Hope was busy looking at his deck in preparation for the semis.
"Okay. So good so far. My decks looking pretty tight." Hope said smiling. "But then again…"
Blazer Frill popped out.
"Whats the hold up?" Frill asked.
"I was uh.. Just thinking about Dans combo. When you ride or transform, you basically become the monster, and you can use spells to help you. Even if i do damage him, he'll still deal damage on my next turn." Hope said.
"Yeah, its pretty much bad to go up against that." Frill said.
Hope laid back.
"What I need is a way to finish off him before his turn comes." Hope said.
Frill pouted with a glare. "If you're going to throw a stupid fit, then here!" she said pulling out a card. "I was gonna give it to you when we won, but you won't stop pouting so take it now."
"I wasnt pouting all..!" Hope said. "Huh."
"What? Its not that special." Frill said.
"No, this is just what I need to complete the combo i need. Just need to make a few adjustments…" Hope said. "There."
"The first semi final match is about to commence! Will all fighters proceed to the stage!" Paruko said.
"Well, guess were up." Hope said.
At the stage…
"Weclome to the first match of the semi finals! Today, we have a epic showdown between not two but three users of Dragon World!" Paruko said. "Gao, Noboru and Dan are all users of it. But not to state the Obvious, but the odd guy out on this epic battle is Hope the Victor, our janitor who lucked into not one, but a few wins. But, is this as far as he goes? Only the results will determine."
"Jeez, I fought as hard as I could then." Hope said before seeing Gao with a seething look on his face and looking at Noboru with intensity. "Uh… Gao? Are you doing okay?"
"I'm fine. Just ready for our match." Gao said.
"Okay. If you say so." Hope said.
"He's been like that ever since we got here. What's up with him?" Dan asked.
"Hey, Noboru!" Gao said. "Isnt there something ya wanna say to me?!"
"Okay, now i know something's up. What's going on?" Hope said.
"Noboru's moving to America, man!" Dan shouted.
"He's what?!" Hope said.
"And this is the last buddyfight he's gonna get before moving, so we're gonna make sure he leaves with one last win." Dan said.
"Gao doesnt seem too happy though. Maybe its because of something?" Hope said.
"Ah, dont worry about it. I'm leaving anyway, so I'll play along. Now lets go!" Noboru said. "WIth Bravery and Honor! By order of the Dragon, the trusty sword that reigns over villany! Time to Lumenize! Knights Unleashed!"
"A binding pact of justice forged in light! Gather, all heroes under the light! Lumenize! Shining Force Upgraded!" Hope shouted.
"Dragons and Knights, come together to create a powerful force! Lumenize! Dragon Armada!" Dan said.
"Showering the sky with scorching sun rockets! Soleil Dragon Deck, Luminize!" Gao said.
"You all know the saying. Buddy…" Paruko said.
"FIGHT!" they all cheered.
"Raise the flag!" all four shouted.
"I fight for Dragon World!" Noboru said.
"And I fight for Dragon World!" Gao said.
"Dragon World for me too!" Dan said.
"And I'm with Hero World!" Hope said.
"Gao and Hope will go first!" Paruko said.
"Charge and Draw!" Hope said.
"Noboru, I'm gonna make this a fight to remember." Gao said. "I buddycall, Drum Bunker Dragon to my center!" Gao said.
1011
"Now attack, Drum!" Gao said.
"On it kid. Drill Ram Bunker!" Drum said hitting Noboru.
108
"Hey! Noboru, remember that day we met in the third grade?" Gao said.
"How could i forget? You were sulking and I asked you to play dodgeball. I only needed an extra person. Could have been anyone." Noboru said.
"Thats not how I remember it!" Gao said,
"Oh for the love of…" Hope said. "I call Third Warrior, Drider to the center!"
A yellow warrior with a protractor shield appeared.
"Drider!" he said.
"Drider, attack dan!" Hope said as Drider leaped into the air.
"Eat this! Drider Shield!" Drider said slamming into dan.
10-8
End of move.
"Not a bad move, man. But you're still gonna be beaten down." Dan said.
"I wuldnt be to sure. Driders got a defense of 4000." Hope said. "Okay, now that I say it out loud, I realize how bad that sounds."
"Yeah. Now its our turn. I call Dragon Knight, Ranmaru to the right, Dragon Knight, Jeanne D'arc to the left and Dragon Knight, Hartman to the center!" Dan said calling out the three dragon knights.
"A triple dragon knight formation." Natsu said. "Hahahah! But I cant help but augh at the Ranmaru guy! Hes just a kid!"
