Ride 12: Never Ending Dreams
Agatha sat on a bench in a field, staring out. Nearby, a group of boys kicked a football around with excited shouts, cheering as one of them scored a goal. The lucky boy's team swarmed around him, desperate to cheer and applaud him for his feat.
The sight reminded her of her own team. The two teammates who she had fought beside for a year, cheering her on in every battle. The boys cheered and clapped nearby, and all she could think of was the cheering and clapping of Robert and Samuel as she won another fight for Team Avalon.
"Um... excuse me...?"
She turned to see a shy-looking little girl standing next to the bench. "Um... you're Agatha Gladstone... aren't you?"
She yearned to say anything else. To say the girl was mistaken. Because as soon as she confirmed it, then the questions would come, the questions she had faced from everyone else over that week.
Why did you split up with Robert and Samuel?
Why were you arguing?
Do you think Samuel threw those fights?
Did you throw your fights?
What will you do now?
"Yes... that's me..." she replied, looking back at the football match.
The girl apparently took this as an invitation, because she sat down on the bench beside her. "Mummy says you and your friends fell out."
She didn't say anything for a while. The words just brought back the memory of that day.
"I just want to talk!"
"I know what you have to say and I've had enough of it from Robert!"
"It's not about that!"
"But it is! That's all anyone wants to talk about now! I lose that fight to Gareth and suddenly all everyone can say, all everyone can think is 'Samuel Wilson's a cheat and hypocrite'!" He stopped, breathing heavily, looking more furious and wild than Agatha had ever seen him. The one time she had seen him this furious was when he had found out about Robert accepting a bribe to lose a year ago. But even then, his fury had never been this undisguised.
"Just go, Agatha," Leah offered. "We don't need more of the same."
"Shut up! You don't know what I want to say!"
"We did," she finally murmured.
"Why? You looked like such good friends on TV."
"Sometimes people just do. Things happen. They disagree."
"Not good people like you. Not nice people."
She looked at the girl. "Have you heard what they're saying about Samuel?"
"Mummy says they're lying. She says he's a good person and he wouldn't do something like that."
Agatha stared down at the grass. And truthfully, she could only agree with the little girl's mother. She knew the truth. She knew what Melanie had done to Samuel. But no one would believe it. And trying to tell him had just ended in disaster. She glanced back, seeing the girl's wide eyes staring at her in anticipation of an answer.
She sighed. "He's not a bad person. Your mummy's right."
The girl frowned. "Then why did you fall out?"
"Because he won't listen. He won't understand..."
"But if he's a good person, why wouldn't he?"
"Because even good people get frustrated... even good people can make mistakes. Even good people can get angry because the world won't listen."
"Well, the world should listen," the girl pouted. "They shouldn't be shouting at good people."
No, it shouldn't, she reflected. But it was and that was the way the world was.
"What are you going to do? Are you going to try and find him?"
"I don't know why I should," Agatha admitted. "You... you don't understand. What it's like up there. I fought so hard for my team, for my friends. But when I just asked Samuel to listen, he wouldn't. He turned around and snapped at me. In the end, I don't know if it's even worth going back to him. He just... I don't know. I don't know if he even wants me to go back. I wouldn't be surprised if he's given up too."
"You can't give up! You're going to make things better! That's what you said!"
"That's what we thought."
"But you're Team Avalon! You can't just give up!"
"You don't understand," Agatha repeated. "You start out and you're full of confidence. You think because you beat some teams, Bright Dawn, Celestial Dusk... you think you can fight the world. That's what we were like. We were blinded by victory. Full of enthusiasm and determined to change things. We thought we could just say the words and the system would crumble." Her eyes darkened. "We were naïve. We can't fight it. No one can."
"You can't say that!"
"But it's the truth!" she protested. "How can we fight it? We're just fighting each other. Samuel and Robert won't talk to each other. Samuel's given up. I've given up. What's the use in fighting a battle you can't win? Where's the point in that?" She paused. "I'm sorry. But you're wasting your time. You can't convince me. Team Avalon is finished. We're broken and we can't be fixed. Samuel and Robert won't listen to reason... they'll just keep fighting and I can't do a thing about it. And I don't even know if I want to."
"You don't mean that! I know you don't!"
"You don't know me," Agatha sighed. "Please, just... just leave me alone..."
The girl got off the bench, backing away and glaring at Agatha with a reproachful stare. "I thought you were a hero," she said bitterly. "But you're just a coward. The real Agatha I looked up to wouldn't give up like this!" And with that, she ran away, sounding almost on the verge of tears.
Agatha stared numbly after her. She tried to convince herself that the girl was just young, just didn't understand the way of the world. But it didn't stop the remarks from cutting into her like knives.
"No..." she murmured to herself. "There's no sense in fighting a battle we can't win. They're not strong enough. We're not strong enough." She paused, forcing out the last four words. "I'm not strong enough."
"I thought I taught you not to give up."
Agatha jumped in raw shock, leaping to her feet and turning on the spot. Stood behind the bench, staring at her grimly, was a young man she knew. He was dressed in his familiar crimson coat, his hair brown and cut into jagged bangs, his eyes seeming brighter than the last time they had met. A crimson case at his belt held his deck.
"Gabriel?!" she exclaimed. "What... what are you doing here?"
