Sweetie Belle stared at the empowered golem-dragon in front of her.

"Dammit! She forgot to attack with Palamedes!" Babs yelled, gritting her teeth at the misplay. "Why'd she have to gloat!?"

(DAK) (SD,B) (RC)

(Kimnara) (Conroe) (RC)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/5

"Blockade attacks, boosted by Conroe!" The hellish beast was surrounded by a whirlwind of forbidden magic. (POW: 20000, CRT: 2)

"No guard." Sweetie Belle chirped, flashing a smug grin at her opponent

"Not like you had anything to guard with anyway." Rumble said, sounding a bit annoyed at her. "First check. Critical! The extra Critical goes to Blockade, and the Power to Armored Knight!"

The whirlwind of power intensified, pulling Sweetie Belle/Alfred towards it.

"Second check..."

"Dang it, no more triggers..." Apple Bloom muttered.

Rumble checked the top card and smiled before revealing it. "Critical get. Same distribution as the other trigger."

"OH! And Rumble pulls off a double crit!" Mia yelled. "That's 4 damage! Normally, you'd be dead by now since during this point in the game, most players are at 3 Damage!"

Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth as the magical cyclone dragged her in, burning multiple parts of her armor.

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

The cyclone dissipated, leaving a ragged-looking Alfred/Sweetie on her last legs. Breathing heavily, she stood up once more as three cards fell to the damage zone, one glowing a bright red and another bright green.

"I draw... And the last damage is a heal trigger, so I heal. All to Alfred." The King pointed her blade at the dragon knight in cyan armor, as if challenging it. (POW: 20000)

"Boosted by Kimnara, Armored Knight attacks!" (POW: 26000)

"No guard." Sweetie said solemnly, as her Vanguard was hit once more. "Damage check, no trigger." (Hand: 1, Damage: 5)

"Well, I end." Rumble looked happy at being able to drive her into a corner.

"I stand and draw." Sweetie Belle looked at Rumble, her eyes unwittingly glowing a bright violet. "FINAL TURN!!!"

"What!?" Rumble yelled, everyone else having the same reaction.

"And Sweetie Belle declares a Final Turn moments after nearly getting booted out of this tournament!" Doctor O yelled into her mic. "If you ask me, this is her final turn!"

"Well, let's just watch and find out!" MC Mia said, getting Doctor O's approval.

"Holy dragon of the sanctuary, descend upon this dark world once more and cleanse it! I RIDE! SOUL SAVER DRAGON, THE VANGUARD!!!"

Alfred/Sweetie pointed her sword upwards, causing a bright beam of light to envelop him. In her place was a white and blue dragon, giving off an aura of hope. (G3/10000)

"Soulblast! I give 5000 Power to Palamedes and both Marrons!" The three units suddenly glowed a brilliant white.

"Say what!?"

"Now, boosted by Marron, Soul Saver attacks! Her skill grants her an additional 3000 Power!" The angelic being spread its wings, causing particles of light to be blasted towards Blockade. (POW: 26000)

"I guard with Rakshasa, Blue Ray Dracokid, and Gattling Claw Dragon!" Rumble yelled, throwing the three units onto his Guardian Circle.

"Two to pass, huh? Checking my drive trigger." Sweetie flipped over the top card of her deck, revealing Bringer of Hope, Epona. "Critical get! All to Palamedes!"

"Playing it safe, huh?"

"Who cares? Second check." Another Epona was revealed. "Bingo. Critical get. All to Palamedes."

"What!?"

"Now, boosted by Marron, Palamedes attacks at 41000 Power, and three criticals." Sweetie Belle smirked at the shocked pegasus.

"I... I can't guard."

"Now, picture it." Sweetie's eyes glowed violet, causing Rumble to imagine himself on the Planet Cray.

W-What is this...? Rumble thought, before seeing the Salamander in front of him, raising his sword. Oh hell no.

Rumble gritted his teeth as Palamedes brought down his blade, anticipating the blow. At the same moment, three cards flew to his damage zone. None were Heal triggers.

"SWEETIE BELLE! STOP!!!" Spark yelled, silencing the crowd.

Rumble opened his eyes, seeing the blade mere inches from his face. His legs buckled underneath him as his teammates rushed to his aid.

"Rumble!" Dinky said, tapping his head with her hoof. "Are you okay!?"

"T-That was intense..." he stuttered, before collapsing.

"We need a medic here NOW!" Dinky yelled, as the med crew bolted into action, not noticing the other team going back into their private suite.

"Explain. Now." Spark said, no trace of emotion in his voice. He managed to convince the other two to let him talk to Sweetie Belle alone. They, however, were listening from outside.

"What do ya think they're gonna talk about?" Babs whispered, as she looked through the keyhole. Apple Bloom motioned for her to be quiet.

"I just did what you guys told me to." Sweetie Belle replied nonchalantly. "I pictured the battle, and showed him my image of victory."

"That isn't what I meant!" barked the other. "You... Do you even know what you've acquired!?"

