"This is your host, Rhythm Rising from Ultra Rare, and the Fighter's Road Tournament starts now!" A pink-maned unicorn yelled into her mic, causing the crowd to explode into cheering. "However... Only those who have participated in the Regionals or Nationals can compete here, so you'll be seeing lots of familiar faces!"

Sweetie Belle gulped as she stared into the colosseum waiting room. It was a dark, but overall decent space that had no windows and several couches. Artificial lights illuminated the room, and several CVs were also in use. I'm not welcomed here... But I might as well do my best. Guide me... King of Knights.

"First off, we have reigning champions Team Foo Fighter PSY!" A defeaning cheer was heard, and but it soon calmed down.

"You okay?" Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle, although looking uneasy herself.

"Pffft. O-Of course she is!" Scootaloo muttered, even more nervous than the other members. "Now... Let's win this."

"Where's Spark?" The Earth Pony mare groaned. "When Ah said all of Team Crusader being back together, Ah meant all of us. Heck, Babs is in the audience and here in spirit!"

"Don't worry." Sweetie Belle closed her eyes, and suddenly felt a surge of magic go through her.

"Sorry, Spark." Sweetie Belle gazed at a darker-looking version of the Kagerō user, who was staring at her with blank eyes. He was surrounded by several unrecognizable Units, which most likely belonged to the Kagerō clan as well. "I... Promise. I'll break your spell and reach you! Let's go, Blaster Blade!"

In an instant, her view was obstructed by golden flashes of light and pitch-black flames. Sweetie tried to move back, but was also consumed in the raging inferno of black fire. "No... I... Can't...!?"

"SWEETIE BELLE?!"

"... Eh?" The white unicorn snapped back to reality, realizing that her teammates were looking at her with shock and worry. "What... Just happened?"

"... Sweetie Belle." Scootaloo put her hooves on her friend's shoulders, and looked her in the eyes. "Never use that power again. We can't risk... What happened last time."

"What?" The unicorn tilted her head. "I... Unconsciously used PSY Qualia? Is that even possible?"

"I... Don't know. But for the time being..." Scootaloo motioned to the arena. "Don't use it. Even if you lose... Don't activate PSY Qualia."

"And now... The team that has went through Hell and back, with several roster changes... The rookie team that brought the pro scene to its knees, here's Team Crusader!"

"Well, that's our cue." Scootaloo smirked, before dashing towards the stadium entrance. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle followed. "We're gonna slay the Demon King!"

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

The Crusaders were met by the crowd's cheering. Sweetie Belle walked out of the tunnel, and upon seeing this, the crowd suddenly erupted into a maelstrom of jeering and insults.

Sweetie Belle ignored them, and walked up to the stage along with her other teammates. The announcer gave her a mic.

"Let me be clear here. I have no intention to win this." Sweetie Belle said into the microphone, shocking the audience. "However... My friends' dreams of being champions... I'll make it come true. Even if I have to gouge an eye out doing it. I will help them realize their dreams. That is all."

"S-Sweetie Belle..." Apple Bloom muttered. "You... You're not really going to do that, are you?"

"Oh please." She replied, with a sullen look on her face. "Gouging an eye out isn't enough to cover for my sins. My life isn't worth the damage I caused to all those innocent ponies..."

"Oh hell no. You are not going to..." Scootaloo's rant was cut off by the white unicorn's hoof.

"Don't worry. I haven't even considered taking my own life. That would be the coward's way out." She suddenly looked at them with determination-filled eyes. "Even if the world turns against me... Loathes me... Wants to kill me... I will always, always fight for you all. If they kill me... I won't care. However, I will do anything and everything to protect those dear to me, along with the bonds we've created. Because my life is less important than our bonds, that we have literally went through Tartarus to protect. Got that?"

"You... Idiot."

"?!"

"What good would be the bonds we forged if you, one of our best friends wasn't there?!" Scootaloo yelled. "I maybe a Hunter... But that doesn't change anything! Who cares if you have PSY Qualia?! You're still one of my best friends, and if fate dictates that we should fight... Well then, why don't we rip fate a new one?!"

"Scootaloo's right." Apple Bloom grinned. "We ain't letting you protect us all the time. We are going to protect you as well. Friends have each other's backs, right? What good would Blaster Blade be without his allies?"

"But... I'm not... Blaster Blade...!"

"Sweetie Belle... Even if you reject him, even if you despise him... Your avatar will always be Blaster Blade." Scootaloo said.

"I'm... Sorry. I just can't use him... Right now. But..." She smiled at her friends. "You'll have my back, right?"

"Of course!"

"... Sweet Celestia I just realized everything that we're saying has been noticed by the audience." Scootaloo groaned, as the crowd was still in a shocked silence. "The other Fighters probably heard it, too..."

