A new day shines in Shalour City and our heroes have gone through quite the day yesterday. Ever since their world got into the craze known as Vanguard, it's been crazy. As of now, they have been involved in a crazy tournament. It does involve their Pokemon, as they will have them at their side. However, they've been acting as the cards that the trainers have placed on the field. With a little luck and a little bit of skill, our heroes have made it to the final and deciding game. It's Ash of their team NXT4, VS one of their new friends' rivals, the leader of Team Asteroid AL4, Ren. Unbeknownst to our human heroes, who were asleep at the time, Pikachu met up with Ren's Raichu who was mysteriously abandoned. Soon after, Pikachu found some new cards by the nearby lakefront and decided to get to work on the new configuration, hopefully securing a much-needed win against a turned rival.
It's now morning as Ash's Pikachu wakes up from the table he was sleeping on. He rubs his eyes before looking towards the sight of the sun shining over Shalour City. "Man, I must've been out like a light, especially after working on Ash's deck. But the day has come.", Pikachu thinks as he turns around to find the deck suddenly missing. As Pikachu looks around for it, someone comes into the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. "Hey there, Pikachu," a voice says from behind, causing Pikachu to turn around. When he does, he finds Ash, arms crossed and with a frown on his face. "So, mind telling me why my deck has been changed?" Pikachu then explains the events of what happened last night, as Ash listens in with focused eyes. "So, that's what happened?", Ash says as he looks at the readjusted deck. Pikachu nods as Ren's Raichu pops his head out from the room's door. "Hey there, Ash, Pikachu. Mind if I come in with some guests?", he offers with a smile. The pair nod as Ren's Pokemon team comes in all with bandages on their bodies. "Geez, what happened?!", Ash exclaims as he looks at the condition of Ren's team. "It's likely the Virus that I've told ya about", Raichu says as he gives everyone berries from a box. "The others of AL4 didn't touch the cards, but they are still concerned for Ren." As Ash helps the Pokemon, another voice comes through the door. "Ash? Are you there? It's Kai and me, Tetsu.", the voice says with concern. "Yeah, I'm here, you can come in.", Ash says with a friendly tone. As the two young adults come in, they see Ash and the two mouse Pokemon healing the other members of Ren's team. "It's about Ren isn't it?", Ash guesses as he gets a nod from the boys. "We came here to ask you on behalf of AL4 and Q4 to stop Ren for us," Tetsu says with concern, "He's acting like when he lost himself to PSYqualia." Ash looks puzzled as the two sit down on the bed beside Ash.
"Ash, during our first fight together, remember when I said to you I had to move because of my parents passing?", Kai asks the trainer as Pikachu joins Ash on his lap. Ash nods as Kai explains that during his first moving, in his new school, he met Ren at one of his classes. It wasn't long after Kai met Tetsu, who Ren had already established a friendship with. They soon bonded over their mutual respect and love for Vanguard. However, this would take a dark turn as Ren obtained a power known as PSYqualia. Ren would not only continuously win his games, but he could also predict how fights were going to end. "That's when I turned against Ren, I tried to save him when I could, but to no avail...", Kai grumbles as he clenches his fist. "But now, this is a whole different kind of Ren. He's never acted like this," Tetsu says to Ash as he looks at Ren's team. "He'd never abandon his Pokemon, nor us, his friends and rivals, it's almost as if he lost himself to PSYqualia or some other evil force." Ren's Raichu nods as he explains what happened last night. "If that's the case, then this game is going to have even higher stakes...", Tetsu moans as he looks out the window. "If Ren wins, he'll go on a rampage...", Kai starts with Ash cutting back in, "But if I win, he'll hopefully go back to his true self." As Ash assures everyone in the room that everyone will be OK and Ren will be saved, Kai and Tetsu thank him for their confidence. The group then heads out as they get their food, heal their Pokemon, and Ash choosing his temporary team.
