Chapters The Vanguards of Equestria
“I lose again...oh well” Sunset Shimmer said looking down at her playing mat.
Sunset Shimmer was wearing her regular clothes. A purple t-shirt with a sun on it, with a black jacket over that and an orange skirt with a yellow and purple stripe.
“That Royal Paladin deck isn't working well for you, is it?” Sunset's friend said.
Sunset reached in to her bag and pulled out another deck “I feel as though this Gold Paladin deck might work better for me”
“Let's have a game later then? Class will start soon so we better get off.” Sunset's friend said.
She looked up “Okay, see you after class, Shadow Venture” Sunset got up and walked away with her cards and mat.
“Please just call me Venture” Venture fell back on the bench they were playing on. He thought to himself “I'm glad I found someone who is interested in Vanguard here”
Shadow Venture was blonde haired and had a dark purple skin tone. His hair was fairly long for a boy, it went down to just below his neck. He had green eyes, but it was a dark kind of green compared to most peoples. Venture was wearing blue jeans and was wearing a black jacket over his red t shirt. In the bottom left of his jacket, there was a red jewel there.
Venture lifted his lifted his deck over his face “Shadow Paladin, you never seem to let me down”
Sunset Shimmer was walking down the hallway thinking to herself “Royal paladin...Gold Paladin...I can't make up my mind, I don't want use Shadow Paladin like Venture” she scratched her head in thought, messing up her fiery coloured hair a little.
“Um...excuse me, do you know where the room E-6 is?” A voice said from behind Sunset.
Sunset looked down the way she came from not looking at the person “Oh, it should be back where I came from. It should be on the right, look for the sign” turned her head to the left to look at the person. Her jaw dropped as she looked at the person who was talking to her, with that hair she instantly recognized the person as Twilight Sparkle.
“Thank you and have a good day” the person hastily made her way down the corridor.
Sunset would not mistake that dark purple with two stripes, of a lighter purple, for anyone else but Twilight Sparkle. “But the portal is closed, how is she?...” she thought about for a little longer before being interrupted mid thought.
“Hey silly, what are you waiting around here for?” the very pink Pinkie Pie said.
Sunset had not noticed her coming and was shocked when she appeared “Ah! Oh, Pinkie, you made me jump” Sunset said with a bit of a flustered voice.
Pinkie Pie giggled “Oh sorry, Sunset. But we better be heading to class, Fluttershy and Rarity are already there”
Sunset nodded and started with Pinkie to class “Sorry about that, I had something on my mind...”
“Is it to do with that card game you have been playing with your friend?” Pinkie asked.
Sunset nodded a little “Well, that's part of it”
Pinkies's eyes widened “Oh. I see”
Sunset looked over to Pinkie, Pinkie gave her a wink “What are you winking?” Sunset inquired.
“Don't worry. I know what you mean” Pinkie said with a smile.
Sunset had a confused look on her face. She was about to question what Pinkie was talking about, but she then remembered that it is Pinkie.
“E-6, E-6. Ah, here.” Venture had found the classroom he was in now. It was an English classroom so it was fully of displays about old play writers and authors covering the pale blue walls.
Ventured entered the room and saw that only about half had arrived so far, the teacher had not arrived yet. Venture took his seat at the table in the right back corner of the room. No one sat next to him but he didn't mind, he liked to be left to himself in class.
In the next minute or two everyone else arrived and took their seats. The teacher entered the room, he was wearing a suit. He had green hair and orange skin.
“Hello, students. We have a new transfer student joining us today.” The teacher said.
The door opened and a girl with dark purple hair ,with two stripes that were a lighter purple to the rest of her hair, and purple skin walked in. She was wearing a purple skirt with a star shaped symbol in a dark pink on her skirt with smaller white stars around it. She was wearing a light blue short sleeved shirt with slightly puffed up shoulders.
“Hello everyone, my name is Twilight Sparkle” the girl said to the class and everyone said hello back.
“Now I hope you get on well with Twilight” the teacher announced “Twilight, take a seat next to Shadow Venture” he pointed to desk where Venture was sitting “In the corner there”
Twilight walked through the class to the desk Venture was sitting at “Hello” Twilight said.
“Hello” Venture replied “I assume you have transferred from a different school?”
“Yes, my family had to move because they got new jobs” Twilight said.
Venture smiled “Well I am sure you'll get on fine here”
The teacher, after giving a moment for Twilight and Venture to talk, began the lesson “Would you get out your copy of the book we were studying. Venture, would you share your copy with Twilight until I get another copy.” he commanded.
Venture nodded and look though his bag for the book “That's not it, that's not it.” He couldn't find it, so Venture started putting his stuff on the desk.
Venture put his Shadow Paladin deck on the desk “Is that a Vanguard deck?” Twilight asked.
“Um? Oh, yes it is.” Venture answered “Do you also play?”
Twilight pulled out a deck from her bag and looked at “I built a deck, but I didn't have anyone to play with. But I had it just case I found someone to play with” she looked to venture.
“That's fine after school I'll teach you. I am guessing we are in the same class most of the time so it should be easy to meet up”
Twilight nodded “Okay, it's a deal”
Venture got the book out of his bag and worked with Twilight for the lesson.
Sunset was sitting in her class thinking about seeing Twilight and why she was here now. “How is that she is here?” she thought to her self.
She was sitting with Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie. But, for the moment, she wasn't paying much attention to them. She was just lost in thought about seeing Twilight.
“Don't you agree Sunset?” Rairty asked tapping her on the shoulder.
Sunset came back to reality “Uh, yes I do” Sunset stuttering a little.
“Sunset, what's on your mind?” Rarity asked “You weren't listening because we weren't talking about anything.”
