Vanguard: Light Speed
Chapter 33
The Ultimate Hot/Cold Cat-Fight II
To keep things straight and to the point, Nolan my jealous prone friend and the disguised Sakura got into a pissing match over me in the middle of a busy city street. Of course now I understand why, but back then I was as ignorant to love as a cliché manga protagonist. Several things were said back and forth between them, and a chunk of it was not age appropriate so I will not be repeating it here. I'll just be skipping to the end of their verbal catfight, but on the inside I breathed a sigh of relief that none of the ordinary people in the crown realized who was going at it.
"Yeah well….. at least I didn't shove Kiba's face in his birthday cake when he turned 7 just cause I couldn't own up to my own feelings." Sakura screamed.
"You didn't even know him when you were 7." Nolan retorts as a surprised expression quickly appears on her face, "Wait…. how did you even know that?"
"You said it 10 minutes ago!" Sakura replied.
I was surprised too when Sakura brought up that part of my life, but that being said…. I don't recall Nolan actually bringing it up. Then again most of my attention was to stop them from causing cops to be called to the scene, so it's equally possible that I just missed it. Still…. I had to make this come to an end.
"Look….. you two need to calm down or you two are going to get arrested for causing a disturbance. If you're going to argue…. then settle it through a fight like all Vanguard fighters. Still…. just what has your pan… knots in a twist?!" I say in a firm loud tone.
My tone was loud and firm enough such that these two wild cats seem to finally start paying attention to what I was saying. Still….. when I brought up that question both Nolan and Sakura really tried hard to think about the heat of the issue.
"Hmm…" both Sakura and Nolan coincidentally mumble.
The cause of this was of course their feelings for yours truly, and what they started thinking about upon hearing my question was the moment those feelings started to form. That's right…. it is time for the ever important flash-back sequence starting with Nolan. She was after all "first come first served" in terms of people I've met in my life. If I'm remembering it correctly…. it was back when we used to be really close as kids, and right after Nolan's dad took in Jacob… though I myself didn't even know about him let alone meet him until a few days after this. One day my mom was out of town and my dad had to go to Nolan's place for a private work meeting, so…. he of course had no choice but to bring me along since it was illegal to leave me home alone.
"What a drag." I mumbled out of annoyance as I read through every card in my deck one card at a time.
As I was walking down one of the Elchart family mansion's large hallways trying to find Nolan, I thought it was a drag that I'd have to go to a boring meeting between grownups. I'd rather have spent the day bonding with my dad since it's rare we get time to bond or at the very least kill time at my favorite card shops, but sadly….. once again I was at the time too young to be left alone anywhere. Don't get me wrong though…. there have been several times where I've wanted and was looking forward t0 spending the day with my female best friend…. Don't tell Nolan that I ever said that.
"Arghhhh….. where is she?" I thought as when we were kids Nolan would usually greet me at the door.
In fact there have been occasions where Nolan has tackled me to the ground as I walk through the front door out of happiness. As children she used to try and hog my attention whenever she could, but back then it really was only out of our mutual friendship with one another.
"I swear if I have to walk all the way-" I was mumbling aloud when all of a sudden I felt a massive weight suddenly latch onto my back.
Speaking of being tackled to the ground… but thankfully my deck doesn't go flying across the floor as I had put it away just before I was hit.
"Ohhh…. please don't let it be the dog." I wined as dreaded the prospect of being covered in the slobber of a different species.
Yeah…. Nolan's family used to own a Tibetan Mastiff, of which on the large end are as big as bears and on the small end (as the case is with Nolan's) are as big as small lions. Sadly he died about 6 months before I was buried alive.
"Hey!" a certain high-pitched sounding girl yelled as she slapped me on the back of the neck with her dainty hands, "I am not Fatty!"
Fatty being the name of the aforementioned tall canine, and of course the high-pitched sounding girl was none other than Nolan in her childhood. In fact Nolan's voice was so high-pitched as a kid that it sounded like one of her dog's favorite squeaky toys. Unfortunately because of the way her voice sounded Nolan was constantly badly teased by other children, and it kept happening until her voice lowered with puberty.
"Get off of me!" I say loudly.
"Not until you say the words." Nolan said as the expression on her face back then was likely as smug as I imagined it to be.
"Arghhh…. Do I have to?" I grumbled as my face turns red at the thought of having to say something so embarrassing.
Almost every time I saw Nolan in an informal right up until the Vermillion Disaster, and right after she tackled me…..my female best friend here refused to get off until I said a certain embarrassing phrase. With that in mind I humbly request from the depths of my very being that you the reader don't laugh in response to what you're about to read.
"Could you please get off of me oh you wonderful dainty princess with the voice of a majestic angel?" I said in the most ass-kissing tone my child body was capable of.
That's better." Nolan mumbled clearly pleased with herself while helping me get back on my feet.
"Thanks." I say since it's common courtesy even though I really didn't want to back then.
"So what were you looking at?" Nolan curiously asked.
Before I continue…. let me just say it's actually been a few months since I learned how to play Vanguard, and I was seriously hooked. It even got to the point where I started to ignore my friends who played it casually or not at all for that matter.
"One of my mom's old Gold Paladin Vanguard decks. I plan to use it to win the big tournament at the card shop near where I live." I proudly declare as I show Nolan the deck while I stare at it in awe.
That begin said this deck in particular was only a somewhat enhanced trial deck at best.
"It's always been Vanguard this or Vanguard that!" Nolan suddenly yelled out of anger.
Remember how I said I started pushing aside my friends who didn't play Vanguard? Well Nolan was one of those friends….. or at least I thought she was.
"I mean I don't get to see you that much anymore!" Nolan yelled.
I'm just glad that there was no one around to hear her yell.
"But we can see each other any time." I retort as the reason behind Nolan's anger goes over my head, "Mom says we don't live that far away from each other."
And that just made it worse.
"Fine!" Nolan grumbled, "We'll settle this your way like fighters."
"What do you mean?" I ask with a confused expression.
"Have a cardfight with me!" Nolan declared, "If you win go ahead and keep doing what you want, but if I win I want you to stop playing Vanguard so much and play with me some more."
"But I thought you didn't know how to play?" I ask.
"I learned." Nolan confidently retorts, "Is that a problem?"
"No…. I accept your challenge." I calmly said.
Nolan was surprised that I accepted her challenge so casually; however looking back I don't really blame her. Back then in that moment I truly believed that there was no way someone who only has a few days of playing experience like Nolan could possibly topple someone with months of experience like me. At any rate, about 10-15 fights later…
"Attack the vanguard!" I declared.
"Rrrrrrghhhhhh… I want a rematch!" Nolan declared as she refused to swallow the pill that was her continuous string of defeats.
"I can't…. I have to go. I can feel my dad starting at me." I say.
"Rghhhhhh fine." Nolan grumbled, "I swear Kiba Nakashima that I'll become so strong that you'll never be able to beat me after a thousand fights! You better not lose to anyone else until then!"
Shortly after I left Jacob came back home after a visit to the doctor's office, and at that moment she made him become her coach all for the sake of defeating me. So yeah….. I didn't know it then, but my actions ended up setting Nolan on the path to be one of the greatest fighters of my era. That is all I did for Nolan save for being the occasional practice partner for her as everything she accomplished was through her own power just like how she always wanted.
"Don't you see…. I've been trying so hard because I wanted you to acknowledge me." Nolan thought as she momentarily glanced in my direction.
