Scootaloo looked at Ponyville from a nearby hill.

She ran out of money, and was forced to come back. Albeit only to get her savings. Really, what was I thinking rushing out like that? I didn't even get to use my savings...

She trotted towards the town, spotting a poster. She read it.

VF Tournament today! Register ASAP, or be forced to watch the war between clans! Image it at Ponyville Colosseum!

"DAMMIT!"

Apple Bloom bucked an apple tree so hard that it nearly split in half.

"Whoa, sis! Ah may not know what yer so annoyed about, but don't take it out on the trees!" Her sister Applejack scolded. "That just ain't right!"

"Ugh... Sorry. I just..." Apple Bloom sighed. "I just can't believed I abandoned her like that."

"You didn't abandon her." A voice said, who turned out to be Babs carrying a bushel of apples. "You did what was right. She could've ended up hurting somepony."

"Y'all will probably be friends in a month or two again." Applejack said, before walking towards the farm's barn. "I'll just go fix the tractor. You girls go cool off in that stadium. Ah heard there was a tournament t'day."

"Let's go." Apple Bloom said, her cousin nodding in agreement.

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

Sweetie Belle stared at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.

"Midnight." Diamond muttered.

"Yes?"

"Why is she here?"

"She's my replacement for this tournament. I helped her fix up a Shadow Paladin deck."

Diamond smirked. "So she just copied you?"

"Not really. She focuses on powering up her rear-guards to insanely powerful lanes before sacrificing them when they're burnt out. I usually go for the easier way to victory, which is basically either of the two methods, not both." Midnight said, smiling. "We're similar in some ways, though."

Diamond Tiara turned to Sweetie Belle, and glared. "I don't know why the hell he chose you, but I'll trust him this time. Don't lose, you wimp."

"I agree. My old self was pretty much a wimp." Sweetie Belle said, shocking the pink mare. "However, I've gotten stronger."

"You better have." Diamond muttered, before walking away. Silver Spoon trotted near the white unicorn, and whispered,

"Good luck."

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened, and she stared at the silver mare. Silver Spoon just winked, before following Diamond Tiara.

"Staring at their flanks?" Midnight asked. Sweetie Belle blushed, and vigorously shook her head.

"N-NO! What the hell are you thinking, perv!?"

Midnight stuck his tongue out, and motioned for her to follow. "Come on. The first round is about to start."

Scootaloo stared at her ticket. It cost half of her savings, and might get her caught by Rainbow or the others, but...

This is so damn worth it.

She trotted to her seat, which was in the front row, right side of the stadium. She sat down, and started munching on the popcorn she bought.

Meanwhile...

"Hey, cuz! This a good seat?" Babs Seed motioned to two seats in the front row, in the left side of the area.

"Yeah, that'll do."

"Huh?" Babs saw the team rosters, and... Team Foo Fighter PSY was fighting against a relatively obscure team called "Team Clover".

It seemed that Diamond Tiara had won her match, but Silver Spoon... Lost!?

"Ah don't know this team, but they must be a tough bunch." said Apple Bloom.

"All the better." Babs smirks. "At least we see them suffer."

"True, true."

"Huh?" The announcer suddenly said. "Midnight is bowing out!?"

"WHAT!?" Babs, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo exclaimed.

"And... The replacement is-"

Spark was boiling a pot of noodles, before putting them in a bowl. This is probably good enough...

He lived in a shoddy, nearly run-down apartment with a second floor that he could only afford due to the fact that his uncle owned the place. He was given a monthly salary by a few relatives plus a few donations, and that helped him immensely.

He looked at his relatively new CV, and turned it on. He picked up some chopsticks, and started eating.

"And the new member of Foo Fighter PSY is..."

"--SWEETIE BELLE!?!"

Spark Light spat out the noodles in his mouth, narrowly missing the CV. Sweetie Belle had entered the arena with a confident, yet emotionless face.

"W-What!?" He yelled, putting his food down. "No... NO!"

Scootaloo dropped her bag of popcorn in shock. Sweetie Belle's on the same team as those guys!?

"W-What the hell... Have I done?"

Meanwhile...

"She's... Part of them now...?" Babs' voice was nearly a whisper. Apple Bloom, on the other hand...

"NO! This is obviously some kind of mistake!" She snapped, shocking her cousin. "She'd never join them! She was forced to! She wouldn't..."

A cold feeling crept up her stomach, and stayed there.

"... W-Would she?"

Sweetie Belle basked in the glory of the arena, satisfied with everypony's shock at her existing in this place, at this moment. She almost never noticed her opponent.

Almost.

