A large plane descends onto the runway of an airport as it prepares for landing. After the plane lands, off steps a young woman with bright red hair tied in a pony-tail by a yellow ribbon. She walks into the center of the airport and looks up at the sign that says "Welcome to Japan!" She smiles and says, "I'm home… little bro!"
TURN 11 – Chrona Shindou
Meanwhile, at the Shindou residence, Chrono is slumped at his desk binging on his homework, while Tokoha, having been invited to help him with his homework, lies on his bed reading a Vanguard Magazine. Chrono's eyebrow twitches and he says to her, "Hey… would you mind helping me over here?"
"I told you I wasn't going to solve the problems for you," she replies without even looking at him, "I gave you some tips and that's all I'm going to give. You'll have to figure the rest out."
"Tch, some friend you are." Chrono sneers.
"I'm trying to teach you to be responsible Chrono." She tells him, "If you want to grow up and have a family like you say you want to, you have to be responsible! Not just in this, but in everything in life." Chrono simply just snorts at her and goes back to work. "I mean… you already have a wife right here…" she says quietly while trying to hide her face in the magazine.
"You say something?" Chrono asks her.
"No, I didn't say anything!" She denies in annoyance.
Just then, Chrono's mother comes into the room carrying a tray of drinks and small rice bowls, "Hey you two," she says cheerfully, "I figured you might be hungry while you're working, so I brought you some snacks."
"Thanks Mrs. Shindou." Tokoha says putting down the magazine and gets off the bed.
"Yeah, thanks mom…" Chrono says while still trying to focus on his work.
"Anytime." She says and walks out of the room. Tokoha picks up one of the rice bowls and a glass of juice and places it on Chrono's desk.
"You need to eat too." She tells him.
"I know…" he replies. Tokoha takes her bowl and glass and sits back down on the bed and Chrono continues to work as she eats. However, at one point, when she grabs her glass to drink, she accidently spills some on her shirt.
"Gyah!" She screams when it hits her as its cold.
"What's wrong?" Chrono asks in concern.
"I spilled some juice on my shirt…" she tells him. She's wearing a white t-shirt, so the juice will stain.
"Hmm…" Chrono thinks for a minute, "I think I have a shirt you can borrow so we can wash that one." He says and gets up from his desk.
"No, no it's fine!" She continues to tell him.
"No it's not." He tells her as he starts rummaging through his closet, "the juice will stain that white shirt. And you say I'm the irresponsible one…" He pulls out an old shirt of his that's too small for him, but should fit Tokoha. "Here, put this on." He says tossing her the shirt.
"Alright" she says.
Meanwhile, in the living room of the house, where Chrono's mom is watching TV, there's a knock at the front door. She gets up and answers the door. Standing there is a young girl with flowy pink hair, wearing a hat and red square glasses. "Hello Mrs. Shindou! Is Chrono home?" she says.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" She asks her.
The girl pulls down her glasses and removes her hat, "It's me! Luna Yumizuki!" she tells her and a light bulb goes off in Mrs. Shindou's head.
"Oh yeah! You're that famous pop idol I've been hearing so much about!" she says in excitement, "Chrono's told me a lot about you. He even brought home a body pillow with you on it! Please, come in." she directs Luna inside as Luna removes her glasses and hat and takes off her boots. "Chrono's upstairs with Tokoha in his room studying. I'm sure he'd be happy to have you help him."
"Thanks Mrs. Shindou." Luna says and walks upstairs to Chrono's room. When she gets to the door, she knocks and opens the door, "Hey Chrono! I heard you were studying so I thought I'd…" she says, but stops the moment she steps inside. She sees Chrono stand with his back to Tokoha and Tokoha starting to take off her shirt to change into the other one. Luna didn't get that and just stands there with a dumbfounded look on her face. "Wh… what are you two doing…?" Luna asks them with slight shock and anger in her voice.
"Tokoha spilled orange juice on her shirt so I gave her another shirt to change into." Chrono explains.
"Oh… I see…" Luna says with relief.
"What are you doing here Luna?" Tokoha asks her as she continues to change.
"I heard you were binging on some homework Chrono so I'd thought I'd come and help you." Luna tells him.