Sunset's face was a little shocked but then went to a kind of submissive face “It's just that I saw Twilight Sparkle today and it's been bothering me”
“Twilight? But I thought she went back to her world though the portal?” Fluttershy pointed out.
“Yes, dear. Maybe you saw someone who looked like her?” Rarity added.
Pinkie Pie butted in “Hey, hey. Maybe it's the Twilight in this world? I mean, I did see her once before...I think” Pinkie put her hand on her chin thinking.
Sunset thought for a moment, surprisingly, Pinkie Pie's idea made a lot of sense in her head. “Maybe Pinkie's Right. I mean, their seems to be an equivalent of everyone in my original world”
Fluttershy and Rarity looked at each other and almost in sync said “Perhaps”
Sunset giggled to herself. She thought to herself “It's going to weird getting used to another Twilight”
It was the end of the day, Rainbow Dash and Applejack had met up with Sunset and the other, Sunset and the others were walking out of school “Well, I am going to meet up with Venture. See you girls tomorrow”
The others were about to wave goodbye to Sunset when they saw what was happening in front of the school statue.
“Um, what's wrong?” Sunset inquired.
The others pointed behind Sunset.
She turned around to see Twilight and venture stood around a table in front of the school statue. From what she could see they were playing Vanguard. “Does she play?”
Then Venture and Twilight said in sync “Stand up, Vanguard!”
Author's Note
Thanks for reading the first chapter. I would appreciate feed back on this.
The Vanguards of Equestria
Venture and Twilight were sitting on a bench in front of the school's statue. Venture had told her about Sunset Shimmer and they were both waiting for her.
“She's usually here by now” Venture said.
Twilight looked towards Venture “Maybe she got held up?”
Venture pondered for a moment “Maybe.” He looked towards Twilight and asked “Want to have a cardfight in the mean time?”
“Here? Now? What if she shows up in the mean time?”
Venture stood up “She can watch. Do you know what the cards in your deck do?”
Twilight pulled out her deck and looked at it “Most of them if not all, I may be a little slow” she said in a slightly timid voice.
“That's fine, I'm sure she won't mind too much.”
Twilight smiled and got up from the bench. And stood behind the table “Err...Their are crumbs from people eating” Twilight wiped the crumbs off with her hand.
Venture laughed “Now place a card with a grade 0 unit face down in front of you. You can tell the grade by looking in the top right corner”Venture placed his card in front of him and shuffled his deck.
Twilight did what Venture said. The cards had a black back with a white border with filled corners, in the corner there was a small blue circle with a design that looked kind of like the inside of computer and surrounding the circle were curved rectangle with some lines coming off them either going towards the edge of the card or towards the small circle.
“Okay, what now?” Twilight asked.
Venture looked up to Twilight “We would normally play rock-paper-scissors. But since this is your first time, would you want to go first so it would be easier for me to explain”
Twilight thought for a moment “Okay, I am fine with that” she said smiling.
“Okay then. Have you shuffled your deck?” Venture inquired?
Twilight picked up her deck and shuffled the deck “Now I have” Twilight gave off a awkward kind of giggle.
Venture laughed “It's okay” he put his hand on top off his deck “Now we draw five cards from the top of the deck” Venture draw the five cards in his right hand and put them in his right hand.
Twilight did the same as Venture “Anything more?”
“You may now put back any units you don't want back in to the deck” Venture put back three cards from his hand on top of the deck “You then shuffle your deck again and draw the same amount you put back” Venture reshuffled his deck and draw three more cards. Venture looked at Twilight “I recommend make sure you have a grade 1, 2 and 3 in your hand. Also, I would put back any trigger units which have yellow at the bottom of them”
Twilight put two cards back in to the deck and shuffled the “Okay, first card and second card”
Venture smiled “Now, the match is ready to begin” Venture put his hand on the card in front of him “Now, be ready to flip your card face up. While flipping your card, say the phrase 'Stand up, Vanguard!'”
Twilight nodded “Okay then, I am ready” she said with a slight bit of worry her voice.
They looked at each and made eye contact and said in Sync “Stand up, Vanguard!” they both flipped their cards face up.
“Fullbau, call forth your storm of darkness” Venture said after flipping his card.
Twilight thought quickly “Um...Crimson Lion Cub, Kyrph. Um...your true battle is about to begin” she said nervously.
Venture looked at her card “Gold Paladin? And it's not the starting card from the trial deck” Venture looked up at Twilight “Did you get that deck of someone?”
“Yes” Twilight said while nodding “I got it off my brother, he used to play this game but then stopped playing. He gave me his cards and this deck” Twilight smiled.
“So that's how you know Vanguard” Venture looked at his deck and put his hand on it “Anyway, you start each turn by drawing a card from the deck” Venture draw a card from the top of his deck “After this you can do what is called a ride, this is when you put a card which is 1 grade higher or the same grade as your current Vanguard.” Venture took the card from the far left of his hand “Like this. I ride, Blaster Javelin” he then stacked the card on top of his first card.
Twilight was watching Venture “Okay that seems simple enough” she said with confidence.
Venture looked up “Now, any on ride effects activate now. Fullbau’s activates.” Venture picked up his deck “I get to search my deck for a card called Blaster Dark when I ride over Fullbau with Blaster Javelin” Venture looked though his deck for the card he was looking for. He pulled a card out from his deck “I then reveal the card and put it in my hand” Venture showed Twilight the card and put it in his hand.
“Okay, anything else?” Twilight asked.
Venture nodded and looked at Blaster Javelin “Blaster Javelin's skill activates. When Fullbau is in the soul, which is all the cards under the top card, he gains 2000 power. This takes him up to 8000 power” he looked up at Twilight “One more thing, after you ride you can then do what is known as a call. Which is where you place down a card of the same grade or lower on the Rearguard circle. The Rearguard circles are circles which are to the right and left of the Vanguard, there is three more Rearguard circles behind the Vanguard circle and the Rearguards to the sides of the vanguard”
“Okay, that makes sense”Twilight said nodding.
