Sweetie Belle trotted down the street.

"Final turn!" Spark yelled. She had been expecting this.

The tournament was months ago.

"Striken! Lend your power to the Crimson Reaper! ETERNAL FLAME!"

She'd been kicked out of the Crusaders, even though she was one of the founders. The nerve of those guys... They were probably too weak, anyways...

Sweetie Belle gasped as Overlord attacked her, at 41000 Power and 4 Criticals, thanks to triggers and Raopia.

She also heard that her former teammates quit right after, but that didn't matter now.

She fell unconscious as Dragonic Overlord burned away any remnants of the image she created. The last thing she saw was Overlord's blade protruding from her stomach as the Blaster Blade she was wielding began to disappear.

She was alone.

For the first time in her career as a Vanguard Fighter, she was alone. No teammates, no friends.

She felt a familiar power rise from within her, but she held it back. Not yet... Wait until we get to the clubhouse.

Sweetie Belle kept trotting. After a while, she was finally there. The Crusaders' Headquarters. She went inside, and looked at the cabinet.

"Time to get serious." Sweetie said, before blasting the cabinet away with a blast of green magic. She picked up a black box, and looked at the contents. Her Shadow Paladins. She let all the energy she'd been holding back flow out, creating a black aura around her.

"Oh, you already have them?" A male voice said. Sweetie Belle turned to see him.

Midnight Storm.

"What the hell are you doing here!?" she growled, focusing all of her power into a power source for her 'images'.

"Wasn't it obvious?" The purple, somewhat lavender-ish(?!) pegasus said, trotting towards her. She tried to step back, but she was cornered. Midnight looked into her eyes, with his own eyes glowing.

"I'm here to help build your Shadow Paladins."

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

"Help... Help me build my Shadow Paladins?" Sweetie shook her head. "That may be so, but why the hell should I trust you?"

"It's because we have the same powers." Midnight chirped, catching the unicorn off guard. "Apparently, you also have PSY Qualia."

"PSY... Qualia?"

"That's what it's called. You know, when you imagine something and it becomes real? Like this?" Midnight's eyes glew red, and Sweetie closed her eyes. When she opened them, they were on a barren landscape.

"W... What!?" She activated her own PSY Qualia, creating a tornado that tore at the surrounding image.

"Oh, crud." Midnight cancelled out both, returning them to the clubhouse. "Huh. So you already have some degree of control. Nice."

Sweetie Belle blushed, but shook her head. "Even so..."

"Well, you don't have friends anymore, right?" Sweetie Belle winced, but slowly nodded. "Perfect. I can help you get back at them."

Midnight fished put a card binder from his saddlebags(!?), and started flipping through the pages. A while later, he pulled out a bunch of cards, and gave them to Sweetie Belle.

"W-What?"

"Here. These should help." Midnight said. "This isn't that focused on sacrificing, and is a more refined version of your... 'teamwork'."

Sweetie Belle looked at the cards she was levitating. "T-Thanks, Midnight Sto-"

"Midnight. Just call me Midnight." the pegasus chuckles. "Your sis does the same, right?"

"Same what?"

"Not using the last name and all. Her last name is Belle, right?"

"Y-Yeah, but..."

"Here." Midnight said, ripping the cards from Sweetie Belle's magic grip. "Hmm... Remove this... Now that... Oooh, keep this."

As he said those words, he tossed away some cards. Sweetie caught them all. T-This guy...

"Aaand done." the purple pegasus smiled at her, returning the newly remade Shadow Paladins. "Wanna test it out?"

Sweetie nodded slowly.

"Good!" Midnight grabbed her hoof, and then ran away with her. "Let's go to that cardshop I saw a while ago!"

"... Hey, Midnight? Why is your fur purple?"

"What? This is my normal color. The black you usually see is just an illusion from a unicorn stylist. Don't mind it."

"...."

"Oi, Sweets! Look at this!" Midnight smiled as he pointed to a Shadow Paladin card he had grabbed with his wing.

S-Sweets? A nickname already? she thought, but ignored it. "What is it?"

"Well, duh. Skull Witch, Nemain." Sweetie Belle looked at the card, and it was a 'scantily-clad'(?) elfmare holding up a skull. She blushed.

"Add it to your deck. Take out that single Fatalita." She nodded, and did as she was told. She thought about her situation. Her frie-no, they were not her friends. But... Gathering up her courage, she asked Midnight,

"Hey Midnight."