"Thanks, I could use the help." He replies. For the next couple hours, the three of them help Chrono study and helping each other with their own homework.
After these few hours, Chrono lets out a yawn and looks at the clock by his bed side, it reads "1:38 PM", he scoots back from his desk and stretches. "I think it's time we took a break guys!" he says.
"I agree," Tokoha says, "we got a lot done."
"Yep!" Luna says as she stretches. "So what should we do now?" she asks.
"Don't you have practice or something Luna?" Tokoha asks her.
"Yeah but I don't have to be there for another couple hours." She replies.
"Then how about we have some Cardfights?" Chrono suggests.
"Sounds good." Luna says.
"I'm in." Tokoha says, "You can fight me first Chrono." Chrono then nods his head in agreement.
"Now hold on a minute!" Luna interrupts, "Why should he have to fight you first?"
"Well I'm his childhood friend, and I've known him longer." Tokoha tells her with a smug and placing her fingertips on her chest, "Also, I'm the first person Chrono had a REAL Cardfight with."
"That may be true," Luna says nodding, but then points to Chrono's bed, "but he's got a body pillow of me lying on his bed." Tokoha looks back and sees the pillow causing her eyebrow to twitch. "I think he clearly wants me as his girlfriend over you." Tokoha then goes red in the face, so much so that you can practically see steam come off her.
"First of all, he said nothing about him wanting you as his girlfriend!" Tokoha says pointing at her, "Second of all, we were discussing who should fight him first, not who should be his girlfriend! Don't change the subject!"
"Ohhh…" Luna says, "Are you just jealous because I'm more famous than you?"
Tokoha simply smirks and says, "Or are you jealous because I have a bigger rack than you?"
"Why you…!" Luna growls and starts butting heads with Tokoha.
"Girls please!" Chrono breaks them up, "I like you both equally, so can you just settle who I should fight first?"
Both girls back off and then Tokoha says, "Alright then, Chrono, fight me first!" While clinging his arm.
Luna puffs her cheeks and clings to Chrono's other arm. "No! Fight me first!" The two girls then start pulling back and forth on his arms and keep yelling, "Fight me first!"
"Girls please!" Chrono pleads them to stop, but they keep going. Just then, the door to Chrono's room opens and the three of them stop. They look to see a young woman with bright red hair tied in a pony-tail by a yellow ribbon and carrying a luggage bag.
The woman looks in shock, but collects herself and proceeds to say, "Well, well, well. I go away for five months and this is what I come back to? You've really changed in so little time… little bro."
Chrono simply just stares at her in shock, "Si… sis…?" He then looks down at the two girls clinging to his arms and then looks back at the woman, "Uhh… I know this looks bad but it's not what it looks like!" he tells her in panic.
"Who are you?" Luna asks, letting go of Chrono.
The girl swishes her pony-tail and tells her, "I'm Chrona Shindou. Chrono's big sister."
"It's great to see you again sis!" Chrono says.
"Likewise." Tokoha says bowing to her.
"Man, you two have really grown since I last saw you." Chrona remarks.
"Uh, mind explaining to me what's going on here?" Luna says in confusion.
"Is this a friend of yours bro?" Chrona asks.
"Yeah, that's Luna Yumizuki, a member of Rummy Labyrinth." Chrono tells her.
"Well I think you deserve an explanation." Chrona tells Luna.
Later, the four of them sit in the living room and talk about recent experiences. "I see… well I'm glad you got back into cardfighting Chrono."
"Got BACK into it?" Chrono questions, "I didn't think I ever fought in the part."
"Are you serious little bro?" Chrona asks in shock sitting up in her chair, "You and I used to Cardfight all the time when we were younger!"
Chrono tries hard to remember, but he can't. "I… I can't remember…" he says and Tokoha glances at him with a worried look. "But anyway, how was your trip overseas?" Chrono asks Chrona.
"It was fantastic!" Chrona says with a smile.
"Where'd you go?" Luna asks her.
