So there I was in the con this year with a couple of my friends and a few other random people we’d met and had decided to join up with us from a few different photo ops. I had decided to go as Asta from Black Clover this year. My best friend from since forever, Jackson Collins but we call him Jax, decided to go as Inuyasha. Then there was our friend Jennifer Rowles or Jen for short, my ex-girlfriend at that but we were cool, she went as her usual cosplay Gara from the movie Naruto: The Last. We had been going all do a pic here a pic there then there were all the group photos. Sunday was always the best day for the best photo ops because it was the day of the costume contest. It was also the best day for great deals on good props for any cosplayer missing an item for their cosplays.

Anyway, I decided to take a break from my photo ops and hit the snack bar for some nachos. Overpriced nachos are the mark of any comic con but they always taste so good. I sat there at the table enjoying my nachos and Dr. Pepper with the occasional cosplayers and or conventioners who would set and join or ask for a pic with Asta.

‘Hey not gonna stop taking photos if people are asking for them. Besides, who can pass up an opportunity with of a photo with Asta eating nachos.’

I was wasn’t cosplayer for competitions but just one of those people that like to dress up for conventions. That being said I did make my costume for the most part, except for the wig and contact lens. I’ve never had much luck when it came to wigs but clothing and props are another story altogether. I always excelled at prop making and sewing, especially on time crunches. It was more fun this way and I stayed up many nights in a row to get my costume just right to match the Asta’s. I took references from the manga and the show.

Asta's outfit was fairly basic it consists of a plain-white tunic with a V-shaped collar underneath a dark blue jacket whose sleeves extend only up to his elbows. While he has a pair of matching shorts which has stitch marks on the left side. His pants also extend just below his knees. His shoes are made out of two different cloths, the parts covering his ankles, the soles the same color as his jacket and pants. The parts covering his toes are white, a vertical stitch mark going from the bridge to his toes. His hairstyle is typical for a shonen protagonist it consists of a messy spikey look and is an ash grey blond color. Asta eye color is rather uncommon, even for anime characters. His eye color is a bright green. He gets a transformation where his right eye turns red but reverts back to green when he changes back to normal. Asta also wears a black headband with a red four-sided star and three stitch marks on it to keep his hair out of his face. He later puts the Black Bulls Insignia on it and the star goes on the back but I didn’t put that it on mine. The thing that took me the longest to make was my wizard’s cape for the Black Bulls.

‘Finding the right shade of pitch black material that compliments gold it so damn hard.’

On the final night a week before the con, I was done and go thing that I ordered the contact and wig online months before. The only thing that I was missing was Asta’s Five Clover Grimore and his giant Demon-Slayer Sword and his smaller Demon-Dweller Sword. Asta was a contradiction in his world. His world was full of magic and magic wielders but he was the exception because he had no magic power at all. But he could use anti-magic. I always like the outcast or oddballs in this way.

Anyways, there I was at the snack area throwing away my empty nacho trey. I still had quite a bit of my DP left so I held on to it. I was walking and checking my phone to see if Jax or Jen had sent me a text on where to meet up when the wanted to leave. I was the chauffeur as my car was the only one where multiple people could rider comfortably while also storing their con goodies that they bought from the vendors while here. It only took a couple of seconds to check my phone. I looked at the screen and flipped it over to the text messages.

“None. Figures. I’m not surprised. We only get together a few times out of the year and this is the only time we are all three together for sure,” I yawned a bit. “Guess nacho make ya sleepy or I’m just getting bored. Oh well. I'll just wander around until I find them. Maybe I can find Asta’s Grimoire at one of the book stalls. If I can then I can still sign up for the costume contest. I want to try this time.”

At that thought in my head, I immediately walked as fast as I could in between every cosplayer even ignoring the peanut gallery. ‘Sorry people but I’m on a mission. No time for pictures right now.’

I cover the whole convention over twice now and still no sign of Asta’s Grimoire or anything remotely related to Black Clover for that matter, except for the occasional manga. I sat down in the snack area again and start to gulp down the last of my soda when I caught sight of something I’d never thought I’d see this year. Asta’s Grimoire and the Demon-Dweller and Demon-Slayer sword to boot. They were at this stand being manned by this creep in very accurate Gambit cosplay from the Old nineteen ninety-nine X-men cartoon. He even had the burning pink iris on black for eyes ball.

