Chapter 1: Entering the Fray
There is an old saying, when elephants fight, the grass suffers. When gods fight however, the entire multiverse suffers. 500 years ago, Hercules was driven mad by the goddess Hera and killed his beloved Megara. Despite performing 12 labours in penance, his broken spirit caused him to retreat from the world. However, that all changed when the goddess Nyzx attempted to destroy millions of mortals by unleashing the full wrath of nature. However, before she could complete her plan, Hercules slew her.
This caused a rift between the gods. Some viewed Hercules’ act as justified, seeing as how Nyzx’s attack was completely unprovoked. Others viewed it as an unforgivable sin, no god, or the son of one, was permitted to kill another. This created a rift between the gods, which led to war, a war that spread beyond Olympus to the other pantheons, Hindu, Norse, and more.
However, Zeus had set rules in place that prevented the gods from fighting directly. So the gods recruited warriors from across the multiverse to fight on their behalf. Most were legendary warriors in their own right, giant robots, demons, mages, beings that could destroy planets, and many others. However, a select few were selected to lead them. These weren’t beings of incredible power, they were chosen because of a game. This game, through some quirk of the multiverse, had the exact same rules at this war, and featured the exact same warriors.
The name of this game, was Titan Clash.
Jack Carson exited a card shop, a booster pack in his hand. He grinned as he cracked it open, revealing a couple of MLP cards. “Princess Diana of Themyscira, sweet, this’ll help me with the next tournament.” Noticing a newsstand, he saw that Allintrice Xero had won the World Championship.
"That’s gonna me someday,” he said as he placed his new cards in his deck box.
"You have a lot of confidence, huh kid,” said a man in a ragged looking trench coat.
“Well, I need some practice, and my deck needs a few tweaks, but I’ve won more than a few local tourneys,” Jack replied.
"You pick out a God yet?” the man asked.
“Not really,” Jack replied, “none of them really felt, right.”
“Well, I picked this up a while ago,” the man said as he held out a card, “I don’t Clash myself, you’d get more use out of it than me.”
“O~kay,” Jack replied as he took it, “Hercules, not bad.”
“Good luck,” the man said as he walked away.
“Wonder what he meant by that,” Jack said as he placed the card in his deck box. Just then, he felt a sudden headache. “Maybe a quick nap,” he said as he sat on a bench and closed his eyes. As he drifted off, a crowd passed in front of the bench. When the crowd passed, Jack was gone.
[Equestria]
“Come on, run,” Twilight Sparkle cried out to a group of ponies just before a burst of energy blasted the road apart. Twilight looked up at the beings responsible. Both were bipedal, and ensconced in floating thrones, but that was where the similarities ended.
"Well, this is quite enjoyable,” said the one who had just fired the attack. He was purple with white highlights and black horns. “I’d forgotten what it’s like to indulge in some good old fashioned destruction.”
“Now now Frieza,” said the other, who had pink skin and wearing a black robe, “don’t blow up the planet just yet, the others need to have a turn.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, she couldn’t decide what was worse, that this Frieza could potentially destroy the planet, or that there were others waiting in the wings.
“Hold!” cried a voice from the sky. Everyone looked up to see Princess Celestia and Luna descend in a crash, before turning towards the invaders, fury in thier eyes.
“Well, it looks like we have a couple of heros,” said the stranger.
“Excellent,” said Frieza, “I was getting bored.”
“I will not permit you to harm my little ponies any longer,” Celestia said as Luna fired a blast of magic at the invaders. However, the man in the robe just smirked as he held up a card.
“Power Ruination.”
Tendrils of shadowy energy erupted from the card and ate away at the burst, eating away at it as it worked it’s way to Luna. When it reached her, it wrapped around her before seeping into her. As the tendrils set in, Luna fell to the ground, gasping.
“Luna!” Celestia said as she rushed to her sister’s aid.
“What should we do?” asked Twilight to no one in particular, “what can we do.”