The more effort Nolan put in for my approval however… the more it began to transform into something else entirely. Still she never needed my approval in the first place… rather as a teen it was more like I wanted her to acknowledge my strength. I mean come on….. what fighter wouldn't want a famous strong fighter to acknowledge their skills.
"You don't remember it….. do you?" Sakura thought, "Well I do. I remember everything that happened when we were buried alive together under stadium debris."
You all remember how I mentioned a while back that I was buried alive for several days with Sade and a young girl in the back of one of the food stalls during the Vermillion disaster right? Well it turned out that other girl was none other than Sakura herself. Anyways all we had to eat and drink during that time were water and hotdog buns, and thank god Sade at the time was old enough to eat solid food. We had maybe a cubic meter's worth of space and a lightbulb that was somehow still working though barely for company asides from each other. At the time I had no idea it was Sakura, but in that hellhole away from home we didn't even speak for the first two days.
"Wahhhh wahhhh!" Sade cried.
"Shhh shhh….. it'll be okay Sade. You're big bro is here to protect you." I whispered into Sade's ears as I attempted to gently rock Sade to sleep.
I had spent the last several hours or at least that's what it felt like trying several different methods to get Sade to stop crying, but nothing I tried worked and I hand to bond with my then baby sister in order to keep some semblance of sanity in that situation. I guess why I'm very protective of her, of which is probably why I threatened to castrate her first boyfriend if he tried anything fresh with her…. but enough of that. Eventually the sound of a baby crying for several hours got on the silent Sakura's last nerves.
"Oh for the love of….. give her here!" Sakura yelled as she took Sade out of my hands.
And I was shocked when Sakura did that…. I'm not going to lie, but because of her silence for the first two days I completely forgot that she existed. The typical possessiveness of a child my age compelled me to take her back, but my desire to preserve my sanity and be a good brother allowed me to hold back that notion.
"Honestly….. this is why boys are so stupid." Sakura grunted out of annoyance as she cleaned off then placed Sade on the closest thing we have to a kitchen table in this little house of ours.
By kitchen table I mean a section of wall that was lying flat on the floor, but still…. due to my immaturity at the time and my need to get rid of the obvious stress of the situation….. I wasn't just going to let some dumb girl show me up like that.
"At least I've been trying to do something while we've been stuck here?!" I yell.
"Yeah well…. if you weren't stupid you'd have noticed that her diaper needed to be changed!" Sakura yelled back.
Since you know….. Sakura and I were buried alive….. I honestly didn't even register the smell of our environment until she pointed it out.
"Well what do you suggest we do about it? In case you haven't noticed in there aren't any of those baby covering things you talked about in here?" I retort as I pinch my nose shut more as a reflex response rather than the intensity of the smell.
"Baby cov….. for the love of..." Sakura mumbled as she was momentarily awed by the sheer level of stupidity that my comment possessed, "Just pass me one of those bottles of water and napkins."
Yes Sade….. if you're reading this your big brother is going to talk about one of the many embarrassing instances where he witnessed your diaper being changed… mwahahahaha. Sakura in all seriousness though took out two handkerchiefs, of which one was suited for an adult in terms of size while the other was a perfect match for her child body at the time.
"Okay….. done." Sakura mumbled after she wiped down Sade's rear with a wet napkin.
I was about to ask what Sakura intended to do next, but then she used the smaller of the two handkerchiefs she had and wrapped it around Sade's adorable baby soft bum as an impromptu diaper. If you're reading this Sade….. yes I really said that. I bet you're turning red with embarrassment aren't ya? Mwahaha. Anyways… I don't know if the job she did was good or bad, but even as a stupid kid I thought it was impressive especially since she got Sade to stop crying.
"Wow!" I yell as if I were a kid who just saw his favorite super hero appear on the news.
"He he… it's not that impressive. I saw someone that words for my dad do it while they were changing the diaper of one of my cousins visiting from Japan… and I guess I remembered it." Sakura explained as she turned a little red from the praise.
"You're Japanese?" I ask with an amazed expression still on my face, "I'm half Japanese on my dad's side."
"I'm a quarter Japanese on my mom's side of the family. That's why she named me after cherry blo-" Sakura was saying when she suddenly turned silent after registering my ethnic revelation, "Eh really? But you look completely American."
"I get that a lot. Dad said cause of something called jenetiks….. that just because you're half of something doesn't mean you're going to look it." I explained as I tried and failed to say genetics.
After that Sakura and I had bust out into laughter for a few moments, and from that moment on up until the day we were rescued we just talked about everything a little kid would be interested including Vanguard while taking care of Sade. Looking back it was almost like Sakura and I were a newly married couple taking care of our first child. Speaking of which Sakura claimed that we introduced ourselves to each other while we were stuck down there, but I honestly don't remember that at all. In any case as we talked I began to notice that Sakura was clutching that bigger handkerchief like it was a security blanket or her favorite stuffed bear. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me, and honestly… there are times where I really wished it didn't.
"Why is that napkin so important to you?" I ask since back then I had absolutely no confidence in my ability to correctly pronounce handkerchief.
"It… was my mom's… she… she." Sakura mumbled as tears started to appear in her eyes.
Even as a kid, it was at that moment I knew I just screwed the pooch big time on that one.
"My mama's gone… dad and sis are probably gone too, and now I'm going to die down here all alone!" Sakura yelled as her eyes turn into a pair of full blown waterfalls.
I don't think I need to say it, but being buried alive especially for a child is incredibly stressful. The shock of what happened to all of us kept her silent, but thanks to my insensitive remark all of that stress is bursting forth out of Sakura. If I was by myself in this hell hole I'd have long since started wailing too, but I guess even as a child I knew that I had to keep strong for all of us. After a few seconds I pulled Sakura into the warmth of my arms so she could cry into my shoulder rather than on the floor. She deserved to know that even here there was someone there for her.
"You're not alone!" I yell at the top of my lungs.
Sakura stares at me once again in silence as she didn't expect me to make that kind of noise.
"You have me." I say to Sakura's face before turning mine towards the currently asleep Sade, "And you have a new big step-sister too."
"Wha… you mean that?" Sakura asked as she immediately perked upon hearing that comment, "You do know that I can only be her step-sister if we-"
"Yeah…. I do. I never go back on my word. That's nindo….. my ninja way!" I proudly declare.
I just have two comments to make here. The first is that if you couldn't figure it out after reading between the lines… yes I just essentially made the childhood marriage promise trope come to life in this situation. The second thing is that as a kid….. asides from Vanguard…. I've been binge watching Naruto on youtube so don't judge me.
"So there's no problem about you and I being-" I was saying when I suddenly noticed a distinct noise.
"What is it?" Sakura asks.
"Don't you hear that?" I ask in turn.
What I was hearing was a distinct tapping noise that seemed to get louder with each tap, and just when I thought everything went back to normal asides from being buried alive… the ceiling of our entrapped space collapses allowing bits of stone and finely ground cement to start pouring in.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Sakura screamed as she thought this was the end of life's journey for us all.
I immediately covered Sakura and Sade with my body when this happened, but thankfully that proved to be unnecessary as even though some more dirt got on me… we were all just out of reach of the hole in the ceiling. Sakura and I looked up the new hole in our little hovel, but we were blinded by a bright light. Then all of a sudden something started to block the light that was coming through making it such that the light no longer hurt our eyes, but despite that Sakura and I still couldn't tell what was blocking the light in the first place.