Gabriel held up a magazine. She stared at it and felt numb as she saw the cover and its slogan in particular. It showed a stock picture of Team Avalon with the slogan The End of Team Avalon?.
"I got this," he said. The harshness she remembered in his voice was gone now, leaving his tone smooth and strong. "Team Avalon broken up? I had to come and see you."
"I'm done with you," she retorted. "I settled things with you a year ago, Gabriel. How did you even know I was here?"
"Your mother told me. She wasn't happy to see me either, but once I explained why I'm here, she thought maybe I could help to snap you out of this."
"Out of what?"
"I heard what you said to that little girl," he said. "About giving up. About not being strong enough."
"If you're here to lecture me, just go!" she snapped. "I don't need you coming back into my life to tell me how to live it, Gabriel. I already spent enough of it hanging on your every word and chasing after you."
Gabriel looked hurt. "Agatha, I want to help."
"I don't need your help," she growled. "The last time I took your help, you decided Richard and I weren't good enough and ran off without leaving a thing behind." She glared at him. "What do you want really? To gloat? To say you'd have made a much better champion? If that's it, just get out of here."
"What is this, Agatha?" he retorted. "Moping like this? Moaning about what's happened? What the hell happened?"
"Robert and Samuel decided they'd had enough. And I can't blame them," Agatha muttered. "It was pointless. This was all it took for the system to beat us. What could we do to that?"
"Give people hope," Gabriel answered. "Wasn't that what you wanted? To make it so everyone had a fair shot? And now you're turning your backs on them."
"The world's not fair!" she protested.
"That doesn't mean we give up!" he retorted. "If you keep fighting and never give up, you can achieve your dreams! You shouldn't give up just because it suddenly gets tough! I didn't!"
"You weren't trying to fight for anything like what we were!"
Everyone around them was staring at the two now, drawn by their argument and realising who was speaking.
"I got what I was chasing for," Gabriel said softly. "I got my fight with Elizabeth and I beat her."
"Good for you," she replied bitterly. "But out in the real world, we can't achieve anything. Why should we try? We're not strong enough to fight the system."
"You're acting like you're alone," he retorted. "But you're not. Do you even know how many teams want to support you? You just need to give them something to rally behind. Give them a banner to follow and they'll be there with you."
"We're not strong enough! Robert and Samuel won't even speak to each other now! How can we fight the system when we can't stop fighting each other?!"
Gabriel was silent, staring at her. His hand went to the case on his belt, and he retrieved his deck from it. "Fight me."
"Why?"
"I'll show you," he said. "I'll show you what I mean. You've given up, Agatha. But I haven't given up on you. I'm going to get through to the Agatha I know is in there under the despair. The Agatha who supported her teammates no matter what. Get out your deck and fight me. I know you've got it with you."
Sullenly, she took the deck from its case at her own belt. "This won't change anything."
"You'd be surprised," he said, gesturing. "We can use that table there." The two trudged over the grass to a circular table with the marks of a Cardfight field on it. Though the table didn't have any holographic equipment installed, it would do for a regular fight. The two took their places, the football players abandoning their game to come and watch this fight of champions.
They set down their cards, then drew their hands, Gabriel replacing three cards, Agatha putting back two.
"What are you hoping to do?" she murmured. "What's the point to this?"
"I'm going to show you the power you can achieve with determination," he answered. "Stand up, vanguard! Lizard Soldier, Conroe!"
"Stand up, vanguard," she replied. "Smiling Presenter."
The two imagined Cray, seeing the battlefield form. Volcanoes spewed lava into the black sky, their vanguards appearing on an island of black rock amidst the magma. An armored lizardman wielding a blazing axe formed for Gabriel [Lizard Soldier, Conroe – 5000], Smiling Presenter rising for Agatha [Smiling Presenter – 5000 Power].
"Draw... I Ride Skull Juggler, Soul Charge, and move Presenter to the rear-guard."
Smiling Presenter transformed, the skull-juggling gremlin taking her place [Skull Juggler – 7000 Power] before she reformed [Smiling Presenter – 5000 Power]
[Soul Charge – Nightmare Doll, Alice – No Trigger]
"Alice... good." "I end my turn."
Agatha
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Skull Juggler/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Smiling Presenter/Empty
Damage: None
Gabriel
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Lizard Soldier, Conroe/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None
"I draw," Gabriel said. "I Ride Dragon Monk, Gojo, and Conroe moves."
Conroe was wrapped in flames, a black-clad monk wielding a blazing staff rising in his place [Dragon Monk, Gojo – 7000 Power], before the lizardman reappeared behind him [Lizard Soldier, Conroe – 5000 Power]
"Now, with a boost from Conroe, Gojo attacks!"
Gojo lunged, readying his staff [7000 Power + 5000 Power = 12000 Power].
"No guard," Agatha replied.
"I check... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Dragon Knight, Nehalem – No Trigger]
Gojo struck, knocking the gremlin back with a sweep of his staff.
"Damage Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Jumping Jill – No Trigger]
"I end my turn," Gabriel finished.
Gabriel
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Dragon Monk, Gojo/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Lizard Soldier, Conroe/Empty
Damage: None
Agatha
Hand: 5
Front Row: Empty/Skull Juggler/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Smiling Presenter/Empty
Damage: Jumping Jill (U)
"I draw." She checked her hand, playing a card. "I Ride Acrobat Cerberus."
