OK. I started watching this on YouTube a couple days before school started for me. I've found it amazing, and am glad I did. I know, you guys don't want the monologue. Let's move on. I may or may not use the show storyline as a part of my fic, or I might just make it a passing influence. Not sure yet. Now, please enjoy and tell me in the reviews how I can improve. If you flat out hate it, just tell me. This starts about the same time Q4 gets to Nationals for the first time. Also, I only know a few units, and some clans better than others, so I may make some up as I go along, though I plan to screenshot the necessary units if I can so I'll have some info. If you guys want, you can make up OC units for old clans, new clans of your own, and plain OC characters.
"Vanguard..." I sighed. That game had taken the world by storm. I go for years playing a card game, with almost nobody else to play and even then rarely so. Then, a new game appears and it's all anyone cares about. It's aggravating to say the least. Still, I'd been watching a bit about Vanguard and it looked interesting enough. So, today I'll be giving it a try. A card shop that mostly catered to Vanguard players had recently opened up in town, and I was going there now.
I stepped into the shop, reading the name as I went in. Vanguard Voyager... Weird name. "Hello there! You must be new to our shop, right?" I jumped a bit and almost elbowed the speaker in the gut. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. My name's Dorian Yarrow. How can I help you?"
Dorian looked to be in his early twenties, and had stark white hair in an Afro. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses, and he was tall, but slim, like he'd been stretched out. He had a big, kinda goofy grin that was almost contagious, making me want to smile back. "I'm new yeah. I was thinking about trying out Vanguard."
"A new player, huh? Hmm..." He looked at the customers already there, settling on someone I recognized. "Chase, could you come over here please?" My classmate walked towards us.
"Hey, Aadyn. Are you here to play Vanguard?" I nodded. "Do you have a deck you can use?" My expression told him all he needed to know. "Dorian and I can help you pick one out."
Dorian piped up. "And, since you're a new player, I guess I can make it a gift. Just keep it a secret, alright?" He winked and I imitated zipping my lips shut. We went to a display case with numerous individual cards set inside. "See if one calls out to you. If not, you can tell me about yourself and I can make a suggestion." I listened to his advice, scanning all the units. A couple I dismissed instantly. Some I lingered on, but still... None seemed to call out to me like Dorian said.
After a bit I realized I could see my reflection in the glass. I don't really look in mirrors much, so I guess this is a good time to remind myself what I look like. Long black hair and brown eyes with a birthmark on the left one. I have a lot of freckles, and I'm a fairly big guy of about 6 feet.
Then I focused on the cards again and a unit directly in front of my right eye caught my attention. "Aether... That one." I pointed at the unit I was referring to, and Dorian looked at it.
"That's a Shadow Tracker unit. Weird. Most people don't like them for some reason. So that's what caught your eye? Hold on a second." He went to some boxed decks and picked one, then handed it to me. "Here you go. Chase, mind playing him?" Chase went to one of the tables in response. Here we go...
"OK, pick a grade 0 and place it in the vanguard circle. Next, we imagine. Both of us have appeared as spirits on a planet called Cray, which is a lot like Earth. We're harmless on our own, but we have two powers. One is to call the residents of this world to battle for us. The other is that we can control one of these units to lead the others, called the vanguard. Together, we flip our starting vanguards up and say Stand up, vanguard! Ready? Stand up... Vanguard! Redshoe Milly. And yours is... Reap. Wonder if he's any good. I've never played this clan before."
(Chase) Vanguard: Redshoe Milly: POW: 5000 Hand: 5
(Aadyn) Vanguard: Reap: POW: 6000 Hand: 6
A football player? Saw that coming. What was that clan called? Spike Brothers? I've seen him play a couple times at school, just fleeting glimpses. Still... That gives me an advantage. "And I'll go first. I ride Boreas! Reap moves back. Your move." They seemed kinda surprised. "What? I've been watching for a while. Just wasn't sure about playing until now."