"Hey! We got 2 kids plus a baby down here!" that something screamed, of whom turned out to be one of the rescue workers searching through the arena rubble.
A few hours later the three of us were pulled out of that hole before immediately being sent to a hospital, and with that Nolan and Sakura's momentary escape into their respective pasts has come to an end. They'll have to settle the (sort of) temporary issue between them before it breaks out to an even bigger one of the front page news persuasion.
"So are you two going to settle this like fighters? Because if you aren't I'm not going to stick around for the fallout." I point out.
"No….. that's not necessary." Sakura declared as she grabbed my arm thinking I was going to leave the second I said the above.
"I was just about to suggest the same thing actually." Nolan interjected though she actually had no intention of suggesting a peaceful resolution.
"Good." I mumbled as I felt relieved that this particular conflict didn't break out into a fist fight.
And after I said that I examined my surroundings to make sure just exactly where I was in Tarrant City. There was a good reason for it I assure you, but you'll read about it in just a second.
"What are you doing?" Nolan asked as she wondered why I was turning my head up and down city streets.
"Just confirming where we are. If you two are going to have a fight….. then it should be in an appropriate place." I explain.
"I take it you have somewhere in mind?" Sakura asks.
"Was only there once a few years ago before I had a driver's license, but yeah… I have a place in mind." I said as I drag out this particular sentence.
"Where?" Nolan and Sakura asked as their respective curiosity starts to get the better of them.
"A Vanguard Café of course." I say as if it were no big deal.
The reason I haven't been to this particular place years before this point in my life was because I wasn't impressed with this Café's food nor was the service that good. The same place is still open today as the quality has gotten a lot better.
"It's towards the city center…. about 5-10 minute walk passed where I parked." I explained as I double checked my internal map, "That is of course…. If you two don't mind a little bit of exercise."
"It's not a problem." Nolan and Sakura by chance say simultaneously.
About a minute into our short little journey I accidentally bumped into an actual and I kid you not Sakura Verde look-a-like, of whom was not Dalette in a wig….. nor is she in case anyone thought it, Alexander Verde's secret love child. This particular look-a-like ended up becoming my daughter's 4th grade teacher, but I'm getting off topic again. Actually… I don't even register that this random girl happens to be a Sakura look-a-like.
"Oh shoot…. I'm sorry about that." I say to the look-a-like as I quickly feel guilty for my aforementioned blunder.
"No… it's all…. Say….. you're Kiba Nakashima aren't you?" the look-a-like asked as she realized just who bumped into her.
"Ah…. yes I am." I replied in a humble fashion due to my earlier blunder.
"That's perfect timing." The look-a-like said as a smile appeared on her face. "I was wondering if-"
"Sorry." I suddenly interrupt, "Look… whatever it is I can't help you. I'm already in a rush to go somewhere as it is."
"But…." the look-a-like mumbled as if she had expected me to go along with whatever she was about to suggest.
This look-a-like was really shocked by my response, but I put the thought aside as quickly as I put her in my rear-view mirror. We arrive at the Vanguard Café I mentioned earlier quickly enough, and rented (at a considerable price out of my pocket) a table with a basic Vanguard mat on it. Once Sakura and Nolan took position on opposite sides of the table I rented out we immediately got a few interested observers, but that was because of our own "Nolan look-a-like." If people realized just who was in front of them I'd probably never get anywhere near the table.
"She doesn't seem like much of a fighter… but what is with this tension?" Nolan thought as her eyes were glued to Sakura like a hunter on her pray, "Why is it so familiar to me?"
I've met fighters with all kinds of personalities outside of the battlefield, but one thing that's in common was that in a fight all their focus was placed upon the person across from them. That right now is what Nolan is doing to Sakura in her disguised state.
"This certainly won't be an easy fight, but when I fought Nolan in all those charity tournaments and promotional events…. I've won most of our matches. I know her playstyle well with the Crystal Reef clan." Sakura thought as she too steadily switched her mind over into battle mode.
"Normally when a unknown fighter goes against Nolan…. her reputation goes through their head preventing them from playing their normal game, but… this girl seems fairly calm. At the very least she'll have a better chance of winning compared to those people." I thought.
But it was also in the middle of my little train of thought that Sakura had an epiphany of sorts of her own.
"Wait…. shit…. she knows my playstyle too….. crap if I use my normal deck she'll realize it's me immediately. No…. choice…. I was going to experiment with that deck... with Teresa, but if I want to win and keep my identity hidden I'll have to use it now." Sakura thought as she barely managed to hide the sense of urgency that appeared in her heart.
"Just relax… and play how you want." I said to Sakura to calm her down as I realized she was a little tense though not for the reasons I originally thought.
"Kiba's right…. I haven't used it in an official fight…. so I should be fine." Sakura thought as she took a deep breathe.
With that taken care of both Sakura and Nolan shuffle each other's decks a few seconds later, go through their opening hand mulligans, and are now ready to get their cat fight (that I was still completely ignorant to) underway.
"Alright….. this girl said she used Gold Paladins when I first met her if I'm remembering it correctly, but will she use it now? With Nolan and the Crystal Reef clan…. your only choice is to either go under her wall of ice or gather enough power to break through it." I thought as I glance in Sakura's direction for a second, "Should be interesting either way."
"Stand up, Vanguard!" Nolan and Sakura yell.
This was just an ordinary table Nolan and Sakura were fighting on, so there were no fancy visuals; however, I imagined in my mind that their battle was taking place on a plain in one of the snow covered islands above the Winter Reefs…. the location the Crystal Reefs risk their lives to protect. These snow covered islands are also where the few members of the Crystal Reefs who lack the ability to breathe or hold their breath underwater reside.
"Crystal Knight, Beike [Power: 5000]!" Nolan revealed.
"That's….. a starting unit I've never seen before." I mumble aloud as I double check my mental card library just to be sure.
"This card is the first step in the Crystal Reefs' latest form. Just as Aqua Force embodies Cloud's family…. these units represent mine." Nolan explained as I could tell from her tone that she's indirectly telling me to enjoy the show.
I've seen her put on such an act before on several different occasions, so I guess it's easy for me to pick out..
"Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy [Power: 5000]!" Sakura revealed.
"Neo-Nectar….. and an Ahsha deck on top of that…. Didn't you say you used Gold Paladins?" I ask as I turn to face the disguised Sakura.
"With the exception of right now and back when my big sis was teaching me how to play Vanguard… I've always used Gold Paladins, but…." Sakura explained as she paused mid-sentence as if unsure what to say next.
"But what?" I curiously asked.
"Isaac and Jason…. As well as Abygail and Sebastian…. you saw their fights and how the results were front page news is all over the world." the disguised Sakura explained as her serious tone contradicted my earlier experiences with her.
Because of my youth I didn't understand what Sakura was starting to talk about…. or maybe I didn't realize I did, but Nolan understood due to their shared status as veterans of the national tournament.
"Those fights are the spark that'll make the level of play required at major tournaments, our nationals and worlds for starters much higher. For veteran fighters like me….. just to keep our place we'll have to re-double our efforts." Nolan explained before breaking out into a slight chuckle, "Advancing any higher will be a whole other matter entirely."
Those words that came out of Nolan's mouth really struck home for me. It reminded me of the efforts one must take to become strong. It was because of those words that I decided to seriously attention to this fight.
