Before I begin, I just want to say thank you for taking the time to read my first one shot! This story used to be the first chapter in my Cardfight!! Vanguard Short Stories until I decided to separate it and make it longer. Hope you enjoy~♡

Disclaimer: Cardfight!! Vanguard and it's characters do not belong to me. All credits go to Bushiroad and it's owners.

Claimer: I do, however, own the plot and the story itself.

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Welcome to a world named Cray, where all creatures coexist in peace. Be it human or noble, high beast or dragon, they all lived happily together.

The Planet Cray is divided into six nations, which is then divided into seventeen smaller clans. Each of these clans is lead by one leader, a unit they once called... their Vanguards.

In the nation of the United Sanctuary lies the Royal Paladin clan. This clan, that is mostly consisted of knights/humans, giants, royal beasts, elves, high beasts, nymphs, cosmo dragons, angels and salamanders, is lead by their young prince, Alfred. The Royal Paladins stand united under his leadership and no one seemed to mind being under his command. Not one of them thought of overthrowing their leader... until that fateful day. The day that would change their lives... forever.

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"Prince Alfred! Prince Alfred!!" A voice was heard as the prince sat near the palace gardens. Alfred looked up to check it's owner only to be greeted by the panicking Young Pegasus Knight.

"My prince, there is... there is trouble outside the palace gates! The units are on a rampage... all of them coming from the village. They... they..." Young Pegasus Knight said in between breaths. "Little Sage, Marron stated that something was wrong with them... as if they were being possessed. They look horrible! Each one wanted to fight you for the position of 'King' and leader of the clan! Sire! If something isn't done now, you mi-"

"Now hold on," the prince cut him off. "Are you sure that the units rampaging right now are from our clan?"

"Positive, Sire! All of them are Royal Paladins. However, none of us inside the palace seemed to be affected by whatever is causing this. " The young knight said in a serious, yet troubled tone.

"Then get all knights to calm them at once. They might be able to find the cause of the people's misbehavior and put a stop to it!" Alfred commanded and Young Pegasus Knight left immediately. I hope this ends peacefully... he thought to himself as Prince Alfred watched his knights prepare for what may become... a war.

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Unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way Alfred hoped to be. Most of the knights turned against him the moment they left the palace. Some tried to fight for their control but almost all of them failed to do so. Only one succeeded to return with full control. The one that he consider his best friend and a loyal companion.

"Oh no! What happened? Are you alright?" Alfred asked as he ran to greet the knight. His face look bruised up and the prince feared the worse for the rest of his body. Jade orbs met red ones before telling the prince everything that has transpired outside the gates. The young knight obviously felt guilty for leaving the battle like that.

"I'm sorry... I have failed you... my prince." Whispered the knight as he finished his report, bowing his head after.

"Blaster Blade, look at me." Prince Alfred said to the his friend, now identified as Blaster Blade. The knight did as told and he continued. "I know you did what you knew best for the clan. You always do. Who knows what would happen if you stayed there a minute longer. I couldn't imagine losing my best friend as well." Its true. Having his friends turn against him hurt so much but Alfred wouldn't know what to do anymore if even his best friend were to be controlled by the mysterious power. The prince tried his best to put on a brave face for the young knight but his friend knew him too well not to notice the hidden pain of his master and friend. He knew that Alfred was about to cry.

"My prince..." he whispered.

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When both knights calmed down, they began to plan on how to save the rest of the Royal Paladins without harming them. Blaster Blade knew that there was only one way to stop this, but it had a small chance of success. Alfred, on the other hand, noticed his friend's disturbance and gasped when he realized what it meant.

"No...Don't!" Alfred said in a worried tone. "I will not allow you to go out there!"

"But my pri-"

"No! I shall not allow it!"

Blaster Blade was always the person who puts other units' well being first before himself. He never thought of the risks that were ahead as long as the way to saving someone is there. Alfred knew full well that his best friend would be willing to risk his life if it could save another. The knight's determined face proved it.