Skull Juggler transformed in a flare of iridescent light, the comical-looking cerberus appearing in its place and balancing on one leg [Acrobat Cerberus – 9000 Power]
"Now, I use Presenter's skill." She turned over a Damage, putting Presenter into her Soul, then plucking Purple Trapezist from her deck's top ten cards and putting it into the Soul.
[Soul Charge – Purple Trapezist – No Trigger]
"Now, I call Nitro Juggler, Midnight Bunny, and Peek-a-boo. And I use Nitro Juggler's skill to Soul Charge."
The three units rose around her vanguard in flares of shadow [Nitro Juggler – 9000 Power] [Midnight Bunny – 7000 Power] [Peek-a-boo – 8000 Power]
[Soul Charge – Acrobat Cerberus – No Trigger]
"Going all out like that doesn't seem like someone who's given up," Gabriel noted.
Agatha frowned at him. "Nitro Juggler attacks!"
"I guard with Red Gem Carbuncle."
The man hurled a flask of green liquid, only for a red cat-like creature to appear and block it [7000 Power + 5000 Shield = 12000 Power]
"Midnight Bunny boosts, and Acrobat Cerberus attacks!"
The cerberus bounced forwards, drawing back a fist to punch Gojo [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power]
"No guard!" Gabriel answered.
"Check... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Hades Hypnotist – No Trigger]
The blow struck, knocking Gojo reeling back.
[Damage Check – Berserk Dragon – No Trigger]
"Acrobat Cerberus' skill unflips a Damage," Agatha said. "Now, I Counterblast and put Bunny into the Soul to Superior Call Purple Trapezist! And with Trapezist's skill, Nitro Juggler goes into the Soul and I call Alice!"
Midnight Bunny vanished, the purple-clad succubus appearing behind the cackling marionette [Purple Trapezist – 6000 Power], followed by Nitro Juggler disappearing and the towering doll rising in its place [Nightmare Doll, Alice – 10000 Power]
"Alice attacks Gojo!"
"No guard," Gabriel answered.
Alice reached out, crushing Gojo in her grip before he wriggled free.
"Check... no Trigger."
[Damage Check – Dragon Monk, Gojo – No Trigger]
"Trapezist boosts! Peek-a-boo attacks!"
The marionette threw a trio of knives at Gojo [8000 Power + 6000 Power = 14000 Power]
"No guard!"
The knives struck and Gojo winced in pain as they tore over his skin before hurtling back to Peek-a-boo.
"Draw Trigger," Gabriel said, holding up the glowing card. "Power to Gojo, and I draw."
[Damage Check – Gatling Claw Dragon – Draw Trigger]
"I end my turn, so Peek-a-boo goes to my Soul," Agatha said quietly. "Why do you even care? The last time we met, I beat you and you walked away."
"Because I can't let you make the same mistake I made," he replied.
Agatha
Hand: 4
Front Row: Nightmare Doll, Alice/Acrobat Cerberus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Purple Trapezist
Damage: Jumping Jill (F)
Gabriel
Hand: 6
Front Row: Empty/Dragon Monk, Gojo/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Lizard Soldier, Conroe/Empty
Damage: Berserk Dragon (U), Dragon Monk, Gojo (U), Gatling Claw Dragon (U)
"I draw," Gabriel said quietly. "I Ride Bellicosity Dragon."
There was a flash of flames, and Gojo transformed into the wingless red dragon [Bellicosity Dragon – 9000 Power].
"You don't see, do you?" he murmured. "You're doing the same thing you hated me for."
"What? What are you talking about?!" she snapped.
"You're abandoning your team, giving up on them," Gabriel answered. "They're your friends, Agatha. Don't make the mistake I did and assume they're not good enough. I use Conroe's skill, I Counterblast and retire it to add a Grade 1 or less Kagero from my deck to my hand." He turned over a Damage, retrieving a card. "Now, I call Flame of Hope, Aermo, Embodiment of Armor, Bahr, and Berserk Dragon."
Three bursts of flame erupted around his vanguard, shaping into a young boy made of flames, a demonic suit of armor brandishing a scimitar, and a twin-headed black dragon [Flame of Hope, Aermo – 6000 Power] [Embodiment of Armor, Bahr – 8000 Power] [Berserk Dragon – 9000 Power].
"I'm not abandoning them!"
"Then why are you moping around here instead of trying to get them to make up?" he retorted piercingly. "Berserk Dragon's Counterblast! Purple Trapezist exits the field!" He turned over two Damage.
Purple Trapezist screamed as the flames washed over her, reducing her to shadowy motes.
"With a boost from Aermo, Bellicosity Dragon attacks!"
"What good can I do? No guard!"
"More good than you're doing here. Check... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Dragon Knight, Nehalem – No Trigger]
The flames impacted over Acrobat Cerberus, the creature yelping as it was scorched.
"Check... no Trigger." She set the card down. "They've made up their minds. And besides... we can't win this fight. What we're fighting is too strong."
[Damage Check – Big League Bear – No Trigger]
"The Agatha I know wouldn't give up because of something like that," Gabriel said quietly. "With Bellicosity Dragon's skill, I unflip a Damage, then with Aermo's skill, I swap this card." He discarded a Gatling Claw Dragon, making a draw.
