CV ch8: Regional Tournament arc

Ride 8

Team Shining Knights is born! Start of the Regional matches!



"H-Huh?" Akaihono opens his eyes and looks around, once again in that strange area with the stone pillars. "Wait...I know this place." Akaihono says as he remembers dreaming this place before and he starts walking around.

"Hero....." The same voice echoes throughout the area Akaihono was in though it was softer.

"Who...Who's there?!" Demanded Akaihono nervously, trying to locate the source of the voice.

"You are.........so I need your he.........lease......lp....." The voice seemed to go on and off, like it was being cut out.

"Hey! H-Hello!?" Akaihono shouted, trying to see where the voice was coming from. He was looking around around frantically.

Suddenly a hooded figure appears a few feet behind him. The figure was close to his height. "Help us..." The voice says, causing Akaihono to turn around and come face to face, or at least would if not for the hood.

"Who a-are you?" Akaihono asks, almost fearfully at this as it seems so real.

The hooded figure seems to has a sad look. "We need your help...please...Akaihono...we need you to save us!" There was suddenly a strong force that flows past Akaihono and the boy shields his eyes and face from the force.

"Ah!" He shouts loudly and suddenly opens his eyes and is panting heavily as he wakes up in his bed again. "A-Again?..." Akaihono asks shakily to himself.

He was sweating a bit but not as much as last time and he sits up. "W-Who is that hooded person? I don't understand what's going on?..."

Soon Akaihono gets dressed in his casual clothes which is a white t-shirt with red lines on both sides of his sleeves. He's wearing brown shorts as well. The boy heads downstairs to the kitchen and sees Hito at the kitchen table, looking through his cards and deck.

"Hm? Oh hey Akaihono!" Hito says smiling, but the red hair boy didn't say anything. "Bro? You okay?"

"Huh? Y-Yeah! I'm fine." Akaihono says snapping out of it as he walks over to the table and picks up a piece of toast and just kinda nibbles on it.

"You okay? You seem...distracted." Hito points out worried about his friend.

"It's just a nightmare again, I'm fine." Akaihono reassures Hito with a smile on his face.

"The same thing happened a while ago. Are you sure you're okay?" Hito asked, looking concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just a strange dream." Akaihono says rubbing the back of his head.

"Well if you're sure..." Hito says, looking unconvinced as he picks up his cards and deck. Akaihono just looks at his toast as he eats it slowly.

'Today is the Regionals...I need to focus today and work on my deck. Maybe I should buy some packs and see if I get anything new.' Akaihono thinks in his head.

Soon the two were walking in the town and heading to the card shop to meet up with Luna and Beth, who has agreed to accompany them and bring them to the Regional tournament.

"So you all set for this?" Hito asked as they were walking. "This is gonna be sweet!"

"Yeah. Though I'm kinda nervous." Akaihono says as they approach the card shop.

Hito chuckles and pats his back, smiling. "You'll do fine."

"I hope..." Akaihono says, still nervous as they finally arrive at the card shop where Luna was already outside waiting.

"Hi guys!" Luna says with a friendly smile and a wave. "Are you two ready?" She asks.

"I am." Hito said smiling, clapping Akaihono on the shoulder. "This ones a bit scared though."

"No surprise. This is his first tournament." Beth says with a smile as she's standing by a car.

"Y-Yeah..." Akaihono says looking away slightly. "S-Sorry..."

"Ah let's just remember to have fun." Hito chuckled, quoting the purple hair girl. "Right Luna?"

"Indeed!" Luna says nodding as Beth gets into a car.

"Alright you three, in the back and we can start." Beth says with a smile.

Hito claimed the back window seat and buckles himself in. "Oh I can't wait."

The other two got in as well as Beth starts the car. "Oh! I have something for you guys." Beth says picking up three booster boxes. "Use these to upgrade your decks. Regionals are gonna be tough I'm sure."

"Thanks!" The three say happily as they each take the booster boxes and they start opening them, revealing several packs.

"Oh, what ever cards you don't use put in the boxes. That way we can sell the individual cards in the store." Beth explains as she starts to drive off.

Time goes by as the three open packs, getting some good and decent cards, even a great one now and then. With three boxes between them, their chances for the cards they needed was higher.

"Wait, I just remembered! We need a team name!" Luna says suddenly as they are half way to there. She was right, a team name IS important.

"Huh...I didn't even think about that." Hito said frowning as he stood half way from opening a pack of cards to think.

"Same here." Akaihono says as he was holding a few cards. "I can't believe we forgot."

"You all have half an hour. So you still have time." Beth says smiling, still driving.

"Well...why don't we make it something relating to us?" Hito asked with a smile on his face.

"Like what?" Akaihono asks tilting his head curiously.

