//------------------------------// // Ride 30: The Strongest Team, Asteroid! // Story: Cardfight Vanguard Equestria Saga // by VanguardLuard //------------------------------// “The action here at the vanguard national championships has been fierce up to this point. I’m sure you're ready to see more. But you’ll have to wait. When lunch is over we’ll be back with the rest of the elimination matches. Isn’t that right Fluttershy? Fluttershy? But I thought we were going to have lunch to together? Oh, maybe she’s at the restaurant right now getting us a table.” said Pinkie Pie Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Spike, Rarity, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Rainbow Dash were at a restaurant. “It looks like the only team with two wins in are block is Asteroid. We’re tied with the Wonderbolts with one win apiece. To make it past the elimination round, we have to win our next fight. We got to do it so Scootaloo can rejoin the team, when we compete in the finals next week.” said Apple Bloom unknown to them Scootaloo was in the same restaurant as them. “Wait, do you know what team you're going to be up against in the final round?” asked Diamond Tiara “Yeah, we’re facing team Asteroid. They are last years champions.” said Apple Bloom “Do you really think your going to win?” asked Silver Spoon “It’s hard to say, maybe we can win.” “That’s the spirit.” said Diamond Tiara “Do you have a chance of winning?” Rainbow asked Spike “I’ll get the first win but after that I don’t know.” answered Spike Then somepony laugh. “You make me laugh.” said the blue unicorn “If you think you can beat us you must be dreaming.” said the beige unicorn “Team Asteroid.” said Apple Bloom “So it’s your first time here at national and you think you can beat us. What nonsense.” said the blue unicorn “Now hold on we won’t know that till we play.” said Apple Bloom “We’re going to crush you. I guess losers hang out together.” “What's with you?” said Diamond Tiara Scootaloo could hear everything. “Lightning Dust, where’s Flip Side.” said Spike “Like I said before he is not participating in the elimination round.” said Lightning Dust “For a player as skilled as Flip Side, anything before the finals is just a waste of his talent. “The three of us can win without him.” said the beige unicorn “You know this is the second time you asked us about Flip Side. What’s wrong you miss your old teammate that badly.” said the blue unicorn Everypony there was shock. “Spike is that true?” asked Apple Bloom “Flip Side, Flip Side, Flip Side. What’s so great about him?” “Trixie watch what you say. Flip Side is our leader.” said the beige unicorn “But out, Sunset Shimmer! I’ll say whatever I want. You think Flip Side is the only one on our team that can beat you. Then I’ll fight you in the next round and prove you wrong. I heard you and Flip Side are evenly match. So all I have to do is defeat you then I’ll prove I’m stronger then Flip Side is.Then I’ll be the leader of team Asteroid.” “Quite, that big mouth of your’s is going to get you into trouble.” “Why it only makes sense that the best player should be the leader.” “Best player.” “That’s enough, team Crusader doesn't stand a chance against us.We’ll prove it to you on the battlefield.” said Lightning Dust walking away. “Let’s go.” said Sunset Shimmer as she walked away also followed by Trixie. “So Spike use to be on Flip Sides team.” said Apple Bloom Then Spike got up and walked away. “Will it looks like it something he doesn’t want to talk about. Let’s just leave him be for now.” sad Rarity Then Applejack, Snips and Snails came in. “Now I want you two staying near me for the rest of the day. We don’t want you get in lost in Canterlot, understand.” said Applejack “Yes, Applejack.” said Snips and Snails Then Thunderlane and Rumble came in. “Oh hi, Rumble, Thunderlane.” said Apple Bloom “Hey, we came all this way to cheer you on. Looks like you're still hangin in there.” said Thunderlane “Yeah we are, thanks.” “Where’s Scootaloo?” asked Rumble “Actually, nopony knows where she is.” said Snips “Where could Scootaloo.” Some time later. “Flip Side, we thought you would not be coming to the elimination rounds.” said Lightning Dust “How are things going?” asked Flip Side “We won our first two fights, and there’s one remaining.” “Anything else?” “The next team were up against….” said Sunset Shimmer “Will be easily beaten.” finished Lightning Dust “Very well.” said Flip Side Then Lightning Dust, Sunset Shimmer, and Trixie left. “Lightning, why didn’t you say anything about