Venture pulled a card from his “I call Black Sage, Charon” Venture put down the card behind Blaster Javelin.
“Now I would attack, but you can't attack on your first turn. So I end my turn” Venture did a gesture like passing something over to someone.
Twilight nodded and drew a card from the top of her deck “I ride Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore. And Kyrph moves to the Rearguard.”
She moved Kyrph to behind the right Rearguard circle “Then I call Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth” Twilight placed Gareth behind her Vanguard.
“Okay, are you going to attack or call more units?” Venture asked.
Twilight looked at her hand “I'll attack” Twilight held her hand close to her face with both hands.
“Then to declare and attack, turn the card you're attacking with on it's side and choose the target of the attacking.” Venture said looking at Twilight “You can only attack units in the front row unless it says on the card it can”
“Oh, okay.” Twilight turned Sagamore on his side.
Venture pointed at Gareth “You can give the power of the units on the back to that of the front row”He pointed up to Sagamore “This is called boosting”
Twilight looked up at Venture and back down to her cards “Then I boost with Gareth, that puts Sagamore at 14000 power” Twilight turned the card on it's side.
“Okay, now reveal the top card of your deck and check for what is called a Drive Trigger” Venture said.
“Okay.” she took the top card of her deck.
“Does it have a mark in the top right corner?” Venture asked.
Twilight nodded and showed Venture “What does this do?” the card in her hand was called Dantegal.
“That's a Trigger, when you reveal a trigger on a Drive Check you can give 5000 power to a card of your choice” Venture explained “There's four types of triggers: Critical, Draw, Stand and Heal Triggers. You just got a Critical Trigger, besides giving you 5000 extra power, you get to give a Critical to a unit” Venture continued.
“Hold on, I think I remember what this does from watching my brother” Twilight “So, I give all effects to my Vanguard. Right?” Twilight asked.
Venture nodded and smiled “Yes that's right, so instead of taking one damage I take two, also put that card in your hand”
Twilight smiled and put the card in her.
“I now put the top two cards of my deck in the Damage Zone. When someone gets six cards in their Damage Zone, that player loses the game” Venture explained “Now, Damage Check. First card, Blaster Javelin” Venture put the card to the left of the playing field “That is where the Damage zone is”
Twilight was following what Venture was doing, nodding to show she understood.
“Anyway. Second card, Abyss Healer. She is a Heal Trigger”
“What does that do?” Twilight asked.
Venture looked up to Twilight from the card he just checked “Besides give 5000 power to something, if I have the same or higher damage than my opponent I heal a damage” Venture placed down Abyss Healer in his damage zone and removed Blaster Javelin from his Damage Zone and placed it behind his deck.
“Why did you place it there specifically?” Twilight asked.
Venture looked up from what he was doing “Oh. This is the Drop Zone: all healed, retired, guard and destroyed cards go here. That's just to name a few reasons.”
“I see. Well I have nothing else to do, so I end my turn” Twilight said with a smile.
Venture smiled back “Okay then. I draw.”
Sunset Shimmer and the others were watching the match unfold from a distance. Neither of them had noticed them watching them.
“Aren't you gonna go ever and say hi?” Applejack asked trying to encourage Sunset to go over.
Sunset turned to Applejack to her right “I..uh...well...uh...” Sunset was stumbling over her words rather badly “It's just that...it would be really weird...”
Applejack frowned a little “Oh come Sunset, everyone thought it was weird when we being your friend after...that event...” Applejack rubbed her arm “Sorry for bringing that up...”
Sunset looked at Applejack for a moment and then down at the ground she ha destroyed. She took a deep breath and smiled at Applejack “It's okay AJ, and you're right. See you girls tomorrow” Sunset then ran over to the table Venture and Twilight were playing on.
Applejack smiled.
“You sure know how to touch the heart of everyone Applejack” Rainbow Dash said with a smile.
Applejack looked at Rainbow Dash “Thanks, I try my best”
“Although Sunset does have a point, I mean, it would be odd to know someone and then talk to someone who looks just like them and that are very different” Rarity pointed out.
Fluttershy nodded “I agree. But you just have to talk to them with an open mind, willing to accept they are different”
“Anyway girls, want to come round to my place for a while? I got some crazy stuff happening there” Pinkie Pie said with excitement.
Applejack looked at Pinkie “I'm up for it” Applejack looked at the others “What about you girls?”
The others nodded.
“Then let's go” Pinkie said. They all walked away in a different direction from where the Vanguard match was being played.
“Hey, Venture”
Venture looked to his right “Oh, Sunset. You finally came” Venture looked at Twilight “This Twilight, she also plays Vanguard as you can tell. Well, she is learning.”
“Hello” Twilight said waving with her free hand.
Sunset looked at Twilight “Hi, I'm Sunset” she waved back “You're the girl who was looking for her class early right?”
“I think so. Thanks again by the way.” Twilight said smiling.
“Don't worry it was nothing. And I see you met Venture” Sunset pointed out.
Twilight nodded “He's teaching me how to play Vanguard”
Sunset turned her head to Venture and crossed her arms “You better not lose” she said sarcastically.
“Well you'll have to watch and see what happens” Venture smiled and turned to Twilight.
Sunset thought to her “This should be fun”
Twilight turned to face Venture “Okay, back to the game.”
Venture smirked and closed his eyes and pulled a card from his hand “Where there is light, there is shadow. And from the shadow a knight arises. I ride!” Venture Placed a card on top of Blaster Javelin “Blaster Dark!”
Author's Note
I am going to use images of the cards because it is a lot simpler than a long winded description. Call me lazy.
