http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV25QVdVAZE

Sweetie Belle thought of Alula's semi-threat. Alula used to use Royal Paladins, just like me... But I wonder... Did she change her build? It would be normal if she did, and any standard build that she'd use, I'd have a pretty good clue at the deck's weak points...

Apple Bloom waved her hoof in front of Sweetie Belle's face. "Uh, Equestria tah Sweetie Belle? Are ya alright there?"

"Hmm? Yeah, just deciding on how to kick Alula's flank." she said absentmindedly, making Apple Bloom and and Scootaloo's jaws drop. "What? Is it something I said?"

"N-Nah! Don't worry about it!" Scootaloo said, as her match was already done. "J-Just make sure you win!"

"Well, I'll do my best!" Sweetie said as she trotted to the platform, clutching her deck.

"Who do we have here... Hmmm?" Alula said to Sweetie Belle as oth put their SVGs faced down. "I'll make you regret insulting her. I am her wife, after all."

Back at the tower area...

"Looks like you have an admirer, Tiara." Midnight said, smiling. Diamond Tiara just snorted.

"Oh please. It's normal for a popular filly like me to have fans." she retorted.

"But half of the brony fanbase hate you!" Midnight said, showing some statistics. "And what some of the other half want to do with you is plain creepy."

"What are you talking about?" Diamond Tiara was pissed. What the hell were these 'bronies' that he kept referring to since they met? Why did they hate her? Not that she'd care or anything, but...

"Let's just watch the match. This will prove to be an interesting one." Midnight said. "Also, where's Silvy?"

"Probably doing some last minute... Ah... training."

Back to the Cardfight...

"Stand up..."

"... the..."

"... VANGUARD!!!" They flipped over the cards, revealing a blue dog and a robotic dog with wheels on its sides.

"Must... resist... making... my sides... joke." Midnight said, making Diamond Tiara snort.

"Brugal the Vanguard*!" Some of the audience were surprised by the new chant, but a few just snorted.

"Drangal! Hmmm... We're using the same clan, but don't forget. I'm basically your superior in this game."

"I go first, draw!" Sweetie Belle placed a card on the Vanguard Circle. "Ride! Lake Maiden, Lien! Brugal moves to the lower left Rear-Guard Circle, and I activate Lien's skill to draw!"

Sweetie Belle put a copy of Wingal into the drop, and drew a card resembling a white pony-knight wielding a spear/javelin.

"Turn end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/0)

"My turn, draw." The pegasus touches Drangal with her hoof, making it glow blue. "At the beginning of my ride phase, I look at the top five of my deck, look for a card named 'Knight of Quests, Galahad', and I ride it, putting the rest to the bottom of my deck."

Looking through the top five, she found the card and rode it, replacing the dog with a pony-knight with a long white mane holding a double grip sword.

"Now, I call Marron behind!"

(RC) (G1,Galahad) (RC)

(RC) (Marron) (RC)

(Hand: 5, Damage: 0)

"Marron boosts, Galahad attacks the vanguard!"

"I don't guard." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0)

"Checking the drive trigger!" Alula reveals a white owl with a glowing yellow sign. "Alabaster Owl! Critical trigger, all to my vanguard!"

"Damage check... Draw trigger! Power to my vanguard! Second... No trigger." The knight sung his sword at the maiden, causing her to ripple as the blade passed through. (Damage: 0/2)

"Well, that's it." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie Belle raised a card in the air, which was glowing bright blue. "Wielder of the 'Blaster' spear, serve the King of Knights! Ride the vanguard! BLASTER JAVELIN NORMALLY!!!"

A white pony-knight, wearing some armor appeared, wielding a white and blue spear.

"Hmm...? A new Royal Paladin? This should be interesting..." Alula gripped one card in her hand harder than the rest.

"His skill! I put two cards in my hand into the soul, and I get to Superior Call two High Beasts! Snogals, come out!" Sweetie put two Snogals on her Rear-Guard Circles, exchanging one with Brugal (in terms of position).

(Brugal) (BlasterJN) (RC)

(Snogal) (Marron) (Snogal)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/2

"Marron boosts Javelin's attack!" (POW: 17000)

"I guard with Alabaster Owl!" (Hand: 5, Damage: 0)

"Drive trigger check! No trigger!" Javelin Normally jumped and pointed the spear at Galahad, shooting a ball of lightning. The attack was guarded by a white owI that manifested a golden shield.

"Snogal boosts Brugal for an attack with 11000 Power!"

"Damage trigger check." Alula revealed a Margal. "Draw Trigger! Power to vanguard, and I draw!" (Hand: 6, Damage: 0/1)

"Well... That's turn end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"Dang... 'Lula's got her on the ropes." Apple Bloom said.

"Well, not that much, considering it's only a one damage difference." Scootaloo replied, but with uncertainty. "Then again, one damage can mean everything late game, and it's currently Alula's move."

"My turn. Stand and draw." Galahad began glowing blue. "Galahad's skill! Checking the top five... Here it is! Ride, Knight of Tribulations, Galahad! And I call! Knight of Silence, Gallatin! Young Pegasus Knight!"