"Hmm?"

"Are we friends?"

An awkward silence hung in the air.

"... Well... I guess so? Yeah, we are." Midnight suddenly flashed a cheeky grin. "Just don't betray me."

Sweetie Belle smiled in return. "Sure."

And in that moment, the two ponies who had a similar, but at the same time different power and situation... Felt truly happy, unlike those previous times with their other so-called 'friends'.

"Oi! Sweetie Belle!"

The moment was interrupted by a loud call. Sweetie Belle turned to see Dinky Doo waving at her.

"Hey Sweets? This a friend of yours?"

"Yeah, but she's actually nice. However..." Sweetie Belle's eyes turned fierce. "I have a score to settle with her."

"You lost, right?" Midnight whistled. "Just don't get too serious. You might land somepony in the hospital. That reminds me, sorry about Regionals."

Sweetie Belle waved it off. "Don't worry about it. We didn't know each other back then."

"True, true..."

"Hey Sweetie? Oh! Hi Midnight!" Dinky smiled at the pegasus. She suddenly contemplated something. "Are you two dating?"

"W-What!?" Sweetie Belle nearly yelled. "No! He just helped me fix my deck!"

Midnight, however, was busy looking at some random pony's binder. He turned back to Dinky. "We're not dating. We just recently met, ya know."

Dinky nodded, and turned back to the white unicorn. "Wanna cardfight?"

"Sure." Midnight's wing suddenly pointed to an unoccupied MF System.

"Go for it." he whispered. Sweetie Belle nodded, and the two mares trotted over to the table. They placed their Vanguards faced down.

"Stand up-"

"Stand up-"

"-the-" Sweetie Belle added.

"-VANGUARD!!!"

"Godhawk, Ichibiyoshi!" A blue bird with a few trinkets on it materialized. (G0/5000)

"Fullbau!" A cybernetic black dog with a visor growled at the bird. (G0/5000)

"EH!? You're using Shadow Paladins!?" Dinky glared at Midnight. "You! What the heck did you do!?"

"I did nothing." Midnight frowned. "She already had that deck by the time I arrived."

"Sweetie Belle! Is this true?"

"Yeah. I got some BT04 Shadow Paladins to make a fun deck."

"Oh..." Dinky sighed, before turning to Midnight with an apologetic look. "Sorry."

"No problem."

"Anyways..." Sweetie motioned to the fight table. "You first."

"My turn, draw." Dinky grinned. "Activating Ichibiyoshi's skill. During the beginning of my ride phase, I can search the top five of my deck for a 'Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Tsukuyomi' and ride it, returning the others to the bottom in any order."

What!? A Superior Ride Chain!? Sweetie Belle turned to Midnight, who only nodded. Tch...

"... Aha! I found one!" Dinky grinned as a golden aura enveloped the card and slammed it into the Vanguard Circle, and returned the others to the bottom. "Magic can be quite useful, as it's less of a hassle this way. Also, I end." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

That advantage engine... Just thank the gods that she stays at 7000 Power... Sweetie banished this thought. "My turn, draw. Ride! Blaster Javelin!"

A black knight holding a spear of sorts replaced the black dog. (G1/6000)

"Fullbau's skill allows me to search for Blaster Dark, and add him to my hand." Dinky winced at the card's mention, but did not say anything. "Javelin's passive gets him an extra 2000 Power."

"A Special Parallel Blaster Dark..." Midnight chuckled. "You lucky little vixen. It took me, what, three years just to get 2 of him. No SPs, either."

Sweetie Belle smirked at Dinky's shocked expression.

(RC) (BlstrJav) (RC)

(RC) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 6, Damage: 0

"Javelin attacks Tsukuyomi!" (POW: 8000)

"No guard."

"Drive check!" Sweetie Belle revealed Death Feather Eagle. "Critical get! All to Vanguard!"

Dinky winced as Maiden of Libra and another Crescent Moon ended up in the damage zone. "Oh well. No triggers."

"I end my turn." (Hand: 7, Damage: 0)

"My turn, draw." Dinky motioned at her Vanguard. "Tsukuyomi's skill. I activate her skill to search the top five for... Aha! Goddess of the Half Moon, Tsukuyomi! SUPERIOR RIDE!!!"

Tch... More of those blasted hand cards saved...

