A New York Minute

[Blake Winchester]

Shortly after sending his text message he heard the shout of coming in the distance attempting to get someone’s attention. Turning to look in the direction of the sound he would smile when he noticed the same individual he had a video chat with not too long ago. Walking over to the boy he would sit at the table across from him, and would look at the cards he had present on the table. “Ah, I kind of had a bit of a hunch that you might want to play so I brought a deck I have been working on to play with you. Sort of a chance to get warmed up without revealing my strategies for the tournament. Thanks for the warm introduction by the way man I was a bit nervous to meet you in person; just sort of felt like something that might be awkward.” He would then sit Blue down on the seat next to him, and would rummage through his pack pulling out a deck box, and placing it on the table.

He would pull the contents from the deck box, and would begin to shuffle them; “Well man you planning on entering this tournament?”

He would begin to shuffle the contents of his deck, and would place it before the man he had once referred to as Zaber, and would smirk. “Well, let me see the skills of an experienced tamer at work.” He would mutter as he awaited a reaction from the man before him. Blue would sit still as a stone eyes deadlocked on the new found friends they had made. “Oh, Blue wanted me to ask about your partner did you not bring him?”

Zachary Scryer

[Zachary Scryer]

Blake Winchester

Blake soon smiled at him and made his way towards him. Zachary looked to him as he sat down across from him. The tournament was going to be fun to watch, but it didn't bother Zachary as they still had time play a friendly game. Having his deck out already, Zachary smiled and was glad the guy was genuinely nice. "It's good to meet you in person." Zachary said, thought was a bit concerned by him saying he was nervous about meeting him. "I... I didn't do anything unsavory to make you distrust me online, did I? I mean last thing I want you to think I am some sort of net-freak. Well, no more than any digimon player is . " Zachary said with a bit of a laugh at the last part. But truthfully, he hated the fact that considering all the dangers that were out there on the internet that people could take advantage of, he would be considered one of those bad people. He was anything but that.

Putting his deck of digimon cards on the game mat, he shook his head. "Naw. I'd like to but I don't have the same kind of cards to compete. Besides, I recently kind of lost a tournament involving the real deal. Need to get stronger personally before I do something like that again." he said, shuffling his deck of cards. He had a good collection of cards himself, but when it came to the card game, he hated the use of 'meta decks'. "Besides I didn't want to face the aggravation of 'meta decks'. I prefer being more original in my strategies, but when everyone plays meta decks its no fun." he said.

If Blake were to look at the cards Zachary had, he did have some good ones-- even ones that were only found in the real digital world. Still, the cards were usable in the game as well as for their digimon. He had a few coveted cards, like Omnimon, and Examon. Zachary smirked at the chance to still play against him though. "Okay, suit yourself. THough I am no champion," Zachary said.

Though before they started, he was asked about his own digimon. Zachary calmly smiled back. "Panthermon? Oh he is around. I mean he is not exactly a digimon I can easily pass as a stuffed animal. But his abilities are very similar to how one would find Renamon, if you know of that digimon. He can easily be unseen and get around. When things are quieter, I'll introduce you to him." he said.

Across the street, Panthermon laid down on the ledge of the building, calmly observing them both from his view in the window. With his link to Zachary, he heard everything being said too. The magic-panther digimon stretched and yawned, his teeth showing like a true jungle cat's. He also saw the Tsunomon there too. He would want to be there now, but knew a room full of other humans would be too risky for him to sneak in to, even if invisible.

So Zachary began to play, putting out an Elecmon card out into the battle zone, followed by a digivice card-- and digivolved him into Leomon on the board. It was a simple opening move and Zachary enjoyed using his favorite digimon in the game. However, the real threat to them would come in the use of modify cards he had in his hand.

[Blake Winchester]

He would listen to the guy sitting before him speaking of the meta decks being used in tournaments, and how they ruined the game for many players. “I guess you are right most people seem to use the same combinations of cards just with a few changes to give it their own personal spin.” He would then watch the moves of the tamer sitting before him, and would smirk.



“Myself on the other hand I believe in forging your own way, and swaying from the barriers that people build. David did slay Goliath after all, so why can’t my underdog deck be competitive.”



He would then begin to take his turn drawing his hand he would smile; “Well I guess we are going to get a good show out of this.” He would place his patamon card on the table, and would lay his digivolution card down. “Patamon digivolves to Angemon.” His turn would end as he looked down at his hand.



