Vanguard: Light Speed

Chapter 3

Piracy of a New World

There are many things I'd like to say in this next entry of a tale about the truth, but first I have to rectify the somewhat confusing final note I left you in the last chapter. When I left the message "This was how I met your mother." to my two kids, I meant that this single event of the last chapter started the chain of events that allowed me to truly meet your mother or rather… for me to admit that I was in love with her. I didn't mean that I actually met her right at that moment where I was being held at gun point though it turned out I actually knew her before that moment, but I'm getting ahead of myself again. I suppose it's time I explain what happened after that lone gunman interfered with my fight with Dalette.

"Alright nobody moves and nobody gets hurt. This is a stick-up, so put all of the money and the rare cards you have in the bag now!" the lone gunman yelled as this is the point I decide to start from.

"Okay I'll get what you want, but just don't hurt any of my customers. They're good people." Oli said as he slowly moves his hands towards the cash register.

"Hm…. Gauntlet Buster Dragon and a clan I don't recognize." The gunman mumbled to himself as he glances at the table where Dalette and I were fighting.

This may not be the best time for it, but the reason I'm so familiar with Oli is because he's an old friend of my mother and I've even helped him in the store once or twice when I'm not busy. As for why I have a card as rare as Gauntlet Buster Dragon, I just got lucky on a few packs that Oli had preserved from the old set it came in. As for the remaining cards of the deck, Oli has several collector friends that owe him favors.

"You two put your decks in the bag, and don't try anything funny because I have no problem shooting a woman in the face." the gunman said as he waved his gun at Dalette.

"I don't know about the guy next to me, but I refuse." Dalette said in defiance clearly not scared of the gun in her face.

I was shocked by what Dalette said to this man. I mean how can she say such a risky thing with a straight face? I learned why she was like that later as I learned about her past, but again I'm getting ahead of myself.

"I said hand over your deck… or do you want me to shoot…. no I have better idea. Hand over your deck or I'll shoot one of the other kids here." The gunman declared.

"Go right ahead. I don't know anyone here, so I no reason to feel sorry or guilty for their deaths but I'm still not going to hand over my deck." Dalette bluntly said.

"Is that chick serious? She's going to let one of us get killed so she can keep her stupid deck." One of the shocked store goers said.

"Shut up. Now what will you do girly?" The gunman said to Dalette after facing the earlier speaker for a moment.

Believe me I thought Dalette was ice queen cold for saying something like that, however the truth was that she had no want or desire to see an innocent person get hurt. It wasn't sign language, but in the few seconds this gunman turned away from Dalette and I she made a few hand signals. I got the gist of it, but suffice to say in a few minutes she was going to make a move after riling up the gunman and she wanted me to help her. Well I didn't want to get my deck stolen either, but I couldn't believe the proverbial balls this girl had though again she had her reasons for being this way.

"I suppose given the fact that you have that you're doing this in some vain attempt to strengthen your deck. A true Vanguard Fighter battles for the right to improve themselves and their deck." Dalette declared as she points to a bulge in the gunman's pants.

Though it should already be obvious, I don't mean the bulge in the middle of the guy's pants but the one on his side pants pocket indicating that he has a deck box stuffed in it.

"I suppose you're going to challenge me to a card fight and if I lose turn myself in and if you lose you give up your deck right." the gunman said indifferent to Dalette' declaration.

"No I'm not, and even if I were to do that you'd still lose anyway. A fighter who steals from people and threatens to harm them isn't a fighter at all." Dalette said.

"You know what girly….. I'm just going to.." the gunman was saying before Dalette made her move.

That move being that when the masked gunman started to bring about his weapon to aim at Dalette; she punched the guy right in the stomach, grabbed him by the arm, and flipped him over her shoulder. What surprised me the most when this happened was that I couldn't sense an ounce of fear coming from Dalette, but years later after the events to come have concluded she told me she was scared. Anyways despite my own fear, I reacted from instinct and pinned this man's gun arm to the ground while Dalette did the same with the others.

"Some help would be appreciated." Dalette said to the now speechless store goers.

For once the cop's got her fairly quickly, and I among everybody else here felt very relieved once this would be thief was hauled away to jail. Don't get me wrong though, when I say "fairly quickly" I mean that it's because Oli's shop here is in such a safe neighborhood that the cops rarely come here, so it takes them a while when something actually does happen.