"Now then….. since I'm not really sure how to use this deck…. do you mind going first?" Sakura respectfully asked Nolan.
Certainly I can believe that Sakura made that request due to her unfamiliarity with the clan at the time, but I also believe she made that request in part due to her familiarity Nolan's clan.
"It makes no difference to me." Nolan replied as she drew for the turn, "Ride…. Reef Knight, Crystal Defender [Power: 6000]. Beike to the back row, and I'll end my turn."
"I ride Cherry Blossom Blizzard Maiden, Lilga [Power: 6000]. Elmy will move behind her vanguard." Sakura declared as she took a short pause between each of her actions this turn.
But then I suppose the reason Sakura paused was because at that moment in time years ago…. she was imagining all of the possible combos in this deck. Still…. as a pro fighter, you'll see how quickly Sakura will adapt.
"Lilga, attack Crystal Defender [Total Power: 11000]!"" Sakura declared.
[Drive Check – Ideal Maiden, Thuria – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Detonic Jellyfish – No Trigger]
"This is a G-Era Crystal Reef deck isn't it?" I ask.
I suspected the above being the case given the "GB1" symbol on Nolan's starting vanguard, but I couldn't be 100% certain given the one GB1 Grade 2 the Dimensional Robo build of Dimension Police.
"It is." Nolan answered as she calmly waited for Sakura to declare the end of her turn.
"Just where did you get it? I would have heard about any support for the Crystal Reef Clan long before the first leak appeared on the internet." Sakura demanded to know.
"My family has connections." Nolan quickly explained, "And given you choice of words….. probably as good as yours if not better."
"I see… well then…. no need to drag things along. I end my turn." Sakura replied.
Nolan – Sakura
5 – Hand – 6
0 – Soul – 0
1 – Damage - 0
0 – Counterblast – 0
F(0) U(16) – G-Zone – F(0) U(16)
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Crystal Knight, Beike – Reef Knight, Crystal Defender / Cherry Blossom Maiden, Lilga / Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
"Hmmm….. this is really weird." Nolan inaudibly whispered to herself as she draws for the turn, "I can tell her eyes are gazing at where the text should be on her cards… a clear sign this girl isn't familiar with Ahsha, but I don't see any sign of cowardice or unease in her eyes beyond that. This girl….. she's clearly not an amateur fighter."
Nolan was still deep in thought about the kind of girl or rather fighter that Sakura was pretending to be, but of course if the former knew who the latter was those kinds of thoughts would cease to exist. Still… Sakura at the same time was a little disturbed by the intensity of the gaze being placed upon her by Nolan.
"Why…. Why is she staring at me like that? Could she have…. but there's no way she's recognized me with this outfit on." Sakura thought as she forced herself to look at her opponent in the eyes, "Then again… maybe I only feel this way since I don't know what to expect of these G-Era Crystal Reefs."
"I ride Crystal Counter Knight, Colbolt [Power: 9000]!" Nolan declared.
"Playing as cautiously as possible for the sake of having ample resources to guard with is the time honored strategy of Crystal Reef users, but…. Nolan doesn't play like that. She's always as aggressive as possible within the confines of the clan's nature." I thought as I see her examine the lower half the cards in her hand.
Like Sakura, Nolan examined the text written on the lower half of the cards in her hand; however, she wasn't examining them as often as Sakura. To put it simply….. Nolan has more experience with her new cards then Sakura, however it was nowhere near enough to have the effects and combos committed to memory.
"Colbolt attacks the vanguard [Total Power: 14000]!" Nolan yelled.
[Drive Check – Grand Crystal Knight, Balien – No Trigger]
[Damage Check – Flower Garden Maiden, Mylis – Critical Trigger]
"You normally rush more than this." Sakura pointed out as she too picks up on Nolan's semi-cautious play, but that is to be expected of a fighter of her ability.
"I might have if you didn't reveal your unfamiliarity with the clan to me, but now that I do know…. well… there's no reason to overextend myself is there?" Nolan retorts in a coy fashion.
She might have been playing coy back then, but she can't fool my years of dealing with her shifting moods. Nolan was simply trying to hide how unsure she was moving forward in this fight, however for the sake of ending the fight at the very least….. she has no choice but to move forward.
"I'll be the first to admit that I'm not familiar with the inner-workings of this clan, but don't underestimate me….. or I'll make you regret it." Sakura declared as she's clearly quite annoyed with Nolan taking it easy on her.
"Heh….. reminds me of the time I first had a cardfight with Sakura, and she got mad when I said she was only strong because of her family's money, but…..no.. couldn't be." Nolan thought before loudly declaring, "The let's see if you can make me regret it on your next turn."
Nolan – Sakura
6 – Hand – 6
1 – Soul – 0
1 – Damage - 1
0 – Counterblast – 0
F(0) U(16) – G-Zone – F(0) U(16)
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Crystal Knight, Beike – Crystal Counter Knight, Colbolt / Cherry Blossom Maiden, Lilga / Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
"This is definitely shaping up to be an interesting match." I thought.
"I ride Maiden of Gladiolus [Power: 9000], and I call Thuria [Power: 9000] to-" the disguised Sakura was saying before being interrupted just as she placed Thuria on the rearguard circle.
"Oh my…. God….. it's Nolan Elchart!" a random shop goer yelled, "And look she's fighting somebody!"
I've said before how in our youth that Nolan rarely gets mobbed by people when she goes out, but as you've read here….. there has been the rare occasion where someone actually recognizes her. Almost everyone in the café employees included forget about what they're doing and mob my celebrity friend completely ignoring the fact that she's already in the middle of a fight with another disguised celebrity. A few minutes on a twitter feed later and there was a small mob of people asking for an autograph. I tried to get these people to calm down but voice was drowned out amongst the many.
"Awww thank you for the support, but sorry I can't sign autographs right now." Nolan said aloud as she attempted to address the crowd.
"Are the rumors that you're dating your childhood friend Kiba Nakashima true?" a random member of the crowd asks.
"No!" Nolan and I scream as the former blushed slightly and the latter's voice was drowned out by the crowd.
Nolan's words ended up only being a slight deterrent to the crowd, however soon after questions continued to fire away. Perhaps it was only due to the size of this place, but the pressure in the room eventually begins to overwhelm Nolan despite her experience fighting in front of stadiums chalked full of people.
"Hey! All of you better shut it or I aint the owner of this joint." Screamed a man who spike with a red-neck like accent.
The decor of this café would be better suited for a gourmet coffee shop or perhaps a butler café back in Japan, so naturally I thought the owner would be a thinly built man with poise and grace instead of the muscular hillbilly that entered the collective sight of the crowd.
"Now fer those of you who aint a paying customer get out before I call the police!" the muscular man yelled, of whom happened to actually be dressed like a butler.
The muscular man's contrasting appearance coupled with the strength of his presence quickly scared off everyone who wasn't a paying customer, and the few that were quickly returned to their seats pretending to be innocent bystanders who were trapped in the crowd.
"Sorry about that ma'am. The bill fer you, your lady friend, and you gentleman over yonder is on the house so once you're done with your fight feel free to order anything on the menu." The muscular manager said as he tipped his imaginary cowboy hat to Nolan.
The three of us quickly offered our thanks as the manager returned to his office, and now that was out of the way we could put our focus back into this cat-fight for better or worse.
"I'm so so sorry about that!" Nolan said as she bows whilst apologizing to her disguised rival, "Believe it or not that actually rarely happens to me."