For once in his life he was having fun just playing a game of cards socially with a new friend. This was an experience that he wasn’t all too familiar with considering his opponents were usually strangers. “So, they have real tournaments in the digital world? What are those like?” He would question with a serious look on his face. “I know me, and Blue don’t stand a chance yet with faith I believe we will be strong enough to overcome it all.”

[Zachary Scryer]

Blake Winchester

Blake made some good points. He SHOULD of competed in the tournament, for win or lose, it was part of the fun. Still, he didn't want the stress of it right now. He had his hands full already trying to get Nexus' website up-- where he met Blake to begin with-- and possibly expand it further. Zachary was trying to make a plan to meet the tamers he met there in the digital world. That however would take time. For now, he was just satisfied playing the card game in a friendlier manner than competitively. "YOu make a good point. I could use the cards i have but I rather wait till I have some better cards before I compete. I got good ones but not those that work well together yet." he explained.

Both had champion digimon out on the board so Zachary moved the game to its program phase-- where they added any modify cards. Taking one card, Zachary slapped out a 'red gem card'. The digimon's powers-- listed on the bottom of the card's picture, was determined by the color matching each one and the one of the character opposite them. Meaning your opponent's own card determined your own digimon's attack strength. Angemon was yellow square and Leomon's square attack was Lion's Sword. It was good but Angemon had the green power boost-- giving him HAnd of Fate.

That alone would of won him the fight-- except Zachary took out his modify card. "RED GEM"(based on the original card game), to change his digimon's attack to the red option-- Fist of the Beast King, which was just 50 more than Angemon's attack power.

"Do you have a response?" Zachary asked, after altering his digimon's attack power.

What surprised Zachary was when he was asked about the tournament in the digital world. Zachary blinked for a moment then tapped his cards out of nervous habit. If it was poker, he had a horrible poker-face. "Well.. it was an actual digimon fighting than cards. But trust me, this one was NOT fun. It was hosted by a questionable digimon force. It was shady and some digimon were even deleted. it was not a pleasant experience. We made it to semifinals but only got just below 3rd place ." he said with disappointment. "Panthermon and I handled things to the best of our ability but it turned out that it could of been alot worst. Wounded pride was the most I got out of it but ... sorry I don't mean to be a downer."

Zachary sighed, and sat back. In the back of his mind, he knew Panthermon was listening and felt the strange 'reassurance' that his partner was directing to him. The cat accepted they fought as hard as they could, Zachary however took the loss personally-- especially since their last opponent slandered Zachary's confidence.

One of Zachary's goals was to hold a fighting tournament himself like that-- EXCEPT ones where proper sportsmanship was encouraged and enforced. Even with the threat of actual deletion was not a factor. Safeguards to protect the competitors.

[Blake Winchester]

The boy would watch as the man played a modify card allowing him to use his fist of the beast king attack. "Hmmm good move my friend it would appear that you have got me pinned, or have you?" He would pull a card from his hand, and would twirl it in his hand. "I play bomb dive!" He would place the card behind his angemon, and would smirk. "Bomb dive has a pretty grand effect. When used with a flying capable digimon like my angemon against a green or yellow digimon it gain 100 power."

He would then look at the tamer "you have a lot of skill, and passion for digimon don't you buddy?" He would sigh, "I can respect that; I am just glad I am beginning to find hot in the game. Making new friends like you, Blue, and the remainder of the Nexus members."

Pulling out his digivice he would sit it on the table. "As fun as card games are the real thing just seems to intice me. I want to see a real digimon battle between a tamer, and an evil digimon."

He would then bring his attention back to his cards remaining in his hand. "So, are we prepared for the battle step?"

He would grab his digivice putting it back in his pocket as he awaited a response from the other tamer. Tsunomon's eyes were deadlocked on the card game and how the two tamers were playing.

Zachary Scryer

[Zachary Scryer]

The combo blake played was smart as he used a modify card to up Angemon's attack power. It was a good move, and one Zachary could easily counter. However, one thing he learned that there was a time and place for everything. If he played his good cards to counter opening moves, he wouldn't have anything for later. For now he nodded and accepted the battle phase. "Got me there," he said, picking up the Leomon and Elecmon card and put them into the discard pile. The victory alone earned Blake a few points.