"Ugh, did he have to take a shot at my immaturity?" Ranmaru said.
"Fret not. We shall prove our worth here." Jeanne said.
"Yes. But first, we gotta shoot this puppy down." Hartman said.
"To start, Hartman attacks Dreider!" Dan said as Hartman's dragon shot at Dreider destroying him. "Now, I choose to have Jeanne and Ranmaru attack you directly Hope." Dan said.
"This is for my lord!" Ranmaru said attacking Hope.
108
"Viva la France!" Jeanne said coming at him.
"I cast! I've seen through your moves!" Hope said as the strike was evaded.
"I've failed!" Jeanne said.
"No sweat. We'll get him next time." Dan said. "Your show, Noboru."
"Thanks. ANd back to gao's comment, its the honest truth. I buddy Call El Quixote to the right, and Red Baron to the left!" Noboru said.
"Lets ride, Rosinante!" El Quixote said.
10-11
"I equip, Twin Dragon Blades, Dragoanthem!" Noboru said equipping the blades and leaping to the center.
"The Gao formation." Hope said. "Guess the first one to do that gets alot of damage.
"And with Dragoanthems double attack, Drum wont be lasting long." Frill said watching as Drum was defeated.
"But I wanted to fight!" Drum said before vanishing. El Quixote and Red Baron quickly attacked Gao.
118
End of move.
"Wow! It looks like these guys are similar in fighting styles than i thought!" Paruko said.
"So Gao, you owed it all to Noboru to help make freinds?" Hope said.
"Yeah. If it wasnt for him that day, I would never have gotten this far." Gao said charging. "I call Thunder Knights, Halberd Dragon to the right! And Thousand Rapier Dragon to the left!"
"Youve got a bad memory. Remember 5th grade in gym?" Noboru asked.
"You mean when I kicked your butt in Judo? That why you're so avoidant? I equip Dragoknuckle!" Gao said leaping to the center.
87
"Dude, if you'd taken it more easy on him, he wouldve stuck around you more." Hope said. "I buddy call Uniform Warrior, Blazer Frill to the right!"
8-9
"I'm the Uniform warror of love and Courage! Blazer Frill!" Frill said cheerfully. "With just one wink… I'll strike you…"
"Okay. He gets it." Hope said. "I also call Uniform Warrior, Racer Frill to the left!" Hope said.
"Hey! At least let me finish!" Blazer frill said as a new Uniform Warrior appeared. SHe wore a dress that was sort of resembling a racers jumpsuit.
"All right. Let's chase them down." Racer said.
"And when there's a superheroine when I call Uniform Warrior, Racer Frill out, I get to draw a card." Hope said. "I equip, Blade of Light, Halo Requiem!"
A blue blade came into his hands.
"Blazer Frill! Kick a path through Dragon Knight, Hartman!" Hope said.
"Blazer….Kick!" Frill said attacking Hartman and destroying him.
"When Blazer Frill destroys a monster sucessfully, my gauge increases by 1." Hope said. "Okay Racer Frill, lets attack together!"
"Here comes a speeding force, love!" Racer said as they both attacked Dan.
84
"Now its my attack!" Gao said.
"Really? Not even going easy on me like that time? We all know youre a aikijujutsu champ, but after that beating, no one wanted to hang with you." Noboru said.
"What did you want me to do? It was thanks to you and Buddyfighting I was able to make friends again!" Gao shouted.
"Whoa, he's really acting intense." Racer Frill said.
"He's just a bit irritated that Noboru is moving and he didnt bother to tell Gao." Hope said.
"Hah! You think its like me to say goodbye to him? Like I would ever do that." Noboru said.
"I'll change that attitude. Halberd, attack Red Baron! Rapier, link attack with me!" Gao said as Halberd slashed Red Baron as Gao and Rapier attacked Noboru.
84
End of move.
"Geez Gao, settle down." Hope said. "At least youre not finishing this right away."
"Well he doesnt have enough gauge to hit me with his almighty impact. Now its my go!" Dan said. "And I think we're all in for a special treat. I pay one gauge and call, Dragon Knight, Nobunaga to the center!" Dan said.
"Ah. I now see a new conquest before me." Nobunaga said.
"Whoa! Talk about a case of Deja vu!" Jexi said.
Ranmaru turned to Nobunaga.
"M'lord, you dont have to risk your life for us all!" Ranmaru said.
'Loyal Ranmaru, there are somethings a warrior must handle." Nobunaga said.
"That's right man. Now, Nobunata attack Hope!"" Dan said.
"Oh no ya dont! I move...Oh...I'm still in center!"
Nobunaga then struck him.
