Playing Cards

"Hello contestants. This is your queen er, Princess speaking." Celestia could only hope no-pony heard her falter. "The first three matches have concluded successfully, and we will be moving right along to the next three rounds. Congratulations to the winners! The losers will now be escorted out of the premises. The monitors will now show the next three matches. Please enjoy your stay at the Dueling Grounds."

Unicorn Circuit
ERROR

Pegasi Circuit
ERROR

Earth Pony/Dragon/Bruce Willis Circuit
ERROR

That can't be right? Whats wrong with the monitors? Bruce thought.

"Uh, fillies and gentleponies, we are having some slight technical difficulties." Princess Celestia's worried voice could be heard from the monitors once more. "Please standby until we fix these issues. Thank you."

Issues? Bruce thought. What issues could there be? It's only the first round right?

"Hey, hey, hey!" Three voices called out to Bruce in succession. He spun around tentatively, and saw three familiar faces.

"Nice job in that there match sugarcube. Mighty fine duelin." Applejack said. "Shame about whatever problems are goin down. Ya know anything bout that?"

"Nope. Just as clueless as anypony is about it." Bruce said.

"Ahem."

"Anybody" Bruce rolled his eyes as Spike wore a satisfied look.

"Anyway, that was pretty cool! All those explosions and, and ball thingies, and swords, and explosions!" Pinkie Pie said ecstatically.

"What explosions?" Spike asked.

"You know! In the other two dueling rings? Big explosions? Giant dragon like things?" She said.

"Wait, what did they look like?" Bruce asked, intrigued by Pinkie Pie's response.

"Well, Flim had this golden dragon like thingy, and Scootaloo had this fire red dragon thingy, and you had a sword guy. Then, they both glowed, before they attacked I mean, and won with huge explosions! It was like Trixie's shows all over again!" She said.

So they have the god cards huh....wait, what about Obelisk? Bruce thought.

"Pinkie, did you see any blue monsters? Similar to the two glowing ones you saw before?"

"Uhmmm.....hmmm.......nnnope!" She said with a smile.

"Interesting." Bruce said.

There was a loud click, and the monitors changed from the generic "stand by" screen, to another live video. Of the Princess no less, but she had a 'friend'.

"Hello. This is your other, lesser known Princess speaking. After this announcement, the games will be continuing as scheduled; but I suggest you listen to what I have to say. As you can see, I bear a resemblance to that mare right beside me. Albeit my mane is a different color but you get the general idea. I was recently dropped off here by some whimsical forces of the universe, along with those playing cards. Still don't know who I am?" Many of the ponies in the large center shook their heads.

"Of course. My name is Princess Molestia. The sexiest pony in all of Equestria. Now that this ravishing, juicy announcement is through, continue your games." She said with a sultry smile. The pink haired knock off of Celestia turned, and gave the audience of ponies (and dragon) a full view of what Molestia herself called, the peace-maker; a.k.a the plot.

A loud, very audible gasp was heard from the audience, and the monitors returned to their normal state; showing the next three matches.

Unicorn Circuit
Trixie Lulamoon vs. Lyra Heartstrings

Pegasi Circuit
Fluttershy vs. Spitfire

Earth Pony/Dragon/Bruce Willis Circuit
Applebloom vs. Diamond Tiara

"Wow. I don't even know what to say to that honestly." Bruce said, eyes still fixated on the monitors.

"I know what Dashie would say if she saw that!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

Bruce stifled a laugh. "We should get back to the waiting area before we get kicked out."

They all agreed, and started to make their way back to the designated Earth Pony waiting area; where they could see two young fillies, already about to start the next match. They each took their seats, side by side, and their eyes were eager to see another action packed duel. They were seated in the third row of the bleacher like waiting area, and Bruce was already reading each of the duelists faces. He may have to duel one of them later on after all. Diamond Tiara was calm and smug of course, but Applebloom was nerve wracked and shivering with fear.

Beyond Bruce's perception, another match was just starting in both the unicorn and pegasi circuits. The timid Fluttershy was already on her side of the huge dueling field, as was Spitfire; (who looked very different in without her trademark Wonderbolts uniform) but there was something different about Fluttershy. As timid as she seemed to everypony else, she was surprisingly confident in her dueling abilities. After all, she finally got over her fear of the large holographic creatures that appeared when summoned, as well as the strange events that occur when a magic or trap card is used.