"Ha! Look at those sappy idiots make fool out of themselves on national Crystal Vision!" Diamond Tiara laughed, patting Silver Spoon's back as they sat on the couch. Midnight was looking at the Crusaders from the balcony. "Right, Silvy?"

"... Diamond. You have to admit they have a point in what they're saying..." The bespectacled mare muttered. "Loyalty and trust form the simplest of bonds... Friendship."

"... Are you implying that I'm not loyal to you?"

"N-No! That isn't the case here! And you're perfectly loyal to me as a friend, even if you think horoscopes are crap..."

"But they are!"

As the two mares squabbled about fortunes and the like, Midnight just sighed. "Friendship... Bonds... Those are just lies..."

The awkward silence was breached by a cough from the announcer. "O...kay! After that fervent speech, why don't we start this tournament off with a bang!?"

The crowd's mood lifted, and they started cheering. Scootaloo sighed. "Goddamn it. I can't believe we just did that. Anyways, the organizers said that we're in the first exhibition match."

Sweetie Belle tilted her head. "Exhibition... match?"

The pegasus shrugged. "It's a match that doesn't count to the tournament's participants nor results, and you can use a different deck from what you're gonna use in the tournament. It's there to look cool. One of us has to fight one of those Ultra Rare chicks. Who'll it be?"

"I'll go for it. But, since this isn't a tournament match, don't expect me to take this seriously." Sweetie Belle suddenly coughed, and tasted something metallic in her mouth.

"Tch..."

"Sweets!? Are you alright?!" Apple Bloom winced as her friend started to lean on her.

"D-Don't worry. This is just the delayed reaction my body is having due to using too much of that power..." Sweetie Belle shakily went towards the fight field below. Her opponent was that same unicorn from earlier. "I pretty much deserve this."

The pink-maned unicorn was about the same age as she was, with a well-maintained orange coat, and also had similarly-colored emerald eyes as Sweetie Belle. Rhythm grimaced. "Are you sure you're alright? We are using the latest Motion Figure System."

"Don't worry. If my guess is correct, these are nothing compared to those Underground Fight stuff..." muttered Sweetie Belle as she levitated her cards. "Now, let's start!"

"To start, we need to yell 'Vanguard Field, release'. You ready?"

"Yeah."

They placed their Starting Vanguards faced down, and yelled simultaneously;

"Vanguard Field... RELEASE!" The instant the words were uttered, the symbol of a sword appeared on Sweetie Belle's platform, and shot out blue fire in countless directions while Rhythm's was a mic that was creating bubbles. The flames and bubbles clashed, creating an outwardly expanding sphere of white light. After, both unicorns found themselves in a beach on the Planet Cray.

"Wingal Brave!" A blue High Beast in silver armor appeared next to Sweetie Belle, growling.

"Bermuda Triangle Cadet, Riviere!" A blond merpony appeared, clutching a microphone.

"Huh? What is that clan...? Granblue?" Sweetie Belle gaped at the unit, while Rhythm just giggled. "Is it a new clan?"

"No. dummy! It's called Bermuda Triangle, and it's super strong! And quite cute, too. My turn first! I ride Mermaid Idol, Riviere! My Grade 0's skill allows me to search the top seven, and..." The pink maned unicorn levitated a card using her pink magic grip. "Top Idol, Riviere is added to my hand. I'll end my turn there." (Hand: 6, Damage: 0)

"My turn. I ride... Little Sage Marron! Wingal Brave moves!" Wingal jumped back, and Sweetie Belle appeared in blue sage's robes, clutching a tome with her magic. Her hand cards levitated in front of her thanks to the updated System's user-friendliness. "Now, boosted by Wingal Brave, I attack!"

Sweetie/Marron charged a spell with her horn, causing white lightning to assemble on it. (POW: 13000)

"No guard."

"Check the drive trigger," The image of a card appeared, glowing gold. "Epona, critical get!"

Sweetie/Marron shot the charged ball of lightning at the merpony idol, causing a violent explosion.

"First check... Sedna. Second... Pacifica. No triggers." The two cards flew to Rhythm's damage causing her to wince. "This aggressive already?"

"I end my turn." Sweetie Belle looked at her hand calmly, and sighed. Epona, Gallatin, Alfred, Marron, Palamedes, and Bedivere. This is gonna suck....

"My turn, draw! Time to take the stage! Lovey-dovey ride! Super Idol, Riviere! My Grade 1's skill, I draw a card." The merpony suddenly glowed pink, and looked older. (G2/10000)

"Now, I call Perla, then call Perle behind her! Perle gives Perla an on-hit! Now, I call Sedna behind my Vanguard!"

