I post chapter one less than an hour ago, and yet here's the second already. The first may have been tough, but I feel great about getting it done, so I may as well start. I know my title was kinda iffy, but... I was sitting out in the wind, and I hate the cold. Remember, I'm accepting OC fighters, units, and even clans. But remember that I'll need different details depending. Like on the clans, I'll need a list of units, their skills, clan specialties, homeland, etc. For units, I need a description, power, shield, and skills. On fighters, I want a general ruling for play style, what clan they use, favorite units (if they have one), description, new or experienced, build, personality, where they're from, that kinda thing. I'm managing to find cards online and take pictures, so for now the only OC units I make will be for Shadow Trackers, but I want to change that later on. So, on to chapter two! Err, hang on. I just remembered the finals happened just before summer break, and it's winter right now. As such, please ignore that mixup. I had the timing for a reason.

"Come on, come on... I need some luck." I tore open the new booster I had just bought. I'd already made some changes to my deck, but after a while, I wanted to try out other clans too. It had been about a week since my first game, and I was doing fairly well. I lost about one in every four games, but not bad I'd say.

Back to the other clans deal. I'd decided that the first new clan I would try would be Kagero, which seemed like a cool clan, especially since I love dragons. Problem was... I couldn't find the right units. Only a couple other players that went to Vanguard Voyager used that clan, and weren't interested in any cards I was willing to trade. I'd been using a fair few packs, but so far I had gotten a few grade threes, a good amount of grade ones, but no grade twos and a single grade zero.

Looking at the new cards, I saw four Kagero units, a grade two, one grade zero, and two grade ones. Still not what I needed. This was gonna take forever. I know, why not get a constructed deck? Well... One of the games I lost, my opponent bet that if I lost, I couldn't buy a constructed deck until after I made a deck from cards I'd found in boosters. If he had lost, he would have bought me the constructed deck and five packs. It seemed like it was a chance worth taking at the time.

"Come on, Aadyn. Cheer up! You won't get better cards by sulking." I sighed. As usual, Dorian had a point. Still... "This should cheer you up. They're having the finals for the Japanese Vanguard national tournament, and I rigged the shop TV to show subtitles of what they're saying. Come and watch!" Pocketing the new cards, I went to where some of the other regulars were sitting, joking around as they waited for Dorian to turn on the TV.

I sat between my friends Ray and Alan, who I had convinced to start visiting the shop with me after school, though I hadn't managed to convince Ray to start playing. Alan had agreed, and we had used an online personality quiz to find what clan was best for him, which was Neo Nectar. However, he still was trying to make a deck, and we hadn't had his first game yet.

After saying hi to them both, I turned towards the TV. Telling everyone to quiet down, Dorian turned it on. Turned out they were already partway through the final match (Come on!), but what we saw was amazing, and slightly frightening. That unit the redhead fighter had used, Blaster Dark. I didn't like it, or the player who used it. There was something off about them both.

"T-that match was amazing!" I turned towards Alan. He could be pretty mellow, and was a bit... Well, I'll just say it. Physically, he's rather weak. He gets hurt when someone pokes him. But, he's got some spine to him when it matters, and isn't bothered by what other people think about him. "I-if you hadn't a-already convinced me, I would d-definitely be wanting to play after that. So, can we play, Aadyn? I think my deck's ready." As you might have noticed, he stutters. According to him, sometimes the words are on the tip of his tongue, but he can't remember the whole thing.

Grinning, I pulled out my deck. The Shadow Trackers, not my half baked Kagero. "Let's go!" Now this would cheer me up. Placing our grade zeroes in the vanguard circle, I wondered if I should explain the rules. Then again, I've already explained them to him, so I'll leave it unless he asks. "Ready?"

He nodded, and we both flipped our cards. "Stand up-" I added in "my" before we continued "-vanguard!"