Spike?” asked Trixie but Lightning Dust didn’t say anything. “The silent treatment, fine be that way.” In the stands. “Welcome back from the break. At the commentaries deck it Pinkie Pie.” said Pinkie Pie “And I’m Fluttershy.” said Fluttershy “Elimination round block A, team Asteroid vs team Crusaders. What do you think we could expect.” “Well Asteroid are last years champions and have won all their match ups without losing a single game. The Crusaders really has their work cut out for them, in this pairing.” In the stadium. “We have to win!” said Apple Bloom In the stand Applejack, Snips, Snails, Thunderlane, and Rumble were looking for Scootaloo. “Scootaloo, where are you?” asked Rumble In the stadium. “The first match Trixie of Asteroid vs Spike of team Crusaders.” said the Judge In a special room. “Spike, well he decided to come back. Lightning you hide him from me.” said Flip Side In Asteroid's dugout. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them from seeing each other again. Flip Sides hatred for Spike has turned into obsession since they parted.’ thought Lightning Dust In the stadium. “Beating you will prove that the great and powerful Trixie is the strongest member of team Asteroid.” said Trixie ‘So he is here.’ thought Spike as he looked up. “Hey, I’m opponent. Judge anytime you're ready.” said Trixie “Begin the match.” said the Judge “Stand up.” “The.” only Spike “Vanguard!” “Lizard Soldier, Conroe.” “Mecha Trainer.” Trixie turned into a silver mechanical earth pony. “I rider Embodiment of Armor, Bahr. I move Conroe back.” (RG) (Bahr) (RG) (Conroe) (RG) (RG) In the stands. “She’s using a Spike Brothers deck.” said Diamond Tiara “Isn’t that the clan your Juggernaut Maximum is from?” asked Silver Spoon “Yeah, I think it is.” “Shouldn’t you know that already.” said Rainbow Dash In the stadium. “The great and powerful Trixie rides Wonder Boy.” She turned into an earth pony with a helmet and holding a ball. “Take this.” said Trixie throwing the ball at Spike. “I ride the Dragon Knight, Nehalem. I move Conroe to the front, then I call Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara and Blazing Core Dragon. I attack with Blazing Core Dragon.” He went and swung his sword at her. (no trigger) “I attack with Nehalem.” (No trigger) He pointed his spear at her and shot lightning. (no trigger) “Now with Kimnara’s support Conroe attacks.” 11000 to 8000 “I guard with Spike Brothers Assault Squad.” Three earth pony with spikes on their helmets appeared. 11000 to 8000 “I end my turn.” “The great and powerful Trixie rides Treasured Black Panther.” She turned into a half pony and half panther. “I call Highspeed, Brakki and Devil Summoner.” A blue unicorn pony with a brown mane and tail and a purple half pony and half bunny. “I activate Summoner’s skill, I flip over the top card of my deck and if it’s a grade one or two Spike Brothers unit and if it is I can superior call it. I superior call Assault Squad.” In the stands. “Thats going to be trouble.” said Snips “A superior call is a superior pain.” said Snails In the stadium. “I attack with Brakki supported by the Assault Squad.” Hes ran up jump and punched Spike. (no trigger) “Next I’ll have Panther attack.” (no trigger) She jumped up and scratched him. (no trigger) “With a boost from Mecha Trainer, Summoner attacks.” 12000 to 10000 “I guard with Tahr.” 12000 th 20000 “That’s the end of my turn.” In the dugout. “It’s a close game so far. Wouldn’t you say.” said Sweetie Belle “Yeah.” said Apple Bloom ‘Then why do I feel so nerves.’ In the stadium. “Imagine it, this battle is about to get a whole lot scarier. Now ride the Vanguard, flames of destruction reducing this world to ash Dragonic Overlord. I retire Conroe and call Dual Axe Archdragon.” A red dragon with two axes appeared. “I activate Overlord’s counterblast.” In the stands. “When he pulls that of the game’s pretty much over.” said Diamond Tiara “Is it just a power increase?” asked Silver Spoon “Not quite, he has to give up the twin drive ability. But if an attack hits a rear guard Overlord stand. This match is in the bag.” said Rainbow Dash In the stadium. “With support from Bahr, Dragonic Overlord attack, eternal flame!” Spike opened his mouth a fired at one of the rear guards. “I guard with Silence Joker, Cheer Girl, Tiara and Dudley Dan.” as a pony that looked like it was made out off slime appeared as well as an earth pony mare with a red mane and tail as well a unicorn stallion. In the dugout. “Trixie’s guarding the attack with three units.” said Apple Bloom In the stands. “I see even if Spike gets a trigger it’ll protect against that.” said Scootaloo In the stadium. “Drive trigger check, critical trigger.” ‘But using it on my Overlord would be a waste.’ “I give all the effect to the Archdragon.” In the stands. “Thats awful, Dragonic Overlord just got shut down.” said Rainbow Dash In the stadium. The fire consumed the three units. “It looks like I just spooled all of your fun. Your tricks ain't going to work on the great and powerful Trixie. You wasted three damage on that counterblast and it failed miserably. Since you'll lose if you take six damage, you won't be able to do that again.” said Trixie In the dugout. ‘This was my bad feeling was about, is he going to lose.’ thought Apple Bloom In team Asteroid’s dugout. “If Trixie hadn’t stop that, Spike would have whipped out her rear guard units before attacking the vanguard, not to mention the three drive triggers he would have drawn. She had to sacrifice a lot of her hoof. But she made the right the right move.” said Sunset Shimmer In the stadium. “Now come and get me!” said Trixie “Blazing Core Dragon attack Brakki.” said Spike 9000 to 9000 “I intercept with Summoner.” 14000 to 9000 In the stands. “She’s protecting the rearguard?” asked Applejack “She was making sure the stronger unit stayed on the field.” said Rumble In the stadium. “With a boost from Kimnara, Archdragon attacks.” He swang on of his axes at hitting her. “Damage trigger check, (No trigger, draw trigger) draw trigger. It’s my turn, her I go with the crush rush.” In the stands. “Crush.” said Diamond Tiara “Rush.” said Silver Spoon “Spike be careful, here it comes.” shouted Rainbow Dash in the stadium. “Good luck stopping this attacks. Flying my way to victory, the great and powerful Trixie rides the winged terror Sky Diver.” She turned into a Pegasus with helmet. “I activate Mecha Trainer’s counterblast, retiring it and searching my deck for a grade one or less unit and adding it to my hoof. Then I call Dudley Dan.” In the stands. “This doesn't seem to bad.” said Diamond Tiara In the stadium. “I attack with Sky Diver boosted by Dudley Dan. Then I activate Dan’s counterblast, by putting a Spike Brothers unit into the soul, I can superior call one from my deck.” In the stands. “Another unit how many superior calls is she going to make?” said Silver Spoon Somewhere else in the stands. “I have to say this is the Spike Brothers clan at it best.” said Fluttershy “In pressive, it’s just like watching a Hoofball game. Players or in this case the units are being called out on the field as needed. Allowing Trixie to make devastating plays, attacking wave after wave.” said Pinkie Pie In the stadium. “Drive trigger check, first card (no trigger) second card (draw trigger) draw trigger, I’ll give the power to the Sky Diver that hasn’t attack yet and then I draw.” Trixie flew up and tackled him. (no trigger) “With a boost from the Assault Squad, Brakki attacks.” 13000 to 11000 “I guard with Blue Ray Dracokid.” 13000 to 21000 “I attack with Sky Diver.” The other Sky Diver flew up and tackled Spike. (no trigger) In the dugout. “He held on.” said Apple Bloom In the stadium. “My turns not over yet. I activate Sky Divers Skill. When his attack hits I can put him into the soul, then call superior call a Spike Brothers unit from my hoof. Another Sky Diver, and just like that I can attack one more time.” Trixie chuckled. “Witness the great and powerful Trixie and her unstoppable Spike Brother. Go, Sky Diver finish him off.” 11000 to 11000 “I guard with Tahr.” 11000 to 21000 “I end my turn.” In the stands. “Yikes, somehow, Spike manage to survive the crush rush.” said Diamond Tiara “If he doesn’t finish her off now, he could be in trouble.” said Silver Spoon “Look how many cards Spike has, zero.” said Rainbow Dash In the stadium. “I stand and draw. I attack Brakki with Blazing Core Dragon.” Blazing Core Dragon swung his sword and hit Brakki. In the stands. “This is intense, it’s the late stages of the match. But he can’t attack the vanguard because he lacks the power.” said Thunderlane In the stadium. “I attack with Overlord, boosted by Bahr.” 19000 to 11000 “I guard with Cheer Girl, Marilyn. By sending one Spike Brothers unit from my hoof to the drop zone I can nullify your attack.” A pony with bat wings and pompoms appeared. “Check the drive trigger,(no trigger, heal trigger) heal trigger, thats 5000 power to Archdragon and I recover one damage. Supported by Kimnara, Archdragon attacks.” He swang on of his axes at hitting her. “Damage trigger check. (No trigger) Now it’s my turn, Final Turn! That’s what you and Flip Side like saying right. Here I go with a boost from Dudley Dan, Sky Diver attack, and counterblast. From my deck I Superior call, Juggernaut Maximum.” In the stands. “Are you serious? This games over.” said Diamond Tiara In team Asteroid’s dugout. “Could she finish him here?” asked Sunset Shimmer “Thinking you won against Spike is foolish.” said Lightning Dust In the stadium. Trixie was heading for Spike. “I guard with Dragon Monk, Genjo.” A long red dragon with a unicorn mare on him levitating a staff appeared. 