//------------------------------// // Where Draw is Taken (Draft) // Story: Love of the Draw. // by Zoom zoom //------------------------------// Chapter 9: Where Draw is Taken It was finally a few hours into the event that most everypony that was out for a duel had at least one by now. Many laughed off the fact they had lost their bits so fast and decided to enjoy the rest of the festival. Only a certain Teal unicorn could be heard complaining about having to use magic to hold her cards since she wanted a trained monkey to do so for her. Something about the game being meant for fingers. While her friend the candy maker happily juggled four bits in her own earth pony hooves and laughed at her friend’s comments before comforting her about losing all her bit so quickly. Elsewhere however, things were not so productive. In a part of town most didn’t even bother entering because they knew the owner would yell at them for entering without an intention to buy her wears, little to no dueling was taking place. In fact it was only the younger sisters of the two mares inside that were now playing each other. Both had lost pretty early on, but they still laughed and enjoyed the game even without the images coming to life all the same. Inside the elder sisters however… “Not to be rude Applejack,” Rarity said trying to hold back a huff. “But I must insist you finish looking through my collection for anything else to use.” She gazed at the mess of a card pile behind her orange friend and started counting mentally while her magic sorted them back into place without her noticing. “The three cards you took I guarantee are the only ones that you can use without messing up your current deck and we really should get started on winning more duels for the finals.” Applejack was only half listening as she skimmed through another pile of Rarity’s with rare cards. She took time to read each of their text word for word. She needed to know what to expect along with being sure there was nothing she could use. For all she knew Rarity didn’t know something that she and Draw did about her strategy. This though however, was not shared by Draw. “I would have to agree with Miss Rarity Applejack,” said Draw who had taken to jumping from wall to wall in boredom. “The three cards you took will help but any more changes will require a complete overhaul of the deck. And considering time and the fact we only have one bit left now it would be wise to get at least one other duel in before sundown to regain our position at least.” “When did you get such a gentlemanly tone?” inquired Applejack with a raised eyebrow. She shut the casing as Rarity put the cards back in right. “But you’re right sugarcube. Ah gots ta get make’n up for the bit I lost to Rarity…” Rarity was about to interrupt when she stared at her and raised her voice, “…FAIRLY and with no reason to doubt otherwise. But who to duel is the real issue.” “Not really,” added Rarity. “Everypony in town knows how hard you work so you wouldn’t have time for these things normally, and you already have one bit. To others be they with one bit or halfway there you’d be an easy target at first sight.” “Gee,” muttered Applejack, “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” “You’re quite welcome Applejack,” Rarity replied ignoring the tone her friend had put to the statement. The orange mare rolled her eyes as her ghostly partner snickered at her dismay. Applejack gave him her stink eye as the three proceeded to trot out of Carousel Boutique, the younger sisters waving them off as they focused on their game. “Did something seem off about Applejack to you?” asked Sweetie Belle setting a card down and ending her turn. “I don’t know,” said the red head with a sad tone. “She hasn’t been really the same since the train ride. It’s weird though. I can’t really remember anything about the ride back. I’m not ever sure when AJ met that Diamond Dog we got workin on the farm now. It’s weird.” “Well then why don’t we go looking into it then?” offered Sweetie Belle. “We could get our Cutie Marks in detective work if we do that.” “Don’t you already have yours?” countered Applebloom. Sweetie Belle looked down at her flank and blushed, “oh yeah.” “Still it is a good idea,” said Applebloom. “Let’s do it anyway. It’ll be fun and if we find anything we can rub it in Cog’s face that we solved a mystery without his help.” “Wow,” commented Sweetie as she stared at her friend. “Didn’t think you were that competitive with your own boyfriend.” “Meh,” replied Applebloom putting her cards away. “You do what you must sometimes. Besides he’s likely hanging out with Scootaloo now, I don’t wanna leave you alone AND be stuck just cheering for them tomorrow anyway.” “Fair