"It's okay." Sakura amusingly sighed, "I'm actually used to being hounded by fans."
"Hmm used to it? You don't look like any of the famous female Vanguard fighters I've heard of." Nolan said as she found her disguised opponent's response unusual.
"Oh.. umm.. umm. I know." Sakura mumbled as she quickly registered her earlier slip of the tongue and frantically searches for some excuse to use, "Not for Vanguard and I'm nowhere near as famous as you since it's not as popular of a hobby, but I know what annoying fans are like."
"Oh what hobby is that?" Nolan asks as her curiosity is clearly piqued.
"It's not important." Sakura answered as she quickly wanted to change the subject, "We still have a fight to finish, but um.. who's turn was it again? I lost track when that crowd showed up."
"It's your turn." I answer as I turn to face the disguised Sakura whilst fixing my disheveled clothes, "You rode Maiden of Gladiolus and followed up by calling Ideal Maiden, Thuria."
"Oh right thanks." Sakura answered as she checked to make sure it somehow didn't accidentally change due to that crowd of people.
"Still… there's something about this girl's demeanor that's familiar… I just can't seem to place it." Nolan and I coincidentally thought at the same moment.
"I call Katrina [Power: 7000] behind Thuria, and with Katrina's boost I'll have Thuria attack your vanguard [Total Power: 16000]!" Sakura yelled.
[Damage Check – Armored Seahorse Transport – Critical Trigger]
"Needless to say I'll give the power to my vanguard for the extra defense." Nolan retorts.
"But will it be enough to stop the power of nature?" Sakura countered, "Gladiolus will attack the vanguard!"
"I'll guard with Frozen Coral Gate [Total Shield: 10000], and I guess we'll have to see the answer to that soon enough." Nolan chuckled.
This is one of the things I still love about Vanguard….. a few turns after a pair of total strangers meet…. they already begin to talk like they're old friends. Rather than a gate made of coral….. Gladiolus' blade is blocked by the interlocking fingers so large that they may as well be a gate of a bluish pink coral golem the size of a 3 story house.
[Drive Check – Ranunculus Flower Maiden, Ahsha - No Trigger]
Sadly at least this time the blade forged by nature is unable to pierce the defense of a proverbial king of the sea.
"Hmph." Sakura shrugged as she couldn't help but at the same time think, "Don't think I don't know why you chose to guard with that card. I wouldn't have stayed at the top of the single's division as long as I have if I didn't know about upgrades to the clans of my competitors."
Nolan – Sakura
5 – Hand – 6
1 – Soul – 1
2 – Damage - 1
0 – Counterblast – 0
F(0) U(16) – G-Zone – F(0) U(16)
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Crystal Knight, Beike – Crystal Counter Knight, Colbolt / Maiden of Gladiolus / Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy
Empty / Empty – Ideal Maiden, Thuria / Pure Maiden, Katrina
"Open the way, and lead the next guardians of the Winter Reefs into the future! I ride Grand Crystal Knight, Balien [Power: 11000]!" Nolan declared as she once again drew a crowd to her fight, but this time they were at least behaving themselves.
At first glance the clear white crystal portions of Balien's armor looks as wildly designed as weeds growing in a garden, but upon the second glance one can see that each piece has been perfectly cut and shaped to match the light bluish almost snow white plate armor that surrounds the rest of his body. Though it might look like ordinary plate armor… it is in actuality the Crystal Reef clans latest powered armor, of which is in turn powered by the Hydromana Engine Mk 5.
"What do you think of Balien's present form?" Nolan happily asks as if she were the one who designed Balien's new armor.
"Unlike his previous evolutions… it's surprising to see that this Balien's armor isn't made up entirely of crystal." I point out.
"Of course… in lore of this form Balien, the Crystal Reefs usual materials for armor couldn't handle Balien attempting to use nor could the Hydromana Engine Mk 4 generate enough power for him to perform it and keep fighting afterwards. Balien's new armor comes from what the Crystal Reefs gained after a technological exchange with the guys who build Victor." Nolan explained again as if she were the one who designed Balien's new armor.
Though Nolan herself rarely broadcasts this fact even today… she's actually an avid follower of all things related to various fields of mechanical engineering from thesis papers, articles in magazines, actual practical application like with her motorcycle (yes she really owned one as a teen), and even the accomplishments of engineering in fictional series. She's by no means ashamed of this fact… it's just that it is something that rarely comes up in conversations.
"I'd be happy to talk about the lore of the game, but if you'll excuse me Kiba….. I have a fight to win." Nolan declared as she turned her attention back towards her opponent.
"Oh… what makes you think I'll let you win?" Sakura retorts with a coy expression.
"Never said I needed you to let me." Nolan chuckled, "Balien attacks Gladiolus [Total Power: 16000]!"
"I won't be guarding that." says the disguised Sakura.
"Smart move…. Since Nolan's deck is essentially a bunch of Magical Cylinders on steroids…. she'll need to preserve her deck as much as possible in the early game." I thought.
[Drive Check - Frozen Coral Gate – Stand Trigger]
[Drive Check – Weiss Maiden, Lika – Heal Trigger]
"Given the number of high powered plays an Ahsha deck can make….. this was actually the perfect combination of triggers for me to pull." Nolan thought as she placed Detonic Hammer Shark into the drop zone from the damage zone.
[Damage Check – Ideal Maiden, Thuria – No Trigger]
"And that will do for now." Nolan declared as she signified the end of her turn.
Nolan – Sakura
7 – Hand – 6
2 – Soul – 1
1 – Damage - 2
0 – Counterblast – 0
F(0) U(16) – G-Zone – F(0) U(16)
Empty / Empty – Empty / Empty
Crystal Knight, Beike – Grand Crystal Knight, Balien / Maiden of Gladiolus / Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy
Empty / Empty – Ideal Maiden, Thuria / Pure Maiden, Katrina
"Hmmm…. on one hand we have a clan designed around turning an opponent's strength against them, and on the other we have a deck that can build ludicrous amounts of power down all lines." Kiba thought, "I see a couple of things this girl can do, but even though she said this is a new deck to her….. she's definitely not a beginner. She holds her cards like someone who's been playing for a while."
My internal monologue at this moment of time aside, a few minutes of silence passed after Sakura drew for her turn. It was obvious that she was contemplating what to do next given her unfamiliarity with the clan or rather this particular build of it, and Nolan and I wanted to say something but we held our tongues as we didn't want to be rude.
"Okay….. I'll go with that." Sakura mumbles as her eyes showed that a lightbulb finally dinged over her head, "Sorry for the delay, but I've finally decided what to do now."
"It's alright." Nolan sighed as she exited her daydream-like state.
"I ride Ranunculus Flower Maiden, Ahsha [Power: 11000]!" Sakura declared.
In that moment I couldn't help but imagine the disguised Sakura cosplaying as Ahsha. In my mind I saw standing on the snow covered battlefield the card's tanned skin replaced with Sakura's white skin tone, Ahsha's hair color replaced with that of Sakura's wig, and Ahsha's hairstyle replaced with that of Sakura's wig as well. The long hair ends up taking away from the large red roses all over her body and how should we say "bountiful harvest", but it's still a pleasant sight none the less.
"Generation zone release." Sakura declared.
"Here it comes…. I'm actually a little curious as to how she's going to play this." I thought.