“Well, isn’t this quite interesting,” said a voice from thin air.
The stranger grinned, “Well, if it isn’t the person we were looking for.”
“Well, don’t I feel like mister popular,” said Discord as he popped out from behind his throne, “and who might you be?”
“As far as you’re concerned,” the stranger said as he pulled out a card and held it front of Discord, “master.” With that, an icon of a purple cat head shot out from the card and attached to Discord’s head, causing his to scream in pain.
“Discord!” shouted Fluttershy as a vortex of energy shot from the card and sucked Discord into the card.
“Well, now that we have what we’ve come for,” the stranger said as he put the card away, “we can ensure that no other god can gain resources from here.”
“And that’s my cue,” said Frieza as he generated a ball of golden energy on one of his fingertips. However, before he could launch it, a new voice called out.
“Lunch Break!”
“Ooh, is it that time already?” Pinkie said as she pulled out a lunch box from her mane as Frieza’s attack fizzled out.
Everyone turned to see another being like the one who had captured Discord standing, a small box in one hand and a card outstretched in the other.
“Who are you?” Twilight asked.
Jack awoke, headache still intact, to the sound of screaming. Looking around, he saw that he was no longer home, now he was, what looked like Ponyville.
“This can’t be real,” Jack said.
“But it is,” said a familiar voice.
Jack turned to see the man who had given him the Hercules card, “What’s going on?”
“A war,” the man said sadly, “a war I started.”
“What do you mean?”
“Perhaps I should assume my true form, that should make things easier,” the man said before a golden light enveloped him. When it faded, the man was dressed in a very familiar looking set of armour.
“Hercules,” Jack said, “but, Titan Clash is just a card game, a TCG.”
“Where you are from, yes,” Hercules replied, “elsewhere in the universe, not so much. I need a champion, other gods aren’t so picky about who they choose, this is the result.”
“But why me?” Jack asked.
“Because you have potential,” Hercules replied, “and because you remind me of myself.”
Hercules stared at Jack, “Right now, you have a choice. You can either accept your role as my champion, and fight this war, or you can go back home, with all memory of this erased.”
Hearing a scream, Jack turned to see Discord get sealed in a card. “Someone has to do something,” he said as he tightened his grip on his deck box, “count me in.”
“It appears that I chose wisely,” Hercules said, his tone suggesting a grin beneath his face plate, “now prove me right.” Hercules placed a fingertip on Jack’s deck box, causing it to glow brightly.
Jack turned to see Frieza preparing his planet buster attack. Not knowing what else to do, he pulled out his favourite stopper card.
“Lunch Break!”
Frieza’s attack stopped as Pinkie Pie pulled out her lunch box and everyone else turned to look at him.
“Who are you,” asked Twilight.
Jack thought for a few seconds before answering, “I am Jack Carson, Champion of Hercules.”
Author's Note
To anyone who has not heard of Titan Clash, I pity you. It's an awesome concept, and I hope that this'll help it get the support it deserves.
Next chapter, you'll see a Clash in action, hopefully I don't flub up the rules too bad
“Champion of Hercules huh?” Frieza laughed, “as if someone like you could be a Champion.”
“Now now Frieza,” said the stranger, “we need to give him a chance.”
Jack stood firm as Celestia walked up to him, “You have the same powers as he does, why?”
“I’m not entirely sure,” Jack replied, “but I think I can stop him. I just need you to do one thing.”
“What?” asked Twilight
“Trust me,” said Jack.
“Okay!” said Pinkie.
“What!” shouted everypony else.
“Are you crazy?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, “we barely know this guy.”
“We do not have much of a choice,” said Celestia, “do not make me regret this.”
“I’ll do my best,” Jack said. As he said that, his deck box glowed before the glow extended up his arm. The glow subsided, revealing a black and gold mechanical gauntlet embedded with a red and blue X shaped gem on the back of the hand.