"Half Moon's skill! Since I have both previous forms, I soulcharge two!" Psychic Bird and Gemini were sent into the soul. "Not done! I call Milk behind her, and I also call Gemini and Red Eye!"

Oh crud... At least it's not Tom..

(RedEye) (HlfMoonTsuk) (RC)

(Gemni) (WthrGrl,Milk) (RC)

Hand: 6, Hand: 0/1

"Boosted by Milk, Tsukuyomi attacks at 19000 due to Milk's skill!"

"Tch... No guard."

"Check." Dinky revealed CEO Amaterasu. "Ooh! No trigger."

"Damage check." Sweetie Belle sent Blaster Javelin to the damage zone. "No trigger."

"Gemini boosts, Red Eye attacks at 17000!"

Should I guard it? she thought, but she had an idea. She activated her PSY Qualia, hearing her deck's voice.

Sacrifices are necessary. Don't guard, and she'll end up... The voice disappeared.

"No guard. Damage check..." She revealed Abyss Freezer. "All to Vanguard, and I draw!"

"Red Eye's skill. Soulcha-" Dinky was cut off by the card she revealed. "... Full Moon Tsukuyomi."

So that's what it meant... Sweetie's eyes widened.

"Tch... I end my turn." (Hand: 7, Damage: 0/1)

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie Belle looked at Blaster Dark. She smiled, before she levitated the card in the air and closed her eyes.

"Oh? So it's time, eh?" Midnight chuckled.

"Only those with power..." Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, which were glowing a bright purple. "Deserve glory. DESTROY EVERYTHING, MY AVATAR! BLASTER DARK!!!"

"W-What!?" Dinky took a step back. "Your avatar...!? What about Blaster Blade!?"

"He... Was too weak." Sweetie Belle's eyes glowed even brighter. "Now, where was I? Yes... Activating Blaster Dark's Counterblast! I retire Red Eye! "

"Tch..." Dinky sent the card to the drop zone.

"Not done! I call Nightmare Painter behind him, and I put another Blaster Dark from my hand into the soul."

"Huh?"

"Oh! That combo." Midnight shakes his head. "Can you pull it off?"

"Yes, I can. Now, I call two copies of Rugos!"

(Rugos) (BD) (Rugos)

(NightP) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 4, Damage: 2/2

"Rugos attacks!"

"Guard! Dream Eater!"

"Blaster Dark, attack!" Sweetie Belle assumed the form of the black knight, and charged at the chibi goddess riding on a hawk. (POW: 10000)

"No guard." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0/1)

"Check." Sweetie Belle revealed... A black version of the King of Knights. "No trigger."

"Tch... Damage check." Dinky sent Psychic Bird to the damage zone. "All to Vanguard!"

"Painter boosts, and... Rugos!"

"Lozenge Magus!" (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"I end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/2)

"My turn, stand and draw. Activating Tsukuyomi's skill!" Dinky searched the top five cards and smirked. "Nothing. Anyways..."

"Hmm?"

"Shining goddess... Resonate with the power of the sun! RIDE! CEO AMATERASU!!!"

Dinky appeared on the field, wearing an orange kimono with various ornaments. She levitated a circular mirror, blinding Blaster Dark. (G3/10000)

"Ammy's skill! I soulcharge, amd get to check the top card of my deck. I either choose to return it to the top, or send it to the bottom." Dinky looked at the card, and smirked. "It's staying."

Crud, I can't tell if she's bluffing or being serious... Sweetie Belle gritted her teeth.

Even I'll admit, she's strong... Midnight thought, looking at Dinky. One does not simply master Oracle Think Thank to this extent in a short time... She must have had a lot of practice with this deck online.

"Not done! Tagitsuhime! Silent Tom!"

(STom) (CEOAmmy) (Tagitsuhime)

(Gemi) (WG,Milk) (RC)

Hand: 3, Damage: 0/2

Soul: 6

"Milk boosts, Amaterasu attacks!" (POW: 16000)

"No guard." (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/2)

"Ehh... Drive check is Gemini." She revealed Gemini, true to her word. "Ammy's skill kicks in. Since I have four cards, she gets an extra 4000 Power. Second... Yes! Full Moon Tsukuyomi!"

"Damage check." Abyss Healer. "Get. All to Blaster Dark, and I heal one."

"Tom, attack with a boost from Gemini!" (POW: 16000)

"No Grade 0s, huh? Damage check..." Another Abyss Healer was revealed, as Sweetie Belle's eyes glowed violet. "Perfect. All to my rear-guard and I heal one."

