “Slime Czar, I’ll bounce your other Nyx to your hand.”

Sarah crossed her arms, “Shit. Mica’s getting fucking picked apart…”

“Yeesh. Even I can see that…” Marty looked even more tired than ever.

“I still got four creatures and you still got three more shields. I still got a chance to walk away with this one!. Toaster Fibre to another shield.”

“Nice hit, keep going.” Jesse looked serious. A strange sight for someone who accidentally fell through a table before the duels.

Filled with more confidence, Mica continued her onslaught, “Hermit number two, take shield number five!”

“[Shield Skill], Stalking Homunculus, just lets me summon with no effect.”

“Not the worst thing to break into… My other Dreaded Mask to break that last shield!”

Mica held her breath as Jesse picked up the card.

“Good game.”

With a broad smile, Mica placed her hand on her last remaining creature, “Quasar Pine, fin-”

“Oh, sorry! I meant, I’ve got this game over and done with. The last shield was a Slime Czar, bouncing your Pine.”

The joy left Mica’s face.

“I... “ She quickly ran the paths and routes she needed to finish the game. Her opponent had no shields left, meaning one good hit ends it. With a field full of [Blocker]s, she could hold out while-

“My turn, I’ll cast Victorious Claim.”

After Mica turned all her creatures sideways, leaving all five of her shields wide open against her opponent’s now seven creatures.

“Yeah, wish I had this in my shields. Would’ve stopped your attacks by turning all your creatures strikeless, but I guess I just need to hard cast it.”

“I don’t run any [Shield Skill]s, so you got this.” Mica wiped her face with a lace handkerchief produced from within the ocean of frills in her dress. Holding out her hand, she smiled, “Good game.”

Smiling back, Jesse grasped Mica’s hand, “For sure! You had me scared there for a while.”

“Holy shit, ‘Buncle. That girl’s actually kinda good!” Sarah grabbed the nylon bag riddled with holes and took it to a corner.

“Squeak.” Carbuncle tried to be quiet in the room full of what could be threats.

“I know we got lucky with Bruno not really knowing too much about the game, but that Jesse chick actually built her fucking deck around her ACE. And even worse, we can’t even break her shields without it fucking backfiring!”

Carbuncle frowned in thought.

“It’s actually not that hard, bitch girl!”

A cheery voice came from behind Sarah. Turning around, the strange white skinned girl stood nearby.

“So you are an ACE holder too!” Bending down to pick up Carbuncle, he growled back. “Y’know, that duel you had against that old guy a while back was pretty good!”

“Wait…” Sarah moved to give some space between her and the humanoid alien, “You saw that?”

“Ch’yeah. Like you said, he wasn’t too good, but it was a good heads up for us!” Ortelanus looked Sarah up and down, “Y’know, you ain’t too bad lookin’. Kinda wish I had you as a holder…”

“Fuck off.” It came out as a reflex, but it felt weird pulling it out on a Sea Sage.

“And you’re spicy too, bitch girl? Shieeeet, you’re way cooler than Jess.” She shrugged, “Oh well.”

She leaned in and caressed Sarah’s face, “So, what’s stopping us from having a ACE duel right here and now?”