84
"Now, Jeanne D'arc, attack Blazer Frill!" Dan said.
"Oh no! Please, dont attack me!" Blazer Frill said innocently.
"Resorting to seduction? Not the wisest choice for a hero." Jeanne said.
"I got you, Blazer! I cast Tears Don't Suit a Maiden!" Hope said.
"Aw, dangit!" Dan said.
"Thats right. With this card, any superheroine I chose can gan 3000 power and defense. But, they also get a counterattack!" Hope said.
"Counter Blazer Kick!" Blazer Frill said.
"Long live France!" Jeanne said before being destroyed.
"Dang. Ranmaru, attack Hope directly!" Dan said.
"At once! For my lord!" Ranmaru said.
"Sorry, not happening! I cast Sailor Barrier!" Hope said. "I can use this to nullify one attack! So Ranmaru won't be hurting me."
"Then I guess its all for me." Dan said.
"Good timing, cause I got myself a card to win! First, I call Dragon Knight, Vlad Dracula to the right!" Noboru said calling him out.
"You." Nobunaga said.
"I have arisen to quench my thirst today, comrade. Lets us ride together and support our young dragon warrior." Dracula said.
"I have four Dragon Knights in my Drop Zone. Vlad Dracula's critical increases with each Dragon Knight." Noboru said. "And, I now cast! Slash Strike, Drago Striker!"
"Uh oh." Hope said.
"Halberd! Move to the center!" Gao said as Halberd move, but was dealt with by Noboru's double attack. After which, El Quixote and Vlad Dracula attacked Gao.
71
"Dan...would you be upset if we didn't win?" Noboru asked.
"Heck no, man. I've had a lot of fun with ya!" Dan said.
"Glad you feel like that, Dan. Cause I'm about to seal fate." Hope said drawing a card. "Yes! This is...the new one!" he smiled. "Final Phase!"
"He's already declaring Final Phase?" Paruko said in surprise.
"Since when did hope get an impact?!" Rainbow said.
"To tell the truth, I was saving it for later…" Blazer said. "But the way he whined this morning, it was better to throw the dog a bone."
"I wasnt whining, but that aint the point now." Hope said tossing the card into the air. "When I pay a cost of 3 gauge, I can combine the criticals of my item with any superheroine on the field! Each one has different effect. With Blazer and Racer Frill's critical combined with my items two, it makes six." Hope grinned.
"And with yours truly out while the impact is used…" Racer frill said. "I gain 5000 power. Meaning, its time to say goodbye to Nobunaga, love!" Racer said kicking Nobunaga.
"So this is where I fall." Nobunaga said vanishing.
"I've cleared the way, darling. Let him have it." Racer said.
"This damage cant be reduced or nullified, Dan. It's been fun!" Hope said.
Gao also whipped out his own impact.
"I cant help it right now, I'm just so angry with you! You were gonna leave without any warning and not say good bye to me? Who does that?!" Gao said. "Face it man..!" he said getting Gargatua punisher out. "That was…. A major burn!"
"I'm sorry…!" Noboru said as the blade slammed into him.
"Now its my turn!" Hope said. "Shine out of the limit, light of my justice!"
"Burn brightly, flames of my love!" Blazer frill said.
Under a full moon, Hope dived down with his blade side by side with Blazer rill with a flaming dive kick!
"Impact!" Hope said.
"Shining Blazer….CRUSHER!" they both shouted as he hit Dan.
40
Game over! Winners: Gao Mikado and Hope
"What a finish! Team Balle du Soleil clinched the win of the first semifinal, and with that major win, out Janitor Hope's earned a new impact and got another lucky strike." Paruko said. "And they move on to the finals."
"Heh. Call it whatever you want, it's still another win." Hope said.
"Hey, Blazer." Racer said. "Theres no doubt about it. Your buddy… he's good."
"Thank you, senpai." Blazer said.
"Senpai?" Hope asked.
"To be honest, Blazer is the newest of all the Uniform Warriors. She considers all of us her senpai." Racer said.
"Whoa. Then its an honor to have you girls as part of my deck." Hope said before Racer returned to card form.
"So I'm a rookie, you gonna make fun?" Blazer asked.
"Not at all. Lots of magical girl groups had rookies who were leaders. Sailor Moon, Uh….well, that's the only popular group I know, but its still a good example." Hope said. ""You're gonna make it big someday. I know."
Frill smiled a bit. "He's a janitor here, yet he's a hero in the real world. Maybe being buddies with him isnt gonna be so bad after all. At least until I find someone better. Which isn't gonna happen soon, so Hope it is." she thought.