(Alan) Vanguard: Shield Seed Squire POW: 5000 Hand: 6

(Aadyn) Vanguard: Squire Reap POW: 6000 Hand: 5

Alan went first. "I draw, then r-ride Arboros Dragon, Branch! Moving Seed Squire to rear guard, and I end my tu-turn." I pictured the small bioroid get replaced with the studious looking green dragon, then run to its side. Although, that didn't last long as Branch climbed up onto one of the branches of a tree nearby, reminding me we were in a lush forest, nearly a jungle, and leaving Shield Seed looking kinda hurt.

(Alan) Vanguard: Arboros Dragon, Branch POW: 7000 Front left rear guard: Shield Seed Squire POW: 5000 Hand: 5

(Aadyn) Hand: 6

"I'm gonna ride Knight of Arrogance, Tobias! Activating his skill to add Arrogant Nobility, Tobias to my hand. Moving Reap to the rear guard, and calling Star Knight Arlene, along with Haywire Mech 64032. With support from Haywire Mech, Arlene attacks Branch." I pointed my golden spear (which I didn't like since gold is such soft metal with an undeserved amount of weight and no practical use) at the perched dragon, who suddenly looked nervous, and pushed up its-or, rather, Alan's glasses. Arlene nodded in understanding and grinned like the Cheshire Cat, then leaped at it.

"I won't guard." Arlene used the spearhead at the end of her halberd to spike Branch in the gut, knocking him off the limb.

(Arlene) POW: 7000 (Haywire) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 12000 (Branch) POW: 7000 (Alan) Damage: 1

"Next up, my vanguard is going to wipe you out. With his skill, when he attacks without support I add an extra 1000 power." Arlene jumped aside as I charged at Alan, aiming for his shoulder, more to avoid the monotony of stomach shots than anything else.

"I guard with Broccolini Musketeer, Kirah. Even a trigger won't do any good w-with that." The bioroid whistled right by my ear, causing me to yelp and look away from Alan, who climbed up into the trees while I was distracted, beyond my reach. Grudgingly, I admitted he had a point.

"Drive check... No trigger." Placing Nostrum in my hand, I glared at Alan. Next, then...

(Tobias) POW: 9000 (Branch) POW: 7000 (Kirah) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 17000

Reap wouldn't be able to get through without support or a trigger boost, so I'll have to change tactics. "Reap is going to cut down your Seed Squire." Unlike the other times I've had him attack, this time Reap came up to his target, thrusting with the spike at the end of his weapon. But before it connected, he was knocked aside.

"I guard with M-M-Magnolia Knight." Sighing, I declared that my turn was over.

(Reap) POW: 6000 (Shield Seed Squire) POW: 5000 (Magnolia Knight) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 10000

(Aadyn) Vanguard: Knight of Arrogance, Tobias POW: 8000 Front right rear guard: Star Knight Arlene POW: 7000 Back right rear guard: Haywire Mech 64032 POW: 5000 Front left rear guard: Squire Reap POW: 6000 Hand: 4

(Alan) Damage: 1 Hand: 4

"I-I'll draw and ride Arboros Dragon, Timber. Then I ca-call Lily Knight of the Valley, Iris Knight, and Colossal Wings Simurgh. Shield Seed Squire moves back. Thanks to the skill of Timber, with Branch in the soul he gains 1000 power." Suddenly I was facing off with a stronger dragon and a nearly full rear guard of three bioroids and a huge bird that looked more like a forest shaped as a bird. I remember that when Lily Knight helps Iris Knight, there's a power boost, so here comes a fierce assault. "With support from Lily Knight, Iris Knight will attack Tobias!"

Can't afford to waste that much of my hand... "I don't guard that one." I jammed the end of my spear into the ground and gripped it as firmly as I could. The slash from Alan's unit cut a groove into my armor, shattering several of the jewels embedded in it.

(Tobias) POW: 8000 (Iris Knight) POW: 10000 (Lily Knight) POW: 6000 (Lily Knight's skill) POW: 4000 (Total) POW: 20000

"Damage check, then." Jericho, meaning nada. Crud.