"Where did you learn to do that?" I ask still feeling flabbergasted given what Dalette had done only a few moments ago.

"Let's just say that I took a lot of extracurricular activities as a child and leave it at that." Dalette bluntly answered, and I didn't realize it at the time but she said it in such a way that it was like she was trying to avoid the issue.

Now that the recent excitement has passed, everyone in the store save for myself, Oli, and Dalette decide to go home. I mean it's understandable because again… of the excitement of recent events. He actually wanted to close up shop right away, however he decided to wait just a bit longer since according to him… he knew what I was going to say next.

"Would you like to finish where we left off?" I can't help but ask Dalette.

"Very well." Dalette answered.

After that it didn't take Dalette and I very long to reset our fields and hands back to where they were before that gunman came in here to ruin the mood. I could already feel that things were turning south for me in this fight, so from here on out it was up to me to see if that feeling was my imagination. Or… so I thought.

"I break ride… no never mind." Dalette was saying when all of a sudden she puts whatever card she was going to ride on the top of her deck.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"That…. scum ruined my desire to continue this fight. I just didn't fully realize it until now. It's the same for you isn't it?" Dalette explains before asking me a question in turn as she collects her deck.

"No…. I don't either actually." I answer as I also start collecting my cards.

I just sat there thinking about what I'd do next, but as I saw Dalette leave something I don't know what spurred me to action.

"Wait….. why did you want to fight me in the first place?" I suddenly ask.

"I've decided to put together a team to change the way of Vanguard in the world. Actually the first member of this newly formed group recommended you. I don't know if you know him, but his name is Raphugio." Dalette explained.

The moment Dalette said the word "Team" I thought it would be for the same reason any group of friends form one, of which is to win the national tournament and hopefully the world competition beyond it. Yet few people actually take it seriously enough to be able to do just that.

"Raphugio… yeah I know him because he's a friend I made a few years ago. Speaking of which, I doubt he told you but…" I started saying.

"He said it would take at least another week or two to fix it because he has to wait for a part to be delivered. He anticipated that you'd ask if I found you so he told me all this, of which he also said not to worry about costs since he owes you a huge favor." Dalette said as she interrupted me due to already know what I was going towards.

"That's good to know. Do I meet whatever standards you have for this team?" I curiously ask.

"Our fight never had a conclusion so I won't say, but perhaps the story will be different should we fight again another time." Dalette explained.

"How many more teammates are you looking for? I mean you have to have at least 3 or ideally 4 members." I curiously ask again.

"I'm looking for at least one more person to join. Why do you ask? Do you know someone who you think will be a worthy candidate?" Dalette retorts.

"No…. it's just that I was curious is all." I explain.

"I see, so bring whoever you think would be good at your friend Raphugio's work place around this time two days from now." Dalette tells me before she actually leaves the store this time.

I just stood there silent and unable to respond as Dalette said that. I mean I never actually said I would look for another teammate for her, so was under no obligation to do so back then. Still, it felt like I had to for some reason in order to payback something I owed her. It felt back then that it had to have been for more than what she did just now. Boy was that suspicion accurate, but once again I'm getting ahead of myself. After I take a few more minutes to collect my thoughts I decide to go home, however I don't get there until somewhat late in the evening a few hours later due to traffic.

"I'm home!" I yell as my parents had to be home due to seeing their cars outside.

"Could you please come into the living room?" my father asks in his normal monotonous tone of voice.

Now to give you all advanced warning, it seems as though the earlier robbery attempt I was involved with ended up on the local news media outlets. Quite frankly I was surprised by this since I thought there would be more important things to report, but for the umpteenth time I'm getting off topic.

"Are you alright son?" my father asks….. again in that monotone voice of his.

To describe my father's personality and relationship with me at this point in time… well he's like a strict father to a proverbial ojou-sama with said ojou-sama being me, however despite that he did really care about me. As for appearance….. I say this not out of laziness for detail, but rather simplicity to describe so just imagine an older version of me with a thick grayish dark brown beard.

"Oh dear you weren't hurt were you?" my mother asks with concern.