"He's searching for something," Agatha thought. "Does he still have The End? But if he does... it doesn't seem like he's using Burning Horn Dragon or Flame of Promises, Aermo. Has he got something new?"
"Bahr boosts, and Berserk Dragon attacks!"
"No guard!"
Berserk Dragon loosed two streams of flame again, the fire engulfing Acrobat Cerberus and making it yelp again.
"Got a Draw Trigger," she murmured. "Power to Cerberus, and I draw."
[Damage Check – Rainbow Magician – Draw Trigger]
Gabriel just looked at her. "Where's your fighting spirit? You stood up against me at Nationals and you beat me even though I was using The End. What happened to the girl who stood there and beat me even though it seemed hopeless?"
"She saw how harsh the world really is."
"But you shouldn't just give up!" he cried. "You didn't before! I didn't give up! And in the end, didn't we both get what we wanted? You won Nationals. I got the fight against Elizabeth I was chasing after all along. Are you going to let one loss put you down?!"
She said nothing.
"I end my turn," he finished. "Listen to me, Agatha."
Gabriel
Hand: 6
Front Row: Berserk Dragon/Bellicosity Dragon/Empty
Back Row: Embodiment of Armor, Bahr/Flame of Hope, Aermo/Empty
Damage: Berserk Dragon (F), Dragon Monk, Gojo (F), Gatling Claw Dragon (U)
Agatha
Hand: 5
Front Row: Nightmare Doll, Alice/Acrobat Cerberus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: Jumping Jill (F), Big League Bear (U), Rainbow Magician (U)
"You can't just come back after a year and lecture me," Agatha muttered. "Why do you think you can just do that?"
"Because you need it," he retorted. "Someone has to try to get you to understand."
"Stand and draw," she replied. "You're too late already. We've lost, Gabriel. They've won."
"Not if you stand back up and keep fighting."
"What's the point?!" she cried. "It's hopeless! They've already won, they'll just win again."
Gabriel said nothing.
"I Ride Dusk Illusionist, Robert!"
Shadows engulfed Acrobat Cerberus, unleashing the magician of the twilight [Dusk Illusionist, Robert – 10000 Power]
"At the start of my Main Phase, I use Robert's Soul Charge," she slipped a card into her Soul, before checking the top card of her deck and putting it back. "Then, I Soul Blast to call Peek-a-boo from my Soul."
[Soul Charge – Big League Bear – No Trigger]
Cackling, Peek-a-boo leapt from the shadows [Peek-a-boo – 8000 Power]
"I call Magical Partner and Skull Juggler."
Magical Partner appeared behind the vanguard with a smile, while another Skull Juggler formed on the right behind Peek-a-boo [Magical Partner – 6000 Power] [Skull Juggler – 7000 Power]
"I don't use Skull Juggler's skill. Now, Alice attacks Berserk Dragon!"
"I guard with Nehalem!"
Alice reached out for Berserk Dragon, only to be blocked by the dragon knight [9000 Power + 5000 Shield = 14000 Power]
"Magical Partner boosts! Robert attacks!"
"No guard!"
Robert took off his top hat, producing the demonic eye from within and shooting a bolt of lightning at Bellicosity Dragon [10000 Power + 6000 Power = 16000 Power]
"Twin Drive!" Agatha retorted. "Why do you suddenly care? You drop out of everything for a year and then just come back? What's in it for you?"
"What's in it for me? What about the people you swore to help?" he countered.
Agatha spoke before she'd even drawn the card. "Stand Trigger. All to Alice."
[Drive Check – Sky High Walker – Stand Trigger]
"Second... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Nightmare Summoner, Raqiel – No Trigger]
Robert's lightning struck, sending the dragon reeling back.
[Damage Check – Dragon Knight, Nehalem – No Trigger]
"Alice attacks again!"
"I guard with Tahr!"
Alice reached out for the second time, but the spearman appeared to block her attack [9000 Power + 10000 Shield = 19000 Power]
"Juggler boosts and Peek-a-boo attacks!"
"I don't guard!"
Peek-a-boo threw its knives, the blades raking through Bellicosity Dragon's scales [8000 Power + 7000 Power = 15000 Power]
"Damage Check... Heal Trigger," Gabriel said. "I give the Power to Bellicosity and heal one Damage."
[Damage Check – Dragon Monk, Genjo – Heal Trigger]
"What do you mean, what about the people I swore to help?" Agatha demanded, staring at him.
Gabriel gestured to the boys watching their fight. "Imagine they made it big, got into the Premier League or something. And imagine that they were cheated of their fair chance to win because someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes."
"I know what you're trying to do, and you can't guilt-trip me," she retorted. "We did all we could! We just weren't enough!"
"But you could be! You can't give up just because they got in a lucky shot! So long as you don't give up, people will remember you for fighting on against the odds, not for the trash the tabloids are putting out now!"
"Just take your turn, Gabriel. Peek-a-boo goes back into my Soul."
