CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD: COMPANY OF TERRAN
PROLOUGE CHAPTER
THE PLANET CRAY
1207hrs Local Time…
Thick grey clouds shrouded the once azure blue sky of the Sanctuary, spreading vast quantities of despair over the fellow citizens who cower in fear of the 'invaders'…
This is the planet Cray, under the grip of the cybernetic force known as 'Link Joker'…
From out of nowhere they descended onto the planet's surface, to continue the work that had started awhile back, during the War of Liberation…
Swarms of their forerunners, known as 'Star-Vaders', swiftly laid waste to everyone and everything that stood to fight against their might…
The numerous clans of the planet Cray faced the invaders sudden assault bravely, taking down countless numbers of their forces before… 'It' began…
Several leaders of the clans that fought the invaders fell to a strange power…the power that gave life to these cyber-beings would also be used to turn the invasion around…
'Reverse', that power was known as, would immediately turn the tides against the brave defenders of the planet…
One by one the clan leaders fell to this Phenomenon, and awakened with a will to destroy their own comrades who dared to go against the 'invaders'…not knowing that they were also assisting in the extinction of the clans they represented…
With their forces scattered and strength nearly diminished, the clans of Cray decided to form a team of their strongest remaining forces, to launch a last ditch attack that could permanently defeat the invaders once and for all…
Days after the final force left to finish the job, the majority of Link Joker forces still reign over the kingdoms of fearful citizens and weakened bands of defenders struggling to hold the line…
Hope is a strange thing…Many hold on to it despite it being a mere delusion…But then again you'd be surprised at just how something this delusional would pay off…In ways you'd least expect…
This is a story of a small band of defenders who despite being outshone numerously by the powers of others, in the face of sheer despair and death would turn the invasion all the way around…and round…and round…
THE TAVERN…
1215hrs Local Time…
Weapons Dealer Govannon, had been cleaning a mug that had waited its turn for cleaning as 'he' returned to take his seat on the bar again. The dwarf sized gnome was one of the Sanctuary's finest weapon smiths. Regardless of the weapon, this little weapons expert could whip up and old rusty, broken sword back into its original shiny adversary slaying state or essentially turn it into some priceless collector's item. There were rumours flowing around that Govannon was one of the few crafters who had both witness and partake in the forging of the Sanctuary's legendary super-weapons. Till this day, he has neither denied nor confirmed his involvement in the project…
His days as a crafter had both instantaneously skyrocketed and come crashing down over the course of the invasion. At first, orders were piling in from Armies, Mercenaries and even overly-panicky civilians. Over the clock he and his crew forged countless armours and weapons during the early phase of the invasion. But then armies were in retreat, and so did the orders for war gear. He'd barely escaped the attack on his workshop and struggled to seek refuge from the invader's grasp. Soon enough, he found himself put in charge of running The Tavern. A bar that had once belonged to a former associate of his, who till this day, had left the title of 'Bartender' under his name.
Nowadays, anyone who could avoid the constant patrols of the invaders would sneak their way to The Tavern, located underground with the main building on the surface, as a means of meeting, chilling or just getting drunk. Rare was the day when there would be meetings of planned offensives that would get underway, rarer were the days when the band that launched their attacks would return to drink another day.
Before him, the black knight sat while fiddling his long overdue for a refill mug. 'Need a refill?' Govannon asked.
The knight returned a slight pushing five as a sign of no, which irritated the bartender. This customer of his had been running up a tab that could feed a working unit of willing defenders, but guns for hire these days had upped their fees to a ridiculous rate of 'ridiculous', such that it's practically legal extortion.
A light orange puppy, with its ears covered by armour and had a monocle for a right eye leaped onto the bar. It happily snuggled next to the black knight's arm, who in turn gave it a nice run on the head. Just then, the bell by the door ringed.