(Aadyn) Damage: 1

"Now Timber is going for your vanguard!" That I can stop.

"Cavalry Captain Gernas will stop you cold. Even a trigger won't help. Isn't payback a jerk sometimes?" I gave him a mocking grin as Gernas' mace knocked Alan back. One more.

(Tobias) POW: 8000 (Timber) POW: 10000 (Gernas) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 18000

"Drive che-check. Yes!" Now? Of all times?! Fairy Light Dragon, a heal trigger. Great! "I re-recover one damage, and add the 5000 power to Simurgh."

(Alan) Damage: 0 (Simurgh) POW: 13000

"Now Simurgh, with support from Shield Seed Squire, will attack your vanguard." As the enormous bird plummeted towards me, I sighed. After that trigger? Nope. I braced my spear once again. But this time I was knocked back, landing rather painfully on my left elbow. My spear was knocked into the air, and I had to roll aside to avoid being skewered. Yeep!

(Tobias) POW: 8000 (Simurgh) POW: 13000 (Shield Seed) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 18000

(Aadyn) Damage: 2

(Alan) Vanguard: Arboros Dragon, Timber POW: 10000 Front right rear guard: Iris Knight POW: 10000 Back right rear guard: Lily Knight of the Valley POW: 6000 Front left rear guard: Colossal Wings, Simurgh POW: 8000 Back left rear guard: Shield Seed Squire Hand: 1

(Aadyn) Damage: 2 Hand: 4

"You may have the lead, Alan, but I'm not going down so easily! Stand and draw. I ride Arrogant Nobility, Tobias! With his skill, another 1000 power while Knight of Arrogance is in the soul. I'm moving back Reap, and calling Twilight Wyvern." Now I was riding a destrier who was also wearing golden armor, and next to me was a yellow wyvern with claws I hoped would never be pointed in my direction. Alan only has one unit in his hand right now, with a 10000 point shield, but he has two intercepts, and Simurgh can double his shield value when intercepting, so this may not be easy. I looked at Arlene, and she nodded. Alright, then. "Star Knight Arlene is coming at your vanguard with a little help from Haywire Mech." She lunged at him, this time turning the axe blade of her halberd at her enemy, aiming for his neck.

"I don't guard." Timber crumpled as the blow hit, then managed to heave himself back onto his feet, although shakily, and his glasses were cracked a bit. "Damage check. Frontline Valkyrie, Laurel, nothing."

(Timber) POW: 10000 (Arlene) POW: 7000 (Haywire) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 12000 (Alan) Damage: 1

Now to even things out. "My vanguard is coming at yours." I managed to avoid grimacing. I didn't have any grade 3s in my hand, so I couldn't activate his skill for a power boost. Hopefully the drive check will change my luck.

"Iris Knight will intercept." I made my horse rear back as the flower based sword cut the air in front of us. Crud, what to hope for? Trigger or grade 3? I could use a trigger now, but the grade 3 can help in the long term. I should just look.

"Drive trigger check, then. Stygian, no trigger." As I cursed my poor luck, I retreated back to my allies.

(Timber) POW: 10000 (Tobias) POW: 10000 (Iris Knight) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 15000

"One more shot. Supported by Reap, Twilight Wyvern is coming at your vanguard." Lashing its tail, the wyvern launched itself at Alan, claws extended.

"I'm intercepting with Simurgh. Too bad, Aadyn." The huge bird clutched Twilight Wyvern in its talons, then hurled it back to us.