"What will you do? Don't know why, but for some reason this thieving cat reminds me of Sakura…. still I'm not going to roll over and die." Nolan thought as she took a defensive posture.
"Flower Princess of Spring, Arborea [Power: 26000]!" Sakura yelled, "I'll use Ahsha's stride skill….. counterblast to superior call my third Ideal Maiden, Thuria [Power: 9000] with a 2000 power bonus."
"I was expecting Verano." Nolan and I coincidentally thought.
"Thuria's skill: She gains the name Pure Maiden, Katrina just before she's successfully called. Katrina's bloom skill activates… +4000 power to herself and her doppelganger for the turn." Sakura explained.
"Oh I see what she's trying to do now." Nolan thought as she double checked her hand, "Should have done it in a different order though, but it won't affect my defensive game plan."
"Thuria on the left will attack first with Katrina's boost [Total Power: 20000]!" Sakura declared.
Sakura made her intent obviously clear thanks to the fact that she was using a deck she wasn't familiar with and that her gaze was lingering upon the empty rearguard circle behind her second Thuria. She wanted to superior call a second Katrina from her deck, so naturally the question I had back then was if Nolan would let her go through with it.
"Generation guard! Crystal Guard Kraken!" Nolan countered as she discarded the heal trigger she got on her last drive check.
The giant squid from myths appears to block Thuria's strike with its house-size thick tentacle, but by no means does its appearance match that of the demonic beasts in real world legends. This one has elegant white skin with the occasional section covered in a natural armor made from frozen seawater.
"The condition to activate Kraken's skill has been met: If I've blocked an attack on my vanguard during your previous battle phase…. Kraken gets +5000 shield [Total Shield: 20000]." Nolan confidently declared.
"So what if you've set yourself up to use the heavy hitter G-Units of your clan? That doesn't mean you can stop my vanguard's attack…. speaking of which….Arborea will attack Balien [Total Power: 31000]!" Sakura countered as she barely manages to hide the nerve her failed attack caused her.
"Beike's skill activates!" Nolan declared as she moved her starter into the soul and paid a counterblast cost of one, "When my vanguard is attacked by a unit possessing 20,000 power or more I can select a unit from my drop zone, call that unit to the guardian circle, and treat that unit as if I called it from my hand."
"Oh I see… she chose to guard with that stand trigger to set up for this play…. that must mean the stand trigger has a generation break ability." I thought.
"Frozen Coral Gate is superior called to the guardian circle, and I'll guard with two more Frozen Coral Gates from my hand [Total Shield: 30000]!" Nolan explained as she started to give off somewhat of an overconfident grin.
The three gates are placed in a single-file line in anticipation of Arborea's attack. Quite frankly the setup ended up remaining me of the time a clever snake summoned three gates in a line to block the attack of an angry fox.
[Drive Check – Greenshot Elf – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Cornflower Flower Maiden, Ines – No Trigger]
[Drive Check – Fairy Light Dragon – Heal Trigger]
Arborea is able to break through the first two gates with ease, however she only ends up leaving a small dent in the final gate due to expending most of her energy in her first to breakthroughs.
"I'll strengthen my standing Thuria and recover the one in my damage zone." Sakura declared as she's disappointed by the failure of her first two attacks, but in her profession it's not an uncommon occurrence.
"Now the skill of my three Frozen Coral Gates will activate: Since your attack had more than 20,000 power….. I can shuffle these three back into my deck, and in turn draw 3 cards." Nolan explained as she was already shuffling her deck.
"What a useful skill…. even if the attack of Nolan's opponent goes through, as long as it's not the 6th damage she can immediately recoup her losses to continue a strong defense or launch a powerful counterattack." I thought as I unknowingly had a look of amazement appear on my face, "Then the starter's skill… Nolan can guard with the defensive cards early and keep them in a safe place until she needs them… heck…. with two countercharge perfects in the drop zone…. she can effectively use the skill for free."
"My other Thuria will attack the vanguard [Total Power: 20000]!"
[Damage Check – Grand Crystal Knight, Balien – No Trigger]
"I end my turn." Sakura said.
Nolan – Sakura
7 – Hand – 8
3 – Soul – 2
2 – Damage – 1
1 – Counterblast – 0
F(1) U(15) – G-Zone – F(1) U(15)
Empty / Empty – Ideal Maiden, Thuria / Empty
Empty – Grand Crystal Knight, Balien / Ranunculus Flower Maiden, Ahsha / Peach Orchard Maiden, Elmy
Empty / Empty – Ideal Maiden, Thuria / Pure Maiden, Katrina
"Hmm." Nolan mumbled as she seemed to be in deep contemplation about her next move.
Once again a few minutes fly by in silence, but it couldn't possibly because Nolan wasn't sure of what tactical decision to make. Granted there is always learning curve with any new deck, however Nolan has been playing with the Crystal Reefs since she was first born…. It should have been easy for my old friend to get the basics of this deck down. Quite frankly I was getting curious as to what could possibly be the cause for this delay.
"Sorry…. I just ended up thinking about what an Ahsha user I met in France a while ago would have done in the same situation." Nolan explained as she drew for the turn.
"Oh?" Sakura asks with her curiosity clearly piqued, "What would he or she have done in this situation?"
"Assuming she were to use Arborea….." Nolan mumbled as she momentarily became lost in the clouds, "About three different potential combos, of which all would have yielded better results then what you did."
"If you're talking about who I think you are then I'm not surprised." Sakura sighed, "I know I'm still a long ways from just being able to use this deck with a basic level of competency."
"Why use Neo Nectar at all though?" Nolan asks, "If I had to guess from the way you set up your rearguard formation…. you use one of the Paladin clans….. if not a deck similar to them."
"As expected of the leader of one of the strongest teams in the county….. you have good eyes." Sakura chuckled, "One thing led to another and I ended up on a team of amazing fighters…. and soon I quickly realized I was falling behind them… stuck in a rut if you will. I figured playing a deck fundamentally different than what I'm used to will help me figure out what it is I lack compared to them."
"Ha ha ha…. sorry." Nolan said as she suddenly burst out into laughter. "I'm not laughing at you….. it's just that I've started to feel that way because of Jacob. I've always felt like he's been holding back on fights, but I never realized by how much until recently."
"Really? You who build their team up from nothing without relying on your family's power feel lacking?" Sakura asked as a legitimately surprised expression appeared on her face.
Sakura's natural talent as a Vanguard fighter is fairly high, but nowhere near the level of calling herself a genius. She puts in a lot of hard work, however Sakura knows she'd have never reached her current height as a fighter were it not for her father shelling out for the best instructors and training facilities money could buy. That's why she greatly admires fighters like Nolan especially the ones above them in strength who build their reputation from the ground up completely through their own power.
"Even though I have a better tournament record that Jacob, I've always known that I am the weakest fighter on our team. For a while I wondered what I could do to catch up to him and Cloud even a little, and my answer is this Balien's new form. Now it is just a matter of mastering his new power." Nolan explained as she spoke from her heart.
"Then why don't you show me what your current mastery of this power is at." Sakura retorts as she decided to fight more seriously in face of Nolan's heartfelt resolve.
The tension in the small café begins to build upon Sakura's remark, and even though it's nowhere near the level fighters like Abygail or Isaac can generate…. it is still more than enough to make the more focused observers of this fight like myself begin to sweat a little.
"Very well. Liberating the generation zone!" Nolan declared as she discarded the grade 1 stride fodder for her clan.