It's now nearly the afternoon, fifteen minutes to high noon, the time of the final game of the tournament's first stage. "Ash!", Serena calls out as Ash's Kalos squad joins in on a hug. "We were kind of worried sick about you...", Clemont says, breathing a sigh of relief. "Are you sure that you're OK?", Bonnie asked the leader of NXT4, with a hint of worry. Ash just nods as he steps up to the podium. Sure enough, already at his podium, is Ren, with a red glow around him. "So Ash, it seems that you're ready. Am I right?", Ren says with a calm demeanor. Ash just nods as he places his deck onto his armor's deck slot. "I will release you from your dark curse, Ren", Ash whispers as he draws his starting hand. As Emi, Shin, James, and Meowth sit at the commentator's desk, Korrina skates up to the center. "Good luck to the both of you. I don't need to remind you of what's on the line. But, I'll say it again. Whoever wins this fight, wins the stage, and gets to move on to Stage 2. Do you both understand the conditions?" The two nod as they look at each other with determined eyes. Team Q4 looks on as Kai says the phrase that starts the high-stakes fight. "Fighters... It's time to CardFight! Now, STAND UP... THE... VANGUARD!!"
As Kai finishes the phrase, the field changes into a moonlit canyon and almost no one is there, except for Ash and Ren. "What in the... either the graphics are super realistic or we are on Planet Cray..." Ren then flips his card to reveal his first Vanguard, Fullbau. However, much to Ash's surprise, the actual creature comes out to Ren's side. "Looks like the virus has really made the planet and the cards come alive... I must stop this by winning the game..." Ash thinks as he reveals his first Vanguard, Drangal. "Well, guess you abandoned Blaster Blade, huh, Ash?", Ren says with a cold smile. Ash just looks at him with a cold stare. "Ah well, I'll get to you eventually. I ride BlasterJavelin." As Ren takes the first turn, he rides the unit and sure enough, the actual black knight with a red aura around him appears before Ren. "Ash, due to my Starting Vanguard's skill, I'm allowed to search my deck for my True Avatar. Not some pointless Pokémon. My one and only, Blaster Dark." Ash still gives a cold stare as Ren ends his turn.
"Pikachu, you put your heart and soul into our deck, so I put my trust in you. It's time to show him what people and Pokémon can do when we work together, even in a Cardfight." Ash draws his first card, and the skill of his Vanguard activates. Similar to Bonnie's deck, Ash looks at the top five cards of his deck, and if he finds the specified card, he can superior ride it. Afterward, he can place the cards on the bottom of his deck in any order he likes. The skill of Drangal allows Ash to superior ride the Knight of Quests, Galahad. Unlike Ren though, Ash gets the armor and sword of his Vanguard. "Come, Froakie, I need you as Wingal!", Ash shouts as he calls out the card to the middle of his back row. Ash then attacks as he performs a drive check. Ash doesn't reveal anything, but Ren does reveal a Draw Trigger. Ash does step back at the sight of the trigger. "I end my turn, Ren.", Ash says, eyes focused on his opponent.
Meanwhile, outside, everyone is looking around the stadium, trying to find Ash and Ren. Shin and the others pass out little tablets as they watch the match. "I'd say this is part of the virus too..." Tetsu thinks as he comforts a sobbing Asaka. "Things look dire, but we've got to hope that Ash and Ren are both doing OK." For Team NXT4, they almost pray as they watch the action on the tablet. Meanwhile, back on the battleground, Ren takes his next turn. "I don't need the Pokémon or my friends, all I need are my cards and the virus's power." Ren then selects a card from his hand as his eyes glow purple. "Rise from the darkness, my TRUE power! I ride my True Avatar, Blaster Dark!" As a black plume of smoke envelops the knight, Ren's signature card soon appears. "There it is, Ash," Froakie says gripping the small dagger. Ash nods as he gazed into the eyes of Ren's signature Vanguard. Ren then calls a Skull Witch, Nemain, and activates the dangerous witch's effect. After counter-blasting one and discarding a card, Ren proceeds to draw two cards. "To finish my main phase, Ash," Ren says before selecting two cards, "I now call Black Sage, Charon, and Doranbau." Ren then starts the attacks with his Vanguard. The drive check pulls another Draw Trigger for Ren, which means another card in Ren's hand. When it comes to the damage count though, Ash only takes one damage after revealing a Heal Trigger. Thus, recovering the damage from Ren's Vanguard. Ren grunts in annoyance as he ends his turn.