“It appears that you are a Champion,” said the Stranger, “I am Brighton, Champion of Hera.”
Everything seemed to stop as Jack took a breath, before lifting the hand with the gauntlet, the gemstone glowing. “By the ancient laws, two champions meet on the field of battle.”
“To fight for the gods, who have shown them favour,” Brighton continued the chant.
“To compete in, Titan Clash!” they finished together. As they finished, the world around them seemed to warp, becoming a city square that was daytime on one side, and night on the other. 5 cards of light appeared in front of them, which they caught in their hand. Behind them, their respective gods appeared as ghostly images, the number 2000 appearing beside them on one side, the number 20 on the other.
“It’s been a long time Hercules,” said Hera, “enjoying this war you’ve started?”
“You and I both know I had no choice,” said Hercules, “Nyzx would have killed billions.
“Although I do have to thank you for one thing,” Hera smirked, “this war have made things quite interesting.”
“I’ll just bet,” said Hercules, “I wouldn’t be surprised if you planted the idea in her head.”
“Now now you two, save the bickering for after I defeat him,” said Brighton, “as this is your first real Clash, I will permit you to go first.”
“You are most kind,” Jack said as he drew a card that appeared over the jewel in his gauntlet. “I think I’ll start by summoning Twilight Sparkle.” Jack threw a card down in front of him.
“Wait, what?” Twilight said before disappearing from the sidelines and appearing on the battlefield, as the 20 beside Hercules dropped down to 15. “But.. but I’m not a fighter.”
“Don’t worry,” said Jack, as a red 45 and a green 132 appeared beside her for a few seconds before fading, “trust me.” Jack looked over his cards before grabbing one and throwing it down, “you won’t be fighting alone for long, I play The Bat Signal!” A large searchlight with a bat on it appeared.
“Well, Bat Pack as well as Rescue Rangers,” said Brighton, “this could prove to be quite entertaining.”
“I activate the power of the Bat Signal,” Jack said as he threw the switch, the number draining from 15 to 13 as the Bat Signal shone proudly in the night sky, “allowing me to add The Batman from my Library to my hand.”
“Wait a second,” said Brighton, “The Bat Signal costs 4 Mantra Points, you only lost two.”
“That would be thanks to Twilight,” said Twilight.
“Me?” said Twilight incredulously.
“Your ability,” Jack answered, “all MP costs are reduced by 2.”
“Really?” Twilight, “that’s incredible!”
“Please save all questions for after I kick his ass,” Jack said as he added another card to his hand, “for now I end my turn.”
“Very well then,” said Brighton as he drew a card from his armrest. “I think I’ll start by summoning Doctor Doom,” he said, placing a card on a holographic field that appeared between the armrest
MP: 20 -> 6
A magic circle appeared on the battlefield, out of which rose a figure in a metal suit of armour and a green robe in a mechanical throne. “For this you have summoned Doom?” Doom said, a red 98 and green 200 appearing, “this is beneath me.”
“Don’t worry, things will pick up soon enough,” said Brighton before turning to Jack, “luckily for you we can’t attack on our first turns, so I end mine. Show me what you have.”
“I have plenty, I draw.” As Jack drew a card, his Mantra Points returned to 20. “Now, I went to a lot of trouble to get this guy, say hello, one and all, to, The Batman.”
MP: 20 -> 18
As Jack played the card, his side of the battlefield became completely night, as the Bat Signal once again shone in the sky. A shadow dropped from a building in front of Jack, before rising up in the shape of a man, a man dressed as a bat.
“Well,” said Doom as he leaned forward in his throne, “it appears that this may be worth my time after all.”
“Batman,” said Hercules, “I’m glad you accepted my summons.”
“You made a convincing argument,” Batman replied, a red 50 and a green 100 appearing beside him, “although I must admit, these aren’t the allies I was expecting.”
“We make do with what we have,” said Jack, “ready to go?”
“Always,” Batman said as he spread his cape, freeing his arms and legs.