‘Eth, creepy as all hell looking in real life.’

I made my way to the stall.

‘I’m pretty sure he’s only been here for just now actually. I’ve been all over this dam convention twice now and I’ve never seen him until now. When did this guy even set up this thing? Is he secretly the flash.’ I thought as I walked.

“How may I be of service Mon Ami?” He said through a clearly fake, but good Cajun accent. “Ah, you spot the Grimore and the Swords. No magic knight can be without his book or weapons. And seeing as no other person but you, Asta, can wield such thing I shall make you a deal?”

“A deal? As in a discount? Or maybe an all for one deal?” I eager placed my hands on the table and as I did I saw the other items he had in his stall. So many different items from so many different animes and mangas. I was an anime nut more than a manga nut. So much so that I followed the new releases in Japanese Sub instead of waiting for the English Dub to come out, unless it was simulcast of course. This caused me to gain an understanding of the Japanese language and some of it’s writing.

“No no, Mon Ami. As you can see I am Gambit and in the spirit of Cosplaying as Gambit, that means I am also ‘The Gambler.’” the Gambit flashed an evil smirk at me. “If you want those Items and anything else here, then you must play against me in a simple game.”

“What kind of game and what deal were you talking about?” I leaned back and crossed my arms in suspicion.

“It’s simple really. The deal. If you win then you may pick any of the items you see before in my stall. The number of items it set by the game we play.” He points to a nearby board on his stall wall that had a list of games. “One. We roll dice I’m odds and you’re evens. If you win, you may claim three items and walk away. If I win you must pay me one hundred dollars and then we can play again. Two. We play ‘pick a card’ if you pick an odd number you win four Items. Pick even and you pay two hundred dollars. Three. We play Black Jack. If you can get twenty-one or Black Jack before me you win the whole stall. If I win then I get your marvelous Asta Cosplay for the stall. So do we deal or do you walk away Mon Ami.” He leaned on his staff.

“Deal the cards Gambit, First one to bust loses,” I grinned I slammed my hand down on the table catching the eyes of some of the other conventioneers. “Black Jack is the name of the game”

The Gambler pulled a stack of regular fifty-two playing cards from his inner trench coat pocket. He handed me the deck and I made sure all the cards but the jokers. I don’t know how long we both stood there but it felt like what must have been hours. We both would either bust or be under twenty-one. Then l final got my first Ace the Ace of Spades, my favorite shape. I kept my face as straight as I could praying to the gods of Cosplay the luck favored me this day. That’s when the Gambler threw down my face up Card and it was the Jack of Spades.

Before he could ask for me if I wanted a hit I held my hand flat and said. “I’m standing,” I then flipped my cards to reveal them. “Black Jack Gambler. I win. First, I’ll be taking those,” I pointed to the Swords and the Grimoire.

“Here you are Mon Ami,” He gave me the swords and the Grimoire. “And as promised everything else in the stall as well,” Before I could say anything everything I’d laid eyes on was gone. “But I’m afraid can’t give you a list at this time, So you’ll have to find out what goodies ya have after you wake up. Have a nice trip,” He then hit me over the head with his staff and everything went white.
Everything was white, I felt as if I was falling. Everything was hot very hot then I hit something very very hard. I soon opened my eyes to find I was in a massive crater. My head was pounding as if someone had hit me with a metal stick. I rubbed the back of my head and felt a small lump and it stung when I touched. Then I noticed my wig wasn’t coming off it wasn’t even there. I then felt my clothes. They went the same material I’d used to make them, heck I didn’t even make them but they were still cool as all hell. I quickly looked around to see if I could find my phone to call the cop but it was out of sight out of mind, NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

“What the Hell is going on!” I grabbed the sides of my head yelling causing what sounded like a nearby owl to hoot and fly out of a tree and land on something sticking out of the ground on the edge of my crater. It was a black horned howl with a red belly and its tail feathers looked like arrows. It hooted at me to get my attention I guess,

HOO!HOO!