It's now Ash's turn as he once again checks the top five cards of his deck for the correct card. "Perfect, for my next turn, I now ride the Knight of Tribulations, Galahad!" Ash then calls upon three units, to which Bulbasaur, Fletchinder, and Pikachu join him. "I'll finish up my main phase by calling Knight of Friendship, Kay, Wingal Brave, and my best buddy as your rival's avatar, Blaster Blade!" As the Pokémon take up the armor and weapons, Ash begins his attacks. Starting with the Vanguard, Ren takes the hit. Much to the surprise of both fighters, both have revealed draw triggers for their Drive and Damage checks. Ash's second attack is with Pikachu as Blaster Blade, supported by Fletchinder as Wingal Brave. Ren does take the hit there but doesn't reveal a damage check. Ash then calls upon Bulbasaur to attack Nemain, but Ren blocks it with the draw trigger in his hand. "Shoot, Sorry about that Ash," Bulbasaur says as he scurried back to his trainer. "No worries, Bulbasaur, Ren is one tough cookie," Ash says to his grass-type friend, patting his head.
Back at the gym, everyone is finally able to watch the action on the tablet. "This is not good," Kai says as he finally sees Ren, and his eyes glow a bright red. "Ash is about to see Ren's Dragon come out to play," Tetsu says as he looks on in concern. Shin asks the rest of Team NXT4 where Ash is, and all they say is that he is on the screen, but not here in Shalour City. But their questions would soon turn into shocks and awes as Ren rides his grade 3. "Ash, you will never be strong as long as you have those Pokémon... But I will make short work of them as soon as I call upon the great black dragon of pain!! I now ride the malicious and mighty Phantom Blaster Dragon!" As the dragon appears, it stabs all of Ren's rear guards, much to everyone's horror. "Shoot, it's the Corrupted Charging Lance...", Ash thinks as he recalls the nightmare he had days ago. "Now that cost has been paid and the soldiers have been sacrificed, my Vanguard now has 21,000 Power and 2 Critical!!" Ren screams in delight before calling four cards from his hand. He starts off the attacks with his Vanguard, supported by Apocalypse Bat. "Despite the damage I'll take, That's a No Guard, Ren!", Ash calls out, still with focused eyes. The Twin Drive brought out a double Heal Trigger for Ren. For Ash, his two damage checks revealed a Draw Trigger for the first check, but nothing for the second. Ash also reveals nothing for the other two attacks that he takes. "You're one gutsy fighter Ash, You may have the light, but I have the dark... And don't even think of continuing, if you do, you will still lose. I end my turn."
The crowd back inside the stadium are stunned by the move Ash has made. "It's now five to one and Ash has just superior rode into the Grade 3 known as the Knight of Godly Speed, Galahad!", Shin says over the mic as Korrina joins him, Emi, James, and Meowth at the booth. "Looks like danks to the Grade 2's skill, Ash can soul Charge 2 cards...", Meowth says as Ash reveals both Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark. Bonnie cringes at the cards, but Clemont assures her that the move was lucky. "Come on, Ash, please play the card if you got it..." Kai whispers under his breath. "Ren you are right about something. Wherever there is light, there is darkness. But even so, a partner can be both! To prove my point, Here's your trusted partner, as your trusted avatar! As I move Bulbasaur Kay back, Raichu, appear as the shadow prince himself! Call! Blaster Dark!" Ren's eyes widen as Raichu appears in the same armor as Blaster Dark. Kai shudders as he looks at the field, "This takes us back... but this time, it's... actually a good thing..." Just then, Ren then suddenly drops to his knees and screams as if he was in pain. "Why?! Why did you bring HIM out?!", Ren screams as his red waves come from out of his body. Ash watches on in horror as a light envelops the field before the two come back to the gym. As the light fades, Ren slowly starts to stand up, grasping his head in pain. "Ugh... what happened? Ash? Raichu?", Ren says as he looks around. "Ren? Are you back to your normal, true self?", Ash asks from his podium. "Yeah, yeah. Looks like it," Ren responds with a pained smile. "I was able to see the match, but it felt like I was being controlled... It felt like I was a puppet. No offense, Asaka." The girl scoffs before smiling at Ren. "Do you want to continue?" Korrina asks Ren, to which she gets a nod from him. "Yes, Lady Korrina. It looks like whatever took control of me has been removed..." With that, Ash commences his battle phase and decides to go in as his Vanguard. Ren opts to not guard the attack, but Ash does reveal two triggers, a heal and a critical. The power bonuses each go to a separate Blaster unit, but the Critical stays with the Vanguard. As the dragon gets hit with a pierce from Ash's sword, a stand trigger is revealed on Ren's second damage check. Ash then decides to attack with his Blaster columns. Ren decides to take both hits but no damage triggers come up.