(Aadyn) Vanguard: Boreas POW: 7000, Front right rear guard: Reap: 6000 Hand: 5
(Chase) Vanguard: Redshoe Milly: 6000 Hand: 6
Chase shook himself and made his move. "I ride Wonder Boy, and I call Commander Gary Gannon and Sonic Breaker. With Breaker's support, Gary attacks your vanguard!"
(Chase) Wonder Boy: 8000 Gary Gannon: 6000 Sonic Breaker: 5000
As he said this, I felt the image begin to form in my mind. We were at the foot of a mountain, and Reap stood next to me, swinging what looked like a scythe with two blades and a spike on the top in his hands. I felt and heard some arrows shift in my quiver as I looked away from him to see Gary thundering at me.
(Gary) POW: 11000
What to do... Aha! "I guard with Scent Seeker!" The large brown and gold furred wolf leaped into Gary's path, growling.
(Boreas) POW: 7000 (Scent Seeker) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 12000
"Now you send Scent Seeker to the drop zone, and you take no damage. Nice work. Now Wonder Boy comes in!"
(Wonder Boy): 8000
"I don't guard." Wonder what happens now. Just in case, I shifted my stance and held my bow in front of me.
(Boreas) POW: 7000
"Drive check. When the opponent attacks with their vanguard, and you decide whether you'll guard or not, the attacker checks the top card of their deck for what's called a trigger. After that, I add it to my hand, and if it is a trigger, I apply the effects to a unit of my choosing." It was Highspeed, Brakki. "No trigger. Still, you take one damage, and my turn ends." I was sent rolling partway down the mountain after Chase slammed into me, then got back up. In reality, I grunted and held my stomach.
(Aadyn) Damage: 1 Hand: 6
(Chase) Vanguard: Wonder Boy POW: 8000, Front left rear guard: Gary Gannon POW: 6000, Back left rear guard: Sonic Breaker: POW: 5000 Hand: 4
I drew and looked at my hand. Who to ride now... "I ride Hydris! Now I call Hunter Lyrus to the front line." I looked down at myself now. I was wearing aqua blue chain mail. Next to me, a girl with a lyre in each hand like chakrams glared at Chase and his units.
Looking at Reap, I realized he would need help to penetrate Chase's defense. What to... Huh? I looked at the units in my hand. Now that gives me an idea... "I activate Seer Nostra's skill from my hand. I soulblast one, then counterblast." I removed Boreas from the soul and put him in the drop zone, then flipped my damage.
"I check the tops three cards of my deck, and if there's at least one unit of a lower grade than my vanguard, I call it to a rear guard circle. The other two cards are shuffled back into the deck."
The top cards were a grade 2 Pyrio, a grade 3 Nostra... Last chance. Yes! "I call Scent Seeker to the back row. Using his skill, I send a grade 3 from my hand to the drop zone and call a grade 0 from my deck. I send Nostra to the drop zone and call Sagacious Larc." The canine leapt next to Reap, who absentmindedly scratched him behind the ear. Suddenly, he put his nose to the ground and followed the scent to a nearby rise, and a short fellow with bright red hair and a staff came forward, petting Scent Seeker when he passed him.
"Now, with support from Scent Seeker, Reap comes in at your vanguard." Seeker nudged Reap, and he stretched his arm out, the spike and blades of his weapon detaching from the handle on a chain, heading to Wonder Boy.
"I'll guard with Tyrant Receiver, and intercept with Gary."
(Reap) POW: 13000 (Wonder Boy) 8000 (Tyrant Receiver) SLD: 5000 (Gary Gannon) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 18000
The aforementioned unit threw a football with saw blades at Reap's weapon, knocking it off course to Gary, who threw it back at Reap. I growled, something I've done since I was little, and turned Hydris. "My vanguard attacks yours!" In my mind, I saw myself pull out a canteen and manipulate the water into a spear, before hurling it at Chase. He declared no guard, and I did a drive check, revealing a copy of Black Guard Norgad. "No trigger."