"Yes." Sweetie Belle replied. "I've gotten a new... different kind of power. In general, I've gotten stronger. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Are you ready for the consequences...?" Spark said, his vouce becoming dangerously calm. "Are you willing to hear my say?"

"Yes, yes I am."

"Good. Because..." Spark glared at her. "You've grown weaker."

"WHAT!?" Sweetie Belle yelped. The other two managed to shut themselves up.

"You're weak. And not just that, you've also lost a teammate. Farewell." Spark trotted towards the door and opened it, leading to Apple Bloom and Babs to trip and fall into the room. "Now if you'll excuse me."

Before he was even out the door, Sweetie Belle yelled after him. "Why? Haven't I gotten stronger!?"

"Are you daft?" Spark retorted, making Sweetie Belle wince. "You've lost all your potential as a fighter. Don't waste my time."

"At least let me show you!"

Spark hesitated for a moment, before saying, "Fine. Beat me in a fight, I stay. I win, I get to leave the team."

Sweetie Belle nodded, before tapping in to her inner reserves of magic. Please... I need you once more...

They brought out their decks, and put it on the table in the middle of the room that they used for practice.

I need to win this battle! Give me power... My allies... As they put their First Vanguards down, Sweetie's eyes flickered a brilliant violet.

It did not go unnoticed.

Sweetie Belle put her Vanguard faced down in the table in the middle of the room, and started shuffling. Spark Light followed, doing the same.

This... This isn't how I wanted our fight to be... This is all wrong... Sweetie Belle thought bitterly, looking at her opponent.

"You ready?" Spark asked. She nodded.

"Stand up-"

"Stand up-"

"-the-"

"-VANGUARD!!!!" They flipped their Vanguards over, causing blue and red flames to appear in the room.

"Damn..." Apple Bloom muttered. Babs could only stare as the two Vanguards manifested before them.

"Let's go! Clawdia!"

"Lizard Soldier, Conroe!"

"My turn, draw!" Sweetie Belle sighed. Dammit, Iseult. "Ride. Flash Shield, Iseult! Clawdia moves, and I end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0)

"I draw." Spark placed a card on top of Conroe. "Ride. Embodiment of Armor, Bahr, and Conroe moves behind him."

(RC) (Bahr) (RC)

(RC) (Conr) (RC)

Hand: 5, Damage: 0

"Conroe boosts Bahr! Attack!" The demonic armor spirit charged at the mage. (POW: 13000)

"No guard." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0)

"Checking the drive trigger." Spark revealed Dragonic Overlord. "No trigger."

"Damage check." Epona? Ugh. "Critical get. All to Marron, but it's useless."

"One less trigger to worry about. I end my turn." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"My turn, draw." Sweetie drew upon her inner reserves of magic, fueling her eyes' mysterious power. Let's do this. "STAND UP MY AVATAR! BLASTER BLADE, MY VANGUARD!!!"

She slammed the card on Vanguard Circle, causing Marron to evaporate. In his place was Sweetie Belle herself, clad in white armor. A blade fell down from the sky, and she grabbed it easily. (G2/9000)

"Not done! Call! Gallatin!"

(RC) (BB) (Gallatin)

(RC) (Clwdia) (RC)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/1

"Clawdia boosts, Blaster Blade attacks!" Sweetie Belle charged at Bahr.

"No guard." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"Check." Sweetie Belle revealed the King of Knights himself, Alfred. "No trigger."

"Damage check." Gattling Claw Dragon flew to the damage. "Just what I needed. Draw get, all to Vanguard."

"Dammit! I end my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/1)

"My turn, stand and draw." Spark Light smirked. "I was right. You have gotten weaker."

Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth.

"Anyways, I'll end it next turn." He said, shocking his opponent. "I ride. Prowling Dragon, Striken."

Huh? That unit that can't attack? What is he planning... ?

"Not done. I call Nehalem and Berserk Dragon."

(Nehalem) (Striken) (Berserk)

(RC) (Conroe) (RC)

Hand: 5, Damage: 0/1

"Berserk Dragon attacks."

"No guard," Sweetie Belle revealed Soul Saver Dragon. "No trigger."

"Nehalem attacks."

"Tch... No guard, damage check... Llew."

"I end my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/1)

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie Belle smiled. "Spark?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm going to show you how strong I really am."

"Just try."

Sweetie levitated a card in the air. Her eyes flashed violet, and Spark felt his surroundings melt. He suddenly saw a vast battlefield, with a single white flower in the middle. Spark... This is what I've wanted to show you... This is the real image...

Spark, however, just shook his head. He trotted over to the flower, and crushed it, making it dissipate. It's just as I thought. This isn't the real image of victory. This is just a sick illusion you created, Sweetie Belle. Stop this before it's too late. I'll even stay if you want.

So that's your decision, huh...?

Yes.

Then... I shall make you pay! Lord of the Holy Knights... Sweetie Belle's eyes glowed even more. "Give me the strength to lead! Stand up, my Vanguard! KING OF KNIGHTS, ALFRED!!!"

"Your vanguard... You say that, yet you do not know the meaning of the phrase." Spark glared at her. "It's not something you can just use when you want, Sweetie Belle!"