"You may not recognize me with this wig on, but regardless of what you play I have no intention of changing the fact that I still hold the win record for the few times we've fought each other." Sakura thought as she starts to take a defensive posture.
"With your fists rip open the way to a future where we stand on our own strength! Stride generation! Grand Frostcharger Knight, Balien 'Arctic' [Total Power: 26000]!" Nolan yelled.
The crystal decorated powered armor of the future Balien was more compact almost as if he asked the planet Cray's version of Tony Stark to design it, but because it was smaller does not mean it was any less powerful. In fact the waves of mana coming from this potential future Balien are several fold stronger compared to his grade 3 form such that it' already leaving deep gashes in the snow covered battlefield of my mind's eye.
"Grade 3 Balien's stride skill: If I've blocked 1 or more of my opponent's attacks during their last turn I get to draw a card." Nolan explained as she seemed quite happy with the card she drew through the aforementioned effect.
"That's quite the useful skill." I thought.
I shouldn't have been so surprised by that skill since the Crystal Reefs have always been a clan that puts a wall that's hard to tear down in your way while also using the power used to take down that wall against their owners.
"I call Crystal Counter Knight, Colbolt [Power: 9000], Crystal Halberd, Lambert [Power: 9000], Crystal Knight, Fangyu[Power: 7000], and Detonic Jellyfish [Power: 7000] to the rearguard." Nolan said as another smirk appeared on her face, "Now I'll active Byros and Fangyu's Frost Counter abilities."
"Frost Counter?" Sakura and I ask at the same time as we both have confused expressions written all over our faces.
"Frost Counter is one of the new powers of the Crystal Reef clan. Unique abilities of my units can be activated when I block a certain number of attacks equal to or more than a predetermined number of power." Nolan explained, "As long as I have Balien as the vanguard Colbolt gains +2000 power for the turn and gives Lambert a skill. Next Fangyu's skill: All units in the same column as this unit gain +2000 power for every one of your attacks I blocked during your last turn."
"That means since Nolan called Fangyu behind Colbolt…. she already has a column of 26,000 attacking power or potentially more depending on the skills of her G-Unit and Lambert." I thought.
"I activate the skill of my G-Unit Balien: All of my rearguards get a +2000 for every one of your attacks that I blocked during your turn, and since I have two face up cards in the G-Zone…. Balien gets +1 critical." Nolan explained.
"Triggers aside…. that means just one column has 34,000 attacking power. If I was at 5 damage that would have been scary numbers to deal with, but I'm no fool… Nolan has only touched the surface of what her new deck can do." Sakura thought as she realized she made the mistake of underestimating her opponent.
"Are you ready? Byros will-" Nolan was saying.
"I finally found you!" Jacob of all people yelled as she interrupted Nolan.
I never expected to see the now even more famous Jacob here in this capacity….. namely when he's not wearing the stereotypical butler uniform and believe me even to this day I still rarely see him wear anything else. I've given up on trying to make him to loosen up, but his wife still has the metaphorical fire in her belly along with the bun in the oven in this regards. All that aside though I wasn't expecting to see him here in casual clothes, covered in a fair amount of sweat, and trying to take in oxygen like he just swam up from the bottom of the ocean.
"What are you doing here Jacob? It's supposed to be your day off." Nolan asked as she put down her hand whilst taking note of the serious expression on her butler's face.
"Apologies for this." Jacob said as he takes a drink from a random café customer and deposits it down his gullet with great haste, "You forgot your cellphone, so I've been running all over the city to your usual hangouts…. then I remembered how you heard about that one's plans for today. I had cellphone pinged."
"That one" being me, of which is made doubly obvious since Jacob is pointing at me. Still….. I found it more interesting that Jacob had my cell pinged rather than the fact Nolan somehow knew of my plans today (later learned her father told her and she ran off in a huff), and by interested I mean extremely annoyed by the blatant violation of my privacy.
"You pinged…. My cell phone?" I couldn't help but ask as my aforementioned annoyance is quite clearly written on my face.
"She owns your cell phone!" Jacob retorts with an equal amount of annoyance as he points at Nolan.
While the cell phone I used at that point in time was actually given to me as an obligatory Christmas gift by Nolan via Sally coaxing her…. what Jacob was referring to was the fact that Nolan's family owns my cell service provider and made the actual cell phone.
"I'd be more than willing to engage in pointless arguments with you at any other time, but right now this is a family emergency." Jacob said after finally taking a few moments to catch his breath.
And it was on that comment that alarm bells finally started to go off in Nolan's head.
"What happened?" Nolan asked with a concerned expression on her face?
"Your father found young mistress Sally in one of the side rooms next to his office at home on the floor out cold covered in sweat. According to the doctor her appendix was showing signs of bursting, and she's undergoing emergency surgery to have it removed as we speak." Jacob explained as he dropped quite the bombshell.
"I'm sorry…. normally I would never do something as disrespectful as bailing in the middle of the fight, but….. I have to go." Nolan said as she quickly collected her deck.
"Just go…. I understand." Sakura thought as she couldn't but think about her own twin sister.
There is once again a moment of silence when Jacob and Nolan leave, but honestly…. looking back on this moment now I sometimes wonder why I didn't go along with them even though I very much wanted to. Granted Nolan and I weren't very close at the time, but Sally was something close to a little sister for me…. and she would also become Sade's best friend despite their rocky start.
"Don't you want to go with them?" Sakura asked as she easily picked up on my aforementioned desire.
"I want to, but Sally needs her actual family more than she needs a friend of her family." I sigh.
"I hope she'll get past this." Sakura said with clear signs of concern in her voice, "You know….I have a sister that I used to be really close to, but….. a little bit after our mother died one thing led to another and we just grew apart."
"I hope Sally will be okay too, and I guess….. the reason I'm staying behind is because I still have a job to do." I mumble.
"Oh…. what kind of job?" Sakura asked as her curiosity is once again piqued.
"Didn't someone say something?" I asked as a confused expression appears on my face for once, "My dad works for Nolan's dad, and to help out with a business deal he asked me to show you around Tarrant City since you were born here but because of your dad you don't really know the local hotspots."
"Wait….. has he known I've been wearing a wig the entire time?!" Sakura thought as she believed her cover to have been blown.
For the next few minutes Sakura spent asking questions like "If he knew who I was why didn't he say something?" or "So me bumping into him was arranged?" Eventually one fact begins to take precedence in Sakura's mind. Sakura's keeps herself fully aware of her father's more "public" business deals, and amongst all those deals she knew for a fact that there wasn't one in works for the Elchart corps. In fact Sakura herself was in the downtown part of the city for a completely different reason.
"Sorry, but I think you've got the wrong girl. I'm only in the area because my dad asked me to pick up something from a pawnshop." Sakura explained.
"Wait….. what?" I mumble as I'm shocked speechless by this news.
It was at that moment my mind recalled the Sakura look-a-like that I had met a few moments ago, and then my mind had started to connect the dots.
"Ohhhhhh shhhiit." I mumbled to myself as I thought back then that I was as good as dead as soon as my dad found out.
To Be Continued
Sakura: You realize your dad is going to be pissed when he finds out.
Kiba: Oh believe me I realize it.
Dalette: Put your fear of punishment aside as our semi-final match is about to begin.
Raphugio: Next time on Vanguard: Light Speed "COPD OUT"
Dalette: Hmmm….. COPD Rule? What's that?