The door showed a blonde white armoured youth with an overly sized staff emerging from the outside into the Tavern. By name, he is not known. Many just refer him to as Mystical Hermit, or Hermit for short. A warrior by his own right of fighting, who embarked on a journey to learn the way of the sage from the giants who roamed the Sanctuary, he does not walk down the path of knighthood as many would.
'Those pesky things sure know how to make a fuss of getting us,' said Hermit as he made his way toward the bar, 'I had to knock down a house to drive attention away from me. Though someone isn't gonna be happy about that.'
'Why didn't you just blast those pests down to hell while you were at it? Did you really had to take down a whole house in the process?!' exclaimed Govannon.
'Oh why don't you go blasting at every single invader you see? I'm pretty sure we'd all love the follow up party that follows up with pie!' Hermit returned back.
'I'd like some peanut pie please…But that's not the point! What matters is that you didn't take some out!'
'Peanuts make you nuts so vanilla is better! And who are you to say what I should do or not shorty?!'
'Shut it wannabe hermit! Learning energy blasting from the giants and you can't even shoot one!'
'Wanna try one? Cause it's on the house!' Hermit prepared his staff to fire as Govannon drew his pistol…
Just as they were about to shoot one another, the loud thud of a mug caught both their attention. Primgal barked wildly at the duo as the black knight stared towards them. Govannon noticed the knight pointing towards the TV overhead, with the face of their number one enemy on screen. The little gnome quickly scattered toward the TV to increase its volume for the crowd to listen over the invader's announcement.
'Figured you'd still be here,' Hermit addressed the black knight, 'I've got something in mind if you're interested…'
'Shut it Hermit! We're trying to listen!' Govannon exclaimed. Hermit was just about to launch another energy ball towards the piped sized shorty, but the black knight raised his left hand as a sign for hold position. Hermit willingly backed off and stared into towards the screen.
On the screen, the face of the Commander of the Star-Vaders stared towards the viewers. Few have ever fought him to live, let alone survive his onslaught. But what they do know, he strangely goes by the name 'The Clown', which begs the question why the Pale Moon Circus haven't made attempts to spice up their performances by hiring him…
'All citizens of the Sanctuary, you are now under the rule of Link Joker. By our decree, all citizens and members of any of your pathetic armies are compulsory to willingly surrender without condition or face our might and wrath for defiling us…'
'Why that little…' the black knight whispered softly under his breath, clenching his mug tightly. Hermit and Govannon had managed to hear his first words in a long while, which was much of a surprise.
'It is futile to face us head-on, you WILL LOSE, FAIL, SUFFER A GLORIOUS DEFEAT under our feet.'
The screen turned to show the various leaders of the Clans who led the defence against Link Joker, now imbued with the power of 'Reverse', with the black rings floating around their figures…
A crimson red thunder dragon, Vowing Sabre Dragon 'Reverse'…
A black six-armed demon, Demon Marquis Amon 'Reverse'…
A red long haired midriff barring elf, Silver Thorn Dragon Queen Luquier 'Reverse'…
A gigantic skull-faced robot, Dark Dimensional Daiyusha 'Reverse'…
A ferocious looking leopard, School Punisher Leo-plad 'Reverse'…
A living pirate skeleton, Ice Prison Necromancer Cocytus 'Reverse'…
A white twin tailed midriff barring angel, Cleanup Celestial Ramiel 'Reverse'…
A full armoured mecha fighter, Deadliest Beast Deity Ethics Buster 'Reverse'…
'That's a lot of leaders…gulp…'said Hermit.
'And my prize possession, a member of the Sanctuary's so-called First army…'
The screen shifted towards a long haired blonde elf, in a pure white armoured dress, carrying a large shield and sharp rapier, with a jewel of pathetic grey…Broken Hearted Jewel Knight Ashley 'Reverse'…
'No freaking way…'gasped Hermit.