Now to describe my mother's personality in a nutshell…. well she's the kind of mom that would how should I say "Promote" my relationship with any female she approves of to the point of anime level ridiculousness.

"You were so brave big bro." Sade said with admiration.

As for Sade, she's a bit of a shy little girl but she's sweet and looks up to me like an older brother as if we were actually related by blood. Again I'll explain the story behind that rather soon.

"Look you see…." I say as I start to give my parents a rather long explanation of the day's events.

But don't worry readers of the truth I won't bore all of you with it as this isn't you want to hear. I tell my parents and adopted little sister exactly what happened at Cosmic Odyssey, however for obvious reasons I exclude my acts of bravery and claim someone else did them. I also chose not to say anything about Dalette for obvious reasons… AKA my mother. Anyways, after satisfying my motley family with my store I immediately go to my room and rest my head on my pillow without even bothering to change. I just looked at the ceiling as my mind started to process the day's events.

"Sigh….. just what am I going to do about this?" I mumble to myself.

And I truly had no idea what I was going to do next. Like I said just a few moments ago; I was technically under no obligation to do so and yet still felt compelled to help. My mind was being pulled in a dozen different directions as I considered a variety of candidates to bring before Dalette. Some were talented, others were already highly skilled, and however for some strange reason I already knew that most of them wouldn't be able to meet Dalette's standards. After considering a few other fighters who I knew by name…. I ultimately realized that there was only one person I could ask.

"I… guess…. I'll ask…. him." I mumble to myself as I start to fall asleep

The nightmare I mentioned that I've been having for years… thankfully I didn't have it the evening I met Dalette, but you all should know more about it because it's one of many guideposts to a chaotic future. For the past 9 years from this point in time I would have altered versions of that same horrible nightmare. My parents even took me to see a therapist, however at the time since I couldn't remember any details of these nightmares after the fact he was unable to exactly determine what was causing them. The therapist's most likely theory was what happened a year before I started having these nightmares, however I won't tell any of you what that was just yet.

"Excuse me Ms. Hernandez, is Virgil home?" I ask as I knock on my friend's front door.

After waking up in my school uniform the following morning I changed out of my blazer along with my undershirt, had a quick breakfast, said goodbye to my family, and was out the door.

"Oh Kiba, go ahead and come in." Ms. Hernandez said.

Compared to my own mother, Ms. Hernandez is a more normal woman and in my opinion is stronger for it. The reason is that she raised Virgil and his older brother on her own after their father a decorated marine died in the line of service. As for the man Virgil himself and compared to Nolan who I've known long enough for others to call us childhood friends, Virgil actually is my childhood friend. In fact as I took 5 steps into his home on that day, I also take a moment to look at a picture of us together as children at his birthday party.

"I'm sorry but Virgil isn't home right now." Ms. Hernandez politely tells me with a smile.

"I see. Do you happen to know where he is though?" I curiously ask.

"Oh just out and about. You know how he's a free spirit and all." Ms. Hernandez said as she tries rather hard to dodge and hide a certain issue.

That issue primarily being an inferiority complex he has developed towards his brother Gilberto or Gil for short as he prefers to be called.

"You should already know where he is." the man himself aka Gil said.

There he was leaning against the wall in a hallway right next to where I was talking to his and Virgil's mother. Gilberto was considered a child prodigy with an IQ of 183 for graduating from law school at the age of 16 and 9 years later in this point of the story for founding his own law firm. Virgil however struggled in school, and any unique academic accomplishment he made unique to him still was nothing in comparison to his brother. Eventually this caused him to fall in with a gang of underground card fighters because the victories he earned in underground fights finally allowed him to feel good about himself after so long. Now let me say now that there are many kinds of underground card-fighting gangs, some are cruel like and sorry now for how racist this sounds but cruel like the Mexican drug cartel and others like the honorable thief Robin Hood.

"Okay that's it….. I'm tired of him acting like this. I'm going to get him out of this right now." I declare right then and there.

"Oh so you're finally going to do something about it?" Gilberto asks me in an almost arrogant tone of voice.

"You're his family, so you should be the one that does something before me." I say to Gil out of extreme irritation from his remark.

"We both know he's too prideful to listen to me." Gil retorts.