(Hydris) POW: 9000 (Wonder Boy) POW: 8000
"Checking the damage trigger..." Juggernaut Maximum. "No luck."
(Chase) Damage: 1
"I'm not done yet. With support from Larc, Musical Hunter Lyrus attacks your vanguard!" Larc chanted, and Lyrus stood up straighter, before hurling one of her lyres at Chase, the wooden exterior sprouting small blades. "Thanks to the skill of Larc, when he supports a Shadow Tracker unit who is grade 2 or lower, I can add 3000 power to both him and the unit he's supporting.
(Lyrus) POW: 8000 (Larc) POW: 6000 (Total) POW: 14000 (Add Skill) POW: 6000 (New Total) POW: 20000
"Ugh... I can't guard that. Damage check... Nothing." The lyre slashed Chase's chest, knocking him back before returning to Lyrus' hand.
(Chase) Damage: 2
"Since I used his skill, Larc goes to my hand. My turn ends. Your go." Looking at my formation, I considered what my next move should be, then decided to wait until after I survived Chase's attack to decide.
(Aadyn) Vanguard: Hydris POW: 9000 Front left rear guard: Lyrus POW: 8000 Front right rear guard: Reap POW: 6000 Back right rear guard: Scent Seeker POW: 7000 Hand: 4
(Chase) Damage: 2 Hand: 4
"I'll stand and draw. I ride Highspeed, Brakki! And I call Dudley Douglas. Activating Dudley's skill. I pay one damage, and he gets 5000 power until the end of turn.
(Chase) Dudley Douglas POW: 9000 (Bonus) POW: 14000
"Supported by Sonic Breaker, Dudley attacks your vanguard!" The muscular ball player charged at me. I looked at my hand. I can afford it. In my mind, I shifted my stance and crossed my arms in front of me.
(Dudley Douglas) POW: 14000 (Sonic Breaker) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 19000
"Ah! Checking the damage trigger... Alright! I add 5000 power to Hydris. But... What's a red trigger mean?" I placed Nogare in the damage zone and looked at Dorian.
(Aadyn) Damage: 2
"Red triggers allow you to draw an extra card. Not bad, right?" I nodded and drew an extra card. When I saw who it was, I almost gasped. Aether, the unit I'd seen in the case. Well, this is a lot more interesting all of a sudden...
"Brakki attacks your vanguard!" The vaguely demonic looking humanoid rabbit charged, fast as its name implies.
"I'm guarding that with Stygian. With his skill, if I use him to guard, I can place him in the soul and flip a point of damage face up." The cloaked goblin threw a dagger at Brakki, causing him to halt his charge.
(Highspeed, Brakki) POW: 9000 (Hydris) POW: 14000 (Stygian) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 19000
"Darn it. Checking the drive trigger... Perfect timing! Sonic Breaker, a critical! But... With Stygian for a shield, no good... So much for perfect timing. All effects to my vanguard." I placed Stygian in the soul, then stood my units and drew.
(Chase) Vanguard: Highspeed, Brakki POW: 9000 Front left rear guard: Dudley Douglas POW: 9000 Back left rear guard: Sonic Breaker POW: 5000 Hand: 3 Damage: 2
(Aadyn) Damage: 2 Hand: 5
I'm all set. "I ride! Show all that exists what happens when darkness is brought to the light, and redeem your allies of their past sins! Let's go, Aether!" As I rode to the next grade, the light that flared around me grew in intensity, as blinding as the midday sun reflected upon a highly polished piece of metal. I cried out, and when my eyes cleared, I was hefting a pair of scimitars, curved blades with one edge, meant to slash. There was a shield strapped to my back over a suit of plate armor with chain mail filling the gaps.
"Activating Aether's skill. If I have his brother, Squire Reap, in the rear guard, Aether's power goes up by 2000, and I can call a Shadow Tracker from the soul. Return to the battle, Hydris. Lyrus leaves the field. I call, Rider of the Winds Ventra." I saw Lyrus fall back, and in her place was a tall man with aqua blue chain mail holding a canteen. Behind him was a young man hovering in the air slightly with green hair holding a sword with a blade on both sides of the hilt.