"Looks like the score is now at 5-4. Can Ren pull off another comeback?", James announces as Ren starts his turn. "I was never able to find time to put this card in my deck, but now it's time for a change! Behold the shadow of the King of Knights, I ride... THE DARK DICTATOR!" As he shouts this, the dark king rises from the gym floor like a ghastly monster from a movie. Team Q4 and Team AL4 are both teams are immediately taken aback. "It's like Alfred... but more sinister...", Misaki whispers as she gets goosebumps across her body. "Similar to Alfred, my dark king can't be boosted and gets 2000 power for each unit on my rear-guard circles. But, by soul blasting 3, my Demon World Castle, Fatalita, and my Blaster Dark both get 5000 power for this turn!" The crowd is in awe as Ren's left column goes in first, with a newly called Blaster Javelin as support for the castle. Ash decides to not guard and reveals no trigger. Ren's Vanguard then comes in with Ash responding to the attack by guarding with a 20000-point shield. Only one trigger was revealed on the twin drive and it was a critical trigger, with both effects going to Blaster Dark. Unfortunately, Ash guards the game-ending attack with a Critical Trigger. "Now this is a match!", Kamui excitedly announces as Ren ends his turn.
"Ren, I'm stopping this fight before any evil catches us. It's my Final Turn!", Ash declares as he starts his next turn. On his ride phase, he rides into Majesty Lord Blaster. "Thanks to the soul charge earlier, Ren, my Vanguard now has 12,000 Power and 2 Critical!" Then he opts to call over with two Margal units and use their skills to give the Blaster units an extra 3000 power for the turn. "It's time to strike, Raichu! Strike the Vanguard down as Blaster Dark!" As Raichu jumps he closes his eyes as Ren guards the attack. Ash tries again with his Pikachu, but Ren guards again. "It's time to seal the deal... with Wingal boosting, I attack the Vanguard with Majesty Lord Blaster!" But as Ash was about to thrust the sword into the king, Ren's eyes suddenly glow as performs a Complete Guard with Dark Shield, Mac Lir. "Oh no... it's happening again...", Ash says as Ren screams in agony. "Fight it, Ren! Fight it!", Tetsu and Kai say in sync before the red aura comes back. "You thought it was over?! I won't allow you to win against Ren! You will lose to me and you'll never find Aichi! He is now forever my slave!!", a male voice bellows in the gym as the crowd screams in terror. As waves around Ren glow a bright crimson, his voice becomes more demonic. "That's better...", he says with piercing eyes before declaring his own Final Turn. "It's now time to end this pathetic squabble. Witness the resurrection of the embodiment of pain and destruction... Behold weakling Ash Ketchum... the triumph of shadows bound in servitude to my eyes! I Cross Ride... PHANTOM BLASTER OVERLORD!!!" The crowd shrieks in terror as the black and gold dragon lets loose a terrifying roar, holding two oversized daggers. "I don't need to call anyone else... So it's time to end this!", Ren announces as he begins the battle phase with his Vanguard column. "Boosted by Apocalypse Bat, my Phantom Blaster Overlord is coming at your Vanguard!", Ren announces as the skills pile on more trouble for Ash. Because of the Cross Ride, the Vanguard is at 13,000. Thanks to the soul blast skill of the bat, another 6000 power is added. Finally, as if the final skill was the cherry on top, Ren counter blasts 3 and persona blasts to add another 10,000 power and one critical, thus making the attack before any triggers are possibly revealed a total of 33,000 power and 2 critical. "Darn...", Ash mutters as he looks at his hand before stunning the crowd. "That's a No Guard." Another double heal trigger is revealed as he gives all power to the Vanguard. "I don't need to give the power to my rear guards, because I know you won't survive It's practically impossible!!" Ash then watches as the demonic presence energizes the Vanguard as Ren cries out in pain. "THIS WILL END YOU!! DAMNED DAGGER DEMISE!!" As Ash gets stabbed in the chest by the weapons, he screams in absolute pain as he grabs his chest. "Ash, no!", Serena screams as the trainer tries to gasp for a breath of air. "Is dis... how it will end?", Meowth says in quiet disbelief. "I've seen Ash in pain, but... not like this..."Korrina says in utter shock. Ash then stands up to do the damage check, but much to his surprise, Pikachu joins him. "Pi...ka...chu?", Ash wheezes as Pikachu confidently nods at him. "We got this. It's not over, partner." Ash takes deep breaths before doing, what could be, the final damage checks. As the waves form a spirit over the dragon he laughs in victory. As he laughs, he declares that the stage is over. However, a light appears from Ash as he and Pikachu are amazed by the damage check. "The impossible... JUST BECAME POSSIBLE!", Ash and Pikachu yell in unity, "Double Heal Trigger!" The crowd cheer as the spirit's face drops in shock.