"Tch... Tagitsuhime attacks your other Rugos! Since I have six soul, she gets an extra 3000 Power!" (POW: 12000)

"Guard, my servant." Sweetie Belle slammed Death Feather Eagle into the Guardian Circle.

"Hmm... I end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie Belle grinned. "Let's see if you can survive this."

Dinky smirked in return. "I'll try."

"Vanguard of the darkness... Enter the fray, and lead me to victory!" Sweetie Belle's eyes burned with a purple fire, now visible to Dinky Doo.

"W-What!? Why are your eyes glowing!? Sweetie Belle!?"

"This is true power. RIDE THE VANGUARD! THE DARK DICTATOR, STAND UP!"

"The Dark Dictator!? Sweetie Belle..." Dinky glared at Midnight. "Did you-"

"What? I just helped Sweets complete her deck." Midnight smiled. "She is a friend, after all."

"The Dark Dictator's skill. I Soulblast three, and give 5000 Power to my front row rear-guards. "Open the path to the netherworld! TARTARUS GATEBREAK!!!"

"T-That's... Insane!"

"Not done. I call Charon and Blaster Javelin. Anyways, The Dark Dictator gets 2000 Power for every Shadow Paladin rear-guard I have."

(Rugos) (TDD) (Rugos)

(Charon) (RC) (BlstJavelin)

Hand: 3, Damage: 0/2

"The Dark Dictator attacks at 18000 Power!" Sweetie Belle assumed the black king's form, and suddenly charged at the sun goddess who was gritting her teeth.

"Guard! Nike! Intercept, Tagitsuhime!" (SLD: 25000)

"Twin drive...!" Give it to any Rugos... "Grim Reaper! All to Rugos. Second...! Death Feather Eagle. All to the other Rugos!"

"Tch..." (Hand: 4, Damage: 0/2)

"Boosted by Blaster Javelin, Rugos attacks at 26000 Power and 2 Criticals!"

"Nullify! Battle Sister Chocolat!" Dinky dropped Silent Tom.

"Boosted by Charon, the other Rugos attacks at 28000, and 2 Criticals!"

"No guard." Dinky sent Red Eye and another CEO Amaterasu to the damage zone. "No triggers."

"I end." (Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2)

"My turn, stand and draw." Dinky glared at the dark king. "The setting sun shall give way to the moon... Who will dispel the darkness that plagues this world! OVERRIDE! Goddess of the Full Moon, Tsukuyomi!!!"

"Darn..." So the moon goddess, huh? This is annoying... Crud, I don't mean you, Luna!

"Her skill allows her to stay at 11000 if the other parts of the chain are all in the soul. Now, since I have enough cards in the soul, I can now use her skill! Counterblast two! Moon Shadow Magatama! I draw two, and put a card from my hand into the soul. The card that's going is Dream Eater."

"Is it over?"

"Not yet. I activate Moon Shadow Magatama once more! Counterblast! I draw and put Half Moon into the soul! Luck Bird! Soulblast, and I draw! I call Tagitsuhime!"

(STom) (FullMoonTsuk) (Tagitsuhime)

(Gemi) (WeatherG,Milk) (Luck Bird)

Hand: 4, Damage: 4/4

Soul: 8

"Milk boosts, Tsukuyomi attacks at 21000!"

"No guard." TDD/Sweetie Belle braced for the moon goddess chibi's assault.

"Twin drive check. First," she revealed Oracle Guardian, Nike. "Crit to Vanguard, Power to Tom. Second... Silent Tom. No trigger."

"Damage check. First," Sweetie Belle sent Phantom Blaster Dragon the damage, making Dinky wince. "None. Second... Death Feather Eagle. All to Vanguard!"

"Tagitsuhime boosted by Luck Bird at 17000!"

"Guard. Grim Reaper!" (SLD: 25000)

"Boosted by Gemini, Tom attacks!" (POW: 21000)

"No guard. Damage check... Tch... Arianrhod, no trigger." (Hand: 4, Damage: 0/5)

"I end my turn." (Hand: 6, Damage: 4/4)

"To think that she can reverse the situation in one turn..." Midnight shook his head. "Even with PSY Qualia, this is going to be tough unless she rides... him."

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie smiled at Dinky, who took a step back. "Final turn."

"What!?"