Sebastian: Him?! He's there opponent? But he's the one who gave me…
Crystal Reef
G-Era
Grade 0
Crystal Knight, Beike
Power: 5000 Shield: 10000
Forerunner
[Auto](RC)(GB1): [Counterblast 1 & and put this unit into your soul] When one of your vanguards is attacked, if your vanguard has "Knight, Balien" in its card name, if your opponent's attacking unit's [Power] is 20000 or greater, you may pay the cost. If you do, select up to one unit in your drop zone, call it to (GC), and treat the called unit as if it was placed from the hand.
Frozen Coral Gate (Stand Trigger)
Power: 4000 Shield: 10000
[Auto](GB1): When this unit is placed on (GC) when one of your vanguards is attacked, if your opponent's attacking unit's [Power] is 20000 or greater, until the end of the turn this unit gets "[Auto][Put this card on the top of your deck]: When this unit is put into the drop zone from your (GC), you may pay the cost. If you do, shuffle your deck, and draw a card."
Grade 1
Reef Knight, Crystal Defender
Power: 6000 Shield: 0
Countercharge perfect
Detonic Jellyfish
Power: 7000 Shield: 5000
[Auto]:[Choose a grade 3 card from your and reveal it.] When this unit is placed on (RC) from hand, you may pay the cost. If you do, search your deck for up to one card with "Knight, Balien" in its card name, reveal it to your opponent, put it into your hand, shuffle your deck, choose a card from your hand, and discard it.
[Cont](Hand): While you are paying the cost for stride, this card gets grade+2.
Crystal Knight, Fangyu
Power: 7000: Shield: 5000
[Cont](RC)(GB1)(Frost Counter)(This ability is active if you've successfully blocked 2 or more attacks of 20000 power or greater on your vanguard during your opponent's previous battle phase): During your turn, if you have a grade 3 or greater vanguard with "Knight, Balien" it its card name, all units in the same column as this unit get [Power]+2000 for every one of your opponent's attacks that did not hit during their previous battle phase.
Grade 2
Crystal Counter Knight, Colbolt
Power: 9000 Shield: 5000
[Auto][GB1][Counterblast 1 & Soulblast 1] When this unit is placed on (RC), if you have a vanguard with "Knight, Balien" in its card name, you may pay the cost. If you do, this unit gets +2000 power until end of turn, choose one of your other units and until end of turn that unit gets "[Auto](VC/RC): When this unit attacks, this unit gets +3000 power for every one of your opponent's attacks that did not hit your vanguard during their previous battle phase until the end of that battle" and this unit gets until end of turn "[Auto](RC)(Frost Counter)(This ability is active if you've successfully blocked 2 or more attacks of 20000 power or greater on your vanguard during your opponent's previous battle phase): At the end of your turn, if you have a grade 3 or greater vanguard with "Knight, Balien" in its card name, Countercharge (1)/Soulcharge (1)."
Crystal Halberd, Lambert
Power: 9000 Shield: 5000
[Auto](RC)(GB1)[1/Turn][Counterblast 1] When this unit attacks a vanguard, if this unit is boosted, you may pay the cost. If you do, this unit gets +3000 power for every one of your opponent's attacks that did not hit your vanguard during their previous battle phase until the end of that battle, and if two or more of your opponent's attacks did not hit during their previous battle phase, draw a card.
Grade 3
Grand Crystal Knight, Balien
Power: 11000
[Auto](VC)(GB2)[Counterblast 1 & Soulblast 1]: When this unit attacks the vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, this unit gets [Power]+5000 for every one of your opponent's attacks that did not hit your vanguard during their previous battle phase until the end of that battle, and if two or more of your opponent's attacks did not hit your vanguard during their previous battle phase, this unit also gets critical+1 until the end of that battle.
[Auto](VC): During your turn, when your G-Unit stride, if one or more of your opponent's attacks did not hit your vanguard during their previous battle phase, draw a card.
Grade 4
Crystal Guard Kraken (G-Guardian)
Shield: 15000
[Auto]: When this unit is placed on (GC), if one or more of your opponent's attacks did not hit you vanguard during their previous battle phase, this unit gets [Shield]+5000 until the end of that battle.
Grand Frostcharger Knight, Balien "Arctic"
Power: +15000
[Stride] (Released when both players' vanguards are grade 3 or greater!)-Stride Step-[Choose one or more cards with the sum of their grades being 3 or greater from your hand, and discard them] Stride this card on your (VC) from face down.
[Act](VC)(1/Turn)[Choose a facedown card named "Grand Frostcarger Knight, Balien "Arctic"" from your G-Zone, and turn it face up] All of your rearguard units get [Power]+2000 for every one of your opponent's attacks on your vanguard that did not hit during their previous battle phase until the end of the turn, and this unit gets until end of turn "[Auto](VC)(GB3)(Frost Counter)(This ability is active if you've successfully blocked 2 or more attacks of 20000 power or greater on your vanguard during your opponent's previous battle phase): When this unit attacks a vanguard, this unit gets [Critical]+1 until the end of that battle."
Lore: This Balien comes from a future where the Crystal Reef clan has accomplished one of the greatest goals set out for themselves… to be completely self-sufficient. Before then the Crystal Reef clan has always relied on trade with other clans and nations for food, medicine, and technology. Thanks to a long era of peace, the Crystal Reef clan has at last fixed these things they lacked. The armor of this future Balien, of whom contributed greatly to allow this era of peace is powered by the Hydromana Engine Mk Infinity made completely by the Crystal Reef clans own power. It is called as such in hopes this era of peace continues, and that on the off chance war returns to the Crystal Reefs once again…. that Balien will have all he power he needs to quickly end it.
Key Term: Frost Counter
Explanation
First of all these cards are my own creation, the credit for the general basis of the clan's strategy will always go towards whoever it was that created the Crystal Reefs and posted it on the Vanguard fanon wiki.
As it says on a few of the original cards Frost Counter works like so: If A number of attacks on your vanguard of B amount of power or more did not hit during your opponent's previous battle phase do C.
For example supposed 1 Frost Counter unit you have in play's activation condition is to block 3 attacks on your vg of 20000 power or greater and a second Frost Counter unit's activation condition is to block 3 attacks of 26000 or greater. Your opponent launches 3 attacks of 25000 power on your vanguard during their previous battle phase and you block all 3. During your following turn you can use the first Frost Counter unit's ability since the attack number and attack power condition during your opponent's previous battle phase was met, but you can't use the second Frost Counter unit's ability since only the attack number condition was met and not the attack power.
Second Example: Now this one is for future defensive Frost Counter units I create (As in they activate when you block with them or when your vanguard is attacked). Suppose they were actual cards made by Bushiroad and you're currently playing them in a tournament. Let's say your opponent launches an attack on your vanguard with their vanguard after launching 3 attacks of 20000 power right before during that same battle phase, and during their previous battle phase they only launched 2 attacks of 20000 power.
Now suppose you use a fictional g guardian that say gains +30000 shield (ludicrous number I know, but this is only for example's sake) with the frost counter activation condition of 3 attacks for 20000 power or more, and you try to say you can use the Frost Counter ability because you've blocked 3 attacks during their battle phase. Your opponent can then call a judge on you for cheating because what matters with Frost Counter is the power and number of attacks during your opponent's "PREVIOUS" attack phase and not their "CURRENT" one. Understand? Also if there's an OC card I forgot to put in the list above feel free to mention in the reviews.