"Um...how about...something cool like Knights or something." Hito mumbled.

"Huh? What did you say Hito?" Luna asks with a smile, getting an idea if she heard him right.

"Huh? I said Knights." Hito said. "Like Star Knights but I don't want to take the card shop name honest. Uh, no offense Beth."

"Hehe, it's alright Hito." Beth says giggling a bit.

"Oh! How about we go with something like Shining Knights!" Luna suggests with a smile.

"I like that." Akaihono says smiling in agreement.

"That's not a bad name." Hito said, chuckling. "Shining Knights it is!"

"Alright then, well register that name when we get there." Beth says with a smile

Hito also smiles, getting back to open the pack of cards. "This is gonna be awesome."

Akaihono and Luna also get back to opening their pack of cards. Though Akaihono still couldn't understand why he kept having those dreams, what did it mean?

He soon opens a pack and looks at the last card that catches his eye. It was a Gold Paladin unit. 'How wow.' He thought as he smiles, getting a feeling he should use it...

Finally they arrived at the regional tournament building, it looked like a dome with several people around

"Wow! It's massive." Hito said in awe and smiles as he has to shield his eyes just to see it by looking up.

"Yeah! Let's get ready!" Luna says with a huge grin. "The registration should be at the front desk"  

"Yeah let's-" Akaihono starts as he suddenly holds his head with his right hand, almost in pain.

"You okay?!" Hito asks worriedly as he reaches out to his friend. Also Beth and Luna gave worried looks on their faces.

"Y-Yeah..." The red hair boy says forcing a smile as he pulls his hand away from his face.

"If you're sure." Hito said looking concerned and Luna and Beth also looked concerned.

"Y-Yeah. Let's go." Akaihono says smiling as he walks towards the dome.

"Yeah." Hito said, his smile returning as he followed the other boy. But he was still secretly worried...

The four walk inside and see a few statues of Vanguard units, looking life size as well as life like.

Akaihono and the other look on in amazement, almost unable to believe in such detail to these statutes.

Soon they see a round desk with a woman in a uniform and standing behind the desk with a sign that says "resister here."

Beth walks over and registered then for the regional tournament. "I'll be back. You three head to the battle hall." Beth says smiling walking off once she was done.

Hito nods and smiles happily. "This is gonna be so sweet."

"Yeah." Akaihono says smiling as he walks in and stops as he sees several people on the adiance in the stands and several teams in the hall.

"C'mon bro." Hito said, giving him a one armed hug around his neck. "Don't chicken out this early."

"I-I don't know now...All these people look tough." Akaihono says still nervously.

Hito chuckles. "You'll do fine." He says pulling away and looks at all the other players.

"I-I guess..." Akaihono says still nervous as they walk over to the other teams.

They look around, there are a few teams that Hito actually recognized from TV. Though there are others that seem new as well.

"I'm actually shocked to see some pretty well known teams here. This might actually be tough." Hito says glancing around.

"See? I'm not the only one." Akaihono says glancing around as well as some of the teams look over as well.

Suddenly Beth walks and over to the three teens. "Hey guys, I got you all something." She says smiling.

"What?" Hito asked excitedly as Beth pulls out a box and there's three pairs of gloves inside. Red, pink and green.

"What are these gloves for?" Akaihono asks looking at the gloves in the box. Which all have white patterns and a red crystal on the top hand part.

"They are to help strengthen your image durning the battle." Beth says smiling.

"Huh...they look cool." Hito says looking the gloves as well.

"And now they are yours." Beth says holding them out for each one to take.

Hito took the green glove and strapped it on. "This is awsome!" He says holding his hands out.

Luna took the pink one and Akaihono picks up the red gloves and they both strap them on.

"Wow." Akaihoni said, flexing his hand. "These look so cool."

"Yeah, they fit perfectly and are soft too." Luna says as she nods happily and makes a fist, ready to battle.

"Welcome everyone to Regionals!" The MC says smiling as a man walks onto the stage, getting everyone's attention. "Today we have some special guests to watch this years Regional!"

Hito tilts his head. "Special guests?" He turned to look at Akaihono and Luna, a questioning look on his face

Akaihono shurgs as the lights got dim and a stage light came on and three girls were suddenly on the stage.

"Our special guests! Team Wild Ocean! Helena, Aqua and Ashely!"

"NO WAY!!" Screamed Hito in a fan-girlish sort of way, jumping up and down with excitement.

"Easy Hito." Luna says sweatdropping as she holds him back.

Akaihono was also shocked that team Wild Ocean were here. He figured they would be doing their own regional match.

"Hey everyone!" Helena says smiling happily, winking cutely

"Hi!" Aqua says smiling, doing a cute pose by leaning forward slightly toward the audience.