(Timber) POW: 10000 (Twilight Wyvern) POW: 10000 (Reap) POW: 6000 Total: 16000 (Simurgh) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 20000

(Aadyn) Vanguard: Arrogant Nobility, Tobias POW: 10000 Front right rear guard: Star Knight, Arlene POW: 7000 Back right rear guard: Haywire Mech 64032 POW: 5000 Front left rear guard: Twilight Wyvern POW: 10000 Back left rear guard: Squire Reap POW: 6000 Hand: 3 Damage: 2

(Alan) Damage: 1 Hand: 2

As Alan stood his rear guards I looked at my hand. Spiritcaller Nostrum, Stygian, and Irontooth Skirmisher. With Twilight's intercept, that makes a total 25000 point shield if I use it all at once. But what are the odds Alan will draw a grade 3 at this exact moment? I'll be fine. "Bring life to my forces and raise little seeds to mighty forests! I ride Arboros Dragon, Sephirot!" WHAT?! You have got to be joking! "I move Shield Seed Squire forward, and call Fairy Light Dragon to rear guard. Thanks to the skill of Timber, if I ride Sephirot on him with Branch in the soul, I can choose one of my rear guards and call another of that unit from my deck. Calling another Shield Seed Squire in front of Lily Knight of the Valley. And Sephirot's skill adds 1000 power with Timber in the soul." Great. One ride and he gets a mostly full formation. Neo Nectar is a stronger clan than I realized. Maybe I should have tried that clan rather than Kagero first. Well, no use crying over spilt milk. There's not a lot of power in his formation beyond his vanguard at least. "The Squire on the left is coming at your vanguard." I glanced at the small warrior. Might as well save my hand. I shrugged to let Alan know I wasn't guarding.

(Tobias) POW: 10000 (Shield Seed Squire) POW: 5000 (Fairy Light Dragon) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 10000

He hit me in the head with his shield after jumping, and I shook it once he left. That hurt more than I thought it would. "Damage check." I bit down on my tongue as I saw that it was Aether. "No trigger..." Not just a grade 3, but my favorite unit. So far I hadn't played a single match without using him.

(Aadyn) Damage: 3

"Now his skill activates. When Shield Seed Squire hits a vanguard, I can call a Blade Seed Squire from my deck in his place, but resting." OK, that's not right! I glared at the strengthened bioroid until Alan regained my attention. "Now my vanguard gets a turn." As the dragon swung its flowery staff at me, I glanced at my hand. I can guard it fairly easily.

"Guarding that one with Irontooth Skirmisher." The barbaric-looking unit fired a crossbow bolt at Alan, causing him to duck.

"Twin drive check. First, Jungle Lord Dragon. Second, Lotus Druid. Nothing." Alan stepped back with a disappointed expression.

(Tobias) POW: 10000 (Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Irontooth) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 20000

"Last attack is coming at you! Go, Shield Seed Sq-Squire!" Looking at my hand again, I read Nostrum's skill. With that...

"Intercept with Twilight Wyvern." Shield Seed backed away slowly as the fearsome beast slashed at the air in front of him. Alan glumly declared the end of his turn.

(Tobias) POW: 10000 (Shield Seed) POW: 5000 (Lily Knight) POW: 6000 (Total) POW: 11000 (Twilight) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 15000

(Alan) Vanguard: Arboros Dragon, Sephirot POW: 11000 Front left rear guard: Blade Seed Squire POW: 7000 Back left rear guard: Fairy Light Dragon POW: 5000 Front right rear guard: Shield Seed Squire POW: 5000 Back right rear guard: Lily Knight of the Valley POW: 6000 Hand: 2 Damage: 1

(Aadyn) Hand: 3 Damage: 3

I drew and looked at the unit revealed. Armored Wyrm, Raxtus. His skill could really help me out. "No choice. I ride Spiritcaller Nostrum, and his skill activates. When I ride him on a Shadow Tracker unit, I can counterblast to call a unit from the drop zone. Return to battle, Twilight Wyvern. Next I call Armored Wyrm, Raxtus. Activating his skill, I remove a Shadow Tracker from the soul to retire one rear guard. Say goodbye to Blade Seed Squire."