"She drew it." Midnight chuckled. "She only has two copies, but she freakin' drew it. What a lucksacker."

"Oh, shut it." Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, before facing Dinky once more. "Dinky, can you do me a favor?"

"Depends..."

"Picture it in your mind." Sweetie Belle activated her PSY Qualia's full power, forcefully engulfing them in a black mist that only the affected, a few special ponies, and fellow PSY users could see. "Dragon of Hell... Awaken from the gates of Tartarus, and bring death and despair to this world! OVERRIDE! PHANTOM BLASTER DRAGON, MY VANGUARD!!!"

The Dark Dictator vanished in a whirlwind of dark energy, being replaced by a giant dual-bladed lance. The lance was suddenly grabbed by a demonic black dragon, who swung it so hard that even its own allies immediately bowed down before it.

"Bow down before the dark dragon, or die. Give up now."

"I'll... NEVER GIVE UP!" Dinky/Tsukuyomi yelled.

"So be it, fool." In an instant, everything was covered in darkness.

"I call! Skull Witch, Nemain! Counterblast, and I drop one! I get to draw two!" Sweetie dropped Death Feather Eagle, and drew the two.

"You... You called it behind your Vanguard!?"

"You'll see." Sweetie Belle's eyes glowed brighter, and eventually turned a dark blue. "Rugos... Blaster Javelin... Nemain... Give your lives to the cursed dragon! Counterblast! DAMNED CHARGING LANCE!"

"S-Sweetie Belle..." Dinky/Tsukuyomi said, nearly in tears. "Stop this...! This isn't you!"

"Oh, bit this is me. Let me guess, you don't have a Perfect Guard?" Sweetie Belle chuckled at Dinky's shocked expression. "It was kind of obvious. It was part of the stack, right?"

"P-please..."

"In that case, I call Abyss Freezer! Dark Mage, Badhabh Caar! His skill allows me to check the top card, and if it's a Shadow Paladin, call it! Aha! Blaster Dark!"

"T-Three units!? T-That means..."

"You guessed right. The cursed dragon spreads his black wings, and devours everything! Death and despair are my blades, DAMNED TWIN CHARGING LANCE!!!"

"... Why?" Dinky said, silent. "Why are you using such brutal tactics? Don't your allies mean anything to you?"

"... I lost all of my friends a month ago." Sweetie Belle said, calmly. "This is me casting away my old self. I call! Apocalypse Bat!"

(Rugos) (PhantmBD) (RC)

(Charon) (ApoBat) (RC)

Hand: 2, Damage: 5/5

"Boosted by Apocalypse Bat, Phantom Blaster Dragon attacks. Apocalypse Bat's skill. Soulblast, and Blaster Dragon gets an extra 6000 Power! The total is... 41000 Power, and 3 Criticals."

"Guard! Psychic Bird! Nike! Silent Tom! Intercept, Tagitsuhime and Silent Tom!" (SLD: 46000)

"One to pass? First check," Sweetie Belle revealed Darkness Maiden, Macha. "Heh. Second..."

"Please..." Dinky gulped.

"Death Feather Eagle. Critical get." (POW: 46000, CRT: 4 <GUARD BREAK> SLD: 46000)

"ARGH!" Blaster Dragon swung his lance, creating blades of black wind to cut at Dinky/Tsukuyomi. The illusion faded.

Dinky dropped on the floor, unconscious. Sweetie Belle and Midnight snuck away while the others called for help.

Reaching an alley, the two looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

"GAHAHA! Did you see her face when she got slammed in the face by 46000 Power and 4 Criticals!?"

"Yeah! That was freaking awesome!" When they finally got a hold of themselves, they just grinned at each other. "You ready for a tournament right now?"

"Hell yes."

"Good. Diamond and Silvy are waiting for me at the Ponyville Colosseum. You'll debut as a the fourth member." Midnight chuckled. "I'll stay on the sidelines for now."

"What the heck are we waiting for!? Let's go!" Sweetie Belle took Midnight's hoof in hers, and ran straight to the arena, laughing along the way.

I finally... Got stronger.

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

Author's Notes:

Sweetie Belle: This is it! My return to the pro scene!

Diamond Tiara: WHAT!? Why is she joining!?

Silver Spoon: Yeah! [I'm actually okay with this...]

Sweetie Belle: Next time! Dragon of Hell! I'll show the world what I can do...

Midnight: You thought the author guy was dead, right? WRONG!