Zachary sighed as he put the cards away and got ready for the next round. "I'm glad you appreciate what I am trying to do. I feel its good us tamers can talk to one another. If things work out, I hope to make even a place for us all to meet." he said, and prepared his next move after the next prepare stage came. "I wouldn't make them out as evil, but I had my share of battles so far. Though I admit, I only been a tamer for a couple of months. There is still plenty I don't know about digimon. "

"Anyway on to the next round. The game is still young," Zachary said and he took out a new rookie to level up. A renamon card. It was a new one too Zachary just added. "Now for my digivolution step. I play my Yellow-Digivice-- allowing me to bypass digivolution requirements to digivolve to another digimon. " He then took out a new card and slapped it onto the table. "X-Vmon. " he stated showing the new card from his hand. The card was a green card, which did move the attack value of Anglemon.

As the game became more countering, Zachary awaited to see a response from Blake to see how he choose to respond to his devolution phase.

Blake Winchester

[Blake Winchester]

Blake would watch as the young tamer would accept the outcome of the battle between Leomon, and Angemon. One thing was for sure, and that was the fact that this kid was talented. He didn't waste all his modify cards on a card just because he thought highly in it. He would watch as he played an exveemon. "Alright Davis I like that digimon, but now that it's my turn I will play a digivice card to digivolve my angemon into magnaangemon!" He would smirk as he played his card. "Magnaangemon has an effect that gives it an 80 point boost in power of facing a virus type."

Blake would then look to his partner sitting on the table and would reach over petting him. He would think of what his digimon would become when it digivolved there were many different routes that it could go based on the card game.

"So, I don't think I have ever asked this forgive me if I have. What is the highest level panthermon can achieve?" He would await an answer curiously.

Zachary Scryer

[Zachary Scryer]

Blake Winchester

Zachary listened as he called him Davis. The Magnaangemon card was good-- except X-Vmon was hardly a virus type digimon. THat benefit was not going to help him out sadly. Still the power difference was significant. But there were a few concepts that put Zachary in a better position. The card color match up actually gave the arch angel a lowest power setting as "Defend" while Magnaangemon's color gave XVmon his strongest attack V-Laser. Still, there was a strong attack difference of 80 points.

When asked about Panthermon, Zachary looked up, his focus broken on his strategy. "Oh well... Panthermon has obtained CHampion Level for a bit now. Its been a long haul for the both of us but we both been doing our best to grow stronger. He can't reach ultimate yet-- not that I know how. But we ended up finding a few digi-eggs for Armor Digivolving." He said. Reaching into his pocket-- he took out two cards. Ones he kept close on him for security since he had one stolen not too long ago. Off of the game mat, he showed the two digimon cards of the Digiegg of Friendship and Courage he earned. Though they looked like cards from the game, they were in fact the digimentals given card form to keep on hand.

(OOC: Events of this will happen after the tournament but not yet awakened the Ultimate level quest)

Regarding the next move, after the Digivolution stage was done, Zachary made his next move. "Okay... I play this, " He said and played a black gear card. "Reduces your digimon's power by 100 points. Any counter to your end?"

The program phase was still underway and Zachary doubted it be that easy. However, if he was able to successfully defeat Magnaangemon with X-Vmon, he would earn double the points, and get in the lead to beat Blake. It was a game of patience at this point.

[Blake Winchester]

Blake would listen to the story about his newfound friends digimon achieving the champion state, and would smile. "Sounds to me like you are getting close to teaching the ultimate level."

His attention would then turn to the card may where his magna angon was about to be inflicted by the effects of a dark gear card. This is an older strategy, and one that he hadnt seen used in a long time. Fumbling through his cards until he found a useful modify card. "I play the modify card plug in c this card changes my digimon type to yellow, but doesn't change its attack type and gives it a 100 point boost in power!"

He would then look over at the small digimon at his side, and would note that he was shaking. “Hey Zach, I think the little dude is about to drop a deuce we might have to cut our game short” he would mutter. “Let's go outside, and get a little fresh air.” He would pick the small yellow horned digimon up, and would begin to walk to the door. Slowly, he would make his way to a back alley, and would sit the little guy down. “Go ahead Blue if you have to go let it rip little buddy.”

[Zachary Scryer]

Zachary felt flattered by it but he still was modest about how he took care of his digimon and the events that happened. "Thanks. I still don't have any means to make him digivolve into ultimate level, but its not like I am pressuring him or in a rush to make him ultimate either. " Zachary said as he saw him make another move. He augmented his attack to the stronger option and powered up. That was a pickle making 100 points more again.

However, it was then that his digimon started to act as if he had to go to the bathroom. Really not interested to see that, Zchary put on a pained smile and nervously laughed a bit. "Um... thanks but I'll just wait here. Pick up where you leave off when you come back. I won't touch anything," He said, willing to wait for him to return.