"So you're using that as an excuse not to do anything at all?" I say to Gil as what he said caused me to go from a state of extreme irritation to near vocal anger.

"You two both care about Virgil, so there's no reason to argue. Virgil's at that public well lit basketball court area. The one with 4 courts and a bunch of lights near the abandoned civic center where his father used to volunteer as a teenager and when he was home on leave. Do you know where it is?" Ms. Hernandez said asking me a question after she stopped what would have been a few minute bouts of thrown fists.

"I think so, though it may take me a while to get there given the traffic this early in the morning." I tell Ms. Hernandez as I used my proverbial internal GPS as in my mind to figure out where this place is.

Now I could write here for the next few minutes a sequence of flashbacks to better illustrate the relationship my friend Virgil has with his brother, however such a thing will be better suited for when their relationship finally boils over in a most spectacular manner at a much later date. Anyways the reason these basketball courts have their own lighting system is because it's located in downtown Tarrant City and is surrounded by a bunch of high-rise buildings, so basically it gets little to no sunlight. From this point on up until I actually get to these basketball courts, I'm going to tell you what Virgil said happened just before I showed up.

"Legion attack!" Virgil yelled as he stretched out one of his arms.

Virgil is if you haven't already figured it out Mexican, with dark brown hair combed down the back, he's a year younger than me or 16 at this point in time, and he used to be 5'8" just a couple of inches shorter than me. His daily outfit consisted of a pair of black sneakers, brown khaki shorts, and a dark crimson red short sleeved polo shirt.

"Check…. no trigger." His opponent revealed.

In each of the basketball courts there was a portable motion figure system cleverly wired into the power of the surrounding buildings, and I was surprised when I saw them too. It was clear that his underground fight gang makes quite a bit of income. Anyways once this fight was over a big and particularly burly man who also happened to be the leader of the gang walked up to the loser.

"Alright you know the rules if you fight here. Cough up what you put on the table." The gang leader said as he held out his hand.

The loser of this fight handed the leader from what Gil to see about 300 dollars in the form of three Benjamins.

"Either leave or get back in line if you want to win back your money." The gang leader said as he got this loser to start running by slapping in the back a bit hard.

Afterwards this gang leader dropped his scary death stare once he walked over to Virgil, and right after put a serious yet kind smile on his face.

"Wow Virgil my man you completely destroyed that guy, so as always here's your cut." The gang leader said as he held out one of the three Benjamins.

Strangely enough this gang leader pats Virgil on the back like for the lack of a better word boozed out badass proud of his son… while being sober when this happens of course.

"Like always man, save for when I happen to be hungry I'm going to turn down any money you offer me. You know I'm just here for the challenge and not for the profit." Virgil said as he starts to have what he calls another friendly conversation with this man.

"Ha ha that's one of the reasons why I like you Virgil you're a good man for being just a kid. Say have you given my offer any thought? I mean I could really use a guy like you in my organization." The gang leader said

"I appreciate the offer; however I'm busy with school especially since I have a midterm to study for. I want to make something of myself in my own right the right way." Virgil explained.

"It's good to see a kid that values their education for once. I swear most of your generation is a bunch of idiots." This gang leader said as he unintentionally or not insulted Virgil's generation.

"Still….. these fights just aren't enough." Virgil mumbles.

"Hmm what was that?" the gang leader asks my friend.

"It's nothing important… just a passing thought I couldn't help but mumble to myself." Virgil explained to this gang leader.

But before this gang leader could say something, and I only called him that because I didn't know his name at the time….. one of his other underlings ran up to him with news of my arrival.

"Excuse me boss. I'm sorry for bothering you, but a new challenger showed up at the entrance." The underling said.

"Did you explain the rules of our little club to him?" the gang leader asked.

"Nah Bobby beat me to that, and this guy said he understood the rules and knows what he'll bet but he wants to see if the person he wants to fight is here first." The said as he explained the part of my intent that I told him.

"Doesn't know who he wants to face by name huh? Well alright, let whoever it is inside." The gang leader said.

And so according to my friend Virgil, that was when that particular underling ran off… or rather ran back to me to tell me that and I quote from the gang leader after I've learned his name "Wonderful Establishment".