"U-Uh... H-Hello! My name is Blade Blocker...! N-Nice to meet you..." The unicorn colt stuttered. He had messy blue hair, a cyan coat, and blue eyes to match. He also looked like a mare more than a stallion, but it fit him... In some way. His cutie mark was a blue and silver shield.

"Yeah. Hey, weren't you the colt Scoot-I mean, an orange pegasus bumped into at Regionals?"

"W-What? How do you know about that?"

"Let's just say I used to be friends with that pegasus..."

"O-Oh... Sorry."

"Don't apologize. Let's just get this over with." They put their Vanguards faced down, and drew five cards. They returned a few cards, and added the same amount of returned cards from the top card of their deck to their hand after shuffling.

"Let's do this! Stand up-"

"S-Stand up-"

"-the-" both of them muttered, not noticing each other.

"-VANGUARD!!!"

"Stardust Trumpeter!" A pegasus filly with a red mane in twin buns holding a trumpet appeared. (G0/6000)

"Fullbau!" A black dog with matching armor and a visor growled at the pegasus. (G1/5000)

"EH!? Shadow Paladins!?" The announcer yelled, the audience too shocked to even speak.

"This deck... Wasn't copied, I assure you." Sweetie Belle smirked. "You can even ask my former teammate Apple Bloom if you want proof."

"No... I've failed again..." He gritted his teeth.

"Where did I go wrong!?" He yelled, before getting up. He suddenly ran up the stairs, reaching a door. He bucked it open, and trotted inside.

It was his room.

It looked normal, having a bed, study table, and a drawer. He walked up to the drawer, and opened it. It contained a blue deckbox that had accumulated some dust, which he blew away.

"... I think... It's time... I have to get ready." Spark muttered, picking the deckbox up.

"Ride! Blaster Javelin." Sweetie slammed the card onto the Vanguard Circle. "I use his skill to search for Blaster Dark, add him to my hand, and I end my turn." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"My turn, draw." Blade Blocker suddenly glared at Sweetie Belle, catching her off guard. "Ride! Little Sage, Marron! Call! Barcgal, and I rest him to Superior Call Flogal! I call Llew from my hand!"

Blade Blocker became the pony-mage, with several dogs and a blond knight beside him.

Huh? Barcgal? Sweetie Belle stared at the robotic canine. He's probably using him to get a full field easily as setup for Alfred...

(Flgl) (Marron) (RC)

(Barcgl) (Llew) (RC)

Hand: 3, Damage: 0

"Llew boosts, and Marron attacks!" Marron/Blade Blocker charged a spell. (POW: 12000)

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

"Check." The colt revealed Alabaster Owl. "Critical get! Crit to Marron, Power to Flogal!"

Wait... Could it be that he's running 10 Criticals and only 2 Flogals...? It would make sense since he Superior Called one... Sweetie Belle thought as she performed the damage checks. "No triggers."

"Flogal attacks! (POW: 10000)

"Guard! Abyss Freezer!"

"I end." (Hand: 4, Damage: 0)

"My turn, draw." Sweetie Belle felt a strange power envelop her. PSY Qualia...? No... This is different... "This... Is my avatar's power! Blade of resolve... Thunder forth! BLASTER DARK, RIDE THE VANGUARD!!!"

Blade Blocker winced.

"Counterblast! Die, Llew!" Don't kill Barcgal... Sweetie Belle's PSY Qualia went on overdrive, giving her complete instructions. "Now, I call Rugos!"

(Rugos) (BD) (RC)

(RC) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 4, Damage: 2/2

"Blaster Dark attacks!" Sweetie/Dark charged at Marron, covered in violet lightning. (POW: 10000)

"... Why?" Blade Blocker suddenly asked. "Isn't Blaster Blade your avatar?"

"Hmm? That weakling? Not now he isn't."

The colt gritted his teeth, but said, "No guard." (Hand: 4, Damage: 0)

"Check!" Sweetie Belle revealed Death Feather Eagle. "Critical to Blaster Dark, and power to Rugos!"

Sweetie/Dark crashed into Marron, impaling the young mage with her sword. Blade Blocker coughed, and took a step back before glaring at Sweetie Belle.

"D-Damage checks... No triggers."

"Rugos!" (POW: 15000)

"Guard! Alabaster Owl!" A white owl took the hit from the black soldier, dissolving into blue sparkles. (SLD: 18000)

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

"My turn, stand and draw." Blade Blocker sighed. "I call Future Knight, Llew to the left Rear-guard Circle, and Young Pegasus Knight behind Marron. Another Young Pegasus Knight."

Huh? Llew? Sweetie Belle pondered, suddenly feeling tense. Don't tell me that...!?