When he did of course come back, Zachary prepared for his next move. He had a card he tapped against the table. As Blake finally returned , he smiled and slapped his next card down. "Digi-O" Zachary declaired, playing a special force FX card-- a program card that helped power up his digimon. "This cards not only gives my digimon a 200 (actual card effect is 350 ) but it also rewards me with 350 points if I win the duel. "

Placing that card on the program pile, he actually now outmatched Magnaangemon's primary attack power and powered up version. This would give Zachary almost half the number of points needed to win if he succeeded.

With the card game, or even in real life, any digimon could defeat a stronger one given the right options.

Blake Winchester

(OOC: Probably won't draw out the card game for too much longer )

[Blake Winchester]

Listening to the young man speak of his digimon with so much compassion made him smile; “you truly love your partner don’t you Zach? I can only hope to forge a bond that strong with my Blue.” He would mutter before he made his way out the door. He would listen on his way about him not peeking at his cards. He would throw his hand up, and smile “I trust you man, I may not trust too many people, but you are one that I trust.”

Upon making his way outside he would wait for his partner to use the restroom, the shaking was growing more violent, and less likely to contain. His partner was jumpin rigidly around about. “Hey, easy don’t want you to put my eyes out with that horn of yours.” He would mutter as he sidestepped the horn that was mere inches from his head. The shaking would almost become seizure like causing concern to wash across the young tamers face. “Hey buddy, are you alright?” He would shout as he made his way closer reaching out to touch his partner when a bright light would erupt from his digivice encompassing the small horned digimon in a egg shaped of light. “Tsunomon digivolve to…” the egg would then expand, and burst “Barkmon!”

Once the light faded all that could be seen was a dog type digimon standing what the tamer could judge at about 3 feet. He had blue, and white fur topped with a pink mane with ears that resembled bat like wings.There was a knife sheathed on his left front paw, and a red bandana across his neck. “Blue is that you?” He would mutter almost as if in shock of what had just occurred. The small dog would bark, “Of course it is me silly I digivolved to my rookie stage Barkmon.” The tamer would then begin to contemplate what his next form of action would be. “Okay Blue I want you to make yourself hidden while I go get Zach. I don’t think there will be a card tournament in my future for tonight so we will get with him, and go somewhere more private.”

The tamer would make his way back into the card shop, and would sit down. “Hey man, we have a problem. Blue just digivolved in the alley, and I can’t necessarily bring him in here. Do you want to go somewhere more private?”

Zachary Scryer

[Zachary Scryer]

Blake Winchester

Zachary had waited patiently then heard him return and then said something about the tournament being cancelled for him. Zachary blinked and wondered what happened. It was a strange situation. Blue digivolved-- but instead it meant his plans would be put on hold. That would of put a damper on his whole trip. "OKay okay. Just calm down for a moment. I can help with this," Zachary said, putting down the cards in his hand. It seemed his game was over-- though of course, he knew he was gonna win that match up. "I declair myself winner for this-- slapping the card on the table-- but hey rematcch another time. "

Still the issue was indeed the fact he would have to drop out. That would ruin his whole trip to Zachary's mind. "Wait-wait a minute. You don't have to quit the tournament about to start. How about this? Where is Blue? Ill take him to the park down the street. You can do your tournament here, and I'll keep an eye on him with Panthermon. " Zachary offered.

Cleaning up his cards, he pointed down the road where the park was. "Don't worry. Meet us there. The park isn't too active so it shouldn't be an issue. By the way, what does Blue look like now?"

Some time later

Zachary was in the park and it was now near night time. He called his parents to let them know he would be late getting home, saying he was out with friends. In a way he was, as he now sat there with the strange looking dog digimon with wings on his head. Zachary decided to try and entertain the dog, Barkmon, he was called. It was strange as he scanned him, and found little data on him as a digimon. Could it be he was a digmon dreamed up, no different than Panthermon was?

As time passed Blake would soon return. Panthermon was still hidden for the time being, Zachary wanting to surprise him and Barkmon upon his arrival. "Did things work out?" Zachary asked.

[Blake Winchester]

The boy would listen to the reassurance of the newfound friend he had made in Zach. “Well his name now is Barkmon. He is about 3’, 5” and is blue white color combination. He has wings for his ears they almost resemble that of a patamon’s. I have never saw this digimon before I think it might be some sort of new digimon.” He would watch as his newfound friend left out to take care of his partner digimon. It was now time for the card shark to feed on some weak prey.