"Hello." Ashly says emotionlessly as she bows her head slightly.

Hito practically vibrates in place, struggling not to fan-girl in excitement. "It's them....it's them..." He repeats happily.

"We look forward to seeing some great battles." Helena says smiling happily.

Hito nudges Akaihono. "Can you believe it Akaihono. Its them. Their legends."

"Yeah...and now my nervousness has become a legend..." Akaihono says sweating as he wasn't just gonna be fighting in front of an audience, but his favorite team as well!

Hito chuckles softly. "We'll do it Akaihono. We'll win this and go to National."

"Y-Yeah..." Akaihono says and Hito gives him a soft pat on the back, smiling encouragingly.

"We need to decide to see who goes first." Luna says looking at Akaihono and Hito.

"Right." Akaihono says with a nod, but he wasn't sure who should go first.

"Maybe we could do rock-paper-scissors." Luna suggests with a smile as she holds her hand out.

"Okay then." Hito said, holding out his hand. "Ready?"

Akaihono and Luna nods as Akaihono holds out his hand out too.

"Rock-Paper.....Shoot!" They all shout, Hito goes with with paper, Luna also got paper and Akaihono got scissors.

"Well you beat us both Akaihono." Luna said smiling. "Looks like you're up first."

"Wait what?!" Akaihono yelps in shock and nervousness.

"Sorry." Hito says shrugging. "If you don't want to go, I will." He says smiling with a grin.

The red hair boy opens his mouth but Luna holds her hand out. "Nope! Akaihono won so he has to go first." Luna says smiling happily.

"Ah okay." Hito says feeling disappointment. Suddenly, a flowery smell washes over them.

"Hm? What's that smell?" Akaihono asks sniffing the air and looks around the room.

Three girls were standing nearby, each dressed in flashy coats and boots. Each was holding a perfume bottle.

"W-Who are you guys?" Akaihono asks, not sure what to make of these three.

"We're Team Sweet Smell." The smallest of the three says, walking over and spraying Akaihono in the face with the sweet smelling stuff.

"Gah!" Akaihono coughs and rubs his face. Luckily he had shut his eyes in time or his eyes would have

"Sorry." The girl said, sniffing gently. "But with our expertly trained noses, smells like yours...." She shivered. "Perfume makers everywhere would faint in horror."

"W-What do you mean?" Akaihono asks, wondering what she meant.

"Well, you do have an...aroma...." Mumbled the youngest, holding her nose.

"Are you trying to say we stink?" Hito demanded on annoyance as he makes a fist.

"No, just him." The youngest says pointing at Akaihono.

"M-Me?" Akaihono asks as the youngest nods.

"We should be starting soon." The youngest says, clearly not gonna explain further as she and the others walk off.

Akaihono looks at Luna and Hito, a confused look on his face. "Am I the only one that found that...weird?"

"No, they were definitely strange." Hito said, just as the massive timer chimes the start of the matches.

There's a machine that randomly shuffles the names of all the teams. Everyone watches in suspense, wondering who was gonna fight who for the first match.

The machine stops, showing all the first round matches. "The first matches have been decided! Team Sweet Smell vs Team Shinning Knights!" The MC says.

Once everyone that wasn't battling was off the field, the youngest girl steps forward, setting her starter down and her deck. "My name is Cata." She said calmly and smiles as she faces Akaihono from across the room.

"I'm Akaihono, nice to meet you." He says placing his deck down too, as well as his starter.

Cata draws her five cards. After taking a quick look, she returns three to her deck, reshuffles and re-draws. Akaihono also returns three cards.

"If both teams are ready then you may begin!" The referee shouts. On the other side of the room was another pair of teams also fighting.

Stand up Vanguard! Lozenge Magus!" Cata yells as she turns over her starter.

"Stand up Vanguard! Spring Breeze Mesenger!" Akaihono shouts, showing his new starter.

Suddenly there's a huge light and the units appear before them. In fact, they are the Vanguard units!

"Wow! It's just like Nationals on the tv!" Akaihono says shocked as he was wearing Spring Breeze Messenger's armor.

"Indeed, and I'll go first." The girl said, riding her grade one down. "I ride Oracle guardina blue eye." A fox with blue makeup on appeared (5000). She moves her starter to the bottom left corner.

"Draw! And I ride Gareth! Messenger moves to the back and I call Listener of Truth, Dindran!" Akaihono says as a girl in red and white clothes appears with rabbit ears.

Cata whispers softly. "Gold Paladins..." She said smiling, knowing what to expect.

"Your clan..." Akaihono says looking as the field.

"Oracle think tank. Yep!" Cata chuckled softly. "A clan that can sniff out the future. Exquisite!"