The Vanguards of Equestria
Venture looked up from his side of the field “Blaster Dark's Skill, if Blaster Javelin is in the soul he gains an extra 1000 power”
“That makes him 10000 power, right?” Twilight asked.
“Yep, I would activate his other skill but I can't.” Venture said looking down at his Vanguard.
Sunset looked at his Damage Zone “If only you hadn't got that heal trigger” she said looking at Venture.
Venture looked back to her “I suppose, but that's Vanguard for you” Venture looked at his hands “Unpredictable as ever”. Venture looked to his opponent “Anyway, I call Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod”
“I activate her skill. By resting her ,turning her on her side, I get to put a card from hand to the drop zone and draw a card” Venture looked at his hand “I drop Abyss Freezer from my hand and draw”
Sunset thought about Venture's decision “Abyss Freezer? Interesting choice...” she thought.
Twilight looked Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod “So her effect is like a trade off?”
Venture looked up and nodded “You could say that. But sometimes it doesn't end well” Venture grabbed a card from his hand “I call Skull Witch, Nemain and her skill activates. When I call her, if I have a Shadow Paladin Vanguard I retire a Shadow Paladin unit and do what is called a Counter Blast”
Twilight looked confused “Counter Blaster? What's that?”
“Some effects require it, you flip over a certain amount of damage cards to use a Counter Blast” Venture showed Twilight his card “The amount is indicated on the card, in the effect text” Venture pointed where specifically “It's that purple area on the card with the curved arrow”
Twilight nodded to everything Venture said “Okay that makes sense. So for this card, you only need to flip one damage to activate her skill” she said feeling fairly confident.
“Yes” Venture flipped the Blaster Javelin in his damage zone face down with his right hand “Now because I did all that, I get to draw two cards” Venture took the two cards from the top of his deck and added them to his hand.
Sunset looked at Twilight “Vanguard is mostly about having a hand advantage”
Twilight looked up at Sunset “What do you mean?”
“The cards you have in your hand the better off you are.” Sunset saw Twilight looked a bit confused “I'm sure Venture will explain when he attacks”
Venture looked at Twilight “I will explain in a minute” Venture said.
Twilight looked at Venture and nodded.
Venture smiled “Anyway” He looked at his “I call Knight of Darkness, Rugos. And I call Black Sage Charon Behind Nemain”
“Does Rugos have a skill?” Twilight asked.
Venture shook his head “No. He just has 10000 power” Venture put his hand on Rugos “I attack with Rugos at your Vanguard” Venture turned Rugos to the side.
“That means I will take a damage right?”
Sunset looked away from the field “That's right, but...” Sunset cut herself off.
“But you can protect your self with the cards in your hand” Venture said “On the left side of most cards there should be a black part with either a 5000, 10000 or 0. That is your shield. And you can only guard with cards that are the same Grade or lower than your Vanguard”
Twilight looked a little confused “So I use a card in my hand to guard an attack and the power on the shield is taken away from the attack?” Twilight inquired.
“That's right. So, are you going to guard?” Venture asked.
Twilight thought about a moment and then felt a small sensation “I won't guard” Twilight said.
“Okay then. My attack goes though and you take one damage. So put the top card of your deck in to the damage zone” Venture instructed.
Twilight checked the top card of her deck “Elixir Sommelier. A Heal Trigger, am I correct?”
"Yes" Venture said "You can't heal but you can give an extra 5000 power to anything on your side"
Twilight nodded to show her understanding "I give the power to Sagramore and Draw" She took the top card and put it in to her hand.
“I boost Blaster Dark with the Charon taking him up to 18000 power, I attack” Venture declared.
Twilight looked at her hand “I guard with Dantegal, taking Blaster Dark's to 8000” She placed Dantegal in between their Vanguards.
Venture looked at Twilight “When a Vanguard attacks you have to consider them Drive Checking a trigger” Venture informed “If I get a trigger I will deal a damage, do you want to add to your Guard power?”
Twilight away from venture and at her hand “I-I'm fine with this” Twilight said with a bit of drop in confidence.
“Drive Check” Venture revealed the top card of his deck “Grim Reaper, Critical Trigger” Venture had a little smirk “I give all effects to Blaster Dark”
“So I take two damage?”
“Yes, and also. Units used to guard are put in to the Drop Zone” Venture said.
Twilight put Dentengal in to the Drop Zone and checked the top two cards “Waving Owl and Battlefield Storm, Sagramore” Twilight let out a sigh “No triggers”
Venture looked at Twilight “Hey don't let that get you down, it happens all the time in Vanguard” Venture smiled at Twilight.
Twilight looked at Venture and smiled back “Okay and thanks. Are you going to attack once more?”
Venture nodded “Charon boosts Nemain and attacks for 11000”
Twilight grabbed one of the cards in her hands to guard with, but Twilight felt another sensation “No guard” Twilight let go off her card and let her arm drop.
“Are you sure?” Venture asked.
Twilight nodded. “Damage check” Twilight revealed the top card of her deck “Weapons Dealer, Gwydion” There was a mark in the top right corner “A Trigger, what does this one do?”
“That's a Draw Trigger, you get to draw card on top of +5000” Venture explained.
Twilight put the card in the Damage Zone and drew a card “Is it my turn now?” Twilight asked.
Venture nodded. “At the start of a turn, if a player has any rested units they stand them before drawing a card.”
Twilight looked down at her field “So I stand” Twilight twisted her units right way up “And draw” Twilight looked at the cards in her hand “Now I can ride to Grade 2?”
“Yep, it's Grade 0, 1, 2 and then 3.” Venture explained.
Twilight grabbed a card in her hand “I ride, Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains” Twilight stacked that card on top of Sagramore.
“Okay. I wouldn't choose that but okay” Venture said nodding his head.
