So, this is my first ever fanfiction that I've ever decided to finish through, and the first to make it online. I'll try to give a good representation of the game, in addition to description of units. I'm writing under the impression that the reader at least knows some cards. There will be custom cards, kept at a bare minimum, and if actually shown in play (if their skill is actually activated, as opposed to being simply shown in damage), I will put their card stats at the bottom.
I'm still unsure whether or not to put up next-chapter previews and "Card of the Day"'s, so post your thoughts in the review section!
Disclaimer: I've been inspired by "Vanguard Blue Hour" by Digidramon, and so the formatting is based on theirs. I encourage you to read their story if you haven't done so already. In addition, all cards and the card game/anime Cardfight! Vanguard itself is property of Akira Itou and Bushiroad.
"This story takes place a little further in the future—
There are now billions of card game players in the world, to an extent where card games have become a necessity, a part of our lives. The most popular of them all? Vanguard."
A massive, scarlet, ironclad dragon faced down, towards a gallant knight, adorned in shining armor; its golden, bead-like eyes burning with a demonic fury. The knight retaliated with his own gaze, glowing with intense determination. Around them, a backdrop of ruinous rubble and earth served as the stage for their contest of strength; flames of destruction danced and cracked across the ground, like a crowd of spectators screaming in sheer ecstasy. "Attack, my ace! Burn him down with the flames of apocalypse!" a man exclaimed, turning his card sideways.
"No...guard." his opponent stammered, and in a few moments, a single card flew into a neat line of five others, bringing the total to six. "You fought well." the victor complimented, holding out his hand.
"Thanks. You too." the other reached out, making a handshake as the crowd around the enormous stadium burst into incomprehensible noise.
A teenage boy, huddled in a cocoon of a blanket, gazed at the screen of his laptop as it displayed the event in real time. He was so entranced in the game, that he barely heard the smashing and screaming of his mother at the door. Finally, frustrated at her son's lack of compliance, she kicked the door open, fuming like a wildfire.
"Damon. if you don't get changed and come down right this instant, you're going to be late for your first day of high school. so get your butt out of bed!" jolted from his position, the boy nearly sent his laptop flying into the air.
"Yes, mother." he muttered, before getting ready. As he was packing his bag, he picked up a deck of cards in a glossy black case, staring at the dark, faded reflection of his face on the material. "I'll be counting on you today, as usual."
The clock struck 4 in the evening, a time where the school truly burst into chaos. As soon as the sacred bell rang, students would rush out into the corridors and hallways, flood down the stairs, and scatter out through the gates. Yet, there were those who would stay for clubs, and out of all of them, even surpassing the football club in popularity, Unity High's famous Vanguard Club was the most lively. In fact, it had so many members, that the school had prepared a separate facility for it. A light summer breeze blew, with Damon's ruffled dark hair moving gently in the wind. Clutching his deck, he stepped shyly into the Vanguard Club 'gym'. They had renovated it, so it did not feel like a regular gym. Once inside, the young man looked around, noticing a man tending to what seemed like an in-built shop, and to the side, a door. He pushed them open, and cautiously moved through. Inside the spacious area were several tables, each with two people standing on both ends, with the occasional spectator. Distracted, Damon did not notice another young man trotting up to him.
"Hello. You must be new. Are you here to join the club?"
"Um, yes." Damon replied, startled. "Is there anything I have to do?"
"Nope! All you have to do is be here. It's all about having fun." the young man answered, a smile stretched across his face. Seeing the shorter one confused and awkwardly staring down at his feet, he felt the need to push a little. "So, since you're already here, want a game?" Quiet but eager, Damon nodded.
They strode over to an unused table, and sat down on respective chairs. "Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I'm Oscar, nice to meet ya." the young man said, as he took out his deck of cards.
"Damon. Um, n-nice to meet you t-too." the boy stammered, picking up his cards cautiously, as if they were fragile goods.
"So Damon, do you know the rules? I'd be glad to give a tutorial."
"Um, no it's fine. I'm pretty familiar, I think."
"Well then, let's get started, shall we?" with that, both fighters placed a face-down card from each of their decks, before shuffling and placing their cards down. They then each drew 5 cards, with the two of them both returning any undesired cards back to the deck, reshuffling, and redrawing the same number, as was proper preparatory procedure. Playing a simple game of rock-paper-scissors, Damon was the victor, deciding the first player.
"Stand up, Vanguard!" they both exclaimed, turning their cards over.
"Girl Who Crossed the Gap!" Oscar announced.
"Greedy Hand!" Damon commented, in an attempt to speak louder.