"Unbelievable, Ash has done the impossible! He needed a double heal trigger to survive, and he pulled it off!", Emi announces as the crowd cheer for the comeback. The spirit then notices Ash and Pikachu start the turn as he mocks them. "You must've cheated! I'm calling shenanigans!", the spirit says in defiance. "It's no cheat, you monster," Ash says, now back to his normal fighting self. "It's time to end this, I'll send you back from where you came! Stand and Draw!" Ash then has Pikachu go to his right side as his new unit, the Sage of Guidance, Zenon. Ren, still fighting the evil spirit's control in him, Ash activates the skill of Zenon. "With Zenon's skill, I reveal the top card of my deck, if it's a Royal Paladin with the same grade as Majesty, then I can ride it!", Ash declares as he thinks to himself. "Please make it the one card that can shine an overwhelming light and overrule the dark in this fight!" As he reveals the card, Ash transforms into the card, as he gains longer hair, a new set of armor, extended blades, and a majestic crown. "Behold, the ruler who is the light itself! Exculpate... The Blaster!!" The crowd is in awe as Ash enters the battle phase. "I'll still guard it, there is nothing you can do that will surprise me!", the spirit says as Ren still fights it. Ash smirks as he counter-blasts 3 and Soul blasts almost all the cards in the soul. "Are you sure? When I attack with Exculpate, he puts all cards in the soul not named Blaster Blade into the drop and he gets 2000 power for each card placed in the drop this way!" "Unbelievable, since he put 9 cards in the drop, Exculpate gets 18,000 Power giving him a total of 36000!", Shin announces as the crowd is stunned. "It doesn't matter, you pathetic fool, I can still guard!", the apparition says with defiance. But it's Pikachu's next statement that stuns the crowd. "Yeah, but who will you guard?", he says with a smirk. "Since Ash paid the cost, in this one attack, Exculpate will attack every single unit you have on the field!" As the spirit loses control, Ren snaps back to his senses as he declares "No guard". The spirit leaves his body in anguish as Ash reveals a double Critical on the twin drive. With no more heals in the deck, and making the attack able to break through the shield, the game is done. Ash then releases a beam of golden light from his chest plate that heads straight for the spirit. The beam is so large and so blinding, it burns the spirit and Ren's units out of the gym.
"The winner of this fight is Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town, and thus, the winners of this stage are Team NXT4!", Korrina announces as Ren walks up to Ash. "I'm so sorry that I used the virus card, Ash. I was too curious to notice the danger. I only hope that we can have a rematch, but on friendlier terms." Raichu jumps up to hug Ren as the two smile and laugh. Ash and Pikachu laugh as they accept the offer. Later that night, Ash, Korrina, Kai, and Ren are looking at the moon outside the gym. "You know Ash, gotta hand it to ya, "Korrina says to Ash. "That was probably the best match in Pokemon or Vanguard that I've ever seen!" Everyone nods as Ren's face suddenly turns serious. "You know? We should give ourselves a whole group name...", Ren suggests as everyone listens in, "What about we call our united rivalry or group The Crossfighters?" Everyone nods as everyone heads off for bed as Kai reminds them that the awards ceremony is tomorrow. Everyone heads off to the Pokemon Center as Ash and Pikachu look up at the stars. "Hey, buddy?", Ash says, getting Pikachu's attention, "Thanks for being here for me. Let's get some sleep, wouldn't want to celebrate tomorrow tired would we?" Pikachu nods as they head inside their room in the Pokemon Center.
AND SO, OVERCOMING INCREDIBLE ODDS, ASH WAS ABLE TO FREE REN AND DEFEAT HIM TOO!
NOW, ALL THAT'S LEFT TO DO IS TO CELEBRATE AND FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO FROM THIS STAGE!
NEXT TIME, CHAPTER 10: CELEBRATIONS IN SHALOUR!
EVERYONE WILL BE LOOKING BACK AS WELL AS LOOKING AT NEW HORIZONS AS THE JOURNEY CONTINUES!!