"Yeah, I know..." Akaihono says, somewhat sad almost but he shakes it off "Dindran! Go!" He says as the female nods and jumps at Blue Eyes.

The fox yelps as he's struck. The damage reveals a draw trigger. "I give the power to my vanguard. And I draw." (10000)

"Gareth attacks with Spring Breeze as support!" Akaihono says as Gareth and rushes at Blue Eyes. "Drive check! Draw trigger, I draw." He says as he hits the fox with his sword.

The second damage reveals nothing for the other Cata. "I draw! And I ride oracle guardian red-eyes." The fox is now a little bigger with red makeup.

"I call Silent Tom to the front right and oracle guardian blue eyes to behind my vanguard." A man dressed in a suit appears. "I attack with silent tom boosted by Lozenge Magus." (13000)

"I don't guard." Akaihono says taking the first damage with no trigger.

"I attack with red eyes supported by blue eyes." Cata says. (14000)

"I don't guard." Akaihono says as the red wolf shoots flames at Gareth and they impact on the gd warrior.

"Drvie check....nothing." Cata said calmly. "With red eyes skill, his attack succeeded so I get to soul charge one card."

Akaihono reached his second damage. "My turn, I draw. Then I ride Lop Ear Shooter!" A male in a white and blue armor with robotic rabbit ears appears.

"Lop ear.." Cata sniffed gently. "I smell your desire for victory." She said smiling.

"Yeah, I have to win." Akaihono says smiling as he moves Dindran back and calls Viviane. "I have to reach National."

Cata smiles. "But the think tank lets me peer into the future. I can see your defeat." She says pointing outward to the boy.

"M-My defeat?" Akaihono asks, worried as Cata smiles and waits for him to continue.

'No, I can't let her get inside my head.' The boy thought as he looks at Viviane, who nods. "Viviane will attack with support from Dindran!" Akaihono says as Viviane rushes at Red Eyes. (16000)

"I guard with psychic bird." Said Cata throwing the critical onto the guarding circle. (19000)

"Lop Ear shooter attacks!" Akaihono shouts, attacking the Vanguard as Lop Ear.

"I don't guard." Cata says, smiling as Akaihono rushes at her still.

"Drive check! Draw trigger!" Akaihono says as he draws a card and the attacks hits.

"Damage check...draw trigger." Cata said, putting down her third damage and drawing a card.

"I end my turn." The boy says, looking at the damage difference on both of them.

"I stand and draw." Cata says smiling. "Strength hidden by stone...I ride oracle Guardian appallon!" A man made of stone dressed in a toga appeared.

"I also call the battle diety susanoo!" a woman with a sword appeared. "I attack with Appallon supported by blue eyes!" The stone man shattered reaveling a metal machine with several weapons firing on the gold paladin. (15000)

"No guard." Akaihono says taking damage.

"Twin drive check...." Cata says checking the first revealing nothing, then pulling a draw trigger and Akaihono to 2 damage.

"Power to silent tom With a boost from blue eyes, Silent tom attacks!" (19000). The girl says smiling.

"I don't guard." Akaihono says taking the hit again, now at 3 damage.

"3 damage..." Cata thought looking down at her last attacker. It only had 9000 power. "I attack Viviane with susanoo."

"I guard with Fortune Bell!" Akaihono says placing the sylph to protect Viviane.

"I end my turn." Cata says, eyeing her own three damage.

"I draw." Akaihono says and looks at his hand. 'No Ezel, neither of them.' The boy thinks as he grabs one of the grade 3 units in his hand. "I ride Garmore!" Akaihono yells as he's encased in the green armor. "However I won't use the effect and I call Lop Ear Shooter." Akaihono says and turns him. "Attack Silent Tom!"

"I don't guard!" Cata said, gritting her teeth harder as Lop Ear Shooter hits Silent Tom, making him vanish.

Here I come!" Akaihono yells rushing at Apollo with his, ready to strike.

"I don't guard!" Cata says though she looked nervous at Garmore as he launches himself into the air.

"Twin drive! First check, nothing. Second check...critical trigger! Power to Viviane and I'll keep the critical!" Akaihono shouts as he strikes Apollo.

"Gah!" Cata cried as the attack struck. Both damage triggers reveal nothing.

"Viviane! Get in there and attack Apollo!" Akaihono says as Viviane nods and attacks Apollo. (21000)

"No chance, I guard with chocolate, nullifying the attack!" Cata says as a girl with a gatteling gun.

"I end my turn." Akaihono says smiling, having fun as he forgot he was at a tournament.

Cata also smiles, she too was having fun. 'Seems this will be something interesting.' She thinks in her head.

"This battle is getting intense! Who will win?!" The MC yells into his mic as everyone cheers.

Luna, Hito and Beth watches the battle as well, pumped up by how well things were going.


To be continued...