Agatha
Hand: 5
Front Row: Nightmare Doll, Alice/Dusk Illusionist, Robert/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Magical Partner/Skull Juggler
Damage: Jumping Jill (F), Big League Bear (U), Rainbow Magician (U)
Gabriel
Hand: 4
Front Row: Berserk Dragon/Bellicosity Dragon/Empty
Back Row: Embodiment of Armor, Bahr/Flame of Hope, Aermo/Empty
Damage: Dragon Monk, Gojo (F), Gatling Claw Dragon (U), Dragon Knight, Nehalem (U), Dragon Monk, Genjo (U)
"I draw," Gabriel sighed. "Ancient, noble dragon, pierce through the despair! Grant me your legendary power! I Ride Dauntless Drive Dragon!"
His vanguard burst into howling flames, something erupting from beneath the battlefield and soaring into the air with a roar. It was revealed as an ancient, regal crimson dragon, with immense red and gold wings, a sleek, pointed face and sharp talons. Crossing its arms, Dauntless Drive Dragon descended to the field, its golden eyes staring at Agatha's vanguard admonishingly [Dauntless Drive Dragon – 11000 Power]
"Not The End...?" Agatha wondered aloud.
"I call a second Dauntless Drive."
With a roar, an identical copy of the ancient dragon appeared [Dauntless Drive Dragon – 11000 Power]
"Aermo boosts, and my vanguard Dauntless attacks! Dauntless' skill! When it attacks, if I have more rear-guards than you, it gets 2000 Power for that attack!"
Dauntless Drive erupted into the sky, spiralling upwards and swathing itself in flames before turning at Robert and descending like a blazing comet [11000 Power + 2000 Power + 6000 Power = 19000 Power]
"No guard!" Agatha cried.
"Twin Drive, first!" He revealed a card which Agatha immediately recognised. There was no way for her not to remember. The sight of it had the boys nearby gaping in shock at beholding such a legendary unit.
Gabriel smiled. "He's here."
[Drive Check – Dragonic Overlord the End – No Trigger]
"And the second... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Embodiment of Armor, Bahr – No Trigger]
Like an apocalyptic meteor, Dauntless Drive Dragon crashed down, its impact sending flames roaring over the field. It emerged from the flames to land back in its original position, and Robert slowly rose, his clothes tattered by the force and his skin covered in bruises.
[Damage Check – Dynamite Juggler – Critical Trigger]
"All to Robert!" she called. "It's okay... I have Hypnotist. I can stop The End. And I might beat him before he can Ride it."
"Aermo's skill." He discarded Bahr, making a draw. "My rear-guard Dauntless Drive attacks Alice!"
Roaring, the second Dauntless took to the skies, shooting like a meteor at Alice.
"Rainbow Magician!"
The white-clad magician appeared in the flaming dragon's path, taking the attack and being obliterated by the fire [10000 Power + 5000 Shield = 15000 Power]
"Bahr boosts, Berserk Dragon attacks!"
Berserk Dragon roared, breathing its flames [9000 Power + 8000 Power = 17000 Power]
"Big League Bear guards!"
Snarling, the bear rose up [10000 Power + 5000 Shield = 15000 Power]
"Bear's skill! Soul Charge!"
[Soul Charge – Sky High Walker – Stand Trigger]
[Soul Charge – Dusk Illusionist, Robert – No Trigger]
"I'm going to win this fight, and I'll show you what determination can do in the process," Gabriel declared. "I want to help you, Agatha. I want to help get your team back together. You don't have to give up. There are still plenty of people willing to believe in you, like Mia and I."
"What about Samuel?!" Agatha protested. "What about-"
"You said you knew he didn't throw that fight, and I know you're telling the truth," he interrupted. "Agatha, I watched Samuel fight Joel. I know full well that he would never throw a fight. He's too good for that."
"Then why did he shout at me when I tried to tell him that I know he didn't throw the fight?! Why won't he and Robert speak to each other?!"
Gabriel shook his head. "You're all under a ton of stress, I understand. But you can't fix it if you won't even try."
"I told you... there's no point," she said half-heartedly.
"You don't believe that, not really. I end my turn."
Gabriel
Hand: 5
Front Row: Berserk Dragon/Dauntless Drive Dragon/Dauntless Drive Dragon
Back Row: Embodiment of Armor, Bahr/Flame of Hope, Aermo/Empty
Damage: Dragon Monk, Gojo (F), Gatling Claw Dragon (U), Dragon Knight, Nehalem (U), Dragon Monk, Genjo (U)
Agatha
Hand: 3
Front Row: Nightmare Doll, Alice/Dusk Illusionist, Robert/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Magical Partner/Skull Juggler
Damage: Jumping Jill (F), Big League Bear (U), Rainbow Magician (U), Dynamite Juggler (U)
"I stand and draw," Agatha muttered. "Damn you... how can you stand there and say you'll win?! I'll beat you this turn! Just to show you... you're wrong! It is hopeless! We can't beat the system!"
"You won't beat it if you've convinced yourself you can't," he replied softly.
"I Ride Nightmare Summoner, Raqiel!" she barked in return.
Robert took off his top hat and bowed, reforming into the Nightmare Summoner [Nightmare Summoner, Raqiel – 1000 Power]
"Raqiel's Counterblast! I Superior Call Bunny! And Peek-a-boo's skill!"
Midnight Bunny and Peek-a-boo appeared from the shadows, laughing and cackling respectively [Midnight Bunny – 7000 Power] [Peek-a-boo – 8000 Power]
"How can you act so high and mighty? You aren't the one suffering all this pressure! Juggler boosts! Peek-a-boo attacks Berserk Dragon!"