"You got it." Blade Blocker said, smiling. "Three warriors... Bring forth the hidden power, and stand up the Vanguard! LLEW'S SKILL! SUPERIOR RIDE!"

He flipped one card in his damage zone, putting Llew, Flogal and Barcgal in the soul.

"Shine forth and erase the darkness! STAND UP MY AVATAR! BLASTER BLADE «ALTER»!!!"

"What!?" Sweetie Belle's eyes widened as she saw Blade Blocker assume Blaster Blade's form, although the warrior looked... Different. Wait... Isn't this the Blaster Blade with no abilities whatsoever!?

"I used to idolize you." The colt muttered, shocking Sweetie Belle. "Blaster Blade... That was your avatar, right? In this case..."

Blade glared at the shocked unicorn, his eyes glowing blue. He materialized a sword of light... But it wasn't the titular weapon that the knight used.

"I'll show you the power of friendship. Young Pegasus Knight gets 3000 Power for every card put in the soul during the main phase. In this case, since Riding is considered as putting a card in the soul, he gets 12000 Power. Same goes for the other one, who moves back. I also call Gallatin."

(RC) (BB«A») (Gallatin)

(RC) (YoungPK) (YPK)

Hand: 0, Damage: 1/2

"Blaster Blade attacks, with a boost from Young Pegasus Knight!" (POW: 27000)

"Tch..." So that's his plan... To boost his lanes to near-unguardable power in early game... "No guard."

"Drive check." He revealed Margal. "All to Gallatin, and I draw!"

What!? Does this mean... Rainbow triggers? No, he's probably running Flogal at 2, and has 2 of this Draw... Okay, that's unpredictable as hell... Sweetie Belle thought as she sent The Dark Dictator to the damage zone.

"Pegasus Knight boosts, and Gallatin attacks at 33000 Power!"

"No guard." Sweetie Belle winced as Nemain was sent to the damage zone. I should really get an extra copy... (Hand: 5, Damage: 2/4)

"I end my turn." (Hand: 2, Damage: 1/2)

"Stand and draw. You really don't get it, do you?" Sweetie Belle sighed.

"What do you mean?"

"I did this all voluntarily. And this," Sweetie Belle revealed Phantom Blaster Dragon, earning screams of shock from the crowd. "Is a testament to that. Cursed dragon, thunder forth and display your dark powers! Blanket the world in darkness! PHANTOM BLASTER DRAGON -- RIDE THE VANGUARD!!!"

She slammed the card onto Blaster Dark, causing a dark blue aura to materialize in the form of a demonic form. It latched onto Blaster Dark, forcing its way into his body. The knight slumped onto the ground, and was consumed by a torrent of black flames.

In his place was a black dragon wielding the depraved lance of darkness. (G3/11000)

"N-No... She wouldn't..." Scootaloo muttered, before gritting her teeth and then yelling, "SWEETIE BELLE!"

"SWEETIE BELLE!"

The mentioned unicorn turned to see Scootaloo. The arena screen also moved to view said pegasus.

"S... Scoots?"

"Y-Yeah... I'm back."

Sweetie Belle stayed silent, before grinning. "This is good. I get to show you my power as of now."

"Sweets... This is all wrong! Where's your Royal Paladins!? Blaster Blade!?"

"I lost them one month ago." The white unicorn snorted. "Ask Apple Bloom."

The name was spoken with so much venom that the orange pegasus moved back. "W-What!?"

"This is my clan now, and I don't think I'll ever go back..." Sweetie Belle turned to Blade Blocker, glaring. "Now where was I? Oh yeah. I call Caar, and superior call the top card of the deck."

She revealed another Caar, much to her opponent's surprise. "Again. I call... Charon! From my hand, Abyss Freezer! Now..."

Three of her rear-guards - The two Caars, and Abyss Freezer - were sent to the drop zone, after Sweetie Belle had Counterblasted two.

"Damned Charging Lance!"

"N-No..." Scootaloo muttered, not noticing two Earth Ponies approach her slowly.

(Rugos) (PBD) (RC)

(Charn) (RC) (RC)

Hand: 3, Damage: 4/4

"Phantom Blaster Dragon attacks at 21000 Power!"

"N-No guard." (Hand: 2, Damage: 1/2)

"Twin drive, first," Sweetie Belle revealed Abyss Healer. "All to Rugos, and I heal. Second... Grim Reaper! Critical to Vanguard, and Power to Rugos!"

"AGH!" Phatom Blaster Dragon swung his lance at Blaster Blade, causing a shockwave of black flames to consume the knight. The top three cards of Blade's deck flew to the damage zone, none of which were triggers.