"I went to Paris, France." She tells her, "I was studying abroad. I learn all sorts of cool stuff the world." Chrona then perks up and reaches for her suit case. "Oh yeah!" she says to Chrono and Tokoha, "I got you two some souvenirs!" Chrono and Tokoha light up with excitement. Chrona hands them both a mini Eiffel Tower replica, "For you specially Tokoha, I got you a famous French scarf." Chrona pulls out a green scarf hands it to Tokoha.
"Wow!" her eyes sparkle at the sight of it. "It's so soft, I love it!"
"Just be sure you hand wash it, it's silk." Chrona tells her winking at her. She then reaches back into her bag, "and I got something special for you little bro." she tells Chrono and hands him a small packet with writing that reads "Chrono Shindou" in Japanese kanji.
Everyone eyes the packet with a strange look. "You got this in Paris?" Chrono questions.
"Nah, some guy at the airport told me to give it to you." Chrona explains and everyone perks up.
"Who was it? Did he say?" Chrono asks, but Chrona scratches the back of her head.
"No he didn't, but he said it was urgent." She says. Chrono takes the packet and cautiously opens it. When he opens it, he sees a Vanguard card that depicts a male humanoid with large clockwork wings and body armor.
"'Steam Fighter King, Arsene'?" Chrono reads the name on the card aloud.
"A Gear Chronicle unit?!" Tokoha exclaims in shock.
"I thought the ones in your deck were the only ones in existence!" Luna says.
"Yeah I thought so too…" Chrono says.
"Well look at it this way, you now have a new unit to add to your arsenal!" Tokoha tells him and Chrono nods.
"Hey sis." Chrono gets Chrona's attention, "Can you Cardfight me? I wanna test this unit out!"
Chrona thinks for a minute and then nods, "You got it!" she says.
The four of them sit around Chrono's coffee table in the middle of the living room with Chrona and Chrono on the long ends. "Stand up, VANGUARD!" they declare in unison!
"Gunnergear Dracokid (G0/5000)!" Chrono declares.
"Stardust Ringmaster, Arnold (G0/4000)!" Chrona declares.
"She uses Pale Moon too?" Luna says.
"Yeah, and she's pretty good at it too." Tokoha replies.
"It's been a long time since we fought," Chrona says to Chrono, "I'm looking forward to seeing what your new clan can do."
"Oh you'll see!" Chrono tells her, "Ride! Mazergear Dragon (G1/8000)! Moving the Forerunner!"
"My turn!" Chrona says, "Ride! Stardust Tricky Clown (G1/8000)! Move the Forerunner!" Chrona moves her Forerunner unit to the front right rear circle.
"Huh?" Luna questions, "I thought the most optimal place to move the Forerunner is behind the Vanguard."
"Maybe she has a unit that boost more effectively." Tokoha states.
"Tricky Clown attacks the Vanguard!" Chrona declares, "Due to Tricky Clown's skill, if he attacks unboosted, he and up to two other units gain 5000 Power (8000-13000) (4000-9000)!"
"No guard." Chrono says (Chrono: []).
"Now my Stardust Ringmaster attacks!"
"Guard (Shield: 15000)!" Chrono declares and then begins his turn, "Ride! Smokegear Dragon (G2/10000)! Boosted by Dracokid, I attack the Vanguard (10000-15000)! Drive Check (Critical)! Critical Trigger! All effects to Smokegear (15000-25000/Crit 1-2)!" Smokegear's attack lands (Chrona: [] []).
"Ride! Stardust Beast Tamer (G2/10000)!" Chrona declares, "I move Ringmaster back and call Stardust Trapezeist (G1/8000) and Stardust Juggler (G2/10000)! Boosted by Trapezeist, the Vanguard attacks (10000-18000)!" The attack lands (Chrono: [] []). "Boosted by Arnold, Juggler attacks the Vanguard (10000-14000)! Using Juggler's skill! When he attacks the Vanguard, add 10000 Power (14000-24000)!" The attack lands again (Chrono: [] [] []). "I end my turn, so due to Juggler's skill, I send him to my soul, and due to Ringmaster's skill when boosts a unit other than the Vanguard, send him to the soul as well (Soul 1-3)."