The marionette hurled its knives, striking down the dragon and reducing it to motes.
"You don't understand how tough it is to fight when everyone's speaking out against you! When everyone's looking at you like they can't believe you! Partner boosts and Soul Blasts! Raqiel's Limit Break! Attack!"
Raqiel hurled a mighty claw of shadows at Gabriel's vanguard [10000 Power + 5000 Power + 6000 Power + 5000 Power = 26000 Power]
"But that's just it," Gabriel replied. "I know that you've had it tough. I know that it's hard. But I also know that you'll never get anything done to change it so long as you convince yourself that it's insurmountable. You won't get stronger by drowning yourself in despair like this. Baryi, Perfect Guard!" He discarded a Gojo.
Shrieking, the Wyvern Guard descended, blocking Raqiel's shadowy claw.
"Twin Drive!" Agatha cried. "First... no Trigger. Second... Heal Trigger! All to Alice! I heal one Damage!"
[Drive Check – Midnight Bunny – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Candy Clown – Heal Trigger]
She discarded a Damage. "There you go. You can't win! I have a Perfect Guard to stop The End! You can't possibly beat me next turn!"
Gabriel slowly shook his head. "Some things are impossible, but me beating you next turn isn't one of them. And Agatha... your team coming back together isn't impossible either."
"Bunny boosts... Alice attacks!"
Alice reached out, crushing Dauntless Drive Dragon in her grip before it broke free in a burst of flames.
[Damage Check – Wyvern Guard, Baryi – No Trigger]
She stared at him. "Alice's skill! She moves to the Soul and I Superior Call Big League Bear!"
Alice faded away, the bear leaping out of the shadows [Big League Bear – 8000 Power]
Agatha stared at him for a while. "I'll win this fight. You can't win, Gabriel. It's hopeless."
"No. You've convinced yourself that it is," he replied gently. "Like you've convinced yourself that trying to fight is hopeless. I'm sorry about what happened, but you have to move on. You have to try and put this behind you and reach out the hand of friendship again. It's not just about the people the three of you swore to help. What have you done, Agatha? What have you done since your team split up?"
She looked away pointedly. "Take your turn, if you really think you can win."
"Agatha..."
"Just take your turn!"
Agatha
Hand: 5
Front Row: Big League Bear/Nightmare Summoner, Raqiel/Empty
Back Row: Midnight Bunny/Magical Partner/Skull Juggler
Damage: Big League Bear (F), Rainbow Magician (U), Dynamite Juggler (U)
Gabriel
Hand: 3
Front Row: Empty/Dauntless Drive Dragon/Dauntless Drive Dragon
Back Row: Embodiment of Armor, Bahr/Flame of Hope, Aermo/Empty
Damage: Dragon Monk, Gojo (F), Gatling Claw Dragon (U), Dragon Knight, Nehalem (U), Dragon Monk, Genjo (U), Wyvern Guard, Baryi (U)
"Stand and draw," Gabriel murmured. "I'm going to break through this apathy, Agatha. I'm going to show you here and now that you can win if you truly believe. Here I go... Final Turn!" He took a card from his hand. "Flame of legends, blaze across the void of history! Make your power known to all!"
"No!"
"I Break Ride... Dragonic... Overlord... the... End!" Gabriel called, playing the card as the boys nearby cheered.
Hellfire engulfed Dauntless Drive Dragon, transforming it in a roaring infernal pillar of flames. The pillar became four great burning wings, which spread wide to their outermost extent and unveiled the legendary hero. It rose, four-armed, wielding two massive guns and two blazing swords. Its eyes were a bright, fiery green, its scales the shade of blood. Wrapped in red and gold armor, Dragonic Overlord the End rose with a world-shaking roar of pride, readying its weapons [Dragonic Overlord the End – 11000 Power]
"Break Ride?!" Agatha gasped. "You had..."
"Dauntless Drive Dragon's Break Ride skill! The End gets 10000 Power!" he declared. "I call Bellicosity Dragon!"
An aura of blazing white flames engulfed the End, empowering it [Dragonic Overlord the End – 21000 Power], before another Bellicosity Dragon rose in front of Bahr [Bellicosity Dragon – 9000 Power]
"Dauntless Drive attacks Bear!"
Dauntless Drive Dragon spiralled through the air, wrapped in flames, and smashed into Big League Bear, obliterating the creature in a wave of flames.
"With no boost, The End attacks!"
Roaring, Dragonic Overlord the End burst into the air, wrapped in its apocalyptic flames. It opened fire, its guns sending bullets the size of cannon shells howling at Raqiel.
"Hades Hypnotist, Perfect Guard!" Agatha called. "It's pointless! I won't let you use the Persona Blast!"
The cloaked hypnotist appeared, raising his pendulum and swinging it. The bullets impacted, but were stopped immediately, dissipating into nothingness.
"It's not pointless," Gabriel smiled, and immediately Agatha's eyes widened in shock.
"Why are you smiling?!"
"You'll see. Twin Drive," he revealed the first card, still smiling. "No Trigger. Second... Draw Trigger. Power to The End."
[Drive Check – Flame of Hope, Aermo – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Gatling Claw Dragon – Draw Trigger]
"Why to The End? It can't get through!"