enough,” nodded Sweetie Bell, “Let’s go then.” As Rarity had said it didn’t take very long to find an opponent, which was for Rarity of course. While it was true Applejack seemed like an easy target, next to Rarity who appeared to be the type totally devoid of skill at this game and the fact she was indeed to more attractive competitor garnered attention away from her earth pony friend. Not that Applejack minded much. She actually did want to test out her skills against somepony she would have a challenge against without being too overwhelmed. Applejack wanted to prove she was able to take on something, especially if Rarity could take to it easily. She slipped out of her friend’s sight the first chance she got, Draw however was still following her just as closely as ever. He floated slightly above her lazily, focusing mostly on spotting weak opponent and pointing them out to the cowgirl. They did this for about an hour till they finally wondered into the main street where most had gathered for trading and finding opponents that didn’t have too many bits. At one point Applejack and Draw had witnessed even one of Cog’s duels. The guy had swapped out his gear machines for a different machine archtype that worked much more with the type of summoning Applejack still had not seen much of up close since by the time Rarity used it the game was mostly decided. The child pulled out these moves so easily it was making her feel more and more like she was out of her league. This wasn’t helped by Draw pointing out a good weak opponent and stating as such for the fourth time since they left Rarity’s side. “Ah told you ah don’t want no easy wins,” Applejack said trying for a honest face and not succeeding at all. “Besides how can you tell who has a strong deck and who doesn’t? Just cause somepony lost a round doesn’t mean they have a bad deck.” “True,” agreed Draw, “However there are other telltale signs of the inexperienced. So even if they had a strong deck, they’d be at your level and you could stand a chance. Meanwhile if I had my old deck I’d make paste out of them easily.” “Aren’t you the one being a little arrogant now?” Applejack smirked. “I recall you saying to me how luck would help in wining just as much as skill.” “Again true,” stated Draw. “But then I had a deck that stacked the odds in my favor if my opponent is prepared for my ace cards like Red Dragon Archfiend. But unfortunately it seems your perfect opponent in terms of at least confidence is out. Not sure why she’s still around the main street though.” Applejack followed Draw’s hoof to see Fluttershy who was looking at the ground counting. A look at her own band showed the mare was completely out of bits. She looked like she was about to cry, Applejack rushed to her side while Draw held back. He figured it would be best not to bug another one of Applejack’s friends with him only being able to talk to the orange mare. “Oh what’s the matter boy? Is my little help no fun at all for you?” The voice echoed around, but not even Applejack seemed to hear it at first, only the ghostly pony who only heard it in the back of his mind along with a laugh that lingered far longer. It was a laugh he remembered from only once before, before he had gained his status and awoken as a shade that was forced to possess Applejack to keep her from falling off the train. Draw blinked. “What the heck was that?” he thought. He spun around, but nopony was anywhere around. Draw was never one to hear things, so to start now of all times was especially worrisome to him. But with nothing he could do about it he shrugged it off and looked back at his host and the Pegasus with the pink mane. “Fluttershy,” said Applejack pulling the cream mare close. “What happened? Beg your pardon for the interruption but ya don’t seem the type to be upset about losing that much.” “I’m not,” squeaked Fluttershy, “It’s just that, oh well I sort of didn’t even get a chance to duel yet. I had to use my bits as a payment for a debt I made few months ago.” Applejack didn’t say anything and motioned for Flutterhsy to go on. “Oh I was so sure I already settled everything with him, but as soon as I saw his face again…I just froze. I hoofed over the bits before I could even think about what I had just done. Now I’m out of the race before it even began.” “Well then,” cried Applejack. “Let’s find this guy and give him a real piece of yer mind. Ah can’t have someone bully mah friends around.” With that she got up and started marching to an oddly rhythmic beat. Draw and Fluttershy were sure she would have started singing if other ponies had not suddenly given to staring at her like she was crazy. “Do you want me to throw out some sick rhymthe or something?” Draw wasn’t exactly