15000 to 21000 “Drive trigger check (no trigger, critical trigger) critical trigger, I give all of the effects to Juggernaut Maximum. Then Juggernaut attack with support from the Assault Squad. Then I activate Juggernaut’s soulblast, by dropping one card from the soul he gains 5000 power.” 25000 to 11000 “I guard with Tahr as well I intercept with Blazing Core Dragon.” Tahr and Blazing Core Dragon stood in his way. 25000 to 26000 “He doesn’t know when to give up. Juggernaut goes back to the deck, then I attack with Sky Diver.” In the dugout. “If he can survive till the end of the turn.” said Apple Bloom “Then the game might be his.” said Sweetie Belle In the stadium. “I don’t guard.” said Spike In the dugout. “Why? If Sky Divers attack goes through he’s gonna….” said Sweetie Belle “I think Spike figured out how to win.” said Apple Bloom In the stadium. Sky Diver flew up and tackled Spike. (no trigger) “I activate Sky Divers skill. I move him to the soul, and then….” ‘Black Panther isn’t strong enough to damage him.’ “I superior call, Devil Summoner.” ‘It all comes down to the top card.’ (Highspeed Brakki) “There it is, I need that. I superior call Brakki. I attack with Brakki. Then his soulblast when he attacks by dropping a card from the soul he gains 5000 power.” 14000 to 11000 “I guard with Iron Tail Dragon.” 14000 to 16000 “Brakki returns to the deck, and I end my turn.” In team Asteroid’s dugout. “Sunset watch closely.” said Lightning Dust In the stadium. “Final Turn! Why do you think I allowed myself to be hit by your Sky Diver?” asked Spike “What do you, wait you have three cards face up in your damage zone.” said Trixie remembering what happened before. “heal trigger, I recover one damage. I don’t guard.” said past Spike Present. ‘After getting that heal trigger. He let my attack through on purpose, so he would have three damage to spend.’ thought Trixie “I activate Overlord’s counterblast. With support from Bahr, Overlord attacks your Devil Summoner. Drive check, eternal flame!” (no trigger) Spike opened his mouth and burned Summoner. “After destroying a rear guard, Overlord stands up.” ‘This can’t be, don’t tell me I’m going to lose.’ “Overlord attacks your vanguard.” 16000 to 11000 “I guard with Sonic Breaker and Black Panther.” 16000 to 26000 “Drive trigger check.” (no trigger) “With a boost from Kimnara, Archdragon attacks. If my opponent has two or less rear guards when he attacks, he gains 3000 power.” 19000 to 11000 ‘I can’t stop this one. I’m gonna lose.’ He swang on of his axes at hitting her. (no trigger) “I lost.” “The winner of the first match, Spike from team Crusaders.” said the Judge “This can’t be.” In the stands. “It looks like team Crusaders won, and team Asteroid has suffered their first loss of this years tournament.” said Pinkie Pie as the crowed cheered In a special room. “It’s no surprise. Trixie.” said Flip Side In the stadium. Trixie just ran back to the dugout. In the stands. “And, now lets move on to the second match. From team Asteroid it’s Sunset Shimmer and from team Crusaders it’s Sweetie Belle.” said Pinkie Pie In the special room Flip Side just smiled. In the stadium. Sweetie Belle took her spot. “Nice fight Spike.” as Spike walked back to the dugout. “Great job, Spike” said Rarity “That was awesome, Spike.” said Apple Bloom “You should concentrate on your own battle.” said Spike entering the dugout. “Ok, good luck Sweetie Belle, you can do this.” said Apple Bloom before Apple Bloom and Rarity went back into the dugout. “That win doesn't mean much. I’m pretty sure the other two are stronger than the opponent I just defeated.” said Spike to himself before Apple Bloom and Rarity came into the dugout. In the stadium. “The second match Sunset Shimmer vs Sweetie Belle.” said the Judge “Listen up, there is no way you’ll be able to beat me. Not with that deck.” said Sunset Shimmer Sweetie Belle looked down at her deck and remembered her mom and dad belt the deck and had a serious look on her face.