The scene shifted to a circus stage on Planet Cray, spotlights on and moving around, beams of rainbow light. Banners and stage props lined the awesome arena, as the two young men stood on both ends of the battlefield; a scene conjured by their imagination. In a flash of lilac light, Oscar's misty figure transformed into the aforementioned unit, features changed to match his own. Clad in a male black gymnast suit with red highlights, in addition to a black and red cape, the young man struck a pose, twirling a feather in his hand. [Girl Who Crossed the Gap-5000 Power]
Damon's image of himself was consumed by a crimson flash, replaced by a white-haired boy in a dark bodysuit, floating whimsically in the air. He adopted Damon's unsure, doubtful expression, and his timidness was reflected in his own brown eyes. [Greedy Hand-5000 Power]
"Um, I go first. Draw!" the youth drew a card from the top of his deck, adding it to his hand. He then placed a card from his hand on the Vanguard circle. "I ride Dimension Creeper. Then with Greedy Hand's effect, he moves to a Rearguard circle." He moved the card from underneath Dimension Creeper to the circle behind it.
Greedy Hand, raising his hand in farewell, morphed into a puddle of bluish green, which then rose up into the hair, forming a monstrous face. However, in contrast to the image of the unit on its card, Damon's mental image depicted a more timid-looking monster. Behind it, the same white-haired boy appeared, smiling. [Dimension Creeper-7000 Power]
"I can't attack, so it's your turn." Damon stated, smiling a little.
"Yup. Draw." Oscar made the action, before swiftly placing his own card on his own Vanguard circle. "I ride, Purple Trapezist! With Gap's effect, I move her to the rearguard." The original Vanguard disappeared in a bright burst of lilac, revealing Oscar's own rendition of the female trapezist; a man dressed in purple, dark horns jutting out of his head. Pale long hair flowed down to his legs. A girl in a black and white dress appeared behind him, giggling. [Purple Trapezist-6000 Power]
"With a boost from Gap, Trapezist attacks your vanguard!" Oscar turned his cards sideways, before moving his hand to the top of his deck. "I don't guard." Damon mumbled.
"Drive Check, no trigger." He took the top card, revealing it face-up.
[Drive Check-Dusk Illusionist, Robert-No Trigger]
Purple Trapezist, with a great leap, made a graceful somersault before driving her leg into Dimension Creeper, the force causing it to recoil. "Damage Check!" Damon revealed the top card of his own deck, putting it into his damage zone with a disappointed look.
[Damage Check-Blade Wing Faolan-No Trigger]
"I end my turn. You alright there? You look a little winded." Oscar noted.
Oscar Hand: 6
Front Row: (Empty)(Purple Trapezist)(Empty)
Back Row: (Empty)(Girl Who Crossed the Gap)(Empty)
Damage: 0
Damon Hand: 5 Front Row: (Empty)(Dimension Creeper)(Empty)
Back Row: (Empty)(Greedy Hand)(Empty)
Damage: 1 (1 Unflipped)
"Oh! I-I'm fine. A-anyway, um, draw!" the raven-haired boy stammered, doing so. Taking one of his hand cards, he played it onto the field. "I ride Emblem Master!"
Crimson aura formed around Dimension Creeper, transforming it into a more humanoid figure. [Emblem Master-9000 Power]
"Call!" Damon exclaimed, placing more cards in separate circles around the vanguard position.
In a flash of light, two units appeared, flanking each of Emblem Master's sides. An ominous carriage pulled by a violet, deathly headless horse on one side, and a caped young man atop a levitating throne of gold and scarlet on the other. [Hades Carriage of the Witching Hour-8000 Power] [Squallmaker Vampir-9000 Power]
"Hades Carriage attacks the vanguard!"
"Guard, Rainbow Magician!"
Rolling on its course, the olden vehicle charged into its target, before being stopped in its tracks by a white-clad magician, shielding his leader from harm. [6000 Power + 5000 Shield=11000 Power]
"Er, Emblem Master..." he turned his vanguard card sideways, indicating the attack. He did the same for Gap, signifying the boost.
"No guard." Oscar stated, calmly. He glanced over his hand, realizing that even if he guarded, he would lose valuable advantage. His eyes narrowed.
In response, his opponent revealed the top card, a red flash enveloping the card, the Draw Symbol shown clearly on the top right corner. "Drive Check. Get! Draw Trigger! I give the power to Vampir, and draw." He drew an extra card.
[Drive Check-Hysteric Shirley-Draw Trigger]
Holding out his arm, Relic Master summoned an orb of purple and blue light, before blasting a ray of energy, leaving nothing but ash and smoke in its wake. Purple Trapezist struggled to stand, gasping for breath.
"Damage Check." Oscar gritted his teeth, seeing no symbol on his own card, placing it into his damage zone.
[Damage Check-Dusk Illusionist, Albert-No Trigger]
"Relic Master's skill, I Soul Charge 3 cards!" Damon cautiously paid the cost by flipping over a face-up card in his damage zone, and moved the top 3 cards underneath his vanguard.
[Soul Charge-Blade Wing Reijy-No Trigger]
[Soul Charge-Dark Knight of Nightmareland-Critical Trigger]
[Soul Charge-Cursed Doctor-Heal Trigger]
He grimaced at the loss of two triggers into his soul, before reaching for his last card, turning it. "Now for Squallmaker!"
"Guard! Popcorn Boy!" his golden haired opponent retorted, putting down his card on the Guardian Circle.