(Perla) (Riviere) (RC)

(Perle) (Sedna) (RC)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/2

"Boosted by Sedna, Riviere attacks at 18000!"

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

"Drive trigger check!" Riviere grinned as a green glow came from the revealed card. "Drive Quartet, Flows! I heal, Power to Perla!"

Sweetie Belle winced as her damage check revealed Blaster Blade, but gritted her teeth. "No trigger."

"Yay! Now, the Pearl Sisters attack!" The two pink merponies charged, causing Sweetie Belle to sigh. (POW: 21000)

"Damage check...!?" Sweetie Belle coughed as her second Blaster Blade was sent to the damage zone.

"... Damn, you must be really unlucky. Anyways, the on-hit activates. I soulcharge... Aw, Shuplu. Then I draw. Now, Perla's Soulblast! I return Perle to my hand! Well, that's all from me this turn. Heehee!" Rhythm hummed a song while looking at her hand cards. (Hand: 7, Damage: 0/1)

She turned the tables so quickly...!? The white unicorn thought as she drew the top card of her deck. Iseult... I don't need Blaster Blade to win... But these Blaster support units will be a drag if this continues... "I ride! Knight of Loyalty, Bedivere!"

Sweetie Belle felt her robes burn off, and soon it was replaced by a set of armor. Her mane was also in a ponytail, and she was currently levitating two swords. (POW: 9000)

"Now, call! Gallatin and Marron!" A ninja and a mage in blue robes materialized beside Sweetie/Bedivere. "Now... Let's start the battle phase!"

(RC) (Bedi) (Gallatin)

(RC) (WinB) (Marron)

Hand: 4, Damage: 0/2

"Boosted by Wingal Brave, Bedivere attacks!" Sweetie Belle galloped forward, readying her twin blades for an attack. I'm actually fighting as a unit...! These new Systems are amazing... (POW: 14000)

"Guard! Flows!" A green merpony appeared in between Sweetie Belle and Riviere. Gritting her teeth, the knight used her magic to propel the levitating blades forward. Glinting with silver light, it was deflected by the green merpony using her microphone to block the attack, but was stabbed in the process. It disappeared in a flurry of green sparkles.

"Tch..." Jumping back, Sweetie Belle motioned to her rear-guards for a second assault. "Boosted by Marron, Gallatin attacks!" (POW: 18000)

The idol was struck by a sudden cut to her abdomen, causing Rhythm to wince. "Damage check is Bubblin! I draw a card!" (Hand: 7, Damage: 0/2)

" I end my turn here." Soul Saver Dragon... Why now? Darnit, my hand is clogged with Grade 3s...

"My turn. Ride, my twinkling idol! Top Idol, Riviere (G3/11000)! A skill activates, and I draw a card. Now, assemble once more! Perle, skill to Perla! Pacifica! Sedna!"

Sweetie Belle's eye twitched at the nearly-unguardable lanes. "Ugh, I should really cut back on the Grade 3s. Maybe ten was too much...."

(Perla) (Riviere) (Paci)

(Perle) (Sedna) (Sedna)

Hand: 5, Damage: 0/2

"Boosted by Sedna, Riviere attacks!" The blonde merpony grinned as she jumped out of the ocean, throwing a lightning-charged beach ball at Bedivere. (POW: 19000)

"I don't guard."

Rhythm/Riviere's grin got even wider. "Checking the Twin Drive! First check... Critical get! Power to Perla, Riviere goes critical! Second....!? Critical once more!? Yay! Same distribution of trigger effects!"

"Tch... No triggers whatsoever...!?" Sweetie Belle groaned as Gallatin, Marron, and Soul Saver fell to the Damage.

"Riviere's Persona Blast activates! I can Counterblast 2 and discard a copy of her in hand!" Rhythm revealed a second Riviere, which was glowing gold.

"A Persona Blast that's on-hit!? Don't tell me..." Memories of a ruthless crimson dragon flashed inside her mind, accompanied by the sense of one's death. "No, it can't be... The End is one of a kind...!"

"Don't worry, this is nothing like The End." Rhythm chirped, before smirking at Sweetie Belle. "In this situation, it's worse. I give 5000 power to Pacifica, Sedna, and Perla."

"What!? Even if I Perfect Guard it, the entire thing is useless since I can't guard the other...!" The white unicorn glared at the Grade 3s in her hand, feeling an overwhelming sense of defeat. Tch... If I used PSY Qualia, this wouldn't have happened-No, what the hay am I thinking!?

Shrugging off her despair, Sweetie/Bedivere stared at Pacifica (POW: 28000, boosted) and Perle (POW: 31000, boosted). She sighed as the duo launched a blast of magic at her. Revealing Epona, Bedivere disintegrated into a cloud of silver dust.