"What the…. hell?" Virgil said a "Shocked beyond all belief" look took control of his face.

It was an understandable reaction too considering the circumstances. Once more according to my friend Virgil, I was one of the few people he'd ever expect to come to a place like this. For the next few minutes he was actually rendered silent due to that shock.

"Alright according to our rules you get to name a prize you want should you win. Do you see the guy you want face here? Also, what will you offer as recompense should you lose?" the gang leader asks me.

"I want him as my opponent and if I win he leaves your crew even if it means you have to kick him out yourself, but if I lose I'll join your crew and take any additional duties you want to make up for the fact I didn't join through normal means." I declare in a serious if not angry tone as I point at Virgil.

"Your face says this is personal, but it's none of my concern so follow me and I'll show you to an open MF system." The gang leader said as he made us follow him.

When I first met this man… this gang leader I could already tell that he had what I would call now the aura of a leader. I thought "Why would someone like him be here?" because of it. Thanks to said man's influence over this basketball court… it takes only a simple barking of an order for a MF system to be declared available for use.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Virgil asks me as he finally is able to get enough of his shock out of his system to say something.

"To both restore and humble your pride as Vanguard fighter." I declare as I shuffle and redraw 2 cards from my deck.

"That's enough you two… if you wanna chat, do so as you fight." The gang leader said as he cut me off before I could say another word.

"He's right. Are you ready?" I ask Virgil.

"… Yeah." Virgil answered, but it's was clear that at this point he wasn't emotionally committed to the fight.

"Stand up, vanguard!" we both yell.

Our battlefield was that of an ocean graveyard of ships ranging to the rusted metal ones of the Aqua Force clan, the eaten away wooden ones of the Granblue, and several other husks rendered unrecognizable due to a combination of coral growth and local fauna making said husks their new home.

"Spiritual Sphere Eradicator, Nata [Power: 5000]!" I reveal.

"Ice Prison, Dracokid Necro [Power: 5000]!" Virgil reveals.

Looking back on everything now my battle with Dalette may have just been a test, but my fight with my friend was the first step I took towards the chaotic future to come.

To Be Continued

Virgil: Just leave me alone!

Kiba: Have you forgotten our dream to stand at the top?

Virgil: We both know it was a pipe dream for children.

Kiba: Yeah well I finally see a way to make it happen.

Virgil: Next time on Vanguard: Light Speed "Legion of Pirates"

Granblue Subclan

"Ice Prison" Card List

History: After the end of the war with Link Joker and the power of Reverse many in the ranks of the Granblue pirates experienced permanent death leaving them weakened. Using Cocytus's research notes in conjunction with the latest techniques in Necromancy, the Granblue clan brought back to life the dead of several clans to restore their strength. These now undead souls are called "Ice Prison" for the sake of reminding the world that the Granblue pirates survived the war and are stronger for it.

Grade 0/Boost

Ice Prison, Dracokid Necro (Normal Unit) Power: 5000 Shield: 10000 Abyss Dragon Card Flavor: Being a dragon pirate isn't so bad

[AUTO]: Forerunner(When a unit of the same clan rides this unit, you may call this unit to (RC))

[AUTO](RC):[Put this unit into your soul] When your vanguard performs Legion, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your drop zone for up to one Grade 1 unit with "Ice Prison" in its card name, reveal it to your opponent, and call it to an open (RC).

This and the other cards of the Ice Prison sub-clan as they appear in the next chapter are free to use by other Vanguard fanfiction writers as long as credit is given.

Author Notes: I only have 2 comments to make. The first apologize to my fans for not updating in a while due to a combination of lack of inspiration, procrastination, other stories, and other commitments.

The second is to a certain user on this website that has been harassing me on my other stories by leaving reviews completely unrelated to them, and demanding an update to this story in said reviews. I assure you Vanguard fans he knows who he is, but if he does it again even once I will not only delete this story I will delete Vanguard: Acceleration as well and never write another Vanguard fanfiction ever again the moment I see the mentioned reviews. The same applies to the rest of you fans as well, but with of course a far greater degree of tolerance. If anyone does this past my point of tolerance I will post the username of said person before deleting these stories, so this way you all know who to blame. That being said…. if anyone doesn't believe I'll do this, I dare them to try me.