The Count of Dimension D {REWRITE!}

24) Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold

Hooves pummeled the rough dirt path below as a horse ran with a cart strapped to it and trailing behind. The sun was in the sky and beating down with immense heat as the horse and cart neared the border of Sarasaland. At the reigns of said horse was Daisy, who was currently in a normal - and slightly dirty - loose dress shirt and baggy pants, her crown tucked away.

In the cart that the horse was tugging along was a tarp laid out on the bottom, a few stuffed suitcases, and Mr.L. The man in green was slightly bruised and had a rope tied around his wrists and ankles, keeping him from ripping off the gag over his mouth. He struggled to move and break free now that he was awake, but Daisy ignored him, a frown on her face.

The horse and cart finally started slowing down, Daisy easing on the reigns. Mr.L tried to arch his back, struggling to make out where they were. From what he could tell, they were by the ruins of some older stone houses near the kingdom's border, overseeing a cliff edge into the ocean.

Mr.L tried shouting something at Daisy as she dismounted, the cart coming to a full halt, but she promptly ignored him. Daisy held a pistol at her side as she went to the nearest building that had two of its walls entirely collapsed in, revealing that it was empty and destroyed inside with a dirt floor.

Inside this destroyed and long-forgotten house were a few chests, about three, that she had taken for herself when Mario attempted to steal the Count of Dimension D's cargo. She knew that there was gold in there when she first looked, so she decided that this would be better used to fund her getaway.

Daisy reached the first chest in the center with a smirk, placing her pistol to the side as she fiddled with the lock. She opened it up and...

Nothing.

There was no gold or jewels like there were when she got them, just ashes. She furrowed her eyebrows in perplexion as she turned to her left, unlatching another crate.

Nothing.

More ashes. She even sifted through it with her gloved hands, there was nothing of value to be found. With a growing panic inside of her, she quickly grasped the clasp holding the third and last one open and tossed off the lid.

This time, there wasn't any ash inside, but there wasn't any gold either. She narrowed her eyes and scooped up the only item inside into her hand, looking it over with disbelief.

It was a joker card from a deck of cards that was visibly worn.

"What in Grambi's name..." Daisy murmured in disbelief.

She heard a twig snap and whipped around, snatching up her pistol and holding it at the level of her eyes, looking every which way.

"Who's there?!" Daisy demanded. "I order you to show yourself!"

Daisy stepped to the side and eyed one of the destroyed walls, hearing footsteps coming closer. Her hand holding the pistol slightly trembled, despite her willing herself to not show fear. A man stepped out from behind a corner, his face hidden in shadow and his clothing black.

"Who are you?" She questioned with her eyes narrowed.

The man chuckled in response and held up his hand. Almost immediately, the joker card from Daisy's free hand flew into his. He pulled out two more cards with a sleight of hand, making them appear out of thin air.

"In this game, there are cards that each have their role... Some more important than most..." The man started.

He smirked and held out a queen of hearts for her to see. She went wide-eyed as the card lit on fire right before her eyes, quickly disintegrating into nothing.