Now I was a pirate-looking unit hefting a sickle. Muttering, I used it to carve a symbol into the dirt, and Twilight Wyvern burst from the ground. Then I saw a heavily armored, wingless dragon that resembled a gecko came forward, smashing some trees on the way. Then, it turned towards Blade Seed Squire and lunged forward with open jaws. I looked away, and when I turned back, Raxtus had a content expression with horrified looks from both groups directed at him. Wasn't expecting that to be his method. I shivered and turned to Alan.

"Why did you r-ride a grade 2?" Then he got a knowing look and told me to forget he had asked. Right, then.

"Supported by Reap, my Wyvern is going to take a bite out of your vanguard." As I said this, it launched itself at Alan, though it used its claws instead of fangs. Alan a grade 3 and a grade 1 making up his hand with no units able to intercept. Now is the time to dish some damage. Naturally, he declared no guard.

(Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Twilight Wyvern) POW: 10000 (Reap) POW: 6000 (Total) POW: 16000

"Da-Damage check." Timber, so no good. Yes!

(Alan) Damage: 2

"Next comes my vanguard, supported by Raxtus. And no guard, right? Checking the drive trigger, then. Yes! A draw trigger. The power goes to Arlene, and I draw." Adding Devious Burglar Marv to my hand, I took the top card of my deck. Eyes closed, I hoped for a miracle, then slowly opened them. It was one of my newest units, Deformed Alchemist, and a grade 3. Perfect! I hopped onto Raxtus' head, and he catapulted me at Alan, at which point I cut his staff in two.

(Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Nostrum) POW: 9000 (Raxtus) POW: 8000 (Total) POW: 17000

"D-Damage check. Nothing..." Placing Glass Beads Dragon in the damage zone, he gave me a defiant look. After I made my next attack, he would put all he had into making me pay for this turn.

(Alan) Damage: 3

"Supported by Haywire Mech, Arlene is gonna wrap up my turn. No guard, right?" Arlene used the spear part of her halberd again, and lanced Alan through one leg, dropping him to one knee.

(Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Arlene) POW: 12000 (Haywire Mech) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 17000

"Damage check is... Nothing." I ended my turn and gave him a grin that was met with one of his own. He may be sore about this turn, but Alan tends to be a pretty nice guy, and he doesn't hold grudges. To be honest, he's an awesome friend, even if his stutter sometimes makes a sentence take about 5 minutes.

(Alan) Damage: 4

(Aadyn) Vanguard: Spiritcaller Nostrum POW: 9000 Front right rear guard: Star Knight Arlene POW: 7000 Back right rear guard: Haywire Mech 64032 POW: 5000 Front left rear guard: Twilight Wyvern POW: 10000 Back left rear guard: Squire Reap POW: 6000 Center rear guard: Armored Wyrm, Raxtus POW: 8000 Hand: 3 Damage: 3

(Alan) Hand: 3 Damage: 4

"Stand and draw. I'll make Fairy Light Dragon retreat, then call Lotus Druid in its place. With his skill, I add 2000 power to Shield Seed Squire. Then I call Jungle Lord Dragon. Supported by Lily Knight, my Squire is coming at your vanguard. If you hadn't thought ahead, this hit would be meant for Raxtus." He thought it was strategy that made me put Raxtus where I did. Actually I just didn't want to remove any of my units and Nostrum would need the support. Reminding myself of Shield Seed's skill, I debated guarding, then decided against it. I had two stronger attacks coming my way. Like the other one, this Squire hit me in the head with his shield.

(Nostrum) POW: 9000 (Lily Knight) POW: 6000 (Shield Seed Squire) POW: 5000 (Total) POW: 11000

"Damage check... Zip."

(Aadyn) Damage: 4

"Next up is my van-vanguard coming at yours." As Alan lashed out at me with the two halves of his staff, I pulled Stygian from my hand.

"Guarded with Stygian." Now to hope for a lack of triggers. If he pulled a double critical, it would take a miracle trigger to survive.