Twilight felt another sensation “I activate Crimson Lion Cub, Kyrph's skill” Twilight grabbed both Kyrph and Gareth from the Rearguard Circle “I put both Kyrph and Gareth in to the soul. I now search though my deck for a specific card” Twilight looked though her deck and grabbed the card from the deck “A gold warrior of flames guiding those in despair to hope, I Superior Ride! Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel!” Twilight shuffled her deck and put it back in the Deck Zone.
Sunset and Venture looked at Twilight in shock and surprise.
“Limit Break!” Twilight announced “Since I have four damage Blond Ezel's Limit Break can be activated.” Twilight flipped over two cards in her Damage Zone “For a Counter Blast two, I look at the top card of my deck and if it's a a Gold Paladin I get to call it to Rearguard” Twilight looked at the top card of her deck “I Superior Call, Battlefield Storm, Sagramore” She placed Sagamore to the right of Blond Ezel “And on top of that, I add the power of Sagramore to Blond Ezel. Taking him up to 20000 power”
Venture and Sunset's eyes widened at what they were seeing. “How do you-” Sunset was cut off.
“And I activate it once more, Limit Break!” Twilight flipped the last two damage in her Damage Zone face down and looked at the top card of her deck “I Superior call, Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth!” Twilight placed Gareth behind Blond Ezel “That's another 8000 power, taking Ezel up to 28000”
“Twilight, how did you know to do that?” Venture asked in a little shock.
Twilight looked up at Venture “Well, it kind of just came to me” Twilight giggled a little.
“You would never guess this is your first match from that combo” Venture laughed.
“That was really cool, Twilight.” Sunset said to her.
Twilight blushed a little and scratched the back of her head with her free hand “Hehe...Anyway” The red went away from Twilight's cheeks “I call a second Garth behind Sagramore and Lop Ear Shooter” Twilight felt the same feeling again and thought to herself “What is this?”
"I also call Waving Owl Behind Lop Ear shooter"
“Well...that's quite the line up” Venture commented.
Sunset looked at Twilight's side and looked Venture “I have to say, that looks hard to guard” Sunset added.
Twilight was also surprised that she did this “With a boost from Gareth, Sagramore attacks for 18000 at your Vanguard”
“Guard with Grim Reaper, 10000 Shield so you power is taken down to 8000” Venture blocked the attack. He put Grim Reaper to the Drop Zone.
Twilight turned Gareth behind Ezel “Gareth boosts Ezel and Ezel attacks. Ezel has another skill where he gains 1000 power for every Gold Paladin on the field”
“41000 power!? Well, I can't guard that” Venture announced. “Well, now that you have a Grade 3 Vanguard you do a Twin Drive where you check the top two cards of your deck for a Trigger” Venture informed Twilight.
“I see” Twilight said “Twin Drive” Twilight revealed the first card “Dantegal, Critical Trigger. I give the Critical to Ezel and the power to Lop Ear Shooter.” Twilight added the card to her hand “Second card” Twilight revealed the second card “Another Dantegal! I give the Critical to Ezel and the power to Lop Ear Shooter.”
“Two Criticals!?” Venture said in a bit of shock.
“So you take 3 damage now” Twilight said.
Venture checked the first card “Black Sage Charon, no trigger” he put Charon in the Damage Zone “Second check, Dark Shield, Mac Lir again no trigger” Venture put the card in the damage zone.
“You could have really used that card” Sunset pointed out.
“Yeah, but what can you do?” Venture said rhetorically “Anyway, third card” Venture revealed the card “Abyss Freezer, Draw Trigger. I give the power to my Vanguard and draw” Venture put Abyss Freezer in the Damage Zone and drew a card.
Twilight looked up at Venture then down back to her field “I boost Lop Ear Shooter with Waving Owl, which with the 10000 extra power, is 25000 power.” Twilight said.
“Since attackers win if the power is the same, I guard with Abyss Healer from my hand.” Venture placed the card in between both their Vanguards “I then do what is known as an intercept, I use Nemain to intercept. Only Grade 2s can guard like this, you can still guard with them in hand though" Venture moved Nemain to where he put Abyss Healer "That's a shield of 15000, your attack doesn't hit"
Sunset was looking over the field “So Twilight evened up the score, for a beginner she sure knows what she is doing” she thought to her self “But how does she know what she is doing?” she asked herself in her head.
Venture put the cards he used to guard in to the Drop Zone “My turn, I stand and draw” Venture stood his units and drew a card.
“How are you going to win?” Sunset asked.
Venture glanced at Sunset “I have ways” Venture said “Venture pulled a card from his hand and closed his eyes once more “Dark dragon of shadows muster your power and come fourth” Venture opened his eyes “I ride! Phantom Blaster Dragon!”
Sunset smiled slightly “Here comes the big one”
"Because Blaster Dark is in the Soul Phantom Blaster Dragon has 1000 more power at all times" Venture showed hat Blaster Dark was in the Soul “I call Dark Mage, Badhabh Caar.” He placed the card where Nemain was “His skill activates, I reveal the top card of my deck and if it's a shadow I call it to Rearguard” Venture revealed the card “Blaster Javelin, I Superior Call him to Rearguard”
Twilight looked at Venture's field “A full field, are you going to attack?”
“Not yet, I activate Phantom Blaster Dragon's skill” Venture flipped over the three face up cards in his Damage Zone “Counter Blast and I retire 3 of my Rearguard Shadow Paladins. I retire Badhabh Caar, Blaster Javelin and Rugos.” he took those cars from the field and put them in to his Drop Zone “Phantom Blaster Dragon gains 10000 power and an extra critical which takes him up to 20000 power Critical 2!”
Twilight looked at Venture “So with a boost from Charon, that would be...28000!”