the best at well timed or accurate comebacks. Applejack finally returned her attention to him only with a look of anger in her face. “Do y’all think this is funny Draw?” she all but screamed. Draw froze. This was the first time Applejack can been angry at him, and oddly it felt manufactured; like it was only because somepony wanted it to be so and used something that would only annoy her as a springboard. “Well it isn’t.” Applejack started to shake her head in frustration. “Look could you just leave me alone for a bit? Duelin’ isn’t exactly my strong point, ah think maybe, maybe we can leave helping you to Rarity and I do what comes naturally to me. Okay?” The words were a bit off tune, Draw could tell that. Something was influencing Applejack to say that, but only influencing. This was what Applejack would likely feel, especially after Rarity so easily kicked her flank. Nothing was more detrimental to a duelist, be it for serious or games, than a lack of self confidence in the craft. It meant that instead of just stupid mistakes, you made uncaring moves that had no thought put into them as you waited for your opponent to finish you off. “Come on Fluttershy,” Applejack stated putting her band in her sack with her deck so that she didn’t have to deal with challengers they may get on the way. “Let’s go have a talk with this bully of yours.” “Oh but,” Fluttershy looked like she didn’t know what to do. “He isn’t exactly a bully. Besides, it looks like you have to talk to your friend about something, whatever it is.” “Nonsense,” Applejack said trying not to sweat. “Now come on, we better hurry or he may get too many bits for us to even get things done civil like.” Fluttershy looked worried for only a moment, but then something told her to agree and she nodded; the two than galloped away and left Draw to float there alone unable to talk to anypony. “Well now that they are gone,” came the voice again only much clearer. Draw felt a talon grab his shoulder. “I need to have a little talk with you while I have the ability to do so. Come along please.” Draw felt a tug and if Applejack had been bothered to look back she would have seen her new friend disappear into nothingness. “Th-that’s the guy that took your bits?” Applejack asked with a lump in her throat. The Minotaur stood far higher than Applejack expected. He seemed to be talking with a hooded pony about something as he looked at a shiny foiled card of some sort for the game neither element could make out from this distance. “I told you it was pointless,” said Fluttershy. “Besides it isn’t really important. We should just go back. Yeah let’s go back! He can have them, I wasn’t interested in dueling anyway.” “Really now?” said Applejack. This didn’t seem correct at all. “If that were the case you could have just not entered in the first place. Either yer lyin or I know a blue pegasus that needs a good walloping.” “Oh Rainbow Dash didn’t ask me to join the tournament,” said Fluttershy quickly. “Angel was the one who signed me up. It’s mating season you see the he always tricks me into things so I don’t interfere with is ‘swag’ as it were.” “Huh,” said Applejack impressed, “that is sort of weird though.” “Oh not at all,” replied the yellow mare, “I neutered him ages ago when he was a baby so that he didn’t mess with the already out of control bunny census. I gotta give the little guy some fun now and then.” “That actually explains far more than I needed to know,” stated Applejack. “But you still could have just left for a few days. Admit it, y’all wanted to play this thing right?” “I suppose,” Fluttershy said with hint of sadness. “But I’m fine like this. We’d better find you an opponent instead then since you’re in this still anyway right?” “Actually,” said Applejack looking at Iron Will’s band. Six silver bits gleamed back at her as he waved off the pony and kept the shiny card. “I think I can kill both with one stone. Let’s go Draw!” And so without even checking in on her two friends that were supposed to be with her Applejack approached the Minotaur and stopped him in his tracks. “Now hold it right there ya varmit. I hear you’ve been take’n bits without wining them first from my friend here.” “Iron Will does not know what you are talking about.” He looked at Fluttershy and understanding gleamed in his eyes. “Ah that. Well, Iron Will only recently found out that Fluttershy has been using Iron Will’s patent pending techniques around Ponyville. Iron Will simply took the silver bits as payment.” “But,” whispered Fluttershy from behind Applejack, “I’m pretty sure you said it was only if I was one hundred percent satisfied with the techniques. I’m still not.” “Then you wouldn’t be using them at all,” Iron Will countered. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Iron Will has but four more bits to obtain.” “Hold it,” called Applejack, “I wanna challenge you.” She pulled out her band and signaled two guards to come to them. Iron Will however waved them off. “That is stupid of Iron Will to accept. I’ve not need for duels over one measly bit.” “It’s not for one,” Applejack stated, “You’re putting up three bits. One for me, and giving Fluttershy back hers if you lose.” “Really now,” the Minotaur huffed. “And what would Iron Will even get for winning if he did that anyway? You have nothing Iron Will wants.” “How about my deck?” Applejack said simply. “I guarantee rare card in it you can use to trade with all over equestrian.” “Iron Will doesn’t believe you have such cards.” “Then if I don’t…I’ll…I’ll be your servant for a year.” That got his attention. He called the guards back over. “Very well then. Iron Will needed to give his goats a break anyway. Iron Will accepts your challenge.” “DUEL!” Applejack started at her opening hand and whispered, “Alright Draw, what do you think is a good move? Draw?” Nothing returned. Applejack only now realized she was all alone. Finally Rarity had broken up the crowd around her. Thanks to the Number card Pinkie had given her along with her own XYZ she had before had made even quicker work of her two opponents. Seven bits shined on her own band easily enough. “Well that was simple enough,” she said to herself. “Now then, where did Applejack head off to anyway?” A pony is a black cloth appeared out of her vision out of nowhere at this point. “It appears you enjoy the Master’s gift. I’m here to take it back if you’d please.” “Really now?” Rarity stated disbelievingly, “If Pinkie really needed all this done just to spice up this tournament it is going rather far. But I suppose I will play along.” Shaking a bit as it finally sank it what was happening Applejack allowed Iron Will to make the first move. Draw didn’t seem the type to just up and leave her alone, sure she had demanded it but with how he was she assumed he couldn’t or just wouldn’t. Now her mouth had gotten her into deep trouble. Even if she did keep her word that would mean not seeing her friends or working on the farm for a long time. She found herself cursing Draw under her breath as Iron Will took his first draw. Turn 1: Iron Will 8000 “Iron Will shall set one monster in defense mode, and two cards face down. The earth pony may go now.” Applejack did so and looked at her hand. She wasn’t sure it was the wisest move but it was the safest, and for now that was all that counted. Turn 2: Applejack 8000 “I summon Goblin Attack Force! Attack Iron Will’s set monster!” The card image flipped as Iron Will revealed it to be Pyramid Turtle. “My monster’s effect allows me to summon any other Zombie from Iron Will’s deck with 2000 or less defense. And most zombie monsters have this. So meet the warrior ‘s worst nightmare: Ryo Koki!” “Mah monster goes into defense mode after it attacks, which will protect mah life points.” Applejack stated as the card turned. The group of goblins suddenly went limb and fell on their butts, some sleeping and one picking his nose. “I then set one card and end mah turn.” Turn 3: Iron Will 8000 “You may think that saves you but it doesn’t. See if it wasn’t for the fact my new monster’s effect works so well I’d attack with it since having 0 defense points means anything can kill it. I summon Blood Sucker in Attack Mode.” “Ryokoki, wipe out that attack force. Blood Sucker, attack directly and drain her of one card from the top of her deck.” Applejack: 6700 Applejack watched as the card that was milled down to the grave was Call of the haunted. A perfect card for defending herself should Blood Sucker attack again. She wasn’t going to be able to hide much soon if this kept up. And she couldn’t see how her hand was going to help. She was utterly stuck. Draw opened his eyes. He found himself staring at nothing but starry lights of all Celestial patterns. Luna must have really been bored to make all this. “Just so you know,” came that familiar voice, “yes, it does get boring being stuck here all the time.” “If you are who I think you are,” stated Draw spinning around to try and see who was talking now that is had much more form to it. “Then it wouldn’t make any sense that you were even here, let alone how you could contact me but be unable to just get out and give yourself kicks.” “Oh my dear boy,” laughed the voice, “What exactly is the fun of making sense?” Next Time on Love of the Draw: “YES, let the number take hold.” “Listen Carefully because this is important…” “Now you will pay for what you’ve done…” “NO! You can’t do this!” “One step Closer to our goals…”