"Checking the twin drive, Laurel and Glass Beads Dragon. No triggers." I placed Stygian in the soul with his skill and flipped up the point of damage Nostrum had cost. One more to go.

(Nostrum) POW: 9000 (Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Stygian) SLD: 5000 (Total) SLD: 14000

"Supported by Lotus Druid, Jungle Lord is making his move. Using his skill, I pay one damage to boost his power by 3000, and I'll activate it two more times. Th-that's a total boost of 9000. Good luck blocking this one." I grimaced and let it through.

(Nostrum) POW: 9000 (Jungle Lord Dragon) POW: 19000 (Lotus Druid) POW: 6000 (Total) POW: 25000

(Aadyn) Damage: 5

(Alan) Vanguard: Arboros Dragon, Sephirot POW: 11000 Front left rear guard: Jungle Lord Dragon POW: 10000 Back left rear guard: Lotus Druid POW: 6000 Front right rear guard: Shield Seed Squire POW: 5000 Back right rear guard: Lily Knight of the Valley POW: 7000 Hand: 3 Damage: 4

(Aadyn) Hand: 2 Damage: 5

"Stand and draw. An abomination in form alone, with a mind brilliant as stars in the depths of night, reveal the fruits of your labor and condemn all that stands before me! Ride, Deformed Alchemist!" I felt my body begin changing in ways beyond description, and looking at myself revealed mismatched form from various beasts. "His skill adds 1000 power for every Shadow Tracker in the soul. Activating Raxtus' skill to retire Jungle Lord Dragon." I looked away again as Raxtus somehow devoured the larger forest dragon. "Then, supported by Reap, Twilight Wyvern is coming at your vanguard." It hurled itself at Alan and I crossed my fingers. If I get in two damage, I win.

"No guard." Twilight slashed him, tearing a hole in one wing. "Damage check... Nothing."

(Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Twilight) POW: 10000 (Reap) POW: 6000 (Total) POW: 16000

(Alan) Damage: 5

"Next is a clash of vanguards. Supported by Raxtus, get in there Alchemist!" Charging forward, I used the horn resembling a rhino's and aimed it at Alan's chest. Come on, make this hit a winner!

"Guarded by Pea Knight!" The odd-looking dryad crashed into my flank, and I fought to stay on course. I need to put some faith in the twin drive...

First check revealed Cerulean Warrior, Kendra. One more chance. "Beast Tamer Randal, a stand trigger! Power to my vanguard, and my Wyvern stand back up." I lashed out with one arm, knocking aside Pea Knight, and finished my attack on Alan, slamming him against a tree.

(Sephirot) POW: 11000 (Pea Knight) SLD: 10000 (Total) SLD: 21000 (Alchemist) POW: 16000 (Raxtus) POW: 8000 (Total) POW: 24000

"D-Damage Check... Sephirot... You win, Aadyn." Slowly, Alan and his forces faded away as my units began cheering. Sweeping up my cards, I gave Alan a slight shove.

(Alan) Damage: 6

"Don't get glum about it, alright? That was an amazing game. And you did give me a scare or two. If not for that trigger, I doubt I would have survived your next turn. And when you rode Sephirot, I freaked out! Imagine when you get better."

"It wa-was pretty fun. I thought I had you a few times too. N-Next time, I'll beat y-you!" Chuckling, we finished picking up our cards. Checking my wallet, I went back to the counter and bought another pack of cards. Tearing it open, I groaned. One trigger, and a couple grade twos. My kind of luck. When is this going to quit happening?!

Well, what did you guys think? I know, I took a huge amount of time writing this. For some reason, I couldn't think of what to write for this part, I just kept getting random ideas for later on in the story. Frankly, it's been happening with most of my stories lately, plus this is the first weekend after the new semester started at school, which adds onto what already fills up my plate. Anyway, remember I would love for you guys to suggest OC units, fighters, even clans. But please tell me how I can improve. No feedback means less possibilities for better work. Well, later!