“That's right” Venture grabbed the final two cards in his hand “I call Witch of Nostrum, Arianrhod and Blaster Dark” he placed Blaster Dark to the left of Phantom Blaster Dragon and Arianrhod behind Blaster Dark “I then move Charon to the front row” He slide Charon to the right of Phantom Blaster Dragon. Venture put his hand on Blaster Dark “Blaster Dark attacks Ezel, with a boost from Arianrhod”
Twilight looked at her hand “No guard” Twilight revealed the top card, it was Gareth “No Trigger” she placed the card in her Damage Zone “One more damage” Twilight said to herself.
“Charon boosts, Phantom Blaster Dragon attacks Ezel” Venture declared.
Twilight put all the cards in her hand on to the area in between their Vanguards “I guard with Weapons Dealer, Gwydion and two Dantegals!”. Twilight thought to herself “So long as he doesn't get two triggers, I should be safe if what I have learned is right.”
Venture put his hand on his deck “Twin Drive, first check” Venture revealed the top card of his deck “Abyss Healer, I don't heal but I give 5000 power to Charon in the front row” Venture put the card in to his hand.
“Don't get that trigger” Twilight thought to her self.
“Second check” Venture revealed the final card “Darkside Trumpeter, Stand Trigger!” Venture had excitement in his voice “Because it's a Stand Trigger, I get to stand one of my units. Blaster Dark stands and I give him the 5000 power”
Twilight let out a gasp “No...” she said quietly to herself looking .
“Charon attacks Ezel, for 13000” Venture declared.
Twilight looked up “Lop Ear Shooter intercepts the attack, taking your power down to 8000” Twilight put Lop Ear shooter in her Drop Zone.
“My avatar Blaster Dark attacks Ezel!” Venture said.
Twilight stood there Silent and put her hand on top of her deck.
“You can still win, Twilight” Sunset said to her.
Twilight looked at her “What do you mean, I have lost”
Sunset walk closer to her “Not if you get a heal trigger, then you are still in the game” Sunset said with smile.
Twilight looked at Sunset “Okay then.” Twilight looked at her deck “Damage check” she revealed the card “Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains. I lose” Twilight said in a down voice.
Twilight sat at a bench behind her a bit sad.
Sunset went over to her as Venture was putting away his and Twilight's cards. She crouched down next to her “Hey it was your first game and you did really good considering” Sunset said trying to cheer her up.
Twilight looked at Sunset “I did do good and I did have fun, but...” Twilight said stumbling off.
“What is it?” Venture asked who was now in front of Twilight.
Twilight looked at Venture “I lost and...I don't know” Twilight said looking down.
“Twilight...” Venture said “I would've have lost if it weren't for those triggers, and you played awesomely for a beginner”
Twilight looked up “Venture...”
“And also, if you had fun then that's all that matters to me” Venture said. He lifted out his hand “Come on, we can go to my house and teach you how to get better. It's what me and Sunset usually do”
Twilight looked at Venture's hand and blushed a little “Okay.” Twilight grabbed Ventures hand and got up off the bench.
“Come sunset, we got some Vanguard to play.” Venture said to her.
Sunset nodded and got up “Let's get going then, the earlier we get there the more time we have.”
Twilight grabbed her deck that Venture had put back for her and the three of them went to Venture's house.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading. Point out if I didn't use an image of the card when a new card is introduced.
The Vanguards of Equestria
The three of them had arrived at Venture's house. It had took them around about twenty minutes to get to his. Venture's house had two floors but was fairly small looking, from the outside at least. It looked like any regular house with a red tiled roof and the outside walls were a pale yellow. It had a small garden on the left that looked very well kept. The garden had various flowers like roses, violets and even snowdrops.
“Who does the gardening?” Twilight asked “It looks really pretty” Twilight added.
Venture turned around “My mum, she is quite the gardener. Although, my little sister does help out.” Venture looked at the garden “I'm not interested in gardening myself. But I do like a good looking garden”
After a few seconds, Venture and the others went over to the door of Venture's house. The door was made of wood in an ebony colour with a small peep hole where you would expect one to be.
Venture unlocked and opened the door “I'm back!” Venture shouted.
They entered in to a hallway with yellow walls like the outside of the house. On the other end of where they were standing had three archways; one straight ahead of them and two others to the left and right of that one. There where some stairs on the right of them; the stair case was a creamy brown colour and and had a crimson red carpet on them.
A young girl poked her head round the archway on the left “Oh, Venture. It's not just Sunset this time?” the young girl walked around the corner towards them.
The young girl was wearing a white t-shirt with pink on the rims of the shirt. She was wearing a a red skirt and no shoes or shocks. Her hair was a light orange colour. The length of her was shorter than Ventures, it went down to the bottom of her neck. Her skin was a very light and blue.
“Yeah.” Venture stepped to the side “This Twilight. She transferred today”
The young girl walked up to all of them and looked at Twilight. She had her hands behind her back. She closed her eyes and turned her body at a slight angle while smiling “Hello Twilight. I am Venture's little sister, Sea Song.” Sea Song straightened her head and opened her eyes.
Twilight looked down to Sea Song smiled back “Nice to meet you too, Sea Song”
Sea Song put a finger on her chin “So do you play Vanguard?” She asked with curiosity in her voice.
“Yeah...well I started today” Twilight admitted.
“We should play sometime!” Sea Song said with excitement in her voice.
Twilight looked over to Venture “Is Vanguard something that runs in the family?”
Venture laughed a little “Only me and my sister.” Venture looked around “By the way, Sea Song, where's mum?”
Sea Song looked up at her brother “Ah, I almost forgot. She said that she needed to work late tonight. So won't be back until sometime after midnight” Sea Song told Venture.
“Did she leave anything to eat?” Venture asked.
Sea Song nodded “There's some pizza in the fridge. She also left some chicken in there as well.”