"My turn!" Chrono declares, "You're about to witness the power of my clan! Open up the world! Guide me to the future! Ride! Chronojet Dragon (G3/13000)! Imaginary Gift: Force! Apply it to the Vanguard (13000-23000)! I call Paradigm Dragon (G2/10000) and Steam Maiden Elul (G3/12000)! Elul's skill (Chrono: X [] [])(Soul 2-1)! Send Stardust Trapezeist to the bottom of the deck! Now I call Steam Maiden Millia from my deck (G1/7000)!
Board State
(G3/12000) – (G3/23000) – (G2/10000)
(G0/5000) – (G1/7000)
"Steam Maiden Elul attacks the Vanguard!" Chrono declares.
"I guard (Shield: 10000)!" Chrona declares.
"Boosted by Dracokid, Chronojet attacks the Vanguard!"
"No guard."
"Twin Drive (none/Critical)! Critical Trigger, power to Paradigm (10000-20000) Critical to Chronojet (Crit 1-2)!" (Chrona: [] [] [] []). "Boosted by Millia, Paradigm attacks the Vanguard (20000-27000)!"
"I guard (Shield: 15000)!" Chrona says.
Chrono thinks for a second about whether or not to use his ParadigmxMillia combo. He decides not to, to save his counterblasts. "I end my turn."
"I have to admit, you're pretty good. However…" the whole room goes silent as Chrona draws her card, "I'm gonna get serious! Wondrous Magician who can shape the stars, Take Stage! Ride!" Chrona manifests on Cray as a magician clad in a dark blue trickster suit and top hat. "Stardust Entertainer, Eleanor (G3/12000)! Imaginary Gift: Accel! I gain one Accel circle. Liberating the Generation Zone! Generation Stride! Stardust Dragon Tamer, Magilou (G4/27000)! Using Eleanor's Stride Skill (Chrona: X [] [] [])! I call Stardust Juggler from the soul (G2/10000) and since he has Stardust in his name, he gets 5000 power and I can soul charge 1 (Soul 3-4) (G2/10000-15000)! Using Juggler's skill (Chrona: X X [] [])! When he's called from the soul, I can call another unit from the soul. I call Tricky Clown to the Accel Circle (G1/8000-18000)! Using Ringmaster's skill in the soul! I call him to an open rear guard circle. Normally this would cost me one Counter Blast, but since I have a Vanguard with Stardust in its name, I don't have to pay the cost."
"What?!" Everyone exclaims.
"I call 2 Stardust Trapezeists (G1/7000 each) and another Stardust Juggler (G2/10000)! Using Magilou's skill (Chrona: X X X [])(G-Zone 0-1)! I choose up to 2 of my Rear Guards, place them in the soul, and call them directly back from the soul! I choose my two Stardust Trapezeists!"
"Why would she do that? There's no point." Luna questions.
Board State
(G2/15000) – (G4/27000) – (G2/10000) – (G1/18000)
(G1/8000) – (G1/8000) – (G0/4000)
"Here we go! Boosted by Trapezeist, my left Juggler attacks the Vanguard (15000-23000)!
"No guard." Chrono declares (Chrono: X [] [] []).
"Now Tricky Clown in the Accel circle attacks! Since he's unboosted, he, my standing Juggler, and my Vanguard all gain 5000 Power (18000-25000) (10000-15000) (27000-32000)!"
"No guard on that either." Chrono says (Chrono: X [] [] [] []).
"Boosted by Trapezeist, Magilou attacks the Vanguard (32000-40000)! Using Eleanor's G-Gift!"
"G-Gift?!" Chrono questions.
"It's a skill that a unit possesses that it use like normal, but when a G Unit strides on that unit, the G Unit can also use that skill." Tokoha explains.
"You're kidding!" Chrono exclaims in worry.
"If Eleanor or Magilou attacks while boosted by a Stardust unit, they gain 3000 Power for every unit I've called from the soul this turn. I called a total of 5 units!"
"Wait 5?!" Luna questions and starts counting with her fingers to check. "Wait a sec! She put her two Trapezeists in the soul and called them back immediately, so that is 5!"
"Since I called 5 units, Magilou gains 15000 Power (40000-55000)!" Chrona explains.
"Grr… Complete Guard!" Chrono declares.