"With support from Scent Seeker, Reap attacks Brakki." Once more, with a nudge from the large wolf, Reap let the blades from his weapon detach.
"I won't guard." The blades slashed Brakki's ears, almost removing them.
(Reap) POW: 6000 (Seeker) POW: 7000 (Total) POW: 13000 (Brakki) POW: 9000 (Chase) Damage: 3
"Next, Aether is coming at your vanguard. With his battle skill, I pay one damage to add another 4000 power!" I clanged the blades of my scimitars together, then charged at Brakki.
"I don't guard." Must need to save his hand. Yes!
"Checking the twin drive, then. First up, Damien. No trigger... Second go... Gladiator Thorvus, a critical! The power goes to Hydris, with Aether keeping the critical. Thorvus' skill let's me put the top card of my deck in the soul." Placing Darke Soul Leopard in the soul, I sheared through Brakki with each blade striking him in an X across his torso, then kicked him in the stomach.
(Aether) POW: 16000 (Brakki) POW: 6000 (Chase) Damage: 5
One more... "With support from Ventra, Hydris will end this!"
"I guard with Sonic Breaker! And intercept with Dudley Douglas!" The two ogres leaped in front of Brakki. It won't go through... I was so close, though!
(Hydris) POW: 14000 (Ventra) POW: 7000 (Total) POW: 21000 (Brakki) POW: 9000 (Sonic Breaker) SLD: 10000 (Douglas) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 24000
"My turn is done. Your move. Better make it count. Oh, and Aether loses both power boosts when my turn ends."
(Aadyn) Vanguard: Aether POW: 10000 Front left rear guard: Reap POW: 6000 Front right rear guard: Hydris POW: 9000 Back right rear guard: Scent Seeker POW: 7000 Back left rear guard: Ventra POW: 7000 Damage: 2 Hand: 5
(Chase) Damage: 5 Hand: 3
"I stand and draw. I ride Jelly Beans! Next I call Juggernaut Maximum and Highspeed, Brakki." A big, muscular green thing took Brakki's place, and in Dudley's old spot was a huge purple skinned giant with a skull speared on a horn that was part of his helmet. A new Brakki was on Jelly Beans' other side. "With support from Sonic Breaker, Brakki will attack your vanguard. Activating Brakki's skill, I soulblast one to boost his power by 5000." I declared no guard and turned my back shield to Brakki.
(Brakki) POW: 14000 (Sonic breaker) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 19000 (Aether) POW: 10000
(Aadyn) Damage: 3
"Brakki goes to the deck due to his skill. Next, I attack your vanguard with Jelly Beans." No way!
"I'll guard that hit with Celestial Serpent Saladin!" The black snake coiled itself around me, braced to take the hit.
(Jelly Beans) POW: 10000 (Aether) POW: 10000 (Saladin) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 15000
"Not over yet. I check the twin drive. First check... Alright! Adelaide, a heal trigger. I give 5000 power to Jelly Beans, and recover one damage. Second... Yes, a critical! Power to Juggernaut, but my vanguard keeps the critical effect." ...Crap!
(Jelly Beans) POW: 15000 Critical: 2
(Aadyn) Damage: 5
(Chase) Damage: 4
The large humanoid swung one arm, smashing aside Saladin, then pummeling me. I crashed into a large chunk of stone, shattering it. I got up, clutching my ribs. If Juggernaut gets through, that's curtains. All or nothing, then. "Now Juggernaut is coming in. Besides that, he has the same skill as Brakki. Let's see you stop this!"
"No problem. It's nullified with Damien!" I placed a copy of Thorvus in the drop zone, and Damien jumped in front of me, his huge shield taking the entire assault.