"But it can," he murmured. "I'll show you... it's possible for me to win this turn. And it's possible for you to keep fighting. It's possible for Team Avalon to be whole again! Dauntless Drive Dragon's Break Ride skill activates! At the end of the battle my vanguard attacked, so long as that vanguard hasn't already stood this turn, I can discard three cards," Aermo, Gatling Claw Dragon and Bahr fell to his Drop Zone, "and my vanguard stands again!"
"It what?!"
"Dragonic Overlord the End... stand!" he commanded, turning the card to vertical. The boys looked awestruck, Agatha stunned.
"It stands?!"
"The End attacks again, with a boost from Aermo!"
Roaring, the End burst forth again. Its sabers were raised, blazing white hot as it prepared to swing them down onto Raqiel [21000 Power + 5000 Power + 6000 Power = 32000 Power]
Agatha looked at what she had left. Candy Clown, Midnight Bunny and Acrobat Cerberus. 20000 Shield altogether, not enough to stop the attack. "I don't guard!"
"Twin Drive," Gabriel said. "First... no Trigger. Second... no Trigger."
[Drive Check – Berserk Dragon – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Wyvern Guard, Baryi – No Trigger]
The End struck. Raqiel screamed as the blades fell, cleaving through him and wrapping him in utterly hellish fire, crushing him to his knees under the dragon's immense power.
"Damage Check... no Trigger..."
[Damage Check – Hades Hypnotist – No Trigger]
"Aermo's skill." Gabriel discarded Berserk Dragon, making a draw. He smiled, and turned the card around to reveal a second The End.
"No..."
"Dragonic Overlord the End's skill!" he called. "When its attack hits, Persona Blast! Stand again!" He turned over two Damage, discarding the card and turning his vanguard's card vertical again. "Do you see now? I've overcome your Perfect Guard. I've gotten past what you said was impossible for me to defeat."
"That doesn't mean you're right!"
"No, it doesn't," he agreed. "I just want you to think about what I'm saying, Agatha. I asked you what you'd done since your team split up. Well? What have you done?"
"Just moped," she admitted.
"They're your friends. You shouldn't just leave them to fight," he said. "Shouldn't you try to help them, if only because even if you won't admit it, you're miserable without them. You're avoiding the shop because you're worried you'll run into them. You've convinced yourself it's hopeless to stop yourself going back. You've just abandoned them! You're repeating my mistake, Agatha!"
"I..."
"They need you! The three of you need each other to fight this battle! The battle you said you'd fight!" He turned The End's card sideways again. "The End attacks again! Eternal Apocalypse!"
Roaring, his dragon opened fire, sending more meteor-like bullets roaring towards Raqiel [26000 Power]
"Candy Clown, Midnight Bunny, Acrobat Cerberus, guard!"
The three rose up, shielding Raqiel from the approaching shots [10000 Power + 10000 Shield + 5000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 30000 Power]
Gabriel shook his head. "Go back to them, Agatha. Bring the team back. You haven't given up, have you? You've convinced yourself that you have, but deep down? You still want to fight. Why else would you fight me so hard? Why would someone who's utterly given up struggle to the end like a true Vanguard Fighter?"
She looked at him. "I guess..."
"Twin Drive!" He drew the first card, quickly putting it into his hand. "No Trigger."
[Drive Check – Dauntless Drive Dragon – No Trigger]
"Second check..." He slowly drew the card. "Don't abandon them. Don't let them go. They're your friends, and deep down, you'll regret it if you leave them like this. Trust me on that." He revealed the card, and it glowed green. "Heal Trigger. The Power goes to the End and I heal one damage."
[Drive Check – Dragon Monk, Genjo – Heal Trigger]
The End added two more shots to its barrage, the massive bullets obliterating the guardians [26000 Power + 5000 Power = 31000 Power] before smashing down into Raqiel and consuming him in an explosion of howling flames.
"Damage Check... Stand Trigger. I give the Power to Raqiel and Partner stands."
[Damage Check – Sky High Walker – Stand Trigger]
"Aermo's skill." He discarded Dauntless Drive Dragon, drawing a card, then took one of the two cards he'd had before The End attacked from his hand. He turned it around, revealing a third Dragonic Overlord the End.
Agatha nodded. "Do it."
"Persona Blast," he said solemnly, turning over his last two face-up Damage cards and discarding the card. He turned his vanguard's card to vertical for the third time of the turn, staring at Agatha as he did so. "Back then, I thought it was worth it to abandon everyone who wasn't 'strong' enough. But then when it was just me and Mia, I began to understand. I'd let myself become consumed. I was chasing Elisabeth and not caring who I stepped on to get to her. That's something else I want to say. Don't give up, Agatha. But don't let this consume you either. Don't let it become everything. If you do bring your team back together, don't ever let the battle you're fighting get in between you and your friends. You may think it's worth it, that it's a sacrifice which has to be made. But it'll haunt you, the way abandoning you and the others haunted me in the end."
"Is that what you're going to say now?" she said harshly. "Are you trying to get back into my life, Gabriel? No. I let you go. I put you behind me a year ago, and I was much happier once I got over you. Just saying you regret it doesn't change the fact you left me to pine after you for months without even explaining why! Just finish this fight. You've done what you came here to do."