"Triple Drive (none/Front/Critical)! Front Trigger, 10000 Power to the front row (23000-33000) (55000-65000) (15000-25000) (25000-35000)! Critical Trigger! All effects to the standing Juggler (25000-35000/Crit 1-2)! Boosted by Ringmaster, Juggler attacks (35000-39000)! Ringmaster's skill! When he boosts a unit other than the Vanguard and I have a Stardust Vanguard, add 10000 Power to that unit (39000-49000)!"
"Guard (Shield: 15000+20000=35000)!" Chrono declares.
"I end my turn, send my Jugglers, and Ringmaster to the soul (4-7). You're doing pretty good little bro."
"Thanks sis." Chrono replies lightly blushing.
"Chrono…" Tokoha mutters as seeing Chrono and his sister get along after a long imt makes her happy.
"They're neck and neck right now." Luna says.
"Yeah, but I think Chrono's about to turn this fight around." Tokoha says.
"Stand and Draw!" Chrono looks at the card he drew and smirks. "Ride! Chronojet Dragon (G3/13000-23000)! Imaginary Gift: Force! Apply it to the Vanguard (23000-33000)! Generation Stride! Steam Fighter King, Arsene (G4/48000)! Once again, Imaginary Gift: Force! Apply it to the Vanguard (48000-58000)!"
"58000 Power?!" Luna exclaims, "And that's just from the Force Gifts!"
"I use Arsene's skill (Chrono: X)(G-Zone 0-1)! Send all of your Rear Guards to the bottom of the deck, as well as all cards in your soul!"
"What?!" Chrona exclaims as her board is wiped out.
"Then for each card that was sent to the bottom of the deck, all my units gain 2000 power! A total of 10 units were sent to the bottom of the deck! So add 20000 Power to all my units!"
"20000?!" All the girls exclaim!
Board State
(G3/12000-32000) (G4/58000-78000) (G2/10000-30000)
(G0/5000-25000) (G1/7000-27000)
"And due to Elul's skill, she gains 3000 Power for each G Unit face up in the G Zone (32000-35000)! Let's go! Elul attacks the Vanguard!"
Chrona looks at her hand and ponders how to handle the situation. "I have 2 complete guards. And that's really all I have that could block Chrono's units. I could take Elul's attack and block the other two." She thinks to herself. "No Guard!" (Chrona: X X [] [] []).
"Boosted by Dracokid, Arsene attacks the Vanguard (78000-103000)!"
"Complete Guard!"
"Triple Drive (none/none/SCritical)! Super Critical Trigger! All effects to Paradigm (30000-45000/Crit 1-2)! Boosted by Millia, Paradigm attacks (45000-72000)!"
"Complete Guard again!" Chrona declares. "You don't have any more units to attack with Chrono. So it looks like it's my turn."
"I wouldn't be so sure." Chrono says making Chrona panic. "Arsene's last skill! If I sent 7 or more units to the bottom of the deck with his skill, I place him face up in my G Zone, add 15000 power to the Vanguard and Stand (43000-58000)!"
"Oh-no!" Chrona exclaims.
"Chronojet Dragon, attacks the Vanguard!" Chrono declares and Chrona looks at her hand wondering how to handle this situation.
"No Guard…" she says takes the final hit (Chrona: X X [] [] [] []).
Chrona stares at the board for a moment, then leans back and breaths heavy sigh. "You did well Chrono. That was the first time you actually managed to beat me." She tells him.
"You say that… but I can't really remember cardfighting you in the past…" Chrono tells her. Tokoha glances at him with a concerned look.
"Well, it doesn't really matter. I'm just proud that you've gotten better at the game." Chrona tells her brother and then goes wrap her arm around his deck and hold his head by her waist, "And the fact that you now have two girlfriends!" Chrono, as well as Tokoha and Luna turn bright red in the face.
"Sis! I told you it's not like that!" Chrono denies.
"Whatever you say little bro!" Chrona tells him and starts chuckling, Chrono looks heavily embarrassed, and Tokoha and Luna hold a hand to their cheek.
Next Time:
TRY3 enters a mini tournament to earn some points to get into the national tournament in a few weeks. It turns out; the winners of the tournament get to Cardfight against Mamoru Anjou!
TURN 12 – Mamoru Anjou