"I l-lose. Tch..." Sweetie Belle said with a pained expression on her face, trying to stave off the urge to let her PSY Qualia run wild.

"Well, I could tell you weren't at top condition today, along with that 10 Grade 3 build you said you were using." Rhythm grimaced. "Plus, that lucky crit was no fun. Wanna fight again sometime, when you're at full power?"

"Sure." Sweetie Belle smiled, finally destroying her urges. She sighed, then looked at her Royal Paladin deck. "It's gonna be a rough trip, but... I'm going to win this with my own power."

Sweetie Belle sighed as she returned to her team's waiting room, finding nopony there. She switched on the CV, and slumped on the cushion there. "So, the other rounds have started..."

Something caught her eye. A folded note, with a bundle inside...

"Rip them all up with the blue flames of destruction! Dueling Dragon, ZANBAKU!" Scootaloo yelled, as an armored black dragon behind her struck the opposing Voidmaster in response. Blue fire erupted from the blade, burning the violet dragon from inside out.

"I lose. Why!? I had the perfect deckbuild!" Her opponent lamented, crying.

"Dude. You called three triggers." The orange pegasus deadpanned, with ZANBAKU facepalming behind her.

"Asura Kaiser checked a Grade 3! I stand Azure Dragon, and my Death Army units' skills activate! Two Guys and a Lady stand up once more!" Apple Bloom grinned at the fact that all of her rear-guard columns being boosted attacks. "Now, Death Army Lady attacks with a boost from Guy!"

"Shelter Beetle guards!"

"Boosted by Guy, Azure Dragon attacks!" The blue robot charged, using its lightning-charged shield to block the desperate fire blasts coming from the giant fly. When it finally got in range, the robot unsheathed its flame sword and slashed the fly in half.

"Oh yeah!" Apple Bloom did a hoofpump as she dealt the sixth damage. "That's my win alright!"

"Ark Saver Dragon's skill activates! Stand up and bring forth all the vanguards whose eras are long gone, king of all knights! Thus I declare... TRANSCENDENCE ARK! Superior Persona Ride!" Sweetie Belle yelled, a blue aura surrounding her as she slammed another copy of Ark Saver Dragon onto the Vanguard Circle. The dragon behind her flew into the sky, and was engulfed by a pillar of white light. An azure Vanguard Circle appeared at the spot where the light touched the ground, and the dragon burst from the pillar unharmed, but rather charged with energy.

"That unit...!?" Her opponent, a brown colt with a pink mane, gasped. "How the hell..!? Wasn't that unit out-of-print!? How did you even get a copy, much less four!?"

"..." Sweetie Belle stayed silent as she attacked with Ark Saver Dragon. I guess I'll have to thank Spark later... Yeesh, what is up with that guy and having the oldest cards in the game? "Drive trigger check is Llew. All to my Vanguard!"

The majestic dragon with the king's image roared, and an expanding pillar of light consumed the opponent as the top card of his deck, Nehalem, fell to the Damage Zone.

She thought back to the note, and grimaced. "So another exhibition match is next... Be careful, Spark..."

Yo, Crusaders.

Spark and I are having an exhibition match after the quarterfinals round, so watch it. It'll give you a glimpse of what you're fighting in the finals. Try not to get too horrified; I still want something to break when we fight again.

-Midnight Storm

Author's Notes:

Ark Saver Dragon
Grade 3/10000/Cosmo Dragon

"The souls of those who came before me, guide me to the white light of hope."

>>First Skill Unknown<<

[AUTO](VC):[Counterblast (2)] When this unit's attack hits a vanguard, you may pay the cost. If you do, choose a card named "Ark Saver Dragon" from your hand, ride it, and choose your vanguard, and that unit gets "[AUTO]: You cannot ride over this unit." and loses "Twin Drive!!" until end of turn.

Lore:

This is the form the previous kings' spirits took after their death, temporarily called upon by the current King of Knights to use. "Transcendence Ark" -- An unknown magic that swept the land the day the king died, shining upon their appointed successor. The guardian dragons of the Sanctuary allowed the former kings to ascend to their realm, partly because of their will to serve the land and watch over their people, and partly because of an insurmountable threat that was prophesied to attack the Sanctuary.

Using his own body and soul as the catalyst, the King of Knights calls upon his forefathers, ----UNREADABLE---- the ----UNREADABLE---- against the unknown darkness...!

... Blame the Shining Swordsman CFV manga, this unit was too good to pass up. Anyways, I'm not dead, I just suck at writing Bermuda Triangle. This will end on Chapter 35 or 36. Back to testing Dragonic Overlord the Great~!

Next Chapter - Eradication. The blades of destruction clash once more, creating hope and despair.