"So what? They're just my tools. All of you guys..." she retorted, motioning to the ponies present. "Are just diposables... To lead me to the real image of victory..."

"Is that so..." Spark muttered. Apple Bloom gritted her teeth, while Babs punched the wall.

"What the hell!? She just freakin' used us!?" Babs yelled, but Apple Bloom put a hoof on her shoulder.

"Ah don't think so." She replied, albeit trembling. "She wasn't always like this..."

"I call Akane, and use her Counterblast to Superior Call Pongal behind her! Not done. I also call Marron, and use Clawdia's skill! Alfred gets 3000 Power."

(Akane) (Alfred) (Gallatin)

(Pongal) (RC) (Marron)

Hand: 3, Damage: 2/3

"Alfred! Attack at 21000 Power!"

"Striken's skill grants him an extra 5000 power since Alfred isn't boosted, and I guard with Tahr and Gattling Claw!!!" (SLD: 25000)

"Twin drive check. First..." She revealed Epona. "All to Gallatin. Second... Alfred. No trigger."

"Boosted by Marron, Gallatin attacks at 23000!"

"No guard. Damage check." Dragonic Waterfall and Dragon Monk, Goku fell to the damage zone. "No triggers."

"Akane attacks with a boost from Pongal." (POW: 16000)

"No guard. Damage check... No trigger."

"Hmph. I end my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/3)

"My turn, stand and draw." Spark closed his eyes. "Do you feel any regret for using your friends to get a higher status?"

"Friends?" Sweetie Belle chuckled, then growled at him. "Who the heck cares about them!? They wen't there for me when I needed them the most anyways. Why should I feel regret about abandoning trash!? Don't make me laugh!"

Sweetie Belle tapped into her power again, making the area they were in Cray once more.

"If that's the case..." Spark opened his eyes, which looked fiercer than ever. "Then I'll destroy that screwed up illusion of yours! Final turn!"

"What!?"

"Dragon of the everlasting flames - Reduce everything in this world to ashes! RIDE THE VANGUARD! DRAGONIC OVERLORD, DESCEND!!!" He slammed the card onto the Vanguard Circle, causing a whirlwind of fire to burn away their surroundings.

"W-What!? My image is breaking!? But ho-" Sweetie suddenly gasped at the sight of the hellish beast, who looked... Angrier. Spark was surrounded by a swirling mass of flames, which kept on gnawing at the image Sweetie Belle created.

"I activate Conroe to search for Raopia, who I call behind Overlord. I'm also calling Bahr." Spark said. "Now... The end of this battle shall be decided by this skill! ETERNAL FLAME!!!"

Tch... I can feel my power draining... But... He doesn't have my power, so.... Why!? Why is he so strong!? Sweetie Belle thought.

(Nehalem) (DO) (Berserk)

(RCl) (Rpia) (Bahr)

Hand: 3, Damage: 4/4

"Dragonic Ovelord attacks Gallatin!" (POW: 21000)

"Tch... Guard with Epona and Gallatin!" (SLD: 25000)

"Drive check." He revealed Blue Ray Dracokid. "Critical get, and all effects." (POW: 26000 <GUARD BREAK> SLD: 25000)

"Dammit!" Sweetie Belle watched as Gallatin was engulfed in a maelstrom of fire.

"Dragonic Overlord stands. Now, he attacks Akane." Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth as Akane was retired. Spark revealed Berserk Dragon.

"Finally. Raopia boosts, and Overlord attacks! Now, Raopia's skill adds a bit more power, bringing the total to 36000 Power and three criticals!"

Sweetie Belle looked at her hand. Not enough... "No guard."

"Drive check!" Spark revealed Blue Ray Dracokid. "All effects!"

Dragonic Overlord's blade suddenly materialized in Spark's hoof, and Sweetie Belle was similarly holding the Blaster Blade. "Wha-"

Spark Light had suddenly appeared behind her, and thrust Overlord's saber through her. She coughed up some blood, and fell unconscious. The Blaster Blade landed nearby, eventually dissipating into blue sparkles. The colt left the three fillies alone in silence.

Apple Bloom was the first to get a grasp on what had just happened. "SWEETIE BELLE!"

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

Author's Notes:

This is an alternate use for the Author's Note! The Card Review! Today, we'll be reviewing:

Blaster Blade

Dragonic Overlord

Let's start!

BB: What can I say? It's a solid unit, and it makes RP... Well, feel like RP. It can retire G2 and higher, which is pretty useful. The cons are he can't target backrow units unless ridden and is CB-heavy (2 is a lot in RP since no unflippers), but that doesn't stop him from being awesome.

Unit rating: 7.4/10

DO: Holy crud. This guy is kinda lackluster nowadays, but it should not be underestimated. Overlord's base is a nice 11K, and although CB-heavy, is pretty damn good. Combine with Striken/Goku/Waterfall/Anything/Oh my Tia this is flexible as hell, and you've got a solid lineup. Plus the fact that he has THAT power...

Unit rating: 8.9/10