(Juggernaut Maximum) POW: 21000
(Chase) Vanguard: Jelly Beans POW: 10000 Back left rear guard: Sonic Breaker POW: 5000 Hand: 2 Damage: 4
(Aadyn) Hand: 3 Damage: 5
Alright... One chance. I need two damage this turn to win. "Stand and draw. Activating Scent Seeker's skill to call Revolution Lancer Cormac to rear guard. Now Scent Seeker will support Reap in an attack on Jelly Beans."
(Reap) POW: 6000 (Scent Seeker) POW: 7000 (Total) 13000 (Jelly Beans) POW: 10000
"I don't guard."
(Chase) Damage: 5
"With support from Cormac, Aether is gonna rip your vanguard to shreds! Activating his battle skill for another 4000 power." He only has two cards, both with a 10000 point shield. He can guard this, but he won't have anything for next turn. Maybe he'll hope for a trigger.
"I guard with Adelaide. Not letting you win this, Aadyn." I began retreating in disgust as the goblin cheer squad started a routine in front of me.
(Aether) POW: 14000 (Cormac) POW: 4000 (Total) POW: 18000 (Jelly Beans) POW: 10000 (Adelaide) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 20000
I checked the twin drive. Sweet-Toothed Striker Sugai, no good. Knight of Arrogance, Tobias. Well, well... "Aether's attack may not go through, but I can activate Darke Soul Leopard's skill. If he's in the soul while I have a Shadow Tracker vanguard who's attack is blocked, and I reveal a grade one in the drive check, I can superior ride him from the soul and put said grade one in the rear guard circle behind him. Try stopping this one, Chase!" I felt a stirring within me, and my vision darkened. Suddenly I was a pitch black feline about the size of a destrier. Behind me, Cormac was swapped for the stuck up knight in golden armor. "Downside is that after this turn, my vanguard is returned to normal and both Darke and Tobias will be placed in the drop zone, plus I lose my drive check for this turn."
"Now Hydris and Ventra will attack Jelly Beans. Even if you guard this, it'll take a miracle trigger to win. So... You gonna guard?" He glared at his hand, then shook his head.
(Hydris) POW: 9000 (Ventra) POW: 7000 (Total) POW: 16000 (Jelly Beans) POW: 10000
"Checking the damage trigger..." Baby Face Isaac. "I lose..."
(Chase) Damage: 6
I... I won. I WON! "Yeah! This is epic! First game, and I won! Yes! And Chase? No holding back next time, ok? Or I'll never improve." Chase looked at me, wondering how I knew, then glanced at Isaac in the damage zone.
"Caught red handed. If it helps, you seem genuinely talented, Aadyn." I thanked him and looked at Dorian.
"Looks like you have a new regular. Considering how much fun that was, I can't wait to keep playing. But, uh..."
"What is it?" I glanced at him and decided to out and say it.
"Would you mind starting to stock a few Yu-Gi-Oh cards? I've been playing that for years, but... The only place I know sells them I almost never visit. So... You mind?"
Dorian looked at me oddly, then chuckled. "Provided you're here to get them, no problem!"
I looked at my deck. "Can I get a couple boosters that may have some Shadow Trackers in them? That way I can maybe modify my deck a bit at home before I come back tomorrow." Dorian sold me three packs of a set that mostly catered to Shadow Trackers, called Umbra Revival. Kind of a clunky name, but... Eh, what can ya do sometimes but just soldier on? Besides, it's just a name. Rubbing my palms together, I went home, already planning for the next day.
Well, what do you guys think? The format for all the units and such will take some getting used to. Also, today I found out there's a whole season I missed since there wasn't a dub. I'm starting over right now after finishing G, and just finished the episode Aichi and Kamui lost to Dreadnought. Anyway, please tell me how I did, and remember I wouldn't mind OC fighters, units, even clans. Be sure to give me specifics, and if I get something wrong, tell me so I can fix it. Oh, also, you Fire Emblem fans, if any of you are like me in that regard, look closely at the Sweet Tooth in my last twin drive, and think of anagrams. I'll put up unit lists at intervals to help familiarize you guys with OC units, and honestly, to make sure I don't mess up on my own creations. And now, bye everyone!