"Prince Alfred..." Blaster Blade started as Alfred snapped out of his thoughts. "I know your just looking out for me but... to leave the Royal Paladins like this is not what you have taught us.The unity you've brought as our leader helps us in times like these." Alfred was shocked to hear those but remained silent for his friend to continue.

"The units out there are giving their best to fight for control. They may not be themselves right now, but I'm sure that they are still the Royal Paladin units we know and love. They just need a little help in this battle." He said in a calm and serious voice. Alfred thought of it for awhile. Blaster Blade's right. But if he lets his last knight go, the chances of him coming back may be low.

"Fine. Once again my friend, you're right." He sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this but, Blaster Blade, I'll allow you to go search for the source. But when you feel something wrong, return immediately!"

"Yes, of course Sire!" Blaster Blade said before taking his leave.

Good luck, my friend! Keep safe. Alfred whispered as he bid the knight farewell.

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A few days after the leaving, a dark cloud surrounded the Royal Paladin clan and all units began to regain their sanity. The news of it reached the prince and he felt relieved. Now if only his best friend could hear of it and return.

A feast was held in the land as the units celebrated their freedom as well as Alfred's coronation. The new crowned king, however, didn't feel the same happy mood for the thought of Blaster Blade's safety prevented him.

After the feast, King Alfred began to shout out his first order as king. "Everyone, there is no celebration when one of us goes missing. Blaster Blade is still out there looking for the source that led our people to fight against their will. However, he hasn't reported back since he left." He feared the worse for his friend. "I want every knight available to search for Blaster Blade. Report any findings or clues that may lead us to know of his whereabouts. Search every corner of the nation!"

Search parties went far and wide under Alfred's orders. Not only were they composed of knights, units of every kind joined in the search for their missing knight. But in each passing day, the king grew more and more weary as each of his knights returned with no news of the unit. No news of of his best friend's safety.

The King of Knights wasn't himself anymore since Blaster Blade's disappearance. The once cheerful king stopped smiling and rarely even speaks.

"We have to do something"

"Sire, is there any way to cheer you up?"

"Is there anything we could do for the king?"

"I hate to see him like this"

"Yeah, but what can we do?"

"I'm afraid only Blaster Blade could cheer the king up."

The units tried their best to cheer him up but they all ended in failure. The only way to bring the king back to his usual self was through Blaster Blade's return. Only he would be able to cheer King Alfred now.

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Meanwhile, a young knight clad in white armor noticed a certain dark cloud above him. The cloud seemed to be following him for the past few days now and it was getting annoying.

All of a sudden, the knight felt like something came out of him and the dark cloud began to disappear. Blaster Blade then noticed a familiar dark object taking form and is surprised when he realize what... or who it was forming into. A man clad in dark armor, similar to his took form from the dark object. Jade eyes were seen and a dark sword glew from his hand. The man now standing in front of him was a dark version of himself!

Not knowing what else to do, Blaster Blade followed his dark lookalike only to be stopped when they reached a group of units that also looked similar to his friends back home. Luckily, he was hiding behind a rock as not to draw unwanted attention. The dark units then left for what seemed to be... an invasion to the Royal Paladin clan.

When the young knight was done with his initial shock, he decided to report his findings back to his friend, Alfred.

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News of the incoming invaders reached the Royal Paladin clan in the nick of time. The King of Knights and his people were ready for them. Little did they know, their enemies were stronger then they thought.

The moment the Royal Paladins and the dark units met, Alfred's people could not believe what was in front of them. As if they were going to face themselves, only their enemies bear the power of darkness instead of light. They tried to fight off their invaders but the enemy was just too powerful. Despite the losing edge, the Royal Paladins fought on. They fought long and hard for their freedom, hope was burning within. However, everything changed when the leader of the dark units decided to show up.

"I-it... it c-can't be!" Alfred spoke as the leader appeared.

"Well, if it isn't the leader of the Royal Paladins. So good of you to fight along." The dark knight said with an evil grin. Some murmurs could be heard but Alfred remained quiet.