“Alright, let’s teach our new allies how combat works,” said Jack, “Batman attack Doctor Doom.”
“With pleasure,” said Batman, as he charged Doom.
“Alright Twilight, Titan Clash combat 101,” said Jack.
“Teach me,” said Twilight as she pulled out a quill and notepad.
“I assume you’ve noticed those 2 numbers that have been appearing,” said Jack, “the red ones are the creature’s Power, the green is their Health Points.”
Batman threw a punch at Doom, who conjured a barrier to block it. “I barely felt that,” said Doom, as his HP dropped from 200 to 150.
“When one creature attacks another, their health is reduced by the attacking monster’s Power,” Jack continued as Batman dropped down beside him.
POW: 50
“Of course, some creatures also have abilities that allow them to do damage in other ways,” Jack continued, “but we can get to that later. Ready to go?”
“What, you mean attack,” Twilight pointed to Doom, “him?"
“You’ll be fine,” said Jack, “Twilight Sparkle attack Doctor Doom."
“If you’re sure,” Twilight said before firing a beam of violet magic at Doom.
“Pathetic,” Doom said as he blocked it.
HP: 150->105
“I... I did it!” Twilight said as everypony watching cheered.
“Don’t get cocky,” said Jack as he placed a card on his gauntlet, “I arm 1 card and end my turn.”
MP 18->17
“Very well,” said Brighton as he drew a card. “I think it’s time to stop playing around. I sacrifice The Joker from my hand to call upon, Lord Frieza!”
HP: 320
POW: 105
Twilight’s ears folded back as Lord Frieza came onto the field as another card in Brighton’s hand dissolved. “It appears it’s time to finish what I’ve started.”
“Yes,” said Brighton, “but it’s time to stop holding back. I evolve Lord Frieza to Lord Frieza MK 2!”
“Ah, most excellent,” Frieza said as his throne vanished. His body contorted as his muscles expanded, and his horns lengthened and bent.
HP: 400
POW: 160
“As long as you’re done, I activate Batman’s ability,” said Jack, as Batman drew 3 bat shaped boomerangs.
“What?” exclaimed Frieza.
“Batman comes into play with 3 Batarang tokens, during your turn, I can discard as many as I want to deal 10 damage for each,” Jack explained as Batman let the Batarangs fly towards Frieza.
HP: 400->370
“Well that’s annoying,” said Frieza.
“That it is,” said Brighton, “Doctor Doom, if you would?”
“As if it would be a challenge,” Doom said as he shot a blast of energy at Batman, who shielded himself with his cape, only to be blasted backwards.
HP 100->2
Batman recovered with a back flip and landed, spitting out some blood, “Is that all you’ve got?"
“He’s persistent I’ll give him that,” Frieza said as one of his fists started glowing, “I can fix that.”
“No, target Twilight,” said Brighton, “Batman’s ability has limited charges, that MP cost reduction is always active, and could prove to be more troublesome.”
“Fair enough,” Frieza said as the glow around his fist vanished and he started walking towards Twilight, who was currently whimpering.
“Don’t worry Twilight,” said Jack.
“Don’t worry?” Twilight exclaimed as Frieza loomed over her, “my HP is 132, his power 160, worrying is pretty reasonable right now!”
“True, except for the fact that I have a card armed,” Jack said as he extended his gauntleted fist and Frieza raised his above his head “Dodge by a Hair.” The card on his gauntlet shot forward just as Frieza’s fist came down, creating a massive cloud of dust.
“Twilight!” everyone watching exclaimed, except for Jack.
“Should have figured that was coming” said Brighton as the dust settled, revealing a crater where Frieza’s fist was, and Twilight beside it, cowering beneath her hooves, but unharmed.
Twilight opened her eyes, obviously surprised that she wasn’t smashed, “What happened?”
“Dodge by a Hair, it can only be triggered as an interrupt, but it completely negates one attack,” Jack explained.