The vampire raised his arm, before pointing his finger at the injured Trapezist, sending a flurry of white bolts in his direction. [9000 Power + 5000 Power = 14000 Power] In retaliation, a young boy appeared in a flash of light, taking the bolts so that his leader could escape. Unable to take it anymore, he disappeared into scattered lilac motes. [6000 Power + 10000 Shield = 16000 Power].
"I-I end my turn." Damon mumbled.
Damon Hand: 5
Front Row: (Squallmaker Vampir)(Emblem Master)(Hades Carriage of the Witching Hour)
Back Row: (Empty)(Greedy Hand)(Empty)
Damage: 1 (0 Unflipped)
Oscar Hand: 4
Front Row: (Empty)(Purple Trapezist)(Empty)
Back Row: (Empty)(Girl Who Crossed the Gap)(Empty)
Damage: 1 (1 Unflipped)
"That was quite a turn, huh." Oscar commented, making a draw and standing his units. "Let's step it up a notch, eh?" At this point several people had gathered around them, whispering and watching intently.
"He's fighting the club captain?"
"He doesn't stand a chance..." Damon could make out the words, and was slightly surprised. "Y-you're..?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah. Sorry I didn't tell you. Though, really, does it make much difference?"
"Erm, not really..."
"Exactly." the blonde smiled, before placing a card onto his Vanguard. "Ride! Dancing Princess of the Night Sky!" On the circus stage, Trapezist faded away in a burst of sparkles, and in his place stood an elf dressed in a colorful costume, and cute patterns on his cheek, adopting Oscar's golden hair and violet eyes. [Dancing Princess of the Night Sky-8000 Power] "I then activate her skill. Counter Blast." he flipped over a card in his damage zone, and fanned his deck. He carefully searched out a single card, and moved it into his soul.
[Soul Charge-Darkside Princess-No Trigger]
"Call." To Princess's side, appeared a scantily clad lady in a magician's outfit, complete with a top hat; behind her, a young woman resembling a humanoid rabbit covered in pink fur winked at the audience. [Card Dealer, Jacqueline-9000 Power] [Midnight Bunny-7000 Power] And with that, the preparations are complete. Oscar mused, turning his cards sideways. "With a boost from Bunny, Jacqueline attacks."
"I guard Carriage with Blitz Ritter." Damon retorted, flashing said card. In an accumulation of crimson pixels, a gray demon morphed in front of Hades Carriage, swatting the projectile cards Jacqueline had thrown with precise aim. The refracted magical projectiles had flown in various directions, exploding into flowers of light on contact. [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power] [8000 Power + 10000 Shield = 18000 Power]
"Now it's Princess's turn." Oscar enunciated, as if he were commenting throughout a circus show. With Gap supporting her from behind, the graceful acrobat flew into the hair, grabbing onto a swing to prepare her attack. [8000 Power + 5000 Power = 13000 Power]
"I don't guard." "Drive Check." he smiled, showing the card to his opponent. "Get. Critical Trigger. All effects to my vanguard." [Drive Check-Poison Juggler-Critical Trigger]
Bubbling with energy, Princess hopped down from her spot in the air, landing upon Emblem Master, before sending him recoiling back with a kick in the guts. [8000 Power + 5000 Power + 5000 Power = 18000 Power, Critical 2]
"Damage Check." Damon responded, shocked from the unexpected critical. He revealed the next two cards of his deck, and placed them down.
[Damage Check-Dimension Creeper-No Trigger]
[Damage Check-Killing Dollmaster-No Trigger]
Oscar Hand: 3 Front Row: (Card Dealer, Jacqueline)(Dancing Princess of the Night Sky)(Empty)
Back Row: (Midnight Bunny)(Girl Who Crossed the Gap)(Empty)
Damage: 1 (0 Unflipped)
Damon Hand: 4 Front Row: (Squallmaker Vampir)(Emblem Master)(Hades Carriage of the Witching Hour)
Back Row: (Empty)(Greedy Hand)(Empty)
Damage: 3 (2 Unflipped)
A few gasps and 'ooh's sounded from the audience around them. The fight had gotten intense. The coach had taken a break from his duties, now gazing at the game from afar, and two girls had come over from their game, one of them pushing past people and the other following with a deadpan expression. She stared, cold ruby eyes scanning, assessing the scene. Her companion was too busy cheering and making a fuss to really pay attention.
"Scarlette, please, be quiet." she murmured, with a deathly undertone; enough to get the girl in question to reluctantly stop her movements and stay silent.
Standing his units, and drawing, Damon ignored the commotion around. He gazed upon one card, his ace, "Blade Wing Reijy", shining with an aura of rage and angst. Dark Irregulars...outcasts. He felt a slight tug at the back of his mind like a switch. In reaction, everything around him began to whirl and twist, and, letting go of hissense of reality, the world went black. His eyes darkened, and he made a smirk; one enough to send a chill down one's spine. "Oh? Interesting. I guess it's time to come out and play~" he mused, the timidness completely erased from his voice and expression.