"What? Is something the matter?" The leader said with a smirk. He wasn't the one who talks much, like his counterpart, but he had to in order to weaken his opponent. Alfred wanted to speak but no word came out of his mouth. However, he was trembling. The dark knight's plan worked.

"Is this really the brave king I've heard about? This man that's trembling right in front of me?! Pitiful!" the dark knight mockingly stated. "I'm afraid this won't be a challenge at all. Let's get this over with now, shall we"

With that said, he held up his sword, aiming it for the king of knights, who looked like he had just given up. He couldn't bear to see himself fighting the dark knight in front of him. Not when he looked like the loyal companion that he regretted sending away on that quest. Visions of his past came running in his mind and his vision began to blur. I hoped to at least see you one last time before this, my friend... Alfred thought to himself as he prepared for the worse. It's over.

The sword went up... then came down.

"STOP!!"

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a paladin came to save the king in time. A sword made of pure light clashed with the sword of darkness, sending the dark knight back.

"I will NOT allow you to kill my friend!"

The figure was blurry but King Alfred recognized that voice almost immediately.

"Bl-blas... Blaster Blade?" The King of Knights whispered weakly.

"I'm here, my lord!" Blaster Blade responded while his enemy was in shock.

"Bu- but how?"

"I apologize for not reporting back immediately. I couldn't come back with a cloud following..." He was cut off by the king.

"I'm just glad your here, my friend." Alfred let out a little smile.

"My king..." Blaster Blade then smiled. "It's good to be back, my friend!"

Then Blaster Blade left the king to be treated by the other units while he turned to face his dark counterpart.

"Blaster Dark, let's finish this!"

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The dark knight, now known as Blaster Dark, started off. He raised his sword and started to attack the other knight. Blaster Blade remained silent as he waited for the right moment to dodge the attack. Then, he lifted his sword to do the same.

The rest of the Royal Paladins gained new hope when they saw their missing friend. They started fighting back and successfully defeating their counterparts. Alfred, on the other hand, watch in silence as the battle for freedom continued.

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The Paladin of Light and the Paladin of Darkness were evenly matched. As their swords clashed, so did their spirits. Besides the noise of the ongoing battle the surrounded them, all that can be heard were their battle cries and the clashing swords.

The battle lasted for a long time. The dark units were down and the Royal Paladins watched the fight in silence. Both warriors hadn't given up yet and it looked like they were never planning to end their battle.

Finally, after what can be called, an eternity, Blaster Blade gained the upper hand and finally defeated his opponent. The Royal Paladins then drove off the rest of their invaders as went back to celebrate. The celebration was not only for their victory but also for Blaster Blade's return. Peace had come to the land once again.

Alfred remained the leader of the Royal Paladins and together with Blaster Blade, they drive off everyone that threatens them. They still rule the land today.

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What about the units that threatened them?

The Royal Paladin counterparts left to find their own land, were they settled and became known as the Shadow Paladins. The Shadow Paladin clan can be found in the nation of the United Sanctuary along with the Royal Paladin clan and the Oracle Think Tank. Blaster Dark remained to be their leader and led the Shadow Paladins as one of the strongest clans.

With both Paladin clans at peace, who knows when their next war be. In fact, They don't even know if they would still remain enemies the next time they meet in battle. Little do they know, both clans, led by Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark would one day team up, not as forced allies, but as best friends and rival clans.

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Hi minna-san!! Jemiluc here! Hope you enjoyed the story. Again, this has been taken from my Cardfight!! Vanguard Short Story so this story has been removed from there. This has been my first short story so I wished to improve it. Well, I don't know what to think of this version but I personally hope you guys like it!

This is also my first book to be written in the computer as well as the first to be completed (honestly, I told myself that I would finish "Defenders of Cray" before doing this but the moment just came to me this earlier today and I decided to write it now. I finished it in a day so... yeah

Again, thanks for taking the time to read this book!

Read, comment, vote, and enjoy yourselves minna!!

Date: April 26, 2015 9:45 pm