'Way alright, we'd always knew something like this would happen eventually.' Govannon replied. He noticed the black knight's grip on his mug tightening, so did Primgal's mild growl becoming slightly louder…
'Whatever happens, your attempts to fight us is futile, we have your leaders, so gladly bow to us…'
Hermit stared at the black knight, he could sense his fury and hatred accumulating…something was going to happen…
'Or face our power, and be locked…or be 'Reversed'…' the cyber dragon gave the screen a close up wicked smile that screamed 'we have won, you have lost so don't bother trying losers…'
'Go to hell you lousy CENSORED CENSORED!' The black knight exclaimed as he drew out his pistol and shot 'The Clown' on the screen.
Hermit and Govannon were completely caught off guard by his actions, the last thing you'd expect a fellow viewer in a Tavern to do is to shoot the TV in the face!
'WHAT WAS THAT FOR ECTOR?!' screamed Govannon, as he grabbed Ector by his armour collar and shook him wildly, 'YOU'D JUST FREAKING BLEW UP OUR ONLY SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT AROUND HERE YOU IDIOT!'
'In my defence…' replied Ector, he brushed his chin a bit before snapping his finger for his answer, 'I was drunk!'
'DRUNK MY FOOT! YOU'D BARELY DRANK A SINGLE DROP OF ALCOHOL SINCE YOU GOT HERE!'
'Whoa, hold up there.' Interrupted Hermit, 'you've been here for weeks and you'd barely finish a bottle?!'
'Well, let's just say water's my kind of booze.'
Hermit gave himself a facepalm over his buddy's response, while Govannon was still coming to grips with the fact that Ector had took out the TV, 'SO what you're gonna do about the TV?!'
'Put it on my tab Govannon, just like you'd always do.'
'What tab?! You've been paying for everything you ordered since you got here!'
'I did? I was wondering where'd all that funding had gone to.' Govannon facepalmed himself, He was amazed that his longest serving client hadn't notice that he'd been paying his bills, with his superbly outstandingly lack of attention to such things.
'Ok back to business, Hermit buddy.' said Ector, as he filled a bowl of puppy feed to pass to Primgal to munch for lunch. 'You said you've got something for me?'
'Right, but before that,' Hermit patted adorable little Primgal as it dug into the delicious bowl of snacks it savours. 'Are you sure about this? I mean are you alright to go through with this again?'
'I am man, how long have you known me?'
'Long enough to know you get your butt kicked all the time. But seriously though, after what had happened the last time…'
'I know,' Ector nodded, 'this is what she would've wanted, for us to continue the fight. And looking at what's happening, I'd say we don't have much of a choice now do we?'
'True, but as leader you can't back out once this starts…'
'Yup, which is why, do you hear that?' Ector moved his palm by his ear to pretend he could hear something…
Behind the bar, Govannon gave up on pursuing the TV compensation to continue cleaning mugs, and let out a fart. 'Whoops'
'The point is,' Ector cleared his throat while secretly cursing Govannon for ruining that gag, 'someone's payback is long overdue…'
He turned to face the TV screen, which had paused itself with 'The Clown's' wicked smile. Hermit nodded in agreement, 'So what's next?'
'We do what we got to do, with courage,' said Ector, who gave out a fist bump.
'And determination,' continued Hermit, as he returned the bump.
'Ruff, Ruff,' barked Primgal, who accidentally toppled its lunch bowl.
'Don't forget weapons!' said Govannon, 'And that TV you owe the Tavern ECTOR!'
'No sweat man, which is why I'm asking you to come along,' said Ector, as he drew his sword and placed it on the bar, 'I am your best client as of right now, and I'd like to have to have the best crew along for the job.'
Govannon leapt onto the bar to observe the first weapon he had seen in awhile, months of serving booze had almost blunted his finesse of weapon crafting.
'Your sword's fine, an excellent piece if I might add,' Govannon explained as Ector took his sword and sheath it back, 'But you still owe me a TV plus double pay when we're done!'
'Make it triple. Just make sure you don't fall behind in the process.'
END OF PROLOUGE CHAPTER.
NEXT: Chapter 1: And I would Fight 500 Miles and I would Fight 500 more…