He looked like he wanted to say something more, but finally he just turned The End's card for the final time. "The End attacks."
"No guard."
He made his Drive Checks in silence, no Triggers appearing.
Roaring, his vanguard struck for the fourth time, blazing with flames as it tore at Raqiel. It ripped aside the shadows the magician sent at it, blasting them to pieces with its guns, slashing them to nothing with its swords. Finally, no barriers were left, and Raqiel staggered back in fear as The End rose up. Roaring, the dragon crashed down like a tidal wave of scales, armor and flames, burying him under the burning edges of its colossal swords. The magician howled and finally evaporated in the fire, reducing to shadowy motes which dispersed from the powerful roaring flames.
[Damage Check – Nightmare Doll, Alice – No Trigger]
The boys nearby watched in silence, caught between awestruck wonder and anticipation as the fight ended. Agatha and Gabriel stared at each other.
"You'll go back and try to get Samuel and Robert to make up?" Gabriel finally asked.
"I'll try."
"That's good." There was a long and awkward silence which no one seemed to want to break until he spoke again. "I'm sorry. For leaving you."
"We're not going to do this, Gabriel," Agatha replied, her tone more gentle now. "You came back and you got me out of my funk, so thank you for that. But I got over you. I pined for you and I got over you a year ago. I don't want to do the thing where you come back and we're awkward with each other. I used to want you more than anything and I moved on. Being sorry, regretting... it doesn't erase what you did. It doesn't get rid of it. It's still there and I'm glad I moved on, because for six months all I did was sit in that shop and wish you'd come back."
"I know." He slowly collected his cards, finally taking up Dragonic Overlord the End and placing it at the front of his deck, staring at it. "You've changed a lot. Since I knew you."
She took her own cards, putting them back into the deck. "So have you. The Gabriel I knew would've said I was weak and just left."
He looked guilty, glancing aside. "I'm sorry. I really am."
She slowly turned away, beginning to walk across the grass away from him. Then she stopped a few feet away, and glanced back. "I know. You've changed a lot. But I let you go. You let me go. That's just going to hang over us. We can't go back to the days when you were teaching me and I loved you. They're gone forever, Gabriel."
"I understand," Gabriel said, turning away. "Good luck, Agatha."
"Good luck, Gabriel." With that, the two walked away in opposite directions, parting across the field. They didn't look back as they left, both taking different paths.
VMS12
When Agatha got to her house, Richard was waiting outside.
"Hey," he said hesitantly. "I wanted to see how you were."
"I'm fine," she replied.
"I was wondering if you wanted to come and see me and the others at Regionals? I'd like you to be there... I'll understand if you don't want to come."
"No, it's okay," Agatha smiled. "I'll come to watch. Good luck."
"Thank you."
The two stood there, just chatting, and as they did Agatha wondered briefly where Gabriel would go from that park. Would they meet again in the future? Would their paths cross once more soon?
Then her thoughts turned to her friends. She remembered the argument, remembered shouting at Samuel and Leah. Then her thoughts turned to happier times, fighting with Samuel and Robert at Nationals. She was going to try and do all she could to bring them back together, she reflected. She was going to do everything she could to reforge Team Avalon. For just for all the people out there they'd wanted to help. But because no matter what happened, they were still friends, and ultimately she couldn't bring herself to just let that go.
"Samuel... you're not alone. I'll make sure you know that. I know you're telling the truth. And I'll tell you the truth like I meant to."
VMS12
Card of the Day:
Dauntless Drive Dragon
Grade 3/Twin Drive!
Dragon Empire – Flame Dragon – Kagero
11000 Power/No Shield/Critical 1
Auto [V]: [Limit Break 4] When a «Kagero» rides this unit, choose your vanguard, that unit gets [Power]+10000 and "Auto [V]: [Choose three cards from your hand, and discard them] At the end of the battle that this unit attacked, if this unit did not [Stand] during this turn, you may pay the cost. If you do, [Stand] this unit." until end of turn.
Auto [V]: When this unit attacks, if the number of rear-guards you have is more than your opponent's, this unit gets [Power]+2000 until end of that battle.
Continuous [V/R]: Lord
Overcome the despair! If you do, I shall award you the dragon's powers!
One of the oldest soldiers in the empire who has been around since the time of the First Emperor. Desiring to become stronger than anyone else, even though he was a passionate dragon warrior, as the years piled themselves on top of him, he grew weaker. So, he chose to retire to the sacred mountains at the age of 4000, and sealed his body away. However, this seal was shattered by the appearance of an unexpected group of visitors called "Link Joker". After awakening from the attack, and having been kicked about by the invaders' vanguard team, this tenacious dragon, with the title of "Dauntless Drive", was assigned to "Kagero". The fighting spirit of this ancient general continues to fire up the spirits of those who would waver. Someday soon, the invaders will be sorry that they awoke the immortal soldier who fears not despair.
VMS12
Card Stats:
Acrobat Cerberus
Grade 2/Chimera – Pale Moon/9000 Power/5000 Shield
Auto [V/R]: When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, if you have a «Pale Moon» vanguard, choose a card from your damage zone, and turn it face up.
It's amazing what beasts can accomplish when trained.
(Acrobat Cerberus was created by Desgarroth.)