Sea Song nodded “If it's okay with Sunset and Twilight that is”
“I'm okay with it” Sunset said.
Twilight nodded “I don't mind, she could help me learn”
Venture looked at Sea Song and bent down to her level “Sea Song, take them to my room and show Twilight my Vanguard stuff. I'll get the food”
“Okay. I want Pizza.” Sea Song smiling.
Venture laughed a little and looked at Sunset and Twilight “What do you two want to eat?”
“I'll have some of the pizza please” Twilight requested.
“I'll have some chicken” Sunset said.
Venture stood straight and walked over to the end of the room “Okay, Sea Song will take you up to my room. I'll join you once I have the food” Venture walked through the archway on the left.
“Venture's room is up stairs, Twilight” Sea Song said hastily walking up the stairs. Twilight and Sunset followed her.
“So why did you start playing Vanguard, Sea Song?” Twilight asked as they were walking.
Sea Song looked to Twilight for a second over her shoulder and looked back ahead of herself “Venture started playing the game. I asked if I could try and I liked it.”
“It was really that simple?” Twilight said rhetorically.
Sunset tapped Twilight on the shoulder “It was basically like that for me”
Twilight turned her head to Sunset behind her “I see. Come to think of it, how did you meet Venture? And why you started playing Vanguard?” Twilight asked.
“How we met?” Sunset thought for a moment “It was about two months ago. I was walking along the school corridor and he was walking straight towards me, I didn't notice him and he didn't notice me, we bumped in to each other and some his cards went flying. I offered to help pick them and was interested by them. He showed me the game and I really liked it.”
“Two months and you basically became best friends?” Twilight asked curiously.
Sunset blushed a little “You could put it like that”
Sea Song stopped “Here's his room, Twilight”
Twilight turned her head and stopped just before walking in to Sea Song. She saw Sea Song looking and pointing to a door on the right. The door was painted a cream white with a silver plated handle. The door was a little bit open, as if someone was peeking out.
Sea Song walked towards the door and opened it “Come on in you two” she said stepping in to her brothers room.
Twilight and Sunset followed in. Sunset closed the door as they entered.
The walls were painted a dark blue and the carpet was a a light grey colour, bordering on cream white. He had various shelves in his rooms with books and what looked like comics. He had a birch table in the middle of his room with four chairs of the same colour around it. He had a desk on the left of the room with a computer on it with a red desk chair in front of it. His bed was in the far right corner of the room to their right. His bed had plain black sheet with the bed frame being a metallic grey. He had TV opposite his bed on the other side of the room. Over his bed was a poster of Blaster Dark.
“He really likes Blaster Dark, doesn't he?” Twilight said.
Sunset looked at Twilight “Well Blaster Dark is his avatar”
“Avatar?” Twilight inquired.
“It's the card someone feels as though it represents them” Sunset explained.
Sea Song had walked over to one of Venture's shelves “Twilight, here is Venture's vanguard stuff.”
Twilight looked over to the birch wood shelf. On the shelf was a bunch of small box which said Vanguard on them. There were folders which with Shadow Paladin, Aqua Force, Great Nature and various other names on the side. She assumed they were folders full of cards from that type of card. Venture also had little figures of Vanguard units on the shelf.
“What do you think to Venture's collection?” Sea Song asked.
Twilight looked down at her “Well...it's quite impressive”
Sea Song giggled “Yeah, it is”
“I had the same reaction when he first showed me” Sunset said standing to the side of Twilight “And it's still getting bigger believe it or not”
Twilight looked at Sunset “Really? Wow...” Twilight said in amazement.
“What deck do you use Twilight?” Sea Song asked.
Twilight looked back to her “Oh, I use a Gold Paladin deck”
Sea Song went over to the shelf “Gold....Gold...Gold...Ah, here it is.” Sea Song pulled out one of the folders out of the shelf “Here Twilight, it's full of Gold Paladin cards” Sea Song held out the folder.
Twilight grabbed the folder “Thanks, but I have no idea what's good and what's bad” Twilight admitted.
“You do you're in a room with two fairly decent Vanguard players and someone downstairs who is very good, right?” Sunset said mockingly.
Twilight looked at Sunset “Oh...right. I forgot” Twilight said scratching her head in embarrassment.
“Anyway, take a seat at the table. We can take a look at what would be good for your deck” Sunset said.
Twilight nodded and they all took a seat at the table.
Twilight placed the folder on the table and opened it. She then pulled out her deck from her bag “Okay, what should we do first?” Twilight asked.
“Well for starters you could open the door for me” a voice came from the door.
Sea Song got off her chair and went to the door “Sorry, Venture, blame Sunset” she said opening the door.
“H-hey! I didn't think he would have his hands full” Sunset burst out in annoyance.
Venture entered his room with three plates: one with pizza cut in to eight pieces and the other two with various pieces of chicken on them. “Thanks, Sea Song, what would I do with out you?” he said rhetorically.
Sea Song smiled “You're welcome”
Venture placed the plates on the table, carefully “I guess you don't mind sharing the pizza with my sister, Twilight?” he asked Twilight “There was only one”
“I don't mind at all.” Twilight replied.
Venture sat at the last available seat with Sunset on his right and Twilight in front of him“Now, what were you going to do first?” Venture asked.
“We were going to look through my deck to see what we could do to if I could add any cards” Twilight informed.
“Can I take a look through your deck?” Venture asked holding out his hand.
Twilight nodded “Sure” she passed her deck to Venture.
Venture looked at through her deck “You said this used to be your brothers, right?”
Twilight nodded.
“Well he knew what he was doing” he said “He built this deck really well nothing is wrong with it. We could just take out some old cards and replace them with newer once that would help you” he informed Twilight.
“Okay. Should we get on that now?” Twilight asked.