“Alright, I coming,” I grumbled as I made my way out of the crater climbing up the steep side to where the owl was perched. It took me a couple of tries to get out of the hole I made with my head apparently. I soon found myself staring at the owl. He’d been sitting on the Demon-Slayer Sword pommel and around its handle was Asta’s Grimoire in a black leather pouch on a black leather belt. The Demon-Dweller Sword laid on the ground in front of the first sword. I put the Grimoire around my waist and notice a note attached to it. I took both swords by the handles and swung very easily.

“Wow so light, but let’s look at the note. I’ve heard of Cosplayers going missing at cons over the past few years. Did think it was true until my old friend Allen went missing at our hometown’s Comic-Con a few years back.” I opened the not as the owl came and landed on my head. “Never thought I’d become one too.”

Hooo.

“Sorry for scaring ya little guy,” I looed to the note and opened while I sat down on the ground.

Dear Asta,

As you have ascertained by now, you are no longer who you were. I have stuck to the rules of the game of which I’d explained when you came into my stall, Mon Ami. I have given you all of Asta’s pieces of equipment as well as his physical body, skills, and training. You can also access his Demon form, AKA Black Asta, but in its completed state. I took upon myself to include the Demon-Destroyer Sword should you have need of it. All of your other winnings are inside your darling Grimorie and can be access as u learn how to use the book's spells. You will eventually meet other out there like yourself called Dimensionally Misplaced or Displaced as they call themselves. You’re in a version of the land of Equss of the My Little Pony multiverse or omniverse. However, you chose to use your gifts is up to you.. Eventually, you will have to meet other Asta and you will gain powers. You can give other Grimorie in exchange if you choose. I suggest you make a token. An item that represents you and has a message attached to it so that others may find and summon you.

Your gambling partner,

The Gambler

P.S. Just so you know, you’re the first one to ever beat me at Black Jack, especially with the black spade combo

“Well, it’s not all bad. I mean I liked MLP but I never really watched it.” I got up and held my Grimoire up and opened it as reddish black anti-magic flow over it. I put the sword in the book and closed. “But that doesn’t mean I’m totally blind here. Right?”

Hoo? The owl shrugged.

‘Why am I talking to a bird? I must’ve gotten some of Asta’s personality traits too.’

“Oh Well. I like you and you remind me of that anit-bird from Black Clover,” I as the owl flew a nearby branch and pointed with its wing to the left. “I’ll call you Nero,” It nodded in acknowledgment and pointed again. “Lead the way, Nero.”

I followed Nero into the forest to where ever he or she was taking me.

‘Wonder if I’ll run into Allen?’

This night was somewhat unsettling. My stars were shining and my moon was where it should be but I could shake this feeling as if something had come from somewhere into this world. Some unknown but yet longing to make friends. That's when I saw my sister coming to me from down the garden path.

“Sister? Why are you up at this hour?” I saw she was accompanied by a few thestral guards.

“I saw a star fall, Luna,” She answered in a worried tone.

“How is this possible? I did not sense one of my stars falling and I did not make one move either,” I lite me crown’s focusi crystal. “They are all their, dear sister. Not one is out of place.”

“Then we must leave for Ponyville immediately,” Celestia turned as quickly as she could I followed her as quickly as I could. “I saw it land in Everfree not far from Ponyville. I’ll inform Twilight and have her and her friends keep an eye on the forest’s perimeter. Ready a contingent of your Lunar Guard as I am doing the same with my Solar Guard.” She stopped and sent a charge of magic through her own focusi crystal to a piece of parchment. “It is done, Luna. Don your armor sister. We don’t know what is out there.”

I did as my sister said but I couldn’t help but feel we were going about this situation all wrong.

I followed Nero for a few hours until we reach the edge of the forest. Nero was sitting in a tree pointing at a little cottage about a hundred or so feet away. The owl then landed on my head and peck at my head a bit. It motioned me to go up to the cottage.

“Okay, Nero. Just, stop pecking me,” I patted my owl friend on its head.

HOO

“Time to meet the locals,” I made my way to the front door. “Hope their still up.”

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

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