In the unicorn circuit things were a bit different. Trixie had her hat and cape on of course, along with her little frog friend, but Lyra too was dressed up. She was wearing two large metal bands on her front hooves, and had necklace with poorly made replica of the millennium puzzle. Her version of the golden pyramid was not one piece, but three separate triangles formed together, with triangular space in the center. Trixie could only chuckle at the sight of somepony trying so hard to look like a professional. She magically removed her deck from underneath her hat, and placed it on the large dueling board.

"C'mon Applebloom! Show em' how its done!" Applejack shouted.

With a quick glance, the young filly saw her older sister standing the crowd on her hind hooves, cheering for her.

"You got it sis!" She said with a smile.

"Alright duelists. Since you're both fairly young, you each get 2000 life points." The gamekeeper took their decks, shuffled them, and returned them back to their rightful owners. "As you can see," He was speaking to the audience. "I have shuffled both duelist's decks, and have neither added nor removed a card. Since these are two younger duelists, they each get 2000 life points instead of the standard 4000. The game is now in play, with Applebloom having the first move."

Both duelists drew their five cards, and placed them on the designated card holder. Applebloom drew one card, officially beginning her turn. It was a decent draw considering she couldn't attack just yet. Without a word she put one monster face down in defense position, and two more face down cards in the spell and trap zone.

"Ah end mah turn." She said with a confident smile.

Diamond Tiara drew a card, and looked at her reflection in the holofoil of the card. After her brief self admiration, she looked at the other cards that were in her possession.

"I summon Amazoness Chain Master." She said with a smirk. As the card hit the monster card zone, the large image of the fierce Amazoness appeared ready to strike.

"Not so fast Diamond Tiara! You just activated mah trap card." Applebloom said. And indeed her trap card was activated, the infamous torrential tribute. In a flash of blue, both monsters were obliterated.

What a playa! Bruce thought.

"I but you think you're a pretty cunning strategist don't you? Now that my card is destroyed, I can use it's effect. Which just so happens to let me see the cards in your hand? Whats a hand? Whatever. I still get to see those cards and take one monster." As Diamond Tiara said that, the three remaining cards in Applebloom's "hand" were enlarged on the holographic field. Just as luck would have it, only one of the cards was a monster card; the Red Eyes Black Dragon.

"I'll take that one." She said pointing to the black beast. The card flew over to Diamond Tiara's side of the field, and Applebloom's cards returned to their normal position. "I also place one monster face down in defense mode; and end my turn."

"C'mon sis, you can do this!" Applejack shouted.

"Applebloom! Applebloom!" Spike said.

With a few more cheers from Pinkie Pie, the whole crowd erupted in a chant for Applebloom. The young filly was now bursting with confidence, and drew a card.

Dahrn it! It's too high level for me tah summon. She thought. "I end mah turn." She sighed, unable to place down any card at all.

Diamond Tiara drew a card from her deck, and sent it down into the monster card zone, face down and in defense position.

"I end my turn." She said regally.

Beads of sweat were starting to form on Applebloom's brow, and she drew the next card from her deck. Her luck was starting to change. Without haste, she summoned the three star monster.

"Ah summon ancient brain! And uh, attack your monster. The one on the left, no right! Yeah right!" Applebloom said.

The shriveled creature cast a bolt of lightning with its scepter to Diamond Tiara's card, but to no avail. The bolt bounced back, and did 1000 damage to Applebloom's life points. The card flipped over, revealing the giant solider of stone. A mighty warrior made entirely of stone, with 2000 defense points.

"Awww......well, I end mah turn ah guess." Applebloom said.

"Good." Diamond Tiara replied. She drew one more card from her deck, and placed it with the rest of her unused cards. "I use both of my monsters as a tribute, and summon Red Eyes Black Dragon!" The pink colored filly was starting to get giddy, if all went well she would win this round, and maybe even the whole tournament.

Her two cards broke into hundreds of shards of glass, and with the slight plop of Diamond Tiara placing the mighty dragon down, they slowly moved to resemble the shape of a rather large dragon. Soon this resemblance became a full look a like, and the beast let out a mighty roar. Luckily for Fluttershy, she had more problems to worry about then the roar of a dragon; such as trying not to lose her duel.

"And I attack your pathetic little brain." Diamond Tiara said. The dragon opened up it's mouth, and instantly, a large flame struck Applebloom's only monster. There was the sound of glass shattering, and the game was over. The field disintegrated into the ground and the gamekeeper announced the victor. The entire crowd of earth ponies was cheering, not for Diamond Tiara, but for the impressive display of the dragon's power. Not all the ponies were ecstatic, and one cream colored pony, with a bright red mane, was crying.

Ahm sorry sis....