The games were monotonous, but nothing seemed to be clicking for the young tamer. Was it because his mind was in a completely different place. After the tournament he ended up placing in the top 5. He wasn’t the winner, but he was happy with placing high in the tournament. “Getting beat by a meta deck Zach will get a kick out of this.”

Slowly, he would walk into the park looking for his partner when he would notice Zach sitting in the park with Blue. Zach would then ask him about how he placed in the tournament. “well to be honest man I placed top 5, but I lost out to a metadeck. So, I hope Blue hasn't been that much trouble. The canine digimon would then walk over to his games rubbing his head against his leg.

“I have missed you Blake; I feel so much stronger like I could take on the world!”

The boy would smile, and bend over petting the small digimon on the head, “One step at a time Blue we have to pace ourselves or we will make a mistake that we can’t come back from.”

Zachary Scryer

[Zachary Scryer]

Blake Winchester

"Oh please he was no trouble at all," Zachary said, having finished playing fetch with the little dog digimon. "I gotta ask though, did you by chance dream up this digimon too... or is this just a new digimon no one has seen before. Cause I certainly have not." he said, patting Barkmon on the head before he ran back to his tamer.

Hearing about the tournament, Zachary sighed and shrugged. "Top five isn't bad," Zachary said, holding his own card binder as he was going over the cards he had to begin with. "You probably did a lot better than I would of in that game. Either way, I'll accept your surrender in our last game." Zachary joked.

As Blake and Barkmon got together and celebrated the fact he digivolved, Zachary smiled. He knew the feeling all too well. More than that, he knew his partner was near and watching. Standing up from the bench, Zachary approached the two. "Well, its about time you got to meet my digimon. Its pretty safe to let him come out anyway," Zachary said, looking around at the park. It was now growing dark despite city lights, but enough to give cover and hardly anyone else around. "Panthermon! You can come out now," Zachary called out aloud.

At first, there was nothing. However, then BLake would catch movement behind the shadows of the bench Zachary had been sitting on. Like a shift of air or shadow, something emerged, as black as the night around it. It slowly stalked out with graceful elegance, first one black paw, then another. Soon the shadow seem to have form as it stepped out into the general light-- revealing a rather life-size black panther. It wore two jeweled bracers upon its front legs, and a glistening gold digi-ring on its right, rear leg. Its eyes were a piercing shade of yellow in the dark, making them stand out easily.

Panthermon emerged as if he just stepped out of the shadows. It was one of the handy things about a digimon with invisibility. It made it clear why he was similar to Renamon. Both were considered magical creatures, even among digimon. Panthermon bowed his head to Blake and Barkmon. "Good evening. Its nice to meet you in person," Panthermon said with a slight growl to his voice. Not in a threatening manner, but in a more cat like manner.

Zachary smirked as he reached over to his digimon and patted him on the head. "Blake, Barkmon-- as you know this is my digimon, Panthermon." Zachary said, smiling proudly.

[Blake Winchester]

The boy would smile as the man gave his digimon praise. “Well I am glad that he was good for you, I wasn’t sure how he would behave having just digivolved. I was worried because frankly I was there for him after each of his past digivolutions.” The boy would hear the digidestined questioning him of his digimon’s digivolution. “Well to be honest man I never really created him I just always wondered what would happen if patamon combined with gaomon, and I guess the digital world gave me my answer with this little guy.”

Blake would laugh as he mentioned him being victorious in their card game. “Yeah, you won fair and square man I didn’t have any cards in my hand that would have saved me from that last move of yours. Man as much as I love playing the card game with total strangers, and thrashing them I have decided tonight that I will be dedicating my taming skills to the real deal. I have to be fair to my pal Blue here.” He would smirk, “So, how often do wild digimon appear in the real world?”

Blake would watch in awe as a shadow would begin to manifest from beneath the very bench that Zach had been sitting on. That shadow would manipulate until the digimon would appear before him. A large black panther that was nearly life sized stood before him greeting the duo. “Hey Blue did you know Panthermon was here?” The small dog like digimon would bark, and smile, “Of course I am a dog after all I could smell the scent of her fur, but I wasn’t sure where he was hiding.” The boy would scratch his head, “I see well that super sniffer of yours might just come in handy.”

The boy would then turn his attention back to the panther like digimon, and would smile; “It's a pleasure to meet you too Panthermon it's good to finally see you in person. You have a beautiful coat of black fur if I may state.” Looking over at the young man he had talked to for so long he would pat him on the shoulder, “Man, you did good when you created him he just screams I want to kick some butt, and chew bubblegum, but I am all outta gum.”

Zachary Scryer