(Gallatin) (G1,Galahad) (RC)

(YPK) (Marron) (Margal)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/1

Alula declared her first attack. "Marron boosts, Galahad attacks!" (POW: 17000)

"I don't guard." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"Drive trigger check..." Alula revealed a card with the illustration of a blue and white dragon. "No trigger."

"Damage trigger check!" Sweetie sent a copy of Beast Knight, Garmore to the damage. (Damage: 0/3)

"Now, Pegasus Knight boosts, Gallatin attacks!" (POW: 16000)

"I guard with Epona!" (POW: 16000 < SLD: 19000)

"Tch... That's the end of my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/1)

"My turn! Stand and draw!" Sweetie felt herself being enveloped by a kind of... aura. It was weird at best, and near burning painful at worst. Use me if you want to win..., she thought she heard a voice say. She ignored it, and said, "Stand up, King of the Beasts! Tear through the darkness with your golden fangs, FANG OF LIGHT, GARMORE!!!"

A golden knight appeared, wielding his twin claws of gold. Yelling, a golden wolf spirit partially manifested.

"I call! High Dog Breeder, Akane! Replace Barcgal, and her skill! Counterblast, Superior Call Snogal! Also, Snogal from my hand; Call!"

(Akane) (FoL,Garmore) (Snogal)

(Snogal) (Snogal) (Snogal)

Hand: 3, Damage: 2/3

"Snogal boosts, Akane attacks!" (POW: 18000)

"No guard. Damage check, no trigger!" (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"Snogal boosts, Garmore attacks at 23000 Power!"

"I nullify it with Flash Shield, Iseult!" (Hand: 3)

"Twin Drive! First check, Critical get! All to Snogal! Second check." Sweetie Belle revealed a copy of King of Knights, Alfred. "No trigger. Now, Snogal attacks with a boost!" (POW: 23000, Critical: 2)

"I don't guard. First damage... Yggdrassil Maiden, Elaine! HEAL GET! All to Vanguard." Alula placed her hoof on the top of her deck. "Second check... Draw trigger! All to vanguard, and I draw!" (Hand: 4, Damage: 0/4)

"Huh, she seems more subdued today." Midnight said, sounding bored. "I thought you said she usually obssesses about you and stuff."

"Oh, you haven't seen her until she's gonna use that card." Diamond Tiara said, smirking.

"Oh? Please let it be more interesting than that looping video of the Bearers sliding into boxes." Midnight said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey girls! We're finally here!" Rainbow Dash motioned to her friends to go inside. "And it looks like Sweetie Belle's fighting!"

"WHAT!?" Rarity sped to the main lobby and saw her sister on the small CrystalVision in control of a handsome (in her perspective, anyway) white knight carrying a glowing blue and white sword.

"Ouch! That's gotta hurt!" Dash said as a knight with long hair on a flying motorcycle sped towards a golden knight with claw-blades and swung a sword at him, landing two damamge in and causing Garmore to cough up some blood.

"Hey! Ain't that their teammate, Spark-whatsit?" Applejack pointed to a green maned, white colt, who was reading tournament brochures(!?).

Rarity stomped towards the colt before anypony (except Fluttershy, who was squeaking) could stop her. "YOU! You've got a lot of nerve involving my sister in this... uncouth game of yours!"

"Hmmm? Excuse me, but who are you?" Spark said, surprising the Mane Six.

"You know who we are! I'm Sweetie Belle's sister, Rarity! You will stop this fancy charade of yours and tell us why you involved our sisters!" Rarity said, now in full rage mode, grabbing the colt by the neck area.

"Rarity! Yah maht wanna listen to what he'll say!" Applejack said, pretty concerned for the colt's well being.

Twilight was trying to pry Rarity off the colt. "Umm, Rarity? He probably has a logical explanation for this! Right?"

"Whoa there, chillax Rares."

"Chillax? CHILLAX!?" Rarity yelled gripping the colt's neck area harder and making Fluttershy squeak. "THIS COLT INVOLVED MY-"

"We get it. Can you shut up now, you stuck-up drama queen?" said the colt suddenly, getting out of the choke and making the Mane Six's jaws drop. "You know I can have you arrested for assault, right?"

"WHY YOU RUDE LITTLE-"

"And regarding your sister, I don't really give that much a buck about her. She joined the team since she topped the qualifiers back in Ponyville, like my other teammates. Get some research in before you assume stuff." He said, turning around and leaving. "And The Bearers of Harmony. Friendship, my flank."

"Hmph! Did you see that rude-"

"WHAT. THE. HAY, RARITY! You could've gotten us arrested!" said Rainbow Dash.

Applejack was righteously pissed. "And even worse, ya literally assaulted him! What in tha name of mah dead Aunt Apple Cheesecake possessed you to attack tha poor colt!?"

"Yeah! I mean, seriously. We could've talked it out!" Twilight agreed. "You can't just go attacking ponies like that!"

"WHAT!? But he-"

"-Was just a teammate. Really, Rarity." Fluttershy said, surprising everypony with the strict tone.

"Fine. I admit we could have talked more civilly." Rarity said, as everypony rolled their eyes. "But can you really blame me? Seeing my sister with a colt? During that stage?"