Venture nodded “Yeah” he looked to Sunset and Sea Song “Are you two going to play a game while we do this?”
“While we wait for you two we will” Sunset said “What about you Sea Song?”
“Yeah. It's been awhile since we last played together. It'll be fun!” Sea Song said with a smile.
Venture smiled at them “Alright, we'll try and keep this as fast as possible”
“Take your time, we will take ours as well.” Sunset said.
Sea Song nodded in agreement.
Venture turned his attention to Twilight.
Sunset reached in to her bag to grab her deck and Sea Song had her deck out already.
Sea Song grabbed the field mat that Venture kept under the table on to the table. It had a field on both hers and sunset's side. The field had the circles for the Vanguard and rearguard which were designed like the back of the Vanguard cards. It also had a Deck, Damage and Retire Zone on it.
They put their Vanguards on the Vanguard circle and shuffled their decks. They placed them on the Deck Zone and drew five cards.
“I'll return three cards” Sunset said putting three cards back in to her deck.
Sea Song looked up from her hand “I'm happy with this hand”
Sunset shuffled her deck again and redrew three cards “Alright, let's see who goes first”
Sea Song nodded and held her hand out in a fist.
“Rock, Paper, Scissors” They both said. Sunset had gone for rock while Sea Song had gone for paper.
“I'm going first then” Sea Song said.
Sunset looked up “Alright then, shall we?” Sunset asked.
Sea Song nodded. While placing her hand on her Vanguard.
Sunset also put her hand on her Vanguard.
“Stand up, Vangaurd!” They both said flipping their vanguards face up.
“Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Riviere!” Sea Song said announcing her Vanguard “Sing to become the legend you are”
“Barcgal!” Sunset said “Your bark shall echo through the battlefield, calling heroes to your side.”
Sea Song looked over at Sunset's side “Royal Paladin's?” she inquired “You're sticking with that deck now?”
“I will see. I haven't had the best games with them, but I will try” Sunset said “Anyway, let's start”
Sea Song nodded and drew a card from her deck “I ride Mermaid Idol, Riviere” she said placing the card she drew on top of her Vanguard.
“Here comes the skills” Sunset said to herself quietly.
“Mermaid Idol, Riviere's skill activates, if the Grade 0 Riviere is in the soul Mermaid Idol, Riviere gains 1000 permanently” she said “Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Riviere's skill activates, since I rode with Meremaid Idol, Riviere, I can check the top seven cards of my deck for either Super Idol, Riviere or Top Idol, Riviere.” Sea Song drew the top seven cards and looked through them “I add Top Idol, Riviere to my hand” she then placed the rest of her cards back on top of her deck and shuffled the cards “And that's my turn”
Sunset drew a card to start her turn “I ride Knight of Rose, Morgana. Barcgal moves to the rear guard” Sunset moved Barcgal to the left back rear guard circle “I activate Barcgal skill, by resting him I can search my deck for wither Flogal or Future Knight, Llew and call it to Rear Guard” She picked up her deck and looked for one of the two cards “I superior call Flogal” she placed Flogal behind her Vanguard.
“You seem to know what you're doing with them so far” Sea Song said.
“Thanks” Sunset said “Now, with a boost from Flogal, Morgana attacks” Sunset turned Flogal and Morgana on their side.
Sea Song looked at her hand “No guard” she announced.
“Drive Check” Sunset revealed the top card of her deck “Weapons Dealer, Govannon. Draw Trigger. I give the power to Morgana and draw a card” Sunset drew a card.
Sea Song revealed the top card of her deck “Damage Check, Top Idol, Aqua, no trigger” she placed the card in her Damage Zone.
“Your turn” Sunset said.
Sea Song drew to start her turn and added the card to her hand “I ride Super Idol, Riviere.” She placed it on Mermaid Idol, Riviere “And her skill activates, she is permanently at 10000 power so long as I have Mermaid Idol, Rivere in the soul” She drew another card “And because I rode with Super Idol, Riviere, I get to draw another card because of Mermaid Idol, Riviere's effect”
“You've got the full ride chain now” Sunset said.
Sea Song smiled “I also call Top Idol, Aqua and Mermaid Idol, Sedna” She placed Sedna behind her Vanguard “First I attack with Aqua” Sea Song turned Aqua on her side.
“No guard” Sunset announced revealing the top card of her deck “Damage Check, Knight of Truth, Gordon, no trigger” she placed the card in to her Damage Zone.
Sea Song turned Sedna and her Vanguard on their sides “I attack with Riviere which had Sedna's power taking her up to 18000”
Sunset looked at her hand “No guard” Sunset declared.
“Drive Check” Sea Song checked the top card of her deck “Comical Rainie, Critical Trigger. I give all effects to my Vanguard” Sea Song declared.
“Damage Check” Sunset said “First check, Lake Maiden, Lien.” she placed the card in her Damage Zone “Second check, Flogal, Stand Trigger” she placed the card in her Damage Zone.
“Shame how you got that stand trigger now” Sea Song said “I end my turn”
Sunset drew a card “I activate Barcgal's skill, I now search for Future Knight, Llew and superior call him to the Rear Guard” Sunset looked through her deck a second time and placed Llew on the last available Rear Guard circle on the back row “Now I activates Llew's Counter Blast” Sunset announced.
Sea Song had a slightly worried face “And she still has two unflipped damage” she thought to herself.
“I put Llew, Flogal and Barcgal in to the soul” she moved all three of them under her Vanguard “Now I can search my deck” she searched her deck for a specific card “I now Superior Ride! The royal knight that wields the sword of light. Shone forth, Blaster Blade!” she placed Blaster Blade on top of Morgana.
Author's Note
For anyone that has seen the anime, Sea Song is heavily based on Emi. But I mean how couldn't I? Emi's so awesome!