“Fairly standard, but effective none the less,” said Brighton, “I end my turn.”
“Alright then,” said Jack as he drew a card, “I think it’s time to turn things up a little. Rainbow Dash, you’re up!”
“Ah yeah!” Rainbow said as she shot from the sidelines to the battlefield beside Twiligh
MP 20->14
POW: 45
HP: 132
“Glad to have someone I know helping me,” Twilight said before turning to Batman, “no offence.”
“None taken,” Batman replied.
“Now, before we go any further, let’s activate some abilities shall we?” asked Jack, “let’s start with you Dash.”
“Alright, lay it on me,” said Dash said, “what cool things can I do?”
“When you’re summoned, two Raincloud tokens come into play,” Jack said as two black clouds came into being on either side of Rainbow, “they’re fragile, but a little extra firepower never hurts. Plus if we lose them, you can replace them easily enough.”
POW: 64
HP: 10
“Sweet,” said Rainbow.
“As for Bats, he regenerates a Batarang every turn,” said Jack as Batman pulled a single Batarang out before putting it back. “As for you Twilight, every time I summon one of your friends, you gain 10 Power permanently."
“Oooh!” said Twilight as she glowed briefly, “that must be why you summoned me first.”
POW 45->55
“Precisely, that and your MP cost reduction, now how about we take a breather, Lunch Break!”
MP 14->11
“Gotcha covered!” Pinkie said as she ran up and plopped a lunch box in front of each of them before sprinkling the rainclouds with a watering can."
“You should eat up,” Jack said as he pulled a sandwich out of his own box, “Lunch Break grants you all 50 HP in addition to preventing attacks and items that target creatures for the turn.”
“Useful,” Batman said as he took a sip from the smoothie he got, “hmm, punjack bark.”
HP
Rainbow Dash 132->182
Twilight 132->182
Batman 5->55
Raincloud 1 10->
Raincloud 2 10->60
“And one last thing it think,” Jack said, playing a card, “Avengers Assemble!”
MP 11->6
The field turned to daytime as a jet appeared in the sky, followed closely by two figures.
“Who are they?” asked Rarity.
“Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor,” Jack said as the Quinjet landed and Captain America exited it, Thor and Iron Man landing beside him as it took off again.
“Friend Hercules, it is an honour to fight alongside you!” said Thor as he raised his hammer in salute.
“The honour is mine,” said Hercules as he bowed his head.
“So many new friends!” said Pinkie, “the Welcome to Ponyville party is gonna be huge!”
“Cap... did you see a pink pony talk about throwing us a party, or did I drink too much?” asked Iron Man.
“No, I see them too,” Cap replied.
“Well crap.”
“Language.”
“Really? Again with the ‘language’,” Iron Man replied, “how many times is this gonna happen?”
“Sorry,” said Cap.
Jack chuckled, “I’m ready for the next turn, I’ll end this one.”
“Shouldn’t be too surprised you packed Avengers into that deck,” said Brighton as he drew a card, “since attacking isn’t an option, I think I’ll play Saiyan Pod to add Lord Frieza MK 3 to my hand, and then evolve Lord Frieza from MK 2 to 3.”
MP 20->12
Frieza laughed as his head extended and grew more horns, and his body became more reptilian, “I hope you’re ready, you won’t be breathing much longer.”
“How many forms does this guy have?” asked Rainbow.
“Just the one more if I’m remembering right,” Jack replied.
“I may not require it,” said Frieza.
“Agreed,” said Brighton, “luckily for you I can't attack due to Lunch Break, but next turn..."
"You're finished," Frieza continued.
Author's Note
Titan Clash 101: Basic Creatures
Basic creatures are pretty run of the mill, and the only type of card that is required to have in your deck. Summoning basic creatures is dead simple, just pay the MP cost and there you go. Just keep in mind that you can only summon 1 per turn, unless you have a card that says otherwise of course.