"Heya guys! What just happened? Did Rarity become a meany-pants and nearly beat up the colt you we were talking about earlier?" said Pinkie, popping out from a potted plant.

Rainbow facehoofed. "Yes, Pinkie."

"Well? Why'd ya do it, Rares?" Pinkie said, suddenly nudging Rarity. "Look, now he thinks the Bearers are meanies!"

"W-Well! My actions were justified!" Rarity defended.

"Beating up an innocent pony is legal?" Applejack raised an eyebrow. "If so, Ah don't wanna live on Equestria no more."

"Well, we'll see him later anyway. Let's go to the public team lobby rooms and wait for them." Twilight motioned to a lobby near a door with a plaque saying 'Team Crusader'.

Sweetie's field

(Blaster Blade) (Fang of Light, Garmore) (Snogal)

(Snogal) (Snogal) (Snogal)

Hand: 2 Damage: 4/4

Meanwhile on the other field...

Alula's field (Current)

(G2.Galahad) (G3.Galahad) (Gallatin)

(Marron) (Marron) (Knight Squire, Alen)

Hand: 3, Damage: 4/5

Soul: 6

"My turn. Stand and draw!" Alula grinned at the card. "Diamond-neechan! This will be the card that will make you LOVE me! FINAL TURN!!!"

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in shock at both the love confession and the 'Final Turn'.

"Tharr she blows!" said Midnight, a smile creeping onto his face, while Diamond shuddered at the implications.

"Appear, guardian dragon of the Sanctuary! Purify everything with the ever-blessed holy light!" Alula raised the card into the air. "Stand up and roar! LOVE LOVE RIDE!!! SOUL SAVER DRAGON THE VANGUARD!!!"

A white and blue dragon appeared, wings like disappearing vapor. It was motioning some mysterious signs with her hand/claws.

"SOULBLAST SKILL ACTIVATES!!!" Alula yelled, causing the dragon to project a lot of light. "HOLY CHARGING ROAR!!! POWER TO MY FRONT ROW REAR-GUARDS AND ALEN!!!"

Sweetie Belle thought about her options. Oh hay! I don't have enough to guard it all! I need to bet in a Heal Trigger!

Alula smiled. "Twin drive check! First, check..." Alula revealed a filly on a golden beetle. "EPONA! CRITICAL GET!!! CRIT TO VANGUARD, POWER TO MY REAR-GUARD GRADE 2 GALAHAD!!! THE POWER OF LOVE COMPELS YOU TO LOSE!!!"

Shoot. I NEED a Heal Trigger!

"Second check... ALABASTER OWL!!! CRITICAL GET!!! CRIT TO MY VANGUARD, AND POWER TO GALLATIN!!!"

"D-damage check..."

C'mon...

"Heal trigger get!"

O-Ok... Only one more...

"Second... No trigger."

Let's finish this!

"T-third... N-No trigger... I lose." Sweetie Belle/Garmore got blasted by a ray of energy coming from the holy beast.

"Like I said! Even if you aren't the one who insulted my fillyfriend... I'd still beat you!" Alula smiled as she turned and left. "Still, sorry for the misconception."

"Sorry guys..."

"D-don't worry! Apple Bloom will win the last match." Scootaloo said, trying to maintain her composure at her friend's losing streak.

"Dang straight Ah-" Spark Light came in and whispered something to AB, making her eyes widen. "OH SHOOT!!! OUR SISTERS AND THE OTHERS ARE HERE!!!"

"WHAT!?" Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle said in unison.

"RAINBOW DASH IS HERE!?"

"RARITY IS HERE!?"

"Along with the other Bearers." continued Apple Bloom, and she gulped. "And it looks like Rarity attacked Spark, too."

"WHAT!? I'msosorrypleaseforgiveme-" Sweetie said to Spark, who cut her off.

"Don't say anything else. She was just acting like a big sister should. I may have said... not so nice things to her, though." Spark said. "I'll finish this guy off. You go meet your sisters."

The three were surprised at this, but chose not to say any more as they ran to the lobby.

"Thanks!" Sweetie said as she ran by Spark.

"Don't mention it." Spark whispered when the fillies were gone. He went up to the stage and put on his Vanguard Fight Glove-Arm Braces, thinking about the match.

Hmph. And I was just supposed to relax this round.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BO5dGJlhuL8

Author's Notes:

*Here's how they say the manga chants on Mangafox, and similar websites.:
"Stand up my avatar! Ride! Blaster Blade the Vanguard!" - Aichi Sendou
"Reduce all to ashes! Ride! Dragonic Overlord the Vanguard!" - Toshiki Kai

Blaster Javelin Normally's skill, thanks to cardfight.wikia.com, but edited by me:
Power: 9000
Grade 2//Intercept
Card Effect(s)
[AUTO]:[Put two <<Royal Paladin>> from your hand into your soul] When this card is placed on (VC) or (RC), if you have a <<Royal Paladin>> vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, call two <<Royal Paladin>> <High Beast> from your deck to (RC), and shuffle your deck.

Also, if you don't know, google the Senpai-Kōhai system.