"Rugos!"

"Kkkhaa...." Blaster Blade/Blocker glared at the now attacking Rugos. "Nullify! Flash Shield, Iseult!"

"You managed to guard, huh? I end my turn." (Hand: 5, Damage: 3/3)

"My turn, stand and draw." Blade Blocker growled. "Guardian dragon of the sanctuary, erase the darkness with your holy power! ARC RIDE!!! SOUL SAVER DRAGON -- THE VANGUARD!!!"

He... He managed to draw Soul Saver Dragon!? Sweetie Belle stared at the colt, who removed five cards from his soul. This kid...

The holy dragon suddenly rose to the air, with a ball of light in its palm.

(RC) (SSD) (Gallatin)

(RC) (YPK) (YPK)

Hand: 0, Damage: 1/5

"Boosted by Pegasus Knight, Soul Saver attacks!" The white guardian shot a ball of energy at the dragon of darkness. (POW: 24000)

"No guard." (Hand: 5, Damage: 3/3)

"Twin drive. First," Blade Blocker revealed Alfred Early. "Tch, no trigger. Second... Epona! Critical get! Crit to Vanguard, Power to Gallatin!"

"Damage checks," Sweetie Belle sent Charon and Blaster Javelin to the damage zone. "No triggers."

"Gallatin, with a boost from Pegasus Knight!" The ninja lunged at Blaster Dragon, alongside a white teenage pegasus in gold armor. (POW: 31000)

"Nullify! Dark Shield, Mac Lir!" A warrior covered in heavy black armor blocked the attack with a shield pf darkness as Sweetie Belle dropped Macha.

"I... End." (Hand: 2, Damage: 1/5)

"My turn, stand and draw." Sweetie Belle's eyes glowed violet. "Final turn."

"Tch..."

"Phantom Blaster Dragon attacks!"

"Guard, Epona!"

"How futile." Sweetie Belle activated her PSY Qualia, trapping them inside a realm of shadows. She was wielding Blaster Dragon's lance, and Blade Blocker was holding an orb of light. "I drive checked two Critical triggers and gave them all to the Vanguard, by the way."

"S-Stop this, Sweetie Belle!" The colt thought, being relayed to the unicorn telepathically.

"Sorry, too late." She stabbed him with the lance at an insane speed, giving the colt no time to react. The lance vaporized, leaving nothing but a gaping wound on Blade Blocker's stomach.

"P-Please... My Vangua-" he was cut off by the illusion breaking, and a magic-covered hoof connecting to his face. He was knocked back, landing on his haunches. Blood trickled from his mouth.

"Never. Ever. Say that in front of me." Sweetie Belle growled, as she shot a bolt of magic at the colt. The audience went into a panic as the colt started writhing in pain, and the top card of his deck flew to the damage zone without any intervention. It was over.

Sweetie Belle left the arena with a content smirk on her face.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon's jaws dropped at the unspeakable amount of cruelty their former victim displayed, as seen from the room's balcony.

"See what I mean?" Midnight chuckled. "She's pretty strong."

"You let a psychopath in our team!" Diamond yelled, causing Silver Spoon to snap out of her trance.

"Ah, but a gifted psychopath. And don't worry, she won't betray us."

"You better be right..." Diamond Tiara muttered, before turning to her best friend. "Silvy? You okay?"

Silver Spoon was too horrified to even speak. She stared at Midnight, who smiled. What did he do to her!?

"... And that's what happened during the past few months." Apple Bloom said, before taking a sip from her milkshake. Babs and Rainbow Dash were beside Scootaloo, consoling her

Scootaloo looked at her hooves. "This... Is all my fault... Damn it! I'm such a coward..."

Rainbow punched her, earning a yelp. "Yeah, that was kinda dumb of you to do. I mean, what the hell, Scoots!? You left us hanging! And Manehatten, to boot!?"

Scootaloo sighed. "I know, I'm an idiot. Sorry."

Rainbow facehoofed and sighed, before placing her hoof on Scootaloo's back. "Look, kid. You're not alone in this, and we're going to help bring her back."

The orange pegasus' eyes widened. "H-How?"

"We're going to tell Rarity about this. All of it."

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

Author's Notes:

Sweetie Belle: This... Is power.

Diamond Tiara: Ugh. We got a power-hungry psycho as our teammate. Can this get any worse? Silvy?

Silver Spoon: Y-Yeah... Next time, Counterattack! The quest against darkness begins...

Midnight: And sorry for the deleted chapter-Oh, what!? YAY! Update: The deleted but found chapter is now part of Ride 22! We didn't find it in full so... Sorry if it's a little different... Hehe...